USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 42
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Smith Nicholson was our fearless standard bearer at the terribly contested action of Allatoona, and where the flag waved there were brave defenders.
E. D. Roe, the poet of company C, and sometimes "ye pedagogue." was one of the first to enter the ranks of the com- pany. The chum of "Rashe" Hughes, is now in the National Soldier's Home, Leavenworth, Kans.
James P. Starrett was discharged for disability but re- oulisted in 1864, and served to the close of the war. Samuel P. Starrett enlisted in August 1861, was made 2nd Sergeant and passed successively through all the grades to the Captaincy of his company. Was wounded slightly at Shiloh and seriously at Allatoona. Returned to his command while on its march to Washington. A short time after returning to his home he an- -wered the last roll-call-a sacrifice for his country's honor.
All will remember an amusing instance of presence of mind and nerve displayed by Corporal Jacob Sciter, who was one of the color guard, that occurred during the battle of Cor- inth, Oet. 3. 1562. Seiter stumbled and fell over an old tree that lay on the ground. The rebels were upon him; he had no time to rier and retreat in "good order", nor to "surround and
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capture them," but creeping as close to the old tree trunk as possible he "possumed" death. The enemy passed over hin, both in their advance and retreat, but had not the least idea he was a very live "Dutch Yankee" and a fit subject for treatment at Libby or Andersonville. It is almost needless to add that the phlegmatic "Dutchman" rejoined his colors in a short time. Discharged as Sergeant at muster-out of the regiment.
J. A. Short, 24 years of age when he enlisted. Short in name and short in stature, and was cut short in his military career; and discharged for disability at Quincy, April 30, 1862, and we suppose he remained Short some time more than two years, but re-enlisted 'long in Feb. 1864, and remained in the service "long as our good "Uncle" wanted him, or until the con- federacy became "short" both in men and munitions.
Southio Collins, unmarried, farmer, age 20, enlisted Feb. 15, 1864, and served to the close of the war. Resides at Con- cordia, Kansas.
Edwin Tyler, of Richfield, Ill., age 18, farmer, enlisted Aug. 20, 1861, at Quincy. Was appointed Corporal ; participa- ted in all actions in which the company was engaged, being at Forts Henry and Donelson, battle of Shiloh, seige of Corinth, and battle at that place Oct. 3 and 4, 1862. Was at Town Creek, skirmishing at Iuka, serving continuously until reach- ing Pulaski. In March 1864, was attacked by a sickness that . cost him the sight of his left eye. Rejoining the company Sep- tomber 25, 1864, was discharged on the 27th of same month by reason of expiration of term of service. His home is now at Great Bend, Kansas.
Jerry Browning, recruit, joined the company October 1st 1863, at Corinth, Miss. . Remained with the command and par- ticipated in all engagements and expeditions until Oct. 6th, '64. Was wounded at Allatoona and sent to Rome in company with Sergeant Lewis and Private Wm. Carter, who were also wound- ed. From: Rome, Ga., he was sent to Nashville, Tonn. All the boys will remember Jerry and the arsenal he carried-a huge Colt's navy and accompanying Bowie knife.
Francis C. Ward, born in London, Canada, Dec. 25, 1844.
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during the temporary residence of his parents at that place, having moved from New York a short time previously. At the age of two removed to Port Huron, Mich., and in 1856 moved to Quincy, Ill., thence to Ralls county, Mo., in 1857. Here for four years he heard the doctrine of secession advocated and taught, and in 1861 saw it materialize into open rebellion. His - father being a great lover of the Union, taught his family rev- erence for the flag and was for these reasons obliged to seek an asylum elsewhere, moving to Payson, in Dec. '61. Residing at the latter place until October '63, the subject of this sketch en- listed, joining the company at Corinth. Was continuously with the company in all its movements from time of joining until mustered out, July 13, '65, and was selected as one of the History Committee. Can be seen in the Groupe.
Lewis F. Roe, a recruit in the company but had seen ser- vice before. Enlisted in Co. C Feb. 10, 64; wounded at Allatoona and mustered out as a Corporal July 13, '65. At the out-break of the rebellion he was serving his country as a private of Co. F, 7th U. S. Inf'ty, stationed at Fort Craig, N. M. Numbers of the officers of the army had proven traitors and gone over to the confederacy, among them Major Sibley of the 2nd Dragoons, who organized a force of Texans and, invading New Mexico, a battle was fought near Fort Craig, Feb. 2nd, 1862. Company F went into action fifty men strong, all being wounded but one ; but fourteen were still able to march. After this battle, Val- verde, Private Lewis was promoted to Ist Sergeant, and engaged in the battle of Peralto, March 15th, 1862, and having served his term of five years, was discharged.
The following amusing incident, furnished by F. C. Ward, will probably be remembered by some of the boys and may ac- count for the absence of under-cooks in company C:
"It may be amusing to know how the company got rid of its cook, an American citizen of African descent. In the early part of the winter of 1863-4, while the company was camped on Cemetery Hill, Lynnville, Tenn., after the above mentioned gentleman had been in charge of the culinary department of the company some time the boys noticed that the coffee was
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not up to the standard of "strength" required by the average veteran. They remonstrated and told him to make it stronger, which he promised to do, but all the same it became more "frail" day by day until they began to think of appointing re- lays of watchers to "sit up with it." Fearing that the "shady". stuff might finally fade away entirely they began to investigate and discovered that while their own coffee was growing more pale, not by the reflection of their faces in the cups, that of Sam's people was becoming a shade darker each day, thus har- monizing the colors of the coffee and the coffee-bibber. Sam was an artist, but that kind of art did not please the boys. They did not enjoy having the complexions of Sam's family kept up to the required standard of ebony, in vogue among his class. at their expense. It was found that Sam was not only robbing them of coffee, but other necessaries for the stomach s of healthy soldiers. A plan was then devised to rid themselves of Sam, at once and forever. Believing that "once a thief, always a thief," a court for sham trial was appointed. The court was organized with Rube. Gunn as judge advocate, Slater Lewis to assist the judge advocate in the prosecution, and E. D. Roe as "next friend," or counsel for accused ; Luke Manuel court sentinel. The court organized in the plank shanty occupied by the writer. The accused being brought into court, the charges were read and a plea of "not guilty" entered. Witnesses tosti- fied that the rations were short, the coffee too weak to "stand alone" and that Sam had been caught "toting" rations away when he went to see "de ole woman" on Saturday night. Sam, upon the stand, entered a general denial. Lewis, acting for the judge advocate, presented the side of the prosecution in an abb: and eloquent manner, showing how great a crime it was to steal from those who were risking their lives for the freedom of the ones who were robbing them. Roo followed for the defense making an eloquent effort, showing how the negro had been robbed for ages, not only of necessaries of life and earnings, but the priceless boon and birthright of all, Liberty ; ending with : pathetic appeal for mercy in case of conviction. Here the fun commenced. Lewis, closing for the prosecution, reminded the
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court that if the accused should be found guilty, he should suffer the extreme penalty of the law, which was to be shot until dead ! dead ! ! dead ! !! Lewis said he believed Sam had armed for defense, and by direction of the court, began to search him, producing a large butcher-knife from inside Sam's vest, the knife having been placed there unknown to Sam. Lewis remarked that the trial had already proven theft and now had evidence of intent to murder. Sam declared "fo" God that he did not place the knife "dar," and he did not know how it came to be "dar." ,
"When the sentence of death was pronounced by the court Sam trembled violently and would have fallen had not Roe goue to his assistance, and, whispering into his ear that he would drug the sentinel, and told Sam when the sentinel fell to make "tracks for the country and never return." Meanwhile the boys had got in rear of the shanties in which we were quar- tered and had loaded their Springfields with blanks. Roo brought in a canteen and gave Manuel a drink. Soon Manuel fell to the floor, when Sam made but two leaps to carry himself through the door and around the corner of the court-room. When a few rods away, and running, as he thought, for his life, bang, bang, bang, went the muskets, and, praying and running --- running faster than he could pray-barely touching the ground at each leap-went down the hill and out of sight. We saw no more of Sam until the next spring, and then he kept shy of the regiment. After the trial we had "able-bodied" coffee when we had it at all.
- COMPANY D.
E ARLY in 1861, at the village of Stone's Prairie, now Plain- ville, then sometimes called Shake Rag, a body of men organized for military drill under the leadership of T. W. Gaines, a morchant, who had seen service in the Mexican war. Selected as Captain, assisted by W. K. Haselwood and J. C. Rodgers, farmers, as 1st and 2nd Lieutenants respectively, the
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company soon numbered 60 men. The day after the battle of Bull Run Capt. Gaines requested all of the company who desir- ed to enlist for the war to step to the front; about two-thirds responded. Not having the complement of men necessary for a. company, overtures were made to H. C. Cusick of Liberty, then recruiting at Liberty and neighboring townships of Beverly, Burton and Richfield, offering him the position of Ist Lieuten- ant. This offer was accepted and with his men numbering about 51, joined his future with the Shake Rag company, go- ing into camp at Camp Wood August 19th, '61, to help form a regiment from Adams county. Marching into camp after the so-called Payson regiment, it was given a position next to it, and called company D, and became the left color company.
An election of officers was held resulting in the election of T. W. Gaines, Captain; H. C. Cusick, 1st Lioutenant; W. K. Haselwood, 2nd Lieutenant and J. C. Rogers as Orderly Ser- geant. These last two gentlemen cheerfully relinquishing their positions that H. C. Cusick should preceed them. The non- commissioned officers were chosen as shown in the roster. The company participated in all the battles and marches with the regiment.
The full number of men borne on the rolls are as follows : Original command ; officers 3; non-commissioned 13; musicians 2; teamsters 1; privates 72; total 91. Recruits 65; under cooks 4; total 69; making in all 160. Of this number, resigned 3: discharged for promotion out of company 4; for disability 33; old age 1 ; died of disease 10; wounds 4; killed 7; total 62. Vet- eraned 44.
Captain William K. Haselwood, promoted to 2nd Lieu- tenant at organization of company, April 1, '62, to Ist Lieuten- ant vice Cusick, resigned. Wounded in arm at Shiloh April 6. while in command of the company, and at Corinth, Oct. 4, was slightly wounded and overcome by the heat, lying on the field all night. He was carried to the hospital on the morning of the 4th, before day, unconscious. On the 9th of October, on account of ill health caused by the above disability, aggravated by Lron- chitis, he tendered his resignation which was accepted in No-
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vember, and he returned home; in December he was notified that he had been commissioned as Captain of company D, to date from October 9, succeeding Capt. Gaines. This commis- sion was received and he rejoined the com- pany for duty Jan. 6, '63; it bears on it this endorsement, "Promoted for meritori- ous conduct at Pittsburg Landing." In the spring of 1863, he relieved Capt. Han- na as chief of Grand Guard on the staff of Gen. Dodge, serving until June 17, '63 then learning that an order of the War Department prohibiting the muster of ro- signed officers was in effect, was relieved from duty until the difficulty was remov- ed. In May 1864, received notice that the CAPT. W. K. HASEL WOOD. order had been recinded with orders to return to his regiment for muster, and rejoining it at Kingston, Ga., found that 1st Lieut. Rickart had received a commission as Captain and was not yet mastered, he at once decided that as Lieut. Rickart had been continuously with the company and borne the brunt of the campaigns, was more entitled to muster than he, that he would not comply with the order to muster and returned home; there- fore his record in the roster shows that he was mustered out Nov. 14, '62, as 1st Lieutenant. In April 1872, he received the following :
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, D. C., April 24, 1872.
Special Orders No. 96.
Extract;
II. To complete his record on rolls, William K. Hasel- wood is hereby mustered into service as Captain company D, 50th Illinois Volunteers, to date from January 6, 1863; mus- tered out and honorably discharged as such to date June 17, 1863, (date ceased to do duty, ) and he is mustered for pay in said grade for the period embraced between the aforesaid dates.
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He will receive no final payment under this order until he sha !! have satisfied the Pay Department that he is not indebted to the Government.
By order of the Secretary of War. E. D. TOWNSEND, Adjutant General. Official: WM. D. WHIPPLE, A. A. G.
He is now health officer at Quincy, Ills., and S. V. C. of Post 96, G. A. R., Department of III.
Of the non-commissioned officers of this company we will state in detail. . Rogers is noted on page 166. Whitcomb was transferred to company K.
Second Lieutenant James S. Gayer mustered in as 3rd Sergeant at Corinth in 1862, became Or- derly. Wounded in the battle Oct. 4th; became a vet, and April 16, 1864, 2nd Lieu- tenant. Sept. 19, 1864, special order No. 35 assigned him to duty as A. R. Q. M., being relieved near Ogeechee river Nov. 30, and assigned to command company K at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 25, 1864; was in command of companies A, HL and K in the battle of Bentonville and rejoined his company April 5, '65.
Levi Shin, 4th Sergeant, served with LIEUT. JAMES S. GAYER. the company, was a vet. and discharged July 13, '65, as Orderly Sergeant. James Corbin transferred to company K April 1, '62.
Charles H. Floyd, 1st Corporal, promoted to 2nd Lieu- tenant then 1st; served as A, D. C. to General Vandever in the Carolinas, and since the war became insane and is dead.
A. P. Traver, Gus., or more familiarly known as "Jack Knife," from the peculiar way he had of doubling himself up like that article when he found it necessary to boil his coffee or dodge a bullet. He served as a vet. to the end and died a few years ago.
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Joe Evans, another Corporal, will be remembered as al- ways making himself heard, received a commission as Captain in company F, 11Sth Illinois and left us Dec. 1, '62. Was pro- moted to Major in that organization.
William Pond became a veteran and was discharged to accept promotion as Hospital Steward.
Captain John W. Rickart. 5th Corporal, was 20 years of age. unmarried, a farmer and living in Richfield, was part of the squad organized by Lieut. Cusick. Enlisted Aug. 19, '61, promoted 1st Sergeant March 1862, 1st Lieutenant Oct. '62 and Captain in May 1864. Commanded the regi- mont on several occasions, and was known as Wes.
Will. F. Bacon was dischar -- ged for disability, and L. Ma- son Hibbard died at the hos- pital at Corinth ; his remains were brought to Illinois and CAPT. JOHN W. RICKART. intered at Payson. A. C. Cooper re-enlisted as a vet. and was mustered out July 18, '65. Of the other enlisted men we will recall a few.
Bart Ruby, red-headed and married, of Stone's Prairie, was a musician, not proving an expert was selected as a nurse in the hospital where he served with fidelity until he was mus- tered out in Sept. 64. Goe. W. Fahs, also a musician, 18 years of age, lived at Richfield. Enlisted with the company, re-enlis- ted and served to the end of the war. Now lives at Oklahoma City. Jim. Collins, the teamster of company D, was detailed at brigade headquarters as orderly to Col. Bane; went through with the boys and was mustered out as a Corporal.
Hanson Alexander, or "Old Price." comes next. as the one to shoot first at Corinth Oct. 1th.
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Isaac Allen, aged 22, now at Camp Point, Ill., was one of the stoten-bottles, a middle aged man now ; good natured, and a dear lover of the old flag. He and Nate Allen, age 18, who now lives at Scottsville, Kan., a vet., both carry trophies of Shiloh.
George H. Bain, one of the handsomest men in the com- pany, had served and was captured with Mulligan at Lexington, Mo., and supposed to have been properly exchanged. Enlisted in company D Nov. 27, '61. Aug. 2, '62 was, with several others, ordered to Benton Barracks, Mo., to perfect the exchange, and returned to the regiment the last day of Feb. 1863; re-enlisted and was mustered out July 13, '65, a Corporal.
James M. Buck, also a veteran. what a solid good natured fellow he was; shot through the head at Allatoona he fell in the ditch outside the fort.
Bradshaw, we remember as sometimes moon-eyed ; pro- moted a Corporal, a color guard and discharged as a Sergeant. His photo. is shown in the flag chapter. George Brennan, so quiet. Buskirk and Blivins, who were disabled and left us in June '62, poor fellows. Conner followed in August, and Chap- man in November.
John Colwell, better known as "Kit Carson," and Bill, the · "Wild Irishman," his brother, who was the drollest one in the company, seen always together after the battle of Shiloh, where Robert, their brother, was so desperately wounded. Of the many good jokes we have on Bill this one will be remembered : On one of the trips out from Rome the day after we had been payed off, Bill was shot in the thigh through his pocket, "Dang 'em," said Bill, "they knew we had been paid off and were feel- ing for my pocket-book." Kit served his enlistment out, but Bill saw it through.
John Cottle and Jasper Culp, both very tall men, died at St. Joe.
Comes next to our mind Chesley Culp, who was 18 years old when he enlisted ; resided at Liberty ; a great big, rollicking fellow, although wounded at Corinth in the hip, the bullet very near striking dead center, it could not down him. He re-enlis-
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ted and served to the end of the war, and is now a dealer in im- ported horses at Scottsville, Kan.
Richard Deighton was 25 years of age, married and resided at Kingston; a Macksmith; enlisted Dec. 14, 1861, and was immediately detailed as Farrier at St. Joseph, and served as such during his term of service, which expired Dec. 12, '64, when he was mustered out near Savannah, Ga. Hle now resides at Shawnee Mound, Mo.
Lewis Foster, one who could never learn to right dress or keep step, gave up under the rigor of camp life and was dis- charged in August '62.
RICHARD DEIGHTON.
L. S. Foster, or "Dick," the shortest man in the company of the first enlistment, wearing the largest hat and smallest shoes-and always happy when the jigger was near-when stand- ing erect his knees would bend backward, reminding one of the new moon. Dick was detailed as blacksmith and served the greater part of the time with Dick Deighton ; was a vet. and re- turned with the rest.
Thomas T. Hall, who we called "Taylor," was wounded at Shiloh and became so deaf that he was discharged on June 12, bat this proved to be but a temporary disability, for Feb. 4, '64, he re-enlisted and served to the end of the war. Resides now at Air, Kansas. Thon Bob. Huggins, who enlisted in November '61, wounded at Corinth, became a vet., and discharged with the regiment.
John B. Hess, the big, good natured Dutchman, now lives at Halstead. Kan.
James Jamison, who can forget him, known as the sugar eater of company D, "How in the hell can a man fight with- out sweetenin'," exclaimed Jim when he found his supply wet by the rain. At Corinth he lost his best girl's picture, as did many other boys, this did not please him. Later in the day a ball cut off his haversack and passed through his canteen spilling all his water, as related on page 136. Jim. loved chick-
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ens, and was the pet of company D. Marching made him hun- gry, and every mile traveled he could dispose of several hard-tack, sometimes taxing the commissary department to keep him suppli- ed; re-enlisted, and at Allatoona the rebels shot off his gun lock-so he really thought he had been imposed on-has suffered since his discharge with sore eyes, contracted in the service, and now lives at Dodge City, Kansas.
William Larimore, wounded at Shiloh, JAMES JIMISON. had the brightest gun in the regiment at that time. As helay wounded near Robert Colwell, who was also wounded, and Grigsby and Waller, who were dead, the rebs passed over them, one picked up his gun and found that a rebel bullet had imbeded in the lock, this made it useless and he stuck it in the ground by Larimore's side and rifled his pockets as well as those of his dead and wounded companions. These four were counted out at Shiloh.
Sergeant Isaac J. Ogle was 20 years of age. Enlisted the 19th of August 1861. Was promoted Corpo- ral. at Corinth in 1863. Became a veteran, and on his return from the veteran furlough brought with him his nephew, George W. Ogle, who passed away at the hospital at Rome, and it was Ike's sad duty to assist in burying him, Sept. 5, 1864. Corporal Ogle, A at Allatoona, was one of the boys described 7/ as standing on the top of the breastworks, on pagé 307. An excellent marksman-as he pulled the trigger he would call out "hip E," at every shot, to the amusement of Colonel ISAAC J. OGLE. Hanna, who was lying near. Soon he caught it in the hip and as he came tumbling down, was met with "well done Sergeant ; hope you are not badly hurt." As Sergeant Ogle he left the field and was sent north for treatment, rejoining the regiment at Morrisville, N. C., April 24; mustered out with the company
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has followed farming successfully and has a large family, most- ly girls, as patriotic as himself. Is known now as "Old Ike."
William McManigle, aged 22 and single, a farmer, enlis- ted as private, was promoted to Sergeant in 1862. Wounded at Corinth by a piece of shell in the shoulder, and again at Lay's Ferry in May, 1864; he served out his term and was discharged Sept. 27, '64; re-enlisted Feb. 14, '65, in the 13th Pennsylvania cavalry, at Harrisburg, Pa., and was mustered out at Raleigh, N. C., July 15, '65.
Sergeant Robert Mercer, we found him after the battle, lying near Monroe Buck-a good soldier, always ready to do his duty. He came from Liberty and has passed to an honored grave.
James Seybold, another hero, over age when he enlisted, but anxious to go out in defense of the Union .. A soldier in the Black Hawk war. Upon leaving home Stauffer and Ogle, who was an orphan, were placed in his care by Stauffer's father. Stauffer getting sick Uncle Jimmy obtained permission to go and attend him at the hospital, here he was found to be a very valuable assistant and was retained as nurse. Stauffer came back to the regiment leaving Uncle Jimmy on duty. On the road to Corinth Jimmy turned up one day having left the hos- pital at St. Louis without permission. Ho said he could not stay and see them dog-rotted doctors use up all the necessaries provided for the sick, who were actually suffering for what the drunken doctors were using themselves. About the 1st of Au- gust, the summer having proved very hard on him, when Dr. Kendall was making his morning call to the sick in camp, he approached saluting, said : "Doctor I am 59 years old to-day. I do not believe I can stand the severity of camp life and do justice to the Government. I would like to be discharged." This application was granted, see opposite his name in roster, "old age, Aug. 9, '62."
George W. Stauffer, born in Fairmount township, Pike county, Ill., Oct. 13, 1840, a farmer, unmarried. Enlisted about August 19, 1861, mustered into service with the company. At Chillicothe, Mo., Oet. 61, be contracted the measles and taking
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cold became unfit for duty until at Fort Henry. While in the hospital, the cold having settled in his head, gathered and broke passing out of his ears, rendering his hearing sadly defective, and at times nearly deaf. At Shilch, April 6, while aiming at an advancing rebel, a bullet cut his right thumb and passed through the side of the right jaw, coming out at the back of the neck, between the artery and neck bone. This wound was eighteen weeks in healing. Transported to Quincy hospital for treatment, as soon as able he was detailed to assist in caring for the wounded. Returned to the regi- ment about the 19th of October '62, veter- . G. W. STAUFFER. aned and was detailed as orderly to Major Hanna until the regiment was dismounted. At Rome was pro- moted Corporal and detailed in the Quartermaster's depart- ment, where he served until mustered out, July 13, '65.
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