USA > Indiana > New history of the 99th Indiana Infantry : containing official reports, anecdotes, incidents, biographies and complete rolls > Part 4
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On Wednesday, March 13th, I wrote:
" 'Able for rations again,' tells the story and I am all right. The paymaster was here to-day and paid the regiment up to October 31. But having some money the question is, how are we going to send it home."
On Saturday, March 21st, I wrote:
"Quite a change is going on in camp to-day. Companies A and C are ordered to move from here to go into camp one and one-half miles nearer Moscow, and thus dividing our regiment into three parts again. Our brigade headquarters being now at Moscow, I go there every day with the mail. Corporal Will Savage, of Company C, went out with a scouting party on Thursday night and captured two notorious guerrillas, and the colonel presented Will with a fine revolver found on one of them. The health of our men is improving, though some are dying nearly every day. The officers seem to suffer as severely as the men. Two of our captains have died and another is sick now, and Lieutenant Parsons, of Company H, is also very sick."
On Monday, March 23rd, I wrote:
"General Hurlbut has kindly granted me a leave of absence for ten days, to go to Indiana and take the money of the soldiers home to their families. I leave on Wednesday and will see you about as soon as you get this letter."
On April 9th I wrote:
"I reached camp to-day and found the regiment all together again at Moscow, Tennessee. This occurred on the 4th and it is delightful to see a dress parade once again. General Denver has resigned and General William Sooy Smith has been assigned to command our division. I find the health of the men much improved,
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The Winter at Forts Fowler and De Hart.
ALFRED A. REAM, COMPANY I. 1900
Born in Carlyle City, Ohio; enlisted when a young man at Peru, in Company I, and was mustered out after three years of service as sergeant of the company, and is best known by his old comrades as "Sergeant Al. Ream." After the war he went to railroading, firing on an engine for two years and then becoming an engineer. This he followed until 1873, when, as he says: "I went into the grocery busi- ness and am still doing business at the old stand, 28 East Main street, Peru, Indiana." He was a true soldier and a friend of his old comrades, attending the reunions, and is proud of the record of the old regiment. A picture taken at the time of his enlistment, will be found on another page."
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
though our losses by death at the forts and at the LaGrange hospital during February and March have been heavy. Lieutenant Parsons died March 26th."
On April 15th I wrote:
"We buried three men to-day, John Campbell, of Company D, William Holoway, of Company E, and James B. Long, of Company G."
CHAPTER V.
THE CHALMER'S RAID.
In a letter written April 25, I find this report:
"April 16. Marched at 2 p. m. for La Grange, nine miles, with 400 men and bivouaced near the depot. Saw General Smith who is to command the expedition. Pretty rough on us all sleeping on the ground again.
April 17. On board a train at sunrise and at 9 a. m. reached Grand Junction. Have with us 40th and 103d Illinois, 46th Ohio, 6th Iowa and Cheny's Battery. At noon ran south from Grand Junction, reached Waterford at 2 p. m. Found a bridge gone and worked nearly all night to replace it.
April 18. Ran on before daylight and plumped into a sand bank. Abandoned train and marched to Holly Springs arriving at noon. Marched seven miles south to Lumpkin's Mills. Whole regi- ment on picket and it rained all night.
April 19. A man with a dry garment upon him would have been . a curiosity. I took off my shirt and with the aid of a comrade wrung the water out and put it back on. It fit rather close but it was all I had and I was as well off as any of the rest. We started early and marched southwest fifteen miles Out of bread and no telling when we will get more. Heard firing in front and shelled the woods in the forenoon.
April 20. Marched southwest about twenty miles, our regi- ment in advance and it was a pleasant day. Reports of enemy in front and our scouts captured a few of them. No lights allowed and perfect silence enjoined at night.
April 21. Started at 2 a. m. and marched over twenty miles to the northwest, passing Senatobia at noon and camped near Cold Water Station. Captured a number of the enemy, but General
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The Chalmer's Raid.
ERASTUS ELLIBEE, COMPANY D. 1887.
Born September 1, 1841, in Dark county, and the following is a brief statement of a varied career indeed: "Came to Grant county, Indiana, from there to Wabash, then to Miami county. Enlisted in August, 1861, in 40th Indiana, but was taken sick and did not get to go; enlisted in August, 1862, in the 99th; went all through with the regiment; wounded through the muscle of the right thigh at New Hope church, June 4, 1864; and under the left ear, battering the jaw and affecting the hearing, at Atlanta, August 18, 1864; got back to the regiment just in time to make the march to the sea; was forager on the march and marched all the way through the Carolinas; mus- tered out with the regiment. In August after he came home, his mother died, and he went to Rensselaer, bought a piece of land and improved it. In 1871 went to Sacramento, California; was second cook on the steamer Flora; then on a ranch until 1872; worked in Los Angeles, and Inyo county for about 8 months; lost his health; went to the mines in Kern county, regained his health and worked there four years; went to burning charcoal by contract; did well; went on a gold prospecting tour and failed; bought a half interest in a pack train and followed it for seven years and made money; then bought cattle and has run a ranch ever since. He was married July 28, 1890, just twenty-six years after the battle near Atlanta; ran for sheriff in 1888, was beaten by thirty-three votes." He says: "I do not use tobacco, gamble, or drink, and have lived an honora- ble, upright life. We have a daughter 7 years of age. My address is Mineral Park, Arizona Territofy."
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
Chalmer with 1,500 men all mounted, is before us, but we can't catch him I am sure.
April 22. Passed Coldwater, the rebel camp, at 9 a. m. and Bucksnort at 1 p. m. Crossed Pigeon Roost Creek and camped for the night, making twenty-one miles. Picked up a good many strag- glers but the main body are beyond our reach, are the reports.
April 23. Marched north twenty-five miles to Collierville on the Memphis & Charleston railroad. Several scraps with the guerril- las during the day.
April 24. Marched east eighteen miles to our camp at Moscow in four and one-half hours, arriving at 1 p. m., having captured in the trip forty of the enemy, 400 horses and mules, and other things in proportion."
AN INCIDENT.
DEAR CHAPLAIN: I am delighted to get the pictures of the old colonel. The one taken in 1863 I should know anywhere, but do not think I would the other. I can see him now as I saw him on the Chalmer's raid in the spring of 1863. Provisions were very scarce and you were with the colonel in a half-pitched tent, both very hungry, having nothing to eat all day. That day I had capture l two Confederates, and in a pair of saddle-bags of one of them I found a cooked ham and a large loaf of bread, so my mess had a good supper, when some one said that the colonel and chaplain had not had anything all day. So I cut off part of the ham and bread and went to the Colonel's tent and when he saw what I had, he raised up quickly and said, "Why, Joe, where did you get that?" when you spoke up, saying, "Colonel, don't ask him but eat what is set before you, asking no questions for conscience sake." And you both fulfilled the injunction about as fast as hungry men could. I got a canteen from one of the prisoners and the colonel asked me to let him have it and he would give it back to me at Moscow when we got to camp, and when we got there he was as good as his word. I wish I had that canteen now, what a relic it would be, but we did not think as much of those things in those days as we do now when we are all near the foot of the hill.
Palmyra, Neb., March, 1900.
Yours, JOSEPH WILLIAMS,
Company C.
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The Chalmer's Raid.
BENJAMIN F. JOHNSON, COMPANY H. 1900.
Born in the year 1841, in Kentucky; came with parents in 1848 to Jackson county, Michigan, and in 1849 to Hendricks county, Indiana, where he has since resided. His father, Edward R. Johnson, died on Christmas, 1878. Benjamin enlisted in August, 1862, and was with the regiment until muster out, being wounded at Kenesaw mountain. He was a good soldier and is a good man and citizen, and says: "I believe in one country, one language, one flag, and can truly sing :
"Flag of the free, hearts hope and home, By angel hands to valor given,
Thy stars have lit the welcome dome, And all thy hues were born in heaven "
CHAPTER VI. FROM MOSCOW TO VICKSBURG.
On April 28th, I wrote:
"I am very sad to-day. One of my 'Benton county boys, ' Ser- geant Maurice Martin, of Company C, died yesterday. I was up with him until 2 a. m., and we did all we could but it was in vain. We shall send his body home if we can get a metallic coffin. Ser- geant Charles M. Scott, another of my boys, is going home on fur- lough with a number of others in the regiment. They started yes- terday. Benton A. Reid of Company G, who received his commis- sion as lieutenant about a week ago, died on Sunday. Poor boy."
On Sunday evening, May 3d, I wrote:
"While I was preaching to-day, Robert Martin, the father of Maurice, came into camp and as he came toward me, I saw that he was weeping. I stopped preaching and welcomed him and we all wept together. He had not heard until he came that his son was dead. His two other boys, Thomas and Will, are both well. I won- der how many more brave men I must see die. In our whole regi- ment we are now becoming so well acquainted and so closely bound together, that we sorrow more for those who die. We are getting to be a family now."
On May 12th I wrote:
"The health of the regiment is better than ever since we entered the service, not a man in hospital now. Am sorry to say our cook got drunk to-day and some of our men got 'tipsy' yesterday, when we got a false report that Richmond had been taken. Oh, my! but how this world is given to lying. If I were to write you all the re- ports that circulate in camp I couldn't pay the postage."
On the 15th I wrote:
"General Thomas, adjutant general of the United States army, passed through our usually quiet town yesterday, and we had the pleasure of hearing him make a good speech. He is now in this de- partment organizing negro regiments, and eight or ten are being or- ganized in West Tennessee. Company K of our regiment, that we left behind at Indianapolis, came yesterday under command of Cap- tain Julian, and we are now all united and have a grand regiment."
On Sunday evening, May 17th, I wrote:
"I preached to a large and unusually attentive audience this morning from Galatians vi .- 7, 'Whatsoever a man soweth that shall
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From Moscow to Vicksburg.
he also reap.' I succeeded in getting some new hymn-books, and they added to the interest in the service. Reports that we are to see active service just as soon as the Negro regiments are organized to take our place. A little excitement today, General Smith sent dispatches that General Chalmers is threatening and may attack us. We have three regiments here and a battery and are well fortified. The boys say let him come, it will break the monotony of camp life, anyway."
On Wednesday, June 3rd, I wrote:
"We have been having a delightful time. I commenced preach- ing on Thursday evening of last week and have preached every evening and on Sunday since that time. On Sunday I baptized six soldiers in Wolf river, two on Monday and six yesterday, making fourteen in all. I was going to continue, but yesterday there came an order to move our camp about half a mile, and to-day all is bustle and hurry and I had to adjourn until Saturday evening. I do not think there is another regiment in the service that is any more moral and religious than ours, and their respect for me is only equaled by my love for them. The friendships we have formed here will abide through life, no matter what the future may be. It is the bright side of the soldier life."
On June 5th, I wrote:
"Marching orders for Memphis and probably Vicksburg re- ceived. All is preparation, but it is quiet. The colonel issues an order and every one knows exactly what he must do, and he goes about it cheerfully and without a murmur."
On Sunday evening, June 7th, I wrote from Memphis:
"The regiment left Moscow yesterday morning, and reached the city at 5 p. m. to-day. In company with Dr. Robinson, Hospital Stewart Whitman and Lieutenants Shaner and Curry, I came over with the sick and convalescent men on the train. The scene on the river here is magnificent. There are over twenty large transports at the wharf waiting to take our division of fifteen regiments and six batteries to Vicksburg. A gunboat, low and black, with her ominous looking port holes, as if they were the eyes of a bull dog on guard duty, and the boats of General Ellet's marine brigade in the middle of the river tell us that we are to be safely guarded on our way. Took dinner with Colonel DeHart, who has been here on court martial duty for some days, to-day. Am stopping at the Worsham house."
On Sunday, June 13th, I wrote:
"We are now in camp at Snyder's Bluff, in the rear of Vicks- burg, about two miles nearer Vicksburg than the well known
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
Haines Bluff. We went on board the packet Emerald, on the 8th, and left Memphis at 1 p. m. on the 9th, and reached this point on the Yazoo river on the 11th. The trip down the Mississippi was a very pleasant one, though the water upset the digestive apparatus .of a good many of the boys, as well as my own. The doctor says it will only be temporary, however. The bluff here is cut up into ridges with gulleys between them. It is now settled why we are here. It is to prevent General Johnston, who has an army gathering at Jackson, from interfering with the siege which General Grant is prosecuting for the reduction of Vicksburg. Unless he has a hun- dred thousand men General Johnston had better let out the job, for with less than that he cannot relieve the garrison in the city. It is astonishing how soon we are becoming accustomed to the continual boom of the cannon. The music is punctuated at intervals with the heavy note of the mortars on the barges on the river. The weather is quite warm, but we are all standing it very well, as the nights are quite cool. Blackberries are plenty here and are ripe, and ripening, so that we have all we want. Our men are fairly well, a few sick, however, and one poor fellow, Lemuel Newell, of Company F, fell overboard at Helena as we were coming down, and was drowned."
On Monday, June 22d, I wrote:
"On Saturday, Colonel Fowler, Dr. Butterworth, Orderly Harry Brewer and myself, received permission from General Smith to visit the scene of action at Vicksburg. A very pleasant ride of nine miles brought us to our battle lines at dark, and we lay down on the ground with only a blanket, and though there were three guns firing near us, slept very well. We were up betimes in the morning and first visited General Steele's division. We would leave our horses in the rear and go up in the trenches to see the sharp shooters at work and the cannons firing. Could not get very close here, being about forty rods from the enemy. We next visited General Blair's division. Here we got within ten yards and could throw clods into the trenches of the enemy. We followed down the trenches, or pits as they call them, until we were so close to a rebel fort that we were almost under the guns. We next visited General Logan's division where there was an artillery duel in progress. As we were riding toward it a shell went over our heads and burst about 40 feet behind us. We dodged a little you may be sure and our horses were some- what frightened. Leaving our horses, we went up into a battery and remained an hour watching the artillery duel. It was a little exciting to me, as I had never seen a battle at such close quarters, and as the shells went screaming over head, or buried themselves in the banks of the fort and exploded, the scene was magnificent. I be- came so interested in watching our men that I forgot about the dan- ger, though I do not think it was very great. It was a good place to
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From Moscow to Vicksburg.
study war, however. After seeing and hearing all that we desired, we returned to camp where we arrived about 6 p. m., somewhat weary, but with all doubts about the capture of Vicksburg removed from our minds."
The next day, the 23d, our division was moved out to Oak Ridge on Black river, where we remained until the surrender on the Fourth of July. It was a happy day to all, though it meant an active campaign for our divi- sion which was temporarily attached to the ninth corps of General John G. Parke. In the meantime the regi- ment had been paid and the colonel and officers said I must go to Indiana and take the money home to the families. General Grant, on it being made known to him kindly granted me leave of absence, and that leave of absence with the well known signature of General John A Rawlins lies before me as I write this, Marclı 1900, and is one of the mementos of the war. Rolls were made by the officers with the name of the soldier and the address of the person, and amount of money to be sent. These rolls with the money, about $15,000.00, was placed in a common haversack and slung over my shoul- der and over that I put on a linen duster, went out of camp alone and to Vicksburg, took boat for Cairo, and in five days reached Indianapolis, where I secured express envelopes and sent the money according to the rolls, and again breathed more easily. I am glad to say that every dollar went safely to the parties for whom it was in- tended. I went to Lafayette, spent a few days with my wife and boy, and then back to my regiment.
CHAPTER VII.
BATTLE OF JACKSON.
In the meantime what the regiment was doing is best told in the report of Colonel Fowler, which was as fol- lows: (It is found in Serial 37, Vol. 24, Official War Records.)
HEADQUARTERS 99TH INDIANA INFANTRY.
July 18, 1863.
SIR: My regiment marched from Oak Ridge, Missis- sippi, July 4, 1863, at 4 p. m., and marched until 10 p. m. of the same day, when we camped on the east side of Bear creek, two miles from Big Black river; we lay there until 10 a. m. of the 5th, when we advanced and formed in line of battle on the right of the 70th Ohio Infantry, where we lay in line until dark, when, with one com- pany deployed as skirmishers under command of Major J. M. Berkey, I advanced my, regiment in line until the skirmishers rested on the bank of the river, the regiment resting one hundred yards in the rear. We lay on our arms during the night and the next day until 12 m., dur- ing which time the skirmishers kept up a continual firing, when I marched down to the river and ferried across, following the 53d Ohio Infantry. We lay on our arms in line during the night, and the next day (July 7), after drawing three days' rations, marched some six miles, where we went into camp during the night.
July 8th we started in the afternoon and marched until 8 p. m., when we camped for the night.
On the 9th we marched early in the morning, resting in the middle of the day. In the afternoon, when we came within hearing of the enemy's guns, we formed in line on the left of the 53rd Ohio, when we were moved forward and formed in the same order in an open field,
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Battle of Jackson.
CAPTAIN ISAIAH A. CURRY, COMPANY B. 1900.
Born July 16, 1835, near Greenfield, Indiana, on a farm where he was reared, and married Miss Mary C. Thomas, December, 1857. He served faithfully in all the campaigns of the regiment and gained successive promotions. Enlisted as private, but soon appointed first sergeant, and served as such until January 1, 1863; then as second lieutenant until March 20, 1864; then as first lieutenant until April 19, 1865; then as captain until muster out. After the war he re- turned to his farm and began again as it is said, to "hoe his own row." In 1880, he was elected treasurer of Hancock county, and re- elected in 1882. He then embarked in the insurance business until two years ago, when he was elected city treasurer of Greenfield for four years, which office he now holds. He has reared a family of three boys and one girl, and says, "the wife I had while in the ser- vice is still living and has been a help and joy in the battle of life." Comrade Curry is a true comrade and never fails to meet with his old comrades in arms at the reunions. Address, Greenfield, Indiana.
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New History of the Ninety- Ninth Indiana Infantry.
and throwing a company of skirmishers out to cover our front, we lay on our arms during the night.
July 10th, marched some two or three miles when we marched in line, my regiment being in reserve most of the time. Toward evening I formed on the left of the 97th Indiana, and in line, resting with my left wing on the east side of the railway; lay on our arms during the night.
On the morning of the 11th, at daylight, my left being very much exposed, the enemy opened on it, and I deemed it advisable to move them to the rear of the right wing, under cover of the timber. In doing so, Private F. M. McGraw, of Company I, was killed. Afterward I moved my regiment to the left across the railway and took my position in the new line, having thrown one company out as skirmishers under command of Lieutentant-Colonel R. P. DeHart, who had command of the skirmishers of the brigade. We moved to the front and formed a line on the left of the 97th Indiana, being now on the left of the brigade.
During the next day (July 12) we lay in line all day and on the 13th we moved to the right and rear, and during that night and the next morning we threw up earthworks to protect the men.
July 14th, my regiment was ordered to relieve the 40th Illinois on the skirmish line, where we skirmished until 10 a. m. of the 15th, when we were relieved by the 100th Indiana. As soon as we were relieved, we marched back and took our place in the brigade, which had moved still farther to the rear, where we lay until the 17th, the day of the evacuation.
Between the 12th and 15th my regiment was con- tinually under fire of the enemy's shell and grape. Both the men and officers behaved well, with two exceptions, whom I will bring to your notice in another report.
List of Casualties: Killed, one; severely wounded, one; slightly wounded, five.
CAPT. H. L. PHILLIPS, ALEXANDER FOWLER,
Acting Ass't Adjt-Gen. Colonel 99th Ind. Inf.
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Battle of Jackson.
CAPTAIN ALFRED H. HEATH, COMPANY . A. 1900.
Born November 28, 1838, in St. Lawrence county, New York. Was corporal until January, 1863; sergeant to February, 1863; first sergeant to November, 1863; second lieutenant to April 7, 1864; first lieutenant to September 9, 1864; then captain until mustered out, filling each grade in his company. On the march through the Car- olinas, he was in command of the Pioneer corps of the second divi- sion, Fifiteenth army corps. His record is one of which any soldier might be proud. He was married October 5, 1858, at Ionia, Michi- gan, and has a family of four children. Since the war he lived at Ionia, Michigan, for sixteen years; was register of deeds for Ionia county four years, and postmaster of Ionia for nine and one-half years. Served four years at Lansing, Michigan, as commissioner of labor for the state of Michigan, appointed by Governor Cyrus G. Luce. Went to Detroit in March, 1890, and has resided there since. He is a manufacturer of electrical apparatus, and his address is 336 Grand River avenue, Detroit, Michigan. Captain Heath is a com- rade, indeed, and never forgets to send a letter to the reunion when he cannot come in person.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
In the brigade commander's report, Colonel J. R. Cockerill says:
"I desire to call attention to Colonel Alexander Fowler, Lieutenant-Colonel DeHart and Major Berkey, 99th Indiana, as officers who have distinguished them- selves for courage, perseverance and skill, and are com- petent to every task imposed upon them. To the line officers of the brigade and the gallant soldiers of each and every regiment, I cheerfully testify that all per- formed their duty to my entire satisfaction, and seemed to vie with each other as to who was the bravest and best soldier."
The regiment and corps returned to Black River, where a large camp was formed and named "Camp Sherman," in honor of the commander of the Fifteenth corps. When I returned to my regiment on August 4th, being delayed for some time at Memphis waiting for a boat, I found Colonel Fowler, a dozen other officers and some thirty men ready to start home on twenty days leave of absence. Having written the incidents of the camp here at the time, I give them as I wrote them at the time, preferring to depend on the writing rather than on my memory after so many years.
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