FIRST AT VICKSBURG
Captain Washington W. Gardner, an honored and much respected resident of Rock Rapids, Iowa, was born October 2, 1839, at Howard, Center county, Pennsylvania, a son of Samuel and Nancy (Tipton) Gardner. The father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, followed the vocation of lumberman, and was also a farmer and miller.
Washington W. Gardner lived at home until May, 1855, when he accompanied his father and family in their removal to West Union, Iowa, and there assisted his father in the cultivation of the homestead until the breaking out of the Civil war in 1861. He attended the West Union high school, and taught school for a time. At school he had for instructors Principals J.P. Wallace and S.S. Ainsworth, noted teachers of their day, and when he graduated from the high school stood at the head of his class.
He was just ready to enter the Upper Iowa University, at Fayette, when his country called him, and he enlisted in Company C, First Battalion Thirteenth United States Regular Infantry, with headquarters then at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
He enlisted at Dubuque, and was appointed company clerk. After several months drilling, the regiment was sent to Alton, Illinois, to guard prisoners, then confined in the old state prison, and the result of General Grant's operations at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. He was made corporal of his company March 19,1862. The regiment was ordered August 1, 1862, to go forward to Newport, Kentucky, to meet a threatened attack by General Marmaduke. October 14, 1862, Corporal Gardner became First Sergeant Gardner. Soon after this the command joined General Sherman at Memphis, and was stationed at Fort Pickering, soon taking part in the campaign known in history as the Tallahatchie march. The first of the following December the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, and on the 20th day of that month started for Vicksburg under command of General Sherman, being transported on board the steamer"Forest Queen." It participated in the battle of Haines Bluff, on the Yazoo Bayou, fought December 28th and 29th, and assisted in the capture of Arkansas Post, January 10, 1863. After this battle the regiment went into camp at Millikin's Bend, Louisiana, but was sent into action in the Steel's Bayou, and had a hand in certain fierce fighting at that time. The regiment was again camped at Milliken's Bend, but took part in the running of the Vicksburg batteries by gunboats and transports, and in the demonstration again made against Haines' and Drumgolds Bluffs by way of the Yazoo river, made about the first of May. This was a movement made for the purpose of detaining the rebel troops in Vicksburg while General Grant was crossing the Mississippi river bellow Grand Gulf. Mr. Gardner was again under fire at the battle of Champion's Hill, May 17th, and at Black river the same day. On the next day he met the enemy outside the Vicksburg entrenchments, and the following day, May 19, 1863, was in that deadly charge made against the north face of Stockade Redan on the Grave Yard road.
After his return from the army Captain Gardner engaged in the milling business at Auburn, Fayette county, Iowa, where he remained until 1873 when he removed to Elgin, to engage in the grain business. In August, 1877, he set up in the same line at West Union, to which he added stock buying. In August, 1880, he left West Union and located at Rock Rapids, Lyon county, where he built the first grain warehouse on the line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad, and soon became a prominent dealer in all kinds of grain, fuel and farm machinery. He built elevators at Doon, Ash Creek, Lester and Larchwood. For years he has been an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a past commander of Dunlap Post, No.147, Department of Iowa. He has been quartermaster general of this department, and was aide de camp on the staff of Governor Larrabee with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Captain Gardner was married April 8, 1866, to Miss Emma Celestia Simar, "the girl he left behind when he went forward to fight the battles of his country." She was a daughter of Ephraim and Lurinda (Sweet) Simar. Her grandfather was born in Saxony, Germany, where he was educated as a priest, but not liking the profession, and disbelieving the creed, he refused to be ordained. This stand upon his part compelled him to leave his native land. He fled to the United States, where he lived and died in peace. He excelled as a musician.
The thirteenth regiment of the regular army has a long and brilliant history. At one time General Sherman was its commanding colonel, and General Sheridan was a captain of one of its companies. Captain Gardner and his wife are members of the Christian church at Rock Rapids, Iowa, and have been for years.
The following account is extracts from a letter written May 25, 1863 to Dr. Levi Fuller of West Union, IA. by my GGrandfather W.W. Gardner.
I believe the letter refers to the charge made in the battle of Vicksburg against the north face of Stockade Redan on the Grave Yard road. This portion of the letter was published in the West Union, IA. Gazette.
About three o'clock P.M. our advance, to which I have the honor of being attached, suddenly came upon the enemy posted in their rifle pits and fortifications. We were immediately employed as skirmishers (as they say it) "went in on our nerve" to feel the gentlemen slightly, but finding them and their position too strong to attack, we were ordered to fall back and form our lines of battle to make an attack the next day. The next day (19th) at precisely 2 o'clock, our men moved forward to where our pickets were posted on the top of a high hill commanding their works. Here we remained but a few minutes when the order was given to charge. In an instant our brave boys moved over the hill at the double quick through a most deadly cross fire of grape, canister shot, and shell but we heeded it not. Onward to the charge was the motto, and most gallantly did we charge. Our comrades were now falling around us at every step, Some killed instantly, others having an arm or a leg shot off, and wounds of all descriptions. As we were crossing a deep ravine we received a most terrible cross fire, the balls coming like a dense hail storm. It was here that Captain Washington fell mortally wounded while cheering on his men. Here too, fell our brave color sergeant; Sergeant James E. Brown of Howard County, he fell dead pierced by a ball through the head, no sooner had he fallen than the colors were hoisted by another who met with the same fate, until five different men were either killed or wounded with the colors. The fire at this moment being so terrible our men almost began to falter, but thank God they did not fall back an inch, but pressed forward to within 50 yards of the fort, here they had to take shelter behind fallen trees and stumps, to keep from being annihilated. We were now under fire from our own batteries, and infantry in our rear. But ten of our men got to the fort in safety, and I was one of that number; Our ten men could do nothing in such a place as this. While lying in the ditch that surrounds the fort, I expected every minute would be our last. The fire from our own men behind us was so terrible, that we dare not move for fear of being shot by them. Here we lay with our bayonets fixed and our guns at a ready expecting that the rebels would discover our retreat and raise up over their breastworks to shoot us. But fortunately for us they did not see us. We remained here until sundown when we made good our exit from our almost living grave. Had we remained there until dark we would have been taken prisoners. We now returned to our regiment which was lying on the side of the hill and at dark made our way off the battle field as best we could. Just after dark the rebels set a house on fire to keep us from getting our killed and wounded off the battlefield; the light from this house illuminated the field so much that we dare not try to get them away. Every Sergeant in our Company but myself was killed or wounded. 12 out of 33 were either killed or wounded, being more than one third. Men never stood a hotter fire since the year one. The 9th Iowa, I have been told, lost 110 men, none of the West Union boys were hurt. We lay all night near the battlefield and next morning, fell back to our original position. Their position is strong but it is bound to fall before one month rolls away. I am well and never got a scratch for which I am truly thankful to Almighty God. We lost nearly all our officers, we have not more than one officer for each Company left. Two Companies have none. I must close (Our flag had 55 bullet holes in it).
Burial: 03/30/1913, Rock Rapids, IA.
Fact 1: Have Death Certificate.
More About Washington Walker Gardner and Emma Celestia Simar:
Marriage: 04/08/1866, Auburn, IA.
Children of Washington Walker Gardner and Emma Celestia Simar are:
Harry B Gardner, b. 02/15/1862, d. 05/01/1867.
Frank Howard Gardner, b. 07/07/1870, d. 04/01/1888, Larchwood, IA.
Nellie Gardner, b. 04/01/1872, d. 01/16/1890, Rock Rapids, IA.
Fred Clinton Gardner, b. 10/04/1873, Elgin, IA, d. 10/29/1915, Rock Rapids, IA.
Lou Gardner, b. 08/07/1875, Auburn, IA, d. 08/22/1878, Auburn, IA.
+Donald Garfield Gardner, b. 10/03/1878, West Union, IA, d. 08/30/1920, Minot, ND.
Danial F Gardner, b. 12/1881, d. 11/15/1963, Emmetsburg, IA.
Kittie May Gardner, b. 01/09/1884, Rock Rapids, IA, d. 07/04/1952, Rock Rapids, IA.
Rock Rapids, Iowa, Thursday, April 3, 1913
CAPTAIN GARDNER DEAD
ROCK RAPIDS REPORTER
Old Time Resident of Rock Rapids Called Saturday - - Was a Veteran of Famous Vicksburg Campaign.
Captain W.W. Gardner, one of the best known of the old time residents of Rock Rapids, and one of the earliest of the grain dealers in this county, passed away at his home in this city Saturday morning at 5 o’clock following a long illness of kidney trouble and complications. The funeral was held from the late home Sunday afternoon, services being conducted by Rev. Amos Burr pastor of the Christian church. At Riverview cemetery members of the G.A.R. and W.R.C. were in charge, and burial was with military honors. The casket was draped with the national flag, a bugler blew “Taps”, and a parting salute was fired over the open grave. A large number of friends attended the service at the home and despite the most unpleasant weather; a large number accompanied the remains on their last journey.
Washington W. Gardner was born at Howard, Center County, Penn. On the 12th day of September, 1839. His father was engaged in the lumber business and Mr. Gardner’s earliest work was as his father’s assistant. In the year 1855 the family moved to West Union, Iowa, and engaged in farming. Here Mr. Gardner passed through the various grades and finally graduated with honors from the high school.
At the breaking out of the civil war he was one of the first to respond, enlisting in Co. C. 1st Battalion, 13th United States Regulars in the infantry branch of the service, and was assigned to Missouri, with Jefferson barracks as headquarters. With this regiment and later with the 100th U.S. Colored Infantry, he served faithfully throughout the whole period of the war. From Private he was promoted successively through the various grades until he was given a commission as captain. The regiment in which he served passed through some of the fiercest battles of the war, and the 13th regulars were accredited with being the first to plant their colors upon the ramparts of Vicksburg when the city capitulated on the 4th of July, 1863. So severe was the fighting about this city that in one charge the 13th lost forty-four per cent of the men in line. Throughout the whole period of Mr. Gardner’s service he was kept actively engaged and always at the front.
At the close of the war Captain Gardner returned to Auburn, Iowa, where he engaged in the milling business and where on the 8th day of April, 1866 he was united in marriage with Emma C. Simar. In 1873 he removed to Elgin and engaged in the grain business, and in the year 1880 he located in Rock Rapids, where he erected the first grain elevator on the line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad, later building elevators in other towns near this place. About twelve years ago he assumed charge of the city scale of this place, which position he occupied until his eyesight failed about the middle of last November. About the first of January of this present he was taken to his bed with the illness that culminated in his demise, and from that time he has gradually failed until the end came last Saturday morning, March 29th, when he passed peacefully away.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were the parents of eight children, four of whom are deceased. Those who remain besides the faithful wife and mother, are Clint, Dan and Kittie, of this place, and Don of Makoti, N.D.
SOURCE
At the close of the war Captain Gardner returned to Auburn, Iowa, where he engaged in the milling business and where on the 8th day of April, 1866 he was united in marriage with Emma C. Simar. In 1873 he removed to Elgin and engaged in the grain business, and in the year 1880 he located in Rock Rapids, where he erected the first grain elevator on the line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad, later building elevators in other towns near this place. About twelve years ago he assumed charge of the city scale of this place, which position he occupied until his eyesight failed about the middle of last November. About the first of January of this present he was taken to his bed with the illness that culminated in his demise, and from that time he has gradually failed until the end came last Saturday morning, March 29th, when he passed peacefully away.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were the parents of eight children, four of whom are deceased. Those who remain besides the faithful wife and mother, are Clint, Dan and Kittie, of this place, and Don of Makoti, N.D.
SOURCE
-
The First Honor at Vicksburg: The 1st Battalion, 13th U. S. InfantryBy Terrence J. WinschelVolume 2, Number 1 (1992) of Civil War Regiments
A Journal of the American Civil War
It was imperative for the administration in Washington to regain control of the lower Mississippi River, thereby opening that important avenue of commerce and enabling the rich agricultural produce of the Northwest to reach world markets. It would also split the Confederacy in two, server that vital supply route, achieve a major objective of the Anaconda Plan, and effectively seal the doom of Richmond.
To underscore the significance of the Mississippi River and Vicksburg, the following statements are offered as support:
William T. Sherman wrote: "To secure the safely of the navigation of the Mississippi River I would slay millions, On that point I am not only insane, but mad."
General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck wrote in similarly direct, albeit less eloquent terms, " In my opinion, the opening of the Mississippi River will be to us of more advantage that the capture of forth Richmonds."
And finally, Confederate President Jefferson Davis in writing to Lt. General John C. Pemberton after the fall of Vicksburg stated his view, "I thought and still think you did right to risk an army for the purpose of keeping command of even section of the Mississippi. Had you succeeded, none would have blamed, had you not made the attempt few would have denied your course."
After the fall of New Orleans in April of 1862, the Confederates began to fortify Vicksburg. The city’s geographical location made it ideal for defense. Equally important, existing rail lines which connected Vicksburg with Jackson and via Jackson, points elsewhere in the Confederacy, enabled the shipment of heavy ordnance to the "Hill City". It was not long before Vicksburg became as the Gibraltar of the Confederacy." The strategic significance of Vicksburg greatly increased after the fall of Memphis where the bluffs met the river. It was only a matter of time before war in all its horror centered on Vicksburg.
It was clear to President Lincoln and his advisors that large land and naval forces were required to "pocket" the key city of Vicksburg and regain control of the great river. The administration had already taken steps to augment the Regular Army by the addition of several regiments, and had assembled numerous volunteer forces for the drive down river from Cairo, Illinois. Of the mighty host thus assembled and destined for glory, one unit in particular would surpass all other attaining fame in the operations for Vicksburg, the 1st Battalion, 13th United States Infantry – the Regulars.
The 13th United States Infantry regiment was constituted by President Abraham Lincoln on May 3, 1861 4. The unit’s remarkable career, which began near St. Louis, Missouri, at Jefferson Barracks, continues today. During various drives to gain control of the Mississippi and its major tributaries, the 13th United States would see action at Chickasaw Bayou (December, 1862) and at Arkansas Post (January, 1863). It was, however, in the spring of 1863 that this unit established a reputation befitting its first commander, Col. William T. Sherman, and earned the distinction of "First at Vicksburg."
The year 1863 was ushered in with feverish activity as Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union Army of the Tennessee, seized upon Federal naval supremacy on the inland waters to transfer his forces from Memphis to Milliken’s Bend and Young’s Point, Louisiana, on the Mississippi River just north of and opposite Vicksburg. He also stationed troops farther to the north at Lake Providence, Louisiana. During the winter months, Federal forces stockpiled tremendous quantities of food, clothing, medicine, ammunition, and countless other items in preparation for the spring campaign aimed against Vicksburg. Grant also orchestrated a series of ill-fated bayou expeditions, the object of which was to reach the rear of Vicksburg. During this phase of the operations, the Regulars of the 1st Battalion, 13th U.S. Infantry participated in the nearly disastrous Steele’s Bayou Expedition.
By late March, the spring of 1863 came into bloom and the roads in the lower Mississippi Valley began to dry. After months of frustration and failure, Grant examined his options, three of which were discussed at army headquarters. The first was to launch an amphibious assault across the Mississippi River and storm the Vicksburg stronghold. The second was to pull back to Memphis and try the overland route once again. The third option was to march the army down the west side of the river, search for a favorable crossing point, and transfer the field of operations to the area south and eats of Vicksburg. In characteristic fashion, and with grim determination, Grant boldly opted for the march south. On March 29, Grant ordered Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand and his XIII Corps to open a road from Milliken's Bend to new Carthage on the Mississippi River below Vicksburg. The movement started on March 31, and thus the Vicksburg campaign began in earnest.
To divert Confederate Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton’s attention from his principal movement, Grant sent Sherman up the Yazoo River toward the Confederate’s northern flank, while his principal columns marched down the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River, first to Hard Times, then to Disharoon plantation, thirty-five miles below Vicksburg. To complete this initial movement, the Union fleet under command of R. Adm. David C. Porter passed below the Vicksburg batteries on the nights of April 16 and 22, and the batteries of Grand Gulf on the evening of the 29th. By the end of April, all was in readiness to cross the river and move on Vicksburg form the south.
The Regulars were commanded by the gallant Capt. Edward C. Washington, and attached to Col. Giles Smith’s 1stBrigade , Maj. Gen. Frank Blair’s 2nd Division, of Sherman’s XV Corps. The officers and men who comprised the 1stBattalion, 13th U.S.I., were eager for action and disappointed at being left behind to make a demonstration while the rest of the army moved to cross the Mississippi River. The demonstration which took place near Snyder’s Bluff on April 30-May 1 was less than impressive, and the men saw little activity. The Regulars were anxious to join in the more active operations. Yes, they were only further disappointed when Blair’s division was left to guard the supply bases in Louisiana, while Sherman's two remaining divisions had to join Grant.
On April 30-May 1, 1863, Grant hurled his army across the might river and onto Mississippi soil. A band aboard the flagship Benton struck up the "The Red, White and Blue" as Grant’s infantrymen came ashore. In the largest amphibious operation in American history up to that time, the Federal commander landed 22,000 men and began the inland campaign to capture Vicksburg. Once ashore, Grant’s forces pushed rapidly inland and march through the night. Ion the early morning hours of May 1, Confederate resistance was encountered west of Port Gibson, In a furious battle which raged throughout the day, Union solders fought with grim determination to secure their beach head on Mississippi soil, which Southern soldiers fought with equal determination to drive the invaders into the river. Late in the day, after hours of fierce fighting, the blue soldiers swept the Confederates from the field, firmly securing their beachhead on the Mississippi side of the river.
With the initiative firmly in hand, Grant marched his force to the northeast toward Jackson, capital of Mississippi and an important Confederate supply center. A share engagement was fought on May 12 near the village of Raymond, but Union forces won the day once again. Sherman’s corps. Less Blair’s division, joined their comrades in Mississippi. On May 11, Captain Washington’s men gave a rousing cheer as the crossed over the river from Hard Times to Grand Gulf. The stalwart men of the battalion, along with two of Blair's three brigades, pushed out of Grand Gulf early in the morning of May 12 escorting a large supply train consisting of 200 wagons. The weather was extremely warm and roads dusty, Water along the route was scarce and, in the intense heat, the soldiers suffered with parched throats. The cumbersome wagons slowed the mare to a crawl and the column was forced to make frequent halts. The line of march took the mend from Grand Gulf through Willow Springs, to Rocky Springs, Old Auburn and into Raymond where they arrived on May 15.
By the time Ed Washington and his regulars tramped into Raymond, Jackson had been captured and was being effectively neutralized by the other units of Sherman’s corps. Grant’s main columns were pursuing west with a view of concentrating at Edwards Station, mid-way between Vicksburg and the rail center of Jackson. Confederate force, however, under Pembertons’s personal command, were in Edwards Station and a major battle appeared eminent.
Early on the morning of May 16, Grant was apprised of Pemberton’s whereabouts by two civilian employees of the Southern railroad. Reacting quickly to the intelligence, the Union commander pushed his columns over three parallel roads covering a broad front, yet maintaining supporting distance. The Regulars moved out of Raymond at sunrise and took up the line of march on the direct road to Edwards Stations. By mid-morning the rugged footsoldiers of the battalion had covered nine miles when they heard the sound of firing to there front. Pemberton and his army were making a stand near Baker's Creek, the salient point of the line resting on Champion Hill. Although the field was bitterly contested as the battle swayed back and forth, the Regulars saw but little action and suffered no casualties. In this, the bloodiest action of the Vicksburg campaign, Grants numerical superiority prevailed and the Confederates were driven from the field.
With little rest, the Regulars were on the road at daylight on the 17th. Brigade commander Col. Giles smith reported that "the ground everywhere evidencing the haste with which the retreat of the enemy had been made, it being strewn with ammunition, muskets, wagons, caissons, and in a field near the road, eleven pieces of artillery were found, which had been abandoned by the enemy." The soldiers pushed forward with confidence and by noon were on the banks of the Big Black River at Bridgeport.
The Regulars were greeted by the sharp crack of musketry which announced the presence of Confederate sharpshooters on the opposite bank. Skirmishers were immediately deployed and returned fire. Artillery was also brought froward and sprayed the opposite bank with canister. In quick order, the Southerners were compelled to surrender and the river cleared for crossing. By nightfall, a pontoon bridge was laid and Blair’s division went safely across. The 1st Battalion, 13th U.S.I., was among the first units to cross and the men bivouacked two miles east of the river on the plantation of Mary Brooks.
- Earlier that day, farther to the south, the greyclad columns were in full retreat toward Vicksburg and its strong fortifications. The Confederates stopped in an effort to hold the bridges over the Big Black River to await Maj. Gen. William W. Loring’s Division which had been cut off during the retreat from Champion Hill. Grant, however, moved with great speed. On May 17, Brig. Gen. Michael Lawler’s brigade of McClernand’s XIII Corps stormed the Confederate works and compelled the fleeing Southerners to burn the bridges. Pemberton’s army, badly shaken, ran for the cover of the Vicksburg defenses.
The citizens of Vicksburg watched in fear as the shattered remnants of Pemberton’s army poured into the city on that fateful day. Mrs. Emma Balfour, wife of the prominent Vicksburg physician, stood in her doorway as the demoralized mass of humanity filled the streets. She later wrote with trepidation, "I hope never to witness again such a scene which enveloped her, "From twelve o’clock until late in the night the streets and roads were jammed with wagons, cannons, horses, men, mules, stock, sheep, everything you can imagine that appertains to an army being brought hurriedly within the intrenchment." She confided to here diary the fears of many in Vicksburg, "What is to become of all the living things in this place…God only knows."
On through the long day and into the evening marched the weary soldiers of Pemberton’s army. Singly, or in small groups with no sense of order or discipline, the men filed into the rifle-pits and trenches to meet Grant’s rapidly approaching army. A medley of sounds filled the night air as the confederates readied their defenses: officers shouted orders, teamsters whipped their animals and dragged artillery into position, and, as the soldiers worked with picks and shovels, some men cursed while others prayed. Throughout the night, the ringing of axes was constant as additional trees were felled to strengthen fortifications, clear fields of fire, and form abates in their front. Work continued at a feverish pace and, by sunrise, the city was in a good state of defense.
The familiar sound of reveille shattered the morning stillness at an early hour on the 18th, and the Regulars were on the road at daybreak. Although the day was warm, Captain Washington and his battalion covered nine miles by 9:30 am, and had reached the junction of the Bridgeport and Benton roads. A halt was made for the troops to rest and eat their rations. Fires were started and the men enjoyed a relaxing cup of coffee.
With buoyant spirits, the troops eagerly resumed the march early in the afternoon. As the Northerners neared Vicksburg, Companies A (Capt. Charles Ewing) and C (Capt. Frank Muhlenberg) of the 13th U.S. Infantry were deployed as skirmishers and felt for the Confederate rear guard. A member of Company C later wrote, "we went in on our nerve to feel the gentlemen slightly." Contact was made two miles from the city along the Graveyard Road and continued to within 100 yards of the Vicksburg defenses, when pursuit was called off. Later that same night the Regulars were again sent forward to relieve the pickets of Col. Thomas Kilby Smiths’s brigade, and there they remained till early morning.
There was little sleep that night as orders were carried from army headquarters to the various units and disposition made for the assault planned for the 19th. Grant believed that a quick and powerful assault would give him possession of the fortress city, but perhaps he moved too quickly, his army was strung out between Vicksburg and the Big Black River. Consequently, when the time of the attack arrived, Sherman’s corps, alone, was in proper position.
The morning of May 19 brought the sharp crack of musketry between pickets and sharpshooters. The Regular boiled their coffee and ate their hardtack, while artillery pieces were wheeled into position and brought to bear on the Confederate works less than a quarter mile away. The people and the defenders of Vicksburg were about to experience war in all its horror.
Pemberton’s defense line ran for more than eight miles and formed a huge semicircle around the city with both flanks resting on the river. The formidable Confederate defenses were a series of large earth works connected by rifle-pits and parapets dotted by embrasures for artillery. Northeast of Vicksburg, guarding the Graveyard Road approach to the city, was the 27th Louisiana Lunette, and just south of the lunette and the road was the Stockade Redan. Sherman’s task was to reduce these strongholds and open the roadway to Vicksburg.
The XV Corps was formed with Blair’s division on the left in the following order: Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith’s 2ndBrigade on the left, astride the Graveyard Road; Col. Giles Smith’s 1st Brigade in the center; and Brig. Gen. Hugh Ewing’s 3rd Brigade on the right. After the lines were formed, the troops were marched to the crest of a hill, ordered "in place rest," and there the sturdy veterans under Ed Washington waited for the artillery to open on the Confederate works.
To soften up Pemberton’s lines, Grant ordered an artillery bombardment to precede the attack of his infantry. Accordingly, at 9 a.m., the cannons opened a sporadic fire to get the proper range, then maintained a vigorous fire for hours. The ground shook as the artillerymen hurled solid shot and shell at the city’s defenses, and the thick clouds of smoke which rose from the guns shrouded the fields, making it virtually impossible to see. The Confederates crouched behind their defenses and made little reply to the fire of Wood’s, Barrette’s and Hart’s Illinois batteries.
As the artillery continued its fire, the Regulars made final preparations for the assault. The infantrymen steadied their nerves, placed bayonets on tier rifles, and dressed their lines. Giles Smith’s brigade was arrayed with the Sixth Missouri on the right, five companies of the 113th Illinois, right center, 116th Illinois left center, seven companies of the First battalion, 13th United States Infantry on the left, and the Eighth Missouri in reserve.
At 2 p.m., all the artillery pieces in position fired three volleys in rapid succession, the signal for the charge. Capt. Edward Washington, commander of the 13th U.S.I., turned to his men, drew his sword, and gave the commands in quick order: "Attention, Shoulder Arms. Battalion Forward, Charge Bayonets, Double Quick-March." "In an instant," wrote a member of the battalion, "our brave boys moved over the hill at the double quick through a most deadly cross fire of grape, canister shot, and shell but we heeded it not." The Regulars, 250-strong, went forward in splendid array with their bright colored banners snapping in the breeze above them. The regimental standard was carried by Sgt. Robert M. Nelson of Company B, and the national colors by Sgt. James E. Brown of Company C. Both men were determined to plant their colors atop the parapets of Vicksburg.
Once over the crest, the Confederate works came into view, looming ominously against the skyline. Between the surging blue tide and the city’s defenses, the terrain was difficult to traverse, being a deep, steep ravine filled with obstruction designed to disrupt the advancing lines. Sgt. Washington W. Garner of Company C described the scene by writing that there were "fallen tree tops facing us, many of the limbs sharpened, and a wire strung to strike us about the knees or below and throw us on those sharpened limbs." The advance would carry them through a cornfield beyond which the men also had to contend with tree stumps, a dense growth of brush and cane, holes covered with mats of dried grass, several fences and, off to the right, a large frame house and outbuildings.
The entrenched Southerners were ready. Inside the Stockade Redan was the veteran 36th Mississippi under Col. W.W. Witherspoon, anchoring the left of Brig. Gen. Louis Hebert’s Brigade. About 2 p.m., responding to the massing of Federal troops opposite the 27th Louisiana Lunette and the Stockade Redan complexes and the ensuing advance, Col. Francis M. Cockrell sent his Missouri Brigade forward to bolster the defenses. Col. A. C. Riley’s 1st Missouri and Col. James McCown’s 5th Missouri quickly joined the Mississippians in the Redan and among the poplar stockade. The 3rd Missouri, under Col. W.R. Gause, fell in behind, ready to reinforce weak spots in this sector of the Confederate defenses.
Shortly after the advance started, Confederate artillery and small-arms fire began taking its toll, ripping into the advancing lines and tearing gaps that could not be filled. Casualties mounted at an alarming rate, especially among the color guard. Cpl. Noble Warwick was the first of the color guard to fall, being hit "just after passing over the crest." As he lay upon the ground in pain, Warwick watched his comrades advance. Years later he wrote, "Corporal Slate of G Co. was the next wounded of the Color Guard shot through both thighs." In the hail, of fire, Sergeant Brown and the national colors were the nest to fall. A member of the battalion who witnessed the colors drop to the ground noted that the assault , Cpls. Daniel Payne and Edward Maher, both of Company C, would also be killed while carrying the national standard, along with fourteen others killed or wounded.
As the charge of the Regulars swept through the cornfield north of Graveyard Road, the first line of obstructions was reached. The tangled mass of cane, brush, and trees presented an "an almost impassable" barrier and disrupted the advancing blue lines 50 yards from their starting point. The advance continued as the Union troops filtered through the abatis one-by-one or in small groups, but all order was lost.
The Confederate fire was devastating and pinned down several units. So that the advance might continue, the Eighth Missouri was halted at the top of the ravine and blazed away at the defenders of Vicksburg. Under this protective fire, the brigade pushed forward and sought shelter at the bottom of the ravine. Captain Washington led his men down the steep ravine to the next line of obstructions. Gardner recalled, "Our comrades were now falling around us at every step, some killed instantly, others having an arm or leg shot off, and wounds of all descriptions." Casualties became heavy and the regimental surgeon set up a temporary hospital between the lines in the shelter of the ravine.
Not only was Giles Smith’s attack faltering, but to his left, Kilby Smith’s brigade was also having a difficult time. His five regiments formed in two lines and guiding on the Graveyard Road, swept toward Stockade Redan. A deadly crossfire raked their lines and brought most of the bluecoats to a halt far short of their objective with their lines bleeding and torn.
With momentum waning, brigade regimental and company commanders attempted to rally and reform their men. It proved a difficult task-because of the intensity of the Confederate fire and the rough terrain, alignments had been lost. As confusion spread, regiments became intermixed. To get the men moving again, Captain Washington and the color-bearers advanced to the rail fence at the base of the slope. As the line resumed its forward movement, the fearless Washington was cut down while scaling the fence. Seeing the Captain fall, Sergeant Nelson immediately ran to his side and asked if there was anything he could do for him. Realizing that his wound was mortal, Washington slowly unfastened his sword belt, took his pocketbook and watch, and asked that Nelson give them to the next officer in command.
In spite of Washington’s loss, the Regulars continued their determined advance up the hill toward the north face of Stockade Redan. On hands and knees the men clawed their way up the hillside. As they neared the confederate works, the men came under the fire of their own infantry and artillery. Still, they continued. Pvt. Charles H. Smart of Company C recalled, as he climbed the hill, "I saw John A. Phelan, a private of Company C, raise his gun two or three times and endeavor to draw a bead on some object in our rear." When asked what he was trying to do, Phelan replied: "There is a fellow back there on the hill, who loads his gun, sticks it over the log behind which he is concealed and fires away, regardless of where his shot takes effect, and if he puts his head above that log I’ll kill him."
A handful of Federals cleared the rail fence along the Graveyard road. This was the final obstruction between them and the Confederate line, and they clambered up the last stretch of hill. A private carrying the national flag was shot through the head, and the colors fell once more. Captain Ewing seized the standard and , waving it defiantly above him to inspire the men, moved forward.
Within twenty-five yards of the Redan, Ewing was overcome by exhaustion and sat on a stump to catch his breath. The young captain, however, continued to wave the flag as the blue tide swept up the hill. Finally at the top, several men made a dash for the ditch fronting the Confederate works, one of them being Sergeant Nelson with the regimental colors. Among those swarming over the top and the first into the ditch was Sergeant Gardner of Company C. Nelson was immediately behind him and thrust the flagstaff into the outer wall of Stockade Redan. The regimental standard of the Thirteenth U.S. Infantry was the first Northern flag planted on the exterior slope of the works surrounding Vicksburg.
While standing on the stump urging his men forward, Captain Ewing had his right thumb shot off and the "Stars and Stripes" fell to the ground. A member of the battalion who stood nearby grasped the flag, jumped into the ditch, and planted the standard on the parapet. The Regulars had carried their colors to the enemy’s works and there they proudly waved side by side in the bright afternoon sun.
Once in the ditch, the Federals began digging holes in the bank with their bayonets for the purpose of scaling the bastion’s exterior slope and waited for reinforcements. At that moment, as the remainder of the 1st Brigade crept toward Stockade Redan, Kilby Smith’s brigade resumed its advance. Down the Graveyard Road surged men from Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. A few men from the 83rd Indiana and the 127th Illinois also reached the ditch and planted their flags. The majority of the brigade, however, was pinned down less than 50 yards from the Confederate works and, at such close range, the lethal exchange of fire continued.
As the men of the 1st and 2nd Brigades struggled up the hill on hands and knees toward the ditch, Brig. General Hugh Ewing’s 3rd Brigade came into position for the assault. With a fury, he let loose his four regiments on the 27th Louisiana Lunette. Several times his men surged through the ravine and up the hill, only to be stopped within 30 yards of their goal, suffering frightful losses. Unable to reach their goal, his men sought shelter in the base of the ravine.
The Federal battle lines had been stopped. Heavy casualties made another assault by Blair’s division impractical without support. Lt. Justus A. Boies of Company H was sent to the rear to ask Sherman for orders and reinforcements. En route, an artillery projectile severed a leg and he soon died.
With no assistance in sight, the brigades began to withdraw. The handful of men in the ditch were left to fend for themselves in what one of the Regulars termed a "living grave." Sergeant Gardner of Company C noted with anguish, "I expected every minute would be our least." In the heat of battle, Private Smart of Company C recalled seeing "a Confederate musket held in a vertical position behind the Redan." Years later he wrote:
Resting my musket on the fence at full cock and pointed at the Confederate gun, I picked up a piece of a limb of a tree about a foot long and an inch and half in diameter and threw it at the musket, striking it fair and square. As it did so, the man holding the musket raised up in full sight, when I pressed the trigger of my Springfield. The Confederate threw up both hands falling backwards.In addition to the deadly musketry, hand grenades were tossed back and forth between the men behind the works and those in the ditch. Confederate demands for surrender were met by the sharp crack of a musket. A lieutenant of the battalion, who made it to the ditch, was bold enough to grab the national colors and hold it as high as he could. The spearhead was shot off and the tassels and ribbons fell to the ground. One Southerner even attempted unsuccessfully to seize and pull in the colors.
Realizing that it was useless to scale the Redan, the men in the ditch decide to wait until the sun set then withdraw as best they could under cover of darkness. As soon as it was dark, the men mounted the bank behind them on the north side of the Redan, and scrambled down into the ravine. On his way back, Pvt. James Kephardt of Company C spotted a wounded officer and carried him to the rear and medical treatment. For his action, Kephardt was awarded the Medal of Honor.
As darkness blanketed the fields, the sounds of battle slowly faded into silence, only to be replaced by the cries of the wounded. Dead and wounded were thickly strewn among the stalks of corn, in the ravines and gullies, and on the slope leading into Stockade Redan. Casualties had been high, especially in Giles Smith's brigade. The Regulars alone lost 7 out of 12 officers and 64 enlisted men for a total of 71 out of 250 engaged.
Under cover of darkness, several men of Blair's Division returned to the bloodstained fields to search for killed and wounded comrades. Confederates also came out of their works to gather in the Union wounded that were close to their lines. One of the Federals thus seized was Capt. Edward Washington. Pvt. J.V. Kearns of Company H recalled that, as his party neared the enemy's works, the Confederates called out that they had Captain Washington in their hands and that he was dying.
To prevent further removal of the Union wounded by their comrades, a detachment of Confederates set the frame house between the lines on fire. The light from this blaze burned for hours and exposed the fields and hollows for all to see. Nonetheless, search parties continued their work and brought in several privates and Lt. Joseph L. Hour of Company D.
The search, however, failed to locate the national colors and led the Regulars to believe that the cherished banner had been captured. The regimental and national colors were borne from the enemy's works by Sergeants Nelson and Medley, respectively. Nelson arrived safely back in camp with 4 bullet holes in his clothes, 18 bullet holes in the flag, and 2 pieces of canister and 1 mini ball in the staff. Medley, however, did not make it back. Around 3 a.m., as the men sat by their campfires, reflecting on the days events, an exhausted private, Patrick Maher, staggered into camp limping slightly from a leg wound and dragging the national colors behind him. Upon examination, the flag was found to contain 56 bullet holes and the staff had been broken in three parts; ample support for Sergeant Gardener's statement that, "men never stood hotter fire."
Next day, May 20, the regiment was drawn up in line once more. As General Sherman and his staff rode by, the corps commander called to Capt. Charles C. Smith, now in command of the battalion. With sadness in his voice, Sherman asked, "Is that all that was left of the 13th? Are either of the color Sergeants saved?" "Yes General," was the captain's response, "Sergeant Nelson." Sherman answered, "Well, we can give him something better," and Nelson was made quartermaster sergeant.
The corps commander gave his former command "something better" as General Orders No. 64 issued on August 15, 1863, from department headquarters read:
The board finds the Thirteenth United States Infantry entitled to the first honor at Vicksburg, having in a body planted and maintained its colors on the parapet with a loss of 43.3/10's per cent including the gallant Commander Washington who died at the parapet. Its conduct and loss the board, after a careful examination believe unequaled in the army and respectfully ask the General commanding the department to allow it the inscription awarded "First at Vicksburg."
Capt. Frank Muhlenberg of Company C later wrote with firm conviction that, "No men did more when they faced shot and shell that memorable afternoon than did the officers and men of that gallant Battalion, and its sacrifices were most glorious and heroic to protect the country for which they fought." So proud were the men of their achievement and the singular honor awarded, that they adopted is as their unit motto. And, to this day, men of the 13th U.S.I. proudly wear inscribed on their shoulder patches the honor awarded: "First at Vicksburg."
SOURCEThe Fall of Vicksburg
It had been a long campaign–as far back as October 1862, Grant had begun his attempt to reduce the stronghold. His first plan envisaged an advance along the Mississippi Central Railroad combined with a water movement against Chickasaw Bluffs by Major General William T. Sherman. The overland campaign was stopped by 3,500 Confederate cavalrymen under Major General Earl Van Dorn, who captured Grant’s advanced base at Holly Springs, Mississippi, December 20-25, while Nathan B. Forrest’s cavalry destroyed 60 miles of railroad north of Jackson, Tenn. Sherman failed, also, at Chickasaw Bluffs.
George F. Daniel, 53d Regiment Illinois Volunteers, described the affair at Holly Springs: ‘Our regiment was left here to guard the railroad and 10,000 Secesh came in and took them prisoners and paroled them and burnt a part of the town and destroyed a large supply of provisions and clothing and left.’
Undaunted by these failures Grant attempted other stratagems. Four expeditions through the Bayous (February to April 1863) were unsuccessful. On March 29, 1863, he began the campaign that was to end in success, moving his army to the south of Vicksburg. Admiral D. D. Porter’s fleet ran the Vicksburg batteries with little damage. Grant advanced rapidly, cutting loose from his base and placing his army between the two Confederate forces opposing him. So successful was he that by May 19 he had Vicksburg surrounded. A general assault on that day failed. Another attempt on May 22 was beaten back.
Orderly Sergeant W. W. Gardner of Company C, 1st Battalion 13th U. S. Infantry, in a letter written on May 25, 1863, to Dr. Levi Fuller of West Union, Iowa, tells of the attack:
‘…The order was given to charge. In an instant our brave boys moved over the hill at the double quick through a most deadly cross fire of grape, canister shot, and shell but we heeded it not….
‘As we were crossing a deep ravine we received a most terrible cross fire, the balls coming like a dense hail storm. It was here that Captain Washington fell mortally wounded while cheering on his men. Here, too, fell our brave Color Sergeant, Sergeant James E. Brown of Howard County; he fell dead pierced by a ball through the head. No sooner had he fallen than the colors were hoisted by another who met with the same fate, until five different men were either killed or wounded with the colors. The fire at this moment being so terrible our men almost began to falter, but thank God they did not fall back an inch, but pressed forward to within 50 yards of the fort; here they had to take shelter behind fallen trees and stumps, to keep from being annihilated. We were now under fire from our own batteries, and infantry in our rear. But ten of our men got to the fort in safety, and I was one of that number; our ten men could do nothing in such a place as this. While lying in the ditch that surrounds the fort, I expected every minute would be our last. The fire from our own men behind us was so terrible, that we dared not move for fear of being shot by them. Here we lay with our bayonets fixed and our guns at a ready expecting that the rebels would discover our retreat and raise up over their breastworks to shoot us. But fortunately for us they did not see us. We remained here until sundown when we made good our exit from our almost living grave. Had we remained there until dark we would have been taken prisoners. We now returned to our regiment, which was lying on the side of the hill and at dark made our way off the battle field as best we could.’- Mrs. W. W. Lord, who was a resident of Vicksburg, saw this repulse in a different light:
‘…Towards evening the glorious news was brought in that in three tremendous charges by the enemy they had been repulsed with terrific slaughter. Then began the reincarnation of our army-men who had been gloomy and desponding men once more stood erect and hurled defiance at the foe.’
The pinch of the siege soon began to be felt. On May 28 another lady of Vicksburg (of Union sympathy) wrote in her diary:
‘I am so tired of corn-bread, which I never liked, that I eat it with tears in my eyes…. I send five dollars to market each morning and it buys a small piece of mule-meat. Rice and milk is my main food; I can’t eat the mule meat.’
The siege was carried on with increasing intensity until surrender of the doomed fortress on July 4. Jubilantly, Seth J. Wells, Company K, 17th Illinois Regiment, wrote:
‘Hail Columbia, Happy Land! Vicksburg is ours! General rejoicing along the line. Gen. Grant and his cavalry are to go in, and capitulation commences. Thus ends one of the most brilliant campaigns the world has known since the days of Austerlitz. No one but Napoleon has equalled it. It has resulted in the complete destruction of the Rebel army at Vicksburg. They have lost without doubt about forty thousand men. The boys are beginning to think Grant is a Napoleon.
‘We passed a number of Confeds. They are as good a looking set of Reb. Troops as we have seen. Most of them are glad they have surrendered. Only a few look sober and sullen.’
Mrs. Lord, naturally, had different reactions:
‘…About _ past 8 o’clock, before I was dressed, Mr. Lord came into the cave, pale as death and with such a look of agony on his face, as I would wish never o see again, and said ‘Maggie, take the children home directly; the town is surrendered, and the Yankee army will enter at 10 o’clock.’ Judge my feelings, even now, after two years of trial and disappointed hopes, the tears will come and my heart sinks within me with sorrow. I was speechless with grief, no one spoke, even the poor children were silent…. As I started up the hill…the tears began to flow and all the weary way home, I wept incessantly meeting first one group of soldiers and then another many of them with tears streaming down their faces….
‘You can imagine our feelings when the U. S. army entered, their banners flying and their hateful tunes sounding in our ears. Every house was closed and every house filled with weeping inmates and mourning hearts. You may be sure none of us raised our eyes to see the flag of the enemy in the place where our own had so proudly and so defiantly waved so long.’
Chauncey H. Cooke, 24th Wisconsin Infantry, wrote in a letter to his brother:
‘The late battles won by the Army of the Potomac, along with the victory over Pemberton here at Vicksburg somehow makes us boys feel that the end of the war is near…. Pemberton had nearly 30 thousand. All surrendered to Grant on the 4th of this month. And they were glad to be prisoners and paroled to go to their homes. They cursed the war….’
One Vicksburg lady, although Unionist in sentiment had compassion for the Confederates as she penned:
‘What a contrast to the suffering creatures we had seen so long were these stalwart, well-fed men, so splendidly set up and accoutered. Sleek horses, polished arms, bright plumes–this was the pride and panopoly of war. Civilization, discipline, and order seemed to enter with the measured tramp of those marching columns; and the heart turned with throbs of added pity to the worn men in gray, who were being blindly dashed against this embodiment of modern power.’
But Mrs. Lord confided sorrowfully:
‘…How sad those two weeks were to see our brave soldiers without arms, paroled and passing sadly out of the place they had so long and so bravely defended. To feel for ourselves that the time had come when honor and duty required that we should leave the happy home and kind friends of 12 years and go out, saddened and homeless with our five children.’
Together with Gettysburg, Vicksburg sounded the death knell of the Confederacy. When Port Hudson surrendered on July 9 the South was cut in half and the Mississippi River was opened to commerce. Grant’s army thus was freed for further operations.
This article originally appeared in the July 1962 issue of Civil War Times Illustrated.
For more great articles, be sure to subscribe to Civil War Times magazine today!
SOURCE
Transcript of Vicksburg Falls
Vicksburg Union Leader Map 1 Major Troop movements Map 2 Location of Vicksburg Falls Causes of Vicksburg Effects of Vicksburg Vicksburg Written Sources Written Source 1 Becca G. Davis Written Source 2 Savannah Lono Written Source 3 Mike Moe Written Source 4 Jake Verbonich '…The order was given to charge. In an instant our brave boys moved over the hill at the double quick through a most deadly cross fire of grape, canister shot, and shell but we heeded it not….
'As we were crossing a deep ravine we received a most terrible cross fire, the balls coming like a dense hail storm. It was here that Captain Washington fell mortally wounded while cheering on his men. Here, too, fell our brave Color Sergeant, Sergeant James E. Brown of Howard County; he fell dead pierced by a ball through the head. No sooner had he fallen than the colors were hoisted by another who met with the same fate, until five different men were either killed or wounded with the colors. The fire at this moment being so terrible our men almost began to falter, but thank God they did not fall back an inch, but pressed forward to within 50 yards of the fort; here they had to take shelter behind fallen trees and stumps, to keep from being annihilated. We were now under fire from our own batteries, and infantry in our rear. But ten of our men got to the fort in safety, and I was one of that number; our ten men could do nothing in such a place as this. While lying in the ditch that surrounds the fort, I expected every minute would be our last. The fire from our own men behind us was so terrible, that we dared not move for fear of being shot by them. Here we lay with our bayonets fixed and our guns at a ready expecting that the rebels would discover our retreat and raise up over their breastworks to shoot us. But fortunately for us they did not see us. We remained here until sundown when we made good our exit from our almost living grave. Had we remained there until dark we would have been taken prisoners. We now returned to our regiment, which was lying on the side of the hill and at dark made our way off the battle field as best we could.'
1.Letter from Orderly Sergeant W. W. Gardner of Company C, 1st Battalion 13th U. S. Infantry, in a letter written on May 25, 1863, to Dr. Levi Fuller of West Union, Iowa, tells of the attack:
2.Sergeant Gardner and his troops were under intense battle. Many men were wounded or Killed Captain Washington was seriously wounded and sergeant James E. Brown was Killed. They were attacked from behind by their own men. Vicksburg Oct. 26th 1863
SOURCE
THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.*BY LIEUTENANT JAMES B. GOE, ADJUTANT 13TH U. S. INFANTRY.
Historical Sketches of Staff and Line With Portraits of Generals-in-Chief
THE 13th United States Infantry was organized by direction of the President, May 14, 1861, confirmed by Act of Congress, July 19, 1861; and reorganized by Act of Congress, July 28, 1866.
Lieutenant Colonel Sidney Burbank assumed command of the regiment, July 23, 1861, and headquarters were established at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where Companies A, B. C and G of the 1st Battalion were organized. The field officers were Colonel Wm. T. Sherman, Lieutenant Colonel Sidney Burbank, and Majors C. C. Augur, S. W. Crawford, and Charles Hill. Recruiting stations were opened for the regiment at Dubuque, Keokuk and Iowa City, Iowa; Cincinnati and Bellefontaine, Ohio; and Madison, Wisconsin, and Company A of the 1st Battalion was organized October 8, 1861; B. C and G. November 13, 1861; D, E, and F. April 1, 1862.
Philip H. Sheridan was appointed captain in the 13th from a lieutenantcy in the Fourth, May 14, 1861, to fill a vacancy. He joined the regiment, November 10, 1861, but was soon thereafter appointed chief commissary and quartermaster to the Army of Southwest Missouri, which practically severed his connection with the regiment.
On the 12th of February, 1863, the headquarters and so much of the regiment as had been recruited were removed to Alton, Ill., to guard the rebel prisoners confined in the prison at that place.
Headquarters of the regiment were removed, June 12, to Newport Barracks, and on the 4th of September, 1862, the First Battalion left Alton by rail for Newport, Ky., where it was placed on guard at Beechwood Battery and vicinity. In October it was transferred to Memphis, Tenn., and on the both of December left that city on the flagboat Forest Queen with the expedition against Vicksburg under the command of Major General Wm. T. Sherman, and disembarked six days later on the south bank of the Yazoo River, about 13 miles from its mouth. On the both the battalion was ordered to the front and participated in an engagement on the banks of the Chickasaw Bayou, five miles from Vicksburg, and was under a heavy fire of musketry from 7 o'clock A. M., until after dark. The casualties were one private killed and 11 wounded.
On the night of December 31 the battalion embarked on the City of Alton and ascended the Arkansas to within three miles of the Post of Arkansas, arriving January 10, 1863. During that night the troops were under the fire of the enemy, and on the afternoon of the 11th, participated in the general assault on the enemy's works, resulting in the capture of the post. The battalion lost one man killed and Captain C. S. Smith and 22 men wounded.
* An abridgment of Lieutenant Goe's History of the 13th Infantry.
The battalion reëmbarked January 14 on the steamer Forest Queen and on the 23d arrived at Young's Point, La., three miles below Vicksburg, where it remained, taking part in digging the canal, until March 17, when it accompanied the expedition up Deer Creek to the relief of Admiral Porter, who was near Rolling Fork with a part of his fleet. On the afternoon of the 22d it became engaged and drove the enemy from the vicinity of the gunboats at Black Bayou.
The battalion returned to Young's Point, March 27, where it remained in camp until April 29, when it accompanied the 2d Division of Sherman's Corps on a reconnaissance in force to the right of the enemy's lines, ascending the Yazoo River to the vicinity of Haynes' Bluff, Miss., and returned to camp near Vicksburg, May 1. Embarked the next day for Milliken's Bend, La., and thence, on the 6th, to join the army under General Grant then in Mississippi, accompanying the brigade to Champion Hills and arriving there on the 16th to take part that afternoon in the battle of "Champion Hills" or "Baker's Creek." It then proceeded to Vicksburg, and on the 19th of May participated in the successful assault upon the enemy's fortifications, Walnut Hills, Miss. In this action Captain C. Washington was killed, and of the enlisted men 21 were killed and 46 wounded.
Company E of the 1st Battalion was sent by special train to Dayton, Ohio, for the purpose of arresting C. L. Vallandigham and returned to Cincinnati, May 5, in charge of said prisoner and remained there doing guard duty until May 26, when Captain Alexander Murray, with a guard of 11 men, escorted and delivered him to General Rosecrans. On the 16th of June the company rejoined the fist Battalion, which was still in camp at Walnut Hills.
On July 4 the battalion left camp to join the expedition under General Sherman, then at Black River. Arriving there on the 6th it crossed the river and proceeded to Jackson, Miss., in front of the enemy's works, where one private was killed and four wounded. It remained at Jackson until the city was evacuated by the enemy,—July 16,—and returned to Camp Sherman, Miss., arriving on the 25th.
The following extract from the proceedings of a Board of Officers convened by G. O. No. 64, Hd. Qrs. 15th A. C., Camp Sherman, Miss., August 5, 1863, shows without further comment the distinguished services rendered by the 13th Infantry in the operations before Vicksburg:
"The Board being organized established the following rules of guidance:
"1. Troops that have participated in a battle or siege with credit, are entitled to its name on their colors.
"2. Art. 1st. The regiment that in force planted its colors on the parapet, and suffered the greatest relative loss, shall have inscribed on its banner, First at Vicksburg.'
"Art. 2d. Those engaged with credit, suffering loss, shall have the inscription, 'Vicksburg, Siege and Assault 19th and 22d.' 'Vicksburg, Siege and Assault 19th (or 22d).'
"Art. 3d. Troops in reserve and in the line of circumvallation shall have the inscription, 'Siege of Vicksburg.'
"The Board, after a careful examination of the papers and the evidence submitted
in support of claims, decided unanimously the following commands entitled to the inscriptions appended to their respective titles: * * *
"1st Battalion, 13th Infantry, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Champion Hills, First at Vicksburg, Jackson.
"The Board find the 13th U. S. Infantry entitled to 'First Honor at Vicksburg,' having in a body planted and maintained its colors on the parapet with a loss of 43.3 per cent., including its gallant commander,—Washington,—who died on the parapet. Its conduct and loss the Board, after a careful examination, believes unequalled in the army, and respectfully ask the General Commanding the Department to allow it the inscription awarded."
The battalion left Camp Sherman September 27, 1863, for Memphis, Tenn., where it arrived October 3. When the train bewaring the battalion arrived at Collierville, Tenn. (being en route from Memphis to Chattanooga), the battalion commander, Captain C. G. Smith, was informed that an attack was about to be made on the forces stationed there (66th Indiana Volunteers). He immediately ordered the battalion off the cars and formed in line of battle on the road, with two companies deployed on the right and left as skirmishers. When scarcely in position the battalion was attacked by a force of 3150 men commanded by the rebel General Chalmers. A battery of five pieces of artillery opened upon them with grape and solid shot, and the battalion, having no support against artillery at such long range, withdrew to the railroad cut, except the skirmishers, who fell back gradually, having maintained their position for about an hour and a half. The enemy opened a flank fire on the left, and the battalion had therefore to retreat to the rifle pits where the 66th Indiana had been driven, the enemy pursued with overpowering numbers.
Seeing the enemy taking possession of the train and setting fire to it, Lieutenant Griffin with about forty men was ordered if possible to drive the enemy off, put out the fire, and push the train up under cover of the fort. This duty was accomplished in the most brave and gallant manner, whereby the battalion sustained the reputation it had already gained in former engagements. The casualties attending this fight were 15 men killed and 27 wounded.
This battle was fought under the eye of General Sherman who complimented the battalion for its bravery.
After this engagement the battalion proceeded to Corinth, Miss., thence to Chattanooga, November 21.
On July 4, 1863, Colonel Sherman was promoted brigadier general, U. S. Army, and Lieutenant Colonel J. P. Sanderson 15th Infantry, was promoted colonel of the regiment.
The following extracts from General Sherman's memoirs, in which is given his touching letter on the death of his boy Willie, are of special interest to members of the Thirteenth.
"There was a short railroad in operation from Vicksburg to the bridge across the Big Black, whence supplies in abundance were hauled to our respective camps. With a knowledge of this fact Mrs. Sherman came down from Ohio with Minnie, Lizzie, Willie, and Tom, to pay us a visit in our camp at Parson Fox's. Willie was then nine years old and well advanced for his years, and took the most intense interest in the affairs of the army. He was a great favorite with the soldiers, and used to ride with me on horseback in the numerous drills and reviews of the time. He then had the promise of as long life as any of my children, and displayed more interest in the war than any of them. He was called a " sergeant" in the regular battalion, learned the manual of arms, and regularly attended the parade and guard-mounting of the Thirteenth, back of my camp.
"I took passage for myself and family in the steamer Atlantic, Captain Henry McDougall. When the boat was ready to start Willie was missing. Mrs. Sherman supposed him to have been with me, whereas I supposed he was with her. An officer of the Thirteenth went up to General McPherson's house for him, and soon returned, with Captain Clift leading him, carrying in his hands a small double-barrelled shotgun; and I joked him about carrying away captured property. In a short time we got off. As we all stood on the guards to look at our old camps at Young's Point, I remarked that Willie was not well, and he admitted that he was sick. His mother put him to bed, and consulted Dr. Roler, of the Fifty-fifth Illinois, who found symptoms of typhoid fever. The river was low; we made slow progress till above Helena; and, as we approached Memphis, Dr. Roler told me that Willie's life was in danger, and he was extremely anxious to reach Memphis for certain medicines and for consultation. We arrived at Memphis on the 2d of October, carried Willie up to the Gayoso Hotel, and got the most experienced physician there, who acted with Dr. Roler, but he sank rapidly, and died the evening of the 3d of October. The blow was a terrible one to us all; so sudden and so unexpected, that I could not help reproaching myself for having consented to his visit in that sickly region in the summer time. Of all my children, he seemed the most precious. Born in San Francisco, I had watched with intense interest his development, and he seemed more than any of the children to take an interest in my special profession."
"GAYOSO HOUSE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE,
"October 4, 1863—Midnight.
"Captain C. C. Smith, commanding Battalion Thirteenth United States Regulars.
"My Dear Friend: I cannot sleep to-night until I record an expression of the deep feelings of my heart to you, and to all the officers and soldiers of the battalion for their kind behavior to my poor child. I realize that you all feel for my family the attachment of kindred, and I assure you of full reciprocity.
"Consistent with a sense of duty to my profession and office, I could not leave my post, and sent for the family to come to me in that fatal climate, and in that sickly period of the year, and behold the result; the child that bore my name, and in whose future I reposed with more confidence than I did in my own plan of life, now floats a mere corpse, seeking a grave in a distant land, with a weeping mother, brother, and sisters, clustered about him. For myself I ask no sympathy. On, on I must go to meet a soldier's fate, or live to see our country rise superior to all factions, till its flag is adored and respected by ourselves and by all the powers of the earth.
"But Willie was, or thought he was, a sergeant in the Thirteenth. I have seen his eye brighten, his heart beat, as he beheld the battalion under arms, and asked me if they were not real soldiers. Child as he was, he had the enthusiasm, the pure love of truth, honor and love of country, which should animate all soldiers.
"God only knows why he should die thus young. He is dead, but will not be forgotten till those who knew him in life have followed him to that same mysterious end.
"Please convey to the battalion my heartfelt thanks, and assure each and all that if in after years they call on me or mine, and mention that they were of the Thirteenth Regulars when Willie was a sergeant, they will have a key to the affections of my family that will open all it has; that we will share with them our last blanket, our last crust!
"Your friend,
(Signed) "W. T. SHERMAN,
"Major General."
Over Willie's grave in Calvary Cemetery, near St. Louis, is erected a beautiful marble monument, designed and executed by the officers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry, which claimed him as a sergeant and comrade.
The battalion was in reserve at the battle of Mission Ridge, November 24, and on the 26th marched to Graysville, Gal, in pursuit of Bragg. Continuing the march on the 27th the battalion reached Maysville, December 6. The return march began December 7, reaching Chattanooga, December 17[,] Bellefonte, Ala., December 31, and Huntsville, Ala., January 5, 1864. On April 4 the battalion was transferred to Nashville, Tenn., where it was detailed as special guard to General Sherman's headquarters, which duty it continued to perform until the close of the year, being encamped at Edgefield, about two miles from Nashville, Tenn. It remained at this point until July 13, 1865. On October 14, 1864, Colonel Sanderson died at St. Louis, while on detached service as provost marshal of Missouri, and was succeeded by Colonel I. V. D. Reeve.
The headquarters of the regiment moved from Newport Barracks, May 10, 1865, to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where Companies A and B. ad Battalion, were organized during that month, and Companies C, D, E, F. G and H. in July. On July 1s the 1st Battalion left Nashville for St. Louis, arriving on the both; thence August 24, to Fort Leavenworth, where it arrived August 31. Companies A, B. D, E and G went on to Fort Riley, September 5, arriving on the 18th.
During November, 1865, the headquarters of the regiment were moved to Fort Leavenworth. The 2d Battalion left Camp Dennison in August for Jefferson Barracks, where it arrived September 5, but left for Fort Larned, Kansas, via Fort Leavenworth, in November, reaching that post in December. While en route, Company D was detached for duty at Fort Ellsworth, and Companies B and E ordered to take post at Fort Zarah, Kansas. Companies A, B and C, 3d Battalion, were organized at Jefferson Barracks during January, 1866, and Companies F. G and H. in March.
The companies of the 1st Battalion at Fort Riley left that post April 11 for Fort Leavenworth, where they were joined by the remaining companies and proceeded up the Missouri River to establish a military post north of the Black Hills, D. T.; but on arriving at Fort Sully on the 27th, they reembarked under orders to establish a new post at or near Fort Benton, M. T., arriving at and establishing Camp Cooke, M. T., May 19.
The 2d and 3d Battalions concentrated at Fort Leavenworth, and during May proceeded to the District of the Upper Missouri. The headquarters of the regiment left Fort Leavenworth, May I, and arrived at Fort Rice, D. T., May 16. The ad Battalion was distributed as follows: Headquarters and Companies A and B at Fort Randall; C, E and H. at Fort Sully; G at
Fort Thompson; F at Fort James, and D at Fort Dakota, all these stations being in Dakota. The headquarters of the ad Battalion were established at Fort Rice with Companies B. E, F. G and H. A was at Fort Sully, C at Buford, and D at Berthold.
Company F, 1st Battalion, was detached from Camp Cooke during September for the purpose of establishing a mail route between Helena, Montana, and that post.
Pursuant to General Order 92, A. G. O., received December 28, the 2d and 3d Battalions, 13th Infantry, were transferred respectively to the 22d and 31st Regiments of Infantry. Companies I and K of the regiment were organized at Governor's Island, N. Y. H., during October, 1866.
The regimental return for January, 1867, shows the following roster of commissioned officers: Colonel I. V. D. Reeve; Lieutenant Colonel G. L. Andrews, and Major William Clinton.
Captains R. S. LaMotte, N. W. Osborne, Robert Nugent, A. B. Carey, Wm. C. Ide, E. W. Clift, F. E. DeCourcy, R. A. Torrey, and Robert Chandler.
First Lieutenants Patrick Meagher, J. L. Horr, T. J. Lloyd, Wm. H. Keeling, J. D. Graham, J. M. Green, J. T. McGinnis, A. N. Canfield, and J. S. Stafford.
Second Lieutenants M. O. Codding, O. A. Thompson, E. H. Townsend, H. C. Pratt, Wm. Auman, W. I. Sanborn, J. B. Guthrie, and Thomas Newman.
Regimental Headquarters were at Fort Rice till June, 1867, then at Camp Cooke till August 11, then at Fort Shaw until sent to Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., June 11, 1870.
At Camp Cooke. May 17, 1868, hostile Indians (Sioux and Crows), numbering about 2500, surrounded and attacked the post at about one o'clock P. M., the attack being continued without intermission until 7 o'clock, when the Indians were driven off, carrying with them their dead and wounded. The garrison at this time consisted of Companies B and H, 13th Infantry, under the command of Major Clinton. The troops during the engagement were commanded by Captain DeCourcy. Fearing that the garrison might fall into the hands of the Indians, the wives of the officers requested that they be placed in the magazine and that the magazine be fired in the event of the capture of the post, in order that they might be saved from falling into the hands of the savages.
Captain Wm. Auman (then a 1st lieutenant), in addition to being in command of B Company was the post quartermaster, and when the Indians appeared his first thought was to secure the government animals which were grazing a quarter of a mile from the post. Armed with a rifle he proceeded to the corral, mounted a horse, and accompanied by one of the teamsters rode out and secured the animals while the hostile Indians were within two hundred yards of the herd. After the animals had been put in the corral he went where one of the field pieces had opened fire, and finding that the piece was loaded with shell the fuse of which was uncut, he cut one fuse with his pocket knife and started for the magazine for a fuse knife. At this juncture he received a bullet wound in the left foot, the ball passing through the instep and causing a most painful and serious wound.
On May 19, 1868, a command made up of detachments from Companies B, E and H. under Captain Nugent, was engaged with Indians at the mouth of the Muscleshell River, Dakota; and on the 24th a portion of this command under Lieutenant Canfield met and had a skirmish with the hostiles near the mouth of the Muscleshell.
At Fort Buford during the years 1869 and 1870, the garrison consisted of Companies C, E and H, 13th Infantry, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel H. A. Morrow, and during the period referred to, attacks by and skirmishes with hostile Sioux Indians were of daily occurrence, so much so, in fact, that General Sheridan in 1869 reported that Fort Buford was in a state of siege. About July 24, 1869, four citizens were killed by Indians near the post, and in June, 1870, two more citizens were killed and six wounded. As the Indians always carried off their killed and wounded, it was impossible to ascertain the extent of the injury inflicted upon them, but they must have lost several, both in killed and wounded, during their almost daily attacks. Sitting Bull was the greatest enemy during this time and attempted several attacks, but was always frustrated by information received from his camp through one of the Indian scouts named Bloody Knife (Ta-Me-Na-Way-Way), who was afterwards killed in the Custer massacre.
In the reduction and consolidation of 1869 all the field officers of the regiment were changed. Colonel Reeve was replaced by Colonel P. R. DeTrobriand, recently of the 31st; Lieutenant Colonel Andrews by Lieutenant Colonel H. A. Morrow, recently of the 36th; and Major Clinton by Major R. S. LaMotte, recently of the 12th.
On the 12th of March, 1869, Captain Clift left Fort Ellis in command of a party consisting of Lieutenant W. L. Wann, 34 enlisted men of the Thirteenth, and 10 volunteer citizens in pursuit of hostile Indians. On the lath the bodies of two men were found, stripped and mutilated in the most horrible manner. A small party was sent up the river in search of the cattle which the unfortunate men had been herding, and the following is an extract from Captain Clift's report of the subsequent operations of his command:
"Before the detachment sent up the river had returned, I discovered a party of Indians coming from the south side of Sheep Mountain, and others between Sheep and Crazy mountains. I then took a position on rising ground to the west of the river to await the return of the detachment sent above, and also to ascertain something of the strength of the Indians. I could see them in large numbers on all sides of Sheep Mountain. Those in advance came down to the river (the water was very shallow) and endeavored by every means to induce me to cross. Seeing that they were in force and far better mounted than ourselves I declined their invitation. Out of the as horses in my command, only four or five could be of the slightest use in following them.
"The Indians lost no time in crossing and the fight commenced at once. The ground was broken into ravines, ledges and small knolls on all sides which afforded them cover, consequently I changed my position several times and thus obliged them to expose themselves in moving from point to point. The fight was kept up in this manner for four hours, when the Indians withdrew. Most of my horses were now so broken down that I was unable to follow.
"In the engagement the Indians had four men and two horses killed. Our loss was only one horse. The Indians were mounted on fine American horses and in their dress and actions resembled the Sioux or Nez Perces more than other tribes in this section of the country. I know of no others who are so brave and well mounted."
Captain Clift went out again in less than a month, and, under date of April 10, 1869, reports as follows:—
"I have the honor to report that, pursuant to your instructions of the 5th inst., I left the post that evening with a detachment consisting of one lieutenant, one surgeon, one sergeant, two corporals and 40 men, * * * and proceeded to the residence of Judge Sheels where I was joined by several citizens from the valley. I learned that on the night of the 4th inst. seven head of cattle and one horse had been driven off. We found their trail and followed it to the foot of the mountains about two miles north of the Flathead Pass. * * * From this point I took the trail of the Indians and followed it over an almost impassable country until about noon on the 7th inst. Those in advance came in sight of the Indians near a mountain on the north fork of Sixteen-mile Creek and near the headwaters of the Muscleshell River. The party consisted of 13 Indians, two of whom made their escape with the horse they had taken. * * * The eleven remaining took to a mountain about 1500 feet between them and the creek. The mountain was a narrow ridge and could only be ascended at two ends. On the north side the comb of rock was at least 100 feet in height perpendicularly; on the south side it was not so abrupt.
"I immediately divided the party, leaving a few below on the north side, and they ascended both from the east and west ends. The Indians could be plainly seen on the peak of rocks, defying us in the most insulting manner. The position chosen by the Indians afforded them complete shelter and at the same time commanded the mountain on all sides. There were three holes on the summit around which they built up walls, leaving port-holes through which they kept up an incessant fire. We got to within 150 yards on each end and worked for two hours to dislodge them but with no effect. Finding that there was no resource left except by assault, I directed Lieutenant Thompson to lead the men on the east, while I would direct on the west end. As soon as Lieutenant Thompson could get around to his position the assault was made from both sides, and in a few minutes we had the satisfaction of putting an end to the affair. * * * We killed nine Indians on the spot. They were all armed with rifles and revolvers, and had an abundant supply of ammunition.
"The casualties on our side were one private killed and two badly wounded. Two citizens were wounded.
"When all did so well it is difficult to particularize. Lieutenant Thompson conducted his part of the action in a manner highly satisfactory. Surgeon C. Ewen attended to the wounded in the best possible manner. Sergeant J. P. Sullivan, Company G; Corporal B. Sheridan, Company D; Private C. Thompson, Company F; Citizen T. King and two others, names unknown, were conspicuous for daring and bravery. Private Conry, who died so nobly at the same instant with his antagonist, should be remembered. I suggest therefore that the mountain upon which the engagement took place be named after him."
The modesty of this report is characteristic of that gallant and capable officer. As a matter of fact he was personally engaged in hand-to-hand conflict with the Indians, and when his revolver ammunition was exhausted, he began using rocks for offensive purposes. Captain Clift continued to serve in the 13th Infantry till October, 1884, when he was retired on account of disability, dying of paralysis two years later at his home in Detroit.
On the morning of the 19th of January, 1870, Captain R. A. Torrey, with all the available men of his company (A) and ten men each from Companies F, I and K, left Fort Shaw en route to the Marias River, as guard to the wagon train of a battalion of the 2d Cavalry under the command of Major E. M. Baker, 2d Cavalry. In addition to Company A as strengthened, Captain G. H. Higbee with a mounted detachment of the 13th Infantry also accompanied this expedition against the Piegan Indians. When the command arrived in the vicinity of the hostiles, Lieutenant Waterbury, 13th Infantry, who was with Captain Higbee's mounted force, was ordered to proceed with a detachment and capture a herd of ponies near the Indian camp. He promptly executed this order, securing all the animals, and rejoined the column to take part in the encounter with the Indians. In this engagement the percentage of loss sustained by the Piegans was heavy. The troops returned to Fort Shaw January 28. Captain Torrey's command remained as guard to the wagon train during the fight.- October 24, 1871, the headquarters of the regiment were changed from Camp Douglas to Fort Fred Steele, Wyo., returning to Camp Douglas November 25, 1873.
August 17, 1872, Companies C, F and I, comprising part of an expedition against hostile Indians in southern Utah, proceeded from Camp Douglas to the scene of hostilities. The battalion returned to the post September 7. No casualties.
The 13th Infantry was relieved from duty in the Department of the Platte, October 10, 1874, and ordered to New Orleans, taking station at Jackson Barracks, the entire regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel H. A. Morrow, arriving during the month of October.
Headquarters and Companies D, E, H, I and K, while en route to New Orleans, met with a railroad accident on the Mobile and Ohio R. R., between Dyer and Trenton, Tenn., the train going off the track. Four freight cars were smashed and four passenger cars disabled. One corporal and one private of Company K were killed; two privates of Company I and two of Company K injured. The records of Company I and a large amount of officers' baggage were destroyed.
The regiment moved into the city of New Orleans, November 1, 1874, where it was employed preserving the peace during the McEnery-Kellogg election riots of that year.
The regiment continued to serve in the Department of the South for six years, portions of it being stationed at different times at New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Vicksburg, Holly Springs, Little Rock, Atlanta, Mt. Vernon Barracks, Chattanooga, Lake Charles, Mississippi City, and other points in the Department of the South.
During the railroad strikes and labor riots of the summer of 1877 all the companies of the regiment, except D and G in Calcasieu Parish, La., were on duty at Pittsburg, Scranton, Wilkesbarre, and other points in Pennsylvania.
During the summer and fall of 1878 the South was scourged by the most terrible epidemic of yellow fever that has occurred for years. Thousands had perished from the disease. The suffering and destitution of the inhabitants of the lower Mississippi valley, especially between Memphis and Vicksburg, was so great that the National Relief Commissioners determined to send relief. By the cooperation of various cities of the North a fund of
$20,000 was raised and large quantities of merchandise were secured. The funds thus raised were expended in the purchase of an assorted cargo of provisions, clothing, bedding, medicines and ice, and the steamer John M. Chambers was chartered to leave St. Louis early in October to carry these supplies for distribution to the yellow fever sufferers along the Mississippi River. But who was to assume charge of the expedition and undertake the great responsibility and personal danger attending the execution of this mission? Who were to officer this boat and, taking their lives in their hands, deliberately face almost certain death in order to give aid to the destitute? For it meant death to the unacclimated.
The Secretary of War telegraphed General Augur, commanding Department of the South, to know if any officers of his command would volunteer for this perilous duty. Quickly came the response that Lieutenant H. H. Benner, 18th Infantry, and Lieutenant C. S. Hall, 13th Infantry, had volunteered to go with the relief boat. Lieutenant Hall had left his camp and started to go to his home on a three months leave of absence, but he relinquished that and offered his services. The history of the army does not contain the record of any more heroic and truly unselfish act than that of of these two officers. It cost Lieutenant Benner his life.
Regimental General Order No. 8, of date February 1, 1879, shows the estimation in which Lieutenant Hall's gallant conduct was held by his commanding officer, and it may truly be said that this order also voiced the sentiments of the whole nation:
Second Lieutenant Charles S. Hall, 13th Infantry, having reported for duty with his company on his return from detached service, it affords great pleasure to the Colonel Commanding to welcome him back and to congratulate him upon his noble conduct and important services last summer, during the disastrous epidemic which carried death and desolation along the Mississippi River. After tendering voluntarily his coöperation to the dangerous undertaking of carrying supplies of all sorts on a steamboat chartered especially for that purpose, and of distributing them at the points where the yellow fever was most fatal and causing the greatest destitution and suffering, Lieutenant Hall, by the death of Lieutenant Hiram H. Benner, 18th Infantry, found himself in command of the expedition with all its dangers and responsibilities. He faced both with a brave heart and an intelligent determination, and fulfilled his perilous position in a manner worthy of praise and admiration.
Such a noble achievement does great honor to this young officer and reflects credit upon the regiment to which he belongs. It deserves special acknowledgment, which the Colonel Commanding is happy to tender to Second Lieutenant Charles S. Hall, with his thanks and those of all the officers of the 13th United States Infantry.
March 25, 1879, Colonel DeTrobriand was retired. This promoted Lieutenant Colonel J. R. Brooke, who transferred with Colonel Luther P. Bradley, the latter becoming the colonel of the Thirteenth.
In June, 1880, the regiment was ordered to New Mexico, Headquarters and Companies F. G. H. I and K, taking station at Fort Wingate. The remaining five companies, under Lieutenant Colonel R. E. A. Crofton, marched from Santa Fé to southern Colorado for the purpose of building a new post on the Mancos River. The location for this was changed by the Department commander, and the new post of Fort Lewis, Col., was built on the La Plata River during the ensuing eighteen months.
During the years 1880 and 1881, Captain B. H. Rogers' company of mounted infantry (Company C of the 13th, stationed at Fort Lewis), did a large amount of scouting in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. At this time the renegade Pah-Utes were committing all sorts of depredations in that section. Captain Rogers rendered most efficient service in his operations against these Indians, succeeded in putting an end to their incursions, and reëstablished the settlers on their lands.
In 1882, Captain J. B. Guthrie, commanding Company A, took part in a scout after Apaches from Fort Cummings. On April 22 the company took part in an engagement with the Indians in which several men of the 4th Cavalry were killed and wounded.
The Thirteenth spent eight years of varied and arduous duty in New Mexico, participating in numerous operations against Indians, especially in the campaign against Geronimo.
Since June, 1888, the regiment has served in the Indian Territory. Headquarters were at Fort Supply until January 4, 1893, since which time they have been at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Companies I and K were skeletonized in August, 1890.
Colonel Luther P. Bradley was retired December 8, 1886, and was succeeded by Colonel Robert S. LaMotte, promoted from the Twelfth.
Colonel LaMotte died at Fort Supply, December 16, 1888, and was succeeded by Colonel Montgomery Bryant, promoted from the Eighth, whose service as captain and major had all been with the Thirteenth. Colonel Bryant was retired at his own request, March 1, 1894, and was succeeded by Colonel Alfred T. Smith, promoted from the Eighth.
In a paper of this kind relating as it does exclusively to the historical record of the regiment as a distinct organization, and written partly with the object of affording information to the younger officers of the regiment, it is greatly to be regretted that the splendid services of those officers now in the regiment who served in the volunteers during the war cannot be fully set forth here. This state of affairs is due of course to the fact that the old officers of the 13th, as it was during the Rebellion, having passed from the scene of action, their places are filled by those whose war records were made with other organizations.
The following is an extract of a letter from Lieutenant General Sherman, published in General Order No. 6, dated Headquarters lath Infantry, May 27, 1875:
"I have always felt the warmest friendship and the keenest pride in the records and high military standard of the lath Infantry, and I know that wherever it may be called upon to pitch its tents, the officers and men will be governed by such a high sense of professional duty as will make it a distinguished honor to the General of the Army to have been its colonel, and to the Lieutenant General to have been one of its captains."
NOTE.—The writer is under obligations to Major F. E. DeCourcy, U. S. A., Captains William M. Waterbury, William Auman, Benjamin H. Rogers, and Jesse C. Chance, 13th Infantry, for much useful information relating to the history of the regiment; and to Private Frank Cooper, Company E, 13th Infantry, for valuable assistance in obtaining necessary data from the regimental records.
SOURCE
Battle of Nashville
Rock Rapids, Iowa, Thursday, April 3, 1913
CAPTAIN GARDNER DEAD
ROCK RAPIDS REPORTER
Old Time Resident of Rock Rapids Called Saturday - - Was a Veteran of Famous Vicksburg Campaign.
Captain W.W. Gardner, one of the best known of the old time residents of Rock Rapids, and one of the earliest of the grain dealers in this county, passed away at his home in this city Saturday morning at 5 o’clock following a long illness of kidney trouble and complications. The funeral was held from the late home Sunday afternoon, services being conducted by Rev. Amos Burr pastor of the Christian church. At Riverview cemetery members of the G.A.R. and W.R.C. were in charge, and burial was with military honors. The casket was draped with the national flag, a bugler blew “Taps”, and a parting salute was fired over the open grave. A large number of friends attended the service at the home and despite the most unpleasant weather; a large number accompanied the remains on their last journey.
Washington W. Gardner was born at Howard, Center County, Penn. On the 12th day of September, 1839. His father was engaged in the lumber business and Mr. Gardner’s earliest work was as his father’s assistant. In the year 1855 the family moved to West Union, Iowa, and engaged in farming. Here Mr. Gardner passed through the various grades and finally graduated with honors from the high school.
At the breaking out of the civil war he was one of the first to respond, enlisting in Co. C. 1st Battalion, 13th United States Regulars in the infantry branch of the service, and was assigned to Missouri, with Jefferson barracks as headquarters. With this regiment and later with the 100th U.S. Colored Infantry, he served faithfully throughout the whole period of the war. From Private he was promoted successively through the various grades until he was given a commission as captain. The regiment in which he served passed through some of the fiercest battles of the war, and the 13th regulars were accredited with being the first to plant their colors upon the ramparts of Vicksburg when the city capitulated on the 4th of July, 1863. So severe was the fighting about this city that in one charge the 13th lost forty-four per cent of the men in line. Throughout the whole period of Mr. Gardner’s service he was kept actively engaged and always at the front.
At the close of the war Captain Gardner returned to Auburn, Iowa, where he engaged in the milling business and where on the 8th day of April, 1866 he was united in marriage with Emma C. Simar. In 1873 he removed to Elgin and engaged in the grain business, and in the year 1880 he located in Rock Rapids, where he erected the first grain elevator on the line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad, later building elevators in other towns near this place. About twelve years ago he assumed charge of the city scale of this place, which position he occupied until his eyesight failed about the middle of last November. About the first of January of this present he was taken to his bed with the illness that culminated in his demise, and from that time he has gradually failed until the end came last Saturday morning, March 29th, when he passed peacefully away.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were the parents of eight children, four of whom are deceased. Those who remain besides the faithful wife and mother, are Clint, Dan and Kittie, of this place, and Don of Makoti, N.D.
SOURCE
These powerful statements spoken by the sixteenth president were no exaggeration. Confederate cannon mounted along the bluffs commanding the Mississippi River at Vicksburg were not only trained on the river, but denied that important avenue of commerce to Northern shipping. It is important to further note that Vicksburg was also the connecting link between the eastern and western parts of the Confederacy and sits astride a major supply route over which the armies of Braxton Bragg and Robert E. Lee received much needed food, clothing, medicine, and ammunitions, as well as fresh troops.
Washington W. Gardner
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 6/1/1864 as a 1st Lieutenant.
On 6/1/1864 he was commissioned into US CT 100th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 12/26/1865
(Estimated date of commission)
Promotions:
* Capt 8/9/1865
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Official Army Register of the Volunteer Force 1861-1865
- Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com
American Civil War,
U.S. Colored Troops, Officer Examination, Bureau for Colored Troops
The week of March 21, the Board met on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday leaving no indication of the duration of the daily sessions or the length of each examination. Assuming a maximum work-day of nine hours (given the other necessary duties of a typical Union officer serving on a board, this is possibly overstated), the time spent examining and deliberating on each candidate would likely not exceed three hours. The likely time spent per candidate was probably less since both Col. Stoughton and Maj. Grosskopff had other significant duties.
A report such as the one shown below for Washington Gardner of the 100th U.S.C.I. was created for each individual. When the candidate was selected by the board, the report provided detailed information about their performance, as for Washington Gardner below who also served with the 100th U.S.C.I.
When a candidate was rejected, their examination failure was simply noted as “rejected for any position within the U.S. Colored Troops.” Failing grades were not recorded since there was no recourse to or appeal of the Board’s decision.
Nashville, April 18th, 1864
The board then proceeded to examine Washington W. Gardner – 1st Sergeant Co. C 1st Batt. 13th U.S. Infty. Aged 24 years a resident of West Union, Iowa. The examination being concluded the Board find said Gardner fitted for the position of First Lieutenant Infty. U.S.C. Troops 1st class and grade him as follows.
First Class - First Lieutenant
School of the Soldier No. 1 ½
“ “ Company “ 2 ½
“ “ Battalion “ 3
Evolutions of Brigade “ -
“ Regulations “ 2 ½
“ Discipline “ 2
Physical, Mental, & Moral Fitness “ 2 ½
Education “ 2 ½
And the Board recommend said Gardner for the position of First Lieutenant to stand as No. 1 in the list of First Class First Lieutenants of Infty.
Wm. L. Stoughton, Col. 11th Mich. Infty.
President E. Grosskopff, Major, U.S.C. Heavy Artillery, Secty.
President E. Grosskopff, Major, U.S.C. Heavy Artillery, Secty.
With the Board behind them, candidates waited a short time, often no more than a few days, for the results. They might be informed by the Bureau directly, the Commissioner for Organization, the president of the Board, a superior officer, or a more indirect channel. Mussey’s office was quick to notify Nashville candidates such as Corp. George Ackles of the 18th Michigan that he was “appointed 2nd Lieut. U.S. Colored Infantry having passed a favorable examination for that grade.” Unlike the Bureau for Colored Troops which did not pay for transportation for candidates, Mussey directed that the Quartermaster provide Ackles with transportation to report to Gen. Lorenzo Thomas.
Political influence was not a guarantee of a successful examination outcome.
Name> Gardner, Washington W.
Unit> 100th United States Colored Infantry
Rank In> 1st Lieutenant
Rank Out> Captain
Prior Unit> 13th US Infantry
Start Rank> Sgt
Exam Date>4/18/1864
100th United States Colored Troops
“There are days when I feel every one of my fifty years, Henry Cist,” thought Mussey as he looked at the invitation on his desk. A full two decades had passed since the glory days in Nashville, and it seemed as if so many had learned so little. Antipathy toward the Negro had been repugnant when Reverend Lord had advocated slavery back at Dartmouth. It was even worse when friends from the Loyal Legion or the Grand Army of the Republic, who should know better from their wartime experience, still impeded the black man. He had followed Cist’s journalistic career and read each of his stories about the Army of the Cumberland, at first eagerly, then with bemused annoyance that a family friend could be so wrong-headed. Now he heard a book was in the offing, and he could only imagine what Cist would do in it.
“I’ll eat my hat if he even mentions my Colored soldiers.” His mind drifted back to that fool Cheatham in 1864; another one cut from the same cloth. An invitation to review the troops of the Nashville garrison on Independence Day that specifically excluded his men of the 100th U.S. Colored Infantry from the haute monde of the city, and his own scathing reply,
“I cannot, sir, accept…The Declaration of Independence, who formal adoption makes the Fourth of July sacred affirms, all men are created equal, and until you, sir, and your committee learn this fundamental truth…your ‘celebrations of our National anniversary’ are mocking farces, insults to the illustrious dead, and blasphemy…”He had done his best to bring white officers and black men together into the ‘terrible swift sword’ that would usher in a new era of justice for the Negro. Hundreds of competent officers and dozens of regiments were the result of his efforts, now being forgotten. The U.S.C.T. and the Bureau, Gen. Thomas and Maj. Stearns, the examination boards and the recruiters—all long gone.
Mussey loved reunions and eagerly anticipated the meeting of the Society of the Army of
the Cumberland that was to happen that year. Perhaps he could try once again to set the record
straight. His pen scratched at the paper, “Cist, at present, it runs in my mind that it would not be
inappropriate to say something about the ‘Colored Troops’ of the Army of the Cumberland who
proverbially fought nobly…”
