USA > Indiana > Greene County > Vicksburg > Indiana. Vicksburg National Military Park Commission. Indiana at Vicksburg > Part 19
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
Notwithstanding the fact that the 23d Indiana Regiment did not suffer as serious losses in specific engagements (except only at Raymond) as did many other regiments, yet the constant drain upon its members from deaths and wounds, which it incurred by the small numbers killed and wounded here and there in skir- mishes and smaller engagements, made the aggregate, as set forth in General Terrell's report, from the time of its muster-in until its muster-out, killed in battle and died of wounds 345 men, died of disease 179, making a grand total of loss by death alone 524, to say nothing of the great number that were necessarily discharged from service on account of diseases contracted and wounds re- ceived. There may have been many other regiments participating in war whose death losses and campaigns were greater, but the 23d Indiana achieved a record of which the State, as well as its mem- bers, should be justly proud.
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INDIANA
24TH INFANTRY
Monument of 24th Infantry
(Monument Tablet Inscription.)
1st BRIGADE 12th DIVISION 13th CORPS 24th INFANTRY
Colonel WILLIAM T. SPICELY
Engaged: Port Gibson, May 1; Champion's Hill, May 16; Assault, May 22; Siege, May 23-July 4. Casualties: Killed 32, wounded 184, missing 8, total 224; Capt. Felix G. Welman killed, Lieut. James H. Baldwin, Lieut. Jesse L. Cain and Asst. Surg. T. W. C. Williamson mortally wounded.
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TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
The 24th Regiment, Indiana Infantry Volunteers, was one of the ten regiments called for by Governor Morton, under authority of the general government, dated June 22d, 1861. The several companies rendezvoused at Camp Knox, near Vincennes, and were under the supervision of Hon. Cyrus M. Allen until regularly mus- tered in. The companies were recruited and organized principally in the counties in the southwestern part of the State.
The 24th was mustered into the service on July 21st, 1861, by Lient. Col. T. J. Wood, U. S. A., with the following officers :
Alvin P. Hovey
. Colonel.
John Gerber.
.Lieutenant-Colonel.
Cyrus C. Hines
Major.
Richard F. Barter
.Adjutant.
John M. Clark.
. Quartermaster.
Robert B. Jessup
. Surgeon.
John W. Davis
Assistant Surgeor.
Charles Fitch.
Chaplain.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
Captain.
1st Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
Co. A. Hugh Erwin,
George Sheeks,
Hiram F. Braxton.
Co. B. Solomon Dill,
John W. Tucker,
Stephen H. Southwick.
Co. C. John F. Grill,
Charles Larch,
William Miller.
Co. D. Nelson F. Bolton,
Jacob Covert,
Samuel M. Smith.
Co. E. Samuel R. Morgan,
John E. Phillips,
John T. DeWeese.
Co. F. Amazon Connett,
Thomas E. Aslıley,
Joseph A. Sanders.
Co. G. William T. Spicely,
Charles S. Jenkins,
Arthur W. Gray.
Co. H. William L. Merrick,
John B. Hutchins,
James I. Jones.
Co. I. Samuel F. McGuffin,
James Wood,
Benjamin J. Summers.
Co. K. Thomas Johnson,
Francis M. Redburn,
William S. Pollard.
On August 18, 1861, the 24th left Camp Knox to join Fremont's army at St. Louis. The regiment was encamped at Carondelet, guarding gunboats being built by the government, and drilling until the middle of September, when it moved to Jefferson City, and then to Georgetown. In October it took part in the march of Gen- eral Fremont's army to Springfield and back again to Otterville, marching 250 miles in two weeks.
The regiment then camped at Lamine River bridge, and started to build winter quarters, when, on December 15th, it was ordered to join an expedition to Warrensburg, forming part of the auxiliary force that captured 1,300 prisoners, 1,200 stand of arms, nearly 100 wagons and a large quantity of supplies and driving General Price back towards the southern part of Missouri.
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
The regiment returned to its Lamine camp and remained until February 7, 1862, when it was ordered to reinforce Grant's army, then investing Fort Donelson. On arriving at Padneah the news of the surrender of Fort Donelson was received, but the regiment pro- ceeded up the Cumberland to Dover, where it went into camp for several days, then moving to Fort Henry, and thence, with Grant's army, up the Tennessee River. The 24th was at that time in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, Army of the Tennessee. The 3d Division, commanded by Gen. Lew Wallace, camped at Crump's Landing, From there the regiment went on several scouting expeditions, re- turning from one in the evening of April 5th, mud-bedraggled, wet and tired out. Sunday, April 6th, opened up a fine day, and the men of the 24th anticipated rather a restful time, with no other duty than the regular Sunday morning inspection; but the distant boom of cannon gave intimation of more serious work. The battle of Shiloh was on.
General Wallace at once formed his division, ready to move at the order, which was received a little before noon. After proceed- ing several miles, a staff officer from General Grant informed Gen- eral Wallace that the right of the Union lines had been forced baek ; this necessitated a countermarch, consequently the division did not arrive on the battlefield until evening, after the fighting had ceased. The soldiers bivouacked on the field, and partook of a cold supper, fires not being permitted. Several drenching showers during the night, and the firing, at regular intervals, of the big guns of the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, prevented unbroken sleep. The piteous cries of the wounded could be heard throughout the night.
At daybreak next day the division was quietly formed and moved to its position, on the extreme right of the line of battle. The first shot of the day was fired by the 9th Indiana Battery, and soon thereafter the 24th received its baptism of blood. It was tried in the line of battle and proved itself worthy. The regiment ad- vanced steadily the whole day, being several times subjected to se- vere fine, both by artillery and musketry. Every company of the 24th was, at some time during the fight, deployed as skirmishers. It fought gallantly the whole day, and halted on the south side of Shiloh Branch, when the enemy was in full retreat, and vietory was assured to the Union arms. The loss of the 24th in this, its first battle, was 6 killed and 45 wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Gerber, Captain McGuffin, Lieutenant Southwiek were among the killed.
During the latter part of April the regiment engaged in sev- eral scouting expeditions, and, on May 4th, marched to Pea Ridge,
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TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
Mississippi, going into camp as a reserve for the army investing Corinth.
June 2, 1862, Wallace's Division started on the cross-country march for Memphis, where it arrived June 17th, going into camp on the bluff in front of the city, and remained two weeks.
July 1st, the 24th embarked on a steamboat and moved down the Mississippi and up White River, scouting along the stream as far up as Clarendon, and then returned, going into camp at Helena, Arkansas.
The following nine months were put in by the regiment in can- paigning over Arkansas, and scouting up and down the Mississippi and its tributaries, with headquarters at Helena. Frequent skir- mishes with the enemy tended to add a little spice of danger to the otherwise rather tame and tiresome tramping over the wilds of Ar- kansas.
On April 10, 1863, the 24th boarded transports and moved down the river towards Vicksburg, arriving at Milliken's Bend, and went into camp to prepare for a strenuous campaign. All impedimenta, wagons, tents, camp equipment, etc., were left here. Officers and men were put in light marching order, ammunition was issued, 100 rounds per man. The regiment at that time was in the 1st Brigade, General McGinnis; 12th Division, General Hovey ; 13th Army Corps, General McClernand. On the march from Milliken's Bend to Hard Times Landing, Hovey's Division did an immense amount of work in building bridges and cutting roads through swamps, at times working in water nearly waist deep.
On April 28th, the 24th, with other troops, embarked on "The Forest Queen," and at 3 o'clock next morning a fleet of transports, protected by gunboats, steamed down the river. It was as highly interested spectators that the 24th Regiment, during five or six hours of April 29th, witnessed the bombardment of Grand Gulf, with the possibility staring them in the face of having to storm that strong position, as soon as Admiral Porter had succeeded in silencing the guns. The rebel batteries were not affected by Por- ter's fire, however fierce and heavy and well-directed though it was, so the troops disembarked and marched across the point to Hard Times Landing, where they bivouacked. During the night the gun- boats and transports successfully ran the Grand Gulf batteries, and early next day, April 30th, the soldiers embarked on them. The 24th was put on the gunboat "Benton," Admiral Porter's flagship. General Grant and his staff were also on the Benton. The fleet dropped down the river a few miles and landed at Bruinsburg,
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
where the troops disembarked, taking up the march toward the bluff late in the day.
May 1st the battle of Port Gibson was fought, the 24th doing its full share of fighting and maneuvering. The regiment's loss in killed and wounded was 18. The march into the interior was re- sumed May 3d. the 24th acting as flanking regiment the whole day.
During the following two weeks, often drenched to the skin by thunderstorms, weary with marching on slippery roads, the soldiers bivouacked at night on miry ground. Although put on one-fourth rations the troops did not suffer hunger, considerable eorn meal and baeon being picked up here and there along the route, and roasting ears were to be had for the mere picking.
The battle of Champion's Hill, May 16th, was the hardest fought battle of the Vicksburg campaign, and Hovey's Division bore the brunt of the fighting, losing 1,202 men and 59 officers. The 24th lost 201 officers and men, killed and wounded. Among the killed were Felix G. Welman, Lieut. Jesse L. Cain and Assistant Surgeon Thomas W. C. Williamson. Lieut. Col. R. F. Barter was severely wounded as he seized the falling colors. Capts. Ewing Roberts and Samuel M. Smith also were wounded. In this battle several eom- panies of the 24th and 11th Regiments lost more than one-half of their members engaged.
With the enemy outnumbering him three to one, Hovey fought him with bulldog tenacity and fieree combativeness. He was ably seconded by his subordinate officers, as they were by the men. Vieksburg, so long striven for, was understood to hang in the bal- anee, as it was the garrison of that citadel which contested the field.
Seldom, perhaps never, was a battle more stubbornly fought. Hovey's veterans, hard pressed, swayed backward and forward, and back again, rising and falling, like a sea lashing the rocky shore, Can they hold their ground until the promised help comes ? was the cry. Again and again they rally to the colors. At last the long- looked-for reinforcements arrive. The foe is checked. One more determined charge is made on his lines, and exultant cheers pro- elaim the success of that last desperate onset, and the enemy is in full retreat. The pursuit is taken up by fresh troops, and Hovey's tired heroes rest on the bloody field. The enemy routed and the battle won, General Hovey rode along the thin and broken lines of his division as they rested. Ile stopped in front of the 24th, his old regiment, missing many a familiar face. "Where are the rest of my boys?" "They are lying over there," replied the man to whom he had spoken, pointing to the hollow across which the di-
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TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
vision had fought and across which the last decisive charge had been made. General Hovey turned is horse and rode away weep- ing.
General McGinnis' Brigade halted on the field of battle a couple of days and was detailed to bury the dead and care for the wounded. Tenderly were these duties performed.
On May 19th the regiment marched to Black River. From Bruinsburg to Black River, General Hovey's Division lost more men and took more prisoners and material of war than any other division. Its captures almost equaled those of all the rest of the army, as did its losses.
On May 21st the brigade of General McGinnis crossed the Big Black River and marched to the supporting lines of the Union army then encircling Vicksburg. On the 22d the 24th moved to the front and was placed in a ravine near the rebel works. General Grant ordered an assault along the whole line, but the Union troops were repulsed with considerable loss. The regiment intrenched in the ravine and gradually advancing, protected by trenches, reached a position where its sharpshooters were able to pick off the Con- federate gunners, rendering their artillery useless. On the 26th the regiment acted as support to heavy artillery, until the guns were placed in position, and the next day returned to the trenches. For forty-three days the 24th was actively engaged in the siege.
On July 4th, Vicksburg, together with the army of General Pemberton, surrendered, and the Union troops marched in. Hovey's Division was not permitted to enter the city, but was or- dered to Jackson, and started for that place on the morning of the 5th. The Jackson expedition was attended with a great deal of hardship and suffering. The weather was very hot, roads dusty and there was very little water. The 24th did considerable skir- mishing and marching on this trip. After the evacuation of Jack- son the Union forces returned to Vicksburg, arriving there on the 23d. The regiment encamped on the banks of the Mississippi, about two miles below the city.
From Vicksburg the 24th moved in succession to Natchez, Car- rollton, Algiers and Brashear City. It took an active part in Gen- eral Franklin's campaign into the Teche country, October and No- vember, returning to Algiers. opposite New Orleans, December 22d. Here the regiment re-enlisted, being the first regiment to veteranize in the Department of the Gulf.
After its return from veteran furlough the 24th was encamped for several months at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It took part in the
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
engagement at Olive Branch, May 3, 1864. In the fall of the year the regiment was moved to Morganza Bend, where it remained sev- eral months, protecting the navigation of the Mississippi. On Jan- uary 10, 1864, by reason of the depletion of men in both regiments, the 24th and 67th Indiana were consolidated into one command. which was continued and officially known as the 24th Indiana In- fantry until final muster-out in July, 1865.
In January, 1865, the regiment embarked on an ocean steamer, and, passing down the Mississippi, proceeded to Dauphin's Island. then to Barreneas, Florida. Here the regiment was brigaded with the 69th Indiana and the 76th and 97th Illinois Regiments, desig- nated as the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 13th Army Corps. Colonel Spieely assumed command of the brigade and Lieutenant-Colonel Sears of the regiment. The brigade was then detached to join General Steele's column at Pensaeola, preparing to move to Florida and Alabama, with the purpose of diverting the attention of the enemy, while General Canby moved with the 13th and 16th Corps, on the defenses of Mobile.
On the 2d of April Colonel Spicely's Brigade took position in the line of troops besieging Fort Blakely. and the 24th, being in the front line, had strenuous active service. On the 8th Spanish Fort was evaenated by the rebels. This left Blakely the only de- fense of Mobile. It was decided at once to carry these works by assault, and that was made April 9th. Colonel Spicely formed his brigade, with the 69th Indiana and the 97th Illinois in front and the 24th Indiana and the 76th Illinois in the supporting colminn. As the order to charge was given the brigade arose, and, with a rush and a shout, scaled the rebel works. The fighting on the parapets was brief but desperate; the Union troops swarmed in and compelled surrender. The 24th was the first regiment to plant its colors on the works of the enemy. The regiment's loss was 30. killed and wounded. Among the killed was Capt. George E. Mer- chant. Thus ended the last glorious battle of the 24th Regiment.
The regiment took part in several minor expeditions into the in- terior, and on May 12th moved to Mobile, where it remained until July 1st, when it sailed for Texas. arriving at Galveston after a disagrecable voyage of ten days. Soon after its arrival there the members of the 67th, that had been consolidated with the regiment, were mustered out and sailed for home. Colonel Spicely and Lieu- tenant-Colonel Sears were mustered out with the 67th, and Capt. W. S. Pollard was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 24th.
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TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
The remnant of the regiment remained on duty in Galveston until November 15, 1865, when it was ordered home to be dis- charged. At Indianapolis the 24th was accorded a publie recep- tion, with addresses of welcome by Governor Morton, General Hovey and others, with the approving sentenee of "Well done, good and faithful servants."
The regiment lost during service 8 officers and 80 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 officers and 204 enlisted men by disease ; total, 295.
1-
Monument of 26th Infantry.
(Monument Tablet Inscription.)
1st BRIGADE HERRON'S DIVISION 26th INFANTRY
Colonel JOHN G. CLARK
Engaged: Siege, June 15-July 4.
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TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
The 26th Indiana Infantry was organized under the call of President Lincoln for 300,000 troops for three years' service.
It was assembled at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, in the early part of August, 1861, where the regiment remained until companies were filled up, and assigned for formation of the regiment, when they reported to Camp Sullivan, near Indianapolis, and were duly mustered into the United States service, August 31, 1861.
The officers at muster were :
FIELD AND STAFF.
William M. Wheatley, Indianapolis. . . Riehard O'Neal, Indianapolis.
Colonel.
Lieutenant-Colonel.
John G. Clark, Clark's IIill.
Major.
Henry Schraeder, Indianapolis
.. Adjutant.
John B. Routh, Winehester.
Quartermaster.
Samuel R. Adams, Moores Hill.
.Chaplain.
Robert N. Todd, Southport.
.Surgeon.
George A. Torbet, Cannelton.
.Assistant Surgeon.
LINE OFFICERS.
Captain.
1st Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
Co. A. Milton L. Miner,
Percival G. Kelsey,
David Rader.
Co. B. Benjamin Hargis,
Campbell Greenfield,
Thomas B. Couchman.
Co. C. Mortimer C. Holman,
William P. Gard,
Robert M. Sharp.
Co. D. Augustine D. Rose,
Aaron L. Hunt,
William J. Wallace.
Co. E. Lewis Manker,
Oscar W. Kelly,
James T. Caldwell.
Co. F. Harvey Johnson,
James A. Burkett,
Thomas J. De La Hunt.
Co. G. Newton A. Logan,
Robert F. Braden,
Samuel Milligan.
Co. H. Nathaniel J. Beachley,
Thomas T. Walker,
Samuel W. Leipner.
Co. I. Courtland E. Whitsit,
Henry H. Wheatley,
John A. Whitsit.
Co. K. Alden H. Jumper,
Abram Hill,
Nathan W. Manning.
During term of service of the regiment all these officers re- signed, or were discharged for disability. from rank, as commis- sioned and mustered, or were advanced by promotion to higher rank, and all made enviable records.
The companies composing the regiment were generally from coun- ties in the central and south-central part of the State, no one county furnishing a full company alone.
In September the regiment left camp and proceeded by rail- road to St. Louis, where it remained, drilling and learning first principles of its future duties until early November. when, with other troops, it started to the relief of the besieged Union garrison at Lexington, Missouri, but before arriving at Lexington, learning of the surrender of this place, the regiment returned to Boonville. Missouri. Soon afterward the regiment was attached to the Army
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
of the Frontier, under command of General Fremont, and began the campaign to Springfield, Missouri. After this campaign the regi- ment returned to Otterville, Missouri, and from this place the regi- ment, with others, participated in the engagement at Blackwater, Missouri, which resulted in the capture of a large force of the enemy.
July 2, 1862. the regiment was again ordered to Springfield, with other troops of the army, and afterward campaigned in south- ern Missouri and northern Arkansas during the fall.
On December 3, 1862, Herron's Division. to which the 26th was attached, started to the relief of General Blunt, at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, 110 miles distant. The regiment arrived there on the 6th and were hotly engaged on the 7th, losing in a charge more than 200 in killed and wounded. The troops slept that night under a truce agreement and discovered, in the morning, that the Confeder- ates had stolen away during the night, leaving the Union forces in undisputed possession of the territory north of the Arkansas River.
December 27th was ordered to Van Buren, Arkansas, to attack the enemy under their General Hindman, and later returned to camp and was on daily duty, keeping touch with the enemy and dispersing his marauding bands of detached troops, roaming over the country until June 1, 1863, when Herron's Division, of which the 26th was a part, was ordered to St. Genevieve. on the Mississippi River, to take boats to join General Grant's army, then engaged in the siege of Vicksburg.
The regiment arrived at Vieksburg on June 13th, and by the 15th Herron's Division was duly established on the extreme left of the line of approaches to the enemy's fortifications in this locality, which was on the left of the 13th Army Corps; thus completing a strong line against the enemy, and relieving troops already sta- tioned at this point, so they could be placed on duty further to the south and east to defend the line against the Confederate General Johnston, who was planning to attack the rear of the army to re- lieve the garrison in Vicksburg.
The 26th entered advanced trenches and were exposed to such ceaseless firing that they were unable to emerge for seventeen days. During this time they were so constantly employed in defense by day and extending their trenches by night, that when they were finally able to withdraw from their position, but 400 men, or one- half of the regiment, were fit for duty.
Soon after the surrender of Vicksburg the regiment was ordered with an expedition to Yazoo City, to take part in an attempt to in-
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TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
tercept forces of the enemy on the Big Black River before they could retreat to join Johnston's army, then concentrating at Jack- son, Mississippi.
July 26th the regiment was ordered into camp at Port IIudson, Mississippi, where the regiment suffered unusual loss of men by a seemingly fatal sickness, and was later ordered to and reached Carrollton, Louisiana, in time to participate in General Grant's grand review of the armies concentrating at that point.
From thence the 26th was ordered to Morganza Bend, Louis- iana, on the Mississippi River, where Herron's Division was sta- tioned, and with the 19th Iowa was camped at Sterling's planta- tion, to guard the crossing of the Atchafalya River from the enemy crossing at a point some eighteen miles out from the Mississippi River.
On September 29th Gen. Dick Taylor's Confederate command effected a crossing. and after a stubborn engagement, during which the troops exhausted their ammunition in defense of their position, were finally defeated and, besides losing their colors, fully one-half of the 26th were captured and sent as prisoners of war to Tyler, Texas, and were held there for months, until exchanged.
With those who escaped, who were absent, sick in hospitals, on furlough or detached service, the regiment finally was again assem- bled at New Orleans, maintaining their organization, and on Oc- tober 23, 1863, left with Herron's Division for Brownsville, Texas, where the regiment was stationed until February 4, 1864, when they re-enlisted and returned home to Indianapolis on veteran furlough, arriving there April 1st, after which the regiment returned to New Orleans and the different companies were assigned to duty in dif- ferent localities in that district until March 16, 1865, when the com- panies were assembled again in one camp at Chalmette, below New Orleans, and assigned to the 16th Army Corps.
On March 20th the command went by transports to Mobile Bay and disembarked on the east side of the entrance of the bay, and immediately began the march around to the rear of the old Span- ish Fort and Fort Blakely, which were part of the enemy 's defenses of Mobile on the east side of the bay. These works were completely invested on March 27th and April 2d, respectively, by the army under General Canby, and constant fighting was the rule until the night of April 8th, when Spanish Fort fell, followed next day by the capitulation of Fort Blakely.
April 13th the 26th, with others of the corps, was ordered to march to Montgomery, Alabama, arriving there on the 30th. Proceed-
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
ing via Thelma. the regiment arrived, on May 18th, at Meridian, Mississippi, where the companies were again detached and stationed at different points in that part of the State in guarding cotton, until December 25, 1865, when the scattered companies were assembled at Vicksburg. Mississippi, and ordered to Indianapolis, Indiana, arriving there January 15. 1866, and were paid off and discharged, after a continuous service of four years, four and one-half months, having campaigned in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana. Mississippi and Alabama, and marched many thousand miles.
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