Chapter 17 -- continued

LIST OF MEMBERS, COMPANY E, EIGHTY-NINTH INDIANA REGIMENT.

Sergeants

Corporals

Musicians

Wagoner

Privates

[The † denotes those discharged.]

Recruits

Recapitulation

Company E was recruited in August 1862, and, on the 18th of that month left Jay for camp, having first accepted a bountiful farewell supper from the ladies. The next day they reached camp at Wabash, Indiana, Colonel John U. Pettit, commandant, where the following officers were unanimously elected: Captain, Joseph P. Winters, First Lieutenant, Royal Denney, Second Lieutenant, Levi James.

On the 26th they went to Indianapolis, where they received arms, uniforms, one month's wages, and twenty-five dollars of their bounty. They arrived in Louisville August 31st. Thus, in about twenty days, this full company had been recruited, armed, equipped and had arrived in Dixie, ready for active service which they were soon called upon to perform.

They reached Munfordsville, Kentucky, September 3rd, where they were stationed to guard the railroad bridge across Green River.

There were two small forts here, one above, the other below the bridge, between which a line of breastworks had been commenced, and Negroes were now at work upon them. The number of troops at this point now was twenty-five hundred. On the night of the 13th of September the troops were called out and stationed around the works. About daylight they were attacked by eight thousand Rebels, under Chalmers, when they were driven within their fortifications. The Rebels then charged that part of the fort where the 89th Regiment was stationed, but were driven back with heavy loss. After making another similarly unsuccessful attempt upon another part of the fortifications, the enemy withdrew, and, having obtained permission, spent the remainder of the day burying their dead and caring for the wounded. Our loss in killed and wounded was about forty, while that of the enemy was seven hundred.

Company E lost one man, Jonathan Cloud, seriously wounded. The next day our men received a reinforcement of two regiments and six pieces of artillery.

Chalmers' force proved to be only the advance of Bragg's great army, a part of which completely surrounded our small force, planting artillery on every hill lying around the fortifications. It was a useless waste of life to contend longer, and, on the morning of the 17th of September, the entire Federal force surrendered. It is notorious that General Buell, being near by with hi immense army, might easily have turned this disaster into a victory, but he failed to do it. These prisoners were immediately paroled and sent toward Buell's army. They went first to Bowling Green and thence to the Ohio River, at Brandenburg, from which place they came to Jeffersonville. During their march to the river they suffered much; hard marching and exposure had made many sick, and they had to live upon the country through which they were passing. At Indianapolis they were furloughed for twenty days, and all returned home, having been in the service less than six weeks. Wile at home, Lieutenant Denney was elected County Treasurer, to succeed J. P. Winters, who held that office when he entered the army.

On the 27th of October they returned to parole camp, at Indianapolis, where, on the 17th of November, just two months after their surrender, Governor Morton, in a speech, informed them that they had been exchanged.

On the 4th of December they took the cars for Cairo, Illinois, where they proceeded aboard the Ohio Belle, bound for Memphis, where they arrived December 8th, and camped one mile southeast of the city. They performed picket duty around the city until near the close of the month, when they were stationed in Fort Pickering, on the river just below the city, where they remained nearly one year - until October 18th, 1863. This long period of the history of this company, though checkered with many interesting incidents, such as visits from friends, journeys up and down the river as guards, etc., may, nevertheless, be characterized as very dull and monotonous.

On the 7th of April 1863, Captain J. P. Winters was honored with the appointment from General Veatch of Provost Marshal of Fort Pickering, which position he filled with much credit during his stay at the fort. During this absence of the Captain Lieutenant White commanded the company.

There was great joy in Company E when, October 18th, they were removed form the Fort to a beautiful camping ground on Poplar Street, east of Memphis, and again assigned to picket duty around the city. Here the boys declare the pleasantest part of their soldier life was spent. The duty was light; but above all the pure air and exercise they now enjoyed, so in contrast with their ling confinement in the Fort, brought back health and buoyancy of spirits to the men. But a soldier's comfort and ease is always of short duration. While here they participated in a victorious engagement against General Forrest, at Lafayette, and pursued him to Cold Water, Mississippi, returning to Memphis New Year's 1864. January 28th they left their beautiful camping ground, and boarded a steamer, in company with a small fleet starting to Vicksburg, where they arrived on the 30th instant. In February they accompanied the famous "Sherman Raid" through Mississippi, in which the railroads centering at Jackson and Canton were effectually destroyed. They reached Vicksburg again march 4th, having been absent about one month, during which they had traveled three hundred miles. In this expedition, so severely damaging to the Rebel cause as to give lasting honor to the men who participated in it, the soldiers saw some very hard times. The boys of Company E were unused to marching; their knapsacks were heavy; they seldom drew more than half rations, often not so much, and for two or three days, in the eastern part of the state, lived mostly upon parched corn. Nevertheless, they had pleasant weather and good roads, plenty of water and the privilege of confiscating whatever they found in the country fit to eat, and Company E knew as well how to use this privilege as any company in the expedition.

Six days after their return they set out - under command of General A. J. Smith - upon an expedition up Red River. On their way they halted at Semmesport, marched across the country, and after a hard fight captured Fort De Russey and three hundred prisoners, March 14th. On the 21st of the same month they were sent to Pine Hill, Louisiana, twenty miles from Alexandria, where they captured three hundred prisoners, four pieces of artillery, etc. They then returned to Red River, went on up to Pleasant Hill, where they participated in a severe battle on the 8th and 9th of April 1864, under General Banks. On the first day our forces were repulsed, but on the second day General Smith checked the Rebels and drove them back. The 89th made a charge, capturing one hundred prisoners. The loss of the regiment was six killed and forty-nine wounded - Company E one killed and five wounded. From this place, very strangely, a retreat was ordered by General Banks. Of this movement Captain Winters wrote in his diary as follows:

"Why General Banks ordered a retreat is a mystery to all. Here was the battle-field covered with the dead and wounded Rebels, neither of them taken care of. Here were thousands of small arms left on the field, sufficient to arm several thousand men, eleven pieces of artillery dismounted or disabled. This had been done by our men, but we must leave all for the Rebels to gather up again. Our own dead were not even buried. A thousand groans and ten thousand curses were hurled against Banks."

The army fell back to Grand Ecore and then to Alexandria, skirmishing almost constantly - reaching Alexandria April 26th, just one month after they left it for Shreveport. They continued their course down Red River till May 7th, when a severe engagement took place, in which the Rebels were defeated, Company E losing one mortally wounded. May 17th they reached Semmes port again, and the next day another battle was fought, in which the 89th lost seven killed and forty-four wounded - Company E two killed and two wounded. May 24th the regiment arrived at Vicksburg, where they camped till June 4th, when they started up the Mississippi. They reached Memphis June 9th 1864, since which time they have been engaged in the important raids of General Smith. The fortunes of war have rested heavily upon Company E, but in every battle and through all hardships they have exhibited true courage and fortitude. Their record is a highly honorable one, and will remain a monument to their memories.