deputy county clerk for two years, was elected county treasurer for
two terms, was postmaster at Peru for four years, inspector of
customs at Puget Sound one year and was appointed American
consul at St. John, New Brunswick, July 28, 1897, which position he
still holds, and says: "I am well and have had excellent health since
I have been here." Captain Myers is a true comrade and takes
great interest in the reunions of the old regiment and has the good
will and wishes of all his comrades.



22 New History of the Ninety -Ninth Indiana Infantry.

ville at noon on Monday. We lay there until 3:30 p. m., when we
marched through Jeffersonville and across a pontoon bridge to Louis-
ville and then out to camp, about five miles in all, for our first march.
On our arrival there were no tents and we la3' down with no canopy
above us save the stars, but slept soundly on account of the weari-
ness from the lack of re.st the night before. The camp is an
awful dusty place as there has been no rain since the first of Au-
gust and the dust is three or four inches deep, and a hard wind blow-
ing makes it almost impossible to keep one's eyes open. The boys
are all writing home to-day and seem to think we are having a rather
good, though a little tough, introduction to real soldiering."

In our drilling and learning- the manual of arms we
were armed with some old muskets that would be as
dangerous to the men who aimed them as to those at
whom the.y were aimed, but shortly after reaching Louis-
ville we exchanged them for Enfield rifles, about the
best guns attainable at the time.

Up to this time we were not soldiers but getting in
shape to become soldiers.

At Louisville the organization was completed. Alex-
ander Fowler, who was mUjor of the 15th Indiana, hav-
ing entered the service as captain in that regiment in
the spring of 1861, was appointed colonel and assumed
command of the regiment. Richard P. DeHart, who was
adjutant of the 46th Indiana, was appointed lieutenant-
colonel, but did not join the regiment until it reached
Cairo on its way to Memphis. Adjutant John M. Berkey
was promoted to major. L. D. Robinson, first sergeant
of Company G, was promoted and appointed assistant
surgeon. R. W. Cummins was appointed adjutant.
Daniel R. Lucas, who was 2d lieutenant of Company C,
was promoted and appointed chaplain, the duties of
which position he had been in some measure discharging
from the beginning of the organization. This completed
the commissioned officers and the non-commissioned staff
was as follows:

Lorenzo D. McGlashon, sergeant-major; W. N. Sever-
ance, quartermaster sergeant; Alva B. Parks, commis-
sary sergeant; Martin I. Whitman, hospital steward'
W. H. H. Spaulding, drum major; Harry Brewer,
colonel's orderly.



Tlie Organization.



23



1


m






i


1 -t: ' ''' ^^'l^^Hfe^



CAPTAIN ANDREW COCHRAN, COMPANY F.



Born November 2, 1822, in Jefferson county, Indiana. Removed
to Madison when 22 years of age. Lived there five years, then
lived in New Albany two years, when he moved to White county,
where he has resided ever since.

At the organization of Company F, he was appointed first lieu-
tenant, which position he held until April, 1865. On October 8, 1864,
he was compelled to leave the regiment on account of sickness and
was unable to join them until they arrived on the coast, when he took
command of the company and was appointed captain, April 9, 1865,
which rank he held when mustered out with the regiment. He has
three sons, all of whom have families. Captain Cochran is now one
of the oldest men among the survivors of the regiment and has changed
in his appearance less than perhaps any other, as he was forty
years of age when he entered the service. A quiet, gentle, good man,
everybody that knew him respected Captain "And}-" Cochran, as he
was familiarly called. His address is Brookston, Indiana.



24 New History of the Ninety- Ninth Indiana Infantry.

Already we began to feel the effect of the hardships
of war. When we left Indianapolis we were compelled
to leave some sick men behind, two of whom died there,
Robert H. Pebworth of Company H, October 21, 1862,
the first man according* to the record to die, and Daniel
Albaug-h of Company I, November 7, 1862. When we
left Louisville, November 8, we left some more, two of
whom, James Beazell and John W. Taylor, both of Com-
pany C, died, the first November 10, lb62, and the other
November 14, 1862. The death of James Beazell came
with much force to me as he was a neig^hbor of mine and
was one of the twenty-five men who went from Benton
county into camp with me. When examined by the sur-
geon he was pronounced one of the best specimens of
manhood in the regiment and it was thought would be
one of the last to succumb to the hardships of the
campaign.

There was the usual speculation as to which part of
the army we should be assigned, though the general talk
of what was facetiously known as the "Castor Oil Expe-
dition" led to a belief, which was soon confirmed, that we
were to have a part in that great work, the opening of
the Mississippi river, so that as our regimental seer put
it, "the waters of that mighty river might How unvexed
to the sea." When reminded by the objector that its
waters were free enough to go if they wanted to, that it
was our boats that wanted to go "unvexed" to the sea, the
response was, "There are some men who are as destitute
of sentiment as a mule is of music," and that settled the
matter.

On the first day of November we drew seventy-two
mules and the boys had a great time. Not one of them
had ever had a harness on and the task of breaking them
in harness and to drive was not an easy one. It was a
source of fun, however, and in breaking the mules they
broke the monotony of camp life as well. The same day
the surgeons were busy vaccinating the men. Though
there was no small pox at hand yet it was thought best
to be on the safe side and prepare to meet it, as it was



Tlie Organization.



25




LIEUTENANT CARROLL L. SHIDELER, CO. E.



1900.



Born'in "Washington county, Pennsylvania; moved to Rensselaer,
Indiana, in 1853; enlisted August 11, 1862; was appointed corporal
and was assigned to the colors; was promoted sergeant, June 14,
1863, and given charge of the regimental colors; carried them until
May 1, 1864, when he was relieved to perform the duties of first
sergeant; was commissioned second lieutenant on the first day of May,
1865; was mustered out with the regiment. After the war lived at
his old home until 1876, when he moved to Butler county, Kansas,
where he has been in the stock business, principally handling sheep.
Has raised a family of three boys and five girls, all of whom are
living near him except the youngest girl, who died at thirteen years
of age. Comrade Shideler has been quite an active man in politics,
holding several official positions, and is a man of energj' and ability.
His address is Leon, Kansas.



26 Neio History of rhe Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

expected we would farther south. In a letter written-
that day to my wile I say:

"We are something- of a literary regiment judging by the way
they write. I mail about 400 letters a day and over 600 on Sunday,
and it makes considerable work for me as I have to frank a great
many of them. The Government has kindly provided, on account of
the difficulties in the way of the soldiers purchasing stamps, that by
the frank of an officer the letter may be sent and the recipient pay
the postage at time and place of delivery. "



CHAPTER II.

FROM LOUISVILLE TO MEMPHIS.

The regiment left Louisville, November 8, on the
transports 3Iary Miller and OUie Sullivan, and reached
Cairo on the 13th as the river was very low and
navio-ation difficult. Here we were joined by Lieutenant
Colonel DeHart and Adjutant Cummins. Going on to
Columbus we reshipped on a large transport called the
J. B. Ford; after running a few miles it was foggy and we
anchored for the night. We passed Island No. 10, New
Madrid and other points of interest at that time. We
landed that evening at Fort Pillow and the boat tied up
for the night. At daylight we started for Memphis
where we landed at 3 p. m. on Saturday, the 15th.

An extract from a letter I wrote to my wife next day
was as follows (It is dated Sunday, November 16, 1862):

"The J. B. Ford landed us at wharf at 3 p. m. yesterday, we then
had to unload the boat and move out here to camp, where we arrived
a little after dark. We did not pitch our tents last night and have
been busy all the forenoon clearing off the ground and pitching our
tents; we were all very tired, but since we have got settled I am
feeling better. We are getting down into the land of Dixie for certain
now. We have an excellent camp here in the edge of the woods south
of the city. Did not see much of the city as we passed through, but
have to go down with the mail this afternoon and will have aa



From Louisville to Memphis.



27-




DR. ABNER D. KIMBALL.

1900.



Born January 24, 1839, in Coshocton county, Ohio. Came to-
Miami county, Indiana, in 1850; worked on a farm until seventeen
years old; began the study of medicine in 1857; g-radueited at Rush
Medical College in the winter of 1860-61 ; located at Converse, Indiana;
volunteered as a recruit in October, 1864, in Company I, 99th Indiana'
regiment; recommended for first assistant surgeon in the regiment;
was with the regiment from Atlanta to Washington; was then trans-^
ferred to 48th Indiana, and commissioned first assistant surgeon;
mustered out of service in July; returned to Converse and engaged
in the practice of medicine up to 1S84, at which time located at
Marion, Grant county, Indiana; continued in the practice until May
20, 1890, at which date he was appointed surgeon of the Marion
branch of the National Soldier's Home, and has served there ever
since. Dr. Kimball is a thorough physician; graduated also at the
close of the war at the Bellevue Medical College, New York, in the
session of 1868-69. The soldiers of the National Home are sure of a
kindly medical attendance as long as Dr. Kimball remains with,
them.



28 New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

opportunity to look around. There are a good many troops here and
we are to be brigaded with the 97th Indiana, Colonel R, C. Catterson
commanding, the 70th Ohio, Colonel J. R. Cockerill and the S3rd
Ohio, Colonel Jones.

•'We have now got our field and staff divided off into messes, as
follows: No. 1, the colonel, major and chaplain. No. 2, the lieu-
tenant-colonel, adjutant and sergeant-major. No. 3, the quarter-
master, quartermaster-sergeant and commissary-sergeant.

"I beg into think I shall like the service better after I get used to
the change unless I do like the Irishman's horse, 'die in getting used
to it. ' Impossible to have any service to-day as all are so busy. I
wish you could take a peep into our tent and see how cosily we are
-situated, it is not a palace, or a home, but it shelters us from the
cool air without."

We remained at Memphis until November 26, when we
started on what we afterward called the "Holly Springs
Campaign." The enemy was reported to be strongly
entrenched on the Tallehatchie river and General Grant
was in their front on the north coming down from Grand
Junction, General Sherman, with our corps organized at
Memphis, was to move south-east and strike them on the
flank.

While at Memphis the measles still continued and about
a hundred men were lost to the service. The hospital
service at Memphis was fairly good but somehow the
exposure left those who recovered from the measles in a
weak and exhausted condition so that many of them
were never able for duty no matter how much they
desired to remain in the service. Among those who died
at Memphis and as a result of the sickness there were
the following:

Company B. — James M. Bussell.

Company C. — Ether A. Cook,

Company D. —Moses Arnold, John F. Connett, Samuel Kitts-
•miller.

Company E. — John D. Wyatt, William Brown.

Company F. — Hallett Barber, Archibald McLane.

Company H. — Ira Calvin, William Shelly, John B. Ralston,
Anderson Lamb.

The following were discharged as the result of the



From Louisville to Memphis.



29;




ROBERT B. LANK, COMPANY C.

1900.



sickness there and many of them lived only a few years,
and never recovered their health:

Company A. — Wm. Parkhurst, Ferdinand Rice.

Company B. — Peter Hedrick.

Company C. — John A. Bushong, Henry J. Bushong-, Miller Blach-
ley, William Hannebuth, William F. Frame, Robert B. Lank,
Henry Rowland.

Company D. — Oliver Kissman, George Griffy, Eli Howard,
William W. Warwick, i^lwood Ward.

Company E. — William T. Board, John Reynolds.

Company F. — George W. Dyer, William G. Downs, Jacob H.
Downs.

Company G.— James E. Evans, Oscar W. Averj', Reuben W.
Lane, Solomon Linnville, James H. Monett, Jacob Myers, Henry
Rushton.



30 New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

Company H. — Alexander C. Cochran, Robert Hackley, Elliott
Budd, Joseph Clark, William F. Parsons, George L. Parsons.
Company I. — Robert Rose, Georg-e W. Keim.
Company K. — John Vannatta.



CHAPTER III.

HOLLY SPRINGS CAMPAIGN.

We left Memphis, November 26, 1862, and marched
eight miles southeast.

In looking- over the old letters I wrote to my wife
while on the campaign, I find so many thing's that give
a picture of our life at the time so much better than I can
write it now that I prefer to copy them. Of course in
reading them you must remember that the times were
dark in our country's history, and man}^ things looked
far different to us then from what they do now. No
man can understand this history unless he is willing to
put himself back there and see how it appeared to the
men of that time. And any man who will put himself
back there and see what faith in their country those
men had, will learn more of what true patriotism is than
he can ever know otherwise.

On the 29th I wrote the following from "South
Branch of Cold water Creek, Saturday p. m., November
29, 1862:"

"I write you to-day, though I do not know when I shall be able
to mail it as our communication by way of Memphis is not very safe,
on account of the guerrillas, and we have not yet formed a junction
with the army of Grant. We left Memphis about 10 a. m. Wednes-
day, marched eight miles and camped for the night in a very good
place. We started earl}' Thursday, and marched fifteen miles to the
north branch of Coldwater creek and camped on the south side of the
stream. Yesterday we marched thirteen miles to the south fork of
the creek, where we are now camped. We had a stirring time about
noon yesterday. Our regiment was the» advance guard of the army



Holly Springs Campaign.



31




JAMES L. GERRISH, COMPANY A.

1900.



Born November 15, 1836, in Boscanen, Merrimac count^s New
Hampshire. Educated at Merrimac Normal Institute and at Wabash
College, Indiana. Moved to West Creek, Lake countjs Indiana, in
the spring of 1856. Enlisted, August 12, 1862, in the 99th Indiana.
Served for a time, on detached service. He was mustered out with
the regiment at Indianapolis, June 5, 1865. Married, February 15,
1866, to Miss Dier of Wheaton, Illinois. In 1891 moved to Ham-
mond, Indiana, and June 15th, was appointed tagger in the Bureau
of Animal Industry, which position he now holds.

Comrade Gerrish was one of the number that we called our
genuine yankees, he was a yankee, but at the s^lme time a true
American soldier and patriot. His address is Hammond, Indiana.



32 New History of the Ninety- Nintli Indiaria Infantry.

and it was reported that the rebel pickets were in sight. We
formed in line of battle and waited for the rest of the armj- to come
up. We supposed a fight was on and I now know what it feels like
to think about going into battle. I do not believe I should run, but
the feeling is rather peculiar. The major (Berkey) was in front
with two companies of the regiment and was fired upon by some
guerrillas but without effect. The major returned the fire and he
had the honor of capturing one of them, the first prisoner on the
march. We were delayed about two hours, when we resumed the
march and had no further trouble.

"To-day we are lying here in camp waiting for communications
to be opened with General Grant which our scouting parties are now
trying to effect. I heard General Sherman say to-day that we would
soon join Grant; if that is the case we will have an army of about
one hundred thousand men and I am sure there are not enough rebels
in Mississippi to whip us. The weather is good and it is as mild
as I ever saw it in Indiana in September. It is reported that the
enemy will show fight when we reach the Tallehatchie river; hope
they will as the boys are anxious to fight; they say if we have ta
fight let us do it and have it out so we can go home to our wives and
babies. I could not get a horse fit to ride, but I have got a mule and
he is all right, a trim good pacer and broken to the saddle. The
12th Indiana is in our division and I see my old chums, William
Irelan and Harvey Scott, quite often."

• My next letter was as follows: from "Chulahoma,
Mississippi, December 1, 1H62."

"I wrote you on Saturday from Camp Red Bank giving an account
of our three days march from Memphis. I met General Denver, our
division commander, this morning, and he told me we would prob-
ably have an opportunity to send out letters to-morrow. Yesterday
morning we started on our march to this place arriving here at 3
p. m. Chulahoma is a small town in a heavily timbered country.
We have been lying still to-day while our scouting parties are trying
to locate the position of the enemy. We are all in hopes they will
fight near here but the impression is gaining ground that they will
not. We had a very hard rain last night, but our tent did not leak
so we were all right.

"General Sherman's headquarters are near ours, and I saw Gen-
eral Grant when he called on him to-day. They had a long consul-
tation, but their conclusions no one but themselves know, of course.
His pictures give a very good idea of his appearance. I guess the
boys are all writing from the way the letters are coming in, and I
must spend a couple of hours in franking them."



Holly Springs Campaign.



33




EZRA K. FRIERWOOD, M. D.
1900.



Born in Clark county, Ohio, December 29, 1844, moved to Grant
county, Indiana, in 1851, from where he enlisted in company I, 99th
Indiana, August 15, 1862, not quite eighteen years of age. Went
through the war and was mustered out June, 1865. Began study of
medicine and graduated in 1869, and has practiced in Miami,
Howard and Wabash counties ever since. At present located at
Greentown, Howard county, and is United States Examining
Surgeon for Pensions at Kokomo, Indiana. He was a faithful sol-
dier, one who felt the danger and yet withstood its hardships. In a
line to me he says: "The picture of Colonel Fowler in uniform
brings vividly to my mind the days of 1864 in the trenches about
Atlanta where it required the nerves of steel and the fortitude of a
giant to perform the exacting duties of a soldier." This expressive
sentence tells the story that makes every man a hero who endured
that campaign.



34 New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

On December 20, from camp on Yacuapatafa Creek,
I wrote as follows:

"We are here in camp cut oflf from the outside world. M3' last
letter from you was dated November 20. On the 2d we marched to
Wyatt, where we had to remain three days to build a bridge across
the river. There we met our first reallj-^ hard times. Our trains
did not come up and it rained and then it poured and we had to sleep
on the g-round without tent or covering-. Even the stars were not
above us to look at for the clouds were too thick and heav3^

"On the 5th we marched to College Hill, twelve miles, where we
found a good camp and remained until the 11th. On the 7th we
were reviewed by General Grant and many of our men saw for the
first time the man of whom the people are talking so much. He
doesn't look half as much like a general as Sherman or McPherson.
On the 9th General Sherman made our regiment a short address the
same as to all the regiments, and he goes back to Memphis to engage
in some other campaign. I learn that now we are to be in General
James B. McPherson 's command of the 17th Corps. On the 11th we
marched to Clear Creek, twelve miles, and on the 12th came to our
present camp. "While at College Hill we found a large church and
• Chaplain Griffith, 53d Ohio; Munn, 100th Indiana; Sullivan, 70th
Ohio; Captain Moore, 40th Illinois, and myself each preached a ser-
mon to a very large audience. Think some good was done. "

"We had to leave some comrades by the way, and when I think
of it I wonder how many will live the conflict through. Samuel
Collins, of Company C, from Valparaiso, and Alison Graham, Com-
pany G, from Groveland, were buried on the way, and on the 17th I
attended the funeral of a German belonging to Miller's Indiana
Battery, who are camped near us. He was cutting down a tree for
wood when it fell on him and killed him. I sometimes wonder if they
will find their graves on a foreign soil in the end, or whether the
Stars and Stripes for which they died will wave over them. I believe
in God and so I must believe they have not died in vain.

"You cannot tell how anxious we all are to hear something
from the north. We have heard also that our "cracker line" has
been cut in the rear, that a coward or a traitor. Colonel Murphy,
surrendered Holly Springs to the enemy without a fight. If that is
the case we will get no mail for a long time, and will probably go
back to Memphis again; we cannot tell. One soldier just came in
and told me solemnly that peace was declared and we are going to
march back to Memphis for discharge. Of course I do not believe it
for there are so many sensational reports that I am getting doubtful
about some things I know to be true. You ought to have seen me
with a hundred others down by the creek, soap in hand, washing
my shirts, drawers, handkerchiefs, etc., as we could get no one to do
it. I am learning to be a fair washer, but I am sure I shall never



HolJy Springs (Jarnjyaigii.



35



1243141




ALANSON W. SNYDER, COMPANY A.

1900.



Was born in Clyde, Wayne county, New York. Parents moved to
Lake county, Indiana in 1844. Served in Company A for three
years, being- slightly wounded on the Atlanta Campaign. After the
war spent two years in Lake county, then moved to Minnesota, where
he has since resided. Has been employed by the North Western
Railroad Company for the last twenty-seven years as a locomotive
engineer. Comrade Snyder has always taken great interest in the
reunions of the survivors of the old regiment having attended nearly
all of them, and is beloved by them all. Address, Waseca, Minnesota



36 Neic History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.

be a cook. I can put a piece of fat pork on a stick and fry it over
the fire, but that is about all. I can never tell you how much I am
worried about you, and the fact that I cannot tell when I shall hear
makes it worse. The colonel keeps in good spirits as he is an old
campaigner and knows how to make the best of everything. He has
been writing to his wife and calling me just now said 'Chaplain,
give me an envelope, quick. ' I asked him what was his hurry. He
said, *I can't read what I've written now and if I don't put it in an
envelope at once my wife can't read it.' It is difficult to get lone-
some where he is. We are now on short rations and tobacco is
scarce. The 'weed' lovers are chewing it fine even if it is plug. It
is said orders have been received for us to take the back track."

On the 30th, from Holly Springs, I wrote:

"Hail happy day, we may call this for after a patient waiting,
or perhaps I ought to say, impatient, I managed to-day to get our
mail by going after it myself and I have just distributed with the
help of the orderly sergeant over 7,000 letters to the members of the
regiment, the first mail since we left Memphis in November. Your
letter informing me of the birth of a son and heir to our home is re-
ceived and you know how greatly it has relieved my anxiety about
you in the time of your lonely trial and suffering. On the 22d we
marched northward taking as we say, the back track and camped
between Clear Creek and College Hill. A good many of our men are
sick and as we held the advance, we had to bring up the rear on the
retreat and it was quite a task to bring them all along safely. On