Marching to Georgia with the 45th Ohio

Marching from Camp Nelson, Kentucky on the 19th of April 19, 1864, Corporal David Johnson of the 45th Ohio recorded that the long and tedious march through the mountainous regions of Kentucky and Tennessee to join Sherman's army at Dalton, Georgia was broken only by the music of a brass band and humorous interactions with the few local residents. 

    "We were cheered up by the 112th Illinois Brass Band," Johnson told his parents. "When they would start up a tune the sound would strike against the side of some huge rock and echo, then die away in some distant dell or reverberate in some distant pine top. We saw but very few inhabitants along the road. I remember seeing an old lady pass by when Lieutenant Bradford asked her how far it was to Clinton (a small town ahead), she replied in backwoods style “they call it 19 miles from old Tommy Chambers, war you ever up thar?” Oh, what ignorant people inhabit these mountains. I saw good looking girls that knew nothing scarcely but how to chew tobacco, but they could make the juice or amber fly equal to the hose on a fire engine!"  

    Johnson's account of his march to the front first saw publication in the June 9, 1864, edition of the Urbana Citizen-Gazette.

"On the morning of the 19th of April, bright and early, we cooked our scanty breakfast, packed up and slung our knapsacks, and off we were for Dixie. Nothing of interest transpired along the march save climbing up and down the sides of mountains which caused the sweat to flow in considerable quantity."

Ringgold, Georgia

May 14, 1864

Dear father and mother,

          I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant which came to hand last night. It found me well and doing well. We left Camp Nelson, Kentucky on the 19th of April 1864 and commenced the tedious march across the mountains for Knoxville, at which place we arrived on the 3rd of May. But before going any further, I shall give you an imperfect account of our march.

          On the morning of the 19th of April, bright and early, we cooked our scanty breakfast, packed up and slung our knapsacks, and off we were for Dixie. Nothing of interest transpired along the march save climbing up and down the sides of mountains which caused the sweat to flow in considerable quantity. But we were cheered up by the 112th Illinois Brass Band. When they would start up a tune the sound would strike against the side of some huge rock and echo, then die away in some distant dell or reverberate in some distant pine top.

          I noticed when we started things looked rather backwards- no leaves larger than squirrel’s ears but when we got to Knoxville, the trees were perfectly covered with their green garb. What little wheat I saw (for it was precious) looked bad. I hardly think it will make a ball crop. We saw but very few inhabitants along the road. I remember seeing an old lady pass by when Lieutenant Bradford asked her how far it was to Clinton (a small town ahead), she replied in backwoods style “they call it 19 miles from old Tommy Chambers, war you ever up thar?” Oh, what ignorant people inhabit these mountains. I saw good looking girls that knew nothing scarcely but how to chew tobacco, but they could make the juice or amber fly equal to the hose on a fire engine!

          The highest mountain I ever saw was at Jacksboro which is situated at the foot of Cumberland Mountain. We were at least one hour coming from the top to the bottom. When on top and looking down into the valley where lay Jacksboro it looked perfectly level but when on coming down, there were good sized hills to contend with.

          We crossed the Clinch River on a small coal barge and got to Knoxville where we found everything quiet. We stayed there a few days and started for Cleveland by rail, a distance of 82 miles. There we laid over night. It was there that I saw Dan Toomires; he is in the 6th Ohio Infantry and his time is out in June. Next morning, we started for some place (we did not know where) guarding 175 wagons and were on the road for two days. The last day’s march we could hear firing all day but at night we found ourselves with our corps and the wagons all safe. This was at Tunnel Hill six miles from this place but nearer Dalton.

          We laid there a few days and our regiment went to the front. I saw Bony Miller who is with the 129th Indiana and just from home. The night he came in it looked very much like rain and John and I coaxed him to stay all night with us, which he did. About 9 o’clock it commenced pouring down, beating through our shelter tent until it finally backed against is, then soaked under and found its way out on the other side and by so doing we were thoroughly soaked but slept as sound as I ever did at home on a feather bed. Our regiment and corps has gone on the extreme right of the whole army, but what they are doing I know not.

Among those who made the march to Georgia was Musician Joseph Newton Fissell of Co. A, 45th Ohio who was all of 11 years old when he joined the regiment with his three brothers in 1862. The Circleville native was all of 13 years old when he made the march to Georgia that Corporal Johnson describes in this account and participated in all of the battles of the ensuing campaign. Serving until the end of the war, Fissell has the distinction of being the youngest Ohioan to serve in the Civil War. 


May 15, 1864

          Our forces have Dalton and the Rebels are retreating to Atlanta where it is thought they will make a stand, but with what success is hard to tell. We have cheering news from the eastern army, all sorts of rumors except discouraging ones. I am acting quartermaster sergeant and remain here at Ringgold with the regimental trains as all the regiments have sent all their baggage to the rear. Ringgold is situated halfway between Chattanooga and Dalton and on the north bank of Chickamauga Creek nine miles east of the Chickamauga battleground. General Hooker burnt the place last fall on account of women shooting some of his men from a window. There are only two houses standing and nobody living in them. Trains run nearly all hours of the day on the railroad from Chattanooga to Dalton.

May 17, 1864

Dalton, Georgia

          We left Ringgold yesterday morning with our wagons and got here at 4 p.m. We expect to move again tomorrow towards Atlanta and will go 12 miles to (I think) the Coosa River; you can tell by referring to a map. Dalton has been a place of a good deal of importance as it is the junction of the Cleveland and Chattanooga railroads. It has been a town of more than 10,000 inhabitants but now not more than 100. The houses are all torn up and everything in a perfectly demoralized state. I have not yet learned the casualties in our regiment but cannonading is brisk this morning towards Atlanta. I should not wonder if our boys are now at it.

Source:

Letter from Corporal David F. Johnson, Co. H, 45th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Urbana Citizen & Gazette (Ohio), June 9, 1864, pg. 3

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