24th Indiana Infantry

Organized at Vincennes, Ind., and mustered in July 31, 1861. Left State for St. Louis, Mo., August 19. Moved to Jefferson City, Mo., September 14; thence to Syracuse and to Georgetown. Attached to Army of the West and Dept. of Missouri to February, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. Helena, Ark., District of Eastern Arkansas, Dept. of the Missouri, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, Dept. of the Tennessee, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 12th Division, 13th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to February, 1863. 1st Brigade, 12th Division, 13th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to August, 1863, and Dept. of the Gulf to June, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Reserve Corps, Military Division. West Mississippi, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Reserve Corps, Military Division West Mississippi, February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 13th Army Corps (New), Military Division West Mississippi, to July, 1865. Dept. of Texas to November, 1865.

SERVICE. – Expedition to Big Springs, Mo., September 7, 1861. Fremont's advance on Springfield, Mo., September 27-November 2. Duty at Tipton till December. Expedition to Milford, Mo., December 15-19. Shawnee Mound (or Milford) December 18. Camp near Otterville till February 7, 1862. Moved to Jefferson City February 7-10, thence to St. Louis, Mo., Paducah, Ky., and Fort Henry, Tenn., February 15-17. Duty at Fort Henry till March. Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. Expedition toward Purdy and operations about Crump's Landing March 9-14. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Memphis, Tenn., June 3-20. Expedition up White River, Ark., June 26-July 14. Grand Prairie July 6-7. Near Duvall's Bluff July 7. Aberdeen July 9. Moved to Helena, Ark., July 14, and duty there till April, 1863. Expedition to Clarendon August 4-17, 1862. Expedition to Arkansas Post November 16-21, 1862. Expedition to Grenada, Miss., November 27-December 5. Mitchell's Cross Roads December 1. Expedition to White River and Duvall's Bluff January 13-19, 1863. Duvall's Bluff, Des Arc, January 16. Occupation of Des Are January 18. Expedition to St. Francis and Little Rivers March 5-12, Madison March 9, Moved to Milliken's Bend, La., April 14. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson May 1. Fourteen-Mile Creek May 12-13. Battle of Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 24. Advance on Jackson July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Ordered to New Orleans, La., August 5. Duty at Carrollton, Brashear City and Berwick till October. Western Louisiana Campaign October 3-Nocember 30. Opelousas and Bette Landing October 21. Grand Coteau November 3. Moved to New Orleans December 17, and duty at Algiers till January, 1864. Reenlisted January 1, 1864. Duty at various points in Louisiana till January, 1865. Moved to Pensacola, Fla., January 31, and duty there till March 14. Moved to Barrancas, Fla., thence march through Florida and Southern Alabama to Blakely, Ala., March 20-April 1. Occupation of Pollard March 26. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely April 1-9. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. March to Selma April 13-22, and duty there till June. Ordered to Galveston, Tex., and duty there till November. Old members mustered out July 19, 1865. Regiment mustered out November 15, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 80 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 204 Enlisted men by disease. Total 295.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1128-9

Court Martials

Lieut. H. A. Webb, of the 27th regiment Ohio Volunteers, was recently tried by Court Martial in St. Louis, on a charge of “absence without leave,” and was sentenced to forfeit his monthly pay proper for three months and to be reprimanded by the commanding officer of the Department.  Private, Geo. H. Holland, Company I, 24th Indiana was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to be shot.  The sentence was afterwards mitigated to hard labor with a ball and chain during the war, with the forfeiture of all pay, which is a good deal worse than to be shot.  Private Jeremiah Raney, of the same company and regiment, was found guilty of the same offence and sentenced “to forfeit all pay and allowances which are or may become due him up to the 31st day of January 1862, excepting the just dues of the sutler and laundress, and to refund the United States the cost of his apprehension, thirty dollars, to have half his head closely shaved, and to stand for three hours daily on three successive days, on the head of a barrel, on the parade ground of his regiment with a placard around his neck on which will be printed the word ‘Deserter.’”  At the expiration of this sentence he will be dishonorably discharged from the service.  Jesse Fussell was also tried for violating the laws of war in robbing and plundering the property of Wm. H. Page, a loyal citizen in Missouri, and taking a gun from another loyal citizen.  He was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment during the war.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 2

St. Louis Budget of News and Rumors

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19. – Accounts from every camp in the State represent the joy of our troops over the Donelson victory unbounded. – At Pilot Knob a salute was fired last evening.

The officers of Col. Carlin’s 39^th Illinois gave a ball in honor of the event.

A little rebel outbreak took place yesterday morning twelve miles from Jefferson City.  There was two companies of rebels organized near Stonington, destined for Price’s army, and before leaving they revenged themselves of some loyal citizens by killing two and wounding five more.  Gen. Pope dispatched three companies of cavalry after them and their capture is almost certain.

Prof. Swallow, State Geologist, residing at Columbia, Boone county, was arrested today for disloyalty.

The report of burning the bridge of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad at Decatur, Ala., by Union sympathizers is not believed at headquarters.

Ten steamboats are advertised to leave to-day for Paducah.  They carry troops up the Tennessee river.

Gen. Halleck issued an order thanking Gen. Hunter now in Kansas, for the energy displayed in organizing troops in this department prior to his (Halleck’s) arrival, by whose aid our arms were partially enabled to triumph at Donelson.  The meaning of this order, which takes the form of a telegraphic dispatch to Gen. Hunter, is by no means clear.

Gen. Halleck has also issued a spirited order congratulating out troops on their recent success, and encouraging them to look for future victories at times and places already selected.

On Change [sic] yesterday and to-day there has been a decided advance in everything needed at the South in anticipation of an early permission to trade with Tennessee.  It is noticed that whisky advanced considerably.

More arrests for disloyalty are constantly occurring.  Seventeen Rebel prisoners, not being guilty of violating the rules of war, were released to-day on giving bonds and subscribing to the oath.

Deputy Provost Marshal, Gen. Thomas C. Fletcher, proceeded to Alton this p. m. by Gen. Halleck’s order, to release a large number of prisoners from the penitentiary on parole, mostly those who have never borne arms.  Where bonds are given Secessionists are invariably preferred to Union men, as in cases of default no compunction will be felt in seizing property.

The 42^nd Illinois regiment went down the river last night, on the War Eagle.  The Edward Walsh, also, carried 1,400 troops, and an immense quantity of baggage.

Brigadier Gen. Pope, and Staff, proceed south immediately, on the steamer Northerner, which boat also carries a regiment from St. Charles.

Constable’s Ohio battery and two batteries of the 1^st Missouri artillery, are en route for the Cumberland river.  Likewise, the Henry Chouteau steamer is loading with the baggage of the 24^th Indiana regiment.

The shipment of pig lead from this point without a permit, is prohibited.

Another company of nurses have left here for Cairo and vicinity, to attend the wounded from Fort Donelson.

The provost Marshal has ordered all business to be suspended on the 22d inst.  Extensive preparations are progressing for a magnificent celebration.

The Sanitary Commission are preparing hospitals for a large accession of wounded patriots.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3

The Storming of Fort Donelson

It turns out just as we anticipated it was the brigade of Col. Lauman, acting Brigadier General, consisting of the 7^th, 2^nd and 14^th Iowa and the 25^th Indiana which made the gallant charge up the hill over the enemies [sic] breastworks, driving him out of the upper position of his fortifications at the point of the bayonet and deciding the fortunes of the three days’ bloody struggle.  It was this brigade which first planted the stars and stripes upon the rebel works which they carried, restored the flagging spirits of our army, and held the ground which they had taken.

Although the accounts which we get are all Chicago accounts and colored almost as highly as those of the battle of Belmont, being written by the same persons yet, it evidently was not considered wise this time to omit all mention of the most gallant achievement of the three days fighting or of the persons who participated in it.  We find in the Chicago Tribune the following reluctant mention of this decidedly most brilliant bayonet charge, in its execution and result, of the war:

In the afternoon Gen. Grant saw that something should be done to restore the spirits of our disheartened troops, and ordered General Smith to make an assault on the west wing of the enemy’s works.  Gen. Smith, as quick as horseflesh could bear him, rode along his lines and ordered his men to prepare for a charge which caused shouts of joy to ring along his lines. – Without a moment’s unnecessary delay Colonel Lauman’s brigade, the 2d and 7^th Iowa, and the 11^th and 24^th Indiana, charged up to the enemy’s redoubt driving the rebels before them at the point of the bayonet like frightened sheep, and gaining possession of their outer works.

Gen. Smith behaved like one inspired for nothing less than continual victories.  He could be seen riding along the lines with his had swinging on top of his sword amid the thickest of the fight, encouraging his men and cheering them on to victory, regardless of the deadly missiles flying around him.

The Colonel of the 2^nd Iowa was the first to mount the enemy’s works with his men close in his wake.  The storming was complete.  Our troops gained a position inside of their works where they lay on their arms all night and prepared to follow up their success in the morning.

These Chicago reporters are subsisted and paid out of the means of Uncle Sam, by Chicago and Illinois Generals and Colonels, for the express purpose of puffing the aforesaid Generals and Colonels, and they do it without rime [sic] or reason, monopolizing the telegraph lines to the end.  We are surprised that any mention was made at all of Col. Lauman and our Iowa troops.  They tell us that such and Illinois Regiment fought like tigers, but were compelled to fall back – Col. So and So acted like one inspired – the Illinois _th fought with desperate courage until their ammunition became exhausted – the _th Illinois, being cut to pieces were compelled to fall back, which they did with good order, gallantry, etc., etc.  But it being necessary to do something to revive the flagging spirits of our army, the Iowa Brigade, under General Lauman, marched into the rebel fortification and ran up the stripes and stars.  That is all, recited in the fewest possible words, no praise being awarded except to Grant and Smith.

At 2 o’clock, we received the following dispatch, for which we paid the moderate sum of five dollars.  It confirms what we said above:

CAIRO, Feb. 19, 1862

EDITOR HAWK-EYE: – Col. Lauman’s brigade were the first inside the breast works at Fort Donelson.  The casualties of the 7^th Iowa are light, only one man (M. C. Stewart,) company D, is known to be killed.  No more than 15 (fifteen) are wounded, none dangerously.  The Second Iowa is badly cut up.  Two of their captains are killed – one is Captain Cloutman.  Major Chipman is wounded in the thigh.

J. R. N.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 2

Reliable Details of the Fight

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

CAIRO, April 10.

We are just beginning to get some reliable details from the great battle at Pittsburg.  From several gentlemen who were on the field afterwards on in the fight, the following are gathered and sent.  Our informant left the battle field on Wednesday morning at 5 o’clock:

The rebels Attacked Prentiss’s brigade 4 o’clock on Sunday morning, while they were at breakfast.  It consisted of the 61^st Illinois, 16^th Wisconsin, 24^th Indiana and 71^st Ohio.  The rebels were said to be 120,000 strong.  Prentiss had no artillery.  His brigade was cut to pieces, and forced to retire, with Prentiss and many other prisoners.  At 12 m. the entire line was fiercely engaged, but in full retreat.

At 4 p. m. the enemy had taken Swartz’s battery – 6 guns, Dresden’s, of 4 guns, Waterhouse’s battery, 2 rifled Ohio 56-guns, and another Ohio battery.  Thousands of our soldiers had taken refuge under the bank of the river, and utterly refused to fight – in fact they could not, for officers and men were in inextricable confusion, and the army seemed utterly demoralized.

Gen. Mitchell’s [sic] division, about this time arrived on the opposite shore with 15,000 men, who were ferried across during the night.

The gunboats Lexington and Tyler opened a tremendous fire of shell upon the enemy, and kept it up every half hour during the night, saving the army from utter ruin. – They set the woods on fire, and many of the rebels were burned.  At 7 the firing generally ceased.  At midnight the rebels attempted to plant a battery within three hundred yards of our siege guns, but they were driven back by the gunboats and siege guns, supported by three regiments of Mitchell’s division.

Our informants persist in estimating our loss on Sunday at 3,000 killed and 5,000 wounded as a low figure.  It was undoubtedly tremendous.  During the night the rebels were reinforced by Price and Van Dorn from Arkansas, with a very large force.

Gen. Lew Wallace came up from Crump’s Landing with the 18^th and 23d Ind., 44^th Ill., 8^th Mo and Willard’s battery, and in the morning fiercely attacked the left wing of the enemy.  They went into the fight on the double quick with tremendous shouts, and did terrible execution.  By 10 o’clock they had driven the rebels back two miles.  The battery performed prodigies of valor.

About 10 o’clock the rebels were reinforced, and for a few minutes our gallant boys were forced to yield.

The other divisions of Buell’s army now appeared and at once became fully engaged, and for two hours all the destructive elements of earth seamed striving for the mastery on that fatal field.  Southern chivalry proved no match for the unflinching courage of the army of freedom, and the rebels fled in all directions with some 12,000 troops.  Gen. Buell followed the fugitives taking thousands of prisoners and smiting without mercy those who would not surrender.  He was reported to have taken Corinth with all the immense stores of arms and ammunition.  Carson, the scout had his head torn off on Monday by a round shot.

The rebel troops were mostly from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, with many from Georgia and Alabama.  They fought like tigers.  Our informant could ride through the battle field where our forces were posted, but the dead were so thick in the enemy’s line that they could not do it.  They assure us that the rebels surprised our camps on Sunday night, took care of our sick and wounded, but destroyed nothing, expecting confidently to have our entire army the next day.  They thought the battle already won on Sunday.

Gen. McClernand cut his way through the enemy that had surrounded him.  Most of his troops behaved with great gallantry; but the 53^rd Ohio was ordered to the rear in disgrace for refusing to fight.

Capt. Harvy of Bloomington, Illinois is among the killed.

Our informants were assured by those who know the man, that John C. Breckenridge was taken Prisoner.  They saw him pass to the General’s quarters.

It is impossible to get lists of the killed and wounded.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 12, 1862, p. 2

From St. Louis

From St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19.

Accounts from every camp in the State represent the joy of our troops over the Donelson victory unbounded.  At Pilot Knob a salute was fired, and last evening the officers of Col. Carlin’s 38th Ills. gave a ball in honor of the event.

A little rebel outbreak took place yesterday morning twelve miles from Jefferson City.  Two companies of rebels organized near Stonington to join Price’s army.  Before leaving they revenged themselves on some loyal citizens by killing two and wounding five more.  Gen. Pope has dispatched two companies of cavalry after them, and their capture is almost certain.

Professor Swallow, State Geologist, residing at Columbia, Boone Co., was arrested to-day for disloyalty.

The reported burning of the bridge on the Memphis and Charleston R. R., at Decatur, Ala., by Union sympathizers, is not believed at headquarters.

Ten steamboats are advertised to leave for Paducah.  They carry troops up the Tennessee river.

Gen. Halleck has issued an order thanking Gen. Hunter, now in Kansas, for the energy displayed in organizing troops in this department prior to his (Halleck’s) arrival, by whose aid our arms were partially enabled to triumph at Ft. Donelson.  The meaning of this order, which takes the form of a telegraphic dispatch to Gen. Hunter, is by no means clear.

Gen. Halleck has also issued a spirited order congratulating our troops on their recent success, and encouraging them to look for future victories at times and places already selected.

On Change yesterday and to-day there has been a decided advance in every thing needed at the South, in anticipation of early permission to trade with Tennessee.  It is noticed that whiskey advanced considerably.

More arrests for disloyalty are constantly occurring.

Seventeen rebel prisoners not being guilty of a violation of the rules of war, were released to-day on giving bonds and subscribing to the oath.

Deputy provost marshal Thomas C. Fell proceeded to Alton this P. M. by Gen. Halleck’s order, to release a large number of prisoners from the penitentiary on parole, mostly those who have never borne arms.  Where bonds are given, secessionists are invariably preferred to Union men, as in cases of default no compunctions will be felt in seizing rebel property.

The 42d Illinois regiment went down the river last night on the War Eagle.  The Edward Walsh also carried fourteen hundred troops, and an immense quantity of baggage.

Brig. Gen. Pope and staff proceeded south immediately on the steamer Northerner, which boat also carries a regiment from St. Charles.

Constable’s Ohio Battery, and two batteries of the 1st Missouri Artillery are en route for the Cumberland river; likewise the Henry Chonteau steamer is loading with the baggage of the 24th Indiana regiment.

The shipment of pig lead from this point, without a permit, is prohibited.

Another company of nurses have left here for Cairo and vicinity, to attend the wounded from Fort Donelson.

The Provost Marshal has ordered all business to be suspended on the 22d inst.   Extensive preparations are progressing for a magnificent celebration.

The Sanitary Commission are preparing hospitals for a large accession of wounded patriots.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 21, 1862, p. 1

William S. Busick

Private, Company A, 24th Indiana Infantry

William S. Busick was born in Indiana about 1842. In 1860 he was living in Marion Township, Lawrence County, Indiana and he was still residing in Lawrence County when he enlisted as a private in Company A of the 24th Indiana Infantry on July 31, 1861. He was mustered out of the 24th Indiana Infantry on July 30, 1864.

It is likely that he is tha same William S. Busick who resided in Lawrence County, Indiana when he enlisted as a corporal in Company I of the 13th Indiana Cavalry on October 28, 1864 and mustered out of that organization on October 27, 1865.

By 1885 Mr. Busick had been widowed and was residing in Washington, Township, Clarke County, Iowa. He died there on February 2, 1894 and is buried in Section 5 in Osceola’s Maple Hill Cemetery near the obelisk erected by the Women’s Relief Corps “In Memory of Our Fallen Heroes.”

SOURCES: Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System; Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola, Clarke Co., IA; Clarke County, Iowa Genealogical Society, Clarke County, Iowa Cemeteries, Volume 1: Maple Hill Cemetery, p. 67; 1860 Federal Census for Marion Twsp., Lawrence Co., IN; The following Ancestry.com databases: Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1879-1903, Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, American Civil War Soldiers