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360 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
the rebel forces and barely escaped capture. Lack of proper vigilance
was the cause of disaster. But the boys soon rallied and formed a line of
battle and made a stout and successful resistance, but not without some
loss in killed and wounded. The roster will disclose the fact that as
many of Company C AA'ere killed or Avounded at Cheat Mountain as in
any other place, excepting possibly Chickamauga, Georgia.
The Twenty-fourth was next engaged at Greenbrier, Virginia, on' the
3d of October, where they were exposed to a heavy fire, but for all of
that their loss Avas inconsiderable, two being killed and three Avounded.
This ended the fighting for 1861. The regiment proceeded to Louisville,
Kentucky, arriving there on the 28th of November. While here the
Twenty-fourth was attached to the Fourth Division of the Tenth Brigade
of the Army of the Ohio.
Late in February, 1862, the command reached Nashville, Tennessee,
Avhere it remained some Aveeks, and then proceeded to Savannah, reaching
that place on April 5th, much Avorn and fatigued by marching over heavy
roads and Avading through streams and marshes.
The regiment next participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing,
losing thirty killed and Avounded, and aftenvard skirmished Avith the
enemy on the march tOAvard Corinth, which latter place the TAventyfourth
Avas one of the first regiments to occupy. In October the regiment
was assigned to the Fourth Division of the TAventy-first Army Corps.
At Perryville,, on the 8th, it Avas present on the field but not actively
engaged.
In December General Roseerans moved tOAvard Nashville. The
TAA'enty-fourth was in an exceedingly unfortunate condition. Company
A was on detached duty, and the balance of the command numbered less
than 350 serviceable men, sickness, discharges for disability, transfers,
losses and desertions having reduced the regiment to that number. IIOAVever,
with that strength the TAventy-fourth Avent into the battle of Stone
River, Tennessee, on the last day of the year 1862. It was given an
important position in this battle, and held firmly, doing excellent Avork,
but losing heavily, there being nearly ninety lost in killed and Avounded,
or about one-fourth its entire strength. Next came Woodbury, on the
24th of January, Avith but slight loss.
No further important battle Avas participated in by the regiment,
until the Chickamauga engagement, in which it also lost a number of
officers and men. After this Avas over Colonel Higgins and Major
McClure Avere "permitted" to resign from service. At Lookout Mountain,
November 24,1863, at Mission Ridge, November 25, and at Taylor's
Ridge, Virginia, NoA'ember 27, the regiment Avas engaged in battle, after
Avhich it AVIIS assigned to the Second Division of the Fourth Corps. The
final battle in which it participated Avas at Buzzard Roost, on Rocky Face
Ridge, on February 25-27, 1864. and in April folloAving was sent to
Chattanooga to aAvait orders to muster out. In June it proceeded to
Columbus and AVIIS, excepting Company D, mustered out by companies,
at different dates, from June 17 to 24, by reason of expiration of term