History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 43

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

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with that organization until its muster out, at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, 1865.

NINETIETH REGIMENT.

The. Ninetieth, or Fifth Cavalry, Regiment was recruited at Indianapo- lis in the fall of 1862. It was sent into the field in detachments as the com- panies were organized, and they were stationed along the Ohio river and in Kentucky, at different points, until the fourteenth of March, 1863, when the scattered companies, in obedience to orders, concentrated at Glasgow, Ken- tucky. Felix W. Graham had been commissioned colonel in the December previous. The regiment was kept busy scouting the country along the Cum- berland river, skirmishing frequently with the enemy, until the nineteenth of April. when it crossed that stream in the presence of nearly an equal force of the enemy and drove them nearly three miles. It then fell back and burned the town of Celina, Tennessee, on account of the inhabitants having fired on the regiment as it passed through the place, and recrossed the river. From that time until the twenty-second of June, it was constantly engaged in skirmishing with the enemy and scouting, in which it succeeded in cap- turing many prisoners, and ridding that portion of Kentucky of the enemy. The regiment then marched to Scottsville, and then to Tompkinsville, where it was stationed on the fourth of July, when it received orders to march in pursuit of the rebel general, John H. Morgan, who was reported to have crossed the Cumberland river and to be making his way north. Marching rapidly through southern and central Kentucky, the regiment reached Louis- ville, and, embarking on transports, ascended the Ohio river to Portsmouth, where it landed on the nineteenth of July, and met Morgan's force near Buffington, where he was trying to cross the river, and escape the force by which he was surrounded. A sharp conflict ensued, in which Morgan was badly defeated, many of his command being killed or wounded and the re- mainder either captured or scattered over the country, so that it was power- less to do further harm. The Ninetieth also captured five pieces of artillery. It then returned to Louisville and marched thence to Glasgow, reaching there on the ninth of August. On the eighteenth of August the regiment marched for Knoxville, Tennessee, and arrived there in advance of the Union forces. under General Burnside, on the first of September.

From that time until February 1. 1864, the Fifth Cavalry was con- stantly engaged in the most arduous duty in east Tennessee. It scarcely knew any. rest, but was constantly engaged in scouting and skirmishing with the enemy. On the twentieth of September it had a spirited engagement with

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the enemy near Zollicoffer and on the twenty-second at Blountsville, at which latter place it captured a large number of prisoners and a piece of artillery. On the eleventh of October it met and fought alone three thousand of the enemy, and after it was entirely surrounded cut its way through the lines of the enemy and escaped, inflicting heavy punishment upon him. Meeting with some other troops, it at once turned around, and, falling upon the enemy near Rheatown, the fight was renewed, and he was compelled to fall back until night put a close to the conflict, during which he escaped. On the morning of the fourteenth, the Fifth met the enemy again near Blountsville and fought him until darkness again intervened. At Maynardville, on the thirtieth of November and on the first of December. it had another stubborn conflict. which was renewed at Walker's Ford, at five o'clock on the morning of the second and lasted until two o'clock in the afternoon. The regiment was opposed by a largely superior force, and was driven back three miles, when re-enforcements reached it and the enemy was driven in turn.

On the fourteenth and fifteenth it was engaged in a severe action at Bean's Station, lasting nearly fifteen hours. On January 17, 1864, the regi- ment was engaged with the enemy at Dandridge, fighting continually from ten o'clock in the morning until three o'clock in the afternoon, making some brilliant charges, when. finding that it was opposed by an overwhelming force of cavalry and infantry, the command retreated to Knoxville, by way of New Market, Kinney's Ford and Strawberry Plains, reaching Knoxville January 19, 1864.

On the twenty-fourth the regiment turned over its horses to another regiment and made a scouting expedition, on foot, to the vicinity of Seviers- ville, and then marched to Cumberland Gap, reaching there February. tenth, and from there marched to Mount Sterling, Kentucky, on the twenty-sixth, having made a scouting expedition on the Virginia road on the way.

. The Fifth remained at Mount Sterling until the first of May, during which time it was remounted and refitted, at which time it marched to Tunnel Hill, Georgia, arriving there on the twelfth, and at once joined the command of General Stoneman. On the thirteenth it marched with the cavalry corps on the Atlanta campaign, and was constantly engaged in the cavalry operations of the army, from Dalton to Decatur, Georgia. On the "Stoneman Raid," to the rear of Atlanta, the regiment was surrendered to the enemy, by command of General Stoneman, after it was entirely sur- rounded and escape seemed hopeless, over the solemn protest of Colonel But- ler, who was in command of the regiment, and to the great surprise and against the indignant remonstrances of the men, who had the most unbounded

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confidence in their ability to cut their way through anything less solid than a stone wall. A portion of the regiment had been dismounted, following hard service, and had been left at Decatur, under command of Major Leeson; they were placed upon duty by order of General Sherman, and they exchanged their carbines for muskets.

On the thirteenth of September they were ordered to Kentucky, where they remained on guard duty until January 17, 1865, when, having 'been exchanged, remounted, armed and equipped, the regiment started on. the march from Louisville to Pulaski, Tennessee, arriving at the latter point February 12. It remained in that vicinity, scouting the country for bush- whackers and outlaws, until June 16, at which time it was mustered out of service, and returned to Indianapolis, reaching that place June 21, 1865, and was discharged. Companies G, L and M, having been mustered into the service after October 1, 1862, were not entitled to be mustered out with the regiment, and they, with a number of recruits whose term of enlistment had not expired, were transferred to the Sixth Indiana Cavalry, and were mus- tered out with that regiment at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, September 15, 1865.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST REGIMENT.

This regiment was recruited at Wabash, and was mustered into the service of the United States September 7, 1862, with William Garver, of Noblesville, as colonel.

The next day it was ordered to proceed by rail to Cincinnati, and, on its arrival at that place, was immediately sent across the Ohio river to Cov- ington, Kentucky, and assigned a position in the line of fortifications surround- ing that place, until the rebel general, Kirby Smith, who had been threatening to attack the position, withdrew his force. On the twenty-third of Septem- ber the regiment embarked on a steamer and went to Louisville, Kentucky. where it remained until October I, when it marched with the army under the command of General Buell in pursuit of the rebel army, under command of General Bragg, who, foiled in his attempt to capture Louisville, was falling back in the direction of Cumberland Gap, in east Tennessee.

The division to which the One Hundred and First was assigned marched through Taylorsville and Berryville, and reached Maxwell on the seventh. At that place the regiment was detailed to guard the division supply train and escort it to Springfield, and thence to Crab Orchard. Bragg, having by that time made good his escape into east Tennessee, Buell turned around and marched for Nashville in order to retain possession of that place, which it

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was Bragg's intention to secure if possible. Passing through Lebanon to Munfordsville, the One Hundred and First was assigned to duty, guarding the railroad bridge across Green river at that place, where it remained until November 30, when it was relieved and ordered to Glasgow, and from there to Castilian Springs, Tennessee, where it remained until December 26, when it was ordered to join the other troops stationed at that point in pursuit of the rebel general, John H. Morgan, who was engaged in making one of his periodical raids into Kentucky.

After a week employed in rapid marching over almost impassable roads, and fording streams swollen to their utmost size by the rain that was falling almost continually, the regiment returned to Castilian Springs, Morgan hav- ing eluded pursuit, and the next day marched to Murfreesboro, reaching that place January 11, and went into camp. It was a few days after assigned to the Second brigade, Fourth division, Fourteenth Army Corps, with the Sev- enty-fifth Indiana Regiment. The histories of the two regiments, from that time until their arrival in the city of Washington, May 19, 1865, are identical,. and, as a pretty full history of the Seventy-fifth is given elsewhere in this work, the reader is referred to it, if he desires to follow the One Hundred and First over many a hard-fought battlefield and weary march.

On the fourteenth of June the regiment left Washington for Louisville, Kentucky, arriving there on the nineteenth, and was mustered out of service on the twenty-fourth of June, and proceeded at once to Indianapolis and was discharged the next day. The One Hundred and First saw a great deal of hard service, and was in every respect an excellent regiment.

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTIETH REGIMENT.

This regiment was organized at Kokomo and was mustered into the service of the United States March 12, 1864, with Charles S. Parrish as colonel. On the sixteenth it was ordered to proceed to Louisville, Kentucky, by rail, and from there to Nashville, Tennessee, where it was assigned to the Second brigade, First division, Twenty-third Army Corps. On the fifth of April the command was ordered to march to London, East Tennessee, and started at once, but before reaching that point its destination was changed to Charleston, East Tennessee, where it arrived on the twenty-fourth, footsore and weary. A few days of rest were allowed here, and on the third of May the regiment, with its corps, marched toward Dalton, Georgia, and came upon the enemy at Rock Face Ridge on the ninth, where he was strongly entrenched in a position of great natural strength. The regiment was in

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advance, and attacked the enemy at once, driving him into his works, which he was soon compelled to leave in consequence of a flank movement that was made by another part of the army.

On the twelfth the regiment passed through Snake Creek Gap and, after marching through a dense forest, went into position near Resaca on the fourteenth, having been engaged during part of the day in severe skirmishing with the enemy.

The next day the severe battle of Resaca was fought, and the enemy defeated and driven across the Oostanaula river. The regiment joined in the pursuit. The roads were almost impassable, the rain fell in almost unceasing torrents, and the supply of provisions was short-so much so that only half rations were issued, but the men pushed on uncomplainingly and full of en- thusiasm. On the nineteenth the enemy was found strongly entrenched at Cassville, which place he evacuated after a severe fight on the night of that day, and on the twentieth crossed the Etowah river. Pursuit was again made, and the One Hundred and Thirtieth reached the bank of the Etowah on the twenty-third. Here it encamped for two days, waiting for supplies. On the morning of the twenty-fifth the march was again resumed, and, crossing the river at Shellman's Ford, pushed on in the direction of Marietta. The progress of the army was necessarily slow, as the enemy stubbornly con- tested every foot of the ground; but he was steadily pushed back through the deep ravines and across the almost numberless streams that intersect north- ern Georgia, and the rain was still falling and adding to the discomfort of all.

On the seventeenth of June the regiment was engaged in a spirited en- gagement at Lost Mountain, in which the enemy was defeated; and again, on the twenty-second, it was engaged in an attack upon the enemy at Pine Mountain, with a similar result. On the twenty-seventh, during the desperate charge made by the Army of the Cumberland on the enemy's center, at Kene- saw Mountain, the Twenty-third Corps made an attack upon the enemy's left flank, on Olley's creek, and, driving him behind his works, secured a position that opened the road for another flank movement on his right and rear.

The One Hundred and Thirtieth was conspicuous in this engagement for the tenacity with which it held its ground against what seemed to be overwhelming odds. On the night of the third of July the main force of the enemy evacuated his position at Kenesaw Mountain and retired across the Chattahoochie river, and the next day the regiment, with its corps, marched in pursuit of him, and on the eleventh crossed the Chattahoochie, at Phillips'

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Ferry, about eight miles below Roswell and fortified a position on its bank. On the seventeenth the march was again resumed, the regiment marching in the direction of Decatur, about six miles east of Atlanta. On the nine- teenth the enemy was encountered near that place. An attack was made at once, the enemy was routed, the town captured and the railroad de- stroyed for some distance. The siege of Atlanta was now fairly commenced. As the combined Union armies closed around the fated town continual fight- ing was going on, night as well as day. The severe battles of Peach Tree creek and Atlanta, on the twenty-second and twenty-eighth of July, each of them resulting in disaster to the enemy, were fought. The Twenty-third corps had been placed in position on the extreme right of the Union armies, and nearly in the rear of Atlanta, on Utoy creek, near East Point, where the enemy held a strong fortified position, in order to protect his communications. It became necessary to dislodge him from a position that he held that threat- ened the right flank of the Twenty-third Corps. The brigade to which the One Hundred and Thirtieth belonged and another brigade were ordered to attack the enemy and wrest it from him. The movement was made on the sixth day of August. Pushing through a dense thicket of pines and oaks, the command emerged into an open field, upon the opposite side of which were the enemy's works, containing a battery supported by a heavy force of in- fantry. With a cheer, the line swept forward, its ranks torn by a heavy artillery and musketry fire from the enemy, and carried the position, cap- turing a number of prisoners. On the twenty-ninth of August the regiment marched with the army around East Point to the rear of Atlanta, on the flank movement, which compelled the enemy to evacuate that stronghold. The regiment then returned with its corps to Decatur, and went into camp, where it. remained until the fourth of October. The rebel general, Hood, having recruited his shattered army, concluded to march around the flank of the Union army, and, striking its rear, destroy its communications and change the field of conflict to a more northern locality. General Sherman started in pursuit of him, and, on the fourth of October, the Twenty-third Corps left Decatur, and marched with the rest of the army in pursuit, as far as Gaylesville, Alabama. Hood, with his army, having crossed the Tennessee river, General Thomas, with the Fourth and Twenty-third Corps, was left to take care of him, while Sherman, with the rest of the army, marched back to Atlanta and then to Savannah, Georgia.

On the thirtieth the Twenty-third Corps was ordered to report to General Thomas at Nashville, and the regiment with the corps marched to Chatta- nooga, from which place it went by rail to Columbia, Tennessee, and from

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there marched to Centerville, where the regiment was detailed to guard the fords of Duck river and watch for the advance of Hood's army, that was known to be making its way in that direction. On November 30 Hood, hav- ing passed around the left flank of Thomas' army, the regiment marched to Clarksville, on the Tennessee river, and from there to Nashville, where it remained, in the fortifications in front of that city, until the army under General Thomas moved out to attack the army under General Hood, on the morning of the fifteenth of December, and, after two days' severe fighting, utterly defeated Hood and routed his army.

The One Hundred and Thirtieth, with its corps, followed in pursuit of the flying foe until the twenty-seventh, when he having made his escape across the Tennessee river, it was ordered into camp at Columbus. On Jan- uary 5, 1865, orders were received to march to Clifton, on the Tennessee river, where it embarked on a steamer and went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and thence to Washington City, by rail. From there is proceeded to Newbern, North Carolina. On the sixth of March the regiment marched with its division along the Atlantic and North Carolina railroad, in the direction of Kingston, repairing the railroad as the column advanced. On the eighth the enemy was encountered in force at Wise's Fork, four miles below Kingston. The enemy was flushed with success, having just surprised and captured two regiments of eastern troops, and was pushing on, confident of an easy victory, when he was met and checked by the division to which the One Hundred and Thirtieth belonged. For two days the regiment was engaged in a continual skirmishing with the enemy and on the tenth the enemy made a heavy as- sault, which was repulsed with great loss to him, and he fled in great disorder from the field. The regiment took an active part in this battle, and distin- guished itself by its coolness and good conduct. The regiment immediately moved into Kingston, which was occupied without further resistance from the enemy, and was busily employed with the other troops, until the twentieth, in repairing the railroad and rebuilding a bridge across the Neuse river, when it marched to Goldsboro, arriving there on the twenty-first. and a junction was formed with the army under the command of General Sherman, that arrived there or in that vicinity on the same day.

The regiment remained there until the tenth of April, when the army, having received a supply of provisions and clothing, which had been badly needed, marched in the direction of Smithfield, which place it reached the next day, encountering a force of rebel cavalry on the road, which was swept out of the way. While there news was received of the surrender of the rebel general, Lee, with his army, at Appomattox Court House, which had

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occurred on the ninth. Orders were received to leave everything that would retard the march, and the army pushed on rapidly for Raleigh, which place it reached on the fourteenth. General Johnston, in command of the rebel army, was trying to retreat in the direction of Greensboro, when, finding, that he was nearly surrounded and the chances of escape were hopeless, made overtures for surrender.

The further movement of the army was suspended, pending negotia- tions, and on the twenty-sixth Johnston surrendered his entire army, and the war was virtually ended. Soon after the One Hundred and Thirtieth marched to Greensboro, and thence to Charlotte, where it remained on guard duty until December 2, 1865, when it was mustered out of service and left for Indianapolis, where it arrived on the thirteenth and was finally dis- charged, its members justly proud of the record they had made.

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND AND ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENTS.

The governors of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wis- consin, having offered to raise for the service of the general government a force of volunteers to serve for one hundred days, Governor Morton, on April 23, 1864, issued a call for Indiana's proportion of that force. The troops thus raised were to perform such military services as might be required of them in any state, and were to be, armed, subsisted, clothed and paid by the United States, but were not to receive any bounty. These troops were de- signed to aid in making the campaign of 1864 successful and decisive, by relieving a large number of veterans from garrison and guard duty, and allowing them to join their companies in arms, then about entering upon one of the most active and important campaigns of the war. Their places were filled by the one-hundred-day men as fast as the latter could be organized into regiment and sent forward from the camps or rendezvous. The organiza- tion from Indiana consisted of eight regiments, one numbered the One Hun- dred and Thirty-second, and one the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth.

The One Hundred and Thirty-second regiment was organized at In- dianapolis May 17, 1864, and was mustered into the service of the United States, with Samuel C. Vance as colonel, being ordered at once to Tennessee.

The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth regiment was organized at Indian- apolis and mustered into the service of the United States May 23, 1864, and was immediately after ordered to proceed to Nashville, Tennessee.

Each of these regiments, on arriving at Nashville, was assigned to duty,

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at different points along the Nashville & Chattanooga and Memphis & Charleston railroads, and until the latter part of August were kept constantly · engaged in guarding those lines of communication, used by General Sherman for the transportation of supplies to his army, then advancing on Atlanta.

The regiments each served beyond the period of its original enlistment, when they returned to Indianapolis, where they were finally discharged.

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

This regiment was recruited for the one-year service under the call of July, 1864, and was organized and mustered into the service of the United States at Indianapolis November 3, 1864, with John M. Comparet as colonel. On the eighteenth of November, the regiment left Indianapolis for Nash- ville, and on its arrival there, was assigned to the garrison of the post, and was assigned to the Second brigade, Fourth divison, of the Twentieth Army Corps, which division had been left in Tennessee, at the time the other divis- ions of that corps started on the march with Sherman from Atlanta to Savannah. During the battle of Nashville the brigade to which the One Hundred and Forty-second was attached, was in the reserve, and occupied the inner line of defense, extending from the Cumberland river to Fort Negley. After the battle the regiment was retained on duty at Nashville until it was mustered out of the service there, July 14, 1865, and left at once for Indianapolis, arriving there on the sixteenth, when the men were paid off and finally discharged.

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

On December 20, 1864. a call was made for eleven regiments of infantry to serve one year, and subsequently five additional regiments for the same arm of the service and terms of enlistment were called for; under those calls the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, the One Hundred and Fifty- third, and the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiments were organized, mus- tered into the service of the United States, and sent into the field.

The One Hundred and Forty-seventh regiment was organized at Indian- apolis and mustered into the service of the United States March 13, 1865, with Milton Peden as colonel. On the 16th it left Indianapolis for Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and, on arriving there, marched to Charlestown, where it was assigned to one of the provisional divisions of the Army of the Shenan- doah. From that time until it was mustered out of the service. it was engaged

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in performing guard duty at Stevenson Station, Summit Point, Berryville, Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights. The regiment was mustered out of service August 4. 1865, and left for Indianapolis. arriving there on the 9th, and a few days after the men were discharged.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

This regiment was organized and mustered into the service of the United States at Indianapolis March 1, 1865, with Oliver H. P. Carey as colonel. It left Indianapolis on the 5th for Nashville, Tennessee, but was halted at Louis- ville, Kentucky, by order of General Palmer, in command in Kentucky, and sent to Russellville, Kentucky and from that point detachments were sent out to Hopkinsville, Bowling Green, and other points in that section of the country. Companies D, G and H were at different times engaged in fighting guerrillas, and lost five men killed and wounded. On the 16th of June the regiment returned to Louisville, and was assigned to duty at Taylor Barracks, in that city, where it remained until the 4th of September, when it was mus- tered out of the service and left immediately for Indianapolis, and on the 6th was finally discharged.

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History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 43

Author: John F. Haines Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051