Showing posts with label 3rd WI CAV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3rd WI CAV. Show all posts

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney to Emeline Harris Tenney et al, December 2, 1862

Camp at Ray's Mills, Arkansas, Dec. 1, 1862.
My Dear Friends:

I guess you wonder a little why you don't hear from your soldier boy. Well, I presume you will wonder often if we stay in the field and keep up our scouts and marches. Since last Tuesday, my regular day for writing and the day I intended to write, I haven't had a minute's opportunity for writing until yesterday, and then I was busy till night, when I was too tired to write.

Tomorrow another train leaves for the Fort. Several sick boys return. I should have liked to go back for comfort, but after all as long as there is a man in the Regiment in the field, I want to be there, too, though there must be some suffering and sacrifices.

Today I had an opportunity to go into the Brigade Commissary as clerk and get $12 a month extra. Lt. Shattuck, brother of Nina, is acting Brigade Commissary and wanted me to help him. N. thought I hadn't better go. I don't care much. Should have liked the little spondulics though.

Sunday night when we arrived here I found six letters, three from home, two from Fannie, and one from Will. I guess I was happy that night and as usual dreamed of home. Thede, I thank you very much for your good long letter. You did me proud. Please do so more.

I see by the papers that Col. Ford has received his just deserts. I enjoy all the particulars of the home circle visits, calls and town gossip. It is always my Thanksgiving Day when my letters come. My letters both received and written have been quite irregular of late and I presume will be in future.

During the last week we have been on our horses most of the time. My ague left me just in time. Tuesday and Wednesday our detachment was out on a scout down below here a little. We had the pleasure of overtaking 400 of Quantrell's men Tuesday night and turned their course from the north southward on double quick. The Major had 115 men. I had the pleasure of being in the advance and had two or three little skirmishes with the rear guard. None of us, how I don't know, was hurt. Afterwards some of the 3rd Wis. were sent ahead of us and when a few rods in advance were fired into from the bushes and two of the men wounded.

I suppose you have heard by this time of the fight at Cane Hill and beyond.

Thursday our detachment went in advance of the whole division but Friday we were rear guard and the Brigade was left at Cane Hill as a reserve. It was aggravating to hear the roar of artillery and not partake. There will be some hard fighting if we go over the mountains.

I have no ambition to die immediately or anything of that sort. I guess life, real life, is precious to the most wicked, but I do long to have our armies hasten on to victory or defeat. If Schofield's forces join ours, I believe our success will be sure, though earned by a good deal of sacrifice.

Lt. Shattuck has been acting Adj. but has gone now. So I have enough to do his duties and those of Sergt. Major.

I have just been out doors and I could see the “fire on the mountains” along our line of march over the hills from the North.

Tonight the air is cold and the fire in our little stove is comfortable and cozy enough. We are getting well used to bivouacking in the open air with few blankets and no fires. When out scouting we go without fires so as not to let the enemy know our movements. Sometimes we can't get much sleep, though. Don't you believe I occasionally long to creep into that soft bed at home and to sit down at our little supper table? Oh no, never!

Please excuse another hasty letter. The Independents have come as usual. I presume we will remain here a few days and then go over the mountains. I hope so.

The boys are all talking as loudly as can be and I can't think overmuch straight.

With much love,
Luman.



SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 46-9

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney: Tuesday, November 25, 1862

Went over to see secesh but they had gone. Shattuck went on detail as chief of commissary. Capt. Seward said I must make out morning reports after this. Major Purington received orders to proceed at once with his command to Evansville. Blair's Battery practised with artillery — shell. Major and detachment started out on a scout, an odd old genius on a white horse as guide. Went by a byroad. When 4 or 5 miles from Cincinnati, crossed a byroad where 400 or 500 had passed. I had charge of advance. Before going a half mile, saw two “butternuts.” Wheeled and ran like fun. Followed about a mile and learned from a family that 4 or 5 had passed not more than ten minutes before. Reported back. Followed most of the time at a trot. When we had gone two miles, we struck the main road and here the rebels fired at us from the brush. I had 20 men. All wheeled but 3 men. Soon rallied. Moved on a few rods and saw 15 or 20 in line by the bushes ready to fire. They fired and we in line fired in return. Soon Major sent word to reload. While reloading the rebels crossed the byroad to the main road. We followed a few hundred rods and were ordered to halt. Soon some of the 3rd Wis. came up, and passed dismounted. When 5 or 6 rods ahead a volley was poured into them, wounding two. Two days after, we heard that they were 400 of Quantrell's men and that they ran to Cane Hill, also that 4,000 went over the mountains. Also that we killed two men. Bivouacked without fires.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 44-5

Thursday, December 26, 2013

From Leavenworth

LEAVENWORTH, May 17.

Gen. Blunt has issued marching orders to the New Mexican expedition.  It consists of the Kansas 1st, 2d and 7th, and the Wisconsin 12th and 13th regiments.  It is commanded by Gen. R. B. Mitchell, and is in every respect a splendid brigade.  It is said that Col. Barstow, of the Wisconsin 3rd Cavalry, is to be made Provost Marshal General of the State.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 20, 1862, p. 1

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Railroad Accident -- Soldiers Killed and Wounded

CHICAGO, March 27 – The special train bearing a portion of Col. Barstow’s Third Wisconsin Cavalry regiment met with a frightful accident at 10¼ last night, on the Northwestern Railroad, about five miles from this city.

The catastrophe was caused by the breaking of an axle of the forward car, throwing it from the track.  The next car was thrown at a distance of several feet and upset.  Three others were hurled upon these, making a total wreck of five cars.  Ten soldiers were killed, three seriously wounded, and a large number hurt – not severely enough to prevent them continuing with the regiment.

Names of the killed and wounded, as far as ascertained, are as follows:

KILLED. – Elisha Sharp, Hospital Steward, of Delavan; Wm. Davis, Co. A, Rang Creek, Jackson county; Lucien M. Ransom, Co. A, Sparta; J. F. Hullmon, Co. A, Viroqua; Chas. Storm, Co. A, Bangor; Chas Brigs, Co. A, Tomah, Monroe county; Walter Small, Co. G; Lyman Wm. Case, Co. G, Geneva, Dr. E. M. Burris, Co. G, New Albany; Charles D. Hatch, Co. A, Sparta.

SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. – Quarter Master Sergeant L. G. Edwards, Co. G, East Troy, ribs; John Tweedle, Co. A, internal injuries and contusion on left side, Madison, also arm broke; Byron Wilcox, Co. L, both legs broken.  The above are not considered to be dangerously injured.

SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. – Davis Custat, Co. A, contusion on head; C. F. Farwell, Co. G, right shoulder sprained; C. Gilson, Co. A, left shoulder and arm, and left foot injured; Geo. Ordsby, Co. A, injured spine; Robert Lawrence, Co. A, shoulder sprained; Fred. H. Johnson, Co. A, right knee and left side injured; William Anderson, Co. A, right ankle sprained; M. J. White, Co. A, hip sprained and head cut; Chas. Putnam, Co. A, knee sprained; John Craits, Co. D, hand badly cut.

The greater part of the last will go with the Regiment; the others are provided with good quarters and will be cared for.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3

Friday, September 30, 2011

Terrible Railroad Accident

CHICAGO, March 27.

The special train bearing a portion of Col. Brastow’s 3d Wisconsin cavalry regiment, met with a frightful accident at half past 10 o’clock last night, on the Northern RR, about five miles from this city.  The catastrophe was occasioned by the breaking of an axle of the forward car, throwing it from the track.  The next car was thrown a distance of several feet and upset; three others were piled upon these, making a total wreck of five cars.  Ten soldiers were killed, three seriously wounded and a large number hurt, though not bad enough to prevent their continuing with the regiment.  The names of the killed and wounded, are as follows:

Killed – Elisha Sharp, hospital steward, Delavan; Wm. Davis, Co. A, Roaring Creek, Jackson county; Lucien M. Ranson, C. A.; J. J. Palmer, Co. A, Oiroqus; Casper Stone, Co. A, Bangor; Charles Briggs, Co. A, Monroe county; Walter Suell, Co. G. Lynn; Wm. Case, Co. G. Geneva; Dr. E. M. Bemis, Co. G., New Albany; Chas. D. Hatch, Co. A, Sparta.

Seriously Wounded. – Q. M. Sergt. L. J. Edward, Co. G, East Troy, rib broken; Tweedle, Co. G, internal injury and contusion on left side, Madison; Alger, Co. A, left arm broken; Byron Wilconx, Co I, both legs broken.

The above are not considered to be dangerously injured.

Slightly Wounded. – Davis Oustot, Co. A, contusion on head; C. J. Farwell, Co. G, right shoulder sprained; C. Gibson, Co. A, left shoulder and arm and left foot injured; George Crosby, Co. A, Injured in [spine]; Robert Lawrence, Co. A, shoulder sprained; Frederick H. Johnson, Co. A, Right knee and left side injured; M. J. Whiting, Co. A, hips sprained and head cut; Wm. Anderson, Co. A, right ankle sprained; Chas. Putnam, Co. A, knee sprained; John Orites, Co. D, hand badly cut.  The greater part of the last list will go on with the regiment, the others are provided with good quarters and will be well cared for.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 28, 1862, p. 1

Friday, March 11, 2011

From Kansas

LEAVENWORTH, May 17. – Gen. Blunt has issued marching orders to the New Mexican Expedition.  It consists of the Kansas 1st, 2d and 7th, and the Wisconsin 12th and 13th.  It is commanded by General R. B. Mitchell and is in every respect a splendid Brigade.

It is said Col. Barstow, of the Wisconsin 3rd Cavalry is to be made Provost Marshall General of the State.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 4