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 14
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Each regiment was marched past the body, so every m. could see it, and then returned to its quarters.
The execution was pronounced by the offers to have been barbarous. The frightening the soldier to death, under the pre- tence of commuting his sentence, was the refinement of cruelty.
The crime of which these men were guilty cannot be excited and, in time of active war, they should have suffered death They ought to have been puni-bed as it was, but not with death
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There is a vast difference in desertion in the face of an enemy, and desertion after a war is over, where soldiers are kept in the service, simply to retain dandy officers like Custer, a little longer in authority. An officer who cannot distinguish between grades of crime is not fit to have authority over his fellow men.
The most horrible part of this proceding is, the execution Was in violation of law. Article 65 of the Articles of War, re- quired, that before the death sentence could be carried into effect, the proceedings of the court martial should be submitted to the President of the United States for his approval. That was not done.
After waiting in vain to be paid off, previous to resuming the march, General Custer, on the Ssh of Angust, with his com- mand, left Alexandria for Texas.
We give the history of this march in Gen. Browne's own language, as copied from his journal, which is well worth read- ing on account of the rich vein of humor that pervades it.
" Tuesday, August Sth :- All things being ready, we started on the morning of August 8th, on our ever-to-be-remembered expedition as an "army of observation" to Texas. Day had not broken, and the full, clear-faced moon threw out a resplen- dant shower of bright silvery light over the world. Its radiance danced "fantasies most beautiful" npon the muddy waters of the old river. Even burned and dilapidated Alexandria looked proud and majestic, but desolate amid her ruins. As I started I cast a look " behind me," to the old sugar field where our camp had been, but no tent stood upon its bosom. Our village of tents had melted from the face of the earth, like "snow flakes" beneath a "summer sun." A hearty shout went up from three thousand throats, and in a moment a long line of mounted cavalry, with sabres and carbines, threaded through the sleep- ing town, and passed out of it forever. Farewell, Alexandria' Farewell, land of bayous, alligators, bugs, flies, mosquitoes, and gray backs.
Our route for the first few miles lay alinost parallel with Red
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River, and over large level and abandoned cotton and sugar plantations. We then "tacked," in sailor phrase, "sou-west." Here, the road was for several miles, skirted on either side with hedges, resembling the wild rose of the north. In height, these hedges were full twelve feet, reaching far above our heads as we rode along. They were thickly matted, and I suppose neither bird or beast could pass through.
It looked beautiful, indeed, to see these long narrow aisles between the growing fence, and to see the banks of green on either side, with here and there a modest white flower peeping half reluctantly from beneath the foliage. The weather was hot, the roads about one foot deep in fine dust and sand. We got dust in our eyes, dust in our mouths, dust in our ears, and, in fact, we were well nigh transformed into living sand-heaps.
Fifteen miles from Alexandria, we struck a bluff rising abrupt- ly at the edge of the level phin. Up to this point we had scarcely seen a tree, or bush, but now we suddenly entered a thick and unbroken forest of pines, which grew upon a soil so barren, that ten acres of it would not raise a hill of beans. Oa this day we made a march of some twenty-five miles, and went into camp at 4 o'clock p. m., in a beautiful pine grove.
We had plenty of water, although it was taken from bayous and from a creek. But for millions of vermin, that were con- stantly fighting us, we slept well.
Wednesday, August 9th, 1865 :- Reveille at two o'clock. We marched at four o'clock in the morning, and having madle eleven miles, went into camp on a delightful little knoll, in a forest of tall and thrifty pines. Here we found the first good water in Louisiana, and it was in a little and nearly stagnant creek. The country, so far, is still flat, and has nothing but sand and pines. Deer, and other wild game, are abundant, and it is nothing uncommon to see an old buck scampering through the road by the side of our marching column. Once in ten miles we find a little cabin standing in a small clearing of a half acre. This patch is planted in melons, and sweet potatoes, or
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yams, and this cabin is occupied, as I observed in passing it, by a "lean, lank and bony" woman, of the color of clay, and by a half-dozen dirty and sickly-looking children.
Women and urchins stand about the door as we pass, and seem to be utterly bewildered. They can't imagine "whar in the devil all the 'Yanks' come from."
In the evening, inasmuch as we had made so short a march, I had regimental dress parade. It was, perhaps, the only "Yankee parade" those old forests ever witnessed; as for me, it will be the last.
Thursday, August 10th :- Marchel on the same time as yesterday, passed through the same kind of country. Pines before us, pines behind us, pines on each side of us, nothing but pines. Weather very hot. Water very scarce and bad. The little water we got was brackish and untit for any use, except to be drank by soldiers. We made sixteen miles to day, and pitched our tents again in the pine woods, (excuse me for writing so much about pines, sand, dust, bad water, and bugs, for this country affords no other subjects for the pen, and in other respects is so unpoetic, that to make a draft on imagination would totally ruin the brain of an ordinary man.)
Friday, August 11th :- Had no sleep last night. Was up till midnight drawing rations and forage, then went to bed to be biten and stung, and scratched and kicked until 2 o'clock a. m., when the bugles blowel me out of bed, high and dry, by the morning reveille. The morning was pleasant, as every morning always is, but, oh, Lord! the noon of day blistered us delight- fully.
Camped at noon at Annacoco creek, which afforded abund- ince of clear, running water. I dipped my canteen full of its "liquid," and took a good "swig" of the beverage with a keener relish than ever toper took his whisky toddy. I felt like serving out the balance of my time there.
Saturday, August 12th :- As on the previous days, we were up at 2 o'clock and started on the march at 4 o'clock a. m. 18
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The country was still "pine woods and sandy roads," without variableness or shadow of turning. This day we arrived, after a march of fifteen miles, at the Sabine river, which is the boundary between Texas and Louisiana. This river is navigable during six months of the year for a hundred miles above the point at which we struck it, although at this time it was not more than fifty yards wide, and the water is not more than ten feet deep at the deepest point. By looking at the map you will see the place at which we made the crossing; it is markel " Bevil's Ferry," which is at the north-east corner of Newton county. At this place, (which is no place at all, but a river crossing), the rebels threw up a large and formidable earthwork to stop our forces, in the event they should have undertaken to cross into Texas. They had their "labor for their pains," as no Yankee was ever so foolish as to undertake to march an army through such a God-forsaken country as that between Alexan- dria and the Texas line,
Sunday, August 13th :- Lay quietly in camp on the Anna- coco, until 4 o'clock p. m. The forenoon was employed in putting a pontoon bridge across the Sabine. On this day. at about 10 o'clock a. m., I crossed the river on horseback and stood for the first time on the chivalric soil of the "Lone Star" State, Texas. I went some three or four miles through the woods to the nearest farm-house, and found an original Texan. He had come to Texas in 1820, and fought in the Texan war of 1836, and in the war with Mexico in 1845. He was now too old to engage in the pastime of shooting men, and was, there- fore, not engaged in the past rebellion, but I enjoyed more than two hours in hearing him relate, in the true backwoods style. the history of his earlier fights and escapes.
For nearly thirty years he had lived in the woods, exile ! from civilized life, in a great measure, and to-day he is so far removed from everybody, that he stands a good chance of dying without his neighbors knowing him to be sick. I bought a bushel of excellent peaches and a melon or two from the old
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man, paid him in "greenbacks," and bid him a goodbye. He had never seen such money before, and seemed very anxious to know whether such currency would pay his taxes. Being assure l that it would, he was happy, and so we left him.
On Sunday afternoon, we struck tents and were again on the march. We crossed the Sabine immediately, with our whole command, and unfurled, for the first time in four and a half years, the "Star-Spangled" banner in north-eastern Texas. After crossing the river, we struck a low, flat and sandy country, with only an occasional patch fit for cultivation. The soil is starvation poor. The timber is oak, birch, pine, and magnolia. After traveling through this kind of country for some five miles, we suddenly struck the pine hills again, and on one of these ridges, at 9 o'clock p. m., we went into camp for the night.
Monday, Aug. 14th :- Started as usual at 4 o'clock in the morning, made some fifteen miles and went into camp neur Faris' Mills on Cow Creek. Weather warm, roads dusty, no houses, woods all pine, water very scarce and bad. Pitched my tent in a "yaller jacket's" nest, got stung and swore blue blazes.
Tuesday, Aug. 15th :- Marched early again. Passed through the same kind of country, and camped on a very considerable sized frog-pond near the county seat of Jasper county, Texas. The country is almost an uninhabited wilderness. Land wretch- edly poor and the people too poor to be wretched.
Wednesday, Aug. 16th :- Marched before daylight, and just as the sun was rising passed through the town of Jasper. This night we camped among the "Pines" again, near the Angelina river and about fifteen miles from its confluence with Neches river. At this place Capt. Moore of Gen. Custer's staff, left us, und went on rapidly to report for orders at Houston.
Thursday, Aug. 15th :- On this day we crossed the Angelina and Neches river. The first we forded and the latter we had to bridge with our pontoons. No good country yet. Pines and deer, bugs, snakes and gallinippers inhabit the whole face of the earth. The two rivers run through boundless pine forests, and
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have no good land about them. The whole face of the country to-day looks as if it was uninhabited by man, and as if even God himself had abandoned it. We camped in the woods after a short march, and enjoyed the usual luxury of being bitten almost to death by the infernal bugs.
Friday, Aug. 18th :- Marched out of the woods, into the woods, and through the woods, and camped, God only knows where. I could not find any body during the whole day to in- quire of where I was, so I can simply say that I was in the woods all day, and camped in the woods at night.
Saturday, Aug. 10th :- Marched a long, dry and weary march to-day. For twenty-seven long miles we were without water, and after making a march of that distance, we had to camp on a little dry run, and dig holes in it to catch water enough to fill our canteens-miserable water it was after we got it. This was the hardest day of the march. as our men and horses were nearly famished for water. They came very nearly pegging ont. I thought a dozen times that I wont I have to take an ambulance, but I stuck it through. Just before going into camp, we struck a very fine farming country of four or five miles in width. One or two farms were indeed handsome. In any other part of the world, I could have lived on one of them, but there, I would not have taken one as a gift. I can say this of Texas generally. It is a very mean Suite.
Sunday, Au. 20th :- Marched as nanal in the morning at 1 o'clock, and made a d' tanes of seventeen miles to Swartwontz's Ferry on Trinity river. We forled the Trinity, and camped shortly after noon, inmediat dy on its western bank. I put up my tent just at the edge of its steep bank, and about thirty fort above its waters. The river butiks are very stoop indeed. The water was very low whon wo cross. I. but innch of the year large sized side-wheel traces tu sin hundreds of miles above the Ferry. This camp wie stand by the boys, 'Champ Rattlesnake." as we like & auver a dimen of the largest size there. One could sourcely pat hin tout cas wellent waking up some old rusty
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These snakes are generally very large, and were the most dangerous of all the various tribes that fill Texas. I killed one old fellow myself, with thirteen rattles on his tail, showing him to have been fourteen years old. His snakeship was near six feet in length and was very large for his size. Dr. Roother pull- ed out his teeth, and has them for a Texan keepsake. We hal a snaky time of it while in camp, you may be sure. Swart- woutz Ferry is a little town as well as a river crossing, but the town, part of it, is too little to mention, We remained in thi- camp over night an I dreamed of snakes; an I on
Monday, Aug. 21st :- at 4 o'clock we were in our saddles and off again. Here the country began to improve very decidedly. Passed by some fine plantations and with here and there a very commodious farm house. We made another long march of twenty-seven miles without water, and cramped for the night of a little dried up run, that afforded bat little to drink for ent !... tan or beast. On this day we also passed through two beanti- ful villages, Cold Springs and Waverly, the only towns w. the mentioning, I had yet seen in Texas. They were not liy .. but showed both thrift and taste. I noticed also in each, net churches, and a neat school house, neither of which had It fre seen in Texas, although up to this time I het traveled some one hundred and fitty miles in the State. We spent at this camp another terrible night, with the bugs and other vermin, which ruined my sleep, and got me up at an early hour in the morn- ing.
Tuesday, Ang. 221 :- Marched at the old time. The country still improves. This morning we struck the eastern fork of the San Jacinto river. We crossed it and camned, after a march of come fourteen milles, on the middle branch of the stream. The San Jacinto hos three forks to it. The castern, middle anl western, all of which evne tog ther and forin the river proper. There forks are but small elteams where we crossed them, ba- the river itself is of come sie where it enter> Butkilo Bajwa
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battle of San Jacinto fought on its bank on the 6th of April. 1836.
This battle was fought between the Texans under Sam Hous. ton, and the Mexicans under Santa Anna, and wasthe battle in which the Texans won their independence.
Our camp was about fifty miles above the battle field. Again in this camp we waked up some of our old enemies, the rattlers and we slew them without mercy. Nothing of interest occurr- ed here. We had plenty of water, and we enjoyed it. It now became apparent that our rations were running short, so the or- der was to live on half rations, and go fast, as we could get nothing until we reached Houston.
Thursday, Aug. 23d :- We were in our saddles again, and1 moving, before daylight. We came to the flourishing town of Danville, Montgomery county, at about sun up. The country about this 'place is beautiful, it being small, rolling, but fertile prairies. From Danville we struck near Montgomery, the county seat, and again camped on a small stream of good water. To-day we passed through a large prairie twelve miles in width, in which we saw but one house. The prairie was as as level as a floor, and we could see for miles from side to side.
Hundreds of cattle were herding upon the tall prairie grass. but I cannot imagine who ownel them, and nobody appeared t. live within miles of it. Water was reasonably plenty, and being very much fatigued, I went to bed (that is, I laid down) early and enjoyed a sweet, refreshing sleep. The bugs bit me in vain for once.
Friday, Aug. 21th :- The bugles sounded icveille at 2 o'clock, and again the camp was in motion. Three thousand camp fires could be seen in the dark of the morning, with the boys about thema, busily engagel in preparing a frosty cup of coffee. The' taken, we were in the saddle again and on our way. We syou struck a large prairie and at once the column (which had brer marching south) turned directly west. It soon became knowr that we were making for the railroad, and that we were not to
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go to Houston at all. We had marched two hundred and fifty miles to see the city, and then had to turn our backs upon it after having come within twenty miles of it. At noon we struck Cypress Creek, near the little town of Cypress City, and once again pitched our tents. We were surrounded upon all sides by prairie. No trees to be seen except a few cypress that stood lonely sentinels on the banks of the creek. Here we were to await rations and then march toward Austin. We were now at the Texas Central railroad, and on this afternoon I saw the first locomotive I had seen since I left Memphis. The sight of it made me feel as if I were almost at home again, but a moment's reflection taught me that I was leaving home and friends farther and farther behind me every day. At sundown we learned that we could not get supplies before reaching Hempstead, some twenty-seven miles distant. We were ordered to march at mid- night. The very idea of marching at midnight made me sleepy.
Saturday, 25th :- Promptly at midnight we were up and off. Passed through Cypress City. Passed into a big prairie and haven't got out of it to this day. For twenty-seven miles we had prairie on every side of us. Cattle, prairie hens, and an occasional deer, were the only things animate or inanimate that lent variety to the scene. A long prairie is at first a beautiful sight, but it soon grows tame and dull. At noon on this day, after a tedious march of eighteen days, in which we made some three hundred miles distance, we arrived at Hempstead.
During all this time I did not average more than three hours of sleep in each night, although we inade but short marches each day. To sleep in the daytime was impossible, I was broken out with heat as thickly as ever one was with measels, from the 'bot- tom of my feet to the crown of my head,' and during the warm part of the day, I felt like I was being constantly pricked with a mil- lion of pins, or was being sprinkled on the bare skin with hot ashes. The itch isn't a circumstance to the heat. In addition to this, lay down when you might, in the pine woods, and you were alive with bugs and all manner of creeping things in a moment,
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and each one of this army of vermin could bite, scratch, sting and gnaw you all at the same time.
Then notwithstanding we were in immense forests of pines, we never had any shade. These pine woods are open, without underbrush or small trees. The pines had small, slim trunks, growing up fifty to eighty feet without a limb. At the top they are crossed with a few short limbs, but not larger in whole cir- cumference than a cotton umbrella. They therefore throw out no shade but that of the trunks alone, and its shade has about the width of a gate-post. Lay down in it, and in five minutes it runs away from you and leaves you, high and dry, in the sweltering sunshine." The Colonels experience on this march was the experience of every man in the command.
The regiment, on its arrival at Hempstead, was almost desti- tute of clothing, and was nearly starving. Owing to the incom- petency or rascality of the quartermaster's lepartment, no stores had been accumulated for the command.
One day word got out in camp that some soldiers, with a pon- toon train, hal killed a beef, and had left a portion of it. Some men from the 7th Indiana, and other regiments went out to get the refuse meat. The soldiers from the other regiments got it before the men from the 7th Indiana arrived. Sergeant Carr and Corporal Gerean and James T. Arnold of company I, 7th Indiana, were of the party. Greatly disappointed at not get- ing any of the meat, and being nearly starved, they killed a runty calf worth about one dollar and brought some of the meat into camp. Of course the rebel owner of the calf made com- plaint to Custer, who, anxious for an opportunity to exercise cruelty, lent a willing ear to his statements. The next
morning, while the regiment was at roll-call, an Aid from Caster dashed up with orders for the regiment to remain in line till the quarters were searched. The Aid went through all the tents of the men, and in the tent of Corporal Gereau found some of the meat. The Corporal and all of his messmates were arrested and sent to Custer's headquarters. Contrary to
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his promise to Col. Shanks, to have the men tried in a legal way by court-martial, Custer ordered his Provost Martial, a brute perfectly willing to do his dirty work, to go through the farce of an examination. Gereau and Arnold confessed in a manly way all they had done. Custer ordered their heads to be shaved, and that they receive forty lashes each, and after- wards, be marched in front of the regiment on dress parade.
Against the protest of Colonels Shanks and Browne and Maj. Carpenter, the brutal and illegal order was carried out to the letter. By act of Congress approved Aug. 5, 1861, flogging in the army was abolished and prohibited. This outrage won for Custer the lasting hatred of every decent man in his command.
Corporal Gereau had been in the service since the commence- ment of the war. He was severely wounded in the battle of Anteitam, and discharged on account of his wounds. He suffic- iently recovered to be able to enlist in the 7th Indiana cavalry.
He had always been a true and reliable soldier. He would not lie to save himself from punishment. Maj. Carpenter, who knew him well, put the utmost reliance on his truthfulness; he was too manly to expose Sergeant Carr, who was with him and assisted in killing the calf.
But poor Gereau came to a sad end. After the war, he was tried and convicted in Indiana, of the crime of rape. The de- tails of the offence, es stated by the prosecuting witness, were horrible in the extreme. He was sent to the Jeffersonville prison. Maj. Carpenter was passing through the prison one day and saw a convict rapidly approaching him. When in front of him he discovered the convict to be Gereau. The Major learned froma him the cause of his imprisonment. He also learn- ed from him that he was innocent of the crime. Major Carpen- ter says, that as soon as Gereau told him he was innocent, he knew he was, for Gereau would not lie. After Gereau had been in prison about four years, the prosecuting witness was taken sick and died. Before dying she confessed to her priest, that Gereau was innocent of the crime, and that she had perjured him 19
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into the State prison for revenge. The Priest took down her statement, and, laid it before Gov. Baker, who immediately pardoned Gereau.
When informed of his pardon, he was so overjoyed by his un- expected good fortune, that it threw him into brain fever, of which he died a day or two afterwards.
By the usual casualties of the service, the number of the regi- ment had been reduced to five hundred and fifty men.
In some of the companies the commissioned and non-commis- sioned officers were in excess of the privates.
It was, therefore, decided to consolidate the regiment into six companies, and muster out the supernumerary commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The opportunity [of geting home, was eagerly embraced by those lucky enough to be mustered out of the service.
The reorganization of the regiment and its operations, there- after, will be given in the next and last chapter of this History of the Regiment.
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CHAPTER XII.
REORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT.
The Regiment Logins its March for Austin-Passes Through Benham and Bastrop-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 Muster Out.
The following commissioned officers of the regiment, were mustered out of the service, on its consolidation: Col. J. P. C. Shanks, Maj. James H. Carpenter, Capt. John R. Parmelee, of company A; Captain Sylvester L. Lewis, and 2d Lieut. Cyrus B. Poliy, of company B; Ist Lieut. Lewis F. Braugher, D; 1st Lieut. Lee. Roy Woods, of company E; Ist Lieut. Thomas S. Cogley, of company F; 21 Lieut. James Dundan, of company G ; Ezekiel Brown, as Ist Sergeant of company H, was commis- sioned 2d Lieutenant, but did not muster. Ist Lieut. John W. Longwell, and 2d Lieut. Thomas J. Howard, of company I; Captain Samuel M. Lake, and Ist Lieut. Charles T. Noble, of company K; Captain Benjamin F. Dailey, and Ist Lieut. George W, Stover, of company L.
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