The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-15

DIR. 5. Z. Plummer was mustered into
service as surgeon of the 18th regiment
Illinois infantry, May "a. 1861. He ac-
companied the regiment from Dixon, ILL.,,
and was with that regiment constantly
until the fall of 1862. He carried the
regiment through the changes from the
comforts of home life to the thoroughly
seasoned soldier capable of enduring the
fatigues and exposures of war without
the loss of man. He had charge OF the
sick and wounded OF General Lyons ar
my, taken to Rolla, Mo. after the battle
of Wilson's Creek When the regiment
was ordered to join the grand army under
Gen. Fremont, he accompanied it. He
was ordered to press teams into service
sufficient TO carry all the wounded of the
hospital at Springfield, through to Role,
Mo-, and then forward them by rail to
the hospitals at St. Louis. He per
formed tine task, which was d severe one
many of the poor fellows being reduced
to skeletons, with barely breath of life
left in them He made collins aud dug
graves for the dead, and tenderly con>
Si1uttl ~ JLEli uhtl iCStille SlA III
the Unions gallant defenders.
He accompanied the army on the march
from Pea Ridge down White river to
Helena, Ark Here the name of the ar
my was changed from the army of the
southwest" to the 'army of the eastern
district of Arkansas" The army re-
manned in camp at Helena during the hot
hn sinh Of thic oh oh
ing for the troops during this trying sea-
son of the year. In October DR.. Plum
mer was ordered to duty on Gen. E. A.
Cars staff as medical director of the ar
my, which position he held until the COM
mand was transferred to the
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE"
and proceeded down the river under com
mand OF Gen. Sherman to ChickaSaw
Ridge. During the four days fighting
there, he was chief surgeon of the opera
ting corps. He was also chief surgeon
at the battle of Arkansas Post,
laborins day and night until all
the wounded were cared for. He
was afterward assigned to duty on Gen.
Steele's staff as surgeon in chief of the
and filed that position during all the bat
ties from jackson to Vicksburg. during
the siege of Vicksburg and to the sur
render, and the march to and recapture of
jackson.
After the return of the army from Jack
son to Black river, DIR. Plummer was tenn
porarily assigned to duty on Maior-Geu.
W, T. Sherman's staff as medical direc-
tor of tine Army of the Tennessee. and
before the term of his office expired Gen.
Sherman presented him with the follow
ing
TOKEN OF REGARD
HEADQUARTERS DIV. OF THE Miss.
NASHVILLE, April 2, 1864.
Understanding from Surgeon Samuel
c. Plummer, of the 18th Ill. Vol. Infan-
try, that his term of service is about ex-
piring, / take this method of expressing to
whom it may concern, my high appre-
citation of the professional services
which he has rendered, and the earnest
desire that the army may continue TO re-,
ceive the benefit of his fidelity and skill
| consider him competent to fill any place
which the government Can assign TO him
in his department of duty.
w. T. SHERMAN,
Maj. Gen'l Cong.
The above is endorsed by Major Gen
Frank z, Blair as follows:
HEADQUARTERS 17TH A. C.,
Huntsville, Ala, May 10, 1864.
am well acquainted with DR.. Plum
mer, of the 18th ILL., Vol. Inf. lie is q
most attentive and skillful surgeon and
has, ! am satisfied, done most excellent
service IN the army If possible the gov
eminent ought to retain DR.. Plummer.
His experience is most valuable and his
great executive ability would fit him en-
iuently to the charge of any of the large
army hospitals. DIR. Plummer served for
some time on my staff, and my knowl>
edge Of his ability is derived from pers
senal observation.
FRAME P. Blair,
Nal. Ger, Cumd'g 18th A. .,