USA > Indiana > History of the Seventy-third Indiana Volunteers in the War of 1861-65 > Part 5
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where, on the Ist of July, 1865, it was mustered out of service. Returning home, the Seventy-third was publicly received in the State House grove at Indian- apolis and addressed by Governor Morton and General Hovey.
The remaining recruits were transferred to the Twenty-ninth Indiana, with which regiment they still continue to serve, it being stationed at Marietta, Georgia, at the close of this sketch-November, 1865.
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FROM SOUTH BEND TO LEXINGTON.
On the 28th day of June, 1862, Governor Morton, of Indiana, and the governors of seventeen other states united in a communication to President Lincoln, urg- ing him to call at once upon the several states for men sufficient to fill up the military organizations then in the field, and to add to the armies enough men to garrison and hold all the cities and positions which had then been captured, and to speedily crush the rebellion then still existing in several of the southern states.
In response to this patriotic appeal, and fully con- curring in the wisdom of the views expressed by the Governors, the President, on July 1, 1862, stated that he had decided to call into service an additional force of three hundred thousand men, and suggested that the troops should be chiefly of infantry.
On this call being made by the President, Governor Morton, on July 7th, 1862, issued his call for one regi- ment from each congressional district. In this call the Governor, after stating the honorable position which the State had occupied thus far in the contest. and the necessity for more men, said :
"I. therefore, call upon every man, whatever may be his rank and condition in life. to put aside his business and come to the rescue of his country. Upon every man, individually, let me urge the solemn truth, that whatever may be his condition or business, he has no
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duty or business half so important to himself and family as the speedy and effectual suppression of the rebellion."
Under this call the Governor directed that the Seventy-third Indiana Infantry should be raised in the Ninth Congressional District, then represented by Hon. Schuyler Colfax, and that it should be located at South Bend. A camp was accordingly established in the fair grounds and designated as "Camp Rose," to which all the men volunteering in that district were required to report.
The ten companies forming the Seventy-third Regi- ment were enlisted from only six of the fourteen counties then constituting the Ninth Congressional District, namely, Lake, Porter, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Marshall, and Cass.
The number of men volunteering in response to the Governor's call exceeded the number required to con- stitute one regiment, and another, the Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry, with Kline G. Shryock, of Rochester, as Colonel, was organized during, and immediately fol- lowing. the time of the organization of the Seventy- third, and in the same camp.
The Seventy-third was mustered in on the 16th of August, and the Eighty-seventh on the 31st of August.
The period of enlistment was prescribed in the call of the Governor to be for "three years, or during the · war."
While in Camp Rose the regiment received a fine silk flag, presented by the patriotic ladies of South Bend, Mr. Colfax making the presentation speech on
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behalf of the donors. The ladies also furnished a din- ner to all the Camp Rose soldiers, which was spread on long tables in the grove near by, and was much ap- preciated by the boys.
Wednesday morning, August 20th, we went on board the train and started for the front. It was sup- posed at that time that we were only going to Indian- apolis, but Louisville, Kentucky, was our destination. The boys had not yet received their guns, and only a portion of them had received uniforms.
After entering the train, Mr. Colfax, among many other leading citizens, appeared at the station to bid us good-bye and wish us all God-speed. He went along beside the train from car to car, stretching up to shake hands with all who were near enough to reach him.
As the train started from South Bend, the crowds that had gathered on each side bade the soldiers good- bye by waving flags, handkerchiefs and hats, and loudly cheering them on their way.
The regiment arrived at Jeffersonville next morning about nine o'clock, crossed the Ohio River on a steam- boat to Louisville, and went into camp southwest of and near the city, where uniforms were issued to all who had not received them, and five large "Sibley" tents were drawn by each company, and "Harper's Ferry Muskets" were given us, with cartridge boxes and belts, and a supply of cartridges. There was much objection on the part of some of the men to taking these muzzle-loading, smooth-bore guns, because they had expected "Springfield" or "Enfield" rifles. However,
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the guns were taken, drilling began, and the boys soon became reasonably reconciled to the life of the soldier. It was found subsequently that these guns, with ball and three buckshot, did good execution at short range when the regiment was engaged in battle.
On Sunday, August 24th, we received marching orders, broke camp, and marched to the station at Louisville and went on board a train of freight cars for Lexington, where we arrived about half-past six o'clock on Monday morning. We marched to a grove not far from the station and received a hearty break- fast furnished by the good people of Lexington, who brought in baskets of corn bread and other good things for the hungry boys.
In the afternoon a further march of about one mile was made, and a camp established in a fine grove nea. the road on premises belonging to the rebel general, John C. Breckenridge. After establishing a camp, we were daily instructed in company and regimental drill.
In this camp we first began to learn how to prepare and police our quarters; how to cook and eat our rations; what reveille and roll-call meant, and sick- call, and guard-mount, and the final signal to put out lights at night. We sometimes obtained passes to go out of camp, and some will remember the peaches and melons which came into camp in some mysterious man- ner from the "Montague" place down the pike, or other farms in that neighborhood.
Here company tents and individual property, knap- sacks, haversacks, etc., were marked for identification by amateur painters, with names, initials, letters and numbers.
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On August 30th tents were struck, and we marched out about half a mile toward "Camp Dick Robinson," where we halted, faced about, and returned to our old camp.
In the evening of that day we were again called out, and started toward Richmond, Kentucky, where a battle was in progress, leaving Lieutenant Wolf, of Company F, with a detail of twenty men, in charge of the camp equipage and baggage in the old camp.
The night before, the first casualty occurred in the regiment, when Charles Kanarr, of Company I, being on guard, and carrying his gun in an awkward posi- tion, accidentally shot a charge through his right hand.
After making a night march of some twelve miles, we came within a short distance of the Kentucky River and met stragglers from the Union army on the retreat, and it transpired that the Union forces had been de- feated by Kirby Smith, and were falling back.
The Seventy-third was then brigaded with the Fifty-second, Ninety-third and One hundred and fiftlı Ohio Infantry, the brigade being commanded by Colonel Anderson, of the Ninety-third Ohio.
We returned to Lexington Sunday night, August 3Ist, and reached our old camp a little after dark, and remained there until Monday night, when we were called out, with loaded guns, anticipating an attack, but no one appearing, we returned to camp, put on our knapsacks, loaded our wagons, and started for Louis- ville on a general retreat. Reaching Versailles before morning, a halt was made of two hours, and then the march was resumed, the command reaching Frankfort
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Tuesday night, after a hard day's march, where we camped in a hollow.
Wednesday morning the march was resumed, an.1 we camped that night on a hill, and the men all slept on their arms.
Thursday was another hard day's march, with a camp at night until about 1.30 o'clock on Friday morn- ing, when the command again started for Louisville. The regiment reached Louisville Friday evening, Sep- tember 5, exhausted by the hard march and the heat. Water was scarce, and the air was full of lime dust along the pike, and the boys suffered severely. Some died on the way from sunstroke, and one Ohio soldier was thrown from a mule and killed. Several were taken prisoners by the Rebel Cavalry.
The Seventy-third, all being green troops, started from Lexington with knapsacks heavily laden, and had not yet learned how to travel light. Many blankets, knapsacks, and other impedimenta were thrown away on this march, and those who had come through safely and were still able for duty had learned their first lesson in the school of experience in a real . forced march.
While the regiment was at Lexington, Adjutant Wade joined it, and after establishing a camp in Louis- ville, he began the preparation of regimental and com- pany books and records. Private Job Barnard, of Company K, was detailed as his clerk, and assisted him in this work.
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FROM LOUISVILLE TO NASHVILLE.
On the march from Lexington, and some time after reaching Louisville, our regiment was in the division commanded by General James S. Jackson, and our Brigade Commander was General William T. Ward, of Kentucky.
As the army was then organized, ours was the First Brigade, First Division, of the Army of Kentucky, and after reaching Louisville was composed of the Ninety- third, Ninety-fourth and Ninety-eighth Ohio, and the Seventy-third Indiana. During the absence of General Ward, on account of illness, Colonel Hathaway was in command of the brigade for several days.
On September 16th we left camp with our knapsacks on and two days' rations in our haversacks, with five in the wagons, and with gun and accoutrements, marched into the city of Louisville and waited in the street for some time, when the order was given, "To the rear, open order, march," when we presented arms, and General Jackson and staff rode down the line. After being thus reviewed the regiment was formed in platoons and we marched through the hot sun around the city and back to our old camp, where we pitched tents at the same place we occupied before. This review was severe on the boys. Many fell out and were not able to get back into camp. Some died from heat and fatigue.
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Lieutenant John G. Greenawalt, of Company C, was detailed on General Ward's staff at this time as Acting Inspector, and later served as Acting Assistant Adjutant General of the Brigade, until July 1, 1863, when he reported to the regiment at Indianapolis.
While in Louisville we had for the first time a sutler, Mr. H. Humrichouser, from Plymouth, of whom we could buy small articles needed by us in our daily camp life.
On September 27th we learned that General Buell had arrived in Louisville and taken charge of the forces here. Among the troops here from our own part of the state are the Ninth Indiana, Fifteenth Indiana, and the Eighty-seventh Indiana, the latter regiment be- ing next us on our left. The Fourth Indiana Cavalry is in this vicinity also. Governor Morton visited ou: camp near Louisville one day and rode through our lines in company with General Garfield. We received him with loud cheers.
On the reorganization of the army after General Buell reached Louisville, we were put into what was called the Twentieth Brigade, Sixth Division, in the Army of the Ohio, the brigade being composed of the Fifty-first and Seventy-third Indiana, Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth Ohio, Thirteenth Michigan, and Sixth Ohio Battery, and our Division Commander was General Thomas J. Wood. General James A. Garfield had com- manded the brigade, but he, not being present, the brigade was then commanded by Colonel Charles G. Harker, of the Sixty-fifth Ohio.
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On the 29th of September we were still in camp, and were engaged in throwing up fortifications in the cemetery.
September 30 the regiment moved camp in order to be with the rest of the brigade, and many of the boys seemed greatly relieved to be under a different division commander from that of General Jackson. He had the reputation of being tyrannical by reason of the hard march on the retreat from Lexington, and also by reason of the review in Louisville. But whether these criticisms among the private soldiers were well founded or not it may be difficult to determine at this time. He may have been obeying orders of those higher in authority and acting according to his best judgment, from right motives. Whatever the fact may have been, the soldiers all respected him for his bravery, and when he was later killed at the battle of Perryville they were prompt to recognize in him true soldierly qualities.
On October Ist we started with the whole army, marching after General Bragg. We were in Critten- den's Corps, and marched forward on the central road toward Bardstown. The first day's march was eight miles, when we went into camp. The second night we camped near Salt River.
On the 4th of October we passed through Fairfield, and on the night of that day reached Bardstown. The enemy had just left a few hours before we reached there. The citizens seemed glad to welcome us in place of the rebels, who had been trading confederate scrip for the produce of the country and had told the citizens
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that they would make it good in Kentucky before spring.
The country around Bardstown was rough and cavernous, and suggested that Kentucky was the right place in which to locate the "Mammoth Cave."
We left Bardstown on the 5th of October, and marched in the direction of Harrodsburg, and camped that night at Beach Fork.
On the 6th broke camp at an early hour and made a rapid march of twelve miles in the hot sun and choking dust to Springfield. While on the way passed a burn- ing mill where the Eighty-seventh Indiana had been engaged in a lively skirmish with the rebels, killing two and putting the balance to flight. Camped at Springfield that night.
On the 7th marched again, halting for a short time in the afternoon, after which we started on and marched all night, getting into camp at dawn on Octo- ber Sth. We remained in camp until the middle of the day, when orders came to move forward rapidly toward Perryville, where a battle was in progress. We formed in line of battle about five o'clock, and deployed skir- mishers, and moved on through field and forest, hill and valley, until night, when we were within hearing of the battle, and where we slept on our arms, remaining in line of battle all night.
We expected to be called into action on the morning of the 9th, but learned that Bragg had retreated dur- ing the night and that our services in that capacity would not be needed. We remained in camp an.i walked over the battlefield, where we saw many of the
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dead, lying in ghastly rows, waiting burial. Portions of the field were strewn with guns which the rebels had thrown down and left. Some of our regiments were badly cut up in this engagement, General McCook's Corps doing the principal part of the fighting on behalf of our army.
In this battle our army lost two generals, Jackson and Terrill, and the Seventy-third lost one man, Charles Swinney, of Company K, who was detailed with the artillery.
On October 10th we left camp and marched a few miles through a cold rain.
October IIth we marched in line of battle most of the day over hills, through valleys, woods, brush and briers, leveling fences before us, and knocking down stone walls, until we reached Harrodsburg, from whence the enemy had just made its exit.
We went into camp and built up large fires, the air being chilly, and after dark we received orders to leave our fires burning and move out quietly, which we did, going something like a mile away from the camp, and lying down for the night without building fires. This move was made as a precaution for fear that we should be attacked in the night, our brigade alone being in advance and the enemy just having left, their main force being within a short distance from us, as we were informed by prisoners taken. At this point a large hospital filled with rebel sick and wounded fell into our hands.
On October 12th we marched on in pursuit of the enemy for some miles and then rejoined our division in the evening.
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On the 13th we marched on, camping near the city of Danville, and our regiment was ordered out on picket duty. At midnight we received orders to return to camp from picket and immediately to break camp and proceed on the march, and we marched by moon- light through Danville and on toward Stanford.
On the 14th we heard cannonading in front, and halted a while in line of battle. We understood there was a force of rebel cavalry in our advance, which we overtook just before reaching Stanford. Passing through that town we camped near there for the night.
On the 15th we broke camp at an early hour and marched on through Crab Orchard, reaching that place about noon. This is a hilly region of the country in Rock Castle County. Our advance guard was skir . mishing with the rear guard of the enemy most of the day.
On the 16th we marched out about half a mile and spent the day lying at rest in the road, and toward sun- down we returned to the same camp we occupied the night before, and rested there on the 17th.
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Resumed our march on the 18th and marched about ten miles through a very rough country, passing through Mount Vernon, the county seat of Rock Castle County, and camping about seven miles beyond. This became known as "Camp Starvation," as we were short of rations and the country was sparsely settled. We found walnuts, butternuts and chestnuts, and a few of us strayed from the camp and obtained corn bread and other provisions at some of the remote farm houses.
On the 22d we broke camp and returned to Crab
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Orchard and passed on through, camping about three miles beyond, making a march of some twenty-three miles on very scant rations.
On the 23d we passed on through Stanford, the county seat of Lincoln County, and through Hustin- ville, in Casey County, camping about four miles from the latter place. Our division was now moving toward Columbia, and on the 24th we marched on through Liberty , the county seat of Casey County, and camped about ten miles beyond on the Green River.
On the 25th, reached Columbia and pitched tents. This was known as the snowy camp, as there was quite a heavy fall of snow for this country, although we were fairly well sheltered by our tents in the woods. The snow fell to the depth of about four inches. Several of the regiments in our division were destitute of tents, blankets, or overcoats, but the Seventy-third was fairly well provided with these. We remained in this camp until the morning of the 30th, when we struck tents and resumed our march over rocky roads, reaching Edmonton at night, after a march of some twenty-three miles, and camped there near good water.
On the 31st we marched on to within five miles of Glasgow, where we found good water and plenty of black walnuts, marching this day only about thirteen miles. Near this camp we found plenty of good fence rails for fires.
On November Ist we struck tents at about five o'clock in the morning and marched on through Glas- gow and camped a mile beyond at about II o'clock, making a march of some six miles, and found a very
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beautiful camp and pleasant weather. We remained over Sunday and until the evening of November 4th, when we started on about dark, and after marching some five miles camped again for the rest of the night.
On the morning of the 5th we marched on to Scotts- ville, the county seat of Allen County, some twenty miles distant, where we remained in camp on the 6th. Hiram S. Root, a private in Company K, died on the morning of the 5th shortly after we broke camp. Be- ing sick and unable to march, he was left behind with some of his comrades, who stayed with him until he died, and they buried him and carved his initials on the bark of a beech tree standing near by.
On November 7th we marched through a snow storm, and about II o'clock reached the state line and entered Sumner County, Tennessee.
On the 8th we left camp at 1.30 o'clock in the morn- ing and marched to Gallatin, the county seat of Sum- ner County, by sunrise, a distance of fourteen miles, in . pursuit of Morgan's cavalry. Found their camp freshly deserted. We took a few prisoners and cooked our breakfast over their camp fires, which were still left burning. We remained in camp until about noon, when we marched on the Lebanon road and camped on the banks of the Cumberland River, two or three miles from Gallatin.
On the 9th we remained in camp and rested, it being Sunday, and we had religious services, the Rev. J. M. Whitehead, chaplain of the Fifteenth Indiana, preach- ing to us.
We made a ten mile march on the Ioth, across the
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Cumberland and out on the pike toward Nashville. Camped at Silver Springs, where we remained until the 15th. On that day we marched to Lebanon and back again with our division in an effort to catch Mor- gan and his men. They escaped us, however.
On the 19th we marched on about seven miles nearer Nashville, and on the morning of the 20th marched a few miles further and fixed our camp at Spring Place, where we remained until the 26th. On that date, about II o'clock, we left camp and marched on to Nash- ville, going into camp near the railroad.
We remained in this camp and in this vicinity until after Christmas. There were a great number of troops in this immediate vicinity, and the bugles and drums were heard morning and evening, from reveille to tatoo, and the camp fires at night gave a picturesque scene.
On December Ist the regiment went out foraging and to guard a forage train. The guard consisted of the Seventy-third Indiana, five companies of the Thirteenth Michigan, and two pieces of artillery from the Sixth Ohio Battery, the whole guard commanded by Colonel Hathaway. We were to load and guard a train of sixty-five wagons, and it was a difficult task, but was accomplished without the loss of a man, al- though there was skirmishing during the day by artil- lery and musketry. The wagons were loaded at a mill on Mill Creek, across which the bridge had been burned.
On December 4th General Rosecrans, who was now
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commanding the army, had a grand review of the troops.
On December 8th our brigade went as guard for a forage train on the Nolinsville Pike. The only com- pany engaged in skirmishing during the day was Company H.
On the 14th the Seventy-third went foraging again in company with a cavalry regiment, going out on the Lebanon Pike as far as The Hermitage, the country seat of President Andrew Jackson. While in this camp new winter clothing was issued and preparations were made for a winter campaign. Our life was without incident save the ordinary routine of camp life, drilling and going out after forage and keeping our quarters properly policed. Our last forage trip was on Christ- mas Day, and as usual the regiment had a skirmish, but came off without loss, returning to camp after night weary and march-worn. This trip was made on . the Nolinsville Pike, going as far as Sheridan's old camping ground, where other troops joined us. The command, which seemed as large as a division, turned to the right and marched about ten miles, encountering a large body of rebel cavalry who showed fight, but retreated slowly and sullenly. The Fifty-first Indiana had some men wounded, and the Thirteenth Michigan one killed and two wounded.
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FROM NASHVILLE TO MURFREESBORO.
On the morning of December 26th, 1862, tents were struck and everything packed for a forward march. The wagons, containing the tents and most of the baggage, with the sick and disabled, were sent to Nashville, while a few wagons with cooking utensils and hospital supplies and other essential things for use at headquarters went with the regiment. We marched about ten miles and camped near Lavergne.
We continued the march on the 27th to Stewart's Creek, marching through the cedars in line of battle and driving the enemy before us most of the day in a drenching rain.
On the 28th, being Sunday, we remained in camp, starting again on Monday morning, the 29th, toward Murfreesboro, and that night our lines were in close proximity to those of the enemy. Just at dusk the command was given to Harker's Brigade to go for- ward to Murfreesboro, and this order was received with cheers, and the brigade started to cross Stone River in line of battle. The bed of the river was very stony and uneven, and sometimes a soldier would drop down in a hole until the water would be above his waist. The enemy's skirmish line opened a heavy mus- ketry fire upon our troops, but the Seventy-third and the Fifty-fourth pushed forward and claimed the honor of being the first of the whole army to cross the river
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