Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-12-13
GeneraIKilpa trick.


get the lecture to be delivered by General
here, ON the 18th inst. Equally probable,
all who are able to % will be present.
The General has everywhere received
the highest praise as public lecturer,
and his subject is certainly one which can
not but interest everyone-recalling, as it
does, the excitement of sswar times" and
bringing again the thrill of wild triumph
which swept over the land as day by day
was received the news of Sherman's pro-
gress in that world wide famous "March
to the Sea-
A reporter of the JOURNAL, in speaking
of those days to Captain j. b. Kilbeurne.
of Company =" 10th o. V. l., received a
store of anecdote and incident connected
with that two months ride, that would
well repay the publication, could it be
given, with the force of tone and gesture
as heard. But as being especially appropos
to the lecture to be given, we give below
sketch of the day and night Immediately
preceding the .'Start for the Gulf" So far
as possible, we have endeavored to retain
phreseology and expressions:
The cavalry forces under command OF
General j. fitzpatrick were stationed at
Marietta, Ga, thirty miles north of Attain
Ia. The rebel general Hood with his ell
tire army had crossed the Chattahoose
River and was in our rear marching on to
Nashville. General Sherman with two
corps of infantry and his cavalry had just
returned from the chase, leaving the
enemy near the s'Blue Mountain to the
watchful care of General Thomas, the
ssfallen hero" The railroad had been par
4 fioIl w
ing rapidly sent forward. Couriers and
orderlies, with dispatches and orders
could be seen riding on the gallop to the
different commands, and everyone seemed
wild with excitement. Such was the sit
nation of affairs the day before the Grand
March. 8*1
The sun rose bright and clear on the
morning of the 18th of November, 1854, and
the cool frosty air seemed to give shriller
sound than ever to the call of the bugles at
reveilIe, inspiring the soldiers to prompt
ness at nearly the last roll-call before our
final departure. The army had been paid
day or so before, and the morning was
spent in letter writing; gathering up and
burn ing all extra baggage and unseryice-
able arms, and. in TACT. everything that
could impede our march tnen came the
shoeing Of the horses, mending briddles
and saddles, etc. At noon our
last letter home was sealed,
and as the last train OF. cars north rolled
III.
it had gone, but for the same reason that
a boy Whistles in the dark. E'to keep their
courage up.'' Just then officers call re-
vealed the fact that the entire cavalry
command was to have an inspection, after
which to be reviewed by Mai. General
Sherman aud staff. Then came the cleaning
and Frightening of arms, as each company,
regiment and brigade seemed to vie with
each other, as to which should add most
to the display and honor of our brave and
-p1 linn
rick. At O'Clock the bugles sounded "as-
sembly;" then came s'boots and saddles
followed by each compacy leading into
line of regimental formation and marching
to the review grounds which lay about
mile to the east of town. The field was
large and the ground rolling, well calcu-
lated for an occasion like this. The 1st
brigade formed on the right, the Sd on the
left and I'd in the center. The line being
formed, no time was lost for the review.
As the Inspecting officer made his appear
ance at the right of the column, each Colo
mel of the several regiments accompanied
him through their command only. together
with the Captain while they passed from
right to left of their companies. During
the inspection which occupied perhaps an
hour every soldier seemed to look like
statuary, sitting perfectly erect with his
eye to the front. while the Brig. comman-
ders and field officers sat upon their hor-
ses in their respective positions. The
cavalry command at this time numbered
nearly ten thousand mounted men all
told. Both officers and soldiers never
seemed in better spirits, as this was
OLr first review by General Sherman.
just as the inspection of the last Company
closed, General Fitzpatrick and his staff
came dashing down the road with colors
flying, followed by Gen. Sherman aud his
staff officers, our band playing @Hail to
the Chief" taking their position directly
in front and center, perhaps ten rods dis
pied more elevated position still in their
rear. The bugle call soon brought all OF
the line officers directly in line before him,
while he addressed them nearly as fol
lows: "Oficers, you are about to pass ill
review before the reviewing officer, Maj
| Gen. Sherman and staff: see to it that y Ou
| keep your men we'll in hand, and lines per-
feet; and as you come within wheeling
| distance. salute. Instruct both officers
and soldiers. as you pass, to look daggGrs
at the General; let him know you are full 4,
of fight! Officers, to your pOstsi march!
Then came the command, '.Attention-
draw sabers.' just then, the band STRUCK
up and the Chief Bugler sounded ''For-
ward" the right of the column wheeling
| in line of plattoons and marching in re
| view, first at walk. and the second time
| at 4 tfot, aad third time on the gallop.-
| The bright sun gave Q glitter of stee
blades and arms that day, the equal to
which, probably never will be witnessed
| on the ground of our formation, wheeled
| into line. received the congratulations o
our Colonel, while Gen. Sherman and Kill
patrick, together with their staff and bri
gade commands, retired from the field
amid ten thousand cheers. Then break
/ ing ranks, we returned to camp as W.
came. Not o few troopers felt the NORTH
cation Of being dismoHnted while
leaping bitches, by the falling Of thei
horses. The military display Of the da,
was scarcely equaled at our review at Sa
wanna. After long, hard, and victorious
march of siNty-four days, never restin!
out OF oar saddles but one-half day durin!
| the entire ssMarch TO the Sea, Genera
to the army: Ito burn all the cotton, de
stroy all railroad communications, mills
factories. ETC., and to forage literally o.
the country through which we passed.
strictly complied with, particularly tha
portion relating to foraging. In compli
ance with the above orders, shortly afte
the last train leaving Marietta the work O
destruction commenced by detail firinl
the depot building and store houses whic
in the destruction Of nearly the entir
business portion OF The place, togethe
with many private residences. As the SUI
went down, the fires seemed to increase
and the darkness revealed the light @
bu rning buildings for miles around, Eve
the old Military School building whic
stood over on the heights, was on fire
General Sherman. am told was once
|. teacher in this military school some year
before the war. Above all, still far beyon,
in the darkness, could be seen the light @
} the burning city OF -Atlanta.s Sayin
nothing of the hundreds OF army wagon
that had been piled up, together wit
thousands Of bushels of forage, condemn
ed ordinance surplus tentage and the like
: all on fire. 4 wilder ecene than this ha
never Witnessed before. AS we sat out b.
our quarters contemplating the situatie
and what was before us, request cam
from the Colonel saying, General KilpP
! trick desires to see all of his officers a
his headquarters that night at O'Clock
This reminded me of "Our Lords Las
Sacrameptal Feast" and SO it proved t
be our last gathering with many Of thos
officers present on that memorable night.
or course we found the General at 6om
and in full dress, prepared to give his Off
GERS cordial and welcome reception
, This l think, was the first and only time
(eXcept one, after the war while at Green
boro, n. g., his officers presented him wit
q very beautiful and costly sabre, an
| nah cd mar \