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 6
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First Lieutenant. Alpheu- T. Blackman, of Liberty Mill . Wabash county. Indiana.
Second Lieutenant, James A. Fisher, of Wabash, Indiana.
ENLISTED MEN.
S rgeants, Champion Helvey, Albert Kline, William Wam- pler. Samuel B. Henderson, Savanth Leonard, Rutherford M. Beetley, Edwin Sheets.
Corporals, James & Ellie Jeph S. Craig (promoted captain of company G, 130th regnnent Indiana infantry), Richard Rinz. Oscar J. Cox, Iremis Shortridge, Joseph L. Toda, James M. Reed, William L. Scott.
Buglers, Robert Holvov, andt Joseph N. Tyler.
Farrier and Blacksmith, Benjamin F. Ryman, Humphrey Stahl.
Suldler, Nathaniel Benjamin.
Wagoner, Milton M Suchart.
Privates, John Andon. George A. Armstrong, John Q. Adams. David Anderson. Isaac Bara. John B Blok-on, George Ban- cher, Samuel S Bankely Manisch Buzzard, Joseph Clash. Calvin Conter, Gilbert M Depe Chark . Dorsey, Henry Deshon. George P. T. Denghi Samme Peter, John Ennis. William Egbert, William F From d for Hacer, John W. Hon . Matin S. Hemberl. Ir-anders. Ingram, Amos A. K. H., Enfin R. Krin, Albert T. Lowes.
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SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
William L. Logan, William A. Lockhart, James Leason, Charles I.vons, John Lawson, Daniel Miller, Alexander McCuteheon, Kobert Miller, Simon H. Malotte, Peter S. Murphey, Mathew Munjoy, Vance MeManigal, Oliver H. P. Meek, John H. Max- v.lle. David McDaniel, James Meniers, Myer Newberge, James oliver, Joseph Phipps, Sirenins Porter. William S. Prichett, Henry C. Pruitt, Hiram F. Price, Isaac S. Peterson, Daniel Korther (promoted hospital steward), Jeremiah Reed, George W Stover, James Smith, Franklin Sowers, James S. Tilberry, .- eph Thrush, James W. Thompson. Elias S. Totten, John Cattle, Louis S. Todd, James Walton, William Wilson, Henry n Zook.
Joined as recruits, John Core, John Dubois, Milton K. Flem- :2. William Headley, Elbridge S. Hilligoss, Daniel Kitson. 'premiah Murry, John Osborn, Morris E. Place, George W. ..-. 1, David Walters and Benjamin White.
COMPANY M.
Mustered September 19th, 1863, at Indianapolis. The mem- . . vi this company were principally from Madison county.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. .
Captain, Joel HI. Elliott. of Centerville. Indiana. First Lieutenant. John G. Mayer, of Indianapolis. Soon Contenant, Benjamin O. Deining, of Lafayette.
ENLISTED MEN.
Fest Sergeant. Charles P. Hopkins. Migrants, John W. Denny. John N. Gilbert. Abraham Wil- ". Thomas W. Gibson, James McNaughten, James Woodard, James H. Jackman.
Corporals, Thomas C. Poyns. George A. Cotton, Daniel Habe. Willard O. Story, Elias Green, Rollin W. Drake, George 1 .ward, and George Lutz.
Buglers, Ruel C. Freeman, and David Falkner,
Farmers and Blacksmiths, Jordon Markle, Edward R. Rey-
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SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
Suddler, Bobert H. Ferrv.
Wagoner, James McFadden.
Privates, Moses Altizer, George Antle, Frank Akerman. Frank J. Ball, James Buchannan, Philo E. Brittingham, Henry Brown, George Conover. Charles Conover, George D. Craig, Jobu Clutter, Theodore P. Cotton, Jeptha Downs. Joseph Deversey. John H. Davis, Samuel Dohoney, Harmon Dixon, James A. Dix- on, William Day, Charles Fred, John P .. Garrott, James B. Glass- cock, George Hinds, Thomas Heath, Cyrus Hall, James M. Hand, Theodore F. H. Hinton, Richard Haves. Samuel W. Hos- tetter, John H. Jones, Henry A. Johnston. James W. Keith William Kelly, Joseph Linnenweber, George Linnenweber, Sam- uel Lanham, John S. Lash, William H. Lee, Asbury Lunger, Joseph Martin, Thomas McVey, Adam MeKand, Benjamin Mathews, Charles Middleton, Nathan McDonald, Eli Moyer, Richard Nolen. Philip F. Osborne, Robert R. Patton. Oliver N. Ratts, Calvin R. Royce, John H. Starks, Zachariah T. San- ders, Charles Smith, Squire A. Story. Truman Selee, Willista F. Thompson. Henry C. Thomas, Benjamin F Temple, Wis-mau Vest, Joseph Walker. George W. Wood, George Whithara. Wi !. liam Ware, Daniel B. Williams, Huey Washam, Edmond West. James T. Wise. and Christian M. Warring.
The interval from the muster in of the companies to the tt !: or 5th of December, 1863. was busily employed in learning the cavalry drill, in which the regiment acquired great proficiency
Its first appearance on parade, mounted, was ludicrous in the extreme. The Governor had not appointed the Majors of th- regiment. As usual, there were several applicants for the positions. Governor Morton resolved to review the regiment and form, from personal observation, his opinion of the fitness ot some of the captains for promotion. Accordingly, he notified Col. Shanks, that he would, on a certain day. review the revi- ment. The Colonel was naturally ambitions thar his meb should present as fine an appearance as possible. He therefore issued orders for the regiment to appear mounted, ou the tield for review.
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FIRST GRAND REVIEW. 65
The horses, having been but recently drawn, had never been exercised in drill. Some of them had never been backed.
The captains. some time before the hour for review, formed their companies on the company parade grounds to see how it would go. The men were as green as the horses. Some of them never having been on a horse's back, did not know how to mount. Those who had wild steeds, had great difficulty in maintaining their positions in the saddle, and some in attempt- Lig to mount, suddenly found themselves on the ground. How- "vas. after great effort. the horses were sufficiently quited, so as : stand in reasonable proximity to each other. The honr har- ing arrived for the review, the companies were marched to the :imental parado ground, and the regiment, after long and pa- Bent effort, formed in a reasonable straight line.
Governor Morton and his Sinif, accompanied by Colonel Sanks, took their positions in front of the regiment.
Colonel Shanks in geunine military style, gave the command. Draw sabres." The men obeyed the order. The sabres in be- ny drawn made a great rattling and clatter, and waved over le horses heads, the sound and sight of which greatly frighten- I them. This was more than they could bear. Some of them ared and plunged, depositing their riders on the ground ; som" sh-eled and dashed madly for the company quarters; others lartel over the comunons, their riders hatless, holding on with Ich lande to the horse-' ianes, or the pommelsof their saddles, "eventing pictures not in keeping with accomplished equestr :- wiem. In a twinkling the entire regiment was dispersed over the trongding country. The Governor maintained his gravity, it it must have cest bim an effort to have done so. So ended ' : first grund review of the regiment.
But drill accomplishes wonders, and the mounted parades of regiment, before it left In Hanapolis, was worth seeing.
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CHAPTER 1I.
Seventh Indiana leaves Indianapolis for Columbus, Ky-Revoitst. Col. Waring at Union City and assigned to the 1st Brigade of the Oth Division of the 16th Army Corps-Expedition to Dresden. Tenn .- Rebels escane in the night-Return to Union City -- Expedition to Jackson. Tenn., and escape of Forrest-Retur: in 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 of Grand Junction, and captures five prisoners-Lieut. Skelter attacks and drives a body of Rebels through Lagrange, and pursues them four miles, and cantares twenty prisoners- Gricreon reaches Colliersville.
The 7th Indiana Cavalry left Indianapolis, on the 6th of Di- cember, 1863, by railroad, for Cario, Illinois. At that place it embarked on steamboats and steamel down the Mississippi t. Columbus, Kentucky, where it disembarked, and reported t: General A. J. Smith, and, by his order, camped for the' night near the fortifications of the town. By way of introduction t .. military life, the rain fell in torrents during the night, extit .- gaished all the camp-fires, and the country being flat, complete. ly deluged it with water. In the morning the men were com pletely drenched, and presented a disconsolate appearance.
After remaining at Columbus one day, by order of Ges Smith, the regiment started to report to Col. George E. Waring, Jr .; at Union City, Tenn., where it arrived at the end of a mare !. of two days. It was there assigned to the First Brigade of tl :- Sixth Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps. The Brigade wa- commanded by Col. George E. Waring, Jr., of the 4th Missour. Cavalry, and was composed of the following regiments of cavalry Fourth Missouri, Col. George E. Waring. Jr. Second New Jersey, Col. Joseph Karge. Seventh In liana, Col. John P C. Shanks
EXPEDITION TO JACKSON, TENN.
Sixth Tennessee, Col. Hurst.
Nineteenth Pennsylvania, Col. Hess.
Second Iowa, four companies. Maj. Frank Moore, and Cap. tain Copperfair's Battery.
Maj. Beck was sent with a detachment of the 7th Indiana. from Union City, to disperse a body of rebels at Dresden, Tenn. On arriving there the Major discovered that the enemy was too "trong for him to attack, and reported the fact to the regiment Lt. Col. Browne, with one hundred men from the 7th lal ...... went to his assistance, and met the Major slowly retiring. Bat the force was still too weak to safely risk an attack, and Col. Browne sent such a report to headquarters, when Col. Shanks took the balance of the regiment, overtook the other two de- fachments, and with the entire regiment marched to Dresden. arriving there at night. Under cover of the darkness, and the heavy rain that fell all night, the rebels stole away. In the morning, finding that the game had flown, Col. Shanks marchel the regiment back to Union City.
On the morning of December 231, 1803, Gen. A. J. Smith with his entire command, began his march on Jackson, Tenn , sixty miles from Union City. His object was to drive out the rebel, General N. B. Forrest, who was engaged in conscripting and gathering forage for the rebel army. On the approach of Gen. Smith, Forrest retreated.
Gen. Smith remained at Jackson, till the Ist of January, 1861. Christmas was a pleasant day, and so warm, the men could sit in their tents with their coats off. On New Years day Gen. Smith was on his return to Union City. In the forenoon the weather was pleasant, but early in the afternoon, it began rain- ing, and rapidly grew intensely cold, the rain was changed to a terrible sleet. The cold increased in intensity, and the men, to keep from freezing, were obliged to walk most of the time. Notwithstanding their precautions, the rest of some of them vere so badly frozen that amputation was necessary, from the Heere at which some of them died, Among these were Alma's
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SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
Tucker of Company B, and Joseph Gaw of Company F, of the 7th Indiana. Even some of the horses perished of the cold, and fell dead in the road.
On the return of Gen. Smith to Union City, Lieut. Col. Browne was sent to Hickman, Kentucky, to take command of a detach !. ment of three hundred and fifty men of the 7th Indiana cavalry, that had been left there.
About the 7th of Jannary, 1864, the cavalry under Gen. Grierson, excepting the detachment under Lt. Col. Browne, started on the march through West Tennessee, to join the caval- ry force organizing at Collierville, under Gen. Svoy Smith, 10: an expedition into Mississippi, in aid of the movement of Gen. W. T. Sherman from Vicksburg to Meridian.
This march was a hard one, particularly on the horses. In crossing the swamps of the Obine river, they were constantly breaking through the ive, and foundering in the ice, mid anl Water.
At Boliver Ten. Col. Waring ordered Capt. John W. Shoemaker to take Company F, of the 5th Indiana, and es ort his aid-dle- camp, bearing dispatches, to Memphis. At Grand Junction, the escort run into a large boly of rebels, and captured five prison- ers. Lt. Skelton with two men by Capt. Shoe maker's order, r ... turned to Boliver for reinforcements. Lt. Skirvin with Compa- ny D, of the 7th In liana, returned with Lt. Skelton. By the time the reinforcement arrived, the rebels hal withdrawn in th- direction of Lagrange" Tennessee. At that place, Lt. Skelton. having command of the advance guard, charged them. and drove them through the town and capture'l nineteen prisoners. He pursued them four miles south of Lagrange, and in the chest captured one or two more prisoners and several horses and raudles, abandoned by the rebels in escaping to the woods : avoll capture. There were three or four hundred of the rebe !: who must have taken the escort to be the advance guard .. tiriersen's force. and hence allowed themselves to be driven ! inferior number :. Watts Lt felbon was punoong the ribs
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SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
the escort, marched rapidly north to Summerville, and from thence through Raliegh to Memphis, and thus got separated from Lt. Skelton, who followed up, and safely delivered bis prisoners at Memphis.
General Grierson, with the Division, arrived at Colliersville, twenty-five miles from Memphis, early in February.
Col. Browne, with his detachment. on the Sth of February, embarked on a steamboat, for Memphis, where he arrived on the Oth. On the evening of the 10th, atter a march of twenty-five miles, he joined the regiment and brigade, at Colliersville.
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CHAPTER III.
MERIDIAN CAMPAIGN.
The campaign. as sketched by Gen's frant and Sherman-Gen. Sooy Smith to cooperate with Gen. Sherman, by destroying For- rest's cavalry-2d and 3d brigades march from Germantown in New Albany -- The First from Colliersville to Moscow, thence !) New Albany via, Holly Springs - Skirmish, beyond, Holly Springs-Concentration of Smith's army, "pomp and glorious circumstance of war" -- Preparations for battle; rebels retire ---. Redland burned, the whole country in a blaze --- Head of col. umn to the left-Skirmish beyond Okolona-24 brigade goes to Aberdeen-Egypt station burned-Fight at West Point, rebel: retire across the river, and burn the bridge-Bivouac on the bat. the field-Smith retreats, heavy fighting in the rear-Stampede of the 3d brigade at Okolona, on the morning of Feb. 22a -.. Desperate fighting of the 7th Indiana, makes a brilliant sabre charge at Ivy farm, and saves the army from capture-Return lo Memphis-Official report of the cupedition.
This campaign was one of the many planned by those master Generals of the age, U. S. Grant and W. T. Sherman. Its ob- ject was to give greater effect to the grand strategic conception of the war-the possession by the Governmen, of the Mississippi river from its source to its mouth. The importance of that riv. er to the national army, was seen in the early stages of the war. and for its capture, the movements and battles of the Union armies in the West, were mainly directed. Once in the posses- sion of the Government, and constantly patroled by gunboats. not only would the rebel armies east and west of the river be sep- arated from each other, but also the pretended Southern Confeder- ary cut in twain. General Grant, in this brilliant campaign. unsurpasse l in the annals of war, placed his army in the rear of Vicksburg, and in a series of rapid and brilliant victories, sepa- rated the two Confe 'erate armies one under Johnson, and ibe other under Pemberton and compelled the former to retreat in-
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MERIDIAN CAMPAIGN.
to the interior, and the latter to seek safety in the fortifications of Vicksburg. That place he invested on the 18th of May, 1863, and closely beseigodt till the 4th of July of the same year, when Pemberton and his entire army unconditionally surrendered. With the capture of that stronghold, and the surrender to Gen. Banks, four days later, of Port Hudson, the great Mississippi became once more the thoroughfare of the nation.
Notwithstanding the large force distributed at the various garrisons, employed in guarding it, yet the navigation of the river was interrupted, and rendered dangerous, by the sudden and frequent attacks on the weak garrisons, by the rebel Gener. al N. B. Forrest, a daring and accomplished cavalry officer. So frequent and annoying were his dashes, that Generals Grant and Sherman resolved to put a stop to his depredations, by the com - plete destruction of his command. The time selectel for the ac- complishment of this purpose was, when the military operations about Chattanooga and Knoxville were suspended by the severi- ty of the winter of 1564. The destruction of Forrest's cavalry was not the only purpose of the campaign. It was the prelim- inary step in the operations that resulted in the capture of At- lanta.
That the purposes of the campaign may be fully understood, the following extracts, from the correspondence of the projectors of it, are given.
On December 11th, 1863, in writing to Gen. McPherson. Gen. Crant says, " I will start a cavalry force through Mississippi in about two weeks, to clean out the State entirely of all rebels."
On December 234, he writes to Gen. Halleck, "I am now col- lesting as large a cavalry force as can be spared, at Savannah, Tenn., to eroes the Tennessee river, and cooperate with the cav- alry from Hurtbut's command, in cleaning out entirely the f.r. ves now collecting in West Tennessee, under Forrest. It is the design, that the cavalry, after finishing the work they first start upon, shall push south, through East Mississippi, and destroy the Mobile road, as far south as they can. Sherman goes to Memphis and Vicksburg in person, and will have Gren-
SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
eda visited, and such other points on the Mississippi Cen- tral railroad as may require it. I want the State of Mississippi so visited that large armies cannot traverse there this winter." | Badeau's history of Grant, Vol. 1. pp. 552, 553.]
January 15th, 1364, he again writes to Halleck, "Sherman has gone down the Mississippi, to collect at Vicksburg, all the force that can be spared for a separate movement from the Mis- sissippi. He will probably have ready. by the 24th of this month, a force of twenty thousand men. I shall direct Sherman therefore. to move out to Meridian, with his spare force, the cavalry going from Corinth ; and destroy the roads east and south of there vo effectually, that the enemy will not attempt to rebuild them during the rebellion. He will then return unless opportunity of going into Mobile with the force he has appears perfectly plain. Owing to the large number of veterans furloughed, I will not be able to do more at Chatta- nooga than to threaten an alvanve. an l try to detain the force now in Thomas' front. Sherman will be instreetel. whilst left with these large discretionary power., to take no extra hazard of loosing his army, o: gering it crijaded tro auch for efficient ervice in the Spring.
The destruction Sherman will do to the roads around Meri- lian will be of material importance to ns, in preventing the enemy from drawing -upplies froin Mississippi, and in clearing that section of all large bodies of rebel troons. I do not look upon any points, except Mobile in the south an 1 the Tennessee river in the north, as presenting practicable start- ing points from which to operate against Atlanta and Monte .. mery."
Sherman, in Chapter 11, vol. 1. of his memoirs, says: "The winter of 1963-1 openel very coll and severe; and it was mani. fest after the battle of Chattanooga, November 25th, 1-63. and the raising of the seige of Knoxville, December 5th, that military operations in that quarter must, in a measure, coase, or be limit . ed to Burnside's force beyond Knoxville. On the 21st of De. cember. General Grant had removed bi- headquarters to Nash-
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MERIDIAN CAMPAIGN.
ville, Tennessee, leaving Gen. George H. Thomas at Chattanoo- ga. in command ot the Department of the Cumberland, and of the army round about that place; and I was at Bridgeport, with orders to distribute my troops along the railroad from Stephen- son to Decatur, Alabama, and from Decatur up towards Nash- ville.
Gen. G. M. Dodge, who was in command of the detachment of the Sixteenth Corps, numbering about eight thousand men, had not participated with ns in the battle of Chattanooga, but had remained at and near Pulaski, Tenn., engaged in repairing that railroad, as auxiliary to the main line which lead from Nashville to Stephenson and Chattanooga. Gen. John A. Logan had suc- ceeded to the command of the Fifteenth Corps, by regular ap- pointinent of the President of the United States, and had reliev- -d Gen. Frank P. Blair, who had been temporarily in command of that Corps during the Chattanooga and Knoxville movement.
At that time I was in command of the Department of the Tennessee, which embraced substantially the territory on the east bank of the Mississippi river, trom Natchez up to the Ohio river, and thence along the Tennessee river as high as Decatur and Bellfonte, Alabama. Gen. McPherson was at Vicksburg and Gen. Hurlbut at Memphis, and from them I had regular re- ports of affairs in that quarter of my command. The rebels still maintained a considerable force of infantry and cavalry in the State of Mississippi, threatening the river, whose navigation had become to us so delicate and important a matter. Satisfied that I could check this by one or two quick moves inland, and there- by set free a considerable body of men held as locul garrisons. I went up to Nashville and represented the case to Gen. Grant, who consented that I might go down the Mississippi river, where the bulk of my command lay. and strike a blow on the east of the river, while Gen. Banks, from New Orleans, should in a like manner strike another to the west; thus preventing any further molestation of the boats navigating the main river, and thereby widening the gap in the Southern Confederacy. *
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SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
About the 10th of January we reached Memphis, where I found Gen. Hurlbut, and explained to him my purpose to collect from his garrisons and those of McPherson, about twenty thou- sand men, with which in February to march out from Vicks- burg as far as Meridian, break up the Mobile and Ohio railroad, and also the one leading from Vicksburg to Selina, Alabama. I instructed him to select two good divisions and be ready with them to go along. At Memphis I found Brigadier Gen. W. Sooy Smith, with a force of about twenty-five hundred cavalry, which be, by Gen. Grant's orders, brought across from Middle Tennessee, to assist in our general purpose, as well as to punish the rebel General Forrest, who had been most active in harrass- ing our garrisons in West Tennessee and Mississippi. *
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A chief part of the enterprise was to destroy the rebel coralry commanded by General Forrest, who were a constant threat to our railway communications in Middle Tennessee, and I com- mitted this task to Brigadier General. W. Svoy Smith. Gen. Hurlbut had in his command about seven thousand five hun- dred cavalry, scattered from Columbus, Kentucky, to Corinth, Mississippi; and we proposed to make up an aggregate cavalry force of about seven thousand 'effective,' ont of these and the twenty-five hundred which Gen. Smith had brought with him from Middle Tennessee. With this torce fren. Smith was order- ed to move from Memphis straight for Meridian, Mississippi, and to start by February Ist. I explained to him personally the nature of Forrest as a man, and of his peculiar force; told him that in his route he was sure to encounter Forrest, who always attacked with a vehemence for which he must be prepared, and that after he had repelled the first attack, he must in turn as- sume the most determined offensive, overwhelm him, and utterly destroy his whole force. I knew that Forrest could not have more than four thousand cavalry, and my own movement would give employment to every other man of the rebel army, not imme-
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MERIDIAN CAMPAIGN.
dintely present with him. so that he (Gen. Smith) might safely act on the hypothesis I have stated. * * * * ** * X *
On the 1st of February we rendezvoused in Vicksburg, where I found a spy who had been sent out two weeks before, had been to Meridian, and brought back correct information of the state of facts in the interior of Mississippi. Lieut. General ( Bishop) Polk was in chief command, with headquarters at Mer- idian, and had two divisions of infantry, one of which . General Loring's) was posted at Canton, Mississippi; the other (General French's) at Brandon. He had also two divisions of cavalry -- Armstrong's, composed of the three brigades of Ross, Stark ani Wirt Adams, which were scattered from the neighborhood of Yazoo City to Jackson and below; and Forrest's which was united towards Memphis, with headquarters at Como. General Polk spemed to have no suspicion of our intentions to disturb his serenity." Now the reader has a correct idea of the Meri- dian campaign as mipped out by General Sherman. It is shown that the cavalry under Sooy Smith. was designed to play an important part, in one of the most skillfully planned cam- paigns of the war.
General Smith did not start with his coramand until the time he was to have formed a junction with Sherman at Meridian. His force consisted of three brigades of calvary, and sixteen pieces of cannon, and numbered tully seven thousand men.
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