On the Hills of McDowell

After spending a frigid winter in the mountains of western Virginia, the 32nd Ohio along with the army under the command of General Robert Milroy moved east towards the Shenandoah Valley and ended up clashing with Stonewall Jackson's forces at the Battle of McDowell on May 8, 1862. Sergeant Major Cyrus A. Stevens of the regiment recorded his impressions of that engagement in the following letter which first appeared in the May 24, 1862, edition of the Zanesville Daily Courier.

 

The 32nd Ohio served in both the eastern and western theaters of the war. It saw action in western Virginia at Camp Allegheny and McDowell before marching into the Shenandoah Valley and fighting at Cross Keys. It was captured with the Harper's Ferry garrison in September 1862 and after being exchanged in January 1863, it was sent to Memphis to join the Army of the Tennessee with whom it would serve for the remainder of the war.  

Camp Franklin, Virginia

May 16, 1862

          I give you below the detailed account of our fight at McDowell, Virginia on the 8th instant. The 32nd Ohio returned on the 7th instant from a march across the Shenandoah Mountains where it was placed in the most perilous position from having about 20,000 Rebels marched against it, driving our pickets to the mountains and wounding three of our cavalry, killing six horses. We retreated to the camping ground at McDowell, that which we had left on the 5th instant and in which we slept with nothing to shelter us but our blankets and the blue vault of heaven. Our tents and stores of all kind were turned over to the Rebels for want of transportation. With this loss, we were favored highly by making good our own escape for had we remained an hour longer, all our regiment that would not have been killed would have been taken prisoners.

          On the morning of the 8th we were drawn up in line of battle to welcome General [Robert] Schenk and brigade when the order came for us to report at the ground chosen for the battle as the Secesh were coming. We waited on the ground during all the morning for the approach of the Rebels but none came nearer than within cannon shot. A few rounds from a battery of our soon dispersed them. From 2-4 p.m. part of the 32nd Ohio and 75th Ohio were engaged in skirmishing.

          At 4 p.m. the 25th Ohio and 75th Ohio regiments were sent up to the left to flank them. At 5:30, these two regiments opened fire on their fortifications which were constructed during the few hours they were allowed to remain in their position. We saw from our position, distant one mile, and on an elevation which commanded the whole ground- that there were four Rebels to one of our men. Hence the 32nd Ohio and 82nd Ohio regiments were ordered to their relief. The 82nd Ohio started before the 32nd but the 32nd passed it and fired the first volley in just 11 minutes after it started from the top of the first hill. The 3rd Virginia regiment was sent up the road farther to drive their right flank. The 32nd Ohio took the advance position on the hill and coolly returned the compliments of thousands of bullets which whistled around our heads.

General Robert Schenk

          After receiving and returning the Rebel fire till about dark, the order was given to fix bayonets for a charge which being promptly done, the 32nd Ohio led the charge with a few of the 82nd to follow, but on reaching the breastworks and discharging our pieces, we found that we were met by a tremendous volley from an overwhelming force. We were obliged to fall back to our old fighting ground, where we held them at a proper distance till all the dead and wounded could be carried off the field.

          At 8:30 we leisurely retired from the fatal field with the loss of 4 killed and 53 wounded. Our regiment fought much better than the general desired for he ordered us to fall back sometime before we did. Thirty minutes was the time he allowed us to hold the position, but we held it for about 3 hours and all others had retired from the field while the 32nd Ohio was still fighting.

          The 25th, 32nd, 75th, and 82nd Ohio regiments along with the 3rd Virginia were engaged in the fight and all did very well. The whole loss was 28 killed and 216 wounded. All the companies of the 32nd were engaged except Cos. B and G; Co. B went to the support of two pieces of artillery and Co. G was in Beverly. John Eoff of Co. G, however, was in the fight and died shortly after receiving a wounded in the abdomen; he feared nothing but fought bravely as did all engaged.

          With our 9 regiments and 5 batteries and about 300 cavalry and with a number of baggage wagons, we commenced to fall back from McDowell at 10 p.m. on the 8th instant. We continued our orderly retreat, stopping to skirmish with the Rebels occasionally, till we reached this place on the 11th instant at 1 p.m. and determined to go no further. On Tuesday morning, all our regiments were called out to welcome the longed-for General John C. Fremont who has with him 20,000 men.

To learn more about the Battle of McDowell, please check out these posts:

First Shots at McDowell with the 73rd Ohio

Battling Jackson's Legions at McDowell with the 75th Ohio 

The Delano Morey Medal of Honor Story (82nd Ohio)

Source:

Letter from Sergeant Major Cyrus A. Stevens, 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Zanesville Daily Courier (Ohio), May 24, 1862, pg. 2

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