On February 3rd, 1862, the 55th Ohio marched from Grafton to New Creek, Western Virginia and on the 6th, took part in an expedition under the command of District commander Brigadier General Benjamin Franklin Kelley, to drive out secessionist forces out of the town of Romney. After reaching the town, the command returned to New Creek. On February 11th the 55th Ohio, 73rd Ohio, 5th W. Va., a company of the 1st Va. Cavalry and two brass guns from the 1st Ohio Light Artillery, all under the command of Colonel Dunning (5th Ohio) left for Moorefield, Va.On the evening of the 12th of February, while encamped just three miles from Moorefield, some boys started a fire to cook some coffee. The following is related by Hartwell Osborne in the regimental history: ". . . The blaze had hardly attained the size of a mule's ear when, -- bang-bang-bang-zip-zip-bang-zip-bang! - the enemies' pickets were blazing away at us, while the Colonel's angry order clearly rang out "Extinguish that fire!'" This was the first time that the regiment came under hostile fire.
At dawn on the 13th of February, the command marched through the town while the "Johnny's" retreated on the west side and took up positions on a hill. Lt. Colonel George Safford wrote to his wife of the following: ". . . Our artillery moved down into an open bottom, unlimbered and gave them a shot, it did not take effect, they gave one grand hollow for Jeff Davis. Two more were sent and another time they shouted, then we gave them a discharge from two six ponders at once, and such a scattering you never saw. They supposed because that the first three shots did not hit they were out of range and had gotten into a camp. We saw them piling up the dead or wounded." The infantry fired a couple of volleys after the fleeing Confederates to help scatter them.
At this moment, a Confederate officer appeared upon the hill. Lt. Col. Safford relates ". . . Some commanding officer said to have been a major, presented himself on the brow of the hill about one mile off, there were two or three horsemen with him. The captain of the gun discovered with his glass that he was making defiant attitudes at him as much to say shoote (sic) if you dare. He did shoote (sic) and we saw the man and horse fly in all directions literally torn to attoms (sic)." Private William Keesy of Company I, 55th Ohio stated ". . . It certainly was a masterful shot."
After securing the town, the 55th Ohio and its command, returned to New Creek and encamped. While in Moorefield, an amusing incident was related by Sgt. Luther B. Mesnard of Company D, 55th Ohio: "When Finley Benson (Private, Co. D) went out early and milked a cow, the milk looked very good as the foaming pailful came into the tent. The Capt. (Captain Frederick A. Wildman, Co. D) found it good when liberal sample was sent him. The next morning the owner of the cow was out early, but Benson told him he was raised on a farm and just loved to milk, would milk a cow for nothing, but as he started off with the milk the old man began to foam, threatened to report him etc., the milk looked very good as Benson came in with it and the Captains share was very acceptable. Soon the old man came around in great fury to the Capt.
Capt. - 'Oh no. One of my boys would not do such a thing'
O.M. - 'But I was right thar. Saw him do it.'
Capt - 'Would you know him, can you point him out?'
O.M. - 'Yes Sir. That's the man right thar.'
Capt - 'Mr. Benson, did you milk this mans cow?
Benson - ' No Sir. Don't know how to milk, never milked a cow in my life.'
Capt. - There old man I told you my boys did not do it. Good Day.'
The old man looked thoughtful a moment and started for home. This was early in the war and we were ordered to handle the Southerners with 'gloves on', but later it was different."
Sources:
Trials and Triumphs: A Record of the Fifty-Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry by Hartwell Orsborne, 1904, A.C. Clurg & Co., Chicago.
War, As Viewed From The Ranks by William Keesy, 1898.
Memoirs of Luther B. Mesnard, 1901, Courtesy of U.S. Army Military History Institute.