History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 25

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Everts & Abbott, Philadelphia, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 683

USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 25

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There was no occasion to continue longer in the pursuit of Morgan, for that daring leader and his band had already been destroyed or captured. The regiment then returned to Cincinnati, crossed the Ohio to Covington, and moved thenee by rail to Paris, Ky., arriving there on the 28th, just in time to assist the small Union force stationed there in protecting the town and an important railway-bridge at that point against an attack made by Pegram's rebel cav- alry. This affair occurred on the 29th, and in it (the first actual engagement in which the 23d took part) the conduct of the regiment was most ereditable. It remained here until the 4th of August, when it moved, by way of Lex- ington and Louisville, to Lebanon, Ky., and thence to New Market, where it arrived on the 8th of August, and was incorporated with the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, of the 23d Army Corps, then organizing at that point.

On the 16th, marching orders were received, and on the 17th of August, at two o'clock P.M., the regiment, with its division, moved out and took up the long and wearisome march for East Tennessee. The camp of that night was only seven miles out from New Market, on Owl Creek, where the command rested during all of the following day and night, but moved forward again at daybreak in the morning of the 19th, and camped that night on Green River. The march was resumed on the following morning, and two days later (August 22d) the regiment forded the

Cumberland River and began to aseend the foot-hills of the Cumberland Mountains. In the evening of the 25th it made its camp at Jamestown, the county-seat of Fentress County, Tenn.

On the 30th the command reached Montgomery, Tenn., where were Gens. Burnside and Hartsuff, with the main body of the army, commanded by the former officer. In passing through this little settlement " an enthusiastic old lady harangued the corps upon the glory of its mission, alternately weeping and shouting, invoking the blessings of Heaven upon the troops, and pouring out volleys of anathemas upon the enemies of the country."

On the Ist of September the men of the 23d had passed the gorges of the mountains, descended their southeastern slope to the valley of the Tennessee, and camped late at night on the right bank of the Clineh River, a tributary of the larger stream. Fording the Clinch in the forenoon of the 2d of September, the corps marched forward and passed through Kingston, a considerable town of East Ten- nessee, near which the waters of the Clinch join those of the Holston and form the Tennessee River. The camp of the 23d was pitched for the night about two miles beyond Kingston.

At five o'clock in the morning of the 3d the troops were in line ready for the march, and then, for eight long weary honrs, the 23d Michigan and its companion regiments of the brigade waited for the order to move. At nine o'clock in the forenoon the brigade was formed in square four lines deep, and while standing in that formation was addressed by its commander, Gen. White, who read a dispatch just received from Gen. Burnside, announcing the capture of Knoxville by the Union forces. Gen. White then con- gratulated his command, and called on Col. Chapin of the 23d for a speech. The colonel responded in an address, which, being brief and comprehensive, is given here entire. He said, " Boys, the general calls on me to make a speech. You know that I am not much of a speaker, and all I have to say is, that you've done d-d well ! Keep ou doing so !"

Long and loud acclamations greeted this vigorous ha- rangne ; then the brigade resumed its previous formation, and, after another tedious delay, moved out on the road to Loudon, which was reached early in the afternoon of Friday, September 4th. The enemy had hastily evacuated all the strong works which they had built at this place, but had succeeded in destroying the great and important railroad- bridge across the river. Here the brigade remained for about ten days.

During the latter part of the march across the moun- tains, supplies had become so much reduced that rations of corn in the ear were issued to some of the troops, and after their arrival at Loudon this situation of affairs was but little improved until Tuesday, the 8th of September, when the first railroad-train reached the town from Knox- ville, and was hailed with wild delight by the weary and hungry soldiers. Before this, however, their necessities had been partially relieved by repairing and putting in running order a grist-mill which the enemy had dismantled before his evacuation. The advance of the wagon-trains also came up at about the same time that the railroad was opened for use.

TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY.

At two o'clock in the morning of September 15th the men of the 23d were roused from their slumbers to pre- pare for a march, and one hour later they were moving on the road to Knoxville, twenty-eight miles distant. This march was performed with all possible speed, and late in the afternoon the regiment bivouacked within a short dis- tance of the capital of East Tennessee. The next morn- ing it entered the city, but soon after proceeded by rail to Morristown, a distance of about forty miles. Only a short stay was made here, and on the 19th it returned to Knox- ville, and went into camp at the railroad depot. The next day was the Sabbath, and here, for the first time in months, the cars of the men were greeted by the sound of church bells, and they passed the day in rest and quiet, little dreaming of the furious battle that was then raging, away to the southward, upon the field of Chickamauga, or of the rout and disaster to the Union arms which that day's sun- set was to witness.

At four o'clock Monday morning the brigade took the road towards Loudon, and arrived there the same night. IIere the 23d occupied a pleasant and elevated camp in a chestnut grove, and remained stationed at Loudon for about five weeks, engaged in picket duty and scouting, and dur- ing the latter part of the time frequently ordered into line of battle, and continually harassed by reports of the near approach of the enemy under Longstreet, who had been detached from the army of Bragg in Georgia, and was pressing northward with a heavy force towards Knoxville.

This advance of Longstreet decided Gen. Burnside to retire his forces from Loudon, and on the 28th of October the place was evacuated ; the 23d Michigan being the last regiment to cross the pontoon-bridge, which was then im- mediately swung to the shore, and the boats loaded upon cars and sent to Knoxville. All this being accomplished, the army moved to Lenoir, Tenn., and camped beyond the town, the line of encampments extending many miles. The same night the camp-fires of the enemy blazed upon the hills of' Loudon, which the Union forces had just evacu- ated.

At the new camp on the Lenoir road the 23d Regiment remained until the 14th of November, when it moved with the army back in the dircetion of Hough's Ferry, where a sharp engagement ensued, and the enemy was driven sev- cral miles southward. The army returned to Lenoir on the 15th, and on the following day commenced its retreat to Knoxville, having destroyed its transportation and camp equipage, and turned all the teams over to the several bat- teries. At Campbell's Station the enemy came up and at- tacked repeatedly and with great energy; these attacks were successfully repelled, but the retreat was continued with all practicable speed to Knoxville, where the 23d arrived at four A.M. on the 17th, after a march of twenty- eight miles without rest or food, and having fought for five hours, losing thirty-one killed and wounded, and eight missing.

Then followed the memorable siege of Knoxville, which continued until the 5th of December, when the enemy re- treated. In the operations of this siege the regiment took active and creditable part, and on the withdrawal of the forces of Longstreet it joined in the pursuit, though no 13

important results were secured. The enemy having passed beyond reach, the regiment camped at Blain's Cross- Roads, December 13th, and remained until the 25th, when it was moved to Strawberry Plains. From the commenee- ment of the retreat to Knoxville, until its arrival at the Plains, the situation and condition of the regiment had been deplorable, for many of its men had been without blankets, shoes, or overcoats, and in this condition (being almost entirely without tents) they had been compelled to sleep in unsheltered bivouac in the storms and cold of the inelement season, and, at the same time, to subsist on quarter-rations of meal, eked out by such meagre supplies as could be for- aged from the country. The command remained at Straw- berry Plains about four weeks, engaged upon the construc- tion of fortifieations, and on the 21st of January, 1864, marched to the vicinity of Knoxville, where it was employed in picket and outpost duty until the middle of February, hav- ing during that time had three quite sharp affairs with the enemy's cavalry (January 14th, 22d, and 27th), in the last of which seven men were taken prisoners, and one mortally wounded. From this time until the opening of the spring campaign it was chiefly engaged in seouting, picket, and outpost duty, in which it was moved to several different points, among which were Strawberry Plains, New Market, Mossy Creek, Morristown, and Charleston, Tenn., at which last-named place it was stationed on the 1st of May, 1864.

The Atlanta campaign of Gen. Sherman being now about to open, and the 23d Michigan being destined to take part in it, the regiment left Charleston on the 2d of May, and took the road to Georgia. Passing down the valley of the Tennessee, aud thence up Chickamanga Creek, it reached the vicinity of Tunnel Hill on the 7th, and confronted the enemy at Rocky-Face Ridge, Ga., on the 8th of May, opening the fight on that day by advancing in skirmish line, and taking possession of a commanding erest in front of the hostile works. In the advance from Rocky-Face, the regi- ment, with its brigade, passed through Snake Creek Gap, arrived in front of Resaca on the 13th, and on the following day took part in the assault on the enemy's strong works at that place. The result of this attack was a repulse of the attacking column, and a loss to the 23d of sixty-two in killed and wounded ; all of which was incurred in a few minutes of desperate fighting. The enemy, though suc- cessful in repelling the assault, evacuated his position at Resaea, and moved to the Etowah River, where his rear guard was overtaken and slightly engaged by the Union pursuing force, of which the 23d Michigan formed a part. From this point the regiment moved on to Dallas and took a position in front of the rebel works at that place, where it remained from the 27th of May until the 1st of June, and during this time was almost constantly engaged day and night in skirmishing with the advanced lines of the enemy. Again the rebel forces evacuated their strong position and moved south towards Atlanta, the Union troops pressing on in close and constant pursuit, in which service the 23d Regiment participated and took part in the engagements at Lost Mountain, Ga., Kenesaw Mountain, and Chattahoochee River, and, later, fought in front of Atlanta until the capitu- lation of that stronghold. On the Ist of October it was at Decatur, Ga., and on the 3d of that month moved from

HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

there, northward, in pursuit of the rebel general, Hood, who was then marching towards Nashville.

While engaged in this service the 23d marched with its division (it was then in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division of the 23d Army Corps) to Mirietta, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Allatoona, Cartersville, Kingston, and Rome, Ga., and from the last-named place, through Snake Creek Gap, to Villanon, Summersville, Tenn., and Cedar Bluff, Ala , and thence back to Rome, where it remained a short time, and early in November again moved through Alabama into Tennessee, and was stationed at Johnsonville, employed in garrison duty and the construction of defensive works until the 24th. It was then moved by rail to Columbia, Tenn , where it arrived on the 25th, while a heavy skirmish, amounting to almost a general engagement, was in progress near that place between the armies of Thomas and Hood. A part of the regiment was immediately advanced upon the skirmish line, while the remainder of the command went into position. At midnight it was withdrawn and ordered to the line of Duck River, where it lay on the south side of the stream, throwing up defenses and fre- quently skirmishing with the enemy; being constantly on duty day and night until near daylight in the morning of the 28th, when it retired across the river to the north bank, where it held position, and keeping up an almost con- tinual skirmish with Hood's advance till noon of the 29th, when it fell back with the army to the vicinity of Spring Ilill, Tenn., about ten miles north of Duck River. Here, at about dark on the same day, the enemy was found in force occupying the road. An attack was made, and after a short fight the Confederates were driven from their posi- tion. The Union forces then resumed the march to Franklin, Tenn., and, arriving there in the morning of the 30th, immediately took position and commenced throwing up temporary defenses. At four o'clock p.M. the enemy attacked in four strong lines and with great desperation, but was repulsed with heavy loss. The attack was several times renewed, but unsuccessfully until about ten P.M., when a still more furious assault was made by the enemy, who succeeded in planting his colors on the works in front of the 23d Regiment, but was again forced back after a hand-to-hand fight. At eleven P.M. the regiment with the other Union troops withdrew, and, crossing the river, moved on the road to Nashville, arriving there at two P.M. on December 1st, having marched fifty miles in forty-eight hours, six hours of which time had been passed under fire in the desperate battle of Franklin. During the week which had elapsed since the arrival of the 23d at Colum- bia the men had suffered severely from scarcity of provisions, and in the last two days of the movement had subsisted on less than quarter-rations.

The regiment lay within the works at Nashville for two weeks, and then in the morning of the 15th of December it moved out with its division and the other commands under Gen. Thomas to attack the Confederate army, which had in the mean time concentrated in their front just south of Nashville. In the great battles of the 15th and 16th of December, which resulted in the defeat and complete rout of Ilood's army, the 23d took an active part. "On the 15th, while the regiment was making a charge on a

position occupied by a portion of the enemy behind a stone wall, its flag-staff was shot in two and the color-sergeant severely wounded, but before the colors fell to the ground they were grasped by the corporal of the color-guard and gallantly carried to the front. On the 17th the pursuit of the enemy commeneed, and during the first three days of the march the rain fell in torrents, the mud being fully six inches deep, which, with the swollen streams, rendered progress extremely difficult and tedious. The pursuit was continued until Columbia was reached, where a halt was made and the movement ended."

Soon after this utter rout of Hood's army and its expul- sion from Tennessee, the 23d Army Corps received orders to move east to the city of Washington, and on the Ist of January, 1865, the 23d Michigan, as part of this corps, left Columbia and took up its line of march for Clifton, one hundred and fifty miles distant, on the Tennessee River, at which point it arrived on the Sth of the month. On the 16th it embarked at that place and proceeded thence by steamer, on the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers, to Cincinnati, where it arrived on the 22d, and immediately left there by railroad for Washington. Reaching that city on the 29th, it went into camp at " Camp Stoneman," D. C., and remained until the 9th of February. At that time the regiment moved to Alexandria, Va., where, on the 11th, it embarked with its corps on transports bound for Smithville, N. C., at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and reached that point of destination after a passage of four days. On the 17th it moved with the other forces in the movement against Fort Anderson, taking position before it on the 18th, under a furious fire of artillery and musketry. Upon the capitulation of the fort and its occupation by the Union forces on the morning of the 19th of February, the 23d Michigan Infantry was the first regiment to enter the captured work. The regiment was again engaged at Town Creck, N. C., on the 20th, taking three hundred and fifty prisoners and two pieces of artillery. In the morning of the 23d the Union force crossed the Cape Fear River to its north bank, and found that the city of Wilmington had been evacuated by the enemy during the previous night. The corps moved up the coast on the 6th of March, and reached Kinston, N. C., just at the close of the severe engagement at that place. In this movement the 23d marched one hundred and twenty-five miles in six days, and during the last twenty-four hours moved constantly without halting, except long enough to draw rations and to issue thirty additional rounds of ammunition to the men.

The corps left Kinston March 20th, and on the 22d reached and occupied Goldsboro', where, on the following day, the advance of Gen. Sherman's army made its appearance, coming in from the south. The 23d Regiment was then ordered back ten miles to Mosely Hall, to guard the rail- road at that point while the army was receiving its supplies. Ou the 9th of April the regiment moved with the army on the road to Raleigh, which was reached and occupied by the advance on the 13th, the 23d Michigan entering the city on the following day and receiving the welcome news of Lee's surrender at Appomattox. The regiment re- mained at Raleigh until after the war had been closed by the surrender of the Confederate army under Johnston.

TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY.

Its fighting days were over, but its men had yet to experi- ence a little more of the fatigues of marching. On the 3d of May it moved on the road, by way of Chapel Ilill, to Greensboro', ninety miles distant, and reached that town on the 7th. Two days later it left by rail for Sahsbury, N. C., and remained there until the 28th of June, when it was mustered out of service. All that now remained of military life to the men of the 23d was the homeward journey to Michigan and their final payment and discharge. They were transported hy railroad through Danville and Petersburg to City Point, Va., and thence by stemmer to Baltimore, Md., where they again took railway transporta- tion for the West, and arrived at Detroit July 7, 1865. On the 20th of the same month they were paid and disbanded, and each went his way, to know no more of march and bivouac and battle, except as cherished memories of the eventful past.

OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY FROM GENESEE COUNTY. Field und Stuff.

Gilbert Bogart, Jr., Flint, asst. surg .; Sept. 16, 1862; res. April 26, 1864. J. S. Smart, Flint, chaplain ; re-, July 31, 18G3.

Charles A. Muma, Flint, sergt .- major ; pro. to 2d lieut. Co. I, March 8, 1861. Rev. Benjamin M. Fay, Flint, chaplain ; Nov. 11, 1864; res. March 4, 1865.

Company ".

Capt. Charles E. MeAlester, Flint; Aug. 1, 1862; trans. to Ist L'. S. Vet. Vol. Engineers, Aug. 13, 1864.

1st Lient, George W Buckingham, Flint ; Aug. 1, 1862; pro, to rapt. Co. A. 21 Lient. Wm. C. Stewart, Flint; pro, to Ist lient. Co. E, Dve. 17, 1862; k Hed in battle at Resaci, Ga., May 14, 18G1.

21 Lient. Jarvis E. Albro, Mount Morris; pro. to Ist fient. Oct. 6, 1864; to capt. Co. K, March 4, 1865; must. ont June 28, 1865.

2d Lient. Castle L. Newell, Clayton ; must. out June 28, 1865.

Sergt. Albe:1 A. Elmore, Richfield; pro. to 2d lient. Co. K, Dec. 13, 1862; 1st lient. Co. D, Jan. 3, 1864; capt. O. t. 6, 18G]; must. ont June 28, 1863.

Seigt. John D. Light, Grand Blanc; must. out at Salisbury, N. C., June 28,

Sergt. Egbert B. Knowlton, Flushing; disch. for disability, June 10, 1863. Sergt. Levi Well-, Jr .. Montrose; died at Bowling Green, Ky., Dec. 3. 1862.

Sergt. Merritt W. Elmore, Flint; pro. to sorgt,-major; 21 lieut. Co. 1, Oct. 6, 1×64; Ist lieut. Co. E, Nov. 30, 18644 ; must. out June 28, 1865.

Corp. Castle L. Newell, Clayton ; pro. to sorgt .- major, Nov. 20, 1864; 21 lieut. Nov. 20, 18G4.

Corp. James M. Wilkins, Richfield; must. out by order, July 13, 1865.

Corp. Wm. S. Caldwell, Genesre ; died at Bowling Green, Ky., Frb. 22, 1863. Corp. Charles F. Ramlow, Flint; must. ont June 28, 1865.

Corp. John E. Turner, Flushing ; died at Bowling Green, Ky., Feb, 28, 186.3.

Corp. Harmon Van Buskirk, Vienna; absent on furlough, not muist. out with company.

Corp. Andrew J. Ho ie, Finshing; killed in battle at Resaca, fin., May 14, 1804. Musician Samuel R. Wycoff, Grund Blane; truns. to Invalid Corps; must. out July 14, 1865.

Musician Forbes D. Ewer, Flint ; disch. for disability, March 14, 1563.

Wagoner Renben Gage, Mundy ; must. out June 28, 1865.

James Benjamin, Davison ; disch. for disability, Jan. 30, 1863.

Sundford ML. Badgley, Mundy ; died at Burnt Hickory, Ga., uf wounds, May 29, 1865.

William MI. Besherer, Forest ; must, out June 28, 1865. Ilenry II. Beebe, Forest ; disch. for wounds, Nov. 3, 1864.

George W. Brown, Vienna ; must. out June 15, 1863. James Baldwin, Clayton; must. ont June 28, 1865. Ewin C. Hingham, Vienna ; must. out June 28, 18 5. William Barber, Genesee; must, ont June 12, 1865. Martin V. Castle, Vienna ; died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., July I, 1864. John Connell, trans. to 28th Michigan Infantry. Levi ('ruig, Flushing ; must. out May 20, 1865. Andrew S. Clark, Flut; must. ont June 28, 1865. George W. Cooley, Flint ; must. ont June 28, 1865. Nathan J. Conrad, Vienna ; must, out June 28, 1863. Patrick Clancy, Mount Morris; must, ont Juur 28, 1865.

Warren I. Davis, died of disease at Lonisville, Ky., Nov. 20, 1862. John N. bumond, Flint ; died in action at Resaca, Ga, May 14, 1x64. Alonzo, D.rkinsom. Fint; must, unt June 25, 1865. Melvin W. Drake, Linden ; must. out June 28, 1865.

James Davis, Flint ; must ont June 25, 1:65.

VAL 31 Divis, Richfield; must. ont June 28, 1865. EAward Rickles, Flint; must. out June 28, 1865.

William Il. Eagle, Flint ; must. out June 28, 1865.

George I. Eetles, Flint ; must. out May 19, 1865.

David Foot, Vienna; died of disease at Bowling Green, Ky., Jan. 6, ING).

Perry Fleming4, Flint ; disch. for di ability, Oct. 3, 1862.

Christer Felton, Jr., Flint ; must, ont June 28, 1865. William 1 .. Varrand, Vienna; must. ont July 5, 1863. Charles S. Freeman, Flint ; must. ont June 28, 1865. Salom C. Glen-on, Flushing; disch. for disability, Dec. 19, 1862.

('ha. ten E. Green, Clayton ; disch. for disability, Jan. 10, 186 3.

David W Gilbert, Flint; disch. for disability, Dec. 20, 1863.

James H. Gilbert, Thetford; disch. at Detroit, Mich.

George Hawley, Forest; died of disease at Bowling Green, Ky., Nov. 24, 1862. Birney Harper Flint; disch. for disability, Dec. 17, 1862.

Marshall B. Howe, Flushing; died of disease at Louisville, Ky., D.c. 15. 1862. Isaac M Howell, Flut; died at Chattanooga, Tenn., of wounds received May 11, 1864.

John Hosie, Flushing; died of disease at Chattanooga, Tran.

Thomas Hough, Flushing ; died of disease at Chattanooga, Tenn., S .pt. 11, 'Gl. R Auert & Hamill, Forest ; must. out June 28, 1863.

John Hughes, Flint ; mmist, ont June 28, 1865.

William lawley, Forest ; must. ont June 21, 1865.

Albert Hawley, Forest ; must. ont June 15, 18G5.

Jessy W. Ilicks, Thetford; must, out June 15. 1>65.

Stephen Huvey, Vienna ; must, ont May 21, 1865.

Richard M. Johnson, Flint; must. ont May 30, 1865.

Reuben N. Lucas, Flint; died of dise ise at Bowling fireen, Ky., March 5, "G3. Legrand Lunphere, Flint ; disch. for disability, Feb. 20, 1863.

George F. Lewis, Mandy ; dlisch, for disability, May 11, 1863.

John D. Light, must, ont JJune 28, 1865.

Jolin MeDonald, Vienna ; died of disease at Bowling Green, Ky., Nov. 24, 1862.

Charles R. Macomb, died of disease at Bowling Green, Ky., Dec. 7, 1862.

James A. M.Ils, Richfieldl; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, May 1, 18G4.

Waltor Maxwell, Genesre ; disch, by order, Ort. 21, 186 3.

Morris A. Miller, Richfield ; died of dise ise at Nashville, Tean., Dec. 3, 18GI.

Westel Mudge, Fore-t; disch. for disability, Jime 4, 15G5.

Samuel Nelson, Barton ; must. out June 20, 1865.

George W. Ottway, Clayton; d'ed of disease at Saginaw, Mich., Oct. 3, 1862.

Edgar A. Pilton, Richfield ; died of disease at Bowling Green, Ky., March 1, '63.

William Putnam, Mon ly; must. out June 28, 1865.

George Pailthorp, Vienna ; nmust, ont June 28, 1865.

Irving Rogers, Flint ; died in action at Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864. Charles Rice, Flint ; died of il'sease at Richmond, Va., April 4, 1864. James Roberts, Richfield: must. out May 29, 1865.

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History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 25

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Everts & Abbott, Philadelphia, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Abbott Number of Pages: 683

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Everts & Abbott, Philadelphia, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 683