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M. L.
EN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02479 1730
Gc 973.74 1N2AL ALEXANDER, JOHN D. HISTORY OF THE NINETY- SEVENTH REGIMENT OF INDIANA
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1
HISTORY
OF THE
Ninety-Seventh Regiment
OF
INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
BY
CAPTAIN JOHN D. ALEXANDER.
Indiana Infantry. 97th Regiment
1862-1865
TERRE HAUTE, IND. MOORE & LANGEN, PRINTERN AND BOOK HINDKRA.
Ic 977.2 INT
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
2
Mason by her nucler Adm. G. lo avies
Get 8.1891.
1233721
Comrades of the With Regiment, Indiana Infantry Valentins-
Twenty-five years have rolled away, with their -finish in aml shadow, since we were mustered out of service. Our first reunion wa- held at Worthington. Indiana, in September, 15%, and our -and at Spencer, Indiana. At our first reunion it was determined that history of the regiment should be written, which duty was courte- ously assigned to me. I then felt, and still feel, that the history will fall short of your expectations. But, feeling it to be the duty of a soldier to obey orders, at your command I have writ ten this history. It must, in the nature of things bemcomplete. The time has been long since we, as boys, marched to the tune- of " The Girl I Left Behind Me" and " The Groom County Hall On," and memory, over treacherous, has let slip many thing- I would love to remember. But, if I cannot repang the photo of your battles, and your marches and struggles for the supreme Hey of the dear old flag of the Union, and all the details three years, covered over, as it is, with the dust of supporters a century, I will endeavor to bring out some of it- most provient features, which will at least give you an outline upon which one in the future will improve.
The companies that composed the 9th Regment at hilfs Volunteers were enlisted in the 7th Congressional District com the months of July and August, 1862. The whole como t that time, seemed to be turned into a military camp.
Every day, for weeks, meetings were held and speeches male Dinner was brought in the baskets of patriotic women, of war dinner one man took the flag, another a tite another a flor ua marched up and down in front of the crowd, beating of volunteers, The favorite tunes played were, . Yankee [Noell " Jay Bird," " Greene County Hang Um " and " The Off I Behind Me." The ten companies composing the rement made up in the following counties in the district A. C. E and ti, in Greene county ; Company B m ty que Company D. in Putnam county : Company I in Sullo way Company Il, in Owen county. Company A in Vinsthe county, and Company F. in threene and Own couples Vop August 25, 1862, all these companies found a ronde att Dick Thompson, near Terre Haute, Here the resident m ganized and mustered into service September 20 40 ft James Biddle. The officers of the companies were then lows : Company A, Captain, Andrew J. Axtell, Ist him.
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Nathaniel Crane ; 2d Lieutenant, John Catron. Company B, Captain, James Watts; 1st Lieutenant, Luther S. Wolfe; 2d Lieutenant, John Dalgren ; Company C, Captain, John W. Car- micheal; 1st Lieutenant, Jacob E. Fletcher; 2d Lieutenant, Wil- liam F. Jerauld. Company D, Captain, James J. Smiley ; 1st Lieutenant, Joseph W. Piercy ; 2d Lieutenant, William F. Sher- fey. Company E, Captain, Thomas Flinn ; 1st Lieutenant, Joseph T. Oliphant ; 2d Lieutenant, Elijah Mitchell. Company F, Captain, Zachariah Dean; 1st Lieutenant, George Elliott; 2d Lieutenant, John Dickinson. Company G, Captain, John Fields; Ist Lieutenant, William Hatfield ; 2d Lieutenant Henry Gastineau. Company H, Captain, James Robinson ; 1st Lieutenant, James S. Meek ; 2d Lieutenant, Joseph P. White. Company I, Captain, James Holdson ; 1st Lieutenant, Albert P. Forsythe; 2d Lieu- tenant, Josiah Stanley. Company K, Captain, David Shelby ; Ist Lieutenant, James Jordan ; 2d Lieutenant, Ed Groendyke.
In October, 1862, Bragg was advancing on Louisville, Kentucky, and the regiment received its first marching orders, and was or- dered to Louisville via Indianapolis, but when we reached Indian- apolis the threatened danger was over, and we were ordered into quarters at Camp Morton. While here we had nothing to do but draw and cook rations, do police and guard duty, drill occasion- ally and " shine up " for dress parade, under the supervision of Col. Mahan, who commanded the camp. Our Field and Staff Offi- cers were appointed while we were at Camp Morton. The mem- bers of the regiment found, one morning in a daily paper, that Robert F. Catterson, Captain in the 14th Indiana, who had been wounded at Antietam, had been appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, and Captain Aden G. Cavins, of the 59th Indiana regiment, had been appointed Major, Alexander McGregor, Ad- jutant, William Johnson, Quartermaster, Dr. A. D. Murphy, Surgeon, J. C. Hilburn, Assistant Surgeon, and Rev. George Terry, Chaplain. About the last days of October the regiment was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, where it arrived in due time and went into camp near the city-called Camp Catterson. In a few days the regiment was ordered out to guard a wagon train, loaded with supplies-as far as Bardstown, Kentucky. This was our first march-about 80 miles, there and back-and it is safe to presume there were 2,000 blistered heels and 10,000 blistered toes when we got back to Louisville, as marching on a pike was a new experience, and one likely to bring on such a calamity, and by reason of this, as well as being our first march, a great many of the boys gave out, and quite a number of the thoroughbred horses and mules of Kentucky were pressed into service, as well as their chivalrous and neutral owners, to bring us into camp. The regi- ment remained here until November 9, 1862, when it was ordered to Memphis. It boarded two transports, the " Mary Miller " and
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" Hettie Gilmore," and started down the Ohio river. The weather was delightful. The autumnal dyes of scarlet, gold and purple were upon the trees, and the haze of Indian Sunnner hung like a veil upon the hills. Six companies were aboard the "Mary Mil- ler " and four companies aboard the " Hettie Gilmore." Every- thing went well until the " Mary Miller" struck a snag above Evansville, but, fortunately, kept afloat, and the damage was re- paired. The " Hettie Gilmore " kept afloat well until she struck a sand-bar at the month of Cumberland river, where we stayed all night, and the soldiers and sutlers' stores were put out on a lighter, and I suppose the sutlers-Fellows and Whittaker, think, even to this day, that they were all thrown overboard, but the boys did smoke some cigars and chewed considerable tobacco after that that looked like some the gutlers had, and their haversacks, under hard tack and bacon, contained butter and soft crackers. The regiment reached Memphis November 15, 1862, and remained there until November 25, when the army moved south to Holly Springs, Mississippi. At Memphis the regiment was brigaded with the 99th Indiana and 53d and 70th Ohio, Gen. Denver command- ing. Advanced with the army under Grant and Sherman to Yark- napatafa river, where we halted and remained nearly a week, sub- sisting mainly on Mississippi "yams." The Rebels captured Holly Springs, and we had to retrace our steps. While here Lieutenant Colonel Catterson received his commission as Colonel and Major C'avins his commission as Lieutenant Colonel. In a few days were on the march again for LaGrange, Tennessee, and reached that place January 8, 1863, and went into winter quarters, Quite a number of the regiment died here. We remained here until March, 1863, when the regiment was ordered to Fort Grissom, lo- cated at a bridge on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, west of Latirange twenty miles, Remained here until April, 1963. when it was ordered to LaGrange again. In June, 1863, the regi- ment was ordered to Vicksburg via Memphis. It marched to Memphis, and there with other regiments took transports to Vicksburg. The 97th Indiana and a battery went to Vicksburg on the steamboat " John Warner." There were probably thirty or forty steamboats loaded with troops, horses, artillery and wagons, one following the other, with a convoy of gunboats. Now and then Rebel cavalry would appear on the banks of the river and the gunboats would wake the echoes by shelling the woods It the mouth of the Yazoo river our boats went up that river and the regiment disembarked at Snyder's Blutf. Here it was citt ployed in building breastworks and fortifications facing to The rear and watching the movements of the Rebel General, die Johnson, who was out near Jackson, Miss, with the intention of trying to raise the siege of Vicksburg. June 26, was ordered to move more directly to the rear of Vicksburg and in the direction
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of Jackson to Oak Ridge, where the regiment remained until after the fall of Vieksburg, July 4, 1863. On July 5 the regiment was ordered to Jackson, being at this time a part of Gen. W. S. Smith's division. Sharp opposition was encountered at Black river, but advanced rapidly on Jackson, and had two days of sharp skirm- ishing. The main fighting at Jackson was July 16, 1863. The 97th Indiana and 40th Illinois advanced on the fortifications as skirmishers; took the riffe-pits, but were not supplied by the battle column, and after lying close under the Rebel guns for several hours, retired. Lieutenant Colonel Cavins' horse was killed with a cannon shot ; Lieutenant Jerauld, of Company C. had his arm shot off, of which wound he died at Camp "Sherman on Black river; Captain Dean, of Company F, was struck with a spent ball, and the shock and debility resulted in his death at Camp Sherman, August 7, 1863. George W. Corbin, of Com- pany G, James L. Strong, of Company B, and William H. Harri- son, of Company K, were killed in battle at Jackson, July 16. 1863. The regiment, after tearing up miles of railroad track, re- turned to Black river and went into camp, and remained here until ordered to Chattanooga.
C'ol. Cockerell, who commanded our brigade at Jackson, Mis- sissippi, in his report of the battle of Jackson, to Brig. Gen. W. S. Smith, commanding the division, says : " On the 16th, the 97th Indiana, Colonel Catterson, was ordered on pieket in the front and left of the division, and in obedience to orders from headquarters, the pieket line was advanced to feel the enemy's front, and moved forward in fine style across an open field nearly to the works of the enemy under a most terrific fire from at least three of their batteries. The casualties of the 97th Indiana in this advance were about thirty killed and wounded.
On the morning of the 17th Col. Catterson went forward to the enemy's works and planted his colors on the redoubt, the enemy having evacuated the place during the night. I believe the 97th Indiana was the first regiment in Jackson. Every officer, and, I believe, every soldier of my brigade stood to his place with the most heroic courage and never quailed before any fire of the en- emv. I cannot too highly commend the conduct of the gallant colonel of the 97th Indiana and his brave regiment who were placed on the 16th in advance. They deserve the commendation of the country. I desire to call attention to Lieutenant Colonel C'avins and Captain Dean, acting field officer 97th Indiana Vols., as officers who have distinguished themselves for courage, per- severence and skill and are competent to any task imposed upon them. To the line officers of the brigade, and the gallant soldiers of each and every regiment, I cheerfully testify that all per- formed their duty to my entire satisfaction and seemed to vie with each other as to who was the bravest and best soldier." Col.
Catterson, in his report to Cut. Cockerel, dated July 200 1-53. says of the part taken by his regiment . .. My line of skirmisher- as posted, were about 700 yards from the Rebel fortifications with a broad open field in front of my right, thus exposing it to the enemy's five at the first step forward. In front of my left was a thick wood in which was posted the 20th Mississippi Regiment as sharpshooters, thus not only exposing my entire line to a mur- derous fire from the enemy's artillery, but to the continued tire of two regiments of infantty posted as skirmisher. But notwith- standing all the disadvantages we labored under not an officer or man wavered, but moved forward under the calling fire of batteries showering upon us a perfect storm of grape and canister. solid shot and shell, till within from 200 to 300 yards of the en- emy's works, while my extreme left was within less than 100 feet of their battery on the left, from which point they were able to completely silence two of their guns, Having no support thus far I felt I could do nothing more than halt and if possible hold my position. At this time I saw my support coming in on my ex- treme right, moving forward under a most terrible fire and we eupying a ravine near the railroad. At 3 P. M. a heavy force of the enemy met and drove back the force on the west of the rail- road, thus leaving my right entirely exposed and outflanked by nearly 200 yards. My support had also fallen back to the dirt road running parallel to my line and, as my ammunition had all been exhausted, the right wing was ordered to fall back to the road. which was done and held permanently. In the meantime the left wing had been supplied with ammunition and advanced still nearer the enemy's works, which position they left only to occupy the one my's works, which was done at daylight on the morning of the 17th. During the entire engagement both officers and men behaved with the most daring gallantry and to enumerate the conduct of those who distinguished themselves on this occasion would In to name in detail every officer and man in my command. I must say, however, that I cannot find words to express my almiration of the conduct of Lieut. Col. A. G. Cavins, in command of the right wing, and t'aptain meting nmajor, Dean, who was wounded while so gloriously leading the left forward through a perfect storm of iron hnil."
See War of Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate armies. Series No. t, Vol. 24.
One incident I mention while on the way to Jackson. When the brigade to which we belonged had reached Black River 1 . Cockerell commanding, said we must cross this river, Jason Il Allen, of Co. D. now our efficient secretary, sud he knew when there was a boat on the other side, but full of water Volunteer were called for and Allen stopped out and swam across the river toward the enemy, bailed out the boat and brought it over
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In September, 1863, we were ordered to Chattanooga. Went to Vicksburg, thence by river to Memphis. Left Memphis in Oc- tober, 1863, and marched to Bridgeport ; took a short rest near Nickajack Cave, then crossed Sand Mountain to Trenton, in Look- out Valley. Here met friends in the 31st Regiment, Ind. Vols., and other regiments of the 4th Corps, who, in bidding us good bye, said we would see sights before we got five miles away. Were ordered to join the army near Chattanooga. Marched down the valley ; crossed the Tennessee River on pontoons and camped be- hind the hills opposite the mouth of Chickamaugua Creek. Crossed the Tennessee again on pontoons and were in the advance on Mission Ridge and inside their picket guard line when we ar- rived, fronting that part of the ridge through which the railroad tunnel passes, which was strongly fortified and occupied in strong force by the Rebel army.
The fight next day was a bloody one and lasted all day. Masses of reinforcements could be seen swarming in all day to increase the Rebel forces, and Sherman's men, the 15th corps, made but little headway against the heavy columns of the enemy. But when Hooker struck them on their left, and Thomas charged their center, it was not long until the battle was over and the Union flag floated from one end to the other of Mission Ridge. The regiment followed them nearly to Ringgold Pass, was then ordered to march to . Knoxville, East Tennessee, to relieve Gen. Burnside, who was besieged by Gen. Longstreet. Marched with- out tents or other camp equipage, through rain and snow, camp- ing late at night, and on its return to Chattanooga, 86 of the men out of 310 had no shoes. Then marched west along the Memphis & Charleston railroad via Bridgeport and Stevenson, Alabama to Scottsboro, Alabama, and went into winter quarters December 24th, 1863.
Gen. Sherman in his memoirs says of this campaign : " While the 15th army corps, of which I was commander, was encamped on the Big Black river in September, 1863, the army of the Cumberland under Rosecrans was moving against Bragg at Chat- tanooga, and Burnside of the army of the Ohio, was marching to- ward East Tennessee. Rosecrans was defeated at Chickamaugua, and Burnside was besieged at Knoxville, and I was ordered to take the 15th army corps to Memphis and to Chattanooga. While on this march Grant was made commander of the armies of the Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio, and Sherman of the army of the Tennessee. Gen. Blair was assigned temporarily to the com- mand of the 15th army corps. Sherman reached Chattanooga November 14, 1863. He and Grant walked out to Fort Wood, when Sherman said, 'Why Gen. Grant, you are besieged,' and he said ' It is too true.' The Rebel lines extended from the river below the town to the river above, and the army of the Cumber-
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land was held to the town and its immediate defenses. tien. Grant explained that he believed the northern part of Mission Ridge was not fortified at all and he wanted me as soon as my troops got up to lay a pontoon bridge by night, cross over the Tennessee and attack Bragg; right flank abutting on t'hicka- maugua creek and the tunnel. I went back to Bridgeport and or- dered Gen. Ewing's division to take the advance and start in the direction of Trenton to make Bragg believe his left tank was the point of attack. It was on this occasion that the 15th army corps gained its peculiar badge. As the men were trudging along through the mud and a cold drizzly rain near Whitesides, one of our western soldiers left the ranks and joined a party of the 12th army corps at their camp fire. The 12th army corps men asked him what troops they were. In turn our man (who had never seen a corps badge, and noticed everything was marked with a star-wagons, tents and hats) asked if they were all Brigadier Generals. Then the 12th corps men inquired what corps he belonged to and he answered the 15th army corps. What is your corps badge ? " Why," said he (and he was an Irishman, striking his cartridge-box), "JOrounds in the cartridge-box and 20 in the pocket," and when Logan, (who succeeded Blairs heard the story, he adopted the cartridge-box and 40 rounds as the corps badge. After this fight Gen. Granger was started with his corps to relieve Burnside at Knoxville. tien. Grant in a letter to Sher- man says : "Granger is on the way to relieve Burnside, but I have lost all faith in his energy or capacity to manage an expedition of the importance of this one. I think I shall have to send you." On the 5th of December, Sherman received official notice that Longstreet had raised the siege and retreated up the valley to- ward Virginia.
Sherman says: " Approaching Knoxville, I saw a large pen full of fine cattle, which did not look much like starvation found Burnside and staff domiciled in a large, fine mansion, look- ing very comfortable, and he said he had already given orders looking to the pursuit of Longstreet. I offered to join in the pur- suit, though in fact my men were worn out and suffering in that cold season and climate, which offer Burnside declined. At Burn- side's headquarters we all sat down to a good dinner, including roast turkey. I had seen nothing of the kind in my till espe- rience and exclaimed, 'I thought they were starving Button. Burnside explained that Longstreet had at no time complets invested the place, but he had kept open communication with the country on the south side of the river, from which I non inhabitants had supplied him with beef, bacon and corn meal. Had I known this I should not have hurried my men so fast, but until I reached Knoxville. I thought his troops were actually in danger of starvation." In his report of this campaign to tien
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Grant, Gen. Sherman says: "In reviewing the facts I must do justice to the men of my command for the patience, cheerfulness and courage which officers and men have displayed throughout- in battle, on the march, and in camp. For long periods without regular rations or supplies of any kind, they have marched through mud and over rocks, sometimes bare-footed, without a murmur; without a moment's rest after a march of over 400 miles, without sleep for three successive nights, we crossed the Tennessee river, fought our part of the battle of Chattanooga, pursued the enemy out of Tennessee and then turned more than 120 miles north and compelled Longstreet to raise the siege at Knoxville, which gave so much anxiety to the whole country. I cannot speak of the 15th army corps without a seeming vanity. but as I am no longer its commander, I assert that there is no better body of soldiers in America than it. I wish all to feel a just pride in its real honors."
Our eamp at Scottsboro was north of the railroad and town, in a cove and near a large spring. Shut in by the mountains west, north and east, we had little else to do while here but eat, smoke, write letters and do guard duty, after we got our camps in good order, until February, 1864, when the regiment was ordered on a seout with some other regiments, all under command of Gen. Morgan L. Smith, then commanding at Huntsville, Ala. The scout extended as far south as Lebanon, Ala. We saw no enemy and the boys only succeeded in capturing some " apple jack " and fighting roosters, and in returning to camp the boys would have a rooster fight whenever we stopped to rest. The boy's carried them under their arms and the roosters kept up their crowing as we marched along. About the last days of February, 1864, the regiment with others was sent to Cleveland, East Tennessee, and from there made a reconnoisance near Tunnel Hill and Dalton, Georgia. It was said that Sherman with a large force had moved from Vicksburg in the direction of Meridian, Miss., and was tear- ing up railroad tracks and destroying railroad depots and rolling stock, and that Hardee's Corps had left Tunnel Hill to intercept him, and we were sent there to cause him to return. Whether we succeeded or not I am unable to say, but I do know that after severe fighting one day the " Johnnies " swarmed out upon us so thick that we had to retreat pretty suddenly that night and they kept at our heels the next day until noon, popping away at us all the time.
On the last named expedition Capt. David Shelby was in com- mand of the regiment. On our return to camp and while crossing Crow Creek, near Stevenson, Ala., Jacob F. Myers, of Co. H, a a teamster, and six mules, were drowned by the bridge giving way, March 5, 1864. When the regiment returned to Scottsboro our camp was enlivened by the presence of Mrs. Col. Cavins, of
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Bloomfield : Mrs. Capt. Fields, of Owensboro, and Mrs. Capt Meck, and Mrs. Capt. White, of Spencer. This was the second visit for Mrs. Cavins and Mrs. Mock, as both had visited the regi- ment when at Moscow, Tenn., in April and May, INGS, both of whom while there were unremitting in their attention to the sick. bathing their hands and faces in the morning preparing deliens is with their own hands and seeing that everyone was made as com- fortable as possible. Mrs. Cavins brought with her both finnes her girl baby Jodie, and Mrs. Mock brought her girl baby sallie While in camp Mrs. Caving colored boy Lindsey carried Jodie around and was very jealous of his precious burden, so much so that he didn't want the men in the regiment to take her in their arms, as so many wished to do, and some of the boys would say " Lindsey, Lindsey, you black devil you, bring that baby here Jodie is now married to Mr. J. D. Torr, and restdes in Green- castle, and Miss Sallie is now married to Mr. Willis Hickam and resides in Spencer, and as they were the only girl babies brought to the regiment. I have taken the liberty to call them " The daughters of the regiment." and I am happy to say they are both present at this reunion and now present them to you. The visit- of all these ladies with their children will ever be a green spot In the memory of every man in the regiment. While these ladies were in camp on the last day of April, 1864, the writer was In command of a picket guard at the mountain pass, with orders to let no one pass in or out of the lines without a pass from head- quarters. Mrs. Cavins and Mrs. White came up the mountain hunting flowers and up to the picket post Just beyond the line were some very beautiful flowers and the writer went with the ladies to get them. When the ladies returned to camp and told they got their flowers beyond the picket line vol. C'avin- said he would go up at once and arrest the officer in command. but through the intercession of Mrs. Cavins the writer was saved from such a calamity. While here the regiment sent to New York and purchased two beautiful swords for tools. Catterson and Cavins, which were presented on behalf of the regiment by J p Alexander, to which the douces made excellent replies and thank- This, then, is some of the poetry of war.
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