J. Hamp SeCheverell

“ Just as the sun disappeared in the western horizon, General Geary ordered the First brigade to charge the enemy. This movement was executed on the double-quick, and as our columns passed in perfect alignment to the front, Butterfield’s and Williams’ commands greeted us with hearty cheers of genuine admiration. Onward the column rushes, and closing with the enemy delivers a terrible volley. The charge is continued, the air resounding with defiant cheers as the enemy is driven from the field and down a hill at a brisk run. ”

“ Be assured that it is with a renewed national pride that we look upon this beautiful flag presented to the Twenty-ninth Ohio, by the patriotic and loyal citizens of Summit and Ashtabula counties. The past history of almost four years in war, speaks for our conduct as soldiers and patriots for the future. We promise never to desert this flag, nor will we permit traitors or rebels to wrest it from our hands. We will always be willing and ready to unfurl it in defense of the principles of our glorious, free Republic. ”

“ It was that flag which, under God, enabled our forefathers to gain our glorious independence, and here, in this beautiful land of lakes and rivers, rear a temple of liberty which stands first among the nations of the earth, the envy and admiration of all. It is the flag which we have learned to love and to defend, and which we cherish in our hearts as the guardian angel of our country. ”

“ The voices of our fallen comrades are borne to us in solemn silence by every breeze that fans our brow. The South is billowed with the graves where sleep the patriot martyrs of constitutional liberty, until the resurrection morn. We hold them dear to our hearts, for may it never be forgotten that their deeds of valor facilitated the consummation of the glorious results which have just been achieved. Though they be dead, they yet speak, and will continue to speak to the end of all time, and dear to each patriot heart will ever be the memory of those who died in defense of the Union. ”

“ General Greene had lost one-third of his force, killed and wounded, his ammunition was exhausted, and ordering the mules cut loose, he made a desperate bayonet charge to cut his way to freedom. The mules providentially moved in the same direction, mingling the thunder of their tread and their awful voices with the shouts of Greene’s men, and our own, to let them know that assistance was coming. The effect was to throw Hood’s rebel army into a wild panic and put them to rout. Three hundred prisoners and about one thousand stand of arms were captured. ”

“ Nothing is impossible to an army like this, determined to vindicate a government wherever our flag has once floated, and resolved to maintain them at any and all cost.
“In our campaign many, yea very many of our noble and gallant comrades have preceded us to our common destination, the grave; but they have left the memory of deeds on which a Nation can build a proud history. McPherson, Harker, McCook, and others dear to us all, are now the binding links in our minds that should attach more closely together the living, who have to complete the task which still lies before us in the dim future. ”

“ To the veteran who enlisted and fought in the historic “Twenty-ninth Ohio Veteran volunteer infantry” it will be read with especial interest. The eye will moisten, and the heart swell with mingled emotions as he is reminded again of the varying scenes of the camp, the march, and the battle. Others, too young to remember anything of the war, but who have heard the stories of the conflict from their fathers, will read this historic sketch of the old regiment with the greatest avidity. ”

“ To you, sir, as commander, I present these beautiful standards, for the use and benefit of the regiment. On behalf of the fair donors I confide these National and regimental standards to the care of yourself, your gallant officers and men. Wherever you go let them be borne aloft and respected as the emblem of universal freedom to all who seek your protection. Preserve them unstained, except by the blood of your enemies. Bear in mind that you go forth to fight the battles of the human race for all coming time ”

“ Geary shouted to us, “A general engagement! a general engagement! My brave men hold to your position. I will send support to you.” He was answered with rousing cheers. When the little remnant of the skirmishing force had come in we commenced a rapid fire in connection with Captain Bundy’s double-shotted guns, which speedily thinned the advancing columns of rebels, but without avail, as the breaks were at once filled with fresh troops. As the rebels attempted to close with us our men seemed to be endowed with the valor born of desperation, and clubbed them back. ”

“ We well remember the author as “Hamp,” the drummer boy of Company B, his boyish look, with his neatly-fitting suit of blue, and the tenor drum suspended from his neck, while with nimble fingers he plied the ebony sticks in beating the tattoo, reveille, or the “long roll.”
He has done a real and invaluable service to his comrades in gathering up and condensing in neat and durable [12] form so many interesting facts relating to the work of a noble regiment. So much, at least, is saved from oblivion.
In writing the history of any war only a mere outline can be thought of. ”

“ Early on the morning of July 4th the Twenty-ninth regiment advanced in reconnoissance over the battlefield, and for the first time gained a full knowledge of the fearful loss of life the rebels had sustained, full five thousand of whom had answered to their last roll-call. Still the mystery exists how any rebels escaped, as each soldier of the Union army had, in the seven hours’ fight, fired two hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition, sufficient to have annihilated the entire Southern army. ”

“ I was duly appointed and commissioned as the first chaplain, holding the position one year, resigning at the expiration of that time, and receiving an honorable discharge from the service.
Of the officers of the regiment much might be said. Nobody who ever knew Colonel Buckley will ever forget him. A brave man, a great admirer of order and discipline, faultlessly neat and tidy, a confirmed dyspeptic; yet the most ticklish and fun provoking humor often cropped out in his conversation and intercourse with men. ”

“ About midnight General Hood’s division came down from the heights of Lookout and quietly surrounded General Greene’s small force, and at once commenced an attack. Greene’s men, aroused from their slumber, hastily formed line under a most deadly fire from all sides, and one of the most desperate struggles on record ensued. We were awakened by the sound of the distant combat, and forming into line hastily advanced to their rescue. When we arrived Hood’s rebels had been routed and were flying in all directions, intent only on reaching their mountain stronghold. ”

“ This flag, the flag of our country, which has been our pride and our boast, and [24] which is respected by all civilized nations; this flag, thank God, shall yet wave triumphantly wherever it has been struck down by the ruthless arm of the traitors: and, companions, whenever we look upon this beautiful flag may it inspire us to redouble our energies to do our duty to our beloved country, and if God in his providence permits us to return to home and kindred, may this flag come back with us to bear witness that the Twenty-ninth regiment Ohio volunteers was in the thickest of the fight. ”

“ But in a great battle like that which we have been considering it is not the soldiers themselves who are responsible, but the parties who make the quarrel. Hence, while the mind revolts at the scenes of destruction which the field discloses, the immediate actors are not to be held accountable. They go in obedience to the dictates of duty and of patriotism, and while they may indulge no personal hatred toward those who for the time they call enemies, they must in battle inflict the greatest possible injury upon them. ”

“ For if there is any deed in the power of a mortal which can sway the feelings or soften the heart it is that of one man laying down his life for another. The breast heaves and the eye is suffused with tears at the spectacle of Pythias putting his life in jeopardy only for his friend. ”

“ Henry Brainard, Spencer Atkin, and Henry Clark volunteered to go out and bring in the bodies of Albert Atkin, C. A. Davis, and Jerome Phinney, which they did, the enemy opening fire upon them with musketry and artillery, the deadly missiles flying thick and fast about them. Such was the treatment of the “chivalry” to men bravely exposing themselves to give Christian interment to the gallant men who had fought their last battle. However, none were injured. While performing the last sad rites of burial, the rebels came out in a sortie and made furious assaults along our entire line. ”

“ The founders of our government selected for their colors a groundwork of blue, representing [23] immutable justice and unlimited power, on which the stars, representing light, are twinkling in the vaulted heavens, while in mid ether the bird of Jove is floating, a fitting representation of the ease and power with which liberty and civilization are gliding over the earth; while the stars and stripes of red and white represent the vital principles and purity of our institutions. ”

“ As with everything earthly our long fast ended, rations came, and life began to seem almost worth living, exchanges of coffee and tobacco were almost hourly made between the Union and rebel soldiers, each forgetting for the time the hate engendered over the fight for corn. Our main line was being strongly fortified, the rebels meanwhile keeping up an almost continuous bombardment of our line from their batteries on the heights of Lookout. Strong details were employed in cutting away the forest on our front to enable our artillery to cover an hourly expected attack. ”

“ May that same God who has given so many brave hearts to defend it, continue to preserve it, and may it give light and liberty to millions who are yet groaning under tyranny and oppression. But we would not pass by unnoticed the many noble brave men who offered themselves a willing sacrifice upon our country’s altar in defense of that national banner. ”

“ Just before dusk an order came from the commanding general for the Twenty-ninth regiment to retire, all the other regiments having done so some time previous. To cover our retreat a line of skirmishers was thrown out, composed of men from each company who volunteered for this dangerous duty, and right nobly did they perform this work, firing with deadly precision as they retired from the field into the valley below, where the Twenty-ninth were already in bivouac, and comrades cheered lustily as the skirmishers came in, happy to know they had not met the fate of others. ”

“ The sharp rattle of musketry, the loud roar of Bundy’s guns, and the defiant shouts of the combatants, in close hand to hand conflict, can never be erased from the tablets of memory while life shall last. ”

“ The greater part of our regiment had discovered this movement in time to change front to rear, but were instantly forced back by the overwhelming numbers of the rebels, and those in charge of the battery were instantly surrounded by a powerful mob of yelling fiends. Still the double-shotted guns continue to belch forth fire and death, cutting great gaps in the ranks of the enemy at each discharge. ”

“ Jonas Schoonover. Dear Sir:—We have the honor and pleasure of forwarding to the gallant old Twenty-ninth another national flag, the gift of its old friends in Ashtabula and Summit counties. This is the third national flag given the regiment from the same source. It is certainly a strong proof that its friends still believe it to be one of the bravest of the brave of the many noble regiments Ohio has given to fight this great battle. ”

“ To make the victory still more sure our forces followed the disordered mass of fleeing rebels and captured many prisoners, until darkness closed over all, when our brave boys returned to rest upon their laurels upon the bloody field of carnage, bury the dead and care for the wounded. The result of this battle was a loss to the rebels of the Shenandoah valley, at that time of great importance to them, with casualties amounting to some five hundred men killed, wounded, and left on the field, and three hundred prisoners. ”

“ The ladies have prepared a splendid National and regimental stand of colors, and have imposed on me the pleasing duty of presenting them to the regiment. In all past ages civilized nations have gone forth to war under their own banner, on which was inscribed some device, figure, or emblem, peculiar to such nation. ”

“ When all our troops had passed, our regiment faced to the right and moved obliquely into the timber; the rebels in the meantime passed down the road and we were nearly surrounded, and now, for a distance of nearly two miles occurred a desperate struggle for freedom. The men fought with the desperation born of despair. Brave old Colonel Buckley (who before beginning the day’s business addressed the regiment, saying: “Aim low, men, and at every shot let a traitor fall!”) ”

“ I ask all to continue as they have so well begun, the cultivation of the soldierly virtues that have ennobled our own and other countries,—courage, patience, obedience to the laws and constituted authorities of our Government, fidelity to our trusts, and good feeling among each other; each trying to excel the other in the practice of those high qualities, and it will then require no prophet to foretell that our country will, in time, emerge from this war purified by the fires of war and worthy its great founder, Washington. ”