A history of the trials and hardships of the Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Preface

This history is based on my pocket memorandum which I cept during the late Civil War, 1861-1865.

Richard J. Fulfer.

COLONEL ALVIN P. HOVEY

Twenty-Fourth Infantry

CORPS COMMANDERS OF OUR REGIMENT.

General Fremont.

U. S. Grant.

N. P. Banks.

E. S. Canby.

W. T. Sherman.

DIVISION OFFICERS.

General Pope.

Lew A\^allace.

A. P. Hovey.

General ]\IcClernard.

E. O. C. Orel.

C. C. Andrews.

REGIMENT OFFICERS.

Colonel A. P. Hovey.

Lieutenant Colonel Gurber.

Major C. C. Hines.

Colonel William T. Spicely.

Major John F. Grill.

GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT

OFFICERS OF COMPANY A.

Captain — Hugh Erwin.

First Lieutenant — George Sheaks.

Second Lieutenant — H. F. Braxton (resigned). J. L. Cain. First Sergeant — Richard F. Cleveland. (Non-commissioned.) Second Sergeant — John East. (Xon-commissioned.) Third Sergeant — Francis M. Jolley. (Xon-commissioned.) Fourth Sergeant — Henry B. East. (Non-commissioned.) Fifth Sergeant — Van B. Kelley. (Non-commissioned.) First Corporal — Josiah Botkin. (Non-commissioned.) Second Corporal — Chas. H. Dunnihue. (Non-commissioned.) Third Corporal — J. N. Wright. (Non-commissioned.) Fourth Corporal— John Edwards. (Non-commissioned.) Fifth Corporal — George F. Otta. (Non-commissioned.) Sixth Corporal — William Erwin. (Non-commissioned.) Seventh Corporal — King A. Trainer. (Non-commissioned.) Eighth Corporal — Jasper N. Maiden. (Non-commissioned.) Musician — James S. Cole.

Teamster — Alfred Cambron.

Sergeant Major — George A. Barnes.

GENERAL WILLIAM T. SHERMAN

PRIVATES OF COMPANY A,

Arms, Thomas R.

Bartlett, Haines.

Blevins, Willoiighby.

Busic, William S.

Clark, John C.

Clark, William G.

Cole, William C.

Coward, Joel.

Coward, James.

Collins, James W.

Conley, David.

Cox, Andrew.

Crow, Walter S.

Douglass, Edgar L.

Edwards, \Villiam.

Enness, Charles.

Erwin, Jarred.

Fulfer, Richard J.

Fullen, John.

George, Andrew J.

Harvey, James.

Hamer, Henry, Hamer, George.

Hostetler, Samuel.

Harbaugh, Benjamin F.

Higginbotham, David D.

Gross, James A.

Gross, Wm. C.

Jolly, George W.

Keedy, W^illiam.

Lee, John.

Lochner, John C.

Lynn, Ephriam.

McPike, Francis M.

Melvin. William.

Mitchell, William H.

Xeuge-nt, \\'illoughby.

Orr, Patrick.

Painter, Xoah.

Palmer, Xoah.

Peters. Henry C.

Phipps, David.

Phipps. Isaiah.

Ramsey, William W.

Riggle, Timothy.

Robbins, William.

Smith, F. M.

Stroud, \^^ashington.

Tanksley. Charles.

Teft, James.

Tinsley, David.

Toliver. John.

Walker, Weslev.

Williamson, George.

Williamson, Joseph.

Woodv, Henderson.

DECEASED AND DISCHARGED OF COMPANY A.

Pruitt, David R.

Pace, David.

Walker, Lewis.

Bearley, William T.

Melvin, Ezekiel M.

Clark, Francis M.

Harvey, Robert.

Landrom, Archie.

Dodd, John S.

Watson, Thomas.

Deceased — Discharged —

Dalton, James R.

The places at \v

Hostetter, John W.

Keithley, Jesse.

Mitchell, Isaac.

Rudyard, Jeremiah.

Stogell, Hamilton R.

Helton, Pleasant.

Williams, Solomon.

Low, John C.

Andrews, James T.

Miller, William.

Harvey, Bird.

Landreth, William H.

hich the different companies were made up

Bedford Lawrence County, Ind.

Paolia Orange County, Ind.

Evansville Vanderburgh County, Ind.

Washington Davis County, Ind.

Petersburgh Pike County, Ind.

Princeton Gibson County, Ind.

Orleans Orange County, Ind.

-Petersburgh Pike County, Ind.

Logotee Martin County, Ind.

-Medora Jackson County, Ind.

CAMPS OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH INDIANA REGIMENT.

Names. Located at. Date.

Knox Vincennes, Ind. August i8,

Jessey St. Louis, Mo. August 2,

Allen Carondalet, Mo. September 16,

Jessup Syracuse, Mo. September 20,

Lamine Bridge, Mo. September 24,

. Georgetown, Mo. October 16,

Tipton, Mo. October 21,

Burr Missouri November i,

Near Springfield, Mo. --November 9,

Warsaw, Mo. November 16,

S. E. of Tipton, Mo. November 27,

S. of Syracuse, Mo November 29,

N. E. of Sedalia, Mo December 8,

Below Sedalia December 15,

Otterville, Mo. December 23,

Fort Donnelson, Tenn. February 18,

Fort Henry, Tenn. March i,

Crump's Landing, Tenn March 18,

Shiloh, Tenn. , April 18,

Broomsage May 10,

Gravel Ridge, Tenn. June 5,

Boliver, Tenn. June 8,

Union Station June 12,

Memphis, Tenn. June 18,

White River, Ark. July 4,

Helena, Ark July 5,

Vicksburgh, Miss. July 4,

Jackson, Miss. July 10,

Vicksburgh, Miss. July 20,

Natchez, Miss. August 5,

Carrolton. La. August 13,

Brasier City, La. October 3, 1863

New Iberia, La. October 6, 1863

Vermillion Bayou, La. October 10, 1863

1 Camp View, La. October 18, 1863

Barres Landing, La. October 21, 1863

Opelousas, La. October 21, 1863

Caron Crow Bayou, La__November i, 1863

Vermillion Bayou, La. November 5, 1863

New Iberia, La. November 9, 1863

Algers, La. December 22, 1863

.__ Evansville. Ind. March 2, 1864

New Orleans, La. April 3, 1864

Baton Rouge, La. August 16, 1864

Morganza Bend, La. December 24, 1864

Baton Rouge, La. December 25, 1864

Shell Carrolton, La. January 5, 1865

Mud Kennerville, La. January 19, 1865

Redoubt Pensacola, Fla. January 26, 1865

Beauty Florida February 11, 1865

Fort Blakely April 9, 1865

Fort Spanish, Fla. April 12, 1865

Selma, Ala. April 29, 1865

Mobile, Ala. May 8, 1865

Galveston, Texas November 16, 1865

Chapter I

THE Twenty-fourth Indiana regiment was one of the first called for as three years' volunteers. We were enrolled on the 9th day of July, 1861, to serve for three years, if not sooner discharged. We were mustered into service July 31st, 1861, at Camp Knox, which is near Vincennes, Indiana.

Our first camp life after being enrolled was a new mode of living and sport. Some of the boys had never been very far from our homes, and were not posted in the pranks and tricks of the times, even in those early days.

We soon drew a few old Harper's Ferry muskets. We had a string guard around the camp. Company drill was held four hours each day. This was the only amusement which we had in the daytime, but at night we had magicians, sleight of hand performers, and others who made amusement for some of us who had never seen many shows. The tall man and elephant also paraded through the quarters at night, and this furnished a great deal of amusement for us.

We got our uniforms August 7th. They were gray and were about as appropriate as our old Harpers Ferry muskets. The guards soon beat the stocks off of the muskets and bent the ends of the barrels. These they used as canes.

Getting used to camp life was quite a change for some of us who had been raised up on corn bread, hominy and buttermilk. There was also a change in the bill of fare. We now had hard tack, sow belly, and black coffee. There were many other i6

changes of life which must be made to make us a happy, united family.

The weather was very warm at this time, and we soon began to think that army hfe was no soft snap.

On the 1 6th of August we again drew arms. These were new Harper's Ferry muskets. Six Endfield rifles were allowed to each company.

On the next day we marched through the city of Vincennes on review. All was a hurry and excitement, as the troops were being sent to the front on that day.

We got marching orders on the i8th, and we got on board a train bound for East St. Louis, 111. We arrived there on the morning of the 19th. We crossed the Mississippi river on the steamer "Alton City," marched two and a half miles through the city of St. Louis, Mo., and went into camp in the Lafayette Park. Here were the first tents we ever pitched, and all the boys wanted to learn how.

Lafayette Park is a beautiful park. It contains many fine animals. There were many of our boys who had never seen such sights as the city of St. Louis contained. Some of them had sore eyes on account of so much sight-seeing.

There were many regiments in camp at this park at the same time we were there.

In a short time we struck tents and marched down the river a distance of seven miles. We went into camp at Carondelet. One of the officers named this camp. Camp Allen.

August 27th, Colonel Alvin P. Hovey took command of our regiment. He soon commenced battalion drill, which was very hard on us, owing to the warm weather. We had battalion drill four hours each day and company drill two hours, so you see that we were somewhat busy. \ September 6th, Colonel Hovey, with six of our companies, boarded a train on the Iron Mountain railway and made a trip of twenty-five miles. We left the cars at 8 o'clock p. m. and made a rapid march of several miles out through a very rough, broken country. At 5 o'clock in the morning we got orders to lie down on our arms for a little rest, but not to speak above a w^hisper and to be ready to fall in line at a minutes notice. When morning came we learned that the rebels had evacuated their camps and skipped. Thus we were knocked out of a fight at this place. On account of not having any rebels to shoot at, we could do nothing" else but march back aver the roughest roads we had ever marched on.

Here was our first experience in foraging off of the country. But we got a plenty on this trip, such as cream, honey and peaches — all of w^hich were good things that we could not get in camp.

This trip was called the Betty Decker march. I don't know why this name was given it unless she was the lady who furnished us so many good things for our suppers.

We got back to the railroad at 8 p. m., got aboard a train, and at 10 o'clock arrived at our camp at Carondelet.

While here we had to guard the dry docks while the ironclad vessels, St. Louis and Carondelet were being built. It was rumored that these vessels would be blown out of existence before they were finished, and as half of the people in St. Louis were ready to do anything for the Southern cause, we believed it. But nevertheless they were completed and had an active part in putting down the rebellion.

While we w-ere drilling and guarding at this place we could see other regiments at Benton Barracks who were strengthening their fortifications. Now was the time when something had to be done to invade Missouri.

Chapter II

September i6th, 1861, we got marching orders, struck tents, and boarded a steamboat which carried us to St. Louis. We left the boat and while marching up Main street on our way to the Union station was the first charge which the old Twenty-fourth struck. Drums and fifes were playing when four large gray horses drawing a big delivery wagon collided with the head of our column, knocking it east and west. Several of our boys were slightly bruised, but they were more frightened than injured. In this way James R. Dalton and John W. Hostetter got their discharges.

That night we boarded a train, pulled by two engines, of twenty flat cars, fifty men to a car. We started westward to open up the Union Pacific railroad over which a train had not run for months. The weeds had grown upon the track until the engines could hardly pull their own weight. We traveled very slowly, and the morning of the 17th found us not many miles from St. Louis.

Half of our train had been cut loose and the engines had pulled on to the next switch. The)^ soon returned for the balance of the train. At this place we heard the first national songs which we had heard sung in rebeldom. Some ladies carrying the grand old Stars and Stripes came out on the portico and sang "The Star Spangled Banner,'' "The Red, White and Blue," and other national songs. You bet there were cheers which went up for those union ladies.

This was the first time that Colonel Hovey knew that Indiana soldiers would eat chickens. But he found it out now, as the boys came straggling to the cars, at the call of the whistle, loaded w-ith chickens and peaches. Colonel Hovey called, "Take

them back, you d chicken thieves, or I'll have you arrested.

I didn't think I had started out with a clan of Indiana thieves."

Some of the boys became angry and made threats, while others laughed and w^re jolly about it. But it was all soon forgotten as the train pulled out. We had to walk by the side of the engine and throw gravel under the drive-wheels so that the engine would pull anything.

We went through three tunnels and came to Jefferson City. This is the capital of Missouri. Governor Jackson had the State House burned and skipped out with the old rebel, General Price.

At II o'clock p. m., September 7th, two engines, coupled together, and pulling our full train, went on west. Just as we started one of the boys of Company D fell under the car and was instantly killed.

On the morning of the i8th the engines could not pull their own weights and each company cut loose and pushed their own cars. While doing this, Brown of Company B, fell under the car and the wheels ran over his leg.

We pushed up the grades and rode down them. Sometimes we even had to push the engines.

We reached Syracuse late on the evening of the i8th. We got off of the cars, marched out and went into camp near the town. A strong picket line was posted and a strict order was placed on the pickets. A heavy penalty of death was imposed on those who slept on their post.

The moon shined bright and at 10 o'clock the still night air was disturbed by the tramp of horses' feet and rattle of sabers coming towards our camp. The picket who was posted on the road did not wait to challenge the supposed enemy, but fired his gun and skedaddled to camp. The pickets all around the camp fired their guns and ran.

The long roll was beat and all was hustle and bustle in camp. "Fall in, fall in!" was the order from colonel and captains, ''and get ready for action." In four minutes the old Twenty-fourth was ready for action and facing the supposed enemy. Several were shaking as with the ague, yet they were ready to take their medicine.

In a few minutes we saw a single orderly coming down the

road. He rode up and asked, "What the h does this mean ?"

Colonel Hovey, standing there in his night clothes, with his fighting blood up, answered him pretty roughly and wanted to know who it was. We found out that it was Colonel Eads' home guards of "Jayhawkers" who had come from California to join our army. We then broke ranks and went back to our quarters to dream of the false alarm and the excitement which Colenel Eads' Jayhawkers caused us.

On the morning of the 20th we struck tents and marched seven miles west. Here, at the Lamine river, we went into camp. THIS camp was called Camp Morton.

The next morning heavy details were sent out to build fortifications for picket duty and to guard the Lamine bridge while the carpenters rebuilt it. This .bridge had been burned by the rebels a few days before we got there.

The Twenty-fourth Indiana was the first regiment to arrive at this place, but there were more brigades on the way to reinforce us, some by way of the Missouri river and some by rail, as we had come.

On the morning of the 23d we were joined by the Second Indiana Cavalry. We now had the bridge completed, and the trains ran over it and went as far as Sedalia, this being as far as the road was completed at that time.

At about this time, the Eighteenth and Twenty-sixth Indiana landed on the banks of the Missouri river, and it being a verydark night, they ran into the Tw^enty-second Indiana. They had quite a little spat before they found out their mistake. The Major and six men of the Twenty-second were killed.

On the 30th of September we marched to Georgetown, the county seat of Pettice county. It was dark when we reached the town. As we found no enemy to oppose us we went into quarters in the court house.

Here the Eighth, Eighteenth, Twenty-second, Twenty-fifth Twenty-sixth Indiana regiments and the Eighth Missouri and ten pieces of artillery joined us. We were collecting an army to raise the siege of Lexington, which was twenty miles above here. Rebel General Price had had Colonel Muligan, with a handful of our soldiers, cooped up there for several days. General Fremont was getting his troops together to raise the siege, but he was too slow. The little garrison of 2,800 Union men defended the fort five days against a superior force of 1 1,000 men.

An order was given to mount the Twenty- fourth Indiana on mules. We marched to the carrall and tried to break several of those wild bucking mules. The order was countermanded. That evening we started on the march, but had only gone a few miles when we met our paroled prisoners. They reported that they held out five days and then ran out of rations and ammunition. They also stated that their loss was 60 killed and 40 wounded. The rebel loss was unknown.

We about faced and went back to camp. On the 5th of October we moved out on an open field and pitched tents. Here we drew two months' pay. This was the first time that we had ever drawn any of Uncle Sam's money. The officers were paid with gold coin.

While at this place we drilled six hours each day. We received marching orders on the tenth of the month, but the order was countermanded. On the morning of the i6th we again received marching orders. We struck tents and marched a distance of two miles to Sedalia, a town at the end of the Pacific railroad.

The war had stopped all the progress of the railroad. The workmen had stacked their shovels, picks, and wheelbarrows in a large cut and had fled in all directions.

Chapter III

We boarded a train and went to Tipton, which was twenty miles distant. Here, on the 19th, we drew uniforms.

On the morning of the 21st we received marching orders, struck tents, packed our knapsacks and marched in the direction of Springfield, which is south of this place. At the end of a fifteen-mile march we halted and went into camp. On the morning of the 2d we continued our march. At 4 o'clock we came to a halt and went into camp in a little black-oak grove. Our feet were blistered from marching over the rough mountain roads, and many of the boys fell out of the ranks and straggled in late at night.

On the morning of the 24th we took up our line of march. After a hard day of travel we came to the little town of Warsaw. We crossed the Osage river and went into camp.

While here General Fremont received the news from one of his spies that General Price's army was at Springfield. We were called into line early the next morning. We moved out seven miles and the order was then countermanded. Therefore we went into camp in a field which was covered with burrs. For this reason we named this place Camp Burr.

Our boys were about played out on account of heavy marching, and so each of our companies bought an ox team to haul our baggage. Our quartermaster sent our train back to Tipton after supplies of ammunition and rations. This was supposed to be our base of supplies.

On the evening of November ist, 1861, we received orders to leave our tents, and in light marching order move out and march in the direction of Springfield. At 8 p. m. we moved out eight miles through the dark night and came to our main army CO consolidate our regiment with our division, brigades, etc., which were commanded by Generals Pope, Hunter, and Jeff C. Davis.

The next morning we marched through a little town by the name of Black Oak Point, and after a hard day's march we went into camp in a meadow. We were all very tired and footsore.

On the morning of the 3d we marched through the little town of Buffalo, crossed Greasy Creek, and went into camp.

We were all worn out with the day's journey. Most of us had eaten a cold lunch and had lain down for a little rest. A few of the boys were cooking beef and trying to prepare some food for the morrow when the bugle sounded the assembly to fall in line and march. We slung knapsacks, fell in line, and marched off in double quick time. Some of the boys were swearing because they had to throw their beef, which had just started to boil, out of the kettles.

We felt sure that w^e would have a chance to take old General Price in that night. Everyone was worn out and angry, and their fighting blood was at its highest pitch. We marched all night, and early in the morning we waded Pometytor creek. We then halted for a short rest. We had nothing for breakfast except a few pieces of hard tack to munch on.

This was the 4th day of November. After a short rest we fell in line, marched off as fast as our swollen feet would allow us to. At 4 o'clock we reached Springfield. After a forced march of fifty miles, without sleep and with very little to eat, we were in splendid fighting order — mad and worn out.

But our chance for a battle had slipped.

As old Price's army had skipped, all mounted on gray horses. General Fremont with his one hundred bodyguards, started in pursuit. They ran into Price's rear guard. I heard some shots fired, and it was reported that a few shots were exchanged with the rear guard of General Price's retreating army.

Here we forced a junction with General Lane's army, which swelled the number of our forces to about 35,000. General Lane had several Indians under his command — some 1,200 Cherokees. It was reported that he sent them after the rebel forces which were retreating towards Cassville, which is in Barry county. I never heard of those Indians afterwards. They must have been disbanded.

We went into camp that night about a mile from town. On the morning of the 5th of November, Colonel Hovey took command of a brigade.

On the night of the 6th, cheering was heard throughout our army, as some grapevine or false dispatches had reached our officers of a great victory gained in the east. The thunder of drums and voices were heard for miles.

General Fremont received instructions not to follow Price farther into the mountains, or he would be caught in a trap. On the morning of the 9th we received orders to march back to Tipton.

On the 13th our regiment and the Forty-second Illinois marched on a race to Camp Burr. We heat them by five hours. On the morning of the 14th we made double quick time back to Osage Bridge, in order that we might get there before General Sturges' brigade arrived there. We crossed the river and went into camp. We stayed two days waiting for our supply train.

We went to Tipton on the 20th of November. This completed the Springfield march.

While on this expedition General Fremont issued a proclamation to free all the slaves who made their way into our lines. Soon they were flocking in by the score. For assuming this authority General Fremont was superceded by General Pope. His name was never mentioned again in the history of our late civil war, as he was placed on the retired list of our good old generals who had served their time faithfully in our past wars.

Chapter IV

We pitched tents at Tipton and went into camp for a few days rest. The weather was getting somewhat cold, making our camp Hfe somewhat disagreeable. We stayed here until the morning of the 27th, when we struck tents and marched to Syracuse. Here we went into camp and stayed until the morning of the 29th, at which time we got orders to march back to Tipton again. We were getting tired of running around so much, and having no fighting to do, as we had been promised that we would put down the rebellion in thirty days. As yet we had not even made a start. Some of our boys were getting homesick and wanted to fight it out in a pitched battle. Some of them thought that they could clean up five little greased rebels.

We went into camp two miles north of Tipton, in a little grove. On the night of December ist five inches of snow fell, we then had a grand time hunting rabbits. We remained here until the 6th, when we drew two months' pay.

We broke camp the next day and marched to the Lamine bridge. A heavy rain fell that night, overflowing our camp and making it a disagreeable place. We lay here until the morning of the 15th, when we got marching orders to move over to Sedalia. We went into camp a little north of town. While here we received the report that our advance under Pope had captured 1,540 prisoners, without firing a shot.

While here we formed a scouting party detailed out of the Twenty-fourth Indiana. Concealed in covered wagons we traveled all night. In the morning we came to an open prairie.

From here we sent part of the detail to a large mill and distillery. A few shots were exchanged between the guards and our boys. In a short time the guards mounted their horses and rode as if for their lives. There were about twenty men on guard. They had a number of bushels of corn, several pounds of bacon, and some barrels of old copper distilled whiskey. The boys loaded one of our wagons with the beverage and set fire to the building. We then started back to Sedalia, as we had accomplished what we were sent to do. On our way back the wagon loaded with whiskey broke down and we had to leave it. Out of all of that whiskey we only got a small drink of whiskey each. We reached camp and reported our success. As soon as it was dark Lieutenant Sheeks. with a small detail, started after the wagon which we had left.

Colonel Eads had run across the wagon and went into camp at this place. They were having a time drinking the good old liquor which the wagon contained. The night was very dark, and when Lieutenant Sheeks reached the top of the hill he heard quite a number of men around the wagon. Thinking that they were rebels, he ordered the boys to fire into them. Colonel Eads' men also thought that we were rebels, and returned the fire. After several shots were exchanged, Lieutenant Sheeks withdrew, as we were outnumbered five to one. We never learned of our mistake until the next evening. No one was seriously injured, as all the shots flew wide of their mark on account of the darkness. This battle was named "Sheeks' Defeat."

While here a five-inch snow fell, making a very disagreeable time. On the night of the 23d of December we got orders to march back to our old camp at Lamine Bridge. This was one of the coldest, hardest marches of our service. While on the journey a sleet fell and froze. The batteries all had to be left at the foot of the hills, as the horses could not pull them up the hill on account of it being so slippery.

When we reached camp we were almost frozen and there was no wood to make fires with. We had built log cabins here for winter quarters, but there was no chance to get fire only to tear down our cabins. We did this and piled the logs in heaps. We set fire to these. We made coffee and soon became warm and comfortable.

We soon began preparations for sleeping. We spread tents on the snow and sixteen to a bed we lay down and pulled our blankets over us. A snow fell, which covered us over and kept us warm. When the reveille sounded at four o'clock the next morning it was a sight to see the boys crawling out from under their snow beds to answer roll call.

A heavy detail from the Twenty-fourth Indiana was sent to pull the batteries up the hill. The horses and mules had failed but the old Twenty-fourth was reliable.

The 24th of December found us with tents once more, with tents pitched at the Lamine Bridge. On Christmas Day some of the boys got drunk on stomach bitters and had a jolly time.

January ist, 1862, we had a general inspection. Our work at this place was hard, as we now built Fort Lamine. The snow lay on the ground six inches deep, and the ground was frozen to a depth of eighteen inches. This made it slow work building fortifications. Some days each man could not pick out a yard of the frozen dirt.

While at this work several of the boys froze their hands and feet and some of them had to have their fingers and toes amputated. These received discharges.

January i8th a detail of twenty men was called out to go with a foraging train after hay and corn. We went ten miles northwest. Here we found plenty of hay and corn. We camped in negro quarters. We killed a hog and had the negro cooks to get our supper and breakfast.

We loaded our train and gave the old farmer a due bill on Uncle Sam and started to camp with lots of good things, such as apples, honey and potatoes, hidden in the hay. The weather continued to turn colder, and we almost froze on our return to camp.