USA > Illinois > History of the 17th Illinois Cavalry Volunteers > Part 11
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By the close of April next, 650 horses had been brought in by the Moin. under instruction from the Cav- ary Bureau, and sold to the Govern-
May 3, 1804, the Regiment moved, nater orders from the Der eral-in Chief, to report to Major General Rosecrans, commanding the Department of Mis- sonri, at St. Louis, Mo.
The Regiment was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where 1,100 sets of horse equipments were received. From there it movel to Alton, Ill., and re- Teved the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry on guarding the Military Prison at that place. For this purpose 500 muskets were drawn from the arsenal.
Early in June, following, the First Lattilion was ordered to St. Louis, and the Sceund Battallion followed imme- Cintaly. Both being fully mounted, Tere ordered at once to North Missou- ri District.
The First Dattilion, Lieutenant Col- onei Dennis J. Hynes commanding, prococried to St. Joseph, Mo. where the commanding officer reported in per- se to General Fisk, commanding, Dis- : ive of North Missouri.
The Second Battalion, Major Lucing C. Mathik commanding, way assigned by Gereral C. B. Fisk to the post of Glasgow, Mio.
From this period, for four months, 'in three Battalions were separate und remote from each other. Their I story will be most fitly given in sep- erate narratives, extending over the tinte intervening and up to the time of re-union with the regimental head- quarters.
OF THE FIRST BATTALION. lieutenant Col . net Hynes being de- tutte i as Chief of Chaly, and attach- ed to General Viak's shift, the first squadron (Companies A and B.) nudler Major Il. Hilliard. was ordered to Weg. won, Mo. The second squadron (Com- pantes Can t Dyras ordered to remain at St. Joseph, Mo., Captain J. D. Butts in command,
The duties of the Battalions were mainly escort and provost gaard duty, for three months; not always iu the same localities, yet always within the District of North Missouri.
In September, 1864, the invasion of Missouri, by Price's army of rebels, increased the responsibility of their work, by the increased restless- ness of the rebel sympathisers around them: but uo actual conflict with the evemy occurred in that district.
Late in September, the second squadron (Companies C and D,) com- manded by Captain Jones, was moved over the country to Jefferson City, Mo. and here rejoining the Regiment, took part in the defense of the city October 6 and 7, 1861.
The first squadron (Companies A and B.) remained in North Missouri during che winter, and joined the Reg- imeat in June. 1863. Lieutenant Col- onI Hynes and Major Hilliard had Deen o, dered to the Regiment in Feb- ruary and March, preceeding. while the Headquarters were at Pilot Knob, 310.
OF THE SECOND BATTALION.
From July, 1864, for three months, Major Matlack, with the Battalion (Companies E. F. G. and I.) occupied the post of Glasgow. This was adja- cout to the strongholds of numerous guerrilla bands, whose influence with rebel sympathisers, and their inroads upon the loy ! inhabitants and inter- ruptions of United States telegraph lines, required scouting parties con- stantly on the road for a distance of from 30 to 60 miles Threatened at- tacks upon the post and actual assaults upon the out posts kept the entire de- tachment busy, day and night.
Parties were sent out under orders from General Douglas, commanding Eighth Sub-District, District of North Missouri, to remote points, and fre- qnent fights ensued, In every instance but one-when score of the Seventeenth men fought five times their number-their success in punishing the enemy was decided, yet not without the loss of a few killed and wounded. Among these fighta may be named one
None of these demand & more Uxfin- ded notier.
The reported presence of the reli! Colonel Thornton, with 1 300 meu, in. doced an order from General Rosecrans through General Fisk, for a movement from Glasgow, northward and west- ward. in search of Thornton. Parst. ant thereto, Major Matlack m .... 1. with all his mounted force and a squ ...:- ron of the Ninth Cavalry, Mi umi State Militia, to Chillicothe, on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Rules !. Here, reinforced by 500 militia, t !:.. column was divided into three detach. ment. and thoroughly scoured the whole country, from the railroad, south- ward and northward to the river. No enemy was found, but the presence of the troops reassured the Union men in that country, and held their enemies in check. The distance traveled was 500 miles.
In September, 1864, the second Bat- talion was ordered to more over the country. and report to Genersi Me Neil. commanding District of Kolla, Sin . It rejoined the Regiment at Jeffeisen City, with which its movements are theuee-forward identified.
(Continued next week :. )
Regnet. 1-
matted at Atten, I .! ,
Td it wis ordered, carly in to www. No., but it . Crop - de unation was clean- und pourby the Second Battal- BJJ. nd July L. Leridge com- Handlingreported to General Jolin Me- X.C .F. Rolle, Sept. 19, 61, with the traditations, Here commenced on heart and vigorous campaign, in which .he movements of the Regiment were
NAWY
When all communications between Poland St. Louis were interrupted by Prive's army, and General Ewing's Handlinger how tired from Pilot Knob, .Ha a brie resistance, Col. Beveridge with the 17th, by order of General Me- Ned, moved out at noon. Sept. 23, and driving a cavahy foret which appeared ner Caba, reached Leesburg the day flown ~3.3 miles ni-that-and saved Gracral Ewing, wich Colonel Fletcher (sinee Governor of Missouri) and their 700 men, frau inanineut piil of cap- tar", and covered their return t Rol- la. Mo.
Firly in Oct. the Regiment moved :. :. Rulla-a part of MeNeil's Brigade- tosende Jefferson City. reaching there in time to aid in constructing defences andi ir repelling the attack of Pri.e. Oct. 6 and T. where Companies "C"and "D'rejoined the Regiment.
The day following, General Pinasan- to .: arrived (r.en St. Louis, and organ- izel the entire force-four thousand-as a Carthy Division, under General San- born. Col. Beveridge was placed in compuand of the Second Brigade which including the 17th Ill .. and the 3rd,5th and 8th Missouri Cavalry.
Major Matlack commanded the 17th Mich took part in the attack pride on Free. at Boonville. Oct. 11, and which Entreed in early evacuation of that johat hy the rebels.
it Independence, the 17th dismonu- ten, was employed on the left, and im -upport of the 1St! Mo., Cav., when the Fear guard of the enemy was at- ta ked and tacir artillery captured. This was Oct. 22. 04. Same day, at undnight. the brigid .... Indepen- dence, in the direction of I!' .kman's Mille, 12 miles Ji-rent, where the en- way was interrupted the next day. at
in the great. By a sted Det. rent
ment preceding an att ck, what mant .
were received to return . ad Put port the battery in frout.
this, the Division, amy amest teatr .. ed Maj Gra. Mare authe. B .: Ort Cabel, ten cannon, and care Ful men. with their armuts, at M.ny Creek, Kann, having moved TO mutex willer Flour.
The 179, with MeNels Brande, was hurried forward in parent .1 the retreating toc The times the pur. quere formed in lingua battle it only in the last circus, Or ette. main- tain his groun !. 1 .wthe paths had chosen their good . nejen prairie, and were quietly waiting de approach of the Union Inerna Butine, DIW thinned down to 1.diy C. n werving up to attack 15,000. Every h ... g ct th, little band coull see, ind wasseru by every man of the red.l-amms. The Seventeenth was made the guide forthe while line, of which it was the left. After a short, sharp engagement. and an attempt by the rebels to overwhelma its right, which was prevented by the arrival of two guns, which checked the rebels, an order came from Geu. Preas. anton to charge along the whole live. After some delas, the command "for- ward" was given, and ans" went the 17th boys, With only 300 tuen, they pushed up in the face of the erens, who moved off at their agnach while the centre and right were full of a mile in the rear. This was 0- 22 0%. and occurred in the vicin. : 4 1' ft Scott. The l. k . ff mag. aun: er ! id marching catwri the loss of m . than half the horses, and her. fr. dx of Iniles were traversed. by some of the 17th, on fort.
The e-espe of the rebels over the Arkansas live was followed by the march of the Brigade to springtebi, Mo. Here orders ir in fleadquarters Sirvered it to proceed south-west to Cassville, Mo., thence back to Rolla, Mo. which was reached by Nov. 15, 1804. During the 13 days intervening, the Regt. had marched over 1000 miles, and suffered the loss of GOO borsea.
In Jan. 05, the 17th was ordered to Pilot Knob, Mo. After being Temoun- ted it was ordered to Cape Girardeau, Mo. in April. Col. Beveridge was now
hai . rtout comprisin : 1 0 47th
. Imul. The york fall inte
Engel trace, who reached tool, Ser. Th wayson, and armmired teff, ane : they for the capitulation . fhi. foire. From Cape Girardeau the Root Was andere ! to Kan, and occupied detach- ed posts along the plains; wh. nos thry returned to be mustered out, in N-v. and Dec. '65, at Leavenworth, Km.
Their last important work was ti. - of a detachment, accompanying the commissioners, who went to Fort S :.. h to treat with the Indians, at the gover council beld in Sept. 1865.
The service of the Regt, has been wholly within the Department of the Missouri, cou manded, respectfully, bo Gen 's Roeserans, Dodge and Punc.
While the Regiment was todes at Pilot Knob, Major Matlack was or- dorad to St. Louis and assigned to en ty as Provost Marchal Poon Cape Girardeau. Cit. Bever. idge was ordered to Warenstare. theoce in Kansas dity and thema to 2.8, 9h .o pred cat aB of the mintars 14 Missouri, santh of the ofis- wir: River, ontside of St. Louis youy- ty. must ring out the Missouri troops. supervising the removal of military stores, and subjecting the military to the civil authorities wher the Regt. vas mustered out. C. Bevordue by erter of the See. of War, was d Fined in the service and presided over a Mit. itary Commission in St. Louis for the trial of rebel offenders ag .in t property and persons of the United States. He was finally nostened out when we vina Trb 6, 1866, having served over it !! : cars.
The 17th was the last Cav. Bret cz- g. nized' in this state.
While the Host, did not payseine any severs tragements. it pommes hand and val ab, services in thenear KAiruashes with the enemy. in routing guerrilla parties and in long and weary marches.
As the youngest of the Car. It's. it is entitled to the respect of the ele - er regiments and the gratitude us the State and Nation. (Finis.)
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