USA > Illinois > History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment > Part 10
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At 6.30 P. M. the regiment embarked rig the Imois Control Railroad for Cairo. Arriving at the latter place at 11 iyse thos 27th. the men mostly remained in the cars all night. The Box1 morning reported to General Bragman, comanding the post of Cairo: We here learned that Major-General Hinlbhe was in town, and had left orders im mancala the field lead for Mers phis. Colonel Burgh met General Hurtont in this yd nings. 17ho
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expressed himself as very glad to see the old Singh Menor Cas alry back, and repeated the orders we had heard of Ia Lo afternoon the steamer Bule of St. Louis when down. sent Me pressed into the service by the Government For our the. am before evening we were aboard witita part of the Thirte-seventh Illinois Infantry. Colonel John C. Black, who bethig ton 71- 81 is Pension Agent at Washington, in command The trip to Your phis was uneventful. When we passed Fort Bilden, while Food. I desolate and dismantled, we say ant homens jogging of lieder buzzards hovering over the place recently of brutal massacre. The Ninh arrived at Compile Ap
at 1.30 p. M., but did not disopphol. 18; the 900 0
was bad. On the das ti Roghim my wwill ipro coup. - pedal two miles southeast of Memphis, with a complete quality of 1001, etc., on the Heritage road, and nearly some ofte from I Pickering. This location was very pleastil. fol. war pscobalt' the scarcity of water, the Regimen del not reliin hope is. What a marvelous change from the block. cold Appt doya in Illinois to the badiny breezes and smany days, where the soft on was redolent with the fragrant performe of lime. Major Gros eral C. C. Washburn commanded the District of Timossoo.
May 12th. As yet we had only about two honderd hooters wy the Regiment, and of course could feel de much fold serem Major Bishop had been sent to St. Louis to Hogy thesand strom horses for our use.
May 21st. Moved camp southeast, a short distance nede the college building, a beautiful camp among the sper one pot recruits began coming in fast, and were beingskilled and put to shape for the field.
During the absence of the Regimentoy valetho Parlones. the rifles belonging to the Ninth were isted to the chiplongs of 1 Quartermaster Department pending a threatened attack of the rebels under General Forrest. Colonel Birgit Connel this ritis to such bad order that he refused to receive them on the ground thed they were damaged. The ordnance authorities endescend to force the rusty rifles back on us: Falt our reginald conob-nder refused to receive of receipt for thang. The Wolf's nyedeine x was an excellent arm, and had served as well on many ag post
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GEORGE A FRICE. Surgat Viver.
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NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.
sion ; but there was one serious objection to them; when beife discharged they would shoot splinters of lead into the left with and hand of the man firing. The Spencer carbine was a better arm for mounted service, and that was the arm Colonel Burgh was anxious to procure, and which he did finally obtain. but only after a very great effort, and at one time being threatened with arrest for his refusal to receive back our old guns. With our new and improved arms, our men became still more emboldened and full of confidence in their capability to confront the enemy.
When the Regiment went North on veteran furlough, the nen who did not re-enlist, the non-veterans, or bob tails, as they were called, were left at Memphis mounted and equipped, and in charge of proper officers, and on the return of the Regiment the non-veterans rejoined their respective companies. About the . time, and while the Veterans were awaiting a re-mount and ney arms, a detail was called for one hundred and fifty mounted nien to accompany General Grierson on the expelition of General Sturgis against General Forrest, which proved so disastrous to the Union forces. The detachment of the Ninth. under the com. mand of the gallant Captain A. R. Mock, formed a portion of the rear guard during the retreat of that ill-starred expedition. and received special praise for his efficiency from General Griep son in his report. Captain Mock behaved with great barey. and his losses were very heavy, being five killed, twenty-nine wounded, and twenty-five missing. With Captain Mock of this expedition were Captain MeManni: and Lieutenants Avery am Purviance, of the Ninth, an La detail of twenty men, with Lien- tenant Bushman from the Third Ilinois Cavalry, that reporter to him when the command started, making one hundred and sixty men in all. The detail from the Ninth were from the several companies of the Regiment, all under the command of Captain A. R. Mock, and was divided into two commands, one part under the immediate command of Captain MeMMamis, and the other of Lieutenant Avery. The command moved by way of Collierville, Moscow, Lamar, and Salem, arriving at Rucker- ville, Miss., on the evening of June 5th. June 2d and 3d it rained almost constantly.
On the evening of the 6th, Bor nasin soluown tomel coaste
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HISTORY OF THI
toward Ripley, while the date kroptor the Smile mache bar to the Tippal River to guard and protect two bridges one Al Meck's Mill. the other about two miles below. At Merkes son we captured a lieutenant who had been Rounded, and We Go furlough recruiting and gathering conscripts for The rebel apat. The detachment remained at the Tippin River gard ho perso bridges till 3 o'clock r. M. of the 7th, when they were today I to follow up and join the command then near Ripley hotel the morning. when it moved, turning to the east two of theer Imle south of Ripley, and camped that night fourteen miles from Ripley near Stubb's farm ..
On the morning of the 10th of June, 151, the when com mand continued east ward few miles to Body form. aber w hundred miles from Memphis. Dopo the red forts. ALther time the detachment of the Ninth was attijehed to the leiande commanded by Colonel Waring. of the Fourth Mise albi Cans MY.
We formed in life of battle, dinoted about two mit - cad of Brice's farm, Waring's Brigade bring on the tet, and the the tachment covering the road, while another brigade. comimmobil by Colonel Winslow of the Third Towa Grady, covered of your to the right. General Grierson commented all the cisales At this time Lieutenant Purviance was left in charge of the from. an important position, and one which at this time especially is quired not only bravery bet good judgment. 2ml Liontero ni I'm viance was one of those faldent offers who akrage jem formed his duty well. it requires, if any u hos to the addition To hold and look after the horses, while the command war of mounted. than it did in the line. This detachment of the Nineb was formed across the road on the extreme left of our whole the of battle with the Seventh Indiana Cavalry on our right. WY had not been in position long before the rebels ablvanced in lino upon us. We stopped that part of the rebel Ince in on front And held our position. But the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, boing and with an inferior carbine, were compelled to fall back, but not wall after a band-to-hand conflict with the rebels, and not till their Colonel, the gallant Thomas M. Browne (now monitor of Congress from Indiana, was severely wounded. We will hold our position across the road, und. Plone viene Proto fog ran soy . com]
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NISTR ILLINOIS CANALIS YOLUSTYR-
the Seventh Indiana fell back, and the radios prove ne au ontiland ing fire.
In this engagement our little detachment had four killed om sixteen wounded. We then fell back under a Heavy lire nosmp ported, and found our line back at the cross road . where we were ordered, and where our troops had already moved back and at tempted to again form in line: bat the rebels were advancing my line so near that we could not form but fell bach one halbnite and there formed line again. Again our det elment was thrown out on the extreme left flank, and to the front of the moon line, dismounted and still unsupported, fully three Pourthe of y suite away from the line and command. We had not been ne pasition long before the rebels were upon the advansia in line of battle. Soon our whole main line good way ; we full book's rue distante. and our horses were brought up and we mounted unter a bogey fire from the enemy's guns, having a deep ravine with high steep banks between us and our command, with big a muroy. small bridge across it some distance to our right. and directte in front of the enemy. To cross this bridge, we ende neanything cut off, as the rebels nearly reached the bridge first. By the time we reached the command, everything was in confusion and the whole fast becoming disorganized, and soon a Fehler: 1 stoupade commenced in the whole army, excepting the most of thorcarales and even some of the companies of cavahis because demade from their regiments, and connected themselves with of her romoments with whom they came in contrlet. Om hyde detachment bija it- organization intact. In this second cama choen killed and several wounded. Our whole common then NIEt. traveling the balance of the day and that night : arrivaigt Ripley on the morning of the 11th.
About 9 A. M. that day, this detachinicht was ordered to the. rear guard of our struggling column with instructions to debes and hinder the enemy as well and as long as they conbl. This was placing a good deal of responsibility upon this somali detioh ment, asking them to stand alone botwron General Porrer's rapidly advancing command and the slow, tedy verrent of the tired, worn-out men of our command. When General Grietion ordered Captain Mock, with his detachment, to take the reur al
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this time, be instructed him not to depend upon support, bet to look out for and protect his own thanks and rear. This de tall. ment defended and held the rear of off retreating and domani ized army. alone and unsupported. untilabout 3osloel io tirado noon. It was one continuous light, and we fall back to me adsun tage of position, whenever and wherever their Hanka ogas jo- tected by the nature of the ground and wijeg it worbl tabe :los enemy a long time to go around, holding them in clock off". forced by overwhelming numbers to give var. Abert & aplace r. M. this detachment was in part relieved is the Tough M souri Cavalry, commanded by their Lieutenant Colored, But worn ordered to remain with god support this request while they be the band of less than one hundred and sixty men hand anocustodie held the enemy in check from 9 o'clock in the morning Mille and had enabled the main command to make theresolver my safety homeward. The Fourth Missouri Cavidry took The wars their Lieutenant Colonel left his realmente in command of googler officer and rode with Captain Mock. This Lieutenant Colonel had been captured and in Libby Prison for nearly & soon ator this was his first field experience sineg bo- rejoireal his contract. He said to Captain Mock that he would rather be shut limay be again a prisoner. Just at this time, while the envedly wave psoe ing through the timber and thick underbrush, the rebels elirged the rear of the Fourth Missouri Cavahs, and the whole regenton! stampede pell-meli, soreading and velling with four. while the Confederate charged into nd through thede wub flon biologo yells. A way went the Fourth Missouri, leaving this det alement alone again. Captain Mock directed Captain Medbuilds to Form his command on the right facing the rear, mid to openfire os sian as possible, and Captain Avery was directed to form hiswowmoral on the left and somewhat to the rear, and open the from that je- sition. The stampeding Fourth Missomi made someconfusion by running around, through and over this little detachment, Has right well did this small force hold its organization, and lovely and gallantly did Captains Me Mannisand Avery swing their codo- mands into line in the face and midst of the rebels, and poured a galling fire into the enemy, which not only effected their alfano but sept then took visiting. As someas ( plans Stellense
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MINT ILLIONS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.
emptied his guns, he was directed to take a position a short dis- tance in the rear of Captain Avery, and hold to cover Avery in falling back. While Captains MeMannis and Avery were gaining their first positions, some of the rebels, in following up the rear of the Fourth Missouri, had changed into our midst and in some way again captured the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourth Missouri. who was inside the positions taken by those two commands.
Captain Mock speaks in the highest terms of Captains Mo Mannis and Avery, and says that no officers could have acted more coolly, promptly and brandy than did these two in taking their positions in the field and midst of the enemy and contusion caused by the Fourth Missouri running through their rails. This was the last seen of the Fourth Missouri, and the detach. ment of the Ninth had to again hold the rear until nearly dark. all the time fighting and skirmishing with the vigorous advanfee of the enemy. When he was relieved by the Third lowa Car- alry, Colonel Winslow informed Captain Mock that he was nine miles in the rear of the main command, which had halted at the Tallahatchee River, to rest for a short time. The detachment followed up and overtook the main command at the Tallahat- chee. After moving again toward home, and about four miles from the crossing of the river, General Grierson requested Captain Mock to take his detachment back to the river, and guard and defend the same for two hours, and then follow up as rear guard, saying that " he did not feel like ordering this inti band back. for they had done their fall share; but that the other cavalry reported that they were out of ammunition, and be wanted this detachment to go back." Our boys felt this to be an expression of the General's confidence in and a compli ment to them. From this on, until the command reached Collio: ville in safety, this detachment continued to hold the rear. After returning to camp, General Grierson issued an order compliment- ing the cavalry on this expedition, and especially mentioned this detachment of the Ninth Ilinois Cavalry. It is but just to su that the Lieutenant and twenty men from the Third Ilinois Cavalry, attached to this battalion of the Ninth Ilinois Cavalry, fully, nobly and bravely performed their part, and proved then. selves to be Veterens. There were many augtions of que souol
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bravery performed by the men of this defachttien! in the eye pedition worthy of mention, consisting of elvileg! felting; narrow escapes, and dangers encommitted and endured, it sporo. would permit. The expedition proved a lamentable filhos Our losses in men killed, wounded and jeisones were voy heavy, and of the magnificent train of three Hundred six sont wagons, loaded with stores for the army below. nomy all seu captured, and this valuable train helped to per, coffee and arm the Confederate Anny. The responsibility of this diane has generally been laid at the door of Gerewol S. D. Stress It is not unlikely, however, in the light of the reads and wolde- quent developments, that it wa- very unwise rozdiel thie oggidi tion out at all, and agan it was pauliny ubrugte that the heavy rain-stories that degared rounded the move front of the trains to that extent that the carmy head every opportunity and all the time they needed to concentrate their troops wool would appear that it really laid with the anny under Finns to say how far south this valuable boots should go before they would possess themselves of its richness. It is quite likely that had the commanding General, who sent this expedition out. IFor with them, he would have countermandel the whole move ment as soon as the heavy rains had made the country ahuset impassable.
It has been said that General somri hal positive oplors so go until he found the enemy, and then to volit w herover to found them. None but those who participe balay this cop Min can form a correct idea of the sunfering and hardships croforod. marching continually night and day without red. and two.an three days without rations or anything to eat, and no time tolep to cook or eat; through the mud and in the rain day and night. now fighting, now overpowered and falling look, Liking a hou position, holding it as long as posible, then falling back. The course oft repeated became, to say the least doodedly mens fortable. The representatives of the Ninth Ared their full measure in the hardships endured and the fighting which was done, and it may justly be said to their credit and honor de they stood the brunt of it all.
It would not be doing justice to a gallim aml breve onlar, n
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VINHHI HLINOR CAVALRY VOH VIETE.
mention was not made here of the masterly ranum in what Captain Mock, who was in command of this battalion, Ineedto his men, not sparing himself, but in the frost make dismounted in their lines. Quick to see and take advantage of position and circumstances, holding a force many times his own an number. and fighting an exultant and confident for for days, as the har guard with so small a force, while those around him and sout to relieve bim, were driven by the enemy in a regulo -taipsode even through his command, though their numbers were a woun ment, while his command were only a battalion. He light the enemy at bay. No wonder General Grierson teastod them aml complimented them by assigning them the position of honor so long.
The following brief account of the Guntown affan le mad 17 from notes kindly sent me by Doctor Hemenway:
In Jime, 1864. Doctor Hemenway was the only medical ofori present with General B. F. Grierson's canale division, Which formed a part of General S. D. Sturgis command, winch co braced five thousand infantry, three thousand cavalry, and one thousand artillery; total, nine thousand.
On the 9th of June, when picket firing began in the morning. the Doctor was at the front with Captain Mack, who were in como mand of the detachment of the Ninth. It was a fournid siolie to see the shelling of our train of about two hunched wagon The teamsters became panie stricken, the miles were out luogo from the wagons, and their drivers a milly retreated. The infantes, some five miles in the rear, was making time as berg the & coord at double quick ; as a matter of course they could not eplace was under such pressure, as it was a very hot day and the when wet dropping by the roadside, and throwing away their army good clothing, exhausted. It was indeed a fearful specie. A portion the ambulance train under Doctor Hemmavagy's cheese vos cople ured by the enemy during the following night, und who at this time fully realized the desperate straits In which the plody command was placed, and set to work to experiente Is medand wood train from its perilous position.
The way was completely blockaded be dense columns of troops, cavahiy, inteldry and artillery, all in one chowig more;
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in the road for a distprice of font of fire maise. Thl- was about midnight, and the enemy was pieling with The mine L poor. Doctor Hemenway forced Ins was though the times of Method tion, and rode forward to the head of the ollahm. findher mans soldiers asleep holding their homes. He fehler That any ou! started the col inn in motion again. When davhelt porn bo discovered that only a part of the ambiance Thingy hal apen from the enemy. Our forces were hard pa led during the night and following day. The rank'ne officer, with the trooper de do retreat the next day, was a Coloret of a Mansona regionon and principally by his courage skill and bravore our grammoml. was saved from being entirely somblidated To Genend Griprop mainly, belongs the credit, and he domovve- x's greatest paper for his skill and good cerealslog in paradise the enfin destruction of our command af G mine, on Le gange Check. June 10, and 11, 1961.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALES LEVA-JO. SE. PLENER AARNS Com
Officers and Soldiers of the Leadry Dieser.
Your General congratulates you upon your noble candler: Bring Me the expedition under Brigadin-General S. D. Stangas. Fighthow Are not Yetto ing numbers, under most adverse cirentotimers your prompt Je dige to see and unflinching courage commanding the soforttos of all prode ever deless almost a victory. For hours of foot you readybod Do chose of tio corbigs infantry, and again in the saddle you root his cas.dry, til Darmed lin edekto into confusion. Youchemie prove me svol formade la fel ful to your honor bie reputation, and by hally gratoned !yo contale merited the high esteom of your (i. t. com
[Signed ]
Brigadier General Commanding Cavalry Division SOM20 10 00
CHAPTER AV.
THE A. J. SMITH EXPEDITION IN MISSISSIPPI FIGHTS AT KINS, PONTOTOC, TUPELO CHARGE BY FORLESS AND LEE WILD CHARGE OF LIEUTENANT MCMAHON WITH TWO COMPTE . DEATH OF MOMAHON -SUPPORT SENT TO THE CUMAnSo COM PANTES -- CAPTAIN MCARTHUR WOUNDED -- PETERHOES Posp TION OF CAPTAIN BULL -- ATTACKING THE REPEL BREAST WORKS. MANY WOUNDED-JESSE HAWES' COOL ASSURANCE WARR A PRISONER.
A BOUT the middle of June, the Reginint was fully mounted and armed with the Spencer, and in thevery best condition for service. The famous fighting General, A. J. Smith, now organ- rzod a force to try conclusions with the successful Confederate chieftain, who had so recently and so signals defeated om unfort- unate General Sturgis. The Regiment under command of Lions tenant-Colonel Burgh, together with the other regiments of the Second Brigade, was ordered to join A. J. Smith's command. On reporting to General Smith. Colonel Borgh was instructed by that officer to take the advance of his command and proceed to La Grange, Tenn., which was to be the paint of departure, Og July 5th, the expedition, with fifteen days, rations started south Picket-firing and light skirmishing occurred all along tler line. notably at Ripley, where the Second lowa had a lively affair with the enemy, but no heavy fighting took place until Pontotce was. reached.
The Ninth, having been in the rear, did not take part in the fight that took place on the first day. General Smith's command bivouacked at Pontotoc the night of the 11th, and the Ninth was. placed on picket on the Okolona road, one and a half miles from Pontotoc, supported by a brigade of infantry and a battery of artillery.
The rebel General took up a strong position on the Okolow
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road, three or four miles from L'ontotoe, and from that point he hurried all his troops from Tupelo.
The morning of the 12th, the Ninth was relieved for pocket and the Second Brigade was ordered to make a feint on the one my's position with a view to making it appear that Chology was the objective point. The Ninth, in advance, was ordered to drive the rebel picket from a log house. Having driven the cmenos back, the advance battalion ran into an ambish, and lost south thirty men, killed and wounded. This battalion, comprend of Companies B, G, Land H, under the commend of Captain Fel and Captain Mock, was ordered out to develop the strongall of the enemy, which had been observed south of town. The com mand moved toward the picket of the cache and, when will long gunshot of them, they fired a few shot . amt slowly retreatod. our command following until the enemy disappeared in a dois thicket of small trees. Up to this time off losses had been slight, and, feeling that only a small force was oppose! this. the little command (about eighty mer) bad do hesitation in fol- lowing them closely, supposing the Confidente munbers to ho about the same, or possibly a little larger, but as we were apmpdl with repeating rifles we gave but slight consideration to a mont crate disproportion of numbers. When we had passed co pletely into the thicket, the order was given to load all empty chambers of our repeating rifles and revolvers. haft beyond to dease thicket was a large open field. the case of which wasonly ten or fifteen rol, from our line: around the olen of the well close to the thicket, extended a rail fence directly if one front. The fence had been permitted to remain untolestil, white raus were brought from a distant part to render it a bullet year breastwork. Here were placed Lyons Kentucky Brigade ton- federate) and Rucker's Brigade, while in good supporting dis tance, back in the field at their rear, was Mccullough's old bri- gale. Against these three brigades our little command wars drawn up. As soon as all amis had been loaded, the outer " Forward !" was given. So close were the Confederate brigades that the order to advance was as plainly heard by theme as he was.
field, but the commander of the Confederate division Jaival
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NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOUSETES.
when he heard our commands given that are many must have been strongly reinforced. else they would not move against his terop with so much confidence. Waiting until the Fedends could for noticed moving the dense foliage in his hmon Date front, the on der was given the enemy to " fire!" The volley billed in-outils Ed. Branch. a new recruit of Company I. and Byron Suite of Company G ; a bullet passed through the right away of Tom Rasor of Company I. and Sergeant Abbott, of the same ceppatty was wounded in the shoulder: Henry Risker. Company O. zool Charlie Keich, Sergeant Henry Hardesty, and Jones Forbes, Company B. were each severely wounded, and sevend offen were rendered helpless. Jesse Haves, of Company I. was the only one captured at this time. He passed through the thickers and, going with'n arm's length of the breastwork, tourt Rhume alone and unable to retreat, standing for a moment in inder com while a dozen voices cried. " Don't shoot him!" A bis, brawns Kentuckian reached over the breastwork, and dragged la ibe Recognizing at once the great odds against his compole . F. m- formed the Confederate commander that several regiments vore close at hand, and would in a short time charge the breastworks The statement caused the Confederates to act on the defensive. and gave the detachment of the Ninth an opportunity to rethat without further loss. As the battalion was at so grad a distrugge from any support, it would have been an easy matter for flow Confederates, had they known the red status, to have colored nearly all the battalion. This the game soldier, by hus quiet. witted assertions in regard to the strength of our toute tely by prevented the enemy from attempting ofdeve operante Rasor was so severely wounded that it was found voussey in. leave him in a house at Pontotoc, and a few words after in arm was amputated by a Confederate surgeon to save his file.
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