Chapter II
With the Fortieth Brigade, Twelfth Division, in Pursuit of Confederate General John H. Morgan at Lebanon -- Lebanon Junction -- Shepherdsville -- Seventeenth and Seventy-second Indiana, and Ninety-eighth Illinois Regiments, and Eighteenth Indiana Battery -- Return to Louisville -- Elizabethtown March - Pursuit of Confederate General E. Kirby Smith -- Bowling Green - Scottsville -- Colonel Robinson -- Castalian Springs -- Battle of Hartsville.
(September, October, November, December, 1862.)
Confederate cavalry, under Brigadier General John H. Morgan, was operating south of Louisville, threatening Bardstown, Elizabethtown, Lebanon and Lebanon Junction. Morgan had burned our commissary stores at Lebanon, and had committed other depredations in the vicinity of all the above-named towns.
The Twelfth Division, just organized out of some of the new Regiments of which the Seventy-fifth Indiana was one, was to occupy and defend these towns until the arrival of Buell's army. The Division was placed under the command of Brigadier General Ebenezer Dumont, who had already gone to Lebanon with a part of the Division.
At 3 o'clock p. m. of August 25th, General Wright sent our Regiment with several others to the town of Lebanon. We arrived about 9 o'clock the same day, and lay down upon the ground with our arms in our hands until morning. Our camp was on the south side of the town, which is sixty-five miles south of Louisville, located on Hardin creek. We remained here until the 6th of September. Immediately on our arrival, General Dumont delivered an address to the Regiment, in which he notified us of the apprehensions of an attack from Morgan's Cavalry. Here, in conjunction with the Seventy-second Indiana and Ninety-eighth Illinois Regiments, and the Eighteenth Indiana Battery, we formed the Fortieth Brigade of the Twelfth Division. Colonel Abram O. Miller of the former Regiment assumed command of the Brigade.
The Seventy-second Regiment of Indiana Volunteers was raised in the Eighth Congressional District of Indiana, and organized at Lafayette. It was mustered into the service on the 16th of August, 1862, and left on the following day for Kentucky, arriving at Lebanon with our Regiment. It remained here until Bragg's invasion, when it moved with Buell's army, and was continually engaged in marching and skirmishing with the enemy. In November, it moved into Tennessee, stopping for a while at Castalian Springs, and other places in that portion of the State. On the 8th of January, 1863, it arrived at Murfreesborough, and upon the reorganization of the Army of the Cumberland, the Regiment was ordered to be mounted and to serve as mounted Infantry. It made several scouts from Murfreesborough, and captured horses enough to mount the entire Regiment. The men were armed with Spencer rifles, and were a part of what was known as the "Wilder Lightning Brigade."
In the campaign against Tullahoma and Chattanooga, it was in the advance of the command under Thomas, and moved from Murfreesborough through Hoover's Gap on the 24th of June, where it aided in defeating the enemy and driving him from his position, the Regiment sustaining considerable loss, including the fighting Chaplain, John R. Eddy. In all the movements of this campaign, the Brigade to which the Seventy-second Regiment was attached, bore a conspicuous part. On the 12th of September, the Regiment met a Brigade of the Confederate General Pegram's command at Rock Springs, Georgia, and routed it, losing one officer and ten men killed and a number wounded. It was engaged at the battle of Chickamauga, fighting the enemy for three days, and sustaining severe loss. After this engagement, it was sent in pursuit of the Confederate General Wheeler, and aided in driving him out of Middle Tennessee. At Mooresville, Alabama, on the 31st of November, it engaged the enemy, losing a number of killed and wounded.
On December 31st, this Regiment was sent to Memphis, where it was attached to the cavalry command of Genera Sherman's army, and moved with that army through Mississippi on the Meridian campaign. During this expedition it covered the retreat of General Smith from Okolona. It then returned to Memphis, and from thence moved to Nashville.
On March 26th, 1864, it joined the Third Brigade of the Second Cavalry Division. It next moved to Columbia, from whence it started on the Atlanta campaign on April 30th. From that time until the last of August, the Regiment was continually engaged with the Confederates, and after the capture of Atlanta, it was engaged in a great many skirmishes. When Sherman began his march to the sea, the horses of the Seventy-second Indiana were turned over to Kilpatrick's Cavalry Division, and the Regiment was ordered to Louisville to be remounted.
On December 28th, this Regiment moved to Gravelly Spring, Alabama, from whence it marched with Wilson's cavalry expedition, which resulted in the capture of Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, and Columbus and Macon, Ga., with over 8000 prisoners, a number of pieces of artillery, and an immense quantity of supplies. At the battle of Selma, on April 2nd,1865, Colonel Abram O.Miller, of the Seventy-second, and the gallant commander of the Brigade in which the Regiment was then serving, was severely wounded. After the capture of Richmond and the surrender of the Confederates, Lee and Johnston, the Seventy-second Indiana was sent out to intercept the flight of Jefferson Davis, one detachment being in close pursuit of him when he was captured.
On May 23d, the Regiment left Macon, Ga., for Nashville, Tenn., where, on June 26th, 1865, it was mustered out of the service. On June 26th. it reached Indianapolis, with 510 men and 36 officers, and on the next day, after partaking of a good dinner at the Soldiers' Home, it marched to the Tabernacle, where welcoming speeches were made by Lieut. Gov. Baker, General Hovey and others. The Seventy-second left the State with an aggregate of 978 men, and lost, during its term of service, 431. It was one of our most reliable Regiments.
The Ninety-eighth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers was organized and mustered into the United States service at the town of Centralia, Marion county, Illinois, for a period of three years, on September 3rd, 1862, with John J. Funkhouser as Colonel. In five days thereafter, the Regiment left on the O. and M. R. R. for Louisville, Kentucky. The first casualties of the Regiment occurred at Bridgeport, in Lawrence county, where the train, enroute to Louisville, was thrown from the track by the misplacement of a switch. In this unfortunate accident, 83 members of the Regiment were killed and wounded; among the killed was Captain Kelly. On reaching the Ohio river, the Regiment did not immediately cross into Louisville, but encamped at Jeffersonville, Indiana, until the 19th, when it removed to Shepherdsville, Kentucky. On the 30th, it moved to Elizabethtown, and thence to Frankfort, where it arrived on October 9th. On the 11th, it went in pursuit of the Confederates to Versailles, returning on the 13th. With its Brigade and Division, the Regiment marched to Bowling Green on the 26th. On the 10th of November it marched to Scottsville, on the 25th to Gallitin, on the 28th to Catalian Springs, and on the 14th of December to Bledsoe Creek.
When the Seventeenth Indiana joined the Brigade, Colonel John T. Wilder of that Regiment superceded Colonel Miller in the command of the Brigade, and, on December 26th, the Ninety-eighth Illinois began a northward march in pursuit of the Confederates under General John H. Morgan.
On January 2nd, 1863, the Regiment marched to Cave City, and on the 4th, moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and thence, on the 6th, to Murfreesborough. Here the Brigade, in which the Regiment served, was changed to the First, and the Division to the Fifth. Here the Regiment did arduous scouting duty for several months.
On March 8th, the Ninety-eighth Regiment was ordered to be mounted, and during the winter and spring, about half the Regiment had obtained horses. Shortly afterwards the whole Brigade was mounted. The One hundred and twenty-third Illinois took the place of the Seventy-fifth Indiana in the Brigade.
On April 1st, the Regiment went upon a scouting expedition of eight days' duration, passing through Rome, Lebanon and Snow Hill. On the 13th, it moved to Lavergne and Franklin, and on the 20th, it moved to McMinnville, where it helped to destroy a cotton factory, and capture a railroad train. On the 27th, it moved to Lebanon, and captured a large number of horses and mules.
On May 25th, the Ninety-eighth made a reconnaissance from Murfreesborough, and drove the enemy's pickets to a considerable distance, killing two and wounding four of them. On June 4th, armed with Spencer repeating rifles, the Regiment attacked the First Kentucky and Eleventh Texas Confederate Cavalry on the Liberty road, and captured twenty prisoners and five wagons. On the 10th, it attacked the enemy at Liberty, and drove his rear-guard to Snow Hill.
The Regiment was in the battle of Hoover's Gap, on June 24th, and fought on the right flank of its Brigade, losing one man killed and five men wounded. It helped to cut the railroad at Decherd's Station on the 28th. driving the enemy from the stockades. From July 1st to August 16th, the Regiment was in the vicinity of Wartrace and Decherd's Station, when it captured more than one thousand horses and mules. From this place it moved over the Cumberland Mountains and Waldron's Ridge to Poe's tavern.
On September 9th, the Regiment forded the Tennessee River and moved in advance of Crittenden's Corps toward Ringgold. On the 11th, it moved to Tunnel Hill, skirmishing with the enemy, and on the 14th, it moved to Steven's Gap, on the 17th to Alexander's Bridge, across the Chickamauga, and on the 18th entered the battle of Chickamauga. The Ninety-eighth did excellent service in this battle, losing five killed and thirty-six wounded, among whom was its Colonel. The Regiment then joined General Crook's command in pursuit of the Confederates under Wheeler, and was in the battle of Farmington. On the 28th of December, it had a skirmish with Wheeler, and on February 23d, 1864, it was engaged at Buzzard's Roost, losing twelve men wounded. The Regiment moved with Sherman's Army against Atlanta, acting with the Cavalry, under General Kenner Gerrard. On July 5th, Colonel Funkhouser resigned and Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Kitchell assumed command of the Regiment.
After the capitulation of Atlanta, the Ninety-eighth Regiment was engaged in watching the movements of Hood's Army on its invasion into Tennessee. On the 1st of November, it turned over its horses and equipments to Kilpatrick's Cavalry, and moved to Chattanooga, Nashville and Louisville, where it lay in camp until the close of the year, waiting for horses and equipments.
On January 12th, 1865, the Ninety-eighth Regiment marched south again, and joined the Cavalry Division under General Wilson, participating in the battle of Selma, Alabama, on April 2d, in which action the Regiment lost eleven killed and twenty-seven wounded.
The Ninety-eighth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers assisted in the capture of Macon, Ga., where four brass cannon had been buried and marked with head and foot boards, as deceased soldiers, who died with small-pox. One of these guns was given to the Ninety-eighth, who presented it to the State of Illinois.
Th recruits of the Ninety-eighth were transferred to the Sixty-first Illinois Regiment on June 28th, 1865.
On June 27th, 1865, the Regiment was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, and sent to Springfield, Illinois, where it received final payment and was discharged, July 7th.
The Regiment did good service during its connection with the Cavalry. It had some very fine and brave officers and men.
The Eighteenth Indiana Battery of Light Artillery was organized at Indianapolis and mustered into the U . S. service, August 24th, 1862, with Eli Lilly as Captain. Shortly after its muster, the Battery, with a strength of one hundred and fifty-one officers and men, moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and was assigned to the Fortieth Brigade (ours) and Twelfth Division. It was in the movement with us against E. Kirby Smith at Frankfort, Kentucky, and from thence to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Gallatin and Murfreesborough, Tennessee. In the forward movement on June 24th, 1863, from Murfreesboroug, this Battery, belonging then to Wilder's Brigade, did excellent service in helping to drive the Confederate forces out of Hoover's Gap. It marched with its Brigade to Manchester, and Desherd's Station in Tennessee, and on August 16th, moved with the army across the Cumberland Mountains, and reached Chattanooga soon after its abandonment by the Confederates. It was in the battle of Chickamauga, where it mowed the enemy down with terrible effect.
On October 1st, the Battery moved with General Crook's command in pursuit of the Confederate General Wheeler down the Sequatchie Valley, whom it helped to rout at Thompson's Cove. On October 4th, the Battery had a sharp fight with the enemy at McMinnsville, where it killed one man and four horses with one shot. It was also in the expedition for the relief of Burnside at Knoxville, and was with Sherman on the Atlanta campaign, and was engaged at Resaca, Cassville, Lost Mountain and West Point. Upon Hood's invasion of Tennessee, the Battery marched in pursuit to Nashville, from thence to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where it had an engagement with the enemy. It was in the expedition of General Wilson through Alabama and Georgia, participating in the battle of Selma, Alabama, where Lieutenant Miller of the Battery was killed, April 2d, 1865. After this engagement, it marched to Chattanooga and Nashville. It left Nashville on June 23d for Indianapolis, where it was mustered out on the 30th.
In April, 1864, Captain Lilly was promoted Major of the Ninth Indiana Cavalry, and Lieutenant Moses M. Beck was promoted to the Captaincy of the Battery.
During its term of service, the Eighteenth Indiana Battery marched over 5000 miles, and was transported by railroad over 1000 miles. In addition to its original number, the Battery received 40 recruits and 65 members of the Eleventh Indiana Battery, whose terms of service had not expired. It lost 32 officers and men in killed and by death of disease, 26 men were discharged on account of disability. It returned to Indiana with 3 officers and 180 men. The Eighteenth was one of Indiana's best Batteries.
The following are the troops of the Twelfth Division and their commanders:
Twelfth Division
As reported September 30th, 1862
Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Dumont
Thirty-eighth Brigade
Colonel Marshall W. Chapin
Thirty-ninth Brigade
Col. George T. Limberg
78th Illinois, Col. William H. Benneson; 104th Illinois, Col. Absalom B. Moore; 106th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Gustavus Tafel; 108th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Fred'k W. Elbreg
Fortieth Brigade
Col. Abram O. Miller
98th Illinois, Col. John J. Funkhouser; 72d Indiana, Lieut. Col. Samuel C. Kirkpatrick; 75th. Indiana, Lieut. Col. William O'Brien
Ward's Brigade
Brig. Gen. William T. Ward
102d Illinois, Col. William McMurtrie; 105th Illinois, Col. Daniel Dustin; 79th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Azariah W. Doan
Artillery
Illinois Light, Stokes' Battery, Capt. James H. Stokes; Indiana Light, 13th Battery, Capt. Benjamin S. Nicklin; Indiana Light, 18th Battery, Capt. Eli Lilly
Cavalry
4th Indiana, (five Companies), Maj. Warren Horr
The following is Morgan's Confederate Cavalry Brigade, against which the Twelfth Division was operating:
Second Cavalry Brigade (Confederate)
(On the line of Kentucky and Tennessee)
Col. John H. Morgan
2d Kentucky Cavalry, Col. Basil W. Duke; 7th Kentucky Cavalry, Col. R. M. Gano; 8th Kentucky Cavalry, Col. R. S. Cluke; 11th Kentucky Cavalry, Col. D. W. Chenault; Kentucky Battalion, Lieut. Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge; Arnett's Kentucky Howitzer Battery
The Seventy-fifth Regiment formed its first line of battle at Lebanon. We were frequently placed in this position here with the expectation of attack. We were drilled often, guard and picket duty was daily performed, and frequent "scares" occurred.
The Cavalry arm of service was greatly needed at Lebanon. General Dumont, in one of his telegrams from this place to General Wrigt said: "The Cavalry, which has rendezvoused at this place to be mustered into the service, is wholly without transportation. It is utterly without discipline" (he had not reference to the five Companies of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry under Major Horr) "and disturbances are very frequent. I consider myself wholly without Cavalry, though it is here, and beg, if it is possible, that some Cavalry be sent forward." In another dispatch the General says: "The troops have seen no service and cannot be regarded as efficient troops -- officers or men. I notify you of the condition of things, hoping that you may send forward some officers and men, that have seen service, without delay."
Kentucky was not only noted for beautiful women, brave men, fine horses, and good whiskey; but also for fine horsemen. Morgan and his troopers were experienced riders, mounted on the famous thoroughbreds of the blue-grass region. Being Kentuckians themselves, they knew every foot of ground over which they audaciously rode.
Infantry Regiments of a few weeks' service, in a strange country, inefficient by reason of a lack of experience, equipment and discipline, were not able to catch these bold raiders under Morgan in their own territory. Instead of troops, axes, shovels and spades were sent us, with which we built fortifications. In some instances, for defense, we cut down fruit and ornamental trees out of which breastworks were constructed. Instead of the Cavalry being sent us, Dumont was authorized to impress horses into the service, and mount his Infantry Regiments. In this way we proved our ability to prevent Morgan from cutting the railroads, and burning the bridges at that time and place -- all that was expected of us.
While encamped at Lebanon, Company I of the Seventy-fifth under Captain M. H. loyd, and Company A of the Sixty-eighth under Captain John S. Scobey, and Company B of the Seventy-second -- all three Companies under command of Captain H. M. Carr of the Seventy-second, the senior Captain -- from the above Indiana Regiments, were sent at night to Muldraugh's Hill to intercept a detachment of Morgan's Cavalry, which had passed that point a few hours before and burnt the bridge. It was supposed they would return the same way they went. The Companies were there a whole day, in a good position, but Morgan's Cavalry did not put in an appearance.
On account of our good position, we were anxious for the Confederate Cavalry to come, that we might capture them. Some of the men, in the meantime, discovered a cellar stored with Bourbon whisky, to which they helped themselves. Then on account of our bad condition, we were afraid the Confederate Cavalry would come and capture us. A detail of men (among whom was the writer), under Lieutenant Richardson, was sent to take possession of the liquor and destroy it. We found the owner of the spirits, and interviewed him concerning it. To the Lieutenant, he replied: "I hain't got nary drap. Them Confeds dun tuck it, every darned bit." But the Lieutenant was not to be fooled. He had ocular demonstrations around him that "tangle-foot" was about. He sent his men into the cellar, and they knocked in the heads of the barrels, and the liquor ran out. This was the writer's first experience in a temperance crusade.
Here at Lebanon, on September 6th, Henry Myers of Company C -- the first man in the Regiment to die of disease -- was buried.
On the 5th of September, Gen. Dumont was ordered to move his Division cautiously and rapidly to Louisville, and report to General Gilbert. General Wright was concentrating the forces under his command at that point. The Seventy-fifth Regiment, however, did not leave Lebanon until the next day, and did not arrive at Louisville until the evening of the 23d. The Regiment formed the rear guard, to protect the other Regiments of the Division on their way to Louisville. We alternated between Lebanon Junction and Shepherdsville from the 6th to the 22d. During this time the long roll was beat very frequently, and we were almost hourly expecting an attack from Morgan. The Confederate Cavalry was near enough to our pickets, at times during the night, for the sounds of the hoofs of their horses upon the limestone pikes to be distinctly heard.
On the 18th, half of the Regiment was sent as a reinforcement to Munfordsville, while the other half stood in line of battle until their return. We were in imminent danger of capture by Morgan's larger force. We spent two Sabbath days -- the 15th and 22d -- at these points, and in he midst of our dangers, the Chaplains, Boyden of the Seventy-fifth Indiana, and Baylis, of the Seventeenth Kentucky Regiments, held worship. These says, doubtless, dated the enrollment of some of the men under the peaceful banner of the Cross. Most of the nights we slept upon our arms. In the early morning from 3 o'clock, until the light of day, we stood in line of battle. Though we were not actually attacked, the discipline taught us to be on the alert at all times, and, doubtless enabled us to prevent capture on more occasions than this one. In the evening of the 22d, our pickets near Shepherdsville were attacked, and our Cavalry was immediately sent to their relief, which succeeded in capturing thirty-five Confederates and some horses, after killing one Confederate and wounding four or five others.
On the afternoon of the 23d, the Regiment boarded the cars for Louisville, and arrived in the evening at 7 o'clock. We encamped between Louisville and Portland, along the railroad running between these points. Here also we were ordered up every morning, for several days in succession, at 3 o'clock, to stand in line of battle until daylight. During the morning of the 27th, the Regiment was sent five miles out the Nashville pike on the picket line. During the two days we were out, Buell's troops were passing in a go-as-you-please fashion on their way to Louisville.
Here, on the 27th, Quartermaster Cowgill resigned, and Sergeant William A. Wainwright, of Company D, was promoted to the vacancy. During the absence of the Regiment on picket, the Fortieth Brigade moved to the eastern section of the city, about eight miles from our picket post, where we found it in the evening of the 28th, when relieved from picket duty.
On the morning of the 29th, the whole city was thrown into excitement by the tragic death at the Galt House of General William Nelson, from a revolver in the hands of General Jeff. C. Davis. Nelson was the officer to whom the Seventy-fifth Regiment reported on its arrival for the first time in Louisville, and by whom it was organized with other Regiments into the Fortieth Brigade of the Twelfth Division. During the last year of the war, Davis commanded the Fourteenth Corps, in which the Regiment served.
Buell's army had now arrived. The members of the Seventy-fifth Regiment had many acquaintances among his veterans -- in the Twenty-ninth, Fifty-seventh and other Indiana Regiments.
September 30th, Brigadier General Robert S. Granger superseded Colonel A. O.Miller in the command of our Brigade, the latter assuming command of his Regiment, the Seventy-second Indiana. On the very dy Granger formally assumed command, the Brigade received marching orders to go to Elizabethtown. We marched to a point below New Albany, Indiana, where we embarked on boats, and descended the river to West Point, arriving there at 10 o'clock p.m. We debarked and encamped for the night. In the morning, October 1st, we began our first march in the direction of Elizabethtown. The purpose of this march was the protection of Buell's wagon train, which had not yet gotten up.
This march of the Seventy-fifth Regiment, of only eighteen miles, towards Elizabethtown, which we did not reach, was very trying to men making their first march. It was the more laborious from the impression under which all new soldiers labor, that they must lug along as much as they can load on their backs. Though the march was made on an October morning, the sun in that climate shone intensely warm. Water was a scarce article. It was hauled for miles and emptied into barrels for the use of the citizens. For fear his Brigade, carrying guns and full knapsacks, with pockets as well as cartridge-boxes full of cartridges, marching on a warm day, "in a dry and thirsty land where no water is," might drink too much water, General Granger ordered these barrels to be emptied of the water! Chafing under this unnecessary cruelty of treatment, many of the tired, thirsty, footsore men of the Regiment gave vent to their feelings in language more forcible than pious. Lieutenant, afterwards Captain Polson, in his accurate diary, next morning made this entry: "one of my feet blistered, but I had a good night's rest."
The Regiment marched ten miles on the 2d, eighteen on the 3d, and twenty on the 4th. We returned to Louisville about 11 o'clock on the morning of the 5th, with Buell's train, numbering about two thousand wagons.
Two Confederate armies at this time had concentrated south and east of Louisville, in supporting distances of each other. They were commanded by Gens. Braxton Bragg and E. Kirby Smith. Bragg's army lay at Bardstown and Smith's at Frankfort. In case of an advance of the National army, it became necessary to send a force against both Confederate armies, so as to prevent, if possible, a junction of the two. Two full Divisions were required to operate against Smith, whilst the rest of the army moved against Bragg. The Second Division, composed mostly of experienced troops, and the Twelfth Division, not yet assigned to any Corps, the former under command of Brig.-Gen. Joshua W. Sill, and the latter commanded by Brig.-Gen. E. Dumont, were selected to operate against Frankfort. Probably it would have been unwise to have selected for this purpose two Divisions of old troops out of the army to operate against Smith. Whatever may have been the reason for assigning these two Divisions to operate against E. Kirby Smith, they accomplished all that was expected of them -- they prevented Smith from joining Bragg. This movement, however, deprived the Seventy-fifth Regiment from a participation in the battle of Perryville.
SECOND DIVISION
Brig, Gen. Joshua W. Sill
Fourth Brigade
Co. Harvey M. Buckley
6th. Indiana, Lieut. Col. Hagerman Tripp
5th. Kentucky, Lieut. Col. William W. Berry
1st. Ohio, Col. Edwin A. Parrott
93rd. Ohio, Col. Charles Anderson
15th. U.S., Maj. John H. King
16th.U.S., Maj. Adam J. Slemmer
19th. U.S., Maj. Stephen D. Carpenter
Fifth Brigade
Col. Edward N. Kirk
34th. Illinois, Lieut. Col. Hiram W. Bristol
79th. Illinois, Lieut. Col. Lyman Guinnip
29th. Indiana, Lieut. Col. David M. Dunn
30th. Indiana, Col. Joseph B. Dodge
77th. Pennsylvania, Col. Frederick S. Stumbach
9th. Kentucky Cavalry (detachment), Col. Richard T. Jacob
Sixth Brigade
Col. William H. Gibson
89th. Illinois, Lieut. Col. Charles T.Hotchkiss
32nd. Indiana, Col. Henry vonTrebra
39th. Indiana, Lieut. Col. Fielder A. Jones
15th. Ohio, Col. Moses R. Dickey
49th. Ohio, Maj. Levi Drake
Artillery
1st. Ohio Light, Battery A, Capt. Wilber F. Goodspeed
1st. Ohio Light, Battery E, Capt. Warren P. Edgarton
5th. U.S., Battery H, Lieut. Francis L. Guenther
Unattached
3rd. Indiana Cavalry, Companies G, H, I, and K, Maj. Robert Klein
1st. Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, Companies D, F, and G,Lieut. Col. Kinsman A. Hunton
TWELFTH DIVISION (As reported October 12th 1862)
Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Dumont
Thirty-eighth Brigade
Col. Marshal W. Chapin
129th.Illinois, Col. George P. Smith
23rd. Michigan, Maj. Benjamin F. Fisher
102nd. Ohio, Col. William Given
111th. Ohio, Lieut. Col. Benj. W. Johnson
Thirty-ninth Brigade
Col.George T. Limberg
104th. Illinois, Col. Absalom B. Moore
106th. Ohio, Col. Gustavus Tafel
108th. Ohio, Maj. Jacob A. Egly
Fortieth Brigade
Brig. Gen. Robert S. Granger
98th. Illinois, Col. John J. Funkhouser
72nd. Indiana, Col. Abram O. Miller
75th. Indiana, Lieut. Col. William O'Brien
Ward's Brigade
Brig.Grn. William T. Ward
102nd. Illinois,Col. Willam McMurtrie
105th. Illinois, Col. Daniel Dustin
79th. Ohio,Col. Azariah W. Doan
Artillery
Chicago Board of Trade Battery, Capt. James H. Stokes
13th. Indiana Battery, Capt. Benjamin S. Nicklin
18th. Indiana Battery, Capt.Eli Lilly
The following are the troops of E. Kirby Smith (Confederate), whom the Divisions of Sill and Dumont prevented from uniting with Bragg.
BR>Reorganization of the troops under command of Lieut. Gen. E. Kirby Smith.
(About October 31, 1861)
FIRST DIVISION
Maj. Gen. C.L. Stevenson
First Brigade
Brig. Gen.S.M. Barton
30th. Alabama, Col. C.M. Shelley
31st. Alabama, Col. D.R. Handley
40th. Georgia, Col. A. Johnson
52nd. Georgia, Col. W. Boyd
9th. Georgia Battalion, Maj. Joseph T. Smith
Andeson's Battery, Capt. J.W. Anderson
Second Brigade
Brig. Gen. James E. Rains
4th. Tennessee, Col. J.A. McMurry
11th. Tennessee, Col. G.W. Gordon
29th. North Carolina, Col. R.B.Vance
42nd. Georgia, Col. R.J Henderson
3rd. Georgia Battalion, Lieut. ol. M>A> Stovall
Eufaula Artillery, Capt. W.A. McTyer
Third Brigade
Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Taylor
36th. Georgia, Col. J.A. Glenn
39th. Georgia, Col. J.T. McConnell
54th.[57th] Georgia, Col. William Barkuloo
56th. Georgia, Col. E.P. Watkins
59th.[34th] Georgia, Col. J.A.W. Johnson
Cherokee Artillery, Capt. Max Van Den Corput
SECOND DIVISION
Maj-Gen. J.P.McCown
First Brigade
Brig-Gen. E.D.Tracy
20th Alabama, Col. I.W.Garrott
23rd. Alabama, Col. F.K. Beck
46th. Alabama, Col. M.I. Woods
43d Georgia, Col. Skidmore Harris
Waddell's Artillery, Capt. J.F. Waddell
Second Brigade
Brig-Gen. M.D. Ector
10th Texas Dismounted Cavalry, Col. C.R.Earp
11th Texas Dismounted Cavalry, Col. J.C. Burks
14th Texas Dismounted Cavalry, Col. A. Harris
15th Texas Dismounted Cavalry, Col. J.A. Weaver
Douglas' Artillery, Capt. J.P. Douglas
Third Brigade
Brig-Gen. E. McNair
4th Arkansas, Col. H.G. Bunn
30th Arkansas, Col. C.J. Turnbull
31st Arkansas, Col. T.H. McCray
4th Arkansas Battalion, Major Ross
1st Arkansas, Dismounted Rifles, Col. R.W. Harper
2nd Arkansas, Dismounted Rifles, Col. J.A. Williamson
Humphrey's Battery, Capt. J.T. Humphreys
Fourth - Hilliard's Legion
Col. A.H. Bradford
1st Alabama Battalion, Lieut.Col. J. Thorington
2nd Alabama Battalion, Lieut.Col. B. Hall, Jr.
3rd Alabama Battalion, Lieut.Col. J.W.A. Sanford
4th Alabama Battalion, Lieut.Col. W.N. Reeves
Kolb's Artillery, Capt. R.F. Kolb
THIRD DIVISION
Brig.Gen. Henry Heth
First Brigade
Brig.Gen. W.G.M. Davis
1st Florida, Dismounted Cavalry, Col. G.T. Maxwell
6th Florida, Co. J.J. Finley
7th Florida, Col. M.S. Perry
Marion Artillery, Capt. J.M. Martin
Second Brigade
Brig.Gen. A. Gracie, Jr.
43rd Alabama, Col. Y.M. Moody
55th Georgia, Col. C.B. Harkie
58th North Carolina, Col. J.B. Palmer
62nd North Carolina, Col. R.G.A. Love
64th North Carolina, Col. I.M. Allen
Newnan Artillery, Capt. G.M. Hanvey
Third - Smith's Legion
Col. Sumner J. Smith
Battalion Georgia Cavalry, Lieut.Col. J.R. Hart
Battalion Georgia Volunteers, Col. John S. Fain
63rd Tennessee, Col. R.G. Fain
Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, Col. W.H. Thomas
Fourth Brigade
Col. A.W. Reynolds
3rd Tennessee, Col. N.J. Lillard
31st Tennessee, Col. W.M. Bradford
[59th]Tennessee, Col. J.B. Cooke
43rd Tennessee, Col. J.W. Gillespie
39th North Carolina, Col. D. Coleman
3rd Maryland Battery, Capt. H.B. Latrobe
First Cavalry Brigade
Brig.Gen. John H. Morgan
2nd Kentucky, Col. R.W. Duke
7th Kentucky, Col. R.M. Gano
8th Ketucky, Col. R.S. Cluke
11th Kentucky, Col. D.W. Chenault
9th Kentucky Battalion, Maj. W.C.P. Breckinridge
Howitzer Battery, Captain Arnett
Second Cavalry Brigade
Brig.Gen. John Pegram
1st Tennessee, Col. H.M. Ashby
3rd Tennessee,Co. J.W. Starnes
___Tennessee, Col. J.E. Carter
[3rd Confederate] Col. James R. Howard
Howitzer Battery, Capt. G.A. Huwald
First Section Kain's Artillery, Lieut. Hugh White
Third Cavalry Brigade
Col. J.S. Scott
1st Georgia, Col. J.J. Morrison
1st Louisiana, Col. J.O. Nixon
12th Tennessee Battalion, Maj. T.W. Adrian
Howitzer Battery, Captain Holmes
7th North Carolina Battalion, Lieut.Col. G.N. Folk
[16th] Tennessee Battalion, Maj. E.W. Rucker
2nd [5th] Tennessee, Col. G.W. McKenzie
16th Battalion Georgia Partisans, Lieut.Col. F.M. Nix
[3rd] Kentucky Cavalry, Col. J.R. Butler
Horse Artillery, Capt. W.R. Marshall
The feat of preventing a conjunction between the armies of Bragg and Smith was equal to the victory of a battle.
This movement of the Second and Twelfth Divisions against Frankfort began about the 1st of October - Sill's Division leading. General Dumont with two Batteries and three Brigades - Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth and Ward's - proceeded the Fortieth Brigade, in the advance a couple of days. They were in the skirmish at Clay Village with Sill's Division on the 3rd, in which 8 Confederates were killed and wounded and 13 taken prisoners.
It was not until Monday morning, October 6th, that the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment with three days' rations in the haversacks, struck tents at Louisville, and began, at 11 o'clock, a weary march of fifty-three miles, via Shelbyville pike to Kentucky's capital. When we turned our backs upon the smoky chimneys of Louisville, on that October morning, we saw the city for the last time. A few days before we arrived at Frankfort, the Confederates inaugurated Richard Hawes as Governor of Kentucky, burnt the railroad bridge, and then evacuated the city, retreating via Versailles and Lawrenceburg roads. The Regiment arrived at the capital by the 10th.
The city is built on the northeast bank of the Kentucky River, sixty-two miles from its mouth, where it empties into the Ohio. It is located on a high plain, lying between the river and a bluff two hundred feet high. The State penitentiary and the State house, the latter a handsome structure, built of Kentucky marble, are the principal buildings. In a cemetery on a hill overlooking the city, lie, beneath two imposing monuments, the remains of Daniel Boone, the pioneer of Kentucky, and Col. Clay, the son of Henry Clay, who was killed in 1847, at the battle of Buena Vista, Mexico.
On our arrival, the main Confederate force was located on the Versailles road. Two Brigades of the Twelfth Division - one of them the Fortieth - crossed the river on the 11th, (the river being fordable at that season of the year) and pursued the Confederates for a considerable distance. The Seventy-fifth Regiment with the Fortieth Brigade continued the pursuit on the Versailles road, and caught up with Smith's forces at Versailles - a village about 14 miles from Frankfort. The other Brigade advanced on the Lawrenceburg road. The Artillery and the balance of the Division were stationed on the northeast side of the river at Frankfort.
Our Brigade drove the Confederates out of Versailles, capturing 150 prisoners, whom we paroled. The prisoners were from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missouri and Kentucky. They were shabbily dressed, many of them having neither coats nor shoes. To us, however, they were clothed with the interest of veteran soldiers.
After the skirmishing was over, the prisoners captured and paroled, the balance of the Confederates on the retreat, the men of the Seventy-fifth Regiment, encamped just outside the village in an open field, sallied forth in pursuit of something to eat. Whoever knew a Yankee soldier, that was not hunting for something to eat? The shortest way to his heart is by way of his stomach. It was late in the evening, and presently three hungry men of the Regiment--one of them a young Corporal--espied a darkey walking across a meadow from the direction of the town to the camp, carrying a waiter on his head with something on it. The olfactories of these three boys of the Regiment were regaled with the smell of fried chicken and the aroma of steaming coffee. They halted the darkey and inquired where he was going and what he had on his head. His reply was: "Massa, I is totin' de Gen'al's suppah." One of the trio said he was the general himself, and he would take the supper then and there. The darkey was compelled to unload his burden, and spread the table on the grass. The boys cleaned him out thoroughly and sent him back to town. It is needless to add that the commander of the Fortieth Brigade lost his supper that night.
After pursuing the Confederates several miles on the morning of the 12th, we encamped on the pike for the night. The Regiment returned to Frankfort about 11 o'clock on the morning of the 13th, having marched, during the two days, about forty miles. We remained at Frankfort until the 26th.
There was an episode during the encampment of the Division at Frankfort, the like of which, perhaps, did not occur before nor afterwards, in connection with our army. It was the incarceration of the commander of one of our Brigades in a State prison for stealing horses. The troops were "raw," and without much discipline, in an enemy's country. Many depredations were actually committed. Doubtless, some others reported were exaggerations. In some instances fine horses were stolen and shipped off, and some of the superior officers of the commands were engaged in the business. As soon as it was discovered, General Dumont promptly and severely punished the parties committing the offences, irrespective of rank, as the following telegram will show:
Frankfort, Ky., October 16, 1862.
Colonel Fry, Chief of Staff:
Excesses were committed upon the first arrival of the troops; they have been greatly magnified. All the troops were new and wholly undisciplined, and one of the brigade commanders I found encouraging his men to depredate, and stealing and shipping off horses himself. Upon the discovery I put him into the penitentiary, and have him now in close confinement.
I have taken and will continue to take the most prompt means to prevent wrong. I have found a wonderful disposition on the part of some professedly Union people here to complain and magnify and to extort from the Government--to kill the goose to get the egg.
E. Dumont, Brigadier General
This message is herein given for the purpose of showing that thieving and the commitment of other depredations were not allowed in our army, even in an enemy's country.
After the completion of the organization and re-equipment of the Army of the Ohio at Louisville, General Buell,who was retained as the commander, with General Geo. H. Thomas as second in command, began the campaign against Bragg at Bardstown on the 1st of October. This campaign resulted in the battle
of Perryvile, Kentucky, on the 8th. The Union army was victorious, losing 845 killed, 2,851 wounded, and 515 missing; Brigadier-Generals James S. Jackson and William R. Terrill were among the slain. The Confederate lost in killed about 1300, in wounded nearly 3,000 and in missing about 2,700.
On the morning of October 26th, the Regiment took up the line of march, in company with the Division, for Bowling Green, a village situated at the head of navigation on the Big Barren River, and on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, one hundred and thirteen miles south of Louisville. The Regiment was ten days on this march--advancing from fifteen to eighteen miles per day, over miserable roads. We arrived at our destination November 4th, and remained six days, encamped three miles south of the town. Our sojourn here was uneventful, except in the vigorous drill and strict regulations to which we were subject by order of our new Department commander.
During the progress of the march--October 30th-Major-General Buell was relieved of the command of the army by order of the War Department, and Major-General W.S. Rosecrans was placed in command of the Department of the Cumberland, and of all the troops which had previously been under Buell's command. General Rosecrans formed all these troops into the Fourteenth Corps, Department of the Cumberland, which he divided into three wings, viz: Major-General A. McD. McCook was assigned to the Right wing; Major-General T.L. Crittenden to the Left; and Major-General Geo. H. Thomas to the Centre. Thomas' command--the Centre--comprised the Divisions of Rousseau, Negley, Fry, Palmer and Dumont.
This was the origin of the famous Fourteenth Army Corps. On January 9th, 1863, the Right and Left wings were changed into the Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps, and the Centre retained its organization, as the Fourteenth Corps, until the close of the war.
When the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps from the Army of the Potomac, with their crescent and star badges, were sent to Chattanooga, after the battle of Chickamauga, to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland, General Daniel Butterfield, who came with these eastern troops, was asked by General Thomas to suggest an appropriate badge for the Fourteenth Corps, Butterfield replied: "If I had command of the Fourteenth Corps, which stood as firm as an oak at Chickamauga, I would give it the acorn for a badge in honor of its bravery." General Thomas then said: "That is what we will do; let it be the acorn." This was the origin of our Corps badge. The color of the badge indicated the Divisions of the Corps. The mark for the First Division was a red acorn, the white acorn for the Second, and the blue acorn for the Third, following naturally the National colors. The first and greatest leader of the Corps was that incomparable commander, Major-General Geo. H. Thomas. The Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment served in this Corps from its inception to the end of the war.
Gen. Rosecrans made strenuous efforts to thoroughly discipline the army. The following General Order, which was publicly read to each company of every Regiment, was severe, but proper, for the maintenance of good order:
General Orders, No. 4 Hdqrs. Fourteenth Army Corps
Department of the Cumberland
Bowling Green, Ky., November 3, 1862.
The following telegram has been received from the Secretary of War, and is published for the information of this Army:
Washington, November 3, 1862.
Major-General Rosecrans:
The authority you ask, promptly to muster-out or dismiss from the service officers for flagrant misdemeanor and crimes, such as pillaging, drunkenness and misbehavior before the enemy or on guard duty, is essential to discipline , and you are authorized to exercise it. Report of the facts in each case should be immediately forwarded to the Department, in order to prevent improvident restoration
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.
The General commanding appeals to both officers and men to aid him in bringing it to a state of discipline at least equal to that of the rebels. He begs them to remember that neglect of official duty, and violation of the rights of individuals, tarnish our national honor, destroy the confidence of people in our justice, and put the greatest obstacles in the way of a speedy termination of the war.
Fully satisfied that all our soldiery demands to make it the best in th world is to have good officers, he earnestly invokes their united exertions to establish a spirit of zeal and emulation in the discharge of official duties. He announces to them that their own honor, the honor and interests of the soldiers and of the service, alike demand the rigorous use of this authority, and that he is determined thus to exercise it.
By command of Maj.-Gen. W.S. Rosecrans:
Arthur C. Ducat
Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting Chief of Staff.
Brigadier-General Robert S. Granger was also relieved of the command of the Fortieth Brigade, Twelfth Division. Colonel Abram O. Miller, for the second time, was placed in command of the Brigade. The Thirty-eighth Brigade, commanded by Colonel M.W. Chapin, was take out of our Division at this place.
November 10th, the Division received orders to march to Scottsville, the capital of an adjoining county, south of Bowling Green, and six or eight miles from the Tennessee line. One of thr Brigades of the Division moved out the same day the orders were received. The Fortieth Brigade, on the 11th, moved at 7 a.m., marched fifteen miles and encamped. The night was intensely dark, Captain Floyd and Lieutenants Wheeler and Polson, with a hundred men -- ten from each Company -- were ordered on picket a mile in advance. There was unusual difficulty in making this advance through the woods in the dark. After marching half a day, on the 12th, in the rain, the Regiment arrived about noon at Scottsville, encamping on one of the surrounding hills. Here we remained twelve days, drilling and doing camp, guard and picket duties. The 23rd was a beautiful Sunday. Chaplain Boyden endeavored to do his duty by gathering the members of the Regiment together for religious services. The Chaplain succeeded in making the divine services unusually interesting. His discourse was peculiarly affecting. One of the officers said that "the day was precious to his soul," and, doubtless, many others present felt the same.
An event of importance to the Seventy-fifth Regiment occurred while we lay at the town of Scottsville, in the acquisition of Colonel Milton S. Robinson, who entered upon the responsible duties of commander of the Regiment, November 16th, 1862. The leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel William O'Brien from Indianapolis to Scottsville prepared the Regiment, to appreciate the high soldierly ideas and bearing which Colonel Robinson acquired through honorable service in 1861 as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-seventh Regiment. Hence when Colonel Robinson laid his hand upon the Regiment at Scottsville, he found material prepared for farther development and moulding into his ideas and bearing. He found men, whose heroic hearts, for the preservation of the country's flag, throbbed in unison with his own -- men whom he could justly feel proud to command. The officers and enlisted men of the Regiment extended to him many expressions of good will, confidence and affection.
On November 22d, General Dumont received orders to locate his Division at Gallitan, Castalian Springs and Hartsville in Tennessee -- A Brigade at each point -- to guard the Louisville and Nashville Railroad at Gallitan, and watch the Cumberland River at Hartsville. Ward's Bigade was stationed at Gallitan -- the Thirty-ninth, commanded by Colonel A.B. Moore (Colonel George T. Limberg having been relieved), was sent to Hartsville, eighteen miles from Gallitan, and the Fortieth Brigade was placed at Castalian Springs, equidistant from Gallitan and Hartsville.
The Division began the movement on th25th -- the Fortieth Brigade leading. We crossed the State line into Tennessee about noon of the same day, which event was recognized by loud cheers from the marching troops. Having encamped for the night about midway between Scottsville and Gallitan, the Fortieth Brigade reached the latter town at 4 p.m. on the 26th. Here we remained during the next day. On the 28th the Brigade moved to Castalian Springs. Here we found Colonel J.M. Harlan's Brigade, of the First Division, which our Brigade was sent here to relieve.
The Seventy-fifth Regiment pitched tents in a beautiful woods. At Castalian Springs was our first experience of winter in camp life. A few inches of snow had fallen during the night following our arrival. On the 5th of December three inches of snow fell. The members of the Regiment frequently were seen huddled around the camp fires to keep warm.
We were not only in the enemy's country, but also armed forces of the enemy were not far away, which necessitated a heavy picket line. The three Regiments of the Brigade at this time numbered 2,274 men present for duty. Every twenty-four hours 150 enlisted men and three commissioned officers from the Seventy-fifth Regiment were detailed for picket duty. We remained at Castalian Springs for a month. Nothing of interest transpired to break the monotony of camp life, until the sound of cannon was heard in the direction of Hartsville, on Sunday morning, December 7th, when our old Confederate antagonist, John H. Morgan, with his troopers, swooped down upon the garrison at Hartsville -- the Thirty-ninth Brigade of our Division, under Colonel Moore -- killing fifty-eight, wounding over two hundred, and capturing all the rest. Morgan completely surprised Moore. He crossed the river so quietly and formed his lines of battle so adroitly, that he was in the camp of the Thirty-ninth Brigade before Moore was aware of his being in the vicinity. Moore's Regiments had not been thoroughly drilled, and his officers and men had not much previous military training and experience.
Although the Fortieth Brigade was sent to Castalian Springs to relieve Colonel Harlan, that officer's Brigade was there at the time of this unfortunate attack upon Moore. Being the ranking officer, Harlan had the general supervision over the Fortieth Brigade, as well as over his own. On hearing the first sound of the fight, Colonel Harlan dispatched the three Regiments of the Fortieth Brigade, under Colonel Miller, on double-quick to reinforce the garrison at Hartsville. Our Brigade was sent, because it belonged to the Division of Colonel Moore's command, and was sent to Castalian Springs to relieve Harlan.
The men of the Seventy-fifth Regiment were busily preparing their breakfasts, when the drums beat the long-roll for battle. They promptly left their cooking utensils, and fell into line to march nine miles in less time than they ever did it before or afterwards. We went on double-quick the whole way, mostly in line of battle, over fences and hills, through ravines and fields. The morning was chilly -- a little snow having fallen during the night --and many of us had on our new overcoats, which were recently issued to us, and when the sun climbed high above the horizon, we became exceedingly warm. Within a mile and a half of the town, the Regiment was formed in line for a charge, and we advanced rapidly across the fields towards Colonel Moore's camp. Anticipating our approach, Morgan recrossed the river with the Thirty-ninth Brigade as prisoners, except the dead and mortally wounded, which he left with his own dead upon the battlefield. We fired across the river at his rear guard, and succeeded in killing a few of his men.
No word had reached us at Castalian Springs, of a threatened attack. Our Brigade's advancement was voluntary. No messenger had been sent from Hartsville, informing us of the attack. We knew of it only by the sound of the cannon. We became satisfied that all was lost, when we arrived. But, we charged into the town on the double-quick to catch, if possible, the Confederates, before they could have time to recross the river. We were too late -- only in time to see their rear guard, numbering several hundred, recrossing the river. We would have pursued them across the fording, but they had a considerable reserve force on the south side, and, under the circumstances, it would not have been prudent to follow in pursuit,
The battle occurred a short distance from the town, on a rocky hillside, near the fording of the river. A detail from the three Regiments of our Brigade was ordered to bury the dead. We found fifty-eight Federal soldiers lying dead on the field, of whom the majority were from the One hundred and fourth Illinois and One hundred and sixth Ohio Regiments. Among the slain was Captain W.V. Gholson, A.A.G. on Col. Moore's staff, and Captain Herman Reintanz of the One hundred and sixth Ohio. Morgan's Confederate force lost 139 in killed, wounded and missing. After performing the sad duty of burying the dead, we returned to our camp at Castalian Springs. Lucius H. Emmons of D Company of our Regiment, on detached duty with the Eighteenth Indiana Battery, was captured in this battle. Upon whom the blame of this most unfortunate affair at Hartsville must rest, is not given. Though recommended by Gen. Halleck at Washington, D.C., to be dismissed the service for neglect of duty, Col. Moore was exonerated from all blame.
The day following the battle of Hartsvile, December 8th, by reason of ill health, the efficient and able commander of our Division, Brigadier General Ebenezer Dumont, was compelled to relinquish all military duties in the field. For Gen. Dumont, who was an Indianian, the Seventy-fifth Regimenthas had an admiration which survives all these years. The Thirty-eighth Brigade having been disassociated from us at Bowling Green, the Thirty-ninth Brigade having been captured at Hartsville, and the assignment of Ward's Brigade, December 10th, by Gen. Thomas, to Gen. Paine's command for the purpose of guarding the railroad between Nashville and Mitchellsville, but the one Brigade --Fortieth - was left in the Division. The Thirty-third Brigade of the Tenth Division, in command of Colonel A.S. Hall, was thereupon associated with the Fortieth Brigade in the formation of a Division, in the command of which, Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds -- the first Colonel of the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment -- was assigned.
[Note: Photograph - Capt. John T. Floyd - (The author's brother) - Co. D, 101st Indiana, Aid-de-camp to Gen. Reynolds, born Oct. 9th, 1837, died July 2d, 1867.]
In compliance with general orders issued Dec. 19th, Gen. Thomas changed the numbers of Divisions and Brigades under his command. The Division commanded by Reynolds was to be hereafter designated and known as the Fifth instead of the Twelfth Division as heretofore. The Thirty-third Brigade, under Hall, was changed into the First, and the Fortieth, under Miller, was designated as the Second Brigade. The latter Brigade had also the addition of another Regiment -- the Seventeenth Indiana, under Col. John T. Wilder. The following are the commanders and Regiments comprising the Division:
FIFTH (LATE TWELFTH) DIVISION (As reported December 31st, 1862.)
Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds
First (late Thirty-third) Brigade,
Col. Albert S. Hall
80th Illinois, Col. Thomas G. Allen
123d Illinois, Col. James Monroe
101st Indiana, Col. William Garver
105th Ohio, Lieut. Col. William R. Tolles
Second (late Fortieth) Brigade
Col. Abram O. Miller
98th Illinois, Col. John J. Funkhouser
17th Indiana, Col. John T. Wilder
72d Indiana, Maj. Henry M. Carr
75th Indiana, Col. Milton S. Robinson
Artillery
18th Indiana Battery, Capt. Eli Lilly
19th Indiana, Capt. Samuel J. Harris
Colonel John T. Wilder, by virtue of an earlier date of commission, succeeded Colonel A.O. Miller to the command of the Second (late Fortieth) Brigade, after the Seventeenth Indiana had been assigned to it. In the course of time, these two Brigades of the Division also exchanged numbers; Hall's was made the Second and Wilder's the First.
Immediately following the disaster to Moore's Brigade at Hartsville, our (U)Brigade(/U)began constructing fortifications on both sides of our camp at Castalian Springs. We worked like beavers for a few days, with the expectation of giving Morgan a warm reception, if he should attempt his little game on us. We determined that there should be no repetition of Hartsville at Castalian Springs.
In the evening of December 11th, Col. Hall's Brigade, which was hereafter to be associated with ours in the Division, arrived at Castalian Springs and encamped. In this Brigade was the One hundred and first Indiana Regiment, many of the members of which had acquaintances, friends and relatives in the Seventy-fifth Regiment.
On December 22d, the Seventeenth Indiana Regiment arrived and joined our Brigade.
The Seventeenth Indiana Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Morton, in Indianapolis, during the month of May, and mustered into the United States service on June 12th, 1861, for three years, with Milo S. Hascall as Colonel. It moved on the 1st of July to the East, and participated in the engagements at Cheat Mountain and Green Brier, in which it lost one killed. It here operated with General Reynolds' army. On the 19th of November, it proceeded to Louisville, Ky., and reported to General Buell. It was assigned to General Nelson's Division at Louisville, and marched to New Haven, where it remained until February 10th, 1862, when it moved towards Green River. It crossed the river, and marched southward to Nashville, arriving there March 12th. Here it remained until the march to the Tennessee River was begun. On the 25th of March, Colonel Hascall was made a Brigadier-General, and Lieut-Col. John T. Wilder succeeded to the Colonelcy. Leaving Nashville on the last of March, the Regiment reached the battle field of Shiloh on April 8th. It participated in the siege of Corinth, and after its evacuation by the enemy, it marched with Buell's army through northern Alabama to Louisville, Ky., arriving there on September 25th, after marching two hundred and seventy miles, and having skirmished with Bragg's rear guard on the 21st near Munfordsville. Leaving Louisville on October 1st, it operated through Kentucky and Tennessee, until December 22d, when it was assigned to our <(U>Brigade. Between the 18th of October, 1862, and February 1st, 1863, the Regiment was engaged in numerous expeditions.
From the 12th of February, 1863, to the end of the war, the Seventeenth Regiment was mounted and operated with the Cavalry. As a Cavalry Regiment (or mounted Infantry) there was no better in the service.
On June 24th, it moved to Hoover's Gap, where it held the Confederates at bay, until its ammunition was exhausted, when the other Regiments of the Brigade came up and the enemy was driven from the field. Here the Seventeenth lost 25 killed and wounded. After this engagement the Regiment marched to Manchester, where it captured many prisoners. It then went on a raid to Cowan, scouting the country in various directions, skirmishing with the Confederates across the Tennessee River, near Chattanooga. After the evacuation of Chattanooga, the Regiment moved in the direction of North Chickamauga and Dalton, frequently skirmishing.
On the 11th of September, the Seventeenth marched to Ringgold, Ga., where it met Scott's Cavalry Brigade, and a brisk fight occurred, resulting in driving the enemy with severe loss to Tunnel Hill. The Regiment lost one killed and two wounded. In the battle of Chickamauga the Seventeenth lost 16 in killed, wounded and missing.
On the1st of October, it went with Gen. Crook's command to the Sequatchie Valley, in pursuit of Wheeler. On the night of the 3d, it attacked Crew's Brigade at Thompson's Cove. and captured the battle flag of a Kentucky Regiment (Confederate) together with a number of arms, losing only one man wounded. The next day it skirmished with he enemy at McMinnville and drove him out of the town, losing 2 killed and 4 wounded. On the 7th, it had another attack near Shelbyville with the enemy, capturing three cannon and many small arms, losing 48 killed and wounded, including three officers. It moved to Huntsville, Alabama, on the 9th, and on the 13th started in pursuit of the Confederate Cavalry under Forrest and others. On the 18th of November, 250 of the best mounted of the Regiment marched near Chattanooga and crossed the Tennessee on the night of the 23d on Sherman's pontoons. During the battle of Missionary Ridge, the Regiment went via Tyner's Station within seven miles of Ringgold and destroyed many of the Confederate wagon trains and stores. On the 27th it was attacked by Kelly's Confederate Brigade, in which it lost one killed. On the 30th, it marched toward Knoxville, running through the enemy's lines to get into the town.
The majority of the Regiment being dismounted and in camp at Pulaski, having re-enlisted on the 4th of January, 1864, left for Indiana on veteran furlough.
While in Indiana the veterans were allowed to purchase horses, left Indianapolis by rail on the 2d of April and arrived at Louisville. On the 18th it proceeded to Nashville, reaching that point on the 25th, riding one hundred and eighty-six miles. Leaving there, the Regiment reached Sherman's army on the 10th of May, while on the Atlanta campaign. From this time until October 31st, the Regiment was actively and constantly engaged in scouting operations with the Cavalry, incident to the capture of Atlanta, and pursuit of Hood's army to the north. It participated in numerous raids and skirmishes and was conspicuously engaged at Pumpkin-vine Creek, Big Shanty, Belle Plain Road, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee River, Stone Mountain, etc. On November 1st, after turning over its horses to Kilpatrick's Cavalry, the Regiment left Rome, Ga., for Louisville, Ky., where it was remounted on the 24th. Leaving Louisville, it reached Nashville on the 8th of January, 1865, from whence it marched to Gravelly Spring, Alabama. Here it remained until March 12th, when it marched with Wilson's Cavalry command into the interior of Alabama. On April 1st, it fought Roddy and Forrest near Ebenezer Church, capturing one hundred prisoners and a cannon, losing twenty-four in killed, wounded and missing. On the 2d, it also participated in the battle of Selma, losing in killed and wounded ninety-two. On April 20th, the Regiment helped to capture the city of Macon, Ga., with many prisoners, including four General officers. It lost in this affair one killed and two wounded.
The Seventeenth Indiana has the distinction of having four of its officers promoted to Brigadier-Generals. As leaders of Companies and Regiments, some of the officers belonging to the Seventeenth had no superiors. During its term of service, it marched four thousand miles, and captured many prisoners and arms and several flags, and hundreds of horses and mules. Its loss during its service of four years was 69 killed and 189 wounded.
On December 23d, Captain H.H. Butler of Company D, and Lieutenant Thos. J. Peed of Company I of our Regiment, having resigned, left for their homes in Indiana. Our first Christmas, while living soldier-lives, was spent in camp at Castalian Springs. Many dinners in he tents on that day consisted of "hard tack" and "sow-belly." Some, however, fared better. From one of the diaries, consulted in the preparation of this history, the menu on Christmas day in one tent at least consisted of "beef soup, peach pies, picked peaches, and roast beef." This was a gastronomic display worthy Delmonico's under similar circumstances.
During the last week of December, 1862, the Confederate Gen. Morgan, with a Division of two Brigades of Cavalry, made a second raid into Kentucky. He first struck Glasgow. From thence he followed the line of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, appearing at Munfordsville, Bacon Creek Upton, Nolin, Elizabethtown and Muldraugh's Hill. The National troops stationed at these different points, were small detachments of Kentucky Regiments, under the command of Colonels Harlan, Hobson and Hoskins; also Colonels Gray of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry and Benneson of the Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry, and Captain Dicky of the Second Michigan Cavalry, had skirmishes with Morgan's force during his raid. With his much larger force, however, Morgan either captured the small garrisons or drove them away. He left desolation and destruction in his tracks. He burned the bridges and trestle-works and tore up the railroad track for miles. In his official report of the raid, Morgan himself says that he destroyed over $2,000,000 worth of United States property.
At the time of this bold raid, Gen. Reynolds' headquarters were at Gallatin. Hall's Brigade was at Bledsoe's Creek, and our Brigade , under Wilder, was yet at Castalian Springs. Reynolds received the accompanying dispatch from Gen. Rosecrans:
Headquarters Fourteenth Army Corps,
Nashville, December 23, 1862.
Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds, Gallatin:
Try and ascertain the strength of enemy, and if he has any infantry supports. Send out scouts in all directions. Make arrangements for communicating in letters to us, in case telegraph line be cut. Concentrate your forces and fight like the devil. General says you will have help from us, and if you whip him recollect you have him at mercy.
By order: J.P. Garesche
Chief of Staff.
To this dispatch Reynolds replied:
Gallatin, December 24, 1862 --1 a.m.
[Colonel Garesche:]
Dispositions indicated are made. Have this moment heard from Hall and Wilder. They are ready and so are we, and we will fight like the devil. The general impression here is that this attack will be made to cover an attack on the railroad. J.J. Reynolds
Brigadier General.
We left Castalian Springs at daylight on the morning of the 26th, moving in the direction of Gallatin. It rained hard during the entire day, and after marching fourteen miles, we encamped for the night, lying down with our wet clothes on, in a muddy field. It continued to rain during the night. At daylight of the 27th, we moved, the Seventy-fifth leading the Brigade. We marched all day in the rain and mud, and encamped at night at Scottsville, Kentucky. Sunday morning 28th, we took the pike to Glasgow. Having forded the Big Barren River (Morgan burned the bridge) the water of which being excessively cold, we bivouacked for the night on its banks. Early in the morning of the 29th, the Brigade moved, with the Ninety-eighth Illinois Regiment in advance. After marching about twelve miles, we encamped near Glasgow. We remained at this point during the 30th. At daylight of the 31st we advanced in the direction of Munfordsville. January 1st, 1863, we were in the neighborhood of Bear Wallow. Morgan's Cavalry being in the vicinity, our Brigade was formed in line of battle to await results.
The two Brigades under Reynolds were now in supporting distance of each other. In every direction scouts were sent out. To head off Morgan and prevent his escape, Reynolds was ordered to raise all the horses and saddles available, and if these could not be procured, he was to impress into service his mules without saddles. He was to mount half of his Division at a time with these. The "walking" infantry was to start in pursuit very early with the expectation of being overtaken by the "riding" infantry at the close of the day, when the walking half of the preceding day should exchange with the riding half for the next day.
Headquarters Fourteenth Army Corps
Nashville, December 25, 1862
Brigadier-General Reynolds, Gallitan:
Morgan has no such force. The total of their cavalry here, and the detachment of Forrest to West Tennessee, satisfies me that he has very little more than when en route to Hartsville, without the infantry. Not many crossed at Gainesborough. Prepare to cut off with your division Morgan's retreat. Harlan will be sent to Cave City. He will go up on train tonight, and move on Morgan wherever he may be.
W.S. Rosecrans
Major-General
December 25, 1862.
Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds, Gallitan:
How many pack and other horses can you raise, with saddles or bare backs, to put infantry on, to pursue them with, say, one-half ride, the others walk, and change horses -- the infantry walking, to start early, to be overtaken and take the horses, and go on to camp, while the walking overtake them? Volunteers and picked men should go. Tell me what you can do.
W.S. Rosecrans
Major-General
Gallatin, December 25, 1862 - 7 p.m.
Lieutenant-Colonel Garesche, Chief of Staff
I will be off to-morrow morning early, with my division, numbering about 4,500 effective men, besides two batteries of six guns each. Have nothing left outside Gallatin except some cavalry pickets, which will be left. Also leave here a few cavalry for escorts, couriers, etc. We go from here to Scottsville.
J.J. Reynolds
Brigadier-General
To witness the antics of this improvised Cavalry by mounting Infantry Regiments on army mules and plug horses with and without saddles, was an amusing sight! The performance reminded the writer of the stanzas in Cowper's poem of John Gilpin:
"John Gilpin ay his horse's side
Seized fast the flowing mane,
And up he got to ride,
But soon came down again.
"Now see him mounted once again,
Upon his nimble steed,
Full slowly pacing o'er the stones
With caution and good heed.
"But finding soon a smoother road
Beneath his well-shod feet,
The snorting beast began to trot,
Which galled him in the seat."
The mules, when mounted, seemed to be in a highly exhilarating frame of mind, with heels of a vigorous and decidedly skyward tendency, which created great amusement in the camp. They seemed determined to make the groups of soldiers, who were looking on at their pranks, get out of their way, by backing up to them, with their long ears moving backwards and forwards like a windmill, and their tails as stiff as pokers, letting their hoofs fly at them. One of the men, who had been thrown off, with ambition to display his prowess over the mule, ran in front of the animal and took a defiant position to seize him. The mule, undaunted, came dashing on, putting one ear back and the other forward, then reversing the movement, with his tail standing straight out. The soldier's courage failed him, and he beat a sudden and inglorious retreat. As he ran, followed by the mule, the scene was ludicrous in the extreme. Hundreds of soldiers, who witnessed it, were convulsed with laughter.
Nevertheless, with all these disadvantages and encumbrances, we "fought Morgan like the devil,"
Speaking of mules, reminds the writer of a little incident of army life, which may not be out of place to insert here. An army Chaplain, frequently shocked by the profanity of mule drivers, resolved, if possible, to lessen it by the offer a fine Bible to every one who would "drive a mule team four weeks without swearing." Having published the offer, and completed satisfactory arrangements with the U. S. Christian Commission for a liberal distribution of the Sacred Volume among a needy class of sinners, the Chaplain sat down in his tent to wait for applicants. The crowd of applicants, which he expected, did not arrive. Only one man applied and he was a Dutchman. When questioned on the subject, the Dutchman gave it as his opinion, that by nature no man was able to do it, but by the grace of God alone mules could be driven without oaths. Here is the Dutchman's solemn affirmation, in his own words, which is vouched for by a certificate from his Captain: "Dis ish to serdify, dat I have triven deam foar veeks widout brofanity." The man received the premium, and doubtless deserved it.
Speaking of Chaplains, the writer is reminded of another army incident. With all the hardships and vicissitudes of army life, a certain Chaplain could not eradicate the oddity of his genius. He was a fine singer, and played well upon the accordian. He was the spiritual adviser of a wild Western Regiment, and his unselfish and hardy nature won their hearts by telling the boys stories and singing them funny songs. John Morgan captured him in the Cumberland Mountains. The Chaplain, in relating the circumstances afterwards said: "It looked pretty solemn when they began to cast lots to see who should inherit my horse." But the Chaplain took his little accordian and began to sing and play for dear life. All the droll songs that were ever invented, this doomed captive sang to the bushwackers of Kentucky. "I think I ought to shoot you," said Morgan; " a fellow that keeps up men's spirits as you do is too valuable to the Yankees for me to let off." But let him off he did. Nobody could shoot such a happy combination of goodness and drollery.
Once after a battle, a church was turned into a hospital, and the wounded and dying lay all up and down on the floor. It was a blue time, when men were dying not alone of wounds, but of despair, which was like an epidemic in the atmosphere. The Chaplain, seeing how fatal this despondency was proving itself to be to the men, walking up into the pulpit, planted his little accordion on his knees and struck up "The Girl I Left Behind Me." Sunlight at once came into the despondent hearts with the rich melody of the Chaplain's voice and the humor of his song. The Surgeons of the hospital took heart, and life seemed to come back to the wounded and homesick boys.
Morgan paid dear for all he gained in his second Kentucky raid. He lost very many of his troopers in killed, wounded and missing. Col. Duke, who commanded one of his Brigades, was badly wounded. Besides, he was defeated at Munfordsville, Rolling Fork and Campbellsville. Among the loss we had to deplore was the gallant Colonel Halisy of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry (Union), who was killed in a hand-to-hand encounter with a Lieutenant of Morgan's Cavalry. One Brigade sustained no loss.
Thus while the National Army under Roscrans was manoeuvring to fight and was actually fighting the Confederate Army under Bragg at Stone's River, the Seventy-fifth Indians Regiment was doing very important and hard service with Reynolds by keeping the strictest vigilance upon Morgan in the vicinity of Gallitan, Scottsville, Bledsoe's Creek, Glasgow and other places.
While we were yet engaged in Kentucky against Morgan, the fierce battle of Stone's River at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was fought on the last day of 1852 and the first three days of 1863. This was the largest battle which Gen. Rosecrans had yet fought. His losses were 1,533 killed, including Brig. Gen. Joshua W. Sill, who was associated with us in the movement against E. Kirby Smith at Frankfort, Ky.; 7,245 wounded, including Brig. Gens. Kirk, Van Cleve, Willich and Wood; and 2,800 missing. The Confederate losses can only be approximated. The officers rarely ever gave full returns of
their loss. Bragg's losses were about 9,000 killed and wounded, and 16,560 missing. The two wings of the National army were driven back a short distance, on successive days, but regained their positions finally, and the Confederates were repelled and driven from the field. Murfreesboro was left in possession of our army.
In the evening of January 3d, we marched to Cave City, where the Regiment took the cars on the morning of the 4th, for Nashville, arriving n the city on the same evening. The next day, 5th, the Regiment started from Nashville for Murfreesboro -- a distance of 31 miles -- as guards of a train of 1.500 wagons, moving to the front with stores for the surviving troops, who were engaged in the battle. On the way, we met many ambulances conveying the wounded to Nashville. We encamped four miles fro the battle-field in a drenching rain during he night. When the Regiment arrived on the field during the morning of the 7th, the noise of the conflict had ceased, and the smoke of the battle had cleared away; but the horrible results of the contest were plainly visible. Dead men and horses, torn and mangled, broken cannon carriages and wheels, were strewn over the field of carnage. The sight was ghastly and ruinous.