Captain Thomas W. Rose Interesting War Experiences
Narrow Escape #30
Ironton Register – June 9, 1887
Submitted by Jimmie Epling
Captain Thomas W. Rose, formerly of Co. D. 91st O.V.I., stopped down to the meeting of the Republican Central Committee last Friday. When he had just finished a foaming glass of soda at Norton’s Drug Store and was feeling the delightful sensations of the delicious dose, the Register man brought him to the serious concerns of his life by asking him if he had ever had a “narrow escape” in the army.
“Why,” said Captain Thomas W. Rose, smacking his lips and catching the final taste of the nectar, with which the glass was spiked, “yes, I took in a few. I had some “narrow escapes,” and some several times, I was scared as bad as if they had been narrow. The closest place I ever was in my life was at Opequan, on the 19th of September 1864, but the worst I ever was on the 22nd of September, two days after, when I was ordered to take my company and drive in the enemy’s skirmishers.
I had been there before, but this was the first time I was ever ordered to run the machine, which scared me. But just as I was getting ready, (Gen. George) Crook ordered a charge of the whole line, and we went in on the double quick, charging about two miles. That was the worst I ever was scared of.
“Well, what about the other – the escape,” asked the reporter.
“Oh yes – it was an escape because the balls flew thick there. That was at Opequan. Our army, the Army of West Va., occupied the extreme right, and the reb line in front of us was so bent that, as we approached, it got a sort of enfilading fire on us.
We charged across an open space that gave the rebs a splendid chance at us. I tell you, those balls came thick. Every second was a “narrow escape.”
I was running alongside Ed(mond) Massie, whose “narrow escape” you had some time ago when a reb bullet struck him right on the cheekbone and dropped him, though he is now ready to tell you how it felt.
“It was a pretty scary time just then. We were in an open field, with the reb guns sprinkling us with cold lead. Not far ahead of us, I saw a little place that I thought would afford us shelter from the metal rain, and I ran there with my company and some others, but when I got there, I found it was no shelter at all. The bullets were as thick there as hail. So I ordered the boys to lie down, thinking that would be some relief.
And right here, I might tell you of (Sgt.) L(ewis) F. Wiseman’s “narrow escape,” which was a very interesting one. When a fellow tries to screen himself from reb lad, he avails himself of every little obstacle. On this occasion, Comrade Wiseman got his head neatly chucked us behind a chunk of limestone when a reb ball struck the stone with tremendous force right in the center.
If it hadn’t been for the stone, the ball would have gone right into Frank’s head, and Symmes township would today be minus one capital, good fellow.”
“That was narrow.” said the reporter, “but what became of you.”
“That was the hottest moment, and afterward, the reb line began to give away. I remember just then, that an Aide came up ordering Lt. Col. (Benjamin F.) Coates to command the brigade; that Gen. (Isaac H.) Duval and Col. (Daniel D.) Johnson were both wounded and Gen. (Rutherford B.) Hayes was ordered to the (Second) division. A few moments later, we drove the rebs out, and the worst was over.”
Capt. T. W. Rose, Ewing & Co. (Cumberland, Md.), Publisher, Photo Courtesy of Marietta College. Special Collections
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