The National tribune., 1897-08-05
HHRD FIGHTING FOR UNCLE SAN.
What the 41.h Ill. Did for the Cause After
the Fall of NicksburG.

What the 47th HI. Did for the Cause After
the Fall of Vicksburg.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: After tht
Fall of Vicksburg the Eagle Brigade win
tered at La Grange, Tenn, and in the Spring
of 1864 started on the Red River expedition
One or two divisions of the First Corps ano
one of the Seventeenth were put under Gen
A. }. Smith, and designated as the six
| teenth Corps. The First Division was com,
manded by Gen. j. A. Mower, advanced
from the Second Brigade, commanded now
by Col L. +. Hubbard.
Our command was the first in the field OF
| operations, capturing Fort De Russey and
Alexandria before Gen. Banks arrived. The
| First and Second Brigades of the First DI-
vision, under Gen. Mower, surprised force
| OF rebels at Hendersons Hill, capturing
about $50 men, four guns, and some 200
| horses The concentration of the forces was
effected at Alexandria, rs had been arranged,
| but beyond this point the progress was
| slow.
Natehitoehes was the next point occu-
| pied. Cooperation of the land and naval
forces ceased, for the road turned from the
river in a circuit to the left. The army
took up the march on April 8 with the
Thirteenth Corps in advance, followed by
the Nineteenth and the Sixteenth. This
arrangement threw us 30 miles in rear of
the advance. When tire Thirteenth neared
Mansfield it found the main force of the
enemy advantageously posted.
battle ensued at Sabine Crossroads, re-
sulting in heavy losses to the Union forces.
Il 81, a.,
gagged that the Thirteenth Corps was fought
III detail that Is, a brigade was sent to the
front, and not until it was captured or driven
back was auo, her advanced
The retreat was checked Mt Pleasant
Grove. Banks, however, decided to fall
farther back to a better position at Pleasant
Hill, where the Sixteenth Corps had bvou-
acked during the night The troops under
Smith knew nothing Of the disaster until
the morning of the 9th, and then only
through stragglers.
About O'Clock we advanced TO the crest
Of the hill On the other side of which the
Nineteenth Corps was engaged. They were
finally compelled TO give way, although
they fought desperately and passed through
onr lines, when the Sixteenth Corps ad-
yanced and, after a hard struggle, drove the
rebels about two miles, darkness putting an
end to the pursuit.,
In the morning we moved to the left, and
about ) o'clock we were ordered 10 take up
our march to the rear. This being the first
time in the history Of the brigade that we
had turned our backs on the enemy. the
order was received with bad grace and adj
verse criticism OF Banks. Banks took his
army and FASTENED down TO Alexandria,
leaving US to stand of the rebels and do
daily fighting.
At:er returning 10 the mouth of Red
River we proceeded 10 Memphis. Cen Mar
maduke had interlered with the passage of
boats ON the Mississippi at Old Lake VIZ
lage, on Lake Chicot. We landed on June
5, and the next day drove him back We
learned that Forrest had defeated Sturgis
near Guntowp, Miss, and the Sixteenth
Corps was ordered to follow the Confed-
crates.
At Moscow, Tenn, the men who had re-
enlisted sometime before were sent rome On
veteran furlough. The regiment, under Col
Mcclellan, performed its part, and assisted
in the defeat of the rebels.
En- the Fall we went to Jefferson CITY. /
should have said that in October those who
bad not re-enlisted were discharged, leaving
only n small part OF the regiment, under
First Lieutenant Edward Bonham, ca. G.,
aud Second Lieutenant r. O. OImsted, Co d.
We were quartered IN Jefferson Barracks,
after other movements, until election day.
The most of the States sent Cafumissi oners
to their troops IN the field to canvass their
vote, but Illinois and Indiana having Legis-
latures averse to further prosecution of
the war, failed to provide for such measure
In November, at Springfield, Ill., we re-
ceived an iustalIment of substitutes and
drafted men to organize a battalion Of four
companies. Lieuts. BoHham aud OFmsfed
were promoted Major and Captain resrect-
lively. Other officers were: Co. A. Cap. r.
O. Olmsted; First Lieut., A. Haptonstall.
Co. b, Capt. Henry War; Lieuts., w. S.
Boggs and John IF. McClsy. Co. c, Capt.
James Bowman; Lieut. Alexander VIII
hanson Co. D. Capt. -; L cut, Bray
ton Harlow.
We went to Eastport Landing, on he Ten
nessee River, and after the collection of
troops and supplies for a campaign against
Mobile, marched to Spanish Fort On April
8, by vigorous assault, the left of the Com
federafe works was carried, and the enemy
evacuated the works.
During the siege our regiment was REIN
forced by six ompanies of recruits, organized
by Col. Bryner, our first Colonel, and Col. d.
w. Magee, formerly OF the S6th Ill. hagee
was commissioned Colonel, Bryner having
died on the way to the front Bonham
was made Lieu utenslat-Colonel, and Olmsted
Major. Although Magee was an excellent
officer, we never became quite ree0nciled to
what we regarded as a slight upon Bonham
and Olmsted. We were on the ground at
the time of the capture of Fort Blakely.
Soon after, Mobile was evacuated.
A fter various eteericnces and senaration
of the parts of the regiment, it concentrated
at Selma, Ala, FOR muster-out, about the
last Of January, 1866 We received our nal
discharge aud pay at Springfield, H., ON
Feb. 6.-SAMUEL KLEFFMAY, Cos. and
B, Nth ILL.,, HIldgeth, Neb.
IN Gin or nnI "A 1nnrrh