USA > Indiana > History of the Fifth Indiana Battery : compiled and written from the "field diary" of lieutenant Daniel H. Chandler, and from official reports of officers of the Army of the Cumberland > Part 1
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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 03107 3619
Gc 973.74 In2hoL Holm, D. D. History of the Fifth Indiana Battery
History of The Fifth Indiana Battery
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History of The Fifth Indiana Battery
Compiled and Written from the "Field. Diary" of Licu- tenant Danicl HI. Chandler, and from Official Reports of Officers of the Army of the Cumberland.
By Private D. D. Holm
PREFACE
The scope of this history precluded the entering into the minor details of the marches and operations of the Battery. It is even impossibe to describe the lesser movements in battle and skirmish, but our aim has been to those most interested, a narrative by which the move- ments of the Battery may be traced in a general way. We hope that the sons and daughters, and the generations to come, of the fathers who fought in the ranks of the Fifth Indiana Battery, may glean something of interest and value from this history not found elsewhere. It is there- fore sent forth with hopes of favorable consideration. We extend to our faithful and loved comrade and Lieutenant, Daniel II. Chandler, our sincere thanks for the use of his "Diary" for which we are under special obligations for data furnished.
D. D. HOLM, JOHN E. KATES, CONRAD BRICKER, Committee.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
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CHAPTER I.
The Fifth Battery Indiana Volunteer Artillery was composed of men recruited from the following counties : Allen, Noble, Whitley, Marshall and Laporte. The orig- inal number of 98 men was mustered into the United States service September 20th, 1861, but owing to an error which had been made in the records, which, however, did not invalidate the oath of muster-in. A subsequent "mus- ter-in" was had Nov. 22nd, at which time there were 151 mustered into the U. S. service for "three years, or during the war." The following is the list of commissioned and non-commissioned officers at the time of the final muster :
Commissioned Officers-Captain, Peter Simonson, of Columbia City, Ind. ; Sen. First Lieutenant, Henry Rank- in, Valparaiso, Ind .; Jr. First Lieutenant, Alfred Mor- rison, Plymouth, Ind .; Sen. Second Lieutenant, Henry M. Allen, Laporte, Ind .; Jr. Second Lientenant, Gordon Simons, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Non-Commissioned Officers-Jacob F. Ellison, Orderly Sergeant; George H. Briggs, Quartermaster Sergeant. Duty Sergeants were: James Tollerton, First Sergt .; Samuel P. C. Freeman, Second Sergt .; Joseph M. Allen, Third Sergt .; David Donnelly, Fourth Sergt .; Smith Brown, Fifth Sergt. ; Wilson Guysinger, Sixth Sergt.
Corporals-John J. English, James Waters, Joseph Hughey, Henry Bricker, John E. Douglas, Alex Craig, Joseph Donley, George W. Robinson. Corporal Robinson
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was appointed Company Clerk ; William Hulse, Bugler. and John Marshall as Guideon. Artificers were: Alex Hall and Daniel H. Chandler for blacksmiths; Henry Hacket and John Spear for wagonmakers; John Prickett and Jasper Koonts, saddlers; Henry Mock was detailed as Hospital Steward, and John Walton as wagonmaster.
The number constituting the "original" organization was 98 men ; who rendezvoused at Indianapolis at what was known as "Camp Morton," remaining but a short time. the space allotted being inadequate for artillery drill, a camp was established on or near White River-the "camp" being designated as Camp White. At this camp the "boys" began "soldiering" in real primitive fashion, but soon adjusted themselves to the "rigors" of camp life and duty. A short time after the establishment of Camp White, recruits (fresh fish) began to arrive, and but a few weeks clapsed until the maximum number of 14S men were enrolled. Camp duty was comparitively light, but "squad drill" was the order of each day (Sunday cx- cepted.) The "awkward squad" and the most awkward man in it. were in evidence but a short time. The men soon became imbued with that soldierly pride that en- abled them to "get the step, there." and keep it with case and precision. There was also an obvious desire and de- termination to excell developing among officers and pri- vates alike. A keen rivalry to become efficient in all the details appertaining to the artillery branch of the United States service. And in the maturity of these desires and determinations, great advantages were realized through the entire three years of active service; where acenrate nim and effective excention was required. Higher officials were not long in recognizing the rapid advancement and close attention to the smaller particulars of military anties, and as a result, made requisition upon Captain Simonson for "trusty men" to guard the arsenal and arm- ory, as necessity required., The "Order" was considered highly complimentary because of the responsibilities de- volving upon those who were detailed from time to time.
November 20th, there was received a full and complete equipment of 6 guns (cannons), 4 smooth bore Howitzers and 2 James rifles the former 12-pounders, the latter 6- ponnders ;) G caissons, an ambulance, a battery wagon. a forge, 6 baggage wagons; also, a full complement of 148 horses and mules. The Battery (or Company) now being
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full and fully equipped, the officers at once set to the work of dividing into sections and the assignment of guns, men and horses to each of the three sections into which the Battery was divided. To the First Section was assigned 2 of the 12-pound Howitzers. Sen. First Lieut. Henry Rankin was placed in command. To the Second or Center Section the 2 6-pound James rifles was assigned. Sen. First Lieut. Henry M. Allen commanding. To the Third or Left Section was assigned the other 2 12-pound Howitzers. Jr. First Lieut. Alfred Morrison command- ing. The assignment of men to the several Sections of the Battery was recognized as a very delicate and an im- portant question which confronted the officers, coming as the man had from different counties, cities and towns. But it had been observed that like "birds of a feather flocked together," the "boys" from the same county, city or neighborhood, by some natural motive or impulse, were drawn together. Thus the importance of the matter was materially modified and a decision and agreement was soon reached. Those from Whitley county composed the Right Section, those from Laporte, the Center Sec- tion and those from Noble county the Left Section. Those from Allen and Marshall were .distributed among the three sections promiscuonsly. A change in the daily routine drill was made necessary, now that the Battery was fully equipped with a full complement of men and horses which were to draw the cannons and caissons (3 teains to each gun and caisson, respectively, and a driver for each team) and drill at the gun for cannoneers- "Detachment drill"-was strenuously enjoined, and, with the same vim and determination, privates and officers took up the new work that had been so noticeable in "foot drill." And it is particularly worthy of record that be- fore leaving Indianapolis, by actual test, a score of ten "rounds" per minute was made (other scores of 62 to 65 seconds were made.) About the 25th of November a rumor was set afloat that the Battery had marching or- ders. On the 28th, soon after breakfast, the bugler called "Assembly." An order to "strike tents" immediately, and be ready to march at 10 o'clock. The "order" also gave information that the 5th Indiana Battery had been assign- ed to the Army of the Ohio. Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buel commanding. The Battery, for the first time "swings into column" and proudly marching through the streets of In-
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dianapolis, halted at the Indianapolis & Jeffersonville R. R. where, in due time, it was loaded upon flat cars (the horses in stock cars) and was soon speeding along toward Jeffersonville. Arriving at Jeffersonville it was the work of but an hour to unload and "hitch up" and marching down to the wharf the Battery was ferried across the Ohio river, and marched through Louisville, Ky., and south- ward to what was known as Camp Jenkins, three miles from Louisville, where, with others, the 5th Indiana was placed under command of Capt. Terrill of the Regular Army. Capt. Terrill was subsequently promoted to the rank of Brig. Gen. and was killed at Perryville, Oct. 8th, 1862. At this camp (Jenkins) military discipline was rigorously applied. Terrill being a Captain of Artillery in the Regular Army-a strict disciplinarian-proved himself to be hard task-master for volunteers. Neverthe- less, strict military discipline and tactics rigidly enforced at that time, proved to be of vast benefit in after times. Dec. 19th, '61, in obedience to orders issued from "Head- quaters Army of the Ohio," the Battery again "boarded" flat cars at Louisville and via. Louisville & Nashville R. R. landed at Bacon Creek in the evening of the same day. The Battery was assigned to the 3rd Division Army of the Ohio, commanded by the once famous astronomer, O. M. Mitchell, who had been commissioned a Brigadier General of volunteers. The camp at Bacon Creek was admittedly one of the most unsanitary places that the Battery was ever obliged to ocenpy as a camp. The location had ele- vation sufficient for proper drainage, but the soil was heavy and compact so that surface water disappeared only by actnal evaporation. The tramp and travel of men and horses kept the camp ground "stirred" constantly to a depth of an inch or two; the frequent rains adding to the unhealthiness of the location. An epidemic of measles invaded the surrounding camps of infantry and a number of the "boys" of the Battery succumbed to the attack, while others suffered from typhoid and malarial fever and were sent back to the hospital at Lonisvivlle. February 9th, '62, the Army of the Ohio, consisting of about 16,000 inen of all branches, and led by Gen. O. M. Mitchell's di- vision, advanced upon Bowling Green, Ky., the then Rebel stronghold in Kentucky. As the 5th Indiana Battery had previously been assigned to Mitchell's division it was con- spicuous in the line of march. Ay Mitchells' forces ad-
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vanced and reached the north bank of Green river at or near Munfordville, it was discovered that the bridge across that stream had been destroyed and an attempt had been made to also destroy the railroad bridge, but this at- tempt had been frustrated by the timely appearance of the cavalry advance. The railroad bridge was speedily re- paired and a floor of heavy plank spiked upon the ties for the crossing of the army. The river had been swollen the recent heavy rains to almost overflowing. The bridge is about 80 feet above the river bed and being only 10 feet wide, the crossing of the Battery with "frisky" and un- trained horses was extremely hazardous, though a line of infantry was stationed on either side of the bridge the entire length of several hundred feet and between these two living lines the Battery passed over without accident, or incident worthy of mention. As soon as the 3rd Divis- ion was well across and "closed up," the advance was re- sumed, and on the 14th of Feb., when nearing the Big Bar- ren river, opposite Bowling Green, Ky., obstructions of every description were placed in the road to impede the progress of the advancing Federal forces. Couriers from the front reported that the town was from all appearances on fire. At this juncture an order was received for the artillery to move forward with all possible dispatch. The Ist Michigan and the 5th Indiana Batteries were given the right-of-way and hurried forward on a keen trot. The Ist Michigan having the advance reached the high ground about a half mile from the river and with their long range rifled guns ( Parrot) sneceeded in throwing a few shells across the river into the town. The effect of which was to hurry a few depredaters out of the town and give notice to the retreating forces under the Confederate Gen., Albert Sidney Johnson, that the artillery of O. M. Mitchell's di- vision was ready and anxious to give an account of them- selves whenever opportunity was given. The bridges which had spanned the Big Barren river had been burned and made unsafe, even for infantry in any considerable num- bers, and on account of recent heavy rains the river was turbulent and full almost to overflowing its banks-ford- able in many places near by in dryer seasons-but at this time it was perilous to undertake to ford it at any point. Here was a dilemma, which to many was to be the cause of an extended delay, but not so to the fertile minds of the engineers. By the use of a canoe which had been secured
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a small but strong rope was carried across the occupants of the canoe paddling heroically for the south bank; to this was securely fastened a 3-inch cable rope; this was snecessfully dragged through the swift running water to the south bank and securely fastened to a large tree which stood conveniently near; on the north bank the "cable" was carried back some distance to a tree suffic- iently large for anchorage. Now came the first "tug of war" (a very familiar expression in after time.) Fifty of the Battery boys and as many more of other coin- mands near by were required to stretch the "cable" suf- ficient to raise it out of the water. In the meantime a large coal barge had been secured and reinforced with a double floor or bottom, and brought up to the bank of the river parallel with the rope or "cable" and upon this "pontoon," and by a "hand-over-hand" action propelled singly) a sufficient number of trusty men-men of muscle and physical endurance-were put upon the "pontoon." Grasping the "cable" with both hands and bracing them- selves with their feet against the "up-stream" side of the "pontoon, and by a "hand-ovver-hand" action propelled the "pontoon" with its "cargo" of three teams and gun (or caisson) to the south bank. Perilous as the method of crossing was, it was proof of the courage and trustworth- iness of the "men behind the guns," which composed the 5th Indiana Battery. The drivers of teams were no less heroic in braving the dangers of crossing. After a delay of several days, caused by the necessity of building bridges for crossing the ammunition and supply trains. the march toward Nashville was resumed. The Third Division paralleling the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. It is worthy of note in connection with the history of the Battery to state that early in the morning of the day when the Third Division left Bowling Green a heavy downpour of rain set in and continued the entire day. Just at sunset the rain ceased-the clouds broke away and upon the receding clouds was displayed the "BOW OF PROMISE." But a more disgusted set of men would have been difficult to find. Soaked to their "hides" and bedraggled generally-muttered imprecations upon those responsible for bringing on "this ernel war," was fre- quently heard. And to add to the discomforts of the occasion, the quartermaster's supplies had been "swamped" and "rations" for the hungry men could not be
had. So that to the Battery boys was issued about a pint of wheat flour to each one, and the only method of "serving" was to mix a batter with cold water withont salt or "risin' " and baked on a camp skillet. These were very appropriately denominated "SINKERS." After par- taking of this frugal meal ( ?) mavy of the boys of the Battery took lodging in a large tobacco shed which had been erected as a storage shed near the railroad in the vicinity of Franklin, Tenn., a small way station on the railroad. In this shed was stored several tons of leaf to- bacco ready for packing and shipping. The next morn- ing broke serenely, and as the sun "peeped o'er the castern hills" the sentiment expressed in the following poem was amply illustrated :
"Behold, the rays of morning,
As bright they come from Eastern skies,
The vernal scenes adorning.
A thousand beanties. meet the eyes;
The New-born day rejoicing,
Comes bounding o'er the dewy hills,
And with its richest blessings
A thousand hearts with rapture fills."
The march was resumed after a liberal supply of "hard tack." coffee, beans and bacon which had been issued early in the morning. reaching Edgfield, on the Cumberland river, Feb. 24. opposite Nashville. Here, as af Bowling Green, the bridges spanning the Cumberland river had been destroyed by the Confederats, but the crossing was delayed but a few hours. On the morning of the 25th the river steamers which had brought Gen. Nelson's Division up the Cumberland during the night, after the fall of Fort Donelson, were used the next morning in ferrying Gen. Mitchell's Division to the south side of the Cumberland. Marching through the principal street of Nashville. strange sights met the eye and strange thoughts entered the minds of the "boys," for frequently some one, more outspoken than others, gave expression to his thoughts. The Battery went into. camp castward of the city on the Nashville & Murfreesborough pike, remaining in this camp until the 8th of March, when an order was issued for the Third Division to occupy Murfreesborough, some 32 miles sontheast of Nashville, on the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad. On account of the destruction of bridges span- ning the principal streams on the way, Murfreesborough
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was not reached until the evening of the 10th, having marched about 45 miles. The bridges having been de- stroyed on the direct road, other places for crossing were sought, thus making the distance traveled much greater. Regular camp quarters for the Battery were established and ocenpied until April 5th. The history of the Fifth Indiana Battery and Eighth Brigade of the Third Divis- ion is in substance the same. The Eighth Brigade was composed of the 19th Illinois, 24th Illinois, 18th Ohio and 37th Indiana. The Brigade was commanded by Col. Tur- chin, of the 19th Illinois. On April 5th, broke camp at Murfreesborough and the 6th occupied Shelbyville, cross- ing Duck river in the evening-establishing temporary camp-remaining but three days in preparing for the forced march to be made soon. With two days' rations in "haversacks," in the early morn of the 9th, the columnn was set in motion. Reaching Fayetteville, the column was halted but a short time-pushing onward in the direction of Huntsville, Ala,,-distant from Shelbyville about 62 miles. The distance was covered in about 30 hours- and at the break of day, April 11 ( Henry M. Cist says April 7th) the enemy was surprised completely at finding the town and railroad lines in possession of the "Yanks"- Turchin's Brigade, Kennett's Ohio Cavalry and the Fifth Indiana Battery. The Battery "awoke the echoes" about two and a half miles eastward of the town where the railroad and the Fayetteville and Huntsville pike run parallel for some distance and abont 500 yards apart, and but for the quick action of a section of the Battery many of the locomotive engines might have succeeded in es- caping eastward toward Chattanooga. Henry M. Cist, who was A. A. G. on the staff of Gen. Geo. II. Thomas, and See. of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, says "there were 15 locomotives and 150 passengers and freight cars with 170 prisoners captured and a large amount of army stores." The loaded cars were packed with supplies for the Confederate army at Corinth. This "breakfast job," in which the Battery participated, the success of which was largely dne to "quick action and accurate aim." A section of the Battery, which was "planted" on a slight eminence, opened fire on an engine which was making a bold effort to escape up the railroad, the second discharge of the gun in action disabling it by knocking off a drive-wheel, thus blockading the way, mak-
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ing escape to all others impossible. This was practically the first "active service" of the Battery. Though the time occupied was insigniticent, yet the result was far- reaching-the loss and damage to the Confederate auth- orities was great. The next day a force of infantry, ac- companied by parts of the Battery, was sent each way upon the line of the railroad. The force which went east- ward as far as Stephenson, Ala., ( the junction of the Nash- ville and Memphis and Chattanooga railroads) about 60 miles from Huntsville, destroyed the bridge across Wid- ow's creek and returned to Huntsville with numerous "trophies" of war, among which were a number of pris- oners. The expedition which went westward, surprised and routed a force of Confederates guarding the railroad bridge which spanned the Tennessee river near Decatur, Ala. The bridge had been piled with combustibles and saturated with turpentine in anticipation of a speedy de- struction if occasion demanded it. \ squadron of the 4th Ohio Cavalry had succeeded in swimming the river some distance below the bridge, and, coming upon the guard from an unexpected "quarter" caused a precipitate evacnation of the post; although one detachment of the Battery had been planted upon the railroad track and loaded with canister to "sweep the bridge" in case an attempt should be made to apply the torch. After a de- lay of about two hours the Federal forces, including the Battery, crossed the river on the railroad bridge, planks having been spiked onto the ties parallel with the rails. Continuing the march westward Courtland and Tuseum- bia were occupied with but little resistance. A temporay camp was established near the town of Tuscumbia. Here it was that a few of the Battery boys determined that the time had come for beginning the work of "laying waste" the "enemy's land" ( ?) with no feeling of regret afterward. The several squads of cavalry scoured the ad- jacent country, breaking up and routing bands of guerilla and watching the movements of parts of the defeated Confederate army from Shiloh; the news of which had been received subsequent to the capture of Huntsville. A reconnoitering party, consisting of two regiments of infantry, one gun of the 5th Indiana and one of the 1st Michigan batteries, led by Col. Turchin, routed a force of Confederates at Athens, Ala., "cleaned up" the town of commissary supplies and returned. Having accom-
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plished its purpose the forces returned to Huntsville, destroying everything-except commissary supplies which were successfully brought away-that would be of benefit to the Confederates who were cautiously following. The bridges at Decatur went up in "fire and smoke;" the resin and turpentine which had been put upon the rail- road bridge had not been removed and it was but the work of a few minutes to apply the torch, several of the cannon- cers from the 5th assisting in "touching the fnsc." The Battery, after returning to Huntsville, established a camp in a beautiful grove near the town and for more than a. month had nothing but the routine of camp duty for ex- ercise. Not long, however, did idleness prevail ; daily for- aging parties were sent out in search of forage, and with the corn and "fodder" was usually a generous supply of "smoked pork," consisting of hams, shoulders and sides which were found ( ?) buried or hid away in fodder stacks, other edibles were brought in in generous quantities; many camp kettles and buckets full of luscious dew berries, growing wild in the "thrown-ont" or abandoned fields were gathered, and from which the famous "army cobbler" was made. A little later the "wild goose" plum was made an item in the menu for special dinners. On the 16th of June. '62, Col. Turchin with the 8th Brigade and three guns of the 5th Indiana Battery (right section and one detachment of the center section under immedi- ate comnemnd of Capt. Simonson) went to Winchester, Tonn., driving out and scattering about 600 Confederate infantry and cavalry-"swept" southward through Paint Rock to Stevenson, Alabama, thence to Bridgeport, Ala .. encamping on the the west bank of the Tennessee river where the railroad bridge of the Memphis & Chattanooga railroad had been burned by Confederate authority and orders. The 5th Indiana Battery participated in the ser- eral skirmishes which occurred at Winchester. Paint Rock and other places wherever artillery could be used to ad- vantage. Abont this time the 8th Brigade was broken up-Colonel Turchin having had charges preferred against him for permitting "pillaging" ( ?) in the town of Athens. The verdict of dismissal by the court was set aside by President Lincoln.) The 8th Brigade was in a measure lost sight of for a length of time; though the Bat- fery still maintained its identity with the 3rd Division (23rd Corps.) (Gen. O. M. Mitchell had been relieved of the command of the 3rd Division for reasons best known
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to Gen. Buel.) Gen. Lovel HI. Rouseau succeeded Gen. Mitchell. About the first of August the three guns and other equipments of the Battery which had remained at Huntsville were ordered to proceed to Bridgeport. where headquarters had been established. Aug. 24th the 3rd Di- vision (including the Battery) was ordered back to Steph- enson to garrison the fort at that place, and guard "gaps" through which the two railroads run, forming a junction at Stephenson ; but two companies of the 37th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry and three of the 13th Michi- gan had arrived, the Battery occupying the fort near the railroad depot. On the 30th of Aug. a general retrograde movement of Bnel's entire army was begun-leaving the 3rd Division, a part of which was vet at Bridgeport-to cover the movement. Early on the morning of the 31st in- formation was received that a force of Confederate in- fantry was advancing upon Stephenson. A reconnoiter- ing party under Capt. Simonson was sent out which soon met the enemy in force and after a few shots exchanged with the enemy-it was discovered and reported by sconts that a considerable force of Confederates with artillery was advancing preparatory to an attack. Capt. Simonson deeming "discretion the better part of wisdom," returned to the fort. Scarcely had he entered the fort when the en- emy run a "12-pound" Howitzer out in plain view and sent a solid shot "whirling" over the fort. The Battery boys were on the alert and were soon answering "shot for shot" and by taking deliberate aim sneceeded in dismounting one of the Confederate guns and causing the whole "out- fit" to retire out of range and out of sight. Orders had been received by the officer commanding the post at Steph- enson to evacuate as soon as practicable. This must be done cautiously, for according to reliable information, at least four regiments of Confederate infantry and a fom- gun battery were forming thier lines for an attack. Cars bad been loaded with "surplus" baggage of the Battery without creating suspicion and at about 2 p. m. of the 31st was started up the railroad toward Decherd. The Battery withdrew from the fort by sections with a platoon accom- paniment of infantry ; taking position in as plain a view as convenient, and remaining thus until another section would come up and "wheel into line,"-misleading and confusing the Confederates fill all, the Infantry and Bat- tery had withdrawn and formed for defense across a nar- row gap in the mountain spurs through which the fail-
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