Chapter III

The Lull Before The Storm

       During the year from July 1863 to 1864 the 10th Regiment from Michigan saw action in Alabama mainly with some time spent in Tennessee and some in Georgia. Capt. Hart was not as prolific in his correspondence back home. There are only sixteen letters for that period of time and they were much shorter than those of the first year of the war. Perhaps fatigue was setting in, or perhaps there wasn’t as much to tell or maybe it was a combination of the two. The entire month of August of 1863 went by with no record of a letter having been sent. With the transfer of the regiment some of the mail could have been lost, destroyed or captured. At any rate Hart’s next letter was dated Sept. 2, 1863 from Stevenson, Alabama. Hart had left Nashville, Tenn. the day before at 8 a.m. and arrived the next day at 11 p.m. As far as he could ascertain, the brigade the 10th was assigned to was to be stationed at Huntsville, Alabama. He hoped he was correct, for Huntsville was the most deightful city in the South. Stevenson was sixty miles from Huntsville and Hart could get within 10 miles by rail. He planned to march the rest of the way because a bridge had been destroyed by retreating rebs.

       Hart mentioned a report that had just come in. The city of Chattanooga was being evacuated. The roar of cannon was incessant, shelling the place. Hart went on to say the army’s plan was to flank General Bragg. This resulted in giving the North possession of Chattanooga, the impregnable stronghold in the center of the Confederacy. The north also gained possession of the main railroad lines and steamboat communications. From the day Hart caught up with his Regiment everything had been excitement. Marching and counter marching. No one knew from one day to the next what the orders would be. Kentucky and Tennessee were clear of armed rebels and the people were entirely disheartened and disgusted with the war. They never wanted to see any more rebel armies. These observations of course were Hart’s only and may not have been universally so.

       Hart did not like Stevenson. He was not sure yet where permanent quarters would be established. He went on to say anywhere would be better than the miserable hole he was in. It was the hottest place he was ever in; the fleas and sand were intolerable. It would take sixty days to repair the railways and bridge the Tennessee River. Supplies could then be transported timely. A final paragraph advising his wife about a lot of land having been sold and deeded to a Mrs. Rogers concluded this letter. Hart was still trying to keep up with his law practice at this late date and from such distances.

       Sept. 21st, 1863 was when Hart wrote home again. He was still in Stevenson, Alabama but had been able to return to Nashville to say goodbye to his friends. He dined with a Mr. Rains and after accepting all kinds of flattery and affection) visited with a Mrs. Hagan. He found her in absolute despair, sobbing and talking about her husband and little boy, who were picked up by the rebel army. Hart told her he would try and find out what happened to them when he got to Chattanooga. Hart then called on a Mr. Treanor, kissed their baby, and bid them goodbye. Hart left his Presentation sword with Treanor with instructions that in case Hart was prevented from calling for it later, it should be sent to Mrs. Hart by Express mail. When Hart got back to Stevenson the next day he learned that the 10th would be ordered to Dalton, Georgia some 18 miles from Chattanooga. Bragg had fallen back to Atlanta. Hart told his wife he wouldn’t be able to reach his Regiment for 3 weeks. The incessant rains had made the roads all but impassable.

       The next letter was sent only a day later and instead of being assigned to Dalton, the 10th was ordered to Bridgeport, Alabama. The 10th was camped on an island in the Tenn. River. This was the end of railway communications. Everything going North could go by train; Hart didntt say how supplies and mail were sent south. The trains had to be strongly guarded. Nature had made their camp a strong point of defense. He had little fear of being dislodged in the event of an attack. Hart hold his wife there had been terrible fighting going on for three or four days, but he didn’t know the results as of the writing on Sept. 22, 1863. There was much excitement because the 10th was only a few miles from the actual fighting.

       On Sept. 29th, 1863 Hart wrote from a place called Widow’s Ford on the Tennessee River. He relayed his happiness that his children were well again and that his wife was relieved from the constant care and watch. He assured his wife he was having a splendid time commanding his detachment. The troops were enjoying themselves. They were allowed to go bathing in the river up to 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Some were out fishing with nets, others with hooks and some boating for pleasure. Hart’s troops were only 30 miles from General Rosecrans but he admitted to his wife that he was more ignorant of the outcome of the fighting than those who were still living in Michigan. Hart did not know how long the 10th would remain encamped in the middle of the Tennessee River but declared how wonderful it was that the 10th had escaped any serious fighting. He felt that the 10th’s day may not be far distant however. He said he was ready; he and the 10th had always executed every duty assigned to the extreme satisfaction of their superiors. He felt that at the end of the war he would be restored to his family to enjoy their society and recount the incidents of the war. Thankfully this wish came true but not until Hart was involved in a battle which left the survivors in worse shape than those who died in the battle.

       In this same letter Hart recounted a dinner he had with a Mrs. Dions, who was the wife of a rebel officer. Hart’s orders would not allow him to cross the river to her residence and so he urged her to come dine with him under the Union Flag. She finally accepted one evening and brought a basket of snaps (string beans), a string of red peppers and a pail of buttermilk. In return he provided her with coffee, sugar and salt of which the southerners were entirely destitute. These were more precious to them than silver and gold.

       Hart must have been in the quartermaster division of the Army because he bragged in this letter as to how much of a favorite he was to the 10th. He set up some splendid dinners. The bill of fare was mutton chops, sweet and Irish potatoes, fresh pork, fresh fish, onions, pickles and butter from home. Besides, the Post Quartermaster had furnished him with some nice old whiskey. Hart had even sent his commanding officer a sheep and a half a hog. He told his wife the pleasure of his life was doing kindness. He went on to tell of an incident that had occurred just the night before. He had received a signal from the opposite side of the river. He sent over a boat and brought back a woman and her daughter, who lived on his side of the river about 2 miles from his camp. The daughter was a sweet young lady of 18 to 20 years. She had gone to visit a relative in the mountains some 12 miles away. While there she was taken sick with a fever and her mother was bringing her back home. The daughter rode on horseback and the mother footed it. The girl was completely exhausted. Hart took her from the boat to his tent and made her comfortable in a chair. He then ordered the company wagon, which was covered, and put the chair in it, making it too as comfortable as possible. As the wagon was about to take the ladies home Hart handed the ladies two packages, one of coffee and one of sugar. He told them they might serve to revive them when they got home. Needless to say the ladies were exceptionally grateful. Hart had not inquired where the ladies sympathy rested, with the rebels or with the Union. Hart seemed to be primarily concerned with the well being of people and secondarily with fighting a war. He seemed to make friends with the southerners wherever he went. And it was probably due to his genuine interest and concern for them that elicited such friendships.

       Hart finished this letter by describing the fleet he had gathered consisting of flat bottom boats, pontoons, skiffs, dugouts and even some unusual and indescribable things. He told of the shooting practice he and the 10th had across the river. His new pistol was one of the best and most accurate shooters he ever saw.

       Anderson Cross Rd., Tenn. was the sight from which the letter dated Oct. 5, 1863 came. Hart had gotten his trunk, tents and camp equipment in from a supply train. He commented that he would be comfortable again. The 10th was involved in building rifle pits and fortifying the place so as easily to defend the mountain pass they had moved to. He had no idea how long he would stay there; he surmised it would be three or four weeks.

       The trains were moving again in good order. Over five hundred wagons has passed thru the mountain pass since the 10th had occupied it. There was no danger of any more raids as long as the pass remained guarded.

       This letter was short and ended with a comment that must have taken an understanding wife to read. Hart told his wife to tell Lizzy that he didn’t want her to get engaged because he wanted her for his second wife. Lizzy must have been an acquaintance or distant relative; but I don’t know how this could have been very acceptable to Mrs. Hart. Perhaps they had a very good relationship and they may have interpreted the statement differently.

       The very next letter on Nov. 8th, 1863 again alluded to one of Hart’s lady friends. He told his wife that he had one of the sweetest visits with his Romeo acquaintance. This must have meant a woman who lived nearby. He said their sympathy and feeling for the war was neutral and they agreed they would caress and pet each other as much as they pleased. He guessed they kissed good night twenty times and even then it was difficult to part for he told the woman he was kissing and visiting his own angelic wife by proxy. The lady responded that she was so happy to be the proxy. Mrs. Hart must have been a very understanding wife.

       The rest of this letter described how Major Scarrett had arrived in an ambulance and was very sick. Hart let him stay in his quarters and in fact attempted to nurse him back to health. The Major was given a leave of absence but Hart didn’t know if Scarrett would live to get home or not. In Hart’s mind it was quite doubtful. He wished he was going with him but not in his condition. Hart had not heard from home in over a month. He told his wife there would be no more action in the field for some time to come. It would require at least seventy days to permanently establish their immense base of operations.

       Two weeks went by before Capt. Hart is next heard from on Nov. 20th, 1863 from a place called Kelley’s Ferry, somewhere in Tennessee. He started the letter off by saying that another great fight was going on. However Hart was not personally involved. He was ordered to remain in the rear to see about supplies et cetera. He told his wife that the 10th was in the fight but she couldn’t imagine how anxious he was to know its fate and how chagrined and mortified he was not to be with them. He went on to comment on how they had whipped the rebs terribly. They had taken 1200 prisoners and sent them to Bridgeport, Ala. Notice was received that 10,000 more were on their way. Hart was only 10 miles from the battlefield, consequently he could only listen to the continued roar of artillery and musketry. It made him sick that he couldn’t be with his troops.

       This was the first letter which indicated that the mental strain and fatigue were beginning to take their toll. Hart wrote that at times it seemed as though he would go crazy. Being close to but not involved in the fight, especially when his own unit was, must have been extremely frustrating.

       Hart’s mood had not improved much when he wrote home again on Nov. 30th, 1863, again from Kelley’s Ferry, Tenn. This letter was also very short and cryptic., He told his wife he only wrote to keep her advised as to his whereabouts. He said he had no news and didn’t feel like writing even if he did. He told her he was still in purgatory. He had learned that his brigade had gone to Knoxville to reinforce Burnside. He found out that the 10th Regiment had not after all participated in any heavy fighting. This letter ended by stating Bragg had been terribly punished. Five thousand prisoners had passed through Kelley’s Ferry in the prior month.

       On Dec. 6th, 1863, Hart was still in Kelley’s Ferry. He indicated he was on detached duty. Where his Sgt. and brigade were, he knew not. He was in charge of a large number of supplies. He told his wife that for over forty nights he had slept on the boxes he had in his charge. Many things still had been stolen in spite of his vigilance. His mood was still melancholic because he wrote that he lived on sweet recollections of his wife and children but had few anticipations of the future. Sixty days had gone by without having received a letter from home. He told his wife that she could probably imagine his anxiety, not to say almost madness. He told her he thought of her all the time and dreamt of her all night long. This did not satisfy; he wanted something tangible, a reality.

       The war news consisted of Hart’s opinion that the last battle had been the most crushing for the Rebs of the war. He was going into winter quarters, satisfied with the vitals of the Confederacy. Repair of the railways and building steamboats were necessary to make further advances. Hart thought that his brigade would winter at or near Knoxville. He indicated that the day before the 10th had been ordered to Mount Thurston and to make Knoxville as soon as possible. A Colonel Smith of the 16th Regiment was stationed nearby; Smith was an old man and had started home on 20 days leave. He was feeble and failing.

       It was New Years Eve 1863 when Hart next wrote home. He was then in Georgia at a place near Rossville. In this letter Hart related that the thief who stole his money had paid him back 230.00. This left him about 50.00 short, which he still hoped to recover. He enclosed 150.00 not wanting to keep much money on his person. This letter was short, had no news of the war, and gave some instructions to Mrs. Hart on various land deals that Hart’s legal practice was involved in. He was still trying to keep up with the loose ends that his work entailed, which appears to have been in the real estate business.

       Hart did not anticipate any more fighting in the very near future. He had brought in ten deserters that morning. They were Georgians and told Hart the rebel army was deserting by squads and whole companies. They were poorly fed and no pay. They felt their cause was utterly hopeless.

       The letter ended with Hart wishing all a Happy New Year.

       January 18th, 1864 Hart was still encamped near Rossville, Georgia. The railway was back in running order to Chattanooga. The mail facilities were much better. Hart told his wife the 10th was really going home. Apparently as a reward for reenlisting, a furlough back to Michigan was promised. This was incentive enough to enable the Army to get 3/4 of the entire regiment to re-up. The 10th was to proceed to Nashville with over 1400 men. There the regiment would be outfitted in new uniforms throughout. They planned to arrive in Detroit about the middle of February. From Detroit the troops could go where they pleased at the end of which time they would report back at Detroit for duty. Hart hoped to be able to recruit 140 or more new soldiers while he was on furlough. He asked his wife in this letter to put herself and the children in first rate condition for he intended to have a gay old time.

       His spirits were obviously improved in this letter, likely because of the furlough that he planned for. Unfortunately, as we shall see, the trip back home had to be cancelled because of the war and the need for the 10th to remain in the South on duty.

       Capt. Hart even returned to commenting on such things as the weather and the ladies he met while on guard duty. He told his wife that they were having a regular Northern winter in Georgia. It was snowing fiercely that very night. One day while checking on the sentinels he found 14 young ladies halted by the guard on duty. They wanted to make a call at a house a short distance within the lines. Hart told them he would hold them as prisoners and escort them himself. So they started off. Their talk was of the weather. He inquired as to whether it was not unusually cold for Georgia. The ladies told him they had never experienced such a cold weather during their entire lives. They kiddingly said the Yankees brought the weather with them from the North. Hart then told them that the North always had everything pretty much their own way, and that if the southern people didn’t return to loyalty during the coming summer, the North would decide to freeze them all to death the next winter.

       Hart got more serious then by saying that the rebels would not have an army by next winter. They were getting about 100 deserters per day. He contrasted both armies by commenting on all those who had reenlisted with the Union Army compared to those who were deserting from the Confederates. He closed this letter by telling his wife he had to "fall in". Several hundred rebel army had been seen a few miles away. He told her, "Let them come, we are ready for them." Hart was proud of his regiment, and rightfully so. What good soldier shouldn’t have pride in his unit? He told of a General Davis, who said during a march to Knoxville that there is no danger of any surprise when the 10th was on duty.

       The next letter from Hart is dated Feb. 14, 18614. It also was written in Rossville, Georgia. Hart, describing his activity, said that this day was one of the most delightful days of the war. He mentioned a beautiful village called Summerville, Georgia at which he, Lt. Col. Dickerson and Lt. Skinner lunched. Their goal was to visit Lookout Mountain and then go on into Chattanooga. It was a delightful morning; clear as a bell. They reached the top of the mountain and from Lookout Point they could see into five different states. The day was so beautiful, no pen could describe their pleasure and delight. There, on that mountain, was where General Hooker had surprised and whipped the rebels above the clouds. Hart went on to say there was only one thing lacking to make his happiness complete — his wife by his side. Then, he told her it would have been an exquisite enjoyment. Hart then proceeded to the camp of the 22nd Michigan Regiment. There he met a Major Dean and Surgeon McConnell and regaled himself of some fine old whiskey, the first he had seen or tasted for 30 days.

       This letter went on to explain the hard work going on. They were trying to get everything ready for going home on furlough. Hart was afraid they would not get off as soon as they expected. So many regiments had already gone there were hardly enough to run the machine. General Palmer had told the 10th that he might not be able to let them go until one of the other regiments returned. Hart was disappointed but stoically agreed to submit like soldiers to unavoidable circumstances. The visit home would be all the sweeter later on.

       Before the letter could be finished, Hart was ordered to move out at 7 a.m. with seven days rations. He concluded by saying that the evidence was daily indicative of the early caving in of the rebellion. Over which none more rejoiced than the officers and soldiers of the 10th Regiment from Michigan.

       Feb. 14, 1864 was the date of Hart’s next letter. A Dr. Spicer was leaving that day on leave of absence, so Hart sent a letter home via Dr. Spicer. Many of the letters were sent back home with soldiers who were heading home, either on leave or discharged from the service. Perhaps this method of sending letters was more reliable or faster or both than the regular mail.

       The 10th Regiment had just arrived back at Rossville, after spending 10 days holding a gap at Chickamauga Station. They had to work all night anyway in order to get the papers ready for reenlisting as Veterans on the very next day. Hart still didn’t know when they would start for home. He was afraid the boys would not realize their fond anticipation of spending Feb. 22nd in Michigan. He said they would all have to go in rags, as there was nothing else until they reached Detroit. He concluded by saying they would certainly have the appearance of Veterans of the toughest kind.

       The letter of Feb. 27th, 1864 was only 2 short paragraphs long. Hart had just reached camp after a march of 214 miles. He did not attempt to give the details of an engagement the 10th Regiment had just come out of. He did say he was out safe and sound, God be praised. He did say every third man was either killed, wounded or missing. Of Hart’s company 3 were killed, 14 were wounded and 5 were missing. Those who were killed were: Sgt. Stamm, Corporal William H. Watson, and Private Michael Welsh. Colonel Dickerson was wounded and taken prisoner.

       As an historical note this battle came to be known as the battle of Buzzard’s Roost. It took place on Feb. 25, 18614 on a hill called Missionary Ridge about halfway between Chickamauga and Chattanooga. In this fight the 10th Regiment lost twenty-two killed and fifty-six wounded. Eight of the wounded, including Dickerson, fell into the hands of the enemy. The dead were buried at the Chattanooga Memorial Cemetery. The prisoners were taken to the infamous Andersonville prison where eleven out of 14 died in that prison.

       The entire month of April, 1864 went by without any correspondence from Capt. Hart. We’ll never know whether he wrote or not, if he did, what happened to those letters or whether he merely was burnt out. We next hear from him on May 1, 18614 from Shelbyville, Tenn. The 10th Regiment from Michigan had marched eleven miles and had expected to travel six miles past Shelbyville. The 10th had halted to rest for a few minutes. From the earnest solicitations of the citizens the commanding officer decided to stay in town until morning. This created alarm and excitement amongst the townspeople. They expected an attack that very night. However the town was picketed and Hart said that if the enemy felt disposed to try them on they would have a warm reception. The 10th planned to leave for Tullahoma, Tenn. in the morning. It was eighteen miles to the south. Hart complained that it was the fifth day in a row that they marched. The weather having been as warm as any time since the summer before. He thought that he had perspired about a gallon a day. He began to smell some and would be obliged to lay over a day to wash clothes. All of the troops’ baggage had gone by railway.

       The next letter from Hart was written the very next day also from Shelbyville. He told his wife there had been no attack the night before. He hoped they would be ordered to stop and hold some pleasant place. He did not feel like marching and fighting all summer long. He finished by saying his hope was a faint one.

       Again almost an entire month went by before the next letter surfaced. This time the letter was addressed from Dallas, Georgia and was dated May 31, 18614. How ironic it is that one hundred and twenty years later, one of Capt. Hart’s direct descendants is living in a place called Dallas.

       This letter was devoted entirely to news about the war and the preparations for direct battle with the Confederate troops. The 10th was in line of battle. The entire line was six to seven miles in length. The 15th and 16th Army Corps were on the right under the command of General McPherson, to whose command Hart’s division was temporarily attached. There were 4 other Army Corps on Hart’s left. The enemy was entrenched on a range of high and precipitous mountains directly in front of the Union troops. The enemy evidently expected an attack to dislodge them as had happened at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. However the Union soldiers did not go to the mountain but let the mountain come to them. The 10th set about entrenching themselves. Once the enemy realized no attack was imminent, on the night of May 28th about midnight, they massed and charged the Union lines, that is to say charged the lines of the 15th Army Corps commanded by Gen. Logan. The rebs were repulsed with great slaughter, involving 2500 killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Sunday the 29th was comparatively quiet all day with the exception of skirmish shooting.

       Not satisfied with their failure to break through, the Confederates again massed at 9 p.m. on Monday the 30th of May and charged another time. They tried to break thru the lines of the 15th and 16th Corps, neither charge extending to the lines of Hart’s section. The battle raged until daylight. As often as the rebs charged, they were repulsed. Both nights the 10th Regiment sat quietly behind their guns, expecting their own lines would be attacked the next time. Hart described the scene as grand and terrible in the same breath. There was an incessant roar of artillery and musketry, constant flashing from the mouths of cannon, burning fuses from shells flying thru the air and bursting of shells. It was unimaginable

       Between the two desperate attacks, a truce was declared permitting the enemy to take away their dead and wounded. The dead were piled 3 and 4 deep in front of the trenches and breastworks. The second attack by the rebs resulted in 3 to 14000 casualties. The prisoners taken thought they were attacking a force of only 100 men.

       The entire 5 day battle resulted in losses to the enemy of a reported 10,000 killed, wounded or taken prisoner. How long, Hart commented, they can hold at that rate he knew not. They must have become disheartened at their fruitless efforts. How long a seige Hart was to have, no one knew. The Union forces consisted of 150,000 men and 25,000 reinforcements who arrived that very day.

       This battle must have been awesome and extremely deleterious to the Confederates cause. They probably gave it their all, since Atlanta was not far from Dallas. Perhaps an historian could tell us if a name was ever applied to this particular fight. Or perhaps there were so many comparable battles between the two forces, keeping track of all of them would have been impossible. Perhaps the present day citizens of Dallas, Georgia have erected monuments and maps outlining the five day battle. Wouldn’t it be interesting to travel in person to Dallas and see the battle sight itself and ponder over the misery, suffering and ultimate sacrifices so many men made back in 18614.

       The next letter was sent from the field near Acworth, Georgia and was dated 6—9—64. Acworth was 30 miles from Atlanta and a depot of supplies was being established there. This was a railway heading directly into Atlanta. The 10th Michigan regiment had been stationed at Acworth for several days. The men needed rest, their clothes needed washing. Also there were a great many stragglers to be brought up. Many sick and wounded needed to be cared for. Then again the Union forces, at this point in time, were in no hurry, inasmuch as they felt confident they could crush the rebels any time they chose. Hart posed the question in this letter, "is that bragging?" As an indication that it was not, he told his wife of a notice found on the rebel breastworks. The notice said: "General Sherman will never go to hell, as he will outflank the devil." An old lady in Dallas, Georgia told Hart himself that General Johnson (a Confederate) will whip you all unless you flank him again. The General himself said he had been unable to find either end of the Union’s Army.

       Hart went on to say that the 10th’s rest was nearly ended. They were ordered to leave at 6 a.m. the following morning. Hart told his wife that his health was excellent and appetite was good, but that she could not imagine how poor he was getting. He had not been able to get any rations, only coffee and water since he had left Chattanooga.

       It was rather ironic that this letter had references to Hart’s health because in only one month he would be involved in a battle which would leave him so incapacitated that for all intents and purposes he would be unfit for service in the Army. In fact, the skirmish he was in possibly left him in such a state, that for the remainder of his life no real professional or financial success would be realized. After all he was 51 years old at this time and as we shall see, he never quite recovered from the battle of Peachtree Creek.

Hart Family History

Introduction

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Civil War Links

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