The Civil War Diary of Ambrose Remley

THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF AMBROSE REMLEY

What follows are excerpts from Battles, Skirmishes, Events and Scenes: The Letters and Memorandum of Ambrose Remley, edited and annotated by Dale Edward Linvill, (Crawfordsville, IN: The Montgomery County Historical Society, 1997).

Background

Editor's Note: Ambrose Remley's father, John Remley, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, on May 21, 1800. When but 11 years old John's father, Christian Remley, died and John went to Lebanon, Ohio. There he found a purse containing fifty dollars lying on the ground in front of the Golden Lamb Inn. He used this money to apprentice himself to Richard Skinner in order to learn the tanner's trade. John's formal education was taken at night after his workday was completed. When his five year apprenticeship was completed, he worked at his new trade in Deerfield and Hamilton, Ohio. But he was not satisfied with life as an Ohio tanner. John walked from his home to Indiana where he found land containing a spring suitable for a tannery. This 80 acre trace was located on Sugar Creek in Montgomery county near Crawfordsville.

He returned to Ohio and married Sarah McCain at Lebanon, Ohio, on March 3, 1824. Soon after being married, John loaded their belongings onto a flat bottom boat and floated down the Little Miami River to the Ohio River and then up the Wabash River to Terre Haute. He walked from Terre Haute to their new home, a 10 x 12 foot cabin, built on the south line of the Indiana farm. He had to make the trip to Terre Haute a second time to fetch the remainder of the goods that he could not carry on the first trip.

Sarah made the journey from Ohio in eight days. She rode on horseback in company with her Uncle William McCain and three of her cousins who walked along with her. The small party did not know where the new farm was located so they stopped at a Mr. Lampsons' house three miles south of Crawfordsville and waited eight more days until John came for them.

Sarah brought eight little peach trees with her tied to the saddle horn. She planted them and seven of the eight trees survived to bear delicious fruit for several years. These trees are said to have been the first peach trees planted in Montgomery county.

John and Sarah were the parents of eleven children. These children were an infant who died shortly after birth, Elizabeth Ann, James Christopher, Theodore, Ruhamah, John McCain, Ambrose, Malinda, Daniel, William Francis, and David Henry.

Ambrose was born on September 25, 1836. He spent his boyhood on the family farm where he and his brothers helped with the general farm work and learned the tanner's trade from their father. Ambrose and his brothers and sister received their formal education in the common schools of Montgomery county.

On August 4, 1862, Ambrose volunteered for a three year term of service in Capt. Wilson's Company of the 72nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, that was being raised in Ladoga. He was paid a bounty plus premium of $27 at the time of mustering-in with the remainder of his bounty due upon mustering-out. This Company subsequently became Company E of the 72nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry when it reported into camp at Lafayette. The Company Descriptive Book states that Ambrose Remley was a farmer born in Montgomery County, Indiana, and at the time of enlistment was 25 years old, five feet five inches tall with dark complexion, black eyes and black hair. He was promoted from Private to Corporal on February 10, 1863, and from Corporal to Sergeant on December 10, 1864. Ambrose mustered-out at Nashville, Tennessee, on June 26, 1865. [What follows are excerpts from Ambrose's Civil War diary and letters home.]

Off to War

Lebanon Junction, KY September the 8th/62

There was meeting in camp last night. It was indeed a grand sight to see 5 or 6 hundred men bowed in humble adoration and singing songs of praise to God with the moon to give us light and the bare ground for our seat. I would like to see this war close so I could come home. But if I am never permitted to see you on earth my hope and prayer is to meet you all in heaven.

Murfreesboro Tenn January the 10th 62/63

As we came here we passed along the same road where the hard battle was fought between Rosecrans and Brags forces. When we got about ten miles from Nashville we could begin to see signs of the battle. And from that on to Murfreesboro on either side of the road the fences were leveled with the ground the houses all burned and the trees all scared up with cannon and musket balls. I saw several trees of pretty good size cut right off with cannon balls. There was any amount of dead horses scattered around some with their heads shot off and others with their legs broken or otherwise mangled up. I have seen a good many of the men that was in the fight and they say it was as hard if not a harder fought battle than that of Shilo. Our army came very near of being defeated. No doubt they would if they had not fought like tigers.

Murfreesboro Tenn April 14th 63

We had waited there about an hour when bang bang went the guns and the pickets commenced falling back. Another Co. was then sent out to reenforce the pickets but the rebels had done their work. There was but a small squad of them and they had sliped up in the cedars and took two of Co Bs boys prisoners. I believe their names were Vance and Montgomery. Both I think was from Crawfordsville.

After we came back we have lerned their fate. They was taken back to Lebanon tied up to a tree and shot. Montgomery was killed dead and Vance was shot three times and left for dead but he came to and managed to get to our lines when he was brought back to Murfreesboro. It makes our blood boil to think about it and if we ever get back to Lebanon it wont be good for some of the secesh around there.

Murfreesboro Tenn May the 18th/63

Last winter when we was first mounted there was one of the sevententh Ind boys taken prisoner near lebanon. He was taken in sight of our picket lines at Lavern and shot and left for dead. He came to and was picked up by our men. He is nearly well now. When this rebel lieutenant was brought in to camp this seventeenth man knew him and said he would swear he was one of the them that shot him near Lavern. As soon as they found out that he was the guilty rebel they handcuffed him and it is reported that old Rosa has ordered that we should take him back to lebanon and hang him in the public square. I dont know whether this report is so or not, but if it is proven that he is the guilty man he will have to suffer in some way.

When we were out near Lebanon one of or Co. met with a sad accident. We had wint in to camp and this man Madison Barton accidently shot himself through the thigh. The ball shattered the bone so they had to cut his leg off.

The Spencer Rifle

Editor's Note: John Thomas Wilder was born in Hunter's Village, Greene County, New York on January 31, 1830. He left his New York home at the age of nineteen and traveled to Columbus, Ohio, where he found work as an apprentice in Ridgeway's Foundry.

When the war started, Wilder immediately started casting two six-pound cannon in his Greensburg foundry and organizing a light artillery company.

Shortly after Gen. Rosecrans took command from Buell, Col. Wilder was assigned to command a brigade. The brigade initially consisted of four regiments - the 17th, 72nd, and 75th Indiana, and the 98th Illinois Infantry Regiments and the 18th Indiana Battery of Light Artillery.

When Wilder saw that the men could not effectively use bayonets, especially for camp chores, he had each man issued a hatchet with a two-foot long handle. This became a very handy camp tool and a good battlefield weapon. It earned the brigade the title of "The Hatchet Brigade" while fighting at Murfreesboro. Although officially known as the First Brigade of the Fourth Division of the XIV Corps, and since it operated independently much of the time, the name of Wilder's Brigade was usually given to it.

In early February, Rosecrans finally gave Wilder permission to mount his brigade. Wilder did not wait for governmental red tape to clear paperwork that would authorize purchase of horses. He immediately started on scouts through Dekalb and Wilson counties in the Cumberland Valley of Tennessee to "persuade" Confederate sympathizers to part with their horses. By the middle of March, Ambrose and the rest of the brigade had their horses.

With horses now on hand, one detail had yet to be completed. That was choosing more effective weapons for the men. Wilder's acquisition of the Spencer Repeating Rifle completed his transformation of the Brigade into a powerful fighting force. Obtaining this amazing new rifle, however, was not an easy task. Brig. Gen. James W. Ripley, the War Department's Chief of the Bureau of Ordinances, was in charge of all firearms purchases. Ripley was a West Point graduate and a veteran of the War of 1812. He preferred the smooth bore, muzzle-loading musket to breechloaders arguing that they were a more reliable weapon and one less wasteful of ammunition. He would have nothing to do with repeating rifles calling them "newfangled jimcrack."

Having absolutely no success with the Washington Army bureaucracy, Spencer packed his gun and headed west to Grant's Army of Tennessee. Grant and his officers, including Wilder, recognized the merits of the repeater but doubted that the Bureau of Ordinance would authorize purchase. This new repeating rifle was exactly what Wilder wanted for his men. He had sworn to arm them with the best weapons available. He called his men together and asked if they wanted to carry the sensational rifle that they had just seen demonstrated. Of course they said yes. Wilder then took an unheard of chance. He wrote to his bankers in Greensburg, Indiana, asking for a loan to buy enough Spencer repeating rifles to arm his brigade. Each man offered to pay for his own weapon by signing a note for $35. Wilder co-signed the notes and sent them off to his bank. Funds were returned and an order for 2000 repeating rifles and ammunition was placed with the Spencer factory. This order, put through privately, was highly irregular but a brilliantly resourceful maneuver.

But before the Spencers would arrive, the men of Company E and the rest of the brigade had to learn new skills in order to operate as a mounted force. Horses had to be fed and cared for. Saddles, bridles, and other leatherwork had to be maintained. Since horses were not as agile as men and horses had a mind of their own, close order drill and marching had to be practiced. Learning these new skills took a considerable amount of time.

Murfresboro Tenn May the 22d/63

We have drawn new guns and they are the nicest and handiest gun I ever saw. They are called the spencer repeating rifle. They shoot seven times and can be loaded and fired in a little less than no time. We dont have to use any caps. The cap is on the end of the cartrige.

Murfreesboro Tenn My the 29th/63

I saw an account of our scout in yesterdays Nashville Union which stated that we captured and distroyed their tents and camp equipage besides over a hundred prisoners. For my part I never saw but eight or ten prisoners and never saw any tents. Some other part of the command might of captured more prisoners and burned the tents &c. but I hardly believe it. Our advance said they killed 8 or 10 rebels.

There is right smart excitement here on account of the late news from Vicksburg. The latest news we have is that they are still fighting but expect to take Vicksburg soon. There are so many false rumors that I cant believe any thing any more.

Through Hoovers Gap into Eastern Tennessee

Our brigade in the advance and our regiment in the advance of the Brigade. We went about ten miles when we run on to the Rebel pickets, drove them back and captured a Signal Station with flag tents &c. Went on and took Hoovers Gap.

The main portion of the Rebels on that road were camped just beyond Hoovers Gap. We took them by surprise. They expected they could hold the Gap against any force, as it was a good position. When we got possession of the Gap we heard the long [drum] roll beat over in their camps.

Our Co. was sent out on a road to the left for pickets. While we were out there two Rebel Officers came riding up the road thinking we were some of their men but they were too late finding out their mistake. About this time the Rebels charged our brigade but after a fiew vollies they found we were armed with the Spencer rifle and fell back again.

Our Co. being in an exposed position and liable to be cut off, fell back, dismounted and took our place in line of battle. The infantry failing to drive us back they tried to shell us back out of the Gap, but most of their shells were aimed to high and the 18th and 19th Ind Batteries responded shot for shot.

Chaplain Eddy ws struck by a cannon ball and killed instantly. There was a good many killed and wounded in our Brigade. Our first Lieut had been home on furlough but got back just in time for the battle. We held our position til dark when we were relieved by the Infantry. We then went back to our Horses.

Moving to, and taking Chattanooga

September the 9th a train came and got the rations and we guarded them back to camp. Got back about noon and heard the welcome intelligence that Chattanooga was evacuated. That evening we crossed the Tenn river at Fryes ford and camped.

Lookout Valley 18 miles South of Chattanooga September (August) the 15th/63

We were ordered up the hill in a thick woods. By this time those six companies had got around to the left and I never heard such fireing. I could hear them cheering as they avanced. I will not brag on my bravery but I never wanted to go to help any body so bad in my life. I was afraid they would all be killed or taken prisoners but they was enough for the rebs. They drove back ten times their number but (there) Alas! some of our brave boys fell. I was not acquainted with any of them. There was I believe 6 killed and eight wounded. One was the Capt of Co. I Capt McMurtree.

September the 17th went to the left wing of the army and joined Col. Mintys brigade of Cavelry which was the extreme left wing of the army resting on Chickamorgua.

At this time we heard that the Rebels had succeeded in breaking the center of our army and were between us and Chattanooga. Our brigade was then ordered back to our horses then to guard a waggon train back towards Chattanooga. We went back to the Chattanooga valley and camped.

This was the gloomiest time for me while in the army. We passed straglers going back to the rear (the place for all cowards) and they all said that their commands were all killed and captured except themselves and the whole army was cut to pieces, which we learned afterwards was not the case. We had lost heavy in killed, wounded and prisoners but so had the Rebels. I have no doubt but if there had been a determined stand made that night and an advance of the whole lines next morning we could have retaken the battle field, but as it was we saved Chattanooga.

Chasing Wheeler

Mayesville Alabama October the 30th 63

Our advance run on to them before they knew they were near them, dismounted and drove them in good style killing a good many got them to running and the cavelry made a charge and took over a hundred prisoners. The rest run like towheads. The roads was lined with guns that they threw away.

We went on until we came to a little town by the name of Farmington. Here Wheelers whole force had stopped to give us fight. Our brigade dismounted and went in to them. It was shot and shell. The grape shot fairly whistle all around me. But we drove them took four cannon and two waggons. There was I believe 68 killed wound and missing in our brigade. Among the killed was Col Monroe of the 123d Ill. as brave and good a Col as ever lived.

It was a hard trip. We was 21 days on the trip and it rained 11 day and nights in the time. We had but 5 days rations for the whole time. The rest we foraged off the country. You had better believe we went in to the tater patches, fresh porkers, Chickens, &c. Our horses are pretty well run down. I am still riding my mule. It stands it better than any horse.

Mayesville Alabama November the 3d 63

Oh how I would like to see you all once more and see my old friends at home and sleep once more beneath the old roof at home without the necessity of having my gun at my side or the danger of being waked up at midnight by the dread alarm of battle. One cannot realize the priceless boon of peace, or the blessings of home until he is a soldier and undergone the hardships of a soldier life.

But I dont want you to think I am discouraged disheartened or sick. I never had better health in my life and never have regretted the day that I volunteered. I have passed through a good many dangers [both] of sickness of accident and the battlefield. But God in his mercy has seen fit to preserve me through them all while others as good as I have met their fate and are now sleeping the undisturbed sleep of death. Indeed I owe a debt to God. I can never repay and can but with an honest heart thank Him for His watchful care over me. But if it is my fate to fall I hope to fall at the post of duty. I would rather die on the battle field than for the enemies of God and humanity would go unpunished.

We have a new Chaplain. I have forgotten his name. I believe he is from Thorntown. He has preached three or four times and is liked very well.

Wilders Brigade Huntsville Alabama January the 28th 64

It was reported that the rebels was crossing the river in force down about Florence. So Col Miller started down there the 23rd of this month. On the 25th we got to Shell river five or six miles this side of florence and found the rebels and they stoped to show us fight.

There is a large bridge across Shell river and as soon as we got across it they attacked us in front and at the same time came up in our rear and tried to destroy the bridge to cut off our retreat. Then I presume they proposed to gobble us. But Col Miller was wide awake. He left two or three Companies to guard the brige and dismounted the rest of the brigade and we went in to them. The 92nd Ill was in the advance and before the rest of the brigade got up the rebels charged on them twice but they drove them back.

The rebels was formed along a thick woods and as soon as we was formed in lineof battle we was ordered forward, double quick and with a yell we went for them and our spencers commenced talking in fine style. The rebels run like tow heads.

The 9th Ill is camped at Athens. They are mounted infantry and it was one of the regiments that came up to us. They had left about 70 in camp and the rebels thought they would take them while the regiment was out. The 70 held their ground pretty well. The rebels got some of the blankets and some of their horses and took the Sutters goods but did not get to the comissary stores. There was 700 rebels and after the 70 men had formed in line the rebels was afraid to charge on them. They said they could hear the rebel officers telling their men that there was only a fiew of them and they could easily take them but the men wouldent advance so they started back to the river.

The Atlanta Campaign

Etowah River 4 miles of Kingston Georgia May the 22d/64

Crossed the Oostonola river on pontoons then went back to within a fiew miles of Rome and had a small fight.

There was seven or eight cavelryman killed and seven or eight wounded and Wilders Chief of Staff was captured. He was drunk and rode right in to the rebel lines. He was hardly worth capturing. We have heard that the rebels killed him.

In the skirmish there was a Georgia Colonel rode up to our skirmish lines and demanded them all to surrender or he would kill them all. He had no more than said that than there was four balls put through him one going in at his mouth. We then came up to this place. We run the rebels so close that they did not get to burn the bridge across the Etowah.

May 26th

There is a many of the families on hearing of our approach, gather up all they can take and desert their homes. The rebel soldiers tell them that we kill women and children as fast as we come to them. The women and children that stay are nearly scared to death. The other day as a couple of our officers were riding along by a strip of woods there was some women came running out of the bushes crying and begging them not to kill them. They was told to go back to their homes that we did not come down here to kill women and children.

In front of Kenesaw Mountain 8 miles of Marietta Georgia June the 23d/64

About noon Minties brigade of cavelry crossed Noonday creek and were attacted by rebel cavelry which resulted in the hardest cavelry fight I ever saw. From our picket post we had a plain view of the fight. Our cavelry after hard fighting was driven back. A portion of our brigade went their assistance and gave the rebels as much as they wanted.

4 miles of the Chattahoochee river July the 6th

Our Cavelry went down to the river last night. They retook several of our Cavelry men that had been taken prisoners about a week ago. They burnt a paper mill and drove the rebels away from the bridge across the Chattahooche river but the rebels got reenforced and drove them back and burned the bridge across the river. I guess the rebel army is all across the Chattahoche except small scouting parties.

Peach Tree Creek Georgia August the 2nd

Heavy cannonading and skirmishing going on all along our lines. Could have a good view of Atlanta from our works. Our lines lay around Atlanta in the shape of a horse shoe so that our Artillery could shell the city from all parts of the lines.

the Etowah near Cartersville

October the 13th started out early in the morning and after going about five miles we run on to the rebels again, had a skirmish and drove them back about a mile where they stopped to give us fight. They took up a position in the edge of a woods and behind a deep little stream. Our brigade was formed in line of battle, dismounted, we then advanced, waded the stream which was waist deep, broke the rebels lines and then our Cavelry which was on the road just in our rear charged them and captured a good many prisoners, two pieces of artillery, some horses and a regimental flag that if I remember right belonged to Terrels Texas Rangers. After following them up thre or four miles we went back and went in to camp.

On Foot Again

Editor's Note: Sherman needed horses for his march through Georgia and took those of the "Lightening Brigade."

Chattanooga Tennessee November the 10th/64

We turned over our horses at Rome Georgia to Kilpatricks Division on the 1th of this month then we marched about 25 miles and got on the train and have got this far on our way back to Nashville. We are going to Nashville to be remounted. Some say we will have to go back as far Louisville before we get horses.

Louisville Ky November the 16th

November the 22d Father came down to see me.

November the 23d Uncle Sam sent his "Green Back" man down and paid us twelve months wages. I got $190.70. At night I went down to the Louisville Hotel with Father and slept in a bed for the first time since I left home.

Alabama and West Georgia

Camp 72d Regt Ind Vol Chickasaw Landing Ala March 17th/65

I expect this will be the last campain our regiment will be on. I hope we will not meet with any reverse. I hope I will get through safe, but if it is my lot to fall I hope it will be at my post of duty. I can only hope and pray that He who has watched and protected me thus far will still watch over and protect me.

April the 1st

We went on towards Selma and run on to Gen Forests command at Ebenezer Church. Had a fight took three pieces of Artillery about two hundred prisoners and enough corn all ready sacked up to feed all of our horses and sent Forest on toward Selma to tell the folks that the "Yanks" were comeing.

Selma Apri1 2d

Selma was surrounded by two lines of entrenchments the outer one continuous, flanked by impassable swamps covered by stockades and defended by seven thousand men and commanded by Lieut Gen Forest. Col Minties brigade of our division made the first charge on the rebel works but they were repulsed. They were unable to get over the stockade. They came back dismounted, formed in line of battle with our brigade.

Gen Willson came up about this time and in about ten minutes the bugles sounded the Charge. Both divisions started about the same time and this time never stoped but went right over the rebel works in to the city. The rebels broke and run in every direction and about dusk Selma with all its vast stores was in our possession.

During the fight our regiment was ordered back to the rear for pickets. The rebel Gen Chalmers with his division was in our rear and during the fight he attacted our pickets but before he accomplished any thing Selma was taken. April the 7th we crossed the Alabama river on pontoons and started to Montgomery another important place. April the 12th our advance reached the City of Montgomery and the place was surrendered without a fight. It was well fortified. The cannon were left in the forts. There was extensive government works and Manufactories in the City. Montgomery is the nicest place I have seen in the South.

The next place of importance was Columbus Georgia. So on the night of the 16th after a brisk little fight our column entered Columbus capturing a vast amount of everthing. I guess about the same that was captured at Selma.

The War Ends

Macon, Georgia

April the 21st not having very plenty of rations and hearing there was some rebel "hard tack" down at the depo, I started out early in the morning to see what there was to be seen and to get what there was to be got, or to use a well know military phrase, went out foraging. When I got in sight of the depo I saw there was an unusual stir among the negroes and poor white people or "poor white trash" as some learned rebel has denominated them. Before I got to the depo I met a squad of negroes comeing up the street loaded like beasts of burthen. Two very old negro women were trudging along in the middle of the street each one had a couple large sides of bacon on their heads and shouting at the top of their voice "thank the Lord the Yankees have come. Bless the Lord we wont starb any more" &c.

When I got to the depo I witnessed a scene I shall never forget. In the depo were a lot of rebel commissary stores, and in the building and all around in the streets were a multitude of starving retches, men, women, and children of all sizes, ages and color, strugling and jamming, trying their utmost to get a share of the rations. While I stood looking on there was a lot of destitute women looking the very picture of dispair came up to me and begged me for Gods Sake to help them get some thing to eat. Such was the fate of the poor white people in the South and this but a poor picture of the distress and suffering caused by the leaders of this wicked rebellion.

Here as well as the other Cities that we passed were large numbers of negroes at work in the government work shops. They would follow us in droves. Sometimes whole families big ones and little ones, would drop every thing and follow on after us. Ask them where they were going the universal answer would be "We are going with you ones all". Poor deluded creatures they had learned some way that the Yankees were their friends and as long as they were with us they would want for nothing.

After the War

Editor's Note: Upon returning from the war, Ambrose was restless. He preferred to sleep outside rather than comfortably inside his house. His father finally gave him a horse and blanket and told him to travel until he was ready to settle down. One day while on a trip to view land, Ambrose visited a friend from Company E, David Shelby, who lived near Lafayette, Indiana. As he was leaving, the friend's sister, standing at an upstairs window, saw him and said, "That's the man I'm going to marry."

Minerva (Minnie) Evans Shelby was born on December 25, 1844, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana. After the death of their parents, Minnie and her four brothers and sister lived together. When her sister married, she moved with her to Kansas City, Missouri.

Ambrose's courtship of Minnie was mainly through the mail. Many letters traveled between Crawfordsville and Kansas City during November and December 1866 before Ambrose made the trip himself. In the spring of 1867, Ambrose returned to Kansas City to claim Minnie as his bride on June 7. They were the parents of four children, Issac Francis who died in infancy, Frederick Shelby, Harry Clay and Sarah Jane.

Ambrose was a successful farmer. He first farmed a piece of ground near Hoopston, Illinois, but returned to Indiana to be nearer family. He purchased land in Wayne Township, Montgomery County, close to where his brothers were farming. He became active in the local community and was well thought of in the Republican party political circles. Ambrose was asked to stand as a candidate for Governor of the state of Indiana but he declined the invitation because he thought that his lack of a formal education would be a detriment to success as Governor.

When Minnie contracted tuberculosis, Ambrose built a large, airy home at 700 South Water Street in Crawfordsville to help her health. They moved there upon retiring from farming. Minnie Evans Shelby Remley died on December 10, 1900, from the effects of tuberculosis. Ambrose Remley died January 18, 1917.

Throughout his life Ambrose was proud of his service with the 72nd. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic (an organization of the Union's Civil War veterans) and was a faithful attendee at their encampments. The Remley diary of movements and skirmishes was of invaluable assistance to the Regimental Historian, Benjamin F. Magee, in the preparation of his history of the 72nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry.