The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-08
PLENTY TO DO.
The Marching and Fighting Done by the 61st
III. During Its Term of Service.

The Marching and Fighting Done by the 61st
III. During Its Term of Service.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The 61st
III. was organized at Carrollton, H., by Col.
Jacob Fry. Three full companies were
mustered Feb 8, 1862. Feb. 81 the regi-
ment, being still incomplete, moved to Ben
ton Barracks, Mo. Here 4 sufficient number
of recruits Joined to make uine full compa-
MES On March 26, 1o62 The organization
embarked for PiitsbuIg Landing, and ON
arriving, March 80, were assigned TO the bri-
CAD OF Col Madison Miller, 18Th Mo-, Divis-
ion of BTig.-Gen. B. NJ. Pren'iss
Four hundred men were formed in line in
time TO receive the frs assault of the enemy
at Shiloh on April 6, and sio, their ground
for an hour and a quarter, until every other
regiment in the division had given way,
when they were then ordered to fall back.
Upon retiring from this pcs lion the regi-
ment was compimented by Gen. PTentiss
for its gallant stand.
1t was then ordered TO support battery
of the LIST Mo, and at O'Clock p. M. ordered
to the support OF Gen. Huribut, coming
up at a very critical moment, and msin-
tanning his line until relieved by fresh
regiment when its ammunition was entirely
exhausted. When the second line was
broken the regiment retired in good order,
and took a position supporting the siege
guns. The next day it was in reserve.
Loss, so killed, wounded, and missing, in
Guiding three commissioned officers.
Later the regiment was assigned TO First
Brigade, Third Division, Col. L. F. Ross, 18th
ILL.,, commanding brigade Maj. Ohr took
command of the regiment, Col. Jacob Fry
being absent. On May 2 Brig.-Gen. John
A. Logan took command of The Division,
and was succeeded in a few days by Brig
Gen. Judah.
The regiment mex moved to Bethel, Tenn,
Col. Haynes, 18th ILL.,, taking command of
the brigade June is. 1t moved to Jackson,
Tenn, and was put in Ross's Brigade, of
Logan's First Division, and moved TO Boil
var. 1t went via jackson and Corinth to
Brownsville, Miss, on the Memphis ana Cor
inth Railroad, returning to Bolivar after
the battle OF Iuka, Sept. %.
Brig Gen. NJ BIaynan in October was
assigned to the brigade, and Col. Fry TO
the command of the post at Trenton, where
on the Goth of December he WAS taken pIis-
oner by Gen. Forrest and paroled. The bri-
Rade remained at Bolivar, Gen. Brayman
commanding the post.
Two huncred and forty men Of the regi-
mept proceeded on Dec. IS to Jackson, aud
moved out on the Lexington road. under
command of Col Engleman, with the Add
iii. and detachment OF cavalry. Position
was taken at Salem Cemetery, aud Oh the
morning Of the 18Th the rebels, under For
Tesf, with three pieces OF artillery, were re-
pulsed, and nn receiving reluloTcements from
Gen Sullivan, the Federal forces pursued
the enemy some distance after which they
returned Ia Bolivar.
Ga May 81, 1863. The regiment, being in the
Sixteenth Corps. moved via railroad 10 Mem
phis and embarked for VicksbuIg. Arrived
al ChicE a~aw Bsyon June 4, and accom-
panied the Kpedition up Ydzoo River, land
iDg a, Satartia.
Lien;.-Col. Fry having resigned, Maj. Ohr
was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, and in
Angus tue regiment was placed in MAJ
Gen. Steeie's army, Col. McLane. Add Ind,
commanding division, and Col. Graves, 18th
Mich., the brigade. The regiment remained
IN Arkansas until Aug. IA, 1864, being sta
toned NEST of the time at Little Rock and
peyalls Bluff. II did its full share Of the
hard fighting ana generally lTuitless march
ing that the troops composing the depart
ment MADE during that period 1t part CT
pa ed in the combat al Clarendon, on the
White River, June &c, 1864, which resulted
in raising the blockade of that river, made
by the rebel Gen. Joe Shelby.
In the early part of the year 1864 enough
Of the men reinlisted as veterans TO enable
the regiment TO retain its organization IS "A
veteran regiment. Co. X joined the Tegi-
ment from Camp Butter, H., aud IL August
the r giment Stated TO Illinois on a veteran
furlough, leaving 60. K and the recruits,
4
Ark.
On the expiration Of its veteran furlough
the regiment rendezyoused at Springfield
III. 1t went from there TO ST. LOUIS, No.
Owing TO the pending invas.o on OF Missouri
BY the rebels, under Gen. Price, the regiment
was halted at 81. Louis. Cor. Il, ID, and G
were detached fiOGn the regiment aud stnt
70 Chester, H., 20 guard the crossing OF the
Mississippi River at ihat point. They re-
NAMED there until October, when they
Joined the regiment al ST. Louis. Tie
entire regiment Was then sent TO Mexico,
on the North Missouri Railroad IA :Le
northeastern part OF the State, aud during
the balance of the month was engaged IN "a
series Of hard march n after a gang or Teb-
els who were operating in that part OF he
siate, finally chasing them across the " b
sour River and dispensing them. The Iegi-
Lstnb returned 10 -. LOUIS, and alteTHdfd
found itself in Murireesbolo, Tenn, where,
Dec. 4, IL Was engaged Ia the COZ. bat OF
Oyerails Creek, three miles from Mulirees-
boro. Ia addition 10 the casualties sus-
tanned by the regiment in this action among
the rank and file, Lieut.. Elijah B. CARING
ton, of Co. +, a most excellent officer, was
instantly killed by musket-ball in The
breast.
Tie regiment was engaged in the battle
Of Wilkinson Pike or " the Cedars,n near
herreesboro. 1t signalized Itself by a gal
IaDt charge over tie enemy's raj and dirt
and log breastworks, capturing tie colors
Of Florida regiment aud a number of
prisoners Out of 200 men engaged the
6lst lost in killed and wounded 30 The
regiment, numbering then about IT'S, with
small squad of dismounted cavalry and
one company Of the 1st Mich. Engs., was
sent as an escort of q train OF cars destined
10 Stevenson, Ala, aud returned with
Fations Tor the troops at Murfreesboro. On
the return, about 2 o'clock on the morning
OF Dec. Is. about eight miles out of Muir
fEeesbOro, the regiment was attacked by an
overwhelming force Of rebels under command
OF Gen. Forrest. The rebel force aggregated