History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 24

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 24

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Gen. John M. Palmer, the first Colonel of the Fourteenth regiment, was appointed a Brigadier General in the fall of 1861; served with the army under Hunter and Pope in Missouri ; and he also commanded a division in Pope's expedition against Island No. 10. His command formed a part of Pope's army, when he joined Halleck's command in his operations against Corinth in 1862; also participated in the battle of Farmington. After the battle of Murphysboro', December 31st, 1862, he was promoted a Major General, at which place he distinguished himself; he also did signal service for his country in the ever-memorable battle of Chickamauga.

TWENTY-SEVENTH-COL. MILES' REGIMENT.

Company F. was first commanded by Jonathan R. Miles, who became Colonel of the regiment, and was composed of Macoupin county volunteers.

It was organized at Camp Butler, August 10th, 1861, ordered to Jack- sonville, thence to Cairo, (in September) was in the battle of Belmont. It was the first to land on Island No. 10, and was engaged in the siege of Corinth and battle of Farmington. In July 1862, was ordered to Iuka, in December under General Palmer it crossed the Tennessee at Decatur, Ala., and made a rapid march for Nashville, reaching that place on the 12th. It distinguished itself greatly in the battle of Stone river, and suffered severely at Chickamauga: was in Chattanooga during its investment, and behaved nobly at the storming of Mission Ridge. It made a forced march to the relief of Knoxville, returned to London, Tenn., January 25th, 1864, and on April 18 was ordered to Cleveland, Tenn. From thence it moved with the Army of the Cumberland on the Atlanta campaign, was engaged at Rocky Face Ridge, May 9th; at Resaca, May 14th; near Calhoun, May 16th; Adairsville, May 17th; near Dallas, from 26th to June 4th; near Pine Top Mountain, June 10th to 14th; battle of Mud Creek June 18th; in assault on Kenesaw Mountain, June 27th; skirmished about the vicinity of Chattahoochie river, was in the battle of Peach Tree Creck, July 20th ; in the skirmishes around Atlanta; was relieved from duty, August 25th, 1864, and ordered to Springfield for muster out. Its veterans and recruits conso- lidated with the Ninth Illinois Infantry.

During its time of service this hard-fighting regiment had the following casualties :- killed or died of wounds, 102; died of disease, 80; number of wounded, 32%.

THE THIRTIETH INF'T., (30TH REG.) LIEUT. COL. WM. C. RHODES' REG'T.

Col. Rhodes recruited Company HI in this county. After his promotion Henry W. Strang became captain of it. This regiment was organized at Camp Butler August 28th, 1861, Col. P. B. Fouke commanding. Sept. 1st moved to Cairo forming part of MeClernand's brigade. November 7th was engaged in battle of Belmont, doing gallant service and capturing "Watson's New Orleans Battery," was in Oglesby's brigade at the capture of Fort Henry and took part in the siege and capture of Fort Donaldson, also took part in the siege of Corinth, in Col. Logan's brigade. On Sept. 1st marched toward Medan station on the Mississippi Central R.R. Four miles from Medan Station, met 6,000 cavalry under Armstrong, and after four hours' hard fighting gained a brilliant victory. After hard service and marching from place to place reached Memphis, January 19th, 1863. The next May was in the battle of Raymond, Miss. May 16th was in the battle of Cham- pion Hills, losing heavily. Participated in the siege of Vicksburg until June 23d, then moved to Black river, under Sherman, to watch John-on. Was with Sherman in the investment of Jackson, after which it returned to Vicksburg, July 25. Was mustered in as veteran organization, Ist Jan'y, 1864. Was under Sherman on Meridan campaign ; March 5th left Vicks- burg on veteran furlough arriving at Camp Butler March 12th. April 18th left Camp Butler. On the 25th left Cairo with "Temeste River Expedi- tion," under Gen. Gresham. Joined Sherman's Grand Army at Ackworth. Was in the battle near Atlanta July 21-t, and on the 224 was again engaged, losing heavily. Actively engaged until fall of Atlanta and Jonesboro. October 4th, 1864, moved northward in pursuit of Hood. Returned to Atlanta, and on the 15th of November moved forward on the "March to the Sea." Participated in the capture of Savannah December 21-t. Moved by water to Beaufort, January 18th, and took part in the capture of Porotaligo. On 30th of January marched to Goldsboro, N. C. March 25th, 1865) was engaged during the march in the capture of Orangeburg, Colum- bia and Cheraw and Fayetteville. Arrived at Raleigh on the 14th, where it remained until Johnson's surrender.

Arrived at Alexandria, Va., May 19th, took part in the grand review. Mustered out of service July 17th, 1865. Arrived at Camp Butler, III., July 20th. Received final payment and discharged July 27th, 1865. This regiment was composed of stubborn fighters, and did hard and gallant service.

THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY,-COL. JOHN LOGAN'S REGIMENT.

Of this, Companies A and C and a portion of I were recruited in Macou- pin. Henry Davidson was the first captain of A and Thaddeus Phillips of C; of I, this county furnished Capt. Sam'l Cumings, also the 1st lieutenant.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Robert B. Droke first filling the office, and being succeeded by Richard J. Rucker.

This regiment was organized by Col. Logan, and mustered into service December 31st, 1861.

It bore a distinguished and honorable part in the battle of Shiloh, losing forty killed and two hundred wounded. Was engaged in the advance on Corinth. On the 5th of October, 1862, fought the battle of Metamora. This regiment did good service here, seven killed and five wounded. On the 8th of November in a forced march southward from Lagrange surprised and captured over one hundred rebel cavalry at Lamar, and routed the enemy. After many hard marches, part of the time being on short rations, in March, 1863. they moved to Memphis and remained until May 11th, when they moved to Young's Point; on the 15th joined the division ten miles below Vicksburg. Thence to Grand Gulf, where they were detained a few days as garrison. June 12th the post was abandoned, and the regiments joined the division on the lines around Vicksburg; engaged in the siege until June 27th, when Col. Logan, with his regiment, the One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio, and one section of artillery, was ordered to command the post at Warrenton, which was the extreme left of the line. Rejoined brigade on July 4th, and on the 5th marched with Sherman's army toward Jackson, a very trying march. After hard service and skirmishing, and the capture of a battery of nine pieces of artillery, it on January 3d, 1864, moved to Vicksburg, where it was mustered as a veteran organization. Re- ceived furlough, and on the 28th reassembled at Camp Butler, Ill., and moved to Bird's Point, Mo. June 12th, 1864, siege of Kenesaw Mountain commenced ; the Seventeenth Corps occupied the left of the line and the Thirty-second Regiment occupied the exposed position on the advance. July 2d, was transferred to right of line, on the 4th and 5th, and on the 5th when the Fourth division assaulted the enemy's works the Thirty-second was the first to plant its colors on the works. July 18th the regiment was transferred to the first brigade, and Col. Logan took command of the brigade. While guarding supplies at Marietta, a party of fifty men under Lieut. Campbell, while foraging, after a spirited resistance were captured, only nine escaping. On the 3d the enemy attacked the line near Kenesaw Mountain, and killed and captured twelve men. The regiment remained near Marietta until the "March to the Sea" began, when, on Nov. 13th, it moved from that place, and from Atlanta November 15th, 1864. In the siege of Savannah Capt. Lawson and four men were wounded. It suffered greatly from lack of food. Remained at camp in Savannah, Ga., until Dec. 5th, 1865, when embarked at Thunderbolt for Beaufort. On Feb. 3d the division waded the Salkahatchie river, two miles wide and from two to five feet deep and ice cold, and after a half hour's skirmishing on the opposite bank, compelled the enemy to evacuate their strong line of defence. Col. Logan was absent during these two campaigns on court- martial duty at Louisville, Ky., and Capt. Rider, afterwards Lieut. Col., commanded the regiment. Took part in the grand review at Washington, May 24th, 1865. Thence to Parkersburg, Va .; thence to Louisville; thence moved westward, rie: St. Louis and Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney, Nebraska, arriving August 13th. Returned to Fort Leavenworth, Sept. 2d.

Sept. 16th mustered out there, and ordered to Camp Butler, Ill., for final payment and discharge. It traveled while in the United States service 11,000 miles, and its record makes glorious a page of the history of the state.

FORTY-NINTH INFANTRY,-COL. MORRISON.

Company E of this regiment was the only one which was composed of soldiers from Macoupin. John G. Berry, of Belleville, was the captain, and he was succeeded by Henry W. Kerr, of Carlinville.

The regiment was organized at Camp Butler, December 31st, 1861. Feb- ruary 3d, ordered to Cairo; 8th, moved to Fort Henry. Fought at Fort Donaldson, losing fourteen killed and thirty-seven wounded. Was in the two days' battle of Shiloh, April 6th and 7th, losing seventeen killed and wounded. After good service in siege of Corinth, was, on August 21st, moved to Helena, Arkansas, to join Steele's expedition against Little Rock. November 10th, participated in capture of that place. January 15th, 1864, three-fourths of the regiment re-enlisted, and were mustered as veteran volunteers. January 27th, moved to Vicksburg, and accompanied Sherman in the Meridan campaign, and returned to Vicksburg. March 10th, as- signed to Red river expedition; 14th, participated in the capture of Fort De Russey, La. April 9th, engaged in the battle of Pleasant Hill. After re- turning to Memphis, was, on June 24th, ordered to Illinois on furlough.

The detachment of non-veterans remained, commanded by Capt. John A. Logan, participating in battle of Tupelo, July 14th and 15th, 1864. After . expiration of furlough, rendezvoused at Centralia, Ill., and proceeded, via Cairo and Memphis, to Holly Springs. August 12th, participated in Oxford expedition, returning to Memphis, August 30th. September 30th, arrived at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis; moved to Franklin, and drove the enemy from the place. Moved with the army in pursuit of Price, and returned November 18th, 1864. Arrived at Nashville, Tenn., December 1st. Took part in the battle of Nashville, December 15th and 16th. December 24th, ordered to Paducah, Kentucky, to muster out non-veterans. Performed garrison duty till mustered out, September 9th, 1865, at Paducah, and arrived at Camp Butler. September 15th, 1865, for final payment and dis- charge. This was a gallant regiment, and won high reputation.

FIFTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

Company I was recruited by Capt. Alfred W. Ellett, of Bunker Hill, pro- moted Brigadier-General, November 1st, 1862.

This regiment of Illinois men was first accredited to Missouri, Illinois' quota being full, and was known as the Ninth Missouri Infantry. Did good service in that State. February 12th, 1862, the name was changed to the Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry. Was in the battle of Pea Ridge, where it fought gallantly all day. After marching and skirmishing, arrived at West Plains, on the 28th of April. Captain Ellett, three lieutenants and fifty men, were ordered to report for duty to Col. Charles Ellett's ram fleet. After service in Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri, under Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, and later, General Robert B. Mitchell, on September 3d, left Mur- freesboro, and began the westward march with Buell, arriving at Louisville, September 26th. On October 1st, moved in pursuit of Bragg. October 7th, engaged the enemy at Chaplin Hills. On the 8th, lost heavily, losing 113 killed and wounded out of 361 going into action. On the 10th, pursued the enemy, and on the 14th had a severe skirmish at Lancaster. Was in the Stone river campaign with the Army of the Cumberland, and in the Tullahoma campaign during the siege of Chattanooga; was constantly under fire of the enemy's batteries. November 23d, 1863, started on Lookout Mountain campaign. The Third brigade, of which the Fifty-ninth was a part, was led in the assault on the Mission Ridge by this regiment. January 12th, 1864, was mustered as a veteran organization. On May 3d, the At- lanta campaign began. On the 7th, supported the attack upon Tunnel Hill. On the 8th, began the attack on Rocky-Face Ridge, being con- stantly engaged until the 13th. Was in action at Resaca, Adairsville, at Kingston, Dallas, Ackworth, Pine Top, Kenesaw Mountain, Smyrna Camp- meeting grounds. From July 12th until August 25th, it was under fire night and day before Atlanta. Fought at Lovejoy Station. After skirm- ishing and doing arduous service, on December 1st reached Nashville. December 15th, occurred the battle of Nashville. The Fifty-ninth was in the first line of the assaulting column, and planted the first colors on the captured works. The loss was terrible, one-third being killed or wounded. This was the last battle of note in which the regiment was engaged. After being on duty in various parts of the South until December 8th, 1865, at New Braunfels, Texas, it was mustered out, and ordered to Springfield, Ill., for final payment and discharge. Of its brilliant record each member of the Fifty-ninth, from the colonel commanding to the humblest private, is justly proud. All honor to the Fifty-ninth!

NINETY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.

This regiment was recruited principally in the counties of Madison, Cum- berland, Fayette, Jasper, Jersey, Calhoun, and Macoupin; was organized at Camp Butler, September 8th, 1862, by Col. Rutherford, and mustered on September 16th. Company A was from Macoupin county, and was raised by L. D. Martin, W. H. Willard and P. H. Pentzer, at Gillespie, Bunker Hill, Staunton, and vicinity. On the organization of the regiment, L. D. Martin was elected Lt .- Col., Wm. H. Willard made Captain of Company A, and P. H. Pentzer, Sergeant-Major of the regiment. Richard Wood was made First Lieut., and Alex. Atchinson, Second Lieut. Lt. Atchinson was killed May 22d, 1863, at Vicksburg. In the spring of 1863, Capt. Willard resigned, and Lieut. Wood became captain. W. E. Best, who had for some months been sergeant-major, vice Pentzer, promoted to the captaincy of Company C. Company A made for itself an enviable record for bravery and heroism. Capt. Pentzer, Company C, was the color company during three years. To Company C, belongs the honor of having surprised and captured Gen. F. M. Cockrell, now U. S. Senator from Missouri.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

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October 3d, 1862, the regiment was moved from Camp Butler to Cincin- nati; assigned to A. J. Smith's division at Louisville. On 17th, left Louis- ville for Memphis, and went into camp. Left Memphis, December 20th, and landed near Walnut Hill, on the Yazoo, and was on the extreme right during the operations on Vicksburg. When the attack was abandoned, 1st of January, 1863, moved to Arkansas Post, and took part in the battle at that place. May 1st, was engaged at Port Gibson, and May 10th, fought at Champion Hills. May 19th, arrived in rear of Vicksburg, and took part in the hardships and dangers of that memorable siege until July 4th, when the stronghold fell. Took part in Sherman's expedition to Jackson, and re- turned to Vicksburg, where it remained until August. Embarked for New Orleans on the 25th, and went into camp at Carrollton, Louisiana. It was mustered out of service July 29th, 1865, at Galveston, Texas, and arrived at Camp Butler, August 13th, 1865, where it received final payment and dis- charge.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY,-COL., AFTERWARDS GEN., JOHN I. RINAKER, COMMANDING.

All of this regiment was recruited in this county, except Company C. It was organized at Camp Palmer, Carlinville, August, 1862, where it was drilled diligently for a month, and mustered in September 4th. About the 6th of October, 1862, the regiment was ordered to report to Gen. Dodge, at Columbus, Ky. Thence to Trenton, Tenn., at which place it went on duty, and Col. Rinaker was placed in command of the Post. On November 12th, the right wing of the regiment-Companies A, D and F-was ordered to Humboldt, Tenn., where, with a part of the Fifty-fourth Illinois and Seventh Wisconsin battery, it constituted the force on duty at that place, under com- mand of Col. Rinaker. About the 16th of December, 1862, a large force of mounted infantry, under command of the enterprising and daring rebel General Forrest, had crossed the Tennessee river near Clifton, for the pur- pose of tearing up the railroad and destroying the bridges between Jackson, Tenn., and Columbus, Ky., while a cavalry force, under the rebel Gen. Van Dorn, was moving from Murphysboro, Tenn., to attack and destroy, in like manner, the Mississippi Central R. R., from near Jackson, Tenn., to Holly Springs, Miss. The design of these operations was to frustrate and prevent the movement of the army of the Tennessee, under Gen. Grant, then moving by the inland route, to capture Vicksburg. Gen. Grant's army depended for its supplies upon the line of railroad between Columbus, Ky., via Jack- son, Tenn., and Holly Springs, Miss., and thence south as he advanced. There were at all the stations along the line of road small bodies of troops ; most of them were infantry. These detachments, at any of the points, were not of sufficient strength to repel an attack. Gen. Sullivan commanded the district of Jackson, Tenn., including the troops from the Kentucky line toward Columbus to Bolivar, Tenn., and as Jackson was at the junction of the Memphis, Charleston and Mississippi Central R. R. Company's said line on which supplies must move, and as there was a large accumulation of military stores at Jackson, and as Forrest had defeated and captured the cavalry force belonging to that district at Lexington on the 16th of Decem- ber, Gen. Sullivan ordered all the effective troops on the line to move at once to Jackson. Col. Rinaker, therefore, on the 17th of December, moved his command, consisting of the right wing of the One Hundred and Twenty- second Illinois, four companies of Fifty-fourth Illinois, and half of the Seventh Wisconsin battery, from Humboldt to Jackson, Tenn., where the rest of the One Hundred and Twenty-second arrived the same day. On the night of the 27th of December, when, with a part of the Thirty-ninth Iowa, Fiftieth Indiana, and one-half of the Seventh Wisconsin battery, all under Col. Dunham, were ordered to move out from Trenton to intercept Forrest's command on its return from the vicinity of Columbus, Ky., to the Tennessee river. After a forced march, they reached Huntingdon, Tenn., on the night of the 29th of December. The next day additional troops arrived, and Gen. Sullivan assumed command. The One Hundred and Twenty-second-that is, nine companies of it-with the rest of Col. Dunham's command, took the advance to meet, or rather intercept, Forrest's command, which was moving around to the south and east of Huntingdon, seeking to avoid fighting, and to re-cross the Tennessee river. * *

* Two days after, December 31st, occurred the battle of Parker's Cross Roads, sometimes known as Hunter's Cross Roads. The loss to the One Hundred and Twenty-second was one officer and twenty-two men killed, two officers and fifty-four men wounded. At this battle Col. Rinaker was severely wounded. Here they captured seven pieces of artillery and five hundred prisoners. Major James F. Chap-

man, Capt. Balfour Cowen, and Lieut. W. W. Freeman, quartermaster of the regiment, and sixty enlisted men wick in hospital in Trenton, were cap- tured by the enemy under Gen. Forrest. Moved on the 17th of February, 1863, to Corinth ; on the 25th, was engaged at Town Creek, thence to Sauls- bury in June, thence to Iuka in October, Col. Rinaker commanding Post at each place; thence to Eastport, thence to Paducah, and on January 19th, 1864, to Cairo. At all of these places, except Paducah, Col. Rinaker was in command of Post. Companies (these three companies were under com- mand of Major Chapman), E, H and K were engaged in defending Paducah against Forrest's attack. March 24th, repelling three attacks on Fort An- derson. * * * Moved to Memphis and La Grange, and were assigned to First brigade, Third division, Sixteenth corps, commanded by A. J. Smith. July 14th, in the battle of Tupelo, lost Capt. Josiah Burrough and nine men killed, and thirty-three wounded. Was engaged in the campaign in Mis- souri after Price. Left St. Louis for Nashville, and engaged in the battle of Nashville on December 15th and 16th, capturing four pieces of artillery and a battle-flag, by the skirmish line, commanded by Major Chapman. February 18th, 1865, embarked for New Orleans; thence to Dauphine Is- land, Alabama. On the 23d, moved with the fleet up Fish river to Dorley's Landing, and thence to Spanish Fort. Col. Rinaker was in command of the First brigade; was engaged in the charge of the 9th on Fort Blakely, losing twenty killed and wounded. Mustered out of service July 15th ; re- ceived final payment and discharge at Camp Butler, Ill., August 4th, 1865. This was one of the best of the Illinois regiments, and its colonel was bre- veted brigadier for meritorious services.

THE THIRD CAVALRY,-COL. CARR.

Company L., of this regiment, was raised in this county. David R. Sparks, captain ; Norreden Cowen, 1st lieutenant; Aaron Vanhooser, and Benj. F. Cowel, who were promoted from sergeant.

The regiment was organized by Col. E. A. Carr, in August, 1861. Or- dered to St. Louis in September ; thence to Jefferson City ; thence to War- saw; October 11th, was in the movement against Springfield; was with Siegel's division, and was the last to leave Springfield; November 19th reached Rolla; December 29th, moved in the advance of Curtis' army ; near Springfield fought the first battle and won the first victory of Curtis' campaign. On 15th of February, 1862, captured prisoners from Price's retreating army at Crane Creek, and also participated in the battle of Pea Ridge. On the 18th at Sugar Creek the Third battalion charged and routed the enemy. Marched and skirmished with the enemy, losing some men. On May 14th moved to Little Red river. Fell back to Fairview. On the 7th, Capt. Sparks, (sent out to reconnoiter and fell into ambush at a Cross Roads, and charged in order to effect an escape,) with 66 men was surrounded by 300 of the enemy, and bravely leading his company cut his way out, losing four wounded and four prisoners. Reached Batesville on the 11th ; marched to Jacksonport. On July 5th, moved with the army for Helena ; reaching that place on the 15th. Detachments of the regiment engaged in scouting, including Captain Kirkbridge's raid to St. Francis river, and five companies with General Hovey's raid to Grenada. On the 23d of December, 1862, company L. and five others, under command of Kirkbridge, embarked for Vicksburg, and did good service on picket and escort duty in the disastrous attack on Vicksburg ; company L. being one of the last to embark. Company L. was detailed as escort for General McClernand. The regiment took part in the battles of Tupelo, Okolona, and Guntown, also in the battles of Lawrenceburg, Spring Hill, Campbells- ville and Franklin. On December 15th, was first in the enemy's works, when General Hatch turned the left of the enemy. In January, 1865, drove the enemy across the Tennessee, being then under the command of Gen. Wil- son. In May was sent to St. Louis, thence to St. Paul. On July 4th started on an Indian expedition over the plains of Minnesota and Dakota, north to the British lines ; south and west to Devil's Lake and Fort Barthold. October 13, 1865, having served the country long and well, at Springfield, Illinois, was mustered out of service.

COMPANY B, 2D ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY.

The members of this company from Macoupin were recruited at Girard by Captain Fletcher H. Chapman, who had gained experience as an officer of artillery in Missouri, connected with Palmer's regiment. Twenty-five or thirty members of the company only were raised here. Captain Chapman's com- pany and that of Captain Rolla Madison, were consolidated as company B,

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

at St. Louis, Captain Madison assuming command. They were placed in charge of a battery of heavy artillery, consisting of five 24-pound siege guns, and one 64-pound howitzer, for service in the field ; were ordered from St. Louis to Pittsburg Landing ; arrived there the night before the first day's bat- tle of Shiloh. The battery opened fire from the last line about 3 o'clock Sun- day afternoon, and did brilliant service, aiding materially with its heavy fire in checking the enemy's advance. On the second day one of the guns and the howitzer were sent to the front. The battery was hauled by oxen on the movement against Corinth, and was called by the troops the " Bull Bat- tery." At the battle of Corinth Capt. Chapman was in command of the battery, which did effectual service. He was afterward brevetted major, but was never mustered. The company was stationed at Corinth until January of 1864, when it was ordered to Memphis, turned over the heavy guns, and took charge of a battery of light artillery ; was ordered on the Sturgis raid, and took part in the disastrous battle of Guntown. On the retreat, the guns had to be abandoned in a swamp. The company returned to Memphis, or- dered to Columbus, Kentucky, and saw no further service, their term of enlistment soon expiring. They were mustered out at different dates, as their terms expired, and received their discharge and payment at Spring- field, Illinois. They had done great service for their country at two criti- cal moments in two of the greatest battles of the war.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 24

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 440

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440