Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-04

All Hoosierdom in the city gazed with pride
upon the phalanx Of survivors of the 'Seven-
tieth Indiana" which formed the special es-
cort of President Harrison from the capitol to
the White House. No brilliant uniforms or
flying plumes conduced to attract the atten-
ton OF the thousands of eager eyes along the
line OF the procession, but there was much
more Of importance connected with them az q
body than the gray overcOat and derby hat
each one wore, with q nobby cane in hand,
would indicate. There we're about $50 of them,
and they are the survivors OF Gen. Harrison's
old regiment, each and every one a veteran,
and though age has been creeping along apace,
bending form or tinting the hair with gray,
they marched with q vigorous, martial step
that reflected the fire and patriotism of quar-
ter of a century ago.
With them was the 'babe Of the regiment"
Joseph W. Reagan, who tips the beam at q
| trifle over 800 pounds.
AN INTERESTING HISTORY.
The SEVENTEEN regiment had its rendezvous
at Indianapolis, and was fully organized be-
| tween July IA and August IL, 1862, less than one
month, and was mustered into service at the
last-named date with Benjamin Harrison as
| colonel Itleft Indianapolis on the morning
| OF the 18th Of Augusta bright sunny day so
far as meteorological appearances went, but it
was sad and dark to many hearts. On the
evening of the same day it reached Louisville;
on the following night it left for Bowling Green,
and on the 18th repouted to Col. Bruce, COM
handing the post thus being the first regiment
in the field under the call of July, 1862 From
Bowling Green the regiment made sew
eral expeditions to Franklin, Morgantown,
| Aunfordsville and Russellville. At the
latter place, on July 80, it encoun-
tered several hundred rebel cavalry, killing
and wounding many and capturing forty horses
and large lot of small arms and accoutre-
ments. On November 10 the regiment moved
with Wards brigade, Dumont's division, four
teenth army corps, to Scottsville, KY, and
thence to Gallatin on November24. On Decem-
Der TO- as part of the eighth brigade, eighth
division, fourteenth army corps, it was posted
along the Louisville and Nashville railroad
from Gallatin to Nashville to defend the road
and bridges. on which duty it was engaged
until February 9, 1868.
UNDER GENERAL GRANGER
1t then went into camp at Gallatin doing
provost and picket duty at that place until
June 1, when it was moved to Lavergne, Tenn.
Remaining at that point Until June 80, it then
marched to Murfreesboro', camping in Fort
Rosecrans. At that place it was assigned to the
second brigade, third division of Gen. Changers
reserve corps. On August 10 it moved with
Its brigade to Nashville. and while there it was
engaged in guarding trains to Stevenson, Chat
tanooga and other points, and picket and IA
tigue duty within the city. On January 2,
1864. the regiment was transferred to the first
brigade, first division. eleventh army CORPS
and Col Harrison assigned to the command of
the brigade, his place in the regiment being
| filled by the promotion OF Maj. Samuel Merrill,
who continued in command until the regiment
was mustered out. The regiment left Nashville
on February "a and marched with its division to
Wauhatchie. in Lookout valley Tennessee On
the organization of the twentieth army corps
1t was assigned to the first brigade. third divis-
ION, with which it continued to serve until the
close Of the war.
IN THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN
From Wauhatchie it marched on May 2, and
entered upon the Atlanta campaign during
which the regiment took an active part, being
engaged in the following actions: Resaca,
Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain,
henesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek
and the siege Of Atlanta. At Resaca the regi-
ment led the assault made on the enemy's right,
capturing fort and four Napoleon guns the
only pieces OF artillery lost by the enemy be-
tween Chattanooga and Atlanta. Its casualties
IN this campaign were forty-one killed in action,
forty-tbree died of wounds and one hundred
and ninety-one wounded.
On November 5, 1854, the veterans and re-
manning recruits OF the twenty-seventh Indiana
were consolidated with the SEVENTEEN by special
order OF the War department.. The regiment
participated i'll Shermans march through Geor-
gia to Savannah, and on December 81 it crossed
the Savannah river with the first brigade of
western troops that entered South Carolina
ALL THERE WAS LEFT OF THEM.
An amusing incident of this campaign was
told by Col. Merrill
Three of u.s." said he, 'Charley Cox, my
man Jerry, and myself, were going from our
camp on Hardee's plantation to Savannah with
the remains Of the regimental banners, which
were to be sent home. Jerry carried the flags.
which. notwithstanding all our care, were re-
duced to afew tattered stripes, tassel or two,
and broken slaves. Flags could not have
looked more forlorn. What regiments this?
said sentinel, who kept a solitary guard at the
head of pontoon bridge. The SEVENTEEN
claimed the man. raising his hands, and this
is all there is left Of your"
Marching through the Carolinas with Sher-
mans army, the SEVENTEEN rested at Raleigh,
n. c., where it was on the announcement of
Lees surrender. 1t afterward marched with
the army of Georgia to Richmond and then on
to this city, where it was mustered out of serv-
ice on the Sth day of June, 1865. The remain
ing recruits whose terms had not expired, under
the then existing regulations of the War de-
partment, were transferred to the thirty-third
regiment, in which organization they continued
to serve until its muster out at Louisville, July
Il, 1865.
WELCOMED HOME
On returning to Indianapolis the SEVENTEEN
was publicly welcomed home by the citizens
and at the reception given in the capitol
grounds on June 16 addresses were made by
Governor Morton and Generals Harrisons and
Hovey.
The total number of casualties in the reei-
ment was 38I. The regiment entered the SER
wee With l,O2l men and officers and received
l3o recruits from Indiana, and veterans and
recruits from the twenty-seventh to the number
OF 1873; making the whole number that served
with the organization l.34S
MEMBERS WHO WERE IN LINE.
The following is a roster of those in line
forming the post of honor:
Col Samuel Merrill, commanding: Absalom
Helm, John Stops, Henry f. wessling, Her
man j. Walten, James NJ Brown. Parker 8.
Carson, William H. H. Shank, Thomas Dixon
David W. Pierson. Isaac A. johnson James mi
Wills, George N. Mcknight Richard NJ. Smock
Frank Hall, William r. McCracken. Allen
Cayior, Nelson Yoke, Herman r, Rop-
key, 8. E.. Deveese, Samuel LANG.
c. L. Garshweller, Moses G. McLain, Robert
H. Patterson, William H. Cooper Risdon c.
Dinwiddie, Thomas J. Doane, Asa Williamson.
Melville c. Alexander, John II. Law, Nathan T.
Rover, John Z. Lake, William H. Kemper.
John r. Jenkins, James H. Kelly, John
T. Hubbard, Frank H. Huron, Henry H.
Crawford. Martin Englehart. Charles W.
Jenkins, Elijah J. Shaw, William H. Har-
denbrook, John NJ. Dasheill, 8. NJ.
Tilson, Thomas B. Kinman, Alvan C. May,
Edmon p. Erwin, Young W. Short, William
Sharpe, William II. Mclaughlin, VIM. E. Tansey,
William Morgan, Stephen W. DUNCAN, Gardner