men — of whom nearly two-thirds were recruited in Chi-
cago. The field officers, and nearly all the officers of
Cos. " A," " B," " C," " D," " E " and " G " were from
this city, as were those of Cos. "H " and "I," the old
" McClellan Dragoons," originally " Barker's Dragoons,"
which was assigned to the 12th Cavalry, December
25, 1862. Co. •' K," also from Chicago, was assigned
to the 12th late in December, 1863.
Following is the original roster — including Cos. " F,"
"H,""I"and"K":
Field Officers. — Colonel, Arno Voss; Lieutenant-Colonel, Has-
brouck Davis; Majors, Francis T. Sherman, John G. Fonda; Adju-
tants, James Daly, William R. Carpenter; Battalion Adjutants,
Jonathan Slade, Alexander Stewart: Quartermaster, Lawrence J. J.
Nissen; Surgeon, John Higgins; Assistant Surgeon, John Mc-
Carthy; Chaplain, Abraham J. Warner; Commissaries, Moses
Shields, Henry A. Johnson.
Line Officers. — Co. "A": Captain, Thomas YV. Grosvenor ;
First Lieutenant, Philip E. Fisher ; Second Lieutenant, William
M. Luff. Co. " B": Captain, Andrew II. Langholz; First Lieu-
tenant, Henry Jansen; Second Lieutenant, Charles Grimm. Co.
" C ": Captain, Stephen Bronson ; First Lieutenant, William J.
Steele; Second Lieutenant, George F. Ward. Co. "D"; Captain,
Richard N. Hayden ; First Lieutenant, Charles Roden ; Second
Lieutenant, N. J. Kidder. Co. "E"; Captain, John P. Harvey;
First Lieutenant, Cephas Strong; Second Lieutenant, Edward
Vasseur. Co. "F": Captain, P^phraim M. Gilmore; First Lieu-
tenant, Henly L. Reans; Second Lieutenant, Dennis ralmer. Co.
"G"; Captain, Thomas Logan; First Lieutenant, John H. Cly-
bourn (promoted captain) ; Second Lieutenant, Joseph Logan.
Co " H ": Captain George W. Shears; First Lieutenant, George
S. Phelps; Second Lieutenant, Oliver M. Pugh. Co. " I "; Cap-
tain, David C. Brown ; First Lieutenant, Edwin A. Webber; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, George H. Sitts. Co. " K " ; Captain, Henry
Jansen ; First Lieutenant, Edmund Luff ; Second Lieutenant,
Charles L. Amet.
The regiment was formally organized and mustered
into United States service at Camp Butler, Springfield,
in February, 1862, and was then mounted and drilled
until June 25, when it was sent to Martinsburg, Va.,
where its commander, Colonel Voss, was made post
commander. The garrison consisted of the 12th Illi-
nois Cavalry, the 65th (Scotch) Illinois Infantry, Captain
Phillips's battery, of Chicago, and the 52d New York
Infantry.
Lieutenant-Colonel Davis, with a small force, was
placed in command of one of the outposts on the Mar-
tinsburg and Winchester pike, about five miles from the
camp of the regiment, and while on a scout, September
5, encountered and routed a superior force of the Con-
federate cavalry, at Bunker Hill, killing and capturing
a considerable number. At daybreak on the 7th, the
enemy, strongly reinforced, made an attempt to sur-
round and capture Lieutenant-Colonel Davis and his
command. The latter sent to Colonel Voss for rein-
forcements, who instantly put himself at the head of his
cavalry, then in camp, a section of Captain Phillips's
battery and a battalion of the 65th Infantry under
command of Major Wood, of Chicago, and hurried to
the succor of his sorely pressed outposts. On the ar-
rival of Co. "A," Captain Thomas W. Grosvenor, the
detachment led by Lieutenant-Colonel Davis, advanced
at once to meet the Confederate cavalry. Several
squads were driven from the woods and roadsides, fall-
ing back to the main body at Darkesville, followed
closely by Captain Grosvenor's small detachment.
At Darkesville a severe skirmish took place, in
which Captain Grosvenor was severely wounded. His
valiant " forty " men continued the conflict, under com-
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Davis, until the re-
mainder of the regiment came up and the Con-
federates were driven from the field, retreating to
Winchester, to which place they were closely followed
by a detachment, under the command of Captain Bron-
son, sent in pursuit by Colonel Voss. Twenty-five of
their number, including Lieutenant Carroll, of the
Maryland battalion, a grandson of Charles Carroll, of
Carrollton, were buried on the field, fifty were captured,
with horses and equipments. Several of the 12th
were mortally wounded, but none were killed. The
regiment remained in Martinsburg until its evacuation,
and then fell back to Harper's Ferry, on September 12.
On the night of the 14th, the place being s lrruunded
26 4
HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
by the enemy, the cavalry received permission to cut its
way through, and make an attempt to reach the Army
of the Potomac. The column, under the command of
Colonel Voss, left Harper's Ferry at 8 o'clock p. m.,
followed the line of the Potomac to near Williamsport,
Md., captured a train of one hundred and twelve
wagons and a large drove of cattle belonging to Long-
street's command, and finally joined McClellan's army
at Jones's Cross Roads. The regiment was then made an
integer of the Fifth Brigade, Colonel Voss command-
ing. At Williamsport, the brigade remained until De-
cember 8. 1S62, moving thence to Dumfries Station,
Va., where it remained until January, 1863, making a
successful stand under Lieutenant-Colonel Davis against
a cavalry raid on the town by General Stuart, on De-
cember 28, 1862.
On the reorganization of the cavalry, Army of the
Potomac, the 12th was assigned to the Second Brigade,
Third Division Cavalry Corps, and Colonel Voss ap-
pointed brigade commander. In April, 1S63, General
Hooker organized the cavalry into two divisions, one of
which was commanded by General Stoneman, and in
which was the 12th Illinois, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Davis. This organization participated in the cavalry
raid which followed, and at Thompson's Cross Roads,
on May 3, it was detached from the command of General
Stoneman for an independent expedition. It marched
on that day from the bank of the South Anna, penetrated
a region never before occupied by Federal troops,
burned railroad bridges, destroyed telegraphic com-
munication, and reached the Virginia Central Railroad,
at Hanover Station, on the 5th, and destroyed the rail-
road buildings and stores at that point. About thirty
officers and men were captured and paroled at Hanover.
Lieutenant-Colonel Davis says in his report of this
expedition:
" At Tunstall Station (near the White House on the Richmond
and Yorktown Railroad), a train of cars, filled with infantry and a
battery of three guns, was run out to oppose us. I thought it best
to make an effort to break through, before the men could be got out
of the cars or the battery in position. I therefore brought up my
two foremost squadrons, and ordered a charge, which was executed
by them. Captain Roden with Cos. " D " and " G " taking the lead,
and followed by Captain Shears with Cos. " H " and "I." This
charge was made most gallantly. The infantry filled the embank-
ment of the railway, and poured upon us a severe fire, but mv men
dashed up to the embankment in splendid style, and with carbines
and pistols, responded to the fire with equal effect. It was, how-
ever, impossible to break through. There were formidable rifle-
pits to the left of the road, and the enemy soon filled them, and we
were forced to retire, with a loss of two killed and several wounded;
among the latter, Lieutenant Marsh, who was among the foremost
in the charge, and who received so severe a wound in the right
arm that we were obliged to leave him in one of the neighboring
houses. * * Our total loss in this expedition has been two
commissioned officers, and thirty-three enlisted men. We brought
with us one hundred mules and seventy-five horses, captured from
the enemy. We captured, in the course of our march, a much
larger number, which we could not bring on. The amount of
property destroyed is estimated at over one million dollars."
After the arrival of the regiment at Gloucester Point,
it was engaged in a raid to within twelve miles of Rich-
mond, and to Urbana, on the Rappahannock, and then
re-joined General Hooker's army. While the regiment
was in earn], at Belle Plain in Virginia, Cos. "H" and
"I" formerly McClellan Dragoons; were assigned to
the command. After the battle ,,f Beverly Ford, on
June 9, the 12th was assigned to Buford's First)
division. Gamble's First brigade, Pleasanton's cavalry
corps, and partii ipated in the engagement at Aldie ( tap;
and then proceeded to Gettysburg, where it arrived
June 30, and occupied the place, after driving out two
Confederate regiments.
After Gettysburg, the regiment was divided; one
detachment being under General Kilpatrick, and join-
ing in the pursuit of Lee's army. The detachment
reached Williamsport July 6, where the Confederates
were building a bridge across the river. The brigade
charged on the enemy's pickets, drove them back, and
pursuing them, participated in the many cavalry skirm-
ishes and engagements which ensued, acquitting itself
with bravery at Falling Waters, the Rapidan and at Stev-
ensburg. It was then ordered to Washington, and, on
November 20, 1863, was relieved from duty with the
Army of the Potomac, was given thirty days' furlough,
and ordered to Illinois to reorganize as a veteran regi-
ment — this distinguished privilege being awarded to
the 1 2th by the Secretary of War for "brilliant services
in the field." It was the first cavalry regiment in the
United States service permitted to return home to re-
enlist.
The regiment reached Chicago on the evening of
November 28, and had a grand reception at Bryan Hall,
where patriotic and enthusiastic speeches were made,
and a welcome awarded the 12th which showed that its
course had been watched and warmly approved by the
city and State. Adjutant-General Fuller was sent from
Springfield, to thank the regiment in the name of the
State for its services.
Following is the return roster, nearly all of whom
are Chicago citizens :
Lieutenant-Colonel, Hasbrouck Davis; First Major, Thomas
W. Grosvenor; Second Major, Stephen Bronson; Adjutant, James
Daly; Quartermaster, L. J. J. Nissen; Surgeon, John McCarthy;
Assistant-Surgeon, C. E. Wentworth; Commissary, Moses Shields;
Chaplain, A. J. Warner.
Co." A": First Lieutenant, William M. Luff. Co. " B ": Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Henry Lossburg. Co. "C": Captain William J.
Steele commanding. Co. "D": First Lieutenant, Oliver Grosvenor
commanding Co. "E": First Lieutenant, Edward Vasseur. Co.
"G": Captain, John H. Clybourn. Co. " H ": First Lieutenant,
Earl H. Chapman. Co. "I ": Second Lieutenant, Clarence Aldrich.
After a brief rest, the regiment, which had been
recruited to the maximum number of 1,256 officers
and men, re-assembled at Camp Fry, and there re-
mained until February 9, 1864, when it moved to St.
Louis. From there, in March, it went to New Or-
leans, and thence up the Red River, to reinforce Gen-
eral Banks, participating, with considerable loss, in the
engagements which marked his retreat from Alexan-
dria. After returning to New Orleans, it went to Napo-
leonville, on the Bayou Lafourche, and, in September,
joined General Lee's cavalry division at Baton Rouge.
In November, with the 2d Illinois Cavalry, under the
command of Colonel Davis, the regiment went on an ex-
pedition, with the division, to Liberty, Miss , where it was
engaged in a severe action, in which the enemy was
routed with loss. It subsequently participated in Gen-
eral Davidson's expedition against Mobile, and returned
to Baton Rouge.
On January 7, 1865, it proceeded to Memphis, and
joined General Osborne's division, where, by order,
dated March 2, 1865, it was consolidated into an eight-
company organization. The officers whose term had
expired, or who were in excess of the number required,
were mustered out of service, among which were the
following from Chicago: Major Cephas Strong, First
Lieutenant and Regimental Commissary Moses Shields,
Captains William M. Luff, William F. Steele, and Charles
G. Overocker, Lieutenant Charles F. Voss.
March 13, Colonel Davis was made brevet briga-
dier-general, having been acting brigadier for several
months previously. The regiment was thenceforth
under command of Colonel Hamilton B. Dox. In the
THIRTEENTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
265
latter part of January, 1S65, with Osborne's division, it
made a raid through Southeastern Arkansas, and on its
return to Memphis, remained on duty in the vicinity
until June, when it was ordered to join General Cus-
ter's cavalry division, at Alexandria, La. With that
command it marched to Texas, and reported at Hous-
ton to Major-General Mower, commanding the Eastern
District, where it remained until it was mustered out
of service on May 29, 1866.
Colonel Arno Voss was born in Prussia, on April 16, 1S21.
After his immigration to this country lie resided for some years in
Ohio, and was there admitted to the Bar. In 1848, he removed to
Chicago, and, in December of that year, became editor of the Illi-
nois Staats-Zeitung. He was succeeded as editor, during 1S49, by
Herman Kriege, and thenceforth devoted himself to the practice
of his profession, building up a large and lucrative business before
the opening of the Civil War. In 1S52, Mr. Voss was elected city
attorney, and was re-elected in 1S53. In the meantime he had
identified himself with the German citizen soldiery of Chicago,
having been elected adjutant of the " Chicago German Odd Bat-
talion," in 1850, when that organization was a part of the 6oth Reg-
iment, Illinois State Militia. In 1854, he was made adjutant of
the newly organized "Washington Independent Regiment,"
which offered its services entire to the Government at the opening
of the war. This command being accepted only in part, Colonel
Voss, in the month of July, 1S61, became connected with the 6th
Illinois Cavalry as its major, and, somewhat later, assisted in the
formation of the 12th Cavalry Regiment, giving up his law prac-
tice, and devoting himself entirely to the service of his adopted
country. On the organization of the 12th, at Camp Douglas, he
was chosen its colonel, and commanded that regiment dur-
ing its first campaign in Virginia, during the summer and fall of
1862. On the morning of the 12th of September, 1S62, Colonel
Voss's regiment, with other forces attached to General Julius
White's command, fell back to Harper's Ferry, from Martinsburg,
their late headquarters. The same night the place was surprised,
and nearly all its garrison, under command of Colonel Miles, was
captured, but Colonel Voss, having received permission to attempt
to cut his way through the enemy's lines, with a force of about two
thousand cavalrv, including his own regiment, successfully accom-
plished the hazardous undertaking, arriving at Greencastle, Penn.,
with a loss of but one hundred and seventy-eight men, and finally
joining McClellan at headquarters in Sharpsburg. Colonel Voss
was obliged to leave the service at the opening of 1S64, on account
of ill health, and for a few years thereafter resided on his farm in
Will County, 111. In 1S69, he returned to Chicago and resumed
the practice of law, and is now one of the masters of chancery of
the Circuit Court of Cook County, to which position he was
appointed on December r, 1SS0. He was elected a member of
the Legislature from the Sixth Senatorial District, in 1876, and
declined a re-nomination to the same position in 1S78.
General Hasbrouck Davis, son of Hon. John Davis,
United States Senator and Governor of Massachusetts, was born
in Worcester, Mass., April 23, 1827. In 1855, he came to Chicago
and commenced the practice of law, which he continued until the
summer of 1S61, when he joined with Colonel Arno Voss in rais-
ing the 12th Illinois Cavalry, and upon its organization was elected
lieutenant-colonel. On the resignation of Colonel Voss, August II,
1S63, he was promoted colonel, and commanded the regiment, both
before and after his promotion, in its most important actions. On
March 13, 1S65, he received his commission as brevet brigadier-
general, and remained in active service until August, 1865, when
he resigned. His military record is that of a brave, honorable and
sagacious officer. After leaving the army, he became connected
with the Chicago Evening Post, as editor, and subsequently
removed to Massachusetts.
The Chicago Dragoons. — The Chicago Dragoons
were organized in 1856, by Captain Charles W. Barker.
The company became a popular one in Chicago, but the
expenses of keeping it up were so great that, just before
1861, it existed only in name. When Fort Sumter, was
fired upon, however, the company revived, and was one
of the first to offer its services to Governor Yates. It
was accepted, reported at Camp Yates, and at the pas-
sage of the act on May 16, 1861, authorizing the forma-
tion of a cavalry regiment, was mustered into State
service. The squadron was ordered to Camp Defiance,
Cairo, and on its arrival was assigned to picket duty,
which it performed for six weeks. It then re-enlisted in
the United States service, and was transferred from
Cairo to Western Virginia, where it served as escort to
General McClellan, participating in the battles of
Philippi, Buckannon, Rich Mountain and Beverly. After
remaining in the East, in service about three months, the
dragoons returned to Chicago where they were mustered
out of service August 20, and immediately consolidated
with another company, under Captain Shearer, and re-
organized as the McClellan Dragoons. The officers
under the new organization were Charles W. Barker,
captain; Thomas Braken, first lieutenant; Edwin A.
Webber, second lieutenant; George W. Shearer, third
lieutenant. They were mustered into service August
21, forty old members re-enlisting. After being for a
short time attached to a regiment of regular troops, they
were finally assigned to the 12th Illinois Cavalry,
Colonel Arno Voss commanding, and thereafter served
with that famous regiment.
THIRTEENTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
The Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry was organized
in the fall of 1861, at Camp Douglas, Chicago, by
Colonel J. Warren Bell, under authority of the War De-
partment of October 15, 1861, with the concurrence of
Governor Yates of Illinois.
The roster of field and staff officers was as follows:
Colonel, Joseph W.Bell; Lieutenant-Colonel, Theobald Hart-
'-<?^£j
mann; Major, Lothar Lippert ; Second Major, Charles A. Bell ;
Adjutant, Thaddeus S. Clarkson; Quartermaster, Emil Neuberger;
Surgeon, Charles Storck ; Chaplain, Abner W. Henderson ; Com-
missary, Hall P. Talbot. These officers were all from Chicago.
The regiment remained at Camp Douglas until
February, 1862, when it moved to Benton Barracks,
near St. Louis, where it was armed and equipped. It
immediately marched into Southeastern Missouri, and
was engaged in scouting and fighting guerrillas there
and in Northeastern Arkansas until June. The head-
quarters of the command were at Pilot Knob, Colonel
Bell commanding both regiment and post. The dif-
ferent companies were at times widely separated; four,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Hartmann, were near the Ar-
kansas State line ; one company was at Cape Girardeau,
one at Ironton, garrisoning the fort, and the rest were at
Pilot Knob. In June, the regiment joined General
Curtis's army at Jacksonport, and was assigned to the
Third Brigade, Brigadier-General W. P. Benton com-
manding, and First Division, Major-General Fred.
Steele commanding.
The command formed the advance of General Cur-
tis's army on its march through Arkansas, during which,
the expedition with supplies having met with disaster,
the army was almost on the verge of starvation. The
command was then turned toward the Mississippi River,
and, on the 7th of July, the Confederates were encount-
ered at Bayou Cache or Cache River. Colonel Bell
succeeded Colonel Hovey in command of the forces
engaged, which, besides the infantry, consisted of the
5th and 13th Illinois Cavalry and two batteries of artil-
lery. Brigadier-General W. P. Benton subsequently
arrived and assumed command. Of this battle, John
S. C. Abbott, the historian, says (Harper's Magazine,
vol. 33, page 587 : " But few have heard of the battle
of Bayou Cache; and yet there was exhibited there mil-
;66
HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
itary discipline and bravery which could not have been
surpassed on the world-renowned arenas of Austerlitz
and Waterloo."
The enemy consisted of six regiments of Texas cav-
alrv. who were totally routed, with a loss of over one
hundred killed, besides the wounded and prisoners.
The ground was strewn with the lead for over three
miles. The enemy retreated, a running fight being kept
up by the cavalry until night and bad roads prevented
further pursuit.
The 13th Cavalry arrived at Helena July 13, and
there remained until fall, when it returned to Missouri,
and was engaged in active service during the following
winter, succeeding in driving the Confederates from the
State.
In May, 1863, the eight companies of the 13th were
consolidated into three, under command of Major Lip-
pert; but subsequently nine new companies were added,
making a strong regiment of nearly twelve hundred
men.
The 13th, with General Davidson's cavalry, left He-
lena in July, 1863, and proceeded west to Brownsville,
where General Marmaduke was met and defeated Au-
gust 24-25. The enemy was again defeated at Bayou
Metre. August 27-2S. There were also engagements at
Austin, August 31, and at Bayou Metre, September 4.
The 13th joined in the pursuit and reached Little Rock
on the 10th, at the head of the army, being the first reg-
iment to enter the captured city. The regiment partic-
ipated in the pursuit of Price to the Red River and in
various raids into Northwestern Arkansas, returning to
Little Rock in the middle of October, where Major Lip-
pert died on the iSth of that month.
The regiment then moved to Pine Bluff, fifty miles
below Little Rock. Ai: that time, new companies joined
the regiment, and Major Albert Erskine, who had shared
the fortunes of the old 13th from the first, was promoted
to the rank of colonel, and assumed command of the
regiment. During the remainder of the winter of 1864,
the regiment remained at Pine Bluff. On the 23d day
of March, 1864, General Steele evacuated Little Rock,
and commenced his famous race with Price for the pos-
session of Camden, Ark. The 13th participated in the
engagements of Arkadelphia, April 1; Okolona, April
4; Little Missouri River, April 6; and at Prairie du
Anne on the 10th April — the last battle being a severe
one, the cavalry repulsing an attack by Marmaduke. It
was also engaged at Camden and Jenkins's Ferry during
the last of April.
The regiment left Camden April 27, and returned to
Little Rock, and during the following summer was sta-
tioned at Pine Bluff. The 13th was assigned to post
duty at Pine Bluff, whence detachments were sent to
take possession of Monticello, Camden and Washington.
The regiment remained in Arkansas until August 31,
1865, when it was mustered out of service and returned
to Springfield, III., for final pay and discharge, arriving
September 13, 1865. The regiment numbered at that
time twenty-four officers and four hundred and ninety-
eight men. There were on the muster rolls of the reg-
iment, from its organization until its final discharge, the
names of over twenty-one hundred officers and enlisted
men.
The following sketches of the best known Chicago
officers make an interesting addendum to the above:
Brevei Brigadier-General Joseph Warren Bell was
born in G .. Tenn., December 25, 1814. He removed
to Sparta when about twenty-one years old, studied law, was admit-
ted to the bar, and practised hi, profession there, lie removed to
Nashville, in 1844, and can n October, 1855. Here
he was engaged in the banking business in 1856-57, when he
resumed his law practice. In 1857, he was appointed by Governor
William H. Bissell, major and paymaster on the staff of Major-
General John B. Beaubien, commanding the Sixth Division, Illi-
nois State Militia. A few months later, he was promoted to the
rank of lieutenant-colonel, and in August, 1S5S, became quarter-
master of the division, with the rank of colonel. October 15,
1S61, he received authority from the War Department to organize
a cavalry regiment, of which he was to be the colonel commanding.
He established his headquarters in Chicago, proceeded to raise his
regiment, and, December 7, 1861, was commissioned colonel of
the 13th Illinois Cavalry. The regiment was organized at Camp
Douglas, near Chicago, the camp being at that time commanded by