USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > Evansville and its men of mark > Part 25
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
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Vicksburg. On the 22d the regiment moved to the front, and was placed in a ravine near the rebel works. An assault was made during that day on the enemy's works, but our forces were repulsed with much loss.
The regiment intrenched in the ravine, and gradually ad- vancing, protected by trenches, reached a position where its sharp-shooters were able to pick off the rebel gunners, render- ing their artillery useless. On the 26th the regiment acted as a support to heavy artillery until the guns were placed in posi- tion, and the next day returned to the trenches.
Our army, skirmishing by day and digging by night, tightened its grasp on the foe. On July 3d a flag of truce from the enemy asked for a cessation of hostilities.
Then the heroes, who so long had listened to the familiar sound of musketry and the roar of artillery, leaped from their trenches and rifle-pits, and filled the echoing cliffs with their glad shouts. On the 4th of July, Vicksburg, together with the army of General Pemberton, was surrendered.
General Hovey's division was not permitted to enter the city. General McGinnis-the gallant leader of the First brig- ade of Hovey's division, who had been in every march, and battle, and hardship, for sixty-three days - received leave of absence to visit his home. His position was filled by the cool, determined and brave Colonel W. T. Spicely, of the Twenty- fourth. The war-worn veterans of the First brigade-compris- ing the Eleventh, Twenty-fourth, Thirty-fourth, and Forty-sixth Indiana and Twenty-sixth Wisconsin-desire no better leaders than the soldier McGinnis, and the gallant Spicely.
On the morning of the 5th the brigade moved toward Big Black river bridge, where it arrived the next night and bivou- acked. The next morning the troops crossed Big Black river, and, with parched throats and blistered feet, marched rapidly forward. At dark they reached Bolton, where they bivouacked. The following morning the march was resumed, and the brigade reached Clinton and halted. The next day it arrived within two miles of Jackson, where it halted and bivouacked. On the 11th the brigade took position in the line of investment of Jackson.
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As it moved into position, General Hovey selected the Twenty-fourth to accompany him and staff on a reconnoissance. Under command of Major Grill, the regiment formed in line, and advanced through the woods, two companies being thrown out as skirmishers. The rebel pickets, on the Raymond road, were encountered and driven two miles. The regiment then rejoined the brigade, which, advancing rapidly through field and thicket, drove the enemy beyond the New Orleans and Great Western railroad. The brigade then bivouacked. The next day the advance was resumed, with the Twenty-fourth and Thirty-fourth in reserve. By heavy skirmishing the enemy was driven into his works, which our lines closely invested, and heavy picket firing closed the day.
On the 13th the Twenty-fourth was moved to the front, where it skirmished all day. It remained on this advanced line until the morning of the 17th, when it was ascertained that the enemy had evacuated Jackson during the night previ- ous. The Union troops entered Jackson and destroyed the place. Several days were occupied in destroying the railroads diverging from Jackson.
On the 21st the regiment marched for Vicksburg, arriving there on the 23d, much reduced in numbers, many of the men having fallen from fatigue on the march. It remained in camp until August 5th. Then embarked on a steamboat, and sailing down the Mississippi, arrived at Carrollton, six miles above New Orleans, on the 13th,
At Carrollton, a well supplied market furnished every nec- essary and luxury, at reasonable rates, and the men, having the appetites of veterans, lived like epicures. The duties were light. and the city furnished sufficient amusement. This pleas- ant interval was broken on the 12th of September by orders to march.
On that day the regiment crossed the Mississippi, landed at Algiers, and took the cars for Brashaer City ; on arriving there, camped and built quarters, which the men thatched with palm leaves. They left these cosy quarters on the 28th, and crossing Berwick Bay, camped in a small village of that name, and waited for the rest of the Thirteenth corps to arrive. The regiment was now connected with General Franklin's Teche ex-
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pedition, whose object was to rescue that fertile garden of Lou- isiana from rebel sway. This country was a great source of supply to the rebel army in the Trans Mississippi department.
On the 3d of October, the regiment marched to Franklin, overtaking and passing the Nineteenth corps at New Iberia. The route was through a rich country, the roads were lined with orange groves, and the plantations luxuriant with fields of the
waving sugar cane. At New Iberia, Colonel Cameron, of the Twenty-fourth Indiana, received his commission as Brigadier General, and assumed command of the brigade, and Colonel Spicely returned to the Twenty-fourth. Resuming the march, the regiment reached Vermillion bayou, where it remained five days. On the 15th the march was again resumed, and at a late hour that night the regiment halted within ten miles of Ope- lonsas. The regiment remained at this camp four days, having occasional skirmishes with a small rebel force.
On the 23d the Thirteenth corps advanced, and driving a small rebel force, marched eight miles beyond Opelousas, to Barr's Landing, on Bayou Thibaux. This position was held until the 30th when the army fell back. On the 1st of Novem- ber our forces occupied the same position they held on the 20th of October.
General Burbridge, in command of a small brigade, was, stationed several miles in advance of the main army, to check the small force which had annoyed our march. On the 3d of, November, the enemy, under command of General Green, made an attack on this detached brigade, with a largely superior force, and, after a short and severe engagement, routed General Bur- bridge and took most of his command prisoners. General Mc- Ginnis, hearing the musketry, moved quickly to the rescue, and falling on the exultant enemy, drove him from the field and recaptured the federal camps. The regiment bivouacked on the battle field that night, and the next day fell back to Vermillion- ville, where it remained eleven days. Then marched through Iberia and Franklin to Brashaer City ; from thence it was con- veyed by rail to Algiers.
No incident of importance occurred until the regiment re- enlisted as veterans. It was the first regiment in the Depart- ment of the Gulf which re-enlisted. The Twenty-fourth then
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left for Indianapolis. On its arrival there, it was furloughed for thirty days, and at the expiaation of which time it reported at Vincennes and was sent to Evansville. After remaining here three weeks, it embarked on a steamboat, and sailing down the Ohio and Mississippi, landed at Baton Rouge. Here it remained six months. Its soldierlike conduct during this stay, won for it the warm friendship of the people. Soldiering at Baton Rouge was the poetry of war. The members of the regiment will ever remember the many happy days passed in that pleasant village. In the Fall the regiment moved to Morganza Bend, where it went into camp and remained several months, protecting the navigation of the Mississippi.
CONSOLIDATION.
In December, 1864, the Twenty-fourth was consolidated with the Sixty-seventh Indiana, the united regiments being known as the Twenty-fourth Tha organization of the regi- ment was reduced to five compenies, forming the left wing, while the same number of companies from the Sixty-seventh composed the right wing of the regiment. Colonel Spicely re- tained command of the regiment. Major Sears, of the Sixty- seventh was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Kelley, of the Sixty-seventh, Major. This organization increased the rank and file to eight hundred and fifty. Soon after its consol- idation the regiment embarked for New Orleans, and, on arriv- ing there, joined the expedition of General Canby against Mobile.
In January, 1865, the regiment embarked on an ocean steamer, and sailing down the Mississippi, entered the Gulf of Mexico, and landed at Dauphin Island. From thence it sailed to Barancas, Florida, and on landing, were brigaded with the Sixty-ninth Indiana, and Seventy-sixth and Ninety-seventh Il- linois, designated as the Second brigade, Second division, Thir- teenth army corps. Colonel Spicely assumed command of the brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Sears of the regiment. The brig- ede was then detached to join General Steele's column, at Pen- sacola, which was preparing to move to Florida and Alabama, with the purpose of diverting the attention of the enemy, while
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General Canby moved with the Thirteenth and Sixteenth corps on the defences of Mobile.
On the 20th of March the regiment left Pensacola, and after a severe march of eleven days, through swamps and bay- ous, reached the Tensas river, a short distance above Blakely. Moving rapidly forward, General Steele's column struck the Mobile and Montgomery railroad, at Pollard, destroying it so effectually as to prevent reinforcements, and then, turning west marched rapidly for Blakely, and joined the troops besieging that place.
On the 2d of April, Colonel Spicely's brigade took position in the line of troops besieging Blakely, and the Twenty-fourth, being in the front line, had much active service. The usual approaches were made by parallels, and warm skirmishing was constant. Our sharp-shooters protected themselves with logs, which they slowly rolled before them. On the 8th, Spanish Fort was evacuated by the rebels. This left Blakely the only defence of Mobile. It was decided at once to carry these works by assault.
Colonel Spicely formed his brigade, with the Sixty-ninth Indiana and Ninety-seventh Illinois in front, and the Twenty- fourth Indiana, and Seventy-sixth Illinois in the supporting column. The range of the rebel guns was so short that the sup- porting line was equally exposed with the front.
As the order to charge was given the brigade arose, and, with a rush and a cheer, scaled the rebel works. The fighting on the parapets was brief but desperate ; for the Union troops, swarming in, compelled surrender. The regiment lost thirty in killed and wounded. Thus ended its last, glorious battle in the Department of the Gulf.
Soon after the capture of Blakely the regiment marched to Shark's Landing, where it remained until the 20th of April. It then embarked on a transport and dropped down the river to Mobile, which had surrendered after the fall of Spanish Fort and capture of Blakely.
On the 22d the regiment sailed up the Alabama river with a fleet, under command of General Steele. No resistance was encountered, and the regiment landed at Selma on the 27th. Here our troops heard the glad tidings of peace. The regiment
ST. GEORGE HOTEL.
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went into camp in a beautiful grove near Selma, and passed two happy weeks. There was no anxiety respecting the next battle; no work on defences; no guard duty ; no hard marches, or short rations to be endured. All spoke of home and the pros- pect of reaching that beloved spot.
On the 12th of May the regiment embarked on a steamer and sailed to Mobile, where it landed and encamped in pine woods, remaining there three weeks. It then marched to Mo- bile and camped on Broad street, until the 1st of July, when it embarked for Texas. After a disagreeable voyage of ten days, it landed at Galveston. Soon after its arrival, the members of the Sixty seventh were mustered out and sailed for home. Col. Spicely having been mustered out with the Sixty-seventh, Cap- tain Pollard was cominissioned Lieutenant - Colonel of the Twenty-fourth.
The regiment arrived at Indianapolis on the 4th of August and was cordially welcomed by the citizens at a public recep- tion in the State House park. Appropriate addresses were delivered by Lieutenant-Governor Conrad Baker, General A. P. Hovey, and others. The returning officers and men made an aggregate of three hundred and ten.
The battalion still remaining in the service was composed of the veterans of the Twenty-fourth, and such recruits for that and the Sixty-seventh regiment as were retained in the service because of the non-expiration of their term of enlistment.
TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.
This regiment was organized at Evansville, on the 17th day of July, and mustered into service August 19th, under the fol- lowing officers :
Field and Staff .- Colonel, James C. Veatch, Rockport ; Lieutenant-Colonel, William H. Morgan, Crawfordsville ; Ma- jor, John W. Foster, Evansville ; Adjutant, William H. Walker, Jr., Evansville ; Quartermaster, Alexander H. Foster, Evans- ville ; Chaplain, Frederick A, Heuring, Rockport ; Surgeon, John T Walker, Evansville ; Assistant Surgeon, Arthur White, Rockport.
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Company A .- Captain, George W. Saltzman, New Harmo- ny ; First Lieutenant, Enoch J. Randolph, Mount Vernon ; Second Lieutenant, Absalom Boren, New Harmony.
Company B .- Captain, John Rheinlander, Evansville ; First Lieutenant, Alexander Darling, Evansville ; Second Lieu- tenant, Daniel W. Darling. Evansville.
Company C .- Captain, Edwin C. Hastings, Evansville ; First Lieutenant, Alfred G. Quinlan, Evansville; Second Lieu- tenant, Henry L. Brickett, Evansville.
Company D .- Captain, Charles S. Finch, Rockport ; First Lieutenant, Lewis Hurst, Grandview; Second Lieutenant, Albert Verhoeff, Grandview.
Company E .- Captain, Charles Jones, Elizabeth ; First Lieutenant, James L. Wright, Rockport; Second Lieutenant, William N. Walker, Rockport.
Company F .- Captain, Victor C. Larkin. Mount Vernon ; First Lieutenant, Robert G. Shannon, Mount Vernon ; Second Lieutenant, Miles Wilsey, Grayville, Illinois.
Company G .- Captain, John W. Poole, Medora; First Lieutenant, Jesse Patterson, Medora ; Second Lieutenant, Azrial W. Flinn, Medora.
Company H .- Captain, John H. Darby, Newburg ; First Lieutenant, John R. Bell, Newburg; Second Lieutenant, Chas. Lucas, Newburg.
Company I .- Captain, Thomas F. Bethell, Newburg ; First Lieutenant, John R. Bell, Newburg; Second Lieutenant, John T. Johnson, Newburg.
Company K .- Captain, William F. Wood, Rockport; First Lieutenant, Samuel Laird, Rockport ; Second Lieutenant, An- drew J. Enlow, Rockport.
On the 26th of August the Twenty-fifth moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and went into camp where it remained, drilling and preparing for the field, until the 15th day of September. It then proceeded by rail to Jefferson City and thence to George- town.
In October the regiment participated in the long and fati- guing march of Fremont's army, to Springfield and back to Otterville. It then marched to Syracuse, and thence back to Lamine river, where it remained till December, when it marched
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with Pope's division, south of Warrensburg, forming part of the auxiliary force that captured thirteen hundred rebels on the 19th of December, on the Black Water. The regiment on the following day took charge of the prisoners and escorted them to St. Louis, where it remained until the second of February, 1862, when it embarked on transports and proceeded to Cairo, Illinois, and thence up the Ohio and Tennessee rivers, to rein- force the army operating against Fort Donelson. Passing Fort Henry on the 11th, it reached Fort Donelson on the 12th, and participated in the attack on the fort the following day.
The regiment was ordered to charge the enemy's center works. The order was most gallantly obeyed, but owing to the obstructions, they were compelled to halt. Several times they got to within one hundred and fifty yards of the works, and were subjected to a continuous fire from the enemy. They were ordered to lie down just in time to escape the ravages of a ter- rible shower of grape and canister, which came sweeping over from a rebel battery, at point blank range. They were com- pelled to remain in that position for about half an hour, wben a detachment of sharp-shooters were thrown into a neck of woods to their right. They soon silenced the rebel guns, by picking off the gunners, which allowed the regiment to with- draw. They retreated in good order, every officer and man acting with the coolness of veterans, The loss of the regiment was sixteen killed and eighty wounded.
On the 15th the regiment formed a part of the storming party that entered and held the outer works, sustaining a loss of four wounded. On the 16th it marched in and occupied the fort, and on the following day Company E took charge of Gen- eral Buckner and staff, escorting them to Indianapolis and re- joining the regiment on the 5th of March.
The same day the regiment left Fort Donelson and marched to Fort Henry, where it embarked on transports, and moved down the river, disembarking at Pittsburg Landing, and going into camp on the 18th.
On the 6th and 7th of April the regiment participated in in the battle of Shiloh, losing twenty-seven killed and one hundred and twenty-two wounded. The officers and men be- haved most gallantly ; and it is easy to suppose, from the num-
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ber of the losses, that the Twenty-fifth took an active part in the hottest portion of the engagement. Although compelled to retreat, every inch of ground was hotly contested. Early in the engagement Lieutenant Colonel Morgan, commanding the regiment, was severely wounded, and the command devolved upon Major Carter, who performed his duties with great skill, coolness and bravery.
Colonel James C. Veatch, the brigade commander, for his gallant conduct, was promoted brigadier general of volunteers, and Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Morgan was promoted colonel of the regiment.
The regiment next joined in the pursuit of the rebels to Corinth, and took part in the siege of that place until it was evacuated, when it marched to and occupied Grand Junction on the 10th of June. Thence it moved to Holly Springs, Mis- sissippi, and to Lavergne, where it remained until the 17th of July, when it marched to Memphis,
It remained at Memphis, principally engaged in guerrilla hunting and scouting expeditions, until the 6th of September, when it marched to Bolivar, where it remained until the 5th of October.
General Hurlbut, commanding the division, received orders to intercept Price and Van Dorn on their retreat from Corinth. He immediately moved out with the command and met the rebels at Hatchie river, where a fierce, but short and decisive battle took place.
The enemy having but two brigades and a battery across the river, our forces charged them, capturing four twelve pound brass guns, and driving their infantry in confusion across the stream. The division pursued them several miles, capturing a large number of small arms, camp and garrison equipage, and several prisoners. The loss of the regiment was three killed and seventy-six wounded.
Returning to Bolivar, they marched into Northern Missis- sippi. During the campaign six companies were stationed at Davis' Mills,-a point at which the Mississippi Central railroad crosses Wolf river-and the remaining four companies were distributed along the line of the railroad to within six miles of Holly Springs, for the purpose of guarding communications.
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On the 21st of December, Colonel Morgan, in command at Davis' Mills, received a summons to surrender the command to the rebel General Van Dorn. The Colonel with characteristic firmness, refused to comply with the demand, and a brisk fight ensued. The enemy made three desperate charges upon the little garrison, and were as often repulsed. when they beat a hasty retreat, leaving twenty-three dead, and many wounded and prisoners behind. The regiment lost three slightly wounded.
From Davis' Mills the regiment moved back to Memphis, arriving on the 14th day of January, 1863. It was employed on provost duty until November, when it moved again to Grand Junction, and guarded the railroad from that place to Moscow.
On the 2d of January, 1864, the regiment pursuing Forrest to Cold Water, Mississippi, but failing to bring him to a stand, it returned to Grand Junction, where it remained a few days and then marched to Memphis, where it embarked and moved down the river, to join Sherman's army at Vicksburg. It par- ticipated with that army in the raid through the Mississippi, being engaged in a skirmish at Marion Station.
On the return the regiment re-enlisted at Canton, Missis- sippi, on the 29th of February, 1864, and on returning to Vicksburg, proceeded thence to Indianapolis, where they ar- rived on the 21st of March.
At the expiration of their veteran furloughs they assembled at Evansville, on the 24th of April, and proceeded to Decatur, Alabama.
Colonel Morgan resigned on the 20th of May, leaving Lieutenant Colonel Rheinlander in command of the regiment.
Remaining at Decatur until the 4th of August, meantime participating in several skirmishes with Roddy's rebel cavalry, the regiment moved by rail to Atlanta, joining the Fourth di- vision, Sixteenth army corps, in front of that city. It was ac- tively engaged in the siege of that place from the 8th until the 26th, when the army was withdrawn from before Atlanta, and the Twenty-fifth was left on picket for the corps.
On the 27th, Lieutenant Colonel Rheinlander, together with several of the old officers resigned. Captain James S. Wright assumed command of the regiment.
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On the 28th, the enemy pressing them close, they with- drew, and joined the army then on the march to Jonesboro'. . The regiment lost, in front of Atlanta, three killed, six wound- ed, and four prisoners. Participating in the battle of Jones- boro', it lost two wounded.
After the occupation of Atlanta, the regiment returned to East Point and went into camp. While there, Captain Wright obtained leave of absence, and returned to Indianapolis for the purpose of obtaining recruits and commissions for officers.
On the 3d of October the regiment broke camp and joined in the pursuit after Hood. While in the advance, on the 15th, they attacked the rebels at Snake Creek Gap, driving them from their works, with a loss to the regiment of nine killed and fourteen wounded. Moving on to Gaylesville, Alabama, where they halted, they were joined by Major Wright, who brought with him several commissions for line officers. From Gayles- ville they marched to Marietta, where they received four hun- dred recruits.
Preparations were now commenced for " Sherman's March to the Sea." On the 12th of November they moved out and destroyed the railroad from Marietta to Kenesaw Mountain, marching towards Atlanta the next day. Leaving Atlanta on the 15th, and moving south-the weather being clear and beau- ful-their march was uninterrupted until the 8th of December, when they encountered a detachment of the enemy and had a slight skirmish, driving him before them.
On the 9th they arrived in front of Savannah, and partici- pated in the investment of that city, until the 14th, sustaining a loss of nine wounded.
The regiment then marched with the division and assisted in destroying the railroad from Altamaha to the Ogeechee river near Fort Mc Alister.
Returning to Savannah on the 22d, they remained in camp until the 4th of January, 1865, when they removed with the Seventeenth corps, on transports, to Beaufort, South Carolina, and from thence to Pocotalico, where they arrived on the 13th of January.
The march to Goldsboro', North Carolina, commenced on the 30th. During this march they were engaged as follows :
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Battle of Rivers' Bridge, on the 2d and 3d of February, with a loss of ten wounded and one captured ; skirmish at Binaka's Bridge, on the South Edisto river, on the 9th ; skir- mish at Fayetteville, North Carolina, killing five rebels, with no loss to the regiment ; battle of Bentonville on the 21st, with a loss of two killed, twelve wounded, and two missing.
In this battle they lost the gallant Captain Robert G. Shan- nen of Company F. He served in the Mexican war. He was wounded at the battle of Chepultepec ; wounded at Hatchie river, October 5th, 1862 ; wounded at Snake Creek Gap, Octo- ber 16th, 1864 ; and at Bentonville, as above stated, from the effects of which he died on the 23d of March, 1865. After re- ceiving his wound at Snake Creek Gap, he went home, but re- joined the regiment at Pocatalico, hardly able for duty. When the regiment started on the march from that place, Colonel Wright tried to persuade him to remain behind ; but he would go with his company, despite the entreaties of his friends. He was an officer beloved and respected by all, and his death threw a shadow over the hearts of his men not soon to be removed.
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