USA > Indiana > Greene County > Vicksburg > Indiana. Vicksburg National Military Park Commission. Indiana at Vicksburg > Part 15
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On the 5th of July, after the surrender, the 8th, with its com- mand, began the march to Jackson, Miss., in pursuit of Johnston's army. The regiment returned to Vicksburg on the 24th of July, where it remained until the 20th of Angust. During this time a part of the regiment was furloughed home for twenty days, the balance of the regiment embarking on a steamer for Carrollton, near New Orleans, where they arrived on the 23d and went into camp. September 3d the regiment moved across the river to Al- giers, and from there marehed by rail to Berwick Bay, seventy-five miles northwest of New Orleans.
From this point the army, under General Banks, made a cam- paign through the Teche country, passing through Franklin, New Iberia, St. Martinsville, Vermilion to Opelousas, La. Here the army remained until October 26th, when it returned by the same route to Berwick Bay. On the 12th of November the 8th, with other troops, embarked on the steamship St. Mary for Texas, and after a pleasant voyage of three days anchored off Brazos Santiago, and on the night of the 16th disembarked on Mustang Island and with other troops, under command of General Ransom marched in the direction of Aranzas Pass, and at daylight on the morning of the 17th surprised and captured the garrison of that place. with one hundred prisoners and small arms and three .pieces of artillery of heavy ealiber. During the night of the 17th a severe norther, or blizzard, struck that part of the coast, which lasted for three days. The blankets and camp equipage having been left on the boat, the men suffered severely.
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EIGHTH INFANTRY.
On the 23d our forces crossed Aranzas Pass and proceeded up St. Joseph Island, and crossed Cedar Bayou on rafts and continued the march up Matagorda Island, arriving in the vicinity of Fort Esperanza on the 27th. This fort was strongly fortified and de- fended by nine pieces of artillery and about one thousand men.
Ransom's men immediately invested the fort, the 8th leading in the attack, and was met with a sharp resistance by the enemy. A continuous fire was kept up all day, the Union forces gradually closing in on the fort, and during the night of the 17th the enemy evacuated their well fortified position, blew up their magazine and set fire to everything that would burn. A few prisoners were cap- tured, the rest escaping. The 8th lost one man killed and several slightly wounded. On the 28th the troops marched to Indianola, where they went into camp. The citizens having deserted the town, many of our troops used empty houses.
The troops remained here for several weeks, during which time they were engaged in regimental and brigade drill. The locality was a healthy one, the men feasted on fish and oysters as well as fresh beef, and it was not long before there was hardly a sick man . in the command.
During the month of January, 1864, the 8th was busy with the work of veteranizing, and on February 9th, 417 out of 515 men present veteranized and were mustered for three years' further service, and soon after left for Indiana and their respective homes on veteran furlough. The nonveterans were assigned to the 69th Indiana and reported to that regiment at once for duty. Prior to re-enilstment the 8th sustained the following losses by death : Killed in action, 48; died of wounds, 32; died of disease, 137; total, 217.
On the 22d of April the 8th arrived at Indianapolis on veteran furlough, where it remained until the latter part of June, when it returned to New Orleans by boat and from there by rail to Terre- bonne, La., arriving there July 7th, and on the next day the non- veterans were returned to the 8th in charge of Adjt. M. M. Lacey, of the 69th Indiana. July 9th the regiment broke camp and pro- ceeded by rail to Algiers, where it remained in camp until July 23d, when at midnight it was ordered to break camp and march on board the steamer "The Star of the West," but did not do so until the morning of the 24th, when the steamer ran down the river, crossing the bar into the gulf at sunrise the next morning.
The 8th arrived at Washington, D. C., on the 2d of August and had supper at the Convalescent Home, near the Baltimore and Ohio depot. The regiment was then ordered to turn in all tents and ex-
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
tra camp equipage and retain only what could be carried by each soldier, and were marched by rail to Harper's Ferry, where the regiment camped for a few days, and on the 6th moved camp a few miles. Officers were ordered to send their tents and baggage back to Harper's Ferry. On the 17th we were assigned to the Nineteenth Corps and marched to Winchester by way of Middle- town. Newtown and Currentown.
The 8th took part in the campaign of the Shenandoah Valley under Gen. Phil Sheridan, and was at Opequan on the 19th of Sep- tember and took part in the battle of Fisher's Hill on the 22d of September, and participated in the campaign and engagement at Cedar Creek on the 19th of October.
The regiment left the valley on the 6th of January and arrived at Savannah, Ga., by steamer from Baltimore on the 16th of Jan- nary. It remained on duty in Georgia until the 28th of August. when it was mustered out of the service.
On the 17th of September, 1865, the 8th arrived at Indianap- olis, Lieut. Col. John R. Polk commanding, with 14 officers and 245 noncommissioned officers and enlisted men, when it was finally discharged from the service of the United States after being pub- liely received in the Capitol grounds by Governor Morton on be- half of the State.
The 8th Regiment had a total enrollment of : commissioned offi- eers, 46; enlisted men, 1,626; total enrollment, 1,672. Lost during service, 7 officers and 88 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 5 officers and 169 enlisted men by disease; total, 269.
2 .
INDIANA
Monument of 11th Infantry.
Brig. General Geo. F. McGinnis Tablet.
(Monument Tablet Inscription. )
1st BRIGADE 12th DIVISION 13th CORPS
11th INFANTRY
Colonel DANIEL MACAULEY
Lieut. Colonel WILLIAM W. DARNALL
Engaged: Port Gibson, May 1; Champion's Hill, May 16; Assault, May 22; Siege, May 23-July 4. Casualties: Killed 29, wounded 149, missing 14, total 192.
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ELEVENTH REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
Under the call of the President of the United States the 11th Regiment was organized and mustered into the service of the United States for three months at Indianapolis, April 25, 1861, with the following officers :
FIELD AND STAFF.
Lewis Wallace .. ..
.Colonel.
George F. McGinnis
Lieutenant-Colonel.
Charles O. Wood ..
Major.
Dan Macauley
. Adjutant.
Henry Rice
.Quartermaster.
Thomas W. Fry.
. Surgeon.
John C. Thompson
. . Assistant Surgeon.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
Captain.
1st Lieutenant.
211 Lieutenant.
Co. A. Robert S. Foster,
George Butler,
Cyrus J. Dobbs.
Co. B. John Fahnestock,
Obed S. Fahnestock,
Daniel B. Culley.
Co. C. Jesse E. Hamill,
John E. Moore,
Francis G. Scott.
Co. D. Jabez Smith,
Nesbit L. Brown,
Thomas F. Wells.
Co. E. DeWitt C. Rugg,
Henry Tindall,
Nicholas R. Ruck'e.
Co. F. Edward T. Wallace,
John Stevenson,
Isaac M. Rumsey.
Co. G. Henry M. Carr,
11. B. Wilson,
John F. Caven.
Co. H. Wm. J. H. Robinson,
Fred Knefler,
Wallace Foster.
Co. I. Isaac C. Elston, Jr.,
A. C. Wilson,
John W. Ross.
Co. K. William Darnall,
John A. Mclaughlin,
John W. Ramsey.
Numerically it was the sixth of Indiana's quota of six regiments. but the first regiment organized and to receive marching orders in obedience to the order of Adjutant-General Thomas, U. S. A.
The regiment broke camp at Indianapolis and proceeded by rail to Evansville, Ind., camping near that city. The time was occu- pied in guarding against the shipment of supplies to the States in rebellion, Kentucky having assumed the attitude of neutral regard- ing the war.
On June 7th, in compliance with the order of Lieutenant-Gen- eral Scott, the regiment proceeded by rail over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Cumberland, Md., arriving on the evening of June 10th. Colonel Wallace having been informed when passing through Grafton, W. Va., of the presence at Romney, W. Va., a day's march from Cumberland, of a force of the enemy, variously estimated at from one to two thousand, determined upon an attack. Locating a camping ground near the town and assigning two companies to guard the train and put up tents, they began the march to Romney with eight companies-five hundred men-Colonel Wallace march-
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
ing at the head of the column. Soon after daybreak the town was reached, a bridge over a small stream was crossed on the double quick, and soon after the rear of the rebel column was to be seen leaving the town as if an army had appeared. A small quantity of supplies, consisting of tents, guns and medical supplies, were cap- tured. A fair estimate placed the number of the enemy at twelve hundred, with two pieces of artillery.
General Johnston was induced to evacuate Harper's Ferry and the regiment returned to its camp, having made a march of forty- six miles by night, well satisfied with the results-a victory (the first one) and not a man lost. General Scott, appreciating the lit- tle campaign and its results, wired Colonel Wallace his congratula- tions. The time spent at Cumberland was employed to perfect the regiment in drill and discipline. A company of mounted scouts was organized by Colonel Wallace, who every day impressed the regi- ment with his keen foresight as if he were the educated soldier. Dave Hays, a corporal in Company A, was selected to be the leader of this small band of men who were soon to electrify the country with deeds of daring.
On the 27th of June, while Hays and his detail were scouting in the vicinity of the village of Frankfort, Hays discovered forty-one of the enemy, black horse cavalry. Hurriedly informing his detail of the number and saying, "What do you say, boys, shall we fight 'em ?" the answer was, "Yes ; all ready, Dave; go in." The leader commanded "come on," and, leading the way with pistol and saber. the fight was on, and in the short interval to follow eight of the Virginia Black Horse Cavalry lay dead. Later in the day, Hays having received two bullet wounds and several saber cuts, and being cared for by two of the men, Baker and Dunlap, the command de- volved upon Farley. The enemy now being reinforced, the scene of conflict changed and the battle with ten of the scouts to meet it. Results show how they did it. They all dismounted, turning their horses loose, and took advantage of the rocks overhanging Patter- son's Creek at Kelly's Island. Here the battle raged until sun- down. On the porch of a farm house near by, as told by the owner. lay twenty-three Confederates, only three of whom were alive.
Richmond papers in commenting on this initiatory battle at Kelly's Island gave their losses in killed and wounded at thirty- five, saying that two companies of Black Horse Cavalry had en- gaged the 11th Indiana Regiment at this point. Loss of our troop, Hollenback killed and Corporal Hays severely wounded. The
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ELEVENTH INFANTRY.
writer, who belonged to Company I of the 11th, was there with it. and ever after during the entire service believes that the heroie conduct of this little band of Indiana volunteers justifies the recital, the truth of which has been fully attested. The names of the thir- teen are as follows :
Corporal Dave Hays, Co. A. Private E. N. Baker, Co. A.
Private J. C. Hollenback, Co. B, Private Tim Grover, Co. C.
Private James Hallowell. Co. C,
Private Thomas Brazier, Co. D.
Private George W. Wudbarger, Co. E. Private C. E. Lewis, Co. F,
Private Frank Harrison, Co. II, Private P. M. Dunlap.
ยท Private Robert Dunlap. Private E. P. Thomas.
President Lincoln, General MeClellan, General Patterson all sent congratulations in the most complimentary terms, General Patterson publishing it to his army in general orders. It began to look as though one Southerner was hardly a match for five Yankees.
July 8th the regiment was to report to General Patterson at Martinsburg, Va. Here we came in contact with the 1st and 2d Massachusetts regiments, the 12th New York, Colonel Butterfield. all the Pennsylvania three months' troops, among them the 11th and "Bucktails." Here, too, were Colonels Abercrombie, Fitzjohn Porter, George H. Thomas and Stone. two of whom became distin- guished leaders in the Union army.
While doing duty, putting in time, an impromptu competitive drill (regimental) with the 1st Massachusetts Volunteers, where the 11th, with Colonel Wallace in command, gave to the army under General Patterson an exhibition of what a regiment of Western soldiers could do. The regiment was deployed as skirmishers over a rough field with a call of the bugle, something never before wit- nessed by Eastern troops. The regiment was easily winner, and prejudices heretofore existing because of our rather soiled zouave dress in comparison with the immaculate uniforms of our Eastern compatriots disappeared.
The 16th of July finds us under orders to march. Rumors of a
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
battle with the enemy under General Johnston, then at Winchester, were current. The day passed and we are at Bunker Hill, six miles from Winchester. On this day General MeDowell's army left Washington, having the assurance from General Scott that General Patterson's army of 15,000 troops would take care of General John- son and see that he did not interfere in the impending battle at Bull Run.
On the 17th, while Johnston, with less than 9,000 men and twenty pieces of artillery, was marching from Winchester to reinforce Gen- eral Beauregard's army, General Patterson was returning from Bunker Hill to Charlestown, there to remain in peaceful security while the Union army was, on the 21st, to suffer ignominious de- feat at Bull Run. At the very moment of Johnston's disappear- ance from the vicinity of our army, twice his (Johnston's) strength, General Patterson wired General Scott, "I have succeeded in ae- cordance with your wishes in keeping Johnston at Winchester."
The writer begs indulgence for injecting what may seem irrele- vant in presenting this story of the 11th Regiment. The writer was on duty as sentinel at the headquarters of General Abererombie on the day following the battle of Bull Run. When it was known in the camps that our army had suffered defeat and that no effort had been put forth to prevent the army of General Johnston from rein- forcing the army of General Beauregard, the open and defiant de- nunciation of General Patterson as he rode through the camps of his army, which was in no way resented, was of such character as to preclude any deseription. Soon following this the President ap- pealed through General Patterson to the troops under him to con- tinue their service (the term of enlistment expiring) until their places could be supplied by new troops. The question of staying was put to a vote of the regiments. Only two consented to remain -the 2d Wisconsin and the 11th Indiana, and these were the only two Western regiments in this army. The troops, largely from Gen- eral Patterson's State (Pennsylvania), apparently resented the stigma they felt had been put upon the army for failure to do its part in preventing the reinforcement of General Beauregard's army.
The regiment returned to Indianapolis, arriving on July 29th, and was mustered out of service on August 2d. Recruits for the three years' service sufficient to fill the regiment to the aggregate of 101 officers and men to each company, in conformity to the re- vised regulations of the army, had been enlisted. These were being
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ELEVENTH INFANTRY.
drilled. The regiment was quartered at Camp Robinson, and the returning men who had re-enlisted enjoyed a brief furlough. On the 31st of August it was mustered into service for three years.
September 6th Colonel Wallace moved his regiment to St. Louis, Mo., being ordered to report to General Fremont. On the 8th or 9th following he was directed to report his regiment to Gen. Charles F. Smith at Paducah, Ky. Here we became associated with the 8th Missouri Infantry, 23d Indiana Infantry, Battery A, Chicago Light Artillery, and Company I, 4th U. S. Dragoons, with Brig. Gen. Lew Wallace commanding. With the exception of an expedition to Viola and one to Galloway, Ky., the time occupied here was de- voted to drill, one company-K, Captain Darnall-being detailed to man the several heavy guns placed in position to command the Ohio River.
On the 5th of February the brigade received orders to march to Fort Heiman, the enemy evacuating on our approach. It should be noted that all of General Smith's command participated. On the night of the 12th an orderly came to the tents of company com- manders informing them that they should be in readiness to move at an early hour without other than haversack with rations and eighty rounds of cartridges.
The 11th Regiment being part of the division of General Smith, occupying the center of the line of battle, were among the first troops to enter the enemy's works, and were accorded full eredit for their part in the battle, the results of which are well known.
The regiment returned to Fort Heiman after the surrender of Fort Donelson, where it was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3d Di- vision, Army of the Tennessee, Gen. Lew Wallace commanding, and on the 6th of March moved by transport to Crump's Landing. Owing to a confusion of orders the 3d Division did not participate in the first day's battle at Shiloh. There was a time when un- friendly criticism placed the responsibility for the absence of this command from active participation in this day's battle upon Gen- eral Wallace. History has confirmed the judgment of men who fol- lowed Gen. Lew Wallace on the march and on the battlefield, and no one can in truth say he was at fault, or that he was ever lacking in courage, keen intelligence as a commander. or in patriotic devotion to the cause of the Union.
The rising sun on May 7th found the division of General Wal- lace in line and ready for action. By direction of General Grant, it took position on the right of General Sherman and on the extreme
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
right of the army, and, as the writer recalls, fired the first guns and steadily drove the enemy until the battle closed.
On the 20th of June the regiment reached Memphis, Tenn., after a march of 120 miles, where it remained until July, and was ordered to HIelena, Ark., where the time was spent in occasional expedi- tions into the .adjacent country, Duvall's Bluff and Yazoo Pass. Colonel MeGinnis was commissioned brigadier general and Dan Macauley was promoted to colonel. On the 11th of April, 1863, the regiment embarked on transport, reaching Milliken's Bend on the 14th. At this time Brigadier-General MeGinnis, commanding brigade, and Gen. Alvin P. Hovey. commanding division, the regi- ment attached to 13th Army Corps, General MeClernand command- ing. On its arrival was marched to Carthage, thence to Perkins' plantation, near Grand Gulf, thence to a point opposite Bruinsburg, and on the 30th of April crossed the river and on the 1st of May attacked Port Gibson. The 11th captured a rebel battery, sustain- ing a loss of 25 men. On the 16th of May, the army. under General Grant, attacked the enemy under General Pemberton at Champion's ITill, Hovey's Division occupying center of the line, sustaining the heaviest loss. The enemy was defeated. The loss of the 11th Reg- iment, killed and wounded, was 167. Marched to Black River Bridge on the 19th, and on the 21st, to its position in rear of Vicks- burg, remaining in the trenches until the surrender, July 4th.
July 5th it formed a part of the expedition to the capital of Mississippi, under General Sherman, and returned soon thereafter to its camp at Vicksburg, remaining until August, when it moved by transport to New Orleans, thence by land to Brashear City, Louisiana, thence up through the Teche country to Opelousas, re- turning from this point to camp at Algiers and Madisonville. At the latter place the regiment re-enlisted for three years, or during the war. It embarked at New Orleans for New York on the 4th of March, thence by rail to Buffalo, N. Y., the boyhood home of Colonel Macauley. Here the regiment was royally entertained by the citi- zens of Buffalo, thence proceeded to Indianapolis, arriving on the 21st, and was publicly received by the Governor and citizens. The 11th being in large part an Indianapolis regiment, its reception home was cordial and enthusiastic.
The veteran furlough having expired. it returned to the Depart- ment of the Gulf, reaching New Orleans on the 8th of May, and was assigned to 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 19th Army Corps, and on the 19th embarked on the steamship Cassandra under sealed
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ELEVENTH INFANTRY.
orders, reaching Fortress Monroe, Virginia, on the 28th, thence to Washington, D. C., arriving on the evening of the 29th, marching up Pennsylvania avenue, passing the White House, was reviewed by President Lincoln. The regiment camped near Georgetown, and on the following morning proceeded by rail to Harper's Ferry. West Virginia, reporting to General Sheridan. Advancing to Cedar Creek, with skirmishing on the 13th and 14th of August, sus- taining losses at Halltown and Berryville.
On the 19th it participated in the battle of Winchester, losing in killed and wounded 81, pursuing the enemy to Fisher's Hill on the 20th. The Confederates, being flanked, retired on the 22d, and on the same night the 11th was, by direction of General Sheridan. given the head of the column, marching all night with two com- panies, E and D, covering the advance with a line of skirmishers, advanced to New Market and Harrisonburg, which place was reached by the army on the 26th, skirmishing frequently during the advance. On the 6th of October the return began, arriving on Sep- tember 10th, and going into camp on the east bank of Cedar Creek.
Early on the morning of the 19th, Sheridan's army was sur- prised by the enemy under General Early, and but for the fact that the 2d Division (Grover's) was under arms, having been ordered by General Wright, in the absence of General Sheridan, to make a reconnoissance (the 11th belonged to Grover's Division), the assault would have been more disastrous. Sheridan's ride, and his arrival. tells the story of victory snatched from the jaws of defeat, and one of the most signal and decisive battles of the war.
The Shenandoah Valley ceased to entertain any portion of the Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment's loss in this battle was 52 killed and wounded. This closed the active field service of this regiment.
The regiment was, on the completion of General Sheridan's cam- paign in the Shenandoah Valley, assigned to duty at Baltimore, Maryland, and reported to General Wallace on the 7th of January, 1865, and remained on duty until its muster out on the 26th of July. 1865. On the 3d day of August it returned to Indianapolis and was received with great enthusiasm by the citizens of Indianapolis. paid off and discharged, having made a record of creditable service covering a period of four years and three months, as well as having attained great proficiency in drill and discipline.
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
Aggregate August 31, 1861, field and staff and noncommissioned
staff, musicians, company officers and enlisted men. 1,048
Recruited during the war. 824
Total 1.872
Lost in battle
462
Discharged on account of wounds and disease
Loss by desertion 164
12
Mustered out and discharged because of transfer and promotion and by reason of expiration of service 305
6
Dismissed and sent to prison
Total 949
Approximately 700 recruits were assigned to the regiment early in 1865, and saw no field service. The regiment did service in eight States, three different armies-the Tennessee, Army of the Gulf and Shenandoah-and served in three army corps-the 8th, 13th and 19th. It maintained a brass band throughout the entire service, the officers paying the band a stipulated sum monthly in addition to their pay as enlisted men. this after the government ordered all regimental bands maintained at government expense to be discon- tinned. Its travels amounted to 9,300 miles.
The regiment lost during its two terms of service one officer and 114 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and three officers and 171 enlisted men by disease. Total, 289.
INDIANA
124 AIFAITHY
Monument of 12th Infantry.
(Monument Tablet Inscription.)
1st BRIGADE 1st DIVISION 16th CORPS
12th INFANTRY
Colonel REUBEN WILLIAMS
Served on the exterior line in the vicinity of Haynes' Bluff and at Oak Ridge from about June 12 to the end of the Siege, July 4.
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TWELFTH REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
The 12th Regiment answered the first call for volunteers made by the President in April, 1861, for six regiments of three months' troops, and was made up of the surplus of companies that had reached Indianapolis, and was accepted for state service for one year, on the 11th of May, 1861, with John M. Wallace as colonel.
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