USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 28
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13. 17. Schermerhorn MAJOR 46TH IND. VOL.
HON. BERNARD F. SCHERMERHORN.
Mr. Schermerhorn is of the seventh generation of a family of Holland- ers, who found their way to the new world about the year 1620. A part of the family settled in or near Albany, N. Y., and at Schenec- tady, another portion in New York City, and a third branch in the State of New Jersey. His maternal grandfather, Christopher P. Yates, was a member of the Committee of Safety in Tryon* County, N. Y., during the dark days of the Revolutionary struggle. The subject of this sketch was born in Middleburg, Schoharie Co., N. Y., December 13, 1821. While quite young his parents moved to Utica, N. Y., where the family continued to reside until some time during the fall of 1840.
At the age of sixteen years, he entered the freshman class at Hamil- ton College, New York, where he spent two years. He then entered Union College as a member of the Junior class, where he finished his collegiate course. His father's family moved to this county and settled in Tippecanoe Township in the year 1840. After spending a number of years upon the farm he chose the profession of law, and at once began the study thereof, reading a portion of the time at home and the remain- der in an office in Buffalo, N. Y. He began the practice in Delphi, in 1854, and in the year following formed a law partnership with the late Hon. Hiram Allen, a partnership which continued until the death of Mr. Allen. In 1856, he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature, end served one term with credit to his constituency. After this public service he resnmed the law and continued the practice until September, 1861, when he recruited a company for the Forty-sixth Indiana Volun- eer Infantry, and was commissioned Captain of Company C. The regiment under command of Col. Graham N. Fitch, after remaining in cnp at Logansport and Indianapolis sufficient time to become fairly dis- ciplined, was ordered into service in the field. After a brief campaign in Kentucky and Tennessee, the command was ordered to report at Cairo, to take part in the military operations looking to the opening and possession of the Mississippi River. The service was of a varied charac- ter, sometimes on the river, and then again executing a rapid movement across the country to attack the enemy in the rear, while the flotillas of Commodores Foote and Davis engaged his strongholds on the great river. Thus Capt. Schermerhorn and his command was engaged in the skir- mishes and battles at New Madrid, Riddle's Point and Fort Pillow. His regiment was the first to occupy the city of Memphis. Thence the com-
*Although now no county of that name, there was in early days. It embraced the State as far as Lake Erie, and from it Schoharle County was formed, at a later date .- See Dooumentary History of N. Y., Vol. IV, pp. 508-9.
mand was ordered up White River, in charge of supplies for the forces of Gen. Curtiss, and participated in the storming and subsequent capture of St. Charles. In July the regiment was ordered into camp at Helena, where it remained until the spring of 1863. By special orders Capt. Scher- merhorn spent the winter at his home on recruiting service. He rejoined his regiment at Helena, and the campaign of 1863 was ushered in by the movements looking toward the capture of Vicksburg. His company, commanded in person, was actively engaged in the fighting at Port Gib- son and Champion Hills, decisive conflicts which led to the fall of Vicksburg. After the operations at Vicksburg had successfully termi- nated, Capt. Schermerhorn was rewarded with a promotion to the posi- tion of Major of his regiment, the date of his muster being August 25, 1863. After further service on the lower Mississippi and in Louisiana, in January, 1864, he was. placed in command of four companies and ordered to Matagorda Bay, on the Texas Coast. About the middle of February he was ordered back to New Orleans, where by order of Gen. Reynolds, he assumed command of the Camp of Distribution, and remained in charge until November 17th when he was ordered to Indianapolis, with a detachment of the Forty sixth Regiment, to be mus- tered out. His service closed with being honorably mustered out Decem- ber 14, 1864.
Returning to Delphi, he resumed the practice of law. In a short time, however, he returned to the South, and spent a year in managing a cotton plantation. This speculation proving unprofitable. he returned to Delphi, and resumed the practice of his profession. In October 1867, he was elected Judge of the Carroll Circuit Court. After his term of office expired he again went South and engaged in the lumber trade about three years. Returning to Delphi, he again took up the law and with the exception of three years spent in closing the affairs of the First National Bank, has continued the practice to this time. In former years he was an active spirit in the enterprise of building the Chicago & Indianapolis Air Line Railway, and had charge of the first survey made of the road. He was married June 22, 1858, to Miss Josephine Case. Two sons, Ingold C. and Reed C .; and two daughters, Joscpliinc E. and Catherine N., have blessed the union. Maj. Schermerhorn has been an active and earnest member of the Masonic Order for over a quarter of a century, and was a charter member of Advance Lodge, No. 220, instituted in this city January 9, 1858. This lodge expiring, he afterward united with Delphi Lodge, No. 516. His family as well as himself, are members or advocates of the Episcopal Church.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
ruary, 1862, when it entered on active duty in the field. Subse. quently, having joined Gen. Pope's army. it moved to the rear of New Madrid and Island No. 10. participating in the attack upon the former place. With the troops under Gen. Palmier. it went to Riddle's Point to cut off rebel communication with Island No. 10, and while there put up a battery at night, sustaining itself for over an hour against an attack of five rebel gun-boats without being dislodged. After considerable manenvering and necessary delay. the rebel Fort Pillow was captured, and, on the 5th of June, the flags of the Forty-sixth and the Forty- third Regiments floated in triumph over the desecrated walls of that once formid. able rebel defense.
From the 6th of June. after the gun-boat fight. until the 14th, the regiment occupied Memphis, but immediately after. it left that place, and, with gun-boats. went up White River to meet Gen. Curtis, on the 17th charging the rebel works at St. Charles. and. driving the enemy, captured his guns and a large number of prisoners. It next moved up the river above Clarendon, and was there re-enforced by the Twenty-fourth, Thirty-fourth and Forty- third Regiments. after which the whole foree went up the river to Crockett's Bluff, where it debarked and went across the country. meeting the enemy on the route and driving him back, afterward returning by way of Clarendon, with the fleet. to Helena, and was there assigned to Gen. Hovey's Division. In February. 1863. it went with an expedition under Gen. Ross, up the Yazoo River. participating in the engagements at Fort Pemberton. Returning again, on the Sth of April, to Helena, it started for Milliken's Bend. on the 12th. and took part in the movements against Vicks- burg.
"During this campaign. it was in the principal part of the engagement at Port Gibson. and was in the advance brigade at Champion Hills, suffering severely in the latter engagement. losing in killed and wounded one fourth of the number engaged." At the siege of Vicksburg, it was in trenches during a period of forty-four days. "On the 5th of July. the regiment started, under Gen. Sherman, after Gen. Joe Johnston's forces at Jackson. After defeating the enemy and driving him away. the regiment re- turned to Vicksburg, whence, on the 10th of August, it was trans- ported first to Natchez and next to New Orleans. Here it was transferred to the Department of the Gulf, under Gen. Banks. and, on the 12th of September, started on the Teche expedition through Louisiana toward Sabine River. The regiment was in the advance at Grand Cotean. and rendered material assistance to Gen. Burbridge at that point." It returned to New Orleans after this expedition, and. on the 2d of January. 1864. ro.enlisted as veterans.
Afterward. on the 4th of March, it started on the Red River expedition with Gen. Bauks, marching the entire distance of 302 miles to Sabine Cross Roads. At this point, it took part, in the battle of Mansfield, on the Sth of April. in the First Brigade. Third Division. Thirteenth Army Corps, losing ten killed, twelve wounded and seventy-seven taken prisoners. For a more complete account of this engagement and the consequences that followed. the reader is referred to the following extracts copied from the published narrative prepared by Col. T. H. Bringhurst and Lieut. Col. A. M. Flory. of this regiment, who were in command during the progress of the action. and necessarily familiar with the details:
"On the morning of the 8th (April, 1864). the sun rose bright in a cloudless sky, ushering in a beautiful, but, to the Union army, a disastrous day. At 5 o'clock, the Fourth Division of the
Thirteenth Army Corps. commanded by Col. Landrum, of the Nineteenth Kentucky, mmbering about eighteen hundred men, imoved forward to support the cavalry .. At 6 o'clock, the Third Division of the Thirteenth Corps, under command of Brig. Gen. R. A. Cameron, muhbering, exchisive of train-guards, about twelve hundred, followed. The Thirteenth Corps was under command of Brig. (ien. Ransom. After this came the supply and amma- nition trains of the Thirteenth Corps. The trains of the cavalry were all in front.
"At 7 o'clock. Gen. Emory, with one division of the Nine- leentb Corps, moved in rear of the trains of the Thirteenth Corps, who was followed by the whole train of the army, except the por. tions specified as going before. The remainder of the Nineteenth Corps. which was the bulk of the army. followed under Maj. Gen. Franklin. The train numbered over six hundred wagons, of which those of the General's staff formed no inconsiderable por- tion. The road over which this enormons train was to pass was a narrow, tortuons passage, through a dense pine forest-so nar- row in many places, that a single horseman could scarcely pass the moving wagons. The rear guard of the army did not get away from the camp notil after 12 o'clock.
"At this time, the Sixteenth Corps, under Gen. A. J. Smith. was on the road from Grand Encore, where it had disembarked from boats.
" About 7 o'clock. the cavahy discovered the enemy, about five thousand strong, strongly posted on a deep bayou, about eight miles from 'Pleasant Hill.' A brisk skirmish ensued-on our sido principally with carbines-our cavalry being disinouuted, the nature of the ground forbidding the cavalry movements, and permitting but a few pieces of artillery to be used. The Fourth Division was at once hurried forward and the enemy was speedily dislodged and driven away. The contest here was brief but fierce. The enemy fell back. slowly and stubbornly contesting the ground, and closely pursued by the cavalry and the small body of the in- fantry. A running fight was kept up for a distance of eight miles, when, at 2 o'clock, the enemy, after passing a plantation of some six hundred acres, made a determined stand.
"A council of war was now hell by Gen. Banks, at which all the Generals of divisions were present. It was proposed to go into camp, issne rations. and give the Nineteenth and Sixteenth Corps time to come np and be prepared on the next morning to fight the battle which appeared iunninent. This wise proposition was overruled, and Gen. Lee was ordered to push the enemy. It was argued that the enemy was not in force in front. but that it was nothing more than the force that had been opposing the expedition for the day or two previous, and that the cavalry, supported by the infantry then up, was sufficient for the work. During this halt. the Third Division had moved up to within four miles of the scene of action. Whilst the consultation was going ou. it was ordered to go into camp. It remained at this point about two hours, when Gen. Cameron received orders to move at once to the front. By this time, the battle raged furious- ly. It was found that the entire rebel force was in position be. hind hastily constructed works of logs. The cavalry had broken aud fell back in disorder. The cavalry train was halted in the road, blocking it up against the advance of artillery, and pre- venting the mass of retreating horsemen from escaping but through the lines of infantry. The Fourth Division fought with desperation. The rebel lines were forced. only to give way again before them. It had to oppose the entire rebel army and the struggle was decided by numbers. But eighteen hundred
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
inen (with a very small portion of cavalry) were engaged on the Union side in this contest.
"The Union lines being comparatively short, the extended lines of the enemy were enabled to close around this small force, and the retreat of a large portion was cut off. The cavalry stam- peded, leaving infantry, artillery and train at the mercy of the enemy. The infantry cut through to find itself again surrounded. The ammunition, after two hours hard fighting, was exhausted, and a surrender was unavoidable.
"Such was the condition of affairs when Gen. Cameron ar- rived on the ground with the Third Division, numbering. not over twelve hundred men. Line of battle was immediately formed with the First Brigade (composed of the Forty-sixth Indiana and five companies of the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin, under Lieut. Col. A. M. Flory) on the right, and the Second Brigade (composed of the Twenty-fourth and Twenty eightli Iowa and the Fifty-sixth Ohio, under Lieut. Col. Raynor) on the left. The position of the division was on the edge of a wood, with the open plantation in front. It was about three-fourths of a mile across, with nothing to obstruct the view but an occasional swell of the ground. The width of this open space was more than thrice the length of the front of the Third Division, now the only troops left to confront the enemy.
"The rebels, elated with their late success, came pouring over the clearing in successive lines with closely massed columns. They were permitted to come within close musket range, before the Third Division opened upon them. The Union position was such that, concealed behind logs and fences, it could not be accur- ately ascertained by the rebels, giving an unusually fine opportu- nity for deliberate and accurate firing. A deadly volley broke forth from the whole line-breaking the rebel ranks, hurling them back in confusion and leaving the ground strewn with their dead and wounded. The rattle of the deadly muskets was un- ceasing and the rebel slaughter was terrible. * * * * * * *
"The rebels advanced again and again, but could not maintain their ground. They were driven back-lines, numbering not less than eight thousand, by this little force of twelve hundred. Another but feebler demonstration was made on the front by a small part of the enemy, whilst the bulk of the force under cover of the woods, on either side, passed around to the flanks and rear of the Union lines. This closed the contest. The Third Division was surrounded. * *
* The loss of the Union army in this battle was six hundred killed and winded and twelve hundred and fifty captured. The loss of the rebels as taken from their official reports, was thirty-one hundred, of whom ten days after one thousand were dead." * * "On the morning of the 9th, the day after the battle, the en- tire capture was assembled and moved forward toward their des- tination in Texas. No rations whatever were issued to the pris- oners. Chilled, hungry and weary, this band, numbering fifty commissioned officers and twelve hundred men, were goaded for- ward between two lines of rebel cavalry flushed with a blunder- ing success and devoid of all the principles of manhood and the honor of the soldier, filled with a brutish ferocity, developed and sharpened by their losses and triumph. The most insulting epithets were heaped upon these defenseless men, these prisoners, and those who, from sickness or exhaustion, reeled in the ranks, were treated only as a slave-driving chivalry can treat defenseless humanity. 1.
"At 6 o'clock at night, after a march of twenty-four miles, the staggering column was turned into an open field, having had an unbroken fast of two days. . About. H0).o'clock at night, a small allowance of wood was given the prisoners, a pint of musty, un- sifted corn-meal, with a small allowance of salt beef, no salt and one baking-pan to each hundred men. . There was no water within a fourth of a mile. Eight or ten men were taken out at a time to fill the canteens, of which a very small number had escaped the notice of the rapacious captors on . the battle-field. The entire night was spent in trying to prepare food from the scanty ma- terials at hand-a task almost impossible. .* *. After * marching and halting in this manner for sixteen days, the point of destination was reached. *
* * . The Rev. Hamilton Robb, Chaplain of the Forty-sixth Indiana, a man seventy years of age, made this march, a prisoner. He was released by order of Kirby Smith, at Camp Ford, late in June. This officer had also been captured at Champion Hill, on the Vicksburg march, in 1863.
"In April, 1864, these men were almost destitute of clothing. Many of them at capture were robbed of all articles not absolutely necessary to cover their nakedness. They had passed one of the coldest winters known in the country for years in this destitute condition. More than three-fourths of the men had no shoes to their feet for months. In December, they had been marched to Shreveport, a distance of 140 miles, and back again in January, through rain, snow and sleet, and over icy roads, with no shelter at night, on rations of course meal and starved beef. Again, in March, they were marched over the same road and back again to Camp Ford, their condition not in the least improved by the lapse of time."
CAMP FORD.
"The prison is four miles from Tyler, Smith Co., Tex. It covers an area of about six acres, inclosed by a stockade. A trench or ditch was first dug around the ground selected; in it were placed, on end, oak or pine timbers, fitted close together, and forming a wall about eight feet high. On the outside the earth was banked up so that the guards, whilst on their beats, could see over the whole camp. The location was on an abrupt hillside-a kind of pine and oak barrens. Every shrub and tree was, carefully cut down, leaving nothing to protect the prisoners from the drenching rains, the chilly dews of night, or the scorch- ing rays of the semi-tropical sun. Within this pen the prisoners were turned and mockingly told to 'make yourselves comfortable.' The officers had the rare privilege granted them of going to the' woods under guard to cut logs and board timber, which they car- ried iu on their backs, and constructed for themselves huts of. shelter. Thus, parties of five and ten going out, in due time, built up cabins, a labor not light, when it is considered that to near forty-eight hundred men, but twenty axes and four or five shovels were allowed. An auger and an old saw made up the complement of available tools. Outside, in the camps of the guards, there seemed to be abundance, but nothing but the assort- ment named could be procured for the inside.
"The private soldiers, with the greatest difficulty, by an arm- ful of brush, brought in one day, and some twigs the next, sought to 'erect shelters to protect them from the sun. Parties from ten . to twenty were successively passed out, under guard, with one or two old, axes, and a short time allowed them to procure this class of material; but so great was the clamor and eager rush for the :. prison-gate by the men, that, in their ill-humor, the officers in charge, for days, would allow none to go out. Hundreds of men .. dug holes in the hillside, and from two to four lived in each like
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
wild animals. Each rain soaked through their thin covering of earth and soon made their only abiding-place untenable, even for well-raised swine. Others, with little enterprise, made uo efforts to construct any kind of shelter. A very large proportion, owing to the scarcity of tools and the many impediments thrown in their way, were unable, with all their efforts, to get up anything till late in the summer. The men who lived in the caves soon became sick, and death became a frequent guest in these unnatural abodes. Many of these unfortunate men will he cripples for life from such exposure. *
* * To add to the misery of living in such hovels, this was one of the wettest seasons Texas had wit- nessed for twenty years. During the entire months of May and June and far into July, rain fell almost constantly, not figuratively, but literally, in torrents -- floods overhead and cataracts under foot. With blankets only, in the proportion of ten men to one -- robbed of clothing, in many cases, these unfortunate men were compelled, almost in a state of nakedness, to ondure the drench- ing rains day and night. What though rain should coase, the dark gloom of a cheerless night, like some demon, would sproad its impenetrable veil over the camp, and, exaggerate, if possible, the misery of the sufferers. They do not freeze, but shiver in every muscle. The body does not become numb, but there is an uneasy, unsatisfied craving for warmth that seems worse than a positively colder degree. Men seem to draw within themselves and shiver, as they remember the comforts of home, and would barter for the firesides of home the entire world besides. The ragged. haggard, care-worn men, huddled together in groups, like sheop, as if to kindle a little warmth by contact and move the blood that fast seemed ceasing to flow in their veins. So night after night passed of sleepless wrotchedness, with no hope of comfort in coming morn, but the warming influences of day. Many of the prisoners were new recruits on their first campaign and un- accustomed to the exposure of even ordinary camp life. Upon these the trial soon began to tell, and each night witnessed the death of some unfortunate man, breathing out his life in dark- ness. Lying in the mud, with the rain falling upon him, he be- comes insensible to the loud thunder and the vivid lightning, and is beyond the reach of those who had tortured him. No mother near to gently smooth the aching brow; the kind hand of no sister to minister to his wants; no wife, with her deep love watching the spirit's last struggle. Hurried to a near gravo scarcely deep enough to hide the body troin the prowling wolf, it is soon forever disposed of."
The prisoners captured at Mansfield were for eight mouths tortured in the stockade prisons at Camp Ford and Camp Groce, some account of which has already been given. The remainder of the regiment for a considerable period were actively engaged. It arrived at Monganza, on the Mississippi, on the 22d of May, 1864. On the 11th of June, it left on veteran furlough for Indiana. Subsequently, it performed some other field duty in Kentucky. Remaining in garrison at Lexington until September, it then proceeded to Louisville, where it was mustered out of service on the 4th of September, 1865, and finally discharged at Indianapolis September 6.
REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.
Lientenant Colonel -- John HI. Gould, resigned February 9, 1863, and re-entered as Lieutenant Colonel of One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment.
Majors-John H. Gould, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel; Bernard F. Schermerhorn, mustered out December 14, 1804.
Adjutant-James M. Watts, promoted Major of One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment
Quartermaster-Elza J. Downey, resigned June 15, 1863. Chaplain-Hamilton Robb, mustered out with reghent.
COMPANY A.
Captains-John II. Gould, promoted Major: William A. Pigman, hon ambly discharged December 18, 1864; James V. Brangh, mustered out with regiment.
First Lieutenants-William A. Pigman, promoted Captain; James M. Watts, promoted Adjutant; James V. Brangh, promoteil Captain: Jonathan Moore, mustered out with regiment.
Second Lieutenants-James M. Watts, promoted First Lientenant; James V. Brangh, promoted First Lieutenant; William A. Andrews, died May 22. 1863, of wounds; Jonathan Moore, promoted First Lieutenant; Levi C. Le Sonrd; mustered out with regiment.
First Sergeant-James V. Brangh, promoted Second Lieutenant.
Sergeants-William A. Andrews, promoted Second Lientenant, Berl P. Penny, veteran, mastered out July 8, 1865; James Haslitt, discharged May 30, 1862, disability ; Elza J. Downey, appointed Commissary Sergeant.
Corporals -- Amos M. Ballard, discharged May 30, 1862; Francis Thayer mustered out. December 1, 1864; William HI. Padget, died May 3, 1863, of wonnds received at Port Gibson; Lewis Carter, veteran, innstered out September 4, 1865, as Sergeant; Jonathan Moore, promoted Second Lion. tenant; Francis 1I. Baum, discharged May 19, 1803. disability: Michael Duncan, mustered out December 1. 1864: James T. Franklin, veteran. mustered out September 4. 1865, as Sergeant Major.
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