USA > Illinois > Grundy County > History of Grundy County, Illinois > Part 19
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ing day mustered in for three years. The old number was retained, but the ar- rangement of companies was considerably changed, the Grundy County Company taking the letter C. The membership of the regiment was greatly changed as well. Out of 916 mustered out only 288 were mustered in again on the following day, but during the months of August, Sep- tember, October and November, it was re- ernited to abont 801 men. During this time the regiment doing garrison and field duty, participated in several unimpor- tant expeditions, among others, the one to Charleston, Mo., where they got into a spirited skirmish with the enemy. Feb- ruary 2d, the regiment embarked on trans. ports for Fort Henry, participating in the campaign against that place, and on the 11th inst. moved toward Fort Donelson. Here the regiment got their first " bap- tism of fire." The regiment eame in sight of the fort about noon of the 12th, and here Wallace's brigade, composed of the 11th, 20th, 45th and 48th Ill. Volunteers, Taylor's and MeAllister's batteries of light artillery, and Col. Dickey's cavalry, halted and drew up in line of battle. Col. Ogles- by's brigade took up its position on the right of Wallace, and in this position but little occurred save occasional shots at the enemy and a change of position, until the 15th. Grant had in the meanwhile strength- ened his line of investment, so that but little hope of eseape remained to the gar- rison. On the morning of the 15th, there- fore, the enemy, to the number of 7.500, emerged from his works and in separate columns hurled himself on the right of the federal line, seeking to break through and escape. The first blow dealt upon Ogles-
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by's brigade, was followed by a second on Wallace's brigade and then npon Morrison's and McArthur's brigades constituting the extreme right. One of the "Grundy Ti- gers" writes as follows of this engagement: " The rebels fought well but not fairly-like Indians, they sought shelter of stumps and trees. The first attack on the 11th regi- ment was made by a regiment of Missis- sippi riflemen. We suffered them to ad- vance to within 100 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 back unless wounded. At this time we had lost abont eighty men, killed and wounded. The rebels withdrew their troops from our front and coneen- trated them on our right, and very soon we knew by the firing that Oglesby's brigade was giving way. It proved worse than we expected. First came the 18th in full re- treat, followed by the rest of the brigade. By great exertion Col. Logan rallied the 31st 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 31st giving way and rallying twice, only to retreat in utter confusion at last. The 11th still held its own, Lieut. Col. Ransom, though wounded, remaining cool and firm. We changed our front by the right flank, where the 31st had been under a most galling fire, firing as we moved around by the side step, until ordered to halt. The rebels, exultant at the retreat of the 31st, 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 reinforcements, 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 es- cape, and that lay through the body of car- alry, and through we went, the bayonet opening the way. Two hours afterward, the remnant of our regiment drew up to receive Col. Wallace, who, being in com- mand of the brigade, had seen ns but once since the battle began. It was no fault of liis that we were left unprotected. When Oglesby's brigade gave way, he sent an order to Col. Ransom to fall back on the 20th, but the messenger was killed. The tears streamed down Col. Wallace' face as he scanned his 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 11th being allowed to lead the van, on account of its having suffered the most severely. The loss in this regiment, so far as we can learn, is 329 killed, wound- ed and missing. Of the Grundy Tigers, bnt one is missing." In this battle, Grundy County suffered severely. Out of sixteen men who enlisted from the southern part of the county in another company, every man was wounded.
Early in March, the regiment went by Fort Henry to Savannah, Tenn., and thence to Pittsburgh Landing, where it took part in the bloody battle of Shiloh, of April 6th and 7th. The 11th, incorporated in
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the division of McClernand, was on the right of the federal line, near where the line touched the lower point of the river, and with its division supported Sherman in the first onset of that memorable battle. HIere the regiment suffered eruelly, as they did in the second day's fight, losing 27 killed and wounded ont 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 11th pro- ceeded once more to the front, taking part in various expeditions, reporting in the latter part of November to Gen. MeArthur, at Lagrange, Tenn., when it was assigned to the 13th Army Corps. During the early part of 1863, the regiment took part in the campaign in northern Mississippi; later, resting for a time in Memphis, it was assigned, in February, to the 17th Army Corps, reinforced by a consolidation with the 109th Ill., and ordered to Vieksburg, where it arrived May 1Stlı. 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 4th, when the city surrendered. In these en- gagements the regiment lost its colonel, three line officers, and forty men. The regiment subsequently took part in the Natehez expedition, returning to Vicks- burg in October, where it remained till the latter part of July, 1864, engaging in vari- ous minor expeditions from that point. At this time, the 11th was assigned to the 19th 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 14th, 1865, at Alexandria, La., when the regi- . ment left for Springfield, Ill., for payment and final discharge.
Among the early volunteers from Grundy County was Capt. Hulburd's company. This company was among those that were crowded ont of the earlier regiments, but was accepted by the State, and finally authorized by the Secretary of War during the month of June and on the 15th was mustered into the service as Company E of the 23rd regiment, bnt better known as the " Irish Brigade," under command of Col. Mulligan. The regiment enlisted under the call for " three months " volunteers, and spent an uneventful career, first at Quincy, Ill., and then at the St. Louis arsenal, until the latter part of July, when the regiment was moved to Jefferson City, Mo. In the latter part of August the regiment was re- enlisted, a large part, however, returning to Chicago and being mustered out. In the reorganization which followed the re-enlist- ment of the regiment, 21 men of Company E., 52 men of Company G., and 25 men of Company II, were consolidated and called Company G, which, by an order of Jan. 3, 1865, was changed to Company C. The movement of Gen. Price toward Jefferson City caused Col. Mulligan, who had been engaged in several minor expeditions. to move to Lexington as soon as possible after the reorganization, and arriving at the place on the 9th of September he set at once to fortifying his position. His com- mand consisted of the 23d Ill. infantry, Ist Ill. cavalry, and about 1,200 Missouri
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" home guards," the entire force numbering less than 3,000 men. Gen. Price set down before the works on the 11th, with a force estimated at 20,000. An assault was made on the following day, but so determined was the resistance that the rebel General was forced to undertake a siege. The nature of the works, however, left no room to doubt the speedy result of such an attack, unless relieved by reinforcements. The besieging force saturated bales of hemp to prevent their ignition from the hot shots of Mnlli- gan's guus, and rolled them in front of the intrenchments, and quietly mounted his guns. Price, who had been waiting for ammunition, on the 18th opened with thir- teen guns, posted in commanding positions. Col. Mulligan had but five small brass pieces with which to reply to this fire, and these were charged with rough shot manu- factured for the occasion at a neighboring foundry. These pieces were worked, how- ever, with great gallantry, and served to command very considerable respect from the besiegers. Price had previously seized the boats on the river, and fortified the adjacent bluffs, so that the federal troops were entirely cut off from water, and suf- fered the most intense agonies of thirst. It rained, however, at intervals, and the thirsty men, by spreading their blankets till they became saturated with water, and then wringing them into camp dishes, were enabled to prolong the siege until the 20th. when they surrendered. The Missouri troops, "invincible in peace and invisible in war," left the burden of the defense with the Illinois troops, constituting scarcely more than half of the whole number. A writer in the Chicago Post spoke of the 23d regiment as follows: "On the 17th the
enemy commenced erecting breastworks of hemp bales, from behind which they con- tinued to fire as they rolled them toward us. About three o'clock of the same day they charged over our entrenehments, upon Col. Peabody's home guards, and planted their flags on the top of our breastworks. The Irish Brigade was ordered to leave its position on the opposite side, and to retake the ground which Peabody had lost. We fired on the run, and continued on the double quick. The rebels scattered and fled like a flock of sheep, but left the top of the breastworks covered with dead and wounded. In this single charge we killed and wounded 55 and lost about 30 killed and wounded." An officer in the rebel service wrote of the capitulation: " This surrender does not cast the slightest discredit upon Col. Mulligan, his officers and men. After having ex- hausted all their means against an enemy three times their strength they had no choice but capitulation." The regiment was paroled, and by order of Gen. Fremont mustered out of the service in October, but was restored in December by order of McClellan. After remaining at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, guarding prisoners and recruiting until June 14, 1862, the regiment was moved to Western Virginia. Here the regiment found plenty of service, and had repeated encounters with rebel detachments, Company G being captured April 25, 1863, and sent to Richmond. The regiment was mustered out at Rieb- mond, Va., July 24, 1865, and arrived in Chicago six days later.
Grundy County was also represented in the Thirty-sixth regiment by Company G, of that organization. This regiment, like the 23d, was made up of those volunteers
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
who tendered their services just too late to be accepted under the first call of the Pres- ident. " A meeting of persons interested in the organization of a 'Fox River Regi- ment' was held at Geneva on the 29th day of July, 1861, and preliminary steps taken for its organization. Fifteen companies, either complete or in an advanced state of formation, were represented and tendered for acceptance, twelve of which were select- ed, including two cavalry companies."* This regiment was duly authorized by the proper authorities, and Col. N. Grensel was appointed to the command of the "Fox River Regiment," under date of August 14, 1861. The regiment went into camp near Aurora, was mustered into the three years' service September 23d, and uni- formed, and on the following day started for St. Lonis, where they were armed. The regi- ment was at once ordered to Rolla, Mo., remaining there until January, 1862, when it took part in the campaign against Pricc, resulting in the series of engagements end- ing with the battle of Pea Ridge. In this battle, especially, the 36th took a conspicu- ons part. It was a part of the Second bri- gade of Osterhaus' division, and occupied a position on the left of the Federal line. Company G. was the most severely han- dled, losing thirteen men while in skirmish line. Col. Grensel's report of his part in the engagement describes this action as follows: " My attention was now called to several regiments of infantry in on front, and immediately opposite the 36th Illinois Volunteers, whereupon I threw ont Com- panies B and G of that regiment as skir- mishers. These companies crossed the field,
and on entering the timber discovered the enemy in ambush-threc regiments drawn up in line and others formed in square, evidently expecting another attack from our cavalry. A rapid fire was opened up by the enemy and returned by the skir- mishers, which was kept up for fifteen min- ntes. Finding that they were wasting anı- munition to no purpose, the skirmishers retired in good order, with a loss of twenty wounded-thirteen in Company G, and seven in Company B."
The regiment was subsequently trans- ferred to the Department of the Mississippi and marched to Cape Giraudeau, Mo., and on their arrival was transferred to Gen. Pope's command. September 6, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Cincinnati, O., to defend the city against Gen. Bragg's raid across Kentucky, and joined in his pursuit when that general was forced to retreat. In the battle of Perryville, which followed, the 36th regiment, which formed a part of Sheridan's division, occupied an advanced position in front of Barrett's battery near the center of the federal linc. Here the regiment was the object of a fierce attack by three regiments of Hardee's famous troops, and maintained a sharp fight until the ammunition being exhausted. the 36tlı was retired, losing 75 men. They were ordered subsequently to the support of another battery, but did not again become engaged with the enemy. With the rest of the army the 36th went forward to Nashville, where it remained until the lat- ter part of December, 1862, when it moved ont with the army under Rosecrans to the bloody encounter of Stone River. In this battle McCook's corps occupied the right of the Union line, Sheridan's division being
*Bennett & Haight's Hist. of 36th Regt.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
on the left of this corps. Of the 36th reg- iment's part in this action Col. Grensel reported: " At daylight on the 31st (De- cember, 1862) the regiment was assaulted by a rebel brigade, under Gen. Weathers, and being supported by the 88th Illinois, on its left, the enemy was soon driven back to the woods; but again and again they were rallied, every time mecting the same fate, until thirty-eight of that fine brigade were all that were left to tell where their rebel comrades had fallen. The 36th charged them at the point of the bayonet twice in succession, driving them back. Forty-one of the poor boys lay dead on their faces on less than an acre of ground. The number of wounded is large, and, in fact, the killed and wounded are the larg- est in the whole division." Out of this fight the regiment brought only 200 men, Company G losing three men killed and thirteen wounded.
After the battle of Stone River, suc- ceeded a period of more or less inactivity, in which the regiment recruited its wasted energies, losing its colonel in the mean- while by resignation, his place being sup- plied by Col. Silas Miller. In September, however, the 36th was called again to face the enemy at Chickamauga. On the 19th, the regiment marched ten miles, from Pond Springs to Gordon's Mills, Sheridan's di- vision occupying at that time the extreme right of the federal line. The attack upon this portion of the line was especially severe. Lient. Col. Olson's report of this engagement is as follows: " At 2 P. M. went into position near Gordon's Mills, with one company thrown forward as skirmishers. At 5 P. M. fell back to the timber, abont 200 yards, and remained dur-
ing the night. At 4 A. M., 20th, marched two miles and a quarter to the left and formed in the second line. At 11 A. M., after some skirmishing, was ordered for- ward to the support of the center. Formed on the brow of a hill, under a most ter- rible fire, but in perfect good order, and engaged the enemy fiercely, checking his advance. At this juncture, the enemy ap- peared on the left, and, turning the flank, subjected us to a murderous, enfilading fire, against which we could offer but little resistance. The regiment was ordered to fall back. Here the regiment made another stand, but was overwhelmed by numbers, and compelled to fall back." At this juncture, Sheridan's division was relieved, and ordered to Rossville to rescue a train which was in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy. This was skillfully done, the troops going silently within rifle shot of the enemy, securing the train with- out discovery, and going into camp five miles away. On the 22d, the regiment took np its line of retreat to Chattanooga. In this engagement, Company G lost twenty-two men.
On the following day, the siege and de- fense of Chattanooga began, the 36th be- ginning the construction of riffe pits, by five o'clock next morning. Here some two months were spent in watching the enemy on the heights about the city, living on half or no rations, and wondering whether the issue would be starvation or retreat. In the meanwhile the army had changed lead- ers, the line of supplies had been opened, and Sherman's and Hooker's forces added . to the army, which was now under the im- mediate command of Gen. Grant. About noon of November 23d, 1863, the order
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was given to the 36th to " fall in," and with Sheridan's division it supported Wood's division, in what was intended as a recon- noisance of the enemy on Orchard Knob. The slight resistance of the enemy changed the character of the movement, and the troops, reinforced by Howard's division, occupied the position gained and fortified, the 36th holding a position on the hill just south of Orchard Knob, where is now the National Cemetery. In the meanwhile, Hooker had taken Lookout Mountain, but his troops, ont of ammunition, were forced to remain inactive until their cartridge boxes were replenished, and so passed the day. On the 24th, Sherman renewed his attacks upon the northern summits of Mis- sion Ridge, but finding it impossible to make rapid progress, and Hooker being delayed on the left, Grant determined upon a movement from the center. The plan was to take the rifle pits at the foot of the ridge, by the skirmish line if possible, and the 36th furnished three companies for this service. This was accomplished. From this point a hill rose eight hundred feet out of the valley, swept by a storm of bullets, shot and shell. Along its face, half-way up, stretched a line of works, then 400 fect further up, with the steepness of a gothic roof, rough with rocks and strewn with fallen trees, the summit frowned with all its terrible enginery of war. To stay in the rifle pits already gained meant death, to retreat was as certain destruction, and so withont orders the troops struggled up through the deluge of death-dealing missiles. In this fight Company G did not lose a man, though the regiment lost some twenty. In January, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted, and arrived in Chicago on
" veteran furlough," at midnight of Feb- ruary 2d. After partaking of the hospital- ities of the city, the various companies separated for the localities of their homes, Company G being received at Morris with enthusiastic demonstrations, which was re- peated during their six weeks' stay, at the various points where the friends of the regiment resided. During the furlough of the regiment every effort was made by the members to recruit its numbers. Com- pany G took back twenty veterans and eleven recruits. March 19, 1864, the regi- ment took the cars for Chicago, on their way back to the field. The regiment proceeded at once to Chattanooga, and from thence took part in the actions of Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville. After the pursuit of Hood, which took the regiment to Lexington, Ala., it returned to Nashville, where it remained until the 15th of June, when orders were received to proceed to New Or- leans. Here the 36th was retained for headquarter and special dnty until October 8, 1865, when it was mustered out of the service.
In Company I of the 55th'regiment, this county was represented by some fifty men, the balance of the company being drawn from La Salle County. The regiment was mustered into the three years' service Octo- ber 31, 1861, at Camp Douglas. The 55th was ordered January, 1862, to Paducah, Ky., where they remained till March 8, when they were ordered to the Tennessee River to take part in the movements about Cor- inth. This regiment was finally taken to Pittsburgh Landing, where it was placed on the left of the federal line in that mem- orable fight. Out of 873 men takeu into
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the fight, 102 enlisted men were killed, and 161 wounded and taken prisoners. It took part in the siege of Corinth, and its colors were the first in the captured city; with Sherman's division the 55th partici- pated in the expedition to Holly Springs, Miss., thence to Memphis; thence to take part in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Dec. 29, 1862, losing in this engagement ten men. From this point having re-embarked with the army, it took part in the battle of Arkansas Post; thence to Young's Point early in 1863, and in April joined the army about Vieksburg, taking part in several ex- peditions against the enemy's outlying posts and in the assaults, 19th and 22d May, upon the main works. Following the for- tunes of Sherman's division, the regiment fonnd its way to Chattanooga in Novem- ber, 1863, and took part in the prelimi- mary movements of the battle of Mission Ridge. In the following winter it re-en- listed and was home on a veteran furlongh of thirty days. On its return it rejoined Sherman, took part in the engagements of Kenesaw Mountain, losing 48 men; again in July losing 33 men; in the siege of Atlanta losing 25 men; and in the fight of Jonesboro, losing 23 men. It subsequently joined in the pursuit of Hood through northern Alabama, when it returned to Atlanta, and later with the 15th Army Corps went to Savannah. Marched from Richmond to Washington, took part in the grand review, then moved to Lonisville; thenee to Little Rock, Ark., where it was mustered out of the service August 14, 1865.
Company I of the 69th regiment was made up principally from Grundy County. This regiment was organized under the call for three months men in 1862, and was
mustered into the service June 14, 1862, at Camp Donglas. They were assigned duty of gnarding prisoners at this camp and served out their term of enlistment here, being mustered out Sept. 27, 1862.
Company C of the 76th regiment was raised entirely in Grundy County. This company was organized in the summer of 1862, went into eamp at Kankakee and was inustered into the service August 22, 1862. The 76thi was ordered as soon as mustered to Columbus, Ky., and from thence to Bol- ivar, Tenn., October 3d. Late in Novem- ber the regiment joined Grant's forces in the campaign along the Mississippi Central Railroad, and in February, 1863, proceeded to Memphis and thence to Vicksburg, where it took part in the assault of May 22d. This regiment subsequently took part in the movement against Jackson, Meriden, and the expeditions of February and May, 1864, np the Yazoo River. In July, 1864, it was in Slocum's expedition against Jackson, and bore a prominent part in the battle of July 6th and 7th. On the latter day it was cut off from the balance of the command, but cut its way out, losing ninety-eight men. Took part in various minor move- ments in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ar- kansas, and joined in Steele's expedition from Pensacola to Blakely, Ala. May 9, 1865, engaged in the assault and capture of Fort Blakely, losing seventeen killed and eighty-one wounded, but succeeded in being the first to plant the national colors upon the enemy's works. After long marches and tedious encampments at Selden, Mo- bile and Galveston, the regiment was mns- tered out and ordered home, July 22, 1865.
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