USA > Indiana > History of the Forty-sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry : September, 1861-September, 1865 > Part 4
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"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, "MEMPHIS, June 26, 1862.
"SIR: I send five steamers loaded with supplies for General Curtis' army. As they necessarily pass through a hostile country, great caution must be exercised to prevent them falling into the hands of the enemy or from being destroyed. I have selected you as the commander of the expe- dition, and reinforce you with two additional regiments, as you will per- ceive from special orders accompanying this.
"It would be impossible to give special instructions for the manage- ment of this expedition. Much must necessarily be left to the discretion of the officer in command. I would suggest, however, that two pieces of artillery be placed on the bow of the boat intended to lead: that all of them be kept well together; that when you tie up for the night, strong guards be thrown out upon the shore, and that troops be landed and required to march and clear out all points suspected of concealing a foe.
"It is desirable that these supplies should reach General Curtis as early as possible. As soon as the boats can possibly be discharged, return them, bringing your entire command to St. Charles or to where you are now.
"It is not intended that you should reach General Curtis against all obstacles, but it is highly desirable that he should be reached.
"U. S. GRANT,
"COLONEL G. N. FITCH. "Major General Commanding.
"Commanding Expedition on White River."
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A1
GUERRILLAS.
The retaliatory order of Jefferson Davis against Fitch's com- mand was issued on this expedition. Guerrilla bands were con- stantly murdering soldiers and sailors from the woods and bushes. They were not soldiers, but independent gangs of assassins amena- ble to no law, civil or military. On the 24th of June, Colonel Fitch reported the situation on White river, and his action against the guerrillas in the following:
"HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, : "ST. CHARLES, ARK., June 24, 1862.
"SIR: Subsequent to my report of the 21st inst., guerrilla bands have twice fired into the gunboats and transports from the woods opposite St. Charles, and onee upon the pickets above the town, killing a mortarboat man who was detailed at Memphis as a part of a gunboat squad to act with this regiment, and a seaman on the gunboat Lexington. To put a stop to this barbarous warfare, Major Bringhurst was sent with four companies, escorted by the gunboats Cincinnati and Lexington, up Indian bay into the county of Monroe, where these bandits are said to be raised, with orders to post conspicuously copies of the accompanying notice. The expedition was successful, seizing some ammunition that was about to be used by those bands, and bringing in three prisoners, who were charged with aiding and abetting them. One of the prisoners (Moore) appears to be a surgeon of the Confederate army ou furlough, obtained upon tender of his resignation. which has not been finally acted on. As a surgeon, he claims exemption from captivity under an agreement between belligerents. He was not taken as such, but as a member of or as aiding in the formation of guerrilla bands. An investigation of the case is now being made. *
"I remain, general, very respectfully yours, "G. N. FITCH, "Colonel Commanding Forty-sixth Regiment Indiana Volunteers. "MAJOR GENERAL WALLACE, Commanding Memphis."
[Inclosure.] NOTICE.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF MONROE COUNTY, ARKANSAS: Guerrilla bands raised in your vicinity have fired from the woods upon the United States gunboats and transports in White river. This mode of warfare is that of savages. It is in your power to prevent it in your vicinity. You will, therefore, if it is repeated, be held responsible in person and . property. Upon a renewal of such attack. an expedition will be sent against you to seize and destroy your personal property. It is our wish that no occasion for such a course shall arise. but that every man shall remain at home in pursuit of his peaceful avocation, in which he will not be molested, unless a continuance of such barbarous guerrilla warfare renders rigorous meas- ures on our part neccessary.
" By order of G. N. FITCH, "Colonel Commanding U. S. Forces. "Jos. D. COWDIN, "Acting Adjutant.
"HEADQUARTERS STEAMBOAT 'WHITE CLOUD,' "ST. CHARLES, ARK., June 24. 1862."
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
In a few days after the expedition into Monroe county, a party with a flag of truce came in with a communication from General Hindman, the rebel commandant of the district. The document claimed that all the belligerents on White river were "regulars," and enlisted under proper regulations, and the general claimed the right to dispose his men along White river as he might deem proper, "even should it prove annoying to you and your operations." The document concluded with the remark: "I have thought it but just that I should furnish you with a copy of my order, that you may act advisedly, and I respectfully forewarn you that should your threat be executed against any citizen of this district, I shall retaliate, man for man, upon the Federal officers and soldiers who now are, or hereafter may be, in my custody as prisoners of war."
To this Colonel Fitch eurtly replied, referring to the despica- ble character of the warfare waged by findman's guerrillas, and comparing the conduet of the garrison at St. Charles, in shooting the drowning men of the Federal gunboat, to the heroic behavior of the Federal soldiers at Memphis, in rescuing the unfortunate Confederates who were thrown into the river by the explosion of their vessel. Colonel Fitch's reply closed with the declaration: "Your threat will not deter me from executing the letter of my proclamation in every case in which my judgment dictates its pro- priety or necessity."
Hindman seems to have reported the matter to the Confed- erate government, for immediately there came an order from Jef- ferson Davis to retaliate, man for man, on all of the officers in Colonel Fitch's command; and in his book, "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government," Davis groups Major General IIunter and General Phelps, for recruiting negro soldiers and "arming slaves for the murder of their masters," Major General B. F. Butler, who " hung an inoffensive citizen at New Orleans" (Mumford), and " Brigadier General G. N. Fitch" and his com- mand, " who are reported to have murdered in cold blood two peaceful citizens, because one of his men, when invading our conn- try, was killed by some unknown person while defending his home." Against these Mr. Davis hurled his anathemas, and declared them deserving the fate of felons.
No officer of Fitch's command fell into rebel hands until the Red river captures, before which time Mr. Davis had rescinded his order as against the Forty-sixth, on the ground of false
43
THE PILLOW FARM.
information. Hindman's mistake occurred in supposing that the. prisoners brought from Indian bay were killed. When the force returned, the captives were closely confined on a gunboat, and, as they were not visible, the impression was formed that they had been executed. This theory had been adopted by Hindman, who reported it to Richmond, highly embellished.
General Ifindman finally fell a victim to his favorite system of warfare. He was killed after the war while sitting in his house, near Helena, by an assassin who shot him through the window.
At Helena, the army of Curtis, as well as the Forty-sixth Reg- iment, went into a thorough renovation. An entirely new outfit of horses, wagons and clothing was procured. Large numbers of troops were arriving from the North daily. Most of them were "new men," dressed in new clothes, and with all the material necessary for good service. If they felt any above their ragged brethren, they were sufficiently sensible to conceal the feeling.
On the 1st of August the entire Vicksburg fleet came up the river. In a few days the regiment moved to the "Pillow Farm," a few miles below Helena. The general and his family were absent. The place was well stocked and in charge of a faithful negro. And the agent was something of a financier. Ile had dis- posed of much of the portable stuff about the farm at fair prices, taking pay in "Northern Indiana railroad" money, which he expected would be redeemed by the cashier, "Sallie Miller," then on the road to Helena.
On the 3d of August the Forty-third and Forty-sixth, with an Indiana battery and the First Arkansas Infantry, were sent against a rebel force said to be west of Helena. Subsequently the Fifth Illinois was added to the force, and all of it was merged into the division of General A. P. Hovey, numbering 3,000 men. An action had taken place the day before, and it was supposed that a large rebel foree was assembling for an attack upon the post. The march was exhausting from the heat and dust. Many fell out, and, during the first two days, several went back to the river. The column went to Clarendon in four days, remained there five days and returned in four days. The return march was not fatiguing, as it was cooler. Met no rebels except the usual guerrilla squads. Much of the ground traveled had been gone over before. Four men were killed, two of whom belonged to the Thirty-fourth Indiana.
About the 20th a steamer, coming down the Mississippi river,
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
struck a bar and was wrecked. It had on board some 200 soldiers returning to their regiments. Very nearly all were drowned. Henry Saylors, of Company K, was among the lost. Some two weeks afterward, Saylors' body was found in the river, near the camp of the Forty-sixth. It had floated forty miles and stopped near his company's quarters.
On the 2d of September, Colonel Fitch, having resigned, took formal leave of the regiment. He resigned in consequence of an injury that disabled him for service. He had accepted leave of absence to await the action of the department commander on his resignation.
Just before the colonel left, the regiment was paraded, and he addressed the men, in a speech, referring to the fact that in marches, camps, bivouacs, in encounters with the enemy, he had been with them for nearly a year. He said he had to take leave of them from necessity. That his absence might be brief or con- tinned, as circumstances might determine, but, with the regiment or at home, his best efforts should be used in behalf of it or its members. He enjoined upon men and officers that they be kind to one another, and remember that what discipline they were under was necessary for their welfare and for the efficiency of the regi- ment. IIe said he left the men under the charge of capable and considerate officers, and he hoped that the future of the regiment might be as bright as its past. It had won a name creditable to our State, and honorable even among enemies. Its members were enjoined to do nothing that might tarnish the good name of the regiment nor the honor of our State. At the conclusion the regi- ment gave three hearty cheers for Colonel Fitch. The departure of the colonel was regretted by all the members of the regiment. His care of the men endeared him to all. His discipline was recognized as an essential element in the regiment's subsequent efficiency, and, in after years, his successor cheerfully acknowl- edged that the education of the regiment to its after capacity, was largely due to the early discipline of its first colonel.
The regiment was at Helena, Ark., from July 15, 1862, until April 9, 1863; nearly nine months. During that time it was engaged in various and numberless expeditions, and fights and skirmishes with guerrillas. It was on White river four times; to Duval's Bluff twice; to Arkansas Post; down the Tallehatchie; east from Helena to Moon Inke, Yazoo Pass and other points of Jess note. The history of the regiment is the history of the war
45.
TALLEHATCHIE.
in Arkansas during that time, for it was with and generally at the head of nearly all of the important expeditions that went out. The brief summary of the regiment's duties given at or from Helena, during the period indicated, is all that is here necessary.
Martin L. Rutter, of Company A, was killed, and Daniel Sam- sel, of Company D, was wounded, by guerrillas, October 26, 1862. Two men of the Forty-third were killed the same day.
S. C. Levin was elected sutler, October 27.
On November 5 the regiment sent a scouting party seven miles further west than had before been reached.
Three companies of the regiment, with others, went on a scout forty miles up the river, on the 1st of November. Found no rebels, but the people were excited about the new money that they saw for the first time. Large importations of "Northern Indiana railroad" money were still being made. It was handled by an indi- vidual in Logansport, who sold it to persons who sent it South. It arrived in sheets, unsigned, and was filled up according to the fancy of the purchaser. That about Helena bore the names, "M. M. Post," "Alex. Barnett," "Sallie Miller," "Dan Pratt," "D. D. Dykeman," "Molly Thomas," etc., etc. It had, for a time, a great run, but the officers stamped it out. Latterly it cir- culated only away from camp. Expeditions used it largely. Those found offering it were court martialed and fined. On one occasion a man belonging to one of the new Iowa regiments came into the quarters of the Forty-sixth and offered one of the contra- band notes for a watch. The amazing audacity of the man was admired for a while, when the verdant financier was hooted from camp.
Hamilton Robb, of Carroll county, was elected chaplain by the officers, on the 5th of November. He was commissioned December 13.
On November 15, Colonel Slack, Lieutenant Colonel Gould and Thomas O. Riley were appointed a board of trade. The board was supposed to regulate the purchase of cotton.
On November 15 the entire. division went on an expedition to Arkansas Post. It returned to Helena on the 22d. No results.
The great "Tallehatchie Expedition" started on the 26th of November, 1862. It was composed of not less than 5,000 men, with a splendid outfit of artillery and cavalry. The expedition went on boats down to the "Delta," a small town on the Missis- sippi side of the river. At 5 o'clock on the 20th the army started.
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
There was a train of 160 wagons, a regiment of cavalry, and a number of batteries of artillery. A march of twenty-four miles was made by dark. On the 30th of November the rebels were seen near a ferry on Coldwater. A bridge was built and the troops crossed over on the 31st. No rebels could be found. The return march was begun on the 2d of January. Crossing the Talle- hatchie, great numbers of negroes followed and remained with the column until the Mississippi was reached. Early on the morn- ing of the last day the boom of the morning gun at Helena was heard, and loud shouts proclaimed the joy of the soldiers in being within hearing distance of Colonel Slack and his artillery. The Forty-sixth reached the river at S.30 A. M., and was in Helena by . 3.30 P. M.
On the 1st of January, 1863, the following detail for artillery duty was made from the Forty-sixth regiment. It was assigned by Captain P. Davidson, chief of artillery, to the Sixteenth Ohio Battery, Captain Mitchell, and did good service:
Company A, Henry C. Canter, Thomas W. Patton; Company B, John N. Oliver, Warren L. Wagoner; Company C, Henry A. Gra- ham, Jacob Rutter; Company D, William H. Powell; Company E, Benjamin F. Shoup; Company F, Patrick Callahan; Company G, James Johnson, Colon McColloch; Company II, John Chamber- lain; Company I, Allen Calhoun, Richard Calhoun; Company K, David Haller.
The regiment started, on the 10th of January, on another trip up White river. It reached St. Charles on the 15th, and remained until the 18th, when it continued on up to Clarendon and Duval's Bluff. It met no old friends and made no new acquaintances. The return was begun on the 19th, and Helena was made on the 22d. The regiment went into camp a mile back from the river. The mud was overwhelming. It was reported that a mule and a horse were drowned near the center of the town. The sick report of the post reached 1,200. Surgeon Horace Coleman was acting " medical director" for the division.
On the 14th of February the regiment started on the " Yazoo Pass Expedition." An opening was ent in the levee, and in a transport the regiment passed into Moon lake, an immense pond hemmed in by the higher land back and the levee on the Missis- sippi. A landing was made on a comparatively dry spot, where the remains of an old mill stood. It was entitled, " Hunt's Mills," and MeAllister, of Company I, and Haney, of Company B, took
47
YAZOO PASS.
the establishment in hand, and in a few days turned out large quantities of a good article of corn-meal.
On arriving at the "Mills" the regiment went into camp, expecting to be comfortable for a few days, but the sudden rise of the water, caused by the river rushing through the opening in the levee, overflowed nearly the entire country, and left scarcely enough dry land to camp upon.
Some work was done on this visit to Moon lake in cutting out trees and obstrueting timbers, but before much in that line was effected the regiment was ordered back to Helena, where it arrived on the 21st of February.
On landing, orders were received to prepare to embark on the "Volunteer" and "Ida May" at 3 o'clock. Although tired and hungry, the men immediately prepared to ship, but before the appointed hour orders came "to wait for pay." This order was obeyed, and the regiment marched up to the Exchange hotel, was paid for two months, and was back on the boats by 10 o'clock in splendid spirits.
On the "Moon Lake Expedition" three rebels were killed and six wounded. Aurilius L. Voorhis and George W. Bruington, of Company B, were wounded by guerrillas.
The real " Tallehatchie Expedition" was now to begin. General Ross commanded. He took the "Volunteer" for his flagship, and, with the Forty-sixth, took the lead. Companies A, C, E, G, H and K were on the " Ida May," and Companies B, F, D and I on the " Volunteer." The expedition was composed of new troops, except the Forty-third, Forty-sixth and the Forty-seventh Indiana. The gunboats Chillicothe and DeNull were in advance, followed by fifteen transports and the ram Fulton. The fleet went crashing through trees and limbs, tearing off the chimneys and upper works of the boats. Iluge trees were cut down and rolled out of the way, and great piles of brush and timber blocked the road until removed. The fleet made from two to five miles a day, and often at night the starting point of the morning was in sight. The boats were nearly wrecked. The smoke stacks were knocked down and the upper works torn off. The " Volunteer" was a new boat, just from Pittsburg. She was highly decorated and in perfect order. After coming through the pass she looked like an abandoned scow.
The brigade consisted of the Forty-third, Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Indiana, and the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin, under
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
General Soloman. In addition, there were the Thirty-third and Thirty-fifth Missouri, the Thirty-third, Thirty-sixth and Twenty- ninth Iowa, six guns of the Third Iowa Artillery and one company of an Illinois cavalry regiment, under General Clinton B. Fisk. General Ross commanded the whole.
. The Tallehatchie was reached and better sailing had. Evi- dence of the presence of the rebels began to be seen. The trans- port "Thirty-fifth Parallel" was passed in flames. She was filled with cotton and was burned to keep the property from falling into " Federal hands. All night a constant stream of burning cotton floated past the fleet, keeping all hands busy saving the boats from conflagration.
The fleet reached within two miles of the fortifications on the 11th of March. The Forty-sixth was immediately detailed to disembark and proceed toward the town of MeNutt, to ascertain whether an infantry force was there, as reported. The Forty- seventh was ordered down the river toward the fort. Being near the left of the column, it was late reporting. The Forty-sixth having returned, Colonel Bringhurst asked permission of the adjutant of General Ross to go on down the river and wait for Colonel Slack. Permission being given, the regiment went down to within three-quarters of a mile of the fort, and, seeing the rebel infantry outside, advanced and attacked them. Companies A and B were detailed as skirmishers. The rebels stood, and an engage- ment at once came on. The whole line became engaged, and after some sharp firing the rebels took to the fort. In the mean time the Chillicothe, with General Ross on board, dropped down the stream. Coming in sight of the fort the rebels opened on the gunboat with two sixty-eight-pound guns, making the splinters fly.
General Ross had landed and was with the regiment before the infantry engagement was over, and complimented it for its behavior.
Returning, the regiment met the Forty-seventh coming down, and, although the Forty-sixth had taken the place assigned to Colonel Slack, he joined General Ross in complimenting the regiment.
Samuel Stewart was shot through the groin, and Theophilus P. Rodgers in the leg; both of Company B.
On the 6th of March an accident occurred which cost the regiment one of its best members. A light boat containing a staff officer of General Ross, a clerk, Artemus Burnsworth, and B.
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FORT PEMBERTON.
Porter, of Company I, left the "Volunteer" on an errand to the shore. The fleet was under good headway and, on returning, the boat missed the " Volunteer" and made for the "Ida May." The steamer ran down the boat and passed over it. Burnsworth and Porter went entirely under the "Ida May." Porter was taken up by a yawl. Burnsworth was seen no more. The other two men were hauled aboard the steamer.
On the 12th of March a general attack was made on the fort. Soloman's brigade was placed between the river and the land battery erected a few days before, and to the right of that battery. The gunboats came slowly down the river, and, coming in range of the fort, opened with their heavy bow-guns. The land battery also opened. Immediately the fort was heard from, and in no' uncertain way. Their shells were sent in showers over the boats and the land battery. The rebels had a sixty-eight-pound gun, which was particularly effective. One of its shells passed through the shutter of the Chillicothe and exploded in the gun-room, killing three and fatally wounding nine men. During the engage- ment the cotton bales on the upper deck of the Chillicothe took fire, when a squad of negro firemen went up with hose and extin- guished the flames. The Chillicothe carried an -168-pound gun, whose shell could entirely penetrate a bale of cotton or the thick- est bank of the fort, and threatened the destruction of their works, but the boat could not hold position long enough to effect what was possible under other circumstances.
On the 16th another attack was made, with the same result.
On the 19th Wright Nield had an arm shot off while "looking out" for a rebel gim that was firing at a working squad. Nield saw the gun fire and gave the word, but before he could get down the ball struck him. He subsequently died.
On the 19th the fleet started to return. Much time was lost in the dark by the boats becoming entangled, which might have been fatal had the rebels understood the situation.
Met General Quimby, with reinforcements, on the 21st of March. The entire expedition was ordered to return and the old positions were reached, and on the 23d the Forty-sixth was again sent down in advance. Approaching the fort, two large yawls, filled with men, were seen making off from the shore. The balls of the advance compelled one party to halt; the other escaped. The captured yawl contained fourteen men.
On the 23d a tree fell across a tent in the camp of the Forty-
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
seventh, killing four and fatally injuring two men. James Storms, of Logansport, was one of the wounded.
On the night of the 31st of March, Companies B and D stood picket within 200 yards of the rebels.
A party of rebels came in with a flag of truce on April 1. Their alleged business was about a prisoner, but they really wanted to see what was being done on our side. They were held back a proper distance. Captain Sikes, the officer, was exceedingly sociable, and sat and talked an hour with our officers. In return, the next day our colonel, with a flag and four men, went over to see what they were doing. They had more success than the rebels, and learned much about their position.
Quartermaster Downey, when down near the fort, on the 4th of April, was struck in the hand by a rebel shell. The colonel, with some men, was in a battery destroying the sacks that had been used in the work. The shot was drawn by them. On the same day, at the same place, a twelve-pound shell passed through a group of Company K's men. They were sitting around a tree. William Johnson was killed and Elihu Shaffer wounded. When the report of the gun was heard, Johnson gathered his knees to his body. The shell blew out its fuse and passed entirely through his knees and body. The brass fuse went through Shaffer's hand.
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