USA > Illinois > History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment > Part 43
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Regular Army ..
5,798
Grand Aggregate
2.494.592 1101.207 178,975 3,630
2,178,304
* Number not credited upon the quotas of any State.
+ Includes losses in all colored organizations, excepting three regiments from Masss-
EXPLANATORY NOTLA.
With the exception of three Massachusetts regiments (organized and officered ex- clusively by the State authorities) whose casualties are included with those of the white
206
2.103
1.761
4.903
3 3
District of Columbia
Florida
1,200
5
125
1,080
33.937
New Jersey
17.500
North Carolina
5, 24
945
Louisiana
4.983
MARINES.
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Washington.
3,530
1,590
426
NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.
troops from that State, all losses in the one hundred and seventy-eight thousand the hundred and seventy-five colored troops are reported separately, irrespective of any credits allowed upon the quotas of the States. The deaths in the excepted regiment- aggregated 5.4.
In all other cases the figures in the column of deaths represent only such as occurred among the white troops and Inations. Information relative to the number of deaths in the Navy and Marine Corps belongs to the Navy Department.
The colored soldiers organized under the direct authority of the General Govern- ment, and not credited to any State, were recruited as follows:
In Alabama, 4,969; Arkansas, 5.520; Colorado, 95; Florida, 1,011; Georgia, 3,484; Louisiana, 24,052: Mississippi, 17.809: North Carolina, 5,035; South Carolina, 5,402; Ten- nessee, 20,153; Texas, 47; Virginia, 5.223.
There were also' 5.896 negro soldiers enlisted at large, or whose credits are not specifically expressed by the records.
Of the number of colored troops credited to the States. 5,052 were obtained, under the provisions of section 3. act of Congress, approved July 4, 1801, from the States that had seceded.
The number of officers and men of the Regular Army, among whom the casualties herein noted occurred. is estimated at 63,000; the number in the Veteran Reserve Corps was 60,503; and in Hancock's Veteran Corps, 10,533.
The other organizations of white volunteers, organized directly by the United States authorities, numbered about 11,000.
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S. OFFICE. Washington, July 15, 1885. 5 1
Approved, and will be printed as a supplement to the statistical exhibit of deaths in the United States Army during the late war.
R. C. DRUM, Adjutant-General.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
SAM. VANSANT ON PICKET -- PRESENTATION TO COLONEL BURGH - Two MARRIAGE INCIDENTS -- THE RECRUIT ON PICKET --- GEN- ERAL DONALSON'S MOLES -- EXECUTION AT MEMPHIS.
MAJTE following incident will show the chivalrous conduct of one of the soldiers of the Ninth Illinois on the occasion of the Smith and Grierson raid to West Point, Miss., in the month of February, 1861 :
It will be remembered that the soldiers of this command were in an enemy's country, and were not particular about being very polite in their requests or in taking whatever they required. At a certain house at or near Marietta lived a family by the name of Norvell, and in this family was a young girl, who was in terrible fear of the Northern soldiers, and while our army was passing, the gallant Corporal, Sam Vansant, called at this house, and discovering the extreme terror of the family drew his saber and placed himself on guard till the last soldier had passed, and protected this family from all insult and annoyance.
This kindness of the gallant Vansant won the regard of the family -- partic- ularly of the young girl, who though twice married, in all these years past has borne in grateful remembrance the protection furnished at that time.
Iu February, 1888, twenty-four years after the event, she sent to Captain Vansant a letter of grateful acknowledgement for the service rendered, and a souvenir of kindly feeling and remembrance.
DEATII OF JAMES FONES.
While the Ninth were lying at Savannah, Tenn., October 14, 1854, a forag- ing party under Lieutenant S. Major some eight miles from camp, was surprised by the enemy, and being surrounded, four of the command were captured. and some of them wounded; among the latter was James Fones, of Company B, whose good nature and genial disposition, as well as his promptness and fidelity to duty on all occasions, made him a general favorite. He was loved by all who knew " big Jim Fones." He was shot through the body by the guerrillas. After he was wounded and captured, the rebels made him ride in his wounded condition ten miles to an unfrequented place in the woods. This was about dark ou the evening of the 14th of October.
His captors left him with a woman who did everything in her power to lesson bis suffering, which had been much aggravated by the long ride his unfeeling captors had obliged him to make.
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HISTORY OF THE
Three of our men captured at the same time were paroled the next morning and came back to camp, when Captain Mock took two companies, B and F, with Dr. Agnew, and an ambulance, and brought their wounded comrade into camp, but his wound was mortal, and although everything that was possible was done for him by the Doctor and his comrades he died on the 10th of October, 1804, and was buried with military honors at Savannah, Tenn., on the banks of the Tennessee River.
SWORD PRESENTATION TO COLONEL BURGH.
In the early days of the regiment it was quite the custom of friends, and also f the members of the different companies, to make presentations of dress swords, etc., to the officers of the regiment, and this was well enough seemingly as &b. expression of the esteem in which these officers were held by their friends. There is, however, another side when one comes to analyze the subject that would appear to make all these presentations and the acceptance of the same by the volunteer soldiers to be of questionable faste.
A notable instance of the delicacy of treatment, and the firm stand taken by an officer of the Ninth, is here noted. Soon after Company A arrived in camp it was proposed by some comrades that the members of the company, to show their appreciation of what Captain H. B. Burgh had done for them and the confidence and esteem in which he was bold, to present him in behalf of the company with a dress sword, and for this purpose one hundred dollars bad been subscribed by the members of Company A. By some means the Captain learned of this move- ment, and not thinking it the proper thing at this time, he called his company together, and staten to them that he had learned of their intention, and that while he appreciated the honor intended him, he must discourage their canying it cut, and requested the return of the money to the donors, at the same time giving as his reasons " That he was as yet untried, and they did not know but that in the first actual contact with the enemy he might run away or even at the present time grow faint hearted, and thus bring disgrace upon the sword they proposed to present." Stating further that it was his judgment that a presentation of any kind should not be made until a soldier had by his acts shown himself to be worthy of the same.
The members of Company A, in deference to their Captain's wishes, ahan- doned the presentation at that time, but it seems they did not forget their desire. The years of the war passed on, Captain Burgh became Major and Lieutenant- Colonel of the regiment, and in every position in which he was placed, showed himself to be a gallant and brave officer, and had been much of the time in com- mand of the regiment. His rare tact and brilliant soldierly qualities were appre- ciated by all, but by none more than his old Company A, who all these years had been watching him, and were proud of him as a soldier and their old Cap- tain.
When the regiment went North on veteran furlough in the spring of 1864, they stopped at St. Louis, and Company A determined to carry out their long- cherished plan of a presentation to their old Captain. They purchased an elegant saber, belt, etc., and after their arrival at Rock Island, on the morning of March 25th, the company sent for Colonel Burgh to come to the Island City Hotel, White,
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490
NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.
in an earnest and affectionate address, they presented their elegant testimonial. This time Colonel Burgh was at their mercy, and accepted the sword in a grace- ful manner, thanking the boys in affectionate language for their gift, and the kindly feeling that prompted them in the offering.
It may be here noted as a matter of interest, that of the officers of the regi- ment that accepted swords and presents before they went into the field, not one of thein remained in the service but a short period.
THE RECRUIT ON PICKET.
An incident or two that occurred during these days is in place here:
On the afternoon of July 11, 1864, Company I was placed on picket south of town, and during the time I was there they observed the enemy to have a picket post about a half a mile distant ou the same road guarded by Company I. Between the two opposing lines was a large open space of ground, dotted here and there with stumps, and a few small trees. During the night two Confederates mounted came close up to our lines, and as it happened, almost ran into a new recruit. The young soldier had just came down from the North, was, in fact. only a boy of perhaps sixteen years of age, and had hardly auy iden of the duty of a soldier. He had been told to " halt" any person coming toward him from any direction, and seeing the Confederates coming toward him, cried "halt;" at once they fired at him. This was a phase of the question for which he was wholly unprepared, The little fellow was completely demoralized, and started on a run for the near- est comrade; distant six or eight rods. As he came up to his friend, fairly cry- ing, his feelings were so hurt that he said " them darn fools tried to shoot me just because I balted 'em." His comrade to whom he ran (Dwight L. Talcott) under- stood the formalties usual to such occasions, and extended " the compliments of the season" to the Confederate callers from a revolving rifle. His salutation seemed to the Confederates satisfactory, and they retired to a place less warm.
The young recruit tried to learn how to receive such visitors, and later in the war woo the respect of his comrades for his bravery.
ROMANTIC MARRIAGE OF CAPTAIN BOOTIL.
At Germantown, Tenn., Captain Louis F. Booth, of the Ninth Ilinois Cav alry, was married August 6, 1863, under the following romantic and interesting circumstances:
The gallant Captain, who was a very handsome man, had been sick for some time during the spring, and boarded at the house of a citizen by the name of Molter. Well, there was a daughter, a Mrs. Carroll, a young and handsome widow, whose husband had been killed at Corinth the previous summer in the rebel army.
The lady, gay, and fascinating, soon captivated the susceptible Captain, but she was already engaged to a young Lieutenant of a Ohio regiment, who had boarded at their house at a previous period to the arrival of Captain Booth. Here wasa dilemma. For a while the Lieutenant was very ardent in hisattachment. The lady's affections strayed to the later comer. Her parents favored the Lieutenant sul wife determined she should marry him at once.
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HISTORY OF THE
But here came in the ingenuity of the parties most deeply interested. It was arranged that at 11 o'clock at night, the fair lady was to elope with Captain Booth, while the family were at tea. The dutiful daughter, having already packed her wardrobe, threw the several articles out of the window, which were deftly caught by the anxious lover, and conveyed away. But difficulties beset them on every hand-an old negress suddenly came in sight. This was most unfortunate as she was a great favorite with her mistress. The young lady entreated the weuch " not to tell on her," the gallant Captain joining his eutreaties to the daughter's and quietly slipped a handsome present into the hands of the woman, and finally she promised uot to divulge what she had seen.
The hours passed, when who should appear but the other suitor, come to spend the evening and court his girl. She put the best face on the matter, enter- tained him pleasantly. The hours passed slowly. The time of the elopment arrived, but her beau still lingered. Finally, with woman's ingenuity, she began to com- plain of a severe headache, and with many expressions of affection the gentle- man finally departed to the great joy of Captain Booth, who was stationed out- side, impatiently waiting, and a spectator through the window of inside pro- ceedings.
The lady retired to her chamber, hastily donning her outside apparel, care- fully groped her way in the darkness to the door, and in a moment was pressed in the arms of her impatient and waiting lover. At a short distance feet steeds were awaiting the party, and soon they were swiftly carcering "o'er hill and dale " to the camp of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry.
The Rev. R. J. Lockwood, Chaplain of the Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry, was summoned. The inmates of " Crinoline Avenue" were awakened from their slumber, the circumstances explained, and there, with the trees for a covering from the dew, and the still broader canopy of heaven, the twain were made one, just at the hour of midnight.
The parents knew nothing about all this till the next morning, when they found their daughter missing. Search was made at the neighbor's, but they found her not, finally they heard a rumor that she was in camp, when they came down post haste, and were met by Mrs. Gifford of whom they inquired, "If their daugh- ter was in camp ?" The reply was, "She is." " Where is she ?" " With Cap- tain Booth." " What right has Captain Booth to have her here in camp ?" " A very good right; she is his wife," replied Mrs. Gifford. When the old couple heard this they whipped up their horse and left camp much displeased, and with- out any effort to see their offending daughter, whose undutiful conduct they never forgave.
A FUNNY MARRIAGE INCIDENT.
While the Ninth Illinois Cavalry was at La Grange, Tenn., in the fall of 1863, Private Henderson Howard, of Company F, was the high contracting party in a very romantic love affair, and marriage in camp.
Young Howard became smitten with the charms of a young lady, a resident of the town, and as the affection was mutual, they determined to be married.
They went to the regimental Chaplain to have the knot tied, but it was of no avail, the good man would not perform the ceremony unless they obtained a license, and as that could not be got, they felt very blue about it, but at this jure. tion Captain Perkins came to the rescue, as "in a case of emergency, he could
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431
NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.
always be depended on," and says, " Howard, I will perform the ceremony, li- censo or no license; get your girl."
Company F having the Howitzers, Howard decided to be married by the side of the gun he belonged to, so while he went after his lady love, the boys turned out and got the guns in position, decorated them with evergreens and flowers, aud on the return of the couple to the company parade grounds, Captain Perkinsper- formed the ceremony, while the majority of the company were locking on, and it was done in a scientific manner, too, and they were correspondingly happy . `When the regiment came North in 1864, on furlough, the couple having some doubt about the legality of the performance, obtained a license in Northern Illinois and were re-married.
GENERAL DONALDSON'S TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND MULES.
The following incident taken from the Century magazine of August, 1887, relates an incident which shows that ofttimes certain doings that would seem to be serious mistakes turn out to be of the greatest benefit, and as it relates to an officer, who of those soldiers at Nashville will well remember (General Donaldson), I will relate it here:
This incident occurred but a short time previous to the battle of Nashville. "Prior to the battle of Nashville, Major-General John L. Donaldson, who won honors in the Mexican War, and who died in the spring of 1886, was Quarter- master under General Thomas. He ouce told the following incident: Having option to purchase mules for the army, he ordered a person in whom he had confidence to visit the contiguous Northern States, inadvertantly saying to him, ' buy as many as you can,' not supposing that be would be able to secure more than a few thousand at the most. Some weeks afterwards, just before the attack on Hood's army, General Donaldson, on meeting his agent, inquired how many mules he had been able to secure. To the amazement of the General he was informed that twenty thousand or more had been obtained. upon which the astonished General exclaimed, "Iam a mined man; I shall be court.martinled and driven from the army for not limiting you in the purchase. You have pro- cured many times more than I bad any idea or intention of purchasing. but the fault is mine, not yours, I ought to have been particular in my orders."
" In an extremely disheartened state he went to his home, believing that such a thoughtless act on his part could not be overlooked by the Commanding General. He had scarcely reached his house before a messenger came from General Thomas with an order for General Donaldson to come immediately to headquarters. This seemed to be the sealing of his fate, and in a state of trepidation bordering oh frenzy, he appeared before General Thomas, whom he found in a mood appar- ently of great depression. Soon after Donaldson bad entered his presence, Gen- eral Thomas said, " Donaldson, how many mules have you?' With some pertu- bation he replied, 'Upwards of twenty-five thousand.' 'Twenty-five thousand did you say?' repeated the General, 'Is it possible that you have this number? Donaldson, accept my heartfelt thanks; you have saved this army. I can now have transportation, and can fight Hood, and will do so at once.'"
EXECUTION AT MEMPHIS.
June 10, 1864, the very day that our detachment with Stores in the vi in-
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432
NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.
ity of Guntown, Miss., were having their hard and disastrous engagement, Her was enacted at Memphis, Tenn., an awfully impressive and solemn scept !! ! execution of three men of the Second New Jersey Cavalry, their crime being ?. : of rape and robbery.
They were tried by court martial and sentenced to death. The serne 6 + impressive and tragic in the extreme, and they were shot in front of Fort Pichet ing, in the presence of ten thousand soldiers and many citizens. The troop - wet drawn up in a hollow square, facing the fort, the condemned men were brought i .. and marched around the inside of this square, accompanied by the clergy, Den coffins in front of each, until they, having completed the circuit, wete halted and seated, each upon his own coffin, and then blindfolded, while a squad of six men was stationed opposite each, with all their guns loaded but one to cach six, when the signal of the officer in charge (the drop of a handkerchief) they fired simmla neously, and the poor wretches were hurled into eternity .
I remember that it seemed to me that the thud of the balls as they struck hurled then over backward, but it might have been only a natural falling.
The whole command was marched past them, as they lay mangled and bleed- ing, a terrible warning to wrong-doers.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION CAVALRY, } CAVALRY CORPS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI COLUMBIA, TENN., November 26, 3561. ) COLONEL: I respectfully recommend the following promotions in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, to fill vacancies:
Joseph W. Harper, Captain Company I, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, cice Burgh, for gallantry in late engagements with Hood's advance.
Anthony R. Mock, Captain of Company B, to be Major rice Gifford, for gal- lantry in the field.
Very truly, your obedient servant, [Signed] EDWARD HATCH, Brigadier General Commanding.
ALLEN C. FULLER, Adjutant-General of Illinois, Springfield, Il. LETTER FROM GENERAL D. E. COON.
SAN DIEGO, CAL., July 20, 18ss. E. A. Davenport, Chicago, Ill.
DEAR COMRADE :- Yours of the 14th inst. at hand. I am happy to learn that your book is completed. Hope it will give satisfaction and prove a financid success. It would have afforded me great pleasure to have contributed soun . thing of interest, and thereby aided you, but the fear of having omitted to men. tion some of the officers, when they may have done gallant service, deterred te. and caused me to postpone from day to day, unt l it was too late.
I love all the officers and men of the old, gallaut NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS With all my heart. They are veteran brothers of the late war ... next in my heart to my own brother, born of my own dear mother, and 1 -!! ever cherish the memory of their glorious companionship in the Rebellion . f 1861-05 while life lasts. Saccess in all things, is my heart's best wish.
Truly yours, DATUS E. Com ..
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CHAPTER XXIX.
ROLL OF HONOR.
THE following roll of honor contains the names of many L of the fallen heroes of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, who lost their lives in the service of their country. The author deeply regrets his inability to have made the list complete.
Private Abr, William, Company B, died at Gainesville, Ala, September 21, 1365
Private Alberts, Reinhart, Company F, died at Helena, Ark., September 25, 1863.
Private Atkins, Clinton, Company G, died June 13, 1862.
Corporal Albright, Delos, Company I, died on hospital boat, near St. Louis, October 1, 1862.
Private Atkinson, Eli, Company I, died at Helena, Ark., August 17, 1862.
Private Agarty, Jeremiah, Company K, died at Eastport, Miss., May 16. 1865.
Private Albert, Mather, Company M, killed at Jacksonport, Ark., July 27, 1862.
Private Alexander, Henry, Company M, died at Onarga, Ill., March 8, 1862. Surgeon Brackett, Charles, died at Helena, Ark., February 20, 1863.
Private Buncher, Lewis, Company A, died June 2, 1862.
Private Brigham, William, Company A, died September 5, 1864, at Mom phis, Tenn., from wounds received August 13th.
Private Bradwell, Oliver, Company B, died at Camp Douglas, Ill., January 15, 1862.
Private Bartlet, David C., Company B, died at Helena, Ark., October 29, 1802.
Private Burmuster, Charles, Company B, died at St. Louis, Mo., November 9, 1862.
1
Private Berry. Jordan, Company E, died at Memphis, Tenn., March 14, 1864. Private Baxter, Alpheus, Company E, died at Dennis, Mass., June 12, 1864.
Private Bear, Martin, Company E, missing in action at Savannah, Tenn., October 17, 1864.
Private Berry, James S., Company F, died at St. Louis, Mo., November 3, 1862.
Private Buler, John, Company F, died at St. Louis, Mo., November 3, 1862.
Private Baker, Jacob, Company F, died at Helena, Ark., September 25, 1802.
Private Bowden, William, Company F, died at Andersonville prison, Au- gust 13, 1864; grave 5473.
Private Behers, John, Company F, died at. Selma, Ala., October 23, 18Gh.
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HISTORY OF THE
Private Brooks, James J., Company G, died at Memphis, Tenn., Appel . 1861.
Corporal Babcock, Merlin, Company G, died at Memphis, Tenn., October : 1864.
Private Bellows, Albert, Company H, killed at Tupelo, Miss., July 15, 15/4.
Private Butcher, Isaac, Company I, died at Cairo, Ill., March 24, 1855.
Private Brown, Caleb N., Company 1, died at Louisville, Ky., March 30, 1865.
Private Branch, Edwin II., Company J, killed at Pontotoc, Miss., July 12. 1864.
Bugler Buss, John, Company K, died at Nashville, Teno., January 1, 1865.
Private Bennett, Isaac, Company K, died at Patterson, Mo., May 11, 1:62.
Private Barton, Charles, Company L, died at Pocahontas, Ark., May 18, 1562.
Private Burns, Barney. Company M, died at Memphis, Teun., February 12, 186-1.
Private Connors, Edward, Company A, died at St. Louis, Mo., April 1, 3-Ki.
Private Cooper, Enoch, Company A, died at Kcokuk, Iowa, October 10, 1802.
Private Crommett, David, Company C, died at Andersonville, October 1, 1864.
Private Conskay, William, Company D, died at Helena, Ark., October !, 1862.
Private Cole, Charles H., Company E, died at Reeves Station, Mo., April 14, 1869.
First Sergeant Cole, Marcellus, Company F, killed at Campbellville, Tent., November 24, 1864.
Corporal Cerey, Patrick, Company F, died at Keokuk, Iowa, November 17, 1863.
Private Cunningham, Cornelius, Company G, died August 25, 1862.
Private Carl, Sampson, Company G, died at Helena, Ark., 1802.
Private Cherry, William, R., Company HI, died December 31. 1801.
Private Cornelius, James, Company II, died at Andersonville, August 21, 1864; grave 6788.
Private Cooley, John F., Company I, died at Keokuk, Jowa, October 29. 1862.
Private Curtis, George, Company I, died at Louisville, Ky., January 1v. 1865.
Private Connerly, Peter, Company K, died at Chicago, Ill., December 7, 1861.
Corporal Cameron, Edwards, Company K, died at Memphis, Tenn., March 24, 1864.
Private Cleggett, Phillip, Company L, died on hospital boat, October 5, 1:62
Private Cooper, George, Company M, killed at Oxford, Miss., August 13. 1861.
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