USA > Indiana > The Forty-Fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, history of its services in the war of the rebellion and a personal record of its members > Part 4
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The sick in camp at the opening of the battle were all hastily carried to the Landing by the nurses, as soon as they saw the Union lines were being pressed. The rebels had possession of the camp that night, but we enjoyed all the comfort it could afford the next night.
The number of rounds fired by the different soldiers. of the Regiment in this battle could not, of course, be accurately numbered ; but William D. Groves, Co. H, a cool and intrepid soldier, and a man of good reputa- tion, claimed that he fired 200 rounds, 30 of which were with deliberate aim. His count for the second day was 77.
The effect of the bravery of the soldiers had quite an inspiring influence on the Assistant Surgeon, judging by a letter to his wife, written a few days after the battle. He said :
"I love the Forty-fourth (the fighting ones), and intend to follow them to the bitter end, if necessary. They richly merit the attention of surgeons, and shall have it as long as I can walk. I am sick, sick, of those puny, long-faced, sniveling, unfortunate mortals who are ever sick when there is a fight on hand. Fortun- ately we have had precious few of these. The more I study and learn what the Forty-fourth Regiment really did in this great battle, the more do I admire the gal-
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SHILOHI.
lantry and bravery of the men. At one time they charged the enemy alone, and were the last troops to leave the field on the left wing, on Sunday. They marched off in good order, all alone, and far in the rear of the other forces, the enemy following closely behind in overwhelming numbers."
He did serve the Regiment until the day of its muster out ; and he is glad to-day, nearly eighteen years after, to make the record in this volume, that from that day on he never say anything to change his profound regard for the valor and faithfulness of its men.
The following is the report of killed and wounded, made after the battle :
FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonel H. B. Reed, wounded in chest, slight.
Lieutenant-Colonel S. J. Stoughton, wounded in leg, slight.
Acting Major A. Heath, wounded in leg, slight.
Assistant Surgeon J. H. Rerick, wounded in chest, slight.
COMPANY A.
Killed .- Joseph Jackman, Leander Hall.
Wounded .- Lieutenant N. A. Sowers, foot, severely ; Lieutenant B. Smith, breast, severe ; John Ulam, slightly ; N. P. Lewis, hand; Jas. H. Merriman, hip, severe ; Wm. Carlin, head, slight; John Ryan, Jr., leg; William Rosser, arm, seriously ; Hannibal Scovil, thigh, severely : Henry A. Lords, face; Henry Twitch- ell, leg; Wm. Yenner, arm, died; Johm R. Hutchins, face, slight ; Win. MeMuire, chin ; Joshua West, head, slight; Henry Beard, face, slight; Allen M. Sailor, head, slight.
COMPANY B.
Killed .- Captain John Murray, Sergeant William MeNeal, Alva Danner, John Easton, Ralph Goodrich.
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SHILOH.
Wounded .- Ed. N. Whitney, arm, severe ; M. D. Campbell, chest, severe; Benj. Campbell, leg, severe ; James Garnett, hand ; Basil Hunter, thigh, dangerous ; Silas M. Scott, arm; Thomas J. Powers, leg; Clinton Scoby, arm, slight; Albert R. Westfall, arm, severe ; Newton Westfall, hand.
COMPANY C.
Killed .- William Woodford, Peter Stall, Robert Stewart.
Wounded .- Lieutenant Grund, leg ; John Keefer, foot; George Mayers, arm; John Elzey, arm ; Joseph Nicodemus, face ; Marion McGinnis, face ; Owen Shaw, face ; Milton Sites, head ; Samuel B. Sweet, leg; Mich- . ael Harrison, shoulder ; A. P. Waterhouse, arm ; Amos French, arm ; James M. Flutter, Wm. P. Henderson, shoulder.
COMPANY D.
Killed .- Burke D. Shafer, William H. Casebeer, Jacob H. MeClellan, John Poppy, Platt J. Squires, Wm. Underwood.
Wounded .- Captain Cosgrove, arm, severe; Sergeant Geo. W. Shell, Sanford Worden, foot; Randall Sim- mons, ankle ; William N. Johnson, arm ; Amos T. Brit- ton, arm ; Alfred Daugherty, John Farmer, hip ; Sam- uel Hartzell, shoulder; Sylvester Minier, leg; Joseph V. Reed, arm; Robert D. Rhea, arm; Joseph Shook, arm ; Stephen P. Waybill, shoulder; Alfred Wilson, severely ; Ezra Worden, breast ; Samuel Stroman, arm.
COMPANY E.
Killed .- Acting Captain George Weamer, Warren Banta.
Wounded .- Samuel W. Hovens, hip; Henry Rup- ley, arm ; O. P. Kountz, neck ; Michael Sickafoose, elbow ; John T. Howard, thigh ; Henry Brenneman, arm ; Joseph Anderson, leg; Elam Robbins, arm ; Adam Borsh, thigh ; Francis A. Grable, arm ; George Hollo-
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SHILOH.
way, shoulder; Ezra Buschnell, hand ; Jacob Brande- burg, knee ; John M. Collins, hand ; Joseph W. Comp- ton, hand ; Simon Oberhatzer, hip ; Theodore F. Nave, groin.
Henry Rupley, Joseph Anderson, Michael Sickafoose and Henry M. Engle were discharged because of their wounds.
COMPANY F.
Killed .- William Collier, William Bender.
Wounded .- Lieutenant Thomas C. Kinmont, thigh, severely ; Alexander Kinmont, hand ; I. N. Thomas, knee; J. M. Milliman, arm; Geo. W. Cosper, face ; Isaac Firestone, face; Peter Countryman, finger off; Robert R. Dirrim, arm ; Isaac Detmer, abdomen ; Hiram Goff, knee, died ; Henry C. Pryer, face; Alfred Rose, thigh ; Thos. O. Sloan, arm ; Nathan Stockwell, shoul- der ; John H. Webster, arm ; Hiram B. Williams, arm ; George W. Wallace, chest.
COMPANY G.
Killed .- Jacob Mohn, Andrew P. Botzell.
Wounded .- Chauncey Wright, thigh ; John Goff, thigh ; Sammuel Wertsbaugher, thigh ; Martin Minard, elbow ; Paul Bean, arm ; William McKee, arm ; Henry O'Grady, arm ; Sergeant O. Z. Rawson, leg ; James C. Riddle, shoulder ; Edwin W. Matthews, shoulder ; John Y. Johnson, arm ; Henry Eley, foot, died ; Milton Ed- sall, breast ; John Minkey, breast; Henry Aumsbaugh, leg ; George Adams, arm.
COMPANY H.
Killed .- John V. Curtis, Augustus A. S. Galloway, Jerome Wright, Orwin Page.
Wounded .- Lieutenant Jacob Newman, bowels; Wil- liam Crow, wrist and side ; John B. Rowe, knee; Geo. Gregory, back ; Daniel P. Strecker, foot ; Victor Ket- cham, foot ; George Ray, thigh ; David Randall, arm ;
SHILOH. 59
John Burridge, leg ; Daniel Spearow, leg ; George Ben- ham, thigh.
COMPANY I.
Killed .- Frank Lammers, John Deelute.
Wounded .- Frank Baldwin, head ; Nelson Mans- field, neck, mortally ; Alexander Devor, arm ; Jacob Cordie, hand ; Daniel Brooks, neck ; Peter Harney, shoulder; Wentworth Irwin, shoulder ; Frederick John- son, George Maybee, thigh ; Irvin Robinson, arm ; John Tavener, hand ; Joseph Benedict, leg.
COMPANY K.
Wounded .- Captain S. C. Aldrich, slight ; Sergeant Moses B. Willis, hand ; John G. Long, hand; Oscar Knapp, side; Thomas O. Leslie, lower jaw ; George Sanderson, shoulder, died ; Andrew Hollopeter, arm ; Elias Baylor, head ; Benjamin F. Cornell, band ; Jacob Casebeer, hand ; Nicholas Endsley, abdomen, slight ; J. F. Housel, thigh ; John H. C. Hoffman, arm ; Henry H. Hawley, neck ; Jacob Link, leg ; Lemuel Richey, foot ; Charles M. Thomas, breast ; Joseph Thompson, arm; Norman C. Shank, arm; Samuel Fair, arm ; Hiram M. Fanning, shoulder ; Robert Hall, hand ; Joseph P. Sisson, shoulder ; Madison Rodgers, shoul- der ; James E. Pence, knee.
The preceding is the official report of killed and wounded, as made to the Surgeon of the Regiment immediately after the battle, by the company officers. Several then reported killed were found afterward not to have been killed. In the company records will be found the killed as they appear in the Adjutant Gen- eral's report. Joseph Jackman, M. J. Culp, Wm. H. Underwood, though reported killed, were severely wounded only, and recovered, and were discharged ; whilst Henry Brenneman, Co. F, and Henry Ely, Co.
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SHILOH.
G, not reported killed, died a few days after the battle, of their wounds.
Indiana soldiers, at this time, came to appreciate the care and devotion of Governor Morton as they never had before. As speedily as the boats could carry them he had extra physicians on the field, to help care for the sick and wounded ; and by obtaining a special per- mit from the Secretary of War, hundreds of Indiana soldiers gained an opportunity to return home to recover from wounds and disease, who otherwise could not have had the privilege. Dr. George W. Carr, of Ligonier, and Dr. B. C. Rowan, of Fort Wayne, were sent by him to the Forty-fourth, to assist in the care of the sick and wounded. The latter remained a few days. Dr. Carr was detained until authority was given to appoint two assistant surgeons for each regiment, when he was regularly commissioned Second Assistant Surgeon of the Forty-fourth, and served it faithfully and efficiently until promoted Surgeon of the 129th Indiana.
The conduct and merits of the battle were almost the exclusive topics of discussion for weeks. While resting up, officers and men of different commands. visited each other, and compared their views and experiences. In the Forty-fourth there was but one opinion, apparently, and that was, that the troops in the front were surprised on the morning of the 6th, and that the surprise was the result of gross carelessness and an insufficient system of picketing. This view was con- firmed by the new duties imposed upon the Regiment. Before the battle there had been no details for picket duty, but now they came frequently, and occasionally
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SHILOHI.
the whole command was required to go out for that purpose. While out with the Regiment on picket duty, one day, we visited a rebel hospital within our lines, and conversed with a Captain of the 11th Mississippi, who claimed that his regiment lost 298 men out of 400. In answer to the inquiry, " At what distance from our camp did you strike our pickets?" he answered, about 150 yards. He said they were greatly surprised at the easy and unmolested approach they made upon the Union lines.
Those who witnessed the bravery of the Union sol- diers on the first day at Shiloh, will ever remain confi- dent that they could have whipped General Beauregard then and there had the front lines been protected as they were afterward, when in face of an enemy. These feelings on the part of the troops made the assumption of personal command by General Halleck quite agree- able. The enthusiasm for Grant subsided for a while, but only to be revived again, after Halleck had a brief day of favor, which closed with the siege of Corinth.
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CORINTH TO BATTLE CREEK.
CHAPTER VII.
TO CORINTH AND BATTLE CREEK.
GENERAL HALLECK arrived at Pittsburgh Landing April 11th, and at once commenced reorganizing the army, and adding to its numbers, preparatory to a movement upon Corinth, twenty miles distant. The army was divided into five grand parts: the right, cen- ter, and left wings, the reserves, and the cavalry. General Thomas was assigned to the command of the right wing ; General Buell, the center ; General Pope, the left ; General McClernand to the reserve, and Gen- eral A. J. Smith to the cavalry. General Grant was assigned a nominal position as second in command. Each of the wings was composed of four divisions. To General Buell was assigned the divisions of Generals McCook, Nelson, Crittenden, and Wood. The Forty- fourth was assigned to General Crittenden's division, and to the brigade commanded by General Vancleve.
On the 29th of April the order came to strike tents, and the great movement on Corinth commenced. For the next thirty days, we thought we were being handled with great care and skill, though towards the last it became apparent, with excessive caution. We were marched out the first day one mile and a quarter, the next day one mile and a half, and thus we moved
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CORINTH TO BATTLE CREEK.
every few days, to the right, or left, or forward, occa- sionally skirmishing with the enemy, until we reached Farmington, near Corinth. Here we halted long enough to form camp, but with continuous picket firing along the line in our immediate front, which broke out occa- sionally into sharp skirmishes. Early on the morning of the 30th of May, the brigade was called out, as though for battle, when terrific sounds, as of explosions, were heard in the direction of Corinth. The division advanced, and without opposition marched directly into Corinth, finding it evacuated, and a large amount of army stores on fire. The thundering sounds heard be- fore starting were the explosions of a large pile of shells the enemy had fired, being unable to get them away. Thus ended the siege of Corinth. The Forty-fourth lost no men in the movement, except such as died of disease on the march. These were :
Jacob Coldren, Co. H, May 8th ; James A. Dir- rim, Co. F, May 21st ; Elijah Locke, Co. K. June -; Henry Crafts, Co. H, June 9th, and John T. John- son, Co. - , June 11th,-the two latter at the general field hospital.
General Crittenden's division pursued the enemy south as far as Booneville, Mississippi, some twenty miles, when further pursuit was abandoned, and the great combination of armies under General Halleck was broken up. The army of the Ohio, with General Buell in command, was ordered to face to the east, and move on Chattanooga, two hundred miles distant, while the army of the Tennessee, under General Grant, was to operate west of Corinth.
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CORINTH TO BATTLE CREEK.
General Crittenden's division started eastward from Booneville, June 4th. When the Regiment reached luka, the writer, who had fallen sick, was left, and John R. Grubb, musician, also in ill health, was detailed to care for him. A furlough was sent in a few days, and they managed to get to the river, and thence home. I am therefore without personal knowledge of the march from this point to Florence, Tuscumbia, Athens, Hunts- ville, Stevenson, and finally to Battle Creek, Tennessee, which the command reached about the middle of July. The march was much complained of by the soldiers on account of the lack of full rations, and of insufficient clothing. The last part of the journey was performed by many barefooted. There was no action with the enemy on the march. Two soldiers who fell sick on the route and were left at general hospital at Huntsville, Alabama, died, viz. : John Monkey, Co. G, July 5th, and Joseph Eckles, Co. D, July 12th.
The writer reached the command again, July 26th, and found it very pleasantly encamped about five miles above Bridgeport, in a narrow valley, with the Tennes- see River in front, the Cumberland range in the rear, and Battle Creek on the left. Generals Crittenden's and McCook's divisions were scattered along the line front Stevenson, Alabama, to this point. We were now at the extreme front, with the enemy's pickets in full view across the river. Chattanooga, about thirty miles distant, was the objective point of General Buell, but he now found his forces scattered all along the railroad lines in Northern Alabama and Middle Tennessee, try- ing to keep communication open to Bridgeport, and yet
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CORINTH TO BATTLE CREEK. 65
was unable to keep these two divisions in full rations or forage.
Soon after reaching Battle Creek, the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel each being absent, the command of the Regiment devolved upon Major Bingham. August 18th, 1862, was grand muster day, under the noted Order No. 14, according to which the muster rolls were to be revised, and all found absent without leave were to be stricken off. The order was the occasion of much trouble, and in many instances of great injustice. Many who had no thought of deserting, nor in the least prov- ing recreant to their duty, were unavoidably detained away longer than their leaves allowed. It was only through the decision of a court martial that any could be restored to their positions in the army. And the subsequent movements of the army prevented the con- vening of these courts for several months. Several officers and a number of men of the Regiment had trouble under the order. At this muster there were 437 men and 26 commissioned officers present, and 200 men and four officers absent. The loss by death, dis- charge and desertion up to this date was 272. The deaths had been 80. The killed and wounded num- bered 250.
It was now apparent that another movement was approaching. The sick were all ordered back to Steven- son, and the command put in readiness for motion. What the movement would be was a matter of much speculation in regimental quarters, but without knowl- edge. Subsequent history reveals the fact that General Buell and General Thomas differed as to the intent of
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CORINTH TO BATTLE CREEK.
the rebel General Bragg, then at Chattanooga. Buell thought it was his intention to strike for Nashville, whilst Thomas believed that his objective point was Kentucky and Louisville. Thomas was right, but the movements of the army of the Ohio were conducted for some thirty days upon Buell's theory.
Before we depart, let us count the little mounds that cover the remains of the heroes who have departed this life in camp here. They were :
Sergeant Charles Beverly, Co. F, July 20.
James Murray, Co. D, July 23.
Simon C. Cutter, Co. K, July 30.
Charles Danks, Co. F, August 1.
William Slade, Co. I, died August 14, between Bridgeport and Stevenson, on the way to general hos- pital.
Quartermaster William Bayliss died at Fort Wayne, August -, 1862.
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THE GREAT FOOT RACE.
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CHAPTER VIII.
THE GREAT FOOT RACE.
As soon as darkness had enshrouded the valley, on the evening of August 20th, 1862, Generals McCook's and Crittenden's divisions, in light marching order, with ten days' rations in haversack, silently broke camp, marched up the valley, crossed Battle Creek, and march- ing until midnight, bivouacked at Jasper. The next day they moved some four miles up the Sequachia val- ley, and the day after, back again to within two miles of the old camp.
August 23, marched westward about two miles, and bivouacked in Gizzard Cove.
August 24, moved slowly westward five miles, to foot of Cumberland mountains. General McCook's division in the advance, moved up the mountain.
August 25, moved up the mountain, on a very rough road. Were nearly all day making two miles to the summit, then marched seven miles on the mountain and went into bivouac at midnight.
August 26, marched five miles, crossed the Tracy City railroad, and descended the mountain on the north side, and camped near a large spring flowing from the mountain side.
August 27, no movement ; men rest and wash up.
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THE GREAT FOOT RACE.
August 28, aroused at 11/2 A. M, to march, but after getting ready the order was countermanded, and Gen- eral Crittenden's division remained in camp all day.
August 29, marched northward through Pelham and camped on Hillsborough road, seven miles.
August 30, marched to Hillsborough.
August 31, marched to Manchester.
September 1, marched at 4 A. M., on Murfreesboro road, twelve miles. Began now to understand that we were falling back, and really on a foot race with Bragg's army, which was moving nearly on a parallel, though shorter line, for Kentucky.
September 2, marched fourteen miles, and camped within three miles of Murfreesboro.
September 3, marched to Murfreesboro, and thence out on Lebanon pike eight miles.
September 4 and 5, in bivouac.
September 6, marched to and through Lavergne, and camped six miles south of Nashville.
September 7, marched to and through Nashville, and went into bivouac six miles north of the city.
September 8, marched four miles.
September 9, marched twelve miles.
September 10, marched fourteen miles, and camped near Mitchellville.
September 11, marched at 4 o'clock A. M., crossed the State line into Kentucky, and camped at noon near Tyne Springs, making fourteen miles.
September 12, a large detail sent back to Mitchell- ville to protect the trains.
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THE GREAT FOOT RACE.
September 13, marched to within three and a half miles of Bowling Green.
. September 14 and 15, in bivouac.
September 16, marched through Bowling Green and went into camp one mile north of the town.
September 17, marched eighteen miles.
September 18, marched to Cave City, and a few miles out towards Munfordsville.
September 19, skirmishing with the enemy. Troops posted as if for battle. Some 4,200 Union troops, sur- rendered to Bragg at Munfordsville, a few days before, came into General Buell's lines on parole.
September 20, held in readiness for action all day. The soldiers were very anxious for a contest with the enemy here, believing from what they could learn that the enemy could be severely punished, if not com- pletely routed. A General probably never had an army so anxious to grapple with the enemy as General Buell this day. His failure to show any energetic dis- position to engage his foe here, lost him the confidence of the rank and file of his army.
September 21, marched at 4 o'clock A. M. to and through Munfordsville, General Bragg having marched out.
September 22, marched twelve miles.
September 23, marched thirty miles, through Eliza- bethtown.
September 24, marched to West Point, on the Ohio River, and thence out toward Louisville three miles, making fifteen miles.
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THE GREAT FOOT RACE.
September 25, marched to Louisville, some fifteen miles.
We beat Bragg to Lonisville. The race was a three hundred mile heat, and was walked in light marching order, without shelter at night, and most of the time on half rations. The men went into bivouac at Louisville, foot-sore, ragged and weary, though really in better health than when they left camp at Battle Creek. But they felt that their loyalty to the commanding General had been very severely tested, and, with a few, their loyalty to the Government. The whole retrograde movement, it seemed to them, could have been avoided ; and that engagements with the enemy which would have cut the movement short had been purposely avoided by General Buell, was the firm belief of thousands of men in the army of the Ohio, and throughout the country.
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THE PERRYVILLE CAMPAIGN.
CHAPTER IX.
THE PERRYVILLE CAMPAIGN.
A FEW days' rest only was given at Louisville, but in these few days General Buell's army was reorganized, partially re-clothed, and a large number of new regi- ments added. General Crittenden was now assigned to the command of one of the three corps newly formed, and General Vancleve to the command of a division. The second brigade, under the latter, consisted of the IIth Kentucky, 13th Ohio, 44th Indiana, and 86th Indiana, a new regiment; Colonel Hawkins, of the 11th Kentucky, in command.
General Bragg was reported at Bardstown, some twenty-five miles southeast, and on October Ist, Buell's army moved again to meet him, but hardly a soldier in the ranks believed a hostile meeting at all probable. On the second day out, the Regiment was greeted with the presence of a paymaster, for the first time since June. That night two Lieutenants and some ten men deserted. Their dishonored names can be found in the report of the Adjutant General of the State. We omit them here.
Vancleve's division reached the vicinity of Bards- town on the 4th. There was more or less skirmishing at the front every day, but only with the rear-guard of
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THE PERRYVILLE CAMPAIGN.
the enemy, who had fallen back to Springfield, and then to Perryville. General Crittenden reached the vicinity of Perryville about noon, October 8th, and formed his corps in line of battle on the right. The roar of battle was distinctly heard to the left, and riderless horses rushed through the lines of the Forty-fourth ; but there were no orders to advance until the 9th, when the corps moved in fine line of battle, through wood and field, on Perryville. The Surgeons of the Regiment, getting weary of the slow pace, and the whole farce, rode ahead into Perryville, which had been abandoned by the ene- my the night before, and was then occupied by troops from the left. To the men in line it seemed a crime that General Crittenden was not ordered forward on the 8th. Such a movement would have resulted in a most crushing defeat of Bragg's army, if not in its capture.
General Crittenden's corps manœuvred around in the triangle between Perryville, Harrodsburg and Dan- ville, a portion of the time in line of battle, until the 13th, when pursuit of Bragg was commenced, and we were marched to Danville, Stanford, Crab Orchard, Mt. Vernon, and thence into a mountainous section to Wild Cat, where we lay in bivouac from the 20th until the 23d, when we were marched back to Mt. Vernon, and thence southward to Somerset, where we arrived on the 25th, in the midst of a snow-storm. Snow fell that night to the depth of some four or five inches. The command was wholly without shelter, and the men had only a blanket apiece. Large fires were built, and taunting jibes, and the current army slang, " Here's
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THE PERRYVILLE CAMPAIGN.
your mule," resounded from the camp fires all night long. After a halt of a day or two here, we marched on, moving through the Mill Spring battle-field to the vicinity of Glasgow, which was reached October 3d. Here the command was gladdened with the news that General Buell had been relieved and General Rosen- crans placed in command of the army of the Ohio, which name he soon had changed to that of the army of the Cumberland.
As the Regiment went into bivouac one evening while on the march from Somerset, the attention of the medical officers was called to Paul Bean, Co. G, who was found lying prostrate on the ground, but presenting no indications whatever of any disease. To all appear- ance he was utterly exhausted, and this alone. Stimu- lants and tonics were administered, but being still unable to be carried the next morning, he was left in the care of a friendly family, where he died a day or two after. He fell a martyr to his abhorrence of the shirk, and of that class who for every trivial ailment sought medical aid, excuse from duty, or a ride in the ambulances or wagons. He would ask no favors, and literally fell in the ranks before his disability was known by the com- pany officers.
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