So large a portion of the regiment being now captured, we propose to follow their fortunes into Rebeldom as a regiment. Company D acting as provost guard to Gen. Milroy, went out with the balance of the army, doing guard duty at various points until the regiment was again organized, as will subsequently appear. After the surrender of the forces by Col. Ely, as narrated, the men of the 123d were marched into the fort at Winchester, and there confined until such time as the Rebels could make it convenient to take them to their future prison.
Now, indeed, did the situation seem anything but cheerful; the Rebel army had passed north, and as we supposed, were marching about unopposed, over the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania. They had made their boasts that some of the great cities of the North should taste the horrors of war, and we did not know but at that moment Lee’s hordes might be running riot through the streets of Philadelphia. The cause of the Union, the cause for which we had suffered, seemed at a low ebb. It will be remembered that we were now passing through a phase of life entirely different from anything heretofore experienced. Very few of us had ever been in duress for a single instant; and thus to be deprived of our liberties, to become the creatures of another’s will, it is not surprising that our faith for a time weakened, and the darkness of despair seemed well nigh upon us. We, however, were treated with some degree of humanity by the Rebels, and received many proofs that there were some good and true Union people living in Winchester, for which they, one year later, received satisfactory and substantial tokens of our esteem.
On the afternoon of the 16th, the men were started on their long journey to Richmond, arriving at Staunton on the 22d, distant ninety miles. Here we took the cars for Richmond, arriving there on the 23d. It seemed as though the entire Rebel capitol had turned out to see the Yankees, and would hoot and hiss at us as we passed along. The officers took up their quarters at Hotel-de-Libby; the men were furnished accommodations on “Belle-Isle,” which by the way was nothing more nor less than a large sand bank, with a few trees upon it, situated near the south bank of the James River. We were closely guarded, not even allowed the privilege of buying one of their own papers, though we managed to get one now and then from the guards. It is needless to recount our sufferings here, as no pen can do adequate justice to the subject. I will only say that the meat and soup were full of maggots, and the bread so stale and sour as to be almost unpalatable, these constituting our eatables, while the water we drank was even worse.
On the 6th of July the majority of the men were paroled, and were taken to City Point, by rail, via Petersburg, and delivered to the United States authorities. Never were the Stars and Stripes more enthusiastically cheered, than when we first saw them streaming from the Flag of the Truce boat; once on board we had plenty to eat, and soon all were in high spirits. On arriving at Annapolis—where those left in prison joined us one week later—we were furnished new clothing throughout, our old ones being full of “gray-backs,” and were supplied with comfortable quarters. Very soon the boys began to scatter to their homes, where most of them were allowed to remain until they were exchanged, after which time they were ordered to report at Camp Chase. About the 1st of September, most of them were on hand, and soon after were sent to Martinsburg, Virginia, where the detachment of the regiment which had escaped from Winchester were located under command of Maj. Horace Kellogg, who had sufficiently recovered from his wound to again take the field.
From this time the history of our organization, as a regiment again commences. At this place we were newly armed and equipped, and being deficient in officers, twenty-one being still in prison, were engaged mainly in provost and picket duty until March 1st 1864. During the month of November, Adjutant McCracken, with one non-commissioned officer from each company was sent to Ohio to recruit, and fill up our depleted ranks. Very good success was met with, adding one hundred and twenty-eight men to our effective force; some promotions were also made; sergeants S. A. Johnson, Elmer E. Husted, Charles M. Keyes and Martin W. Willoughby were promoted to 2d lieutenants. The winter was quietly spent in camp, which was located one-half mile west of town; when the weather permitted, drilling by company and squad occurred daily, so that when spring opened, the regiment was in good condition and ready for any duty which might turn up. On March 1st, 1864, the companies were distributed as guards along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, between Harpers Ferry and Monocacy Junction, with headquarters at Martinsburg.
About the 26th of March the regiment was collected together at Martinsburg where Gen. Siegel was concentrating troops preparatory to a movement up the valley; and from the orders issued to our little army, we knew that our season of inaction was drawing to a close. On the 29th we broke camp at Martinsburg and marched out to Bunker Hill, remaining there two or three days, when we proceeded to Winchester and encamped about two miles beyond the city; a portion of the regiment was sent into the city, under command of Capt. Snyder to act as provost guard, with orders to search the town, which was done, and a large collection of old guns, swords and accoutrements were collected together and destroyed. About the 1st of May our forces moved up the valley as far as Cedar Creek, where they remained until the 10th making the final preparations for our grand raid on Lynchburg. Baggage was cut down to the minimum; each soldier was provided with an extra pair of shoes, and loaded down with rations and ammunition, we broke camp, and moved leisurely on through Strasburg, Woodstock, and Mt. Jackson, to New Market, where, on the night of the 14th we struck the enemy in some force, our brigade having the advance, we had a lively little skirmish, but of short duration, the Rebels soon giving way. We laid on our arms during the night, but no attack was made.
The next morning our brigade was maneuvered around in various directions, the artillery placed in position, and things began to look as though a battle was imminent, but for some unknown reason, the remainder of our little army was not brought up; about noon the enemy opened upon us with artillery, to which our batteries rapidly replied, and soon their lines could be seen coming across the fields, two deep, one directly behind the other, with a heavy line of skirmishers in advance, and nothing but our brigade to receive them. We were in a good position, and with the artillery on either flank, awaited their approach. Soon our cannons opened on their rapidly advancing lines, dealing death and destruction, but not checking them for an instant; on they came, sweeping like an avalanche upon our little band. We held our fire until they were almost within pistol shot, when we poured in our volleys, with terrific effect; rapidly were our well directed volleys given, doubling their first line back upon their second, that still came unfalteringly on, lapping by our little line, both on the right flank and the left, rapidly firing as they advanced until our little band could no longer withstand their overwhelming numbers, and slowly we began to retire—taking our cannon back through a cedar thicket, our pathway marked with the blood of our braves. As they appeared over the eminence we had lately occupied, they poured in upon us such a storm of shot and shell, so thick that the very air seemed alive with bullets. On passing through here on our way up the valley a month later, we examined this spot, and found scarce a tree or bush unmarked, showing that the fire at this point must have been severe indeed.
On the crest of the hill beyond another stand was made, which checked their advance for a short time, but soon we were again compelled to fall back, this time pretty badly shattered. Major Kellogg, commanding the regiment, had his horse shot from under him and received quite a severe wound himself. He, however, was supplied with another horse by the officer commanding a battery near at hand, and again rallying his command, which fell back in good order. By this time we had reached our reserves on Rood’s Hill, about three miles from where the attack commenced, which checked the enemies advance until night put an end to the conflict.
In this engagement the regiments loss was sixty-three in killed and wounded, and twenty-six missing. The missing being all taken prisoners, many of whom were afterwards slowly tortured to death in prison. The army was now drawn back to Ceder Creek, where we arrived on the 17th. Gen. Siegel had been relieved and Gen. Hunter placed in command.