USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24
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Charles Verder, Generce ; sergt., Co. G ; Ist lient., Co. E : must. ont July 8, 1865. Zila B. Ganham, Flint ; sergt., Co. C; 2d lieut., Cos. Cand G; Ist lieut., Co. I,
April 23, 1863; wounded at North Anna River, Va , May 23, 1864; must. ont at end of service, Sept. 7, 1864.
James L. Topping, Fenton, 2d lieut., Co. 1, Sept. 4, 1862; resigned March 28, 186:1.
Loyd G. Streever, Flint; sergt .; pro. to 2d lient .; must. out as sergt.
Patrick Murphy, Flirt ; sergt. ; pro. to 21 lient. ; must. out as sorgt.
Samoel Atherton, Argentine, Co. A ; must. ont July 8, 1865.
William Atherton, Argentine, Co. I ; disch. from Vet. Res. Corps by order, July 10, 1865.
Nathaniel Austin, Argentine, Co. K; disch. by order, May 30, 1865.
Corp. John 1. Bostwick, Argentine, Co. K ; died of disease near Falmouth, Va., Nov. 26, 1862.
Nathan Barton, Argentine, Co. I; died at Laurel Ilill, Va., May 10, 1864. Gro. S. Bailey, Fenton, Co. D; died of disease at City Point, Vn., July 28, 1864. Samuel D. Bostwick, Argentine, Co. K ; died of disease, Dec. 8, 1862. Jamies Brady, Argentine, Co. A ; om-t. out July 8, 1865.
George W. Chase, Argentine, Co. A ; must. ont July 8, 1865.
Jacob A. Clark, Argentine, Co. A ; disch, for disability, Dec. 16, 1863.
Lewis Case, veteran, Argentine, Co. A ; must. out July 8, 1865.
Jacob W. Craw, Argentine, Co. I; died of disease, Nov. 25. 1864.
John Coles, Argentine, Co. I; disch, by order, May 30, 1865.
Dennis Falbey, Fin-hing, Co. G ; disch. at end of service, Nov. 21, 1863.
Inmbert Foster, Gaines, Co. B; must. ont July 8, 1865. George Garner, Fenton, Co. B; must. out July 8, 1865.
Edgar G. Hicks, Argentine, Co. 1 .; disch. Jan. 15, 1863. Thomas Hopkins, Jr., Argentine, Co. 1; disch. March 5, 1863. Josephi 11. Hongh, Flint ; Co. B; disch, by order, July G, 1865. David Hubbard, Montrose, Co. 11; disch. by order, June 13, 1865. William Hardick, Argentine, Co. 1 ; disch. by onler, May 30, 1865.
William E. Jacobs, Flushing, Co. K; disch. March 22, 1863.
Jolıtı Knight, Flint, Co. G; disch. March 17, 1863.
Stephen M. Kent (corp., sorgt.), Co. K; disch. to re-eolist as veteran, Dec. 23, 1863.
Albert L. Metz, Argentine, Co. I; disch. by onder, May 30, 1865.
James A. MeKnight, Argentine, Co. I; disch, for promotion, Dec. 8, 1863. George W. Noyes, Fenton, Co. D; disch. for disability.
Elin Storks, Argentine, Co. 1; died of disease in hospital, April 18, 1863. Themlore Sternhardt, Flint, Co. G; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Sept. 30, 1863. Alfred Starks, Argentine, Co. I ; disch, by order, May 30, 1865.
George Seymour, Argentine, Co. 1; disch. by order, May 30, 1865. William Tillman, Argentine, Co. I ; disch. Feb. 9. 1863.
Philo White, Argentine. Co. K ; disch. by order. May 20, 1865.
Ethan II. Wright, Mount Morris, Co. K ; disch. by order, July 10, 1865.
CHAPTER XIV.
TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
Composition of the 23d Regiment-The Thomson Light Guard and the Wolverine Guard-The " Fighting Parson"-Rendezvous and Organization of the Regiment at East Saginaw-Muster In and Departure-Reception of Companies at Flint-Departure from De- troit, and Arrival at Jeffersonville, Ind .- " Camp Gilbert" and the " Brick-Yard Camp"-Meeting Buell's Veterans-Movement to- wards Shelbyville-Arrival at Frankfort-Pursuit of John Morgan -Movement through Perryville to New Market-March to Bowling Green, and Long Stay at that Place-Death of Licut .- Col. Pratt- Pursuit of Guerrillas through Kentucky, up the Ohio River, and into Ohio-Return to Cincinnati, and Movement to Paris, Ky .- Move- ment to Lebanon and New Market-March to East Tennessee- Col. Chapin's Speech-Arrival at Loudon-March to Knoxville- Back to Loudon-Movement to Lenoir-Fight at Iluff's Ferry- Battle at Campbell's Station-Siege of Knoxville-Blain's Cross- Roads and Strawberry Plains-Morristown and Charleston-Down the Tennessee Valley-The Georgia Campaign-Resaen-Dallas- Lost Mountain and Kenesaw-Atlanta-Pursuit of Ilood-Battles of Columbia, Franklin, and Nashville-Transfer to the East-Bat- tles at Fort Anderson and Town Creek, N. C .- March to Kinston -Movement to Goldsboro' and Raleigh-End of the War-Muster Out and Return Home.
Tttis regiment, which was raised and organized in the summer of 1862, under the President's call for volunteers
Sanford Guthrie, died of wounds at Washington, D. C., May 20, 1861. Richard (. Goyer, disch. by order, May 18, 1565. James ITempsted, veteran , mist. ont July 8, 1×65. George W. Hilton, disch. for disability, April 6, 1864.
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TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
issued July 2d, immediately after the close of the Seven Days' battles on the Virginia peninsula, was rendezvoused at East Saginaw, under D. II. Jerome, Esq., as commandant of the eamp of instruction and organization. It was com- posed of volunteers from the Sixth Congressional District, and contained two companies raised in Genesee, as well as a considerable number of men from the county serving in several of its other companies.
The Genesee companies, while recruiting, and until the organization of the regiment was completed, were known as the " Thomson Light Guard" (in honor of Col. E. II. Thomson) and the " Wolverine Guard." The former was recruited to more than the maximum strength* by Capt. Charles E. McAlester and Lieut. Stewart in about three weeks' time, and the latter, recruited principally by the Rev. J. S. Smart, filled its ranks in about two weeks from the beginning of culistment. The Wolverine Citizen of Aug. 9, 1862, mentioned that " Col. Thomson and the Rev. J. S. Smart are addressing the people at different places in the county, to raise the quota of Genesee for the 23d Regiment," and about the same time a Flint cor- respondent of the Detroit Free Press said, " The Rev. J. S. Smart, presiding elder of this district, lately felt it his duty to go to the wars, so he told his family and friends to ' stand clear,' for he was going that way. He immediately started a recruiting-office, and, the fact soon spreading through the city and county, in four days after, the elder had a full company of one hundred men on his rolls. HIe then posted off to Detroit, got his commission as captain, and is now here, organizing and straightening out matters preparatory to leaving for the camp of the 23d at Saginaw. The new captain is very popular, and could have had another hundred men if he had been authorized to accept them. Ile is now called here the ' Fighting Parson.'" This corre- spondent was decidedly in error as to the time in which the company's ranks were filled, and other portions of his communication were too highly colored ; but it was not an exaggeration as to the height of the patriotic enthusiasm which then existed among the people of the county in re- gard to the furnishing of their full quota, and the promo- tion of enlistments, particularly in the companies that were to join the 23d Regiment.
The two Genesee companies left Flint early in August, and proceeded to the rendezvous at East Saginaw, where, on the 30th of that month, they were reported respectively as one hundred and nine and one hundred and twelve strong, the former number representing the strength of Capt. Mc- Alester's company. The Rev. Mr. Smart, after seeing his company filled, retired from it, and accepted the chaplaincy of the regiment. The command of the company then de- volved on Capt. Damon Stewart, previously first lieutenant and adjutant of the regiment, and still earlier a non-com- missioned officer in the 2d Michigan Infantry, serving with that regiment in the campaign of the Peninsula.
In the organization of the regiment, the " Thomson
Light Guard" was designated as " C" company, under the following commissioned officers : Captain, Charles E. Mc- Alester ; 1st Lieutenant, George W. Buckingham ; 2d Lien- tenant, William C. Stewart ; and the " Wolverine Guard" was designated as " K" company, its commissioned officers being : Captain, Damon Stewart ; Ist Lieutenant, Samuel C. Randall ; 2d Lieutenant, John Rea.
The field-officers of the 23d at its organization were : Marshall W. Chapin, colonel; Gilbert E. Pratt, lieutenant- colonel ; Benjamin F. Fisher, major; dating from Aug. 23, 1862. The regiment (nine hundred and eighty-three strong) was mustered into the service of the United States, at the rendezvous, on the 11th and 12th of September, and, it being understood that the command would be immediately ordered to the front, preparations for the movement were at once commenced.
On the 16th of September orders were issued for Com- panies C, II, and K to take up their line of march for De- troit, preparatory to departure for the theatre of war. Pur- suant to these orders, they broke camp in the morning of the 17th, and were transported on the cars of the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway to Mount Morris, which was then the southern terminus of the road ; and thence were moved across the country, by way of Flint, to the Detroit and Mil- waukee Railroad, over which they proceeded by train to their destination. At Flint, a bountiful repast had been provided for them, and they were received by the citizens with great enthusiasm,-the more so, no doubt, because this first detachment included the two Genesee companies; and for the same reason the adieux which were waved to them here, and everywhere in their passage through the county, were the more sad and tearful. The memory of that occa- sion is still fresh and vivid in the minds of surviving soldiers, and of relatives and friends of those who never re- turned. " The incidents of that first movement," wrote an officer of the regiment, " were no doubt similar to those of the remaining companies over the same route,-flat cars, rain, sunshine, tears, smiles, feasting at Flint, transportation by variety of vehicles, hilarity, airs, boisterous mirth, and much good cheer."
On the following day, the remaining companies left the rendezvous, and moved by the same route to Detroit, where they arrived in the evening, and all were hospitably enter- tained by the patriotic citizens. With but little delay, the ten companies were embarked on steamers, which landed them at Cleveland the next morning; the weather being rainy and dismal, and the condition of the men anything but comfortable. From Cleveland, the regiment moved by rail across the State of Ohio, to Cineinnati, whence, after a stop of some hours, it again proceeded by railroad, and on Sunday morning, September 21st, reached Jeffersonville, Ind., on the north bank of the Ohio River, opposite Louis- ville, Ky. In the afternoon of the same day the command moved to " Camp Gilbert," near by, and that night, for the first time, the tired men of the 23d slept upon the soldier's bed,-the bosom of mother earth.
At this time the Southern general, Buckner, was reported to be approaching Louisville, and, in consequence of the panic thus caused, many of the people were crossing to the north side of the river. Large quantities of government
* This company was recruited, in the time mentione I, to n strength of one hundred and twenty-six men, and it containet one hundred and sixteen men when it joined the regiment at East Saginaw (being the strongest of all the companies reporting). A number of these men were afterwards rejected for non age, physical disability, etc.
16
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
stores were also being transferred to the Indiana side, by order of the general then in command at Louisville. The 23d was placed on duty, guarding the public property and ferry landings at Jeffersonville, and remained so employed for two days and nights, at the end of which time it crossed the river and camped in the southwestern suburbs of Lonis- ville. Here the situation of the men was not the most comfortable, and it was made worse by their ahnost complete ignorance of the methods by which veteran soldiers manage to force something like comfort out of the most unfavorable surroundings. A few hours later they were ordered to move to another camping-place, and while on their way thither they passed a brigade or division of the army of Gen. Buell, which had then just entered the city after a fatiguing forced march from Nashville in pursuit of the Southern army under Gen. Bragg. As the 23d marched past the dusty and battle-scarred veterans of Shiloh, and Farmington, and Iuka, the latter indulged (as veterans are apt to do) in many a sucer at the expense of the fresh troops, few of whom had yet heard the whistle of a hostile bullet. The officer before quoted* says of this incident, " The contrast of their dirty, tattered, and torn garments with our men was a matter of much comment. We were surprised that they jeeringly hinted at our greenness and inferiority, which a few months' experience in marches and on battlefields would change. In time we learned that they had not been mistaken in their estimate of our rela- tive merits as soldiers."
The camp to which the regiment was moved at this time will be well recollected by those who occupied it, as " the Brick-yard Camp," a dreary and comfortless place, where the command remained without tents or other shelter until the afternoon of the 3d of October, when the 38th Brigade (Army of the Ohio), composed of the 102d and 111th Ohio, 129th Illinois, and 23d Michigan, all nnder command of Gen. Dumont, marched away from Louisville, on the road to Shelbyville, Ky. The weather was very hot, the road dusty, water almost impossible to obtain, and the men, not having yet learned the meaning of "light marching order," were overloaded with the cumbrous outfits which they brought from home; so that when, late at night, they halted on the bank of a muddy stream known as " Floyd's Fork," the exhausted and footsore troops were glad enough to lie down upon the ground, with no shelter but their blankets, and no thought but that of rest from the fatigues of this, their first severe march.
Late the next morning they arose stiff and sore in every joint, and soaked with the rain which was still falling. Coffee was made from the muddy water of the stream, in which hundreds of mules were stamping and wallowing. The rations were neither very good nor plentiful, but these were on this occasion supplemented by supplies taken from a mansion which stood near by, and from which the oceu- pants had fled on the approach of the troops. "The sol- diers, impressed with the idea that all food, raiment, and other movables found in the enemy's country belonged to Uncle Sam's elect, proceeded to ransack the premises,
bringing off meat, meal, vegetables, sauces, honey, jellies, preserves, and some pretty good stock for the stable,-a portion of which we recognized the next spring grazing in the valley of the Saginaw."
Early in the day the rain ceased, and the command moved out towards Shelbyville, which was reached the same evening, and the 23d eneamped in the vicinity of the village. Here the brigade remained nntil the morning of October 9th, when it moved through the village and on towards Frankfort, arriving in the neighborhood of that town the same night, the advance guard of the force having already entered the city after a skirmish with the cavalry of the enemy, who had succeeded in destroying the fine bridge of the Lexington and Frankfort Railroad, and had attempted the destruction of the turnpike-bridge, but had been driven away before accomplishing it.
On the march from Louisville to Frankfort, large num- bers of negroes had fallen in with the column (some engag- ing as servants to the officers, but more accompanying the force without any definite object), until there were found among the dusky crowd " the names or lineal descendants of every prominent general in the rebel army." A considera- ble number of Kentucky horses had also " fallen in" on the line of march, and were being ridden by officers and privates ; but on arrival at Frank fort there came for these a host of claimants, and the day was one of reckoning for those in whose possession they were found. "A court-martial was instituted, and held a protracted session at Frankfort. It must have made sad havoc among the Wolverines but for the fact that our fighting companion, Capt. Walbridge, who rode the best captured steed into the town on that eventful morning (October 10th), was the honored judge advocate of the court."
With the exception of an expedition in pursuit of the guerrilla chief, John Morgan, the 23d remained at Frank- fort thirteen days. It was at this time under command of Maj. B. F. Fisher, the colonel being in command of the brigade, and Licut .- Col. Pratt being absent. It was while the regiment lay at this place that the death occurred of Lieut. John Earle, of " E" company, on Sunday, Oct. 19, 1862. Ilis remains were sent home to Michigan in charge of Sergt. Lyons, and at about the same time the regiment received the sad news of the death of Capt. Norville, of fever, at Saginaw City, October 3d.
At a little past midnight in the morning of the day of Lieut. Earle's death, the men of the 23d were startled from their sleep by the thrilling sound of the " long roll," and at one o'clock A.M. they were marching rapidly away in pursuit of the redoubtable Morgan, who was reported to be at Lawrenceburg. Two companies of the regiment, how- ever (" K" and " G"), were left as a guard at Frankfort. The pursuing column was, almost as a matter of course, a little too late to overtake the main body of Morgan's force, but succeeded in capturing a few men and horses be- longing to his rear guard, and with these trophies the com- mand returned the same evening to the camp at Frank fort, having marched twenty-six miles under the usual disadvan- tages of choking dust and great scarcity of water.
The regiment took its final departure from Frankfort late in the afternoon of the 21st of October, and encamped that
# Capt. W. A. Lewis, of the 234, from whom all the quotations in this sketch (unless otherwise note.]) are made.
1
95
TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
night in an oak grove, a few miles down the road towards Lawrenceburg. On the following day it passed through that town, and made its camp for the night at Big Spring, some miles farther on. The weather had suddenly grown cold, and many of the men suffered l'or need of the blankets, which had been foolishly thrown away as incumbrances in the heat and dust of previous marches. In the morning of the 23d the Kentucky hills and vales were white with hoarfrost. The regiment was early in line, and during this day's march passed through Harrodsburg. Here the men were not permitted to make a free exploration of the town, on account of their rather damaging record as indis- criminate foragers. About noon of the 24th they passed through the little village of Perryville, in the outskirts of which the armies of Buell and Bragg had fought the battle of Chaplin Hills, sixteen days before, many of the Union and Confederate wounded from that engagement being still in the village, and in the farm-house hospitals of the vicinity. That night the weary men of the 23d made their bivouac on the banks of an abundant and tolerably clear stream of water, called the Rolling Fork.
In the march of the following day, this stream was crossed and recrossed many times in its meanderings, and late in the day the regiment reached the little half-burned village of Bradfordsville. The latter part of the day's march had been made in a cold, drenching rain, which, as night fell, turned to snow, and on the following morning (Sunday, October 26th) the arctic covering lay six inches deep over the ground. This was considered a remarkable event for that latitude, and it brought remembrances of their Northern homes to the minds of many whose eyes would never again look upon the whitened expanse of the Michigan hills and valleys. During all that Sabbath day the tired men enjoyed a season of rest and recreation around their comfortable camp-fires, and while they rested the snow disappeared, so that their march of the following day was over bare roads, but free from tormenting dust. In the evening of the 27th the brigade arrived at Newmarket, Ky., where several commands of the rear guard of Buell's army were found encamped, and where the 23d and its com- panion regiments also went into camp and remained for eight days, engaged in recuperation, drill, and the prepara- tion of muster-rolls, to be used upon a pay-day which all hoped might come in the near future.
On the 4th of November the brigade again moved for- ward, and on the 5th passed through Munfordsville, where a Union force of ten thousand men lay encamped. On the 6th it reached Dripping Springs, where it remained one day, and in the afternoon of the Sth arrived at Bowling Green, Ky., a town which "had the appearance of having been visited by pestilence, famine, and the besom of destruction," as was remarked by some of the officers of the 23d. " A large rebel force had wintered there, and remained until driven ont by the Union forces under Gen. Mitchell, and they had made of the whole visible creation one common camping-ground." This place was destined to be the home of the 23d Regiment for a period of more than six months. Its camp ( which was afterwards transformed into substan- tial and comfortable winter-quarters) was pitched near the magnificent railroad-bridge crossing the Big Barren River,
and the guarding of this bridge formed a part of the duty of the regiment during the winter of 1862-63; its other duties being eamp routine, drill, picket, provost, and rail- way guard, and the convoying of railroad trains of stores over the road from Bowling Green to Nashville. While here, the 23d, with its brigade, formed part of the 10th Di- vision of the Army of the Cumberland, and they were sue- cessively under command of Gens. Granger, Manson, and Judah, as commandants of the post, during the six months that they remained here.
The period of the regiment's stay at Bowling Green was marked by many notable events, some pleasant, some pain- ful, and others ludicrous. Near the town was a pleasure- ground, many aeres in extent, with a magnificent spring of clear cold water in its centre. This seems to have been a favorite resort for both citizens and soldiers, and we are told that " here, upon many a happy occasion, the beauty and the chivalry of Bowling Green, and many inveterate Yan- kees, assembled to enjoy the seene of unequaled hilarity and mirth." It was several times the case that snow fell to a sufficient depth for sleighing, and these opportunities for pleasure were improved to the utmost. Private entertain- ments, too, were sometimes given by the citizens, and " there were, in several instances, strong indications of attachments between some of the boys in blue and the fair damsels of Bowling Green. . .. These were oases in the dreary Sa- hara of the war." On the morning of the momentons Ist of January, 1863, the artillery on College Hill fired a salute, which was afterwards changed to target practice; and during a part of the time of its continuance the camp of the 23d Michigan seems to have been the target, for several solid shots were thrown into it, doing some damage to quar- ters, and creating no little consternation. This was the first time the regiment had been actually under fire.
On the 6th of April, 1853, occurred one of the most dis- tressing events in the experience of the regiment at Bow- ling Green. This was the sudden death of Lient .- Col. Pratt. He had mounted a powerful and restive horse, but. was scarcely seated in the saddle when the fiery animal plunged and reared so violently as to fall backwards upon the colonel, crushing and killing him instantly. He was a good and popular officer, and was sincerely mourned by the men and officers of the regiment.
When spring had fairly opened, it began to be rumored that the troops occupying Bowling Green would soon be moved from there and enter active service. The men of the 23d Michigan did not regret this probability of' a change, for although their experience had been in some respects as pleasant as any which soldiers in time of war have a right to expect, yet they had been terribly re- duced in numbers by sickness while there, and it was be- lieved that this evil would be aggravated by the coming of warm weather. Besides, they had grown tired of the mo- notonous duty which they were called on to perform, and were, as soldiers almost always are, inclined to wish for a change. About the 20th of May, orders were received to make all preparations for a movement, and to hold the con- mands in readiness for the march ; and on the 29th of the same month the regiment broke camp, and moved with its brigade on the road to Glasgow, Ky., which point was
96
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
reached on the 30th, and here the 23d remained until the 13th of June, when it was ordered in pursuit of a force of guerrillas, said to be at Randolph, about twelve miles dis- tant. Almost as a matter of course nothing resulted from this expedition, and the regiment returned to Glasgow on the 16th, after a most severe and exhausting march. On the 22d it again moved, with Manson's brigade, to Seotts- ville ; thence, on the 26th, to Tompkinsville; and, July 4th, back to Glasgow. Here, however, it made little stay, but marched out (now in full pursuit of John Morgan) to Munfordsville, reaching there July 7th, then to Elizabeth- town and Louisville by rail, reaching the latter city on the 11th. Morgan was now reported across the Ohio River, in Indiana. The 23d, as part of the command of Gen. Judah, crossed to New Albany, Ind., but, making little stop there, proceeded to Jeffersonville, and thence up the river by steamer to Madison, Ind., arriving there on the 12th, and passing on to Cincinnati, which was reached in the evening of the 13th. From that city, the fleet (on which was the 23d, with the other regiments under command of Gen. Judah) passed up the river to Maysville, Concord, and Portsmouth, O., at which latter place they remained until July 20th, when they returned to Cincinnati, and dis- embarked the troops. From there the 23d was transported by railroad to Chillicothe, and thence to Hamnden Junction, where it eneamped for a few days. Within the camp- ground of the regiment at this place there remained a rude rostrum, from which, on a previous occasion, the notorious Vallandigham had set forth his peculiar views to the popu- lace of Southern Ohio. But now the same rostrum was occupied by the chaplain of the 23d, the Rev. J. S. Smart, who most eloquently " consecrated it to the cause of free- dom, while the regiment made the welkin ring with shouts for liberty and the Union."
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