The Iron 44th: Die Geschichte des Unternehmens H der 44. Indiana Volunteer Infanterie, wie von den Männern dieses Unternehmens in Briefen, die nach Hause geschickt und in die lokale Zeitung geschickt wurden. Von Robert Willey

The Iron 44TH

The story of company H of the 44th Indiana volunteer infantry as told by the men of this company in letters sent home and to the local newspaperBy Robert Willey

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Robert Willey
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-8080-2

Contents

Chapter One Joining up with Uncle Sam..............................1Chapter Two Into the South.........................................27Chapter Three The First Battle - Fort Donelson.....................39Chapter Four Shiloh................................................55Chapter Five To Corinth............................................85Chapter Six In Pursuit of Bragg....................................105Chapter Seven Hell at Stones River.................................127Chapter Eight Objective: Chattanooga...............................151Chapter Nine Indiana's Battle - Chickamauga........................157Chapter Ten Back to Chattanooga....................................175Chapter Eleven Under Siege.........................................185Chapter Twelve Provost Duty........................................197Chapter Thirteen Lee Surrenders!...................................203

Chapter One

Joining up with Uncle Sam

With the firing on Fort Sumter and the ensuing splitting of the Union, of individual states and of families came a wave of young men to join one of the many companies being formed by well known men in their local communities. This was also the case in LaGrange, Indiana where three of LaGrange's leading citizens, William B. Bingham, Joseph Danser and Jacob Newman were recruiting volunteers in the fourth company to be organized in LaGrange.

With the company partially formed an election of Commissioned Officers was held and William Bingham was elected as Captain with Joseph Danser as First Lieutenant and Jacob Newman as Second Lieutenant.

With his company not completely filled, Captain Bingham and some of his volunteers made a trip to Springfield Township in LaGrange County for the purpose of recruiting young men and raising money for the company.

Of this trip, Captain Bingham wrote to the editor of the LaGrange Standard Newspaper;

Dear Sir,

I desire through the medium of your newspaper to say that on Friday, the 11th of October, 1861 I visited, by invitation, Springfield Township, in our county, accompanied by the volunteers now forming my company to rendezvous at Fort Wayne, as part of the Forty-Fourth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, and I cannot speak to highly of the citizens of that township, who received us with open arms and extended to us all the best hospitality possible to be exercised on such an occasion. Nothing was left undone that could be done for our comfort or happiness, and after fairing most sumptuously at a basket dinner that could not be surpassed, we repaired to the Free Church where we were addressed by J.B. Wade Esq., and the honorable Judge Wilson, upon the necessity of prompt action in the defense of our common liberties both in men and money. A call was then made for volunteers, when notwithstanding the fact that Springfield had led any other township in furnishing men, yet a number more of her noble sons stepped forward and enrolled their names and are ready to do battle for our common country. And when a call was made for money to equip the soldiers, it was handed out without stint, by as noble men as the light of heaven ever shone upon. For this mark of respect shown to us, my company joins me in returning to the citizens of Springfield Township our sincere thanks, hoping that we may be able to repay them by contributing in the defense of those principles of liberty which alone will enable them to continue the noble and free people they now are.

W. B. Bingham, Captain LaGrange, Oct. 16th, 1861

With Captain Bingham returning to LaGrange to prepare for the march to Fort Wayne to join the other companies of the Forty-Fourth, the following article appeared in the LaGrange Standard Newspaper;

The company now organizing in this county is progressing finely and will probably leave for the rendezvous at Fort Wayne, the first of next week. A few more men are wanted to fill up the company. Persons wishing to enter the service cannot do better than to improve the present opportunity; as the company, so far, is composed of a splendid set of fellows, and Captain Bingham will be found to be not only one of the best of men, but also an excellent officer. He has done more towards recruiting in this county than any other man, and deserves much credit for his untiring energy and perseverance. Rally once more and let this be the banner company for LaGrange.

Captain Bingham was exceedingly proud of his volunteers and felt confident that their medical needs would all be taken care of knowing that his friend, Dr. J.H. Rerick had also enlisted.

In preparing to leave for Fort Wayne with the company, Dr. Rerick placed a notice in the Standard Newspaper which read as follows;

"OFF FOR THE WARS"

Dr. J. H. Rerick, having enlisted for the war, the firm of H. M. Betts & Co., is by mutual consent, this day dissolved. H.M. Betts is authorized to settle all claims and accounts due the firm. It is hoped that every person knowing themselves indebted to us will call and settle immediately.

H.M. Betts is also authorized to settle and collect all accounts and notes due Dr. Rerick previous to the above co-partnership. Don't fail friends to call immediately.

JNO. H. RERICK

To show the wave of patriotism that was sweeping this part of the country, the following articles appeared in the Standard Newspaper on November 1, 1861:

The following is a correct list of enrolled men from each township in this county and their respective quotas.

No. Enrolled Quota

Greenfield 155 12 Lima 191 11 Van Buren 149 4 Newbury 161 14 Clay 184 9 Bloomfield 244 10 Springfield 133 13 Milford 156 11 Johnson 156 13 Clearspring 163 13 Eden 121 13

James Preston, Esq., has now three sons in the service; the third went in Captain Bingham's Company.

Captain Bingham's company, now known as "Bingham's Guards," had 92 men from LaGrange and the remainder from Wolcottville, Kendallville, Hawpatch (now Topeka), Lima (now Howe), Middlebury and Van Buren (now Scott). Bingham still found his company a few men short, but felt that he could pick up some on the march to Fort Wayne or even after he arrived at Camp Allen in Fort Wayne. Captain Bingham announced that he and his company would leave for Fort Wayne on Sunday the 17th and on Friday evening he was honored by the citizens of LaGrange as noted in the following newspaper article;

On Friday evening the 15th inst. with only twenty-four hours notice, a large number of the citizens of LaGrange assembled at the Court House, for the purpose of presenting to Wm. B. Bingham, Captain of the "Bingham's Guards," Company H, in the Forty-Fourth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, with a sword, which had been purchased by the citizens of this place for that purpose. Captain Bingham responded in a very impressive and touching manner thanking the donors for the elegant and significant present and pledging...