USA > Illinois > Complete history of the 46th regiment, Illinois volunteer infantry, a full and authentic account of the participation of the regiment in the battles, sieges, skirmishes and expeditions in which it was engaged > Part 32
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The garrison of Moscow consisted of the 1st brigade of the 4th division, the 46th and 76th Illinois of the 2nd brigade, and two batteries. The garrison of Lafayette was the 14th and 15th Illinois and one battery under the command of Col. Cyrus Hall. The 2nd brigade was again united at Lafayette. Tennessee, on the 5th of March, and on the 9th marched via Collierville and Germantown to Memphis. Gen. Lauman was now in command of the 4th division, and Col. Hall of the 14th Illinois. of the 2nd brigade. Here again much friendly rivalry sprung up between the regi- ments of the division, in drill, discipline and soldierly bearing. Gen. Lau- man would call for two regiments, not of the same brigade to appear at a certain time before his headquarters, to execute their best military
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maneuvers, and to pass before him in review. The 16th never suffered in comparison, except on one occasion, and that failure was by no means through any fault of the rank and file of the regiment. On the 21st of April the 46th with several other regiments engaged in an expedition to Hernando and Cold Water, Mississippi. A small force of rebels was driven out of Hernando and across Cold Water river. About thirty prisoners and some supplies were captured. There were no casualties in the 46th and but few in the command. The return march on the 24th of April was a rapid and peculiar one, on account of the large number of negro slaves that accompanied the troops to Memphis. Several of our officers were more kind-hearted than the others, and filled the empty wagons with the fleeing women and children, who were too weak to follow on foot. All of them were taken to the "Contraband camp" near Memphis. The regiment embarked on the 13th of May to engage in the capture of Vicksburg. Landed at Young's Point, Mississippi, on the 15th; on the 18th marched to Bower's Landing, below Vicksburg. The 4th division had been ordered to go to Grand Gulf, to follow up and reinforce Gen. Grant, who, with his army had captured Jackson, Mississippi, and was on his way back to the rear of Vicksburg.
There were boats for only a part of the command, and while the 46th was waiting for transportation, it was suddenly ordered back to take boat for the Yazoo river. May 20th we went by boat to Chickasaw Bayou, dis- embarked. and moved across the swamp to the bluff. Next day the regi- ment joined the right of General Grant's army now before Vicksburg. Up- on the arrival of the balance of the brigade from Grand Gulf, the division went to Snyder's Bluff, to guard the rear of the army. It was relieved on the 24th of May and proceeded to the extreme left of our line covering the Warrenton road. On the evening of May 25th the regiment was detailed on picket duty, and during the night the outpost consisting of five compan- ies in command of Lieut. Col. Jones, was captured by the enemy. One hundred and four men and seven officers were captured. seventy escaping. The balance of the regiment took an active part in the siege of Vicksburg until its surrender. Gen Jolinson had been collecting an army at Jackson with the object of relieving the rebel garrison of Vicksburg. Consequently Gen. Grant ordered a movement of his army toward Jackson immediately after Gen. Pemberton had agreed on terms of surrender. The regiment was not permitted to enter the city, but was ordered to hold itself in readi- ness to march at daylight of the 4th of July. However, before we started out, we had the pleasure of seeing the Johnnies march out of their forti- fications, stack arms and leave their colors to be taken charge of by our victorious army. On our inarch to Jackson the great battle fields of Cham- pion Hills. Clinton and Raymond were passed over, where the evidences of the recent conflicts could be seen on every hand. On the 9th of July, Dick- son Plantations, near Jackson, was reached. Our 2d brigade was detached to
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guard the Corps train, while the other two brigades of the division took a position on the extreme right of the line, resting on Pearl river, and before Jackson. Here on the 12th, Gen. Lauman, through some misunderstand- ing orders, made an assault with his first brigade without support upon the enemy's works, and was repulsed with terrible loss. He was at once relieved from command, and his division temporarily assigned to Gen. Lew' Wallace's' division. The Confederates evacuated their works and the city on the 16th, and escaped across the Pearl river, never again to return in force to the Mississippi river during the war. The division was now trans- ferred to the 17th corps, and Brigadier General M. M. Crocker assigned to the command. On the 13th of August the 46th embarked and went down the river to Natchez, where the regiment spent a very pleasant month. On the 1st of September our expedition went across the river into Louisiana. The 46th was left at Trinity river to guard the crossing, while the remain- der of the troops went to Harrisonburg, La., capturing Ft. Beauregard in the Washita river, and returning to Natchez on the Sth. The regiment re- turned to Vicksburg on the 16th of September and went into camp in the northeast part of the city, where it remained mostly inactive until Nov. 28th, when it moved to Camp Cowen, on Clear Creek, nine miles east of the city. Gen. McPherson, commanding the Department of Vicksburg, in compliance with orders from the Sec. of War, made a special effort to in- duce the regiments of his command to re-enlist as veteran regiments. To this end he requested all of the regimental commanders to call at his head- quarters at Vicksburg, for consultation and instruction. The officers and soldiers of the 46th after hearing the order and its inducements fully ex- planied, entered into the work of re-enlistment with such zeal that on the 4th day of January, 1864, almost the entire regiment was mustered into ser- vice for three years or during the war, by Lieut. Hyde of the regular army. On the 10th of January the veterans left Camp Cowan to go home on vet- eran furlough. When we reached Vicksburg the regiment formed in front of Gen. McPherson's headquarters and saluted the General, who acknowl- edged the salute by a very neat and complimentary speech. He gave the 46th the credit of being the first regiment to re-enlist as a veteran regi- ment in his department. The steamer Planet was at the wharf waiting to receive us, and upon which we embarked at once. On the afternoon and night of the 11th the men were all paid on muster out rolls and advance pay as veterans, by Maj. Stewart, paymaster. Early on the morning of the 12th our steamer pulled out and slowly passed up the river through heavy masses of floating ice, on account of which the boat had to tie up every night. There were 334 men of the 40th on board, and several hundred soldiers of other regiments. Jannary 14th James M. French of Company E died. January 20th at 11 a. m. we arrived at Cairo, Ill., and reported to Adjutant General Ful- ler, by telegram, who on the next day ordered the regiment to go into camp
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at Freeport, where we arrived on the 23rd of January. The 46th was re- ceived with grand honors and escorted by the band and Company B of the 26th Illinois, to Plymouth Hall, where the ladies of Freeport had prepared a sumptuous lunch for the boys. The members of the regiment lost no time in disbanding and seeking their several homes. Adjutant Woodbury went to Springfield for furloughs, which were promptly sent to the men on the 27th of January. During the month of Feburary 1864, the officers of the regi- ment were busily engaged recruiting, and one new company raised at Free- port and commanded by Captain James W. Crane, was attached to the regi- ment as Company D. On the 2d of March 1864, the regiment numbering 984 officers and men left Freeport and proceeded to Cairo, Illinois, by rail, thence to Vicksburg, Mississippi, by boat, and thence to Camp Hebron, ten miles east of Vicksburg, where the regiment rejoined the 2d brigade, 4th divis- ion, 17th army corps. From March 10th to April 5th the 46th was in camp under vigorous drill and discipline. Upon the latter date the brigade to which it was attached marched to Big Black Bridge, 12 miles east of Vicks- burg, and reported to Brigadier General E. S. Dennis commanding. April 25th and 46th went to Vicksburg by rail and encamped near Battery Ran- som, northeast of the city. May 4th started out on an expedition to Ben- ton and Yazoo City, Mississippi, with the command under Brigadier Gen- eral John McArthur, and the regiment under Lieut. Col. Jones. Col. Dornblaser of the 46th, commanded one brigade and Col. Coates of the 11th Illinois, the other. Benton was reached on the 9th and taken pos- session of after a sharp skirmish with the enemy. April 13th marched to Vaughn Station, 15th to Yazoo City, and on the 18th returned via Liver- pool, Sartartia and Haines Bluff to camp at Vicksburg, having marched over 200 miles. The only casuality was Sergeant Lansing Eells of Win- slow, killed. The 46th remained in camp till July 1st, when it again started out on a scout to Jackson, Mississippi. On the 4th at Clinton a sharp en- gagement was had with the Johnnies, but with no serious loss to us. On the 5th we reached Jackson and went into camp south of the city. In the afternoon of the 6th our cozy comfort in camp was seriously disturbed by a report that the rebels had come down from Canton in large force and cut off our retreat to Vicksburg. Gen. Slocum who was in command, at once ordered the 5th U. S. colored cavalry to advance and skirmish with the enemy until the infantry could come to their support, which they did in gallant style. The 1st brigade consisting of the 46th and 76th Illinois and a section of Bolton's battery, made a rapid march and came up to the cav- alry just as they had exhausted their ammunition. The darkies were more than glad to give way to the white troops, who soon cleared the Vicks- burg road and took up a strong position for the night. Early next morning we were ordered to advance and press the enemy back, that the wagon train escorted by the cavalry might pass on towards Vicksburg. It was a stub-
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born fight followed by a rapid retreat. Our killed and wounded were left on the field to the care of the enemy, who followed closely and made another charge near Clinton in which they were repulsed with ser- ious loss to them but slight to us. We reached our camp at Vicksburg again on the 9th having sustained a loss in entire command of three killed thirty-six wounded, one captured and three missing, total 43. This ex- pedition was much criticised as having been made more for profit than glory. July 29th, 1864, the regiment embarked on board the steamer Arkansas, and dropped down to Morganza Bend, Louisiana, where it went into camp. On the 13th of August the regiment was assigned to the 1st brigade, 2d division, 19th army corps. Gen. Reynolds commanded the corps, Gen. Dennis the division and Col. Dornblaser the brigade. August 23rd the brigade made a reconnaissance to Clinton, La., via Port Hudson, returning again on the 29th. The incidents of note were weary night marches, false alarms, no fighting and plenty of fun at the expense of eastern troops. On September 3d we left Morganza Bend by boat and. landed at the mouth of White river, Arkansas, on the 8th. The non-veterans of Companies A, B and C, left for Springfield, Illinois, on the 13th of September to be mus- tered out by reason of expiration of service.
October 6th the regiment started by boat up White river to Duvall's Bluff, where it landed and went into camp on the 9th. On the 28th it left for Memphis, Tennessee, reaching there December 1st. While in camp here, the non-veterans of Companies E, F, H, I, and K, were mustered out of service. On the 12th of December the 19th Army Corps was reorgan- ized, and was for a time known as the Reserve Corps Military Division of west Mississippi. The 46th was attached to the 2d brigade and marched to Moscow and Wolf river, Tennessee, on 'the Memphis & Charleston rail- road and returned from the 21st to the 31st of December. This expedition was commanded by Gen. Lawler. On January 2d, 1865, the regiment pro- ceeded by boat to Kennerville, Louisiana. February 8th embarked on steamers Planter and Alabama at Lake Port, and steamed across Lake Ponchartrain to Ft. Gaines, on Dauphin Island, Alabama, where it arrived on the 10th.
Col. Dornblaser, who had been home on leave of absence, arrived on the 1st of March with one hundred and sixty recruits for the regiment, which brought the number up again to a point approaching the maximumn. While in camp at Fort Gaines the Reserve Corps was reorganized, and named the 13th Army Corps, to be commanded by Gen. Gordon Granger. The 46th was placed in the 2d brigade of the first division, Gen. James C. Veatch was again to command the division, and Gen. Dennis the brigade. On the 18th of March the regiment commenced the march with the corps to Mobile. Ft. Spanish was first invested. the 46th being on the extreme left of the line next the bay, and moved up within easy cannon range and
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built earthworks. Before another advance was made, Gen. A. J. Smith came up with his division and relieved ours. We were at once sent up the bay to Ft. Blakely, which was also closely invested, and the siege so vigorously prosecuted that on the 9th of April a charge was made and the Fort captured with many prisoners and munitions of war. The capture of their strong fortifications, rendered the further occupation of the city of Mobile by the confederates untenantable; hence its evacuation followed promptly. Our division entered the city on the morning of the 12th of April, 1865. The 8th Illinois Infantry was assigned to provost duty in the city, and the 46th to outpost duty. But the end was now evidently fast ap- proaching. Our armies were everywhere victorious, and the clouds of de- spondency were settling down upon the armies of the south. The brief, but comprehensive command to "push things" was strictly obeyed in the west as in the east. Expeditions were organized and sent out in every di- rection wherever a foe was known to be, prepared and determined to crush him. But before many of them could reach their destination the tidings of surrender were flashed from the east to the west and the war of the rebellion was closed. Rebel armies were however yet in the field, not to wage further warfare, but to surrender according to the terms of Lee's capitulation, and hence on the 12th of May the regiment went by rail to Meridian, Miss., and received the surrender of Gen. Dick Taylor's army. After taking charge and disposing of the arms and property of Taylor's army and seeing it disbanded, we again returned to Mobile on the 21st of May. On the 27th of May the regiment embarked for New Orleans. where it arrived on the 28th and went into camp at the race track west of the city. Gen. Kirby Smith's Trans-Mississippi army was at Shreveport, La., for which place we embarked on the 30th of May, and proceeded up Red river via Alexandria and Natchitoches. Upon our arrival, however, we found but a small remnant of Smith's army there, as the valliant general and most of his followers had fled to their homes in Texas, and to the re- public of Mexico. Our entire division had gone to Shreveport, and as there was now no necessity for so many troops at this point, and as the work of mustering out had begun the 46th was on the 19th of June sent to Grand Ecore and Natchitoches, La. Gen. Bank's unfortunate expedition had left a large number of army wagons, mules and other property of Uncle Sam in this part of the United States. The principal business of the 40th was to collect this property together with "confederate states" cotton that was hidden in the swamps and ship it to New Orleans. The war appeared to us to be over and many appeals were made to be mustered out of the service. Desertions were becoming painfully frequent, and the performance of any military duty was irksome. Yet, we were on the 20th of November order- ed to march overland to Shreveport, La., simply to occupy the place and
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maintain order until civil authority could be re-established. But finally on the 26th of December the welcome order came to proceed to Baton Rouge, La., for muster out.
On January 20th, 1866, the regiment was mustered out and on the same day started for Springfield, Illinois, for final discharge, which final discharge is dated February 1st, 1866, having served as an organization four years and one month, and many of its members four years- and a half.
REUNION OF 1889.
VETERANS MEET.
(From the Freeport Weekly Journal of Aug. 28, 1889.)
A more perfect day for a soldiers' reunion could hardly be asked for. At least so thought the survivors of the old 46th as they arrived in Free- port this morning to attend the reunion of their old regiment. Our mer- chants have showed an interest in the old veterans by decorating their places of business and the city has presented a holiday attire. The com- mittee, who have had charge of the reunion, worked hard to make it a suc- cess, and while there is not as large a number of the boys present as at the last reunion, still those who did come, feel amply repaid for their visit. The last reunion of this regiment was held in Freeport Oct. 5th, 1887, and at that time the JOURNAL published a very complete history of the regi- ment, which was prepared with great care by Lieut. Thomas B. Jones, of Buckeye. Most of our readers are familiar with the record of the gallant regiment, so it will not be necessary to quote its history on this occasion.
THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.
Among those who were attending the reunion might be mentioned : F. C. Held, Freeport; A. J. Bates, Cedarville; N. F. Cooledge, Pecatonica; D. Kostenbader, Cedarville; W. McElhaney, Dakota; Capt. W. G. Barnes, John R. Waddel, Capt. Arno, W. W. Krape, Capt. Wm. Young, R. Hanke, W. B. Garrison. Paul Petrick, Jacob Prince, Thos. Runner, Wm. Spitler, Chas. L. Beebe, Freeport; Jacob Becks, Durand ; D. D. Tyler, Browntown ; G. S. Roush, Henry Hoyman, Lena ; J. P. Kleck- ner, McConnells; J. A. Shoemaker, Polo; Benedict Joy, H. King, Addison Donmoyer, Winslow; W. H. Brubaker, W. McGilligan, Ridott; H. L. Wagner, Davenport; Luther Angle, Dakota; A. E. Machamer, Shannon ; Israel Miller, McConnells: Henry Bemis, Oregon; T. B. Fisher, J. W. Holmes, Amboy; J. B. Musser, J. C. Daughenbaugh, Orangeville; J. W. Trenholm, Flag Station ; Peter Wurtz, Davis; W. Reitzell, Jacob Lauck,
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Rock Grove; Geo. W. Bolender, Buena Vista; Benj. Morse, Chicago; Miller Zeigler, Rock City; M. T. Steffen, Freeport; R. Nunn, Lyons; Wm. Swanzey, Freeport; Thos. Venson, Starr, Iowa; Chas. Barrett, Sioux Falls, D. T .; B. T. St. John, Sterling; Louis Korn, Freeport ; Nicholas Kastler, Amboy; Wm. Hanke, Eleroy; S. A. Sleight, Lyons, Iowa; Wm. Stober, Freeport; Chris. Daughenbaugh, Orangeville; Chas. Musser, Orangeville; Philip Knecht, Freeport; L. Currier, Oregon ; W. H. Rutter, Cedarville; Christopher Green, Sheffield, Ia .; Theodore Segin, Freeport; Jonathan Matter, Dakota; Isaac Bobb, Orangeville; Henry Gorman, Cedarville; Albert Lincoln, Waterloo; James Maddley, Water- 100, Ia .; Benj. Musser, Jewell, Kans .; H. S. Keck, Dakota, Ill .; George Sheets, Trenton ; Porter Benjamin, Prophetstown; P. O'Neal, Iowa Falls, Iowa; John Windecker, Robertson, Iowa; B. H. Bradshaw, Orangeville; Thos. B. Jones, Buckeye; Isaac Gage, Winslow; Lewis Moses, Buckeye; John H. Whitmeyer, Damascus; Lorenz Seiferman, John Weifenbach, F. J. Koehler, Fred. Demuth, Chas. Frisbie, H. C. Best, John Curran, Len Lee, Freeport; Peter Seyler, Lena; Espy Devore, Aurelia, Ia .; Wm. Barnds, Orangeville; Wm. Clingman, Cedarville; Wmn. Smith, Winslow ; I. N. Lee, Webster City, Ia .; A. Lorenzo, Lena; J. Kleckner, McConnells; Darius Winters, Robt. Wilson, Levi Richards, Bolton; C. W. Sebold, Fargo, D. T.
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
The Association held a business meeting at Germania Hall this morn- ing, commencing at 10:30 o'clock. President Arno called the meeting to order and made a few remarks welcoming the old veterans to the city, and expressing a wish that all might have a pleasant time while in the city.
Secretary F. C. Held read the minutes of the last reunion of the regi- ment, which was held in this city in October, 1887. The minutes as read were adopted.
Treasurer James Musser made his report, which showed that the balance of $83.91 remained in the treasury after paying expenses of the last reunion.
The question of holding the next reunion was then discussed. Com- rade Jones. of Buckeye, made a few remarks favoring Freeport as a suit- able place for holding the next meeting of the association. Morrison and other places were suggested, but Freeport seemed to be the universal choice of the members of the regiment, and upon the question coming to a vote, Freeport was selected.
Capt. Krape moved that the next reunion be held in 1892, as it was quite probable that the Columbus centennial and G. A. R. national encamp- ment would be held at Chicago in 1892, and if the 46th Regimental re-
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union be held at that time it would be convenient for the comrades to visit the reunion first and then the world's fair and national encampment. This motion was carried.
Then occurred the election of officers. Capt. W. W. Krape, of this city, Capt. Reitzel, of Rock City, and comrade James Musser, of Orange- ville, were put in nomination for President of the Association. The first ballot did not result in a choice. A second ballot resulted in the election of Mr. Musser. Capt. Krape then moved to make the election of Mr. Musser unanimous, which was carried.
Then came the election of a secretary, and Comrade F. C. Held, of this city was re-elected without opposition. Capt. Reitzell was then elect- ed treasurer by acclamation.
The following interesting letter was received from Gen. B. F. Dorn- blaser, who commanded this regiment during the war :
NATCHEZ, MISS., 'Aug. 17, 1889.
FRED C. HELD, EsQ.,
Sec. 46th Ills. Reunion Ass'n.
My Dear Sir Comrade :- The invitation to attend the reunion of the 46th Ills. Infantry at Freeport on the 22nd inst, was duly received. I would greatly enjoy meeting with my old comrades of the regiment, but I shall be unable to do so by reason of my engagements here. After a lapse of 26 years I find myself again in Natchez, not in the pomp and circumstances of war, but engaged in the civil and peaceful pursuit of building a railroad over some of the very ground that our division marched 26 years ago. Will you kindly make this your apology to the comrades attending the reunion, and extend to them my kindest regards and very best wishes for their welfare and prosperity? I call to mind the fact that Col. Walter Q. Gresham of the 53rd Indiana Infantry, and of our old 2nd Brigade here received his commission as Brigadier General. I have not yet looked up the exact spot where the officers of the brigade and division celebrated this happy event; nor do I expect to find any relics to show how and to what extent the jollification was conducted. History, however, shows that the star then placed on the shoulder of Gen. Gresham was most worthily worn to the end.
I remember the march about 12 miles northeast of Natchez as a diver- sion in favor of a cavalry raid in which march an army of sweet pota- toes and other eatables not down in the ration of the army regulations were captured and never paroled or exchanged. When we were starting from Natchez to go to Trinity River and Harrisonburg, La., as I was riding at the head of the regiment down the hill to the landing an old negro auntie, with wool as white as snow, laid her hand on my knee to attract attention and said, "Bress God massa, I wish I could tole you."
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Although she seemed to be on the very verge of the grave, her joy was everpowering that she in her day should see the bonds of slavery broken, and that "the day of jubilee had come" for her and her race.
The hot, dusty march to Trinity, the bad water, the corduroy roads across the swamp, the lakes and bayous, and the alligators which the boys would shoot at notwithstanding the vigilance of the Provost Marshal and his guard comes again to mind. An Irish soldier, whose name I cannot now recall, made more frequent use of an expression, which was common only to him on this march than any other, "A fine day, looks like snow."
The 46th regiment was left at Trinity River to guard the landing, while the balance of the brigade went to Harrisonburg to capture some store and arms, and because "idleness is said to be the mother of mis- chief," it was that Ike Little, of Co. H., with a string and a pin hook, fastened a large dead snake to Bill Dumphy's jacket tip, and when at safe distance called out, "Billy Dumphy, look behind you." Billy took only one look when "fear lent wings to his feet" and he fled through the brush to get away from the snake which he only did by falling headlong over a log which broke the string. Billy thought he was "kilt entirely" and Ike had to keep out 'of rifle range for a week and finally when he came back to the river at Vidalia a number of the boys that had played off in the march and rode in on the wagon train were captured and detained to do fatigue duty ferrying the river while their comrades marched to camp. I have not time to write all of my recollections. I can only hope that you may all have a most enjoyable time at the reunion and that the lives of our comrades may be spared to enjoy many more reunions.
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