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 8
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Here he was granted a short leave of absence, but re- joined the Regiment soon after it had crossed the Cum- berland Mountains upon the Buell and Bragg foot-race, and was with it, most of the time, in the tiresome march to Nashville, Louisville, Perrysville, Wild Cat, and back to Nashville. His health was much impaired in the service, and he resigned, November 26, 1862, and at the close of the war, to promote his health, moved to the East, and now resides at Somerville, N. J., in the vicin- ity of New York.
COLONEL WILLHAM C. WILLIAMS is a native of Pennsylvania; received a classical and medical educa- tion, and was, at the breaking out of the war, a practic- ing physician at Albion, Noble county, Indiana. He entered the service as Captain of Company G, which he helped to recruit. With Companies G and K he was in command of the Post at Henderson, Ky., from Jan- uary to the middle of March, 1862, rejoined the Regi- ment with his command on its way up the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing, led his company in the battle of Shiloh, and thence in all the marches until promoted Colonel to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Colonel Reed, November 27, 1862. He led the Regiment in the battle of Stone River, where, on the third day, in the furious charge of Gen- eral Breckenridge on the left, he was captured, and after- wards sent to Libby Prison. After several months' detention there he was exchanged, and returned to the Regiment at MeMinnville, Tenn., where he was re- ceived with much joy by the Regiment. Resigned July 27, 1863. Since the war he has filled the office of Clerk of his county two terms, and now resides at Albion, Indiana.
COLONEL SIMEON C. ALDRICH was a native of Ver- mont; went to California in 1860, and returned to his home at Pleasant Lake, Steuben county, Indiana, Sep-
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tember 1st, 1861, and in a few days commenced to assist in recruiting Company K ; was elected First Lieutenant, but was soon promoted to Captain, and led the Company in the battle of Shiloh. Was promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel, November 27, 1852, commanded the Regiment from January 2, 1862, and led it through the battle of Chickamauga. In this battle, after the lines were broken, and the brigade and division seattered, he led the Forty-fourth, without orders, except the sound of artillery showing where heroes were needed, to the left, coming to the aid of General Harker's line, in General Thomas's command, at a most critical moment, and. rendered a service that won for him and the Regiment flattering comments from Generals Thomas, Wood, and Harker, who were eye-witnesses. He found his brigade and division after the battle. As soon as the army fell back to Chattanooga, he was sent out with the 44th and the 13th Ohio Volunteers to Missionary Ridge, to ob- serve and retard the approach of the enemy, and here had a brisk skirmish. November 8th, 1863, he was appointed Provost-Marshal of Chattanooga, and the Regiment placed on Post duty. He filled the duties of Provost- Marshal until the Regiment re-enlisted, when he accompanied the veterans home, and returned with them to Chattanooga, and was in command of the Regi- ment until early in August, 1863, when he was granted leave of absence on account of ill-health. A few days after he reached home he was suddenly taken worse, and died, August 15, 1863. He was commissioned as Colonel, July 27, 1863, but owing to the reduced number of men in the Regiment, could never be mustered in as such.
COLONEL JAMES F. CURTISS was a jeweler by trade ; resided at Elkhart; entered the service as Second Lieu- tenant of Company I; was promoted First Lientenant January 18, 1852; Captain, March 21, 1863; commis-ioned
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Major, August 23, 1863, but was not mustered as such ; promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, September 28, 1864, and Colonel, March 12, 1865, and was mustered out with the Regiment. He was with the Regiment in all its marches and battles, from the first to the last day of its service. His bravery was noted in all the battles, and especially complimented by his commander at Chieka- mauga. He returned after the war to Elkhart, and a few years after went from there to Northern Michigan and entered a soldier's homestead, but while working on it, one day, suddenly died.
THE LIEUTENANT-COLONELS.
LIEUTENANT- COLONEL SANFORD J. STOUGHTON WAS at the opening of the war an attorney-at-law, in active practice at Ligonier, Noble County. He was commis- sioned Major, September 12, 1861, for the organization of the Forty-fourth Regiment, and rendered active and efficient aid in recruiting its ranks. He served bravely in the battles of Fort . Donelson and Shiloh, and was with the Regiment in the advance on Corinth and in the march to Battle Creek, Louisville, and back to Nashville. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, March 10, 1862, and to Colonel of the 100th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, November 12, 1862, where he served until January 7th, 1864, when he resigned. He is now a resident of Ottowa, Kansas.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SIMEON C. ALDRICH. See " COLONELS."
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOSEPH C. HODGES was a resident of Elkhart, assisted in the organization of Company I, and was elected First Lientenant, which position he held until May, 1862, when he was pro- moted Adjutant. He was promoted Major, October 24,
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1863, and Lieutenant-Colonel, August 15, 1864. He died from the effects of a railroad accident near Tullahoma, Tenn., September 28, 1864, as more fully noted in the preceding pages. He participated in all the movements and battles of the Regiment from the first day of its entrance into the service until the hour of his death. He was brave as a lion, and too impulsive to witness cowardice without burning indignation. An instance of the latter occurred when the Regiment was march- ing out to engage the enemy at Shiloh, on the morning of April 6th. General Prentiss' division had been sur- prised and routed, and detachments of it were fleeing back as the Regiment marched out. A stampeded C'ol- onel came dashing along to the rear, exclaiming, " We're whipped, we're whipped; we're all cut to pieces !" Lieutenant Hodges was marching along with his company, but his wrath boiling over, he rushed from the line, caught the cowardly Colonel's horse by the bridle, at the same time drawing his revolver, and exclaimed : " You - cowardly wretch, utter those words again and you are a dead man! You infernal coward, have you no more sense than to try and demor- alize troops going into action ? Go to the rear, you coward, but don't open your head on the way." The trembling coward did not resent, but it was noticed he rode at a more moderate gait, and it is supposed was somewhat more reflective.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES F. CURTISS. See un- der "COLONELS. "
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL PHILIP GRUND was a fore- man in the railroad shops at Fort Wayne; assisted in recruiting Company C, entering the service as Second Lieutenant of that Company ; was promoted to First Lieutenant, January 20, 1863; Captain, June 11, 1863, and Lieutenant-Colonel, March 12, 1865, and was mus-
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tered out with the Regiment, serving with it during its entire service, participating in all its marches and bat- tles. After the war he returned to Fort Wayne, and re- sumed his old position in the shops, which he yet holds.
THE MAJORS.
MAJOR SANFORD J. STOUGHTON. See " LIEUTEN- ANT COLONELS."
MAJOR WILLIAM B. BINGHAM is a native of Ohio; served with an Ohio regiment in the war with Mexico; was a resident of Lagrange; assisted in recruiting Com- pany H, and several companies in Lagrange county ; entered the service as Captain of Company HI, and for gallantry at Fort Donelson was promoted Major, April 15, 1862. Was in command of the Regiment at Battle Creek, and on the march from that point to near Bowl- ing Green, Ky., when he resigned, September 7, 1862, on account of recurrence of chronic diarrhoea, contracted in the Mexican war. He returned to his home at La- grange, where he now resides.
MAJOR CHARLES F. KINNEY resided near Metz, Steuben county; assisted in organizing Company A, of which company he was chosen Captain. He was as rank- ing Captain in command of the Regiment while in the vicinity of Nashville, and was commissioned Major November 27, 1862, but declined to muster as such, and resigned. He was a worthy, exemplary man and good officer, and by seniority entitled to promotion to the Coloneley at the time. After his return home he moved to Angola, where he died a few years after.
MAJOR WILLIAM M. MILES was n resident of Indi- anapolis, and was promoted to Major from a lieutenancy in the 22d Indiana Volunteers, to give him rank on
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WILLIAM B. BINGHAM,
MAJOR.
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General Rosecrans' staff, where he was serving. He never served with the Regiment, and was soon changed from the roster of the Forty-fourth, being promoted again, in his own regiment. He died at Indianapolis in April, 1880.
MAJOR JOSEPH C. HODGES. See " LIEUTENANT- COLONELS."
MAJOR JAMES F. CURTISS. See " COLONELS."
MAJOR JOSEPHE W. BURCH was a resident of Steuben county ; entered the service as a private of Company A ; served some time as Hospital Steward ; was promoted 10 Second Lieutenant, March 1, 1863, Captain, June 11, 1863, and Major, March 12, 1865, and was mustered out with the Regiment. Hle now resides in Minnesota.
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THE ADJUTANTS.
ADJUTANT CHARLES CASE was a resident of Fort Wayne, and prominent as a lawyer and politician. Had served the Tenth Congressional Distriet one term in Congress, his term expiring March 4, 1861. He felt it his duty to serve the country in the field, and was will- ing to accept any position at the time open. Not only his, but the heart of the whole command, responded to the sentiment of the poet :
" To light
In a just cause, und for our country's glory, Is the best office of the best men ; And to decline, when these motives urge, Is infamy beneath a coward's baseness."
He was commissioned Adjutant, September 28, 1861 ; was promoted Major of the 3d Cavalry, April 15, 1862; resigned in June, 1862; was appointed Colonel of the 129th Indiana Volunteers, March 1, 1864. Resigned in June, 1864, to accept appointment as Paymaster in the
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army. When last heard from, he was practicing law in the United States Supreme Court, at Washington.
ADJUTANT JAMES COLGROVE entered the service from DeKalb county, as Second Lieutenant of Com- pany F. Was promoted Adjutant, January 10, 1862, and resigned May 27, 1862. He now resides in Chicago.
ADJUTANT JOSEPH C. HODGES. See " LIEUTENANT- COLONELS."
ADJUTANT SAMUEL E. SMITH was a resident of Elk- hart; had been a student in the Michigan University ; entered the service as a private of Company I ; served some time as Sergeant-Major; was promoted Adjutant, November 14, 1863, and was mustered out at the expira- tion of his three years' enlistment. He is now a resi- dent of California.
ADJUTANT WILLIS P. ANDREWS entered the service as a private of Company F; succeeded Smith as Ser- geant-Major ; re-eulisted as a veteran, and was pro- moted Adjutant, April 11, 1865, and was mustered out with the Regiment, September 14, 1865. He is now practicing medicine in Michigan.
THE QUARTERMASTERS.
GEORGE W. MCCONNELL was a merchant and land dealer at Angola ; took an active interest in the organ- ization of the Regiment ; was commissioned Quarter- master September 28, 1862; resigned January 3, 1863, on account of disability. He returned to his business at Angola, where he still resides.
MARQUIS L. BAYLISS was a resident of Fort Wayne; was appointed Quartermaster, February 4, 1862; was with the Regiment at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Cor-
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inth. At the latter point he was taken sick, was given leave of absence, and died at his home in Fort Wayne, July, 1882.
SAMUEL P. BRADFORD was a resident of Lagrange county ; entered the service as a private of Company H; served some time as Wagon-Master, and then as Commissary-Sergeant, and after the illness of Quarter- master Bayliss, performed the labor of Quartermaster, although commissioned officers who only could officially act as such, nominally held the place. Was commis- sioned Quartermaster, February 21, 1863, and Captain of Company H, January 16, 1865. He was detailed as Chief Quartermaster on the staff of General Steedman in the spring of 1864, and went with that General as a member of his staff to Augusta, Georgia, in July, 1865, and was not present at the muster-out of the Regiment. He was not finally discharged until by special order of General Grant, November, 1868, though only in pay from the Government some fifty days after the muster- out of the Regiment. He is now a resident of Lagrange, filling the office of Clerk of the Lagrange Circuit Court, to which he was elected in 1876.
LIEUTENANT ALEXANDER KINMONT was a resident of DeKalb county ; entered the service as a private of Company F; was promoted Sergeant ; re-enlisted as a veteran ; was promoted First Lieutenant June 3, 1864, and Quartermaster January 17, 1865, and was mustered out with the Regiment September 14, 1865, serving with and sharing all the marches and battles of the Regi- ment.
THE CHAPLAINS.
REV. GEORGE W. BERKS was educated for the pro- fession of medicine, which he practiced some years, and then entered the Methodist ministry. At the breaking
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out of the war he was pastor of one of the Methodist Episcopal churches at Fort Wayne, and held in high esteem by that denomination. He was commissioned Chaplain November 25, 1861, went to the front with the Regiment, and rendered some valuable service for the wounded at Fort Donelson. Resigned December 1st, 1862. He died in 1879.
REV. ISAAC F. ROBERTS was an Episcopalian clergy- man, resident in the southern part of the State, and was commissioned Chaplain January 10, 1863, and re- signed November 7, 1863. While with the command he took creditable interest in the moral welfare of the men.
THE SURGEONS.
DR. WILLIAM W. MARTIN was a native of Balti- more, Indiana, received a medical education, and at the breaking out of the war was in active practice at Rome City, Noble county. Recruited about one-third of Com- pany D. Was commissioned Surgeon November 25, 1861, served the Regiment on the field at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Stone River, and was with it in all the marches until August 1st, 1863, when he resigned on account of ill health. Died at Kendallville, about the close of the war. The ardent devotion with which he served the sick under his care, and the determination with which he sought the best advantages possible for them, is a memory warmly cherished by many surviv- ors of the command.
DR. JOHN H. RERICK was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana ; graduated in the Medical Department of the. University of Michigan in 1853 ; was in practice at Lagrange at the breaking out of the war; assisted in recruiting the first volunteers from Lagrange county ; was appointed Assistant Surgeon for the organization
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of the Regiment, September 12, 1861. Was promoted Surgeon, October 28, 1863. Served on the field at the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, and Mis- sion Ridge. At the close of the war he returned to Lagrange, and resumed the practice of his profession. Entered the newspaper business in 1867, was elected Clerk of the Lagrange Circuit Court in 1868, and in 1872, serving eight years in that capacity. Is now editor and proprietor of the Lagrange Standard.
THE ASSISTANT SURGEONS.
DR. JOHN H. RERICK. See " SURGEONS."
DR. GEORGE W. CARR was a regular practicing physician at Ligonier. Immediately after the battle of Shiloh he volunteered his services to the Governor, temporarily, in the field, and was appointed Additional Assistant Surgeon pro tem. for the Regiment. A law afterward being enacted allowing two assistant surgeons for each regiment, he was commissioned Second Assist- ant Surgeon of the 44th Indiana, which he served until March 1st, 1864, when he was promoted Surgeon of the 129th Indiana Volunteers. He served this regiment until May, 1865, when he resigned. He is now a resi- dent of Ligonier, and in the practice of his profession.
DR. EDWARD B. SPEED was a regular physician, in practice at Lagrange. Was commissioned Assistant Surgeon June 24, 1864, and at onee started for the Regi- ment at Chattanooga, but soon after reaching there was taken down sick. Was removed to Officers' Hospital, ou Lookout Mountain, for treatment, where he died Sep- tember 14, 1864. His death is more fully noticed in the preceding pages.
DR. ISAAC N. PLUMMER was a regular physician ; was drafted into the service from Evansville, Indiana,
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in the fall of 1864, and assigned to the 44th Regiment. Upon reaching the command, his qualifications as a physician becoming known, he was put on service in the Regimental Hospital, and afterward recommended for appointment as Assistant Surgeon, and was so com- missioned, and was mustered in April 8, 1865. He was mustered out with the Regiment, September 14, 1865.
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THE NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
All mention of the non-commissioned staff of the Regiment having been omitted in Adjutant-General Terrell's Military Report of the State, I find it impossi- ble to give full statements in respect to these.
SERGEANT MAJORS.
The first Seargeant-Major was Samuel L. Bayliss. His name does not appear on the Adjutant-General's report at all. He was discharged on account of disabil- ity in 1862, and is now a resident of Minneapolis, Minn.
Bayliss was succeeded by Samuel C. Smith, Com- pany I, who served until promoted Adjutant, November 14, 1863. He was succeeded by Willis P. Andrews, Ser- geant, Company F, who served until promoted Adju- tant, April 11, 1865. The position was filled from this date until muster-out of the Regiment by William Ulrey, Company B.
HOSPITAL STEWARDS.
The first Hospital Steward was Jacob A. Banta, of Co. B, who served until disabled by sickness. He died at home, March 21, 1862. He was succeeded by Joseph W. Burch, Co. A, and he by Charles A. Pardee, Co. D, who was promoted to the position in 1863, re-
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enlisted, and held it until the muster-out of the Regi- ment.
QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS.
Marquis L. Bayliss was the first Quartermaster-Ser- geant, but his name does not appear in the Adjutant General's report. He was succeeded by Samuel P. Bradford, Co. H, and he by Adam Clark, and he by Samuel R. Havens, Co. E, who served from July, 1862, to November, 1864, when he was mustered out at the expiration of enlistment. He was succeeded by Sebas- tian Shoup, Co. H, who served until promoted Second Lieutenant, May 1, 1865. Jeremiah J. Shatto, Co. K, filled the position from this time until muster-out.
COMMISSARY SERGEANTS.
The Commissary-Sergeants were William F. Hinck- ley, Co. K, Samuel P. Bradford, Co. H, Sebastian Shoup, Co. H, and James Tuek, Co. H, serving in the order named.
LEADERS OF THE BAND.
The first leader of the Band was John R. Grubb, of Lagrange. His name also does not appear on the Adju- tant General's report. He was noted as an excellent tenor drummer. He was discharged in November, 1863, on account of disability. After the war he was stricken with paralysis, and is still living in a helpless condition under the care of a guardian appointed by the Court, who so economizes his pension money as to provide comfortably for him.
William T. Kimsey, I believe, succeeded Grubb, as leader of the Band. He re-enlisted, and was mustered out with the Regiment as Principal Musician.
PERSONAL MENTION
OF
MEMBERS OF COMPANIES.
.
Nors .- In the record of the Companies, all mention of dishon- orable discharge of the officers, and the names of the men who deserted the service, are omitted. The names of all such can be found In Adjutant-General Terrell's report, in every county officer's office in the State. This is, we think, a sufficient reminder of These unpleasant things, at this late date. The record of the original enlisted men is first given-those who entered the service at the organization of the Regiment, and were mustered in November 22, 1861, for three years. These are classified as " Veterans"; those who re-enlisted for another three years' service, and were mus- tered in as veterans, January 9, 1864, and were mustered out with the Regiment, September 11, 1865. 2d. "Three Years Men" : those who were mustered out at the end of three years' enlistment, No- vember, 1861, 3d. The original men killed on the field, discharged on account of disability from wounds or disease, and those trans- ferred, will be found under the heads, "Killed," " Discharged," and " Transferred." Ah. All who enlisted after the Regiment entered the service will be found under the head of " Recruits," except substitutes and drafted men. These came mostly from the southern part of the State, and were with the Regiment but a few months. The word " dead " Is attached to the names of those who are known to have died since discharge or muster-out, and the present residence of the survivors given when known. The rank following a name indicates the rank when mustered out.
COMPANY A.
Company A was recruited and organized in Steuben County, the volunteers mostly residing in the vicinity of Orland, Metz, and Hamilton, The enlistments were mostly in September, 1851, but the Company was not
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mustered in until November 22, 1861, the date of the muster of all the companies. The officers chosen by the election of the men, were : Captain, Charles F. Kinney ; Ist Lieutenant, Elias O. Rose ; 2d Lieutenant, Burge Smith.
CAPTAINS.
Charles F. Kinney. See " MAJORS."
Nelson A. Sowers was mustered in as a private, but having served in the regular army, he was enabled to render much useful service in drilling, not only this Company, but others, and was promoted Ist Lieutenant May 22, 1852, and Captain, January 20, 1863. He is reported as residing in Illinois now.
Joseph W. Burch. See " MAJORS."
Lewis W. Griffith entered the service as a private; was promoted Ist Lientenant, June 10, 1863; Captain, April 8, 1865 ; and was mustered out with the Regiment September 14, 1865. Resides now at Hamilton, Ind.
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
Elias O. Rose entered the service with the Company, was elected Ist Lieutenant, and was mustered in as such September 25, 1861. Resigned July 22, 1862; disability. Now editor of The Magnet, Big Rapids, Mich.
Nelson A. Sowers. See " CAPTAINS."
Marion B. Butler was mustered in as Ist Sergeant ; promoted 2d Lieutenant September 13, 1862; Ist Lieu- tenant January 20, 1863 ; resigned May 20, 1863, after a disabling sickness. Resides at Salem Center, Steuben County, Ind. 1
Lewis W. Griffith. See " CAPTAINS."
George W. Twitchell was mustered in as a Corporal ; re-enlisted as a veteran ; promoted 2d Lieutenant April
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24, 1865, and was mustered out with the Regiment. Resides at Orland, Ind.
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
Birge Smith was elected 2d Lieutenant by the Com- pany, was mustered in September 25, 1861, and resigned September 11, 1882. He was honorably mentioned in Colonel Reed's report of Shiloh. Dead.
Onius D. Scovill. See "COMPANY I."
George W. Twitchell. See " FIRST LIEUTENANTS."
Neweil P. Lewis entered the service as a private; re-enlisted as a veteran ; was promoted 2d Lieutenant April 24, 1865, and was mustered out with the Regi- ment. Residence, Brushy Prairie, Lagrange Co., Ind.
VETERANS.
Sergeant John Ulam. Michigan.
Sergeant Joseph Milnes. Dead.
Corporal George W. Twitchell. See " FIRST LIEU- TENANTS."
Musician Alonzo B. Sage. Dead.
James A. Aumend.
Charles H. Barr. Gone west.
Thomas D. Butler. Michigan.
Henry W. Beard. Angola, Ind.
Charles Clink, Sergeant. Pleasant Lake, Ind. William C. Carlin.
John T. Crow.
John Carlin.
Solomon M. Cox, Corporal. Alvarado, Ind.
Adolphus Ewers. Angola, Ind.
John Gilbert. Bettsville, Seneca county, Ohio.
David O. Goodrich, Corporal.
Emanuel Heller. Alvarado, Ind.
John B. Hutchins, Sergeant. Angola, Ind.
COMPANY A. 145
Newell P. Lewis. See "SECOND LIEUTENANTS."
Henry A. Lords, Corporal.
Charles Miller, Corporal. East Gilead, Branch Co., Michigan.
Jasper Munday, Corporal. Michigan.
Jolin Ryan, Jr. Angola, Ind.
Michael Ryan. Angola, Ind.
James Ryan, Corporal. Angola, Ind.
Benson K. Robbins, Corporal. Reading, Mich.
Seymour P. Snyder. Michigan.
David Sowle. Angola, Ind.
Joshua Showalter. Angola, Ind.
Simon M. Sines.
Oscar B. Thrasher, Corporal. Pleasant Lake, Ind. John Thompson. Dead.
David J. Tiffany. Transferred to U. S. Engineers August 26, 1864. Gone west.
Thomas C. Hyatt. Transferred to U. S. Engineers August 26, 1864. Orland, Ind.
THREE YEARS MEN.
Nicholas Arnold. Flint, Ind.
Caleb J. Bates. Michigan. Jacob Dotts.
Christopher Oberst. Clear Lake, Ind.
William Rosser. Orland, Ind.
Frederick Swambaugh. Angola, Ind.
Henry West. Flint, Ind.
Robert Wilkes. Hamilton, Ind.
DISCHARGED.
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