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 XX.

With Sherman to the Sea—Colonel Schoonover’s Journal—Siege of Savannah.

Tuesday, the 8th instant, the Twenty-ninth was very busy holding election. Detachments from other organizations were permitted to vote at the Twenty-ninth headquarters. The Twenty-ninth regiment cast three hundred and eighty-four votes. Of these Lincoln received three hundred and fifty and McClellan thirty-four. During the day the regiment was wide awake and enthusiastic, and gave every soldier a chance to vote. At 6:30 A. M. on the following day, while the regiment was in tents eating breakfast, the rebels opened a lively fire with artillery, at short range. The enemy approached our picket, which was posted west of camp, covering the Sandtown road, who were surprised and fell back without firing a shot; hence the first intimation that we had that the enemy was near was the report of their artillery and the bursting of shells in our midst. The Twenty-ninth fell in and took position behind the fortification which the regiment had constructed. In the meantime a line of skirmishers was sent out and soon the enemy were driven back. A portion of the brigade was sent out on the Sandtown road, marched a few miles, but the Confederates had flown, and late in the afternoon the scouting party returned to camp.

November 10th. Remained in camp occupied in the usual camp and picket duties, and the inspection of ammunition, arms, and accoutrements, and all was quiet, and at 8 o’clock in the evening the city of Atlanta took fire and was nearly annihilated. Saturday, the 12th, in camp, and all is quiet. Sunday, November 13th, the Twenty-ninth was detailed to tear up and destroy the railroad, and 7:30 marched out on the railroad leading to Chattanooga, and was engaged until 10 at night in burning the ties and bending the rails. At night the regiment returned to its old camp at Atlanta. 14th instant, in camp; all quiet. A man in company I was injured by falling from a building. 15th instant, marched at 6:30 A. M. on the road leading to Stone mountain in a southeast direction from Atlanta, and at 6 P. M. halted and went into camp (marched fifteen miles). 16th instant, marched at 7:30 A. M., and at 5:15 P. M. halted and camped for the night (marched twelve miles). 17th instant, marched at 5 o’clock A. M., and after marching twelve miles halted for dinner, and at 2 P. M. fell in and marched until 5 P. M., when the regiment halted and went into camp. 18th instant, moved at 4:30 A. M.; marched ten miles, and at 12 M. halted for dinner; fell in at 1 o’clock and at 6 P. M. halted and camped for the night (marched twenty miles during the day). 19th instant, marched at 6:30 A. M.

Twentieth instant, moved fourteen miles and camped for the night near Edenton. 21st, marched through Edenton in the direction of Milledgeville, a distance of sixteen miles, and went into camp. 22d, marched at 5:30 A. M., halted at 12 M. one hour for dinner, and at 1:15 P. M. fell in and marched until 8 o’clock P. M., passed through Milledgeville and crossed the Oconee river and camped for the night. 23d, Twenty-ninth regiment detailed for picket; fell in and moved east about three-fourths of a mile, passing through the woods and advancing into an open country; during its stay on picket duty some of the boys went out on a foraging expedition, and it is not necessary to state that they were successful, and that honey, sweet potatoes, and some fine chickens (which the quartermaster had left), made a very pleasant repast. 24th, received orders to join the brigade; marched at 7 o’clock A. M., and halted at 1:30 for dinner; fell in at 2:15 P. M., halted at 7:30, camped for the night; marched fifteen miles. 25th, moved at 7 A. M., passing through a low country covered with heavy timber and thick undergrowth; the Twenty-ninth was train guard; halted at 12 M., at Buffalo creek, for dinner; found the bridge destroyed; parked the train, and late in the afternoon the bridge was repaired and the regiment with the train crossed, passed through Buffalo swamp and camped for the night; marched twelve miles. 26th, the regiment was ordered up at 3:30 A. M., remained on arms until 7:30, when it marched with the brigade; halted at 1:30 P. M. at Sandersville for dinner, and in the afternoon marched to the Georgia Central railroad, tore up about two miles of track, and at 8:30 went into camp; drew rations of honey for supper. 27th, marched at 5 A. M., reached the railroad at 8:50, tore up the track, and at 2:30 P. M. marched to Davisboro, which it reached at 9 o’clock, and camped here; marched nine miles. 28th, in the forenoon marched back to the railroad, and tore up track until 5 o’clock P. M., then marched back to Davisboro, and camped for the night; nothing special transpired during the night except the burning of a house, which accidentally (?) took fire; search was made in the regiments of the brigade by the staff officers to find out if possible the cause of the fire, but “not guilty” was the response. 29th, marched at 6:30 A. M., halted at 11:30, at Bartlows station, for dinner, and in the afternoon marched through Bostwick and went into camp; marched 14 miles. 30th, marched at 6 A. M., halted at Daniel Blake’s plantation for dinner, and in the afternoon marched four miles and camped for the night.

December 1, 1864, marched at 7:30 A. M., the Second division in the advance, passed through a low, wet country, almost impassable to the ordnance train; halted at 8:15 and camped for the night; marched fifteen miles. 2d, marched at 6 A. M., First brigade in advance; moved about ten miles; halted at 12 M. for dinner, at a creek where the rebels had destroyed the bridge, and while preparing dinner, the Twenty-ninth regiment was ordered to fall in, which it did without delay, and marched to the creek; the enemy was found on its opposite bank in considerable force; the regiment was ordered to drive the enemy out of the timber, force them back and hold them while the bridge was being rebuilt; we loaded our guns, and crossing the bank four companies under Captain Schoonover advanced to the right up the road, through the timber (which was a thick undergrowth) driving the enemy out of the woods and into an open field about one mile from the bridge; barricaded the road with rails, and the other six companies under Major Wright, advanced direct to the point through the woods about one mile, the enemy falling back; the regiment held its position until the bridge was rebuilt, and a crossing effected, and late in the P. M. the brigade moved through the swamp and camped for the night. 3d, remained in camp until after dinner, then moved forward the remainder of the day and all night; had no supper; halted at 7 A. M. for breakfast, near Millen; the old stockade was empty, the prisoners having been removed the day before; after breakfast on the 4th, we moved forward, marched all day, and at 8 P. M. halted and camped for the night. 5th, marched at 7 A. M., halted at 2:30 P. M. for dinner; moved three miles in the afternoon, and at 6 went into camp for the night. 6th, marched ten miles and camped for the night. 7th, marched at 7 A. M., halted at 12:30 for dinner; rained all the forenoon, had no dinner; marched in the afternoon, halted at 7 P. M. and camped for the night, near Springfield; marched twelve miles. 8th, marched at 6:30 A. M. and camped at 4:30 P. M. near Eden.

9th instant at 9 A. M., moved six miles and halted thirty minutes for dinner at Wallhower Swamp, where the Confederates were found in force. The fallen timber which obstructed the road was soon removed by the Pioneer corps, and in the meantime with the Third brigade, of Geary’s division in the advance, had a sharp skirmish with the rebels. While the road was being cleared the Second division were resting on their arms, except the Third brigade, which had advanced nearly through the swamp. While engaged with the enemy the train was ordered forward, and the Twenty-ninth regiment advanced on double-quick in support of the brigade thus engaged. Passing the train it reached the Third brigade, which had advanced about one mile and a half. The Twenty-ninth immediately formed line on the left of the road in rear of the Third brigade, and skirmished until dark, when the firing ceased. During the night the rebels fell back. 10th instant, moved at 7 A. M. and marched through the swamp where we found small earth works and two small field pieces masked to cover the road through the swamp, but when the boys in blue were discovered the rebels moved to the rear. The regiment marched thirteen miles with some skirmishing and artillery firing during the day and night.

When about four miles from the city of Savannah, Georgia, rebel artillery was found to be in the road behind earthworks to impede our progress. The Twenty-ninth regiment, with the brigade, filed to the left of the road and took position in the timber, where it bivouacked for the night. After leaving Atlanta, Georgia, on the 15th day of November, 1864, the army was designated as the Army of Georgia, the Twelfth and Fourteenth corps, known as the left wing, commanded by Major-general H. W. Slocum, and the Fifteenth and Seventeenth corps, known as the right wing, commanded by Major-general O. O. Howard, Major-general William T. Sherman in command of the Army of Georgia.

On this march the army cut loose from the base of supplies at Atlanta, and lived mostly from forage on the country. On reaching the enemy within four miles of Savannah, on the 10th day of December, the division had accumulated several hundred head of cattle. Sunday, December 11th, moved in the morning about one mile, and took a position near the rebel lines, the Twenty-ninth regiment, on the extreme left of the line, with its left reaching the Savannah river. While in this position the rebels opened fire with artillery from a fort immediately in our front, and the infantry from their strong line of works, kept up a continual fire. The brigade remained in line until late in the afternoon, sustaining slight loss, when it fell back through the open field into the woods and laid on arms all night. On the 12th inst., at 2:30 A. M., fell in and advanced to the front about one-half mile to the old levee, and thence filed to the left. Marched about three-fourths of a mile, halted, and prepared to charge the rebels. To do so the right had to pass a dike or canal with four or five feet of water, and assault the fort and breastworks in open field. The charge was abandoned, and at 4:30 A. M. the regiment returned to camp, where we remained skirmishing and artillery firing during the day. On the 13th inst. the Twenty-ninth was on skirmish line all day. During the night we advanced our line through a woods, which was heavy pine, mixed with live oak, within two hundred yards of the rebel line, where they were strongly intrenched. Between the contending armies was no timber except scattering undergrowth, and a canal near the rebel line of works. In this advanced position the regiment dug rifle-pits, which were strongly barricaded with timber.

In the lines of rifle-pits our pickets were stationed and performed the duty of skirmishers, being relieved every twenty-four hours, which was done under cover of night. In the meantime the regiment fell back about one-fourth of a mile, and constructed works of heavy timber, in the rear of which the men put up their shelter tents. Here they could partake of the scanty rations (but dare not sleep), as the artillery firing and skirmishing was kept up continually day and night on the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th; and Sunday, the 18th, skirmishing and artillery duelling all along the line. On the 19th skirmishing all day. In the evening a detail was made from our brigade under the command of Major Myron T. Wright, to construct new lines of works. While engaged in the work at 7 o’clock P. M., he received a severe wound in the left foot (at which time Captain Jonas Schoonover took command), the ball entering the foot a little below the instep, and lodged into the center of the heel about one inch from the bottom of the foot. On the 20th, firing all along the line. This ceased at 11 o’clock P. M. The Twenty-ninth regiment, with its brigade and division, has been in position on the left of the road leading from Springfield to the city of Savannah, with its main line in the timber, its right resting on the river. During the ten days the command remained in front of Savannah it took charge of large rice mills on the river, and supplied the men with rice. The quartermaster used large quantities for the train teams. At one time rice sold for fifty cents per quart (before the capture of Fort McAllister, on December 13th, 1864). The rebels in our front were behind a heavy line of works, which was surmounted with large timber called head logs, with port holes in their front. At their rear was a large body of timber, their right rested on the river, where they had constructed two forts, one near the river, and the other a short distance west along their line, where they had a strong position behind sand bags. But our lines were advancing nearer every day, and during the night of December 20th they evacuated their works, and fell back to Savannah, crossing the river into South Carolina. At 4 A. M., on the 21st day of December, the Twenty-ninth fell in, and moved in the advance of the brigade to the front. Passing the rifle-pits, it filed to the left, across the canal near the rebel fort, finding their works and entire line evacuated. We moved on in the direction of Savannah. On reaching the city, the Twenty-ninth Ohio and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania regiments moved down the river to Fort Jackson, which had been evacuated and set on fire. The regiments reached the fort at 9 A. M., and at 12 o’clock at night the rebels blew up their gunboat Beauregard. We remained at the fort until December 24th, with the usual routine of camp and garrison duty. In the meantime the Twenty-ninth took an inventory of the ordnance and ordnance stores captured by the Twenty-ninth regiment and the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania in Fort Jackson and other forts along the Savannah river. On the 24th instant the regiment was ordered to move at 9 A. M. The Twenty-ninth, in rear of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, marched to the city of Savannah, passing through it, and encamping on the west side.

On the 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th, fixing company quarters, and attending to the usual routine of camp and guard duty. Friday, the 30th, the army reviewed. The Twenty-ninth regiment moved from camp at 8:30 A. M., and marched to Liberty street in the city of Savannah, where it joined the brigade formed on the left, in prolongation with the Sixty-sixth regiment of Ohio volunteers. After review it returned to its old camp at 2 o’clock P. M. Saturday, the 31st, inspection and muster for pay at 10 A. M.

January 1, 1865, monthly inspection at 2 o’clock P. M. 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th, nothing occurred except the usual camp duty. 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, in camp, and up to the 18th the Twenty-ninth was doing camp duty, and on the 18th received news of the fall of Fort Fisher. From the 19th to the 25th engaged in camp duty and regimental drill.

CAPTAIN SCHOONOVER’S REPORT.

Headquarters Twenty-ninth Ohio	⎫
Veteran Volunteer Infantry.	⎬
Savannah, Georgia, Dec. 28, 1864.	⎭

A. H. W. Creigh, first lieutenant, and acting assistant adjutant-general First brigade, Second division, Twentieth corps:

“Lieutenant:—In compliance with circular from headquarters First brigade, Second division, Twentieth corps, dated Savannah, Georgia, December 23, 1864, I have the honor most respectfully to make the following report:

“I took command of the regiment in front of Savannah, Georgia, on December 20, 1864. Nothing worthy of note transpired during the day. At 4 o’clock A. M. of the 21st instant the Twenty-ninth in advance of the First brigade, took up a line of march to the city of Savannah, and from there to Fort Jackson, when I reported to Colonel Flinn, Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, for duty, and performed garrison duty until December 24th, when the regiment was ordered to march at 9:30 A. M. The Twenty-ninth in rear of Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, marched to the city, and through it to the west side, where we are now encamped.

“I am very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Jonas Schoonover,

Captain commanding Twenty-ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteer
Infantry.”

“Headquarters First Brigade,	⎫
Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps.	⎬
Savannah, Georgia, December 25, 1864.	⎭

“Captain W. T. Forbes, assistant adjutant general:

“In compliance with circular order No. 144, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade, from the capture of Atlanta, September 2, 1864, to the occupation of Savannah, Georgia, December 21, 1864, etc., etc.... December 2d, the march was resumed at daybreak and was uninterrupted until Buckhead creek was reached. The bridge over this place was partially destroyed, and a few of the enemy’s cavalry were on the opposite side of the swamp. Major Wright, commanding the Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers, was ordered to cross the creek with his regiment and drive and keep away this force, which was accomplished without loss. The command camped for the night near Buckhead church.... December 12th to December 20th inclusive, a substantial line of works was thrown up for the protection of the command from the artillery of the enemy, and in addition to this two forts, with thirteen embrasures in the aggregate, were constructed by the command. The working parties on Fort No. 2 were under the command of Captain Kreicler, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania volunteers, and those on Fort No. 3 under command of Captain E. B. Woodbury, Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers. Both these officers and the men under their command are deserving of praise for the energy and perseverance manifested in the prosecution of the duty assigned them.

“December 21st, the enemy having evacuated their position the night previous, their works were occupied at an early hour by the skirmishers of the division, and by sunrise the city of Savannah was entered and occupied, this brigade being in line in the advance into the city. Soon after reaching the city, the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania and Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers, under command of Colonel John Flynn, were, by order of the commanding-general of division, through Captain Veale, aide-de-camp, dispatched to occupy Fort Jackson and the smaller forts and batteries near it. The possession of the forts and other works was gained with but slight resistance.

“Inventory of ordnance and ordnance stores captured by the Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers and the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania in Fort Jackson and other forts on the Savannah river: Forty-four thirty-two-pounders, two ten-inch Columbiads, twenty eight-inch Columbiads, two rifled thirty-two-pounders, twelve twenty-four-pounder howitzers, one eight-inch mortar, three three-inch rifled field-pieces, etc., etc. Of the ninety-one guns captured, fourteen only were found to have been spiked and shotted. The gun-carriages were broken and temporarily disabled, and all the implements were broken and destroyed.

“To the regimental commanders I tender my thanks for the strict obedience to orders, and the enforcement of the regulation prescribed in regard to the conduct of the march, and especially are they due to Major M. T. Wright, Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers, who was seriously wounded while supervising the working parties on the forts, for the promptitude exhibited by him in the execution of all orders, and his strict attention to the duties incumbent on him throughout the entire campaign.

“Respectfully submitted,

“Ario Pardee,

Commanding Brigade.”

EXTRACT—OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL GEARY.

“December 29th, a conference of the division and brigade commanders with the general commanding the corps, was held at 10 A. M. to-day, with the view to the adoption of a plan for storming the enemy’s works, as soon as the heavy guns should be in readiness to open fire. Fort No. 1 was finished this evening. The details from the First and Third brigades continued work on the other forts during the night, under a heavy artillery fire from the enemy. Several casualties occurred, among them Major Wright, a most valuable officer, commanding the Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers, who was severely wounded by a shell. Sloan’s battery of three-inch rifled guns had already taken position in a work thrown up to the right of Fort 3, and in the open field.

“December 20th. The usual artillery firing and sharp shooting to-day. By this evening we had constructed and in readiness for use in the contemplated assault, two hundred large straw fascines, to fill up ditches in front of the enemy’s works; also a large number of fascines made of bamboo-cane. The latter were to be used for bridging the canal by laying them across baulks, which were furnished from the pontoon train for that purpose. The work on Forts 2 and 3 was well advanced to-day, and would probably be completed to-night. Three siege-guns (thirty-pounder Parrotts) were brought down this evening and mounted in Fort No. 2. I ascertained this morning that the enemy had completed a pontoon bridge from Savannah across to the South Carolina shore, and notified the general commanding corps of the discovery. This bridge was about two and a half miles from my left. The usual artillery firing was kept up by the enemy during the day and night. During the night I heard the movement of troops and wagons across the pontoon bridge before mentioned, and sent a report of the fact to the general commanding corps. Leaving one of my staff to watch the sounds in that direction, I notified my officer of the day and brigade commanders to keep a vigilant watch upon the enemy, as they were probably evacuating. The details on Forts 2 and 3 continued working through the night, the enemy shelling them heavily.

“December 21st. After 3 o’clock this morning the firing ceased, and my pickets advancing to the enemy’s line, found them hastily retreating. Having possession of their line of works with all their cannon in front of my own and the other division of the corps, I immediately sent a staff officer to notify the general commanding, and at the same time pushed forward rapidly in the direction of Savannah, hoping to overtake and capture a part of the enemy’s force. My skirmishers deployed and swept over all the ground between the evacuated works and the Ogeechee canal, from the river to the Augusta road, while my main body of troops marched rapidly by the flank through McAlpin’s plantation to the Augusta road, and on into the city. Just outside of the city limits near the junction of the Louisville and Augusta roads, I met the mayor of Savannah and a delegation from the board of alderman, bearing a flag of truce. From them I received in the name of my commanding general the surrender of the city. This was at 4:30 A. M., and I sent immediately another staff officer to announce the surrender to the general commanding the corps. He had considerable difficulty in passing the line of another division of this corps on the Augusta road, but finally convinced them that he belonged to the Twentieth corps and not to the enemy. In the meantime my entire division entered the city of Savannah at early dawn, and before the sun first gilded the morning clouds, our National colors, side by side with those of my own division, were unfurled from the dome of the exchange, and over the United States custom house. The brigade which led on entering the city, was at once ordered to patrol it, reduce it to order and quiet, and prevent any pillaging or lawlessness on the part either of soldiers or citizens. My orders on the subject were very strict, and within a few hours this city, in which I had found a lawless mob of low whites and negroes pillaging and setting fire to property, was reduced to order. Many millions of dollars worth of cotton, ordnance and commissary stores, etc., which would have been otherwise destroyed, were saved to the United States Government, and the citizens once more enjoyed security under the protection of that flag which again waved over them, exactly four years since the passage by the State of South Carolina of the Secession Act.

“Two regiments from Pardee’s brigade, the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania and Twenty-ninth Ohio veteran volunteers, were sent down to Fort Jackson, and early in the morning had possession of it and all the intermediate and surrounding works. The iron-plated ram, Savannah, which lay in the river below the city, threw shells at these two regiments as they flung the stars and stripes to the breeze from the walls of Fort Jackson. All the other gun-boats of the enemy had been fired by them and burned to the water’s edge.

“On the arrival of the major-general commanding the left wing, I was, by his order, placed in command of the city. Until nearly 10 A. M. continued firing was heard in the direction of Beaulieu, and supposing that a portion of the enemy might still be south of us, I kept one brigade under arms during the forenoon. Three rebel flags were captured by my command, which will be duly forwarded.

“I am, Colonel, very-respectfully

Your obedient servant,

John W. Geary,

Brigadier-general commanding Second division Twentieth corps.”