Chapter XXIX
Pictures included in this chapter are Major-General Cyrus Bussey and
General John W. Noble.
The Third Iowa Cavalry
When the war broke out in the
spring of 1861 Cyrus Bussey, a member of the State Senate from Davis
County, was appointed aid-de-camp on the staff of Governor Kirkwood.
T him was assigned the duty of superintending the forces called out
for the protection of the southern border of the State. He received
authority from General Fremont to raise a regiment of cavalry for
the United States service. On the 13th of August he
issued a call for volunteers. On the 28th there were
1,000 men assembled at Keokuk, well mounted and ready to enter the
service. They were promptly accepted and mustered in. The officers
were Colonel Cyrus Bussey; Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. Trimble; Majors
C. H. Perry, H. C. Caldwell, and W. C. Drake. The adjutant was John
W. Noble. On the 4th of November, 1861, the regiment was
sent to Saint Louis where drill was begun. On the 12th of
December one battalion under Major Caldwell was sent to Jefferson
City and was employed some time in the vicinity of Boonville,
attempting to discover ammunition that had been secreted in various
localities. In the spring of 1862 a portion of northeastern Missouri
had been formed into a military sub-district, under command of Major
Caldwell and his battalion was kept busy in suppressing disloyal
bands. He had many sharp skirmishes with these hostile companies
during the winter. In August he encountered a large force of the
enemy at Kirksville and after a severe battle defeated and dispersed
them, killing one hundred and twenty-eight and wounding about two
hundred. In this engagement Captain Mayne was killed and Captain
Hughes, Lieutenant Burch and ten men of the battalion were wounded.
The southern sympathizers in that part of the State having been
dispersed, Major Caldwell reported with his command at Lebanon. He
was soon after promoted to lieutenant-colonel in place of Trimble
who had been dangerously wounded at the Battle of Pea Ridge and had
resigned. Fro several months the command was employed in suppressing
outbreaks in southern Missouri and keeping open lines of
communication. In the summer of 1863 it joined the cavalry division
under General Davidson and took part in the Little Rock campaign.
Colonel Bussey, with two battalions of the regiment, remained at
Saint Louis until the 4th of February, 1862, when he was
ordered to Rolla, from which place he soon marched to join the army
of General Curtis, who was pursuing Price. After a rapid march of
two hundred miles in four days, the command reached Sugar Creek
where General Curtis’ army was found. Learning that the Confederates
had been largely reinforced and were now greatly superior in
numbers, General Curtis had concentrated his army in a strong
position on Sugar Creek. It was William Miller, a private of the
Third Iowa Cavalry acting as a spy, who discovered the approach of
the Confederates in overwhelming numbers and at the risk of his
life, gave the information to General Curtis. The Third Cavalry bore
a conspicuous part in the Battle of Pea Ridge which now opened. It
had a desperate fight near the front where Lieutenant-Colonel
Trimble was wounded and lost twenty-two killed, sixteen wounded and
nine captured. Colonel Bussey’s regiment was one of those which
joined in the pursuit, capturing many prisoners. Major Drake, who
had been left at Salem, had several sharp skirmishes in that
vicinity, finally rejoined the regiment and in the absence of
Colonel Bussey on other duties took command of the Third. The
command remained in that city several months, and was sent on
frequent expeditions into the interior. Early in November Major
Drake resigned on account of failing health and returned to his home
where he soon after died. HE was a brave and accomplished officer
and his death was a severed loss to the regiment. Adjutant John W.
Noble was promoted to fill the vacancy. During the stay at Helena
the Third Regiment was engaged in two important expeditions. One was
the attempt of the army under General Hovey to capture Arkansas
Post, which was unsuccessful. Colonel Bussey had command of 2,000
cavalry in this affair and in the march to Grenada, under General
Washburn, the cavalry destroyed the railroad, encountered the enemy,
the Third Iowa losing four men captured. Colonel Bussey was now
assigned to the command of the Second Brigade of the Second Division
of Cavalry of the Army of the Tennessee. The Third Iowa Cavalry was
in this brigade under command of Major Scott, Major Noble commanding
a battalion. On the 21st of April Major Noble in command
of the regiment encountered a detachment of the enemy and a week
later near Big Creek met another party both of which were defeated.
During the month of May detachments of the regiment engaged in
frequent skirmishes in the vicinity of Helena. In June Colonel
Bussey was ordered to join General Grant’s army then engaged in his
Vicksburg campaign. His regiment was assigned to General Sherman’s
command on the line of the Big Black River. He was placed in command
of the cavalry which was kept busily employed until the surrender of
Pemberton. Soon after the close of this campaign Major Noble took
command of the Third Iowa in place of Major Scott who had resigned.
After the two detachments of the regiment were again united at
Little Rock, Lieutenant-Colonel Caldwell took command and Major
Noble was appointed Chief of Cavalry on the staff of General
Davidson. On the 1st of January, 1864, more than six
hundred men of the Third Iowa Cavalry reenlisted as veteran
volunteers and on the 6th were granted furloughs of
thirty days to visit their homes. About this time Colonel Bussey was
promoted to Brigadier-General, H. C. Caldwell to colonel, John W.
Noble lieutenant-colonel, Captain Mudgett and McCrary were promoted
to majors. Colonel Caldwell was soon appointed Judge of the United
states District Court of Arkansas and resigned his military
commission. Noble was thereupon promoted to colonel and Major
Duffield became lieutenant-colonel.
The Third Iowa Cavalry was in the
disastrous march to Guntown under command of General Sturgis and
lost sixty-seven men. On the 24th of June the regiment
joined the command of General A. J. Smith in the Tupelo Campaign
which was successful. It was in several severe engagements and was
distinguished for skill and bravery, losing nineteen men during the
campaign. On the 2d of September the regiment under Major Jones
marched to Brownsville, Arkansas, there joined the army under
General Mower and, with the Fourth Iowa and Tenth Missouri, formed a
brigade commanded by Colonel Winslow. On the 22d it joined the army
under General Pleasanton near Independence where a battle was in
progress. The men at once dismounted, deployed into line and fought
until late in the afternoon. In this engagement Lieutenant James H.
Watts, acting adjutant, was mortally wounded. The enemy was driven
across the Big Blue River where he took a strong position. Colonel
Winslow formed his brigade for a change and moving forward drove the
enemy in confusion, but with heavy loss. Colonel Winslow was
severely wounded in this engagement and the Third Iowa had thirteen
men wounded. Winslow’s Brigade pursued the enemy in his rapid
retreat over the prairies for a long distance until he turned and
made a stand. The Union brigade at once charged and again put the
enemy to flight. In the Battle of Osage James Dunlavey, a private in
Company D, captured Confederate General Marmaduke, and Sergeant C.
M. Young captured General Cabell on the same field. The loss of the
Third Cavalry in this campaign was six killed and forty-four
wounded. That portion of the regiment left at Memphis, under Colonel
Noble, took an active part in the Grierson Raid, after which it went
to Vicksburg in January, 1865. Soon after the entire regiment was
reunited and moved to northern Alabama.
The Wilson Raid
In March General James H. Wilson
completed the organization of an army of about 12,000 men for an
expedition into northern Alabama. General Edward F. Winslow
commanded a brigade composed of the Third and Fourth Iowa Cavalry
and the Tenth Missouri. The command left Chickasaw on the 22d of
March and for about a week marched in a southerly direction through
a very rough country. From Elyton to Selma, Wilson fought most of
the way, gaining an important victory at Ebenezer Church on the 31st.
He assaulted and carried the works at Selma on the 2d of April,
capturing many prisoners and a large quantity of stores. Moving on
the army entered Montgomery about a week later and raised the Union
flag over the first Capital of the Southern Confederacy. Columbus
was taken by assault in which Winslow’s Brigade bore the brunt of
the battle. On the 20th, while moving toward Macon, news
came of the close of the Rebellion. This expedition was one of the
most successful of the war. It had moved over five hundred miles in
the heart of the enemy’s country in thirty days capturing nearly
7,000 prisoners, two hundred and forty-one pieces of artillery and a
vast quantity of small arms; laid waste granary of the South,
demolished the iron works, factories, arsenals and armories upon
which the Confederacy depended for arms, munitions and supplies;
destroyed many bridges and miles of railroad. There was not an
engagement during the campaign in which the Third Iowa did not
behave with great gallantry. The loss of the regiment during the
campaign was about forty killed and wounded. Moving from Macon to
Atlanta on the 9th of August it was mustered out of the
service, reaching Davenport on the 21st. For nearly four
years this regiment had done most effective work in every field on
which the fortunes of war had placed it. The record of his brilliant
achievements was never dimmed by an unworthy act.
The Fourth Iowa Cavalry
This regiment was raised
during the autumn of 1861 and was in part formed of companies
enlisted for other regiments. Henry County furnished nearly three
companies; Poweshiek, one; Madison, one; Jefferson, one; and others
were enlisted in various parts of the State. The regiment originally
numbered 1,035 men and assembled at Camp Harlan, near Mount
Pleasant, and was there mustered into service late in November,
1861. The field officers were Colonel Asbury B. Porter,
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Drummond, Majors Simeon D. Swan, Joseph E.
Jewett and George A. Stone with George W. Waldron adjutant. The
regiment remained in camp most of the winter, drilling and procuring
arms, horses and equipment for active service. The men suffered
greatly from the exposure of camp life during the severe weather,
which caused a great amount of sickness. Toward the last of February
the regiment was sent to St. Louis, soon after to Rolla and from
there to Springfield. Here the men were furnished a variety of
antiquated arms, at which they were justly indignant. The regiment
joined the army of General Curtis which began an invasion of
Arkansas and was assigned to General Vandever’s Brigade. After a
long march the army turned eastward and finally reached Helena on
the 15th of July. The Fourth Cavalry followed the
fortunes of the army, which had seen more hard marching than
fighting. From this time until April, 1863, the regiment remained in
Helena employed in scouting and picket duty, having frequent
skirmishes with the enemy in the vicinity and losing a number of
men. On the 11th October Major Ben Rector with a
detachment of fifty men, while several more were killed and wounded.
Lieutenant Parsons with fifty men came up a few minutes later
driving the enemy from the field and capturing the
lieutenant-colonel commanding.
Colonel
Porter was a slack disciplinarian, while Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond
was a born soldier and knew the value of strict discipline and rigid
drill. Their ideas of military requirements were so radically
different that frequent misunderstandings ensued. Drummond resigned
and returned to his place in the regular army in June, 1862, while
Colonel Porter left his command, returned home without leave, sent
in his resignation in March, 1863; he was however dismissed from the
service by order of the President. He was the only Iowa colonel thus
dismissed during the war. He had previously served as major of the
First Iowa Infantry, made a good officer, and had distinguished
himself at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. In July, Major E. F.
Winslow was promoted to colonel of the regiment. In January, 1863,
Major Ben Rector who had been exchanged and returned to the
regiment, died at Helena and in February Captain Tullis died at the
same place. On the 29th of April the regiment moved to
join Grant’s army then engaged in the Vicksburg campaign and was
assigned to Sherman’s Corps and at once placed in the advance. On
the 16th of May it was employed in the rear guard on the
march of Sherman’s Corps toward Vicksburg. During the entire siege
the regiment was in action being in the saddle fifty-two days out of
the fifty-six. The men were worn out by hard and continuous service,
many were prostrated by sickness and a large number died. On the 22d
of June, while a detachment form the regiment was blockading the
road leading to Johnston’s army then trying to break the blockade,
it was suddenly assailed by a body of eight hundred cavalry which
cut off one company and made a furious attack on the others. The
detachment made a vigorous fight and cut its way through to the camp
but with the loss of nearly half its men. On the 5th,
after the fall of Vicksburg, the regiment under Colonel Winslow, in
a brigade commanded by Colonel Bussey, crossed the big Black River
and took the advance on the road to Jackson. Three hundred men under
Major Parkell forming part of a force of eight hundred cavalry
commanded by Colonel Winslow, on the 10th of August made
a raid of over three hundred miles by Grenada and Coldwater to
Memphis. From this time until December the regiment at Vicksburg in
comfortable quarters. By the 19th of December enough
reenlistments had been secured to constitute the Fourth Iowa a
veteran regiment and during the early part of winter enough recruits
were received to fill up the ranks. On the 1st of
February the Fourth Iowa Cavalry started with Sherman’s army on the
Meridian expedition. This, with tree other regiments of cavalry
under Colonel Winslow, constituted the advance of the army and was
almost constantly engaged with the enemy during the entire march of
one hundred and fifty miles to Meridian. Battles of more or less
magnitude were fought by the cavalry at Bolton, Jackson, Hillsboro,
Morton, Tunnel Hill and Meridian. Upon its return to Vicksburg the
regiment was granted a long expected furlough. On the 29th
of April the veterans were back in camp at Memphis where they were
joined by recruits filling up the ranks to the number of 1,350 men.
The Fourth was in the army under General Sturgis in his disastrous
Mississippi campaign that marched in June to find General Forrests
army. Lieutenant W. F. Scott gives the following graphic description
of the Battle of Guntown:
“General Sturgis’ army consisted of about twelve thousand men. The
cavalry, numbering three thousand, was under command of General B.
H. Grierson. Colonel Winslow, of Iowa, and the Tenth Missouri. The
cavalry kept in advance of the army, and on the morning of the 10th
of June became engaged with the enemy’s cavalry near Guntown, a
small station on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The Rebels fell back
until they gained the protection of their main body, which was soon
found to be posted in force and ready for battle. Our infantry was
over five or six miles in the rear. General Sturgis ordered it up on
the double-quick, on learning the disposition of the enemy, and
directed the cavalry to engage him until the infantry should arrive.
The enemy, under Forrest, was about equal to our force, and was
strongly posted on the crest of a semi-circular hill or ridge, in
front of which ran a small creek with but one bridge and otherwise
impassable, except in a very few places for footmen. The day was
very warm and when the infantry regiments came up they were
exhausted and disordered, having double-quicked the whole distance
from where they were ordered forward. By another great blunder close
up with them came the train of more than two hundred wagons, which
was hurried across the bridge and parked in a field within easy
range and sight of the enemy’s batteries. If there was a time when
the attacking force should be well organized and disposed with
particular skill it should be when the enemy has so great advantage
in position. But in this instance the infantry, tired and
disordered, was hurried into the fight, already opened by the
cavalry, and was soon and completely beaten. The division, brigade
and subordinate officers made strenuous efforts to check the tide of
defeat, but without avail, and the whole army was soon in full
retreat, the greater part in utter confusion. The Rebels rejoicing
in their easy victory pursued with unrelenting vigor, capturing the
entire wagon train and cutting off our weary infantry men in large
numbers. It was some time before an attempt at order in the retreat
was made, and then Colonel Winslow’s brigade was ordered to act as
rear guard, it being the only organized force in the whole command.
Of the First Brigade of cavalry a large part had been taken as an
escort for the commanding general, while several detachments had
been used for other purposes. No attempt was made to restore order
in the infantry, and it was hurried along, a fleeing mob. Back
toward Memphis fled the disordered army, its retreat covered by
Winslow’s brigade of cavalry during the terrible night’s march of
June 10th, and through the next day until Ripley was
reached. Here the enemy pressed so hard that the running skirmish
swelled into a sharp engagement, checking the ardor of the pursuit.
General Sturgis made no attempt to reorganize or control the troops
after the retreat began and he alone should be held directly
responsible for this great disaster. Our losses were about four
thousand men killed, wounded and missing, the entire train of two
hundred and fifty wagons captured and almost the whole ambulance
train with every gun except two belonging to Winslow’s brigade of
cavalry were lost.”
The Fourth Cavalry was with General A.
J. Smith in his Tupelo campaign, also in his expedition sent from
Memphis, in the month of August into Mississippi. It was with the
army sent into Arkansas the latter part of August in pursuit of
Price, which did not overtake him. The regiment was with General
Pleasanton in his pursuit of Price in western Missouri taking part
in engagements near Independence and at Big Blue River. In forcing a
passage of this river Colonel Winslow’s Brigade had a sharp skirmish
with the enemy strongly posted on its banks. In this battle the
colonel was severely wounded and the Fourth lost several men. At
Mine Creek the Union army again overtook Price where a cavalry
battle took place on the open prairie The Fourth Iowa made a most
gallant charge on the enemy’s lines breaking through them and
sending him off in full retreat. Our whole line now joined in the
charge and the rout of the foe was continued until it was driven
into the Indian Territory and nearly destroyed. Winslow’s Brigade
now returned to St. Louis. It had marched nearly 2,500 miles in
three months, worn out two sets of horses and fought in many
engagements with unvarying success. The Fourth Iowa took part in the
two great raids under Grierson and Wilson, described in another
place. In the Battle of Columbus under Wilson, described in another
place. In the Battle of Columbus, under Wilson, the Fourth captured
nine hundred and forty prisoners and twelve field pieces. In August,
1865, the regiment was finally mustered out of service at Atlanta,
Georgia.
The Fifth Iowa Cavalry
The
regiment known as the Fifth Iowa Cavalry was not wholly an Iowa
organization but was composed of companies recruited in Missouri,
Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska Territory. Carl Schaeffer and A. W.
Haw, who had served in the First Iowa Infantry, were authorized to
raise a troop of cavalry in Iowa to form part of a bodyguard for
General Fremont. Schaeffer was a German and a nobleman by birth.
Succeeding to his title and estate of Baron of Boernstein he
assumed the surname of Boernstein to which his rank and estate
entitled him. In conjunction with Sergeant Haw he succeeded in
raising two companies which were organized and mustered into service
at St. Louis as “Fremont Hussars.” Captain Boernstein, serving on
the staff of General Curtis, succeeded in having the troopers from
Iowa detached from the “Hussars” and formed into an independent
command. On the 20th of December, 1861, a regiment called
the “Curtis Horse” was formed to which the Iowa troops were
attached. Four companies of the regiment were from Nebraska, three
from Minnesota and two from Missouri. The organization was completed
in February, 1862, and the “Curtis Horse” entered the service with
about 1,000 men.
W. W.
Lowe was colonel; M. T. Patrick, lieutenant-colonel; the majors were
Carl Boernstein, Wm. Kelsay and A. B. Brackett, with W. B. McGeorge
adjutant. IN February the regiment was sent to Fort Henry, recently
captured by General Grant’s army, and in this vicinity remained for
more than a year. On the 14th of March a detachment of
two hundred and fifty men under Captain Croft, marched toward Paris,
Tennessee, and, being joined by Captain Bullis’ Battery of Light
Artillery, pushed on, attacked a body of about six hundred
Confederates, posted west of the town and after a short but sharp
engagement, defeated them with considerable loss. Captain Bullis
of the Union battery was mortally wounded. Early in May, Major
Boernstein with one hundred and fifty men marched beyond Paris and,
while in camp near Lockridge’s Mills, was suddenly attacked by
Colonel Clayborne with overwhelming numbers. The little party made a
brave resistance but was overpowered and soon cut to pieces. Captain
Nott was thrown from his horse and seriously injured but escaped
with eleven of his men. Captains Haw and Van Minden were wounded and
captured. Major Boernstein was mortally wounded and died the next
day. He was a gallant soldier and an accomplished gentleman and his
death was universally deplored in Iowa where he was widely known.
More than half of his men were killed, wounded or captured.
On the 25th of June the
regiment was assigned to our State and became the Fifth Iowa
Cavalry. Colonel Lowe was continued in command and, as Major Kelsay
had died of disease, Brackett was the only major remaining in the
regiment. On the 25th of August Fort Henry was attacked
by a force of confederates under Colonel Woodward. Major Hart in
command, telegraphed Lowe for reinforcements. Taking six companies
of the Fifth Cavalry, Colonel Lowe hastened to the rescue but upon
his arrival, found that the enemy had been defeated and had
retreated up the river. Early the next morning Colonel Lowe started
in pursuit and soon overtook the Confederates making a vigorous
attack. Lieutenant Summers riddled with bullets, fell from his horse
surrounded by enemies who attempted to bayonet him, but, fighting
with his saber and revolver, he refused to surrender. When finally
disarmed and captured he was found to have seven minie´ balls and a
bayonet wound in his body.
The regiment remained in the
vicinity of Fort Heiman during the winter, making many incursions
into the surrounding country and having several sharp fights with
the enemy. In March it was sent to garrison Fort Donelson, remaining
three months and then joined the army of General Rosecrans at
Murfreesboro. For a long time it was in active service in Tennessee
and Alabama, frequently in skirmishes with the enemy. On the 9th
of October, 1863, Colonel Lowe met with Wheeler’s Cavalry at Sugar
Creek where thirty of the enemy were killed and about one hundred
taken prisoners. The regiment was on active duty in Tennessee during
the remainder of the year and, before the 1st of January,
1864, more than three-quarters of its members had reenlisted,
becoming veteran volunteers. Toward the last of the month they were
granted furloughs and visited their homes. During the month of
February, Companies G, I and K were sent to Minnesota, where they
were formed into an independent battalion under the command of Major
Brackett and did not again join the regiment.
The Rousseau Raid
In July General Sherman’s army was
in the heart of the Confederacy resting in northern Georgia. At this
time he was planning a raid for the purpose of destroying the
communications of the Confederate army at Atlanta with the
southwest. Major-General L. H. Rousseau was chosen to lead the
expedition. His army was about 3,000 strong and with it was the
Fifth Iowa Cavalry, in command of Major Baird, Lieutenant-Colonel
Patrick having command of a brigade. The expedition started from
Decatur in light marching order, without wagons and with but a
single ambulance to each regiment. Going by way of Sommerville and
Ashville to the Coosa River, Rousseau’s army dispersed General
Clayton’s command which disputed his passage. It pushed on rapidly
by Talladega destroying railroads, store house, iron works and
bridges. On the 18th a detachment under Major Baird
sharply engaged a Confederate force under Clayton, near Montgomery,
in which the latter was defeated with considerable loss. As the sun
went down on the 22d Rousseau’s army reached Marietta, on the line
of communication from Chattanooga to Atlanta, where Sherman had
thirteen days before directed him to strike the Confederate lines.
General Rousseau had marched nearly four hundred miles in thirteen
days, had crossed the Sand Mountains, two large rivers, fought tow
battles, destroyed thirty miles of railroad, five large depots of
cotton and army supplies. Not a single act of pillage or vandalism
had been committed by his soldiers. His loss did not exceed thirty
men.
The Fifth Iowa took a prominent
part in this raid in which Captain Curl was killed and Captain
Wilcox severely wounded. In the latter part of July the Fifth
Cavalry took part in another raid which proved disastrous. It was
under command of General Edward McCook who for a time was
successful. He destroyed two large wagon trains, filled with
supplies, and many miles of railroad north and south of Lovejoy; but
soon disasters came thick and fast. The loss of the Fifth Iowa was
very heavy although it fought bravely on all occasions. Lieutenant
Andrew Guler was killed, Lieutenant W. T. Hays was taken prisoner
and about one hundred and twenty men were killed, wounded and
captured. The remnants of the regiment, now under Major Young, in
August marched with General Kilpatrick to cut the communications
south of Atlanta on the Macon railroad. There was hard fighting and
severe marching. The Fifth Regiment greatly distinguished itself,
again losing heavily. In September, by order of the War Department,
two companies of the Fifth Regiment greatly distinguished itself,
again losing heavily. In September, by order of the War Department,
two companies of the Fifth Iowa Infantry were consolidated with the
remnant of the Fifth Cavalry. Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick resigned
and Major Harlan Baird was promoted to the place. November, 1864,
found the regiment at Columbia, on Duck River, not far from
Nashville, Tennessee. On the 28th General Forrest forced
a passage of the river above the fords guarded by the brigade to
which the regiment belonged. The brigade commanded by Colonel Capron
was by this movement left in a bend of the river completely isolated
from the main army and in a perilous position. Colonel Capron was
missing and Major Young assumed command. He at once determined to
make a desperate attempt to save the brigade by cutting his way
through the enemy’s lines. The dispositions were quickly made and
the order given “forward.” The Fifth Iowa was in advance and when
the enemy’s liens were reached, the major shouted—“charge!” and with
a fierce yell the cavalry cut its way through the Confederate ranks.
The brigade reached the Union lines about midnight and reported to
General Wilson. He was most agreeably surprised as Colonel Capron
had arrived some time before and reported his brigade cut to pieces.
The Fifth Iowa lost fifteen men in this affair. Lieutenant-Colonel
Baird, now having secured horses from Kentucky to replace those lost
in the campaign, was ready for the Battle of Nashville. On the 15th
of December General Thomas advanced with his army to attack the
Confederates and won a great victory. The Fifth Iowa was in the
fight on the right of the line where Lieutenant John W. Watson was
killed. Joining in the pursuit it skirmished with the retreating
enemy for several days. The next important service of the regiment
was in the raid led by General J. H. Wilson. Major J. M. Young was
now promoted to colonel, in place of Lowe who had previously
resigned. In an engagement near Six Mile Creek the Fifth was in the
advance when Colonel Young gave the order to “charge.” For a moment
both friend and foe were obscured by dust but the next moment
revealed the enemy broken and fleeing in every direction. At the
battle of Ebenezer Church and at the capture of Selma our regiment
was in the thickest of the fight. The last battle in which it fought
was the taking of Columbus, Georgia, where three companies joined in
the assault. Colonel Young captured the books and assets of the bank
of Tennessee, and money amounting to about $800,000. The war now
being ended, the regiment was sent to Nashville where on the 11th
of August, 1865, it was mustered out of the service.
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