The National tribune., 1899-05-25
RANDOM NOTES.
Something About Early Service In the 4Sth Ohio.

Editor National Tribune. first enlisted
in the three months service, but the com
pany | was in was not accepted, as sol
dier5 for three years were needed. 1t was
thOuTilt at the beginning that the war
could be put down in Il few weeks. W.
II. Gibson, of Tiilin, o., who was great
orator, had been making war-Speeches
for some time, and in August, 1851, organ
lied the fGth Ohio. and was made its
Colonel. | then enlisted in Co. III on the
18th Of that month. The regiment was
at Camp Chase, o., two weeks before
starting to the South. 1t was the first
whole regiment TO go down the Ohio River
on steamboat TO Louisville, ky.
It was movement OF great anticipa-
tons. When our regiment arrived at the
great Southern city the citizens served
us with Il good dinner at the railroad
depot. This treatment was highly ap-
preciated and never forgotten. but | no
ticed that some of the people looked upon
us with suspicion, and it was evident
that many persons were rebel Sympa-
thizcrs.
A few regiments from Indiana were or
garizing near the city Of Louisville for
the UniOn army. Mai. Anderson, of Fort
Sumter fame, was in command OF the De
Dartmcnt there, and ne reviewed our regi-
ment from tnc balcony of Il large brick
building as we marched down the street.
Soon after Maj. Anderson resigned his
command, on account of poor health,
and Gen. W. T. Sherman was put in his
place.
We had been in Louisville but a short
time when report came that rebel cavalry
had burnt the railroad bridge on the river
south Of the city. Our enthusiasm was
aroused, and now our patriotism was to
be tested, as a fight with the enemy was
in view we thought. The regiment was
put on 4 train Of cars, and we moved
slowly and cautiously that afternoon to-
ward what we expected to be bloody
battle.
Arriving near the burnt bridge about
DARK, we got off the cars to bivouac for the
night. The officers called for volunteers
for picket-duty, and the number needed
was soon supplied.
The regiment lay upon the ground with
loaded muskets and fixed bayonets, ready
to fight and charge at a moments warn
ing The Johnnies did not disturb us
that night, as they were many miles
away in their own camp. They had burn
ed the bridge across Stone HlVer, and
skedaddled with great rapidity, as they
must have been scared as badly as we
were No doubt they had been warned OF
our approach, and soon got out of our way
The 49th Ohio was among the first regi-
mentS to 20 into camp at Muldraugh' S
Hill, Ky. Gen. Sherman soon erected his
tent for Headquarters, and the organiza-
ton Of the army began al once.
IL Glltu our nlil1uS WIFI WOfiutE am
amazement to see how rapidly the Union
troops concentrated in this new camp
fiere the drilling and equpping of our
forces for the mighty conflict before us
began in earnest.
While in this camp | was detailed to
stand guard at Sherman's Headquarters.
One day while on guard | watched the
General closely, and | then made up my
mind that Sherman was deep thinker.
From his tent he kept walking back
and forth, like sentinel on guard-duty,
engaged most of the day in earnest medI-
tation. Not long after this it was reported
in the army, and, | believe, in the news
papers, that Sherman was crazy. 1t was
common talk throughout the camp that
Sherman would not accep! the command
of this Department unless the Govern
mcnt furnished him 20O,O soldiers, well
armed and equipped for military service.
Shcrman's tactics of war were to have an
army strong enough to break the back
bone of the rebellion in two parts.
Later he was relieved by the War De-
partment, and Gen. Buell. was put in
command of our army. | have always
believed that if Gen. Sherman had been
given, at that time, an army OF 900
have marched to the Gulf of Mexico and
cut the rebellious States in two parts
within three years from that date.
The secret of Grants and Sherman
success, rs well as oi some other Cen
erals, was to have plenty of welldis-
ciplined soldiers, having their base of
supplies stored with everything neces-
sary for Il campaign before starting toward
the enemy. When they had plenty of
means and resources TO draw from they
were strong enough to fight, manuver,
and make flank movements in any di-
rectiOn they desired TO dislodge the rebel
armies.
The soldiers of BuelPs army complained
a great deal about his tactics as we were
marching southwark, as he tried in every
possible way to protect the slave holders
property. Buell. would have a guard in
advance of the army to protect every hen
house, beehive, pigpen, cOrncrib, and
growing crops of vegetables, for fear some
of the boys would confiscate something to
eat, or destroy some of the property.
Comrades, you all remember how we
used to disobey such orders when hungry,
and how the boys who were unfortunate
in being caught would be put in the
guardhouse, made 10 carry rails around a
circle of ground for several hours, and be
punished in various other ways. For
snatching chickens, killing hogs, and
such crimes the heads OF barrels would
be knocked out and the condemned Grim