USA > Indiana > Henry County > Fall Creek > Fall Creek Township, Henry County, Indiana, in the War of the Rebellion and the War with Mexico; with an app. giving a short history of the Grand Army of the Republic, Dept. of Ind., George W. Rader Post No. 119, and J. B. Gossett Camp No. 46, S. of V., U.S.A > Part 4
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
Richard S. Gossett, who was raised in Fall Creek township, was a member of this company, but enlisted in Madison county, where he was then living, was mustered in and out with the regiment, having served a period of four years and two months.
18TH INFANTRY. [Three Years Service. ]
David S. Yount was the only representative from this vicinity in this organization. He was mustered in as a member of the regimental band August 16, 1861, and was mustered out in March, IS62, when bands were dispensed with. Here-entered the service as Ist Lieutenant Company H, 69th Infantry, in August, IS62.
COMPARY G, 47TH INFANTRY. [Three Years Service.]
The company was recruited in Madison county and was mustered into the service of the United States December 9, 1861. In this organization there were two from Fall Creek, Corporal Frederick Rent and Harrison Jackson. The latter was discharged in June, 1862, on account of disabil- ity; re-entered service in Company E, gth Cavalry.
Frederick Rent served with the company until January, 1864, when he enlisted for the term of three years or during the war in the same or- ganization, and was mustered out with it October 23, 1865. He was the oldest man in the service from the township, being 58 years old when mustered out. He was the father of Captain John H. Rent, of the 57th
£
37
COMPANIES K, 54TH, AND F, 57TH INFANTRIES.
Infantry, and Daniel Rent, of the Sth Infantry, both of whom served more than four years; also of George D. Rent, of the 139th Infantry, who served during the term of that regiment.
COMPANY K, 54TH INFARTRY. [Three Months Service.]
This organization was mustered into the United States service June IS, IS62, and was intended to guard the rebel prisoners at Camp Morton, Indianapolis.
Following is given the enlistment from Fall Creek township:
Ist Lieutenant- Shane, George W.
Sergeant- Hanson, John C.
Re-entered service as Captain Company H, 140th Infantry.
Re-entered service in Company G, 7th Cav- alry.
Corporal- Allis, Joseph.
Privates- Bonham, Marcus L. Speese, George W.
The regiment remained on duty at Indianapolis but a short time, when it was ordered to Kentucky to help defend the State against the invasion of Bragg and Smith, where it remained until the expiration of its term of service, when it returned to Indianapolis and was mustered out. There were no losses in the organization during its term of service.
COMPANY F, 57TH IRFARTRY. [Three Years Service.]
This company was recruited in October and November, IS61, by Wil- liam S. Bradford of Middletown, in Fall Creek, Harrison, Jefferson and Henry townships, Henry county, Salem and Center townships, Delaware county, and Adams township, Madison county, with recruits from Grant and Marion counties.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain- Bradford, William S. McArthur, Korac.
Rent, John H. Ist Lieutenant -- Shroyer, Peter.
Date of Commission. Oct. 30, 1861. Died May 14, IS62. May 17, 1862. Mustered out Feb, 22, IS65; term expired. March 1, 1865. Mustered out with regiment.
Oct. 30, 1861. Resigned April 14, 1862.
38
COMPANY F, 57TH INFANTRY.
Tharp, Thomas D. April 30, 1862. Resigned Nov. 13, 1862.
Smith, Samuel T. Nov. 14, 1862. Promoted Adjutant. Minesinger, Chas. W. T. Oct. 13, 1863.
Rent, John H. Wilmington, Oscar N.
2d Lieutenant --
Tharp, Thomas D.
McArthur, Korac.
Smith, Samuel T.
Minesinger, Chas. W. T. Nov. 14, 1862. Promoted ist Lieutenant.
Wisehart, Richmond.
Died Sept. 14, 1864, from wounds received at Jones- borough, Ga. Sept. 14, 1864 Promoted Captain. March 1, 1865. Mustered out with regiment.
Oct. 30, 1861. Promoted Ist Lieutenant. April 30, 1862. Promoted Captain. May 17, 1862. Promoted Ist Lieutenant.
June 1, 1865. Not mustered; mustered out as Ist Sergeant with regiment.
ENLISTED MEN.
Ist Sergeant- McArthur, Korac. Sergeants -- Albertson, Larkin D. Smith, Samuel T.
Seward, Wesley W. Kerwood, Asbury L.
Corporals -- Markle, De Witt C.
Ham, Samuel.
Cothran, David S.
Minesinger, Chas. W, T.
Hawk, William. Leavell, Benjamin D.
Erwin, William. Brown, Nathaniel.
Musicians- Perry, Joseph. Needham, Winford.
Wagoner- Peed, Redmond.
Privates- Bradford. James F. Baker, George C.
Black, Levi M. Black, James J, Barnes, Erastus. Bowers, James.
Promoted 2d Lieutenant.
Discharged Aug. 16, IS62.
Promoted 2d Lieutenant.
Killed at Stone River, Tenn., Dec. 31, 1862. Appointed Ist Sergeant; mustered out Feb. 5, 1865, term expired.
Transferred to V. R. C .; discharged in Nov., 1864.
Discharged Dec. 23, IS61.
Died at New Albany, Ind., June 17, 1862.
Promoted 2d Lieutenant.
Veteran; mustered out Dec. 14, 1865.
Died Feb. 2, IS62.
Discharged Dec. 15, 1863. Discharged Aug. 20, 1862.
Discharged July 7, IS62. Veteran; discharged June 30, 1865, as princi- pal musician.
Died in rebel prison at Andersonville, May 4, ISOf.
Died at home (date unknown). Veteran; appointed Corporal; mustered out Dec. 14. 1865. Discharged June 16, 1862. Killed at Big Shanty, Ga., June IS, IS64. Mustered out Sept. 2, 1864. Deserted, returned; mustered out Dec. 2, IS65.
39
COMPANY F, 57TH INFANTRY.
Bowers, Moses.
Bates, Sylvester. Bennett, Noah. Cloud, Henry C.
Cabe, Job.
Carmichael, Milton. Conn, Adam E.
Chenoweth, John F.
Doken, William.
Echelbarger, William.
Elliott, Henry C.
Elliott, Josephus V.
Evans, Lemuel.
Evans, Asbury C.
Frazier, Isaiah. Gray, Jeremiah. Graves, William.
Gillmore, James. Ginn, Thomas J. Ham, Jacob H.
Ilam, William J. Ham, George W.
Huston, Joseph. Hiatt, Joseph.
Hiatt, James D.
Hiatt, Enoch. Hiatt, William H.
Hunter, Ebon C.
Harris, Meredith. Hardin, Albert G. Jennings, Charles C. Kenny, John. Leavell, William L. Lloyd, Levi. Lock, Lewis. McKee, Joseph. McGeath, Martin. Nicodemus, John.
Discharged Dec. 15, IS63. Discharged Aug. 20, 1862. Died at Louisville, Ky., June 17, 1862. Mustered out, date unknown.
Died at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 21, 1862.
Died at Louisville, Ky .. Nov. 27, 1862.
Discharged June 28, IS62; re-entered service in 25th Battery.
Veteran; lost on steamer Sultana, April 27, I 865.
Discharged June 17. IS62.
Discharged, date unknown.
Promoted Adjutant.
Discharged in IS63; died a few days later.
Died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 5, 1863.
Unaccounted for.
Mustered out Oct. 5, 1865.
Died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 5, 1863.
Wounded at Stone River, Tenn .; discharged April 4, 1863; re-entered service in 9th Cavalry; lost on Sultana, April 27, 1865.
Discharged Dec. 31, 1863.
Mustered out March 19, 1865.
Discharged Dec. 31, 1863.
Discharged Sept. 11, 1863.
Veteran; appointed regimental Quartermas- ter Sergeant; mustered out Dec. 14, IS65; term expired. Died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 5, 1863.
Veteran: killed at New Hope Church, May 27, IS64.
Discharged March 23, IS63; re-entered ser- vice as Captain Company D, 147th Infan- try.
Discharged April 13, 1863.
Veteran; appointed Corporal; mustered out Dec. 14, IS65.
Veteran; appointed Sergeant; mustered out Dec. 14, 1865.
Discharged March 11. 1863.
Mustered out Feb. 5. 1865.
Killed at Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30, 1864.
Killed at Missionary Ridge, Nov. 25. 1863. Died at Nashville, Tenn .. Dec. 10, 1862.
Discharged April 13, 1862. Died at Louisville, Ky., Jan. 17, 1862.
Discharged Nov. 22, 1862. Discharged June 21, 1862. Discharged April 23, 1863.
T
40
COMPANY F, 57TH INFANTRY.
Newland, John. Phillips, Orton. Protzman, Oliver D.
Poe, Pleasant. Pettay, James F. Redding, John. Rent, John H.
Rinker, John H.
Ringo, James M.
Runnels, Samuel.
Sargent, James L.
Seward, Thomas.
Sullivan. Jeremiah.
Simons, Nixon.
Scott, Gideon B. Small, Eli O.
Terhune, Albert G.
Thomas, James. Vest, Rowland.
. Vest, Arthur E.
Van Mater, Joseph. Watkins, Francis M.
Wisehart, Richmond.
Waddy, John B. Waddy, Robert A. Wheeler, Jason. Wilmington, Oscar N.
Died at Shiloh, Tenn , June 3. 1862. Discharged April 3, 1863.
Veteran; killed at Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30, IS63.
Absent without leave, date unknown.
Died at Nashville, Tenn., March 27, 1862.
Discharged July 11, 1862.
Appointed Sergeant; veteran; promoted Ist Lieutenant.
Died at Shiloh, Tenn., April 22, 1862,
Discharged July 11, IS62.
Absent without leave, date unknown.
Discharged June 20, 1862.
Transferred to V. R. C.
Died of wounds, June 15. 1864.
Died at Louisville, Ky., Jan. 17, 1862.
Discharged June 20, IS62.
Discharged Aug. 17, 1862.
Discharged April 5, 1863.
Died at Nashville, Tenn., April 30, 1863.
Discharged April 11, IS62.
Veteran; appointed Sergeant; mustered out Dec. 14, 1865. Died at St. Louis, Mo., May 10, 1862. Veteran; killed at Resacca, Ga., May 1.4, IS64.
Veteran: appointed Ist Sergeant; promoted 2d Lieutenant. Discharged June 28, 1863. Discharged May 9, 1862. Discharged June 22, IS62.
Veteran; promoted ist Lieutenant.
RECRUITS.
Gregory, Edwin A.
Hart, Elisha.
Lowrey, Philander.
Myers, John. McLoughlin, Thomas B.
Nicodemus. Isaac. Phillips, John P.
Steward, William D.
Date of Muster.
Feb. IS, IS62. Killed at Stone River, Tenn., Dec. 31, IS62.
March 14, IS62 Appointed Sergeant; mustered April 6, 1864 out March 20, 1865. Appointed Sergeant; mustered Feb. 23, 1862. out Dec. 14, 1865. Mustered out Feb. 20. 1865. Dec. 23, 1861. Discharged March 13. 1863, on account of wounds. Transferred to V. R. C.
March 22, 1864. Oct. 4, 1864. Appointed Corporal; mustered out Dec. 14, 1865. Dec. 22, 1864 Died at Blue Springs, Tenn., April 10, 1865.
:
COMPANY F, 57TH INFANTRY.
Terhune, John H.
Williams, Leander J.
Watkins, Thornton T.
April 7, 1864.|Appointed Sergeant;mustered out Dec. 14, 1865.
April 7, 1864. Appointed Corporal; mustered out Dec. 14. IS65. April 6, 1864. Supposed killed by guerrillas in Mississippi.
DRAFTED AND SUBSTITUTES.
Arnett, Isaac H.
Allenbaugh, Robert. Allenbaugh, Elisha.
Oct. 14, 1864. Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865. Oct. 14, IS64. Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865.
Bullock, John P.
Oct. 14. 1864. Mustered out Oct. 10, IS65.
Bland, Moses J. Brewer, Lewis A.
Oct. II, IS64 Mustered out Oct. 20, IS65.
Oct. II, IS61 Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865.
Oct. 14, 1864. Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865.
Date unknown. Mustered out July 17. 1865.
Sept. 30, 1864. Mustered out June 16, 1865.
Oct. 14, IS64. Missing in action at Franklin, . Tenn., Nov. 30, 1864.
Evans, Henry.
Oct. 14, 1864. Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865.
Hayse, James M.
Oct. 14, IS64. Mustered out July S, 1865.
Hart, Thomas J.
Oct. 14, IS64 Mustered out Nov. 4, 1865, as Sergeant.
Haynes, Peter.
Joseph, James R.
Oct. 4, 1 861.
Missing in action at Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30, 1864. Mustered out Oct. 10, IS65, as Corporal. Deserted Nov. 22. 1864.
Kemp, Charles B.
Oct. 14, I S64. Mustered out Sept. 19, IS65.
Keller, Leroy.
Nov. II. IS64. Mustered out June 20, 1865.
Kelly, Jefferson.
Nov. 11, IS64. Missing in action at Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30. 1864.
· Keene, Fleming. Lemmons. Thomas B. Maring, William.
Oct. 14. I 864. Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865.
Sept. 30, IS64. Mustered out May 29, 1865.
Oct. 14, r $64. Died at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 11, 1865.
Maxwell. William P.
Oct. 14, IS64 Mustered out Oct. 13, 1865.
Martin, William.
Oct. 4: 1861 Mustered out Oct. 10, IS65.
Maran. James K.
Oct. 4. IS64 Mustered out Oct. 10, 1865.
Monks. Thomas D.
Oct. + IS64. Mustered out Oct. 10, 1865.
Manuly, John C.
Oct. 1864. Mustered out June 16, 1865.
Norris, John F. Need, John.
Sept. 28. 1864. Mustered out June 20, 1865.
Sept. 2S, IS64. Discharged May 25, 1865.
Pirtle, John K.
Oct. 14, I 864. Mustered out Oct. 20, IS65.
Oct. 14.
1864. Mustered out Oct. 14. 1865.
Ridge, James M.
Sechrist, Jacob.
Nov. II. 1864. Mustered out June 7, 1865. Oct. 14, 1864. Mustered out July 25, 1865.
Oct. 14. IS64. Mustered out Aug. 21, 1865.
Staker, Lewis.
Date of Muster.
Oct. 14, IS61 Mustered out Oct. 10, 1865.
Cochrane, John H. Cannaday, Richard W. Davis, Robert Dechard, Allen.
Date unknown.
Johnson, Michael.
Oct. 1.4 IS64.
41
Pitts. Tilghman H.
.
42
COMPANY F, 57TH INFANTRY.
Stark, Stephen B.
Oct. 27, IS64. Mustered out Oct. 30, IS65.
Shivers, Richard.
Shivers, William.
Oct. 14, 1864. Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865. Oct. 1.4, IS64 Mustered out Oct. 20, IS65.
Sexton, Matthew D.
Oct. 14, 1 864 Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865.
Wentz, Abraham.
Oct.
14, 1864. Mustered out June 15, 1865. Oct.
Wilks, George W.
14, IS64. Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865
Watson, Albert.
Oct. 14, IS64 Missing in action at Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30, 1864.
Wade, Gabriel.
Oct. 4, I S6.4. Mustered out Oct. 10, 1865.
Welch, John H.
Oct. 4: IS64. Mustered out Oct. 10, 1865.
Company F rendesvouzed at Camp Wayne, Richmond, until about the middle of November, when the regiment was ordered to Indianapolis, where it was mustered into the United States service on the ISth of the same month.
On the 23d of December the regiment left for Kentucky, and reported for duty to General Buell at Louisville, and was assigned to the sixth di- vision, army of the Ohio, then organizing at Bardstown, where the 57th joined it and remained during the balance of the year 1861. The only · change in the company to that date was Corporal Samuel Ham discharged . for disability.
IS62.
In January the regiment moved to Lebanon, and on the 15th of Feb- ruary went by rail to Mumfordsville, and in March was ordered to Nash- ville, Tenn.
On the 21st of March the 57th left Nashville with Buell's army to re- inforce General Grant at Shiloh, but owing to the terrible condition of the roads only arrived there in time to take part in the last day's struggle. The 57th arrived just as the enemy fled, and suffered no loss.
The march of Buell's army from Nashville to Pittsburg Landing, over roads barely passable in summer, were now, at the breaking up of winter, an almost continuous swamp, and over these roads, through pouring rain, wading streams of ice cold water, Buell's army toiled; sleeping in the mud, their clothes and blankets soaked with water, night after night, was more deadly than the bullets of the enemy. By reference to the roster of Com- pany E we can see the great number of deaths and discharges in the spring and summer of IS62, nearly all of which were brought on by the expos- ures incident to this march.
The 57th took part in the march and toils from Shiloh to Corinth, a distance of fifteen miles, occupying twenty-one days, the route being for- tified almost the entire distance, and on arriving at their destination no enemy was to be found.
After the evacuation of Corinth the regiment marched into northern Alabama, where it remained on duty until July, when it moved to middle Tennessee and was stationed at Tullahoma and MeMinnville, doing guard and scouting duty until the ist of September, when it marched northward through Tennessee and Kentucky with Buell's army in pursuit of General Bragg, who with a large army of Confederates had invaded the latter State. The race between the two armies as to who should first reach
-
43
COMPANY F, 57TH INFANTRY.
Louisville was an exciting one, and was barely won by Buell's men, after a terrible march by day and night. The roads were dusty and water al- most impossible to obtain, while the sun poured down with torrid heat. This march was directly the opposite of the one to Shiloh: there, cold, mud and rain; here, heat, dust and drouth.
As soon as Buell could obtain supplies for his soldiers he again faced south in pursuit of Bragg, who, after gathering everything in the shape of provisions and forage in northern and central Kentucky, had com- menced to fall back towards his stronghold in the mountains of Tennes- see.
At Perryville, or Chaplin's Hill, Buell's forces came up to the rear of Bragg, on the Sth of October, and a battle was fought lasting until the evening of the 9th, without any decisive result; but Bragg continued his retreat with his plunder without further molestation.
After the pursuit of Bragg was abandoned the 57th again marched to Nashville and camped there until the latter part of December, when it marched to Stone River and was engaged in the great battle there on the 31st of December and the Ist, 2d and 3d of January, 1863. In this battle the 57th greatly distinguished itself, being in the left wing of the army, which withstood the terrible repeated assaults of the enemy. In this battle Company F lost Sergeant Wesley W. Seward and Edwin A. Gregory killed, and William Graves and Thomas B. McLoughlin severely wounded.
The casualties and changes for the year in addition to the above were:
Died-Captain William S. Bradford, Corporals David S. Cothran and Benjamin D. Leavell, Privates Noah Bennett, Job Cabe, Milton Carmi- chael, William L. Leavell, Lewis Lock. John Newland, James F. Pettay, John H. Rinker, Nixon Simons and Joseph Van Mater.
Discharged-Ist Lieutenant Peter Shroyer, Ist Lieutenant Thomas D. Tharp, Sergeant Larkin L. Albertson, Corporal Nathaniel Brown, Musi- cian Joseph Perry, Privates Levi M. Black, Sylvester Bates, Adam E. Conn, William Doken, Levi Lloyd, Martin McGeath, Joseph McKee, John Redding, James M. Ringo, James L. Sargent, Gideon B. Scott, Eli O. Small, Rowland Vest, Robert A. Waddy and Jason Wheeler.
Deserted -- James Bowers, Pleasant Poe and Samuel Runnels.
Promotions -- ed Lieutenant Thomas D. Tharp to Ist Lieutenant, vice Shiroyer, resigned; Ist Sergeant Korac McArthur to 2d Lieutenant, vice Tharp, promoted, and to captain, vice Bradford, dead; Sergeant Samuel T. Smith to 2d Lieutenant, vice McArthur. promoted, and to Ist Lieuten- ant, vice Tharp, resigned; Charles W. T. Minesinger to 2d Lieutenant, vice Sinith, promoted.
IS63
After the battle of Stone River the 57th encamped at Murfreesboro, Tenn., until June, engaged in outpost duty and scouting; on the 24th of the month the camp was broken up and the regiment participated in the Tullahoma campaign. After the evacuation of middle Tennessee by the Confederates, the 57th remained in camp near Pelham, in the Elk River valley, until the 16th of August.
During the campaign which resulted in the capture of Chattanooga
1
.
44
COMPANY F, 57TH INFANTRY.
and the battle of Chicamauga, the 57th operated on the north side of the Tennessee River until the evacuation, when it crossed over and took pos- session of the town. Lieutenant Colonel George W. Lennard of the 57th, was assigned as Provost Marshal and the regiment as provost guards, and while performing this duty the bloody battle of Chicamauga was fought, being the only engagement in which the division to which the 57th was attached participated without that regiment being engaged.
The 57th was relieved from provost duty a few days prior to the battle of Missionary Ridge, and was engaged in that affair, being in the storm- ing column which carried the heights by a fierce charge. Private John Kenny was killed in this charge.
At the re organization of the Army of the Cumberland subsequent to the battle of Chicamauga, the 57th was assigned to Sheridan's division of the 4th Corps, and in this organization it served until the close of the war.
The regiment was included in the reinforcement sent to General Burnside at Knoxville immediately after the battle of Missionary Ridge, but the Confederates under Longstreet retreated before their arrival.
The changes and casualties for the year in the company were as fol- lows:
Promotions-Ist Lieutenant Samuel T. Smith to Adjutant; 2d Lieu- tenant Charles W. T. Minesinger to Ist Lieutenant, vice Smith, promoted. Killed-Private John Kenny.
Died-Lemuel Evans, Jeremiah Gray, Joseph Huston and James Thomas.
Discharged-Corporal William Erwin, Privates Moses Bowers, Wil- liam Graves, James Gilmore, Jacob H. Ham, William J. Ham, Meredith Harris, James D. Hiatt, Enoch Hiatt, John Nicodemus, Orton Phillips, Albert G. Terhune, John B. Waddy and Thomas B. McLoughlin.
IS6.4.
On the Ist day of January the following members of Company F re- enlisted for three years or during the war: Winford Needham, George C. Baker, John F. Chenoweth, George W. Ham, Joseph Hiatt, William H. Hiatt, Ebon B. Hunter, Oliver D. Protzman, John H. Rent, Arthur E. Vest, Francis M. Watkins, Richmond Wisehart and Oscar N. Wilming- ton, and they received their leave of absence in March. After the expira- tion of the furlough the regiment rejoined the 4th Corps on the 5th of May, and at once took an active part in the campaign against Atlanta, and during the maneuvering and advance on that place the regiment was engaged in the following battles: Rocky Face Ridge, Resacca, Adairs- ville and New Hope Church.
In the terrible struggle around Kenesaw Mountain the regiment bore its full part, and at Peach Tree Creek on the 20th of July; then in the trenches around Atlanta until the 25th of August, and at Jonesboro on the 31st, were erected monuments of the regiment's fidelity and bravery that will last as long as the government exists.
At the battle of Resacca the brave Colonel of the 57th, George W. Lennard of New Castle, was killed while leading his regiment to victory.
45
COMPANY F, 57TH, INFANTRY.
No officer fell during the war more loved in life or lamented in death than the gallant Lennard.
The losses in Company F during the Atlanta campaign were:
Killed-Ist Lieutenant Charles W. T. Minesinger, Privates James J. Black, Joseph Hiatt, Jeremiah Sullivan and Francis M. Watkins.
Wounded-Sergeant Richmond Wisehart and John F. Chenoweth.
Soon after the occupation of Atlanta by the Federal army, the com- munications being threatened, the 57th accompanied the expedition that occupied Chattanooga and took part in the operations that resulted in forcing the Confederate army under General Hood into Alabama, and afterward formed part of the army under General Thomas that resisted Hood's efforts to capture Nashville.
On the 30th the regiment was in the short but terrific battle at Frank- lin. Tenn., having with its brigade been posted one-fourth of a mile in advance of the works, where they received the assaults of the entire Rebel army, but were finally overwhelmed and driven in with great loss.
In this battle the Confederate losses were greater than in any other battle of the war, considering numbers engaged and length of time the fight occupied. While the Confederate losses were ten to one of the Union forces, and their desperate assaults were each time repulsed, yet neither side claimed a victory, and when night put an end to the fighting the Union forces quietly withdrew across the Harpeth River and retreated to Nashville, pursued the next day by the Confederates, who took position near the city, preparatory to besieging it.
On the 16th and 17th of December the 57th was engaged in the battle of Nashville, in which Hood was so completely defeated that his army retreated in great confusion, and after an assault by the Union cavalry at Franklin on the 17th, was so demoralized that as an organized body it was never again heard of.
In the battle of Franklin Company F lost: Killed, Charles J. Jennings and Oliver D. Protzman; missing and supposed killed, Allen Dechard, Peter Haynes, Jefferson Kelly and Albert Watson; captured, John F. Chenoweth, Thomas J. Ginn and Thornton T. Watkins.
After the pursuit of the flying fragments of Hood's army was aban- doned, the 57th went into camp at Huntsville, Ala., and remained there during the year.
The changes and casualties for the year IS64 were:
Killed-Ist Lieutenant Charles W. T. Minesinger, James J. Black, Joseph Hiatt, Jeremiah Sullivan, Francis M. Watkins, Peter Haynes, Jef. ferson Kelly and Albert Watson.
Died-Redmond Peed, in Andersonville prison.
Discharged-Erastus Barnes.
Promoted-Sergeant John H. Rent to Ist Lieutenant, vice Minesinger, killed.
I 865.
The 57th remained at Huntsville until April, when it moved to Bull's Gap, in East Tennessee, and then to Nashville, where it camped until July, when it was transferred to Texas and stationed at Port Levacca.
The three members of Company F captured at Franklin were impris-
46
COMPANY F, 57TH INFANTRY.
oned in the pen at Andersonville until the latter part of March, when they were sent west to Meridian, Miss. At this place Thornton T. Watkins, with others, escaped, but as he was never afteward heard of it is supposed he was killed by guerrillas.
From Meridian the prisoners were sent to Jackson, and from there to Vicksburg, where they embarked for the North on the ill-fated steamer Sultana. On the 27th of April, just before dawn and shortly after leav- ing the wharf at Memphis, the boilers of the boat exploded, entirely de- stroying the vessel and killing many of those on board, and blowing all others into the river, very few escaping with their lives. Of the two members of Company F on board, Chenoweth was either killed by the explosion or drowned, the other, Thomas J. Ginn, was terribly scalded by the escaping steam and bruised by the flying timbers and blown into the river, where. after a desperate struggle with the waves, he was rescued some distance down the stream and taken to the hospital at Memphis. After recovery he was sent to Indianapolis and mustered out, his term of service having expired some five months previous.
The 57th remained in Texas until the 14th of December, when it was mustered out and arrived at Indianapolis about the Ist of January, 1866, where the men were discharged.
The following changes and casualties occurred in Company F during the year:
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.