USA > Indiana > New history of the 99th Indiana Infantry : containing official reports, anecdotes, incidents, biographies and complete rolls > Part 6
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Now this expresses the exact facts in the case. To those of us who from Sherman Heights watched the line of bayonets coming from Bragg's center to his right to resist the attack of Sherman all the forenoon, wonder- ing what Thomas could be doing, when if he had moved at 2 p. m. he would have gone up the Ridge just the same, for the center had been left with a very thin line, as we knew. So painful was the fact that Bragg's force was concentrated against Sherman that that officer at 12:45 p. m. asked General Grant "Where is Thomas?" (See page 44, Vol. 31, "War Records)." The real fact is that the Fifteenth corps and the troops under Sherman fought the real battle of Mission Ridge, and deserve credit for the victory. As Grant said in a note to Sher- man the evening of the battle, "You can feel a just pride in the part taken by the forces under your command in taking, first, so much of the range of hills and then in attracting so many of the enemy as to make Thomas' part certain of success."
Now, the charge on Mission Ridge was a grand one, but it does not make it greater to fail in acknowledging that the attack by Sherman made it possible.
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Battle of Mission Ridge.
RUSSELL VINNEDGE, COMPANY I. 1875.
Born April 14, 1837, near Richmond, Indiana. Enlisted in Mi- ami county, and served three years faithfully in the 99th Indiana. Returned to Miami county and resided there until his death, Jan- uary 3, 1878. He was married to Miss Emily Powell, and in a let- ter written March 1, 1900, she says: "As you say, he was a good soldier and I know and can say of a truth, he was a good husband and kind father, and his memory is ever dear to me, although he has been dead now over twenty-two years. He left me with six chil- dren, two sons and four daughters, and all are now married and doing fairly well." It will do any member of the old regiment good to read this tribute to the memory of our departed comrade by the one who knew him best. Her address is Converse, Indiana.
CHAPTER XI.
RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE.
The battle of Mission Ridge closed on the night of November 25th, with Bragg in full retreat, and at day- light on the 26th our division started in pursuit with the rest of the army. On the 27th, the advance had a hard fight at Ringgold Pass. Our division went to Grayville where on the 28th, we destroyed the factories, railroad and whatever would be of use to the enemy. Company D was sent back to Chattanooga with a lot of prisoners we had captured, and we supposed we would follow them and take a rest after our long tramp from Memphis, while the Army of the Cumberland was going to the relief of Burnside, at Knoxville. But, alas, it was in this case as it always has been, "the willing horse pulls the load." General Grant in his report, explains it thus:
"Thomas was directed to get Granger with his corps, and detachments enough from other commands, including the available force at Kingston, to make 20,000 men, in readiness to go to the relief of Knoxville upon the termin- ation of the battle of Chattanooga. * * Returning from the front on the 28th, I found that Granger had not yet got off, nor would he have the number of men I had di- rected. Besides he moved with reluctance and com- plaints. I therefore determined, notwithstanding the fact that two divisions of Sherman's forces had marched from Memphis and had gone into battle immediately on their arrival at Chattanooga, to send him with his com- mand, and orders in accordance therewith, were sent to him at Calhoun to assume command of the troops with Granger and proceed with all possible dispatch to the relief of Burnside." *- War Records, Serial 55, page 35.
*In his order to Sherman, November 29, 1863, Grant says: ‘Granger is on the way to Burnside's relief, but I have lost all faith in his energy and capacity to manage an expedition of the importance of this one. I am inclined to think, therefore, I shall have to send you.'
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Relief of Knoxville.
Thus it was that the corps that had marched 361 miles from Memphis to Chattanooga, had to start on another tramp of the same length that was not to end until midwinter.
The diary I sent home in my letters of that march, is as follows:
"Sunday, November 29th. Started northeast toward Knoxville at 7 a. m., and camped at Cleaveland at sun- down, distance twenty-five miles. We were told that relief must reach Knoxville by December 3d, and we must hurry, and if we have not hurried to-day no army ever did.
"Monday, November 30th. Moved to Charleston, eleven miles.
Tuesday, December 1st. Drawing rations a. m., we started at 1 p. m., passing through Calhoun and Rice- ville and camped at Athens at 9 p. m., distance eighteen miles.
Wednesday, December 2d. Started early, passing Midway and Sweetwater and camped at Philadelphia, distance twenty miles.
Thursday, December 3d. Marched to Morgantown, on the Tennessee river, and spent the night and until 11 a. m. of the 4th in making a bridge, and on the 5th went fifteen miles to Marysville, where we learned that the siege had been abandoned. On the 7th we marched back to Morgantown, and on the 8th marched ten miles south- east to Tillco creek, on the 9th went twelve miles to Madisonville, and on the 10th marched back to the old line of march and camped at Athens. There we stayed three days on short rations, and a more ragged, shoe- less, blanketless, footsore army could not be found. Colonel J. R. Cockerill, in his report made on the 6th, says:
"Since leaving Bridgeport the officers and men of this command have been without tents, knapsacks, and many without blankets. They have subsisted on less than one-half rations. The shoes of most of the men are nearly worn out, many being entirely so; cloth- ing in bad condition. Under all these adverse circumstances I am
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
proud to say that these brave men have moved forward, discharging every duty incumbent upon them without a murmur. I know they deserve the thanks of the country for their untiring devotion to its interests."
On December 14th we marched fifteen miles to Cal- houn; on the 15th, twenty-four miles to Cleaveland; on the 16th, twenty-five miles and camped after dark in a cemetery. It rained all night, and it was a choice of sit- ting up by the fire, or lying down in the water. Most of us sat up. On the 17th we marched to Chattanooga, crossing the pontoon at the mouth of Chickamauga creek, and went into camp at the foot of Mission Ridge. Since we left there on November 26, we had marched 253 miles, and many were barfoot and some were sick. They were sent in pontoon boats down the river to Bridge- port, where our transportation was left.
On December 18th, we marched around the base of Lookout mountain and camped in Lookout valley; a very cold night, and no shelter. On the 19th, we marched twenty-five miles to Bridgeport, where we found our transportation, tents and Company D once more, just thirty-one days from the day we left our bag- gage behind. Here we spent four days in drawing rations, clothing, etc., and were paid by Major Griffin.
On December 24, we marched to Stevenson, where we spent a very quiet Christmas, and on the 26th we marched to Scottsboro, where we went into winter quar- ters for quite a long rest. Our wagons were slow in coming up, so the cold New Year's day was upon us before we were fully settled. The experiences of the past taught us the lesson of preparing better quar- ters for winter, and so when settled all were comfort- able.
The conditions of the country were much improved and gave better heart to the soldiers of future success. The 1st of January, 1863, we were at Holly Springs on a backward movement, and all seemed dark and gloomy. During the year Vicksburg had been captured, the Mis- sissippi opened and Tennessee freed from the control of
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Relief of Knoxville.
AUGUSTUS E. MAXSON, COMPANY F. 1900.
Born in White county, Indiana, August 26, 1843. Enlisted Au- gust 22, 1862. He served with the regiment in all their campaigns ex- cept the march from Memphis to Chattanooga, Tennessee, when he was left sick in the hospital at Memphis; joined a regiment at Scottsboro, Alabama. After the close of the war he attended school at Battle Ground, and taught school in Carroll and Tippecanoe counties until the spring of 1872, when he went to McPherson county, Kansas, and engaged in farming. In 1874 he married Miss French. To that union were born two daughters and a son. In 1887 he removed to the Northwestern Pacific Coast, where he still resides. The daughters are married, one living in Washington and the other in Alaska. The son, Alvin J. Maxson, is a member of Com- pany H, 20th United States Infantry. He is now stationed at Ma- nilla in the Phillipines. Comrade Maxson has been an active, use- ful man as he was a good soldier. His present address is Snohom- ish, Washington.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
the enemy in the west, and the victory at Gettysburg in the east brought us to the 1st of January, 1864, with an aspect that betokened the ultimate success of the Union army.
CHAPTER XII.
THE WINTER AT SCOTTSBORO.
As this was the author's last winter with the regi- ment, he is glad to recall the fact that those remaining in the ranks were seasoned so that not many were sick. During the winter, however, the following died:
Company C, George W. Bush, George W. Parker (at home).
Company E, Andrew Murphy and Daniel C. Sawyers.
Company I, John Gonser.
The following were discharged as unfit for further service:
Company A, Ephraim Goff.
Company B, Jacob H. Davis. Company F, Louis House.
By this time it was developed that we had a number of men in the regiment who could not stand the march- ing and we had much of it to do. They were all right and willing for service aside from this, and so, during the fall and winter they were transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps where they rendered efficient service as guards of posts until the war closed. In fact, most of them were not discharged until the last of July, 1865, after the war closed. The following is the list:
Company A, Hiram Barton, Wm. Livingston, Edward A. Saw- yer.
Company B, Nimrod M. Davis, Clark W. Wright.
Company C, Charles ·M. Edmonds, George W. Alyea, Luman Griswold, Hiram W. Stephens.
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The Winter at Scottsboro.
Company D, John S. Parr, Robert Arnold, Ezra Roe, William Shaffer.
Company E, James E. Longwell.
Company F, John W. Kennedy, David Platt, George B. Smith.
Company G, Isaac O. Beckwith, Elkanah Brown.
Company H, Matthew English, John Robbins (to marine corps), George Slifer.
Company I, Luther Branham, George Hoyle, Francis M Roby.
While here, General John A. Logan was assigned to command the corps and General William Harrow to command the division. Colonel Cockerill of 70th Ohio, commanding the brigade, resigned and went home, carry- ing the good wishes of the brigade. The regiments were changed so that a new brigade was formed of the 99th Indiana, 70th Ohio, 48th and 90th Illinois, and 15th Mich- igan, Colonel Oliver, of the latter, commanding brigade.
Major John M. Berkey was promoted to lieutenant- colonel and Captain J. B. Homan to brevet-major. Many of the officers' wives visited them at Scottsboro and liv- ened up the camp by their presence. Captain Burnham, Company A, resigned and was succeeded by Captain R. H. Wells; Captain Tague of. B, resigned and was suc- ceeded by Captain Robert P. Andis; a vacancy occur- ring of all the officers of Company C, Sergeant Charles M. Scott was appointed captain.
From February 15th to March 5th, the regiment joined with the forces that made a reconnoissance to- ward Dalton, Georgia, to discover the location of the forces of the enemy. Several days of skirmishing with the enemy developed the fact that a strong confederate force was gathered about Dalton and vicinity. During this short campaign, the regiment marched about 250 miles and sustained its reputation for long trampers. Captain Josiah Farrar was in command of the regiment, Colonel Fowler remaining in camp, and gained some ex- perience which was of value to him when he afterward came to the command of the regiment.
While on this march, Captain Gwin, Quartermaster Sergeant Severance, Sergeants David Burnham, Com- pany A, Henry Miller, B, F. W. Drawans, C, John
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
Harvey, D, George Smith, E, Johnson Smith, G, David T. Everetts, H, A. A. Ream, I, and H. O. Morrill, K, were sent to Indiana on recruiting service, and secured quite a number of recruits.
CHAPTER XIII
THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
On the 1st day of May, 1864, the regiment started on the Atlanta campaign, the objective point being General Joseph E. Johnston's confederate army that had been gathering in the mountains of Georgia south of Chatta- nooga during the winter. The regiment at this time was still commanded by Colonel Fowler, with Lieuten- ant-Colonel Berkey and Major Homan, the latter two having been promoted from major and captain respec- tively. It was a part of the Third brigade of the Fourth division of the Fifteenth army corps, of the Army of the Tennessee. The division was commanded by Brigadier- General William Harrow, the corps by Major-General John A. Logan, and the Army of the Tennessee by Major-General James B. McPherson, all under Major- General W. T. Sherman, commanding the "Military Division of the Mississippi."
May 1st. Left Scottsboro and marched eight miles toward Stevenson.
May 2nd. Marched eight miles.
May 3rd. Marched fourteen miles through Stevenson and Bridgeport and crossed the Tennessee river.
May 4th. Marched twelve miles passing Shell Mound, roads dusty, weather warm and scent of dead mules almost unbearable.
May 5th. Marched eighteen miles passing Lookout Mountain and camping at Rossville. Not a man straggled.
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The Atlanta Campaign.
JOSEPH ALBERT, COMPANY A.
1900.
Was born in Baiern, Germany, March 19, 1836. Came to Amer- ica with his parents in 1847, going direct to Chicago where they lived six years, when they moved to Lake county, Indiana. Three years later he went to Merrillville, Indiana, and spent seven years working for Adam Kaiser and learning the trade of a shoemaker. He then went to Hobart, Indiana, where he worked until he enlisted in Company A, 99th Indiana. Served faithfully until mustered out. He then went to Chicago where he worked at his trade four years, then to Logansport for two years, when he married and settled at Burrows, Indiana, where he still resides, having a wife, two sons and a daughter living. Though born on a foreign soil he is a thor- ough-going American. When the roll of the regiment was called, A being the first company and his name at the head of Company A, was the first one called. May he live long to enjoy his life in the land he helped to save. Address, Burrows, Indiana.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
May 6th. Marched ten miles on the Dry Valley road and camped near Crawfish Springs.
The report of Lieutenant-Colonel John M. Berkey made on the 6th of August, 1864, of this campaign, gives the marches each day, and I follow that, putting in such matters of detail as I am able to do from other sources. In order to make the distinction clear I put his report in the larger type and the comment in the smaller, so the reader will understand what is his and what is mine.
May 7th. Moved at 8:30 a. m .; halted in the right of the road and camped. At 2 a. m. of the 8th a detail of thirty-three men and one commissioned officer was ordered to report to division quartermaster to go to Chattanooga as train guard and have remained with the division commissary eversince. Marched at 11:45 a. m .; crossed Taylor's Ridge at Mattock's or Ship's gap, camped at 6 p. m. near Villanow, having marched nine miles.
May 9th. Marched at 5 a. m. going eight miles and camped in line of battle on the extreme left of the brigade at 2 p. m.
May 10.h. Remained in statu quo.
May 11th. Moved one mile forward; halted in column of regiments in rear of 70th Ohio, or on the left of brigade.
May 12th. Moved a mile, deployed one company as skirmishers; at night errected log breastworks.
May 13th. Marched four miles, halted in line about three hours, moved forward under fire of the enemy's guns, in line of battle; then in columns of divisions.
May 14th. One man accidentally wounded; at 10 p. m. were ordered and reported to General Osterhaus.
May 15th. At daybreak were called to attention and ordered to support a battery of General Osterhaus'; two men wounded; under fire all day,
The wounded men were Sergeant David T. Burnham, Company A, and Francis Trainer, Company F. The one accidentally wounded was Geo. A. Stewart, Company F.
May 16th. Resacca evacuated by the enemy; moved at 10 a. m .; halted for the Fourteenth corps to pass, marched six miles, crossed at Calhoun ferry (Coosawattie
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The Atlanta Campaign.
river) and camped for the night in the left center of the brigade."
The first battle of the campaign was thus a victory for Sher- man, Johnston being unable to hold the ground he liad selected, his first stand had been at Dalton. Resacca stands in the elbow at the junction of the Connasauga and Oostanaula, on the north bank of the latter river, and on Johnston's line of communication, and while Thomas was confronting Johnston at Dalton, Sherman passed McPherson's two corps, via Villanow, through Snake Creek Gap, and threatened Resacca. It is now believed if McPherson had at once boldly attacked the fortifications at Resacca, he would have placed himself in the rear of Johnston's army, but the fortifications were very strong and defended by two brigades, so he hesitated to make the sacrifice. In the meantime Johnston fell back from Dal- ton, but soon saw he could not hold Resacca, and soon fell back to the Etowah river. Sherman's plan of campaign was a very simple one. The three corps of Thomas were to continually press the enemy from the front, while McPherson and Scofield were to alternately on right and on left threaten his flank and rear, and all were to fight when they had an open field.
May 17th. Marched at 7:30 a. m about ten miles, formed in line of battle across the valley; moved for- ward two miles; camped in defense of a gap; rained hard during the day.
May 18th. Marched at 7:30 a. m. five miles through Adairsville, then took road to right of railroad: marched about six miles farther and camped on Barnsley's farm for the night.
May 19th. Marched at 10 a. m. six miles, camped within one mile of Kingston, in column of regiments in open field. Remained in statu quo until May 23rd, when at 7:30 a. m., we started on the Rome road, crossed Etowah river, marched about fifteen miles, camped on bank of a small creek.
May 24th. Marched at 7:30 a. m., passed through VanWert, formerly county seat of Polk county, distance seven miles. Camped at 2 p. m.
May 25th. Marched at 10 a.m. seven miles, bivouaced, and ere we supped were ordered to fall in, and then marched about half a mile, formed line and camped again for the night.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
May 26th. Marched at 7 a. m. about three miles, halted in front of the enemy near Dallas.
May 27th. Took position ordered and commenced building breastworks; Companies I, E and G, were put on skirmish line, one man wounded; two prisoners taken.
Wounded man was Francis C. McGraw, Company I.
May 28th. Two companies, A and B on skirmish line. At 4 p. m., enemy charged driving skirmishers in, when orders were received to fire from line, which, being com- plied with resulted in routing the enemy, he sustaining the loss of nine dead in our front and eleven prisoners. Our loss, killed, wounded and missing, was thirty-six.
The killed and wounded were as follows:
Killed, Benjamin F. Kelly, Elisha Morford, of Company B.
Wounded, Sergeant George W. Merrill, Corporal John B. Engle, David Furgeson, Charles Niksch, Jesse E. Traut, of Company A.
Corporal Joseph B. Morford, George H. Alley, Charles G. Ham- ilton, Oliver Reeves, William W. Reeves, Sergeant George W. Watts, Samuel D. Alley (died of wounds September 3, 1864); Wil- liam Shipman (died of wounds May 30, 1864); Robert H. Vernon (died March 9, 1865, at Laurel Hill, North Carolina); John A Mor- ford (discharged October 27, 1864, on account of wounds); Harvey True (discharged December 7, 1864, for wounds); Jonathan Bald- win, Joseph Bowman, Riley A. Reeves, Charles W. Scott, Vinton Whitehurst, James W. Warrington (died of wounds June 12, 1864), all of Company B.
Allen Catt, Elmore J. Shideler, Jonathan Dillman, of Com- pany E.
Corporal Rodney Jeger, of Company G.
Jesse W. Wynn, of Company H.
William R. Shaw, of Company B, was captured and died Au- gust 5, 1864, in Andersonville prison.
The cause for the greater losses in Companies A and B is, they were on the skirmish line and remained there holding the line against the enemy's charge until they were flanked and had to cut their way out.
Of this fight Colonel Oliver, the brigade commander, says:
"On the 28th (at 4 p. m.) the enemy charged our line and were handsomely repulsed. The behavior of the officers and men of the command was excellent. Our line was steadily held, no confusion of any kind took place. The fight was severe, the aggregate loss of the
.
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The Atlanta Campaign.
HENRY F. KURTZ, COMPANY G. 1900.
Born in Nelson county, Kentucky, February 10, 1828. Came with his parents to Indiana in autumn of same year. His father entered 140 acres of land near New Maysville, Putnam county, In- diana, where he lived until his death in 1874, his wife dying in 1876. Henry was married October 9, 1851, to Margaret N. Vannice. In 1852 he bought 240 acres of land in Hendricks county, where he has lived ever since. They have six children living, Caroline F., wife of John F. Underwood; Jacob Kurtz; Eliza, wife of James A. Hadley; Jennie A., wife of Charles C. Hadley, Charles E. and Oscar R. Kurtz, all married and all living in Hendricks county. Comrade Kurtz is one among the oldest soldiers of Hendricks county, being 34 years old when he enlisted in Company G, August 13, 1862. He was with the regiment until the battle of July 22, 1864, at Atlanta, where he was so unfortunate as to be captured, and for seven months en- dured the hardships of confederate prisons, three of them in Ander- sonville. Was paroled March 1, 1865, and reached home March 22, 1865 and mustered out as paroled prisoner in May, 1865. He was doing well and making money, but he laid these aside to serve his country from pure patriotism, and is a fair type of many 99th Indiana men. Address, Danville, Indiana.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
brigade in killed, wounded and missing being fifty-five." War Records, Vol. 38, page 341.
From this it can be seen that the brunt of the fight of the brigade was borne by the 99th as their loss was thirty-six while the loss of the other three regiments was only nineteen.
Of this engagement, Major Henry Hampton, Assistant Adjutant General of Hardee's Confederate Corps says:
"More or less skirmishing along the line all day until about - p. m. when Bate moved forward to feel the force in his front; he did not go far before he encountered a strong force behind formidable breastworks and was forced to retire after suffering considerably. For some cause our expedition to the right was not consummated." War Records, Vol. 38, page 706.
The cause of the failure of the movement was the encountering of the fifteenth army corps of General Logan. On the 29th there was slight skirmishing all day and at night an attack was made on Osterhaus and Smith's divisions and was repeated several times. The attack did not reach Harrow's division but the roar and din of the battle made the waiting in the dark for the enemy to come a time of severe trial; Colonel Fowler speaks of this in his interview.
May 29th. Lay in trenches all day; skirmishing in front till June 1st, when we moved to the rear and left about eight miles, and occupied works which the Twentieth corps left. Remained there, doing turns of duty in front line with other regiments of the brigade until the morning of the 6th, when we marched about eight miles and camped near Acworth until the 10th. Marched about three miles toward Big Shanty; dug rifle pits all night. Lay in same place until the 13th. Moved to the left a quarter of a mile on the same line, lay there until the 15th, when we moved two miles to the left, formed in open field in columns of brigade, 99th on the right of the brigade. Advanced at 1 p. m., drove the enemy about half a mile; lost two wounded. At night moved to the rear and camped for the night. Remained in the same situation until the 19th, when we moved to the right in reserve. Lay in the same place until the 25th. Moved to the right and relieved troops, Second division Fourteenth corps, at foot of Kenesaw moun- tain. Remained there until July 3rd; during the time intervening had fourteen wounded.
Erastus Ellibee was wounded on June 4th, and on the 15th Cor- poral Warren Cozat and Josiah T. Carter, both of Company K, were
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