USA > Illinois > History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment > Part 5
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August loth. when the mengen wascalled upon for an cloud to a forage train sent out by one of the loss meloours then were but seventy soldiers fit for duis. This showed the tourde state of health, which lasted till the winter festand cool wentho killed some of the poison.
September 15, 1802. the regiment received two selve pounder howitzers, which were placed under The command of Lyon. E. G. Butler, of Company F. and details of men made from different companies of the regiment. These gnus did good soFr ice in many of our engagements, and the men in whosg charge they were placed took great pride in their use against the events. and they were brought into frequent action.
October 11tl. a shall party out on a aver mapapred, v gin
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NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS
Sth, Captain Perkins with two companies of the Ninth and & detail from some other cavalry regiment had quite a lively brush with the Confederate troops in much larger minhers. There lund bery desultory firing by small parties during the day, and our com mand was on the alert. knowing that the ruby were ever about. At 2 P. M. Captain Perkins halted his command by the maulside for rest and to feed both men and horses.
They had just become fairly interested in the work, when tiging was heard in the direction of the picket. The men were hastily formed in line. The two howitzers had been stationed in the road. and under the command of Lieutenant Butler were atrendy charged with grape and canister. The Confederates came charging down the road. Captain Perkins gave orders Not to fire till they were near. The men, though eager, waited till a regi- ment of Texas cavalry were within musket range, when they opened on them with telling effect, supplemented with rapid liv ing from the carbines, and sent them whirling back with many saddles empty. The rebels charged again, but not with the dash of the first encounter, and were driven back the same way. The enemy's loss was about fifty, while ours was small.
At this stage of the campaign. November. 1562, General Grant had made Holly Springs a depot of supplies of all sorts of mural tions of war, all of which came by rail from Columbus, Ky .. wach a few stores at LaGrange and Grand Junction.
An expedition was ordered by tienetal Hallock from the trooper at Helena, west of the Mississippi which district was not tisch under General Grant's command). under Generals C. C. Wash- burn and A. P .. Hovey to cut the railroad in the rear of Pember ton's army, and thus delay his retrograde march.
General Grant in his Memoirs says: " The expedition did reach the railroad, and the damage done was great, though it was sport repaired by the rebels." Pemberton at this time was strongly fortitied on the south side of the Tallahatchee, but the demonsta- tion of the cavalry, some of whom had crossed higher up, caused him to hastily evacuate his position, which, as Grant again says. " was accelerated by the expeditions of Generals Hovey and Washi- burn."
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In this explition of General Washburn, the Ninth Hline Cavalry had one battalion, about one hundred and luty Joen. under the command of Major Harry B. Burgh, and the importance of the movement, and the results accomplished was even 1on : than was expected. The enemy took alarm, and left almost a clear coast for Grant's army to follow : which it immediately did. and on the 8th of November occupied Grand Junction and Ja- Grange, and on the 13th went into Holly Springs.
The battalion of the Ninth penetrated to the sobie le of Gramente and destroyed railway and telegraphic communications Lot w oun Pemberton and his base of supplies. At Coffeeville this de tachment of the Ninth behaved with great gallery, and in a charge on the enemy, recaptured a ouh belegging ps an buffa battery, which the Confederates had a short time previously captured from our forces. During this expedition the bailiding of the Ninth Ilinois Cavalry commanded by Maje: Burgh dad such excellent servicens to attract the attention of General Wiele. burn, who complimented Major Burgh in the highest vermy on the splendid manner in which he handled his command, and who thereafter became the warm friend and patron of the regiment. and through whose friendly assistance the recipient soon after succeeded in procuring. for the first time. a supply of really goal firearms.
On General Washburn's promotion to Major General, and Joy appointment to the command of the carshy of the matter di West Tennessee, he made application to? the (nimder ne tho Ninth from Arkansas to Temasser. the pleasant result of which was the removal of the Ninth Hinois Cavalry from the analarmi atmosphere of Arkansas to the more Healthful dimate of Wer Tennessee, in the following spring.
CHAPTER VH.
THE GORMAN EXPEDITION- CAMERE OF AREAS POSTS
ELECTION OF TWO MAJORS.
J JANUARY 10, 1863, the Ninth Illinois Cherry moved (will) General Gorman's expedition to HAVEIS Blog de 101 4- Si Charles, three companies marching across from Hedon god il remainder on the steamer Zhrou with a fost et rend transports and two guuboats, amore then the . byant fide arte! palace steamers, Ruth and Imperial, the lady not least these after being burned at St. Louis. It was a magnificent salut tose the fleet of vessels, especially at night.
We sailed to the month of White River and There up the stream as far as St. Charles one hundred and twenty-one mil from the mouth. Here the fleet tied up. god a part of the alry was sent out about twelve makes, bat no choing why formal, a portion going up still ingher to DaVaff- Bud. The fogoly - tions here were very heavy and stroke. and food frecully By evacuated by the Confederate troops. under Caland Dry. toll- lieve Arkansas Bust, but only arrived at the latter el com om to be taken in as prisoners i Gerend! Shorter and adeall Porter, who, on January 1th, captured the Beer walk six rhim sand prisoners, seventeen guns and a large andfit of Gussgroupe stores. Had the Considerate troops remained in theop forthe tions at St. Charles, they would undoubtedly have been able to have given us a hard fight.
The capture of Arkansas Post was very important. situated fifty miles from the mouth of the Arkansas Hey, araj ons fi from the capital of the State, Little Rock, and had left this jan. of the country, west of the Mississippi pretty well denrest of Confederate troops. While our two companies. R amt 'C, and one infantry regime al. remained at ET. Claro & The inalto
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turned very cold. The snow was several inclos de of world war said to be the coldest spell in fourteen years.
The troops took possession of a lot of buildings body con pied by the Confederate soldiers. Before they felt. Ineveror, they were sorry they had done so. The quarter fairly swartet with those liftl . posts " that stick closer than a bralogy" and that made our boys, who were unacentomel to the presence, very hot, indeed. This reminds me of a little Story. oneof pop- prominent Generals was standing with a group of Staff offerts with an elegant new uniform on, when one of hh and called his attention to a little insect crawling on the Body of ins Boot The General looked down, told, without changing a o anche of Dis countenance, reached for the animal. mutbuttoned los coni, god carefully placing the insect inside, remarked, . Get in theme voy little devil, to where you belong."
January 230. the Regiment returned to Heleny afol emnapoli rear of Fort Curtis. our oft emup bome i posossim of negroc. who had the small-por.
January 24, 1368, Lieutenant Colonel H. F. Sickles having no. signed, there was an election for Lieutenant -Colonel of the Nadh. Major H. J. Humphrey was elected to fill the place At alan the same time elections were held for two Majors. and Caption M. L. Perkins and L. F. Booth were elected to fill thor por tions, their recommendations were sent forward, and they ssen placed on duty as Majors, but were never comme suffered je weet Captain Ira R. Gifford, of Company E. and Cogni L. D. Bishop. of Company H. were the fortunate surfeid of wb finally received the two coveted Majorships.
On the 13th of February, the Ninth participated in a skirmish on the Yazoo Out Of, and get with smart los, though a moplay of the enemy were killed and wounded.
February 14th, General Prentiss relieved General Gurman to command at Helena. A detachment of the Night was szemmel at Fryers' Point. about twenty miles below. Asheet distader down from Helena was the plantation of the Rebel General T'il low ; to this place the boys would make frequent excursions, cie. rying off what they desired.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE REGIMENT MOVES TO MEMPHIS =TO GERMANTOWN - APP EQUIPMENTS -- FRONTING FORREST'S CAMRY LADIES IS COM -SUICIDE OF A SOLDIER -MAJOR BERGH'S GALLANT FIRAT WITH CHALMERS - SKIRMISHING AND FIGHTING IN THESMISLA AND MISSISSIPPI - SENATORA- COLDWATER-L'ANDLA FAM OF VICKSBURG -- AFTER COLOMA. RICHARDSON - HIGHLY OF COME DESTRUCTION OF A LARGE AMOUNT OF CONPRINESIE PROPERTY -- LIEUTENANT SHATTUCK CUT OFF.
M ONDAY, April 6th, at 10 P. M., We received orders to playa _ at eight o'clock the next morning. and, though one Didi- dred and thirty men were out on a scout, the remainder of the regy- ment reported at the wharf at the appointed time Tuesday moro ing, and immediately began to embark our men and horses on Fly fine large steamer Tilinois, which no: only carried our regiment. but a portion of an infantry regiment as well. We did not have Helena until 2 r. M. and arrived at Memphis. Tens .. after au ne eventful trip without accident, at daylight Wednesday morning. April i. After a seven-de march harting apa cropping ground. we finally settled in a very pleasant spot about three miles south east of Memphis, and a quarter of a mile from the river. AU weil remember this beautiful campamong the trees; it really seujal that we were in " God's country" again. But we did not revient in this spot long : soon the order come for us to move off on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, and wo marched fifteen muito- to a pleasant little place called Germantown. The camp her was situated in woods one mile from the town.
April isth. we received an outfit of new tents, which came in good play, asour old ones were about played out. The Ninth was then under the command of General Sherman, and hod Koes
assigned to Colonel McGreffis' Brigade of the Sixteenth Anny Corps, Major-General C. C. Wishlyon commanding.
On the line of the Memphis & Charleston Rathod son! points in that vicinity, the Ninth Tinois Cavalry were crpaged for more than eighteen months almost constantly : scouting affor and fighting some part of the rebel cavalry commanded by the wily and unscrupulous paragon of a cavalry fighting Genend, N B. Forrest, with whom the Confeder: to army lot no equal. at least in the Southwest. Now here, now there. Forrest and his non seemed to be ubiquitoas. It woubl be impossible to name all the fights we had with some portion of his cavalry.
As yet we were but poorly equipped with houses and armi. but the first began to come som ther on arrival of Manghi. and Major Burgh wwho was indenticable in bie explogyors, ne los latter part of April, succeeded in procuring an outfit of new arm. mostly Colt's revolving rifles, which were really a very effective arm, and two companies with Sharp cabines put ns in much ber ter shape than ever before.
At this time, with a partial new mount of horses, new time and new arms, we were really proud of our regardent once from An inspection of the regiment took place April 27. Ly a Coloppe! of the regular army, who complimented the officers and men on their fine soldierly appearance.
April 28th. we were again made glut by the appearance of the United States Paymaster antony us, who paid the regiment up in March 1. 1563.
At this time there was quite a manher of ladies the wire al officers in camp. They were established in a life of tests nicht headquarters, which had been dubbed " Crinoline Rose" Theme were in camp during the spring and summer, among others & hom I do not now recall, the following : Mrs. Harper. Mrs. Gintonl. Mrs. Cowen, Mrs. McMeannis, Mis. Parking, Mis. Christy, Mas Ellsworth. Mrs. Blackburn and Mrs. Pulhaam. The presence of these ladies made our camp appear quite civiliza, and no dopis had much to do in keeping both others and non on their good behaviour. Many social gatherings took place, and many hippe hours passed quickly away, which, otherwise would have Inthe
NATH ILLINOIS CAVALIO COLLEGHI .
heavy on the hands of those far from home influences. It into the credit of every man, a member of the Ninth Hinois Cavalry. that during the stay of the ladies in camp, there never was one of them subjected to insult or anything other than respectful con- sideration. Neither will it be thought strange it those gont lonto. who were so fortunate as to have their wives with them, should sometimes think that the detail for their services for " officer of the day " to command a scouting party, of some of the various date. devolving upon them, came pretty often; but no one ever n bello in the slightest degree, though we don't know what they thought.
May 12, 1863, a very sad occurrence took place in cump. S.r geant David A. Ewing, Company E. committed suicide bychom ing himself while in the captain's tent. Bad news Troju houve was the cause of the mask act. He was muel beloved by all who. knew him.
May 15th. A short time after our arrival at Germigown Major Burgh, with a part of the Ninth and a fanall dorsetnovot of the Third Illinois Cavalry, under Major O'Connor, about twee hundred men in all, while on a scont. encountered a large force of Confederates under General Chalmers, and had a very mmerwy c cape from capture. They were out two days de more, and Ivol not been advised by those supposed to know that there wasong very large force of rebel troops in their vicinity, but weer in formed by a Mrs. Morris, at & have house they stopped, that honey had been a fight at Wall Hill the day before, in which one lenge had been beaten. [This was Colonel Hatel's converted. 30 acem that Chalmers, with a large foree, after his fight with 11atob zip day before, was still ready for fight, especially if the cueing was smaller in members. When this little commjest of Major Borgles was found to be in his vicinity. he thought he could casde bye them.
In the meantime Major Burgh had not been idle, but, camping that night on the south side of the Coldwater, with the enemy in possession of the crossings, it be hooved him to find some others. way out. He sent Lieutenant Roberts, of Company G. to our of the houses in the vicinity. One of the women hand that after noon come across the river front the milk. Lieutenant Roloris remarked that she had had .. .
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have cut a new road through to a ford higher up." deSignaling the spot. This was just what Roberts wanted to find om Henshot many questions quite innocent like, and the worm bude thought she had given the Yankees a key of escape. Ligutimant Roberts soon reported what he had learned to Major Borgh, and lo thon laid his plans for the morrow. Chalmers wanquietly waiting for our forces to fall right into his fuels like ripe peaches, bant Ing reckoned without his host. Early the next morning. aftern ginel deal of search. Major Burgh had found the new ford linknoire to Chalmers), and was moving away from his mond powerful energy. when the Confederates beset Lim in the rear and mdf a day mined effort to surround him, but with his tweebitle guns and by brilliant management. after some sharp fighting. he brought low command in safety from the field with but very small les white the punishment the rebels received was not so light. Mayor Burgh was highly complimented for the brillent and author Town ner in which this affair was managed and the officers of his cond mand were all worthy of the bigh praise which they receiveil.
A BRILLIANT RECONNOISANCE OF THE NINTHELLINOR GA ALEX [ From the Mean his Back 'in, May i . .
Cavalry dashes into the enemy's country have los que of late que conorem occurrences. The National officer and soblings find it both resto del popesse to remain in camp from one week's end to another, and on suly ton Blat syber the order is given to " pack up and move." Acting out : How side of fordogs Major Burgh with one hundred and fifty men of the Shift 10noi Ci,dey, med one hundred and 90% of the Trial Minis Cavalry. i. on a reconnoitering expedition, with the induction to do all theusing in he power to destroy the enemy whenever he could be found When they find proceeded on their way as far as Cockrin's Comers, int DaSmo Conety, Mor. and twelve miles from Holly Springs, they come upon a romans detachment vý rebel cavalry, who fled toward Stierord. Here the 20por dl foxcce were sud by a party of guerillas, estimated at one hier fred sen! 1;, surlar the knotnew of Colonel Faulkner, who fell back toward Tullolieuin Our egydes parmed them on a quick gallop, but not fast enough to come up with the greis rested for the night. This was Thursday. Early Prilis morathe Male langh ascertained that the entire force of the rebel Genral Chatodie wir satireszed by the inhabitants at three thousand infantry, cavalry and stillere. The moscow con Major Burgh receiving this information, was whether to go bar" the sound le tool come and fight the entire rellel forre with three hundred meter take another rate In conversation with a lady, Major Burgh was infofosted that the Coldweter was fordable. The oule; va given to the the real ao to da cellely 4 then hold their position. The Third Mindis was sent to the gianbelegd
NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALIERS VOLUS FINS.
Bowen to breakfast, while the Ninth Ilinois was posted about three non je Ilie advance. Major Burgh had come to the conclusion that thestres told by shojatich itants in the country through which he had passed was whoput foundation, what he was startled by a soldier of the Third Cavalry , who eine en wifia rien. all ing the Major that an attack bad been made on the rear. The Ninth Blinniewen at once formed and marched to the scene of action, where he found A large luck of the enemy, consisting of infantry and cavalry. Then cune the a votee Bole tight which has yet been recorded. The rebels were in the works, and the Fed erals in the open field. The Ninth Illinois are splendidly anted, and cake and every man used them to the entire satisfaction of their oflients. Major Hargh finding the rebels too strong in point of numbers, the woods before also what them, fell back to the woods, but the rebels concluited not to come from Ape der cover. At a double log house a number of relais weresecreted, calle great annoyance to the Federals. Captain Perkins was ordered to timene w sin II into the house and dislodge them: and no sooner was the order givso than it was carried into execution, resulting in driving there boler Leter foran the lon The fight lasted all day Friday. At dark the Fedende amer, and an Skupiny arrived at camp at Germantown, with the los of five Killed and are sommed The rebel loss must have been four times ours ja killed and wounded. The Federals took a few prisoners, while they did not lose a single not by what now ane. The officers who particularly signalized themehverdurdur the corpusent v en Major Burgh. Captain Perkins, Lieutenants Mcclure and Robert.
The camp at Germantown was reinforced by two togiment- of infantry and a section of artillery, a raid being especial from the Confederates to strike the railroad at some point het ver Ter Grange and Memphis. It was thought it might beat this station. so all the troops were on the alert.
May 21st. Companies G and B. under Captains Bil and Mark (Captain Buel in command of the detachment), Was sent out of The Pigeon Roost road. patroling to Olive Braten. Atthe dienstes came upon a company of Forrest's cavalry, and leid a hvvly sido ish, driving the rebels back and down to the Coldwater. 00 forces were larger than that of the rebels, and of course they no treated, but kept up a pretty sharp thing, and obliged gar not to keep under cover. Captain Buel handled his men very hand- somely, and bravely charging drove the rele over the river. They laul considerable skirmishing for two days. It was reported to some stranglers who came in from the command that Capatio Buel had been killed, but this fortunately proved not to be the case.
May 31st, we had a pleasant visit from Homepant Bestell of Company A. who Has been North onde . Has
HISTORY of TuF
to the staff of General Benton for a long time. Livutenant Ben- ton is a very popular young man with his company and the rope inent, and all enjoyed his week's visit.
June 3d, Captain Ellsworth came in from a scout, bringing in as prisoners, one captain, one lieutenant, and four privates, which he captured after a bloodless encounter ing cotton gm. as ho bel been informed by a negro (nearly always our friend, that ting were concealed. Many troops have been sent from this section below towards Vicksburg to reinforce General Grant in his opone. tions there.
June 3d, the Forty eighth Illinois Infantry, the List infantry regiment, left leaving only the Third and Ninth Hibons Cavalry.
June 6th, this being the anniversary of the capture of Menpite. they had a big celebration. Governor Yates of Illinois was there. "Our Dick" as the boys affectionatoly calbot loom is known and loved by all Western soldiers, and was soll entitle fla the name of " War Governor " by his patriotic words and works in behalf of the many valiant soldiers who had joined the ULin army to put down the unholy rebellion. They had connich boom ing, and in the evening a grand display of fireworks. The fool ing, was very different than was shown one year prevjon, the day of the capture of the city, June 6, 1502.
SENATOBIA.
June 11th, the rebels, under General Chalmers, water ford a Senatobia, Miss. on the Memphis Panola & Grenouille Railroad, A large force of cavalry moved out to engage them.
The Ninth Illinois Cavalry was under the comfrunid of Lieutenant Colonel Humphrey, and was to advance on the town from the east. while the main portion of the commeend, under Colonel Hatch, moved to the south, in order to cut off the retreat of the rebels. About three miles cast of Senatobia the advanced battalion of the Ninth, under Major Gifford, became engaged with the enemy, and later was reinforced by the Seadel battalion, while the third battalion was supporting the two howitzers, which had, at this point, become engaged. The whale regiment were now actively engaged in the battle and Slowly those the roled four back to the main. Therjag land of the first a strong position across a creek, and very well proceed to
NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLL SIEHT'S.
a thin line of woods, from which place, however, our troms drove them by a threatened flank movement, while our boys gallantly and bravely marched forward, without protection of any sort : and as they stubbondy resisted our advance, a part of the Ninth moved by the left frank, and, under cover of a piece of woods on that side, opened a heavy fire on the Bank, and threatening their rear obliged them to give way, both contesting every foot of mud. The Confederates fall back, and again tool upa new position and line; but they could not withstand and fire, and we drove them into the town. We had supposed that Colonel Hatch with his command would head them off south of the town. but, for some reason, he dot not reach their fear In time, and they made their escape. In this light the Mill had'a very exposed position, yet, with a superior fores and on ground of their own choosing. Chalmers and his men gave way, and. thench we suffered quite severely, we inflicted more loss on the enowy When the fight first began the battalion of Major Gifford Tol some time bore the brunt of the battle, but soon the second line came up and relieved him, and, ere long, with the aid of the artillery, got them started on the back track to Panola, winon was at this time Chalmers' headquarters.
Sometime, during the summer of 1868, the exact date I am unable to ascertain, there was assigned to the Ninth two more twelve-pound howitzers, and these guns were also placed in charge of Company F.
June 20th, the Ninth Ilinois Cataly. under the company of Lieutenant Colonel Humphrey, together with the entire Divioon to which the Regiment was then attached, while out on a lig days' scout. had a hard fight on the Coldwater, and then engaged Chalmers' forces again in Panola. Miss, drove the com felerate forces across the Tallahatchee, capturing a number of rebels in the town, as the rebel commander had left many viel and wounded in the hospitals. Those mon ofr commamior paroled, and, after burning a large flour-mill and sante factores. captured a large amount of arms, camp equipage, etc., and a printing office, in which our boys struck off flaming hand loll. with the significant sortiment : " The Yankees Hace koje mood Chalmers has now " posted them up codepoint. coto the . and then returned to camp, bringing in the planet explained . in
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