USA > Indiana > History of the Seventy-third Indiana Volunteers in the War of 1861-65 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
General Forrest, having the advantage of better mounts, had been able to rest his command at least half of each night. His soldiers were therefore fresh and vigorous compared with ours.
It was evident that we had to contend with a superior force, both in front and rear. All things taken into consideration, our situation seemed hopeless, and the conference therefore decided to surrender on the following terms :
C
150
History of the
"First .- Each regiment should be permitted to re- tain its colors. Second .- The officers were to retain their side-arms. Third .- Both officers and men were to retain their haversacks, knapsacks and blankets, and all private property of any description was to be respected and retained by its owner. Fourth .- Both officers and men were to be paroled and sent north within ten days."
General Forrest agreeing with these terms, Colonel Streight explained to the men the terms and the neces- sity of our surrender. Our brigade was then drawn up in line, arms stacked, and we were prisoners of war.
After allowing an hour or two for rest and food, we were marched under guard to Rome in a manner very different from the way we had hoped to enter that city, but as we had done all it was possible to do to have our way, we trust no one ever thought it was our fault that we did not succeed.
On the road to Rome we met Captain Russell's de- tachment, who reported that about eight o'clock on that morning of May 3d, after riding all night, he had reached the outskirts of the city and found the bridge over the Coosa River already well guarded and the city and adjoining country full of armed men, Forrest hav- ing dispatched a citizen from Gadsden by a much shorter route than we had taken to give the alarm and notify them of our approach. This had prevented any show of success by Captain Russell, who, after con- siderable ineffectual skirmishing between his men and the enemy's pickets, had fallen back intending to rejoin
c
1
151
Seventy-Third Indiana.
the main command, which he now met as prisoners. His detachment having been included in the general surrender, returned with us to Rome.
The terms of our surrender were lenient, and were not violated while we were under General Forrest'; jurisdiction, but as soon as we were separated from his command not a single item of them seemed to have any binding force upon the confederate authorities.
Our captors were considerate of our feelings, in- dulged in no tantalizing expressions or rejoicing, and expressed themselves as glad that the chase was over, and freely acknowledged that we had made a most gallant and determined defense, and if we had been as well mounted as they would no doubt have succeeded in our undertaking.
Forrest's Adjutant, Major Charles W. Anderson, told one of our officers who had been acquainted with him before the war that when they left Columbia, Tenn., they were the best mounted command in the confederacy, but so determined had. been our defense that their strength was gone, their loss great, and it would take months of rest to recuperate from their ex- haustion. So it was plain that we had given them as hard blows as we had received.
The officers were separated from the enlisted men, and in company with Forrest and staff reached Rome that evening and were quartered in the Etawah House, where most of them slept on the floor. The enlisted men camped by the way in an open field. Having no guard duty to do gave their tired bodies and minds a good undisturbed night's rest.
152
History of the
Next day, May 4th, they marched to Rome and were corralled in an open lot, with no shelter whatever from the broiling sun. On their march they were reviewed by citizens, who lined the road curious to see the "Yankees," this being the first command to penetrate so far into their country. Many of them were very insolent and disagreeable. The guards were otherwise, being courteous and respectful, showing the difference between "stay-at-homes" and those in actual service.
The rations furnished the prisoners were inadequate and consisted of a meagre chunk of boiled fat pork and a small piece of very poor corn bread, but as bad as it all was everybody took it good naturedly, entering into friendly talk, exchanging jokes and experiences with the guards.
Paroles were made out and signed on the 4th, the officers transferred from the hotel to less commodious quarters, and the enlisted men held in the open lot under a strong guard.
On the 5th the whole of the brigade was transferred to Atlanta, Ga., a distance of over seventy miles, in poor and dirty freight cars. The officers, about 100 in number, including surgeons and chaplains, were quartered in the City Hall, and rations were furnished from a hotel, for which they were required to pay for two days' supply over $1,200. On Thursday, the 7th, they were removed to a military prison in the centre of the city, a very uncomfortable and overcrowded place. The rations were now furnished by the authorities and were of a miserable character, consist- ing of corn bread and beef, unpalatable and scarce.
-
153
Seventy-Third Indiana.
Four days of discomfort were passed in this hot hole. Sunday, May Ioth, was devoted largely to religious service. The Chaplains of the Eightieth Illinois, Third Ohio, and Chaplain Frazier of the Seventy-third each preaching a sermon during the day and evening.
Upon their arrival in Atlanta the enlisted men were again corralled in an open field without shelter, or even blankets or overcoats, they having all been taken from them. The weather turned suddenly very cold and wet. Not enough wood was furnished to cook the scanty rations furnished, much less to keep the men the least bit warm or in anywise comfortable. Their sufferings while remaining there were extreme, and many have said that with all the hardships of their entire service no time equalled the days spent at Atlanta. On Thurs- day, the 7th of May, they were escorted to the railroad, placed in rickety box cars, and started for Richmond by the East Tennessee route. The whole journey was one of unmitigated hardship and starvation, the cars crowded to suffocation, refreshing sleep impossible, and not an incident occurring to relieve the situation over the whole distance except that the guards were as lenient toward the prisoners as their orders would per- mit. This dismal journey ended on or about May 11th, 1863, by their arrival at Richmond, and were immedi- ately transferred to Belle Isle Prison, located on a small island in the James River, in plain sight of the city of Richmond. This prison had already become notorious from the inhuman treatment accorded to those confined there. The treatment of the men of the "Provisional Brigade" was in no wise an improvement
154
History of the
over what others had endured there. The only amelioration was that their paroles were not entirely ignored, and on the morning of Saturday, May 16th, they were ordered into line and escorted to City Point, transferred to the Flag of Truce boat, received with honor under the stars and stripes, furnished with the best of good and wholesome food-something they had not enjoyed for weeks, and in a happy mood trans- ferred to Parole Camp at Annapolis, Md., where an outfit of new clothing was furnished them.
155
Seventy-Third Indiana.
FROM ANNAPOLIS TO INDIANAPOLIS.
The Indiana regiments, after receiving their new clothing at Annapolis, were in a few days removed to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, and being detained there for some time, numbers of the men became so eager to see their families and friends that they could not wait the slow process of securing furloughs, and several took "french leave," and after dis- playing considerable tact in avoiding provost guards on the cars and highways, reached their homes and for a few days enjoyed themselves very much; but soon all returned to their duties after their stolen vacation.
The Fifty-first and Seventy-third Indiana Regiments, about May 25th, 1863, were transferred from Parole Camp, Columbus, Ohio, to Camp Carrington, Indian- apolis, Indiana, and given furloughs for 15 days to their homes. This time was spent in a most happy reunion with relatives and friends and went a long way to remove the sting of a military failure and the un- pleasantness of prison life.
On the expiration of the furloughs all returned to Indianapolis, and having been declared exchanged, moved their quarters to Camp Morton to guard rebel prisoners who were confined in that camp.
There they had a good opportunity to compare their own hardship in southern prisons with the comfortable manner which southern prisoners were treated in northern prisons.
The Seventy-third remained at Indianapolis for several months, commanded at different times by Cap- tains John H. Beeber, of Company D, and Emanuel M. Williamson, of Company I.
0
156
History of the
General John Morgan, of the Southern Army, dur- ing the summer organized a raid to overrun Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio and do all the damage he could to the loyal people of those States. To meet this emergency Governor Morton ordered General O. B. Wilcox, who was in command of that military district, to assemble all his troops to meet Morgan wherever he might show himself. This made it necessary for the Seventy-third again to enter the field.
On the night of July 4th the "long roll" was sounded in camp, and the Seventy-third at once fell into line. Three days' rations were ordered to be drawn and all be ready to march at 7 o'clock a. m. At that hour the troops boarded a train on the Jeffersonville rail- road, which in good time reached the Ohio River and crossed to Louisville, Ky., where much excitement pre . vailed. The Seventy-third was ordered at once to take up its march for the Bardstown Pike. About four miles out camp was formed, and the Seventy-third ordered on picket. During the night some little excite- ment arose, caused by the approach of two carriages loaded with Union officers, who, having the proper countersign, were admitted, but did not disclose to the wondering pickets the object of their night excursion.
The regiment remained in this camp two days, when, getting word that Morgan had crossed the river and was then in Indiana, the command returned to New Albany. From there they went to Corydon, which place Morgan had captured. In the morning he had fled. The Seventy-third took the rear chase, and com- ing onto his rear guard, had a skirmish which resulted in no loss to the Union boys, but some to Morgan, both as to horses and men.
ـن
157
Seventy-Third Indiana.
From Corydon the regiment returned to Jefferson- ville and took boats there for Cincinnati, accompanie.1 by a fleet of boats loaded with men and cannon. It re- mained in Cincinnati but a few hours, and then went up the river to Portsmouth, Ohio. The regiment made several brief stops; the most important was at Mays- ville, Ky. On reaching Portsmouth it was immediately transferred to R. R. train and started for Otway, Ohio, which Morgan was trying to reach. On learning that troops were nearby he flanked the town and moved on. That night his camp fires were in sight. Before day- light next morning he had "skedaddled," as his career was drawing to a close, and danger of capture was im- minent unless he could cross the Ohio and get into Kentucky, which he considered a more hospitable region for him than the loyal soil of Ohio. His capture occurred a few hours afterwards and the Seventy- third's chance for an engagement with the raiders had passed.
Returning to Portsmouth, boats were taken to Madi- son, Indiana, and from there by train the Seventy-third returned to Indianapolis, entered their quarters at Camp Morton, and resumed the duty of guarding southern prisoners, which was monotonously continued until late in October, 1863, when the regiment was re- lieved and ordered to Nashville, Tenn., with the hope that it could there be concentrated, and the officers, who were yet in prison, be exchanged and returned to their commands. This last hope was disappointed, as none but the three who afterwards escaped from Libby Prison and the two who were specially exchanged, reached the regiment in time to see any active service, as the war was over before they were released.
0
158
History of the
LIBBY PRISON.
The officers left Atlanta on Monday, May 11, 1863, at 7 o'clock p. m., in dirty and dilapidated box cars, hardly fit for transportation of cattle, arriving at Au- gusta, Ga., 8 a. m., May 12th. In the afternoon they started by railroad to Columbia, S. C., which was reached next morning at daylight. After marching through the city they embarked for Charlotte, N. C., which was reached about 3 o'clock p. m., over a very rough railroad No rations were received here, notwith- standing there was a warehouse full of provisions near the depot. They were loaded on open cars, with cross ties for seats, and transported on very slow time to Raleigh, N. C. During the day they stopped at a place named Company's Shops, about half way, where they got a very poor dinner for $2 apiece. Reached Raleigh 9 o'clock p. m. on the 14th, and were furnished with a few hard crackers, a very inadequate ration.
Left Raleigh about II p. m., and arrived at Weldon, N. C., on the morning of the 15th, and continued directly on for Petersburg, Va., arriving there late in the afternoon. We were kept waiting in the street for several hours, and were finally taken into a small brick building into which all were crowded, with scarcely room to lie down.
Early in the morning were moved to Richmond, Va., a distance of 22 miles, which was reached in the fore-
1
159
Seventy-Third Indiana.
noon. Were held at the depot under guard some time and then marched to the front of Libby Prison. While waiting on the sidewalk those fortunate enougli to have money succeeded in buying a little bread at $I for a small loaf.
Entered Libby Prison about 3 o'clock p. m., May 16, 1863, where a strict search of each person was made for money or other valuables, and what had failed to escape the sharp eyes of the searchers at Atlanta was here found and taken. All of the officers of Streight's command were then sent to the upper rooms of the prison, where were found about 100 officers that had been captured on the 3d day of May at Chancellorsville, awaiting exchange, and Captain Samuel McKee, of the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, held as a hostage, and A. D. Richardson and Junius Henri Brown, war cor- respondents of the "New York Tribune," and Richard T. Colburn of the "New York World," all of whom were captured on the Mississippi River on the 3d dav of May in front of Vicksburg, while attempting to pass the rebel batteries. Mr. Colburn was soon released as a favor to the "World" newspaper, which at that time was an apologist for secession, if nothing worse.
Richardson and Brown were held as citizen pris- oners, removed from Libby Prison to Castle Thunder, a vile hole, and from thence to Saulisbury; N. C., from which place, after months of imprisonment, they made their escape and reached the Union lines at Knoxville, Tenn., after a month or more of great suffering and privation.
Captain McKee was held until the end of the war and released with the other captured officers.
1
160
History of the
. On the night of February 9th, 1864, Colonel Streight and Captains W. W. Scearce and William Wallick of the Fifty-first Regiment, Captain Matt Boyd of Com- pany F Seventy-third, and Lieutenant William Rey- nolds and Lieutenant L. P. Williams of Company K Seventy-third, escaped from the prison by the way of the famous tunnel and safely reached the Union lines at William.burg, Va., after near a week of almost unheard of suffering from the severe cold weather and hunger which they had to endure. Major Walker and Captain I. D. Phelps escaped, but were retaken close to the Union lines.
Captain Marion T. Anderson, of the Fifty-first, had previously, in company with Captain Skelton, of an Iowa regiment, escaped from the hospital at Libby by bribing one of the prison guards.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ivan N. Walker and Major A. B. Wade were specially exchanged. All the other officers of the Seventy-third remained prisoners until the re- bellion had fallen.
Captain David D. Smith, of Alabama, one of the offi- cers of our cavalry companies, was taken from Libby Prison upon a requisition of the Governor of Alabama, on a charge of disloyalty to his native state, and carried from one county prison to another all over Alabama until July, 1865, long after the war was over, when he was sent to Annapolis, where, owing to his deplorable condition, he survived but a few days. His friends never learned the particulars of his prison life in Ala- bama. Thus perished one of those southern heroes, whose only offence was his true and loyal devotion to
1
161
Seventy-Third Indiana.
the flag of his country. He died a martyr to the cause of the Union.
The remaining officers of Streight's brigade were prisoners about twenty-three months from the time of their capture, May 3d, 1863, to April Ist, 1865.
They were kept in Libby for over a year, then re- moved to Danville, Va., where they were held but a brief time, thence to Columbia, S. C., Macon, Ga., Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S. C. At the latter city, with hundreds of others, they were placed under the fire of the guns of General Gilmore, who was then bombarding Charleston.
The Confederate authorities notified General Gilmore that the prisoners had been so placed, hoping it would stop the firing on the city. During several months not a prisoner was injured, though the shelling was regularly continued.
After General Sherman's march to the sea the Con- federates found their prisons no longer tenable and began sending Union prisoners into our lines, and by the time of Lee's surrender very few were left in the South.
The officers of the Seventy-third, upon reaching An- napolis, at once reported to the War Department in Washington and were granted thirty days' leave of ab- sence and furnished with transportation to their homes. Before their leave expired the following tendered their resignations and were honorably discharged from the service, as of the 15th of May, 1865 ; Adjutant James C. Woodrow, Lieutenant John W. Munday, Company B; Lieutenant Henry H. Tillotson, Company E; Lieu-
1
162
History of the
tenant Robert J. Connelly, Company G; Lieutenant Andrew M. Callahan, Company H.
The following officers, at the end of their leave, re- joined the regiment on the 15th of May, 1865, namely : Major William M. Kendall, Captain Alfred Fry, Lieu- tenant H. Ralph Uptigrove, Company A; Captain John A. Richley, Lieutenant Alexander N. Thomas, Com- pany C; Lieutenant John L. Brown, Company E; Cap- tain Horace Gamble, Company F; Captain Joseph A. Westlake, Company G; Captain Daniel H. Mull and Lieutenant Henry S. Murdock, Company H; Lieu- tenant Adolphus H. Booher, Company I; and Captain Ithamer D. Phelps, Company K.
They were joyfully received and welcomed by their command and remained with the regiment during the rest of its service and were honorably mustered out with the regiment at Nashville on the Ist day of July, 1865.
These brave men had undergone the most protracted imprisonment and remarkable escape from death of any Union prisoners during the war. All honor to their bravery, their endurance, and their steadfast loy- alty during the most trying ordeals which men were ever called to meet.
-
1
163
Seventy-Third Indiana.
DETACHMENT SERVING WITH THE SIXTY-FIFTH OHIO.
Before taking up the story of the regiment sub- sequent to the raid and capture and imprisonment of its officers, we will give an account of a detachment that served with the Sixty-fifth Ohio in the campaign against Chattanooga in 1863. This account is taken from the original paper prepared by Sergeant Job Barnard, of Company K, at the request of Colonel Wade, and which paper was found among his effects, and endorsed in Colonel Wade's handwriting, as follows :
"Headquarters Seventy-third Indiana, Larkinsville, Ala., March 31, 1865.
"Barnard, Job, First Sergeant Company K, Seventy- third Indiana.
"History of Seventy-third Company, temporarily at- tached to 65th Ohio Volunteers, to be incorporated in history of Seventy-third Indiana."
On the 21st of April, 1863, when Colonel Streight was preparing to leave Eastport, Miss., on his raiding mission all those thought by the brigade surgeon un- able to stand the hardships of the campaign were set aside and ordered on board the steamer La Crosse to
[7]
164
History of the
return with the transports and marine fleet to Paducah.
We were all finally stowed away, though not the most comfortably, and came down to Hamburg, where we . lay over until noon of the next day. Here we met and saw for the first time Colonel Hathaway, who was on his way with Lieutenant Williams to join the regiment. They had come up the river in the little steam tug Cleveland, and General Ellet sent them on to East Port in one of the gunboats. We made but slow progress down the river owing to the rebels on the banks firing into our boats, and the consequent delay of the marine fleet to land troops to chase them away.
Reached Fort Henry on the 28th and lay until May I, when all those who were convalescent were landed at Fort Hieman under charge of a lieutenant of the Eighty-sixth Illinois, whose name I have forgotten, and who, by a series of applications, finally succeeded in getting himself transferred to Paducah, leaving us in the care of Lieutenant Taylor, of the Third Minnesota. The Third Minnesota and part of the Eleventh Illinois composed the post troops of Fort Hieman. Our de- tachment, consisting of convalescents from all the regi- ments in the Provisional Brigade and some from Dodge's Division was sent across the river to Fort Henry to guard the telegraph office. Lieutenant Tay- lor was quite accommodating, procured clothing, camp and garrison equipage in abundance, so that in a short time we were most comfortably fixed up in the old fort. About the 12th we were reinforced by a squad from Gallatin, under command of Sergeant Thomas W. Lov- ing, of Company A, of our regiment, who were hunting the regiment.
1
165
Seventy-Third Indiana.
In a few days the wires brought in the sad tidings of the death of Colonel Hathaway and the fate of the brigade. On the 31st Fort Hieman's troops were or- dered to Vicksburg and we were sent to Nashville via Fort Donelson. After a march of twelve miles across the country we arrived at the latter place, reported to the Post Commander for transportation to Nashville, drew rations and took up our quarters in a hay shed near the levee. Waited here for boats until June 3, when we went on board the steamer "Emma" and ran up to Clarksville; the next morning moved over to the "Goody Friends" and ran into Nashville about eight o'clock that night. Reported to the Maxwell Barracks and were forwarded to Murfreesboro, reporting there to General Rosecrans' headquarters. The Fifty-first and Seventy-third were sent to General Crittenden's, thence to General Wood's, Seventy-third, thence to Colonel Harker's, thence to Lieutenant-Colonel White- beck's command, the Sixty-fifth O. V. I., where we were subdivided and assigned to the different companies of that regiment as so many recruits. Here were col- lected the Seventy-third convalescents from all the con- valescent camps and hospitals within the department since the capture of our regiment, also those sent back from East Port and Tuscumbia. The company com- manders seemed to look upon us as permanently trans- ferred, adopting us on their reports and muster-rolls as gained by transfer. We should have preferred be- ing with our own messmates and comrades at Indian- apolis, where the enlisted men of our regiment had been sent and were then on duty, but complaining availed
166
History of the
us nothing. We were in for a separate campaign to make up for our failure to accompany the regiment on the raid. Our officers were not released from prison and we must bide our time of detached service though it should prove unpleasant and irksome.
On the 20th of June Colonel Whitebeck gave Lieu- tenant Eaton, who had returned with the sick from Tuscumbia, permission to collect the scattered men and organize a separate company or detachment. We therefore were organized and took our position, the third in the left wing of the regiment, constituting the IIth or 73d Company. We represented every company in the regiment and mustered one first lieutenant and one first sergeant, two sergeants, three corporals, and 42 privates, making an aggregate of 51. Our reports showed more men present than any other company, and of course we had a proportionate amount of duty to perform.
Thus organized and equipped with the necessary shelter tents and other camp and garrison equipage needful for our comfort we marched out from Mur- freesboro with the Army of the Cumberland early on the morning of the 24th. We kept a southeasterly direction during the day, and the rain which set in during the morning continued to pour down upon us steadily. We were sent on picket on. going into camp, and a soaking night we had of it in the dark, wet woods. Made but little progress the next two days, the rain still falling and the roads abounding in sticky mud. On the 27th and 28th the sun shone down with intense heat between showers and we still made slow
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.