USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 45
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 45
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 45
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
regiment writes of this engagement: "The rebels fought well, but- not fairly. Like Indians, they sought shelter of stumps and trees. The first attack on the Eleventh regiment was made by a regiment of Mississippi riflemen. We suffered them to advance to within one hundred yards, when we opened upon them with terrible effect and drove them back to their trenches, where they were reinforced and advanced again, this time within fifty yards, but were again forced to retire. We suffered severely, but not a soldier fell baek unless wounded. At this time we had lost about eighty men, killed and wounded. The rebels withdrew their troops from our front and con- centrated them on our right, and very soon we knew by the firing that Oglesby's Brigade was giving away. It proved worse than we expected. First came the Eighteenth in full retreat, followed by the rest of the brigade. By great exertion Col: Logan rallied the Thirty-First on our right, forming two sides of a hollow square, and here for half an hour these two regiments held the enemy in check, the Thirty-First giving way and rallying twice, only to retreat in utter confusion at last. The Eleventh still held its own, Lieut. Col. Ran- som, though wounded, remaining cool and firm. We changed our front by the right flank, where the Thirty-First had been under a most gall- ing fire, firing as we moved around by the side-step, until ordered to halt. The rebels, exultant at the retreat of the Thirty-First, pressed forward to within forty yards of our line, but they were mistaken in their men, and soon fell back to a ridge, 150 yards distant, leaving the ground strewn with their dead and wounded.
"There by a little ravine we remained for half an hour, fighting three times our number, outflanked on either side, waiting for rein- forcements which did not come. Suddenly a body of rebel cavalry charged across the ridge on our left, and gained our rear. There was but one way of escape, and that lay through the body of cavalry, and through we went, the bayonet opening the way. Two hours afterward the remnant of our regiment drew up to receive Col. Wal- lace, who, being in command of the brigade, had seen us but once since the battle begun. It was no fault of his that we were left un- protected. When Oglesby's brigade gave way, he sent an order to Col. Ransom to fall back on the Twentieth, but the messenger was killed. The tears streamed down Col. Wallace's face as he scanned the regiment. Over 600 had engaged the enemy, and 115 muskets were all we had left to show. Our flag still waved over us, though shot to ribbons. Early next morning we marched into the fort, the Eleventh being allowed to lead the van, on account of its having
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
suffered the most severely. The loss in this regiment, so far as we can learn, is 329 killed, wounded and missing."
Early in March the regiment went via Fort Henry to Savan- nah, Tenn., and thence to Pittsburg Linding, where it took part in the bloody battle of Shiloh, of April 6th and 7th. The Eleventh, incorporated in the division of MeClernand, was on the right of the Federal line, near where the line touched the lower point of the river, and with the rest of the division supported Sherman in the first onset of that memorable battle. Here the regiment suffered cruelly, as they did in the second day's fight, losing twenty-seven killed and wounded out of 150 engaged. After participating in the protracted siege of Corinth and in the engagements near Trenton, Tenn., the regiment was finally ordered back to Cairo to recruit. In the latter part of August the Eleventh proceeded once more to the front, taking part in the various expeditions, reporting in the latter part of November, to Gen. MeArthur, at Lagrange, Tenn., when it was assigned to the Thirteenth Army Corps. During the early part of 1863, the regiment took part in the campaign in north- ern Mississippi; later, resting for a time in Memphis, it was assigned, in February, to the Seventeenth Army Corps, reinforced by a con- solidation with the One Hundred and Ninth Illinois, and ordered to Vicksburg, where it arrived May 18. On the 19th and 22d, the regiment was engaged in the assaults upon the enemy's works; then in the advance siege works up to July 4, when the city surren- dered. In these engagements the regiment lost its Colonel, three line officers and forty men. The regiment subsequently took part in the Natchez expedition, returning to Vicksburg in October, where it remained until the latter part of July, 1864, engaging in various minor expeditions from that point. At this time the Eleventh was assigned to the Nineteenth Army Corps, and after taking part in several minor expeditions, took part in the reduction of Mobile, Ala., participating in the investment and siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and in the assault upon the latter. This ended its active service, and moving from one point to another, it was mustered out of the service July 14, 1865, at Alexandria, La., when the regiment left for Springfield, Ill., for payment and final discharge.
Twenty-First Infantry .- This regiment was organized entirely from recruits drawn from the Seventh Congressional District, Jas- per County furnishing the entire membership of Company K. This regiment has maintained a "veteran society, " and from its records the following names of the surviving members are taken viz .:
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
A. M. Peterson, S. B. Wade, George A. Armstrong, John A. Jones, J. B. Berry, William M. Abraham, W. L. Bridges, Thomas Blanch- ard, J. C. Bridges, William Billman, Amos Barkley, Amos Butler, J. P. Cope, John B. Cowger, M. S. Cowger, John Cats, M. Collins, A. G. Carpenter, H. C. Dick, F. C. Dodd, William Fry, Arch Fore, John Field, Barney Farley, Job Foster, Thomas Gallagher, Dennis Gardner, Michael Groves, William Garrett, John P. Gambrel, Sam- uel Hobson, W. R. Hurst, James Hall, Frank Hoskins, J. M. Jared, John W. Lee, Van Loback, Otho McNair, C. C. Neff, O. R. Payne, G. H. Payne, Thomas Price, Ansil Peterson, L. A. Ricks, Thomas J. Roush, William Rowley, Nathan Rollins, J. M. Shup, John Sites, Charles Stars, Thomas Sloan, George T. Sloan, W. Y. Stevenson, Harvey Shook, E. J. Ticknor, Ed. S. Wilson, Robert Walker, Ed. Warmonth, Edward White, Jacob Weaver.
From the same source the following list of members lost during the activities of the war, is compiled: John F. Wilson, First Lieu- tenant, died in the South ; Sid Wetzel, First Lieutenant, killed at Chickamauga; George W. Allen, missing; Joseph Boyd, died at Florence, S. C., in prison; Ira Bonnell, died at Olney, Ill .; Anderson Bridges, died at Greenville, Mo .; Butler Baker, died in Missouri; Robert Carpenter, killed at Nashville, Tenn .: Henry Edwards, killed at Stone River; W. Durkey, Corporal, died at Newton, Ill .; Otho Gandy, died at Murfreesboro, Tenn .; J. H. Hay, died at Newton, Ill .; Randall Hill, killed at Stone River: Michael Haley, killed at Stone River: Michael Martin. killed at Stone River; George McWilliams, died since discharge; JJames Nokes, died at Cincinnati, Ark .; W. F. Payne, Sergeant, died in Richmond prison; A. L. Richards, killed at Stone River; Benjamin Richardson, killed at Stone River; JJ. H. Ross, killed at Stone River; Michael Ryan, killed on the O. & M. R. R., near Flora, Ill .; J. Schooley, missing; George Short, died in Indiana: Thomas Torpey, killed at Stone River; J. M. Wilson, died in the South; Elward White, died at Mount Pleasant, Iowa; A. E. Worthey, died in Andersonville prison.
The Twenty-First Regiment was mustered into the State serv- ice, for thirty days, by Captain U. S. Grant, who subsequently became its Colonel. In the following letter. General Grant givos his connection with the regiment: "I was appointed Colonel of the Twenty-First Illinois Volunteer Infantry, by Governor Richard Yates, sometime early in the month of June, 1861, and assumed com- mand of the regiment on the 16th of that month. The regiment
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
was mustered into the United States service in the latter part of the same month. Being ordered to rendezvous the regiment at Quincy, Illinois, I thought for the purpose of discipline and speedy efficiency for the field, it would be well to march the regiment across the coun- try, instead of transporting by rail. Accordingly, on the 3d of July, 1861, the march was commeneed from Camp Yates, Springfield, Ill., and continued until about three miles beyond the Illinois River, when dispatches were received, changing the destination of the regiment to Ironton, Mo., and directing me to return to the river and take a steamer, which had been sent there for the purpose of transporting the regiment to Saint Louis. The steamer failing to reach the point of embarkation, several days were here lost. In the meantime a por- tion of the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry, under Colonel Smith, were reported surrounded by the enemy at a point on the Hannibal & Saint Joseph Railroad, west of Palmyra, and the Twenty-First was ordered to their relief. Under these circumstances, expedition was necessary; accordingly the march was abandoned, and the railroad was called into requisition. Before the Twenty-First reached its new destina- tion, the Sixteenth had extricated itself. The Twenty-First was then kept on duty on the line of the Hannibal & Saint Joseph Rail- road for about two weeks, without, however, meeting an enemy or an incident worth relating. We did make one march, however, dur- ing that time, from Salt River, Mo., to Florida, Mo., and returned in search of Tom. Harris, who was reported in that neighborhood with a handful of rebels. It was impossible, however, to get nearer than a day's march of him. From Sult River the regiment went to Mexico, Mo., where it remained for two weeks; thence to Ironton, Mo., passing through Saint Louis on the 7th of August, when I was assigned to duty as a Brigadier-General, and turned over the com- mand of the regiment to that gallant and Christian officer, Colonel Alexander, who afterward yielded up his life, whilst nobly leading it in the battle of Chickamauga."
On the Fourth of July, 1861, the regiment marched for Missouri; 2d arriveł at Mexico, where it remained until August 6th, when it proceeded by rail to Ironton, M ) .; O tober 20, marched from Iron- ton, and, on the 21st, participated in the battle of Fredericktown; remained at Ironton until January 29, 1862; marche.l with Gen- cral Steele's expedition to Jacksonsport, Ark., when it was ordered to Corinth, via Cape Girardeau; arrived at Hamburg Landing, May 24, 1862. On the evacuation of Corinth, the Twenty-First pur- sued the enemy from Farmington, Miss. to Booneville. Returning
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
from the pursuit it formed a part of an expedition to Holly Springs. On the 14th of August, 1862, the regiment was ordered to join General Buell's army, in Tennessee; marching via Eastport. Miss., Columbia, Tenn., Florence, Ala., Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Nash- ville, Tenn., and arriving at Louisville, Ky., September 27, 1862. The Twenty-First subsequently engaged in the battles of Perryville and Champion Hills, marching afterward to Crab Tree Orchard, Bowling Green, Ky., and.to Nashville, Tenn.
When the army marched from this point, December 26, 1862, this regiment formed a part of the Second Brigade, First Division, Twentieth Army Corps, and was in the skirmish at Knob Gap. December 30, in connection with the Fifteenth Wisconsin, Thirty- Eighth Illinois, and One Hundred and First Ohio, it had a severe engagement with the enemy near Murfreesboro, where it charged the famous Washington (Rebel) Light Artillery, twelve Parrott guns, and succeeded in driving every man from the battery, when it was compelled to fall back by a division of Rebel Infantry. Dur- ing the battle of Murfreesboro, it was fiercely engaged and did gal- lant duty, losing more men than any other regiment engaged. The Twenty-First was with General Rosecrans' army from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga. June 25, 1863, it was engaged in a severe skirmish at Liberty Gap. It was also engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, where it lost 238 officers and men. After the battle, the Twenty-First was attached to the First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps, and remained at Bridgeport, Ala., during October, November and December, 1863. The regiment sub- sequently went to Texas, where it was mustered out at San Antonio, December 16, 1865.
Thirty-Eighth Infantry .- This regiment was organized princi- pally in the southeastern part of the State, and took from Jasper County more than any other single regiment. There were repre- sentatives in Companies A, D, H and K; Company H. being com- posed almost entirely of Jasper County men. This regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, in September, 1861, by Colonel William P. Carlin; September 20, 1861, the regiment was ordered to Pilot Knob, Mo., receiving its arms en route. On the 20th of Octo- ber, the Thirty-Eighth marched to Fredericktown, and on the 21st engaged in a battle at that place, with the enemy under Jeff. Thomp- son. Here the regiment remained all winter. In the following March, the regiment moved to Reeves' Station, on Black River; on the 31st moved with the Division of the Sontheast, under General
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
Steele to Doniphan. In April, it moved across the Current River thence to Pocahontas, Ark., and thence to Jacksonport, arriving May 4. On the 10th the Twenty-First and Thirty-Eighth regi- ments were ordered to Cape Girardeau, Mo., 220 miles distant. This march was made in ten days, a day and a half of which time was spent in ferrying Black and Current rivers. The expedition reached Hamburg Landing on the 24th, from whence it moved forward to the front, taking part in the last days of the siege of Corinth. The reg- iment subsequently proceeded to Danville, Booneville, and then back to Corinth, and to Jacinto. During the last of June, the Thirty-Eighth marched to Ripley, and returned by forced marches, arriving July 4, 1862. The regiment remained in camp till August 14, when it marched with the Division to join the Army of the Ohio, under Gen- eral Buell: passing, on its route, Iuka, Miss., the Tennessee at East- port, Florence, Ala., Lawrenceburg, Mount Pleasant, Columbia, Franklin, Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tenn .. Bowling Green, Mun- fordville, Elizabethtown, and West Point, Ky., arriving at Louis- ville, September 26, 1862, after a march, night and day, of about 500 miles.
Proceeding with the army from Louisville on October 1, the regiment engaged in the battle of Perryville on the 8th, and cap- tured an ammunition train, two caissons and about 100 prisoners, and was honorably mentioned in General Mitchell's report of the, battle. Joining in pursuit of Bragg as far as Crab Orchard, the Thirty-Eighth passed on through Lancaster, Danville, Lebanon, and Bowling Green to Edgefield Junction, near Nashville. Arriving here on the 19th, with the Fifteenth Wisconsin, the regiment went on a scout, returning on the following day, after destroying a large quan- tity of salt, and captured a rebel wagon train and 100 horses and mules; remaining in camp until the latter part of December, when it took part in a spirited engagement at Knob Gap, near Nolensville, capturing two guns and losing three killed and eight wounded. In the battle of Stone River which followed, the regiment was heavily engaged, the regiment losing in the engagement, 34 killed, 109 wounded, and 34 missing. Following this battle the regiment remained in camp until June. In the meantime the right wing was changed to the Twentieth Army Corps.
When the enemy advanced on Tullahoma, the Twentieth Army Corps moved on Liberty Gap, and engaged the enemy June 24, 25. and 26. On the 25th, the Thirty-Eighth was ordered to relieve the Seventy-Seventh Pennsylvania, which was hotly pressed by the
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
enemy. The Thirty-Eighth charged across a plowed field, under heavy fire, and drove the enemy from their works, capturing the flag of the Second Arkansas. From this point the regiment marched through Manchester and camped at Winchester, Tenn., until August 17, 1863, when it crossed the Cumberland Mountains to Stevenson, Ala. It subsequently crossed the Tennessee River, Sand Mountain, into Will's Valley, and on the 9th of September crossed Lookout Mountain to Broomtown Valley, about fifty miles south of Chatta- nooga. On the 13th and 14th of the month it returned to Will's Val- ley, on the 16th ascended Lookout Mountain and marched twenty- five miles on the top of the ridge to Stevens' Gap. On the 17th the regiment entered MeLemore's Cove and laid in line of battle before Dug Gap, in Pigeon Mountains; 17th, at dark, moved to the left, to Pond Springs; 19th, marched past Crawfish Springs, and entered the battle of Chickamauga, near Gordin's Mills. Double quicking. a lino was formed, under fire, and was hotly engaged till dark. September 20, the regiment was moved to the left; went into position at 10 A. M., and was heavily engaged; the enemy pressing through a gap made by the withdrawal of Gen. Wood's Division, forced the line back, and the bri- gade narrowly escaped capture. The line was then re-formed on the hills, in the rear of the battle ground; the brigade subsequently marched toward the right where Gen. Thomas was continuing the fight. Of 301 men that the regiment took into the fight, 180 were killed, wounded or missing. The Thirty-Eighth moved with the rest of the army into Chattanooga, and remained working on the fortifications until the last of October. After the battle of Lookout Mountain the regiment went into winter quarters at Bridgeport, Ala. In the following January the Thirty-Eighth moved through Chattanooga to Ooltawah, and on the night of February 17, moved out with a detachment of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, surprising and captur- ing a rebel outpost, a few miles from Dalton, Ga. On February 29, 1861, the regiment re-enlisted and was mustered March 16, 1864. . A few days later it started for Illinois, on veteran furlough, arriving at Springfield, April 8.
On May 14, the regiment started from its rendezvous at Mat- toon, via Indianapolis to Louisville, Ky., and from thence to Nash- ville, Tenn. On May 27, the regiment left Chattanooga with a drove of cattle which was increased to 1.700 head, reaching the army at Ackworth, June 8. The Thirty-Eighth immediately joined its brigade, and on the 10th moved upon the enemy at Pine Top. At this point and Kenesaw Mountain the regiment was engaged until
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
July 3; on the 4th it was engaged at Smyrna; on the 5th it reached the Chattahoochie River; crossed it on the 12th; on the 20th crossed Peach Tree Creek, and on the 21st engaged on the outer lines before Atlanta. From this time forward the regiment took part in the movements about Atlanta; engaged in the battle of Jonesboro, on September 1, and camped at Atlanta on the 8th. In this campaign the Thirty-Eighth lost four killed, thirty-six wounded and three missing.
October 3, the regiment marched in pursuit of Hood, via Mari- etta, Ackworth, Altoona, Kingston, Rome, Resaca, Ship's Gap, Summerville and Taylorsville to Chattanooga, arriving October 30, 1864. On the 12th of the following month the regiment reached Pulaski, Tenn .; on 24th reached Columbia, threw up breastworks and engaged the enemy in a slight skirmish. The regiment withdrew from this point on the night of the 29th, and entered Franklin on the 30th. About half past four the enemy advanced, driving in our skirmishers, but who were driven back in turn by our main line. Withdrawing again at midnight and crossing the Harpeth River, it reached Nashville. Here the regiment was at once set to building fortifications and doing outpost duty, and on the 5th of December was placed in a position near the Hardin pike. At four o'clock P. M. the regiment participated in the charge on Montgomery Hill, and was among the first to enter the enemy's works. On the following day the regiment was placed in the reserve line, and when the ene- my's line was broken joined in the pursuit, following his retreat to Lexington, Ala. From thence the regiment proceeded to Hunts- ville, where it remained until March 13, 1865. Returning to Ten- nessec, the regiment subsequently took part in the expedition to North Carolina, and in June took transportation to New Orleans, and thence to Indianola, Texas, whence in August it marched to the Guadaloupe River. In December, 1865, the regiment was stationed at Victoria, Texas, and soon afterward was mustered out and ordered home for payment and final discharge.
Forty-Sixth Infantry .- Of this regiment, Company F was made up principally from Richland, Clay and Jasper counties. There were not many representatives of this county, and its record may properly be somewhat condensed. The regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, December 28, 1861. In February, 1862, it procce led to Cairo, from whence it proceeded via Cumberland River, to Fort Donelson, arriving on the 14th, and was assigned to the command of Gen. Lew Wallace. February 19, the Forty-Sixth
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
moved to Fort Henry; March 6, embarked for Pittsburg Landing, where it arrived on the 18th. In the battle of Shiloh the Forty- Sixth took a most conspicuous part, losing over half of its officers and men, in killed and wounded, and receiving the thanks of the commanding generals. During the month of May the regiment was engaged in the siege of Corinth; June 2, camped six miles west of Corinth; on the 10th, marched to Hatchie River; 15th, passed through Grand Junction and camped three miles from town; 24th, moved to Collarbone Hill, near Lagrange; and on the 30th moved to old Lamar Church. July 1, marched to Cold Water, and returned on the 6th; on the 17th, moved towards Memphis, camping on the 21st two miles south of that place. August 27, it engaged in the scout to Pigeon Roost; September 6, moved towards Browns- ville; 7th, marched through Raleigh and Union Stations; 9th, marched to Big Muddy River; 11th, to Danville; 12th, to Pleasant Creek, and on the 14th to Hatchie River. October 4, the regiment moved toward Corinth; 5th, met the enemy at Metamora. The Forty-Sixth was in position on the right of the Second Brigade, supporting Bolton's battery. After an hour of shelling, by the bat- teries, the infantry was ordered forward, and at a double-quick advanced, driving the enemy across the river. After the battle the regiment returned to Bolivar.
On November 3, the regiment marched to Lagrange; on the 28th, to Holly Springs; 30th, toward the Tallahatchie River, and camped near Waterford, Miss., where splendid winter quarters, with mud chimneys and bake ovens complete, were fitted up only to be left. December 11, the Forty-Sixth moved to Hurricane Creek; 12th, to Yocona Station; 22d, to Taylor's Station. In the meanwhile, Van Dorn having captured Holly Springs, the Forty-Sixth moved to Hurricane Creek, and subsequently moved as train guard to the north side of the Tallahatchie River. Up to May, 1863, the regiment served in this region, moving about in a limited circle to counteract the movements of the enemy. On the 13th of this month the Forty- Sixth embarked for Vicksburg, and on the 21st, took up its position on the right of Grant's army. On the 25th, it marched to the extreme left of the line, and was detailed for picket duty. In the night, the outpost consisting of five companies of the regiment was captured by the enemy, only seventy escaping. The remainder of the regiment took an active part in the siege of Vicksburg. The reg- iment took an active part in the movements against the enemy near Pearl River, and engaged in the siege until the 16th, when the
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
enemy evacuated Jackson. August 12. the Forty-Sixth moved to Natchez. September 1, it took part in the expedition into Louisiana.
One Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry .- In this regiment Jasper County was represented by a few men in Company K, which was principally made up of recruits from Crawford and Clark counties. The One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment of Infantry was organ- ized at Camp Butler in October, 1862, by Colonel Nathaniel Niles, and was mustered into the service, October 25th. In the following month the regiment left for Memphis, Tenn., where it arrived on the 18th and was assigned to provost duty. On January 14, 1865, an order was issued to consolidate the One Hundred and Thirtieth with the Seventy-Seventh Illinois Regiment, the consolidated regiment to be known by the latter number. On June 23, 1865, an order was issued reviving the organization of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regi- ment, and which directed that " all men of the Seventy-Seventh Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, whose term of service will not expire on or before September 1, 1865, and all officers and men, now with said regiment, who were transferred from the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, to be formed into a battalion, composed of companies of maximum strength." The regiment was doing service at New Orleans at this date, where it was subsequently mus- tered out of service, August 15, receiving final payment and dis- charge in September.
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