Chapter 17 -- continued

COMPANY H, ONE-HUNDREDTH REGIMENT INDIANA VOLUNTEERS

Sergeants

Corporals

Musicians

Privates

Recapitulation

Company H was recruited in August 1862; left Portland September 9th; reported at Wabash when it organized by electing the following officers: Captain, John W. Headington; First Lieutenant, Gideon Rathbun; Second Lieutenant Stephen B. H. Shanks. They were mustered into the three years' service at Indianapolis on the 23rd of September. Early in October they were furloughed home for a few days. On the 11th of November they went by rail to Cairo; thence by steamboat to Memphis, where they joined Grant's army and accompanied him on his grand expedition through Mississippi in the fall of 1862. They were as far South as Yocknapatafa. On their return they reached Grand Junction on January 10th 1863, in the vicinity of which they remained during the winter.

On the return march to Holly Springs the company began to feel the hardships of war. Their rations failed, and they lived as they could, some of the time on raw or parched corn, and but little of that. A member of the company (a lad of sixteen years) writes thus:

"Many murmur and say that they have nothing to eat and must starve. For my part I find it easy enough to get along - if one only takes a little care. I had an ear of corn for my breakfast and put another ear in my pocket for my supper."

In March 1863, they moved to Colliersville, Tennessee, where they remained, doing guard duty and scouting until June 5th, when they proceeded to Vicksburg and joined the grand siege of that city. After its surrender they went with the force, which drove the Rebel Johnston from Jackson, Mississippi.

They spent nearly three months in camp on Bib Black River, and late in September proceeded up the river to Memphis, thence by land through Northern Mississippi and Alabama to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The march from Memphis to Chattanooga was long and severe, occupying forty days, the distance being about three hundred miles. The men endured the trip pretty well, however, many of them even gaining in health and strength during the long and tiresome journey. On Lookout Mountain, and in the region overlooking and threatening Chattanooga and Grant's gallant army, lay Bragg's Rebel hosts. Hardly had Sherman's brave troops taken a little rest until the combined forces made a fierce and persistent attack on the enemy. Up the heights of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain the resistless heroes charged, killed and captured great numbers and drove the rest in confusion for many miles into Georgia. In this fierce battle of three days Company H took an active and honorable part, in which they lost two killed and eleven wounded, mostly severely, including both Lieutenants. The number engaged was thirty-two, including officers. The standard bearer was shot down. Private J. C. Hawkins seized the falling banner, waved it defiantly to the foe, rallied the wavering columns, and bore it triumphantly to the end of the fight. For this and other gallant conduct he was publicly complimented, and the officers of the regiment, through Chaplain Brouse, presented to him an officers uniform.

On the 26th of November they started in pursuit of the retreating Rebels, and continued as far as Graysville, Georgia, where they burned a large mill, and tore up and destroyed the railroad track and bridges. They were then selected as part of the force to march to the relief of Knoxville. In that expedition of more than three weeks the men marched day after day, sometimes till midnight, half naked, bare-footed, without rations or cooking utensils, yet almost without a murmur. Arriving at Maysville, they learned that the Rebels had run, and they returned by way of Chattanooga and Bridgeport, to Scottsboro, Alabama, where they arrived December 27th 1863.

The march to the relief of Knoxville was one of peculiar and excessive hardships. In the battle of Missionary Ridge, and the subsequent pursuit, occupying five days, the company had left or thrown away clothes, equipage, etc., and they had almost no blankets, tents, overcoats, or cooking utensils. Some melted their canteens apart, and used them to bake bread upon. They subsisted on what they could obtain by the way, which was insufficient to satisfy their hunger, and though it was December, many were bare-footed and without blankets; yet the brave and noble men bore these hardships even with cheerfulness. The following letter, written to the church of which the writer was a member shows the sprit of some of these soldiers:

Battlefield near Jackson Mississippi,

July 12th, 1864 - Sabbath morning.

Dear Brethren: -- I cannot but contrast the differences between our situations at this moment. You are preparing to worship God in your little church, and to listen to the words of "Peace on earth and good will to men," while I, your brother, am lying close to a trembling earth, made so by the whizzing of balls and shells aimed for our destruction! You no doubt will be interested in the character of my reflections and feelings in the circumstances.

After singing "The Lord my Shepherd is," "From every stormy wind that blows," and "On the mountain top appearing," I committed myself, my family, my brethren and my country to God's keeping. The result is a calmness and resignation that is almost surprising to myself. How far I shall be able to maintain this state of feeling of course I cannot tell, but I trust that I shall be enabled to find strength in the promise, "The Lord is a present help in every time of need," and "As thy day is, so shall thy strength be;" and if not a sparrow falls to the ground without our Heavenly Father, why need I be afraid?

Now, brethren, as it regards the principles we have contended for: In the face of death I believe they are right! I have lived by them and stood up for them in life; and if it pleases God that I should now die, I shall die with the full confidence that piety to God and humanity to man are the sum and substance of Christ's holy religion. I exhort you, therefore, to stand fast by them - "Stand up for Jesus!" and though we may always be unpopular among men, yet "it pays" to have the consciousness that all is well when there is danger in every step, and one looks death square in the face. (We are looking every moment for an order to charge.)

Farewell. May the peace of God, that passeth all understanding, be with you to the end.

Your brother,

Early in January 1864, the regiment was again set to guarding railroads, and continued until May 1st, when it joined the grand army now before Atlanta. In this campaign it has participated in engagements at Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church and Kennesaw Mountain, and several have been wounded. Their losses have been heavy throughout the war. In sixteen different places and seven different states, their "dead ones brave" are lying. The battle-scared veterans of Company H have made a record, which while they live will be their honor, and when they die will be their glorious epitaph.