Showing posts with label 14th IL CAV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 14th IL CAV. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 203. — Report of Col. James Biddle, Sixth Indiana Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations December 15-21, 1864.

No. 203.

Report of Col. James Biddle, Sixth Indiana Cavalry,
commanding Second Brigade, of operations December 15-21, 1864.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., SIXTH DIV., CAVALRY CORPS,                
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,        
Edgefield, Tenn., December 24, 1864.

SIR: In accordance with directions from division headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Second Brigade in the recent campaign in Middle Tennessee:

The brigade broke camp at 3 a.m. on the 15th, and at 6 a.m. moved out on the Charlotte pike, as previously directed. After passing the outer lines of our works the command was formed in column of battalion to await further orders. At 8 a.m. orders having been received the brigade moved forward on the Charlotte, parallel with Colonel Harrison's (First) brigade. Four miles from the city we were met by the enemy in force, with artillery posted on the west side of —— Creek. Here the brigade was deployed, covering the road and closely supporting Colonel Harrison's (First) brigade. The battery attached to the division took position on the east side of the creek; the Second Brigade was brought up to support the battery. The enemy being dislodged from his position, the brigade moved forward some four miles, where the enemy again made a stand. Here the Sixth Indiana Cavalry supported the artillery, the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry filling a gap between the mounted portion of the Sixth Division and the First Division, General Croxton. This gap was afterward closed by General Croxton moving to the right, when the Fourteenth Illinois were withdrawn, and shortly afterward I ordered them to report to Colonel Harrison to fill a gap in his line. On the 16th the brigade moved from the Charlotte pike to the Hardin pike, taking charge of the division trains, and holding the bridge across Harpeth River. On the 17th the brigade moved across the country to the crossing of the Harpeth River by the Hillsborough pike, holding the fords at that place to prevent any flank movement of the enemy in that direction. While there we captured a captain and 12 men. On the 18th we moved in the direction of Franklin, on the east side of the river—not being able to cross owing to high water—and camped there. On the 19th moved to Franklin, where orders were received to move to Nashville, via Nashville and Franklin pike, where the command arrived December 21, 1864.

The men suffered severely owing to constant rains and the bad condition of the roads, they being unaccustomed to marching, from which cause I was not able to reach the enemy after the first day.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. BIDDLE,        
Colonel Sixth Indiana Cavalry, Commanding Brigade.
Capt. E. T. WELLS,
        Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 606

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 202. — Report of Maj. J. Morris Young, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, of operations November 28, 1864.

No. 202.

Report of Maj. J. Morris Young, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, of operations November 28, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH IOWA CAVALRY,        
Near Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1864.

I have the honor to report the following action of my regiment and others temporarily under my command during the evening and night of November 28, 1864:

The Fifth Iowa Cavalry, under my command, was disposed, by order of Colonel Capron, commanding the First Brigade of the Sixth Division, Cavalry Command, in different positions on the north side of Duck River, above and below the crossing of the turnpike running from Franklin to Lewisburg, to guard the fords and prevent the enemy from crossing to this side, which was successfully performed in my command and front. At 5 p.m. my patrols and pickets reported the enemy in force in my rear and Colonel Capron, commanding the brigade, gone. Hastily withdrawing my regiment, except Company A, which was posted four miles above, with the enemy between us, I formed the Fifth Iowa in charging column on the pike, and was in the act of giving the command "forward," when the other regiments of the brigade, consisting of the Eighth Michigan, Fourteenth and Sixteenth Illinois, came in successively, much to my surprise, for I had supposed them gone out with Colonel Capron, and reported the enemy closing in in [sic] all directions.

I made the following disposition of my new forces as hastily as possible (see also plat attached*): The Eighth Michigan in line dismounted, to the left of and perpendicular to the head of the Fifth Iowa column; the Sixteenth Illinois disposed in like manner on the right; the led horses of both regiments to follow up at a safe distance in their respective rears; the Fourteenth Illinois was placed in column of fours, to the left and rear of the Eighth Michigan and parallel to the Fifth Iowa, which was in column on the turnpike. The left was the most exposed to a counter charge by the enemy, who were known to be in heavy force on that flank. As soon as the enemy's fire was drawn the dismounted men were to immediately fall back, mount, and follow out the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, which was to go through with sabers. In fifteen minutes, these dispositions being completed, the command was given, "forward." In fifteen minutes more we struck the enemy in line, barricaded and posted in the outhouses and buildings just evacuated by Colonel Capron. We received their fire and instantly sounded the "charge," riding them down and scattering them in all directions. At 10 p.m. I reported the brigade entire to Major-General Wilson.

In this charge, which was most gallantly executed, reflecting great credit on all the troops engaged, I do not think our entire loss, out of over 1,500 brought through safe, was more than thirty killed, wounded, and missing. Having been superseded in command immediately by Colonel Capron, who had preceded me some two hours, I have no means of ascertaining definitely our loss. The injury inflicted upon the enemy must have been considerable. The groans and cries of their wounded, as we rode, cut, or shot them down, could be heard distinctly above the noise and din of the charge.

Permit me to add in closing the fact of the growing confidence amongst our troops that good cavalry never can be captured.

J. MORRIS YOUNG,        
Major, Commanding Fifth Iowa Cavalry.
Capt. E. T. WELLS,
        Asst. Adjt. Gen., Sixth Cavalry Division.
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________

* See p. 605.



SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 604-5

Monday, October 29, 2012

William J. Young

WILLIAM J. YOUNG, an enterprising and progressive citizen of Knox Township, residing on section 21, was born in Warren County, Ohio, August 6, 1847, a son of Peter and Eliza (Whitaker) Young, the father a native of New Jersey, and the mother born in Clermont County, Ohio. They were the parents of seven children – Margaret, Elizabeth, John, Naomi, Alfred, William J. and Samuel. Our subject lived in his native county till eight years of age, when he went with his parents to Knox County, Illinois, and there he was reared to manhood. He attended the common schools during his youth, completing his education at Abingdon College, of Knox County.  During the late war he went to the defense of his country’s flag, enlisting February 14, 1864, in Company A, Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry. He participated in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and in General Sherman’s campaign. He was in all of Generals Stoneman and Cook’s engagements in which the Fourteenth took part. Mr. Young was captured by the rebels at Atlanta, and was first taken to Athens, then to Andersonville, where he was confined for five months. After enduring all the hardships and privation known only to those who were confined there, he was removed to Charleston, and three weeks later to Florence, and after being confined at the latter place eight weeks he was paroled. In December, 1864, he was taken to Charleston, then to Annapolis, Maryland, where he lay in a hospital for many days at the point of death, but through the kind and attentive nursing of the Sisters of Charity he recovered, and in January, 1865, returned to his home, when he was taken with a relapse, and for many days his life was again despaired of. He received an honorable discharge at Camp Chase, Ohio, in April, 1865, when he returned to his home in Knox County, Illinois.  In 1866 he went to southwestern Missouri, returning to Knox County in 1869, remaining there till 1870. November 24, 1870, he was married to Louisa Hendricks , who was born and reared in Knox County, Illinois, a daughter of William and Amanda Hendricks. They have six children – Charlie, Loyd, Bessie, Albert, Rolla and Oscar. Mr. Young removed to Vermillion County, Illinois, in 1870, and after residing there four years came to Clarke County, Iowa, when he settled on his present farm in Knox Township, which contains eighty-five acres of well-improved land under a high state of cultivation. He has a commodious and comfortably furnished residence, and good farm buildings for the accommodation of his stock, and in his general farming and stock-raising he is meeting with success. Mr. Young is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is commander of Knox Center Post, No. 189. He has served efficiently as clerk of his township. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has by his fair and honest dealings won the confidence and esteem of all who know him.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 409

Friday, October 1, 2010

14th Illinois Cavalry

Organized at Peoria, Ill., and mustered in 1st and 2nd Battalions, January 7, 1863. 3rd Battalion February 6, 1863. Moved to Louisville, Ky., March 28-30, 1863, thence to Glasgow, Ky., April 12-17. Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of the Ohio, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to October, 1863. 4th Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to November, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division Cavalry Corps, Dept. Ohio, to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of Kentucky, Dept. Ohio, to June, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 23rd Army Corps, to August, 1864. Dismounted Cavalry Brigade, 23rd Army Corps, to September, 1864. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, 23rd Army Corps, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, 6th Division Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to July, 1865.

SERVICE.--Scouting in the vicinity of Glasgow, Ky., till June 22, 1863. Action at Celina, Ky., April 19. Lafayette, Tenn., May 11. Kettle Creek May 25. Expedition from Glasgow to Burkesville and Tennessee State line June 8-10. Kettle Creek June 9. Moved to Tompkinsville, Ky., June 22. Pursuit of Morgan July 4-26. Buffington Island, Ohio, July 19. March from Louisville to Glasgow July 27-August 6. Burnside's Campaign in East Tennessee August 16-October 17. Occupation of Knoxville, Tenn., September 1. Expedition to Cumberland Gap September 4-9. Rheatown September 12. Kingsport September 18. Bristol September 19. Zollicoffer September 20-21. Jonesborough September 21. Hall's Ford, Watauga River, September 22. Carter's Depot and Blountsville September 22. Blue Springs October 10. Henderson's Mill and Rheatown October 11. Blountsville October 14. Bristol October 15. Warm Springs October 20 and 22. Knoxville Campaign November 4-December 23. Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 5. Near Maynardsville December 1. Walker's Ford, Clinch River, December 2. Reconnoissance to Powder Springs Gap December 2-3. Bean's Station December 14-15. Blain's Cross Roads December 16-19. Clinch River December 21. Dandridge December 24. Talbot's Station December 29. Operations about Dandridge January 16-17, 1864. Kimbrough's Cross Roads January 16. Dandridge January 17. Operations about Dandridge January 26-28. Fair Garden January 27. Fain's Island January 28. Expedition against Thompson's Legion of Whites and Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and action at Deep Creek, N. C., February 2. Flat Creek February 20. Duty in District of Kentucky till June. Action at Cittico May 27. Moved to Join Stoneman June 13-19. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign June 28-September 8. Sweetwater Bridge July 3. Raid to Macon July 27-August 6. Macon and Clinton July 30. Hillsboro, Sunshine Church, July 30-31. Sunshine Church and Jug Tavern and Mulberry Creek August 3. Mostly captured. Duty at Marietta, Ga., August. Occupation of Atlanta September 2. Moved to Louisville, Ky., September 15, and duty there refitting till November. Actions at Hardison's Mills October 24. Henryville November 23. Mt. Pleasant November 23. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Crossing of Duck River November 28. Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Duty at Pulaski till July, 1865. Mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., July 31, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 23 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 190 Enlisted men by disease. Total 215.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1030