CHAPTER XXVIII.

REGIMENTAL SKETCHES.

THE EIGHTY-FIFTH-PERRYVILLE, CHICKAMAUGA, MISSION RIDGE, ATLANTA, ROME, KENE SAW, PEACH TREE CREEK, SAVANNAH-BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL C. J. DILWORTH -THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEENTH-REGIMENTAL STATISTICS-THE ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH-ITS VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS-THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTYRECOND PURSUIT OF PRICE-THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOURTH-THE "BULLY ONE HUNDRED AND TWO DOZEN "THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH-VICKSBURG AND THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN-THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH-GUARDING RAILROADS-THE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVENTH-CLOSING OF HOSTILITIES IN GEORGIA THE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH-ON GARRISON DUTY-THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH-RELIGIOUS REVIVALS-THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIRST -WOFFORD'S SURRENDER-THE ONE HUNDRED and Fifty-THIRD-COLONEL STEPHEN BRONSON-THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIFTH.

THE

EIGHTY-FIFTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

HE 85th infantry was mustered into service at Peoria, August 27, 1862, numbering 850 men. The following is the original

roster:

Colonel, Robert S. Moore; Lieutenant-Colonel, Caleb J Dilworth; Major, Samuel P. Cummings; Adjutant, John B. Wright; Quartermaster, Samuel F. Wright; Surgeon, James P. Walker; 1st Assistant Surgeon, Philip L. Duffenbecker.

Co. A.-Captain, Matthew Langston; 1st Lieutenant, Thomas R. Roberts; 2d Lieutenant, John W. Neal.

Co. B-Captain, James R. Griffith; 1st Lieutenant, Charles W. Pierce; 2d Lieutenant, John A. Mallory.

Co. C-Captain, Samuel Black; 1st Lieutenant, George A. Blanchard; 2d Lieutenant, William A. Walker.

Co. D-Captain, Charles W. Houghton; 1st Lieutenant, Comfort H. Raymon; 2d Lieutenant, Charles H. Chatfield.

Co. E-Captain, Pleasant S. Scott; 1st Lieutenant, Joseph M. Plunckett; 2d Lieutenant, Abraham Clarry.

Co. F-Captain, John Kennedy; 1st Lieutenant, Robert A. Bowman; 2d Lieutenant, Richard W Tenney.

Co. G-Captain, William McClelland; 1st Lieutenant, Lafayette Curless; 2d Lieutenant, John M. Robinson.

Co. H-Captain, Nathaniel McClelland; 1st Lieutenant, Luke Elliott; 2d Lieutenant, William Cohren.

Co. I-Captain, William H. Marble; 1st Lieutenant, David M. Holsted; 2d Lieutenant, Hugh McHugh.

Co. K-Captain, Robert G. Rider; 1st Lieutenant, Samuel Yates; 2d Lieutenant, Isaac C. Short.

The regiment was immediately ordered to Louisville, Kentucky. On the 8th of October, 1862, it commenced the battle of Perryville before daylight and was engaged during the day, losing seven men killed and forty-nine wounded. After this battle, it marched to Nashville, Tennessee. It was next engaged in the battle of Stone River, after which it was stationed at Nashville, the greater part of the time, until the 20th of August, 1863, when it was ordered to Huntsville, Alabama, thence to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it arrived the day after that place was evacuated by the enemy, and two days before the battle of Chickamauga. It was present at and engaged in that battle, but, being on the extreme left of the line, suffered but little. It was immediately afterward stationed at the mouth of the North Chickamauga, on the Tennessee River, where it remained until the battle of Mission Ridge, in which it participated, but, being on favorable ground, suffered but little, losing not more than twenty men. After that battle the regiment, with the army, started to relieve Knoxville, but the siege being raised it returned to Chattanooga and was stationed at McAffee's Church. the 24th of February, 1864, the army around Chattanooga, including the 85th, moved toward Dalton, Georgia, and on the 25th engaged the enemy at Buzzard's Roost, where the 85th lost in killed and wounded eighteen men, and after night withdrew from the field, and with the remainder of the troops returned the next day to the old camp.

On

On the 1st of May, 1864, the 85th, being in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 14th Army Corps, commenced its move with the army on the campaign against Atlanta, Georgia. The first day skirmishing commenced, and the regiment was under fire, sometimes severely engaged, and sometimes lightly, for one hundred and ten days. On the 28th day of May the 2d Division was ordered to Rome, Georgia. On the 20th it met the enemy at that place, on the north bank of the river. A severe but short engagement took place, night putting a

THE EIGHTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.

477

stop to the conflict-both parties remaining on the ground. In this engagement the 85th lost twenty-three men in killed and wounded. The next morning it was ascertained that the enemy had fallen back across the river and burned the bridges; but it was uncertain whether they had left the town of Rome or not. In order to get this information, the 85th was ordered to cross the river and enter the town. There being no bridges, and the stream being very deep, the task was very difficult, and the only manner in which the crossing could be effected, was by the men swimming and pushing their guns and accoutrements over on rails and logs. After crossing over thirty men, a skirmish line was formed and moved toward the town, the rest of the men coming up and joining as fast as they could cross. As the skirmishers entered Rome, a sharp skirmish opened between our line and the rear guard of the enemy, who were retreating from the town. That night bridges were constructed, and the next day the remainder of the division crossed.

On the 27th of June, 1864, in the attack upon Kenesaw Mountain, the 85th was placed on the skirmish line, with orders to drive in the enemy's pickets, and then join in the main attack. The driving in and capturing their line was accomplished without much difficulty, but our entire line was repulsed, the 85th losing one hundred and thirteen men. Although the line was repulsed, the men did not quit the ground, but threw up earthworks within twenty-seven yards of the enemy. On the 19th of July, the 85th was the second regiment crossing Peach Tree Creek, and met an overwhelming force, suffering severely, losing ninety men, but, being reinforced, was not driven from the ground. Nothing occurred after this except what is given in the general operations of the army around Atlanta, until the battle at Jonesboro, at which place the 85th lost sixty men. After the fall of Atlanta, the regiment marched with General Sherman to the sea, participated in the Carolina Campaign, and in the grand review at Washington, where it was mustered out of the service, June 5,

1865.

Brevet Brigadier-General C. J. Dilworth entered the service August 27, 1862, as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 85th infantry. He was present at the battles of Perryville and Stone River. He was promoted to the Colonelcy, and commanded the regiment at the bat

tles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Shepardstown, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca and Rome, and at the commencement of the assault on Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1862, at which place-Colonel Daniel McCook, who commanded the 3d brigade, 2d division, 14th army corps, having been mortally wounded early in the fight-Colonel Dilworth took command of the brigade, and held the line within twenty-seven yards of the enemy's works, for six days, at which time the army left. He was in command of the brigade at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, and continued in this command until the battle of Jonesboro, at which place he was severely wounded and was sent North. After recovering from the effects of his wound, and being too late to join the brigade in the march to the sea, he was assigned to the command of a brigade at Chattanooga, at which place he remained until March 24, 1865. At that time he was assigned to the command of the post at Covington, Kentucky, where he remained till mustered out of the service, June 5, 1865. He was brevetted Brigadier-General December 28, 1864, and confirmed by the Senate.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

The 117th regiment was organized at Camp Butler, where it was mustered into the service on the 19th of September, 1862. It was composed of companies from several counties, as follows: Company A, McLean County; B, Montgomery County; C, H, I and K, St. Clair County; D, F and G, Madison County; E, Clinton County. The following is the original roster:

Colonel, Risdom M. Moore; Lieutenant-Colonel, Jonathan Merriam ; Major, Thomas J. Newsham; Adjutant, Samuel H. Deneen; Quartermaster, Henry C. Fike; Surgeon, Martin Wiley; 1st Assistant Surgeon, Humphrey H. Hood; 2d Assistant Surgeon, Thomas C. Jennings; Chaplain, John D. Gillham.

Co. A-Captain, Samuel B. Kinsey; 1st Lieutenant, Harrison W. Wood; 2d Lientenant, Dennis Kenyon.

Co. B-Captain, Robert McWilliams; 1st Lieutenant, Frank H. Gilmore; 2d Lieutenant, George W. Potter.

Co. C-Captain, George F. Lowe; 1st Lieutenant, William H. Whitaker; 2d Lieutenant, William Wallis.

Co. D-Captain, William P. Olden; 1st Lieutenant, Abraham B. Keagle; 2d Lieutenant, Benjamin F. Olden.

Co. E-Captain, Andrew J. Randall; 1st Lieutenant, Erastus M. Burson; 2d Lieutenant, John A. B. Apperson

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479

Co. F-Captain, Jacob I. Kinder; 1st Lieutenant, Charles W. Blake; 2d Lieutenant, Gersham P. Gillham.

Co. G-Captain, Curtis Blakeman; 1st Lieutenant, Alexander I. Gregg; 2d Lieutenant, James G. Elliff.

Co. H-Captain, Robert A. Halbert; 1st Lieutenant, James M. Hay; 2d Lieutenant, David H. Wilderman.

Co. I—Captain, David McFarland; 1st Lieutenant, Samuel M. Stiles; 2d Lieutenant, John R. Thomas.

Co. K—Captain, Nathan Land; 1st Lieutenant, John W. Fike; 2d Lieutenant, James A. Curtiss.

The 117th left Camp Butler November 11, 1862, and arrived at Memphis on the 17th of the same month. It remained there, doing garrison and scouting duty, until July 5, 1863, when it was sent to reinforce Helena, Arkansas. Returning to Memphis, it was sent to Helena the second time, and soon returned again to Memphis, where it remained till December 25th, when it started out on the campaign through Western Tennessee against Forrest. In January, 1864, it went to Vicksburg, and thence to Meridian, soon returning to Vicksburg. On the 10th of March it started on the Red River expedition, under General A. J. Smith, and took a part in the capture of Fort De Russey on the 14th. It was next in the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 9th. It was then sent up the river to the relief of Commodore Porter's gunboats. Returning, it took part in numerous skirmishes with the enemy, reaching Vicksburg May 24th, and accompanied an expedition against Marmaduke, who had established a blockade at Chicot Lake and Columbia, Ark. It then returned to Memphis, whence, June 14th, it was sent to Collierville, to the relief of General Sturgis. Then followed the Tupelo campaign, in which the 117th was engaged, meeting the enemy at Tupelo and Old Town Creek. It again fought at Hurricane Creek, August 13th, 19th and 20th. It was next sent on a campaign through Missouri, taking part in the battle of Franklin, October 1st, and returned to St. Louis, reaching there November 19th. We next find it at Nashville, where it participated in the battles of the 15th and 16th of December, and in the subsequent pursuit of Hood. It was next sent on the expedition against Mobile, where it took an active part in the siege and capture of Blakeley and Spanish Forts. After the fall of Mobile, the regiment was sent to Montgomery, Alabama, where it remained till July 16, 1865, when it was ordered home for