USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > Evansville and its men of mark > Part 24
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General Fremont was then engaged in gathering an army, preparatory to moving on the rebel General Price, at Spring- field, Missouri. The troops, rapidly as they could be properly equipped, were marched to Warsaw, on the Osage river. The river at this point is about three hundred yards wide with a swift current. It was soon bridged, and the regiment, joining the expedition, crossed on the 24th of October, and bivouacked. Next day it marched seven miles, then halted and waited for rations from Tipton. Rations having been procured, the regi- ment marched eight miles and bivouacked. It was then assigned to another brigade. This change gave Colonel Hovey the com- mand of a brigade, leaving Lieutenant-Colonel John Gerber in command of the regiment.
Soon orders were received for the army to march on Spring- field ; and the soldiers, with cheerful faces and gladdened hearts, pushed rapidly forward.
On the 3d of November General Fremont's advance entered Springfield, driving out the loitering rebel cavalry Here Fre- mont's army halted for the purpose of concentrating and falling on the rebel General Price, then posted at Wilson's Creek ; but before an advance was made, General Fremont was superceded by General Hunter, and the proposed campaign was abandoned.
The regiment left Springfield on the 9th, and reached War- saw on the 14th. After resting one day it marched to Tipton, reaching there on the 18th, and went into their old camp, hav- ing marched three hundred miles. It was now Winter, yet the new troops were kept in constant motion.
On the 8th of December the regiment marched to Lamoine bridge, and while engaged in putting up huts for shelter, was ordered to join the Warrensburg expedition. 3 The object of this movement was to intercept, if possible, capture a large number of recruits and a large wagon train, on their way to join Price's army. The expedition was planned and executed by Colonel Jeff. C. Davis. One thousand five hundred rebels, with their baggage, arms and ammunition, were captured.
The regiment went into camp, at Tipton, on the 23d of December, and a deep snow had fallen, and there was no shel- ter for the men. Scraping away the snow, they built large fires and bivouacked. Soon Sibley tents were drawn, and the men enjoyed comfortable quarters.
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On the 7th of February the regiment broke caamp; and, after a severe march, reached Jefferson City on the 10th.
On the 15th it took cars for St. Louis, and arriving there, embarked on a steamer, under orders to join General Grant's army, on the Cumberland river. Sailing down the Mississippi and up the Ohio and Cumberland rivers, the regiment arrived at Fort Donelson on the 18th, two days after its surrender.
On the 1st of March the regiment marched to Fort Henry, and on its arrival there, was brigaded with the Eleventh Indi- ana and Eighth Missouri, the brigade being under command of Colonel Morgan L. Smith, of the Eighth Missouri. This brig- ade was attached to General Lew. Wallace's division. Major Hynes being promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the Fifty- seventh Indiana, took leave of the regiment, and Captain Spicely was promoted to the Majority.
On the 7th the regiment, with the Twenty-third Indiana, embarked on the steamer Telegraph No. 3, and sailed up the Tennessee river with the fleet of General Grant. On reaching Savannah the regiment landed, and accompanied General Lew. Wallace's division on a reconnoissance to Crump's Landing, seven miles distant. No enemy being encountered, the regi- ment returned with the division to the boats.
Remaining on the boats five days, the division - to which the regiment was attached - disembarked and went into camp on the bluffs at Crump's Landing on the 18th. Here it en - gaged in drill, picketing, and other duties, until the 5th April.
Meanwhile General Grant had landed his main army at Pittsburg Landing, and placed it in position to cover and defend that point, waited the advance of Buell's army, which, by easy marches across the country, by way of Nashville and Bowling Green, was expected to reinforce him. But the wily rebel Gen- erals were fully cognizant of our plans, and, before Buell effected a junction with Grant, assumed the offensive.
At midnight of the 5th of April, the camp of General Lew. Wallace's division was aroused by the beating of the " assem- bly." The division marched through rain and mud to Adams- ville. No enemy being found, the troops, weary and exhausted, returned.
Early on the morning of the 6th, the sleeping troops of Wallace's division were wakened by the roar of artillery. The
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General ordered the division to form and prepare for an instant march. At noon the command received orders, and moved for the field of battle. Proceeding several miles it was ascertained that because of the falling back of Grant's army our line of march would lead to the enemy's rear, and expose the division to capture or destruction. A countermarch was at once made, and General Wallace's division reached Pittsburg Landing at dusk. It was immediately hurried to the front and placed in position. The Twenty-fourth was placed on the extreme right of the division. No demonstration was made that night by either of the opposing armies, and-save the regular thirty-min- ute guns from the gunboats Tyler and Lexington -- all was quiet,
Early next morning General Lew. Wallace opened the bat- tle. Bringing an enfilading fire to bear on a rebel battery, it was soon driven from position. Then his whole division ad- vanced, and reached an open field. Beyond this field was tim- ber, through the edge of which the head of a rebel column appeared, marching to our right. On this column batteries were opened, which were sharply responded to by the rebels, Skirmishers were thrown forward. Wallace's main line ad- vanced, and the rebel column disappeared in the woods.
The rebel line was again encountered beyond these woods. The regiment advanced, with the brigade, and held its position under a severe fire from the enemy. A well-served battery of the rebels, named Watson's Louisiana battery, caused sad havoc in our ranks. Here the gallant Lieutenant Stephen H. South- wick, while urging forward his company, fell. Lieutenant Colonel John Gerber rode up, and, while exciting the men to avenge the loss of thier Lieutenant, was struck by a cannon ball and instantly killed. The brave Captain Samuel T. Mc- Gnffin here also fell. The Twenty-fourth held its position four hours, though repeatedly charged by the enemy.
At 2 P. M. the enemy's line gave way, then a charge was ordered along the whole Union line. The enemy fled in con- fusion. The Twenty-fourth joined in the pursuit, took a num- ber of prisoners, and bivouacked that night on the battle field. The regiment lost heavily in this engagement. The next day was occupied'in burying the dead and providing for the wounded. For several days the regiment bivouacked in line of battle. On
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the 16th tents were received, and the Twenty-fourth went into camp near the battle field, where it remained until the 4th of May. It then removed to Gravel Ridge.
During the seige of Corinth the regiment was stationed at Gravel Ridge, and attached to the reserve of General Halleck's army, then advancing by parallels on that important position. Corinth was evacuated by the enemy on the 30th, then the Union troops took possession. About this time Colonel Alvin P. Hovey was commissioned a Brigadier-General, and Captain Spicely promoted to the Colonelcy. Adjutant Barton was ap- pointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Grill received the Majority.
On the 2d of June the regiment was ordered to march for Memphis. Breaking up camp, the line of march was taken, passing through a flourishing section of country never before penetrated by Union troops. Private property was then re- spected, and no foraging allowed. Hence, neither ruined house- hold nor devastated plantation marked the route of the moving column. By easy marches, the troops passed through Purdy, Bolivar and Summerville, halting long enough in each place to rest. The weather was intensely warm and the roads were dusty, but good water was plentiful. Thus, by easy marches, the regiment reached Memphis on the 17th, and found it in possession of Union troops. Halting in the suburbs of the city the men were preparing to camp, when the regiment was or- dered to march into the city. Moving in a terrible storm, it bivouacked in the rain, and the next day encamped on Front street, where it remained for twelve days.
On the 30th the regiment embarked on a steamer bound for White River, and, sailing down the Mississippi and up the White River, reached Crockett's Bluff on the 3d of July Dis- embarking, it joined the forces of Colonel Fitch, then exploring that section of the country.
On the 6th Colonel Spicely was ordered to take the right wing of the regiment and move in the direction of Grand Prai- rie, and instructed to attack the enemy wherever found. Col. Fitch was to follow, in supporting distance, with the brigade.
The detachment under Colonel Spicely marched at 4 A. M. and encountered the enemy's pickets a short distance from
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camp. Brisk skirmishing ensued, and the rebels were pressed back for three miles, until the command reached Grand Prairie, when it halted in the edge of the timber skirting the prairie. Here the enemy was found in line of battle on the open prairie, a few hundred yards distant, showing a front of two companies of cavalry. Colonel Spicely shrewdly suspecting the intention of this maneuvre, deployed three companies as pickets and flankers, and sent Lieutenant Barton with a squad of men, for reinforcements. The main force of the enemy, who was then secreted in the woods in our rear, seeing the three companies advance, arose from cover, and dashed through the woods, with drawn sabres, on the rear of our reserves. The command " About, face !" was at once given, and as the rebels charged they were met by a spirited fire. A sharp fight ensued, but soon the rebels fled, leaving their killed and wounded on the field. The Twenty-fourth had only.eighty men against four hundred rebels. Its loss was one killed and twenty-one wounded. That of the enemy, sixty killed and wounded, and thirteen prisoners. Colonel Fitch, hearing the musketry, hur- ried his brigade to our support, but arrived too late to partici- pate in the fight.
Next day the brigade marched through Grand Prairie, driving the enemy wherever he made a stand, and by marching rapidly that day and night reached Clarenden next morning. The enemy having disappeared, the brigade embarked on steam- boats and sailed down White River and up the Mississippi to Helena, where it disembarked and went into camp. The object of this expedition was to divert the attention of the enemy while General Curtis moved into Arkansas from Missouri. This was accomplished.
The regiment had a neat camp at Helena, and was occupied in drill, expeditions, and scouting. On the 24th the regiment was pleasantly surprised by the arrival of General Hovey with the rest of the brigade. General Hovey immedialely assumed command of the post and infused activity into the troops. The next day two companies of the regiment went up the river, and destroyed all the boats, canoes and rafts which they could find, in order to prevent the enemy from having communication with
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the opposite shore of the Mississippi. Several days of hard and hazardous labor were passed on this expedition.
On the 4th of August the regiment marched to Clarenden in support of a cavalry force under General Washburn. No enemy being encountered, it returned to Helena and worked on the fortifications On the 15th of November it embarked with an expedition under General Hovey for White River, but on arriving at the mouth of that stream found that the boats could not pass over the bar. The troops landed, procured a large quantity of supplies, and again re-embarking, returned to Helena.
On the 27th another expedition was projected, in which the regiment took a prominent part. The infantry was under com- mand of General Hovey, and supported the cavaly under Gen- eral Washburn. General Grant was making preparations to move, overland, against Vicksburg. The object of this move- ment was to destroy the Tennessee and Mississippi Central Railroad. The command embarked on transports, and sailing down the Mississippi, landed twenty miles below Helena, on the Mississippi shore; thence marched to Coldwater. General Ho- vey halted his infantry column at Coldwater, and dispatched Colonel Spicely, with the Eleventh and Twenty-fourth Indiana as a support to the cavalry. Colonel Spicely reached the Yachna river, and detailing two companies to guard a ferry, marched to Michell's Cross Roads, where he halted until the next evening, the 1st of December, Here he was met by the cavalry of General Washburn, who had accomplished their mis- sion, by destroying much rolling-stock and cutting two railroads. That night sharp musketry firing was heard in the direction of the ferry. The regiment started to reinforce their comrades. The cavalry, however, arrived firet, and the Twenty-fourth, rapidly following, had a smart skirmish with the enemy. On this occasion General Hovey rode twelve miles in forty minutes to rejoin his favorite regiment, and was received with wild en- thusiasm. The rest of the infantry rejoined the command at the ferry next day, and remained there while the cavalry made another raid on a railroad. On the return of the cavalry, the force marched back to the river, embarked on steamers, and reached Helena on the 7th.
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On the 11th of January, 1863, the regiment accompanied a fleet under command of General Gorman, which was to ascend White River to act in conjunction with General McClernand, who was then moving on Arkansas Post. The regiment reached St. Charles on the 14th, after being exposed to a violent snow storm, which caused much suffering to the men. Duvall's Bluff was reached on the 16th, and was found evacuated by the ene- my, but the command, landing, pursued the retreating foe, cap- turing a number of prisoners. The next day Colonel Spicely, with his command, proceeded thirty miles to Des Arc, where the railroad crosses the river. The rebels again fled, leaving their sick in the hospital. Colonel Spicely paroled the sick, destroyed the telegraph, captured a number of small arms, and the military library of Jeff. Thomas, and returned to the main force. The fleet then sailed for Helena, arriving there on the 21st of January. (
The last expedition from Helena participated in by the reg- iment was for the purpose of opening the Yazoo Pass, and thus reach the rear of Vicksburg. This pass was a chute from the Mississippi to the Coldwater River. The rebels, however, an- ticipated this movement, and erected Fort Greenwood, which the expedition was unable to reach by land, and the gunboats could not approach by water. Our forces worked several days and removed the logs out of the bayou, then marched to Wood- burn and had a skirmish with the enemy. The expedition then returned to the boats and went back to Helena, where the troops disembarked and went into camp.
General Grant was now gathering his grand army to make his great move against Vicksburg. Notwithstanding the many repulses the Union army had experienced in attempting to cap- ture that rebel stronghold, the troops at Helena were anxious to renew the attack.
On the 10th of April the welcome order to march was re- ceived, and General Hovey's division, embarking on transports, sailed down the Mississippi, and landed at Milliken's Bend on the 14th The next day was employed in preparing for an ac- tive campaign. On the 16th Hovey's division started by way of Richmond, to march across the bend opposite Vicksburg and reached Roundaway bayou on the 21st, where they halted un-
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til a bridge was thrown across the bayou. The march was then resumed, and continued until Perkins' plantation was reached. On the 28th the division embarked on steamboats, and reached Hard Times Landing. The next day the regiment witnessed the bombardment of Grand Gulf. On the 30th, Hovey's divis- ion crossed the Mississippi. Landing late in the evening, it pushed rapidly forward, and reached Thompson's Cross Roads, sixteen miles distant, at 3 o'clock next morning. Here General Benton's brigade, of Osterhaus' division, was actively engaged with a rebel battery posted on a hill in their front, supported by infantry. Hovey's division at once advanced to Benton's support, when the rebels retired. Our weary troops then biv- ouacked.
The next morning was fought the battle of Magnolia, or Thompson's Cross Roads. A corps of Pemberton's rebel army, and Hovey's and Osterhaus' divisions were the troops princi- pally engaged. The battle was commenced by the rebels ad- vancing on the division of General Osterhaus, driving in his pickets. and pressing heavily his main line. General Hovey ordered Colonel Spicely to advance with the Twenty-fourth to the support of Osterhaus. A heavy cane-brake lined the cliffs in front. When the regiment heard the voice of their gallant Colonel, giving the command, " Forward ! " it moved swiftly through the cane-brake, clambered over the cliffs, and reached Benton's brigade, which had just repulsed the enemy with ter- rible slaughter. At this moment General Osterhaus rode up, and ordered Colonel Spicely to move his regiment quickly to the left, and fight as his judgment dictated. " That suits me !" said Colonel Spicely, and, ordering his regiment to move on the double-quick, prepared to charge a rebel battery which was an- noying our line. When the regiment arrived within a few yards of the battery, the Eleventh Indiana had captured it. The enemy then fell back, took a strong position, and awaited another assault.
General Hovey's whole division having now reinforced the shattered lines of General Osterhaus, an advance was ordered. The Twenty-fourth was sent to the support of Colonel Slack's brigade. As the regiment gained the summit of a hill, the rebels were discovered massing on an opposite hill. Between
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the opposing parties was a level, open country, through which run a deep ravine. This ravine formed an excellent defensive position. To reach it was the object of both the rebel and fed- eral soldiers. Its shelter was gained by the Twenty-fourth. Quickly forming, it ponred a galling fire into the rebel ranks, driving him back in confusion. The foe, forming his shattered ranks, charged ; but from that ravine issued a fire, so sharp and destructive, that the enemy was again hurled back. For an hour and a half were the rebel columns preciptated on this position, only to be repulsed with loss, They were finally com- pelled to retreat in great disorder. The regiment, owing to the protection afforded by the ravine met with but small loss-five being killed, and eighteen wounded. That night it bivouacked on the battle field.
The next day the regiment marched through Port Gibson, the enemy having evacuated that place. The following day the regiment reached Grand Gulf, which had also been abandoned by the enemy. On the 5th a march of twenty miles was made, and the regiment encamped at Hawkins' ferry .
While stationed here, General Grant issued orders congrat- ulating the troops on their success, and commending their bravery on the battle field.
On the 10th the regiment advanced ten miles toward Jack- son ; on the 12th our troops pressed the enemy, and, by hard skirmishing, drove him beyond Fourteen-mile Creek. The next day the regiment marched three miles, and, when near Edwards' Station, found the enemy in heavy force.
Sharp skirmishing commenced, and the attention of the enemy was occupied, while General Sherman captured Jackson and McPherson fought the battle of Raymond. Then all our columns united, and moved on Vicksburg.
()n the 14th the regiment marched through Raymond, and thence to Clinton, halting near Bolton on the evening of the following day. It was known that the rebels were in force and in strong position at Baker's Creek, four miles distant, and it was evident he intended to make a desperate resistance to the further aduance of the Union army towards Vicksburg. Gen- eaal McClernand's corps was in the advance, and he, without waiting for the rest of the army to arrive, opened the battle of Champion's Hill.
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On May 16th, at 6 A. M., General Hovey's division moved in the advance-General McGinnis' brigade being in the ad- vance of the division, and the Twenty-fourth the advance regi- ment in the brigade. Three companies of the regiment were thrown out as skirmishers, and the command moved cautiously forward. The advance was uninterrupted until 10 A. M., when our cavalry returned from the front, reporting the enemy posted in force on Champion's Hill.
The brigade was formed in line of battle, and advancing to the open field soon came in contact with the enemy. In a short time the fight became desperate. The rebels massed and charged on the brigade battery, which was supported by the Thirty-fourth Indiana. Colonel Spicely ordered the Twenty- fourth to give the rebels an oblique fire. This volley caused them to fall back, then our lines advanced eight hundred yards into the woods, driving the enemy. Here the rebels massed in front of Hovey's division, and made a terrible onset. They were met by a severe fire, but their overpowering number was pressing severely on the right center of Hovey's division, when Colonel Spicely received orders to move to his support. Al- though sharply engaged with the enemy, the Colonel executed the order, moving by the left flank, to the support of the Elev- enth Indiana, which having been overpowered, had fallen back a short distance. The Twenty-fourth moved to the assistance ot the brave Eleventh, and, while the Eleventh retired, the Twenty-fourth fell into position, and held the point with great coolness, under a severe enfilading fire. An Indiana Colonel, who witnessed the contest, said : "I was compelled to lie with my regiment where I could see the rebels massing in front of the Twenty-fourth. Column after column advanced, delivering their fire, and, as one column gave way, a fresh one took its place, keeping the Twenty-fourth enveloped in flame ! My blood boiled for my Hoosier brethren, to whom I could give no assistance. I wondered how they endured the slaughter."
The enemy threw a large part of his force against the por- tion of the line held by the Twenty-fourth, yet it stood unwav- ering, though its brave men fell by scores. It met and returned the converging fire of the enemy, holding him in check until the main line gave way, then the regiment retired seventy -five
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yards to straighten the line, and poured into the massed rebel ranks a sheet of flame and lead. Again the regiment was com- pelled to change position, falling back a short distance, it again halted, and prepared to meet the surging foe. At this moment the colors fell, the staff having been broken by a shot from the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Barton rushed forward, seized the colors, and defiantly waved them in the face of the enemy. A shot from the enemy shattered his arm. The regiment being out of ammunition, fell back, covered by fresh troops, and took position with the Eleventh Indiana, whose young and gallant Colonel had fallen severely wounded. Colonel Spicely took command of both regiments, replenished their cartridge boxes, and again moved to the front. McPherson's corps arrived, and fiercely charging the rebel right, forced him to a disorderly retreat.
Fresh troops rapidly pursued. The command of Colonel Spicely halted on the field of battle, and quietly rested after the victory they had so nobly won. For three hours the men of the Twenty-fourth had been engaged in constant battle ; they fired one hundred rounds each, and used the cartridges from the boxes of their fallen comrades. Half its effective force was disabled. Captain Felix G. Wellman, Lieutenant Jesse L. Cain, Lieutenant Ballwin, Assistant Surgeon T. M. C. Williams, Sergeant Delemater and J. W. Overton, with twenty-seven non- commissioned officers and men were killed. Lieutenant-Colonel Barton, Lieutenant Samuel Smith, Fred Butler and H. H. Lee, were severely wounded. Of four hundred and eighty-five men who went into battle, only two hundred and eighty-three es- caped the fire of the enemy.
General McGinnis' brigade halted on the field, and was detailed to bury the dead and care for the wounded. Tenderly were these duties performed.
On the 19th the regiment marched to Black river bridge, Here our victorious army, following up the victory at Cham- pion's Hill, had charged the rebel rear guard, defeated it, and crossing the Black river, driven the rebel General Pemberton's army into the trenches at Vicksburg. On the 21st the brigade of General McGinnis crossed the Big Black river, and marched to the supporting line of the Union army, then encircling
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