Chapter 17 -- continued

COMPANY B, THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OF INDIANA VOLUNTEERS

Sergeants

Corporals

Musicians

Privates

Samuel Adair, Perry L. Burk, Hamilton Cash, David Crisler, wounded at Champion Hill, George W. Denney, wounded at Champion Hill Henry W. Duckett, Jonathan Elliott, Benjamin Foush, Joseph J. Glover, Edward B. Hawley, John Hawley, William M. Hutzler, Wesley S. Iliff, Mark Kinnison, Aaron Letts, John W. Lethe, Charles O. Lindsay, William K. Louk, wounded at Champion Hill, James Logan, Christopher Loper, John R. May, John Morily, wounded at Fort Gibson,

Simon P. Marrow, Elias K. Maddox, Ozias McKinstry, Icahabod Nichols, Michael T. Paxson, John Parsons, William Pugh, John H. F. Pugh, wounded at Champion Hill, Albert Pugh, John L. Reeves, William S. Reeves, Joshua Siders, Edward Siders, George W. Stoner, William W. Swallow, Isaac I. Swallow, John F. Stowe, John M. Thomas, William Votaw William Williams, Jefferson J. Williams

Died

Discharged

Transferred

Recapitulation

On the 21st of October they went to Camp Jo. Holt, at Indianapolis; thence, November 16th, to New Haven, Kentucky; remained there until the 28th of December, when they moved to Camp Wickliffe. In February 1862, they marched to the mouth of Salt River, in the same state. The company had been very healthy until near the close of the year 1861 when, in about one month, eight of its members died, most of them of pneumonia. Their health began to improve with their removal from Camp Wickliffe. At the mouth of Salt River the regiment embarked on board a steamboat for Point Commerce, on the Mississippi River, in the State of Missouri. They marched across the country from this place by the way of Benton to New Madrid. The company took part in the siege of that town, and while so engaged they assisted in hauling a heavy cannon by hand to Biddle Point, a distance of fifteen miles, through swamps, and in the night. With this gun four of the rebel gunboats were driven off, one of which was disabled. After the capture of New Madrid, the company remained at that place until the 15th of June 1862, when the 34th Regiment was ordered on board transports and proceeded to Memphis, Tennessee. Remaining there but a short time, they accompanied Colonel Graham N. Fitch in his expedition up the White River. This company participated in the fight at Grand Prairie; thence returning to Helena, Arkansas, where the regiment remained from August 1st 1862, until April 12th 1863, moving out occasionally on the roads leading from that place to Little Rock, Clarendon and Duvall's Bluff, to watch the movements of the enemy. The regiment also made two other excursions up White River, under General Willis A. Gorman. On the 12th of April 1863, the regiment was placed on board transports with orders to report to General Grant at Young's Point, Louisiana. Arriving there on the 16th of April, the troops marched to Grand Gulf, or Perkins' Plantation, a distance of fifty miles, across a country interspersed with broad and deep bayous and swamps, which were bridged by the soldiers before they could be crossed.

Before narrating the stirring events that come next in chronological order, it is proper to state that Colonel Steele having resigned, Lieutenant Colonel (now General) Cameron became Colonel. Prior to this Lieutenant Headington had been detailed to command Company K, of the same regiment; but Captain Campbell having been appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Arkansas Colored Regiment, he became Captain of Company B. The regiment was assigned to the 13th Army Corps, 12th Division, commanded by General A. P. Hovey.

The 20th day of April was spent in transporting the troops across the river, preparing rations, and making other arrangements for a march. Just at dark the army commenced their line of march, in the direction of Port Gibson. After marching all night the advance guard fell in with the enemy's pickets about five o'clock in the morning, some four miles from Port Gibson. At daybreak a halt was ordered, and the men were allowed fifteen minutes to take some refreshments. While the men were yet eating, the enemy opened fire upon them with artillery. The troops were immediately ordered to march to the summit of a steep hill, where they were formed in line of battle and moved steadily forward.

The engagement now became general along the whole line. Our army, however, marched steadily through a dense cane-brake, some four hundred yards, and, on emerging from this thicket, one of the enemy's batteries was discovered only about two hundred yards distant, which was belching forth grape and canister at a furious rate.

A charge was ordered, and, in a short time, the battery was captured, together with two wagons loaded with ammunition, and about three hundred prisoners.

The 34th Regiment was in the advance in this charge, and six men in Company B were wounded, one of whom, Bailiff W. Stowell, died of his wounds.

The battle continued through the whole day the enemy slowly but steadily falling back. At night our troops slept upon their arms, on the battlefield. The morning of the 2nd of May revealed the fact that the enemy had fled during the night, and the Federal Army occupied Port Gibson early in the day.

On the 3rd of May the army moved toward Jackson, Mississippi, and after taking that place, started in the direction of Vicksburg.

On the 16th of May the Battle of Champion Hill was fought. General Hovey's Division bore the brunt of the fight. Company B, of the 34th Regiment, lost in killed and wounded seventeen men.

Captain Headington, two days after the battle writes:

"We fought another hard battle on the 16th, in which many of our brave boys fell. In my company first fell, by my side, William H. H. Bailey, mortally wounded, next Staley, then Chapman on my right fell, mortally wounded, while defending the colors. Then, on my left, Perry was killed, then fell Swaney, mortally wounded, then Geiger, wounded in the leg, then Doyle, wounded in the shoulder, Airley, wounded in the thigh, Pugh, wounded in the back, Daniel Crisler, in the arm, George Denney, in the hand, William Louk, in the hand, D. Shinn, in the wrist, James Crislee, in the shoulder, Houk, in the hand, Hammitt in the leg -- seventeen in all. Never did boys fight braver than did Company B. Lieutenant Colonel Swain is wounded in the lungs, I fear mortally. Our regiment killed and captured one entire Alabama regiment. We made it so hot for them that the Colonel rode up, threw up his hat and cried for mercy, saying that he surrendered his whole command."

The enemy was completely routed and driven from the field, leaving their dead and wounded. The 16th and part of the 18th were spent in burying the dead.

On the morning of the 19th, the army moved in the direction of Vicksburg, and, on the 20th, at early dawn, came in sight of the doomed city. Then commenced the memorable siege of that town, which resulted in its surrender, with the entire army, under General Pemberton, on the 4th of July 1863.

This company was engaged in this siege form the commencement to its close, shooting during the day, and digging in the trenches during the night, yet not one of them was injured by the shots of the enemy during the whole time.

On the 5th of July the regiment started for Jackson, Mississippi, under General Sherman, when the Rebel General Johnson was driven from that place, and many miles of railroad destroyed.

Early in August the regiment went to Natches, and thence to New Orleans, where they arrived on the 15th of that month. Remaining about a month, they were ordered to Brashier City. From there they accompanied Banks' expedition to Teche Bayou, and were engaged for two months, without tents, in scouting through the country, occasionally encountering small bodies of Rebels, which were uniformly captured or put to flight. They came, by a forced march, to the assistance of General Burbridge, at the Battle of Carrion Crow, in time to save him form defeat. The regiment arrived at New Iberia, Louisiana, on the 10th of December, and, on the 14th of that month, most of the men reenlisted, including forty-four of company B.

The regiment returned to New Orleans on the 23rd day of December. On the 29th, they embarked on board a steamship for Matagorda Peninsula, Texas. After remaining there two months the regiment returned to New Orleans on the 23rd of February 1864, where they remained until the 20th of March, when the reenlisted men were furloughed for thirty days. They started for their homes immediately, arriving at Indianapolis on the 29th, and, on the 1st of April, were given a grand reception by the Governor and other dignitaries of Indiana and the City of Indianapolis.

On the morning of the 3rd of April the veterans belonging to Jay County received the greetings of their friends at home, after an absence of two years and seven months.

After spending a month among their friends they again returned to their field of service. Arriving at Indianapolis on the 2nd of May 1864, they remained one week at Camp Carrington and the 19th of May found them again at New Orleans, where they still remain.

Before the regiment left Indianapolis, Captain Headington was promoted to Major of the 34th Regiment.

This company, throughout the varied and arduous services in which they have been engaged, have, on all occasions, acquitted themselves with distinguished honor, and, in the future, they will not be found wanting in bravery, patient endurance and devotion to their country's cause in every trial to which the fortunes of war may subject them.