USA > Illinois > History of Fourteenth Illinois cavalry and the brigades to which it belonged > Part 27
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three together. Whenever we encountered a squad we charged up to them and I ordered them to throw up their hands. On the evening of the second day we overtook a soldier belonging to Company 'M,' 14th Illinois. I had him to mount behind one of the boys, and a short time after we captured a rebel cavalryman and his horse. This man informed us that a mile down the river was a battalion of rebel cavalry guarding a ford. I ordered him to guide us past this force and told him that if he run us into this force that he would pay the penalty. We came to a plantation half a mile from the ford, where we saw a nice black horse in the barn yard. I halted and ordered the extra man to dismount and get her, when a couple of young ladies appeared and protested loudly against our taking the horse, and assured us that we would soon be captured. I said: 'Not much, for there are ten thousand of our troops near by.' Just then four or five rebel soldiers appeared at the door, ran down, but did not interfere with us, nor we with them, as we could not bother with them. They belonged to the force at the ford and did not seem to have their arms. We got the horse and lit out on double quick, with the guide riding by my side. He took us by safely. We passed within half a mile of the ford, where the rebel battalion was guarding. The next day we got within ten or fifteen miles of a bridge on the river, guarded by a Union infantry regiment. I ascertained that there was a rebel command patroling the road twice a day down to our pickets. I determined to find out where that patrol was. I left the boys and crawled out to the road to watch for them and find out whether they were between us and our force, or whether they were back of us. I did not have long to wait. A Johnny came along, I halted him and invited him to an interview, and found out that the road was clear of rebel cavalry from there to our lines. He had on one of our soldier caps ; I invited him to trade for my plantation hat. We traded. I suppose that he thought that I played him a Yankee trick, but if I could find him I would give him five dollars for that old hat. I
went back to my squad and we took the main road and soon reached our lines. We were terribly hungry and relished the food our friends gave us in great abundance. We were very tired and rest over night was truly refresh-
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ing, as we were in safety and feared no night surprise as we slept. The next day we reached Marietta, Ga. More obedient and braver men than our squad of ten men I never met. These were the only men that came through all the way from the Stoneman disaster mounted. I was then orderly sergeant of Company 'C,' 14th Illinois Cavalry.
"LIEUTENANT PUTNAM BECKWITH."
Upon our earnest request of Captain William H. Guy to furnish some account of his individual adventure or service for publication, he replied : "I can bring to mind no inci- dent of the war at this time which would be of interest to the readers of the history without it would be the little raid I made to Mulberry gap, Tennessee, under the direc- tion of General Foster, who was at that time commanding at Bean Station. At 4 o'clock in the evening (day not given) I was ordered to report at headquarters with 45 picked men of the ( 14th) regiment. My orders were to go to Mulberry gap, 18 miles distant, to occupy the same, and hold it until further orders. We arrived at the gap some- time before daylight and found it occupied by a full regi- ment of Alabama cavalry. They were camped in line across the valley, and looked like a very formidable body of troops to attack with 45 men, but we charged them dis- mounted, and after a half hour of severe fighting they were demoralized and panic-stricken in the extreme. We oc- cupied the gap and held it as ordered." He says: "I have no dates to give other than the year 1864."
Note .- It was doubtless in January, 1864, at the time that Sturgis' cavalry corps was across the Holston river. General Foster commanded all the forces, and then had a force at Bean Station. Captain Guy also says: "I was captured at Sunshine Church, Georgia, July 31, 1864, on Stoneman raid, and was in prison at Charleston, S. C., about 4 months."
Comrade J. M. Thompson's (of Company "L") recol- lections of the night surprise August 3d, 1864: "They ran in on us and I mounted my horse after they had passed me. We went over a fence and struck a lane and I saw no more of our boys for a long time. I finally left my horse and went on foot and fell in with four of Company 'I' boys in about a week. We struck the Chattahoochee river,
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embarked on some small boats. Bushwhackers overtook us and demanded us to surrender, but we could not under- stand their language and they fired on us. I supposed all were killed but me and I jumped into the river and my com- rades all followed and we used our little boats as breast- works until we could land. One man was shot in the back and went down, another in the hip, and we carried him until we came to a house and left him. We then struck out again without shoes, coat, or hat or any commissaries and that afternoon they overtook us again, and almost captured the whole outfit. They were mounted and found the house, where we were having some bread baked, and we had to run 80 rods to get to the woods and the rebs after us, shooting as fast as they could, but we reached the woods, losing one man, a darky, who was going through with us. That night we almost died with cold, having nothing but shirts and pants, forced to lay all night in the rain without any shelter. We piled together and 'spooned,' when we got so cold on one side that we could stand it no longer we all turned together. But what is the use to attempt a description of our trials and sufferings, as none but those who suffered them can appreciate, and they know all about them without being told.
"J. M. THOMPSON, "Company 'L,' 14th Illinois Cavalry."
In an after communication comrade Thompson says that they lay concealed in a thicket within a mile of a rebel town for four days without a morsel to eat and not daring to leave their concealment. Their feet became so sore traveling barefoot and penetrating thickets that they were obliged to tear off their underclothing to wrap their wounded feet. Oh! what a chapter of horrors it would be could all the unwritten records of all the sufferings of the fugitives from the Stoneman raid be published. It would be second to nothing except to the history of that hell upon earth, "Andersonville."
BIOGRAPHIES OF OFFICERS-FIELD AND STAFF.
We are compelled to brevity in our biographies, but will give, in condensed form, important events of civil and mili- tary life, as far as furnished to us. Such officers as have
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not furnished their biographies, we will give the record as found in the Adjutant-General's report. We will also give the rank as given in this report, whether mustered or not, in the highest office to which commissioned, as it often happened that no mustering officer could be reached, and it would be unjust to good officers to record even the implication that they were unworthy of the rank to which commissioned.
BIOGRAPHIES-FIELD AND STAFF.
General Horace Capron, born August 31st, 1804, in Attleboro, Mass., died at Washington, D. C., on Washing- ton's birthday, in 1885, caused by exposure at the dedica- tion of the Washington monument the day before, when he commanded the cavalry that took part in the ceremony. His father, Seth Capron, was an aid to General Washing- ton. It is said that General Capron was actively engaged in the United States cavalry service before our Civil War. In civil life he was noted for capability and success in agri- cultural lines, so much so that at the close of the civil war he was appointed commissioner of agriculture, in which capacity he so won renown that he was selected by the government of Japan as the head of agricultural interests in that country, and by his success in that position he merited and received the approbation and esteem of the Emperor of Japan. He was ordered by the Governor of Illinois in the summer of 1862 to raise a cavalry regiment to be numbered the 18th, to be rendezvoused at Peoria, Ill. Two other regiments, the 15th, Colonel Hamilton, and the 14th, Colonel Jenkins, were also authorized. Unforeseen difficulties rendered it necessary to consolidate the three germs into one, the 14th, of which General Capron was commissioned colonel. He served with high honor until his resignation, January 23d, 1865, and was brevetted brigadier-general March 13th, 1865. He commanded brigades during much of his service, and showed great generalship. From November 30th, 1864, he was absent from his command, but missed no important service except the battles of Nashville and Franklin and the Indian fight. The important service rendered by Capron's brigade in the last campaign in Tennessee, has never received its proper
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acknowledgment in history. There is no denying the fact that it twice saved Schofield's army.
Colonel Francis M. Davidson, born in Jonesboro, Union County, Illinois, in 1832; enlisted as private early in the war; was commissioned captain in the 60th regiment, Illi- nois infantry ; served till July 3d, 1862; resigned to join cavalry ; was mustered in January 7th, 1863, as first Major' in 14th Illinois Cavalry. Served in that rank, though fre- quently in command of the regiment, and sometimes of the' brigade, through the campaigns in Kentucky, East Ten- nessee, and in Georgia, until captured August 3d, 1864, when the command was surprised in the night. He was not exchanged in time for further active service, but was commissioned colonel of 14th, January 23d, 1865, and was mustered out with regiment. As a cavalry raider Davidson had no superior in the Union army.
Lieutenant-Colonel David P. Jenkins, born August 25th, 1823, at Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County, Ohio ; edu- cated in common school and Quaker seminary ; graduated in law school, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1845 ; admitted to prac- tice in Supreme Court of Ohio, and has practiced law un- til within the last six years. July Ist, 1861, he was com- missioned Ist major in the Ist Illinois Cavalry ; was cap- tured at siege of Lexington, Missouri, and exchanged in November and assigned to duty under General Grant at Cairo, Ill. In March, 1862, he was ordered to New Madrid, and participated in the battle at that place. Was next sent to the Ozark mountains to guard supply trains of General Curtis. Resigned June 14th, 1862. In Sep- tember, 1862, he was authorized to raise a cavalry regi- ment, to be numbered the 14th Illinois. Unforeseen dif- ficulties hindered the filling up of several cavalry regiments at that time, resulting in the consolidation of three germs of regiments into one regiment, numbered the 14th, of which Horace Capron was commissioned colonel and David P. Jenkins lieutenant-colonel. Served in that capacity, often in command of the regiment and some- times of the brigade, through the campaigns in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia; commanded the regiment through the ill-fated Stoneman raid, and escaped on foot to our lines from the disaster of August 3d, 1864. Re- signed May 3d, 1865.
GEORGE W. SANFORD, COMPANY M. 3rd ILL. INFANTRY. Son of Lieut. W. L. Sanford, Co. I., 14th III. Cavalry.
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Lieutenant-Colonel David Quigg, born in Litchfield, N. H., December 17th, 1834; graduated from Dartmouth college June, 1855; admitted to the bar at Bloomington, Ill., in the autumn of 1857; mustered into service as 2d lieutenant, Company "L," 4th regiment, Illinois Cavalry, September, 1861; served as battalion adjutant; resigned August, 1862; aided in recruiting and organizing 14th Illinois Cavalry ; commissioned major of second battalion. In the Kentucky campaign commanded detachments that did much important duty. Commanded the forces left at Glasgow, Ky., during the Morgan raid in July and August, 1863. In the campaign in East Tennessee was with the regiment in all its hard service ; sometimes in com- mand of the regiment, and several times in command of the brigade. Was present and participated in the Indian raid into North Carolina and commanded a portion of his bat- talion in that fight. He also served with ability in the Georgia campaign until captured on the fatal 3d of August, 1864. He was imprisoned at Charleston, S. C., and was not exchanged until after the battle of Nashville, so that we were deprived of his valuable service through our last campaign. He was commissioned lieutenant- colonel June 10th, 1865, and was mustered out with the regiment. Colonel Quigg was a model gentleman as well as a superb soldier ; equally fitted to lead an impetuous cavalry charge or to command in a prolonged fight requir- ing coolness and courage. He has been for many years one of the prominent lawyers in Chicago.
Major Haviland Tompkins mustered in as major of the third battalion of the 14th Illinois Cavalry February 6th, 1863; served with ability through the campaigns in Ken- tucky, East Tennessee, and Georgia, and also in the Mid- dle Tennessee campaign under Generals Schofield and Thomas ; often in command of the regiment. Resigned May 13th, 1865. Was on General George Stoneman's staff in Stoneman raid.
Major James Benoni Dent was born on Dent's run, near Morgantown, W. Va. His father's father and grand- father were officers in the patriot army of the Revolution. He is closely related by blood to Generals George H. Thomas, Wade Hampton and James Longstreet. When
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young his father moved to Magnolia, Ill. He was em- ployed in a wholesale boot and shoe house in Chicago, and was sent to Galena to work in a branch establishment, where he became acquainted with General Grant. When the war broke out, on the first call he raised a company for the service, but it was not then accepted. When he ascertained that a cavalry regiment was being raised, with several of his neighbors he went 50 miles to Bloomington and joined a company being raised by Captain (afterward General) John McNulta, and was mustered in as 2d lieu- tenant, Company "A," Ist Illinois Cavalry, and served with the regiment until it was mustered out in the fall of 1862. Soon after he joined the 14th Illinois Cavalry, and was mustered as captain of Company "C," and in that capacity was in all the hardships, skirmishes, battles and raids in which the regiment was engaged, and was more often in command of detachments sent on important duty than any other line officer in the regiment. Just before the Stone- man raid, while going to Marietta, Ga., with only an orderly, he was waylaid and captured and sent to Charles- ton prison, and was exchanged in October, 1864, and re- joined his regiment at Nicholasville, Ky. He obtained leave of absence and started for home, and near Paris, Ky., his train was captured by a guerrilla band, and Dent was again taken to a rebel prison, so that through some of our most important service we were deprived of this one of our most valued officers. Captain Dent was one of our most skillful and heroic officers. He rejoined the regi- ment at Pulaski in the spring of 1865, and was mustered as major April 21, 1865, and was mustered out with the regiment. Major Dent was kind and affable to his men and a model gentleman.
Of Major Thomas K. Jenkins we can only give the data found in the adjutant-general's report. He enlisted at Vandalia, Ill., was mustered as captain of Company "F," 14th Illinois Cavalry, January 7th, 1863 ; promoted major May 31st, 1865, and was mustered out with the regiment. Captain Jenkins, being senior captain, was often in com- mand of the regiment in the last campaign.
Major Henry C. Connelly, born December 22d, 1831, in Petersburg, Pa. His home was at Rock Island, Ill., when
(1891) WASHINGTON L. SANFORD AND NANCY J. SANFORD
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he joined the 14th Illinois Cavalry, and went into camp about September 15th, 1862, and served most of the time as regimental adjutant till the first and the second bat- talions were mustered, when, January 7th, 1863, he was mustered as 2d lieutenant of Company "L." He was in the Celina fight, and next morning, with Lieutenant O'Neil, the afterward famous Fenian leader, he crossed the Cumberland river in a skiff to reconnoiter. He was in the pursuit of Colonel Hamilton, and was at the head of his company during the entire Morgan raid, and was present at the capture. He was through the East Tennes- see campaign under Burnside, commanding for a time General Shackelford's escort. At Walker's ford, Bean Station, Mossy Creek, Dandridge, and Fair Garden, he had charge of the Howitzer battery. On the Cherokee Indian raid into North Carolina he took with him two guns, returning with them successfully. After exhaust- ing all the mules in drawing the guns and caissons, the horses of soldiers were used to bring these into our lines. It required skill to get the guns over the great mountains, and by yawning precipices and through deep ravines. January 3Ist, 1864, he was commissioned captain of Com- pany "L." . In February, 1864, at his own request, he was relieved from commanding the battery, and was detailed as a staff officer at brigade headquarters, acting as assistant adjutant-general and afterward as assistant inspector-gen- eral on General Strickland's staff.
Learning of the Stoneman cavalry raid around Atlanta in July, 1864, he secured permission to join it, but arrived at headquarters too late. He was with the rear guard from the Tennessee river to Columbia, Tenn., when Hood advanced with his great army in the fall of 1864. On the night of November 23d, Forrest, having surrounded his command, he led the charge in person, a surgeon of the 8th Michigan and a sergeant of the 14th riding by his side. Forrest's line of battle was broken and scattered and the rear guard saved from capture. In the National Tribune we find the following from Lieutenant Moore of Company "L." He says : "In the night charge at Duck river, November 28th, 1864, I was in command of Com- pany "L," and Major (then Captain) Connelly was at the head of the second battalion of the 14th Illinois. Some
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one reported that Captain Jenkins, commanding the regi- ment, was shot. Major Connelly rode along the regimen- tal line to the head of the regiment, encouraging the men to do their duty. When the bugle sounded the 'charge' he was in the thickest of the fight, leading the regiment. At the battle of Nashville we were advancing in an open field (on foot) in the face of a heavy artillery fire. Major Connelly was with the second battalion, riding directly in my rear. The artillery fire was very heavy, and to escape shells we often dropped to the ground, then arising and moving forward. Amid all this iron hail we saw Con- nelly coolly sitting on his horse, but his men, seeing him thus exposed, insisted on his dismounting. He was so absorbed in the progress and the prospect of capturing the rebel battery that he gave no thought to his own dan- ger." The officers of his regiment having elected him Major over several captains who held older commissions June 22d, 1865, General Oglesby sent him his commission July 4th, 1865. The war being over and Major Connelly having resigned, he was relieved from duty and departed for his northern home at Rock Island, Illinois, where he has been active in developing the resources of that thriving city. He has held important positions as a citizen and is a successful lawyer.
Major Chauncey Miller was born at Harford, Pa., October, 1838; was appointed post adjutant at the camp of organization at Springfield, Illinois, April 17th, 1861, tak- ing rank as 2d lieutenant. Enlisted in 19th Illinois In- fantry June 17th, 1861 ; was promoted to Ist lieutenant and adjutant August 21st, 1861 ; resigned in August, 1862; was commissioned adjutant in 14th Illinois Cavalry Sep- tember 21st, 1863 ; was captured at battle of Bean Station December 14th, 1863; exchanged March 13th, 1865, and was mustered out with regiment. Adjutant Miller was a fine, capable officer. Elected Major July 18th, 1865.
Adjutant Henry W. Carpenter ; mustered January 7th, 1863; resigned May 19th, 1863.
Adjutant James Thompson, born at Fort Bradley, Sault Saint Marie, Michigan, May 2d, 1833. His father was a major in the 5th U. S. Infantry, and his grandfather was a major in the patriot army of the Revolution. He was appointed 2d lieutenant Company "D," Ioth U. S. In-
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fantry, June 22d, 1854, by the President, and served till August, 1859, then resigned and went into telegraph corps May 8th, 1861 ; was appointed 2d lieutenant and assistant operator ; was captured by Jackson's cavalry and ex- changed, and rejoined his corps; served a year, when the corps was mustered out. The members were retained as civilians. October 26th, 1862, enlisted as private in Com- pany "D," 14th Illinois Cavalry ; was appointed duty ser- geant, then orderly sergeant June, 1863; promoted ser- geant major, and July 11th, 1865 appointed adjutant ; was mustered out with regiment.
Quartermaster Samuel F. True enlisted December 3d, 1862. Mustered out with regiment.
Surgeon Preston H. Bailhache, born in Columbus, Ohio, February 22d, 1835. Went to Alton, Illinois, in 1838. Commenced practice of medicine 1857. Appointed post surgeon at Camp Yates April 17th, 1861 ; commissioned assistant surgeon 19th Illinois Infantry July, 1861. Com- missioned surgeon 14th Illinois Cavalry February 14th, 1863. Was captured on Stoneman raid July 31st, 1864; exchanged September 3d, 1864. Served with the regi- ment and on detached duty until mustered out with the regiment.
First Assistant Surgeon George A. Wilson, mustered January 7th, 1863. Served with regiment till surrender of General Stoneman July 31st, 1864. Was soon ex- changed ; rejoined and served with regiment until resigned April 7th, 1865.
Second Assistant Surgeon John Ivory Wilkins, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1829 ; educated at Trinity College ; then as physician at a college of surgeons. Commenced prac- tice at Galway, Ireland, in 1850. Emigrated to United States in 1852. Enlisted in Company "H," 86th Illinois Infantry ; was transferred by promotion to second assistant surgeon 14th Illinois Cavalry in February, 1863. Was captured July 31st, 1864, at the battle of Sunshine Church, Georgia ; was confined in Sunshine, Macon and Libby prisons ; exchanged, rejoined regiment in March, 1865. Mustered out with regiment.
Chaplain Samuel Chase, D. D., mustered February 16th, 1863. Resigned March 2d, 1865.
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Commissary-Bruce C. Payne, mustered February 6th, 1863. Dismissed April 22d, 1865.
Commissary Alba N. Scribner, mustered June 20th, 1865. Mustered out with regiment.
Sergeant Major Henry C. Carrico, enlisted as private in Campany "C," 14th Illinois Cavalry, mustered January 7th, 1863 ; promoted sergeant major ; promoted 2d lieuten- ant Company "D;" promoted Captain Company "D;" re- signed July 4th, 1865. Captain Carrico was an active and able officer, frequently serving as staff officer in brigade.
Isaac Hollingsworth Allen, born in Harford county, Maryland, February IIth, 1816. Died at his home in Mount Morris, Illinois, May 18th, 1886. Comrade Allen was one of the pioneers of Ogle county, Illinois, having immigrated in 1852. He first enlisted in Company "K," 69th Illinois Infantry June 4th, 1862; commissioned 2d lieutenant June 14th, 1862; mustered out October 6th, 1862 ; enlisted in Company "I," 14th Illinois Cavalry Octo- ber 13th, 1862 ; mustered as orderly sergeant January 7th, 1863 ; promoted sergeant major ; served as acting adjutant ; promoted 2d lieutenant Company "D" June 7th, 1863 ; pro- moted Ist lieutenant July 18th, 1864. Comrade Allen was naturally a military man, always prompt and obedient, and doubtless the best drilled man in the regiment at its or- ganization, and did most of the early drilling of the regi- ment. He was present with the regiment in all its active service until captured on the Stoneman raid, August 3d, 1864, being at that time in command of the picket that was first attacked that night. He and his men had been in Major Davidson's detachment and were, from July 27th to August 3d, with scarcely any sleep, and when attacked his men were asleep from utter exhaustion, and all were killed or captured. He was imprisoned at Charleston, S. C., and with other captives was placed under the fire of the U. S. bombarding fleet (the rebels said), as a retaliation. When exchanged he rejoined his regiment and served with great credit through the last campaign, and was mustered out with the regiment. After the war he was given a clerical position in the surgeon general's office of the war department at Washington, D. C., in which service he was stricken down by disease and died. Comrade Allen had
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