The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-12

enough to the camp to hear the commands given
by the officers.
The first Indiana soldier killed was Private
Smith of the Seventh. He was one Of tAe most
efficient scouts, and was a sure shot Some
rebel sharp sbooters had secured position be-
hind some rocks and were picking off our sklrm-
ishers. Smith erawled to log about two hun
dred yards from them and from whence he could
take them in flank. From this place he opened
fire. and so deadly was his aim that the rebels
broke and fled, Smith arose from his conceal
ment with a shout, when the rebels turned and
fred volley at him, killing him instantly.
While lying at Bennington. a private of the
Seventh, one day mounted q stump in full view
of the rebels, and in loud voice, read an ac
count of the death of jeff Davis, from a news
paper he held in his hand. The account was the
emanaton o the fertile brain of the Hooser,
but it had, IL while depressing effect upon
the rebels.
The fourth day of July was great day in
camp, and was duly celebrated, and in a few
days afterward the troops started for Laurel
Hill and Carricks Ford. The march from Lau-
rel Hill to the ford was a hard one, and the boys
scattered out a great deal While the members
of the Seventh were thus struggling, Colonel
Dumont was heard to call out in that peculiar
voice of his: CLOSE up. boys, close up. If
the rebels were to shoot at you they wouldn't
hit id one Of you, you scattered out So
The Eighth and Tenth Regiments did not take
part In the Phllippi expedition, but got their
first taste of blood at Rich Mountain, under
the Eighth Tenth and Thirteenth Indiana and
Nineteenth Ohio. The battle of Rich Mountain
compelled the enemy to abandon Laurel HILL
The news of the rebel retreat soon reached us,
the night of the 11th of July that
Garnett slipped away from Laurel Hill.
1t was a night of storms. The
rain fell as it fall only in the mountains. 1t
was dreary night to be on picket duty, but in
the luls of the storm our pickets could. hear the
confusion IN the rebel camp, but they did not
know whether it was the confusion of preparing
for battle, or for what When morning came it
disclosed a deserted rebel camp, and the pursuit
began at once. The roads, never good, were
rendered more slippery by the rains of the night
before; but the little army pushed on i'll pursuit
of the flying foe. During the afternoon and
night the rain again poured down. and there was
but little sleep INDUCED in The mountain
streams had changed into rushing torrents and
wherever possible the rebels had obstructed the
roads. During the pursuit quite a little battle
was fought without rebel being in sight, The
Fourteenth Ohio being III the advance
thought they had struck the rear OF
the enemy, and opened up brisk
fire. An officer dashed up to General
Dumont and told him the Ohio regiment was
being cut to pieces He ordered the Indiana
boys forward at double quick, and reached the
scene of the firing, only TO find that the Buck
eyes were fighting an imaginary foe.
The enemy finally did halt at Carrick's Ford
1t was at this place that General Garnett WAS
killed. He was the first general officer Of either
side to fall in battle. He was courageously en-
couraging his men, when Major Gordon ordered
Sergeant Burlingame, of the Seventh, to fire on
HIM. The Sergeant fired and the rebel General
fell. When he fell his troops retreated and the
three months campaign in West Virginia came to
an end. The term of enlistment having expired
the five regiments under General Morris prepared
to return home The trip home was an ovation,
the people everywhere turning out to greet the
''conquering heroes" The list of casualties was
small. They had lost in battle and by disease,
but twenty-four men. They were the first
martyrs Indiana Furnished to the cause
of the Union. Before the war closed this list
had swelled to %, 000 During the wax Coz com
missioned officers, and 23 7G4 non commissioned
officers and privates were killed in battle or died
from wounds or disease. Add to these the long
roll of those who came home broken down, and
after lingering months and years yielded up
their lives, and then that other long roll Of those
who go about MANNED, with armess sleeves and
wooden legs, and the price paid by Indiana to
MAINTAIN the Union may be appropriated.
ON THE UPPER POTOMAC.
One of the six regiments raised for the three
months service did not join in the West Virginia
campaign, but had an experience peculiarly its
own. The Eleventh was the first regiment ready
for the field, and was first sent to Evansville,
where it engaged in the business Of preventing
supplies going down the river to the rebels 1t
ordered to Cumberland, Md. The boys were
glad enough to break camp and enter
upon the active duties Of the war. The
fame of the regiment as being model of drill
and discipline had already spread throughout the
country, and while passing through Cincinnati
it was treated to most magnificent ovation.
The citizens thronged the streets, and showered
bouquets upon officers and men. General An
derson. of Fort Sumter fame, was III the city,
the guest of his brother and the regiment was
of q IN
hero Of the day. But short month before he
had taken the flag of his country and proudly
marched out of the burning fort The cares,
the anxiety, the terrible experience through
which he had passed had broken him in health,
and as he stood on the balcony while the regi-
ment marched by, feeble as ne was he looked
every inch the soldier, and the boys were
gratifed and proud to treat him to three cheers
and tiger"
AT Benwood The boys were treated to another
theatrical scene The regiment had
encamped there one night, and some
of the boys, taking license from the fact that
they We're soldiers, had invaded sundry board
ing houses, fruit stands and bakeries called for
such things as they wanted, ard. after being
served, refused to pay The facts We're reported
to Colonel Wallace and just as the regiment
was ready to board the cars the Colonel stated
the case to the men, and called upon the guilty
ones to step forward. No one answered, and the
Colonel administered a severe lecture to the
whole regiment on the dis grace of such actions.
Arriving at Cumberland, about daylight one
morning, they remained in the cars all day. and
at night started on their first hunt after rebels.
Romney was the objective point march of
twenty three miles brought them in sight of the
enemy drawn up to receive them. To deploy as
skirmishers was but the work of a moment to
fire volley took but moment more, when, 10,
the rebels were seen fleeing in every direction
Back the regiment went to Cumberland, full Of
glory, and the telegraph bore to ali
parts of the country the announcement in big
letters, that the Eleventh Indiana had dispersed
the rebel hordes and captured their stronghold.
1t was glory enough for one day, in fact for
several days, and the boys rested in camp.
The regiment was isolated and the enemy was
gathering in force at Romney and several other
points To obtain information little company
of scouts was organized. Onreturning from one
of their excursions they brought word that de-
tachment of rebels was stationed at a point sew
eral miles up the Potomac. A plan was at once
devised to take them in. Two comnanies under