USA > Illinois > Military history and reminiscences of the Thirteenth regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry in the civil war in the United States,1861-65, pt 2 > Part 20
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At last accounts he was living at Hunter, Green County, New York. Thomas B. Beers,
Private. He enlisted from Chicago, and was mustered with the reg- iment. He was twenty-eight years old but was with the regi- ment but four months, when he was discharged from the service at Rolla, Mo., on Sept. 21st, 1861, with a broken ankle.
Caspner Burkel,
Private. He was enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regiment. He veteranized Jan. Ist, IS64, and mustered. at Wood- ville, Ala., Jan. 29th, 1864, by Lieut. Ronan, and assigned to Com- pany I, fifty-sixth Illinois infautry. He must have been a good man, and was mustered out of service, Jan. 5th, IS65.
Thomas J. Chatt,
Private. He was enlisted frem Chicago, and mustered with the regiment. Private Chatt was twenty-five years old, light com- plexion, light hair, blue eyes, large of stature, about six feet tall, and would weigh in the vicinity of two hundred pounds. Good natured, obedient to orders, and very respectful.
On the march from Batesville to Helena. Ark., the day after crossing the Cache River, on July 9th, 1862, and four days before reaching Helena, Private Chatt was so unfortunate as to have his
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
right hand shot to pieces by carelessness in putting his gun into a stack. Amputation was necessary but he was not discharged until Dec. ISth, IS62, at Helena, Ark.
James Congdon,
Private. Was enlisted from Chicago and mustered with the regi- ment. He was twenty-five years old, and deserted from Rolla, Mo., Aug. 31st, IS61.
Aurora B. Callender,
Private. Was enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regi- ment. He was twenty-nine years old, and deserted from Jefferson Barracks, Mo., on Sept. 21st, IS63.
William Chase,
Private. He was enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regiment. He was twenty-seven years old and deserted from Rolla, Mo., on Aug. 31st, IS61.
Jesse A. Betts,
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Private. Enlisted from Washington, Wis., and mustered with the regiment. He was thirty-two years old, of light complexion, light hair and blue eyes, small of stature, five feet six inches tall, and weighed one hundred and thirty pounds. By . occupation lie was a lake sailor. Promoted corporal, November 16, 1861, at Rolla, Mo. Veteranized on January 1, 1864, at Woodville, Ala., and mustered by Lieutenant Ronan on January 29, 1864, and went to the front, having been assigned to Company I, Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry. In this company also, he had been a corporal, but left his company without leave, and was marked as a deserter; but thirteen days afterward, he shipped on the United State Ram "Vindicator" by the name of George Darrow. He had deserted from the Fifty-sixth Illinois at Indianapolis, Ind., and had shipped on the " Vindicator" at Mound City, Ill. Under the name of George Darrow he served on the "Vindicator " until July 5th, IS65, when he was honorably discharged.
[In the spring of IS63, I was mustered out of the Thirteenth Illinois, to receive promotion : and thence forward to the end of the war, I served in Company I, Fifty-first United States Colored Troops. Sometime in the summer of 1864, being stationed at Vicksburg, Miss., one rainy day I heard a scratch on the flap of the tent, and my "come in" brought in a boy who handed me a small folded paper, but reluctantly, until he was sure that my name was the one for which he was hunting. The boy waited until I had opened and read the note, which was signed : "George Darrow," ("Jesse Betts.")
For two years I had campaigued with, and intimately known, Jesse Betts both of us members of Company I. Thirteenth Illinois, and I had found him a pleasant, and more than commonly intelligent companion,
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and popular among his comrades, for he could tell a good story, or sing a good song, which helped largely to dispel the camp-fire gloom after marching all day in the rain and mud, and the difficulty of cooking cof- fee when the neighboring planter's fence-rails were wet and soggy. On the return of our regiment to Rolla, Missouri, from Springfield, where we had been ordered to join General Fremont's army, in the fall of IS61, the day we occupied our winter camp, Jesse A. Betts was made a Cor- poral. This does not appear on any muster-rolls that I have examined, but I distinctly recollect the circumstance of considerable jubilation among his admiring comrades.
Corporal Betts performed his duties to the satisfaction of his supe - rior officers, and I was very much surprised to learn that after he veter- anized, he deserted.
I have felt it necessary to keep the boy waiting until I could bring up the rear-guard of Corporal Betts' military history to intelligibly couple on the remainder.
The note stated that an old friend and comrade wished to see me to explain the reasons for his desertion, of which he stood charged ; but would not trust himself in my hands except under a written pledge that I would do nothing against him until after his explanation in per- son. I wrote the pledge and sent the boy off with it, and somewhat un- easily awaited developments.
I had not long to wait when a second " Come in," followed a second scratch, and he whom I had formerly known as "Jesse Betts," but now "George Darrow," stood before me ; and his hand-clasp seemed to indi- cate that lie was glad to meet a comrade to whom he could freely talk ; while my own hand-clasp was intended to indicate to him that I was not ouly glad to see him, but that he should be treated fairly in the inter- view.
I cannot detail this conversation, if I would ; neither would it be necessary to this history, if I could.
Corporal Betts reviewed his connection with our old company, in which he had made many pleasant acquaintances, which he would wish to retain through life were it possible, and while he had done the one act that would make future association with these friends impossible, it was, he said, done advisedly, after much anxious thought, and the con- clusion was reached; not only by him, but by others, that desertion was the only alternative of escape from the troubles somewhat vaguely spec- ified by him, and not clearly understood by me. He particularly called my attention to the fact, that in deserting, he had not deserted the serv- ice ; which he was prepared to show me if I would go down to the wharf where then lay the United States Ram "Vindicator," on which he claimed to have a position of honor. The storm prevented my going that day, but I gave him my word that I would do so next day. In parting,
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he told me that he did so with a lighter heart than he had felt in many a day.
The next day I went to the city, and on going down to the wharf, there, sure enough, lay the " Vindicator," but would the " Vindicator," of the Navy, prove to be the vindicator of my friend's character for ver- acity ? I went on board and saluted the " Officer of the Deck," who politely returned my salnte and asked how he could serve me. I told him I had called to find an old friend by the name of George Darrow. He replied that there was a man on board by that name ; upon which he called one of his men and told him to show the officer to the quarters of Mr. Darrow. I am sure that my memory is not at fault as to his say- ing Mr. Darrow. This puzzled me a little, but I thought that I had read somewhere in Marryat or Cooper of that title being used on ship- board, but I somehow got the impression that it was only applied to officers of a certain rank. After threading a maze of marine archi- tectural intricacies, my guide rapped at a door and I was ushered into a cubby-hole which proved to be the quarters of my friend, George Darrow, who now stood up to receive me ; and when the guide had retired, we indulged in a long shake. "Why," said I, "comrade Darrow, you look for all the world like an old friend of mine whose name was Jesse A. Betts." "Hush !" he whispered, fairly snatching the words from the tip of my tongue almost before they were uttered, at the same time casting a scared look all over the floor, ceiling, and walls of his cubby-hole, he continued under his breath, " The potatoes for my dinner have eyes ; and even that canned corn once had cars ; and neither the eyes nor the ears must ever know anything about the name you have just used." But all other names could be used with im- punity ; and he plied me with question after question about liis old con- rades, which I answered to the best of my ability. When I rose to go, and our hands clasped for the last time on earth, there was a moisture in his eyes, which could hardly be attributed to the strength of his tobacco. On passing out, he took me by a different route from the one of my en- trance, and, pulling off the tarpaulin from a beautiful brass gun, he said, "I am the Captain of this gun ; and I have a crew under me whose duty in action is to serve this gun, under my directions ; and there is daily drill at all other times. I am responsible for the condition of the gun and the efficiency of my men ;" and he patted and caressed the gun as though it had been his sweetheart. Continuing, he said : "I wish you could hear her voice ; but she scarce ever talks unless she has something serious to say. I replied that she would probably be more loquacious when talking to the rebs. "That is so," said he ; "She can scold and dispute like a very drab ; and insists on having the last word." This being " Captain of the gun," undoubtedly solved the problem of the title of " Mr." and I came to the conclusion that " George Darrow,"
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as captain of that gun, was doing his country far more valuable service than could "Jesse A. Betts," while being shot as a deserter.
And so we parted ; and I never saw him again.
As I crossed the deck towards the exit gangway, I asked the officer of the deck, the standing of my friend Darrow, on the ship. The officer replied : " none but a first-class man can be captain of a gun ; and such, George Darrow is."
I left the good ship Vindicator, with mingled emotions of sorrow and pride. Sorrow, that commissioned officers could be found in our service, who could be so abusive as to drive their men to desertion. Pride, that we had men whom no amount of abuse could drive out of the service.
Only a few years since, Corporal Jesse A. Betts, otherwise Captain George Darrow, then a married man, died of lung disease, in Buffalo, N. Y., and was buried in Tonawanda, same State, where his widow now resides. ] John A. Curtis,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago; mustered in with the regiment ; was twenty-two years old, light complexion, light hair and blue eyes, thick-set build, about five feet eight inches tall, and would weigh about one hundred and sixty pounds.
He is reported as having been absent without leave, and twelve dollars of his pay stopped ; but having been restored to duty, and having served out his full term, it leaves a doubt as to whether he deserved fining and censure, at all. His present residence unknown. Andrew J. Dawdy,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago ; mustered in with the regiment ; was twenty two years old, light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, medium build, about five feet eight inches tall, and would weigh about one hundred and thirty-five pounds.
He was diffident and retiring in his manners, but as good a soldier as ever slung a musket from a shoulder to a ready ; and a man that one would like to know after the war.
He was mustered out with the regiment, and his present residence is Goshen, Ind.
John Dubois,
Private ; enlisted in Chicago ; mustered in with the regiment ; was twenty-three years old, of good stature, and would weigh about one hundred and seventy- five pounds ; must have been a good and capa- ble man to have received promotion as corporal on November 14, IS61, and as sergeant on June 14, 1863 ; mustered out as sergeant at the expiration of his three years.
Sylvester A. Davis,
Private ; enlisted at Chicago ; mustered in with the regiment, was twenty years old ; made a corporal on October 3, 1S62, and sergeant on March 15, 1864 ; mustered out as such at the end of three years.
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Philip H. Carr,
Private ; enlisted from Dundee, Ill .; mustered in with the regiment September 19, IS61 ; discharged from the service for blindness. Whether now living or of his welfare, nothing has come to hand. David Farley,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago ; mustered in with the regiment ; was eighteen years old, but a broken wrist compelled his discharge at Rolla, Mo., on September 22, 1861. If living, his address is not known.
John Wesley Foster,
Private ; he enlisted from Chicago, and was mustered with the reg- iment. He was twenty years old, and was transferred to the In- valid Corps, by General Order No. 53, Adjutant General's Office, War Department, series 1864, to take effect February 15, IS64. His subsequent career not knownl.
William C. Anys,
Private ; born in Gilderland, Holland, age twenty-seven ; enlisted from Worth, Illinois and mustered with the regiment. Private 'Anys was twenty-seven years old, light complexion, blue eyes, and flaxen hair, spare of build, about five feet, eight inches tall and would weigh about one hundred and thirty pounds. Was a good soldier, and had but about five more months to serve, when disease compelled his being sent home on sick furlough, and he died at home on March 2, 1864. Disease not specified.
William H. Fletcher,
Private ; he was enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the reg- iment ; after less than a year's service, his life was cut short by consumption, and he died in hospital at Rolla, Missouri, March 13, 1862.
James Fletcher,
Private ; was enlisted from Kenosha, Wisconsin and mustered with the regiment ; was mustered as a veteran at Woodville, Alabama, on January 29, IS64, by Lieutenant Ronan ; was wounded in action at Madison Station, Alabama, May IS, IS64.
Charles H. Gildersleve,
Private ; he was twenty years old, was enlisted from Courtland. Illinois ; mustered with the regiment. He is reported as having deserted from the paroled prisoners' camp at St. Louis, Missouri, October 1, 1864, and as being mustered out May 15, 1865. John Gregory,
Private ; enlisted from Blue Island, Illinois, and mustered with the regiment ; he was twenty-two years old, but his further record merely says that he was mustered out June 22, IS64; wounded. It is safe to assume that his was a good record.
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
Matthew Gaffney,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regiment ; Private Gaffney was thirty-one years old, dark complexion, black eyes and hair, somewhat short of stature, stout of build, and would weigh about one hundred and fifty pounds ; an excellent soldier, and a good man, and well liked by both officers and men. On Feb- ruary 26, 1864, was promoted corporal, which he held to the end. At Lookout mountain, November 24, 1863, while his right hand was extended, in returning rammer, a rebel bullet cut off the little finger on that hand, and smashing to pieces a ring that was on that finger, which he had been at considerable pains to make himself ; at which, with a rueful countenance, he exclaimed-" Bedad, they've shpoilt me ring !" and adding-"Never mind b'ys this gits me a furlough to go home and see the ould woman," and it did ; but he returned to duty, and at Madison Station, Alabama, May 17, 1864, while the remnant of the regiment was making a desperate defence against an overwhelming force of rebels under Roddy, Corporal Gaffney observed a rebel climbing a telegraph pole to cut the wire to prevent news being sent to Huntsville for help, and tumbled him to the ground by a well-directed shot from his gun. After being mustered out of the service, Corporal Gaffney returned to Chicago, but death deprived him of his family, and he is now an inmate of the National Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
John Grant,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago ; mustered with regiment. (Famil- iarly called "Scotty.") "Scotty," was thirty-six years old and was an old English man-of-warsman. He was the "Delmonico " of the regiment, and so good a cook that his culinary skill was frequently brought into use in catering suppers for the officers.
Nearly all the regiment will bear in sad remembrance that on the day after we left Linn Creek, on the Springfield campaign under Fremont, "Scotty " broke his leg ; and amid tears from more eyes than his own, he had to be sent back, and was discharged on sur- geon's certificate of disability, on February 18, 1862.
Timothy Horrigan,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago ; mustered with regiment ; he was twenty-five years old ; he is reported as "absent, captured by the enemy, since May 17, 1864, at Madison, Ala .; stoppage by sentence of general court-martial, twenty-six dollars."
This is a most unjust record, whatever the actual charge may have been, for it is left to be inferred that Private Horrigan was fined twenty-six dollars for being captured, and for lying in a rebel prison over a year. He was mustered out May 29, IS65.
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Sidous R. Helmick,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago ; mustered with regiment ; he was twenty-five years old, light complexion, light hair, hazel eyes, one of the giants of the regiment, in stature about six feet two inches, strongly built, and would weigh about two hundred and twenty- five pounds ; his occupation had been that of a salt-water sailor, he was of so pleasant a disposition as to be generally liked. Private Helmick deserted at Helena, Ark., on August 7, 1862.
Stephen Harrison,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago ; mustered with regiment ; he was twenty-seven years old, light complexion, blue eyes, light hair, spare of build, about five feet ten inches tall, and would weigh about one hundred and forty-five pounds. Private Harrison veteranized on January 1, 1864 ; mustered at Woodville, Ala., by Lieutenant Bonan, January 29, 1864 ; was assigned to Company I, Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry.
Cornelius Healy,
Private ; was enlisted from Chicago mustered with the regiment. He was twenty-one years old, dark complexion, black hair and eyes, compactly built, but with a stoop of the shoulders which pre- vented his making so soldierly an appearance as many of his com- rades ; but his gun-barrel was as straight as any in the company, and his bullets neither stooped nor wabbled. A good soldier and veteranized at Woodville, Ala., on January 22, IS64, and was mus- tered there by Lieutenant Ronan, on January 29, 1864, and assigned to Company I, Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry.
Martin Hogarty,
Private ; was enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regi- ment. He was twenty years old, a good man, a brave soldier, and died on December 29, IS62, from wounds received on that same day at the deadly battle of Chickasaw Bayou.
David Hitchcock, Jr,
Private ; was enlisted from Chicago and was mustered with the regi- ment. Private Hitchcock was born in Granville, Washington county, State of New York, in IS34 ; and was twenty-seven years old at date of enlistment, and was by occupation, a book-keeper. He had a light complexion, light hair and dark blue eyes, small of stature, about five feet eight inches tall, and would weigh about 130 pounds.
Private Hitchcock was promoted sergeant November 1, 1861, and held that rank to the close of his service with the Thirteenth reg- iment.
On the march from Springfield, Mo., to Helena, Ark., by reason of the exposures and privations of that dreadful campaign, he was so
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
disabled that the surgeon's certificate stated that he was suffering from " chronic diarhœa," " hepatitis," and " tubercular bronchitis," which renders him unfit for the duties of a soldier, and not fit for the "Invalid Corps.' " Disease contracted in the service." He was discharged from the Thirteenth regiment by order of General Samuel R. Curtis, on March 10, 1S63.
Most people would think that after such an experience, Sergeant Hitchcock would have hurried aboard the first steamer, goue home aud stayed there, and let the others fight it out; but he was not built that way.
On August 21, 1864, Citizen Hitchcock re-enlisted in the Third Reg- iment Colorado Cavalry for one hundred days. Served out that term, and was discharged at Denver, Col., December 29, 1864.
Sergeant Hitchcock's patriotism dragged his worn out body into another campaign, and he enlisted for the third time, and now in the " Veteran Battalion of Colorado Cavalry," on the 7th of January, IS65.
Comrade Hitchcock served through his third term, and was dis- charged by orders from headquarters of United States Forces of Kansas and territories, by special order Thirty six, Headquarters District of Colorado, November 16, 1865.
To the old comrades of Sergeant Hitchcock, this will be considered a remarkable case, and, undoubtedly, without a duplicate in our com- pany, considering his meager physical structure and constitution, and the fact that the surgeon had declared him unfit even for the "Invalid Corps."
Of course Sergeant Hithcock retired from the service for the third time, with healthi too badly shattered ever to be recovered, but, strange as it may seem, he can be found at his desk to day, nearly thirty years after those deadly campaigns that carried many stronger mer to their graves before their terms of service were expired.
Comrade Hithcock, with his wife, is now living at 1175 South Cen- tral Park Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.
Orson Hamlin,
Private ; was enlisted from Leavenworth, Kansas, and was mustered with the regiment. He was twenty years old, of light complexion, light hair and eyes, about five feet eight inches tall, slim built and would weigh about one hundred and thirty-five pounds.
He deserted at Napoleon, Arkansas, January 13, IS63; nothing is known of his subsequent career.
Patrick Haydon,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago, and was mustered with the regi- ment. He was eigliteen years old ; rendered good soldierly service, and was mustered out with the regiment.
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
John R. Hall,
Private; enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regiment. He was twenty-six years old ; he was discharged on surgeon's cer- tificate of disability, on March 1, IS62, at Rolla, Missouri, for con- sumption.
James T. Haywood,
Private ; enlisted from Lisbon, Illinois, and mustered with the regiment ; was born in England, age twenty three, dark com- plexion, light hair and blue eyes, about five feet six and three- fourths inches tall, and weighed about one hundred and thirty-five pounds ; promoted corporal June 14, 1863, and died December 14, 1863, seventeen days after being wounded at Ringgold Gap, Georgia. Christian H. Justin,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regiment. He was twenty-three years old, was promoted corporal December 20, 1861, and sergeant November IS, IS63 ; and as such, was mus- tered out with the regiment.
So far as known, Sergeant Justin is now living at St. Louis, Mis- souri ; his occupation being that of a trunk-maker.
Abram Kelley,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago, and was mustered with the regi- ment. He was twenty-one years old, a good soldier, and was killed in action at Chickasaw Bayou, Miss., December 29, IS62.
Robert W. King,
Private ; enlisted from Sterling, Whiteside county, Ill., and was mustered with the regiment. He was eighteen years old; rendered good service, and veteranized January 29th, 1894, and mustered at Woodville, Ala., by Lieutenant Ronan, on January 29, IS64, and assigned to company I, Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry. Private King was captured by the enemy at Madison Station, Ala., May 17, 1864. Lewis C. Lockney,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regiment. He was twenty-nine years old, and was promoted corporal and transferred to the Invalid Corps, January 15, 1864. Corporal Lock- ney's further service or welfare, not now known.
Lawrence Lynch,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regiment. He was twenty-nine years old. Was promoted corporal November 3d, IS61, and sergeant June 3d, IS63. As such, he was mustered out with the regiment. So far as known Sergeant Lynch is now living in Chicago.
Henry Keplinger,
Private ; enlisted from Chicago, and was mustered with the regi- ment. He was twenty-one years old. He died of dysentery, in hospital at Memphis, Tenn., March 24, IS63.
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
William H. Kellogg,
Private; enlisted at Chicago and was mustered with the regiment. He was twenty three years old, fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, stout of build, about five feet, ten inches tall, and would weigh about 170 pounds. He made a good record, and supplemented it by veteranizing on January 1, 1864, and was mustered at Woodville, Ala., on January 29th, 1864, by Lieutenant Ronan, and was assigned to company I, Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry. Comrade Kellogg now lives at Arlington Heights, Cook county, Ill.
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