USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > A history of Van Buren County, Michigan a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 21
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
County Commissioners of Schools: 1893, John A. O'Leary; 1895, John A. O'Leary; 1897, Wells G. Brown; 1899, Wells G.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Brown; 1901, Elmer A. Aseltine; 1903, Elmer A. Aseltine; 1907 and 1911, Volney A. Hungerford, the present incumbent.
The office of school commissioner was made elective by statute in 1893. By legislative enactment in 1895, the term of this of- fice was extended to four years.
MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE
Representatives : Henry Coleman, Fernando C. Annable, John Andrews, Philotus Haydon, Josiah Andrews, John McKinney, Amos S. Brown, Morgan L. Fitch, Charles P. Sheldon, Joseph Gil- man, Elisha J. House, Fabius Miles, Jonathan J. Woodman (speaker), Buell M. Williams, William H. Hurlbut, Samuel H. Blackman, Alexander B. Copley, Emery H. Simpson, William Thomas, James E. Ferguson, E. Parker Hill, George G. B. Yeck- ley, Harvey H. Howard, Robert L. Warren, John S. Cross, Jona- than G. Parkhurst, Milan Wiggins, Charles S. Eaton, Edwin A. Wildey, Charles C. Phillips, C. Spencer Adams, Nathan F. Simp- son, Benjamin F. Heckert (died in office).
Senators: Philotus Hayden, John Mckinney, Fitz H. Stevens, Lyman A. Fitch, Samuel H. Blackman, Nathan H. Bitely, George Hannahs, David Anderson, Albert Thompson, William O. Packard, Henry Ford, Charles J. Monroe, George W. Merriman, Jason Wood- man and Milan Wiggins, the present incumbent.
The constitution of 1835 provided that the state should be di- vided into not less than four nor more than eight senatorial dis- tricts. In 1838, the legislature placed Van Buren county in the seventh senatorial district, together with the counties of St. Jo- seph, Berrien and Cass, and assigned two senators to the dis- trict. (Laws of Michigan, 1838, pp. 169-170.)
In 1841 a new apportionment was made, Van Buren being placed in the fifth district, along with the counties of St. Joseph, Cass, Berrien, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Barry, Ottawa, Oceana, Kent, Ionia and such other counties as were attached to the counties of Kent, Ionia and Ottawa, and three senators were assigned to the new district. (Laws of Michigan, 1841, p. 147.)
The constitution of 1850 provided that the state should be di- vided into thirty-two senatorial districts, one senator to be chosen from each district. The state was reapportioned in 1851, Van Buren and Allegan being constituted the twenty-ninth district. (Laws of Michigan, 1851, p. 304.)
The county remained districted with Allegan county until 1871 when it became a district by itself and so remained until 1881, when it was again districted with Allegan county where it has
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remained until the present time, the two counties forming the eighth senatorial district.
Prior to 1847 Van Buren and Cass counties constituted a single representative district, after which, and until 1864, the county alone constituted a district. From 1864 to 1892, two representa- tives were apportioned to the county and it was divided into two separate districts. In 1892, under a new legislative apportion- ment, it again became a single district, and so remains at the present time. Since the death of Representative Heckert the of- fice has remained vacant.
CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Prior to the abolishment of the board of county commissioners by the legislature of 1842 and the conferring of the duties of that board on the supervisors, there had been occasional and irregular meetings, but the only organization of such body was by select- ing one of their number to act as clerk for the time being. The statute of 1842 prescribed the dates at which the meetings of the board should be held and the manner of organization (which was by choosing one of their number as chairman of the board), and also provided that the county clerk should be clerk of the board and should perform his duties as such under its control and di- rection.
Following is a list of the several chairmen of the board and the townships they represented: 1842, Benjamin F. Chadwick, Lawrence; 1843, Philotus Haydon, Hamilton; 1844, Isaac S. Bor- den, Antwerp; 1845, John R. Pugsley, La Fayette; 1846, Joshua Bangs, Antwerp; 1847, John McKinney, Porter; 1848, Henry Bar- num, Almena; 1849, Charles M. Morrill, Pine Grove; 1850, Fer- nando C. Annable, Almena; 1851, John Mckinney, Porter; 1852, John Andrews, Lawrence; 1853, John Andrews, Lawrence; 1854, John McKinney, Porter; 1855, Philotus Haydon, Hamilton; 1856, L. G. Hill, Keeler ; 1857, Edwin Barnum, La Fayette; 1858, Edwin Barnum, La Fayette; 1859, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1860, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1861, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1862, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1863, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1864, E. Parker Hill, Decatur; 1865, E. Parker Hill, Decatur; 1866, E. Parker Hill, Decatur; 1867, Silas Breed, Almena; 1868, Charles Dun- combe, Keeler; 1869, John B. Potter, Lawrence; 1870, Kirk W. Noyes, South Haven; 1871, Charles Duncombe, Keeler; 1872, George G. B. Yeckley, Hamilton; 1873, George G. B. Yeckley, Hamilton; 1874, Orsimus Williams, Porter; 1875, Prenett T. Streator, Waverly; 1876, Ransom Nutting, Decatur; 1877, Charles E. Heath, Bangor; 1878, Ransom Nutting, Decatur; 1879, Charles
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Rockwell, Lawrence; 1880, Amasa M. Brown, Columbia; 1881, Samuel P. Wilson, South Haven; 1882, Charles W. Young, Paw Paw; 1883, Warren F. French, Almena; 1884, Jefferson D. Har- ris, Arlington; 1885, Jefferson D. Harris, Arlington; 1886, Wil- liam Killefer, Bloomingdale; 1887, Peter J. Dillman, Bangor; 1888. Gilbert Mitchell, Geneva; 1889, William K. Van Hise, De- catur; 1890, Thomas C. Tyner, Lawrence; 1891, H. E. Dewey, South Haven; 1892, Harlan P. Waters, Antwerp; 1893, Jacob Gunsaul, Covert; 1894, John Marshall, Porter; 1895, John C. McFellin, Pine Grove; 1896, Adolph Danneffel, Keeler; 1897, E. A. Chase, Waverly; 1898, Varnum H. Dilley, Geneva; 1899, C. W. Byers, Hamilton; 1900, David A. Squier, Decatur; 1901, Wil- liam C. Wildey, Paw Paw; 1902, George T. Waber, Pine Grove; 1903, John H. Cornish, Porter; 1904, Kirk W. Noyes, South Ha- ven ; 1905, John C. Kennedy, Almena; 1906, Jerome C. Warner, Paw Paw; 1907, Milan D. Wiggins, Bloomingdale; 1908, George J. Danneffel, Keeler; 1909, F. G. Cleveland, Arlington ; 1910, John McAlpine, Hartford; 1910, John Gault, Waverly *; and 1911, Shepard H. Shattuck, Covert.
OTHER IMPORTANT OFFICIALS FROM VAN BUREN COUNTY
Presidential electors: 1880, Charles Duncombe; 1900, Charles J. Monroe.
Lieutenant governor: 1907 to 1910, Patrick H. Kelley.
Secretary of state: 1855 to 1858, John McKinney.
State treasurer : 1859 to 1860, John McKinney.
Commissioner of state land office: 1901 to 1904, Edwin A. Wildey.
Superintendent of Public instruction : 1905 to 1906, Patrick H. Kelley.
Members State Board of Education: 1892 (six years), Eugene A. Wilson; 1901, Patrick H. Kelley (a).
Regent of University : 1898 to 1905, Charles D. Lawton.
President pro tem state senate: 1887, Charles J. Monroe. Speakers of house of representatives : 1869 to 1872, Jonathan J. Woodman; 1867, Jonathan J. Woodman pro tem.
Commissioner of insurance: 1911, Marion O. Rowland (b).
Commissioner of mineral statistics: 1885 to 1891, Charles D. Lawton.
*Appointed, vice MeAlpine, who died before the expiration of his term of office.
(a) Appointed to fill vacancy; elected 1902; resigned to accept office of superintendent of public instruction.
(b) Appointed by governor to fill vacancy; resigned to accept presidency of Detroit National Fire Insurance Company. Vol. I-12
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Adjutant General: 1893 to 1895, Charles L. Eaton. State salt inspector: 1905 to 1907, Edwin A. Wildey.
"Circuit judge, Ninth judicial circuit: 1874, Darius E. Com- stock (c) ; 1882 to 1888, Alfred J. Mills.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS
The first constitution of Michigan was framed by a convention that convened at Detroit, May 11, 1835, and adjourned June 24, 1835. Van Buren county was not represented at this convention, The proposed constitution was ratified by a vote of the people in October, 1835, the vote being 6,299 yeas and 1,350 nays.
In 1836 congress passed the first act for the admission of Michi- gan into the Union. This act required the assent of the state to cutting off the city of Toledo and adjacent territory from the southern boundary of the state, assigning it to the state of Ohio and giving what is now the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in ex- change therefor, and required the assent of the voters of Michi- gan before the act of admission should become effective.
A convention of assent met at Ann Arbor, September 26, 1836, and after remaining in session four days rejected the proposed terms of admission. Van Buren was also unrepresented at this convention.
A second convention of assent assembled at Ann Arbor, Decem- ber 14, 1836, adjourning the next day. This convention ratified the conditions of admission proposed by the act of congress by what appears to have been a unanimous vote. Van Buren's dele- gate to this convention was Hon. Charles B. Avery of Paw Paw.
The next constitutional convention was held at Lansing from June 3 to August 15, 1850. This convention framed a new con- stitution which was adopted by a vote of the people in November of that year and it remained in force, with certain amendments. as the supreme law of the state until 1908. Van Buren was rep- resented in this convention by Hon. Isaac W. Willard of Paw Paw.
In 1867 another constitutional convention was held at Lansing from May 15 to August 22. The constitution proposed by this convention was rejected by a vote of the people at the spring elec- tion of 1868. Hon. Samuel H. Blackman of Paw Paw and Hon. Charles Duncombe of Keeler, were delegates to this convention from Van Buren county.
A constitutional commission consisting of two members from each congressional district of the state, at which Van Buren was unrepresented, assembled at Lansing, August 27, 1873, and ad-
(c) Died in office.
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journed October 16, 1873. This commission submitted a proposed constitution, but the people refused to ratify it when it came be- fore them at the general election held in November, 1874.
On the 27th day of October, 1907, another constitutional con- vention assembled at the capital city and remained in session un- til the 3d day of March, 1908. Van Buren was represented in this convention by Hon. Benjamin F. Heckert of Paw Paw, and Hon. Guy J. Wicksall of South Haven, both of whom are since deceased. The constitution proposed by this convention was ratified at the next general election held November 3, 1908, by a vote of 244,705 to 130,783, and is now the supreme law of the state.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
A proposed amendment granting equal suffrage to colored per -: sons was submitted to a vote of the people in November, 1850, and rejected by the following vote: For 12,840, against 32,026, Van Buren's vote on this proposition was: Yes, 183; No, 583.
An amendment providing "that in time of war, insurrection or rebellion, no elector shall be deprived of his right to vote by reason of his service in the army or navy at such time," was pro- posed and adopted in November, 1866, although there were 13,094 Michigan patriots (?) who voted against the proposition. Van Buren county voted as follows: Yes, 2,433; No, 239. The sol- diers of the Civil war, in 1864, had cast their vote in the field, but such was not included in the official canvass of the vote of the state. The soldiers' vote of the state for president cast that year was as follows: For Abraham Lincoln, 9,402; for George B. Mc- Clellan, 2,959.
By an amendment submitted and adopted by a vote of the people at the November election in 1869, the word "white" was stricken from section one of article seven of the constitution pre- scribing the qualifications of electors, thus conferring the right of suffrage on colored citizens under the same rules and restric- tions as upon the white voters. Van Buren county voted as fol- lows on this amendment : Yes, 1,810; No, 1,522.
The question of woman suffrage was submitted to a vote of the people at the November election of 1874. This proposition was, in effect, to substitute the word "person" for the words "male inhabitant" in that article of the constitution prescribing the qualification of electors, thus conferring on the qualified female inhabitants of the state the same right of franchise as enjoyed by men. The proposition met with defeat in the state by the fol- lowing vote : Yes, 40,077; No, 124,034. Van Buren county voted : Yes, 1,166; No, 2,987.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
VAN BUREN COUNTY AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC
Van Buren county occupies an unique position in reference to the traffic in intoxicating liquors, having constantly and consist- ently registered its vote in opposition thereto at every offered op- portunity. The first time the voters of the county had occasion to express themselves on this question at the ballot box was in the month of June, 1853, at a special election called for the pur- pose of ascertaining the will of the people in reference to a pro- hibitory amendment to the constitution of the state, which was at that time submitted to them for adoption or rejection. The total vote of the county at that election, as shown by the old records, was 1,112: Yes, 707; No, 412; an affirmative majority of 295.
This same question of a prohibitory amendment to the constitu- tion was submitted to a vote in 1868 and again Van Buren regis- tered an affirmative vote, as follows: Prohibition yes, 2,362; pro- hibition no, 1,982; a prohibition majority of 380. Both of the fore- going proposed amendments met with defeat at the hands of the voters of the state.
The third test of public sentiment on this question was had in November, 1876. A law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages had been on the statute books of the state since 1855, but it was not so framed and had not been so enforced as to commend itself to the judgment of a majority of the electors of the state. The constitution of the state then contained the fol lowing clause : "The legislature shall not pass any act authorizing grant of license for the sale of ardent spirits or other intoxicating liquors."
The question of striking this clause from the constitution was submitted to the voters of the state at the general election held in November, 1876, the result being that the prohibitory provision was stricken out. The vote of Van Buren county on this occasion was as follows: Yes, 1,044; No, 1,056; a majority of 12 votes in favor of the retention of the prohibitory clause. This was the closest vote ever recorded in the county on the liquor question.
At the April election in 1887 another prohibitory amendment was proposed by the legislature and submitted to the people, and on this amendment Van Buren's vote was as follows: Yes, 5,111; No, 1,549; a majority of 3,562 in favor of the proposition, which failed of adoption only because of the large adverse vote cast in the city of Detroit and Wayne county.
The legislature of 1887 also enacted a local option law, the first of that class of legislation ever attempted in Michigan. Under the provisions of this law, an election was held in Van Buren county as soon as practicable. The vote was as follows: Yes,
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
3,607; No, 456; a majority of 3,251 in favor of the new law. Be- fore any attempt was made to enforce its provisions the supreme court of the state declared the law to be in conflict with the consti- tution, thus making it null and void.
Another local option statute which avoided the unconstitutional features of the law of 1887 was enacted by the next legislature in 1889. Under the provisions of this act, an election was held in Van Buren county on the 24th day of February, 1890, which re- sulted in the adoption of the new law by the following vote: Yes, 2,559; No, 1,320; a prohibitory majority of 1,279, every precinct voting in favor of the law.
This law, by resolution of the board of supervisors, became operative on the first day of May, 1890, and since that date the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors has been outlawed in Van Buren county, except as sale is permitted by druggists and registered pharmacists for medicinal, mechanical, scientific and sacramental purposes, and since that date such a thing as an open saloon has been unknown in the county.
Two years later, at a special election called for that purpose, the question was again submitted to the electors of the county and the law was sustained by a vote of 2,918 to 2,450; a majority of 468 in favor of the retention of the statute.
An unsuccessful attempt was made in 1895 and 1896 to have the question again tested by a vote of the electors of the county. However, in 1897, another vote was ordered by the board of su- pervisors and an election called to be held on the first day of No- vember of that year. Again the law was sustained by the follow- ing vote: Yes, 4,158; No, 2,613; a prohibitory majority of 1,545.
Five years elapsed before the question was again submitted, the board of supervisors, in response to petitions presented, ordering an election to be held on the 6th day of April, 1903, to once more test the sentiment of the people in regard to the retention of the law. This election resulted as follows: Yes, 4,476; No, 3,077; thus sustaining the law by a majority of 1,399.
Again, on the 2d day of April, 1906, the question was sub- mitted to a vote of the people, and the law was again sustained by a vote of 4,323 to 3,626; a majority of 677 in favor of its reten- tion.
An attempt was again made in 1908 to submit the matter to a vote. This was unsuccessful and another petition was filed at the January session of the board in 1910. After an examination of the petition the board declared it to be insufficient and refused to order an election. An appeal was made to the circuit court for a writ of mandamus to compel the board to reverse its action, but that court sustained the board and refused to issue the writ
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
The matter was then appealed to the supreme court which re- versed the decision of the circuit court and issued a writ ordering the board to reassemble and call an election according to the prayer of the petitioners. In obedience to this mandate of the court an election was called for the 4th day of April, 1910, and again the voters sustained the law by the following vote: Yes, 4,410; No, 3,600; a majority of 810 in favor of retaining the law.
By the operation of this law, Van Buren county has had legal prohibition for upwards of twenty-one years, and for a major portion of the time there was no other county in the state in which the provisions of the law were operative, although in several coun- ties it had been in force for limited periods. At the present time, however, nearly one-half of the state is under the operation of its provisions
CHAPTER IX
CIVIL WAR INFANTRY
SIXTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY-TWELFTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY-
THIRTEENTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY-STONE RIVER-SEVEN- TEENTH MICHIGAN AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN-NINETEENTH MICHI- GAN-TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT-TWENTY-FIFTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY-TWENTY-EIGHTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY-SPANISH- . AMERICAN WAR.
The military history of Van Buren county really begins with the outbreak of the Civil war in the spring of 1861, although there was here and there a representative of the county in the war with Mexico, 1846 to 1848. It is wholly impracticable to give the name and service of every Van Buren soldier of the great conflict of 1861-5, as such an exhibit would necessitate not only a careful research of the records of every Michigan regiment, but also of numerous companies and regiments from the other north- ern states of the Union. The most that we can hope to do is to make a fair approximation to accuracy and completeness, and this we believe we have accomplished in the following pages that are devoted to this matter.
When the news was received that Fort Sumter had been fired upon such a wave of patriotism swept over the entire northland as the world had never before witnessed, and Michigan was in-no- wise behind her loyal sister states in her readiness to resent the insult to the flag, and Van Buren county was no whit behind in its readiness to respond to its patriotic duty.
SIXTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY
The first Michigan infantry regiment in which the names of any considerable number of Van Buren county men appear was the Sixth.
Onward then, our stainless banner, Let it kiss the stripe and star, Till in weal and woe united, They forever wedded are.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
The Sixth Infantry was organized at Kalamazoo under the command of Colonel Frederick W. Curtenius and was mustered into the service of the United States on the 20th day of August, 1861.
The regiment started from its rendezvous to join the army of the Potomac on the 30th day of August, 1861, having a total en- rolment of 944 officers and enlisted men. While this regiment ex- pected to become a part of the Army of the Potomac, the for- tunes of war transferred it to the southwest, and the greater part of its service was performed on the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. The regiment was recruited for the infantry arm of the service and served in that capacity until July, 1863, when General Banks converted it into a regiment of heavy artillery.
The regiment is therefore, frequently referred to as the Sixth Heavy Artillery.
The regiment spent the winter of 1861-2 in camp at Baltimore, Maryland, and the following spring was embarked upon steamers for Fortress Monroe, where it arrived February 23, 1862.
Again embarking with other Union troops, it proceeded by sea to Ship Island, 'Mississippi, and soon after was sent to join Gen- eral Butler's forces in an attack upon New Orleans, Louisiana, and arrived at the city May 2d, after the fall of Forts Jackson and St. Phillips and the capture of the city. From this point the regi- ment, as a whole or in detachments, made many excursions into the surrounding country and up and down the Mississippi river, capturing and destroying public property and Confederate sup- plies, many of the excursions being of extremely hazardous nature.
On August 5, 1862, the Sixth made a brilliant record in assist- ing to repulse a heavy attack on the Union forces at Baton Rouge, and in a desperate charge upon the enemy's works captured the flag of the Ninth Louisiana battalion. The regiment suffered se- verely in killed and wounded in this engagement and General Thomas Williams, U. S. A., in command of the Union forces, was killed.
In January, 1863, the regiment participated in an expedition under General Weitzel to Bayou Teche, destroying the rebel gun- boat "Cotton" and also took part in the expedition against Pon- chatoula in March, where the regiment had nine men wounded, but captured a number of the enemy.
In April the Sixth was engaged at Amite river and Tickfaw river, and made a raid upon the Jackson railroad at Pangipabo, where it captured sixty prisoners and destroyed an immense amount of public property.
From May until July the Sixth was engaged in the siege of Port Hudson, when it received special commendations for its gal-
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
lantry and daring. It made a desperate charge upon the enemy's entrenchments on the 27th of May and though the works were carried at the point of the bayonet, the attack was unsuccessful by reason of the overwhelming numbers of the Confederates. After the siege of Port Hudson the regiment remained there until March, 1864, when 247 men re-enlisted and started for Michigan on veteran furlough.
The regiment reassembled at its former camp at Kalamazoo after the expiration of the thirty days' furlough and returned to Port Hudson, where it arrived May 11. The Sixth moved to Vicks- burg, Mississippi, where it served as engineers, and then moved to White River and soon after to Ashton, Arkansas. The regi- ment was divided into detachments to serve as heavy artillery and was stationed at Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines, Dauphin island, and Mobile bay.
The regiment performed valuable service under its assignments as heavy artillery until August, when it received orders to return to Michigan. It arrived at Jackson August 30th, and was paid off and discharged September 5, 1865.
The regiment during its term of service met the enemy at Se- well's Point, Virginia, March 5, 1862; Fort Jackson, Lousiana, April 25, 1862; Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 20, 1862; Grand Gulf, Mississippi, May 27, 1862; Amite River, Mississippi, June 20, 1862; Baton Rouge, Lousiana, August 5 and 17, 1862; Bayou Teche, Lousiana, January 14, 1863; Ponchatoula, Lousiana, March 24, 25 and 26, 1863; Barataria, Lousiana, April 7, 1863; Tickfaw River, La., April 12, 1863; Amite River, Mississippi, May 7, 1863; Ponchatoula, Lousiana, May 16, 1863; Siege of Port Hudson, May 23 to July 8, 1863; Tunica Bayou, Lousiana, November 8, 1863; Ashton, Arkansas, July 24, 1864; Fort Morgan, Alabama, August 23, 1864; Spanish Fort, Alabama, April, 1865; Fort Blakely, Ala- bama, April, 1865; Fort Huger, Alabama, April, 1865; Fort Tra- cey, Alabama, April, 1865; siege of Mobile, Alabama, from March 20 to April 12, 1865.
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