USA > Indiana > Greene County > Vicksburg > Indiana. Vicksburg National Military Park Commission. Indiana at Vicksburg > Part 26
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Lieut. Harvey Zimmermann, Co. K.
On the 31st of January, 1865, the battalion was ordered to Bar- rancas, Florida. where it was assigned to the 2d Brigade, Col. W. T. Spicely, 2d Division, Gen. C. C. Andrews, 13th Army Corps,
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
serving without further assignment until the muster out. The di- vision marched to Pensacola, March 14th, joining Steele's ex- pedition, which left Pensacola March 20th, marching through Florida to Pollard, Alabama, thence westward to the Alabama River, joining the main army at Blakely on April 1st. While on its march through Florida, the 69th, with two other regiments, supported Lucas' Cavalry Division in its fight with the Confederate forces under General Clanton, on the south bank of the Escambia River, during which General Clanton was killed, his force defeated, many being taken prisoners, while the rest escaped by various fords. To make the victory secure and provide for the passage of the army next day, the 69th was detailed to occupy the north bank of the river by crossing, during the night, over a half-mile railroad trestle.
After the advance guard had safely established itself on the opposite bank, the rest of the battalion followed in single file, each man carrying a pine torch to light the way. An artist for Harper's Weekly made this scene the subject of a wierd picture for his paper.
To end the siege on Blakely an assault of the works was ordered for April 9th, which took place at 5:30 p. m., participated in by all of the Federal troops, resulting in the capture of all of the defenses of Mobile and of the troops defending them, together with all of the material for war. It occurred on the day of Lee's surrender, and was virtually the last battle of the war. Colonel Perry was seri- ously wounded, and for the time being the command devolved on Captain Harris, of Company B. From April 10th to 18th the 69th Battalion was employed in guarding prisoners and conduct- ing them to the prison camp at Ship Island, after which it joined the brigade again at Blakely. Practically the war was ended, and for a few weeks the principal duty of the troopers was to scour the country, picking up the stray detachments of the enemy still under arms, and succoring helpless people, Confederate or Union, black or white, of whom there were many. The 69th finally settled down on April 28th in a beautiful camp at Selma, Alabama, where it en- joyed a good rest until May 11th, spending the most of the time in caring for the stranded Confederate soldiers who straggled through the town on their way home.
Colonel Perry returned from the hospital at New Orleans on May 3d and again resumed command. While in this camp at Selma, it became the fashion of the town to attend the evening parade of the 69th, and it was not an uncommon thing to have sev-
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SIXTY-NINTH INFANTRY.
eral hundred spectators, composed of ladies and gentlemen, colored folks and a large number of Confederate officers and soldiers, whose sincere and generous applause at the termination of the manual at arms was extremely flattering to the 69th men.
The Confederate troops east of the Mississippi having surren- dered or disbanded, and there being no further necessity for troops at Selma in large force, the 2d Division was ordered to Mobile, the 69th Battalion taking passage on the "Tarascan" May 11th, land- ing and going into camp three miles north of Mobile on May 13th. Here the "hard up" soldier was made glad by a six monthis' pay.
On the 25th of May occurred the terrific explosion of the am- munition depot at Mobile, destroying an immense amount of prop- erty and killing a large number of people, among them Frederick M. Lasley, Company C, 69th Indiana, who was in town on leave.
The battalion was ordered into the city on the 27th, camping on Dauphine street, where it remained until its departure for home. Here for the first time during the entire term of service the men had absolute rest, no enemy to disturb them, no duties to perform, except drill, with plenty to eat, money to spend, and clothed in new full dress suits, they enjoyed their freedom to the fullest extent and rapidly developed into a strong, healthy lot of men.
The conduct of the men while in this camp was such as to com- pel the admiration and win the respect and friendship of the cit- izens in the neighborhood, whose good opinion was voiced by a very flattering editorial in the Mobile Register, whose interests and sympathies all were with the South, and coming as it did, so soon after the close of a bitter civil war, was indeed a remarkable com- pliment.
About this time the government was concentrating an army on the Rio Grande, under command of General Phil Sheridan, with the intention of driving the French out of Mexico. All of the troops at Mobile were included in the order, and the 69th only escaped the service because of a lack of transportation, which delayed it until an order came to muster out of service all troops whose term would expire before October 1st. With the exception of the re- cruits who were transferred to the 24th Indiana to finish their term of service, the 69th was mustered out on July 5th, and next day departed for home on the steamer "White Cloud." transferring at New Orleans to the "Silver Moon," arriving at Evansville, Indi- ana, 6 a. m., July 15th. It was the first organization to return from the war through that city. Early as it was, the whole popu-
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lation seemed to have turned out to welcome it, and the ovation it received was flattering in the extreme. The event was chronicled by the Evansville Journal of the 17th in an article highly com- plimentary to the discipline of the command, which is inserted below :
"RETURNING HOME.
"The 'Silver Moon' arrived here on Saturday morning. early, having on board the 69th Indiana regiment. about 300 strong, en ronte for Indianap- olis to be mustered out of service.
"Lieutenant Colonel Perry was in command, and the men looked hearty and robust.
"They were directly from Mobile, and went forward by the regular mail train for Indianapolis.
"Their conduct while in the city awaiting the hour for the train to leave, was in the highest degree creditable, and illustrated the fact that Indiana soldiers are as gentlemanly among their friends as they are ter- rible to their foes.
"Captain Conway, of the Silver Moon' boasted of their good conduct on the trip, assuring us that there had not been a single man among them in the least degree intoxicated. disorderly or disobliging to the officers of the boat on the entire trip from New Orleans.
"Their appearance, as they marched up Main Street, was the subject of warm eulogy.
"A number of them had brought with them from the South mocking- birds and other pets, and we noticed one bronzed veteran with a large chicken cock perched cozily upon his knapsack, which looked as if he had been through the heavy campaigns with the regiment."
The battalion arrived at Indianapolis July 15th, at 8:45 p. m., detrained in a drenching rain and was quartered in the Soldiers' Home for the night and moved to Camp Carrington next morning, Sunday.
The Journal of Monday, July 17th, had the following :
"RECEPTION TOMORROW.
"The 69th Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Perry commanding, number- ing about 350 men, arrived from Mobile on Saturday evening and will be received with the customary honors tomorrow."
Under date of July 18th, the Journal also says :
"The 69th will be inspected and have an exhibition drill in the State House yard at 1 p. m. The 69th is an old and well-drilled regiment, and will doubtless make a good display."
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SIXTY-NINTH INFANTRY.
"RECEPTION OF SOLDIERS.
"The 38th, 48th, 59th, 69th, and 142d regiments and 6th and 25th bat- teries. (Indianapolis Journal, Wednesday, July 19, 1865.)
"The reception of the veteran soldiers yesterday exceeded anything since the war commenced. At least 3,000 veteran sunburned heroes were in the State House yard. How shall we describe the faces of these de- termined men who have made the battlefield their home for four long and bloody years? It cannot be done except by saying that honesty. heroism and simplicity mark their features. They look as if they were all ready to do or die for their country and they have proved it by their works."
Then followed the speeches of Governor Morton, Chaplain Lo- zier and Generals Hovey, Bennett and Chapman.
Wednesday, the 19th, was spent in turning in arms and equip- ment, and on the 20th the men of the battalion drew their last pay and received their final discharge, and then this fine organization melted away into the enrrents of civil life like snow before the sun.
It began its career with exactly 1,000 officers and men, to which had been added seventy-four recruits, making an aggregate of 1,074, and had seen service in eleven States.
It had lost in killed 3 officers and 77 enlisted men, a total of 80, and by disease, wounds, drowning and accident 3 officers and 248 enlisted men, a death roll of 331.
Four hundred and twenty-two officers and men had been lost to the organization by resignation or discharge for wonnds, or. phys- ical disability, or transfer of reernits to other regiments.
Sixteen officers and 305 enlisted men. a total of 321, were mus- tered ont, whose average age was a little over 25 years.
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INDIANA
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Monument of S3d Infantry.
(Monument Tablet Inscription.)
2d BRIGADE 2d DIVISION 15th CORPS
83d INFANTRY
Colonel BENJAMIN J. SPOONER
Engaged: Assault, May 19; Assault, May 22; Siege, May 23-July 4. Casualties: Killed 10 wounded 56, total 66; Captain Metellus Calvert and Captain John M. Cresswell killed.
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EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
The 83d Indiana Infantry was organized in the 4th Congres- sional District, composed of the counties of Dearborn. Ripley, Ohio, Decatur and Jennings, and was rendezvoused at Lawrenceburg. The regiment was composed of nine companies of three years' vol- unteer men and was mustered into the service of the United States in September, 1862, with the following officers :
FIELD AND STAFF.
Benjamin J. Spooner
Colonel.
James H. Cravens
Lieutenant-Colonel.
James S. Jelley
Major.
George R. Robinson
.Adjutant.
George D. Tate.
Quartermaster.
James M. Crawford
Chaplain.
Samuel Davis.
Surgeon.
William Gillispie
Assistant Surgeon.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
Captain.
1st Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
Co. A. Samuel P. Chipman,
Orin T. Darling,
Wm. H. Snodgrass.
Co. B. Jacob W. Eggleston,
Henry Gerkin,
Dandridge E. Kelsey.
Co. C. Metellus Calvert,
Benjamin North,
Thomas Shehane.
Co. D. John Lemuel,
John M. Fender,
William M. Dunn, Jr.
Co. E. Robert W. Loyd,
William R. Lanius,
Benjamin Bridges.
Co. F. Benjamin H. Myers,
John HI. Roerty, George Oldt,
Levi M. Hazen,
Co. H. James M. Crawford,
John Rawling,
Ferris J. Nowlin.
Co. I. Henry J. Bradford,
William N. Craw,
George W. Lowe.
Co. K. John M. Cresswell,
Eli F. Scott,
James H. St. John.
The regiment was supplied with Company D of nine months' drafted men, who joined the regiment at Memphis, Tennessee, and were discharged November 15, 1862, their term of enlistment hav- ing expired. These men performed their duty well during their term of service.
Lieut. William M. Dunn, Jr., of Madison, Indiana, was made first lieutenant of Company F, of the 83d. for three-year service. and was afterwards, at the personal request of General Grant, de- tailed for staff duty and promoted captain and assistant adjutant- general, and served on the staff of General Grant until the close of the war.
The regiment remained at Camp Laz Noble, near Lawrenceburg, until November, doing pieket duty along the Ohio River, and guarding the railroad bridge across the Miami River. Having been supplied with Belgian rifles, it was instructed in the manual
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Oliver P. Mccullough.
Co. G. George W. Morris,
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
of arms and company and regimental drill by Colonel Spooner, who proved to be a splendid drillmaster and a good disciplinarian.
On October 11th the regiment was given a three days' furlough to return to their homes and participate in the state election, and every man returned promptly on time.
November 7, 1862, the regiment broke camp and went by rail to Cairo, Illinois, where it embarked on the steamer "Dakota" for Memphis, Tennessee. Arriving there on the 11th, it went into Camp Ben Spooner, east of the city. November 25th general orders were read, which assigned the 83d to the 2d Brigade, com- manded by Col. Thomas Kilby Smith (afterwards commanded by Brig. Gen. Joseph A. J. Lightburn) ; 2d Division, commanded by Maj. Gen. Frank P. Blair; 15th Corps, Maj. Gen. William T. Sher- man.
The regiment participated in the expedition to the Tallahatchie and returned to Memphis on the 10th of December, having marched 150 miles.
General Sherman, having completed the organization of his forces for a campaign against Vieksburg, his entire force was, on the morning of December 20, 1862. embarked on some fifty or sixty steamboats, the 83d being assigned to the "Sioux City," a leaky old tub, and under convoy of Commodore Porter's fleet of gunboats, floated down the Father of Waters to take part in the disastrous attack at Chickasaw Bluffs, a strongly fortified position on the north and east of Vicksburg.
December 26th the fleet passed out of the Mississippi and ascending the Yazoo River some five miles, disembarked at John- son's plantation and went into camp. The next morning the line of battle was advanced and soon encountered the enemy and drove in their advanced line and by 9 o'clock the roar of battle was on. Severe fighting was kept up until the night of January 1st, when our army quietly slipped away. and re-embarked and steamed down the Yazoo into the Mississippi. In this engagement the 83d lost in killed, Lieutenant Bridges, Company E, and 3 en- listed men, and one officer, Adjutant Robinson, and 15 men wounded.
The night of December 30th will be remembered as one of the most dismal of the regiment's three years' service. Our position was on low ground, covered with a heavy forest of eypress timber. All night long the rain came down in torrents, and from the bluffs the enemy kept up a continuous fire from their heavy guns and the shells came crashing through the timber, several men being wounded
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EIGHTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
by falling limbs. The army had no tents and could build no fires, as they would be targets for the enemy.
On the night of January 1, 1863, Sherman's army withdrew from in front of the enemy, re-embarked on the boats and passed down the Yazoo into the Mississippi, thence moved up to Milliken's Bend, where it lay until the morning of January 6th.
The fleet of steamboats moved up to the mouth of White River and up to the cut-off and into the Arkansas River to "Old Arkansas Post," which was strongly fortified with a number of heavy guns and about 5,000 troops. Our troops disembarked on the evening of the 10th and by 1 o'clock of the 11th had the enemy elosely in- vested. Porter's fleet of gunboats had dismounted the heavy guns on the water front and had dismantled the forts, and at 4 o'clock an assault was made along the whole line, which was entirely sue- eessful, and over 5,000 prisoners and 8,000 stand of arms were captured. The 83d lost 4 men killed and 15 wounded in this en- gagement.
After completing the dismantling of the fort and gathering up the spoils of war, the army again embarked on the boats and passed down the Arkansas into the Mississippi, and down that river to Young's Point, on the Louisiana side, and nearly opposite Vicks- burg. There it disembarked and went into camp on the 21st of January, 1863. It rained almost constantly for more than thirty days and the country around being naturally low. the camp soon became so wet and muddy that it was almost impossible to get around, and soon one-half the men in the entire command were siek and were dying by the hundreds. The dead march of the fife and muffled drum and the report of the firing squad could be heard constantly from morning until night.
This and the dissension caused by the President's Emancipation Proclamation created conditions which were the darkest the Army of the Tennessee passed through. March 17th, the 83d, with the 2d Division, embarked on transports and passed up the river a few miles where it disembarked and marehed to a point on the Big Sunflower River to the relief of five of Porter's gunboats, that were in danger of being captured by the enemy, and after some severe skirmishing with the enemy, in which the 83d lost one man killed, the expedi- tion returned to camp at Young's Point. April 29th the divi- sion again embarked on boats and aseended the Yazoo River and made a demonstration against Haynes' Bluff, which was strongly fortified. A part of Porter's gunboats were there and a severe artillery battle was kept up for some hours, dismounting some of
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
the enemy's heavy guns. This demonstration was made to divert the attention of the enemy from Grant's main movement below Vicksburg.
On May 1st the regiment returned to its old camp, and on the following day moved by transports to Milliken's Bend on the Louisiana side. On the 7th it moved on the march by way of Rich- mond, Louisiana, to join Sherman and the 15th Corps, which was then on the east side of the Mississippi River, and reached Hard Times, opposite Grand Gulf, where it crossed the river on the even- ing of the 11th on transports which had run the batteries at Vicks- burg. On the next morning it again took up the march and reached Raymond on the 15th.
The 83d was not engaged in the battle at Champion's Hill, but was held in reserve on the extreme left, and with its division re- joined the 15th Corps on the 17th at Big Black River. May 18th it crossed the Big Black River and began the march on Vicksburg, and at 2 p. m. began skirmishing with the enemy near the outer works and drove them inside their strong line of fortifications. May 19th Grant's entire army had got into position and soon heavy skirmishing began all along the line and our artillery was thunder- ing at their forts, which was kept up until 2 p. m., when an assault by our entire army was ordered and executed, but met with a bloody repulse. The 83d lost two captains killed, Captain Calvert, of Company C, and Captain Cresswell, of Company K; and Cap- tain Chipman and 22 enlisted men, killed and wounded.
On the 20th, the 83d was detailed to guard a supply train and build a corduroy road and a bridge across the Chickasaw Bayou, in order to get supplies from the transports on the Yazoo River. It returned at midnight of the 21st, after completing the work, to its position with the Division, hungry and weak, and having had no rest for two days and nights.
The 83d participated in the assault upon the enemy's works on the 22d and furnished part of the 150 volunteers who assaulted Fort Shoup, which was in immediate front. Each man carried a rail or pole to assist the men in crossing the trenches in front of the fort. Many of the men succeeded in reaching the trenches, but were unable to cross and were compelled to retire with heavy loss. The failure of our entire army to get possession of any part of their impregnable fortifications convinced General Grant that it was a useless sacrifice of men to again assault the rebel works, and his army settled down to a regular siege.
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EIGHTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
The 83d formed a part of the expeditionary foree under the command of General Blair and marehed, May 27th, to Mechanics- burg and Yazoo City. This expedition was made for the purpose of ascertaining whether the enemy was concentrating an army in the rear of General Grant's forces or not. It returned June 4th and took position on the right of the 2d Division, in the investment line, and made an approach to the stoekade, or lunette, in its front. The 83d remained in the trenches and assisted in digging trenches. saps and mines, and was constantly on duty with piek and shovel or sharpshooting, until the 4th of July, when the Confederate General Pemberton surrendered.
The regiment formed a part of the army under General Sher- man, and on July 6th started in pursuit of General Johnston's army, which had been organized to relieve Vieksburg, and on the day that Pemberton surrendered was but ten miles from Grant's forces. On the approach of Sherman's forees Johnston retired be- hind the strong fortifications around Jackson, where he withstood a siege until the night of the 16th of July, when he quietly slipped away with all of his artillery and supplies, and Sherman's forces took possession of the city. After destroying the railroad for sev- eral miles east of Jackson, the army returned to the west side of Big Black River, where it went into eamp and remained for several weeks, during which time 5 per cent. of the army was furloughed home for thirty days. Among those furloughed were the men who volunteered to storm the rebel fort on May 22.
On the 27th of September the 83d, with Sherman's 15th Corps, marehed to Vieksburg, and embarked on steamers for Memphis, Tennessee, where they arrived October 4th.
On the 7th the regiment turned in their old Belgian rifles to the ordnance department and received in exchange new Springfield rifles, and on the 8th, with Sherman's army. started on their long march across country to Chattanooga, arriving at Corinth, Missis- sippi, on the 15th and at Cherokee Station on the 20th, where they remained until the 26th, when it again moved toward Tuscumbia, skirmishing with the enemy constantly, and drove them out of the latter eity. continuing the march to Eastport, where it received two months' pay. On the 1st and 2d of November the army crossed the Tennessee River and continued the march through Florence, Alabama; Pulaski and Fayetteville, Tennessee. On the 9th the army turned to the right, leaving the Winchester road, passed through Newmarket, Scottsboro, Bridgeport and Shell Mound. On
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
the 21st it passed in full view of Lookout Mountain and camped on the battlefield of General Hooker, in the valley, and during the night silently crossed the Tennessee River and captured the enemy's pickets and took up the long, tedions march up the slopes of Mis- sion Ridge with little opposition.
At 9 a. m., on the 25th of November, the 83d was detailed to support a battery on Lightburn Hill, called such in honor of Gen- eral Lightburn, commander of the 2d Brigade, which so gallantly charged and captured this hill on the 24th. On the 25th a great victory was gained and Bragg's army was completely routed, and the 83d, with its division, pursued the fleeing army for two days, when the division was ordered to return and build a bridge across Chickamauga Creek, which the enemy had destroyed in their re- treat. It arrived on the morning of the 27th and on December 3d had the bridge completed.
December 13th the army was again on the move and passed through Chattanooga, recrossed the Tennessee River and through Shell Mount to Bridgeport, Alabama. Here the 83d was supposed to pass the winter, but soon broke camp and was on the march to Bellefonte, where it arrived on the 29th and again began to prepare winter quarters, but was once more bitterly disappointed. It broke camp and marched to Larkensville. Alabama, where splendid win- ter quarters were built and occupied until the 11th of February, 1864. when the regiment left its comfortable quarters and took up the march, by way of Chattanooga, to Cleveland. Tennessee, where it arrived on the 6th of March and again camped in the old quar- ters.
During the month of March Colonel Spooner returned to the regiment after an absence on account of sickness, and was soon afterward presented with a handsome sword, box and belt, which cost $350.00, by the noncommissioned officers and the privates of the regiment. as a mark of esteem and admiration which they had for him as a man and soldier. On its reception the Colonel thanked them in eloquent and patriotic terms.
May 1st the army, under General Sherman. broke camp and marehed by way of Bridgeport and Chattanooga over the Chicka- mauga battleground, through Snake Creek. Cap and Horn Moun- tains, and on May 13th moved on Resaca and drove the enemy into their strong fortifications. On the next day the 83d was a part of the assaulting column which charged and captured a part of the enemy's line, and soon afterwards they attempted to regain this, but were repulsed with heavy loss. During the afternoon the army
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EIGHTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
charged the works that protected Resaca and the conflict raged until night put a stop to the bloody assault. During the day and night of the 15th the enemy abandoned their defenses from Rocky Face to Resaca. On the morning of the 16th Sherman's army started in pursuit, the 15th Corps being on the extreme right. It crossed the Saluda River and marched to Kingston, arriving there on the 20th and at Dallas on the 26th, where it struck the enemy's pickets and drove them into their strong fortifications around Dallas. On the 27th protecting defenses were built in front, under a galling fire by the enemy, which was continued until the evening of the 28th, when the enemy assaulted the 83d's position and were repelled with heavy loss. The 83d lost two men killed and wounded in this assault.
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