USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 32
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June 9, 1863, the regiment embarked on transports and
A
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joined the army of General Grant at the siege of Vicksburg, ar- riving in front of the rebel works on the 14th. The regiment took part in the siege of Vicksburg, and after its surrender moved with Sherman's army upon Jackson, Miss., arriving in front of that place July 11. Five days were occupied in the siege of Jack- son, the regiment being constantly engaged. On the 16th the rebel army evacuated and our forces entered the place and destroyed its military resources. During these movements the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Albert Heath, and formed part of the First Brigade, First Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. From Jackson the regiment marched to the Big Black River, where it remained in camp during the summer.
Sept. 28, the same year, the regiment marched to Vicksburg, embarked on transports and sailed to Memphis, arriving there Oct. 9. The regiment at this time belonged to the Fourth Divi- sion, Fifteenth Army Corps. It moved with its division on a rapid march across the country to Stevenson and Bridgeport, Ala., thence over Sandstone Mountain, and down Lookont Valley to Trenton, Ga., and succeeded in turning the left flank of Bragg's army, then in position upon Lookout Mountain. This column secured a foothold on the mountain and drove the enemy from its position, but without following in pursuit pushed for Chattanooga, which place it reached after a rapid march, on the 23d of No- vember.
On the 25th the column moved upon the enemy's stronghold on Mission Ridge, and took part in that severe battle. Its division gained the crest of the hill and held the position, notwithstanding the concentric fire of the enemy and his repeated assaults. The fight lasted from ten o'clock in the morning until dark, and the attack on the enemy's left was so persistent as to draw vast masses of the enemy to that flank, and enable General Thomas to break through the enemy's center. In this battle it suffered a loss of 132 in killed and wounded. Lientenant-Colonel Heath was severely wounded early in the action, and Major R. M. John- son assumed command of the regiment.
ยท The next morning the command moved in pursuit of Bragg's army as far as Graysville. It then moved toward Knoxville, for the purpose of relieving General Burnside. This was accom- plished, the head of our column reaching Knoxville on the 6th of De- cember. But a few weeks before that, this army had left the banks of the Tennessee River with only two-days rations, and no extra
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clothing, and during that time had fought a severe battle, and marched over 800 miles through mud, rain and snow, part of the command barefooted, and yet all was endured without a murmur. The regiment remained in camp at Scottsboro until May 1, 1864.
The entire army of General Sherman moved from Chattanooga early in May, 1864, on its campaign against the "gate city of Georgia," Atlanta. The two hostile armies were separated by Rocky Face Ridge, cloven by Buzzard's Roost Gap, through which runs the railroad. This pass was so fortified as to render it un- approachable. . Sherman decided to turn the position. The Army of the Tennessee moved through Snake Creek Gap and threatened the enemy's rear at Dalton. The regiment was attached to this army and took part in all its movements and battles, being en- gaged at Dalton, Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Chat- tahoochie River, Decatur, Atlanta, Cedar Bluffs, Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station. The regiment then moved with its corps to Atlanta, and camped at East Point, after marching and fighting nearly 100 days.
On the 3d of October the regiment marched with its corps in pursuit of Hood, and after forced marches through Northern Georgia and Alabama, drove Hood across the Tennessee River, left General Thomas to meet and check his further career, and re- turned to its old camping ground near Atlanta.
At daybreak on the 14th of November the regiment moved with the column for Savannah and the sea. Atlanta lay behind, a mass of smoldering ruins-before was an untrodden path, an unknown enemy and adventure. The march of that army was marked by destroyed railroads and a ruined country. The regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade (Walcott's), First Division, Fifteentha Army Corps, in this march. On the 22d of November, near Griswoldville, Ga., its brigade was engaged in a desperate fight.
Our position was defended by a slight barricade. The enemy made an assault with a largely superior force, and four pieces of artillery; he was, however, completely repulsed. The action con- tinned four hours, and the enemy made several assaults, only to be met with severe loss. General Walcott was wounded, and Colonel Patterson, of the Ninety-seventh Indiana, took command of the brigade. Forty-nine prisoners were captured, and the regi- ment was complimented by the commanding General. After a
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perilous march through almost impassable swamps and morasses and over swollen streams, the column debouched in front of Sa- vannah on the 10th of December, and that city was entered by our army on the 23d.
From Savannah the regiment moved with its corps by steamer to Beauford, S. C., and thence through the Carolinas, captur- ing successively Branchville, Columbia, Georgetown and Cheraw, S. C., and met the enemy at Bentonville, N. C., where a severe battle ensued, and the enemy were defeated and driven from the field. The column then moved to Goldsboro, reaching that place March 26, 1865, having marched 1,300 miles and fought seventeen battles since leaving Chattanooga in May, 1864.
The regiment remained at Goldsboro until the 10th of April. It then moved with the army to Raleigh, where it remained until after the surrender of Johnston's army. The regiment then marched by way of Richmond, Va., to Washington, D. C., reach- ing that place May 20, 1865. The regiment remained in camp near Washington until June 9, 1865, when it was mustered out of service, the remaining recruits being transferred to the Forty-eighth Indiana, with which organization they continued to serve until its muster-out at Louisville, Ky., June 15, 1865.
The One Hundredth left for the field with an aggregate of 937 men, and returned with 618 men for muster-out. It lost in killed in action and died from wounds 89; discharged for disability by reason of wounds, or otherwise, 225; died from disease, 150; total casualties, 464. It marched during its term of service 4,000 miles, was engaged in twenty-five battles, and was on skirmishing duty nearly one-third of the time it was in the field. After its muster- ont it started for Indianapolis, and upon its arrival there was pres- ent at a public reception in the State House grounds on the 14th of June, and welcomed with addresses by Governor Morton and others. Its members then dispersed to their respective homes.
TWELFTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
The Twelfth Cavalry, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regi- ment, was organized at Kendallville, Ind., in the Tenth Congres- sional District, March 1, 1864, eight companies of which were recruited by Colonel Edward Anderson in the Ninth Congressional District, in the fall and winter of 1863, and were rendezvoused at Michigan City; and four companies were recruited in the Tenth Congressional District in the fall and winter of 1863, and were
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rendezvoused at Kendallville, for the purpose of completing the regimental organization, and Colonel Edward Anderson was made Colonel of the regiment. Parts of Companies B, C and I were raised in Steuben County.
Early in May, 1864, the regiment left camp at Kendallville and proceeded to Indianapolis, and on the 6th of the same month it left Indianapolis for the field, under orders to proceed to Nashville, Tenn. But six of the companies were mounted, and all were armed as infantry, for want of cavalry arms, until the regiment arrived at Louisville, where the infantry arms were turned over by the six mounted companies, and cavalry arms were issued instead. The mounted portion of the regiment, also the mounted portions of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry Regiments marched from Louis- ville to Nashville, under the command of Colonel Anderson, while the dismounted portion of the regiment proceeded to Nashville by rail, under the command of Lientenant-Colonel Alfred Reed.
The Twelfth remained at Nashville in camp of instruction for about three weeks, when it was ordered to Huntsville, Ala., for which place it started May 29, the dismounted portion proceeding thence by rail, under command of Colonel Anderson, and the mounted portion marching from Nashville, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Reed. Colonel Anderson was assigned to the command of the railroad defenses from Decatur, Ala., to Paint Rock, Ala., a distance of about sixty miles, and to the command of all that district of country lying between Huntsville and Paint Rock, and between the Tennessee River and the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, that portion of the country being at the time infested with several bands of guerrillas and "bushwhackers."
The dismounted companies were assigned to the especial defense of the railroad, and to the erection of block-houses, under the com- mand of Major Orris Blake, and the six mounted companies (which were the only mounted cavalry then at or near Huntsville), under command of Colonel Anderson, were employed very actively in fighting and ridding the country of guerrillas and " bushwhackers," in which numerous skirmishes and engagements were fought, and quite a large number of the regiment were killed and wounded.
For about a month after the arrival of the regiment at Hunts- ville, the headquarters of the regiment were at that place, when they were removed to Brownsborough, where they remained until Sept. 15, 1864, when the Twelfth was ordered to Tullahoma, Tenn., to garrison that post, where it arrived on the night of the same
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day, and reported to Major General Milroy. Colonel Anderson was assigned to the command of the post, and also retained com- mand of the regiment. On the 23d of September Colonel Ander- son was relieved by orders from the Secretary of War, and was ordered to Indianapolis to report to Governor Morton for special service, soon after which he rejoined his command in the field. In the absence of Colonel Anderson, Major Blake was assigned to the command of the post of Tullahoma and of the regiment, during which time the regiment was constantly employed in watching the movements of the rebel General Forrest, who, with a large force, was then threatening Tullahoma and several other points along the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. In the meantime the regiment had several skirmishes with a part of Forrest's command and with bands of guerrillas. In the month of October, 1864, Major Blake was ordered by the Secretary of War to report for duty to the Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General at Indianapolis as assistant.
Three mounted companies, C, D and H, stationed at Huntsville under the command of Captain Major D. Williams, of Company C, participated in the defense of that place with the Thirteenth Cav- alry, Oct. 1, 1864, against the attack of a portion of the rebel Forrest's command. These companies subsequently joined the regiment at Tullahoma, and on the 26th of November, upon the evacuation of that post, the regiment proceeded to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and participated in the battle of Wilkinson's Pike and Over- all's Creek. It was also employed in the several skirmishes in the defense of Murfreesboro against the command of Forrest in De- cember, 1864, Lieutenant-Colonel Reed commanding the regiment, and Colonel Anderson commanding the brigade to which the regi- ment was attached. Soon after this the regiment proceeded to Nashville and went into winter quarters, and there received new arms, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, Seventh Division, Cavalry Corps.
Feb. 11, 1865, the regiment embarked on board transports and steamers, under orders to proceed to New Orleans, La., which orders were subsequently countermanded, and the regiment disem- barked at Vicksburg, Miss., by order of Major General Canby, to engage in a raid along the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. These orders were also subsequently countermanded, and the regiment was newly mounted, arms changed, and embarked again for New Orleans, where it arrived March 12, 1865, thence proceeding to Navy Cove,
C
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Mobile Bay. There it reported to Major-General Canby, and par- ticipated in the operations against the forts and defenses of Mobile, Ala., a portion of the regiment acting as escort to Major-General Canby, and the remainder engaged also in running a courier line into Florida, from near Fort Blakely, Ala.
After the fall of Mobile the regiment reported, April 17, to Major General Grierson, and under the command of Major William H. Calkins, participated in the raid of over 800 miles through Ala- bama into Georgia, and then across the State of Alabama again to Columbus, Miss., where it arrived May 20, 1865. It was highly and specially complimented by Major-General Grierson, in a letter to Governor Morton, for its gallant conduct and military discipline. Here the regiment remained under the command of Major Blake until about the middle of July, when Colonel Anderson rejoined his command after a temporary absence, and proceeded with a portion of the regiment to Grenada, Miss., establishing the head- quarters of the regiment there. Three companies, D, K and L, proceeded to Austin, on the Mississippi River, in command of Captain D. M. Graves, where they remained about two months, employed in protecting Government cotton and other property, and then again reported for duty to Colonel Anderson at Grenada, where that portion of the regiment remained until orders were re- ceived for muster-out.
The remaining six companies remained at Columbus, Miss., and vicinity, engaged in protecting Government cotton and otherwise, under the command of Major Blake, until they were ordered to proceed to Vicksburg, Miss., to join the remainder of the regiment which had preceded them. These companies arrived on the 2d of November, and Nov. 10, 1865, the Twelfth Cavalry was mustered out of the service of the United States at Vicksburg, and ordered to proceed to Indianapolis, where it arrived on the 16th of November. On the next day it was honored with a public dinner by the citizens of the city, and was welcomed home by a public reception at the State House grove, where addresses were delivered by Governor Baker and Colonel Trussler, Secretary of State, and were responded to by Colonel Anderson, Lieutenant-Colonel Reed, Major Calkins and Major Blake. The regiment was finally paid off, and its mem- bers received their discharge Nov. 22, 1865.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
The One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment was recruited 23
.
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from the Tenth Congressional District during the winter of 1863-'64, rendezvoused at Michigan City, and was mustered into the service March 1, 1864, with Charles Case as Colonel and Charles A. Zol- linger as Lieutenant-Colonel. All of Company A and parts of Companies B, F, H, I and K were composed of Steuben County volunteers.
On the 30th of March the regiment left camp at Michigan City, and was conveyed by rail via Louisville to Nashville, where it arrived on the 7th of April. Lieutenant-Colonel Zollinger was in command of the regiment. Upon its arrival at Nashville, it was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. On the 5th of April the regiment took up its line of march for Loudon, E. Tenn., but, before reaching that point, its orders were changed, and the regiment marched for Charleston, E. Tenn., arriving there on the 24th, Thus was accomplished a march of 200 miles by a regiment fresh from the hamlets and towns of Northern Indiana. As the column wound through the fertile valleys and over the rugged mountains that characterize the country through which it passed, the men were enthusiastie in their admiration of the natural beauty of the country. There was but a little time for rest, however, for as soon as the First Division had joined its corps at Charleston, orders came to move on a campaign that was to strike a formidable blow at the rebel strongholds guarding Atlanta.
On the 3d of May the regiment moved with its corps toward Dalton, reaching there in time to participate in the initiatory dem- onstration that opened the campaign against Atlanta. On the 12th it marched through Snake Creek Gap, and, breaking through a dense forest, took position near Resaca. Three days later a heavy battle ensued at Resaca, the enemy being defeated and driven across the Oostanaula River. The regiment joined in the pursuit, movi g over blind roads on the left, and, crossing the Oostanaula River above Resaca, found the enemy strongly en- trenched near Cassville. On the 20th the rebel army fled across the Etowah River. The regiment reached the banks of that stream, and encamped for two days, waiting for supplies. On the 25th the regiment crossed the Etowah River and moved upon the enemy's position at New Hope Church. Before reaching there, however, the enemy, after a severe engagement with a portion of our army, had fallen back to Lost Mountain. The regiment was for several weeks afterward almost constantly skirmishing with the enemy, pushing through deep defiles and heavy underbrash.
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During this period the rain fell almost continuously, rendering the roads almost impassable. On the 15th of June Lientenant- Colonel Zollinger was promoted Colonel, having had active com- mand of the regiment ever since its departure for the field. Colonel Case resigned early in June. On the 19th of July the regiment was engaged in a severe fight near Decatur, Ga., losing very heavily in killed and wounded. Sherman's army was now closing around Atlanta, and brisk skirmishing met our advance in every new movement. On the 5th of August a brigade of Schofield's corps tried to break through the enemy's line about a mile below Utoy Creek, but failed to carry the position. The next day General Hascall, commanding the division to which the regiment was at- tached, attacked and turned the position, resulting in the engage- ment at Strawberry Run, in which the One Hundred and Twenty- ninth lost twenty-five in killed and wounded.
On the 29th of August the regiment marched with its corps around East Point, and came into position near Rough and Ready, on the railroad, which was at once destroyed. Other portions of Sherman's army were doing similar work, and on the 1st of Sep- tember it was ascertained that the enemy had abandoned Atlanta. The regiment then marched with its corps to Decatur, and went into camp. Thus, after four months' campaign, our army gained possession of the mountain regions of the center of the rebel dominion, and the Atlantic and Gulf slopes were open to the move- ment of our veterans.
On the 4th of October the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth moved with its corps in pursuit of Hood, who had cut Sherman's com- munications at Big Shanty, and was demonstrating on the garrisons guarding our supplies along the railroad that formed our only line of supply. Moving by way of Marietta, Allatoona, Cassville, King- ston, Rome, Resaca and Snake Creek Gap, it arrived at Gayles- ville, Ala., where further pursuit of Hood's flying columns ceased. The Twenty-third Corps was then attached to the command of General Thomas, and the regiment marched with its corps to Chattanooga. Thence it was transported by rail to Nashville and Johnsonville, where it remained until the 20th of November. It then moved to Columbia and occupied the crossings of Duck River.
For three days the enemy pressed our position at Columbia, and heavy skirmishing was carried on. On the 29th the regiment fell back across the Duck River, burning the railroad bridge in its rear.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
The enemy's column having passed our flank, the regiment marched rapidly with its corps to Franklin. The enemy followed closely, and on the 30th assaulted orr position at that place. Our ground was well chosen, and after several severe assaults the enemy was decisively repulsed with great loss. The regiment met with heavy loss in the battle of Franklin. Our army fell back during the night to Nashville, and the regiment took position in the suburbs of that city, and threw up defensive works.
On the 15th of December the regiment moved from Nashville, and, advancing with General Thomas's army on the fortified posi- tion of the rebel army of General Hood, participated in the two days' battle which resulted in the utter rout of the enemy, and in his disastrous retreat across the Tennessee River. The regiment joined in the pursuit until the same was discontinued.
Jan. 5, 1865, the regiment marched with its division to Clifton, and embarking in transports sailed to Cincinnati. Thence it was conveyed by railroad to Washington City, and thence by steamer to Cape Fear inlet. Fort Fisher being already captured, and Wilmington secured by General Schofield, the regiment, with- out landing, sailed by sea to Morehead City, to reinforce the column about to move from Newbern.
On the 6th of March the regiment moved with the main column from Newbern, and marched along the railroad in the direction of Kingston, repairing the railroad as it advanced. On the Sth the enemy encountered our advance, and captured two regiments of Connecticut volunteers. Flushed with success his columns rapidly advanced and endeavored to check our further progress; but he was met and checked by Ruger's division of the Twenty-third Corps, to which the regiment was attached. Very heavy skirmishing at once ensued, the enemy making bold attempts to drive our line from position. On the 10th, the enemy being largely reinforced, the heavy skirmishing culminated in a battle. The enemy made several desperate assaults, all of which were met and repulsed, with great loss to the enemy, and during the following night the enemy fled in great disorder, leaving his killed and wounded.
Thus ended the engagement at Wise's Forks, in which the regi- ment took an active part, losing very heavily. Our way was now open to Kingston, and the regiment pushed on with the main column to that place, and thence to Goldsboro, reaching there on the 21st. From Goldsboro the regiment moved to Mosley ITall, where it remained until the 5th of April. It then moved to
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Goldsboro, rejoined its corps and marched to Raleigh. From that capital the command moved to Charlotte, reaching there on the 9th of May. Here it was engaged in provost duty during the summer of 1865. On the 29th of August, 1865, the regiment was mustered out of the service of the United States at Charlotte, N. C., and started for home. It reached Indianapolis early in September with 503 officers and men, was present at a reception to returned soldiers in the State House grove, and welcomed by addresses from General Mansfield and others. The regiment soon received final payment and discharge, and its members returned to the peaceful vocations of life.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
The One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment was recruited in the Tenth Congressional District, and was organized at Indian- apolis March 16, 1865, with Whedon W. Griswold as Colonel. It left Indianapolis on the 18th for Harper's Ferry, Va., and on ar- riving there was assigned to duty with one of the provisional divisions of the Army of the Shenandoah. It was stationed for a short time at Charlestown, Stevenson Station and Summit Point, and then moved to Clarksburg, W. Va., where it remained until its muster-out, on the 30th of August, 1865. On the first of September it reached Indianapolis with 770 men and officers, where it was finally discharged.
Following is a list of Steuben County volunteers, classified by regiments and companies. It is attempted to give not only the name of each soldier, but his rank, date of muster-in, promotions and date of discharge or muster-out; or if died in the service, when and where. The list is taken mainly from the Adjutant-General's report, and is consequently imperfect in many respects. Only those credited to Indiana regiments are given :
NINTH INFANTRY.
Company E.
Bear, W. S., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, killed at Shiloh, April 7,1862.
Caldwell, L. W., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, out Sept 5, 1864.
Colgrove, H. P., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, discharged for disa- bility July 9, 1862.
Ireland, John R., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, died of disease.Jan. 5, 1863.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Klink, Wm., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, deserted Sept. 3, 1862. Leavitt, G. P., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, appointed Corporal, mustered out Sept. 5, 1864.
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