USA > Indiana > Greene County > Vicksburg > Indiana. Vicksburg National Military Park Commission. Indiana at Vicksburg > Part 27
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Heavy skirmish firing was kept up until the night of June 4th, when the enemy withdrew. On the 10th the army marched to Big Shanty and found the enemy occupying Kenesaw Mountain.
During the following three weeks, the 83d was constantly en- gaged on the skirmish line and in fortifying and advancing the line, and on the 27th participated in the general assault on "Little Ken- esaw," which proved to be one of the most deadly contests of the war, and the 83d was particularly unfortunate in the loss of 19 men killed and wounded, and noble Colonel Spooner, who fell with a shattered arm, which subsequently had to be amputated at the shoulder.
After participating in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, the repulse of Hood's army and the battle of Jonesboro. the 83d, with the 15th Corps, moved northward in the pursuit of Hood's army and aided in driving the enemy into northern Alabama. It then returned to Atlanta, having marched 425 miles.
General Sherman's army remained in camp in and near Atlanta until about the middle of November, 1864, getting a much-needed rest, and most of the troops were supplied with new uniforms and many other necessary articles.
November 14, 1864. General Sherman's army of well-seasoned, true and tried soldiers began his ever-memorable March to the Sea. which has been shouted and sung- by every loyal soldier and citizen in the land, and will ever remain one of the greatest campaigns and marches in the history of all wars. It reached Savannah Decem- ber 21st. The 83d took part, with its command, in the wonderful expedition and assault of Fort McAllister, near Savannah, which opened Sherman's communication with the sea.
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
After the assault and capture of Fort McAllister, the 83d, with its division, marched thirty miles to MeIntyre Station, on the Gulf Railroad, and for two days was engaged in tearing up the railroad, burning the ties and twisting the rails, and doing all the damage possible, in order to put the road out of commission, and returned to camp near Savannah on the 21st. On the evening of the 22d news came that the enemy had evacuated Savannah. This opened Sherman's "Cracker" line with the sea. The 2d Division remained here in camp until the 9th of January, 1865, when the regiment moved into the city and camped near the docks, on a vacant square. where the 83d was on duty at the wharf until the 15th, when it was relieved and moved some miles down the Savannah River to Fort Thunderbolt, where, on the 16th, it embarked on the steamer "Delaware" and at sunset the same day arrived at Beaufort, South Carolina, and disembarked on the 17th and went into camp on the outer edge of the city, where it remained until the 27th, waiting for the remainder of the army to come up. On the 28th the army was reviewed by General Sherman. The field officers all being ab- sent, the command fell to Captain Craw, of Company I.
On the 29th Sherman's army began the march through the Carolinas. The troops, after their long marches and the many battles and skirmishes followed by a good rest, were in splendid condition and spirits. Their haversaks were full of rations and their heads were full of knowledge. Every American soldier, after two or three years of service, becomes a past master in the science of war, and they knew that their march to the sea was the death knell to the Southern Confederacy, and after four years of war, and its thousand battles, they were on their last march.
As the 83d marched by Division Headquarters, General Hazen was watching, and seemed especially pleased with the jolly good nature of the men and their well-filled haversacks and knapsacks. and some wag in the regiment called out, "General, we are draw- ing nine feet of water." The general gave baek a good-natured smile in response.
On the march from Savannah to Goldsborough, the 83d partici- pated in the engagements at Columbia, South Carolina, and Ben- tonville, North Carolina. The army reached Goldsborough, North Carolina, March 24th, where it took a much-needed rest for a few days. The 83d was detailed for provost duty in the city, where it served until April 10th, when it joined its division and the corps and Sherman's army was once more on the move to attack Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, who was supposed to be at Raleigh with a large
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EIGHTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
army, strongly fortified. The army crossed the Weldon and Wil- mington Railroad at Pikeville and camped one mile from the town, having marched eighteen miles, and the following day marched to Lowell Mills, and before camp was broken the following morning news was received of Lee's surrender to Lieutenant-General Grant, which produced a sensation in Sherman's army that cannot be de- scribed in words. A deafening roar of cheering started and it was taken up by the men along the miles of camping ground that sounded like the distant roar of thunder, and echoed and re-echoed like the wailing of a dying storm. Men elimbed into the trees and yelled, hugged each other, and rolled on the ground until worn out.
The army again took up the march and reached Raleigh on the 14th of April and marehed through the streets of the capital, com- pany front, and went into camp near the city. This was the end of the pursuit of Johnston, for he had made terms with General Sher- man.
The Sundays were spent at the camp very pleasantly, going into the city almost at pleasure until the 29th. On the 27th the whole army was reviewed by Lieutenant-General Grant. About the 20th word was received of the assassination of. President Lincoln, which produeed the most intense indignation among the men of every elass, and the deepest sorrow was expressed by all.
On the 29th of April the whole army broke eamp for its last march, which led through Raleigh, Petersburg, Richmond and Fred- ericksburg to Washington. Camped near Alexandria May 20th, and on the 23d the army moved to near Longbridge and prepared for the grand review, which took place May 24th, and the 83d formed a part of the grand review of Grant's and Sherman's vic- torious armies.
After the review the 83d went into camp a few miles north of the capital, where it remained until June 3d, when it was mustered out of the United States service. At 6 o'clock a. m., the regiment. on June 5, 1865, broke camp for the last time after nearly three years of active service, and marehed into Washington with some other Indiana troops and took the train for Indianapolis. The transportation consisted of forty-six box cars without seats, but the war was over and the boys were getting home, and the absence of parlor cars and cushion seats had no terrors for the heroes of a hundred battles, who had not seen their loved ones for long, weary years. The regiment arrived at Indianapolis Saturday, June 10th, and was marched to the Soldiers' Home, where it had dinner, after which it was escorted by the city military band to the ordnance
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
depot, where it, for the first time, surrendered its guns and equip- ment and was then escorted to the State House and came to a "front" at the speaker's stand. Forty rounds were fired as a salute to the heroes now returned, crowned with victory and honor.
Governor Morton, the soldiers' idol, then addressed the returned soldiers who were present, in glowing words, thanking them for their loyal service to the State and to the Union, which was re- sponded to on behalf of the 83d by General Spooner, the 83d's first colonel. General Hovey and others also made remarks.
After the reception the 83d marched to Camp Carrington, where it remained until Monday, June 12th, when it was finally discharged, and upon receipt of their pay every man, once more a free American citizen, went quietly to his home and loved ones. .
The original enrollment of the 83d Regiment consisted of nine companies with 39 commissioned officers, and enlisted men num- bered 832; aggregate of enrollment, 871. It received recruits, which were assigned to the different companies, 85. Total to be accounted for, 956. Company D, of nine months, drafted. Men were assigned to the 83d, but should not be included in the aggre- gate, for the reason that they were with the regiment only a few days.
The casualties in the 83d during the campaign and siege of Vicksburg were as follows: Commissioned officers killed, 2; en- listed men killed, 8; commissioned officers wounded, 4; enlisted men wounded. 52. Total, 66.
The regiment lost during service 4 officers and 34 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 1 officer and 82 enlisted men by disease. Total, 121.
INDIANA
CORP
92- INFANTRY
COLINCI DEWITT C IM MAG
Monument of 93d Infantry.
(Monument Tablet Inscription.)
1st BRIGADE 3d DIVISION 15th CORPS 93d INFANTRY
Colonel DEWITT C. THOMAS
Engaged: Jackson, May 14; Assault, May 19; Assault, May 22; Siege, May 23-June 22; Duty on Exterior Line, June 22-July 4. Casualties: Killed 6, wounded 20, total 26.
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NINETY-THIRD REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
The 93d Regiment was organized in the then Third Congres- sionai District, rendezvoused at Madison, Indiana. and was mus- tered into service in the months of September and October, 1862. with the following officers :
DeWitt C. Thomas
Colonel
George W. Carr ..
Lieutenant-Colonel.
John W. Poole.
Major.
Irving Moody
. Adjutant.
Abraham L. Whitesides
Quartermaster.
Miles Wood.
. Chaplain.
Rinaldo R. Ruter.
Surgeon.
John H. Ford.
Assistant Surgeon.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
Captain.
1st Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
Co. A. Charles A. Hubbard,
Cyrus H. Maxwell,
John G. Hunter.
Co. B. Samuel S. Crowe,
James M. Paxton,
John P. Carr.
Co. C. William W. Shepherd,
Samuel B. Davis,
John K. Baxter.
Co. D. Daniel B. Jaynes,
Frederick L. Courvoiser,
Theodore Livings.
Co. E. Michael McGrayel,
Marion Mooney,
Alonzo Hubbard.
Co. F. Samuel J. Bartlett,
Alexander Hawkins,
Lafayette Bodenhamer.
Co. G. Jerome Spilman,
Campbell Welch,
Benjamin F. Wilson.
Co. H. William T. Swift,
John W. Parks,
Wesley Shoulders.
Co. I. Sanford Elliott,
William B. P. Hebbard,
Darius Neel.
Co. K. LaFayette Frederick,
William Lamb,
Frederick Miller.
On the 9th of November, 1862, the regiment moved by railroad for Cairo, Illinois, and from thence proceeded by river to Memphis. Tennessee, where it was assigned to Buckland's Brigade, and, on the 26th of November, moved with the army of General Sherman to Hurricane Creek, near Oxford, Mississippi.
While at Hurricane Creek, the brigade to which the 93d be- longed was transferred to the 8th Division, 16th Army Corps. On the 20th of December, 1862, the regiment marched with its divi- sion for LaGrange, Tennessee, arriving there on the 28th of De- cember, 1862. On the 8th of January, 1863, the regiment broke camp at LaGrange, Tennessee, and marched for Corinth, Missis- sippi, arriving there January 14, 1863.
From Corinth, Mississippi, the regiment moved by rail to the vicinity of Memphis, Tennessee, and upon reaching that point on the 22d of February, 1863, was assigned to guard duty along the railroad and detailed to build block houses. The regiment was engaged in the performance of these duties until the 13th of March. 1863, when it moved to Memphis. Tennessee, and, embarking on a steamer, sailed to Helena, Arkansas, and from thenee to Duckport,
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
Louisiana. Here the troops landed and the regiment was trans- ferred, with its division, to the 15th Army Corps, then commanded by General Sherman.
On the 2d day of May, 1863, the regiment marched with its corps across the peninsula opposite Vicksburg, Mississippi, which was the opening movement of General Grant that culminated in the capture of Vicksburg.
Marching by the way of Richmond and Carthage, Louisiana, the command reached Hard Times Landing and crossed the Missis- sippi River at Grand Gulf. Louisiana, on the 7th of May, 1863. The corps then pressed forward by the way of Rockford and Ray- mond, to Jackson, Mississippi, and on the 14th of May, after a sharp artillery duel, the command entered Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. The 93d lost in this affair, which was its first en- gagement, 3 killed and 7 wounded. The two following days were spent in tearing up the railroad tracks centering in Jackson, Mis- sissippi.
On the afternoon of the 16th the whole force moved towards Vicksburg, and, crossing the Big Black River, reached the rear of the enemy's stronghold on the evening of the 18th. On the 19th and 22d of May the regiment participated in the assault upon the defenses of Vicksburg. and, intrenching in front of the enemy's works, was actively engaged in pushing the line of investment until the 22d cf June, 1863. During these operations the regiment lost 3 killed and 14 wounded.
At this time the rebel General Johnston had crossed the Big Black River with a portion of his force and threatened our rear. General Sherman was dispatched to attend to Johnston, with orders to move upon the enemy the moment Vicksburg was in our possession. The regiment marched with its division on the move- ment and reached Little Bear Creek on the 23d of June. Here it remained, throwing up works, until the 4th of July, when Vicks- burg surrendered. Sherman at once moved his army toward Jack- son, Mississippi, and on the 10th of July arrived in front of that place and proceeded to invest it.
For six days there was sharp skirmishing and artillery firing, and on the night of the 16th the enemy evacuated and our forces entered the city the next morning. In the siege of Jackson the reg- iment lost 1 killed and 3 wounded.
The regiment remained at Jackson until the 23d of July, en- gaged in destroying the railroads, and then moved to a camp near Black River and remained there until September 5, 1863. It then
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NINETY-THIRD INFANTRY.
moved to Oak Ridge, where it eamped until the 14th of October, 1863, when the brigade moved on an expedition to Brownsville, Mississippi, and on the 17th of October had a sharp engagement with the enemy near that place. The regiment then marched to the vieinity of Vieksburg and went into eamp. On the 17th of Novem- ber, 1863, the 93d left Vicksburg on boats for Memphis, Tennessee, and upon arriving there was assigned to provost and picket duty, which it performed until the 10th of May, 1864. During this period it accompanied several expeditions into Mississippi, having numerous skirmishes with the enemy.
On the 1st of June, 1864, the regiment started on the Gun Town expedition. Upon reaching Brice's Cross Roads, on the 10th, the cavalry of the enemy was encountered. The infantry, exhausted with rapid marehing and the heat of the summer, was rushed to the front. The battle was severe for a short time, when our forces were driven from the field, and a stampede ensued, sorrowful to contemplate. The regiment lost in this affair 13 killed, 56 wounded and 184 taken prisoners, making a total loss of 253. The remainder of the regiment reached Memphis on the 12th day of June, 1864.
On the 22d day of June the regiment composed part of the 2d Division, under command of Gen. A. J. Smith, and left Memphis, and on July 13th, 14th and 15th fought the rebel General Forrest at Old Town Creek and Tupelo, Mississippi, won a victory and re- turned to Memphis July 22, 1864.
On July 29th the command made the Holly Springs campaign in northern Mississippi. The regiment then returned to Memphis. reaching there on the 23d, having several skirmishes with the enemy on the return march. On the 29th of July the regiment started on another expedition, reaching the Tallahatchie River on the 8th of August, 1864, erossed the river on driftwood, and was engaged in skirmishing with the enemy until the arrival of the main army. It then marched to Oxford, Mississippi, and, returning, arrived at Memphis on the 29th.
On September 2, 1864, the regiment embarked on transports, sailed down the Mississippi and up the White River to Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, where it disembarked and marched to Cape Girar- deau, Missouri. Then it proceeded by the way of Jefferson City to Little Santa Fe, Kansas. The regiment then moved to St. Louis, reaching there on the 11th of November, 1864, and embark- ing on transports, proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee.
The regiment arrived at Nashville December 1: 1864. and par- ticipated in the battle of Nashville December 15 and 16, 1864, and
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
then pursued General Hood's retreating army south into Alabama. The regiment went into winter quarters at East Fort, Mississippi, January 7, 1865, where it remained until February 6, 1865. It embarked on boats and went to New Orleans, Louisiana, landing there February 22, 1865. It took ship February 28, 1865, sailed over the Gulf of Mexico, and landed at Fort Gaines, on Dauphine Island. After several weeks of preparation the command joined General Canby's expedition against Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. The regiment, on March 27th, took part in the attack on Spanish Fort and besieged it thirteen days and nights, when it was surren- dered to our forces on the night of April 8, 1865. The next day Fort Blakely was carried by storm by our army, thus compelling the surrender of Mobile.
On the morning of April 13th the 16th Corps, under the com- mand of Gen. A. J. Smith, of which the 93d Indiana was a part, took up the line of march to Montgomery, Alabama, arriving there April 25th, learning for the first time of President Lincoln's assas- sination. The regiment remained at Montgomery until May 10th, when one division, of which the 93d was a part, marched to and arrived at Selma, Alabama, May 14th. The 93d was sent to Gainesville, Alabama, doing guard duty and receiving Confederate stores and cotton. The regiment remained here until it was or- dered home. The regiment was mustered out of the service at Memphis, Tennessee, to date August 10, 1865, with the exception of two companies, "I" and "K," which were mustered out in Oe- tober, 1865. The regiment arrived in Indianapolis August 11, 1865, and, upon arriving here, was greeted with a public ovation and welcomed by an address from Governor Baker and others.
The regiment left for the field with an aggregate of 923 men. It returned with 18 offieers and 200 men. It traveled during the time of serviee 1,060 miles by rail, 3,972 miles by river and marehed 2,452 miles, making a grand total of 7,432 miles.
The regiment lost during serviee 1 officer and 37 enlisted men, killed and mortally wounded, and 3 officers and 250 enlisted men by disease; total, 291.
[24]
INDIANA
INFANTRY
LITOVEL ROBERT FOR CONE !
Monument of 97th Infantry.
(Monument Tablet Inscription.)
3d BRIGADE 1st DIVISION 16th CORPS 97th INFANTRY
Colonel ROBERT F. CATTERSON
Served on the Exterior line in the vicinity of Haynes' Bluff and at Oak Ridge from about June 12 to the end of the Siege, July 4.
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NINETY-SEVENTH REGIMENT INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
The companies that made up the 97th Indiana Volunteers were enlisted in the counties of Greene, Owen, Putnam, Clay, Vermillion and Sullivan, and went into Camp Dick Thompson at Terre Haute in August, 1862, and were mustered into the service of the United States on September 20, 1862, by Capt. James Biddle.
In October, 1862, Bragg was marching on Louisville, Kentucky, and the regiment received its first marching orders and left for Louisville via Indianapolis, and, arriving at Indianapolis, was or- dered into "Camp Morton." While here Capt. Robert F. Catter- son, of the 14th Indiana Infantry, who was then at home on leave of absence, by reason of wounds received at the battle of Antietam, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. Capt. Aden G. Cavins, Captain of Company E, 59th Indiana Infantry Volun- teers, was commissioned major; Alexander McGregor, adjutant ; William Johnson, quartermaster; Alexander M. Murphy, surgeon; J. C. Hilburn, assistant surgeon, and George Terry, chaplain.
The following company officers were mustered in :
Captain.
1st Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
Co. A. Andrew J. Axtel,
Nathaniel Crane,
John Catron.
Co. B. James Watts,
Luther Wolf,
John Dalgam.
Co. C. John W. Carmichael,
Jacob E. Fletcher,
William F. Jerauld.
Co. D. James J. Smiley,
Joseph W. Piercy,
William H. Sherfey.
Co. E. Thomas Flinn,
Joseph T. Oliphant,
Elijah Mitchell.
Co. F. Zachariah Dean,
George Elliott,
John Dickinson.
Co. G. John Fields,
William Hatfield,
Henry Gastinean.
Co. Il. James Robinson,
James S. Meek,
Joseph P. White.
Co. 1. James Holdson,
Albert P. Forsyth,
Josiah Stanley.
Co. K. David Shelby,
James Jordan,
Edward Groenendyke.
The regiment remained at Camp Morton until October 20. 1862, when it was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, and from there was sent to guard a wagon train with supplies for Buell's army, as far as Bardstown, Kentucky. Returning to Louisville, Kentucky, No- vember 9, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Memphis, Tennessee, and went aboard transports "The Mary Miller" and "Hettie Gil- more." arriving at Memphis November 15, 1862. Here the regi- ment was brigaded with the 53d and 70th Ohio and 99th Indiana Regiments, General Denver commanding.
It advanced with the army under Grant and Sherman, Novem- ber 25. 1862. going south toward Holly Springs and Vicksburg, Mississippi. Arriving at the Yacknapatafa River, it remained a week and then retraced its steps, by reason of the rebels having captured the garrison and supplies at Holly Springs, Mississippi.
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
At this place Robert F. Catterson received his commission as colonel, and Aden G. Cavins as lieutenant-colonel. William H. Schlater was appointed major of the regiment, but never joined the regiment, having been appointed on the military staff of Gov- ernor Morton. The regiment came back to LaGrange, Tennessee, January 8, 1863, and went into winter quarters. March 8, 1863, it was sent to Fort Grierson to guard a bridge on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad; then to Moscow and LaGrange, and in June, 1863, was ordered to Vicksburg via Memphis, and went down the Mississippi River with thirty or forty other transports loaded with troops, stores, artillery, wagons and munitions of war.
It went up the Yazoo River and disembarked at Haynes' Bluff. where the regiment built breastworks and fortifications, and watched the movements of Gen. Joe Johnston, whose army was expected to raise the siege of Vicksburg, if possible.
June 26, 1863, the regiment, with others, moved directly east of Vicksburg to Oak Ridge, and remained there until Vicksburg surrendered, and then marched in the direction of Jackson. Sharp opposition was met at the crossing of Black River, and the regiment was in the thickest of the fight at Jackson. After this the regiment returned to Camp Sherman, on Black River, where it remained until ordered to Chattanooga. It went to Memphis and marched from there October 10, 1863, and arrived in the neighborhood of Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 20, 1863. It was then a part of the 4th Division, 15th Army Corps, under command of General Ewing. It crossed the pontoon bridges on the left of the Army of the Cumberland, and was in the advance on Mission Ridge, front- ing that part of the ridge through which the railroad tunnel passes. which was thoroughly fortified.
When the Confederate army retreated from this place the regi- ment followed to near Ringgold Pass. The regiment, with its corps, was then sent to relieve General Burnside at Knoxville. Ten- nessee, as he was besieged by General Longstreet. After the re- treat of Longstreet the regiment returned to Chattanooga, and then marched to Scottsboro, Alabama, and went into quarters December 24, 1863. The regiment remained here until May 1, 1864, making but one march, to Cleveland, east Tennessee, and one to Lebanon, Alabama.
May 1, 1864, the division, commanded by General Harrow, and the brigade, commanded by Gen. C. C. Walcott, started for Chatta- nooga to join the armies of the Cumberland and Ohio for the At-
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NINETY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.
lanta campaign, this army being the Army of the Tennessee, under General McPherson. Arriving at Chattanooga, the Army of the Tennessee went to the right and was in the battle of Resaca, Dallas and New Hope Church. On June 15, 1864, the brigade, composed of the 97th Indiana, 46th Ohio. 103d Illinois, 104th Illinois and 6th Iowa, made a charge on the left of Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, and captured an Alabama regiment.
The regiment was moved to the right and on June 27, 1864, it was selected from the division, along with certain brigades of other divisions of the 15th Army Corps, as an assaulting column under Gen. Morgan L. Smith. At 9 o'clock the troops moved on the rebel works and routed the enemy from their first line, but never reached their second. and by 10 o'clock the assault was over and was a failure. The 97th Regiment lost several officers killed and wounded and about 70 men, and other regiments of the brigade lost heavily.
In a few days the Confederates retired across the Chattahootchie River and into the works around Atlanta. July 22, 1864, the 97th Indiana was engaged during the entire battle and captured the 5th Tennessee, the regiment which was responsible for the death of Gen- eral McPherson. The regiment was in the battle of Ezra Church. July 28th, and at Jonesboro, south of Atlanta. After General Hood left Atlanta and started north, the regiment followed with the army as far as Resaca and Taylor's Ridge, and Sherman, leaving Hood to the tender mercies of "Pap" Thomas, went back to Atlanta.
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