History of the 60th O.V.I. of 1864

Written by John H. Ellis, of Company D, and Read at the Third Annual Reunion, Held at Westerville, Ohio, September 16 and 17, 1890.

Mr. President, Ladies and Comrades:

At our last reunion, held in Xenia, Ohio, I was elected historian of the regiment, and as that was a new office without any specified duties, I concluded that a brief history of the regiment would be part of the duties of the office, but when I came to study over the events that transpired during our service, I almost gave up the task in despair; for to give a correct history of the 60th Regiment it would be necessary to get each individual�s experience, so, that being impossible, I will undertake the task alone, and a great portion of it will be taken from memory after a lapse of twenty-five years, so if I make mistakes, it will only be natural, after so long a time.

Comrades, it is unnecessary for me to say anything about our enlistments � how we felt when parting from friends. Suffice it to say, that we enlisted, went to Camp Chase. Companies A, B, C, D, E, F and I were organized in Columbus and Cleveland in the months of February, March, April and May, 1864, to serve three years. Company K was organized in November and December, 1864, to serve one year. The 9th and 10th Independent Company of Sharpshooters was transferred to the Regiment, February 24, 1865, and known as Companies G and H, and right here it will be proper and just to state that Companies 9 and 10, afterwards G and H, were with the Regiment, and participated in all the battles that the Regiment was in, and no braver lot of men ever carried a musket. The Regiment was organized as a regiment in the early part of April, 1864, at Camp Chase, and on the 19th of April, 1864, started for the seat of war. It is of small moment � the trip in freight cars to Washington City. We immediately crossed the river at Washington, and went into camp near Alexandria, Virginia, and were assigned to the 9th Army Corps. Our next move was to a small station called Catlett Station, south of Alexandria. We went into camp and also into severe training or drill, to prepare us for the events that were soon to follow, and of which we, or at least a great many of us, little dreamed. You all know how rigid and severe that drill was, but it was the best for us. We finally got marching orders � I think about May 4, 1864. We were all bustle and confusion, but we also had orders to take only what we considered really necessary; therefore a great many things had to be sacrificed; but for all that the boys carried a large amount of things that they brought from home, such as keep-sakes and mementoes that they were loth to part with; and when we started, every man had a full knapsack, haversacks and other accouterments necessary for a soldier to have. Of that march a great deal could be said by some more competent than I, but I will say that it was one of the most remarkable marches on record; and as that illustrious soldier, General Grant, says in his memoirs, it was one of the greatest marches in the history of the civilized world. Think of it. Green men carrying loads from forty to fifty pounds each, marching forty miles in one day.

Comrades, it is a wonder to me that there are any of us left to tell the tale. You all remember how we parted first with one thing and then another; with tears in our eyes we would throw away some memento, given us by a loving mother, sister or sweetheart, that our load might be lightened, so that we could endure the march, for we had a just pride in keeping up to the front, as Ohio had very few regiments in that army, and the 60th was bound to maintain the good name of our State at all hazard; even if we did strew keepsakes, choice bits of clothing, blankets brought from home, etc., along the road.

I can imagine now, after a lapse of twenty-six years, that I can see the road. Here you would find a pair of citizen�s pants; here a whit shirt, a portfolio, perhaps a package of letter, small looking glasses, and then Government clothing, rubber blankets, parts of tents, and everything conceivable thrown along the roadside to lighten our burdens. What heartaches and sorrows those silent things told, it is beyond my ability to tell in the slightest degree, so I will pass it and come to our whereabouts on that night. We camped in the woods on the cliffs closed to the Rapidan River. We had, previous to going into camp; been in hearing of the artillery during the engagement of the wilderness, and of course, we were all speculating on our chances, for we were sure that that forced march was not for fun, and that we would soon be called upon to assist in the destruction of the enemy, or be destroyed ourselves. They were not very pleasant thoughts, I can assure you. We stayed all night there in the woods, and next day crossed the Rapidan and marched some distance around through the fields, and halted close by a field hospital. I suppose they took us there on purpose to watch the wounded brought in, so that it would settle our nerves, for, by that time, our nerves were somewhat unstrung; but we were shortly moved up into the woods where they were fighting on every hand. Then we knew that we were in the wilderness, and it was a veritable wilderness; scrubby trees, of different varieties, grew so thick that it was utterly impossible to see any distance in front. So thick were they that the underbrush had to be cut away in order that we would not be surprised by an advance, and to hear the firing on the right side of us, and on the left of us shrieks of wounded, made one think that we would be served as the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness -- that none should see the promised land; but I am happy to state that there were several Joshuas and Aarons there as our presence here shows. We escaped from the wilderness pretty lucky, considering how badly scared we were.

The next event that comes to mind was our march to Spottsylvania. You all remember the morning of the 9th of May -- how we were formed to march, with our regiment in the extreme advance. Comrades, did it ever occur to you why they put our regiment in the advance, and it being a green one at that -- not yet four weeks old? It did to me, and that is, that we showed such good staying qualities on our march from Catlett Station to the wilderness, and that they were not afraid but what we would keep out of the way of the veterans behind us, and it is fitting to say here, that the 60th did not allow any regiment of veterans or otherwise to tramp our heels.

On that march that morning, General Wilcox and staff were ahead and ran into the enemy�s picket, and of course they came back in a hurry. General Wilcox came riding up to our regiment and asked Colonel McElroy how the Ohio boys were on the advance. The Colonel answered and said: "You need have no fear about the Ohio boys." So we maintained the position we held; however, we were assured that there were only a small number of Johnnies left as rear guards, and we would soon do these up. Of course you all remember how we did them up; so there were two companies selected as skirmishers, and they deployed and advanced up the hill, that is after crossing the Nye River, and it was not long before their advance was interfered with by an overwhelming number. They fell back to the main line, and as the 60th was some distance in advance of all the others, they received the full shock of the advancing rebels. I was close by General Wilcox�s side when that took place, and the enemy came out of the woods in front and on each flank, and opened on us, and then how the dust flew. After they had been engaged for some time, General Wilcox said: "The fools (meaning the 60th) did not know when they were whipped." Then he ordered one of his staff officers to go at once and order up other regiments to our relief. During that fight, which did not last long, we lost in killed or wounded, more than one-half of those actually engaged. Among some of the officers might be mentioned: Captain Robbins, Company D, wounded; Lieutenant John Bolon, Company C, wounded; Lieutenant Charles E. Austen, Company C, and others that I cannot recall to memory; and the roster of Ohio soldiers is very incomplete and unsatisfactory in regard to many things.

Comrades, I will have to give the several engagements we participated in a very brief notice, as it is impossible to give a very accurate account of them, as we were engaged so often, marching and fighting, building breastworks, etc., that it reminds me of a person breaking through the ice and trying to reach shore; and would like to insert here the first general field order issued to the division by the General commanding.

Headquarters 9th Army Corps,
Nye River, Virginia, May 10, 1864.

General Field Order No. 1.

The Brigade General commanding wishes to congratulate the troops on their conduct yesterday, the 9th day of May, at this place. The first division in this action, and that of the sixth of May in the wilderness has begun its career handsomely. The first division for the rapidity and gallantry with which it came up to the front, deserves great praise. Romer�s veteran battery has again signalized itself. Among the old regiments, who all did gloriously, it would be difficult to single out one which distinguished itself most. Of the new regiments the 60th Ohio, which led the advance finely, is entitled to honorable mention. It is to be hoped that one other new regiment will soon regain the good name it won on the 6th instant, and came near losing yesterday. The officers and men of this regiment must rally on their pride. The names of officers and men who have particularly distinguished themselves will be hereafter collected from the report to be made by regimental and brigade commanders.

By order of
General O. B. Wilcox, Bri. Gen. Com. Div.
Wm. Richards, A. A. G.

We continued fighting in front of Spottsylvania until about the 18th of May. The most severe musketry firing during the war was on the 12th, when we had seventeen hours solid musketry firing. That is the day, comrades, when we cut down a tree 22 inches in diameter with musket balls, and which tree was cut to pieces and carried away as mementoes by Sherman�s army after the war was over, and as they were coming through to Washington. Think of it, Sherman�s army carrying away relics of the battlefield of the army of the Potomac -- whom they say never did much fighting.

May 23rd found us at North Ann River, and in that vicinity until May 27. The next hard fight was at Cold Harbor from June 1 to 12, where we lost a great many men, and no doubt all of you who were there know that march from there to the James River, thence across the river, and on to the vicinity of Petersburg. We arrived there June 15, and the hardest fighting we had to do was on the 17th. You all remember that charge. There were lost out of our division, 1400 killed and wounded. I cannot help from specifically mentioning the loss of one of our bravest and best beloved officers of our regiment, who lost his good right arm, but with that love for the 60th, born with hardships and trials, he rejoined us again, but his duties were such that he could not perform them, and was transferred to V. R. C., November 27, 1864. You all know who I mean. (Adjutant J. F. Curran.)

From that time on until July 24 we were engaged in front of Petersburg, establishing our lines, building breastworks, digging bomb-proofs, furrowing in the ground like gophers, to keep clear of mortar shells. You all remember how our bomb-proofs were made; but for the benefit of those who never saw any, will give a brief description of them. We dug a place about like a person would who wanted to make a cave, about ten feet long by eight feet broad, and deep enough to stand erect in; we would then cut logs and lay them over the tops close together, and then throw dirt on the logs until we had it piled up about three or four feet deep. That was to keep the shells from coming through. The door would be in the rear, and a ditch dug from the door to the outside, and when it rained it would wet the dirt on top, and it would leak through for a week afterwards. Well, we had to live in such places for about ten months.

As I was saying, about July 24 we were drawn off from the front, in order that we might rest and recruit up, so we were told. We went to the rear, and lived principally on huckleberries until the night of July 29, when we got orders to move, and we were taken back where we had been; but previous to this, there had been extensive arrangements made to blow up one of the largest forts in the enemy�s line of works. It contained 18 guns, I believe. It had been undermined and the 30th of July had been set apart for blowing it up.

That is why we had been taken back to recruit up so we would be in good condition to get killed after the fort was blown up. And according to previous plans, the fort was blown up, and we charged, but as the Johnnies were scared to death, almost afraid their whole line was going up, that we lost very few men that day; but it was like many other schemes, it failed to open a gateway into Petersburg, and that afternoon found us back in our own works. I will not dwell on the situation -- how our men were wounded and killed and left on the field, and how they must have suffered from thirst before they would grant us a flag of truce to bury our dead and care for our wounded.

From July 30 to August 18, things went along about as they had been -- living in bomb-proofs, picket-firing and sharp-shooting. From August 18 to 21 was the fight at the six mile house or Weldon R. R., and on August 24 at Ream Station. You remember, we were sent down there to relieve the 2nd Corps. You also know the condition of affairs when we got there. The 2nd Corps was whipped and so was the rebels, for they were both on the retreat, and there was not much left for us to do except cover the retreat, which we did successfully.

The next event was the stubbornly fought battle of September 30 and October 1, where we lost quite a number taken prisoners, of whom almost every one died in rebel prison.

Now we approach the time when we had a very severe experience, other than fighting. The 5th Corps was sent down near the borders of North Carolina, with orders that if they did not return by a certain time, that there should be reinforcements sent there. So about the 8th or 9th of December, 1864, our regiment, along with some others, was detailed for that duty, with orders to leave everything in camp except what was actually needed. All those that were there will never forget those terrible two or three days -- how the first night it rained, and then turned as cold as Greenland. We hurriedly erected small tents to shelter us, but they were poor protection, as I saw the next morning men laying with their feet and hands in the water with half inch of ice on the water. Some of the boys had to get others to help them out after they woke up, so tightly were they frozen in. Then our march down to Notaway River -- how we had to plod along through a dismal swamp after night over a corduroy road, and every step for a distance of five miles would go in to the shoe top and often to the knees. I saw many with their clothes frozen stiff the night we returned. How any of us ever lived through it is a mystery to me. After we returned, we took an active part in the effort to subdue the enemy.

The next thing of importance was when the enemy broke through our lines at Fort Steadman, on March 25, 1865, where they captured the 14th New York Heavy Artillery, and turned the guns of Fort Steadman on us. It is not my purpose to enlarge on this battle, only to say that after we recovered from our surprise, we succeeded in driving them back into their own lines, after they made a very stubborn resistance, which afterwards proved to be their last chance to drive us from their front, we, on April 1 and 2, broke their lines and held them against their best efforts to dislodge us. We, on the 3rd of April, entered triumphantly into the city of Petersburg, and the 60th Ohio had the honor of being the second regiment to enter the city. I don�t suppose any of you who are here will forget the morning we went into the city. How the houses were all closed; how the colored people were shouting; how we wrapped our bacon, etc., in Southern script; how we entered warehouses and confiscated tobacco, and, I might say, anything else we saw that we wanted. And when General Grant and his staff, accompanied by President Lincoln, came through the city, General Grant made a short speech to us which perhaps not many of you heard, in which he said among other things: "Boys, you have done well (meaning our division -- 1st Division, 9th Army Corps). You broke their lines and held them, and you have done fighting enough, and I don�t propose you shall do any more." So we were detailed to guard the south side R. R., and after the surrender of Lee, and we were ordered back to Washington, our division was the only division that got to ride back to Washington. So you see that our service was appreciated.

After we landed at Alexandria, Va., we stayed there two or three days; we then moved over to Georgetown Heights, about April 28, 1865. Our camp life there was uneventful, as we did not have much to do. The fact is, we did about as we pleased, for we thought we had fought for our country and conquered, and the country belonged to us to do with as we pleased. We amused ourselves, while there, in preparing for the grand review -- cleaning our guns, buckles, buttons, mending our pants, etc. After the grand review, which took place May 23 and 24, 1865, we were detailed to do guard duty in Washington City, and on July 28 started for Ohio. And it is fitting here to repeat the speech General Wilcox made to our division just previous to our departure for Ohio, when we were being mustered out. General Wilcox said:

Special Order No. 57.
Headquarters District of Washington.
July 25, 1865.

Officers and Men of the 1st Division, 9th A. C.

The time has come when we must separate and go to our welcome homes. The ties of comradeship, the bloody brotherhood into which we have been baptized for our country�s sake, will survive the change. The story of the old division, various regiments of which have left the bones of their dead to whiten battlefields, will form part of your individual life hereafter.

To the officers and men of the division my own thanks are due for the cheerful cooperation with me in the performance of mutual duties, and for the gallantry, self-denial, devotion and good conduct they have always shown in the service of the country whenever acting under my command. Your achievements will brighten many a page of impartial history. Let us cherish the associations of the past, let us keep alive the patriotic fires which have burned so brightly under cloud and sunshine.

The red shield of the 1st Division shines with full luster, and reflects a glory on all who fought under it. Your families and fellow citizens will welcome your return in peace and victory. You will carry about you in civil life a sense of your own worth, and self-respect will characterize those who have done so well by their own country. Keep high the standard of your honor; preserve your honesty and integrity, and the worthy returned soldier will purify the atmosphere of home, state and country, by our simple and steadfast purity of character.

Wishing you every success and prosperity in life, your General bids you a sad but proud farewell.

O. B. Wilcox, Brevt. Major Gen. U. S. Vols.
Robert Hutchins, A. A. G.

RECAPITULATION
The 60th took part in the following engagements:

Wilderness, May 6th and 7th, 1864.
Nye River, May 9th, 1864.
Spottsylvania, C. H., May 10th, 11, 12 and 15.
North Anna River, May 25, 27, 1864.
Salem Court House, June 1 and 2, 1864.
Cold Harbor, June 6 and 8, 1864.
Before Petersburg, June 17, 18, 22, 1864.
Explosion of mine before Petersburg, June 30, 1864.
Weldon R. R., August 19, 1864.
Yellow Tavern, August 21, 1864.
Ream Station, August 24, 1864.
Poplar Grove Church, September 30th, 1864.
Pegram Farm, October 1, 1864.
Squirrel Level Road, October 2, 1864.
Hatcher�s Run, October 27, 1864.
Notaway River, December 10 and 11, 1864.
Fort Steadman, March 25, 1865.
Front of Petersburg, March 29, 1865.
Last and final engagement at Petersburg, April 1, 2, 3, 1865.

Total number killed and wounded, 505; number taken prisoners, 17.

And now, comrades, hoping you will excuse my mistakes and the disconnected manner in which this is presented, I will say in conclusion that I thank you.

John H. Ellis,
Private Co. D, 60th O. V. I.
1st Division 3rd Brigade, 9th Army Corps.