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 29
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Meanwhile Colonel Pritchard had gone to the assistance of Lieu- tenant Purinton, in whose front heavy firing was heard. The fight proved to be a most unfortunate occurrence. A detachment of the First Wisconsin Cavalry, which was also in pursuit of Davis, had met Purinton's advanced guard and began firing on them before ascertaining their identity. In this lamentable affair sev- eral men were killed and wounded.
As Colonel Pritchard rode up on his return to the camp he was accosted by Davis, who inquired if he was the commanding officer. The colonel replied in the affirmative and asked by what name he should address his interlocutor.
"Call me whatever you please," was the reply.
"Then I shall call you Davis," said Pritchard, and after a mo- ment's hesitation, the prisoner admitted that was his name.
Then, assuming an attitude of great dignity, he said to Prit- chard "I suppose you consider it bravery to charge a train of de- fenseless women and children; but it is theft; it is vandalism."
Without inquiring whether his distinguished prisoner considered himself a woman or a child, the colonel at once set out for Macon, joining the rest of the command on the way.
As to attacking a camp of women and children, there were with the captured party, two of Davis' aides-de-camp and several other Confederate officers, the entire party consisting of about thirty persons.
The official records show that during its period of service the Fourth Cavalry met the enemy in nearly a hundred different bat- tles and skirmishes, some of the principal ones being as follows : Stone River, Tennessee, December 31, 1862; MeMinnville, Tennes- see, April 21, 1863; Shelbyville, Tennessee, June 27, 1863; Chicka- mauga, Georgia, September 19, 20 and 21, 1863, Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 17, 1863; Mission Ridge, Tennessee, Novem- ber 25, 1863; Rome, Georgia, April 15, 1864; Atlanta, Georgia, August 1 to 14, 1864; Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, August 20, 1864; Macon, Georgia, April 20, 1865.
The regiment left Macon at the close of the war and reached Nashville, June 17, 1865. On the first of July it was mustered out of service and returned to Detroit where it was paid off and dis- banded.
Total enrolment, 2,006; killed in action, 30; died of wounds, 15; died while prisoners of war, 7; died of disease, 283; discharged for disability, 230.
The following is a list of the Van Buren county soldiers who served in the Fourth Cavalry.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Company C: Anderson, Return T., Porter; enlisted July 8, 1862, at Porter; discharged July 1, 1865; deceased; buried at Porter.
Austin, Benjamin F., Paw Paw; enlisted July 25, 1862, at Paw Paw; discharged May 30, 1865.
Barker, Wesley T., Porter; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Porter ; discharged July 1, 1865; present residence, Porter.
Barnes, Charles W., Arlington ; enlisted July 24, 1862, at Arling- ton; died December 29, 1862; buried in Cave Hill National cem- etery at Louisville, Kentucky.
Bennett, John, Decatur; enlisted August 5, 1862, at Decatur ; corporal; promoted to commissary sergeant and to first sergeant ; taken prisoner at Flint Hill church, July 10, 1864; commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to Company B; brevet first lieuten- ant, United States Volunteers, for meritorious services in the cap- ture of Jefferson Davis; discharged July 1, 1865.
Bierce, James M., Arlington; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Ar- lington ; died at Nashville, Tennessee, January 28, 1863; buried in National cemetery at Nashville.
Bryant, John R., Porter; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Porter; discharged July 1, 1865.
Buck, B. Franklin, Keeler; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Keeler ; discharged for disability April 28, 1863.
Buck, R. Mortimer, Paw Paw; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Paw Paw; first sergeant; subsequently commissioned as second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain; discharged July 1, 1865; died December 9, 1902; buried at Paw Paw.
Buckley, James M., Lawrence; enlisted August 2, 1862, at Law- rence; corporal; wounded in action near Fairburn, Georgia, Au- gust 19, 1864; promoted to sergeant; discharged July 1, 1865.
Bullard, James F., Paw Paw; enlisted August 2, 1862, at Paw Paw; corporal; was one of the immediate captors of Jefferson Davis and one of the detail of guards that accompanied him to prison ; discharged July 1, 1865; present residence, St. Cloud, Florida.
Burns, Robert, Paw Paw; entered service at organization of the regiment as first lieutenant; appointed adjutant, commis- sioned captain and acting assistant adjutant general, brevet lieuten- ant colonel United States Volunteers for gallant conduct during an assault on the enemy's works at Selma, Alabama ; discharged July 1, 1865.
Burrell, Charles, Arlington ; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Arling- ton ; discharged July 1, 1865.
Carr, Peter, Paw Paw; enlisted July 20, 1862, at Paw Paw; taken prisoner at Columbia, Tennessee, April 17, 1865; no fur- ther record.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Clark, Edwin L., Paw Paw; enlisted July 19, 1862, at Paw Paw; died at Nashville, Tennessee, December 13, 1863; buried in National cemetery at Nashville.
Colburn, Stephen A., Paw Paw; enlisted July 11, 1862, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability December 27, 1862; re-entered ser- vice in Company C, Thirteenth Michigan Infantry, August 15, 1864, at Paw Paw; discharged June 8, 1865.
Collins, George W., Hamilton ; enlisted August 1, 1862, at Hamil- ton ; died at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, February 17, 1863.
Conklin, Luman, Porter; enlisted July 26, 1862, at Porter; dis- charged for disability August 6, 1863; deceased; buried at Law- ton.
Crandall, James C., Hartford ; enlisted July 21, 1862, at Hart- ford; sergeant; discharged January 26, 1863, by reason of ac- cidental wounds.
Crane, Edgar A., Paw Paw; enlisted July 5, 1862, at Paw Paw; corporal ; promoted to sergeant; discharged July 1, 1865; died, 1911; buried at Kalamazoo.
Crane, James M., Paw Paw; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability October 31, 1863.
Crawford, Lester B., Arlington; enlisted August 5, 1862, at Ar- lington ; discharged July 1, 1865.
Curry, David Q., Decatur; enlisted August 6. 1862, at Decatur; corporal ; discharged July 1, 1865.
Dake, Hiram P., Paw Paw; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Paw Paw; discharged June 10, 1865.
Darling, Gilbert H .. Antwerp; enlisted August 5, 1862, at Ant- werp; taken prisoner November 12, 1862; paroled; discharged July 1, 1865.
Davern, Timothy, Antwerp; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Porter ; discharged for disability February 3. 1863; died January 16, 1902.
Davis, Benajah M., Waverly; enlisted August 9, 1862, at Wa- verly ; discharged July 1, 1862.
Dean, E. Rolla, Hamilton; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Hamil- ton ; discharged for disability March 8, 1863.
Delano, Harvey, Paw Paw; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Waverly ; died July 30, 1863; buried in National cemetery at Nashville, Ten- nessee.
Denton, John, Lawrence; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Lawrence; wounded in action October 21, 1862; discharged June 5, 1865; died at Lawrence March 27, 1885; buried in Prospect Lake cem- etery.
Dickinson, Egbert O., Antwerp; enlisted July 12, 1862, at Ant- werp; discharged July 1, 1865.
Dillon, David, Paw Paw; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Paw Paw;
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
corporal; promoted to sergeant ; discharged July 1, 1865; present residence Paw Paw.
Dolson, Elon G., Lawrence; enlisted July 21, 1862, at Lawrence ; discharged for disability, September 30, 1863.
Dopp, James, Lawrence; enlisted July 31, 1862, at Lawrence; sergeant; died at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, January 18, 1863; buried in National cemetery at Stone River, Tennessee, grave No. 4413.
Eastman, Norman W .. Paw Paw; enlisted July 21, 1862, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability, March 25, 1863.
Ecklar, Daniel, Columbia; enlisted July 30, 1862; discharged July 1, 1865.
Engle, Allen, Paw Paw ; enlisted August 12, 1862, at Paw Paw; discharged June 13, 1865.
Farrow, John : enlisted February 4, 1863, at Keeler; discharged August 15, 1865.
Fernam, August, Hartford; enlisted July 20, 1862, at Hart- ford; discharged for disability. June 21, 1864. on account of wounds received in action at Chickamauga, Georgia, September 18, 1863.
Field, William A., Lawrence; enlisted July 22, 1862: trans- ferred to Invalid Corps November 1, 1863.
Fisk, George W., Lawrence; enlisted August 7, 1862. at Law- rence ; died at Nashville, Tennessee, January 26, 1863: buried in National cemetery at Nashville.
Harrington, Russell, Columbia; enlisted July 23, 1862, at Co- lumbia; died at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, March 12, 1863.
Harrison, George P .. Antwerp: enlisted August 7, 1862, at Antwerp ; corporal ; taken prisoner September 30, 1863; discharged July 1, 1865.
Hayes, Jeremiah C., Antwerp; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Por- ter; died at Nashvile, Tennessee, January 18, 1863; buried in Na- tional cemetery at Nashville.
Hazard, Elijah C., Arlington, enlisted July 24, 1862, at Arling- ton; discharged for disability July 1, 1863; died February 27, 1890; buried at Arlington cemetery.
Holly, Henry A., Arlington, enlisted August 5, 1862, at Ar- lington ; discharged for disability July, 1864.
Horton, Charles D .; drafted from Pine Grove; mustered No- vember 4, 1863; died at Columbia, Tennessee, May 20, 1864.
Howard, Hosea L., Lawrence; enlisted July 31, 1862. at Law- rence; died at Nashville, Tennessee, February 2, 1863; buried in National cemetery at Nashville.
Howe, Harry T., Paw Paw; enlisted August 10, 1862, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability February 25, 1863.
Huston, Joseph W., Paw Paw; entered service in Company C,
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Third Michigan Cavalry, as first lieutenant; resigned January 12, 1862; re-entered service in Fourth Cavalry as adjutant, August 8, 1862, at Detroit; promoted to major, September 1, 1862; re- signed and honorably discharged on account of disability, Au- gust 23, 1863; died at Boise City, Idaho.
Irwin, William G., Antwerp; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Ant- werp; discharged for disability July 18, 1863.
Ismon, Aaron, F., Paw Paw; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Paw Paw; quartermaster sergeant ; promoted to first sergeant; commis- sioned second lieutenant ; resigned on account of disability, Decem- ber 16, 1863; died December 21, 1863.
Jaquays, Oliver, Porter ; enlisted July 29, 1862, at Porter; died at Nashville, Tennessee, January 5, 1863; buried in National cem- etery at Nashville.
Jenkins, George, Arlington ; enlisted August 9, 1862, at Arling- ton ; died at Ooltewah, Tennessee, February 28, 1864; buried in National cemetery at Chattanooga, Tennessee, grave No. 10844.
Jenkins, Marcus D., Paw Paw; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Paw Paw; transferred to Invalid Corps, December 15, 1863; discharged June 6, 1865.
Jones Allen, Antwerp; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Antwerp; discharged for disability September 30, 1863.
Lane, Edward J., Arlington ; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Ar- lington ; discharged July 1, 1865; died at Lawrence.
Lanphear, Byron W., Lawrence; enlisted August 5, 1862, at Lawrence; taken prisoner near Nashville, Tennessee, November 2, 1862 ; paroled ; killed in action at Latimer's Mills, Georgia, June 26, 1864; buried in National cemetery at Marietta, Georgia, grave No 2208, section C.
Lawton, George W., Antwerp; entered service at organization as second lieutenant, July 8, 1862, at Porter; commissioned first lieutenant and captain; wounded in action at Dallas, Georgia, May 24, 1864; brevet major United States Volunteers for gallant and meritorious conduct at Dallas, Georgia; discharged July 1, 1865; died at Lawton; buried in the Lawton cemetery.
Leathers, Charles L., Columbia ; enlisted July 30, 1862, at Co- lumbia ; corporal; promoted to sergeant and to commissary ser- geant ; discharged July 1, 1865; present residence Kalamazoo.
Leonard, William, Decatur; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Deca- tur; died at Nashville, Tennessee, December 9, 1862; buried in National cemetery at Nashville.
Loveland, Henry J., Paw Paw; enlisted August 5, 1862, at Paw Paw; corporal; promoted to sergeant; discharged July 1, 1865; died at Paw Paw, July 9, 1908.
Mckinney, Thomas J., Porter; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Por-
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
ter; commissary sergeant; wounded at Latimer's Mills, Georgia, June 20, 1864; promoted to quartermaster sergeant; discharged July 1, 1865.
McLain, John C., Porter; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Porter; wounded in action at Winchester, Tennessee, September 30, 1863; corporal; discharged July 1, 1865; present residence in South Dakota.
Melchor. Thaddeus W., Paw Paw; entered service as captain at Paw Paw, July 8. 1862; resigned on account of disability March 31, 1863; died at Paw Paw.
Merriman, Alfred M., Paw Paw; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Paw Paw; transferred to Invalid Corps, September 1, 1863; dis- charged as sergeant June 29, 1865.
Merriman, Henry, Paw Paw; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Paw Paw; died at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, November 22, 1863; buried in National cemetery at Stone River, Tennessee.
Moore, William, Columbia ; enlisted July 23, 1862. at Columbia ; corporal ; promoted to sergeant ; died at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, February 17, 1863.
Munson. Stephen B., Columbia ; enlisted .July 26, 1862, at Colum- bia ; paroled prisoner January 11, 1863; discharged July 1, 1865.
Niles, Austin D .; enlisted August 5, 1864, at Kalamazoo; sub- stitute for Edmund Hewitt ; discharged July 1, 1865.
Niles, Gideon P .. Columbia ; enlisted July 23. 1862, at Colum- bia ; discharged May 24. 1865.
Page. John F .. Columbia; enlisted July 28, 1862, at Columbia ; discharged July 1, 1865.
Palmerton, Reuben, Hamilton; enlisted August 1, 1862, at Hamilton ; corporal : discharged July 1, 1865.
Pierce. George W., Lawrence; enlisted August 5, 1862, at Law- rence ; saddler : discharged May 13, 1865.
Place, Howland, Lawrence; enlisted July 31, 1862, at Lawrence; discharged for disability May 27, 1863.
Prince. John Jr., Antwerp; enlisted August 5, 1862, at Antwerp ; transferred to Invalid Corps; discharged July 5, 1865.
Prince, Pomeroy, Geneva ; enlisted August 11, 1862, at Geneva ; discharged July 1, 1865.
Pritchard, Philo, Antwerp; enlisted August 7, 1862, at Ant- werp; discharged July 1, 1865.
Pugsley, John S., Paw Paw; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Paw Paw; regimental quartermaster sergeant ; promoted to first lieuten- ant and commissary, acting assistant brigade quartermaster; dis- charged July 1, 1865.
Rawson, Silas M., Decatur; enlisted August 5, 1862, at Deca- tur; veterinary surgeon ; discharged July 1, 1865.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Rediker, George B., Porter; enlisted July 28, 1862, at Porter; wagoner ; discharged July 1, 1865; deceased; buried at Porter.
Rickard, Charles E., Bangor; enlisted August 18, 1862, at Ban- gor ; killed in action at Chickamauga, Georgia, September 18, 1863.
Riggs, Ranselaer, Porter; enlisted August 28, 1862; discharged for disability August 11, 1863; re-enlisted in same company Au- gust 18, 1864; discharged July 1, 1865.
Rockwell, Jerome, Columbia ; enlisted August 9, 1862, at Colum- bia ; discharged July 1, 1865.
Russ, Isaac P., Arlington ; enlisted August 7, 1862; transferred to Invalid Corps.
Ryan, John, Lawrence; enlisted August 7. 1862, at Lawrence; discharged July 1, 1865; died at Lawrence, May 7, 1909.
Sherwood, Henry, Columbia ; enlisted July 23, 1862, at Colum- bia ; wounded in action at Latimer's Mills, Georgia, June 20, 1864; honorably discharged.
Smead, Thomas D .. Antwerp; enlisted July 16, 1862. at Ant- werp; corporal : promoted to sergeant : discharged July 1, 1865.
Smith. Charles H., Decatur; enlisted August 9, 1862, at Deca- tur; discharged July 1, 1865.
Smith, William J., Antwerp; enlisted August 8, 1862, at Porter; farrier ; discharged June 3. 1865.
Stevens, Fitz E., Paw Paw; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Paw Paw; sergeant major; discharged July 1, 1865; present residence Paw Paw.
Warner, Oliver W .. Paw Paw: drafted; mustered November 4, 1863 ; killed in action at Lovejoy Station. Georgia, August 20, 1864.
Wilcox, Reuben O., Antwerp; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Ant- werp; discharged July 1, 1865.
Woolsey, William F., Hartford; enlisted July 21, 1862, at Hart- ford; died at Nashville, Tennessee, January 13. 1863; buried in National cemetery at Nashville.
Worthey, George, Arlington; enlisted August 6, 1862, at Arling ton ; wounded in action at Latimer's Mills, Georgia, June 20, 1864; discharged July 1, 1865; died at Paw Paw. June 5, 1906.
Other Companies: Baty, John; drafted from Hartford; mus- tered October 14, 1863; assigned to Company A; discharged Au- gust 15, 1865.
Moon, Josiah B .; drafted from Decatur; mustered November 4, 1863; assigned to Company A; discharged August 15, 1865.
Moon, Rodolphus; drafted from Columbia; mustered Novem- ber 4, 1863; assigned to Company A; died at Cartersville, Geor- gia, June 7, 1864.
Cobb, Dennis H., Columbia ; enlisted in Company F, August 11, 1862, at Adrian; taken prisoner at Kingston Georgia, May 18,
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
1864; died in prison at Florence, South Carolina, November 1, 1864.
Cross, Ira F .; drafted from Paw Paw; mustered November 4, 1863; assigned to Company G; discharged December 27, 1864.
Ward, John W .; drafted from Antwerp; mustered November 4. 1863; assigned to Company G; in hospital at Edgefield, Tennes- see, July, 1865.
Driskil, Noah, Porter; enlisted in Company I, August 11. 1862. at Dowagiac; discharged April 2, 1863.
Lewis, Francis F., Porter; enlisted in Company I, August 11. 1862, at Dowagiac; wounded in action at Lavergne, Tennessee. December 26, 1862; died at Nashville, Tennessee, January 11, 1865.
Morton, Charles L., Porter; enlisted in Company I, August 11, 1862, at Dowagiac; discharged for disability February 27, 1863.
Orr, Hugh ; enlisted in Company I. March 14, 1864, at Decatur: discharged July 26, 1865.
Armstrong. Worden; drafted from Antwerp; mustered Novem- ber 4, 1863; assigned to Company E : died at Nashville, Tennessee. March 3, 1865 : buried in National cemetery at Nashville.
Derby, John L., Bloomingdale ; enlisted August 1, 1862, in Com- pany L, at Allegan; died at Nashville, Tennessee, February 16. 1863; buried in National cemetery at Nashville.
Burdette, Abraham; drafted from Hamilton ; assigned to Fourth Cavalry, mustered November 4, 1863: no further record.
Dyer, Andrew J .; drafted from Lawrence; assigned to Fourth Cavalry ; mustered November 4, 1863; no further record.
Finley, Andrew M .; drafted from Geneva; assigned to Fourth Cavalry ; mustered November 4, 1863: no further record.
Labadie, Joseph; drafted from Almena; assigned to Fourth Cavalry ; mustered November 4, 1863; no further record.
Lawhorn, Henry; drafted from Porter; mustered November 4. 1863; assigned to Fourth Cavalry ; no further record.
Nash, Albert H., Paw Paw; joined regiment October 10, 1862. as sergeant major; commissioned as second lieutenant ; resigned on account of disability. February 17. 1863.
NINTH MICHIGAN CAVALRY
Rally, valiant soldiers, rally, 'Tis the time for you and me, We will stand by one another, Round the standard of the free.
The Ninth Cavalry was organized at Coldwater in 1862 under the supervision of Colonel James I. David and was mustered into the United States service in May, 1863. The total enrolment at organization was 1,073 officers and enlisted men.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Many of the officers of this regiment had seen service in the field with other regiments and their experience in military duties and discipline was of great advantage and served to place the Ninth on a war basis much sooner than would have been possible under other circumstances. The regiment was splendidly equipped when it took the field, being armed with the Spencer carbine, a magazine gun that could be fired seven times without stopping to reload-the best cavalry weapon of that date.
CAPTURE OF MORGAN
The Ninth was also furnished with fine mounts when it left the state and the personnel of the different companies was excellent. Ten companies of the regiment left Coldwater in May for Cincin- nati, Ohio, and its first camp in the field was at Covington, Ken- tucky. In June it was ordered to Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, in pur- suit of a band of guerrillas and its first engagement with the enemy was at Triplett Bridge, where it routed Everett's guerrillas and wounded and captured a number of them. The Confederate General John Morgan was in Kentucky at the time the Ninth was sent in pursuit, but Morgan eluded his foes although the Ninth captured his chief of staff and a number of his men. The regiment returned to Danville, Kentucky, July 6, where all the cavalry pres- ent was placed under the command of Colonel W. T. Saunders of the Fifth Kentucky.
In the meantime the Confederate General Morgan had crossed the Ohio river into Indiana and made his celebrated raid through that state and Ohio, destroying property, burning bridges, looting villages, taking provisions for his men and capturing horses, spreading consternation along his march.
The regiment soon assembled at Cincinnati, Ohio, and reported to General Burnside whose headquarters were in the city. Reports were so conflicting as to the location of Morgan that the regiment was divided, companies A, B, F, L, C, and K eventually overtaking the enemy at Buffington Island, where a sharp engagement fol- lowed, resulting in a complete rout of Morgan's forces, capturing 500 prisoners, a large quantity of small arms and three pieces of artillery.
Companies C, D, E, H, I, and K left Cincinnati on the Little Miami Railroad, and arrived at Mingo Junction, Ohio, on the 25th and marched immediately to Steubenville. On the 26th Morgan was pressed into an engagement near Salineville, Ohio, by a charge of the detachment of the Ninth in which the Confederates were routed with a loss of 23 killed, about 50 wounded and 250 prison- ers. General Morgan was driven from the field and in his flight
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
ran into the forces of General Shackleford, who was marching on the same road Morgan was retreating, and the Confederate Gen- eral surrendered to General Shackleford. General Morgan and staff were taken to Salineville where they were placed in a coach and sent to Columbus, Ohio.
The Ninth took part in the expedition against Cumberland Gap and that stronghold surrendered to the Union forces, with 2,500 men and 13 pieces of artillery. Then followed the East Tennessee campaign which probably was unequaled for hardships during the war on account of the severity of the climate, the want of cloth- ing and tents, and the scarcity of rations. The Ninth was con- stantly on duty and was in frequent contact with the enemy's cav- alry, as the Confederate General Longstreet encamped his corps in the valleys of Tennessee during the winter. The hardships im- posed upon the horses by constant marches and the want of for- age finally dismounted most of the companies, the men being obliged to see their faithful horses die of hunger, while they them- selves were often on the verge of starvation.
In the spring of 1864, the regiment, having lost most of its horses, returned to Nicholasville, Kentucky, to remount and secure new equipments. The first of June found the regiment supplied with fine mounts and well equipped. On the 12th the regiment confronted the Confederate General John Morgan (who had es- caped from prison) once more, this time at Cynthiana, Kentucky. The Ninth attacked in a splendid charge, driving the enemy into the Licking river and capturing about 300 prisoners and a large supply of stores and small arms.
FIRST AND LAST
The Ninth joined General Sherman's army on the Atlanta cam- paign, and before the fall of Atlanta was a part of the force under General Kilpatrick in a raid south of Atlanta on the Montgomery railroad. The Ninth formed a part of the Cavalry Corps com- manded by General Kilpatrick, and marched with Sherman from "Atlanta to the Sea," being engaged in frequent combats with General Wheeler and General Wade Hampton's Cavalry. At Waynesboro, Georgia, the Ninth made a brilliant charge upon the forces of General Wheeler, driving the enemy in confusion and capturing 100 prisoners. This charge was especially mentioned by General Kilpatrick in his dispatch to the war department. When the regiment arrived at Savannah, Georgia, it was selected by Gen- eral Kilpatrick as his escort to march to St. Catherine's Sound on the Atlantic coast and open communication with the federal fleet. This gave the regiment the prestige of being the first regiment of Sherman's army to reach the coast.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
The cavalry division started from Savannah, Georgia, on the Carolina campaign the 27th of January, 1865. It marched on the flanks in advance and in the rear of Sherman's army, whenever the enemy's cavalry might appear. The regiment met the enemy at many points as it moved through the states of South Carolina and North Carolina, and was at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, when the news of General Lee's surrender was received. In a skirmish with the Confederate General Johnston's forces just before the news of General Lee's surrender and the order came to "cease firing," it is asserted that the Ninth fired the last hostile shot of the war east of the Mississippi. The regiment was at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, when General Johnston surrendered to General Sherman.
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