USA > Indiana > History of the Seventy-fifth regiment of Indiana infantry voluteers. its organization, campaigns, and battles (1862-65.) > Part 4
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
Confederates lost in killed about 1, 300, in wounded nearly 3,000 and in missing about 2,700.
On the morning of October 26th, the Regiment took up the line of march, in company with the Division, for Bowl- ing Green, a village situated at the head of navigation on the Big Barren River, and on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, one hundred and thirteen miles south of Louisville. The Regiment was ten days on this march-advancing from fifteen to eighteen miles per day, over miserable roads. We arrived at our destination November 4th, and remained six days, encamped three miles south of the town. Our sojourn here was uneventful, except in the vigorous drill and strict regulations to which we were subject by order of our new Department commander.
During the progress of the march-October 30th-Major- General Buell was relieved of the command of the army by order of the War Department, and Major-General W. S. Rosecrans was placed in command of the Department of the Cumberland, and of all the troops which had previously been under Buell's command. General Rosecrans formed all these troops into the Fourteenth Corps, Department of the Cum- berland, which he divided into three wings, viz .: Major- General A. McD. McCook was assigned to the Right wing; Major-General T. L. Crittenden to the Left; and Major-Gen- eral Geo. H. Thomas to the Centre. Thomas' command- the Centre-comprised the Divisions of Rousseau, Negley, Fry, Palmer and Dumont.
This was the origin of the famous Fourteenth Army Corps. On January 9th, 1863, the Right and Left wings were changed into the Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps, and the Centre retained its organization, as the Fourteenth Corps, until the close of the war.
When the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps from the Army of the Potomac, with their crescent and star badges, were sent to Chattanooga, after the battle of Chickamauga, to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland, General Daniel Butterfield,
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
who came with these eastern troops, was asked by General Thomas to suggest an appropriate badge for the Fourteenth Corps. Butterfield replied: "If I had command of the Four- teenth Corps, which stood as firm as an oak at Chickamauga, I would give it the acorn for a badge in honor of its bravery." General Thomas then said: "That is what we will do; let it be the acorn." This was the origin of our Corps badge. The color of the badge indicated the Divisions of the Corps. The mark for the First Division was a red acorn, the white acorn for the Second, and the blue acorn for the Third, fol- lowing naturally the National colors. The first and greatest leader of the Corps was that incomparable commander, Major-General Geo. H. Thomas. The Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment served in this Corps from its inception to the end of the war.
Gen. Rosecrans inade strenuous efforts to thoroughly dis- cipline the army. The following General Order, which was publicly read to each company of every Regiment, was severe, but proper, for the maintenance of good order :
GENERAL ORDERS,
No. 4.
HDQRS. FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Bowling Green, Ky., November 3, 1862.
The following telegram has been received from the Secretary of War, and is published for the information of this Army :
WASHINGTON, November 3, 1862. MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS :
The authority you ask, promptly to inuster-out or dismiss from the service officers for flagrant misdemeanor and crimes, such as pillaging, drunken- ness, and misbehavior before the enemy or on guard duty, is essential to discipline, and you are authorized to exercise it. Report of the facts in each case should be immediately forwarded to the Department, in order to pre- vent improvident restoration.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
The General commanding appeals to both officers and men of this army to aid him in bringing it to a state of discipline at least equal to that of the rebels. He begs them to remember that neglect of official duty, and viola- tion of the rights of individuals, tarnish our national honor, destroy the
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
confidence of people in our justice, and put the greatest obstacles in the way of a speedy termination of this war.
Fully satisfied that all our soldiery demands to make it the best in the world is to have good officers, he earnestly invokes their united exertions to establish a spirit of zeal and emulation in the discharge of official duties. He announces to them that their own honor, the honor and interests of the soldiers and of the service, alike demand the rigorous use of this authority, and that he is determined thus to exercise it.
By command of Maj .- Gen. W. S. Rosecrans :
ARTHUR C. DUCAT, Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting Chief of Staff.
Brigadier-General Robert S. Granger was also relieved of the command of the Fortieth Brigade, Twelfth Division. Colonel Abram O. Miller, for the second time, was placed in command of the Brigade. The Thirty-eighth Brigade, com- manded by Colonel M. W. Chapin, was taken out of our Division at this place.
November 10th, the Division received orders to march to Scottsville, the capital of an adjoining county, south of Bowl- ing Green, and six or eight miles from the Tennessee line. One of the Brigades of the Division moved out the same day the orders were received. The Fortieth Brigade, on the 11th, moved at 7 a. m., marched fifteen iniles and encamped. The night was intensely dark, Captain Floyd and Lieutenants Wheeler and Polson, with a hundred men-ten from each Company-were ordered on picket a mile in advance. There was unusual difficulty in making this advance through the woods in the dark. After marching half a day, on the 12th, in the rain, the Regiment arrived about noon at Scottsville, encamping on one of the surrounding hills. Here we re- mained twelve days, drilling and doing camp, guard and picket duties. The 23d was a beautiful Sunday. Chaplain Boyden endeavored to do his duty by gathering the members of the Regiment together for religious services. The Chap- lain succeeded in making the divine services unusually inter- esting. His discourse was peculiarly affecting. One of the officers said that "the day was precious to his soul," and, doubtless, many others present felt the same.
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
An event of importance to the Seventy-fifth Regiment occurred while we lay at the town of Scottsville, in the ac- quisition of Colonel Milton S. Robinson, who entered upon the responsible duties of commander of the Regiment, No- vember 16th, 1862. The leadership of Lieutenant Colonel William O' Brien from Indianapolis to Scottsville prepared the Regiment to appreciate the high soldierly ideas and bearing which Colonel Robinson acquired through honor- able service in 1861 as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-seventh Regiment. Hence when Colonel Robinson laid his hand upon the Regiment at Scottsville, he found ma- terial prepared for farther development and mould- ing into his ideas and bearing. He found men, whose heroic hearts, for the preservation of the country's flag, throbbed in unison with his own- men whom he could justly feel proud to com- mand. The officers and HON. MILTON S. ROBINSON, 3d Colonel of the 75th Indiana Regiment. enlisted men of the Regi- ment extended to him many expressions of good will, confidence and affection.
On November 22d, General Dumont received orders to locate his Division at Gallatin, Castalian Springs and Harts- ville in Tennessee-a Brigade at each point-to guard the Louisville and Nashville Railroad at Gallatin, and watch the Cumberland River at Hartsville. Ward's Brigade was sta- tioned at Gallatin-the Thirty-ninth, commanded by Colonel
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
A. B. Moore (Colonel George T. Limberg having been re- lieved), was sent to Hartsville, eighteen miles from Gallatin, and the Fortieth Brigade was placed at Castalian Springs, equidistant from Gallatin and Hartsville.
The Division began the movement on the 25th-the Forti- eth Brigade leading. We crossed the State line into Tennes- see about noon of the same day, which event was recognized by loud cheers from the marching troops. Having encamped for the night about midway between Scottsville and Gallatin, the Fortieth Brigade reached the latter town at 4 p. in. on the 26th. Here we remained during the next day. On the 28th the Brigade moved to Castalian Springs. Here we found Colonel J. M. Harlan's Brigade, of the First Division, which our Brigade was sent here to relieve.
The Seventy-fifth Regiment pitched tents in a beautiful woods. At Castalian Springs was our first experience of winter in camp life. A few inches of snow had fallen during the night following our arrival. On the 5th of December three inches of snow fell. The members of the Regiment frequently were seen huddled around the camp fires to keep warm.
We were not only in the enemy's country, but also armed forces of the enemy were not far away, which necessitated a heavy picket line. The three Regiments of the Brigade at this time numbered 2,274 men present for duty. Every twenty- four hours 150 enlisted men and three commissioned officers from the Seventy-fifth Regiment were detailed for picket duty. We remained at Castalian Springs for a month. Nothing of interest transpired to break the monotony of camp life, until the sound of cannon was heard in the direc- tion of Hartsville, on Sunday morning, December 7th, when our old Confederate antagonist, John H. Morgan, with his troopers, swooped down upon the garrison at Hartsville-the Thirty ninth Brigade of our Division, under Colonel Moore -killing fifty-eight, wounding over two hundred, and cap- turing all the rest. Morgan completely surprised Moore.
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
.He crossed the river so quietly and forined his lines of battle so adroitly, that he was in the camp of the Thirty-ninth Brigade before Moore was aware of his being in the vicinity. Moore's Regiments had not been thoroughly drilled, and his officers and men had not much previous military training and exper- ience.
Although the Fortieth Brigade was sent to Castalian Springs to relieve Colonel Harlan, that officer's Brigade was there at the time of this unfortunate attack upon Moore. Being the ranking officer, Harlan had the general supervision over the Fortietli Brigade, as well as over his own. On hear- ing the first sound of the fight, Colonel Harlan dispatched the three Regiments of the Fortieth Brigade, under Colonel Miller, on double-quick to reinforce the garrison at Harts- ville. Our Brigade was sent, because it belonged to the Di- vision of Colonel Moore's command, and was sent to Castal- ian Springs to relieve Harlan.
The men of the Seventy-fifth Regiment were busily pre- paring their breakfasts, when the drums beat the long-roll for battle. They promptly left their cooking utensils, and fell into line to march nine miles in less time than they ever did it before or afterwards. We went on double-quick the whole way, mostly in line of battle, over fences and hills, through ravines and fields. The morning was chilly-a little snow having fallen during the night-and many of us had on our new overcoats, which were recently issued to us, and when the sun climbed high above the horizon, we be- came exceedingly warmn. Within a mile and a half of the town, the Regiment was formed in line for a charge, and we advanced rapidly across the fields towards Col. Moore's camp. Anticipating our approach, Morgan recrossed the river with the Thirty-ninth Brigade as prisoners, except the dead and mortally wounded, which he left with his own dead upon the battle-field. We fired across the river at his rear guard, and succeeded in killing a few of his men.
No word had reached us at Castalian Springs, of a
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
threatened attack. Our Brigade's advancement was volun- tary. No messenger had been sent from Hartsville, inform- ing us of the attack. We knew of it only by the sound of the cannon. We became satisfied that all was lost, when we arrived. But, we charged into the town on the double- quick to catch, if possible, the Confederates, before they could have time to recross the river. We were too late- only in time to see their rear guard, numbering several hun- dred, recrossing the river. We would have pursued them across the fording, but they had a considerable reserve force on the south side, and, under the circumstances, it would not have been prudent to follow in pursuit.
The battle occurred a short distance from the town, on a rocky hillside, near the fording of the river. A detail from the three Regiments of our Brigade was ordered to bury the dead. We found fifty-eight Federal soldiers lying dead on the field, of whom the majority were from the One hundred and fourth Illinois and One hundred and sixth Ohio Regi- ments. Among the slain was Captain W. Y. Gholson, A. A. G. on Col. Moore's staff, and Captain Herman Reintanz of the One hundred and sixth Ohio. Morgan's Confederate force lost 139 in killed, wounded and missing. After per- forming the sad duty of burying the dead, we returned to our camp at Castalian Springs. Lucius H. Emmons of D Com- pany of our Regiment, on detached duty with the Eighteenth Indiana Battery, was captured in this battle. Upon whom the blame of this most unfortunate affair at Hartsville must rest, is not given. Though recommended by Gen. Halleck at. Washington, D. C., to be dismissed the service for neglect of duty, Col. Moore was exonerated from all blame.
The day following the battle of Hartsville, December 8th, by reason of ill health, the efficient and able commander of our Division, Brigadier General Ebenezer Dumont, was com- pelled to relinquish all military duties in the field. For Gen. Dumont, who was an Indianian, the Seventy-fifth Regiment has had an admiration which survives all these years. The-
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Thirty-eighth Brigade having been disassociated from us at Bowling Green, the Thirty-ninth Brigade having been cap- tured at Hartsville, and the assignment of Ward's Brigade, December 10th, by Gen. Thomas, to Gen. Paine's command for the purpose of guarding the railroad between Nashville and Mitchellsville, but the one Brigade-Fortieth-was left in the Division. The Thirty-third Brigade of the Tenth Division, in command of Col. A. S. Hall, was thereupon as-
CAPT. JOHN T. FLOYD, (the author's brother), Co. D, IoIst Indiana, Aid-de-camp to Gen. Reynolds, born Oct. 9th, 1837, died July 2d, 1867.
sociated with the Fortieth Brigade in the formation of a Division, to the command of which, Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds-the first Colonel of the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment-was assigned.
In compliance with general orders issued Dec. 19th, Gen. Thomas changed the numbers of Divisions and Brigades
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
under his command. The Division commanded by Reynolds was to be hereafter designated and known as the Fifth in- stead of the Twelfth Division as heretofore. The Thirty-third Brigade, under Hall, was changed into the First, and the For- tieth, under Miller, was designated as the Second Brigade. The latter Brigade had also the addition of another Regi- ment-the Seventeenth Indiana, under Col. Jolın T. Wilder. The following are the commanders and Regiments compris- ing the Division:
FIFTH (LATE TWELFTH) DIVISION .*
Brig. Gen. JOSEPH J. REYNOLDS.
.
First (late Thirty-third) Brigade, Col. ALBERT S. HALL.
Both Illinois, Col. Thomas G. Allen. 123d Illinois, Col. James Monroe. IOIst Indiana, Col. Willianı Garver. 105th Ohio, Lieut. Col. William R. Tolles.
Second (late Fortieth) Brigade. Col. ABRAM O. MILLER.
98th Illinois, Col. John J. Funk- houser. 17th Indiana, Col. John T. Wilder. 72d Indiana, Maj. Henry M. Carr. 75th Indiana, Col. Milton S. Robinson.
Artillery. 18th Indiana Battery, Capt. Eli Lilly. 19th Indiana Battery, Capt. Samuel J. Harris.
Colonel John T. Wilder, by virtue of an earlier date of commission, succeeded Colonel A. O. Miller to the command of the Second (late Fortieth) Brigade, after the Seventeenth Indiana had been assigned to it. In the course of time, these two Brigades of the Division also exchanged numbers; Hall's was made the Second and Wilder's the First.
Immediately following the disaster to Moore's Brigade at Hartsville, our Brigade began constructing fortifications on both sides of our camp at Castalian Springs. We worked like beavers for a few days, with the expectation of giving Morgan a warm reception, if he should attempt his little game on us. We determined that there should be no repe- tition of Hartsville at Castalian Springs.
* As reported December 3Ist, 1862.
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
In the evening of December 11th, Col. Hall's Brigade, which was hereafter to be associated with ours in the Division, arrived at Castalian Springs and encamped. In this Brigade was the One hundred and first Indiana Regiment, many of the meinbers of which had acquaintances, friends and rela- tives in the Seventy-fifth Regiment.
On December 22d, the Seventeenth Indiana Regiment arrived and joined our Brigade.
The Seventeenth Indiana Infantry Regiment was organ- ized at Camp Morton, in Indianapolis, during the month of May, and mustered into the United States service on June 12th, 1861, for three years, with Milo S. Hascall as Colonel. It moved on the Ist of July to the East, and participated in the engagements at Cheat Mountain and Green Brier, in which its loss was one killed. It here operated with Gen- eral Reynolds' army. On the 19th of November, it pro- ceeded to Louisville, Ky., and reported to General Buell. It was assigned to General Nelson's Division at Louisville, and inarched to New Haven, where it remained until February Ioth, 1862, when it moved towards Green River. It crossed the river, and marched southward to Nashville, arriving there March 12th. Here it remained until the march to the Tennessee River was begun. On the 25th of March, Colonel Hascall was made a Brigadier-General, and Lieut. - Col. John T. Wilder succeeded to the Colonelcy. Leaving Nashville on the last of March, the Regiment reached the battle field of Shiloh on April 8th. It participated in the siege of Corinth, and after its evacuation by the enemy, it marched with Buell's army through northern Alabama to Louisville, Ky., arriving there on September 25th, after marching two hundred and seventy miles, and having skirmished with Bragg's rear guard on the 21st near Munfordsville. Leaving Louisville on October Ist, it operated through Kentucky and Tennessee, until December 22d, when it was assigned to our Brigade. Between the 18th of October, 1862, and February Ist, 1863, the Regiment was engaged in numerous expedi- tions.
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
From the 12th of February, 1863, to the end of the war, the Seventeenth Regiment was mounted and operated with the Cavalry. As a Cavalry Regiment (or mounted Infantry) there was no better in the service.
On June 24th, it moved to Hoover's Gap, where it held the Confederates at bay, until its ammunition was exhausted, when the other Regiments of the Brigade came up and the enemy was driven from the field. Here the Seventeenth lost 25 killed and wounded. After this engagement the Regiment marched to Manchester, where it captured many prisoners. It. then went on a raid to Cowan, scouting the country in various directions, skirmishing with the Con- federates across the Tennessee River, near Chattanooga. After the evacuation of Chattanooga, the Regiment moved in the direction of North Chickamauga and Dalton, fre- quently skirmishing.
On the IIth of September, the Seventeenth inarched to Ringgold, Ga., where it met Scott's Cavalry Brigade, and a brisk fight occurred, resulting in driving the enemy with severe loss to Tunnel Hill. The Regiment lost one killed and two wounded. In the battle of Chickamauga the Seven- teenth lost 16 in killed, wounded and missing.
On the Ist of October, it went with Gen. Crook's com- mand to the Sequatchie Valley, in pursuit of Wheeler. On the night of the 3d, it attacked Crew's Brigade at Thomp- son's Cove, and captured the battle flag of a Kentucky Regiment (Confederate) together with a number of arms, losing only one man wounded. The next day it skirmished with the enemy at McMinnville and drove him out of the town, losing 2 killed and 4 wounded. On the 7th, it had another attack near Shelbyville with the enemy, capturing three cannon and many small arms, losing 48 killed and wounded, including three officers. It moved to Huntsville, Alabama, on the 9th, and on the 13th started in pursuit of the Confederate Cavalry under Forrest and others. On the 18th of November, 250 of the best mounted of tlie Regiment
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
marched near Chattanooga and crossed the Tennessee on the night of the 23d on Sherman's pontoons. During the battle of Missionary Ridge, the Regiment went via Tyner's Sta- tion within seven miles of Ringgold and destroyed many of the Confederate wagon trains and stores. On the 27th it was attacked by Kelly's Confederate Brigade, in which it lost one killed. On the 30th, it marched toward Knoxville, run- ning through the enemy's lines to get into the town.
'The majority of the Regiment being dismounted and in camp at Pulaski, having re-enlisted on the 4th of January, 1864, left for Indiana on veteran furlough.
While in Indiana the veterans were allowed to purchase horses, left Indianapolis by rail on the 2d of April, and ar- rived at Louisville. On the 18th it proceeded to Nashville, reaching that point on the 25th, riding one hundred and eighty-six miles. Leaving there, the Regiment reached Sher- inan's army on the Ioth of May, while on the Atlanta cam- paign. From this time until October 31st, the Regiment was actively and constantly engaged in scouting operations with the Cavalry, incident to the capture of Atlanta, and pursuit of Hood's army to the north. It participated in numerous raids and skirmishes, and was conspicuously en- gaged at Pumpkin-vine Creek, Big Shanty, Belle Plain Road, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee River, Stone Mountain, etc. On November Ist, after turning over its horses to Kilpatrick's Cavalry, the Regiment left Rome, Ga., for Louisville, Ky., where it was remounted on the 24th. Leaving Louisville, it reached Nashville on the 8th of January, 1865, from whence it marched to Gravelly Spring, Alabama. Here it remained until March 12th, when it marched with Wilson's Cavalry command into the interior of Alabama. On April Ist, it fought Roddy and Forrest near Ebenezer Church, capturing one hundred prisoners and a cannon, losing twenty-four in killed, wounded and missing. On the 2d, it also participated in the battle of Selma, losing in killed and wounded ninety-two. On April 20th, the Regiment
5
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
helped to capture the city of Macon, Ga., with many prison- ers, including four General officers. It lost in this affair one killed and two wounded.
The Seventeenth Indiana has the distinction of having four of its officers promoted to Brigadier-Generals. As lead- ers of Companies and Regiments, some of the officers be- longing to the Seventeenth had no superiors. During its term of service, it march four thousand miles, and captured many prisoners and arms and several flags, and hundreds of horses and mules. Its loss during its service of four years was 69 killed and 189 wounded.
On December 23d, Captain J. H. Butler of Company D, and Lieutenant Thos. J. Peed of Company I of our Regiment, having resigned, left for their homes in Indiana. Our first Christmas, while living soldier-lives, was spent in camp at Castalian Springs. Many dinners in the tents on that day consisted of "hard tack " and "sow-belly." Some, how- ever, fared better. From one of the diaries, consulted in the preparation of this history, the menu on Christmas day in one tent at least consisted of "beef soup, peach pies, pickled peaches, and roast beef." This was a gastronomic display worthy Delmonico's, under similar circumstances.
During the last week of December, 1862, the Confederate Gen. Morgan, with a Division of two Brigades of Cavalry, made a second raid into Kentucky. He first struck Glasgow. From thence he followed the line of the Louisville and Nash- ville railroad, appearing at Munfordsville, Bacon Creek, Up- ton, Nolin, Elizabethtown and Muldraugh's Hill. The Na- tional troops, stationed at these different points, were small detachments of Kentucky Regiments, under the command of Colonels Harlan, Hobson and Hoskins; also Colonels Gray of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry and Benneson of the Seventy- eighth Illinois Infantry, and Captain Dicky of the Second Michigan Cavalry had skirmishes with Morgan's force dur- ing his raid. With lıis much larger force, however, Morgan either captured the small garrisons or drove them away. He
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