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 9
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Company G was composed mostly of farmers and farmers' sons. Quite a number of young men or boys named themselves the Young Lions or Young's Lions. True to the name, they were as playful and frolicsome a set of boys as ever carried a gun. Without hardly an exception they were all brave and honorable in all their duties. For fun there was no end or limit, and pity to the one that could not take a joke.
CAPTAIN WM. YOUNG.
Capt. Wm. Young was born in Union county, Pa., Feb. 9, 1820. Came to Stephenson county, Illinois, in company with his father, Robert Young. and located two miles west of Cedarville, in the year 1839. Soon after he
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located in Rock Run township, but shortly after moved to Lancaster town- ship, where he engaged in farming. In the summer of 1861, he recruited Company G, 46th Ill., with the assistance of Lieut. M. R. Thompson and Lieut. Thomas M. Hood. He was chosen Captain and was mustered Oct. 8, 1861. Was engaged at the battle of Donelson in Feb. 1862. At the battle of Shiloh he was severely wounded, having his lower jaw broken and was helped off the field of battle. He was sent home on leave of ab- sence, returning to the regiment some time in the Fall of 1862. On account of the nature of his disability it was difficult for him to masticate the army rations, notwithstanding this he served his company with great earnestness of purpose, making many sacrifices for the cause of the Union. Captain Young enforced good discipline, but at the same time was always ready to listen to the members of his company in all their trials and difficulties. At the battle of the Hatchie, Capt. Young was the ranking Captain and acted as Major during the campaign. He had already distinguished himself at Donelson and at Shiloh. He was exceptionally brave and courageous and was loved and respected by all his men. Captain Young resigned April 12, 1863.
On his return to Stephenson county he was elected County Treasurer, serving one term. He served Lancaster township as supervisor. He married Miss Ann Reitzell, who was born in Lancaster county, Pa. There were born to them six children, James H., John C., Jonathan R., Sarah, Elizabeth and Mary. His wife died some years after his return from the army. Some years after he married a lady of Freeport and moved to the city to reside. At one time he lived in Silver Creek town- ship and engaged in farming. Died in Freeport in July, 1891, and was buried at the Young cemetery in Lancaster township.
LIEUT. THOMAS M. HOOD.
Thomas M. Hood enlisted in Company B, 46thi Ill. Infantry, from Rock Run township, Sept. 10, 1861, at the age of about 30 years. Was elected Ist Sergeant of the company in competition with James Duncan. Soon after arriving at Camp Butler he, with others, was sent home to assist in recruiting Company G. and on the formation of this company he was elected 1st Lieut., and transferred from Company B to receive promotion. He proved to be a fine and capable officer. Participated in siege and battle of Fort Donelson. At the battle of Shiloh he was killed, while assisting in the command of the company. A widow survived him, who resides somewhere in the West.
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1ST LIEUT. MOSES R. THOMPSON.
1st Lieut. Moses R. Thompson was born in Draumfargus, parish Donnaughmore, county Donegal, Ireland, Oct. 9th, 1816. Emigrated to America when a young man and located at Pittsburg, Pa., where he was engaged in mercantile business. About the year 1850 he moved to Free- port and for a time located on a farm, but again engaged in mercantile pursuits in company with a Mr. Frank, where the firm established a lucra- tive trade and continued in this business up to time he enlisted in Con- pany G, 46th Ill. Infantry, Oct. 15th, 1861. He was chosen 2nd Lieut. and on the death of Ist Lieut. Thomas M. Hood, who was killed at Shiloh, he was commissioned 1st Lieut. to rank from April 7, 1862. He participated at battle of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth and all the marches with the regiment. At the battle of Matamora, October 5th, 1862, on the Hatchie river, while acting as adjutant of the regiment, he was mortally wounded and was taken to Bolivar, Tenn., in an ambulance, where he died Oct. 10, 1862.
Lieut. Thompson was a member of the Masonic Fraternity and had attained to a high degree in the order. His memory has been honored by his brother masons in naming, Masonic Moses R. Thompson Lodge.
He was brave, patriotic, upright in all his dealings with his comrades; loved and honored by soldier and citizen. He is buried in the cemetery at Freeport, Ill.
MICHAEL J. APPLETON.
Michael J. Appleton enlisted in Company G, 46th Ill. Inft., Oct. 15, 1861, under the name of Michael J. Cooper. His father died when Michael was quite young. His mother married a second time to a Mr. Cooper, and they called the boy Cooper, by which name he grew up to manhood and entered the service. After returning, he chose to assume his correct name, but will always be remembered by his many comrades as Michael J. Cooper. He proved to be a gallant soldier and rose from private to a non-commissioned officer and to Orderly Sergeant of his company. On April 12, 1863, was promoted to 2nd Lieut., and on Nov. 14, 1863, to grade of 1st Lieut. He participated in all the marches, battles and sieges, in which the regiment was engaged, up to time of his resignation, Aug. 11, 1864.
Lieutenant Cooper was about 25 years old when he entered service. On account of critical illness he had lost the power of speech and could only speak in a whisper, rendering him totally unable to direct his company. After returning he engaged in farming near Winslow, Ill., and soon married and moved to Bloomfield, Iowa, where he now resides. After a few years his health improved and he again recovered his speech.
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CAPTAIN ROBERT SMITH.
Robert Smith was born in Canada, March 13, 1838, and in early youth came to Stephenson county, Ill., and located near Lena, Ill. Attended the common schools at this place and fitted himself for a teacher and taught a number of terms near his home. Later he prepared himself for the ministry. In Sept. 1861, he enlisted in Company B. 46th Ill. Inft., and on Sept. 10 was appointed 5th Sergeant. Was sent to Freeport. Ill., from Camp Butler, by order of Col. John A. Davis, to assist in recruiting Com- pany G, and, on the arrival of this company at Camp Butler, was trans- ferred from Company B to Company G to accept promotion as 1st Sergeant of the latter company. For faithful services and meritorious conduct at the battle of Shiloh, on the death of Lieut. Thomas M. Hood, who was killed at this battle, he was promoted to 2nd Lieut, to date from April 7, 1862. On the death of Lieut. Moses R. Thompson, killed at battle of Hatchie, he was promoted 1st Lieut., to date from Oct. 6, 1862. After the resignation of Capt. Wm. Young, April 12, 1863, he was promoted to Captain and served his company with credit and ability. After the surrender of Vicks- burg he was detailed on detached service in connection with the Quarter- master's department. On account of failing health he was relieved from the arduous duties of this position and for a while was in care of the regi- mental surgeon, Benj. H. Bradshaw. After his recovery he again resumed command of his company and, on the expiration of his term of enlistment, was mustered out of the service at Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 28, 1864. Captain Smith participated in battle and siege of Fort Donelson in Feb., 1862. At the battle of Shiloh he took a conspicuous part and distinguished himself for bravery on the battlefield. In the battle of Hatchie, as a commissioned officer, he rendered valuable service, being brave and courageous. At the siege of Vicksburg he commanded his company with skill and ability and on the evening in May. when a night attack was made on the picket line of the 46th, he directed his men to fire into the ranks of the enemy, check- ing their movements in capturing the balance of the regiment.
Capt. Smith was married to a southern lady by name of Miss Adams, sometime in the Summer of 1862, who resided at La Grange, Tenn., Chaplain David Teed of the 46th officiating. After his service in the army, he brought his young bride north and engaged in the ministry in the Baptist church, serving in the States of Wisconsin, Kansas and Iowa. He was a man of great force and ability, a brilliant orator and had many calls to speak at public gatherings of the G. A. R., and also in ministerial work in revival services. He was a man positive in his expressions in all interests of public concern, always speaking his convictions in earnestness, irre- spective of friend or foe. He died at Eldora, Iowa, May 20, 1894. The widow and large family of grown sons and daughters survive him.
D. D. DIFFENBAUGH Capt. Co. G.
T. C. LAIRD 1st Lieut. Co. G.
THOMAS E. JOINER 2nd Lieut. Co. G.
THOMAS ALLEN 1st Lieut. Co. G.
PLATE XX
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
CAPT. SAMUEL BUCHANAN.
Capt. Samuel Buchanan was born March 7, 1835, in Somerset county, Pa. He was engaged in farming while there, removing to Illinois in the spring of 1856 and followed the same occupation in Buckeye town- ship. Enlisted in Company G, 46th Ill., at its first organization, as a private. Promoted to Sergeant and enrolled and mustered in on the 8th day of October, 1861. Re-enlisted as a Veteran, Dec. 23, 1863; promoted to 2nd Lieut .. March Ist, 1864, and to Captain Dec. 28th, 1864. Partici- pated in all the marches and battles with the regiment. Resigned from the service on account of ill health March 27, 1864.
After his return from the service he again engaged in farming, until the year 1886, when he accepted a position with the Henney Buggy Com- pany at Freeport, Ill., as watchman. On account of failing health, in 1890, he removed to Cedarville, Ill., and retired from active work. Captain Buchanan was married to Miss Amanda Walters a few years after return- ing from the service. They have no children. For many years he was an active member of the evangelical church at Cedarville. Was loved and respected for his sterling qualities and kindness of heart. He was an in- valid for a number of years and died June 7, 1900.
D. D. DIFFENBAUGH.
D. D. Diffenbaugh was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., Nov. 22, 1840; was . educated in the Public Schools of the day. When 12 years of age he went to Baltimore, Md., there learning a trade with an older brother. Left Baltimore in 1859 for Freeport, Ill., where he spent the summer and fall in the store of his brother, the late J. D. Diffenbaugh; left Freeport that Fall for Virginia, spending the winter in Richmond and Winchester, re- turning in the Spring of 1860 to Lancaster, Pa., and remaining there till the breaking out of the war in 1861. Left Lancaster, Pa., in the summer of 1861, again for Freeport, Ill., and when, in Sept. of that year, 1861, Coni- pany G. of the 46th Regiment was organized, he enlisted in that Company and Regiment, serving throughout the war. He was in the service from Sept. 15, 1861, to muster out of the Regiment as a Veteran organization, March 20, 1866, making 4 years and 3 months continuous service. Pro- moted to Ist Sergeant, April, 1863: 2nd Lieut., Aug. 23, 1864; 1st Lieut., March 20, 1865; Capt., Oct. 1, 1865. Participated in all the battles and sieges of the Regiment from Fort Donelson. 1861, to surrender of Mobile in 1865. He had two brothers in the service. one in the 8th Ill. Cavalry,
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killed at Gettysburg, and the other in a Pennsylvania Regiment, wounded at Fredericksburg, Va. After the war, on June 1, 1866, went to Monmouth, Ill., and engaged in the Mercantile trade, at which place and occupation he has been continuously for the last 40 years.
1ST LIEUT. THOMAS C. LAIRD.
1st Lieutenant Thomas C. Laird, Company G, 46th Ill. Vet. Inft., was born near Lewisburg, Pa., Aug. 20, 1840, and removed with his parents to Stephenson county, Ill., in May, 1849. He worked on farm until Sept. 12, 1861, when he enlisted as private in Company G, 46th Ill., and was mus- tered into U. S. service October 8, 1861, and served with the Regiment until muster-out of same. Participated in all the engagements and marches of the Regiment except battle of Hatchie. being ill at the time. Was ap- pointed Corporal after the battle of Shiloh; Sergeant in Sept., '62. Com- missioned 2nd Lieutenant in March, 1865; Ist Lieutenant in July 1865. Was detailed on detached service as Ass't Com. of Subsistence after sur- render of Mobile and stationed at Macon, Miss., as Post Adj't at Grand Ecore, La., in the summer of 1865. Upon the removal of the Regiment to Shreveport, La., he was detailed as Regimental Quartermaster and served until muster-out of the Regiment.
After his return from the army he remained in Stephenson county. Ill., and assisted on his father's farm. In 1870 he removed to Webster county, Neb., and took up a homestead. In the Fall of 1871 he returned to Stephenson county, Ill., and on Nov. 7, 1871, was married to Mary Ellen Bell, daughter of Robert and Ann Bell. Returned to Nebraska soon after and engaged in farming and stock raising until 1886. While here he was the first Justice of the Peace elected in the precinct, and also held position as a Notary Public. In the Spring of '86 moved to Lawrence Nuckolls county, and engaged in the grocery business for three years, and in Nov. 1889 was appointed Postmaster, which position he now holds.
He is a member of C. A. Arthur Post. No. 242, department of Ne- braska, and has served either as Commander or Adjutant since the or- ganization in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Laird have three children living, two sons and one daughter. Lieut. Laird is one of those noble characters, public spirited, generous, and loved and respected by all his Company comrades .- as well as by the public where he resides.
MOSES R. THOMPSON 1st Lieut. Co. G, died of wounds received at Hatchie.
M. J. COOPER 1st Lieut. Co. G.
THOMAS M. HOOD 1st. Lieut. Co. G, killed at Battle of Shiloh.
JOHN STEVENS Capt. Co. H, died of wounds received at Battle of Shiloh.
PLATE XXI
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
1st LIEUT. THOMAS ALLEN.
Thomas Allen was a resident of Dakota, Ill., before the war. En- listed in Company G, 46th Ill. Infantry as a private ; was promoted to 2nd Lieut. Oct. 6, 1862, and to 1st Lieut. April 12, 1863. He participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, battle of Shiloh and siege of Corinth, and battle of Matamora. He was about 28 years old at time of enlistment. Resigned Aug. 11, 1863. Place of residence not known.
LIEUT. THOMAS E. JOINER.
Lieut. Thomas E. Joiner, Company G, 46th Ill. Inft., was born in Ohio, March 3, 1811. Came to Freeport, Ill., with his parents in 1855, and assisted on the farm near Freeport until Oct., 1861, when he enlisted and reported with his Company at Camp Butler, and was mustered in on Oct. 15, 1861. He was in every engagement, skirmish and march in which the Regiment participated. Re-enlisted in January, 1864. Served as Color Bearer from the first day's battle at Shiloh, until after the capture of Fort Spanish and Blakely, near Mobile, Ala., April 9, 1865. He was pro- moted to 2nd Lieut., Oct. 1, 1865, and acted as Assistant Quartermaster, Department of New Orleans, until mustered out Jan. 20th, 1866.
After returning from service he engaged in farming near Freeport, Ill., until 1869. He then moved to Montgomery county, Mo., and again en- gaged in farming until March, 1882, when he moved to Humboldt county, lowa, where he settled on a half section of wild prairie land, improving it and engaged in stock raising, residing here and enjoying good health and prosperity. In June, 1900, he moved to the city of Humboldt, retiring from the more active duties of life. Lieut. Joiner was married near Free- port, Ill., in Oct., 1866, to Miss Sarah S. Talmage, of Chicago, Ill. They have one son and two grand sons. He is a member of the G. A. R. His home is always open to the comrades.
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HISTORY OF COMPANY H.
Company H was recruited mainly in Lee and Ogle counties by John Stevens, John A. Hughes and Fred. W. Pike, who were duly chosen as Captain, Ist and 2nd Lieutenants, respectively, and later commissioned by Gov. Yates.
On the death of Capt. Stevens, wounded at Shiloh, Tenn., Lieut. Hughes was promoted to Captain, Lieut. Pike to 1st Lieut., and Edward A. Snyder from private to 2nd Lieut. Dec. 1st, 1864, 1st Sergeant Thomas A Pieronet was promoted to 1st Lieut., to succeed Lieut. Pike, pro- moted, and Wm. P. Hardy to 2nd Lieut., Sept. 1st, 1865.
This company was with the regiment in the siege of Fort Donelson, battle of Shiloh and Matamora, also participated in the march in Mississippi when Gen. Grant moved his army expecting to reach the rear of Vicks- burg, the privation of a meager allowance of rations being one of the most tying of all their experiences, causing much suffering in the company.
At the siege of Vicksburg, on May 25th, many of the members of the company were taken prisoners while on picket duty, the enemy gaining access to the rear of the regiment. No casualties in battle, no casualties at siege of Jackson, Miss., July, 1863. Participated in expedition from Natchez in late summer, 1863, no casualties in battle.
In Dec., 1863, thirty-one men re-enlisted and received veteran furlough with the regiment, and returned with the regiment, accompanied by sixty- eight recruits. Was with the regiment on Yazoo expedition from May 4th to May 18th, 1864; no casualties in battle, but much hard marching ; heat oppressive.
At the battle of Jackson Cross Roads, July 7th, 1804, no casualties. At siege and charge of Fort Blakely, Ala., no casualties. Company H with other companies took an active part in doing duty dur- ing the surrender in guarding property and maintaining order between paroled prisoners and citizens and the colored population.
Captain John Stevens commanded the company Sunday morning, April 6, 1862, and was mortally wounded. Col. Davis speaks of him in his report : "Captain Stevens, while bravely keeping his men in line to bring them off the field, fell fatally wounded, the nearest man of his com- pany to the rebel line. Sergeant Charles C. Mason was killed early Sun- Jay morning in the first engagement pierced by several bullets. He was courageous, a man of fine promise in the future, loved and respected for his high and noble character, his life a sacrifice for the cause of liberty and preservation of the Union. Lieut. John A. Hughes led the company after Stevens was wounded, assisted by Lieut. F. W. Pike.
FREDERICK W. PIKE Capt. Co. II.
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J. A. HUGHES Capt. Co. H.
. THOMAS A. PIERONET 1st Lieut. Co. H.
EDWARD A. SNYDER and fient. Ca. H. Signal Officer on trea. Grint's statt.
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Capt. John A. Hughes commanded the company at battle of Mata- mora, assisted by Lieuts. Pike and Snyder, and was instrumental in plac- ing the flag in the hands of Sergeant T. E. Joiner, after Sergeant Hershey was wounded.
Captain Hughes picked up a fragment of the old flag that had been shot away and brought it home. His widow presented it to Lieut. Jones in June, 1906, who now has it in his possession. At muster-out the com- missioned officers were, Capt. F. W. Pike, 1st. Lieut. Thomas A. Piero- net, 2nd Lieut. William P. Hardy, who were all brave and efficient of- ficers. There are two officers of Company H now living, 1st Lieut. Thomas A. Pieronet and 2nd Lieut. Edward A. Snyder.
Enrolled, 93; recruits, veteran furlough, 68; received during service, recruits, 10; transfers from 11th Illinois, 20. Total, 191.
Transferred and promoted, 12; killed in battle, 2; died of wounds, 4; died of disease, 14; discharged for wounds, 2; discharged for disability, 23; mustered cut, expiration of term and other causes, 66. Total 123, Mustered out, Jan. 20th, 1866, 68. Total 191.
CAPT. JOHN STEVENS.
Capt. John Stevens, son of William and Ruhamah (Ayres) Stevens, was born February 22, 1831, in Hill Valley, Shirley township, Huntington county, Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather, Thomas Ayres, was a soldier in the revolutionary war, who served about six years therein. His first attendance at school was at Birmingham, Penn., under the tutelage of William Bryan, a stern old Scotch Presbyterian, who left an enduring rep- utation behind him for sparing not the rod.
Believing firmly in the usefulness of a trade in connection with an education, his father, a plasterer, required his assistance until April of the year 18-16, when the family removed west after the fashion of those days, the manner of which may not be uninteresting to the present generation. By canal and river they proceeded to the Alleghanies which were crossed by an old fashioned cable and which, in this instance, very inconsiderately broke and delayed the journey several hours, just as the old cables of State St., or North Clark St. had a habit of doing until recently. The journey was pursued down the Ohio, up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers until Peru, Ill., was reached. From that point to Prophetstown, Ill., wagons were used, after which Rock river carried them to Grand DeTour, their destination, and there they tarried for one year, during which period it may be well to note the boy's first love affair, which budded and blasted as is so often the case with a young man's apprenticeship with love.
At this period, a thirst for learning, caused the father to remove to Mt. Morris, where his three children might have the benefit of the school-
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HISTORY OF FORTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
ing which that grandest of all old time schools, the old Mt. Morris Acad- emy, afforded and who of the forties and fifties can ever forget D. J. Pinckney and his assistants, Prof. Olds, Samuel Fellows, Miss Head, Miss Mitchell and others!
In 1851, John Stevens graduated and went to Dixon immediately to finish with William W. Heaton, the study of the law which he had car- ried forward at odd intervals while at school. In the historic old land office building, on Hennepin St., he completed those studies and received his license to practice in 1853. A location became necessary, of course, and with the prevailing sentiment in favor of the West, he settled in Des Moines, Ia., then little more than a recorded plat. With his ready money he bought a piece of land upon which the subsequent capital buildings were erected. With unbounded ambition and robust health, he hung out the shingle which no doubt was expected to land its owner in the Executive chair at Washington some time. But gathering days brought with them a lingering and enervating illness of chills and fever, which, no doubt, was aggravated by a more severe case of homesickness, and in a state of desperation, he traded his land for a large gold locket, a broad fob chain and a small collie pup, all of which he bundled into the first stage coach and returned to Dixon, the most beautiful spot beneath the shining sun. Once recovered, John Stevens, formed a co-partnership with Edwin South- wick and from that date to the day of his enlistment, he continued the practice of the law devotedly with the exception of the few odd moments spent in editing and managing the Dixon Transcript in 1854 and the few hour, required in attending to his duties of School Commissioner, to which position he had been elected. Very rapidly and very naturally it grew un- til his clientage numbered such great corporations as the Illinois Central Railroad Company and, measured from the standpoint of success, the State Supreme Court reports testify to a career of unusual brilliancy. He had a remarkable memory. Besides his ability to repeat Scott's poems, it was said of him that were the New Testament to be destroyed, John Stevens could supply it from memory, chapter and verse.
On September 3, 1854, he was married to Marie Sophie LaPorte, at Ross Grove, DeKalb county, Illinois, who still survives at Pasadena, Cali- fornia. His two sons, Frank E., of Chicago, and Leon LaPorte. of San Francisco, are still living ; a little daughter, Anabel Ruhamah, having died in infancy. For many years he was Master of the Blue Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and as the first High Priest of the Chapter, he has been called the father of the Chapter. John Stevens was a christian gentleman. As the Supt of St. Luke's ( Episcopal) Sunday School, the writer well remembers the great numbers of children who were drawn to his classes. The little frame church was filled to overflowing.
He organized a company of volunteers in 1861, which later was as- signed to the 46th Regiment. He passed through the battle of Fort Donel-
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son, after which he was ordered to Pittsburg Landing, where troops were concentrating for the Tennessee campaign that followed. When on that eventful Sunday morning of April 6th, Albert Sidney Johnston surprised the Union forces and mowed them down like sheep, Capt. Stevens soon found his company in the midst of the Hornet's Nest, from which point he was ordered to retire with his regiment, to safer ground. During that maneuver, he was shot in the left leg and fell. Though carried aside and placed against a tree, the fierceness of the engagement demanded his abandonment and there he remained suffering for nearly thirty hours. The leg was amputated in vain efforts to save his life and aboard the steamer Hiawatha, on its way to Mound City, he died.
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