Journal History of the Twenty-Ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, 1861-1865 / Its Victories and its Reverses. And the campaigns and battles of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, the March to the Sea, and the campaign of the Carolinas, in which it bore an honorable part

by J. Hamp SeCheverell

CHAPTER X.

Return to Washington—Embark for New York—Return—Transferred to the Western Army.

The pursuit of the retreating enemy was commenced by the Twelfth army corps at 1 o’clock P. M., on July 5th. At night we encamped at Littletown, Pennsylvania, and on the following morning moved by the way of Frederick to Antietam creek. On the 7th instant we marched through Frederick, filed to the right, and passed by a rebel spy that was hanging to a limb of a tree. We moved a short distance, and halted, where we remained all night. On the 8th we marched over the mountains in the direction of Sharpsburg. On the 9th we passed over the battlefield, and camped near Fairplay, Maryland. On the 10th we moved through the town, and camped for the night near Falling waters. On the following day we advanced to Fairplay, a small town to the south of St. James’ college, and the Twenty-ninth regiment, with its customary good (?) fortune, was thrown out as skirmishers, and during the day exchanged frequent shots with the enemy’s cavalry, and at night resting in position on the extreme front.

During the night rebel cavalry approached very near our line, but our orders were positive not to fire unless attacked. On the following morning we were relieved and retired to the main line, where we assumed position as support to Knapp’s battery, which was hotly engaged at intervals during the day.

On the morning of the 13th instant we rejoined our brigade, anticipating an attack. Riflepits were thrown up and due preparation made. The enemy are strongly fortified between St. James’ college and Williamsport, some two miles distant, and on the 14th he was reported as falling back across the Potomac. Heavy cannonading is heard towards the river, and the First division of General Williams advances in reconnoissance, the Second acting as support. A dispatch states that Lee’s army, in full retreat, began crossing the river yesterday, continued through the night and to-day. Our troops are hotly engaged with his rear guard, and we remain in position until the morning of the 18th, when we move briskly forward in pursuit of the fleeing chivalry, who were now across the Potomac in Virginia. We marched via Sharpsburg and Antietam.

While passing through the woods three men were shot by Mosby’s cavalry. A march of sixteen miles and we halt within three miles of Harper’s Ferry. At Sandy Hook we remain until the morning of the 19th instant, when we move forward via Harper’s Ferry, to Hillsboro, Virginia.

On the following morning we are early on the move, advancing as far as Snickersville, near the gap of that name, where pickets are thrown out and we bivouac for the night. We remain here for two days, during which time we muster and pass in review. Colonel W. T. Fitch recently promoted, and who has been absent on leave since March 28th, joined us here, and assumed command.

On the morning of the 23d we again moved forward, passing through Upperville and on to Ashby’s gap, where, at a late hour, we go into camp. Having marched thirty miles since morning sleep was sweet that night, with mother earth for a bed, and only heaven’s blue canopy for a cover. At 3 o’clock on the morning of the 24th we march rapidly forward through the villages of Markham and Linden, halting for dinner at Manassas gap, then forward, changing direction by column to the south-southeast, in the direction of White Plains. Marching sixteen miles we halted for the night.

The next day we marched to White Plains, and the next by the way of Thoroughfare gap, Haymarket, and Greenwich, the latter a pretty little village, settled by English people, for whose protection guards were stationed, as they were in fact in many instances for the protection of rebel property. After a brief halt we marched forward via Catlett’s station and Warrenton, where we joined the First and Eleventh corps of our army and encamped for the night, then forward again to Kelley’s Ford, on the Rappahannock, when, after a short visit, the brigade took cars for Alexandria, Virginia, under orders for New York city, to quell the memorable draft riots induced by the Southern sympathizers and copperheads.

On August 23d we embarked on the steamer Baltic and moved down the Potomac. When near its outlet we went fast aground. This action occurred about noon on the 24th, and three days elapsed before we were again on the move. On the 28th, at 9:45 A. M., we round Cape Henry and strike the swells of the Atlantic. A rough sea soon sends many of the command to the rail to—well, if the reader was ever seasick he will appreciate the situation. It is not pleasant to linger long upon this scene; the recollection of it, even now, almost destroys one’s interest in sublunary affairs.

On the 29th we pass the narrows and enter New York harbor, coming to anchor near Governor’s Island at 12 o’clock M.

From our anchorage the view was grandly beautiful with the immense shipping, Brooklyn on the right, New York to the front, and Jersey City on the left. On the left of Governor’s Island Castle William (now used as a magazine) stands out in bold relief. To its right is the fort which protects the harbor. On September 1st we disembarked and went into camp on the island. The men are in fine spirits and delighted with the change.

The troubles in the city having subsided we re-embarked aboard the Baltic, which, on the 8th day of September, heads towards the sea. When passing the narrows the guns of the fort thunder a salute; soon Sandy Hook is passed and we are again in the open sea, all happy at the prospect of going to the front, the inactivity of camp life with nothing to do having become tiresome in the extreme.

On September 10th we came to anchor in Chesapeake Bay, where we remained one day, then passed on again to Alexandria, disembarked, and went into camp to the south of the town. Two days later and we again move forward to Elk creek, where we encamp for the night.

September 16th, marched at 6 A. M., reached the Rappahannock at noon, and here rejoined our old brigade, moved forward to Raccoon ford on the north side of the Rapidan. General Lee’s forces are massed on the opposite shore of the river, and as we came up our ears were greeted with the pleasing sound of rapid musketry firing proceeding from the pickets of the two armies. During the afternoon we witnessed the execution of two deserters from the Seventy-eighth New York.

During the last of September we learned of the defeat of the Western army at Chickamauga, and the Twelfth corps was at once transferred to the Department of the West, and without delay proceeded by rail to Washington, and thence via Wheeling, Columbus, Indianapolis, Nashville, to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where we arrived October 5th.

After a few days’ rest the regiment again resume the march, passing Duck river, Bell Buckle, and Wartrace, when the Seventh Ohio halted, while the Twenty-ninth moved on to Normandy, on the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad. Here it remained in camp, with the usual routine of camp and picket duty until late in October, when the regiment and brigade broke camp, took the cars for Bridgeport, Alabama, where it arrived on the 27th, disembarked, and camped for the night. On the morning of October 28th the Twenty-ninth regiment crossed the Tennessee river with the wagon train. Halting at Shellmound for dinner, marched until late in the evening, and halted near White Sides, where all camped for the night. About 11 o’clock P. M. artillery firing, with heavy volleys of musketry, was heard in the direction of Chattanooga, continuing two or three hours.