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 21
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bring me something to eat. She said she would send her hug-
band to me in a moment. I regnested her not to tell any one else. She said: "You needn't be afraid, I knows whose you ahr," and started towards the shanties. To guard against treachery, I changed my position, where I could observe but be myself concealed. In a moment I saw a powerful negro ap- proaching the pig-pen with a pail. He pretended to throw swill to the sow, then setting the pail down, looked in the direc- tion where I was when the wench left me. Not seeing me, he got on a log, and drawing himself up to his full height, looked slowly over the inclosure, and gave a subdued whistle. Know- ing that he could be trusted, I went a short distance towards him and attracted his attention by whistling. In a moment he was with me. I told him I was a Union prisoner, escaping from the rebels, and was starving, and requested him to get me some- thing to eat. He went to his shanty and in a short time returu- ed with a large loaf of corn breadl, baked in the ashes without salt, a piece of boiled hog's jaw, and a bottle of sour milk. I made a vigorous attack on the grub, the negro watching me eat with great satisfaction. I noticed him observing my uniform wistfully, and he mentioned what I was about to propose myself -- the exchange of my army blue for a snit of citizen's clothes. A bargain was struck, but in the negotiation I observed that he bad a keen eve to getting the best end of it. I was not particu- lar, however, and would have given a fortune if I had had one, for the food he brought me. After a brief absence, he brought what was left of an old worn out broadcloth coat, without a but- ton on it, a pair of gray pants tolerably good, an old white hat, that completely inveloped my headl, and a nearly worn out horse blanket. I dressed myself in my new uniform, and was ready to assume the role of rebel. To make the trade perfectly satisfactory to me, my sable friend threw in an old potmetal pocket knife, and two matches. He also told me that he was to butch- er some hogs that afternoon, and that he would get some of the meat, and if I would wait, he would cook some of it and bring
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it to me. I agreed to wait. I learned from him for the first time, that I was on the railroad to Gainsville, and had been traveling all the time out of my true route. He told me that there were no rebel troops at Gainsville, and that iny best way would be to go to that place, cross the river, and take the wagon rond to the Mobile and Ohio road. I concluded to take his advice. I hid myself in the bushes, and listened to the progress of slaughtering the swine. I waited patiently hour after hour for my deliverer to make his appearance with a gen- erous slice of smoking fresh pork, but he came not. Night came but still I saw nothing of him. About nine or ten o'clock, it grew quiet about the shanties, and I concluded to reconnoiter, and get some fresh meat if possible. I found my friend in the first shanty I looked into. I asked him why he had not brought the meat as he promised. He said they did not get through slaughtering till late, and that he had not yet received his ra- tions of meat, and possibly might not ger any. It was so dark out doors, it would have been impossible for me to have traveled. The bright fire, blazing in an old fashioned clay fire-place, wasin - viting. I got permission to lay on the floor in front of the file. until the moon rose. The knowledge that I might at any mo- went be discovered, if the overseer should happen to look in, kept me from sleeping. About three o'clock in the morning muy hust got up and told me he would be obliged to'go to work in an hour, and that the overseer would be likely to be around at any moment, and that he had barely time to conduct me to the rail- road, and get back for roll-call. Taking a loaf of bread he ha .. d- ed me, we started, and after a walk of half an hour reached the railroa 1, where my colored friend left me, bis parting words be- ing: "God bless you, Massa!" I proceeded a few miles that day, Uut when night came, I traveled towards Gainsville as rapidly as I could walk. Abont ten or eleven o'clock, I stepped into a tegro shanty on a large plantation, and learned that I was two tales from Gainsville, thit the town was occupied with rebel troops, that the ferry at the river was in their possession, an I
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that any one attempting to cross without a pass from the com- mander of the post, would be arrested as a deserter. My only safe course was to retrace my steps to Gainsville Junction and get on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. I walked the balance of the night with my utmost speed towards the junction. [ rested some during the day, and watched my opportunity when trains were not passing, to make as many miles as possible. An hour's walk after dark that night brought me to the junction. I start- ed north on the Mobile and Ohio railroad. After four days and nights of travel, I found myself only twenty miles from my start- ing point. I followed the railroad without any particular ad- venture, to Okolona, traveling all the time during the night, and part of the time during daylight. I got my food from the negroes, by going to their quarters in the night. At Okolona I took the wagon road to Holly Springs. I passed through Okolona at night. On the evening of the next day, about fifteen miles from Pontotoc, I saw a negro by a splendid blazing camp- fire. I stopped to have a chat with him. He was going to Okolona to get a load of salt. He told me that about one hun- dred of the State militia occupied the town of Pontotoc, and that their business was to arrest deserters and hunt down con- scripts. He told me that no one could pass through the town without written permission from the commander. I knew my only safety was to get beyond Pontotoc before daylight. I in- tendled on getting in sight of the town, to go around it. I start- ed for Pontotoc as rapidly as I could go. To facilitate my travel I pulled off my boots and carried them in my hands. Pontotoc was at an abrupt turn in the road. I traveled much faster than I was aware of, and reached the town sooner than I expected. I was astonished to find myself at a picket post at the turn of the road. I did not dare to retreat, for fear of be- ing pursued if seen. It was late at night, or rather early in the morning, and the picket was sleepy. He sat on a pile of rails, on the opposite side of the road, with his back to me. Having my boots off I walked by him without making any noise, and
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without being observed. I passed through the town, keeping in the shadow of the buildings. At the other end of the town was another post, which I passel withont being seen. I was once more out of immediate danger.
Half a mile from the town the roads forked. Not knowing which was the right one for me to take, I very naturally took the wrong one. But intending not to run the risk of getting far out of the way, I rested in a cedar clump till daylight, when I started on. and about half a mile further, came to a log house by the road-side on a hill. I stepped in, and learned that I was on the wrong road. A free negro and his wife lived there. Their breakfast being nearly ready, the man invited me to par- take. I was sitting down to the table when some one at the gate called. I noticed the man and woman cast looks of appre- hension toward me, and the former left the house hastily, and entered into conversation with some one out-side. I suspected the individual was a rebel. I asked the woman if he was, and she said she believe he was. I improved the time, however, in eating. A moment or two later, the negro came in, and told me that the person outside was a rebel soldier, in search of his horse that got away in the night. That with difficulty he kept him from coming into the house, by making him believe that his horse was in a hollow a short distance from the house, that he had gone there to look for it, but that he would soon be back for breakfast. That he, the negro, guessed that I did not care to meet the rebel, and that I hal better eat as rapidly as possi- ble, and get away before he returned. He said he would direct me to the Holly Springs roal. I drank my coffee, grabbed a piece of fried ham and a piece of bread, and under the guidance of the negro left the house. He took me into a hollow, away from the road, and pointing out a path, told me to follow it until I came to a log hou-e, on a plantation, a mile distant. He told me to inquire there for a certain ntgro, and t Il hun who sent me there, and that he would understand what wis wanted. My guide told me, that the negro I was to in-
LIEUI. THOMAS S. COGLEY.
quire for, knew every road and by-path between there and Memphis, and that he would give me full instructions. He also told me that he thought I was a rebel deserter. That such persons came to his house nearly every day for directions and food, and that he cheerfully rendered them all the 'aid in his power, but that he had to be very cautious about it, for if the rebels knew what he was doing, they would probably kill him. I followed the path as directed, and soon came to a corn-feld in which were some negroes husking corn. I knew from the description given of him, the negro I was to see. He was a tall powerful man, and the overseer of the plantation. Iaddressed him by name. He answered me gruilly, by asking what I want- ed there. I told him I was sent to him to learn the way to Memphis. He looked very knowing and made a signal for me be silent. After husking a few minutes, he ordered the others to keep on at work, while he huske l a shock of corn a few rods distant. He started toward it, and made a motion for me to follow him. When we were alone, he told me he knew who I was, and that I would have to be very cautious, or I would fall into the hands of the rebels, who scouted through the wools every day in search of deserters and conscripts. He pointed across the field to a rol, that would lead me to another road, that would lead to the Holly Springs road. He advised me not to attempt to go to it in daylight, as I would be running the risk of being captured.
I hid in the field till night, when I started. I found the first road without difficulty. The night was extremely dark, and the roal very rough. I stumbled and fell so often, that by the time I reached a plantation two miles distant, I was almost exhaust- ed. I concluded to stop at a negro shanty till the moon roa. I stoppel into one, and Inn I I was within a few hundred var is of the other road I was looking for. I lay down on the floor in front of the fire to rest. About ten or eleven o'clock, some nagroes came in, and from their conversation, I learned that they had been to church. One of them ranted to know who I
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was, when I came, where I was going, and what I wanted. The wench told him, he knew as much about it as she did. After a few moments, he repeated his questions. He wanted to know if I was a white man. On being told that I was, he remarkel +hat that was no place for me. That a certain rebel captain, with twenty men, was but a short distance from there, and that he would surely stop and search their quarters, as he usually did, and if he found me there, they would get into trouble. H> requested the wench to wake me. She told him to wake me himself. Thinking it was time to be going, I got up, told the negro that I had heard his conversation, and requested him to conduct me to the road that would lead to the Holly Springs road. He readily offered his services, and in a moment I was walking toward Pontotoc. In a few moments I heard the tramp of horses behind me. I got over the fence into a field of hemp, and laid flat on the ground, until a body of rebel cavalry passe 1, when I went into the road again, and followed them up. keeping several rods in their rear. On coming to the main road, they went toward Pontotoy, ant I started rapidly in the opposite direction toward the Tallahatchie river. About 4 o'clock in the morning, I arrived in New Albany on the river. To the left, I saw some tents and a few smouldering fires, indicating that there were some troops at that point, but I saw no pickets. I crossed the river on a log, the bridge having been burned, and hurried on toward Holly Springs. I did not stop to rest thit day, but kept steadily on. At noon, I stepped into a farm- house to get dinner. The proprietor was a physician, but was not at home. The la ly of the house huid company. I sat down to the table with quite a number of other persons, who, to my great satisfa tion, pii no attention to mne, so I escaped being down into conversation. I barnel from their remarks, thit there was a rumor afloat that the federal troops had surprised 1
and captured Holly springs, that morning, but that they di- er-lilit. After dinner, observing one or two persons paying for their mods. I knew pay woubl be expected of me. The
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landlady came near me, as if to receive it. I thanked her kind- ly for my dinner, not having any legal tender, and, dleparted. She looked disgusted, and said: "yes, I understand." I had gone but about half a mile, when I saw a man coming toward me, in a great hurry, motioning with his hand for me to go ba .k. When he got close enough for me to hear, he said the "Yanks" had taken Holly Springs, and were preparing to march further South. and if I dil not want to be captured, for me to turn back. I affected alarm at the infomation, but instead of turning back, I walked faster toward Holly Springs.
Soon after, I met a woman in a buggy, who said she had been to Holly Springs, and that it was in the possession of the Union army. When within two or three miles of the city, I met a inan coming out of the brush, with the same startling news, that the "Yanks" were in town. I could not avoil stopping to talk with that fellow, and from him I learned, that he had a store in town, and that in the morning, hearing that the Federais were coming, fled, and hal been hiding all day in the bashes. Il. remarked that he did not think that I was all right, or I world not persist in going into town. when the Yanks were there. Seeing I was abont to have trouble with him, I left him. I had hardly got out of sight of him. when I found myself face to face with two rebel officers, mounted. They were riding slowly, one in advance of the other, but were in a deep stu ly. The List one barely glanced at me, and rode op. The second wis about to pass without seeing me. However, he happened to look to- ward me, and male i motion with his hand, as if reining in his horse, but observing that his companion was keeping on. he he went off into his reverte again, ant I escapel unino. leste I. I thought they did not act like they would if the Yanks were in torn. At the crossing of the railroad. half a mile from the city, I learned from some little boys at play thete. that the report of the Yankees having possession of the place, was a can ird, gotten up by a wag, for sport. I made a wil .. circuit aroundI the city to the Memphis road.
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Nothing of particular interest occurred until near Colliers- ville. It was toward evening. The uppers of my boots hadl broken loose from the soles, and it was difficult for me to walk in them. There was an old deserted log house a few rods from the road, nearly concealed from view from the road, by timber and bushes. I thought I would go to the house and repair my boots. I cut strips off the tops of my boots, and fastened the soles to the uppers, by boring holes through them with my knife and tying them together with the strips. I had just finished the repairs, when I heard behind me, the click of a revolver. I knew full well that I was in the power of an enemy, and that my only hope of escape was to pass myself or as citizen.
Waiting a moment to recover my self possession, I rose from the floor on which I had been sitting, and turned around, as if by accident, and was face to face with a young rebel officer, mounted, at the window, with a revolver in his hand resting on the window sill. I said: "how are you?" Ile asked me, with a tremor in his voice: "where is your horse?" I told him I had none. He refused to believe it. I said to him: "I see you are a soldier, and from your remarks, I infer, you take me to be one. He said: " certainly, I do; everybody in this country is a soldier, on one side or the other." I told him I knew that was the case generally, but that I had failed to get into the army, because the examining surgeon rejected me as unfit for service on account of the loss of sight in one of my eyes. He remarkel that they inns' have been more particular when they examined me, than they were at that time, when the confeder- ates were glad to get any kind of men. I told him I was re- turning from a visit to an unele near Holly Springs, to my home nor Raleigh, a small town twelve miles north-east of Memphis. HI . wanted to know the name of my unele at Holly Springs, and of my folks at Raleigh. I gave him fictitious names, and could con that he was revolving in his mind whether he had ever heard of such persons in those localities, Fortunately, as I learned
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from him afterwards, he lived in the interior of Mississippi, and had but a slight acquaintance in the part of the State where we were. He, in company with several other rebel offleeers, was that, afternoon netting quails. He carried the nets. While we were talking, another officer emerged from the bush. who, seeing me, wanted to know who I was. The one I was with, replied: "Oh, just a man I am talking with." Just at that time, some one of their party found a flock of birds, and was calling impatiently for the nets. My companion grew ex- cited at the prospect of getting birds, but was undecided what to do with me. While seeming to be reflecting on the subject, some one of the party yelled out: " Why in h-I don't you bring those nets?" He answered: "Yes, I am coming," and started to go. I availed myself of the excitement, to travel. I jumped out of the window, bade my new acquaintance "good evening." and started.
When out of sight, I dodged into the brush, and hid till dark, when I resumed iny journey with all the speed I could com- mand. The darkness enabled me to pass through Colliersville without being seen. About a mile west of Germantown, at a farm-house, standing quite a distance from the road, some guerrillas were having a dance. I watched them a few moments through the windows, and started on.
At White Station, nine miles from Memphis, I came Very near running into a bivouac of guerrillas. I thought I would look at the ground on the south side of the road, where my regiment at one time camped. I was approaching it, when I heard a voice. I listened and heard a person waking his companions, and telling them it was time to be going. I passed rapidly to the opposite side of the road into the timber, and got by without being discovered. I was expecting that that party would come upon me, on their way to make an attack on the federal picket posts, and, therefore, hept a constant look out to the rear. I was traveling on a hard-smooth pike. The moon had risen, and I had no difficulty in finding my way. I had such a dread of at
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last being captured by the enemy I had left in the rear, when so near my destination, that most of the time 1 traveled on the run. When four or five miles from Memphis, I heard the ringing of the bells on the steamboats at the wharf, and knew that I was rapidly approaching the federal lines. I knew the guerrillas were in the habit of lurking about the lines to capture and kill our tickets. It was, therefore, with mingled feeling- of terror and joy, when about three o'clock in the morning, when I was going at the top of my speed, I heard the command : " Halt!" ring out on the still air. I obeyed the order according to its very spirit. A ball through my heart would not have brought me to a more sudden stand still. My alarm, lest I had run into a guerrilla ambuscade, was increased by not seeing any one. After a pause of a moment or two, I heard the words: "who comes there?" I replied: "a friend." The same voice said: " What kind of a friend, we have strange friends here: my opinion is you are a damnel rebel. Don't move, or I will shoot you." I heard the click of his musket, as he cocked it. The words: "damned rebel," made me feel happy. I knew I must be at the Union lines. I told the picket that I belonged to the Seventh Indiana cavalry, had been taken prisoner, and escaped. He called the corporal of the guard, and stepping from a deep shadow, cast by a high bank by the side of the road ordered me to "advance."
One has a strange feeling, on being compelled to march up to the point of a bayonet, in the hands of a guard, who will thrust it through you, if he suspects anything wrong. I advanced to the picket, and stood with the point of the bayonet against my breast, -while the corporal sitisdel himself that I was unarmed, when I was taken to the reserve to give an account of myself. They all remembered! Captain Skelton's tight at Lamar, and that le let ono prisoner. They were -atisfied I was what I tepre- -ented myself to be, and while wating for daylight, got me some ! rakfast.
It being suppossl that I was dead, my appearance at the regi-
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ment created some surprise. I found a commission as Second Lieutenant waiting for me. A vacancy in the office of First Lieutenant, had occurred by the resignation of Lieut. Dankerly. Maj. Carpenter, who was in command, immediately forwarded my name to Governor Morton, for promotion, and in a short time I received a commission as First Lieutenant of campany F.
I went with the expedition under Col. Osborn, to Bastrop, Louisiana, in the spring of 1865.
During the time the regiment remained in Tennessee, I was employed most of the time on scouting duty.
I went with the regiment to Hempstead, Texas, where, on the consolidation of the regiment, I was mustered out of the ser. vice.
I returned to LaPorte, Indiana, and during the winter of 1865-66, attended a course of law lectures. in the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, Mielicon. After the close of the term, I returned to LaPorte, and entered the law office of the IIon. Mulford K. Farrand, as a student. On the 9th of November, IS66, I was admitted to practice law, in the Circuit Court of LaPorte county, the IIon Andrew L. Osborn being Judge of the court. At the May term, 1874, I was admitted, on motion of Gen. Thomas M. Browne. to the Dar of the Supreme Court of Indiana, and of the United States Circuit Court. I have been in the practice of the law in La Porte county, since my admission in 1500. In December, 1860, I was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Farrand. With her my home has been the scene of contentment and happiness, in ad- versity as well as prosperity. Our union has been blessed with two beautiful and intelligent children-a girl and a boy.
This is my first attempt in the field of literature. I fonned the resolution to write a history of my regiment, after learning that General Browne had abandoned the intention be termed, while in the service, of writing it. It is to be regretted that that gentleman had not the leisure to perform the task I have attempted. His happy style of writing, would have thrown
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around the subjects treated, a charm, and given them an interest not to be achieved by any other writer.
CONCLUSION.
The Seventh Indiana Cavalry took the field when the black clouds of civil war were breaking, and when patriots saw a glimmering of hope for the successful termination of the bloody strife. Its field of operations was the great Mississippi valley; and the part taken by the army, with which it was connected, had an important bearing on the great military events, that were transpiring. The army of the Mississippi, performed its duty of securing the navigation of the Mississippi river; of interrupting the routes of supply of the confederate armies in the South-west; and of making diversions in favor of the armies under Generals Sherman and Thomas, with eminent success. It had opposed to it, one of the most watchful. successful, daring and able of Confederate Generals, N. B. Forrest. The long and important line to be guarded, and the frequent and de-perate attack; of the enemy, kept the cavalry almost constantly in the saddle.
During its term of service, the Seventh Indiana Cavalry traveled by land, on regular marches, three thousand, seven Landred and twenty-five miles; by railroad, six hundred an l sixty-six miles; and by water, three thousand and thirty miles; mi .lins, without inclu ling in the sinuosity of the routes of travel, and the almost daily scouting expeditions, while the regi- !!! ont -was in camp, a grand total of seven thousand, four hundre 1 and twenty mailes, which will average a little over eigh rades for every day the regiment was in the service.
We buried our canales by the way-side, from Hickman, Kentu ky, to the end of our werisome march in Texas. In .i. gr. tickets, in the Lone Star State, "in unmonumentel graves" slumber our heroes, who took a gallant part in theevents recorded in these pages. From the bottom of the
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Mississippi river; from the hill-top and the low river bottoms, where they were shot down by the lurking guerrillas, and by them denied the right of burial; from the thickly-populated military cemeteries, borne there from groaning hospitals, and, the fields of glory where they fell, will members of the Seventh answer to roll-call, at the sounding of the great reveille. They are dead, but not forgotton. A grateful people will ever cherish the recollection of their heroic deeds and patriotic sacrifices, and reserve in their hearts a green spot, consecrated to the memory of the fallen brave. As a compensation for their sacrifices, and standing as a grander monument to their memory, than any that could be erected of marble, is our Unio: of States preserved, and the power of Our Government felt and respected throughout the world.
From our complex system of government, grave questions of constitutional law, will arise, and convulse the people-but every true soldier who has experienced the horrors of war, and seen the innocent, as well as the guilty, swept into its bloody vortex, will enter an earnest plea for peace-and the people, applying the test of patriotism, will settle their differences with- out resort to arms.
THE END.
QA. O. BUNU 3
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