Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 68

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860

USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 68

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On Hood's departure for the North, the division was detached to watch his movements, and on October 4, camped near Kenesaw moving thence to Rome, Adairsville, Snake Creek Gap, Chattooga- ville, Gaylesville, and on the 21st attacked and routed Wheeler, at Rudd's Farm, near Little River. On November 1, the Ninety-Eighth turned over its horses and equipments to Kilpatrick, and on the fol- lowing day moved to Calhoun. Thence the regiment proceeded to Nashville and Louisville, where it laid in camp until December 26, waiting for horses and equipments. The regiment?was then ordered to Bardstown, to intercept the enemy under Gen. Lyon, and on the 31st, moved to Elizabethtown. On the 12th of January, 1865, the command passed through Nashville, Tenn., and marched via Colum- bia and Mount Pleasant to Gravelly Springs, Ala., remaining in camp at that place until March 13. The regiment moved thence to Waterloo and Chickasaw Landing. On the 22d of March, it com- menced the spring campaign, with the First, Second and Fourth Cay- alry Divisions, 12,000 strong, General Wilson in command. On the 31st, Montrevalle was reached, Roddy's rebel command being driven out by Gen. Upton. On April 1, the enemy made a stand at Ebenezer Church, but were driven by four companies of the Seven- teenth Indiana. On April 2, the regiment participated in the capture of Selma. In this engagement the Fourth Division having failed in their assault, 1,600 men of the Second Division made the attack, and carried the works. The loss of the Ninety-Eighth, in this action,. was nine killed and two mortally wounded, six officers wounded and

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twenty-one men. The number of the regiment engaged was only 172. On the 9th, the division crossed the Alabama River, and on the 15th, entered Montgomery. Thence the line of march led through Columbus to Macon, which was entered without opposition. The Ninety-Eighth was detailed for provost duty, and served in the capacity of provost guard until May 23, when it started for Chatta- nooga and thence to Nashville, where it went into camp near Edge- field. Here it was joined by Maj. Marquis, with the balance of the regiment which had been detached. On the 27th of June, 1865, the regiment was mustered out. the recruits being transferred to the Sixty-First Illinois Infantry. The Ninety-Eighth reached Spring- field, Ill., on the 30th of June, and was finally discharged July 7, 1865.

One Hundred and Thirty-Sixth Minois Infantry .- This regiment was organized in 1864, in response to the urgent demand for troops for special duty, through the especial influence of Col. Johns. Of this regiment companies C and G were largely formed in Richland County, though there was perhaps not more than one full company in all. The officers of Company C were : Joseph Berry, Captain; E. C. Compton, First Lieutenant; C. H. Robinson, Second Lieutenant. Of Company G the officers were: James St. Clair, Captain; J. H. Carsin, First Lieutenant; Peter Brillhart, Second Lieutenant. The regiment was organized at Centralia and mustered into the United State's service for 100 days, on June 1, 1864. The regiment was ordered to Columbus, Ky., where it did post duty for some time, varying the monotony of garrison experience by an expedition to Maysville, where it had a light skirmish with Price's force. The One Hundred and Thirty-Sixth was subsequently ordered to Chi- cago and from thence to Saint Louis, where the regiment found comfortable quarters in Benton Barracks, for two or three weeks. The regiment was then ordered to Alton and thence to Springfield, Ill., where it was mustered out, October 22, 1864.

One Hundred and Fifty-Fifth Illinois Infantry .- Company E, of this regiment, was drawn from Richland County and was officered by Captain, I. O. Leger; First Lieutenants, Ephraim Beasley, until May 31, 1865, and Samuel Mitchell; Second Lieutenant, Samuel Mitchell, until June 14, 1865, and the vacancy thus made was not filled. The One Hundred and Fifty-Fifth Infantry was organized at Camp Butler, by Col. G. A. Smith, and mustered into the service February 28, 1865, for one year. On March 25, the regiment, 904 strong, moved ria Louisville and Nashville, to Tullahoma, Tenn., and

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

reporting to Gen. Milroy was assigned to the command of Gen. Dudley. On June 17, the regiment was divided into detach- ments of twenty or thirty men each, and assigned to guard duty, on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, occupying the block houses from Nashville to Duck River, a distance of fifty miles. On September 4, the regiment was mustered out of service, and moved to Camp Butler, Ill., where it received final payment and discharge.

Sixth Illinois Cavalry .- This regiment drew its material from a wide area of territory in the State, Company E being chiefly derived from Richland County. John Lynch, the Colonel of the regiment when mustered out, having gone out as First Lieutenant of Company E, rose through the ranks of Captain, Major and Lien- tenant Colonel to that position. The officers of the company were : Captains, Isaac Gibson, John Lynch, Edward Ball, H. W. Stewart; First Lieutenants, John Lynch, Edward Ball, H. W. Stewart, Joseph Frazier; Second Lieutenants, E. G. Tarpley, H. W. Stewart, Sylvanus Gard, T. M. Shields. This regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Ill., November 19, 1861, and six days later moved to Shawneetown, where it encamped until the following February. It then proceeded to Paducah, Ky., and from thence to Columbus, where the regiment was divided, five companies going to Trenton, Tenn., five- going to Memphis and two remaining at Paducah and Bird's Point. During the spring and summer of 1862, the several detachments operated against the guerillas and were in several minor engage- ments, the more important of which were at Dyersburg, Tenn., and Olive Branch and Coldwater, Miss., in all of which the detach- ments of the regiment were successful, suffering an aggregate loss of two killed, six wounded and one taken prisoner. Early in the fall of 1862, the detachments were again united at Memphis, and on November 26, 1862, the regiment formed the advance of Gen. Sher- man's Army Corps, in its movement toward Grenada, Miss. In the latter part of December, it was engaged, with others, in the pursuit of Gen. Van Dorn, after his raid upon Holly Springs, engaging him for seven consecutive days. In January, 1863, the regiment returned to Lagrange, Tenn., where it went into winter quarters, and operated against the numerous bands of partisan rangers. While thus engaged, the regiment, on one occasion, surprised and routed Richardson's command, near Covington, Tenn., capturing their entire camp equipage, ammunition, books, papers, etc. Again, on the 29th of March, a detachment of the regiment was attacked. at midnight, by a superior force, and although, in a manner, surprised

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by a murderous volley poured into them while still sleeping, the command repulsed the enemy with effect. For the gallantry dis- played a special order was issued by Gen. Smith, complimenting the officers and men. In this engagement Lieut. Wilson and eight men were killed, and Lieutenants Baker and Anderson with twenty- nine men were wounded.

In April, 1863, the Sixth Cavalry was engaged in Grierson's famous expedition through Mississippi and Louisiana. In this expe- dition the regiment traveled about 800 miles, was engaged a num- ber of times with the enemy, destroyed a vast amount of property and arrived safely at Baton Rouge, La., May 2, 1863, after a continu- ous march of seventeen days. In June and July, 1863, the regiment operated under Gen. Banks, in the siege of Port Hudson. On June 2, the Sixth Cavalry formed a part of Col. Grierson's expedition to Clinton, La., and on the following day had a heavy engagement with the enemy, returning to or near Port Hudson, La., June 4, with

a loss of two killed, four wounded and three taken prisoners. Port Hudson having capitulated, July 8, 1863, the regiment embarked, on the 19th, for Memphis, where it arrived in the latter part of the month. In August, the regiment marched to Germantown, Tenn., where it encamped until November 28, 1863, when it participated in Col. Hatch's expedition to Covington, Tenn .; then to Lagrange, there encountering Gen. Forrest's forces. A sharp engagement ensued, but discovering the enemy was flanking around in the direc- tion of Moscow, the expedition was ordered to Moscow, where it had a heavy engagement, the Sixth Cavalry sustaining a loss of five killed, six wounded and twenty taken prisoners and two missing. The enemy was finally routed and driven fifteen miles, the regiment returning to Germantown, Tenn., to its old camps, where it contin- ued operating against Generals Forrest and Chalmer's forces, until February 17, 1864, when it formed a part of Gen. William S. Smith's expedition to West Point, Miss. At this point the regiment took part in a three days' engagement with Gen. Forrest's command and returned to Germantown, where it remained in camp until March 30, 1864, when the regiment re-enlisted as veterans and was ordered home to Illinois on furlough.

May 11, 1864, the furlough having expired, the regiment rendez- voused at Mattoon, Ill., and moved thence to Memphis, Tenn., where it encamped until July. Seven companies were ordered at this time to Collierville, Tenn., to guard the railroad until Gen. A. J. Smith's expedition could move on and capture Guntown, Miss. This detach-

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

ment subsequently rejoined the regiment at Memphis, having suf- fered, while on special duty, the loss of Lieut. E. Ball, killed, and two men captured while on patrol duty at Collierville.

In August, 1864, all the effective part of the regiment joined in Gen. A. J. Smith's expedition to Oxford, Miss., engaging the enemy under Gen. Forrest at Hurricane Creek, Miss., and suffering a loss of three men killed, and six men wounded. The detachment that was left at the camp, at Memphis, participated in the fight with Forrest when he made a raid on that place. Col. M. H. Starr was mortally wounded and one man slightly wounded, and Lieut. Miller and one man captured in this engagement. The regiment then returned to White Station, Tenn., where it encamped until the 1st of October, 1864, when it composed a part of Gen. Hatch's expedition to march through West Tennessee to Clifton on the Tennessee River. There it joined Gen. Washburn's expedition of infantry. The infantry dis- embarked and moved in the direction of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. Gen. Hatch's division of cavalry composed the advanced guard. After two days' march the infantry returned to Clifton, and the cavalry moved on to Lawrenceburg, thence to Savannah, Tenn., and returned to Clifton, where it remained for a few days. The infantry embarked on steamers and returned to Memphis. Gen. Hatch's division of cav- alry moved rapidly to Pulaski, Tenn., where it encamped for a few days. On its arrival, the Sixth Illinois Cavalry was ordered back on a two days' scout, on the Clifton road, and returned to the con- mand at Pulaski. It then marched with the division down on Shoal River, near Florence, Ala., where it skirmished daily with Gen. Hood's forces, while they were crossing the Tennessee River. The division fell back in advance of Hood, to Lawrenceburg, where it had a five hours' engagement with the enemy, and then fell back to Columbia. After crossing the Duck River the command halted for a few days, when the Sixth Cavalry was ordered to move rapidly to Shelbyville, Tenn., then eross Duck River and move twenty miles down the river and cross at Pike Ford, and return to the command at Columbia. After two days' march the regiment arrived at Shel- byville, and on the third day reached Pike Ford. On arriving there it was ascertained that Gen. Forrest's entire command had crossed the river, six miles below, the day before. By this time the rebel scouts were discovered in every direction. The regiment being then almost in the rear of the entire rebel forces, the only chance to escape capture or annihilation was to swim the river and cut its way through, which was done with entire success. After crossing the

Thoz. Gratelep

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

river, the march was resumed, constantly skirmishing with the rebel patrol and flankers. After marching eighteen miles, the regiment encamped, so near the enemy that their fires could be seen, and they could be heard chopping wood. Next morning the regiment resumed its march at 1 o'clock, and rejoined the command at Frank- lin, Tenn., at 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Its loss on the expedition was eight men missing. The battle of Franklin began at 1 o'clock the same day, in which the regiment took an active part. After the battle was over it marched to Nashville, Tenn., with the command, where it arrived about the last of November, 1864.

On December 5, 1864, the regiment was ordered on an expedi- tion to Glasgow, Ky., and on the 13th returned to Nashville. On the following day the Sixth Cavalry was a part of the force that charged and captured the first two redoubts, and nine pieces of artil- lery, and a number of prisoners. This closed the first day's fight. On the second day, the cavalry was remounted, and moved on the right flank, but finding the country too rough, was compelled to dismount and fight on foot; and while the infantry engaged the enemy on the left and center, the cavalry engaged it on the right. In the afternoon, the enemy's lines were broken, and a general stam- pede ensued. The cavalry was again remounted, and ordered to pur- sue the enemy. The cavalry had another engagement about dark, which terminated in the complete route of the enemy, who was pur- sned to Florence, Ala., where the chase was abandoned. From this point the command proceeded to Gravelly Springs, where it encamped until February, 1865. The regiment then moved to Eastport, Miss., where it remained until July 3, 1865, when it was ordered back to Nashville, Tenn., thence to Decatur. From the lat- ter point it marched with Gen. Hatch's expedition to Montgomery, Ala., where it arrived JJuly 25, 1865, and remained until the last of August, when it moved to Demopolis, Ala., remaining there six days. The regiment was then divided, six companies to remain and six to march to Montgomery ; remained at these stations until the last of September, 1865, when the six companies at Montgomery were divided into detachments. Two companies marched to Opelika, Ala., one company to Tuskegee, and the other three remained at Montgomery. November 1, 1865, the regiment was ordered to pro- ceed to Selma, Ala., to be mustered out of service, which occurred November 5, 1865. It was at once ordered to Springfield. Ill., for final payment and discharge, which occurred on the 20th of the month.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

The regiments recited above do not include all that drew vol- unteers from Richland County. A considerable number of men went out in other companies whose principal strength was recruited in the neighboring counties. Of these, the principal ones are: Com- pany B, of the Twenty-First Infantry; Company II, of the Sixtieth; Company H, of the One Hundred and Thirtieth; Company E, of the One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth, and Company F, of the Fifth Cavalry. In the Twenty-First Illinois Infantry, Richland County contributed a large number to Company B. Jasper County may justly claim the organization, as it gave the officers, and in Part III. of this volume will be found a complete roll, and an extended account of its activities during its time of enlistment. It will not be out of place, however, to notice it briefly here. The reg- iment was recruited wholly within the area covered by the Seventh Congressional District of that date. It was rendezvoused at Mat- toon, and mustered into the United States service on the 28th of June, 1861, after first being mustered into the State service for thirty days. It was mustered by Capt. U. S. Grant, who subse- quently became its Colonel, and later rose through the various ranks to General, and as President, to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy. This regiment was ordered to repair to Quincy, and for the discipline of the men the Colonel conceived the idea of marching them to their destination, and the regiment actually made the distance to a point beyond the Illinois, when further orders changed its destination. On the 4th of July, 1861, the regiment marched for Missouri; on the 22d, arrived at Mexico, then by rail to Ironton ; thence, in October, to Fredericktown, where it got into its first fight. In January, 1862, the Twenty-First took part in Gen. Steele's expedition to Jacksonport, Ark., and thence to Corinth. On the evacuation of that place the regiment joined in the pursuit of the enemy as far as Booneville, Miss., when it returned and formed a part of the expedition to Holly Springs. In August, of 1862, it was ordered to join Buell's army in Tennessee, and arrived at Louisville after a long march, September 27, 1862. The regi- ment at once set out on the campaign against Bragg, participat- ing in the fights of Perryville, and Chaplin Hills. From thence its route led to Crab Tree Orchard and Bowling Green to Nashville, Tenn. In the Chickamauga campaign the Twenty-First did gallant service, and was severely handled at the battle of Murfreesboro. The regiment followed the fortunes of this army through its career, and was subsequently ordered to Texas, and was mustered out at San

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Antonio, Texas, December 16, 1865, but was not finally paid and dis- charged until January 18, 1866.

Sixtieth Illinois Infantry .- Of this regiment, Company H was made up of volunteers from Union and Richland counties, the latter being represented by some thirty men, with a few in other compa- nies of the regiment. The Sixtieth Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Dubois, at Anna, IH., February 17, 1862. It was ordered a week later to Cairo, and on March 14, to Island No. 10. After the surrender the regiment returned to Columbus and thence to Cairo. In May, it moved up the Tennessee River to Hamburg Landing, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, Army of the Mississippi. The regiment was engaged in the siege of Corinth, and in the subsequent pursuit of the enemy beyond Booneville. It then returned and camped at Big Springs, three miles from Corinth, until July 21, when it was ordered to Tuscumbia, Ala., and thence to Nashville. Here it remained during the investment of the city, all communications being cut off until the 8th of November. During this time the regiment had some severe experiences, both from the lack of supplies and the persistent attacks of the enemy. In Decen- ber it was transferred to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps. January 5, 1863, it had a lively skirmish with Wheeler, repulsing him, and after the battle of Murfreesboro, in which it took part, it returned to Nashville. In July, the Sixtieth moved to Murf- reesboro, and thence in August, via Columbia, Athens, Huntsville and Stevenson to Dallas, Tenn. The regiment was here assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, and participated in the battle of Chattanooga and the memorable march to Knoxville, Tenn. The ragged and foot-sore regiment arrived again at Chattanooga, December 24, and went into winter quarters at Rossville. In February, 1864, three-fourths of the regi- ment having re-enlisted as veteran volunteers, was mustered, and a few days later took part in the reconnoissance toward Dalton, Ga., which resulted in the battle of Buzzard's Roost, in which the Six- tieth lost heavily, forty-two being killed or wounded. On March 6, the regiment was ordered home on veteran furlough.

On the expiration of the furlough, the regiment proceeded via Louisville, Nashville, and Chattanooga, to Rossville. On May 2, began the Atlantic campaign. the Sixtieth participating in the battles of Ringgold, Dalton, Resaca, Rome, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro. The regiment was complimented by division and corps commanders for

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its gallantry at Jonesboro. During the larger part of September, 1864, the regiment remained in camp at Atlanta, when it moved by rail via Athens, Ala., to Florence. Here it had a skirmish with the enemy, driving him across the Tennessee River. Thence the regi- ment moved to Chattanooga; marched from Lafayette, Ga., to Gales- burg, Ala., and from there to Atlanta via Rome, Kingston, Carter- ville and Marietta. November 16, the regiment marched from Atlanta, on the Augusta road, via Covington, Milledgeville, Sanders- ville, Louisville, and thence to Savannah, Ga., arriving at the outer defenses, December, 11, 1864. During the march the regiment foraged liberally off the country, and captured many mules and horses, besides the negroes that left the plantations to follow every part of the army. December 21, 1864, the Sixtieth entered Savan- nah, and on January 20, it broke camp and marched ria Sister's Ferry, Barnwell, Lexington, Columbia, Winnsboro, Chesterfield, and Hanging Rock in South Carolina, and Lafayetteville, Averysboro, and Bentonville, to Goldsboro, N. C. The regiment participated in the battles of Averysboro, and Bentonville, the first day of the latter fight being as severe as any in which the regiment was ever engaged, at one time it being surrounded on all sides, but behaving gallantly under the disadvantageous circumstances. April 10, the Sixtieth marched to Raleigh, where it remained until Johnson's surrender, when it marched to Richmond and Washington City, participating in the grand review of May 24, 1865. June 12, it proceeded to Louisville, and there performed duty as provost guard, until July 31, when it was mustered out of the service, and proceeded to Camp Butler, III., for final payment and discharge.

One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Infantry .- The Adjutant- General's report from which the sketches of these regiments are principally drawn, has been little information in reference to this regiment. Company H was officered from Richland County, and some thirty of the men were residents of this county. Its officers were: J. R. Johnson, Captain; First Lieutenants, Joel Gardner and C. S. Crary; Second Lieutenants, John Blew and C. S. Crary. This regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, in October, 1862, and was mustered into the United States service on the 25th of Octo- ber. It moved to Memphis, Tenn., on the 18th of November, where it was assigned to provost duty. It was mustered out of service in August, 1865. at New Orleans, and returned to Illinois, where it received final payment and discharge, August 26, 1865. The meagre record i found in the Adjutant-General's Reports, does injustice to the

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

services of this regiment, but this arises, probably, from the neglect of the proper officer to give the data to the State authorities. Such information as could be gathered from the resources at command will be found in Part III. of this volume.

One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Illinois Infantry .- Company E of this regiment was organized of volunteers from Lawrence and Richland counties, the latter giving the Captain, and the other giv- ing both Lieutenants. The officers were, Captain, F. A. Johns; First Lieutenant, J. H. Wright; Second Lieutenant, G. B. Danforth. This regiment was organized at Cump Butler, Illinois, and mustered into the one year service February 22, 1865. The One Hundred and Fifty- Fourth at once lett by rail for Louisville, Ky., thence to Nashville, where it was detained by high water until March 2, and then went forward to Murfreesboro. Here the regiment spent the time drill- ing and doing guard and picket duty. Fresh from the protection and comforts of home, it suffered very much from the exposure of cold rains, and sickness prevailed to a great extent, many of the men dying from this effect. In May, the regiment marched to Tullahoma, where it remained about a month. It then returned to Nashville, where it was assigne.l to picket, guard, and garrison duty, and many of the officers on courts-martial and military commissions; Col. McL. F. Wood, commanding the regiment, died August 6, while Com- mander of the Post. The Surgeon of the regiment was also a vic- tim of disease while stationed here. September 18, 1865, the regi- ment was mustered out at Nashville, and ordered home to Illinois for final payment and discharge, which occurred on the 29th of Septem- ber, 1865, at Camp Butler, Illinois.

Fifth Illinois Cavalry .- Both Jasper and Cumberland counties contributed men to this regiment, and Richland County, while not giving officers to any company, gave about a third of the file of Com- pany F, and several representatives to other companies of the regi- ment. A fuller sketch of the regiment may be found elsewhere, but it is deemed proper to give a concise statement of the regiment's service here. The Fifth Cavalry was organized in November, 1861. From the home camp it was ordered to Saint Louis, where it occu- pied Benton Barracks for some two weeks, and then moved to Pilot Knob. In the latter part of the month it moved to Doniphan, where it first met the enemy, capturing his camp and inflicting a slight loss. In June it was ordered to join Curtis' army at Jacksonport, and thence proceed to Helena. At this point, the regiment was employed in foraging, scouting, and fighting Marmaduke. May 29,

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Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 68

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 860

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860