Chapter 92

CHAPTER XCII

The Division arrived about eight o’clock, a. m., when we took our place in the column and turned to the right and moved in the direction of Springfield, about 9 miles, when we went into camp and remained over night.

On the 7^th, we broke camp and marched to within three miles of Springfield, making a distance of about 12 miles.

Thursday, 8^th.  We moved through the town of Springfield and marched about 10 miles on the other side of town, marching about 12 miles.

During the day’s marching we heard some heavy guns firing in the direction of Savannah, or the right of it.  On this day’s march we passed a large drove of our cattle, which in attempting to drive them across a swamp the cattle drivers drove them into a morass and they sank into the mud until nothing but their heads remained above the ground, and finally they disappeared from sight.  Thus in a day we lost over two hundred head of cattle which we had collected on the few last days of our march, and which we had intended to hold in reserve for a case of necessity.

Friday, 9^th.  We marched within 15 miles of Savannah where the enemy had 2 small sand forts erected and the roads blockaded with fallen trees.  We encamped for the night after a short march of about 5 miles.

Saturday, 10^th.  We marched about 8 miles and en­camped within 7 miles of the city, where we encamped for the night.

Sunday, 11^th.  We marched about three miles and came to a halt within about 4 miles from the city and commenced to build breast works, after which the troops were placed in position around the enemy’s work, and the first steps towards the capture of the city of Savannah were commenced.  After our works were completed we began to examine the enemy’s position.

In front of our Brigade a large low tract of open ground was to be seen and beyond this in a strip of woods, the enemy had a heavy line of earth-works erected.

Upon closer investigation the open field in our front proved to be a rice plantation, and as arrangements had been made by the means of sluice gates, whereby a bed of water from four to five feet deep could be readily flooded over it, which was necessary to cause the rice to ripen and which now formed a strong feature in connection with the strong earthworks as a means of defense.

The rebel troops were commanded by Lt. Gen. Hardee, a brave and experienced officer, who was idolized by his men and we had reason to fear that the enemy would stubbornly contest our attempt to capture the city, and in fact our position, liable to be moved upon by an army collected in our rear, made it desirable to force the capitulation of the city at the very earliest possible moment.

The enemy contented himself by occasionally throwing shells into our lines, occasionally wounding, and also killing a few men belonging to our Brigade, among the latter we remember, Major Wright of the gallant 29^th Ohio.

During the shelling upon a certain morning, while Keller was issuing rations to the Brigade, having brought his wagons in sight of the rebel artillerists, and as a natural consequence their guns were trained in that direction and for a time the shells fell quite lively around the teams.  Col. Pardee came up and ordered the teamsters to drive back out of danger.  John T. Mark and Jersey Francis Smith, were on their way to the regi­ment, carrying a quarter of beef on a pole on their shoulders, the meat hanging down between them, when a shell struck the beef, breaking the tendon by which it was hung on the pole, and it fell on the ground between them, without doing any further harm.  This we consider as one of those unaccountable and almost miraculous escapes which frequently occur in the life of a soldier.  The men were considerably shocked by this occurrence and it was quite a little spell before they felt like shouldering the meat again and carrying in to the regiment.

Tuesday, 13^th.  The Union Troops under Gen. Hazen made an attack on Fort McAllister and by means of a gallant charge carried the Fort by storm, capturing the garrison and the Fort with its entire equipage, thus opening the way for the capitulation of the city and removing all obstacles to the opening of communications.

From our works we could plainly hear the heavy cannonading as the big guns belched forth their iron balls into the column of the brave men who were marching into the jaws of death, and we were anxiously awaiting the result, and when we heard of its capture a load was lifted from our shoulders, and the rejoicing in  our ranks was very great.

Friday, 16^th.  Gen. Foster opened communications with General Sherman on the Ogeechee River, and our hearts were again made glad with the arrival of hard-tack and other necessary supplies, all of which were most cheerfully received, as for the past week or ten days, our principle sustenance had been rice for the men and rice straw for the animals.  According to Ed. Smith’s orders, the following was the Bill of Fare at the Hotel Uncle Sam.

Breakfast—Boiled Rice, Coffee and Beef, either raw, roasted on the coals, or boiled in a tin cup.

Dinner— Rice, Coffee, Beef, broiled, fried or roasted.  Dessert—Rice; Side Dishes—boiled Rice.

Supper—The remains of the breakfast and dinner warmed over with a little more RICE.

Saturday, 17th.  The first mail came in via coast on the Ogeechee River, and how glad we were to hear from our loved ones once again.  Some of the boys received as many as one dozen of letters.

On Sunday night the 18^th, our Division was drawn up in line of battle, and arrangements were made to carry the enemy’s works in our front by a night attack.  The night was cold, dark and dreary, and as we were not allowed to build fires to keep warm, for fear of arousing the suspicions of the enemy, and as may readily be conceived, we suffered considerable.  At about 12 o’clock, midnight, the order was countermanded and the men were allowed to break ranks and retire for the night well pleased with the turn affairs had taken.

Tuesday night 20^th.  The enemy opened upon our works with a severe artillery fire and the shot and shell flew in and around us in liberal profusion, but very little harm was done our men by the missiles, as they all appeared to fly wild of their mark.  The firing was kept up until after midnight, and when morning dawned the enemy had fled, and the White Star Division troops of General Geary were the first to enter the city, and in honor of the event General Geary was appointed Military Governor of the city.

Thus it will be seen that our Division was the first to enter the city of Savannah as well as Atlanta, which speaks well of the vigilance and energy of its able commander, showing that he was always willing and ready to strike a blow at the right time.

Our regiment marched into the city on the morning of the 21^st, at about day-break and found in the language of the smoked yanks “de rebs have done gone for sartin suah.”  The regiment was moved to the old United States Barracks, where we remained one day.

After our troops had taken possession of the city, in the morning about eight o’clock, a terrible explosion took place and which proved to be the powerful rebel ram Arkansas, which had been moored in the Savannah River a short distance outside of the city and which they had blown up with a slow match, in order to prevent it from falling into our hands, and as the ram was acknowledged to be one of the most powerful iron-clads in the Confederate service, they knew the injury she would be capable of doing them if allowed to fall uninjured into our hands and hence they destroyed her by means of gunpowder, and the noble old Ram was totally destroyed.

On Friday, 23^rd, the regiment moved into Madison square, here we remained until the 26^th, when we moved into a fine city park on the south side of Gaston Street.  The park had a fine large fountain in it.  Here the men were ordered to build winter quarters and to make themselves comfortable.

On Christmas, the writer and quite a number of the boys attended Catholic Church and witnessed the imposing ceremony of celebrating “High Mass,” after which we partook of a royal dinner, especially prepared for the occasion.