THE RESCUED NEGROES.
On our march through Georgia and South Carolina, the negroes swarmed to our lines. Here they came in all styles and conditions, some of them presenting a pitiful sight, while the appearance of others was comical in the extreme. Here would be a mother, bare headed, and bare footed, her clothing in rags and tatters, carrying a babe in her arms, while two others were clinging to her dress, doing all they could to keep up with her. Here would be two, a man and a woman, probably his wife, in "ole massa's" carriage, dressed up in "ole massa's and misses'" clothes that had been left behind when "massa and misses" fled before the approach of our army. Hitched to this buggy or carriage would be an animal, either a horse or a mule, such an one as would be described as an architectural animal, with fluted sides, and a hand rail down its back. But what cared Pomp and Dinah for the appearance of the stud as long as he would bear them on to liberty? There they would sit, laughing and chatting together, dressed in finer clothes than they had ever before worn, as happy as happy could be, keeping up with us while on the march, and going into camp when we camped at night. Many of these negroes were put to serviceable uses as pioneers, others as cooks, etc., but employment could not be furnished for the half of them, and they were getting to be an incubus to the army. On our line of march we often had to cross bayous of great depth and considerable width. When we arrived at such places, the pontoon train would be ordered up and a bridge thrown across, over which the army marched. Gen. J. C. Davis, our corps commander, thought that by stopping the negroes as they came to the banks of the bayou, and holding them there until the army had crossed, and the pontoons had been taken up, they could be kept back.
So orders to that effect were issued. A guard under command of Major Lee, the provost general of the corps, was stationed on the bank of a bayou and every negro, unless an officer's servant, or in charge of a pack mule, was halted and held there until the rear guard of the corps had crossed, then the pontoons were taken up, and the darkies left behind. It seemed to be a cruel order, but it was necessary, for our rear was very generally followed at a safe distance, however, by roaming bands of guerillas and bushwhackers, and it is to be feared that their usage of these unfortunate creatures, whenever they fell into their hands, was cruel in the extreme, and they themselves dreaded falling into the hands of their old oppressors. The consequence was that the next day the darkies again made their appearance, seemingly stronger than before as to numbers. How they managed to cross the bayou, infested as these bayous were with alligators, we do not know, but cross they did, and again took up their line of march with us as before. They had outwitted the general and were bothered no more in their endeavors to obtain freedom from persecution and oppression.
PERSONAL MENTION.
In giving the reader some instances of special acts of heroism, the writer has not the slightest wish or disposition, far from it, to unjustly discriminate against the same meritorious qualities displayed by others. On the contrary, he would be only too glad to make particular mention of all such, even at the risk of swelling this book beyond its intended proportions, but unfortunately for him, the writer is not informed of all such acts, nor the peculiar circumstances under which they were made manifest. All who did their duty, were necessarily brave and true. Those who did grandly under extraordinary circumstances, were possibly no better soldiers, but were in condition to more brilliantly display these qualities; and as their connection with the regiment gave them their opportunity, so should their deeds become the property of the regiment, and their memory our common heritage.
LIEUTENANT GEORGE SCROGGS.
Lieutenant George Scroggs was a young officer of more than ordinary intelligence; quick to apprehend duty, and bold in the execution of commands. We first remember him as our sergeant major, and how he used to rattle the boys out of their blankets, long before daylight, during the cold season when we occupied the suburbs of Nashville. Afterwards he was commissioned as lieutenant of company E, then detailed on the division staff, first as ordnance officer, and then commissary of musters. Time, experience, and natural aptitude, served to teach him what the duties of a staff officer should be, until, perhaps, no officer on the staff of the division general, understood them better. All who were engaged in it, will remember the battle of Bentonville, N. C., on March 19th, 1865. How the third brigade was sent from its intrenchments by General Morgan, and thrown out towards the Goldsboro road, to intercept the rebel column then in hot pursuit of Gen. Carlin's retreating forces. How the right wing of the brigade was struck, and doubled back on the center and left, and finally retreated to the batteries beyond the open field. How, too, we soon rallied and reoccupied the lost ground, each man carrying a rail, and began the work of intrenching. How communication with General Morgan, and the first and second brigades was cut off, leaving Lieut. Scroggs and Captain Stinson, of Gen. Morgan's staff, with our brigade, unable to reach their command. In this dilemma, instead of seeking a safe retreat as they might, and too many would have done, until communication was opened with their own general, they at once reported to Col. Langley for duty as volunteer aids. You will also remember the fact that constant firing, threatened every minute, our stock of ammunition, and the equally constant firing of the enemy, made a passage to our supplies across the open field to our rear, exceedingly hazardous. The colonel had already ordered two or three staff officers, and as many orderlies, beyond the hill for ammunition, but with no good result, though reports came back to him that it had been ordered, and the wagons were on the way. Shortly an orderly reported that two wagons were just over the crest of the ridge, but were afraid to go further, and had refused to do so. The colonel immediately dispatched Lieut. Scroggs to proceed and bring these two wagons at all hazards. The moment he received the order, he sank his spurs into his horse, and dashed across the field towards where the insubordinate drivers were supposed to be, through a perfect storm of bullets and exploding shells, until he disappeared from view beyond. Every heart at the front beat with intense anxiety. We had already been ordered to economize our supply. Some were entirely out of cartridges and were borrowing from others. A few rounds to the man had been obtained from a brigade of the 20th army corps, and these were nearly all gone. Our position became critical, but in a few moments, looking again to the rear, we saw the brave lieutenant returning at the same speed with which he had left us and with him were the wagons and ammunition so much desired, and looked for by all, moving to the threatening motion of George's sword. They were just in time, for our firing could have continued but little longer, and they were welcome in proportion to our danger. George had found the wagons as he expected, and immediately ordered the teamsters to mount and follow him, but their fear still deterred them, and they refused, and only obeyed the commands when he drew his sword, and in language more forcible than elegant, threatened them with vengeance more terrible than rebel bullets had power to inflict. Towards sundown the lieutenant was severely wounded in a further attempt to reach his commanding officer. This afflicted him more or less during the remainder of his days. Precisely how far he was instrumental in saving the honor of the brigade, and the lives of many of the members by his timely execution of so important an order on that bloody 19th of March, may never be known, but the memory of a brave act, voluntarily performed in the face of grave danger, merits our highest commendation, and we cheerfully place this tribute of respect upon the recently made grave of Lieutenant George Scroggs.