USA > Wisconsin > Eau Claire County > History of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, past and present; including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county > Part 13
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"Well, it was just as General Grant anticipated, onr eharge was a useless waste of life; McClernand did not get into the city ; indeed, he had never been inside of the works. We lay in the diteh until after dark. During the time we were lying there the rebels would put their muskets over the parapets and shoot down at us. If one of them showed his head above the works our boys were watching and it was a dangerous operation. Several of our boys were wounded in the ditch. After dark an armistice was proclaimed to carry off our dead and wounded and our brigade, indeed all the troops, marched back to camp. The regiment had thirty killed and seventy-five or eighty wounded. The next morn- ing an order was issned that the works were too strong to be carried by assault, that we must get them by regular approaches, consequently we are now digging our way up; exactly the same
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experience that the allies had before Savastopol. I think a fort- night will end the siege. There are supposed to be twenty-five or thirty thousand men in Vicksburg, we have not over twenty- five thousand, if that many.
"This campaign will be forever memorable in history and stamps General Grant as the greatest military genius of the age. He whipped Johnson's thirty thousand men and drove him so far away he can do no more mischief, then turned round and penned Pemberton's men up in Vicksburg, and all with a smaller army than either Johnson's or Pemberton's. His headquarters are only a short distance to our right and rear. We see him every day, common as a private soldier, but he always seems to be thinking. Grant, Sherman, Logan and McPherson are great soldiers. If the army of the Potomac had such generals, Richmond would soon be ours." During the progress of the Vicksburg siege the Eighth Wisconsin was moved about considerably. Had a sharp skirmish at Mechanicsville, also near Richmond.
"Camp on Black river, 12 miles east of Vicksburg .- I wish we had as great a general as Lee to command our eastern army. Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, 2 o'clock p. m .- I am writing this on a yellow piece of paper in the cupola of the Vicksburg court house, and I send it to you with a bunch of splinters from one of the pillars of the steeple, where a shell had gone through it. The whole enpola is riddled with our shells. The long siege is at last over.
"July 4 .- Later in the day. The scenes we witnessed on com- ing into the city beggar description. I cannot write them to you. The Confederate troops were in the last stage of starvation. They had been living on mule meat for some days. I saw some of it and it was enough to turn one's stomach. The rebels were glad to see us, too. The hills are honey-combed with caves in which they have lived. As we walk along the street we can see women running toward each other, crying for joy, and throwing their arms. around each other's necks and weeping and kissing."
Through the kindness of Mrs. Charles Coffin we furnish the following description of Vicksburg, as written by Captain Culbert- son, of the Sixteenth Wisconsin: "If there were about ninety hills like Barren Bluff sitting near together with dugways through the hills, trenches, rifle pits, forts and redoubts on every command- ing point. If there was such a place, it would be as near like Vicks- burg as anything I can think of at present, but still it would want one thing to complete the scene, which these hills would want to be covered with buildings and the buildings riddled with
1 Delene & Pm charles
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shells. But for all this, there are some very fine streets in the place, also some fine buildings, but finest of all are the shade trees, which are on every street, almost hiding the houses. If I had seen this place before the boats run the blockade I should have said that Grant was crazy to attempt anything of the kind, but the old fellow has a long head and works to win. Let General Grant have his army in here and I would defy the world to take this place in seven years."
"Vicksburg, Miss., August 19, 1863 .- Dear Mother, Sister and Brother: The steamer City of Madison was blown up today while lying at the levee loading ammunition to take below. There was a detail of about three hundred men, white and black, loading her, and it was all done by the earelessness of one negro. As they were loading percussion shells the negro threw one of the boxes filled with these shells into the hold, discharging the whole lot, and as the boat had several tons on, the bursting of one shell set the whole cargo off. The boat was blown so that you could hardly tell that it had ever been a boat. As near as can be ascertained now there were nearly 156 lives lost. The steamer Walch, that lay along side of her, was nearly as bad, but I believe there was no loss of life on the Walch. The loss of life and property was awful. There was not a whole pane of glass left in a building within 80 rods, so great was the concussion. Men were blown across the river and fragments of the wreck could be seen all through the city.
"Your son and brother, H. M. Culbertson."
It will be remembered that the Sixteenth regiment, to which Captain Wheeler's company belonged, was badly cut up at the battle of Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh. Later engagements, sick- ness and death further reduced its ranks, and it was found neces- sary to reorganize the regiment. This was done by eonsolidating the ten old companies into five and adding "new companies B, D, F, H and K." John Kelly, who went out as a private in Cap- tain Wheeler's Company G, was made captain of "new company B," a well earned promotion. I find no other Eau Claire man in this company, it being recruited from the eastern part of the state. One of the "new companies," Company H, was recruited here.
Free Press, December 3, 1863. On Monday last 67 men for a new company in the Sixteenth left for LaCrosse in charge of D. C. Whipple and John T. Tinker. This company has been recruited in less time than it required to raise any previous one. Messrs.
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Tinker, Whipple and M. A. Shaw have labored zealonsly to raise this company, and their efforts have been crowned with the most ample success. No officers of this company were elected until after their arrival at LaCrosse. No list of the privates in this company was printed at the time, but from the official roster the list below is furnished. Capt., Darwin C. Whipple; First Lieut., John T. Tinker; Second Lieut., Milton Grover, Red Cedar; Second Lieut., Edward W. Allen, Eau Claire. Privates: John C. Bailey, Burzelia Bailey, Walter D. Bailey, John C. Barland, William H. H. Beebe, Harvey N. Benjamin, Edward J. Bonnell, John W. Brown, Wesley C. Butterfield, James G. Cleghorn, Peter Cromwell, Sam- uel C. Dean, Peter Deery, Isiah Drew, William H. Fox, John W. Gilbert, Freeman Grover, Jefferson Heath, John W. Heasley, Henry Hendrickson, Benjamin F. Howland, Hiram Hill, Lyman M. Hotchiss, Azro B. Hoyt, Arch K. Humphrey, Samuel Iverson, John Johnson, Daniel E. Johnson, Dwight A. King, Myron N. Lawton, Henry Longdo, George McElrath, Even J. Morgan, Ener Nelson, Patrick Nooney, David A. Robertson, Joel Ross, John Ross, Harvey N. Saunders, Myron A. Shaw, Canute Thompson, Cary P. Wood, Henry Wyborney.
The history of Company H, which christened itself the "Wil- liams Guards " in honor of H. Clay Williams, was published in Tom Randall's history of the Chippewa Valley, as told by Lieut. Courant of E. W. Allen, and is herewith reprinted :
"From the cold snows of the North to the balmy skies and peach blossoms of Vicksburg was a pleasant change. After doing picket duty at Black River bridge for a month we were ordered back to Vicksburg, from thenee north on transports up the river, passing Fort Pillow a few hours after the massaere by Forrest. Company H and two other companies were landed at Columbus to assist the colored troops in defending the fort against an attack momentarily expected from that chivalrous general, which, how- ever, he failed to make. After two weeks of hard duty we joined the command at Cairo, then preparing to join Sherman's army in Northern George. From Cairo to Clifton, Tennessee, on trans- ports, and thence by forced marches three hundred miles aeross that state, Alabama and Georgia, taking position on the left of the grand army, before Kenesaw Mountain, June 10, 1864. We suffered terribly during this march and many gave out by the way, among whom were Lieutenants Grover and Tinker, who went to the hospital.
"From this time to the tenth of September, three months, we were constantly under arms, marching, skirmishing and fighting,
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our first exploits being in the battles about Kenesaw, where we lost several men; then hotly pursuing the rebels night and day, until they took refuge in their trenches before Atlanta. We lay on our arms on the night of July 20, the enemy strongly fortified in front, and just at break of day we were ordered to charge. Grave doubts and fears were expressed, as there were so many new recruits in the regiment, whether it would not be better to put an old and tried regiment in our place, but after a short con- sultation it was decided to keep us where we were, for if the charge was made, the older soldiers who were supporting thiem would have no confidence in them, and they would lose all eon- fidence in themselves. The result showed the wisdom of the con- elusion. It was a trying moment when Colonel Fairchild shouted the order, 'Fix bayonets, forward.' Out of the timber, down a ravine, up and aeross a field, over their works, driving out Har- dee's veterans and taking some prisoners, was but the work of a moment. Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds, coming up quickly, said to the new men, 'You are all veterans now, boys.'
"The general commanding the brigade sent word to General Blair, saying, 'The Wisconsin boys did nobly,' but it was praise dearly earned. Colonel Fairchild, Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds, Capt. John Wheeler, and many other officers were wounded, but fortunately none killed. Company H lost two killed and seven wounded. Captain Whipple particularly distinguished himself in this action, and a somewhat laughable ineident occurred during the charge. So great was the exeitement but little attention was paid to his efforts to keep the men in line with the colors, but finally becoming terribly in earnest and shouting above the roar and din of battle, he sang out, 'If you don't know what line on the colors means, keep your eyes on that flag.' We held the works all day under fire, and strengthened them at night ; but about noon the next day the enemy burst on our left, and was crushing that part of our army like an egg shell, coming boldly on until they reached the works held by the Twelfth and Sixteenth Wiseonsin, who repulsed them in six successive terrible charges, first in front, then in rear, and changing sides of their works as many times. Captain Whipple showed himself the same hero here as the day before, but the strain was too much ; constant fatigue and anxiety and the suffering from his wound sent him to the ambulanee, Orderly Sergeant Allen took command of the company, there be- ing no commissioned officer with the company. Being ordered to another part of the field, by a foreed march, Captain Whipple again joined us and assisted in repulsing several charges, but was
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soon obliged to go to field hospital, and E. W. Allen, just com- missioned, took command.
"The final battles of Jonesborough and Lovejoy's Station closed the campaign, and with light hearts we spread our tents in Atlanta, September 10, 1864. Our company was reduced from ninety to twenty muskets, so severe had been the work. Here we received a quantity of good things, piekles, berries, condensed milk, ete., from kind friends in Eau Claire, for which, if ever men felt grateful, we did. But we did not rest long. Hood had gone north and was eating our crackers, so we were after him again, and for five days and nights we ebased him over moun- tains, rivers and valleys, and then were ordered back to Atlanta again, where, for the first time in eight months, we received our pay, and voted for president, thirty-four for Lincoln and two for MeClellan. That was the kind of men that composed Com- pany H. On November 14 we started with Sherman on his grand march to the sea, and a month of constant marching brought us to the gates of Savannah, where, after a short resistance, we marched, flags flying, into the city. Starting again, we took Pocotaligo, out on the Charleston railroad. which fell in eonse- quenee, and next our company was at the burning of Columbia, then Cheraw, Fayetteville, Bentonville and Goldsborough were taken, and after a few days' rest, waiting for our absent men to come up, a foreed march brought us to Raleigh.
"When Captain Whipple, who had been sent home sick, re- joined us, how glad we were to see him. Here the war virtually elosed. The fighting was over, but we were a long way from home, but marching was easy now, for every day brought us nearer to our loved ones there. On to Petersburg, Richmond and Wash- ington, where on the twenty-third of May, we took part in the grandest pageant ever seen in America, the grand review; Mrs. Sherman throwing bouquets at our tattered and worn colors. We were soon transferred to Louisville, Ky., where, on the fourth day of July, 1865, General Sherman took a final farewell of us, and a few days after we were mustered out, sent to Madison, received our final pay and discharged on August 21, 1865, and with light hearts started for home, never more, it is hoped, to be called to take up arms for our beloved country against internal foes."
On the roster of Captain Whipple's company will be found the name of John C. Barland, who furnished to the Telegram the fol- lowing reminiseenees of that company.
J. C. Barland, on request of the editor of the Telegram, fur- nished an article on the late war, says, "to give a comrade's reeol-
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lection of the old Sixteenth Wisconsin volunteers should have some response. The pressure of circumstances makes it difficult for me to do so just now. Still I would fain offer something, for when is not a tribute due to those gallant men? Through the dimming mists of fifty years again they come before my vision.
"I see them muster in a gleaming row, With ever youthful brows that nobler show, We find in our dull road their shining track, In every nobler mood, We feel the orient of their spirits glow, Part of our life's unalterable good- Of all our saintlier aspiration."
Company G, the first to go, enrolled some of the choicest spirits that Eau Claire could give. I cannot stop to enumerate. Of one I will speak. John Kelly; rough, yes rough, but a diamond in the rough. Years later, when asked, "Do you receive a pension ?" his answer: "John, why should I receive a pension ? I was a bet- ter man physically, morally and mentally when I came out than when I went in." This was true. He was a growing man to the last day of his life, and no finer thing can be said of any man.
In the fall of '63, while Vicksburg and Gettysburg still echoed in our ears, Company H enlisted and later joined the Sixteenth at Vicksburg. Of that company, Eau Claire may be proud. There were Whipple and Tinker and Allen, so finely identified with the early history of Eau Claire, all worthy of mention if these limits permitted. Only a few remain-Merton of Bloomer, a good sol- dier, and most worthy man, and Cleghorn of Eau Claire, splendid soldier, good citizen, who gave of his best to his country and the little valley that bears his name.
From the miasmas and sickness of the Mississippi valley the early spring of '64 found us at Huntsville, Alabama, after a series of arduous marches to join Sherman for the capture of Atlanta. It was a grewsome sight, that Sunday afternoon, when we arrived at Huntsville after a long forced march. The beautiful stream that bubbles up from a great spring in the heart of Huntsville was lined with our boys, their shirts in their hands picking off the greybacks, and washing in the stream. From Huntsville through an enemy's country, 400 miles of forced marching and fighting to our goal, Atlanta. On the long march, unable to obtain supplies, many a soldier had to go barefoot. Such was the writer's fate, who was known as the barefoot corporal. It was near the base Kenesaw that we joined Sherman. It was here
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that Company IF received its baptism of fire. For hours we had inarehed to the deepening sound of artillery. At first only a throb on the air, and then, nearer and clearer and still elearer. A strange silence stole over the men, and Captain Whipple, march- ing at our side said: "Well boys, that is what we have been marching so long for to find at last." And next the order to file right into line, and now the bullets are whistling in our ears and the shells from Kenesaw are bursting in our midst.
The great struggle for Atlanta was on. It lasted through all those long, hot summer months. These limits will only permit of a glimpse. There was a constant roar of battle, day and night, upon some part of our line, swelling now into the assault upon Kenesaw, where we were repulsed, now upon Lost Mountain, or South Mountain, which stood like sentinels between us and At- lanta, or again at Peachtree Creek, on the twenty-second of July, when HFood flung himself upon us in the madness of desperation. It was here that the Sixteenth Wiseonsin, of all its memorable conflicts, distinguished itself the most. Hood's veterans had fiercely attacked our left wing in hope of turning it, and largely it was the determination of the Sixteenth Wiseonsin which pre- vented this. If Hood could have turned our flank at that time he would have won a vast prize, for there, on our left flank, were massed the wagon trains of our army. It was the fortune of the writer at that time to be detailed to gnard the wagon train. Five hundred six-mule wagons were massed not three miles from Decatur. Hood, for the moment, had turned our flank and was sweeping down upon our train. The wagon fled in a furious panic to form behind the center. The train guards were deployed in a thin skirmish line to hold Hood in check. It was here the Six- teenth, with others, saved the day, and Hood was turned baek. It was this incident that enabled the writer to speak intelligently of that field. As we passed down the lines to rejoin our train, behind the center, we passed the Sixteenth where they lay in the midst of the carnage that had been wrought. There were the dead rebels as thick as leaves, right up to the very foot of the Sixteenth's lines. As we passed down the lines there were long rows of our own dead and wounded, and further on, young Me- Pherson, the brave commander of our own army of the Tennessee, lay still in death.
It was only a few days later that, assaying to go to the regi- ment which lay beyond a little wood and down an open slope, that I ran across Willard Bartlett, a member of Company G. He was cooking at a fire. I knew him to be a good soldier, and I said to
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him, "How is this, Willard?" "Well," he said, "I have only three days more to get my discharge and I prevailed on the offi- cers to let me cook, so I might have a chance to get through." The writer passed on through the wood to the open slope. Though I knew that the regiment lay not forty rods away, not a sign of them was visible. No enemy was in sight. The stillness of death hung over the little valley. As I emerged from the woods the sharpshooters in the trees beyond got a line upon me. The bul- lets flew thick and fast. You may be sure I walked pretty fast. Though I did not like to have the Sixteenth see me run, when I got within ten rods of the ditch I heard Ed Allen's voice calling : "Run, John, why don't you run ?" I ran. "Why," said Ed, who was down in the ditch almost out of sight, "it's not safe to show your head. The rebs are only ten rods away in another ditch." I stayed curled up in the bottom of the narrow ditch till it was dark and then I returned to my train, but I stopped on my way to see Willard Bartlett. They told me he had been shot soon after I had left him; slain doubtless by one of the bullets aimed at myself. I give this incident that you may just get a glimpse of this terrible conflict."
Note: The Willard W. Bartlett referred to was a brother of Hon. William P. Bartlett of this city.
Editor Daily Telegram .- We take up today the story of an- other company from Eau Claire county. The town of Pleasant Valley seems to deserve a considerable share of credit for this company, which later became Company K of the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin infantry. I furnish you a picture of Capt. Warren Graves, who died near Petersburg, Va.
The first reference in the press to this new company for the Thirty-sixth regiment is the following :
(Free Press, March 3, 1864.)
The work of recruiting goes on in a satisfactory manner, and at the present rate men are coming forward it is confidently ex- pected the towns of Lincoln, Bridge Creek and Brunswick will yet raise their quota prior to the draft. Eau Claire county has made a record which shines too brightly to be dimmed by failure to respond to the demands of the hour, and some of her sons have helped to make the grand old state of which we are proud to be the children, a synonym for all that is manly, courageous and brave. Since Friday last about one hundred and twenty men have enlisted to fill various quotas for this and adjoining counties, and the new company now being raised for the Thirty-sixth Regiment.
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The town and county have already furnished a large amount to avoid conscription and are ready to make further advances in the same direction, if the men will come forward. The enthusiasm is at fever heat in this county, and the boys are determined to close up this rebellion before another summer.
Before the end of the month the ranks were filled and the com- pany left for the front.
A week later further mention is made as follows :
(Free Press, March 24, 1864.)
One week ago last Monday, amid general enthusiastic rejoicing and well wishes from those they left behind, the volunteers of the new company for the Twenty-sixth Regiment, numbering one hnn- dred and twenty men, left this place for Madison, where they are to be mustered into service. As we glanced at the many familiar friends leaving to share the uncertainties of war, one could not help noticing the large number of "Old Pioneers" in the ranks on whose countenance age had already deeply stamped its never failing mark. They have proven their deep patriotism by enlist- ing side by side with younger companions, to assist in quelling this unholy rebellion, which speedily must have a termination. In the ranks were to be seen men whose "silvery locks" told that many summers had passed over them, beside the beardless youth whose ardent desire to serve his country knows no bounds ; all leav- ing with many blessings and fervent wishes for their safe journey through scenes which they may be called to pass, and for their speedy return home when duties are discharged. Although re- cruiting for the company only commenced four weeks ago, it raised its maximum number in mueh less time ; and in general ap- pearanee will compare with any other company raised in this sec- tion. A number of the volunteers are residents of Chippewa and Buffalo counties, all stout, well built, rugged looking fellows, as if innred to the privations, hardships and exposures of outdoor life. The company is yet unorganized, having expressed a wish to leave the selection of officers until they reach the place of destina- tion, where they will be assigned to the Thirty-sixth Regiment.
The announcement of the election of captain and first lieu- tenant is given two weeks later.
(Free Press, April 7, 1864.)
We understand that the new company recently raised here for the Twenty-sixth Regiment has seleeted W. Graves for eaptain and E. A. Galloway for first lieutenant. Both of these men are quali-
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fied to discharge the perplexing duties of their offices in a credit- able manner. Charles H. Witherow, late of the Twenty-fifth Regi- ment, took six or eight new recruits with him last week to Madison.
I have found no satisfactory account of the service of the Graves company. Thomas Randall, in his history of the Chippewa Valley devotes a small amount of space to it, but his statements are not altogether accurate. The following is taken from his book: "Company K, Thirty-sixth Regiment, was recruited under the call of the President for five hundred thousand men, in Feb- ruary and March, 1864, through the efforts of Capt. Warren Graves and Lieut. E. A. Galloway and Joseph R. Ellis, all of Pleasant Valley, in this county, and nearly all the men were from the country towns in Eau Claire, Chippewa and Dunn coun- ties. It was a brave and hardy company of men, but the regiment was the most unfortunate of any that left this state, and of the eighty-eight men in Captain Graves' company, only one returned unscathed. W. W. Crandall, of LaFayette, Chippewa county, was neither sick, wounded nor taken prisoner while every other man in the company was either killed, wounded, taken prisoner or sent to hospital. Captain Graves was wounded, sent to hospital and died. Lieutenant Galloway was killed while leading an assault on the enemy's works. Many were taken prisoners in the deep railroad cut south of Petersburg, and suffered horrors a thousand times worse than death in rebel prisons, and many painful circumstances grew out of the long suspense and almost hopeless uncertainty as to their fate."
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