The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-05-13
THE Hath ILLINOIS CAVALRY.

tleman who was formerly connected with
the 18th Illinois Cavalry, who gave me q
brief outline of some of the important Incl
dents in its history. He has copious notes,
and designs at some future day as a mere
matter of record to print for the use of the
members of the regiment diary of import
ant events in its history. Unlike many 9th
or regiments, no efforts have ever been made
by the officers to manufacture for 1t a news |
paper reputation. Whatever is known of it |
through the press, emanated from an outside |
source. |
Rock Island having a company in this |
regiment originally Capt. Everts', whatever !
historical renown belongs to it is shared by |
our company. attaches to our county, and
reflects honor upon it's people. The energy
and determination which our county has ex-
hibited in raising troops to sustain the cause
of our common country, and the zeal with
which the Argus has seconded every effort In
this way. are proverbial and we are glad to
know that the company in the l4th cavalry
has added to the imperishable laurels won
by the brave sons of Rock Island county, in
the great struggle for our national existence.
The regiment was organized at Peoria, and
Col Capron appointed to its command. A
drawer man never welded a sabre. One half
hour after the regiment reported for duty on
| the 18th of April, 1868. at Glasgow, KY. it
was ordered out on a scout by Col. Graham,
commanding brigade, moved that afternoon,
all that night, until O'Clock the next day,
when the battle of Celina commenced with
the rebel force under Col Hamilton, contin-
uing the next day until 2 O'Clock: The enc
my were scattered and routed in every direc-
tion. 8Et
The regiment continued to do heavy scout
ing. In the vicinity of Cumberland river, I'M
| til the 2lst of June, when it commenced re-
connoitering for the notorious Morgan. This
great rebel raider succeeded in breaking
through our lines in the vicinity of General
| Hobson's forces and at once an important fox
chase commenced. He was pursued day and
night with almost superhuman energy until
| the 10Th of July. when Judah's command, in
which was the l4th, came upon him at Buff
fngton Island, Ohio, shortly after SUNRISE
The attack commenced. and Hobson and
| Schackelford closing in with Judah's force.
| the enemy was routed. the artillery captured,
| and his entire force made prisoners, save
| about 600, who escaped with their chief. A
| sergeant and two men of the 14th captured
| Basil Duke and q number of the principal
officers in one group, Duke remarking he
| would as leave surrender to one or two men
as thousand The next day Gen Shackel
rford organized force of picked men, our
company being well represented well as
the entire regiment, pursued the willy trooper
| until the Goth of July, when he was cap
tured Frequent skirmishes aud forced
marches almost unparalleled characterized
| the last six days pursuit. Arriving at Gin
cinnati. Scott and Pegram's force was report
ed entering Kentucky. The celebrated Col.
| Woolford with force, including the 18th,
after securing fresh horses, started in pur-
suit of the enemy, who immediately fell back
hastily, after encountering Woolford's COM
mand
Two days after the regiment arrived at
Glasgow, it's headquarters. from pursuing
Scott and Pegram, 1t was paid off, Thoroughly
| refitted, and started with Burnside for East
| Tennessee. To follow it in detail throughout
this campaign would alone fill small sized
volume. The brigade consisted OF the l4th
with four howItzers, the 9Th Ind. Cav, the
65th Ind. Mounted Infy, and Colvin's His
| Battery. Ia crossing the Cumberland noun
tains, it was on the extreme right of our
army and necessarily had to make detour
over an almost impossible route. The guns
were hauled up steep ascents by hand. On
she lst day of September the brigade, COM
manded by Col. Foster of the. 65th, entered
Knoxville, the first Union troops TO get in
The beaming eyes, the waving of handker-
chiefs, and an occasional display OF the flag
of our country. which had been secreted Tor
months, attested warm welcome on the
part of the unionists whilst the scowling,
grim visage of the rebel citizen he thinking
tie presence of our troops only temporary
indicated his sentiments.
The display of the British flag by sef-
constituted English consul named jackson,
enraged our boys nearly as much the wav-
ing of a rebel banner would have done-
From this time until Longstreet's corps left
Tennessee the brigade was constantly scout
ing or skirmishing with the enemy, At
Walkers Ford, Clinch river, on the second OF
| hay fha brIU
It's number of Wheeler's cavalry. For q
time the fight was fearful, but finally the en-
envy fell back. Our company had charge OF
the howitzers in this fight. Officers assert
} that their companies would have been cut to
piece by the overwhelming numbers of the
enemy, had il not been for the unerring and
terrible execution of the battery in the hands
of the boys in blue of Co. L. At Bean sta
! ton on the 14th of the same month, the cav.
airy under Shackelford encountered Long
streets corps. probably as effective body OF
troops as were organized by the south. The
enemy's legions, in full view. extending
. across q plain three -fourths of a mile in
width, numbering not less than Is 900, while
our force actually engaged did not exceed
$500 The daring and invincible courage OF
our company and the fatal effect to the enc
my in handling the battery are known and
appreciated by every officer and enlisted man
in the fight The 14th battery boys were
the theme of praise by all who witnessed the
execution of their death dealing shells. The
18th did magnificent fighting on that day,
} which was shared by the heroic 10Th ILL
, nois (COl. Henderson's) mounted infantry,
and Colvin's ILL., battery. The enemy Official
ly reported loss of 800 Our loss did not
exceed $780, the 18th suffering as much if not
more than any other regiment
At cambridge and FAIR Gardens. under the