USA > Indiana > Greene County > Vicksburg > Indiana. Vicksburg National Military Park Commission. Indiana at Vicksburg > Part 22
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ج- رامي
INDIANA
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Monument of 49th Infantry.
(Monument Tablet. Inscription.)
1st BRIGADE 9th DIVISION 13th CORPS
49th INFANTRY
Colonel JAMES KEIGWIN Lieut. Col. JOSEPH K. THORNTON
Major ARTHUR J. HAWHE
Engaged: Port Gibson, May I; Champion's Hill, May 16; Big Black River Bridge, May 17; Assault, May 19; Assault, May 22. Duty at Big Black River Bridge, May 24-July 4. Casualties: Killed 10, wounded 52, missing 2, total 64.
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FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
During the closing days of August, 1861, and the following month, September, the nucleus of what became the 49th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry entered "Camp Joe Holt," a rendez- vous for troops, situated on the north bank of the Ohio River and just west of Jeffersonville, Indiana. By the 18th of October the formation of the regiment was completed, and it was mustered into the United States service November 21, 1861.
FIELD AND STAFF.
John W. Ray.
. Colonel.
James Keigwin.
.Lieutenant-Colonel.
Joseph H. Thornton
Major.
James W. Gwin
Adjutant.
Charles H. Paddack. .
Quartermaster.
William Maple
Chaplain.
Charles D. Pearson . .
Surgeon.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
Captain.
1st Lieutenant.
Co. A. Arthur J. Hawhe.
Thomas A. Fleming,
2d Lieutenant. Jas. C. Mcconahay,
Co. B. John W. Kane,
Thomas Bare,
James W. Thompson.
Co. C. John Nafius,
Isaac Buzby,
James Fulyard.
Co. D. James Leeper,
Upshur S. Reynolds,
J. A. C. McCoy.
Co. E. Edward B. Cutler,
Hiram Evans,
Ira B. Hyde.
Co. F. Wm. H. Peckenpaugh,
Caleb Temple,
Emory P. Toney.
Co. G. John A. Ritter,
William Charles,
Elijah T. Pennick.
Co. 11. Samuel M. Johnston,
George W. Riddle,
James K. Holcroft.
Co. I. John Alles,
John F. B. Widmer,
Edward Bohart.
Co. K, McHewet Keck,
James W. Higgins,
William W. Pate.
On the 11th of December the regiment began its first mareh. Crossing the river it proceeded through Louisville, Kentucky, to Bardstown, Kentucky, which place it reached on the 13th of De- cember, and where it entered a camp of instruction.
On the 12th of January, 1862, the regiment left Bardstown under orders to reinforce General Thomas, who was watching the movements of the rebel General Zollicoffer, who seemed to threaten another invasion of Kentucky, he having been soundly defeated a few months before, at Wild Cat, Kentucky.
The regiment had reached a point five miles south of Lebanon, when it received the news of General Thomas' victory at Mill Springs, Kentucky, in which engagement General Zollicoffer was killed. The regiment then proceeded through Lebanon, Crab Or- chard, Mt. Vernon, London and Barboursville, to Cumberland Ford, Kentucky, which place was reached February 15, 1862.
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
The winter of 1861. throughout the line of march, was not cold, but it supplied great quantities of snow, slush and rain, and, in the effort to reach its destination, the regiment was compelled to build roads to enable the wagons to get along. While unpleasant, and a new experience for the men, they bore everything cheerfully, but later, as spring came in, the effects of exposure developed. For a time searcely a hundred men could be mustered for duty. Some died, some were discharged, while others were slow in returning to health.
In the month of June, 1862, the army of General Morgan, of which the 49th was a part, occupied Cumberland Gap and pro- ceeded to add to the strength of an already well fortified position.
In the month of August the rebel General Kirby Smith, with a strong force, came through the mountains and succeeded in cutting off supplies and all communication between the two Union forces. At the time this occurred supplies in Cumberland Gap were some- what at a low ebb, and the men were in need of elothing. By the 17th of September rations were all gone, and the elothing sadly in need of repair. Then it was that the evacuation was begun and accomplished. Through the eastern part of Kentucky, over almost impassable roads, harrassed night and day by rebel cavalry, the army plodded, reaching Greenupsburg, Kentucky, on the Ohio River, October 4th, where it crossed into Ohio for "eats" and outfits.
Going into eamp at Oakland, Ohio, Col. John W. Ray met the regiment, he having been absent on detached service since June. He tendered his resignation and was succeeded by James Keigwin, who continued as colonel to the close of the war. But little time was given for recuperation, as orders came to the regiment to march to Gallipolis, Ohio, and there cross the river into Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and proceed up the Kanawha Valley, which it did as far as Coal's Mouth, where it went into winter quarters.
The winters must have been exceptionally short in that section, for November 17th found the regiment back at Point Pleasant em- - barking on transports bound for Memphis, Tennessee, where it arrived on the 30th of said month and became a part of General Sherman's expedition against Vieksburg.
All details being completed, the army embarked December 19, 1862, that part to which the 49th belonged landing at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, on Christmas eve. For seven days the Union army engaged the enemy, but without snecess. Withdrawing on the morning of January 2, 1863, the army proceeded to Young's
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FORTY-NINTH INFANTRY.
Point, Louisiana, where a change of commanders took place, Gen- eral John A. McClernand succeeding General Sherman in com- mand. Without landing, the troops were ordered up the Arkansas River to Arkansas Post, a strongly fortified position held by a force of over five thousand men under General Churchill. On the 11th of January, after a fierce fight and a gallant defense, the enemy surrendered. Returning to Young's Point, Louisiana, the regiment assisted in digging the canal which, it was hoped, would change the course of the Mississippi River, thereby making it possible to convey transports and gunboats to a point below Vicksburg. On the 2d of April the regiment moved with General Grant's forces down the west bank of the river to a point below Grand Gulf, where it boarded transports which, with gunboats, had run past the bat- teries of Vicksburg and Grand Gulf, and were landed at Bruins- burg, near the mouth of Bayou Pierre. On the 30th of April the regiment crossed the river and marched toward Port Gibson, where, on the morning of May 1st, began the battle which was the first of a series of engagements preliminary to the complete investment of Vicksburg.
At Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge, the charges on the enemy's works of the 19th and 22d of May, the engagements at Jackson, the 49th Indiana Regiment did its full duty. On its re- turn to Vicksburg it embarked, August 10th, for Port Hudson, and in a few days proceeded to New Orleans, where it was assigned to the Department of the Gulf. From New Orleans the regiment was transported by cars to Brashear City, on Berwick Bay, from whence it joined an expedition up the Teche, going as far as Opelousas, Louisiana, passing through the towns of Pattersonville, Franklin and New Iberia. It was ordered back to New Orleans where, on the 10th of December, 1863, it boarded the steamer Blackstone en route for the Texas coast. Coming out of the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico a heavy storm was encountered, which constituted a new experience, one scarcely appreciated. Landing at Decroe's Point, on Matagorda Island, and at the entrance of Matagorda Bay, the regiment went into camp, removing shortly after to In- dianola, farther inland, and situated on the bay. At this point, on February 2, 1864, a portion of the regiment re-enlisted for another three years, or during the war, the President having called for en- listments of men of two years', or longer, service.
In March the regiment moved to Fort Esperanza, on Matagorda Island, where it remained until April 19th, when it re-embarked and recrossed the Gulf of Mexico, back to New Orleans. Here it
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
took passage on the steamer Emma for Alexandria, Louisiana, to reinforce General Banks' army on Red River. The regiment, on arrival at its destination, was moved to the front, where it was en- gaged thirteen days, driving the enemy or holding it in check until the naval forces could get their gunboats below the falls. they hav- ing been delayed above on account of low water. This accom- plished, the army took up its march to Morganza Bend, on the Mis- sissippi River. From Morganza Bend the regiment was ordered to New Orleans, where it went into camp at Fort Chalmette, General Andrew Jackson's old battle ground.
From this point those of the regiment who re-enlisted left for home, they having been granted a thirty-day furlough.
After departure of the veterans the regiment was ordered to Algiers, Louisiana, for garrison duty until November 5, 1864, when it embarked on an ocean steamer for New York, where it arrived on the 20th of the month, after a rough voyage. It then proceeded to Indianapolis, where. on the 29th of November, 1864, so much of the regiment constituting the old part, was mustered out. At the expiration of furloughs the re-enlisted men reported at Indianapolis for duty, and were ordered to Lexington, Kentucky, where they did provost and guard duty until September 13, 1865, when they were ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, and there mustered out of service. The regiment then proceeded to Indianapolis, where the men turned over government property, received their final pay, and separated forever as an organization.
During the time of its service the 49th Indiana Regiment trod the soil of many States. It served in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia with the Army of the Ohio and the Army of the Cumberland; in Arkansas, Missisippi and Louisiana with the Army of the Tennessee, and in Louisiana and Texas with the Army of the Gulf. Long and weary as were its marches, numerous as were its losses, in battles and through exposure, its officers and men were loyal and true, never faltering in the performance of every duty.
The regiment lost during service one offieer and 40 enlisted men. killed and mortally wounded, and 3 officers and 192 enlisted men by disease ; total, 236.
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INDIANA
50% INFANTRY
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Monument of 53d Infantry.
(Monument Tablet Inscription.)
2d BRIGADE 4th DIVISION 16th CORPS 53d INFANTRY
Colonel WALTER Q. GRESHAM
Engaged: Siege, May 25-July 4. Transferred to 3d Brigade June 22.
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FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
The 53d Indiana was made up from what was originally in- tended for two regiments. In the latter part of 1861, Lieut. Col. Walter Q. Gresham, of the 38th Indiana, was authorized to recruit and organize the 53d Indiana at Camp Noble, New Albany, Indi- ana. William Jones, a merchant of Gentryville, Spencer County. Indiana, was authorized to organize and recruit the 62d Indiana at Camp Reynolds, near Rockport. In both organizations, recruiting was slow, neither having a sufficient enrollment to complete a regi- mental organization. Late in February consolidation was ordered and the 62d embarked on the steamer John T. MeCombs for New Albany.
The organization was completed February 26, 1862, and the various companies were mustered into the service of the United States in the latter part of February and the early part of March. The regimental officers were as follows :
Walter Q. Gresham.
Colonel.
William Jones
Lieutenant-Colonel.
Roger Martin Major.
Thomas MeGrain, Jr
Adjutant.
George Thomas
. Quartermaster.
John W. Julian
Chaplain.
Solomon Davis
Surgeon.
John S. Hoagland.
Assistant Surgeon.
In the consolidation, the 62d furnished four companies :
Captain. 1st Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
Co. C. John F. Townsend,
John W. Lamar.
Francis Boyce.
Co. F. Alfred H. McCoy,
Lewis B. Shively.
Martin B. Mason.
Co. G. John Sumne ",
Joseph Whitaker,
John Donnelly.
Ca. 1. William S. Langford,
Benjamin Fuller,
David White.
The 53d furnished six companies :
Captain. 1st Lieutenant.
Co. A. Robert Curry,
Taylor W. Thomas.
2d Lieutenant. George W. Hays.
Co. B, Charles P. Long
John 1. Rush,
Richard H. Heth.
Co. D. Seth Daily,
John W. Marshall,
Pleasant T. Matthis.
Co. E. Rufus A. Peck,
Ormsby H. Huston,
Henry Pennington.
Co. H. George B. McQueen,
Nathaniel Martin,
Samuel S. Sims.
Co. K. Wiley R. Reeves,
Mereda McDonald,
William T. Cloud.
The regiment was ordered to Indianapolis, where it remained, guarding prisoners until the 15th of March, when it was ordered by rail to St. Louis. There it embarked on a steamer for Savannah, Tennessee, by way of Cairo and Paducah, then up the Tennessee River, and arrived at Savannah March 25th.
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
General Grant's headquarters were at Savannah, and the 53d was assigned to duty at headquarters, and to provost duty in the town. Here, during the battle of Shiloh, the regiment was within hearing of the musketry and artillery all day Sunday, Sunday night and Monday. The gunboats Lexington and Tyler each fired a shell into Beauregard's camp during the night every fifteen min- utes.
On the 15th of April the regiment left Savannah by steamer for Shiloh, and was assigned to the 3d Brigade, 4th Division. The ad- vanve on Corinth began at once, a regular siege being instituted, and after each advance heavy works were thrown np, until May 30th, when the town was evacuated. During the siege Governor Morton visited the Indiana troops. He was hailed with cheers, not only by the Indiana troops, but by troops all along the line.
On June 2d, the regiment marched through and ten miles west of Corinth, where it was camped several days. The march contin- ned west to Grand Junction and the regiment camped south of the town. It made a raid on Holly Springs, returning and spent Fourth of July at Grand Junction.
Soon after it moved west to Lagrange, camping west of the town, near Wolf River, at a place called Sand IIill. It made an- other raid on Holly Springs, but after marching all night found the enemy gone on arrival. It then returned to camp, where it remained but a short time. The regiment's next march was to Memphis, where it arrived late in July. The first camp was five miles below the city. Here the regiment drew clothing and changed its camp nearer the city, where it spent the month of August in camp and scouting the country in pursuit of guerillas and cotton burners. The first of September it moved to Bolivar, Tennessee, and remained in camp there until October 4th.
The regiment met the enemy retreating from Corinth at Davis' Bridge on the Hatchie River, and a severe battle by the entire 4th Division ensued, lasting until 4 o'clock p. m. The Confederates were driven back as a result of the battle. The 4th Division lost 500 men, the 53d lost 13 killed and 91 wounded, 2 missing, total 106, which was the severest loss of any regiment in the division.
On the 7th of October the regiment returned to camp at Bolivar. On the 1st of November it marched south through Lagrange, Holly Springs, Waterford and Oxford, to Coffeyville. Van Dorn having destroyed supplies collected at Holly Springs, the army was forced to retire. The 53d spent Christmas at Waterford Station, and remained there two weeks.
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FIFTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
Early in January, 1863, the regiment moved to Moscow, then to Collinsville, where they were guarding the railroad until March 15th. It then moved on to Memphis, on the 9th of May, and the 53d was ready to embark with the 4th Division for Vicksburg. The first stop was at Milliken's Bend, then at Young's Point, remaining only a few days at each place. The next move was across Young's Point to the river below Warrenton, where the regiment embarked for Grand Gulf. On arrival, General Grant's army was too far inland to be reached in a practical way over the route to be trav- eled, so the regiment's stay was short and it re-embarked for Young's Point. Landing below, the regiment marched across the point to the river above Vicksburg, and then re-embarked and went up the Yazoo River to Haynes' Bluff.
The 53d remained at the Bluff with the 4th Division, guarding the right of the army, receiving and forwarding supplies to the line of investment that was closing in on the doomed city. The base of supplies having been changed from Grand Gulf to Haynes' Bluff, it was necessary to be amply protected until it was safe to uncover the landing. As yet the 4th Division, to which the 53d belonged, had not been assigned to any corps. Immediately after the assault on the 22d, it was ordered to take a position on the left wing of the army on the Halls Ferry road, south of a little creek. Instruc- tions were to put out strong advance posts, with pickets, on all the approaches leading to the city from the front and between the Mississippi River, with every precaution to prevent a surprise from front or rear, to prevent any one from passing in or out of the city, and resorting to every means to harrass the enemy.
Shortly after taking position on the line, the 53d was trans- ferred to the 3d Brigade, Col. George E. Bryant. The first evening on the line of investment the regiment was given a reception by the famous rebel gun "Whistling Dick." That night, June 24th, the 14th Illinois occupied the picket line. In the early part of the night the enemy made a charge on the picket line and captured Colonel Gam, of the 14th Illinois, together with five men, killed five and wounded four of his men. On the following evening it was the turn of the 53d Indiana to picket the front, Colonel Gresham in command. After nightfall the regiment moved quietly to the scene of action of the night before, and in a rapid charge regained the ground of the previous night. In the affair, Captain Wake- field, of Company A, was wounded in the left arın. The advantage gained was held and so strongly fortified that it was never taken. On the left the armies were much further apart than on the right.
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
The 53d was camped near a large brick house, on a low ridge run- ning east from Hall's Ferry road.
For forty days the regiment remained on the line of invest- ment, never for a moment doubting that the city would be captured, and while the 53d was not in the active campaign and lines of battle leading up to the assaults on May 19th and 22d, yet the regi- ment bore an honorable part and did its whole duty in advancing the lines, digging trenches with pick and shovel and defending them with guns. On the evening of July 3d the word was passed to stop firing, and that terms of surrender were being considered, and all firing ceased. By early morning on the 4th, terms of surrender were agreed upon and at 10 o'clock the bugles blew the call to fall in line. The Union guards were placed along their works to keep the Johnnies in, and Yankees out, and Vicksburg was ours.
No prouder achievement fell to an army or individual than the participation in and capture of Vicksburg.
Scott Long, a member of Company G, 53d Indiana, piloted the ram "Queen of the West." the first vessel which ran past the bat- teries of Vieksburg on the night of February 2, 1863. Thomas Garvy and Josiah Reeder, regular pilots, were ordered by Colonel Ellett, of the ram fleet, to take the vessel past the batteries, but refused to do so. Long, a former private soldier, took the post of danger, made a successful run past the formidable fortifications without serious injury to vessel or crew.
On the day following the surrender, the 53d Indiana marched with Sherman to Jackson, Mississippi, in pursuit of Joe Johnston, who had been annoying General Grant's forces in the rear. The march was a hot, dusty one, with scarcity of water a marked feature of the expedition. Some skirmishing occurred as the army neared Jackson, where Johnston was found to be well fortified.
By the 15th Sherman had all his army and lines well fortified. On the night of the 16th Johnston evacuated the city.
The 53d returned again to Vicksburg, where the regiment re- mained but a few days, when it was ordered to Natchez, Mississippi. The balance of the summer and fall was spent at this place. While here Colonel Gresham was appointed a brigadier-general, and Lieu- tenant Jones was promoted to colonel. The 53d. with other troops, made an expedition sixty miles distant, into Louisiana, capturing Fort Beauregard on the Ouchita River. But little resistance was offered, casualties light, and several hundred stands of arms were captured and the fort destroyed. The camp at Natchez was first on Mr. North's farm, within a short distance of the town, but later
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FIFTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
moved into the town, and pitched in a park of juniper trees on the river bank, on a very high bluff, and one of the most beautiful camps occupied during the war. From Natchez the regiment again returned to Vieksburg and went into winter quarters at what was known as Camp Hebron, twelve miles east of the city.
On February 2, 1864, the 53d left Camp Hebron with the 3d Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, for an expedition to Meridian, Mississippi, for the purpose of destroying the railroads in that vicinity. On the 4th and 5th the enemy was encountered and severe skirmishing occurred with small loss. Meridian was reached without further incident of note. By the 15th railroad bridges, trestles, depots, cars and publie property amounting to millions of dollars were destroyed. The 53d lost 6 men, 2 wounded and 4 captured, near Decatur. The return was made without any event worthy of note. Camp Hebron was reached on March 4th, the regiment having marched 375 miles. While on this expedition. and after returning to camp, 383 members of the regiment re- enlisted and were paid off at Camp Hebron.
Early in March the veterans, or those who re-enlisted, were fur- loughed and took passage on the steamer "E. H. Fairchilds" for the regiment's original camp and homes in Indiana, near New Albany. The 23d, an original New Albany regiment, who, like the 53d, had re-enlisted, were passengers on the same steamer, which was a large side-wheel boat, and before the war had been a Louisville and New Orleans packet, a veritable floating palace. During the voyage the boat took fire two or three times, but in each instance the fire was controlled without serious results. On our arrival at New Albany we were accorded a hearty reception by the loyal citizens. after which each individual departed for his respective home, to spend his thirty days with kindred and friends after two years' absence. While on board the boat, the veterans were paid the veteran boun- ties offered for their re-enlistment.
The furlough and visit home of the 53d was thoroughly enjoyed, yet all were ready to answer to the roll call at the termination of the furlough at New Albany. The regiment embarked on board the steamer "John T. McCombs," with orders to report at Bird's Point, Missouri, and stayed a night and day there, and then em- barked for Paducah to await a concentration of the veterans at that point to join General Sherman in his campaign to Atlanta.
The trip up the Tennessee was a pleasant one, retracing the old line of march of two years before, the destination this time being Clifton instead of Savannah. The regiment stayed at Clifton, leav-
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
ing on the 6th of May with 600 head of cattle, to be joined the fol- lowing day by 1,800 additional, for Sherman's army. The weather was warm and the marches hurried, being made by the way of Pu- laski, Huntsville, Decatur and Rome, to Acworth, where, on the 7th of June, the 17th Army Corps, to which the 53d belonged, joined Sherman's advancing and victorious army.
On June 10, 1864, the 53d took its place in the line of battle at Big Shanty, 103 miles south of Chattanooga, and immediately went under the fire of the enemy, which continued without eeasing for ninety days, while it was advancing, intrenching, repulsing an assault, or marching to reinforce the firing line, inspired by the wild grand music of war, the drum and fife, the rifle, the cannon and the "rebel yell."
The position of the regiment at Big Shanty was well to the left of the army. For ten days it rained almost incessantly. The rebel signal corps was located on top of Kenesaw Mountain, and at this point our signal officers obtained the key to their signals and could read them as fast as the signals were shown, but through the im- prudence of a newspaper correspondent, who gave the matter gen- eral publicity, our friends, the enemy, soon learned of our discovery and changed their code, depriving us of much useful information. We remained on this line for seven days, on the 17th moving for- ward to a position in front of Kenesaw Mountain, on the left of the railroad, too close under the mountain for the enemy to depress their cannon to reach us. and too far away to be reached by mus- ketry.
In Sherman's charge on Kenesaw Mountain, on June 27th, four companies of the 53d, who were on picket duty that day, were in the charge A, B, D and I. From Kenesaw, on the left, we were transferred to the extreme right of the army on the Nickajack Creek, near the Chattahootchie River. The regiment remained at this point until the 15th of July, when it was again shifted to the extreme left to Roswell, on the Chattahootchnie. It crossed the river at this point, moved to Decatur, then turned west toward Atlanta. On the 20th, General Gresham, commanding the 4th Division, was wounded. The 53d participated in the battle of Leggett's Hill on the 21st, and also in the furious battle on the 22d. Its position 'was on the extreme left of the 17th Corps. At the opening of the battle, Colonel Jones, Captain Shively, Company F; Captain Mat- thews, Company D; Lieutenant Smith, Company A; Lieutenant Gibson, Company D; Lieutenant Huston, Company H, were killed. and Major Vestal severely wounded. Several others of the com-
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