History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Part 4

Nothing of interest occurred here except that of sending companies into different counties to protect the Provost Marshals, while they were enrolling the negroes.

About the 10th of June it was ascertained that John Morgan was moving toward Lexington. Gen. Stoneman having started with two brigades two weeks previous to Georgia, Col. Garrard's brigade was all that were left in that immediate vicinity.

On the 10th Col. Garrard moved his command to Lexington reaching there a few hours after Morgan had left, who had entered the place in the morning, robbed the banks and many of the stores of their valuables before he departed.

After resting a few hours we continued our march to Paris reaching there about daylight the following morning.

Here 200 men were sent out under Capt. Rankin to make a reconoisance toward Georgetown, after moving in that direction about 16 miles, he met a part of Morgan's command, routed and drove them two miles in the direction of Cynthiana, returned and reported the same to Gen. Burbridge.

That night Gen. Burbridge moved for Cynthiana, Col. Garrard's brigade being in the rear.

At day-light skirmis.h.i.+ng commenced a mile or two from that place.

Gen. Burbridge soon had his whole force engaging the rebels.

Col. Garrard's brigade composed of the 7th O. V. C., 9th Mich. V. C., and one battallion of the 15th Kentucky cavalry were formed in columns of battallions in the rear of the lines, being held in reserve.

The fighting now became general, and the center of the line began to waver, seeing this Col. Garrard ordered the 9th Mich. to move around Burbridge's right flank and charge the enemy, mounted. The battallion of Kentucky cavalry was dismounted and formed on the extreme left of our line. The 7th O. V. C. was ordered to move around our left flank and charge the enemy, mounted.

The fences were quickly thrown down and the 7th had moved scarcely 600 yards, when they were met by Humphrey Marshal's brigade, making a flank movement on the left of our line and in the rear, when a gallant charge was made by Co. H, commanded by Capt. Hall, resulting in the capture of thirty-six rebels.

A second charge was made immediately by the First battallion, under Capt.

Greene with a similar result, but was exposed to a heavy fire from behind a stone fence. Immediately after this a third charge was made under Capt.

Rankin, which was the final rout of the enemy, driving them over a bluff on the Licking river, to where they had left their horses. Mounting their horses they moved down the railroad through Cynthiana, hotly pursued by our troops, driving them through the streets and into the river, killing, wounding and drowning many.

In this affair our loss did not exceed fifty in killed and wounded. Among the killed was Lt. McKnight, a brave and gallant officer.

The enemy's loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, was near seven hundred.

Many of their wounded bore marks of the saber. During the fight there were many daring deeds of personal bravery, which deserves personal mention.

Col. Garrard was in the thickest of the fight, often in advance of the lines giving personal direction during the fight. Lt. Col. Minor was also on hand doing his part n.o.bly.

Capt. Allen, of Col. Garrard's staff, and Adj't Mitch.e.l.l, both deserve mention for coolness and bravery.

Capt. Allen, personally distinguished himself, for which he received the rank Brevet Lt. Col. at the close of the war.

Capt. Rankin deserves particular mention for entering the rebel column and cutting off forty-seven men in the following manner:

Upon reaching the bluff and seeing the rebels mounting their horses and moving down the railroad, wheeled his horse to the right, pa.s.sed through a gate, then to the left down a lane near the railroad ordering his men to follow; Finding himself alone he halted for a few moments to wait for his men, and on seeing there was some impediment in the way of the rebels caused by a cattle d.y.k.e, which they were compelled to pa.s.s over or swim the Licking river, he drew his saber and entered the columns cutting it in two, using his saber right and left as he pa.s.sed up the track to the d.y.k.e, the enemy pa.s.sing on either side, and thereby he cut off and held all that had yet to cross the d.y.k.e, which proved to be forty-seven in number together with their horses.

They did not however throw down their arms and surrender until four or five men came to the Captain's a.s.sistance.

The above facts are verified by the affidavits of three reliable men.

Arrangements being made to take them to the rear, the Captain followed on after the flying enemy--and nearing the town, crossed the Licking bridge and pa.s.sing down about six hundred yards on the opposite side of the river.

Five rebels ran out of town, and taking refuge behind a shop which stood on the bank of the river. On seeing them the Captain drew his revolver and ordered them dismount and throw down their arms, which they did.

He then ordered them to the water's edge and to sit down, which they also obeyed, where he guarded them until one of our men, who had been taking prisoners to the rear came up when the Captain ordered him to take them to the rear. (This making fifty-two men.) How are you "southern chivalry,"

with your "five to one."

This statement is also verified by the affidavit of James Thomas, at present of Caldwell, Kansas, a justice of the peace.

There are others who are willing to file their affidavit to the above statements but as the mouth of two witnesses establish one point further proof is not deemed necessary, nor would I even asked this were it not for the fact that there are always a few officers and men just bold enough to follow far enough in the rear to be out of harm's way, and to gather up trophies on the battle-field; which had been pa.s.sed over by the actual fighting men of the command, who would not stop to gather trophies so long as they could deal a blow on the enemy.

They are first to criticize the acts of those who are in the first ranks; and raise the question, "where are your trophies?" There is not a true soldier in our army but will bear me out in my statement.

The enemy were here scattered; some going out through Owen county, while Morgan himself took the pike toward the Ohio river through Claysville, crossing the Maysville and Lexington pike at Mayslick, and on through Mt.

Sterling. Col Garrard's brigade following in his trail picking up stragglers until we lost him in the mountains of eastern Kentucky in his retreat to Pound Gap.

Thence we returned by way of Lexington to Nicholasville where we camped for a short time recuperating our men and horses.

Moving to Camp Nelson, we were paid on the 3rd of July, to June 30th 1864.

On the following morning, July 4th, we set out on our long march to Atlanta, Ga., crossing the Tennessee river at Kingston, pa.s.sing through Athens, Cleveland and all the towns between that place and Atlanta, reaching the works around that place July 24th, and reporting to Gen.

Stoneman to whose command we then belonged.

We were ordered to join him on his expedition to Macon, Ga., which expedition was to move at 9 o'clock on the following morning.

Lt. Col. Minor, on his return to the regiment after dark, missed his way and did not join us until about 12 o'clock, thereby the regiment was saved the dishonor of being made prisoner before Macon, on Gen. Stoneman's surrender. Company D, however, being his escort, was surrendered with him.

The regiment was immediately put on picket on the left flank of our army.

On the 26th, Col. Garrard's brigade was dismounted and put in the trenches, the Seventh occupying the extreme left of our army, which position they held while the terrible engagement of that day took place.

This being the same ground that was so desperately fought over during the 22nd,--the day the gallant McPherson fell.

The next day, we were moved to the right, the Seventh being on the extreme right during the fierce fight of the 28th,--the rebels making seven different bayonet charges, and were repulsed each time, by Gen. Howard's command.

When the grand flank movement commenced on the right, which ultimately gave us possession of Atlanta, Col. Garrard's brigade bore a conspicuous part, for there was scarcely a position gained that was not first gained by Col. Garrard's cavalry, and in many instances we fought the enemy in front, until the infantry came up and intrenched themselves in our rear.

This being done, they would send a brigade to relieve us, and we would be placed further out on the flank.

On the first of September, near Rough and Ready Station, which is south of Atlanta, on the road leading to Macon, Capt. Rankin commanding a battalion of the Seventh, was the first to find the works evacuated at this point.

On reporting the same to Gen. Thomas, he was ordered to return and go through the works and gain a high ridge road, about a mile and a half beyond the intrenchments, and on gaining the road, to take the end leading toward Atlanta and go as far as he deemed practicable.

On returning to the works, he found it occupied by Gen. Cooper's division of infantry, with a line of skirmishers in front skirmis.h.i.+ng with the enemy.

Upon reaching this line, the Captain dismounted his battalion, leaving number four to hold horses, deployed as skirmishers and moved them directly through the infantry lines, through woods to fields and fields to woods until they gained the road above mentioned.

This being done, the horses were ordered to be brought forward. The infantry also came forward and moved along the road leading to the Station, which was less than one mile off.

Upon the arrival of the horses, the battalion mounted and moved toward Atlanta.

After proceeding a mile and a half they received a volley from the enemy, secreted in the woods, whereupon a fight took place which lasted till dark, resulting in our driving the enemy about a mile and a half further, after which the Captain returned to his picket post which he had occupied the night previous, at the crossings of the Atlanta, Jonesboro, Shoal creek and McDonald roads.

Atlanta was evacuated the following day, and a general engagement took place at Jonesboro, twenty miles south of Atlanta, resulting in a heavy loss to both sides.