THE REBELLION (CONTINUED)

The spirits of the men of the Seventy-Fourth were buoyant; they were about to realize a long cherished desire to bear in triumph, the “Old Flag” over the sacred soil of South Carolina, the hot bed, and originator of all the bloody scenes through which they had passed in the preceding four years of the war. It struck its tents in the camp near Savannah, loaded the one wagon allotted to each regiment, and moved on with its corps toward Sister’s Ferry. Recent heavy rains had flooded the swamps through which the road lay, making it almost impassible, and rendering it necessary to corduroy the greater part of it. They labor of so doing was so great, that the corps did not reach their destination until the last day of the month. The point reached was about forty-five miles above Savannah, where the river was much swollen, and nearly three miles wide. Laying pontoons, and corduroying Black Swamp on the Carolina shore, occupied to the 5th of February, on which day the Fourteenth Corps was over the river, and across the first great swamp of South Carolina.

The Seventy-Fourth was at this time detailed as train-guard, a post of danger, and responsibility, as the enemy were watching eagerly for a chance to capture it. Aside from the constant skirmishing, toiling through swamps, destroying railroads, etc., nothing of special interest occurred in passing through South Carolina. The North Carolina line was crossed, and the Fourteenth Corps pushed directly, and rapidly toward Fayetteville, which place it entered in advance of the army, on the 11th of March, driving the enemy under Hardee, over the Cape Fear River in confusion. At this point, for the first time since leaving the Savannah River, news from the outside world, was received by two government transports laden with supplies. The rebel arsenals, and workshops at Fayetteville were destroyed, and once more the northern forces turned their faces northward, again cut off from all communications. The rebel capital was rapidly approached, and opposition from the enemy grew stronger every day. Heavy skirmishing was encountered at Averysboro, and at Bentonville, the last battle of the army was fought, March 2nd, 1865.

In coming up to this point, the First Division of the Fourteenth Corps led the column. It kept well in advance, driving back a strong force of rebel cavalry, until confronted by the whole rebel army under Johnson, and within fifty yards of his entrenchment’s. A desperate fight ensued. The rebels cam out of their works in mass, to attack the audacious little band, but the veterans of “Red Acorn” were equal to the emergency. Although driven back by overwhelming numbers, they were able to hold the rebels in check

until the main column came up, and formed its line, and then advanced with it, driving the rebels back into their works. The rebel general, finding himself, presses on all sides, made a hasty retreat toward Raleigh, leaving his dead, and wounded in our hands. From this field of victory, the national army moved directly to Goldsboro arriving at that place, on the 23rd of March. Making a halt of __ days for clothing, rations, ammunition, etc., the regiment, and division again moved in pursuit of the enemy, who were then rapidly retreating. On the morning of the 13th of April, the First Division, Brigadier General C. C. Wolcott, being in the advance, took purposeful possession of Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina. Before this time, the glorious news of Lee’s surrender had been received and now the rebel general, Johnson, begged permission to surrender his army to Sherman.

The Twenty-Third Corps was left in North Carolina, and Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Twentieth corps were at once starting toward home, via Richmond and Washington, by two routes. Fifteenth and Seventeenth were to march to Richmond via Petburg; the Fourteenth and Twentieth on a route further to the west via Oxford, Boydton, and Nottoway Court House. These two corps were to march on parallel roads. On the 30th of April the friendly race to Richmond began. The First Division, under Brigadier General C. C. Wolcott, was the victor, arriving on the banks of James River, at Manchester, opposite Richmond, on the morning of the 7th of May, having averaged thirty-two miles per day. Seventy-Fourth was the third regiment to arrive on the bank of the river, where they stacked arms, with but one man absent from ranks. Thus ended what, in the language of Major General Hitchcock, “is the most wonderful march on record, and exhibits these veterans of many battles, unparalleled powers of endurance in marching.”.

On the arrival of all the troops, on the 11th day of May, the march to Washington began. In passing through the rebel cap the men of the Seventy-Fourth, who had been prisoners in Libby Castle Thunder, and Belle Isle, pointed out to their comrades places they occupied. Washington was reached on the 23rd of May 1865. This was the first time the Seventy-Fourth had been at Washington s a regiment, and but few of its members had ever been there before. The soldiers were tired, and the three days before the review were spent in cleaning their guns and accoutrements, and in necessary rest.

Before 9 A. M. of the 24th of May, the regiment had marched five miles, and was in its place in the column for review. This was a proud day to the veterans of the Seventy-Fourth. They had seen the rebellion crushed; their record during the war was without a stain. They could look back at Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, South and North Caroline, with all their cities and towns, brought back into the Union by the prowess of themselves and their comrades of the armies of the Cumberland and Tennessee.

A few days after the review, the soldiers of the Fourteenth Corps were formed in line to meet their old commander, Major General George H. Thomas, whose duty had called him on a visit to the capital. The men of this corps had learned, under his long and faithful leadership, to love and trust him. As the brave old veteran rode through their serried lines, he betrayed the emotion of a warm and tender heart, and received their heartiest cheers.

The western troops were sent to Louisville, Kentucky, under command of Major General John A. Logan, for muster out. The Seventy-Fourth traveled by railroad to Parkersburg, and from thence by boat, down the Ohio River, to Louisville, where it arrived on the 20th day of June.

On the 4th day of July, the troops were formed by brigade for the last time, to meet and receive the final farewell of their trusted and honored chief, Major General William T. Sherman, whose fortunes they had followed to the very end with firm and unshaken confidence.

The muster-out rolls of the Seventy-Fourth were made out, bearing date July 10, 1865, and signed by the mustering out officer of the First Division, and on the 11th of July the regiment received the farewell address and thanks of their corps, division, and brigade commanders, and the warm and affectionate good-bys of the members of the regiments with which they had served so long, and started for Camp Dennison, Ohio, on the same day.

The friends of the regiment, at home, wished to give it a reception before the men were disbanded, and permission was granted them to go to Xenia, on the 16th of July, for that purpose. An immense crowd was gathered in the little city. Congratulatory addresses were delivered, and tables loaded with all the choicest delicacies, were spread by the fair daughters of Xenia. Bouquets and wreaths of flowers were profusely showered through the ranks. Everything was done that could in any way express the unbounded joy and gratitude of fathers, mothers, wives, sisters, and friends.

On the 17th of July the regiment returned to Camp Dennison, and on the 18th received their pay and final discharge papers. That evening the veterans Seventy-Fourth Ohio Regiment was no more.

The parting of these veterans was a sad one. Nearly four years’ service had made them as brothers, and as they turned toward their homes, it was no slight sorrow that was mingled with their joy. At the closing scene, the thoughts of many naturally reverted to those comrades who did not return - whose bones were left to bleach in the far-off battle fields of the South. The remains of some have since been carefully gathered up and deposited to the different national cemeteries, while others have been brought by loving hands, and buried with their people at home.

At the outset the Seventy-Fourth was noted for being commanded by a well-known Methodist preacher and popular orator. Between him and the lieutenant-colonel a coolness sprang up, which promised to lead to injurious results. So handsome, however, was Colonel Moody’s conduct at Stone River, that on the field the lieutenant-colonel dashed up to him, and held out his hand, saying he could not remain at variance with so gallant an officer.