USA > Mississippi > History of the Seventh Indiana cavalry volunteers, and the expeditions, campaigns, raids, marches, and battles of the armies with which it was connected. with biographical sketches of Brevet Major General John P. C. Shanks, and of Brever Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Browne, and other officers of the regiment; with an account of the burning of the steamer Sultana on the Mississippi river, and of the capture, trial conviction and execution fo Dick Davis, the Guerrilla > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 1942
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofseventh00incogl
HISTORY
7th
OF THE
-
.
Cavalry Volunteers
AND
THE EXPEDITIONS, CAMPAIGNS, RAIDS, MARCHES. AND BATTLES OF THE ARMIES WITH WHICH IT WAS CONNECTED,
WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF
BREVET MAJOR GENERAL JOHN P. C. SITANKS. AND OF BREVET BRIG. GEN. THOMAS M. BROWNE. AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE FEGIMENT; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE BURNING OF THE STEAMER SULTANA ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER,
AND OF THE CAPTURE, TRIAL, CONVICTION AND EXPOLTION OF
DICK DAVIS, THE GUERRILLA.
BY THOMAS S. COGLEY LATE FIRST LIEUTENANT COMPANY "F."
7/
1370: UN: RALD COMPANY, STEAM PRINTERS, / L.AYURTE, INDIAYS
1:55011 1
-
٢٠
xeroxod mily
CONTENTS.
Page.
PREFACE
5
PART I.
Browne. Thomas M., Biographical sketch of
7 Morristown Speech
Shanks, John P. C .. Biographical sketch of 11
PART II.
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
CHAPTER I.
ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. 18
Gov. Morton's Crder for recruiting the Regiment
COMPANY ROSTERS.
Company A
19
Company B
50 51
Company C
Company D
Company E
Company F
Company G
Company H
Company I
Company K
Company L
Company M
First Grand Review
52 54 56 57 59 61
!
=
CONTENTS
Page.
CHAPTER II.
X
Seventh Indiana leaves Indianapolis for Colmubns. K'y-Reports to Col. Waring at Union City and assigned to the Ist Brigade of the 6th Di- vision of the loth Army Corp -- Expedition to Dresden, Tenn .- Rebels escape in the night-Return to Union City-Expedition to Jackson, Tenn., and escape of Forrest-Return to Union City, terrible New Year, men and horses frozen-Cavalry marches for Colliersville -Capt. Shoemaker sent to escort bearer of dispatches to Memphis- Encounters Rebels at Grand Junction, and captures five prisoners- Lieut. Skelton attacks and drives a body of rebels through La- grange, and pursues them four miles, and captures twenty prisoners -Grierson reaches Colliersville.
66
CHAPTER III. MERIDIAN CAMPAIGN.
The campaign, as sketched by Gen's Grant and Sherman-Gen. Sooy Smith to co-operate with Gen. sherman, by destroying Forrest's cav- airy-2d and ad brigades match from Germantown to New Albany - The first from Colliersville to Moscow, thence to New Albany vis Holly Springs-Skirmish beyond Holly Springs-Concentration of Smith's army, "pomp and glonous eneminstance of war"-Prepara- tions tor battle; rebels retire-Redland burned, the whole country in a blaze-Head of column to the lot-skirmish beyond Okolona-21 brigade goes to Aberdeen-leya Station burned-Fight at West Point. rebels retire across the river, and burn the bridge-Bivouac en the battle field-Smith retreats, heavy fighting in the rear- stam. pode of the 3d brigade at Okolona, on the morning of Feb. 224- Desperate fighting of the 7th Indiana, makes a brilliant sabre charge at Ivy Faria, and saves the army from capture-Return to Memphis Offiend report of the expedition
-
CHAPTER IV. GUNTOWN EXPEDITION.
Invasion of Wist Tennessee by Forrest-Gen. Grierson makes a recog- nizagie in forer at Haleigh, Tenn .- Skirmish and capture of color- Farer-Return to camp-Forrest concentrate at Tupelo, Miss .- Gen. s. J.sturges marches .. pon him with eight thon and men-Reviews then giment-Heavy skinaist.ing of Ripley-col. Browne dislodges the roledis by : thank moment-col. Karze stranded on an CHicsson discovers Forrest in pespion at Brice's Pross-ronds-Battle communalbeiwen Forit's time 's cavalig-Herole con- Jutottak Brown and theith Holman-Moll its position for two ant the regain ut with hawa-sturges overwhelmingly deteated- Retreat -Desperate fighting of the colored troops-Fight at Ripley- Return to Memphis-ith Indiana complimented by Gen. Grierson ..
111
CONTENTS,
Page.
CHAPTER V.
EXPEDITION TO PORT GIBSON.
The Regiment goes to Vicksburg by steamboat-Then marches to the Big Black-skirmish at Chica-Rebels driven through Port Gibson- Tth Indiana has a running tight to Bayon Pierce-Wirt Adams re- pulsed at Grand Gulf-Regiment returns to Memphis.
117
CHAPTER VI.
Fight at Tallahatchie river-Gen, Hatch pursues the rebel Gen. Chal- mers to oxford and returns tothe Tallahatchie-Ist brigade of cavalry returns to Holly Springs-Capt. Skelton with thirty men attacks six hundred rebels at Lawar Station, in the night, and runs them through the town-Forrest's raid into Memphis-Gen. Washburn barely escapes capture.
CHAPTER VII. MISSOURI CAMPAIGN.
March to Brownsville, Arkansas, thence to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, into the Interior of Mis- souri, Chase of Price-Attack on the Rebel Rear-guard at Indepen- dence-Seventh Indiana Fight for the Possession of a Corn-Field, at Big Blue, and Wins-Battle of the Little Osage, Brilliant sabre Charge-Pursuit of Price to the Marmiton, Attacked and Driven Across the River, Retreats to the Arkansas River-Cavalry Returns to St. Louis
125
CHAPTER VIII.
GRIERSON'S RAID THROUGH MISSISSIPPI.
Gen. Grierson Matches to Harrishurz-Capt. Elliott, with the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, Captures Verona, a Large Number of Prisoners, and destroys a large quantity of Rebel army stores-Rallrond and bridges destroyed-Gen. Grierson captures a rebel stockade and its garrison at Feypt, rebel General Gohlson killed-chases a railroad train and captures a large number of cars, and Rebel Prisoners- Tears up the track, and presents the arrival of rebel reinforcements -Capt. Elliott, with one hundred men, attacks three hundred rebels -C'apt. Beckwith captures Bankston and burns a cloth and leather factory, surprise of the superintendent of the Works-Capture of hogs Col. Labora defeats the rebels at Franklin-Grenada captured-Arri- val at Vicksburg and enthusiastic reception- Capt. Moore's expedt- tion into Arkansas-tapt, skelton captures three prisoners-Brak- fast in the rebel camp
1:6
IV
CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER IX.
LOUISIANA EXPEDITION.
The Expedition goes down the Mississippi River to Grand Lake-March Through the swamps to Bastrop, La .-- Negroes flock to the command and Perish of the Cold-A Negro Mother Throws Away her Child- Sntlerings of the Soldiers-March to Hamburg, and Gains Landing- Return to Memphis 149
CHAPTER X. GUARDING RAILROAD AND SCOUTING.
The regimeut moves along the railroad to Lagrange-News of the assas- sination of President Lincoln-Death of Lieut. Skirvin-Mass meet- ing of citizens and soldiers-Speech of Col. Browne
154
CHAPTER XI.
BY LAND AND WATER TO TEXAS.
Trip down the Mississippi, and up the Red River to Alexandria-Amuse- ment of shooting alligators, Southern etiquette- Military execution for desertion-Departure for Texas-A long, dreary march through the wilderness-Snakes, bues, toads, Haards, and all manner of creeping things-Arrival at Hempstead-Brutality of Gen. Custer- Consolidation of the regiment.
159
CHAPTER XII. REORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT.
The regiment laulus it - march for Austin-Passes through Benham and Pastrop-The Mayor of Bastrop extends to Col. Browne the liberty of the city, In a speech in German, that knocks the poetry all out of him-"Colonel, you Ish a German, I understand"-Arrival at Austin -Final unterout. 179
CHAPTER XIII. BURNING OF THE SULTANA -
Y
CONTENTS.
Page.
CHAPTER XIV.
DICK DAVIS, THE GUERRILLA.
Nature of Guerrillas-Dick Davis, his early life-He enters the Confed- erate service under John Morgan-Captured in Ohio. while there as a spy, steals a horse to effect his escape-Captured and put In jail and indieted for horse stealing-The ease dismissed on condition that he enlisted in the Union army-He avails himself of the first opportunity to desert-Turns up as a Guerrilla Chief near Memphis -Captured and confined in the Irving Block at Memphis, but es- capes-His field of operations and mode of warfare-Captured by Capt. Skelton, and again confined in the Irving Block-Attempts to escape by the assistance of his sweetheart, but is foiled by the vigi- lance of the officers and guards-His personal appearance-His trial and conviction-The murder of Capt. Somers and men-His death sentence-Hle bravely meets his fate-The charges and specifications on which he was tried, and findings of the court.
188
PART III.
SKETCHES OF
Blackford, Lieut. Elijah J.
Carpenter, Major James H.
106 242
Corley, Lieut. Thomas S,
Crane, Lieut. William H.
Donch, Capt, John
Elliott, Major Joel II.
233 235 212 233 238
Gleason, Lieut, Charles H.
Guerrilla Atttaek on Officers at Dinner
Lewis, Cap . Sylvester L.
Moore, Major John M.
210 215 205
Parmelee, Capt John R.
Simonson, Lieut .- Col. Samuel E. W.
218
Skelton, Major Joseph. W.
Smither, Capt. Robert G.
Way, Lieut. Francis M.
PREFACE.
To preserve the record of the sufferings, fatigues, raids, expe- Itious, skirmishes and battles, of as gallant a military organiza- don, as ever drew saber in a holy canse, is the purpose of writing this book. The general historian leals only with gouet- I facts. Armies, corps, divisions, brigales and regiments, ate ·wallowed up in the name, of their commanders. Were it pos. ble for him to gather the information necessary to give the maal existion es of the offers only. at armies, the a it ne ex-ary for -uch a work, will forever proslule the pos- " ity of the general historian ong tuing in such an undtak- There never was her r can be, and never will be, a com- War history of any way whiten. although the greater y ri ... of the history of all cotitries relates to war. The great volume & Blood is not complete, until it has the personal experien . it h individual soldier. But such a record can be am roxhat- i. so far as internal portions of arinies are concerned, It works les chara ter. Although this is a history of the 7th Juliana Payday, get it is by no means complete, Leause it does not martin the in liv Ina mandary history af cash me. sheof th egment. Even if it were possible to wedin the information estry or such a world to publish it, would require . verd hours of the size of this, the corner of which., with the -
X
- ganisation, patiti met . It has couple a limit
. .
PREFACE.
To preserve the record of the sufferings, fatigues, raidz, expc- Itions, skirmishes and battles, of as gallant a military organiza- don. as ever drew saber in a holy canse, is the purpose of writing this book. The general historian leals only with genel- I facts. Armies, corps, divisions, brigades and regiments, are sallowed up in the names of their commanders. Were it pos. Able for him to gather the information necessary to give the i tonal experien es of the offers only, of armies, the ur it to be ex-ary for such a work, will forever preclude the pos- ` ility of the general historian migrating in such an mulestak- There never was, der r can be, and never will be a com- per history of any was written. although the greater preda of the history of all countries relates to war. The great voltas. ! Llood i- not complete, until it has the personal experien w of wch individual soblies. But such a record can be approximnat- . i. so far as integral portions of armies are concerned, by works ve this chara ter. Although this is a history of the 7th Indian. avdry, get it is by no miser completa, because it does not otoin the inhy Inal military history of cash mesth e of th regiment. Even if it were possible to out in the interaction we say lor such a work, to publish it, would require werd Hours of the size of this, de expense of which, with it are
acht the baby gang ste to be the history of a single mil- ganisation, stiti mer. it has oder alitet
S. :neal saker.
1
.
X
6
PREFACE.
Sketches of only a part of the officers of the regiment are giv- en. But it must not be understood that those whose names do not appear in that part of the book, did nothing worthy of record. The reason of the omission simply is, the failure to go: in communication with them, has rendered it impossible to obtain the facts necessary to write of them properly.
Of most that is written, the author had personal knowledge. Being a prisoner of war at the time of the expedition to Missouri, in the Fall of 1664, I have had to rely on the statements o: others, and on official documents for what is written of that brilliant campaign.
Reasonable accuracy has been attained, by reference to the official reports, the correspondence, and the journal of Gen. Thomas M. Browne, which he kindly placed at my disposal.
Valuable information has been obtained from a history of company "}," written and published in the Northern Indiani" hy Major James H. Carpenter, after his return from the army. Also valuable information has been furnished by Major Joseph W. Skelton and Capt. J hn R. Parmelee.
Without further explanation or introduction, this book is . submitted to the public -
BY THE AUTHOR. MICHIGAN CITY, IND., November 1, 1876.
WET
PART I.
Biographical Sketches of General Thomas M. Browne and Gen. John P. C. Shanks.
BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS M. BROWNE.
The" institution of African slavery was fastened on the peor le of this country at an early period of their colonial history. It existed at the time our famous Declaration of Indepen lence was promulgated. At the time the Constitution of the United States was adoptedl. it was a recognized competitor with freedom in the race of life.
Oir statesmen and lawyers succeeded in ost. blishing the lotrine, that inasinn has slavery existe l at the the the De - aration and Constitution were adopted, the slaves were not included in, but were excluded from their provisions. That they were not thought of as human beings, but were considered by the framers of the Constitution. only as property. This doctrine was at'a later day gravely affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States,
Our nation presented the strange spectacle of one race of people enjoying the most enlarged liberty, while another race Were subjected to a more abjest slavery than was tolerated un- der the most absolute autorratio government and that, too, nnder '' samne Constitution.
The Constitution was referred to, a- the warrant for the exist- 't. r of both freedom and slavery.
It could not be otherwise, thin that the institution of slavery, that had nothing to recommend it to a caudid and refined mind hould arouse philanthropists to a warfare against it.
S
GENERAL, THOMAS M. BROWNE.
Protests against the institution were made by the convention assembled at Philadelphia, for the adoption of the Constitution, but were unheeded. Organized opposition to slavery, ante-dates both the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States.
The opponents of Slavery, armed, not with weapons from Vul- can's armory, but with justice, right, and religion, waged their moral warfare against our great national sin.
The slavery propagandist, conscious of the intrinsic wrong of their favorite institution, that it was at war with every pre . ple of natural justice, and in defiance of the inalienable richr- announced in the Declaration of Independence, grew intolera ... of those who had clemer ideas of liberty. Fearful that the do .- trines promulgated by the Abolitionists would be favorable received by the ma-ses of the people, they adopted a system ". Priseention and ostracism against their opponents.
Slavery enteret the puhfit and divided the churches. it pa. tered society, and metaved neighbor against neight .... 1 strode haughtily inte de national Congress, where it's adv. aus insulted civilization, and outraged de cet y, by hurling desane at those who dare to question their right to buy and sell the. fellows like beasts of bunden, and making it the especial of- foot of the protection of the tinverianent. Year after your the contest waxed hotter and hotter. The persection of the Abe- litioniets, by the Proclavery men, was intolerable. It seems incredible that such a state of adair - could exist in a free com- trv. To ad! jeult to injury. the Pro-slavery lement se red the ent ement of the indunote festive slave law, which comp . .. HI people of the North to become slave hunters for the people .
The announcing mutsenmontage of the champion Slavery, and drie domolto. Negension rond de pap. I the North to the denges sheratoning the I'mon, and they formel the creation to rearut slavery to the territory it a- realy vampir. For det purpose, the Republican party w.
9
GENERAL, THOMAS M. PROWNE.
organized in 1356. As a twin sister of slavery was the dogma of secession, the right of a State to withdraw from the Union. The threat to dissolve the Union was like a sword, suspended over the heals of the Republicans. Notwithstanding, the cham- pions of freeden di ! not yield their ground, and the "irrepres -- ible conHiet" went on.
Of those who fought on the side of liberty and union in that conflict, and in the rebellion inaugurated by the fairly defeated Pro-slavery mien. was Thomas M. Browne, the subject of this sketch. He was born on the 19th day of April. 1330, at New Paris. in Proble county, in the State of Ohio.
John A. Browne, his father, was a native of the State of Penn- sylvania, and his mother of Kentucky. The later died at New Paris, Ohio, in the year 1 15.
This calamity broke up the minily circle, and John A. Browne took his zon Thomas M. to Spartanburg, Ran dolph county. In- lima, where he apprentice I hin to Ralph M. Pomeroy , a mer- chant of that place. Thomy. M. Browne inherited his mother's great in ato theukties, and bu-me-capacity. His father after apprentieing him to Mr. Pomeroy, went to Grant county, Ken- tucky, where he died in I-o5. But his eyes were not closed in death, maril his ears had caught the sweet accents of praise spoken of his noble sou. He lived to see the vast assemblies swayed by that pedir el quence, that has placed his son in the font rank of the great men of Indiana. The breezes from the fur off battle-felds, wafted to him the gratifying intelligence of the noble manner in which his son, sustained, with his sword, the honor of our national they.
In his youth, Thomas M. Browne, was a close observer, and acquired a remarkable knowledge of human character. By eapplication be speelty a quired knowledge, and correct buiness habits. His honesty and truthfulness, were the chief beauties, not only of his youth, but are also of his mature man- 1. .. 1.
Ili: mo aus of acquiring knowledge, so far as institutions of
2
t
10
GENERAL THOMAS M. BROWNE.
learning are concerned, were confined to the common schools of Spartanburgh, and one term in the Randolph county Seminary. But so indefatigable has been his prirsuit of learning, that no one can clothe his thoughts in a more beautiful garb of language, or embellish them with nobler flights of fancy.
In the Lyceum at Spartanburg, he became the acknowledged leader. A ready and fluent speaker and a splendid reader, he distanced all'of his competitors.
A friend of his, having a law suit before a justice of the peace, at Spartanburg, and having against him one of the best law- yers of Winchester, and being himself without counsel, and knowing of young Browne's fluency as a speaker, importuned him to appear and defend his case. Browne did so, and with such shrewdness and address, that he won the case. It may be that that incident decided him to study law.
At any rate in the Spring of 1818. he left the store of Mr. Pomeroy, went to Win heter. entered the law office, as a sta- dent, of the Hon. WEBem 1. Pollo, and applied himself earn- estly to the study of lav. In ISpt after a reading of only a year, he successfully pussel an examination in open court, and was admitted to practice in all the interior courts of the State, and in 1-51, He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Indiana.
In August, 1-5), just one year after his admission to the bar, an I betote hn: was twenty- ue years of age, he was elected pro -- venting attorney of Rapldg h romaty, which office he held iwo years. In 1-55, after the adoption of our present State Consti- tution which podle the wall e erextensive with the judicial cir- mi's be wa we return cator of the thirteenth judicial circuit. pathway tion in 1-57, and again in ICH Hab Harant Find one of his office with ability, and
At Nes Piris, che, on the Isth of March, 1349, he married M .: Mary J. A can, who ha- tien his fuithtul companion in
--
.
11
GENERVL THOMAS M. BROWNE.
adversity and prosperity, and who has watched with the just pride of a wife, the honorable advancements of her husband.
The election of Abraham Lincoln, to the Presidency of the United States, was seize.l upon by the traitors of the country as a pretext: for dissolving the Federal Union. War, with all its attendant evils, was precipitated on the Government, for which it was wholly unprepared.
Thomas M. Browne was among the host of patriots, who by their eloquence and patriotism, did wonders for the preservation of the Union, by inducing the people to rally around the Nation- al Government, and sustain it in its hour of sore trial.
At Morristown on the 27th day of August, 1861, he delivered a great speech on the crisis of the country, replete with patriot- ism and eloquence. We could not give the reader a better idea of Gen. Browne as an orator and patriot, and of the causes that led to the war, and of the complications of those times, than by giving the speech in full, which we now do:
-
1
MORRISTOWN SPEECH.
MY FELLOW CITIZENS : At a time like this, it is more pleas- ant to review the past, than the present, of our history. A brief reference to what we have been may yet excite emotions of patriotism in the hearts of the people, for as the past passes be- fore us, we find that almost every field has its tale of blood, and every shore its record of suffering. and not a mountain lifts its head unsung or unworthy of heroic strains !
Less than two centuries and a half ago, the May Flower planted on the shores of the Atlantic th . gorm of a mighty R -- public. Driven from their claws and their homes, persecuted. and hunted down by a relentless despotisa, the indomitabl Puritan stepped upon Plymouth Rock, inbred with a love of liberty, and a hatred to tyranny which were defined to achie; stupendous results. The pilgrim tound a new world, boundless in its extent, spread out before him. Its resources were to his developed- the bard hipe and dengeused pioneer le were to be met and surmounted. Fear'e-six did he enter upon his task- right valiantly did he strig'e until surmonating obstacles the most formidable ever conmer- I by by human genius or human prowess, he was enabled to be mech to posterity a legacy more valnabie than the world bort ever known before. If we din : inherit from the Puritan of the Miv Fower and Plymouth Rock, our Republican institu i ms, we did that which was rand- Is valuable, we integral the wire of blanty which it-me ! the revolutionary takels to strike for freedom-and that uncon- querabe bavery wia h endured an alourt hopeless contest through years of toll, de von leney ind peril.
But two restores have pour si and the reaals of the Pilerit's well ? See you noware the hand ot on Almighty Provid are a it" Then the sound of the world's as sodom district de
.
13
NORRISTOWN SPEECH.
ness, in its forests and prairies, in its river and rivulet, in its mountain and valley, wrote its own history. Wrapped in this Pand seclusion a great continent had lain for fifteen centuries. How now? A nation stretches itself ont from the Atlantic over ti. Alleghanios, the valley of the Mississippi, scales the Rockv Mountains, and stops only when it reaches the surge-washed shores of the Pacific. Northward it reaches the lakes-South- ward to the orange and palmetto groves of the States of the Gut. Thirty millions of people populate i's fertile valleys and Es mountain archivities. In all that constitutes national great- is it is rich ; rich in revenue, in strong arm- and pianotic
1 Parts Militons of agres gro un under their heavy harve as, and the magic of the loom and longis heard in almost every village. The map of the nation presents a network of ranals and ral- imis. those great arteries of commerce. Its form of govern- wat is the model of Republic. The world over, whenever I. verty has gained even a temporary tramaph over despotien, a - Vernment is formel or attempted wym the plan of wars. The imation of this government would be a terrible blow. ami is that might be eternal in it effects, at civil and religions lib- m'y throughout the world leave this to be a failure, and to wat peutne, let me ask you, win the down trodden and granny- seitter subjects of existing desportivas, look for hope and en-
'18 igement? Destroy om Consiration, n. l von establish the deine right of kings-you give the lie to man's capacity for - it-government.
But I have spoken of our country as it was. before treason got into it comals, before it's Catalines had conspired again-t Wie, and broke it had been ascertained by traitors that this of brune mod vigor, had hillen within it some internal medel by the worker- of the on-titution themselves. the a comment could be mariv anmhilated be de Single State. Secession as Planned as a constitutional J gh, " though the destruction of that constatation is the result. . In is the acer sin cron at the age ment-it is to amante : ·strammela Nar acting itself, and con- mela minat its own existence. To conce to the right of secos-
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