Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 12

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 982

USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 12
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Shortly after the organization of the regiment, it proceeded to Coving- ton, Ky. After the rebel army had retreated out of Kentucky, the regi- ment marched to Lexington and Danville, and remained at the latter place until February, 1863. It then moved to Louisville, and embarked on boats and proceeded to Nashville, Tenn., from which place it marched to Franklin. The brigade to which it belonged was composed of the Thirty-third Indiana, the Twenty-second Wisconsin, Nineteenth Michigan and Eighty-fifth Indi- ana, and was commanded by Col. John Coburn. Early in March, 1863, the brigade was ordered from Franklin to resist the progress of Gen. Forrest's army, and to drive him back to Spring Hill. On the 5th of March, the brigade encountered the enemy and made an attack upon him at Thompson's Station, driving the rebel forces back in confusion for some miles. Col. Coburn now encountered Gen. Forrest with five brigades, who were strongly forti- fied behind stone fences, when a desperate conflict ensued, the battle lasting from five to six hours. Finally, after being surrounded and completely over- powered, the brigade was compelled to surrender, but not until all of its ammunition had been exhausted. This was the first engagement in which the Eighty-fifth had taken part, and it fought most valiantly, changing front three times under a severe fire. The loss of the regiment was heavy in both killed and wounded. After the surrender, the captured brigade was marched sixteen miles to Columbia, and thence to Tullahoma, suffering during the march from want of food, exhaustion, and exposure to rain and cold. The men were compelled to remain out, uncovered, one whole night, without food From Tullahoma they were transported to Chattanooga, and thence to Rich- mond, where they were placed in Libby Prison. Happily, they were not long exposed to the horrors of a rebel prison, and on the 31st of March they were released and returned to Indianapolis. During the sixty days of its captivity, the Eighty-fifth suffered exceedingly from ill usage, and quite a

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

number died along the line of its march and in the prison at Richmond. In June, 1863, after the exchange, the regiment was again sent to Tennessee and stationed at Franklin, where it engaged in more or less skirmishing and fighting, until Bragg's army fell back. It then marched to Murfreesboro, and remained in that vicinity all summer, fall and winter, guarding the rail- road from Nashville to Chattanooga, in the performance of which duty it was frequently upon the track of raiders and guerrillas. On the 20th of April, 1864, it began its march, with Coburn's brigade, to join the Twentieth Corps, and immediately entered upon the campaign against Atlanta. It participated in every important engagement of the campaign, as well as in numerous skirmishes. It was in the terrible charge against Resaca, in the battles of Cassville, Dallas Woods, Golgotha Church, Culp's Farm and Peach Tree Creek. At Peach Tree Creek, Coburn's brigade was the first to receive the charging forces of the enemy, deploying in single line, and when the Eighty-fifth opened fire upon the rebels, they were not over fifty feet from its front. The destruction of life was terrible to the enemy. When the Union line charged the enemy, sweeping him back to his works, the ground in front of the Eighty-fifth was piled with dead and wounded rebels. Upon its front, between the place where it met the enemy and where it halted at the top of the hill, fifty-three rebels were buried in one grave. The regi- ment also took part in the struggle before Atlanta, and was present at the fall of that place. The Eighty-fifth also participated in Gen. Sherman's campaign from Atlanta through Georgia, and on the 12th of December came upon the enemy's lines at Savannah, where it remained in front of the ene- my's works for ten days. After the fall of Savannah, the division to which it belonged was the first to cross the border into South Carolina, driving the enemy's cavalry before it. The regiment then lay in the swamps near the Savannah River, with its brigade, until February, when it started on the campaign through South Carolina. In March, two divisions of the Twen- tieth Corps attacked the army of Johnston, at Averysboro. The Second Brigade of the Third Division charged the rebel works through an open field, and in this movement the Eighty-fifth was the directing regiment. The charge was most gallantly made under a terrible fire, under the eye of Gen. Sherman. The Union forces swept in over the rebel works, taking many prisoners and three pieces of artillery. In this maneuver, the Eighty-fifth suffered severely in killed and wounded. At Bentonville, the regiment moved with its division to the field, where all seemed lost. After that long and hurried march, the troops took position and formed in line with precision, and during the day the Eighty-fifth moved to four positions upon the field, under severe fire, and aided in building a line of works to cover the flank. After this it moved to Goldsboro, from whence it marched in the campaign against Raleigh, and upon the surrender of Johnston it marched to Richmond, looking as visitors upon Libby Prison. From Rich- mond, the regiment moved to Washington, where it was mustered out of the service on the 12th of June 1865. It proceeded to Indianapolis at once,

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where it was finally discharged, and its surviving members disbanded to seek their respective homes, and to resume the peaceful vocations of life. From the 15th of May, 1864, to the date of its discharge, the Eighty-fifth lost in killed and wounded 147 men. The following is only a partial list of the dead in Companies I and K:

Company I .- Richard S. Hamilton, died at Lexington, Ky., March 20, 1863 ; George W. Lucas, Harmony, died at Nashville, Tenn., March 25, 1865; Stephen Tucker, Clay County, killed at Thompson's Station, Tenn., March 5, 1863 ; John F. Congelton, Clay County, died at Atlanta October 21, 1864 ; Lloyd W. Conway, Ashboro, killed at Thompson's Station March 5, 1863 ; Michael Coal, Center Point, died at Columbia, Tenn., March 22, 1863 ; David A. Clark, Clay County, died at Lexington, Ky., November 16, 1862 ; Reece Donham, Staunton, died at Nashville, Tenn., March 24, 1863 ; Marion Lyglet, Staunton, died at Nashville April 10, 1863 ; John G. Mitch- ell, Clay County, died at Indianapolis September 20, 1862; William Mor- ton, Clay County, died at Nashville March 13, 1863; Samuel Mowery, Clay, County, died at Nashville March 9, 1863 ; William Roberts, Clay County, died at Staunton, May 1, 1863 ; Ira B. Slack, Clay County, died May 16, 1864. of wounds ; Samuel Tribble, Clay County, died at Lexington, Ky., January 16, 1863 ; Daniel F. Wright, Clay County, died at Hickman's Bridge, Ky., December 27, 1862.

The following of Company K died during the service : Charles Ault, killed at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864; James Shepherd, killed at Thompson's Station, Tenn., March 15, 1863; Gideon F. Mattox, died at Richmond, Va., March 28, 1863 ; Daniel Archer, died at Pulaski, Tenn., April 28, 1863 ; Henry T. Crist, died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., July 25, 1863 ; Jackson Cooper, died at Nashville, Tenn., April 6, 1863 ; Wilson Filbert, died at Annapolis, Md., April 6, 1863; Jacob Freedley, died at Richmond, Va., March 27, 1863; Andrew Lawson, died at Louisville, Ky., February 6, 1863 ; Isaac M. Liston, killed at Thompson's Station March 5, 1863 ; Dan- iel L. Musgrave, died at Danville, Ky., February -- , 1863 ; Hiram Morris, died at Danville, Ky., February 10, 1863 ; Samuel R. McCoy, died at Dan- ville, Ky., February -, 1863; William H. Nelson, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 28, 1864; Lewis Slaughter, died at Nashville, Tenn., March 3, 1863 ; Jonah Worth, died at Nicholasville, Ky.

NINETY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, COMPANY B.

Company B of the Ninety-seventh Regiment was mustered mostly in Clay County, in the vicinity of Poland, but it embraced also a number from Owen County. Upon its first organization, in the summer of 1862, the com- pany elected James Watt, Captain ; Luther Wolfe, at present editor of the Clay County Enterprise, First Lieutenant ; and John Delgan and Andrew J. Coffman served as Second Lieutenants. Mr. Wolfe was afterward pro- moted Captain of the company. The Ninety-seventh was mustered into the service at Terre Haute September 20, 1862, with Robert F. Catterson as

COL. 3/57 IND. VOLS.

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Colonel. It was soon ordered to the front, and proceeded to Memphis, Tenn., where it was assigned to the Third Brigade, First Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. The regiment was assigned to duty near Memphis, and ac- companied Gen. Grant's movements toward Vicksburg by overland route. The army met with a disaster at Holly Springs, which delayed its move- ments and rendered the expedition unsuccessful. The regiment then re- turned to Moscow, Tenn., and remained on duty at that place until it was - placed in Gen. Sherman's army, then in the rear of Vicksburg, watching the movements of the rebel General Johnston, who, with a large army, threat- ened to break the investing lines of the Union army and raise the siege of Vicksburg. On the 4th of July, 1863, Vicksburg surrendered, and Sherman's army at once moved toward Jackson, marching fifty miles through dust and heat in a country almost destitute of water. The advance guard of the army reached the works in front of Jackson on the 9th, and soon invested the place. The regiment was engaged in a constant series of skirmishes until the 16th, when the enemy evacuated the place and the Union army entered the city. The regiment then returned to Big Black and rested for a short time.

On the 13th of September, in pursuance of a military order to Grant and Sherman to send all available forces to Corinth to co-operate with Rosen- crans in resisting the rebels under Gen. Bragg, the regiment moved with its division to Memphis, and in the latter part of October entered Tuscum- bia, Ala. Soon after, the army was ordered to Bridgeport, and after a march of over four hundred miles, with little or no rest for three successive nights, crossed the Tennessee River and took part in the battle of Chattanooga on the 25th of November, 1863. In this battle the Ninety-seventh took an active part and sustained the loss of a number of men in killed and wounded. Shortly afterward, the army moved to the relief of Gen. Burnside in East Tennessee. Having accomplished this result, the regiment marched with its column over one hundred miles, and went with its corps to Scottsboro, Ala., where it remained until the opening of the Atlanta campaign in May, 1864. The Ninety-seventh was engaged around Resaca during the early part of May, having been assigned to the Third Brigade, Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, under the command of Gen. John A. Logan. The movements finally culminated on the 14th and 15th of May in the battle of Resaca, in which the regiment participated. The battle resulted in the de- feat and retreat of the enemy during the night. The corps to which the Ninety-seventh belonged followed in pursuit of the enemy, and again en- countered and repulsed him at Dallas, the regiment taking part in the battle. On the 1st of June an encounter took place with the enemy at New Hope Church, and on the 15th a sharp affair was had at Big Shanty, the Ninety- seventh being engaged. On the 27th, an assault was made upon the enemy's works on Kenesaw Mountain, which resulted disastrously. On the next day, the army moved to Turner's Ferry and threatened the enemy's rear. The rebels at once abandoned their position and fell back. On the 9th, the rebel army crossed the Chattahoochie River. Our army marched in pursuit, and

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on the 18th the advance reached the Augusta Railway, near Decatur, de- stroyed the enemy's works, and then marched to Decatur. On the 22d, the enemy made a fierce assault along the whole Union front, and, after a san- guinary battle, was repulsed. In this engagement, Gen. McPherson was killed. The regiment was engaged in the operations around Atlanta, and on the 28th of July participated in one of the numerous battles in front of that place. Gen. Logan's Fifteenth Army Corps, to which the Ninety- seventh belonged, was conspicuous in this battle, being chiefly engaged in the fight.

On the 29th of August, the Ninety-seventh moved with its corps on the flanking march around Atlanta, and was engaged in the battle of Jones- boro. In October, the regiment joined in the pursuit of Hood, and had a sharp fight at Little River, Ga., on the 25th. On the 12th of November, the regiment started with Sherman's army on its march to the sea. On the 22d, it participated in the fight at Griswoldville, Ga., repulsing a large body of the enemy. On the 8th of December, it was again engaged at Little Ogee- chee River, and on the 21st entered the city of Savannah. After a short period of repose, the regiment moved with its corps in Sherman's army through the Carolinas, being present at the capture of Columbia on the 15th of February, 1865, and at the battle of Bentonville, N. C., on the 21st of March. It then moved to Goldsboro, and thence marched by the way of Richmond, Va., to Washington, D. C., where, on the 9th of June, 1865, it was mustered out of the service and its members returned to their respect- ive homes, having seen the cause for which it fought triumph.

During its service, the Ninety-seventh lost in killed, 46 ; wounded, 146 ; died of disease, 149. It had three color bearers killed in the numerous battles in which it was engaged, and it marched a distance of over 3,000 miles. The regiment returned to Indianapolis on the 13th of June, where it received a public reception, and was addressed by Gov. Morton and Gen. Hovey.

The following is a list of the killed and wounded in Company B, as nearly correct as it can be made at present : Jesse Anderson, Poland, Clay County, died at Lagrange, Tenn., January 26, 1863 ; John J. Meek, died at Camp Sherman, Mississippi, August 28, 1863 ; Isaac Creech, Poland, killed at . Kenesaw June 15, 1864; William Coffman, Poland, died at Memphis, Tenn., October 9, 1863; James S. Watts, Poland, died at Nashville, Tenn., November 22, 1863 ; Alvin Beaman, Cataract, died at Holly Springs, Miss., January 1, 1863 ; Stephen B. Dudley, died at Louisville, Ky., February 28, 1865 ; W. M. Fraker, died at Lagrange, Tenn., March 2, 1863; William Gaston, died at Newbern, N. C., April 18, 1865; Moses Hewett, Poland, died at Lagrange, Tenn., February 17, 1863 ; Lemuel F. Hammond, died of wounds at Camp Sherman, Mississippi, August 6, 1863; James Jenkins, Poland, died at Keokuk, Iowa, February 26, 1863 ; Jefferson Kelum, Poland, died at Paducah, Ky., August 13, 1863 ; John McCullough, Poland, died at Scottsboro, Ala., March 13, 1864 ; Samuel M. Nees, Poland, died at Jackson,

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Miss., July 17, 1863 ; James L. Strong, Cataract, killed at Jackson, Miss., July 16, 1863 ; Buren Vanhorn, Poland, died at Lagrange, Tenn., March 14, 1863 ; James H. Young, Cataract, died at Lagrange, Tenn., January 13, 1863.

COMPANY D, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.

In the summer of 1863, President Lincoln made a requisition on the Governor of Indiana for a number of six months' regiments. The war had been in progress for over two years, and it was hoped that the resources of the Southern Confederacy were so far exhausted that the war would termi- nate within the period of six months. One regiment was to be raised in each Congressional district in Indiana. Company D, of the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment, was raised in Clay County, and organized by the elec- tion of Isaac W. Sanders, of Brazil, Captain ; Wesley B. Shaw, of Brazil, First Lieutenant, and William L. Young, of Staunton, Second Lieutenant. The One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment was mustered into the service at Indianapolis August 17, 1863, with John R. Mahan as Colonel. On the 16th of September, it left Indianapolis and proceeded through Central Ken- tucky to Nicholasville, where it joined the command of Gen. O. B. Wilcox, then on its way to East Tennessee. The four regiments of six months men were placed in a brigade, and Col. John R. Mahan assigned to the command of it. On the 24th of September, the regiment moved with its brigade from Nicholasville for Cumberland Gap, passing through Crab Orchard, Mount Vernon, London and Barboursville, Ky., and reaching Cumberland Gap on the 3d of October. Remaining there a short time, it then marched south- ward, passing through Tazewell and crossing the Clinch River, Clinch Mount- ains and Halston River, and entering Morristown on the 8th. On the 10th, the regiment reached Blue Springs, where the enemy was engaged and driven from its position on a commanding hill, and thence pursued some fif- teen miles. The regiment then moved to Greenville, whence, after a short stay, it was ordered to Bull's Gap, where it was · engaged for some time in fortifying the mountain passes. While there the command suffered for want of food and clothing, the men subsisting on quarter rations, without sugar or coffee, and frequently subsisting on parched corn. Many of the soldiers were thinly clad and without shoes, and their sufferings from exposure to the cold were exceedingly severe.

From Bull's Gap the regiment moved to Clinch River, reaching Sycamore about the middle of December, whence it was marched to Walker's Ford. During the winter, the One Hundred and Fifteenth was kept on duty in the mountains of East Tennessee, marching almost shoeless over rough roads, and enduring many hardships. The result of this campaign was that the hospitals at Cumberland Gap were filled with sick and exhausted soldiers, who were subsequently transferred to Camp Nelson, and thence sent to Louisville and Indianapolis. Returning to Indianapolis for discharge on the 10th of February, the regiment was publicly welcomed by citizens at a

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reception held in the State house grounds on the 12th of February, 1864, and addressed by Gov. Morton and Gen. Carrington and Mayor Caven. In a few days afterward the regiment was discharged from the service.

Company D sustained the following losses, as shown by the reports of the Adjutant General: Elias Steel, Clay County, died at Cumberland Gap December 27, 1863; Albert J. Boone, Clay County, died at Cumberland Gap December 18, 1863 ; Hiram Christopher, Clay County, died at Camp Nelson, Ky., December 16, 1863 ; Henry D. Hendrix, Clay County, died at Greenville, Tenn., October 25, 1863.

COMPANY E, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.

Company E, of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, was mustered in Clay County, though its officers were selected from other parts of the State. This regiment was formed by the consolidation of three com- panies raised for the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth in the Sixth Congres- sional District, and seven other companies raised in the Fifth Congressional District. The regiment rendezvoused at Richmond, and was mustered into the service March 10, 1864, with James Burgess as Colonel. On the 19th, it left Indianapolis by rail for Louisville. Thence it proceeded to Nashville, where it arrived on the 24th of the month, and was assigned to the division of Gen. Hovey. Early in April, the regiment, with its division, left Nash- ville and marched to Athens, Tenn. The Twenty-third Corps, to which the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth was assigned, arrived in front of Buzzard's Roost on the 8th of May. A demonstration was made by Gen. Schofield upon the strongly fortified position of the enemy, the regiment losing one killed and two wounded. A portion of Sherman's army having penetrated Snake Creek Gap, the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth moved with its division through the Gap and crossed the Oostanaula River near Tilton. The column then passed to the left of Resaca. On the 18th, the regiment moved to Calhoun. The next day it moved to the right of Kingston, skirmishing along the railroad. On the 21st, the regiment moved to the right,' encoun- tering the enemy, and brisk skirmishing ensued. The two following days were also passed in pressing the enemy's retiring columns. On the 25th, the regiment moved to Cartersville, and, throwing up temporary works, remained for some days. A few days later, it moved to Burnt Hickory, where it again constructed works. On the 1st of June, the regiment moved by way of Allatoona, and, after sharp skirmishing, took position near Lost Mountain. Temporary works were constructed, and for two days sharp fighting was had with the enemy. The skirmish line then advanced toward the works of the enemy, the regiment advancing in support under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry. The next morning the Union forces moved upon the enemy's works and found them evacuated. The regiment then took position on the right of Kenesaw Mountain near the enemy's position, where it daily worked closer to his intrenchments, and kept up an incessant picket firing, greatly annoying him. On the 23d, the One Hundred and

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Twenty-fourth advanced close up to the enemy's works on Kenesaw Mount- ain, and skirmished with his sharp-shooters. The picket-firing and skir- mishing continued until the morning of the 3d of July, when the rebel Gen. Johnston, finding himself in danger of being cut off from Atlanta, suddenly abandoned his strong position on Kenesaw Mountain and fell back to Smyrna Church. While on a march from Chattanooga to Decatur, the regi- ment encountered the enemy, and brisk fighting ensued, resulting in the defeat of the enemy and the capture of the town of Decatur. Constant skirmishing was kept up between the contending armies until the 21st, when the Union forces reached a position upon the steeps of Atlanta. On the 22d, the Sixteenth Army Corps, under Gen. Dodge, to whom the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment had been assigned, was attacked by Hardee's army corps. A furious fight ensued, resulting in the defeat of the rebels with great slaughter. The regiment then assisted in the siege of Atlanta, being engaged day and night digging intrenchments, or skirmishing with the enemy. On the 30th of August, a bold and decisive movement was made, resulting in the evacuation of Atlanta by the rebel army. After these oper- ations the regiment withdrew, with its corps, to Decatur, where it arrived on the 8th of September, and rested for a few weeks in pleasant quarters. On the 4th of October, the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth moved with its corps in pursuit of Hood. The enemy was encountered on the 12th, and a sharp battle ensued. The army then moved to Resaca. After some further marching and skirmishing in this section, the regiment was embarked on railroad cars and transported to Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived on the 9th of November, and was placed under command of Gen. Thomas in the Twenty-third Corps. Shortly afterward, the regiment moved to Pulaski. On the 23d, it arrived at Columbia, where it constructed temporary breast- works, and spent some days in skirmishing with the enemy. From this point the regiment, in Gen. Schofield's command, commenced falling back, and had a brisk skirmish with the enemy at Spring Hill, where Company C, of the Ohe Hundred and Twenty-fourth, was captured by the enemy. The regiment then moved to Franklin, where it arrived on the morning of the 30th, and took positiou in line of battle. The enemy made a number of assaults upon the position of the Union forces, but was each time repulsed with severe loss. The regiment then fell back to Nashville and took up its position to the right of Fort Negley, where it was employed for some weeks in constructing defenses. The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment took part in the battle of Nashville, and afterward joined in the pursuit of the enemy. Early in January, 1865, the regiment marched to Cincinnati. Here it was transported by rail to Washington, D. C., where it embarked upon transports and proceeded to Morehead City, N. C., where it landed on the 27th of February. On the 6th of March, the regiment marched with Gen. Schofield's column along the railroad toward Kingston. At Wise Forks, the enemy was encountered and heavy skirmishing ensued on the first day. On the 9th, the enemy being greatly re-enforced, made an assault upon

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the Union forces, and, after a severe battle, was repulsed, and retreated with great slaughter and in much confusion. From this point the Union forces moved to Goldsboro, where a juncture was formed with the main body of Sherman's army which had marched from Atlanta after the capture of that place. After some further movements in this locality, the regiment was mustered out of the service at Greensboro on the 31st of August, 1865, and at once proceeded to Indianapolis, where it arrived on the 10th of Septem- ber with 532 men and thirty-three officers. Here the regiment received a public reception, after which its members dispersed to their respective homes.

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Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 12

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 982

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 982