“Colonel—I hold the Harding pike at the brick church and where the Franklin road crosses the said pike. Gen. Chalmer’s division passed this point, taking the Franklin road, this A. M. They left some wagons here. As soon as the command could be brought up, our pursuit was continued, the Fifth Iowa Cavalry being in the advance. Skirmishing soon commenced but nothing of importance occurred on this day’s march, except taking a few prisoners, twelve being the largest number at any one time.”
Night coming on, we went into camp. The next morning, the 17th, our regiment took the advance, Capt. Eylar having the right of the regiment.
The pursuit was vigorously prosecuted, so much so that orderlies were sent forward several times to request Col. Garrard not to move so fast, but all to no purpose, for skirmishing had already commenced, and it is an utter impossibility to hold the Colonel back when a fight is in progress.
On we went, crossing the big Harpeth river below Franklin.
Skirmishing became quite lively, as we neared the town, but we steadily pressed them back until we arrived in full view of the town.
Capt. Rankin was ordered to take his battalion and move to the right and occupy some buildings in the suburbs.
Here the enemy was discovered, drawn up in three lines of battle, but manifesting no disposition to fight save by artillery which threw a few shells at us.
The enemy seeing our advance taking position in so close proximity to them, about faced and commenced moving off.
Col. Garrard on seeing this movement of the enemy ordered a charge.
Capt. Rankin’s battalion was on the extreme right and Company E on the right of the battalion.
Now for the charge. The order was given to forward, and as soon as we crossed a small stream, it was increased to full speed.
Some columns passed through the principal streets, while others passed to the right and left of the town, and on reaching the first line of works beyond the town we captured a great many of the enemy who had taken position there.
At four hundred yards distant from their works, the enemy had planted a battery, and as soon as the confused mass we were driving could be got away, they opened up on us, but to no purpose, for we were now behind our outer line of works.
The works were also thrown up by our men on the retreat from Columbia, but were not so formidable as the first near the town.
In this position we fought the enemy more than one hour without receiving aid from any quarter whatever.
So rapid were the movements of the 7th and so far were they in advance of our own brigade that our battery moved to the point first held by Captain Rankin’s battalion and mistaking us for the enemy commenced shelling us.
The shells fell in close proximity to the battallion which had been sent out to watch and guard against any movements of the enemy to flank our position.
The firing was kept up until Captain Rankin’s battalion had to be removed, and had scarcely been placed in position on the left of the pike, when a battery belonging to Gen. Hatch’s division opened on us from a fort on the opposite side of the river.
At this, Col. Garrard ordered the regiment to form in close column of squadrons in a low piece of ground to get out of their range, but the first being on very high ground, our position was a very hazardous one.
We were quickly deployed into line, took up our former position behind our works and again engaged the enemy.
A fire was kept up by our battery until a courier could be sent to stop it.
Thus did the 7th stand for more than an hour, firm and unshaken, with the enemy’s battery playing on their front at four hundred yards distant, and two of our own playing on their rear.
By this time, Gen. Hatch’s Division moved up and flanked the Johnnies on our left and they lit out again, losing their artillery and many prisoners.
Here Col. Harrison commanding our brigade, congratulated Colonel Garrard on the success of the 7th, and remarked, “you have done enough for one day, I will throw the 5th Iowa in advance and you can fall in the reserve.”
We moved out two miles and went into camp on a road to the right of the Columbia road.
The 5th Iowa was sent on further with orders to go across the country to intercept the enemy and if possible to capture their battery, while Hatch’s Division pressed their rear.
A stand was made by the enemy between 6 and 7 o’clock p. m., in which they lost one thousand prisoners besides their killed and wounded and four pieces of artillery. Thus ended the third day’s operation.
On the 17th of December nothing of interest occurred except the usual amount of skirmishing and gathering in of stragglers from a retreating army until the 25th of December, (Christmas day), our brigade had the advance and the 5th Iowa the advance of the brigade.
Skirmishing commenced but we drove the rebels back, and through Pulaski.
Just beyond the place is a large stream called Richland creek, spanned by a large covered bridge.
A charge was made by a portion of the 5th Iowa, but they were repulsed.
The enemy ran six pieces of artillery into the creek without even spiking them. They also run three pieces into Duck river. They fired the bridge in several places.
Capt. Rankin was ordered to move forward with his battalion and if possible put the fire out.
The battallion set out at a brisk trot until near the bridge when they dismounted and made a rush for it, gathering from the houses along the road tubs, buckets, pans and everything else available, for carrying and throwing water on the flames, which had already penetrated to the roof in several places.
By the timely arrival of this battalion the bridge was saved with but little damage except to the roof.
In passing through the town we found several places where amunition had been piled and burnt.
On the railroad near the bridge were several cars laden with amunition, and loaded muskets, all surrounded by fire, and the discharge of these muskets was a matter of considerable annoyance to our men while working at the bridge.
Our advance soon crossed to the opposite side of the stream, even before the flames were extinguished.
Captain Rankin was left to complete the work.
The enemy had made a halt a short distance beyond and in plain view of the bridge seeing that they had been foiled in their attempt to burn the bridge, now commenced firing their amunition in heaps all along their line and their main column began to move leaving a few skirmishers in the rear, but not however, without receiving a few shots from the 4th regular battery which was attached to our brigade.
The fire being put out on the bridge and every thing being in readiness, we moved on, the 5th Iowa being deployed as skirmishers.
They soon struck the enemy’s rear driving them before them.
A mile further we came to two abandoned wagons loaded with amunition.
We passed to the right of them and when opposite the explosion took place and thousands of blue blazes could be seen shooting heavenward. It was a magnificent sight. A few hundred yards further on were two wagons of the same kind and the same scene occurred.
Now the country became mountainous and the valleys were reduced to narrow passes between hills, and the enemy became more stubborn and resentful taking possession of every available position to plant their batteries, and impede our progress, and in short when they reached the broken country they did not drive worth a cent.
But by moving through the woods, thickets and underbrush and over the hills and rocks, and tearing our clothes almost at every step we succeeded in driving them about six miles beyond Pulaski.
At this point they made a bold stand upon a high hill, and behind barricades of logs and rails.
Some time was spent in skirmishing and getting the brigade into position. The 7th was on the right and not finding anything formidable in our front we mounted and moved by file down a very steep hill. On the opposite side of the valley, two-thirds of the way up met a few skirmishers.
The regiment was then thrown into columns of squadrons, preparatory to fighting on foot.
Capt. Rankin’s battalion being in advance moved out by the right and at once engaged the enemy’s skirmishers which were not more than thirty yards in advance of his line, and finding that the enemy’s line extended far beyond his right, reported the same to Col. Garrard.
Here the Col. ordered him to take company F in order to extend his line further out.
This company had hardly been put in position when our line gave way on the left and center and a grand rush was made by the enemy on our right causing us to drop back. Now the driving was all on the other side.
We had found out for the first time that our line was not more than thirty yards from their main line, and our led horses two hundred and fifty yards from their battery which had all been concealed up to this time. This battery opened fire cutting the timber over our horses and at the same time a charge was made upon us.
The enemy proved to be eight brigades of infantry as we learned from a prisoner who was a little more daring than his comrades and followed a little too close on our retreating line. Upon noticing him, one of the boys ’bout faced and took the chap in.
He also said that Forrest’s cavalry had refused to fight any more and these brigades of infantry were ordered to hold us until they could get their trains out of our reach.
We fell back about four hundred yards and reformed.
In this affair, I am most happy to state we did not lose a single man. Our losses in horses was twenty-eight.
The rebels captured the 4th U. S. battery which belonged to our brigade.
This battery was situated on our left about a mile and supported by the 4th U. S. cavalry.
After the capture of our artillery the enemy at once commenced their retreat, as was ascertained by throwing forward Hatch’s Division, leaving their dead and wounded on the field.
This finished Christmas day’s work, a Christmas long to be remembered by the 7th O. V. C.
This was the last sight our brigade got of the rebels, except a few wounded ones lying along the road, and a few stragglers picked up, but a severe fight occurred at Sugar creek on the 26th between our advance and their rear.
We followed the enemy to near Florence where they crossed the Tennessee river.
After remaining two days in camp we marched to Mooresville with the Huntsville and Stevenson railroad sixteen miles distant, where we rested from our labors ten days, and then marched to Gravelly Springs, Ala., reaching there January 14th, 1865.
Here the 7th was ordered to build winter quarters and stabling for their horses. This was something new for the 7th being the first time in her history that she went into winter quarters.
Here we remained for some time. By order of Gen. Wilson we changed our drill from the single to the double rank formation, and while this was going on a refitting and reorganization was perfected.
In this organization the 7th was placed in the 2nd Brigade 4th Div. C. C. M. D. M. Gen. Upton commanding Division; Gen. Alexander the Brigade.
Here we remained until about the 20th of March. Capt. Rankin was placed in command of the dismounted men of his regiment, then of his brigade, and subsequently of the division, numbering over five hundred men, and led out thirty six hours in advance, with the wagon train.
On the morning of March 22nd, the whole column was in motion, crossed the Tennessee river and moved southward through the Tuscumbia Valley and then into the mountain regions of Alabama. We met with no opposition until about the 26th, when we were met by Rhoddy’s Cavalry, which did not stay long enough to give us a second shot, but lit out at the sound of the first gun, leaving one dead.
We met and defeated the enemy at Monticello, capturing one hundred prisoners.
The next day, we routed the combined forces of Forest, Buford and Rhoddy, in their chosen position at Ebenezer church, capturing two guns, three hundred prisoners, and many killed and wounded. Our loss was 44 killed and 150 wounded.
We followed on, reaching Selma late in the afternoon. Around Selma was an intrenchment reaching from the Alabama river above the city, to the river below, with palisades of pine timber set in the ground and sharp at the upper end. The approach to Selma was through open ground with no protection whatever to our men.
The plan of attack was as follows:
The First Brigade, Fourth Division, composed of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Iowa, was put in position on the left of the road, and what is known as the Wilder Brigade, was placed on the right of the road. The Second Brigade, Fourth Division, composed of the 1st and 7th O. V. C. and the 5th Iowa V. C. were retained, mounted in columns, on the road, and when the two first mentioned brigades got fairly engaged in a hand to hand encounter within the enemy’s parapets, the Second Brigade charged down the road mounted and into their works, killing and wounding over four hundred and capturing eleven hundred prisoners, five battle flags and thirteen pieces of artillery.
The 7th followed the flying enemy several miles beyond the city and in the darkness of the night, captured a battery, complete, including caseons, horses and harness.
Selma was taken within one hour from the time our lines were formed. In this short space of time, one of the most important places in Confederacy fell, it being situated in the midst of their iron regions, was of itself a solid machine shop, where a large portion of their ordnance was made, together with their niter works. Some of the most formidable iron works on the continent were in this region, which also fell into our hands and were destroyed.
We remained at Selma eight days, during which time we erected scaffolding out into the Alabama river and ran their unfinished ordnance from their works and dumped them into the river until they lay in heaps above the water.
During our stay here, we sent a flag of truce to Forrest, to know if he would honor or parole, and received word that he would if we could hold them. Having faith in our ability to do so, and at the expiration of eight days, we applied the torch to all Confederate property, and crossed the river on pontoons, taking the prisoners with us, we marched on to Montgomery, the capital of the State. On reaching there, they surrendered without a fight, after they had burnt a large amount of cotton.
Here the stars and bars that waved over the first rebel Congress that ever assembled on this Continent, meekly bowed its head at the first sight of a Federal soldier with arms in his possession, without even waiting for a salute, and up went the “old flag of the Union,” which in its stead, waved triumphantly over the dome of the house where Jeff. Davis called together his first Congress, amid the shouts and songs of the brave men who so proudly bore it there.
After remaining here three days, we took up our line of march for Columbus, Ga. The 7th going by the way of Andersonville for the purpose of releasing our prisoners held there. When within four miles of the place, they were met by a flag of truce, evidently to gain time. This was not recognized by the 7th, who charged the place, but only in time to see the train moving out with the mass of skeletons caused by starvation. Some eighty-four of our men which beggered all description, not being able to be removed, were left in the prison pen.
The 7th joined the command in time to participate in the fight at Columbus, which was reached about the middle of the afternoon, when 1st O. V. C. charged a bridge which had previously been strewed with cotton saturated with turpentine, and on reaching the bridge the enemy applied the torch and the whole thing was in a blaze, which caused their return, when skirmishing and an artillery duel continued until after dark.
On the west side of Columbus runs the Chatahucha river, it was spanned by the bridges; one was destroyed, as above stated, and the others were defended by forts, garrisoned by infantry and artillery.
A portion of the First Brigade, composed of the three Iowa regiments, were dismounted for the purpose of storming these forts.
The Second Brigade was retained, mounted. At 9 o’clock, P. M., a move was made. The Iowa men cleared the enemy’s works on their third assault, when the Second Brigade charged, mounted, over the bridge into the city.
In this, the enemy lost over three hundred killed and wounded, one thousand and five hundred prisoners, twenty-four guns, eight battle flags and a vast amount of munitions of war. We remained here over the next day, and the next morning set fire to all the buildings containing army stores, and taking up our march for Macon, Ga., amid the bursting of shell and the explosion of amunition, causing the roofs and timbers to ascend heavenward, and the mass of bricks and mortar to fall inward. Caused by the vacuam from the explosion from within. The atmospheric pressure pushed them inward.
Columbus, Ga., may be set down as the last battle of the war for the preservation of the Union.
We continued our march towards Macon and when within twelve miles of that place, we were met by Gen. Howel Cobb, bearing a flag of truce, requesting us to go into camp where we were; that Lee had surrendered, Richmond was captured, and that Sherman and Johnson had agreed upon an armistice of ninety days. But Gen. Wilson refused to recognize it, and told Gen. Cobb that he would march on to Macon, and that he, Cobb, could fight or surrender.
We reached Macon, April 21st, 1865, when Cobb surrendered the city and his forces without a struggle.
Here we received a telegram from Gen. Grant, to cease hostility. That Lee had surrendered, Richmond had fallen, Johnson was surrounded, with Sherman in his rear and Sheridan in front, and would have to surrender or be captured.
We remained at Macon a few days, when we received orders to send out scouts in every direction to apprehend Jeff. Davis who was trying to make his way into Texas, whereupon our brigade, under Gen. Alexander, moved north to Atlanta, Ga. From this point we sent out a scouting party under Lt. Yoman, of the 1st O. V. C., and all disguised in the rebel uniform. This party got in company with Davis’ escort, at Greenville, South Carolina, and while riding together on the road, the rebels suspecting all was not right, drew their revolvers and opened fire on our scouts. None of the 7th were injured except John Gates, of Co. E, he being shot through the head, below the eye, from which he recovered.
In the meantime, Jeff. Davis was captured by the detachment of the First Wisconsin and the Second Michigan and brought to Atlanta, Ga. The 7th O. V. C. took charge of him and guarded him to Augusta, Ga. From here we marched to Chattanooga, Tenn., from thence to Nashville, and went into camp at Edgefield, where our horses and equipments were duly turned over, and the last company of the regiment was mustered out July the 4th, and paid to the 7th, 1865, when we returned home by the way of Louisville, Ky., to Cincinnati.
In writing this history, I have endeavored to do exact justice to all, so far as I knew, and if there is any errors in this narrative, it is that of omission, having had to write exclusively from memory, and in all probability there are omissions.
While we would not deprive any regiment of her laurals, we believe the 7th O. V. C., for the services rendered and the number of times she was under fire, stands second to no regiment from Maine to California.