marching' time less than four hours.

December 7th. We were ordered to the Cannouchee
river to hold and save the bridge across the river if possi-
ble; we met the enemy's pickets on Black creek; skir-
mishing commenced and continued for twelve miles until
our mounted force arrived at the bridge which the}^ found
in flames. The officers and men in the command seemed
determined to-day to strike the enemy's cavalry who had
some twenty-three prisoners whom they fed on sorghum
stalks. At Black creek the obstructions in the ford
were removed so that our ambulances and ammunition



140 New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

wagons crossed the ford before the troops could g^et
across on the stringers of the still burning bridge; the
enemy were pushed so hard they could not destroy the
bridge across Mill creek at all. At one place near Bryan
county court house the men waded in four ranks through
a swamp 300 yards across, up to their waists in Avater.
We captured two prisoners and five horses; the mounted
force with one regiment of infantry remained at the river
and the rest of the brigade camped at Eden (Bryan
county court house); distance marched, twenty miles.
Lieutenant-Colonel Berkey, 99th Indiana, w^ho was in
command of the mounted force of the brigade (sixty
men) conducted the operations of the advance with great
skill and perseverance.

December 8th. At daylight enemy opened with artil-
lery and shelled the woods fiercely, hurting no one;
skirmished with them all day; sent a detachment of the
mounted men to effect a crossing up the river which they
were unable to do: the skirmishing across the river was
kept up so fiercely that the enemy in two nights and a
day could not destroy the bridge across the two lagoons
which was 600 feet or more across; if they had been
destroyed, we could not have reached the Gulf railroad
or saved any portion of King's bridge without making a
march of thirty miles. The behavior of the officers and
men during this expedition was highh^ praiseworthy.
We had no skulkers. The balance of the division and
pontoon train joined us here and commenced to put in
artillery during the night.

December 9th. The enemy left during the night but
before leaving opened a brisk fire of artillery and mus-
ketry; at daylight was ordered to secure and hold
King's bridge across the Ogeechee; I at once commenced
to cross my brigade over the Canouchee by ferrying
them in pontoon boats and swimming the horses. It
took us nearly two hours to cross. Pushed rapidl\' for-
ward for eight miles to King's bridge but were unable to
save but part of it. We then returned to Way's station
to camp, leaving two companies of 48th Illinois to guard



March to the Sea. 141

the crossing and prevent further destruction of the
bridge. We received orders to destroy all trestles on
the railroad; also the railroad bridge across the Ogeechee;
we destroyed fourteen trestles varying from thirty to
150 yards long, and the Gulf railroad bridge across the
Ogeechee, a magnificent bridge 500 yards long, took
eighteen prisoners, finishing our work at 9:30 p. m.

December 10th. Left Way's station at 5 a. m. and re-
turned to the Canouchee river, re-crossed, and marched
to the Ogeechee river and crossed at Dillon's ferry and
encamped within ten miles of Savannah; distance
marched eighteen miles.

December llth-12th. Rested in camp.

December 13th. Left camp and marched across the
Ogeechee on King's bridge within about one mile of
Port McAllister and formed. The Third brigade formed
the center of division line; the 90th Illinois on the
right; 48th Illinois in the center; the 70th Ohio on the
left. The 15th Michigan and 99th Indiana were in re-
serve; advanced half a mile and halted until 5 p. m., to
enable other troops to get in position, when the order
was given to advance and take the fort. The distance
from our line to the fort was about 700 yards through
open fields. The taking of this fort was so cheerfully
and gallantly done by the troops of this brigade that
there is hardly any way to do them full justice. The
conduct of Captain Grimes, 4Hth Illinois, commanding
skirmish line, in silencing two of the ten-inch guns bear-
ing on our front, by his sharp shooters and his hand to
hand fight with Captain Clinch, ought to be noticed in
general orders. Captain Smith, of the same regiment,
who rejoined us on the 27th of November, 1864, after es-
caping from Columbia, South Carolina, was the first man
in the fort and was killed inside of it. He was a gallant
officer. The flag of the 70th Ohio was the first on the
fort, though the gallant veterans of the 4^ith and 90th
Illinois were there with them almost at the same time;,
both color bearers of the 4^^th were killed with torpe-
does; and the color-bearer of the 70th Ohio was also-



142 New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

killed just as he handed the flag to a comrade when
climbing' over the abatis; the men of this command under
fire cannot be surpassed; the only order I gave them was,
when the "forward" was sounded to march steadily un-
til they reached our skirmishers and then go in. The
action lasted twelve minutes and our loss was seventy-
six officers and men, killed and wounded. The results of
this action were most important: our communications
were at once fully established; captures in the fort by
division were twenty-four guns, about 200 prisoners,
medical stores, quartemaster's stores, a large quantity
of ordinance's stores, ammunition and small arms. A
garrison flag was taken by Captain Nelson, of my staff,
and sent to your headquarters. On the 14th, the 70th
Ohio on account of the conspicuous part taken by them
in the capture of the fort yesterday, was ordered to gar-
rison it.

December 17th. Left camp with three regiments,
99th Indiana, 48th Illinois and 15th Michigan for the
Gulf railroad; returned on the 2l8t having marched
forty miles and destroyed seven miles of the road, burn-
ing every tie and twisting every rail; on the morning of
the 22d our troops entered Savannah; the Third brigade of
this division consists of the 15th Michigan Infantry,
Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchinson, commanding; the 90th
Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart, commanding; 70th
Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Philips, commanding; 99th In-
diana, Lieutenant-Colonel Berkey, commanding; the 48th
Illinois, Major Adams, commanding.

I know of no troops in our army that surpass them in
heroism and self devotion — but few, very few, equal
them. To my staff I have been greatly indebted for suc-
cess. Caj)tain La Point, acting as A. A. G. ; Captain
Nelson, A. A. I. G. ; Lieutenant Brown, acting A. D. C.
I thank them sincerely for the manner in which they have
discharged their duties; Lieutenant John Doyle, acting
assistant quartermaster of this brigade deserves sjDecial
mention. His discharge of duty has been perfect and I
would especially recommend his x^romotion. — "War Rec-
ords,'' serial 92, page 119.



CHAPTER XIX.

AT SAVANNAH AND PORT ROYAL.

The capture of Fort McAlister at once opened the
way to the sea and Sherman no sooner began to make
an investmcDt of the city of Savannah, than General
Hardee evacuated it with all the confederate forces, so
that General Sherman on the 22d, sent one of his charac-
teristic dispatches to President Lincoln, saying: "I beg
to present to you as a Christmas gift, the city of Savan-
nah, with 150 heavy guns and j^lenty of ammunition,
also about 25,000 bales of cotton." The balance of the
month of December and the whole of January was spent
in preparations for the march through the Carolinas, the
regiment on the 15th of January being transferred about
seventy miles from Savannah to Beaufort on Port Royal
Island, South Carolina, on the ship George Leary, where
they remained until the march began on the 30th of Jan-
uary.

Quite a number of changes took place in the officers
of the regiment during the sta}' here. As soon as Sa-
vannah' surrendered, December 22d, Colonel Fowler was
mustered out of service, under general orders, allowing
officers of more than three years service, to be honor-
ably discharged. Lieutenant James B. McGonigal, of
Company I, was mustered out by same order. On the
26th, Major Homan resigned, having served more than
three years, and on January 8th, Lieutenant-Colonel
Berkey did the same, having served over three years,
and this left Captain Josiah Farrar in command of the
regiment, which he retained until the muster out, al-
though he did not muster as lieutenant-colonel until
May 20, 1865. On January 12th, Captain Walker, of
Company H, was detailed as A. A. A. G., and Lieuten-
ant Stuart, of Company K, as A. A. D. C, of the brigade.



144r New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

The news of the defeat of General Hood at Nashville
by General Thomas, greatly cheered the men and the
general opinion was, that while there was a great deal
of marching yet be done, the real hard fighting was over.
They had marched from Memphis to Savannah with side
excursions to Knoxville, Rocky Face, the pursuit of
Hood, etc., 1,979 miles, and another 500 or 1,000 miles
didn't make much difference.

On January 8th, General Logan returned from leave
of absence and resumed command of the Fifteenth Corps,
relieving General P. J. Osterhaus.

On January 13th, Captain Scott, of Company C,
joined the regiment, having been away on leave of ab-
sence and being unable to join his company on account
of the "march to the sea."'



CHAPTER XX.

MARCH THROUGH THE CAROLINAS.

In the report of Brigadier-General John M, Oliver, I
find the following diary of the march through the Caro-
linas:

January 30, 1865. Broke camp near Beaufort, S. C,
at 7 a. m. ; crossed Port Royal river at the ferry on pon-
toon bridge; took road through Garden's Corners, past
Bridge church and then left-hand road to Pocotaligo;
reached camp at 3:45 p. m. ; distance seventeen miles.

February 1st. Moved at 7 a. m. ; camped near Sand
Hill church at 7 p. m. ; distance thirteen miles.

February 2d. Started at 7 a. m. ; went into camp
near Duck creek on Barnesville & Orangeburg road at 4
p. m. ; distance 14 miles.

February 3d. Had a skirmish with the enemy, flanked
them with a detachment of the 48th Hlinois and drove



March Through the Carolinas.



145




WM. H. H. SPAULDING, DRUM-MAJOR, COMPANY D.

1863.



Born at Newport, Ohio, about 1840, as he seems to have been
named for the first President Harrison, who was elected in 1840 and
died in 1841. His parents moved to Toledo, Ohio, ivhen he was ten
years of age and four years after moved to Peru, Indiana, where he
has ever since resided, being- at present the proprietor of the Spaulding-
Brass and Iron Works, his sons being his partners. He was the drum-
major of the regiment and had charge of the band from the first to
the end of the service. He writes: "I would like to have you say
that the musicians were with the regiment at all times, and in all
battles were ready with their stretchers to carry their wounded com-
rades off the field no matter where there fell." All know that this
is true. The musicians vi^ere Paul Dodge, Peter G. Blaney (Marion
F. Pierce after November 1, 1864) of Company A; Winfield E.
Brewer, of Company C; Alonzo B. Thorn, of Company D; James
Anderson, of Company E; Wm. S. Hall and David W. Davis, of
Company G; Adin F. Spaulding, of Company I; and Edward Ken-
nedy, of Company K. The picture of Comrade Spaulding was taken
in August, 1863, near Vicksburg, and he is less changed with the
years than any member of the regiment I meet. He is a true com-
rade and attends the reunions when it is possible for him to be
there, and can make a good speech if necessary.



146 Neiv History of the Ninety- Ninth Indiana Infantry.

them from their position on the opposite bank of Duck
creek, taking- their camp, etc. We sustained a loss of
one man killed and one wounded.

February 4th. Moved at 12 m.; went into camp near
Angley's postoffice at 5 p. m. : distance eight miles.

February 5th. Broke camp at 7 a. m. ; marched to
and crossed Salkehatchie river at Buford's bridg-e; went
into camp near the river at 4 p. m ; distance eig-ht
miles.

February 6th. Marched about seven miles, crossed
Little Salkehatchie and camped at 7 p. m.

February 7th. Broke camp at 8 a. m. and marched to
Bamberg- station; destroyed one and one-half miles rail-
road toward Midway station; went into camp in reserve
at 4 p. m.; distance six miles.

(Lieutenant Drawans, Company C, resigned.)

February 9th. Left Bamberg station at 5:30 a. m.;
marched to Holman's bridge. South Fork Edisto river;
went into camp at 1 p. m. : distance eight miles.

February 10th. Crossed South Fork Edisto at 5 p.
m. ; went into camp on road leading toward Columbia,,
about one aAd one-half miles from river; distance two
and one-half miles.

February 11th. Moved at 7 a.m.; Third brigade in
advance; went into camp at Poplar Springs at 2:30; dis-
tance fourteen miles.

February i2th. Broke camp at 7 a. m. ; marched to
North Fork Edisto river, Third brigade in rear; counter-
marched and succeeded in crossing y9th Indiana infan-
try over main river in advance of everything. After the
Second brigade had gained the other crossing we waded
a swamp (one and one-half miles in width and waist
deep), and went into camp on Orangeburg & Columbia
road: distance nine miles.

(Every man of the 99th got wet in crossing the river as well as
in the swamp.)

February 13th. Broke camp at 9 a. m. and marched
toward Sandy Run postoffice; went into camp at 5 p. m. ;
distance thirteen miles.



Marcli Through the Carolinas.



14;




ANDREW J. CLAYTON, COMPANY D.

1883.



Born November 23, 1843, in Miami county, Indiana, near Peoria,
on a farm where he was reared. Enlisted in Company D, and
served in all the campaigns. After the war he spent four years on
the plains and in the Rocky Mountains in the service of the Western
Union Telegraph company. Had a rough time with the Indians.
Came back to Indiana and married Miss E. J. Wright and went
into the service of the C. B. & Q. railway for nine years, then went
to New York and engaged in building telegraph lines for four years.
He says: "I then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and went into the
grocery business with a partner, who left one night and I had the
sack to hold, so I went to railroading again and have been agent
here at Tenaha, Texas, for over fourteen years. We have a son and
daughter, both married, and I am four times grandpa and proud of
it."' The picture above was taken in 1883, the nearest one to his
arm}' life. I found among my war papers the diary of Comrade
Clayton, and have freely used it in this new history and shall take
pleasure in returning it to him, as it is a relic that his grandchil.
dren will prize. Address, Tenaha, Texas.



148 New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

February 14th. Moved at 7 a. m.; marched to within
eleven miles of Columbia; distance seventeen miles.

February 15th. Marched at H a. m. ; crossed Conga-
ree creek at 5 p. m. and went into camp on right of First
division; distance, six miles; enemy shelled our line in
the rear from the bluff across Congaree river.

February 16th. Moved at 9 a. m. and halted oppo-
site the city of Columbia; the 99th Indiana and 15th
Michigan were sent to hold the crossing of Saluda creek,
and after a short skirmish with the enemy, we succeeded
in crossing about dark and camped on the banks of
Broad river; distance seven miles.

February 17th. Left camp at 3 p. m., crossed Broad
river, and marched through Columbia, which was form-
ally surrendered that morning by the mayor, the main
forces of the enemy having evacuated the city the night
previous.

February 18th. At 4 a. m. the Third brigade was
called out to suppress riot, did so, killing two men,
wounding thirty and arresting 370. The 15th Michigan
and 99th Indiana destroyed one mile of Columbia &
Charleston railroad; sent the 70th Ohio and 48th and
90th Illinois to destroy one mile, from eight to nine-mile
post, on same road.

February 20th. Left Columbia at 8 a. m. ; marched
easterly on road to Traveler's Rest; leaving that place
to our right, we turned north toward Liberty Hill. Went
into camp at 5 p. m. ; distance twenty miles.

February 21st. Broke camp at 7 a. m. ; marched
twenty-two miles; camped at 8 jd. m.

(The "bummers" of the 99th brought in 1,000 pounds of pork and
three barrels of flour that day.)

February 22d. Left camp at 8:30 a. m. ; arrived at
Wateree river, at Peay's ferry; crossed brigade ia
pontoon boats; went into camp across Singleton's creek,
two miles from the river; distance eight miles.

(Captain Heath and Lieutenant Myers detailed in Pioneer
corps.)



March Through the Carolinas.



14«




CAPTAIN GEORGE HOLMES GWIN, COMPANY F.



Note.— This picture shows the captain as he was when he entered the army.
The sketch on page 15 has some wrong dates. His commission in the militia
was August 25, 1853 instead ot 18.i7, and was in Company B, 4th regiment,
second military district of Indiana. He also recruited Company F entire,
being appointed by Governor Morton July 22, 1862, for that purpose, recom-
mended by Judge Charles H. Test and others.



February 24th. Marched twenty miles; went into
camp at 10 p. m. one mile from Camden.

February 25th. Broke camp at 8 a. m. and marched
to Pine Tree church on Camden and Society Hill road;
went into camjD at 12 m. ; distance ei^ht miles.

February 26th, Left camp at 9 a. m. and marched to
and waded Lynch's creek at Kelly's bridg-e; water very
high and rising-; Second and Third brig-ades crossed and
went into camp at 5 p. m. ; no wag-ons g-ot over; distance
ten miles.

(While lying here on the 27th David Cameron, Company C, and
Jacob Stephens, Company H, were captured. They were after-
ward paroled and mustered out with the regiment. Cameron has
died since the war.)



150 New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

February 28th. Commenced to build bridge; made
good progress; stopped work at dark.

March 1st. Moved at 3 p. m. ; arrived at Kelly town;
went into camp at 5:30 p. m.; distance six miles.

March 2d. Marched at 3:30 p. m. and went into
camp at 8:30 p. m. ; distance four miles.

March 3d. Moved at 7 a. m. ; crossed Black creek
at New Market; camped at Campbell's mills on Juniper
creek at 7 p. m.; distance twenty miles.

March 4th. Broke camp at 7 a. m. and marched to
Cheraw; went into camp at 5 p. m. on the right of the
First division, on the ridge to the left of town; distance
thirteen miles.

March 5th. Marched at 5 p. m., crossed Great Pedee,
and went into camp at 8 p. m.; distance four miles.

(Adolphus German, Company F, who was captured July 22 at
Atlanta, escaped and joined the regiment that day.)

March 7th. Left camp at 12 m. and marched to
Crooked creek and camped at 5:30 p. m. ; distance ten
miles.

, March 8th. Broke camp at 7 a. m.; marched to
Laurel hill; went into camp at 3 p. m. ; distance four-
teen miles.

March 9th. Left at 7 a. m. ; crossed Lumber river on
pontoon bridge; camped near Bethel church at 5 p. m. ;
rlistance fourteen miles.

March 10th. Marched at 3 p. m.; corduroyed roads
for nearly four miles; distance to brigade headquarters
from yesterday's camp, three miles.

March 11th. Marched at 8 a. m.; crossed Rock Fish
creek and camped on Little Rock Fish creek, seven
miles from Fayetteville, at 5 p. m. ; distance seventeen
miles.

March 12th. Marched at 7 a. m.; camped south of
Fayetteville at 12 m.; distance six and one-half miles.

(A dispatch boat came up from Wilmington and the regiment
sent out mail, the first for nearly two month, during which they had
marched 443 miles.)



March TJirough the Carolina^



151



•,






sii^E^^^B •*







JOSEPH WILLIAMS AND DAUGHTER, COMPANY C.

1899.



Born July 7, 1841, in Highland, West Virginia; was living in
Benton county, Indiana, whien lie enlisted in Company C, being one
of the "Benton county boys." He went through all the campaigns
and was one of the most efficient of "Sherman's bummers" on the
"march to the sea." Returned to Benton county and October 11,
1866, was married to Lucinda J. Atkinson, Chaplain Lucas per-
forming the ceremony. Remained there until 1878, when he moved
to South Bend, Nebraska; lived there three years; then moved to
Lancaster county and lived five years, when he bought a farm near
Palmyra, in Otoe county, Nebraska, and has lived there ever since.
Has four sons and one daughter living. The picture of the daugh-
ter is given with his. There will be found an incident by Comrade
Williams on page 58. He is a great friend of his comrades and is
Commander of Post 54, at Palmyra, Nebraska, his home.



152 New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

March 14th. At 3:30 p. m. crossed Cape Fear river
and camped on Warsaw road at 7 p. m.; distance three
miles.

March 15th. Marched at 11 a. m. on Goldsboro road;
camped at Bethany church at 5 p. m. ; distance nine
miles.

March 16th. Moved at 8 a. m. ; crossed Black creek;
went into camp at 7 p. m. near Wesley chapel; distance
eight miles.

March 17th. Moved at 7 a. m. ; camped at Peter's
cross-roads at 3 p. m.; distance eight miles.

March 18th. Moved at 5:30 a. m. : crossed Cohera
creek and went into camp at 2 p. m. ; distance fifteen
miles.

March 19th. Moved at 1 p. m.; marched in direction
of Everettsville until 11 p. m.; countermarched at 1
o'clock at night to reinforce the Fourteenth and
Twentieth corps, who had engaged the enemy. Distance
twenty-four miles.

March 21st. Changed position, relievakd skirmishers,
put up lines and took part in the engagement of that
day. Captain Hare, of 70th Ohio, a brave and gallant
officer, was killed near the left of our division line.

March 22d. Marched on direct road to Everettsville
about ten miles; camped at 5:30 p. m.

March 23d. Marched eight miles and went into
camp six miles from Goldsboro.

March 24th. We crossed the Neuse river and ended a
campaign in which the command has shown an endur-
ance and steady faith in themselves, their cause, and a
confidence in their great leader such as I believe no
troops have before felt. The casualties of the brigade
have been two officers killed and one wounded; men killed,
one; wounded four; missing, twelve; making a total
loss of twenty. The number of miles of road corduroyed
by the brigade was: 15th Michigan, three miles; 70th
Ohio, three miles; 48th Illinois, three miles: I'Oth Illinois,
three miles; 99th Indiana, four miles. — War Records,
serial 98, page 309.



From Goldsboro to Washington. 153

While at and near this point some changes in regiment occurred.
'Captain Walker, of Company H, was relieved as A. A. A. G. of bri-
gade and Lieutenant Thomas J. Barlow, of Company H, detailed as
A. A. D C. of the division on General Hazen's staff. Lieutenant
Walker, of Company F, and Lieutenant Miller, of Companj' B, re-
signed and were honorably discharged.

Surgeon Butterworth, Sergeant-Major Brown, Captain Walker
of Company H; Benjamin Martin, of Company E; William Beeker,
of Company F; Enoch Scotten, of Company G; Francis Tillotson, of
Company A, and others went home on leave.



CHAPTER XXI.

FROM GOLDSBORO TO WASHINGTON.

The regiment remained near Goldsboro until April
10th, when they marched seventeen miles in the direc-
tion of Raleigh; on the 11th went on twelve miles, on the
12th fifteen miles, on the 13th fifteen miles, and on the
14th reached Raleigh, where they went into camp near
Raleigh and remained in that vicinity until May 1st.

On the 12th the announcement was officially made of
the surrender of Lee to Grant on the 9th at Appomattox,
and there was great rejoicing among the troops. All
knew it was the beginning of the end of the confederacy-
From the 18th to the 26th hostilities were suspended be-
tween the armies of Generals Sherman and Johnston,
about which there was much controversy, the Secretary
of War and General Shermen having a heated contro-
versy over the terms to be granted. On April 26th the
confederate army of North Carolina was surrendered at
Bennett's house, near Durham station. North Carolina,
and that was the end of the war. The terms were the
same as those given to Lee by Grant.

On the 17th of April General Sherman issued Special
Field Order No. 56, announcing to the army the assas-
sination of President Lincoln on the evening of the 14th.



15-i New History of the Ninety -Ninth Indiana Infantry.

Captain Heath has sent me an official copy of that order
that he received as commander of the Pioneer corps. It