USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 20
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It was assigned to Abercrombie's Brigade of the Army of the Shenandoah, and remained in camp in Pleasant Valley, near Maryland Heights, until the With of August, when it maved with the army to Hyattstown, where it remained in camp for some time. Gen, Joe Johnston, the rebel commander, was reported to be on the opposite side of the l'utomar, near Leesburg, with a large force, and this movement was made to prevent him from crossing the river. The lidlewing month was occupied in making marches and reconnais- summers to and in the direction of Darnestown, Nolan's Ferry, Seneca Creek, Tuscarora Creek, Point of Rocks, Urbana and Frederick.
On the Hth of October the regiment marched from Frederick, through Boonsboro' and Middletown, to Williamsport, Md. On the 13th the different companies of the Twelfth were stationed at Williamsport, Dam No. 1, Pam No. 5, Sharpsburg, and other points on the Maryland sale of the Potomne, where they were engaged in picket and ont-post duty, until in March, 1802, Jming which time picket firing, and skirmishes across the river, were of almost daily orrurrener.
On the Ist of March the Twelfth crossed the Potommar, at Williamsport. and manched to Winchester through Martinsburg and Bunker Hill. On the Ith, it was engaged in an active skirmish with the carmy, near Winchester, and on the following morning was the first regiment to enter the town, which bol been evacuated by the enemy the night before. On the 21st; the regiment moved to Berryville, and there areros the Shenandoah, and over the Blue Ridge, though Suicker's Gap, In Aldie, Hearing of the victory of Kimball over Stonewall Jackson, at Winchester, in the battle fought on the 23d, it returned to the Shenandoah, where it was met with orders to retrace its steps sunthward toward Warrenton Junction, which place was reached on the 30 day of April, via Allie, Centreville, the battlefield of Bull Run, ami Catlett's Station.
The regiment remained there until the 5th of May, when it marched to Washington, where it was mustered out of the service, on the 14th of that month, and immediately returned to Indiana.
COMPANY D.
Yapiam-William O' Brien.
First Lieutenant -- Cyrus J. Met'ule. Serund Lieutenant -John T Floyd. First Sergrand George It. Kelly.
Sergeants-James J. Ross, Thomas 1. Farley, Mahlon It. Floyd, James A. Will-
.
forparaly-Rufus t'rull, Robert Patterson, Henry R. Leonard, Thomas A. E'His, Musgrove Canklin, John Langly, George W. Moore, Inie W. Wyand.
Musicinn -- Alfred Barker
Wagoner James M Sanders.
Privates -John Alter, George W. Aldrich, Lafayette Alloway, John Bowen. l'al- rick Bradley, William T. Brunfeild, James Bush, William Cooper, John t'. C'attingham, Cornelius Cotton, Andrew J. Cruise, Jacob Crull, William H. Parles, George 1. Far- mim. Michael Harmon, John Bull, Thomas Hull, Barnhardt Unnel, William A. Hick 4. William Hinewiey, William 11. Hopkins, Andrew J. Huffmon, Thomas B. Lowe, Willinin W. Layton, John Lennon, Jarab Lenington, John Fante, Jeremiah Lynch, Travis Mant- pomiers, George W Morgan, Francis M. Morgan, Martin L. Morgan, John Morrow, Jouer P. Mount, David Mullenix, Stephen Newhy, John Nunally, Granville Olvey, Albert Pitts, Imses R. Richardson, John S. Sample, Theodore \' Smith, Felix B. Smith. Thomas Smith, William H. Soyder, Martin Stephenson, Elward Swartz, Jacob Town- send. Platt Tracy, William W. Willianwenn, Irn G. Wright, Isaac White.
Jolin F. Mettellan, promoted tu First Lieutenant of Thirty-ninth Regiment, Ang. 21, 1861.
Joseph S. Ogle, died nt Boxley, Ind., June 2, 1902. Peter A. P'henis, died at Deming, Ind., January 21, 1962.
SIXTEENTH HENIMENT-( THREE-YEARS SERVICE).
COMPANY F-Musician, John P. Cogswell.
TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT-( THREE-VEARS SERVICE ).
The Twenty-sixth Regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, for three years, at Indianapolis, on the 31st day of August, ISGl, with William M Wheatley as Colonel. It left Indianapolis ou the 7th of Septem- ber for St. Louis, and from there was ordered to proceed to the interior of Missouri, from where it participated in the Fremont campaign to Springfield. It then returned to Sedalia, where it was placed on duty guarding the Pacific Railroad, and was kept on that daty until July, 1-62. From that time until May 1, 1513 it was actively engaged in the field, moving with the army into Southern Missouri and thence into Arkansas. During that time it took an active part in the battles at Newtonia, Mo., and Prairie Grove, and Van Buren, Ark. At the battle of Prairie Grove, on the 7th of December, 1862, the regiment distinguished itself by its gallantry, and suffered severely in killed mur wounded. On the Ist of June, 1563, the regiment was ordered to join the army of Gen. Grant, in the rear of Vicksburg, where it was actively engaged, in the duties incident to a siege, until the surrender of that place on the th of July. It then ascended the Vazia Hiver to Vazon City, and occupied that place until the surrender of Port Hadam, when the regi- mont was transferred to that pret, and from there to Carrollton, l.t., On the 29th of September, the regiment engaged the enemy at Camp Sterling. near Morganza, and was defeated, bing nearly one-half of its officers and men as prisoners of war. They were taken to Tyler, Texas, where they were held for many months.
Ding the month of October, the regiment marched to Texas, with the litre under the command of General Herron, and on the 1st of February. INGI, while stationed at Brownsville, reculisted as a veteran organization. The regiment returned to Indiana the latter part of April, on a furlough of thirty days, and on the Ist of June, on returning to the front, was assigned to duty af Fort Butler, near New Orleans, where it remained until March 22, 1.80, when it was transferred to the vicinity of Mobile, where, as a part of tien. A. J. Smith's corps, the Sixteenth, it was actively engaged in the siege of that place, and the assault on Spanish Fort. Upon the wreupation of Mobile by the Federal troops, the Twenty-sixth was assigned to duty at that place, but was soon relieved, and marched via Montgomery and Selina. Ala., to Meridian, Miss, where it was assigned to just duty, for some time, and was then ordered to Vicksling, Miss. where it was mastered out of the service of the United States, on the 15th of January, 1886 A detachment of non veterans and recruits, whose term of servire had expired, was mustered out at Indianapolis in September, 1801 ; and on the 18th of February, 1865, in pursuance of the orders of tien. Canby, the retained recruits of the Sixtieth Regiment, whose term of service did not expire, with that of the organization, were transferred In the Twenty-sixth, the new organization retaining the designation of the Twenty-sixth Regiment. These last-mentioned recruits were mustered out at the same time the veterans were, the war being closed.
PUMPAN1 N.
Privates John M Bray, Elins W. Caylor, Abraham Caylor, James Fisher, Elihu . Hawkins, Which Hawkins, Benjamin Hosted, Jolon W. Percock, John II. Stampe. George W. Senonny, Isaac N. Ballard, discharged by order of War Department ; minur.
Recruits -- l'eter Gut7. Franklin L Goctel, Martin V. Ineuhr,
COMPANY D.
Corporaly-Juhn B. Jackson, discharged August 4, 1862, for clientitily. Privatey- Amhow It Jarkonn, ched at Otterville, Mn., March 7, INIL. Willen It Pike, killed nt Prairie Grove, Mo., December 7, 18th. David W. Sominns, died at Tipton. Mo , November 21. FAGil. James M. Semane, discharged November 4, 1801. for disability. Benjamin F. Pike, died at Montgomery, Aln., May 11, 1865.
THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT ( THREE-YEARS SERVICE).
This regiment was organized at Anderson, on the Hith of August, IStil, with Asbury Steele as Colonel, and on the 14th of theteder went by mail to Jeffersonville, Ind., where it remained in camp until November 15, when it was ordered to New Haven, Ky., and on the 11th of December was ordered from that place to Camp Wickliffe, in the same State, remaining there until the 7th of February, 1862, and then moved to Green River. On the 14th of February it was ordered to march to the mouth of Salt River, about twenty miles below Louisville, on the Ohio River. On arriving at that point, the
65
MILITARY HISTORY.
regiment embarked on transports, with Gen. Nelson's Division, and moved down the Ohio. The next day, the Thirty-fourth, with a number of ether regiments, was ordered to keep on down the river to Cairo, and from there was ordered to New Madrid, Mo., which place was reached on the 3d day of March. The Federal troops were engaged in bevieging New Madrid at the time, and the Thirty -fourth took an netive part in the movements incident to the siege until the 11th of March, when, the enemy having evacuated the place, the regiment was ordered to St. Merriwether's landing, fourteen miles below, drawing with it by hand two thirty two pounder seige guns, which were placed in position on the night of the H5th. Ou the next morning the position held by the regiment was attacked by the gun-boats of the enemy. After an engagement lasting two hours, he was compelled to withdraw, with the loss of one of his gun-boats. The securing of that position ent off the enemy's retrent from Island No. 10 and was the cause of the capture of the entire force at that place, a few days later. The regiment returned to New Madrid on the 7th of April, and remained there until June 11, with the exception of a few days that were occupied in a movement that resulted in the capture of Fort l'illow. On the 15th of June, the regiment entered the City of' Memphis, and remained there until the 26th, when it embarked on a steam- boat and passed up White River to Aberdeen, Ark,, having joined Col. . Fitch's Brigade at the meuth of the river. The command disembarked on the 8th of July, and on the night of the 9th, engaged the enemy ten miles from Aberdeen, and drove him back to Duvall's Bluff. It then marched to Clar- endon, and. re embarking, steamed for Helena, where it arrived on the 14th. At that post, it remained during the fall and winter of 1862, making frequent expeditions against the enemy. One of the most important of these was the dearing of Yazan Pase of the heavy timber which the enemy had felled into the stream for the purpose of obstructing navigation, at which the Thirty-fourth was engaged two werks, loving a number of men in killed and ;wounded, in skirmishes with the enemy during that time.
The regiment was assigned to Hovey's Division on the 10th of April, 1863, and started immediately on the Vicksburg campaign, and was engaged for Aume time in constructing bridges to facilitate the marching of the army from Milliken's Beml to a point below Vicksburg. Crossing the Mississippi at Bruinsburg, on the 30th of April, it marched all night and engaged the enemy at daylight. on the Ist of May, at Port Gibson. During the battle that ensued, the Thirty-fourth made a charge upon the enemy and captured two pieres of artillery and forty nine prisoners, The regiment lost fifty in killed and wounded in that action. On the 16th, it participated in the battle of Champion Hills, and while advancing in line of battle, captured the Forty- sixth Alabama Regiment, its colors, field officers and 127 men. The Thirty- fourth lost seventy men in killed and wounded. Among the latter, was Lient. C'ol. Swain, who died from his wounds, on the 17th of June, 1863.
Moving forward with the army, the regiment participated in the siege of Vicksburg, until its final surrender, on the Ith of' Joly, bring thirteen men and officers in killed and wounded. It then marched to Jackson, Miss., miei was engaged in the siege of that position until its capture, losing eight wien in killed and wounded. Returning to Vicksburg soon after, it embarked for New Orleans, on the Ith of August, and remained there until the 12th of September, at which time it moved to Brashear City. While there, it took part in the Banks expedition up the Teche, as far as Opelousas. On the return march, it engaged the enemy n' Carrion Crow Bayou, on the 3d of November, after which it proceeded to New Iberia, where it remained until the 19th of December. While there, 160 of the regiment re-enlisted, as vet- crans, on the 15th of December, 1863. On the 23d of December, it em- barked on a steamer for Pass Cavallo, Texas, reaching there January 8, 1861, and remained in that vicinity until the 21st of February, when it returned to New Orleans, stopping there until the 20th of March, when it started for Indianapolis, on a veteran furlough of thirty days, reaching that place on the Ist of April. Returning to the field, the Thirty-fourth was placed on duty nt New Orleans until the 18th of December, when it embarked for Brazos Santiago, Texas. The Thirty-fourth fought the last battle of the war of the Hehellion, on the 13th of May, 1865, at Palmetto Ranche, adjoining the old, battle field of Palo Alto, of the Mexican wnr.
Two hundred and fifty of the regiment fought 500 of the enemy, mounted, with a battery of six field-pieces, driving them three miles in the space of three hours. Finally, the enemy securing a favorable position for their battery, poured a destructive fire into the ranks of the regiment, and compelled the main body to fall back, leaving companies "B" and "E" behind as skirmishers to cover the movement. These two comproies, being unsupported,
were furiously attacked, and were finally surrounded nod forced to surrender. The loss to the regiment, in killed and wounded and prisoners, was eighty- two. Soon after, the regiment feli back to Brazos Santiago, from whence it moved up the Rio Grande River, to Brownsville, where it remained until the 16th of June, when it. marched 260 miles up the Ilio Grande to Ringgold Barracks. Remaining there a few days, on the 21th of July it commenced to retrace its steps, and returned to Brownsville, where it remained on garrison nod post duty until the 3d of February, 1866, when it was muatered out of the service, and started for lindianapolis, where it arrived on the 18th of February, and was finally discharged from the service on the 19th.
The Thirty-fourth was the last Indiana regiment to be discharged.
COMPANY E.
First Sergeant-Stillman {'. Montgomery, promoted to Second Lieutenant. Barnett Dewitte, veteran : Jacob tirova,
Thomas Ford, discharged June 23, 1842, for disability.
Hans Gross, discharged July 9, 1861, for disability.
William Moore, discharged October 21, 1862, for disability.
Leonard F. Reddick, discharged Detober 12, 1862, for disability.
John W. Lilly, died at Benton, Mo., March 5, 1862.
COMPANY N.
Second Lieutenant-John R. Cox, promoted First Lientenant ; resigned August 31, 1M2.
COMPANY K.
First lieutenant -Stillman (' Montgomery, promoted Captain and transferred to Twenty-ninth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers
THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT-(REORGANIZEN).
COMPANY B -George W. Honka.
V
THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT -- ( KWHITH CAVALRY )-THREE-VEARS SERVICE.
The Thirty-ninth Regiment was organized as an infantry regiment, on the 29th of August, 1861, at Indianapolis, with Thomas J. Harrison, of Kokomo, as Colonel; Fielder A. Jones, of Seymour, as Lieutenant Colonel, and John i). Evans, of Noblesville, as Major, and, on the 14th of September, was ordered to proceed to Kentucky. It was one of the first Union regiments to enter that State, its claim to neutrality having been respected until the rebels, under Gen. Buckner, commenced making efforts to seize the State Government and torn it over to the so-called Confederate Government, Passing through Louisville, the regiment marched to Muidraugh's Hill, near Elizabethtown, on the line of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and remained there until the 4th of October, when it moved about twelve miles farther south, to Camp Nevin, on Nolin Creek, where it went into camp and remained until the 14th of December. On that day, it marched with the division of Gen. A. Mell. MeConk, to which it had been assigned, to Munfordsville, on Green River, arriving there on the 17th of December, having been engaged, with other troops, in rebuilding bridges that had been destroyed along the line of the railroad by the rebels, as they retired before the advance of the Union troops. The regiment remained at Munfordsville, engaged in camp and guard duty, until the 17th of February, 1862, when it, with the rest of Buell's army, marched to Nashville, TenD., halting frequently un the route to repair the railroad, where it had been destroyed by the enemy. On the Ist dny of March, the Thirty-ninth, tired and foot-soro from the march, reached Edge- field, on the opposite bank of the Cumberland River From Nashville. It rmonined there until March 1, when, with its division, the Second Division of the Army of the Ohio, crossed the Cumberland, and, marching through Nnah- ville, went into cump five miles south of the city, on the Franklin pike. It lay there until March 1G, when it moved south to Columbin, halting two days on the way to rebuild a bridge neross Rutherford's Creek, that had been de- stroyed by the enemy, and reached Duck River, opposite Columbia, on the 20th. Here they also found all the bridges destroyed, and, as the river was very high, it could not be forded. Work commenced at once to build new bridges, and one was erected on the piers of the old turnpike bridge, and a pontoon bridge was thrown across the river, enabling the whole army to cross on the 31st. On the next day. the urmy marched for Savannah, a small town on the Tennessee River, seventy-five miles southwest of Columbia. The progress was slow and the march difficult. The road passes through a very rough, hilly country, often following for miles the bed ef a mountain strenin. Heavy rains had rendered the streams difficult to ford, but perseverance and energy triumphed over all obstacles, and, on the 5th, the command encamped within twenty-one miles of Savannah. The next morning, ss the troops were leaving their bivoune, distant reverberations broke upon the car, sounding like the muttering of distant thunder ; a halt -- a brief silence-and the sound, swelling with increased volume, and echoing through the mountains and valleys,
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
denoted that a battle had commeured. None could mistake the boom of artillery and the reverberating crash of misketry ; they were the first echoes from the bloody field of Shiloh.
All involuntarily, almost, pushed rapidly forward. Soon the order was received to leave the trains. Freed from that encumbranee, the troops pushed eagerly forward over terribly moody roads and through almost impassable streams, and reached Savannah that night. On every band were the sad re- salts of a terrible conflict. Every house was a hospital. The air was burdened with the ories and greens of the wounded ; tents were put up and filled ; steamboats were loaded, and still the stream of wounded men poured in. To add to the gloomy surroundings, a terrific storm of' rain, accompanied with heavy thunder and vivid lightning, that made the horror- of the scene visible. poured down in torrents. The regular reports of heavy artillery from the gun- beats in the river sounded dismally upon the ear. At 2 o'clock on the morn- ing of the 7th, the Thirty-month embarked ou a transport, and at daybreak reached Pittsburg Landing
The steep bluff was covered with a mass of disorganized men. whose only desire seemed to be to avoid danger. A strong guard had to be placed around the guards of the beat to keep these stranglers from climbing un to it. As it was, a number that ventured into the water, in their efforts In get on the boat, were swept away by the current and drowned. At 7 o'clock the Thirty- ninth, with its brigade, commanded by Gen. R. W. Johnson. formed in live and moved toward the front. The battle had already commenerd, and the commanders of the opposing armies were carefully feeling their way, so as to guin an advantage over each other, if possible, in position. The firing rapidly irteased in volume as the lines were advanced. The Thirty-ninth was soon ordered into the front line, and at onee became hotly engaged, and during the entire battle, which lasted until three weluck in the afternoon, never yielded one inch of the ground it had gained. When the enemy was finally routed the regiment had no ammunition, its supply having been exhausted ; and, when a new supply bad been obtained, it was ordered tu remain in its position, and other troops were ordered in pursuit.
The total loss of the regiment in killed and wounded was thirty six.
The following order, issued by the Division Commander, shows how its con- duet during the battle was looked njom :
Sin It may be a useless task for me to add another hibute to the glory of Indian, while the battle-bells of Rich Mountain, Pea Ridge and Darkun speak eloquently in ler praise. But justier to the Sixth, Twenty-month, Thirtieth, Thirty- weund nud Thirty-wirth regiments af belianes Volunteers, requires tor to speak of their compicauses golfentry whole fighting under my command at the battle of Stilul The Thirty second regiment had derely was the prestige of victory at Howletts. "The ather regiments, actuated by a proper emulation, ontluchtings stoel their first Irapdiem under fire : and their action upon the field of Shitoh will embellish one of the brightest jeogry in the nunale of our irdiun.
I am, sir, very tespretfully,
Your obedient servant, A. MeD. Mot'mink, Commanding Seemed Division,
Until the 30th of' May, the regiment was engaged in the movements inci- dent to the siege of Corinth, a place that had been fortified under the instruc. tions of the best engineers in the rebel anny. On the occupation of that plur, on May 30, the Thirty ninth, with the division to which it belonged. was left to hold the town, while the remainderof the army marched in pursuit of the enemy.
On the Bitth of Jour, the regiment marebed with General Buell's army arro-x Northern Mississippi and Mahama, to Bridgeput, on the Tennessee River, where it remained in camp until the 21st of August. On that day, it having been ascertained that fieneral Bragg, in command of the rebel army, hud crossed the Tennesare at Chattanooga, and was starting for Kentucky, in hopes to capture Louisville, and transfer the theater of war from the South In the North, General Buell, with his army, marched northward. The two armies marched on nearly parallel roads, frequently within hearing of cach other, and each striving to reach the coveted goal in advance of the other.
Buell came out ahead in the great race, reaching Louisville on the 28th of September, and, finding a large number of new regiments there as re-enforce- ments, turned around, and, on the 1st of October, marched in pursuit of Bragg. The Thirty-ninth was in the division commanded by dien. J. W. Sill, and marched through Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, Perryville, Harrodsburg,
and Panville, to Crab Orchard. It now became evident that Bragg, who had bren defeated in u severe battle fought with a part of Buell's army at Chaplin Hills, on the 5th, was making his way as rapidly as possible for Middle Tenuesce and Nashville. Buell retraced his steps to Perryville, and marched thebee to Nashville by way of Bowling Green, arriving at Nashville on the 7th of November, in advance of Brage, who halted at Murfreesboro, about thirty miles southeast of' Nashville, At Bowling Green, Gen. Buell had been relieved by tien. Rosecrans, and the name of the anny changed to that of the Army of the t'umberland. The army remained in the vicinity of Nashville until Deertuber 26. During that time it was thoroughly re organized and refitted, as well as largely re-enforced. On that day it marched in the direction of Murfrees- boro tu attack the rebel army still commanded by fen. Bragg, who was shongly entrenched near that place. Skirmishing commeneed almost immediately, and way steadily maintained, while cach army was moving into position, until the Sist of December, at daylight, when the battle of Stone River commeneed, and raged almost unceasingly until the night of the 3d of January, 1863, when Bragg was compelled to withdraw his at my, and the next morning Boserans touch jumssession of Murfreesboro. The division to which the Thirty-ninth belonged was un the extreme right of the Union army, and the regiment was on the picket line when the battle commenerd. The rebel commander had extended his leti until it reached far beyond the right of his opponent, who could not believe it possible. AInst at day-break the enemy made an attack with his infantry on the front and Hank of the I'nion army, and at the same time a large fiore of cavalry, under command of the rebel Gen. Wheeler, passed entirely around its flank to its rear, between it and Overalls Creek. The attack was made in columns four lines deep, while the I'nion army to withstand it, had only one single line, that had been extended until it was very weak. No trooper in the world could have withstood the odds, and the Union troops, after fighting until the enemy was close upon them, were compelled to give way. Falling bark erelually, making a stand wherever it could be done, and inflicting a terribly boasy bos upon the enemy, the right was finally forced back to near the Nashville turnpike. While this was being done, the I'nion army had been concentrated by the movements forced uyum it, until, turning upon its fue, it compelled him to not only desist from further pursuit, but to retire before the murderous lire that was poured into his ranks. Fighting was maintained on different parts of the live until darkness separated the combatants, when, weary and exhausted, they threw themselves upon the ground to swatch what little rest they could in a storm of rain that froze as it fell. The next morning the regiment threw und a slight line of breastworks in its front, and held its posi- tion until the battle was over. During the battle the Thirty-ninth distinguished itself' by its gallantry and good behavior. The total loss of the regiment, in killed, wounded and missing, was three hundred and eighty.
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