USA > Indiana > Greene County > Vicksburg > Indiana. Vicksburg National Military Park Commission. Indiana at Vicksburg > Part 20
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The regiment lost during service 96 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 officers and 265 men by disease; total, 364.
DIAMA
Monument of 34th Infantry.
(Monument Tablet Inscription. )
Ist BRIGADE 12th DIVISION 13th CORPS 34th INFANTRY
Colonel ROBERT A. CAMERON Lieut. Col. WILLIAM SWAIM Major ROBERT B. JONES
Engaged: Port Gibson, May 1; Champion's IIill, May 16; Assault, May 22; Siege, May 23-July 4 Casualties: Killed 14, wounded 106, total 120; Lieutenant-Colonel William Swaim mortally wounded
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THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
This regiment was organized at Anderson on the 16th of Sep- tember, 1861, and was composed of companies from the counties of Wells, Jay, Huntington, Grant, Howard, Madison and Blackford.
The various companies were mustered into the service of the United States at different times, from September 21st to October 10th. The officers at final date of muster were as follows:
FIELD AND STAFF.
Asbury Steele.
Colonel.
Townsend Ryan.
Lieutenant-Colonel.
John L. Wilson
Major.
Jacob M. Wells.
. Adjutant.
Thomas N. Stilwell
Quartermaster.
Francis A. Griswold
Chaplain.
Jacob S. White
Surgeon.
Daniel W. Taylor
.Assistant Surgeon.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
Captain. 1st Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
Co. A. William Swaim,
James Gorrell,
William Wilmington.
Co. B. James W. Campbell,
Nimrod Headington,
Benjamin G. Shinn.
Co. C. David Y. Whiting,
Elmer B. Warner,
George W. Jackson.
Co. D. Jonathan Jones,
Samuel Henry,
David H. Wall.
Co. E. Francis M. Hunter,
Hiram G. Fisher,
Francis M. Boyden.
Co. F. Robert B. Jones,
Jasper Seegar,
Carelus M. Crawford.
Co. G. George G. Morrison,
Edward D. Bobbitt,
John W. Thompson.
Co. H. Thomas S. Terrell,
Thornburgh Baldwin,
John R Cox.
Co. I. Josiah Twibell,
Isaac Goodin,
James J. Maddox.
Co. K. Amos H. Lawshe,
Richard V Speelman,
Edward W. Loring.
.
On October 10th the regiment started for the field via Indian- apolis, and on arrival at Louisville, Kentucky, went into eamp, where it remained until the middle of November, when it was or- dered to Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky, and from thence to Green River in February. On the 14th of February, 1862, the regiment was ordered to West Point, twenty miles below Louisville, where it was assigned to the division of General Nelson, and embarked on boats, arriving at Cairo on the 20th of February, where the 34th was detached from Nelson's Division and sent to New Madrid, Missouri, arriving there on the 3d of March. The regiment was engaged in the siege of that place until its evacuation, on the 14th of March, when it marched to a landing, fourteen miles below, drawing with it, by hand ropes, two thirty-pound siege guns, which were placed in position on the night of the 15th, and resisted the attack the next morning of seven rebel gunboats in a two hours' en-
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
gagement, sinking one boat and compelling the withdrawal of the remainder.
The battery also cut off the retreat of the enemy from Island No. 10, which was the means of its subsequent capture, with its guns and garrison.
Returning to New Madrid, the regiment remained there on gar- rison duty from April 7, 1862, to June 14th. during which time it assisted in the capture of Fort Pillow.
Soon thereafter the regiment was crdered to Memphis, and from there during the summer and fall made short campaigns into Arkansas as far as Duvall's Bluffs, and finally settled down to post duty at Helena, Arkansas, during the fall and winter of 1862, with short expeditions, driving off, defeating or capturing the enemy. A very important duty was the clearing out the Yazoo Pass of tim- ber, fallen trees, etc .. which the enemy had felled to obstruct navi- gation, endeavoring to prevent the reaching of Vicksburg by the rear.
On the 10th of April, 1863, the regiment was assigned to the 1st Brigade, General McGinnis commanding, of Ilovey's 12th Di- vision of the 13th Army Corps, and remained in this command during the campaign and siege of Vicksburg.
On the 10th of April it was started on the Vicksburg campaign from Milliken's Bend. Louisiana, to a point on the west side of the Mississippi River, and crossed the river on transports and gunboats, to Bruinsburg, on the east side of the river, on the 30th of April, marched all that night and engaged the enemy at daylight on the 1st of May, near Port Gibson, Mississippi. The regiment, by com- mand of General Hovey, supported by the 56th Ohio, charged a Confederate battery during the battle, early in the morning, and captured two field pieces of artillery and 49 prisoners. In this battle the regiment lost 49, killed and wounded.
On the 16th of May the regiment engaged in the battle of Champion's Hill, and, while advancing in line of battle, captured the 46th Alabama Confederate Regiment. with its colors, all field officers and 127 men. In this battle the 34th suffered heavy losses in killed and wounded, and among the latter was Lieutenant- Colonel Swaim, who died of his wounds on the 17th of June, 1863.
Moving forward with the army, the 34th, with McGinnis' Brigade, took position in front of the Confederate defenses at Vicksburg, opposite Confederate Fort Garrott, and participated in the siege until the final surrender. July 4, 1863, suffering a loss of 13 men in killed and wounded during the siege.
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THIRTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
On July 5th the regiment moved with its brigade and division in pursuit of Johnston's Confederate army, until he retired within the defenses of Jackson, Mississippi, where, after a siege of nine days, Johnston evacuated in the night, crossing Pearl River and escaping eastward toward Meridian, Mississippi. In the siege of Jackson the regiment lost 8 men, killed and wounded.
Returning to Vicksburg, the regiment embarked on August 4th for New Orleans, and from thence, on the 12th of September, it moved to Brashear City, Louisiana, and while in that section it took part in Banks' expedition up the Teche country, as far as Opelousas. On the return march it engaged the enemy at Carrion Crow Bayou on the 3d of November, after which it proceeded to New Iberia, where, on the 15th of December, 1863, 460 of the regi- ment re-enlisted, and on the 23d of December it embarked on a vessel for Pass Cavallo, Texas, reaching there January 8, 1864, where it remained until the 21st of February and then returned to New Orleans, and on March 20th left on veteran furlough for In- dianapolis, reaching there April 1st.
Returning to the field the regiment was placed on duty in New Orleans, where it remained until December, 1864, when it em- barked for Brazos Santiago, Texas.
The regiment fought the last battle of the war at Palmetto Ranch, Texas, May 13, 1865, and had a spirited engagement. Some 250 of the regiment fought 500 of the enemy, mounted with a bat- tery of six field-pieces, driving them three miles in the space of three hours, but the enemy, getting their battery in position, poured a destructive fire into our ranks, compelling the main body of the regiment to fall back, leaving Companies B and E behind as skir- mishers to cover the movement. These companies, being unsup- ported, were finally surrounded and forced to surrender. The loss of the regiment was 82 in killed, wounded and prisoners.
After this engagement the regiment fell back to Brazos Island, and from thence it moved to Brownsville, where it remained until June 16th, and then marched to Ringgold Barracks, Texas, 260 miles up the Rio Grande, and were the first Union troops to occupy that place, which had been an important U. S. military post before the Civil War.
After more than four years of military service, the regiment was mustered out at Brownsville, Texas, February 3, 1865.
The regiment lost during service 2 officers and 32 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 5 officers and 204 enlisted men by disease; total, 243.
Monument of 46th Infantry.
(Monument Tablet Inscription.)
1st BRIGADE 12th DIVISION . 13th CORPS 46th INFANTRY
Colonel THOMAS H. BRINGHURST
Engaged: Port Gibson, May 1; Champion's Hill, May 16; Assault, May 22; Siege, May 23-July 4. Casualties: Killed 28, wounded 97, missing 3, total 128; Lieut. Joel Ferris killed, Lieut. William A. Andrew mortally wounded.
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FORTY-SIXTH REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
The order authorizing the assembling of this regiment was issued September 30, 1861. On the same day one company re- ported, and before October 20th eleven, almost full companies, re- ported at Camp Logan, in Logansport, Indiana. The last com- pany was mustered in December 11th and the regimental organiza- tion was complete with the following officers in command :
FIELD AND STAFF.
Graham N. Fitch
Colonel.
Newton G. Scott.
Lieutenant-Colonel.
Thomas H. Bringhurst ..
Major.
Richard P. De Hart
. Adjutant.
David D. Dykeman.
Quartermaster.
Robert Irwin
Chaplain.
Horace Coleman
.Surgeon.
William S. Haymond
Assistant Surgeon.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
Captain.
1st Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
Co. A. John H. Gould,
William A. Pigman,
James M. Watts.
Co. B. Aaron M. Flory,
John T. Castle,
John Arnout.
Co. C. B. F. Schermerhorn,
Anthony Garrett,
Andrew B. Robertson.
Co. D. John Guthrie,
Willaim M. De Hart,
Charles A. Brownlee.
Co. E. William Spencer,
Eli R. Herman,
Henry Snyder.
Co. F. David Howell,
Bernard B. Dailey,
Attalas A. Benham.
Co. G. Robert W. Sill,
Joseph H. Cowdin,
John M. Berkey.
Co. H. Felix B. Thomas,
George Burson,
James W. Brown.
Co. I. James H. Thomas,
John W. F. Liston,
Napoleon B. Booth.
Co. K, Benjamin A. Grover,
Robert M. Shields,
Jacob H. Leighter.
On December 12, 1861, the regiment broke camp and marche to the Wabash depot, and proceeded, via Lafayette, Indianapolis and Madison to Louisville, Kentucky.
The 18th of December the regiment left Camp Oakland, Ken- tucky, arriving at Bardstown the 21st. January 6, 1862, the regi- ment moved to Camp Wickliffe, when it was brigaded with the 41st Ohio and 47th Indiana, Colonel Hazen commanding. Febru- ary 14th the brigade commenced the march to the Ohio, where it arrived on the 17th and embarked on boats awaiting. After six days it landed at Commerce, Missouri, and became a part of Gen- eral Pope's army against New Madrid. February 24th the regi- ment was on the march to Benton, where it arrived on the 25th. March 1st the 46th left Benton for New Madrid. The march was the hardest the regiment had. The rain came down in torrents. The mud was so deep that six horses and 200 men were required to
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
drag a twelve-pound gun. The utmost exertions were required to move five miles in six hours.
The 46th was placed in the Third Division, General Palmer com- manding, and on the 3d met Jeff Thompson and captured three of his guns. Arriving at New Madrid on the 3d, it was ordered to the support of General Granger, who was driving the Confederates to the river. Skirmishing and maneuvering gave the men no rest. On the 14th, at 3 o'clock in the morning, this regiment marched through swamps, rains, water and mud to a battery of heavy guns. Its flag was raised over the Confederate fort upon finding it evac- uated.
On the 17th the regiment was ordered to Riddle's Point, erect- ing a battery during a rainstorm, lasting from midnight till morn- ing. At daylight the men dug rifle pits. At 8 o'clock a steamer passed up. The guns were fired on her, one ball striking and splintering her works. It was not long until four Confederate gunboats came down from Tiptonville and opened fire. which con- tinued an hour and a quarter. All this time a tempest of shot and shell was rained on the command. On the 9th of April the regiment embarked and landed at Tiptonville. New Madrid, Island No. 10, Tiptonville and all outlying fortifications were cap- tured and the campaign against those positions ended. General Halleck said to General Pope :
"I congratulate you and your command on the success that has crowned your toils and exposure-and proved yourself worthy members of the brave army of the West."
General Pope said to his soldiers :
"The success of our operations required unusual courage and patriotism, and an exhibition of the highest qualities of the soldier."
On the 15th of April the regiment embarked and moved down the river to Osceola, Arkansas. Preparations were at once made to capture Fort Pillow. General Pope having gone up the Mississippi with all of his army except the 43d and 46th Indiana Regiments, and the gun and mortar boats, but the force was insufficient to attempt the capture of the fort. The location was a very unfavor- able one for the health of the men. At least 50 per cent. were sick and more than 100 unfit for duty. Scouting and hunting for the weak point in the Confederate lines was kept up. June 5th the enemy abandoned the strong position and a detail from the regi- ment went down and landed. Signaling back to the fleet, all the vessels moved down.
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FORTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
On the evening of June 5th the fleet, accompanied by all of the 46th exeept Company B, started for Memphis, where the Federal gunboats and rams destroyed the Confederate fleet. The 43d and 46th landed and took possession of the city. Company B joined the regiment at Memphis on the 8th and remained until the 14th, when it embarked on steamers, preparatory to taking part in the White River expedition. carrying stores to General Curtis' army. From Mareh 4th to June 5th the regiment was never out of hearing of heavy guns, day or night.
Reaching the vicinity of St. Charles on the 16th, a squad under command of Lieutenant Swigart went aboard a tug, scouted up the river, finding the Confederate boom, works and sunken boats in the channel, and preparations made to resist further progress of the Union fleet. The next morning, the 17th, the transports ap- proached as near the hill as safe, disembarked. the regiment de- ployed against the Confederate position and captured it. While the regiment was making the charge a sixty-four-pound parrot shell from a Confederate gun penetrated the steam chest of the "Mound City." The boat was instantly filled with steam, scalding almost every man of the 175 on board the boat, and but few lived. On the 22d the fleet continued up the river. During this expedition the men were annoyed by constant guerilla warfare. The fleet returned to St. Charles that night because of low water. On the 28th of June, having received reinforcements and lighter draft vessels, the regiment turned up the river again, and went as far as Clarendon. They sustained more severe fire from the guer- . illas than previously.
Not finding Curtis, or getting any word from him, and the river rapidly falling, the fleet returned to St. Charles July 4th. On the 5th the fleet again turned up the river. On July 6th two companies of the regiment, with other troops, were sent to attack a cavalry foree. The enemy was found and dispersed and the detachment returned to the fleet. At 4 o'clock that day the entire brigade was on the road to Duvall's Bluff. For artillery, two boat howitzers were lashed on the hind axle of wagons. That night a Confederate foree was encountered, and after a few shots from the improvised battery the infantry broke and ran; it was not an orderly retreat. Then orders came to come out to the river. On the 12th another effort was made to communicate with General Curtis. Six companies of the regiment, on two boats, were sent up to Clarendon. Learning the general had passed, conducting his
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
army to Helena, the detachment returned to St. Charles, and on the 14th of July returned to Helena.
During this expedition the men were daily fired on by guerillas. To stop it, Colonel Fiteh issued his proclamation threatening rigor- ous measures if the practice was not stopped. General Hindman and Jeff Davis issued counter-proclamations, threatening retalia- tion. Jeff Davis grouped Colonel Fitch, General Hunter, General Phelps and General Butler as felons. They did not succeed in getting one of the regiments in their hands. So ended the White River expedition.
August 3d an expedition was organized, General Hovey com- manding, to disperse a rebel force west of Helena. The 46th was made a part of it. This force marched to Clarendon and back, suffering much from the heat and dust. The regiment was at Hel- ena, Arkansas, from July 15, 1862, to April 9, 1863. During this time it was engaged in expeditions, fights and skirmishes with guerillas. It was on White River four times; to Duvall's Bluff twice; to Arkansas Post; down the Tallahatchie ; east from Helena ; the Yazoo Pass and other points.
The Tallahatchie expedition, of which the 46th was a part. started November 26, 1862, and went down the river in boats to the Delta, disembarked and marched through water and mud to the Coldwater, arriving on the 30th, and, crossing the river, some Confederates appeared and were pursued, but escaped. The march was continued until the Tallahatchie was crossed. The return march was begun January 2, 1863.
On the 10th of January the regiment made another of its many trips up the White River, going to Duvall's Bluff, returning to Helena on the 22d. On the 14th of February the regiment started on the Yazoo Pass expedition. Cutting the levee, passing out through a crevice into Moon Lake, a landing was made nine miles from "Hunt's Mills," to which the regiment marched that night. The next morning there was three feet of water on the road, along which it had marched. As soon as relief could reach the regiment it was taken back to Helena, where it arrived February 21st. On landing, the men were ordered to embark in other boats on another expedition. Although tired, hungry and dirty. the men immedi- ately prepared to embark. General Ross was to command.
This was intended to open a waterway to the rear of Vicksburg. Many trees had to be cut away to permit the passage of boats. The everhanging trees and limbs were very destructive to smokestacks, pilot houses and the upper works of boats. When the boats came
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FORTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
out of the Pass they looked like wrecked seows. Reaching the Cold- water, sailing improved. Entering the Tallahatchie, there were no obstructions to its progress until Fort Pemberton was reached on March 11, 1863. Within two miles of the fort the troops disem- barked, and the 46th, Colonel Bringhurst commanding, leading, advanced toward the fort. There was a strong Confederate force outside. A brisk little battle was on. The regiments were driven back into the fort. General Ross and Colonel Slack were present and congratulated the regiment on its fine work.
April 4th the expedition started on its return, arriving at Helena on the 8th. On arriving at Helena, Gen. A. P. Hovey came on board and ordered the regiment to remain on the boat, as it was going to Vicksburg.
On the 11th of April the "Volunteer" dropped down the river and the 46th commenced its part of the memorable campaign. Ar- riving at Milliken's Bend, above Vicksburg, all baggage except what could be carried was piled on a steamboat and left. On April 16, 1863, the regiment left Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, for Grand Gulf, Mississippi. On the 29th of April Hovey's Division was placed on boats and barges to cross the river and assault the fort at Grand Gulf, as soon as the navy silenced the guns. The attack failing, the regiment was disembarked. The battle between the gunboat fleet and Confederate batteries was a grand display. During the night the gunboats, transports and barges ran the bat- teries at Grand Gulf. and on the morning of the 30th the 46th em- barked on board the "Benton," and was stationed on the gun deck. General Grant and Commodore Porter were on the wheelhouse of that boat. The 46th was the first to land on the east side of the great river in the rear of Vicksburg. That day the grandest cam- paign of the war was commenced. The regiment marched all night, arriving at Magnolia Hills at daylight. The 46th was ordered to support the 18th Indiana, it being pressed. To reach the position assigned it was necessary to lift the men of Company B up a per- pendicular wall of the hill. The capture of a two-gun battery was the joint work of the 46th, 11th and 34th Indiana. The battle of Port Gibson, or, as sometimes called, Magnolia Hills, ended with the day a Union victory.
The regiment made some short marches until the 12th of May, when the division advanced to Fourteen-Mile Creek, and Com- panies A, B and C of the 46th, detailed as skirmishers. crossed the creek and engaged in a lively skirmish with some cavalry, which soon retreated. Arriving at the top of a hill, the men heard the
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
long roll of the Confederates in every direction except the one they came from-they did not tarry. The division was withdrawn and rapidly marched to Raymond, where General Logan's division was engaged in battle, and on the 14th entered the town.
May 16, 1863, the regiment, with the division, left Bolton, on the road to Vicksburg, and three miles from the former town found the Confederate lines. The division was deployed, skirmishers thrown to the front, and was ready for the advance. General Grant was present and personally directed the movements of the troops, but was not ready to bring on the battle. At 11:45 Gen- eral Grant gave General Hovey the order to advance. After mov- ing a short distance the advance was halted until 12:15, when the battle began. The whole line was fiercely engaged. Advaneing rapidly, the rebels were driven back over their guns in great eon- fusion. Crossing a ravine the Confederates reformed. Here was desperate fighting. The most desperate and protracted fighting of the 46th was around a log cabin. The battle ebbed and flowed. the ground lost and regained, and at last the victory was won.
General Grant, in his book, says: "The battle of Champion's Hill lasted about four hours' hard fighting, preceded by two or three hours of skirmishing, some of which almost rose to the dig- nity of a battle. Every man of Hovey's Division, and of Me- Pherson's two divisions was engaged during the battle. No other part of my command was engaged at all, except as described be- fore." (Vol. 1, page 518.) Again he said : "Hovey was bearing the brunt of the battle at the time." (Page 519.) General Hovey says in his report: "The effective foree of my division at the com- mencement was as follows: 1st Brigade 2,371, 2d Brigade 1,809, making a total of 4,180. Of this number 211 were killed. 872 wounded and 119 missing ; total, 1,202." (Rebellion record, Vol. 24, part 2, pp. 45, 46.) "Took 350 men into the battle and the 46th lost 84, killed and wounded, 25 per cent. The per cent. of loss of di- vision, 28.7."
On the 19th of May the 1st Brigade marched to Vicksburg, arriving at the enemy's fortifications on the 21st. The 22d, when the assault was made, the 46th was held in reserve. After the de- feat of the assault it took a position in front and sustained a fire all day. The daily duty of the regiment during the siege was much the same one day with another. Two companies were fur- nished daily for duty in the advance works. Each man usually dis- posed of forty rounds of ammunition. On July 3, 1863, white flags were raised on the Confederate fortifications, which indicated an
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FORTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
intention to surrender. At 10 o'clock, July 4th, a large white flag appeared on the courthouse, telling the besieging army the strong- est position of the Confederacy, in the West at least, had surren- dered. More than a hundred of the Confederates were feasted by the 46th, that best and most glorious Fourth of July, 1863, when, after forty-three days' siege, the city surrendered.
On the 5th of July the regiment marched with the army sent to Jackson, Mississippi, to capture or drive Gen. J. E. Johnston out of that city and State. On the 10th the army commenced closing in on Jackson. Some hard skirmishes were allotted to the 46th, but it gained its position without serious loss. The siege went on until the 21st, when General Johnston, to avoid capture, evacuated the city and retreated east. After assisting in destroying the railroads, the regiment commenced the return march to Vicksburg, where it arrived on the 23d, ending the most memorable campaign of the war. The results were more far-reaching than any other cam- paign. The Confederacy could not live without Vicksburg. Cham- pion's Hill opened the door to Vicksburg, and the fall of the Con- federacy, and it should be made the sixteenth decisive battle of the world. It should be added to Creasy's fifteen decisive battles. For ninety days the regiment never was out of hearing of hostile can- non. The Confederates lost 40,000 men, killed, wounded and pris- oners; 170 cannon, 50,000 small arms and immense stores, and the territory of Vicksburg, Jackson and Port Hudson and control of the Mississippi River.
August 4th the regiment embarked for Natchez, arriving there the 7th, rested until the 15th, and on that date it embarked for New Orleans, arriving the 17th. Its occupation at New Orleans was dress parades and grand reviews. The 12th of August it was or- dered to march. It left Carrollton and landed at Algiers, and the same night got aboard cars previously loaded with commissary stores for Brashear City, arriving the next day. On the 28th it crossed Berwick Bay, and on October 3d the regiment was again on the march and passed through Centerville and Franklin, camping at New Iberia. At the latter place a school for field officers and brigade drill was established. Fortunately it only lasted three days. On the 15th the Confederates broke it up by making an attack on General Weitzell's command, and the 1st Brigade, to which the regiment belonged, was ordered to his support. He was able to take care of himself.
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