USA > Indiana > New history of the 99th Indiana Infantry : containing official reports, anecdotes, incidents, biographies and complete rolls > Part 3
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New History of the Ninety- Ninth Indiana Infantry.
Holly Springs has suffered greatly and is almost entirely destroyed. This is the last day of the year and our regiment was mustered for pay but when we shall get any is another question; we are all without any money and on an equality, all poor alike. The close of the year brings a sentimental feeling to the hearts of all the men and wherever I go among them they talk of it in a way that may be called the hopeful melancholy. They have received no pay and some of them fear their families may suffer in the cold winter, for I know that under these blue coats are as tender and loving hearts as this earth has ever known."
On January 11, 1863, I wrote as follows:
"This Sunday morning finds us at Camp Fowler, five miles west of La Grange, Tennessee, where I think we will stay for some time. But I must tell you how we came here, we spent our New Years day at Holly Springs in the usual way of every other day, only all the men tried to have a little extra for dinner and cleaned up lest we should forget the amenities of civilized men. Captain Tilberry Reid, of Company G, died that day and made many sad. On the 6th we marched east to Salem, fifteen miles, and the 7th to Davis Mills, eleven miles, and there remained on the 8th, on the 9th we came here marching by the way of La Grange, it is nine miles from La Grange to Moscow and we are arranged in this way, three miles west from La Grange are Companies A, F and D, under command of Lieutenant Colonel DeHart, two miles farther west are Companies I, C, H and E, under the command of Colonel Fowler and two miles further west are Companies G and B, under command of Colonel Berkey. I proposed and it was accepted, to call the forts Fowler, DeHart and Berkey after their commanders. We are building stock- ades and fitting up as if we were to stay all winter and I think we will. My headquarters are with the Colonel though I was at Fort DeHart yesterday and at Fort Berkey to-day. The men are at work so we had no service to-day. Went to La Grange yesterday and got the mail. Saw General Grant, but confess he does not look much like a General to me.
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Holly Springs Campaign.
JAMES CAMPBELL, COMPANY C. 1900.
Born August 1, 1845, in Fayette county, Indiana. Parents moved to Benton county, Indiana, in November, 1854, settling at Oxford, Indiana. This has been the home of Comrade Campbell since the war. His occupation is that of photographer. He has a wife but no children. He was one of those quiet, faithful soldiers, always ready and always willing to do his duty. His address is Oxford, Indiana.
CHAPTER IV.
THE WINTER AT FORTS FOWLER AND DE HART.
When I begin to write of the winter at Fort Fowler and Fort De Hart and Moscow, there come to me some of the saddest hours of our soldier life. The lights and shadows of that winter are so indelibly impressed on my mind that I often live them over again. It was there the regiment was put into the crucible to be tried and the law of the survival of the fittest to have full play. The hard campaign on which we started in November and that did not end until we reached our camp for the winter in January, had been a trying one. The weather had been cold, even for that climate, and rain, rain, rain was the order of many days. Hence many of our men were in a condition that gave disease a hold that made the struggle for life with many an unequal con- test. Nearly every day the eyes of some brave soldier were closed in death, and I feel that the first duty is to record the names of the men who in early life gave up their lives for their country.
Died at Fort Fowler and La Grange during the win- ter.
Company A .- Captain Daniel F. Sawyer, Thomas C. Pinnell, Hiram A. Case, Rollins T. Harris, August Vandewort-5.
Company B .- Nathaniel Blakely, Andrew Curry, Thomas J. Collins, William Fletcher, Robert Mullen, Lemuel J. Nibarger, Thomas Nibarger, Sanford Pope, Madison Winn-9.
Company C .- Benjamin Biggs, George W. Biggs, Reason John- son, John Johnson, John L. Kester, Charles Sleeper, Harvey White, Wm. Worster-8.
Company D .- Francis Litzenberger, John Campbell, Benjamin Litzenberger, Jefferson Morehead, Wm. Ramer, Jesse Ramer, James Ralston, Reuben Snyder, John Southerton-9.
Company E .- William Ayrhart, James Griffith, Jonas L. Hor- ner, Wm. Holloway, John Holloway, Hiram W. Kelley, John W. Moore, Elijah Mote, John Starkey, Andrew J. Sanderson, Jacob Webber-11.
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The Winter at Forts Fowler and De Hart.
MATTHIAS BONEY, COMPANY A. 1900.
Born March 27, 1844, at St. Johns, Lake county, Indiana. Served through the war. Came back to Lake county and married Septem- ber 15, 1866 to .Elizabeth Ennis. Has always lived in Lake county, mostly in Crown Point. He owns a hotel and a stock farm. Has a wife, daughter, Cora, and son, Eddie. Comrade Boney is a true comrade, always attends the reunions of the regiment and when the reunions are at Crown Point his hotel is headquarters, and he wel- comes all. If you ever go to Crown Point you will find him at "Hotel Boney" if you inquire for "Mat." Like all the rest he is proud of the record of the 99th Indiana and that he was a member of the old regiment.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
Company F .- John T. Swiggett, Thomas H. Colvin, Stephen B. Gould-3.
Company G -Lieutenant Benton A. Reid, James B. Long, James T. Brown, John Day, Thomas Faulkner, Thomas J. Osborn, Lewis M. Rose, John W. Turner-8.
Company H .- Sergeant Jasper N. Parsons, Lieutenant John F. Parsons, Daniel I. Brown, Robert Ragsdale-4.
Company I .- Jefferson Sullivan-1. Total 58.
I know of no way to get the history of this time so well before the reader as to give extracts from the rec- ord I made of daily events at the time. They have the merit of having been written at the time and lie before me in the very form and words as I wrote them.
On the 13th I wrote:
.
"Some of the men are beginning to complain of a little animal we have named 'greybacks' and we are all washing and cleaning up. We get mail now from Memphis every other day and I go up to La Grange and get it and the men are all glad to get in communica- tion with the outside world again."
On the 16th I wrote:
"It snowed yesterday and the snow is about four inches deep to-day and winter appears to be in earnest. I forgot to tell you that Companies G and B from Fort Berkey with the major, have all been moved here so we have six companies here and two at Fort De Hart."
On the 18th I wrote:
"Our sutler came to-day with a stock of goods and as the men have had nothing but regular rations for a time they are buying a few ex- tras for a change. Last night Quartermaster Cathcart gave an oy- ster supper to a number of invited guests and we had as good a time as is possible without ladies to grace the occasion. It is astonish- ing how many men are true, noble men under all circumstances, and there is no place like the army to bring out the good, or bad, just what is in a man."
On the 19th I wrote:
"Captain Carr of Company B has been compelled to resign. He is a good officer and the colonel likes him but he cannot stand the service, and it seems to be a case of 'quit or die.' "
On the 22d I wrote:
"A day or two ago we got a fine large tent and having pitched it, put in a floor and built a large fire place and so are comfortable.
43
The Winter at Forts Fowler and De Hart.
JACOB TRITT AND WIFE, COMPANY D. 1899.
Born in 1844, in Vigo county, Indiana; raised on a farm; enlisted August 10, 1862, at the age of 18 years; served until the close of the war; married in 1866, and they have been living on the farm ever since; Comrade Tritt and his wife never miss attending the reunions of the old regiment, and to him perhaps more than any other is the preparation of this history due; he has written as often as once in six months during the last four years urging me to undertake the new history; his address is Sandford, Vigo county, Indiana.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
We got some bedsteads from a deserted house in the country and sleep as if we were at home. It will make a fine place for a company to get together and spend an evening. Thomas J. Osborn of Company G, poor fellow, died to-day. I did not think yesterday he would die, but when I went to see him to-day he was so far gone that he did not know me."
On Sunday evening, January 25th, I wrote:
"We got no mail last week as they are using all the boats on the river to ship troops to Vicksburg. Our whole division is to be left here to guard. this railroad and make a guard for Memphis and the river above there. We are comfortably fixed, our men have very good quarters and have no objection to staying for the winter. I preached this morning to a good and attentive audience from Luke 23 : 33, 'And there they crucified Him.' I would like to preach in a house once more. To-night I have fixed up the mail and we are having a good time at headquarters singing old hymns. Sergeant- Major McGlashon and Orderly Brewer are both good singers and so we have a good time. I can hear men singing in a good many of the tents and cabins in. camp. It is a pleasant sound and brings up the memories of the past."
On Thursday, the 29th, I wrote:
"On Tuesday a scouting party of four was sent out to go about fifteen miles where a body of rebel cavalry was reported to camp. After going eight miles they camped for the night. They had strict orders to keep away from houses, but after dark Corporal John W. Warner of Company E, determined to go into one leaving the others outside to watch. He was gone about an hour when a shot was fired and he ran out with about fifteen men and some dogs after him. The others tried to fire their guns but they would not go and so they returned to camp leaving Warner to his fate. Yesterday Major Ber- key took four companies and went out to look for him and found the place where he was supposed to have been killed, but could not find his body or the men who had attacked him. They could not learn surely that he was dead, but it is almost certain that he is. He was a dar- ing and desperate fellow, a good scout, but a good many of his com- panions say he was no honor to the regiment."
This case at various times since the war has been a snbject of comment by the comrades, and the general im- pression has been that the man at whose house Warner was killed was himself killed by some members of the regiment. In 1892 Comrade A. F. Spaulding, of Company I,. of Wabash, wrote a letter to the postmaster at Mos-
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The Winter at Forts Fowler and De Hart.
JOSHUA P. SPAULDING, COMPANY A. 1899.
Born November 29, 1833, in Monroe county, Michigan, came to. Lake county, Indiana, in 1837, and that has been his home since. He enlisted in Company A, August 12, 1862, and served until muster out of regiment, a faithful soldier and good man. Address, Orchard. Grove, Indiana.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
cow, Tennessee, W. J. Rodgers, to find out if any of the stockade was left as he wished to secure some of it for canes for the comrades, as he is a wood turner by trade, and I here insert the letter of the postmaster as it brings up some memories of that past:
"The statement you make of the stockade, the deep cut and the bridge over it, and the graveyard and Wolf river are all correct. The sign of the stockade can yet be seen. The Baptist minister, John Bateman, now lives in Waco, Texas; Allen is dead; Elisha Williams, the famous langher, lives in LaGrange; Wilson, Mayo, Caroway, Lloyd, Penn and Davis, of whom you speak, are all dead. As to the desparado, Warner, of whom you speak, the women here say that he deserved all he got. I was a member of Vaugn's brigade, of Cheatham's division, Army of the Tennessee, and was paroled at Johnson's Island, Ohio, June 12, 1865, and came right on this battlefield you speak of and married the girl I left behind me on the banks of Wolf river within one and one-half miles of your stockade, and she has stood before Warner with a pistol in her pocket and dared him to touch her. She was then fourteen years old and her name was Maggie Pierce."
"There was a terrible accident near our camp to-day. A broken axle derailing two cars in a freight train and killing four and wounding three men, two of them, I fear, fatally, of Captain Cogs- well's battery. I saw them as they were brought out of the wreck and it was one of the sad sights of this horrible war. The train was a freight on its way from Memphis and they were going to LaGrange. But I must not write of these sad things for they are not to be understood except as we see them. I will tell you just how we are situated. We have a tent about ninety feet in circumfer- ence, a large brick fireplace in one side and our beds arranged around the other sides, with our 'parlor table' in the center. We have built a stockade of logs set in the ground. It is in circular form with only one small entrance and that so it cannot be shot through. We can hold it against a much larger force, as the only exposure to fire of its defenders are in the small port holes. Every man knows his place and when there is an alarm every man goes at once without orders to his place in the fort. We had a good prayer meeting out on the parade ground to-night."
On Sunday, February 1st, I wrote:
"I have been all day at Fort DeHart where the other three com- panies are stationed, and had a good visit, though the weather was too disagreeable to have service. Took dinner with Colonel De- Hart."
47
The Winter at Forts Fowler and De Hart.
ABRAHAM WHISLER, COMPANY I. 1899.
Was born December 5, 1844, in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania. He enlisted in Miami county in 1862, and has lived there ever since the close of the war; has a family of four children, three girls and one boy; he has a good farm and is by occupation a farmer. For the last five years he has been trustee of Richland township. He was a good soldier and takes a great interest in the reunions and record of the old regiment. His address is Chili, Indiana.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
On Tuesday, February 3rd, I wrote:
"We are once more supplied with abundance of food and are reveling in luxuries once more, an evidence of the old truth, that it is a feast or a famine. I will give you the bill of fare of the 'Fowler, Berkey and Lucas Wigwam' for dinner to-day: corned beef, fried ham, pigs feet, baker's bread, butter, molasses, coffee, sugar, mus- tard, apple and strawberry pie, cheese and crackers. How will that do?"
On Sunday, February 8th, I wrote:
"Dr. Butterworth has been promoted to surgeon and we have established a very good hospital near camp. I have been there writ- ing some letters for the sick men who are unable to write, Alas, a good many of them are homesick and it is sad to be sick in the army and away from home. I attended the burial of William Ayrhart of Company E, to-day who died in our regimental hospital, he was a good man from Adrian, Newton county.
"Colonel Fowler is a good natured, jovial man who keeps all about him from being down-hearted. A private has no more fear in his presence than if he was his equal in rank. In his intercourse he is the companion and equal of all, yet he is a firm disciplinarian and his word is law when in command of the regiment and all know it. He seemingly is not troubled by fear, and is a brave man in the true sense of the word. He lost the thumb of his right hand in the Mexican war and it affects his handwriting some as he must hold the pen between his fingers. On Friday all was quiet and he spent four hours in telling me his history and I hope you will preserve this letter with the abbreviation of it as I may want to use it some day. He said: 'I had been in the regular army three years when I met a good woman that I loved and married her. About ten months after- ward we started to California with the purpose of wintering on the frontier. While waiting there a daughter was born. Spring came and we went on through to California. Staid there a year and made clear $3,000.00. My wife's health failing, we concluded to go back to Indiana by water. She improved some, but after a few days grew worse and death came. We committed her body to the care of the Pacific ocean. I had only the babe to comfort me, and with a great deal of care and anxiety I brought it to South Bend, and put it into the hands of my mother. She is now about 11 years of age and has written me a letter.' As he closed the tears started in his eyes born of memories of the past. He is married again and has a wife and another child about two years of age at South Bend."
On Thursday afternoon, Feb. 12th, I wrote:
"This has been a gloomy day in camp as the word has gone round that Captain Sawyer of Company A is dead. He has been
49
The Winter at Forts Fowler and De Hart.
JOB ELDRIDGE, COMPANY F. 1900.
Born April 13, 1834, in Preble county, Ohio. Came to White county, Indiana, in 1845. Enlisted August 22, 1862. Served through the war. Is a bachelor. Now lives at 741 Massachusetts avenue, In- dianapolis, is a good man and a friend to all his comrades.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
complaining for some time but was taken worse about two weeks ago and has been gradually going down until about 4 o'clock this morning he quietly breathed his last. Fever with camp diarrhea in chronic form was the cause. He is gone. About 45 years of age, he could not stand the service. He was a favorite in the regiment. If I were to describe him I would say he was a rough diamond, a man with a harsh tongue and a kindly heart. He sent for his wife ten days ago but she has not come yet. Lieutenant Burnham who is next in command is sick at the same house but is better and I think will get well. I have been a good deal under the weather myself for two weeks but am better now, the same camp fever and diarrhea that affects us all, more or less."
On Sunday evening, February 15th, I wrote:
"On Friday I rode out to the house where Captain Sawyer died and we laid his body to rest near by. Six commissioned officers acted as pall bearers and his entire company appeared not only as escort but sincere mourners. Slowly and sadly we carried him to the grave, where I pronounced as well as I could a fitting eulogy, offered a prayer for the living, when the escort fired three rounds as a parting salute and we all went our way leaving him in the 'hands of Him who doeth all things well.' Our friendship began when we met at South Bend and I shall miss him very much. The excitement and riding on horseback has brought on a return of my bowel trouble, and the doctor has given me so much opium I can write no more tonight as there is a 'buzzing' in my ears."
On Friday, February 20th, I wrote:
"I am much better than when I wrote last. The wives of Cap- tain Sawyer and Lieutenant Burnham came to-day and are at the house where the captain died. Poor woman! She came to find her husband laid in the grave. Lieutenant Burnham is better. I am going out to see them to-morrow. I would have gone this afternoon but I have just come in from attending the burial service of Sergeant Joseph N. Parsons, of Company H, from Indianapolis, who died yesterday."
On Sunday, February 22nd, I wrote:
"Yesterday in company with Captain Homan and Lieutenant Walker, of Company H, I visited Fort DeHart and took dinner with Captain Gwin, of Company F; had a fine visit. On the way we called at the house where Captain Sawyer died, and met Mrs. Sawyer and Mrs. Burnham. Mrs. Sawyer will return to Memphis to-morrow on her way home, taking her husband's body with her. She is a very fine appearing woman with a strong will that enables her to control her sorrow, a woman of nerve and bravery. The praye.I
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The Winter at Forts Fowler and De Hart.
1
EDMUMD W. SPEAR, COMPANY F. 1900.
Born June 24, 1840, near Rochester, New York. At the age of 18 years came to Indiana, where in 1862, he enlisted in Company F and served his country until the war closed. He was on the sick list several times but never in the hospital, never had a furlough. He was detailed in January, 1864, as teamster, and remained on such detail until the war closed. Was injured near Goldsboro, North Carolina, by a runaway horse, throwing him against a tree and he was unfit for further duty until after the close of the war. Since the war he has resided mostly in Illinois. Address, Sidney, Illinois. His wife has just died and he has one daughter living.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
of every member of the regiment is that God may protect and comfort her on her lonely way. Mrs. Burnham will stay two or three weeks until the lieutenant fully recovers. This being Washington's birth- day we heard a national salute at La Grange this morning. We honor the father of his country, but did not celebrate to-day as it is too cold for an out door service."
On Wednesday, February 25th, I wrote:
"Major Berkey took a hundred men and went out on a foraging expedition yesterday, and they managed to pick up considerable plunder, so we had fried chicken for breakfast We are to have one of our evening concerts at headquarters to-night; Quartermaster Cath- cart plays the violin, Lieutenant Harman the flute, and the sutler's clerk the banjo, and they make fine music, and as we have a number of good singers it helps us greatly in passing the weary evenings away."
On Sunday afternoon, March 1st, I wrote:
"I am sorry to say that I have to sit up in bed to write you a line, as I was taken with what the doctor calls 'camp fever' on Wednesday night and it has been a struggle with lobelia, castor oil, quinine, etc., to break it up, and I think it is about done with. Friday your letter with your picture and that of our boy came and that has helped me. Maurice Martin, of Company C, went out in the country and got me some milk and I have had a meal of bread and milk and I begin to feel all right. Major Berkey, Orderly Brewer and all the rest have given me the best of care. Instead of service to-day, as I am not able to be out, Quartermaster Sergeant Severance is holding a Bible class in a little grove near camp. He is a good christian man. I hear of a number of our men dying in the general hospital at LaGrange, while Nathaniel Blakely, of Com- pany B, Reason Johnson, of Company C, (one of the men who enlisted with me at Oxford), Elijah Mote, of Company E, James T. Brown and Lewis M. Rose, of Company G, Daniel I. Brown and Albert Ragsdale, of Company H, in addition to those already men- tioned have died here in camp and hospital. The regiment was mustered for pay again yesterday, but when it will come no one can tell. Some men are feeling badly about their families as they need money to live upon."
On Sunday evening, March 8th, I wrote:
"I am some better but the doctor still has me in tow and is regulating my diet and medicine, and it is nip and tuck which I get the most of. A Baptist minister named Bateman, living near camp, preached for me to a good audience to-day, though it was too cool for me to be out."
53
The Winter at Forts Fowler and De Hart.
-
CAPTAIN RODMAN H. WELLS, COMPANY A. 1900.
Born June 6, 1838, in Crown Point, Indiana, where he has always resided. He entered the service as a private, but was ap- pointed first sergeant on the muster in of Company A, and served as such until February 12, 1863. when he was promoted to first lieuten- ant and on the resignation of Captain Burnham, was appointed Cap- tain. He was taken sick on the way up the river from Vicksburg, and was not able for duty for six months, and so, April 28, 1864, he resigned. Returned to Crown Point, which has been his home ever since. He married in 1859 Miss Nancy S. Vanhouten, and the last letter I had from him he announces the fact that he has a grand- daughter, of which they are very proud. He has been engaged in farming, raising fine horses, etc., and was elected sheriff of Lake county and served as such for some years. He has always taken an interest in the reunions, and his wife and daughter Jennie, have always been helpful in the work. A whole-hearted comrade and a friend to every 99th man, is his record.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
On Tuesday, March 10th, I wrote:
"I am much better and the doctor says, 'Take care of yourself and you will be all right,' and I think he is right. Dr. McGaughey, from the agency of Governor Morton at Memphis to look after Indi- ana's sick soldiers, has been here to-day getting the descriptive rolls of some sick soldiers we have in the barracks at Memphis. He is a genial fellow and brought in a flavor of the outside world. As one of the boys said to me, 'Just look at him, he can come and go as he pleases, ' as if it was a remarkable thing. Every one here is doing just what some one else tells them and they must do it, and it seems strange to see a man that can go to Indiana if he wants to and no one to hinder him. Not the least of the sacrifices of the soldiers is their placing themselves voluntarily under the laws of war."
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