tion at the extreme left of the line, with no support on
either flank — Turchin's brigade on the right being
three-quarters of a mile distant. So isolated and
advanced a position could not be held through the
night, and at the expiration of two hours, or at about sun-
down, not receiving reinforcements, orders were given
for the command to fall back. Just at this time, the
enemy, reinforced with fresh troops, made his second



EIGHTY-NINTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY



2 47



attack, striking, as before, the left of the division first,
and attacking in quick succession Baldwin, Willieh and
Dodge. Willich's brigade received the rebels, as they
struck its columns in their first furious charge, with a
volley that sent them reeling back, but only to renew
the attack with increased numbers and increased vio-
lence. The men of the brigade fought bravely, and the
officers encouraged them by word and example, but the
weight of numbers was too great, and it was forced
back, leaving its dead and wounded in the hands of
the enemy. It re-formed once more in rear of its former
position, and, aided by the guns of its battery, finally
caused the enemy to retire for the night.

During the night of the 19th, Rosecrans's army fell
back to a new position. In this, Johnson's division was
the third from the left, joining Baird on the left and
Palmer on the right. During the night the men erected
a rude breastwork in front of their line, which greatly
sheltered the troops the following day. As the rebels
were forcing back the troops to the left, the 89th Illi-
nois was detached from the brigade to support Good-
speed's battery, one brigade of the division having pre-
viously been sent to support Baird. As this division
fell back, the enemy rushed upon the flank and rear of
the few troops of Johnson's division, but was held in
check by them, aided by the well-directed fire of the
battery, which was most ably supported by the 89th,
until other troops, re-formed from Baird's command,
rallied to their assistance, and the rebels were first driven
back, and then, by a determined charge, completely
routed. This attack on the extreme Union left was made
by Siddell's division, which was finally driven by Turchin
far beyond Baird's position. Willich's and King's bri-
gades, afterward joined byTurchin's, were posted on the
La Fayette road, on the withdrawal of the Federal
troops to Rossville, to cover the movement, Willich's
brigade acting as rear guard of the army. As Johnson's
division was withdrawing, the 89th, still supporting
Goodspeed's battery, was attacked by a force under L. E.
Polk. The regiment fought bravely in support of its bat-
tery, but, before it was safe, Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan
J. Hall, of Chicago, formerly Captain of Co. " A" of the
89th, and a young, brave and promising officer, had
given his life in its defense, with his last breath urging
his regiment to stand true to their country and their
flag. Captains William H. Rice, of Co. "' A," son of
ex-Mayor John B. Rice, of Chicago ; John W. Spink,
of Co. " D"; and Thomas Whiting, of Co. " G," were
killed at Chickamauga, and Lieutenant Amory P. Eliis,
of Co. "B," was mortally wounded ; Adjutant E. A.
Bishop, Captain J. M. Farquhar, and Lieutenants J. W.
Warren and John R. Darcey, were wounded, and Lieu-
tenant H. W. Adams was taken prisoner. Willich's
brigade was the last body of organized Federal troops
to leave the field.

On the 22d of September, the army reached Chat-
tanooga, and was at once set to work throwing up for-
tifications, which were so far completed early in Octo-
ber as to allow a brief rest to the troops.

The army of the Cumberland was reorganized
October 20, and Willich's brigade, consolidated with
Martin's, formerly of Davis's division, was designated
the First Brigade, Third Division | Brigadier-General T.
J. Wood), Fourth Army Corps, and was stationed on the
left of Granger's line, resting against Fort Wood, and
fronting Orchard Knob and Mission Ridge. Orchard
Knob was a low fortified hill, about three-fourths of a
mile beyond the Federal intrenchments, and formed the
enemy's first line of defense.

The first aggressive movement of our army at Chat-



tanooga, was an attack on this position, by Wood's and
Sheridan's divisions, on the afternoon of November 23.
The division moved out on the plain in front of the
breastworks, about two o'clock p. m., and, with Willich's
brigade advanced as a skirmish line, moved forward.
Advancing rapidly across the open field, in plain sight
of the rebel army on Lookout and Missionary Ridge,
the skirmish-line drove the pickets to their intrench-
ments, and the divisions coming up, they were driven to
their second line of rifle-pits, and finally sent in full
retreat to the rear, leaving two hundred prisoners behind.
Temporary breastworks were thrown up that night,
and a larger force sent forward to maintain the position
gained. It was then occupied by Bridge's (Chicago)
battery; and Grant and Thomas established headquar-
ters there, with a signal station, by which they could
communicate with every portion of the army.

The 89th, with the brigade, remained at. Orchard
Knob until November 25, when the order was given for
the attack upon Mission Ridge. The movement com-
menced at three o'clock p. m., at a signal of six guns,
fired, in rapid succession, from Bridge's battery, at
Orchard Knob. Wood's division was formed directly
in front of the Knob, with Baird on the left and Sher-
idan on the right. Willich's brigade occupied the cen-
ter of the division. In front of the lines was, first,
a broken country, covered with dense woods ; then an
abrupt rise of ground, terminated by a narrow plateau,
on which the enemy had located his camp. Beyond
this rose Mission Ridge, its summit bristling with bat-
teries, and strengthened with breastworks. Lines of
rifle-pits were to be carried, before its summit could be
gained. At the signal, the troops swept forward, advanc-
ing steadily through the woods, and across the open field
in front of the enemy's intrenchments at the foot of the
ridge, each command striving to first reach the
enemy. The first line was captured at the point of the
bayonet, and the routed rebels thrown back on their
reserves, killed or taken prisoners. Hardly stopping to
re-form, or for an order, the Union troops grimly
charged up the steep and rugged ascent, and, without
wavering or halting, at last, with loud hurrahs, gained
the crest, and routed the enemy from his last position.
Willich's brigade charged up the hill at a point where
the ridge was formed like a horseshoe, the Federal
troops occupying the interior. Batteries to the right
and left, and in front, poured upon them a terrific fire ;
but, with Hazen's brigade to the right, and Beatty's to
the left, it reached the top with the foremost, and plant-
ed its colors on the crest. The enemy held their ground
at this point, until the brigade was less than a dozen
yards from their breastworks, when they broke, in wild
confusion, and fled, in panic, down the opposite slope
of the ridge.

A portion of the brigade pursued them for nearly a
mile, capturing, and hauling back, several pieces of ar-
tillery which they were trying to carry off. Among
those of the 89th Illinois killed at Mission Ridge were
Lieutenant E. D. Young, of Co. '"A," and Captain
Henry L. Rowell, of Co. " C," both brave and gallant
officers, the latter from Chicago.

Willich's brigade occupied the summit of Mission
Ridge until the 26. h, when it went to Chattanooga,
where it remained until it moved to Knoxville, arriving
there December 7.

In the Atlanta campaign, the 89th Illinois formed
a part of the First Brigade commanded by Willieh),
Third division (General Wood), Fourth Army Corps
(General Howard'. The division occupied Tunnel Hill
on May 7, and was ordered, with the First Division, to



»4$



HISTORY OF CHICAGO.



make a demonstration against Rocky Face Ridge on the
following morning. They succeeded in gaining the
summit of the ridge, and afterward joined in the pur-
suit of Johnston's army to Resaca, where it arrived on
the 14th. In the operations against Resaca, General
Willich was seriously wounded by a rebel sharpshooter,
and was unable to re-join his brigade, during the cam-
paign, the command of which devolved on Colonel
William H. Gibson, of the 49th Ohio. During the night
of the 15th, Johnston evacuated Resaca, and retreated
south of the Oostenaula.

The Sgth joined in the pursuit and in the subsequent
engagement near New Hope Church, where it was
engaged in the attack. The attacking column moved
forward at half-past four. Hazen's brigade fought in
front of the enemy's works nearly an hour, and until its
ammunition was exhausted, when the First Brigade was
ordered to its relief. The brigade rushed forward to
the attack, gaining a position so near the breastworks
that the men fell within ten feet of them. The 89th
Illinois, 15th Wisconsin, and 49th Ohio, fought there
two and one-half hours, renewing the assault four
times, but were at last forced to retire to shelter from
the enfilading fire of three batteries, which cut them
down in the trenches they had so boldly carried. The
Third Brigade was then ordered forward, not to renew
the assault, but simply to hold the ground, that the
dead and wounded might be recovered. The conflict
raged furiously from the first attack, at half-past four,
until seven, and did not cease until ten at night. The
loss was terrible. The 89th Illinois lost one hundred
and fifty-six officers and men ; Willich's entire brigade
(commanded by Gibson), one thousand and eighty-three;
Hazen's, eight hundred and ten ; Beatty's (commanded
by Knefler:, four hundred and one. Among the officers
wounded in the 89th Illinois were Captain Dimick and
Lieutenant Arenschild, of Co. " F " ; Captain Samuel
Comstock, of Co. " I " ; and Lieutenant H. C. Wood, of
Co. "C."

During the night of the 27th, the First Brigade
intrenched itself about three hundred yards from the
enemy's works, and occupied that position until the
works were evacuated, on the night of June 4. On
June 6, the division moved, with the rest of the Fourth
Corps, to the neighborhood of Mount Morris Church,
where it remained in camp until the 10th, when it
moved to Pine Top Knob, which position was evacu-
ated by the enemy on the 14th, who, on the 16th, fell
back toward Kenesaw Mountain. Wood's division
reached Kenesaw June 19. On the 21st, in an attack
on an advanced position of the enemy, in which a part
of Gibson's brigade was engaged, Captain William
Harkness, of Co. " A " (formerly Lieutenant of Co.
" 11 " was killed, and Lieutenant O. C. Pease, of Co.
'â–  E," wounded. Johnston evacuated his fortifications
at Kenesaw, on the night of the 2d of July, and the fol-
lowing day the pursuit was renewed. On the 12th, the
brigade crossed the Chattahoochee River, at Pace's
Ferry, and went into camp on the south bank, where it
remained until the 17th, when, with the rest of the
on, it marched three miles down the river, to cover
the laying of a bridge, for the passage of the Fourteenth
Corps, returning to camp at night. On the 18th, it
advam.eo to Buckhead, and, with the Third Brigade,
made a reconnoissance to Peach Tree Creek the follow-
ing 'lay, when it was found that the enemy had burned
the bridge over the stream, and was intrenched on the
southern bank. The two brigades effected the crossing
of the creek, in the face of the enemy, on the 20th, and
intrenched on the southern side. Lieutenant Nathaniel



Street, of Co. " D," 89th Illinois, received a fatal wound
during the passage. On July 22, the division reached
Atlanta, and intrenched a position within five hundred
yards of the enemy's main works; which it occupied
until the 25th of August, when, with the other troops, it
withdrew to participate in the flank movement, eventu-
ating in the evacuation of the city by Hood. On the
29th, the regiment took part in the destruction of the
West Point Railroad, and, on the rst of September,
arrived before Jonesboro', in time to join in the pursuit
of the enemy the following day. The Atlanta cam-
paign ended on the 2d of September, and, on the 5th,
the 89th Illinois, with its division, went into camp,
about four miles from Atlanta, where it remained until
October. From the 24th of August, when Colonel
Gibson's term of service expired, until the close of the
Atlanta campaign, the First Brigade was under the
command of Colonel Hotchkiss.

Leaving Atlanta, October 2d, with the Fourth Corps,
commanded by General Stanley, the 89th moved north
in pursuit of Hood, who was retreating toward the Ten-
nessee River.

The First Brigade, again commanded by Colonel
John A. Martin, of the 8th Kansas, reached Kenesaw
just in time to see the smoke of the conflict at Alla-
toona, and thence, passing over the mountains and
through Kingston, Rome, and Resaca, reached Rocky
Face on the 15th. On the 30th, the command reached
Chattanooga, and thence moved to Pulaski, Tenn.;
where Colonel A. D. Streight took command of the
brigade. The 89th Illinois then participated in the
engagements at Columbia and Franklin, on the route
to Nashville, which it reached on December 1. On
December 15, Streight's brigade moved into line, and,
in conjunction with the Second (Colonel P. S. Post),
was ordered to make an assault on Montgomery Hill, a
strong position, about three hundred yards from the
advanced Union line. The charge was made and the
works captured, the brigade commander reporting that
"the only unsettled question, for the time, seemed to
be who, among our officers, should reach the works
first."

On the 1 6th, an advance on the main works of the
rebels was made by Post's brigade, which, supported
by Streight's, charged Overton Hill, the enemy being
driven toward Brentwood. In the engagements before
Nashville, the 89th lost thirty-nine in killed and
wounded. Lieutenant P. G. Taite, of Co. "G," was
killed, Major B. H. Kidder and Lieutenant E. P. Walker,
of Co. "A," were wounded.

The regiment participated in the pursuit of Hood's
army to the Tennessee, and thence marched to Hunts-
ville, Ala., where it remained in camp until February,
1865, when, with Colonel Hotchkiss still in command,
it again returned to East Tennessee, and remained in
that section until Lee's surrender. It then proceeded
to Nashville, where it was mustered out of United States
service June 10, 1S65, and left that city, the same day,
for Chicago. It arrived in the latter city June 12, and
the following day received a public reception, with the
88th Illinois, by the Board of Trade and Railroad com-
panies of the city. Colonel Hotchkiss, in response to
congratulatory speeches, briefly said:

" The 89th left Chicago at the same time as the 8Sth, or three
years ago, nine hundred strong. It has been recruited up to one
thousand four hundred; that is, that number have been enrolled
under its banner. It has lost by casualties very largely, and we
return now with three hundred men, two hundred others being in
the held (transferred to the 5gth Illinois). The balance have been
lost. Among the lost is one lieutenant-colonel, seven captains, four
lieutenants and over seven hundred men. Our history is written



NINETIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.



249



on the head-boards of rudely-made graves, from Stone River to
Atlanta. Such a record we feel proud of."

Following is the return roster of the regiment, and
the names of officers killed in action:

Return Roster. — Colonel, Charles T. Hotchkiss, brevet
brigadier-general; Lieutenant-Colonel, William D. Williams;
Major, John M. Farquhar; Surgeon, Herman B. Tuttle; Assistant
Surgeon, Pembroke R. Thombs ; Adjutant, Jere. M. Urosh ;
Quartermaster, George W. Deering; Sergeant-Major, A. E. Burne-
son.

Co. "A": Captain, Edwin P. Walker; First Lieutenant, Bryan
O'Connor. Co. "B": Captain, Hardin C. Wood. Co. "C";
Captain, James M. Rigney; First Lieutenant, William II. Kinney.
Co. " D" : Captain, George F. Robinson; First Lieutenant,
Alexander Beecher. Co. " E ": Captain, John W. Warren; First
Lieutenant, Robert Miller; Second Lieutenant, Oscar C. Pease.
Co. "F": Captain, James F. Copp; First Lieutenant, Charles J.
Arenschild. Co. "G": Captain, William H. Howell; First Lieu-
tenant, John W. Sweckard. Co. " H ": Captain, John A. Beeman;
First Lieutenant, Aaron H. Boomer. Co. "I": Captain, William
H. Phelps; First Lieutenant, Charles M. Carnahan. Co. "K":
Captain, William A. Sampson ; First Lieutenant, James A. Jack-
son; Second Lieutenant, Horace G. Greenfield.

The following officers of the 8gth Illinois were either killed
in, or died of -wounds received in, action : Lieutenant-Colonel
Duncan J. Hall, killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863 ;
Captain Henry S. Willett, Co. " H," at Stone River, December 31,
1862; Captain Herbert M. Blake, Co. " K," at Liberty Gap,
January 25, 1863 ; Captains William H. Rice, Co. "A," John W.
Spink, Co. " D," and Thomas Whiting, Co. "G," at Chickamauga,
September 19-20, 1S63; Captain Henry L. Rowell, Co. "C," died
December 3, 1S63, of wounds received at Mission Ridge November
25, 1863; Captain William Darkness, Co. "A," killed in action at
Kenasaw, June 21, 1S64 ; Lieutenant Amory T. Ellis, Co. " B,"
died October 6, 1S63, of wounds received at Chickamauga, Septem-
ber 19, 1S63; Lieutenant Erastus O. Young, Co. "A," killed at
Mission Ridge November 25, 1S63 ; Lieutenant Nathan Street,
Co. "D," killed at Atlanta August 6, 1S64 ; Lieutenant Peter G.
Taite, Co. " G," killed at Nashville December 16, 1S64.

General Charles Truman Hotchkiss is a native of the
State of New York, born in the town of Virgil, Cortland Co., May
3, 1832. He is the eldest son of Sylvester Wolcott and Mercy
(Comfort) Hotchkiss, who, in 1834, removed to the territory of
Michigan, settling on a farm in Calhoun County, near the present
village of Homer. There Charles was reared, receiving an
academic education at the Albion Seminary, until he had reached
his sixteenth year. At that time, instead of entering college, as
had been planned, he conceived the idea of studying telegraphy,
and went to Wisconsin for that purpose; and, in 1850, came to
Chicago, following that occupation here for some three years. In
1S53, he entered the service of the old Galena & Chicago Union
Railroad, when its western terminus was at Rockford, 111., and
subsequently became the freight agent for the road at this city. In
1857, he resigned this position to engage in business for himself,
contracting and building bridges, docks, dredging and harbor
work, and also in the lumber trade with his father, under the firm
name of S. W. Hotchkiss & Son. He was thus employed until the
breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1S61. Under President Lincoln's
first call for seventy-five thousand troops, issued in April of that
year, Mr. Hotchkiss entered the three months' service, as first
lieutenant and regimental adjutant of the nth Illinois Volunteers,
commanded by Colonel W. H. L. Wallace. At the re-enlistment
of that regiment for the three years' service, in July, 1861, Lieu-
tenant Hotchkiss was made a captain, and assigned to duty as
assistant adjutant-general of the brigade commanded by Colonel
Wallace, and participated in the battle of Belmont, Mo., the cap-
ture of Fort Henry, and the battle and capture of Fort Donelson.
In April, 1862, he was assigned to duty as assistant adjutant-gen-
eral on the staff of Brigadier-General W. H. L. Wallace, who
commanded the Second Division of General Grant's army at the
battle of Shiloh, in which memorable conflict he also lost his life.
Following the death of General Wallace, Captain Hotchkiss was
transferred to the staff of Major-General John A. McClernand,
and assigned to duty as adjutant-general of the Reserve Corps, in
General Halleck's command, consisting of the armies of the Ten-
nessee, under Grant, the Ohio, under Buell, and the Mississippi,
the latter under command of General Pope, and was with their
forces in the advance on Corinth from Pittsburg Landing. In Sep-
tember, 1862, he was called from the front and appointed lieuten
ant-colonel, placed in command of, and took to the field, the 89th
Illinois Infantry. On assuming command, he at once joined Gen-
eral Buell's army, at Louisville, Ky., and in January, 1S63, was
promoted to the colonelcy, commanding the 89th in all the battles
fought by the Army of the Cumberland, with the exception of ten



months, (luring which he commanded the Firs! Brigade, Third
Division, Fourth Amy Corps, of that army, to which his regiment
also belonged. During that time he participated in the battles of
Perrvsville, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Orchard
Knob, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, the campaign in Fast
Tennessee, during the winter of 1863-64, and in all of the engage-
ments of the one hundred and twenty days of the Atlanta cam-
paign, from Chattanooga, beginning with the action at Rocky Face-
Ridge, May 9 and 12, and closing with the battle of Jonesboro',
fought September I, and the occupation of Atlanta, September 8,
1864. He was also in the skirmish of Spring Hill, November 25,
the battle of Franklin, November 30, and the battle of Nashville,
December 15-16, 1864, the defeat of General Hood's army, and
the final overthrow of the Rebellion in the West. March 13, 1865,
Colonel Hotchkiss was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general,
United States Volunteers, by brevet, " for gallant and meritorious
services rendered during the war," which rank he still held at the
date of his being mustered out of the service, June 10 of that
year. Returning to his home in this city, General Hotchkiss
again entered into business life, but, in August, 1866, was
appointed to the position of United States Pension Agent at Chi-
cago, which office he held until May I, 1869. In the fall of that
year, he became prominently identified with the citizens' reform
movement, on which ticket he was elected city clerk, holding the
position two terms, being re-elected on the famous fire-proof ticket
which was placed in the field after the fire of 1871. Retiring, in
1S73, from an office, the duties of which he had discharged to the
entire satisfaction of the people of Chicago, General Hotchkiss
engaged in the contracting business until 1S80, when he became
the proprietor of St. Caroline's Court Hotel, which he still con-
ducts. General Hotchkiss married, December 10, 1855. Miss
Frances E. Dye, daughter of Nathan Dye, an old and well known
citizen of Chicago. They have one son, their only child, William
D. Hotchkiss, who is now a civil engineer, and employed in the
engineering department of the city of Chicago.

Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan J. Hall, son of Amos T.
Hall, of Chicago, was born in Detroit, Mich., September 15, 1838.
He was educated at Urbana University, Champaign Co., Ohio, and
came to Chicago with his father's family in 1855. After reading
law in the office of Walker, Van Arman & Dexter, he was admitted
to the Bar in 1861. He exhibited a peculiar aptitude and fondness
for legal studies, which, joined to his remarkable industry and
perseverance, would undoubtedly have secured to him a high rank
in his profession had not his patriotic feelings induced him to enter
the army. Early in 1861 he joined the Scammon Guards, to learn
military tactics; and when the proclamation for three hundred
thousand volunteers was published, he enlisted in a company then
forming, and was elected its captain. On the incorporation of his
company with the Sgth Illinois, he was ejected major of the regi-
ment, and from the time it entered active service until December,
1863, was acting lieutenant-colonel. At the battle of Murfrees-
boro', he was taken prisoner and carried to Atlanta, where he re-
mained ten weeks, and was thence removed to Libby prison, and
remained until April, 1S63, when he was exchanged, and re-joined
his regiment at Murfreesboro'. He was then promoted lieuten-
ant-colonel, his commission dating January 7, 1863. He partici-
pated with the regiment in the engagement at Liberty Gap, and in
the two days' battle at Chickamauga, being killed as the Federal
forces were withdrawing from the field on the 20th of September,
1S63. He lived only about two hours after he was wounded, dying
on the field of battle.

NINETIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

The Ninetieth Illinois was organized at a
meeting held at St. Patrick's Church, August 8, 1862,
of which Reverend Father Dunne was chairman and
James W. Sheahan secretary. During the preceding
months, Father Dunne had conspicuously exerted him-
self in raising the regiment, and, at this meeting, he was,