USA > Indiana > History of the Forty-sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry : September, 1861-September, 1865 > Part 5
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The fleet again started for Helena on the 5th of April. The Forty-sixth occupied the "Volunteer" alone. On the 6th a cap- tain of a boat and a soldier of the Forty-third were killed by guerrillas. A large plantation house in the vicinity was in flames in a few minutes.
The regiment arrived at Helena on the 8th of April.
CHAPTER IV.
VACANCIES AND PROMOTIONS. - MILLIKEN'S BEND .- DAWSON'S .- DUNBAR'S. -- HARD TIMES. - GRAND GULF. - THE BENTON .-- PORT GIBSON .- CHAMPION'S HILL. - VICKSBURG. - JACKSON .- DOWN THE RIVER. -- APRIL-AUGUST, 1863.
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B ETWEEN April and August, 1863, the following vacancies and promotions occurred:
Captain Benjamin A. Grover, of Company K, resigned July 22, 1863; he was succeeded by Lieutenant Robert M. Shields; John McClung was commissioned first, and Chester Chamberlain second lieutenant. Surgeon Horace Coleman resigned July 31, 1863; Assistant Surgeon I. B. Washburn was commissioned sur- geon, and Joshna W. Underhill, of Company E, assistant surgeon.
The following was the organization of the Thirteenth Army Corps (Major General J. A. McClernand), April 30, 1863:
NINTH DIVISION (Osterhaus).
First Brigade (Garrard).
Second Brigade (Sheldon). Sixteenth Ohio,
Forty-ninth Indiana,
Sixty-ninth Indiana,
One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio.
Forty-second Ohio, One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio. Fifty-fourth Indiana, Twenty-second Kentucky.
One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois,
Seventh Kentucky.
ARTILLERY. -
First Wisconsin Battery, Seventh Michigan Battery.
CAVALRY.
Third Illinois Cavalry (Companies A, E and K).
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
TENTH DIVISION (A. J. Smith).
First Brigade (Burbridge).
Second Brigade (Landram).
Sixteenth Indiana,
Nineteenth Kentucky,
Sixtieth Indiana,
Seventy-seventh Illinois,
Ninety-seventh Illinois,
Eighty-third Ohio,
Ninety-sixth Ohio,
Twenty-third Wisconsin.
One Hundred and Eighth Illinois, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois, Forty-eighth Ohio.
ARTILLERY.
Chicago Mercantile Battery, Seventeenth Ohio Battery. CAVALRY. Fourth Indiana Cavalry (Company C).
TWELFTH DIVISION (A. P. Hovey). - First Brigude (McGinnis).
Second Brigade (Slack).
Eleventh Indiana,
Forty-seventh Indiana,
Twenty-fourth Indiana,
Twenty-fourth Iowa,
Thirty-fourth Indiana,
Twenty-eighth Iowa,
Forty-sixth Indiana,
Fifty-sixth Ohio.
Twenty-ninth Wisconsin.
CAVALRY. First Indiana Cavalry (Company C).
ARTILLERY.
Second Illinois Battery (A), Second Ohio Battery,
Sixteenth Ohio Battery, First Missouri Battery (A).
THIRTEENTH DIVISION (Ross).
First Brigade (Soloman).
Second Brigade (Fisk).
Forty-third Indiana,
Thirty-fifth Missouri, Twenty-eighth Wisconsin.
Twenty-ninth Iowa,
Thirty-third Iowa, Thirty-sixth Iowa, Thirty-third Missouri.
ARTILLERY. Third Iowa Battery.
Sixty-seventh Indiana,
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FOR VICKSBURG.
FOURTEENTH DIVISION (Carr).
First Brigade (Benton).
Second Brigade (Lawler).
First United States,
Eleventh Wisconsin,
Eighth Indiana,
Twenty-first Iowa,
Eighteenth Indiana,
Twenty-second Iowa,
Thirty-third Illinois,
Twenty-third Iowa.
Ninety-ninth Illinois.
CAVALRY.
Third Illinois Cavalry (Company G).
ARTILLERY.
First Indiana Battery,
First Iowa Battery.
SECOND DIVISION OF CAVALRY (Bussey).
First Brigade (Wiley).
Second Brigade (Clayton).
Fifth Illinois Cavalry,
Second Arkansas Cavalry,
Third Iowa Cavalry,
Fifth Kansas Cavalry,
Second Illinois Cavalry, Sixth Missouri Cavalry.
On the arrival of the regiment at Helena, it was met by Gen- eral Hovey, who ordered the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh to remain on their boats, as they were to go to Vicksburg.
On the evening of the 11th the "Volunteer," with the regi- ment, dropped down the river a few miles, with orders to watch and follow the "Universe," the flagboat of the general. It rained heavily all night. The next morning (Sunday) the men were busy drying and cleaning up. The chaplain was having religious ser- vices when the "Universe" passed down, with colors flying. The sermon was cut off, and in twenty minutes the regiment was on board and steaming down the river. The river was very high. At 4 o'clock the "Volunteer" was off White river, and at 5 she passed Napoleon, at the mouth of the Arkansas. At S o'clock the "Volunteer" overhauled three boats that had been ahead. At 10 o'clock all the leading boats were overhauled at anchor. The " Volunteer" was ordered to take the lead, as she "was the only boat that had a competent pilot." Accordingly she steamed on down.
The boat was full of men. All the decks were covered with
First Indiana Cavalry.
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
sleeping soldiers, and the night was dark. The river was out of its banks, and, in some places, three or four miles wide. The danger of getting out of the channel, or on the bars, was great, and the colonel, feeling the responsibility of the situation, went with the captain to the pilot to ascertain how far that official could be relied on. It was discovered that the pilot was a member of the First Indiana Cavalry, and had been on that part of the river only once before, and then on a coal barge.
The "Volunteer" ran many risks, and, at 2 o'clock, after rub- bing several sandbars, came to anchor without orders, and by 3 o'clock the whole fleet was huddled around her. At daybreak the boat was again under way, and at 6 o'clock tied up near the quar- ters of General Grant.
After breakfast the "Volunteer," under orders, was unloaded and the property carried up on dry ground. In a few hours orders came to put everything on the boat again. That was done. The next morning the boat moved a short distance up the river and the regiment went into camp.
The point where the army was concentrating was at Milliken's Bend, twenty miles above Vicksburg.
All baggage, except what could be carried, was ordered back to the boats. The division had no wagons except for ammuni- tion. All else was put on the steamers "Cheeseman" and "Cer- lew," to be carried past the rebel batteries at Vicksburg. The stores were put on the boats without any regard to method or order. Things were piled up just as they were brought in, and worse confusion could not have been constructed.
On the 16th of April the division began its march. The Twenty-fourth led the column, followed by the Forty-sixth, with the Sixteenth Ohio Battery between them. Richmond was reached before dark, and the regiment remained over night. Marched at 6.30 on the 17th. Reached Dawson's plantation at 4 P. M. Weather exceedingly hot. Knapsacks were relieved by the dis- charge of overcoats and superfluous clothing. The splendid man- sion of "Mars" Dawson was soon filled by a hot and hungry soldiery. The rooms were all taken. During the night terrific firing was heard in the direction of Vicksburg. Supposing the transports, with their baggage, were passing the batteries on the little steamers, the Forty-sixth people expressed some uneasiness.
Left the plantation on the 21st of April. The division had built bridges additional to those built by the engineers, and had a
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GRAND GULF.
road to itself. Encamped that night on Dunbar's plantation. The weatherboarding of the mansion was used for bedding. Built a bridge ou the 22d, and enjoyed heavy rains for four days. Marched, on the 27th, at noon, over heavy roads, and stopped two miles from the river. Remained a short time, and pushed on through the rain to the river. - The division went into camp and remained until noon on the 28th. The regiment was marched a short distance down the river and exercised in pumping ont two coal barges that had been perforated in passing the batteries.
At 5 o'clock the Eleventh, Twenty-fourth and Forty-sixth were put on the "Forest Queen" and a coal barge on each side of her. Every foot of room was covered. By dark the entire division was loaded on five transports and the coal barges. At 8 o'clock General Hovey assembled the colonels of the division in the cabin of the "Forest Queen" and explained to them the pro- posed movement. The division was to be on boats and barges opposite the rebel fort. The gunboats were to silence the batteries, when the infantry was to run over, land and secure a footing at the base of the fort. The transports were then to return for addi- tional troops. Governor Yates, of Illinois, was present at this meeting. The colonels were directed to assemble their company officers and instruct them in their duties.
The division started at 3 o'clock on the morning of the 29th, and reached Hard Times at 6. The boats tied up nearly oppo- site the great fort of Grand Gulf. It was not then visible through the mist, but in an hour it was in plain view. The sight was interesting, but not comforting. It was a huge sugar loaf hill, with a plane at its base, some twenty feet above the river. Not a man or a gun could be seen. The river seemed to run straight against the fort, while Black river came into the Mississippi elose to its right.
At S o'clock all was ready. The division was on its boats. The gunboats were at anchor in the stream. The Louisville, Lafayette, Benton, Pittsburg, Mound City, Curondelet and the Price were in the fleet. Admiral Porter was on the Benton, General MeClernand on the Price, and General Grant was on a little tug in the middle of the river. On a signal from the Benton the fleet weighed anchor and stood up stream. Going up a mile, the boats turned and came down in line of battle. By this time the sun was high enough to expose the fort to its direct rays, and, from the transports, a distinct view could be had of every move-
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
ment, and for over five hours the Thirteenth Corps looked upon one of the grandest sights ever witnessed.
The attack failing to silence the enemy's guns, signals were made for the division to land. The corps was then marched along the levee past the fort. Below, it went into camp. By morning, the entire corps, with two of Logan's brigades, about 20,000 men, were ready for the march for Vicksburg. . During the night the transports and gunboats ran past the batteries. The rebel cannon- ading shook the ground the soldiers slept upon.
Officers of the regiment, who subsequently visited the fort, say that the plateau was very broad, and completely commanded by rifle trenches wide enough to shelter four ranks of infantry, and with many pieces of light artillery. The time necessary for the transports to unload and return for reinforcements would have been sufficient to annihilate the first detatchiments, and, probably, most of the succeeding ones. In view of subsequent events, it was, perhaps, fortunate that the heavy rebel guns were not silenced.
At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 30th of April the regiment "mustered for pay," and, in an hour, with the Twenty-fourth Indiana, was marching on the Benton. The Eleventh went on the Lafayette. On the Benton, the Twenty-fourth occupied the upper deck and the Forty-sixth the lower or gun deck.
At 8 o'clock the Benton ran up a signal and put out into the stream. She was immediately followed by all the gunboats, trans- ports and barges-all heavily laden with infantry and artillery. As the fleet rounded out, a band at the quarters of General Grant played " The Red, White and Blue." The cheers from the boats and the shore, the heavy masses of soldiers on the vessels, with the busy preparations on the gunboats for action, produced impres- sions on the spectators that will never be forgotton.
On the wheel-house of the Benton stood General Grant and Commodore Porter, closely watching the shore. Nothing, however, was visible on land that indicated that the enemy was pre- pared for the movement. The decks were covered with anxious soldiers, the guns were cleared for action, and the crews were at quarters. Opposite Bruinsburg the Benton signaled, "Prepare to land," and slowly rounded to. As soon as the boat reached the bank the Forty-sixth and Twenty-fourth Indiana were on shore --- the first to land. Only one man was seen on the bank. He was supposed to be a spy of General Grant's and was sent on board.
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PORT GIBSON.
Two day's rations, to do five, were issued and speedily distributed. There was such haste that many companies were obliged to roll their provisions along as they marched. A rapid movement was begun. The roads were crowded. At first there was much con- fusion, but gradually the advance became orderly and rapid.
There were no horses in the column, except those with the artillery. The officers walked with the men. The regiment snatched a few minutes and got supper at 8 o'clock. Marched, with many halts, all night. At 5 o'clock A. M., the 1st of May, the colonel took advantage of a halt and ordered the men to pre- pare breakfast. It was fortunate, for it was many hours before another opportunity occurred. Before the heavy eaters were through heavy firing began, and the order came to go forward. The regiment was in line instantly, and pushed to the front. Rudely jostling an old colonel, he said, "You'll get there in time, boys." And many of them did. The road was gorged with infantry and artillery-all crowding to the front. The regiment went with the tide, and in a few minutes was engaged in battle.
This point was four miles from Port Gibson, and the result of the engagement would determine the campaign. Crossing a chasm, the Forty-sixth became separated from the other regiments of the brigade, and came out on a plain near the Magnolia church, where it was ordered by General McGinnis to support the Eighteenth Indiana, which was being heavily pressed. About that time the Forty-sixth joined the other part of the brigade, and and took part in the first charge. The Eighteenth was fighting the Fifteenth Arkansas and the Twenty-first and Twenty-third , Alabama. A battery of two guns was in front, within an hundred yards. In the charge on the rebel infantry. the Forty-sixth went through, breaking the rebel lines. Company E captured the colors of the Fifteenth Arkansas, and a portion of Company HI ran over the colors of the Twenty-third Alabama. Captain Henry Snyder and James M. MeBeth, of Company E, fired upon and wounded the color-bearer of the Fifteenth Arkansas. MeBeth took the colors, but inadvertantly let them pass into the hands of some Thirty-fourth men, who had come up. Portions of the Eleventh, Thirty-fourth and Forty-sixth Indiana charged upon and captured the battery. This capture has been claimed by each regiment, severally, but it was their joint work. Whoever did the work, it was well done. Every horse and every man about the first gun was .killed. It was then turned, and, being loaded, fired upon the rebels.
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
After an hour's rest the regiment was ordered forward and to the right. It crossed the Port Gibson road and formed on a bare hill. Artillery went into battery. Immediately the line was opened on from the woods in front, where a new rebel line had been formed. A part of the Forty-sixth and some artillery were sent down and the rebels dispersed. At 5.30 p. M. our line was withdrawn, and the men laid down and slept.
At 4.30 a. M. on the 2d, the army was in motion, and at 8 o'clock the regiment stacked arms in one of the streets of Port Gibson. It remained in town until the next evening, and enjoyed a well earned rest.
In the movement from the river, the regiment's behavior pleased its friends and satisfied the general officers.
The killed and wounded of the regiment were:
Adjutant James M. Watts, wounded; supposed mortally.
Company A .- Wounded: Corporal W. H. Padget, mortally; Charles B. Faweet, Daniel P. Snyder, John Beaver.
Company B .- Wounded: Henry Brown.
Company C .- Killed: David Cripe, Austin Waymire, Corporal John R. Shaffer. Wounded: Benjamin Addis, Alexander Lane, Jonathan N. Galloway, Isaac E. Smock.
Company D .- Killed: Noah Jones, William Londermilk, Alfred Hitchens. Wounded: Corporal Nathan Downham, Cor- poral Lovengier, Corporal Crockett, Corporal Theron Kendrick, Michael Blne.
Company E .- Wounded: William C. Shull, Randolph Mere- dith, John D. Cummer, D. B. Wirt, William Brockus, George W. Albert, Robert Stogdel, Charles Rider, Henry Teeples.
Company F .- Wounded: Corporal James Campbell, Jonas Sloniker.
Company G-Killed: J. Swisher. Wounded: Levi C. Cline. Company II .- Killed: Corporal Samuel Fisher. Wounded: William Faler, Samuel Coble, Henry Reichard.
Company I .-- Wounded: Martin L. Surface, Henry C. Davis, Daniel Harrol, George Beckett, George Schley.
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Company K .- Wounded: Corporal Adam Gaudy, Larkin Adamson. Total killed, eight; wounded, thirty-seven.
Of the wounded, Adamson died on the day of the battle, and Padget on the 3d of May.
The Forty-sixth had 400 men in the action. The colors. received three shots.
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59.
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ON THE ROAD TO VICKSBURG.
On the 4th of May, Lieutenant Troxell, of Company C, was detailed to act as adjutant, in place of Watts, and Lieutenant Brownlie, of Company D, as quartermaster, in place of Downey.
On the 3d of May the Forty-third and Forty-sixth went on a scout. They found large quantities of provisions. At one place they discovered 180,000 pounds of hams and side meat. It had been hauled out by the rebels on the day of the battle. Large. quantities of stores had been burned. The division encamped, on the night of the 3d, seventeen miles from Vicksburg and twenty- five from Grand Gulf. A halt of several days was made for stores. Generals Grant, Sherman, Logan and MeCleruand reviewed the division on the 7th. On the Sth was the "Big Wash," when the army, after a busy month in the mud and water, met the first opportunity to clean up.
The division left the camp near Edward's Depot on May 11. Marched eight miles and remained until the 12th at 3 4. 3r., when it took up the march for Vicksburg. The first day the road was hot and dusty. Artillery and infantry, with thousands of negro men, women and children, were hurrying forward. Met the enemy at 9 o'clock. The Twelfth Division was in advance. The Twenty-fourth and the Forty-sixth were in front. Companies A, B and C were out as skirmishers. The two regiments pushed ahead and found the rebels in a wood, with a broad, clear field between the forces. On the advance of the regiments the rebels fell back to their supports.
The line of march was taken up on the 12th. Before starting each man took eighty rounds of cartridges and some crackers. The sick were put in ambulances, and, with the wagons, sent around by another road. At 10 o'clock every possible demonstra- tion for an intended battle had been made by General Grant, but, while they were going on, a road was being cut through the woods, which let the Thirteenth Corps out on another, around the rebel left. Four miles were made by 4 o'clock, when the division went into camp. The lot of the Forty-sixth fell on a newly plowed field, which, under the heavy rain, soon became a pond.
At 4 o'clock, on the 14th, orders came for a march at 4.30. At S o'clock the rain recommenced. Reached Raymond at 11. The town was full of rebel prisoners and large details were bury- ing the dead of Logan's battle on the 12th. Camped on the night of the 14th, three and one-half miles from the Vicksburg railroad, and fifteen miles from Jackson.
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
Started at 5 o'clock on the morning of the 15th. Fine weather. Good traveling. Reached Clinton, on the railroad, at S o'clock. Again met the rebels, formed line of battle, when they again left. The pickets were busy all night. Many prisoners were brought in.
Was on the road again at 5 o'clock on the morning of the 16th. Picked up rebel stragglers at every step. Companies H and I were put out on the flanks of the column, and captured a large number of rebel prisoners who had fallen behind on the retreat of their army from Jackson.
Three miles from Bolton, the column again struck the rebel lines. The Twelfth Division was in advance, and the First Brigade was in the lead. The Twenty-fourth (Colonel Spicely) was in front, then the Sixteenth Ohio Battery, with the Forty- sixth following. Approaching a fine plantation (Champion's), where the road ran into a hilly woods, a number of field officers were riding in front of the Twenty-fourth, when Sergeant David Wilky, of the First Indiana Cavalry, coming from the front, reported lines of infantry and artillery within 600 yards. The Forty-sixth was ordered up in front of the battery, and a line of battle was immediately formed. The Twenty-fourth formed on the right of the road and the Forty-sixth on the left. The Second Ohio Battery rested on the right of the Twenty-fourth, and the Sixteenth Ohio Battery on the left of the Forty-sixth, and between that regiment and the Eleventh Indiana. But General Grant was not yet ready for the battle. The several columns of the army were on different roads and rapidly concentrating. But two brigades of one corps, the Thirteenth, were yet on the ground.
At 11.45 General Grant, supposing the other columns on the other roads were in supporting distance, gave General Hovey the order to advance. The Forty-sixth quickly went forward, and formed line of battle on the left of the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin. On its left were the Eleventh and Thirty-fourth Indiana. The Twenty-fourth was on the extreme right. The batteries followed close. A halt was made until 12.15, when the actual advance began. The order was first received on the right of the line, and it, in moving forward, obliqued to the left, compelling the Forty- sixth to move also to the left, crowding the Eleventh. That regi- ment not being able to give room, the Forty-sixth was finally compelled to occupy ground in the rear of the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin. In that situation the brigade advanced, and sharp
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CHAMPION'S IIILL.
firing commenced by the whole line. The brigade advanced in fine order and drove the rebels back over their batteries in con- fusion. The rebels crossed a small ravine, and again formed. Here was a desperate fight. The whole brigade advanced and a. close conflict ensued. On the left, the Second Brigade, under Colonel Slack, had similar work on hand. Before this general encounter, the Eleventh sent for help, and General McGinnis directed the Forty-sixth to relieve it. The Eleventh was found nearly flanked on both sides and heavily pressed. The Forty-sixth came on the ground in good time, and, joining the Eleventh, forced the rebels back.
The struggle on the first hill was kept up over an hour with varying results. Several guns were captured, three of them by the Forty-sixth, which were again captured by the rebels. It was uncertain, at the end of the hour, where the victory would finally be. The fight began too early. Many divisions were yet upon the road, and calls for help were unheeded. The larger portion of the Thirteenth (McClernand's) Corps heard the thunder of the battle and loitered. During the heaviest fighting by Hovey's division, that general received an order from McClernand to join him some three miles back. In his "Memoirs," General Grant says: "The battle of Champion's Hill lasted about four hours, hard fighting, preceded by two or three hours of skirmishing, some of which almost rose to the dignity of battle. Every man of Hovey's division, and of McPherson's two divisions, was engaged during the battle. No other part of my command was engaged at all, except as described before." General Grant attributes the failure to prevent Pemberton from getting back to Vicksburg to MeClernand's delay.
The most desperate and protracted of the Forty-sixth's fight- ing was near and around a log cabin, and near where the guns were captured. Here the tide of battle ebbed and flowed. The ground was lost and won. The First Brigade would press for- ward, victors, only to be driven back, to again advance in pursuit. Here many of the regiment fell. Near the cabin, Welch and Laquear, of Company D; Mellinger, of Company I; Lieutenant." Ferris, of Company F, and William Pfoutz, of Company B, fell. The balls showered about that cabin, and the wonder was that so many escaped.
The success of Logan's division on the right settled the ques- tion for that day. When Hovey's division saw the masses of
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THE FORTY-SIXTH INDIANA.
rebel prisoners crowding to the rear, it knew why the enemy on its front was giving way. The victory was won.
The Sixteenth Ohio Battery, containing a large detail from the Forty-sixth, did good service. It occupied a position of great responsibility and danger. Its gallant commander, Captain Mitchell, was killed.
In his report of the battle of Champion's Hill, General Hovey thus speaks of the First Brigade, near the cabin: "The contest here was continued for over an hour by my forces. For over 600 yards up the hill my division gallantly drove the enemy before them, capturing eleven guns and over 300 prisoners under fire. The Eleventh Indiana (Colonel MeCauley) and Twenty-ninth Wisconsin (Colonel Gill) captured the four guns on the brow of the hill, at the point of the bayonet. The Forty-sixth Indiana (Colonel Bringhurst) gallantly drove the enemy from three guns on the right of the road, and Colonel Bynam, with the Twenty-fourth Iowa, charged a battery of five guns on the left of the road, kill- ing gunners and horses and capturing several prisoners." * *
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