Chapter 13: 1865, The 18th Ohio Infantry

Union County, Ohio was all in for the Union. There were many boys from the county serving in the ranks of the Union Army, and Joseph Powers’ sons (William and Joseph) were among them. They had been there as William Tecumseh Sherman had made his devastating march through Georgia to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

2 At long last, the end was in sight. For the young men who had not had a chance to participate in this great crusade, however, the rush was on to enlist before the war was over.

3 Caleb Haines and Jeremiah Miller had been following the progress of the war and were both apprehensive and excited about joining the army and participating in the great war that had been raging for the last four years. Slavery was clearly wrong, and the Union must be preserved.

4 Even so, by most accounts, the war would be finished soon. It looked like the South was finally on the ropes. General Grant was in hot pursuit of what remained of General Lee’s army in Virginia. This was the situation when Caleb and his brother-in-law joined the Union Army.

5 After they were issued uniforms and drilled by their sergeants, Caleb and Jeremiah waited with the other men from their respective companies to board the train to Chattanooga. “It seems like being in the army involves a whole lot of waiting,” Caleb sighed to the man standing next to him.

6 “Better get used to it,” the man replied. “My brother’s been in the army for two years now, and he says that’s most of what they do.” The two men chuckled, and then noticed that they had finally started lining the soldiers up to get on the train.

7 As they stepped from the train in Chattanooga, the evidence of war was all around them. There were forts and military installations everywhere. Cameron Hill loomed over one end of the city with its various fortifications with more forts directly across the city pressed against the banks of the Tennessee River.

8 Fort Phelps (or Fort Negley, as some of the locals referred to it) and Fort Wood stood like sentinels on either side of the railroad tracks leading into the city. Caleb and Jeremiah soon learned that their units had been assigned to guard duty at Fort Phelps.

9 It was a massive, star-shaped affair. Moreover, it was literally swarming with activity. There were soldiers and civilians everywhere. The overall effect of the place was to make one feel small and insignificant, especially Ohio farm boys.

10 Another surprise was the presence of so many Black troops. Caleb and Jeremiah had never seen so many folks of color concentrated into one place in their lives. “They’re helping to secure their own freedom,” Caleb thought. “After all, most of this has been about them.”

11 Still, it was clear to everyone (including Caleb and Jeremiah) that the war was rapidly approaching its conclusion. Sherman was pushing through the Carolinas now, and Private John H. Rutledge (Alfred’s son) had died near Salisbury in Rowan County, North Carolina at the end of March.

12 The fighting in Virginia came to an end at Appomattox. Accompanied by Colonel Charles Marshall (another Camp cousin), General Robert E. Lee had surrendered there to General Ulysses S. Grant. And, although the news of that event brought relief and joy to Caleb, Jeremiah and their comrades, the war was clearly not finished yet from the Army’s perspective.

13 Their joy, however, was also tempered by the news of President Lincoln’s assassination. “Don’t pack your bags just yet, boys,” the captain had reminded them. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do down here.”

14 May was a pleasant enough month, but June and July were miserable. Standing in one place in uniform for hours at a time in the hot, Southern sun was very uncomfortable. The humidity made it even more unbearable. The only relief was an occasional plunge in the river or in one of the many creeks which surrounded them.

15 During their down time, Caleb and Jeremiah would walk up and down the streets of Chattanooga, especially Broad, Market and Cherry. Nevertheless, it didn’t take long for all of it to become monotonous and too familiar.

16 Then, unfortunately, they learned that they would be going down into the heart of Georgia. Soon, they would be headed for Augusta and more heat and more guard duty.

17 “This place is too hot!” Jeremiah exclaimed. “The Rebs can have it as far as I’m concerned.”

18 The environment in Georgia didn’t do anything to change his mind. The animosity and resentment of the natives was thicker in Augusta than it had been in Chattanooga.

19 “These are the most miserable bastards I’ve ever run across in my life,” Jeremiah grumbled. “Well, Sherman did give it to ‘em pretty good down here,” Caleb reminded him. Soon, however, it was October and the men learned that they were to be mustered out of the army and returned to Ohio.

20 “Praise God!” Jeremiah exclaimed. “A-men,” agreed Caleb. The war had been long and hard. So much blood, sweat, tears, time, resources and treasure had been devoted to this effort. “Had it all been worth it?” Caleb wondered. Time would tell.