Hiram Hicks 1838-1862

The troops composing this Regiment enlisted under the call of the President of July 2, 1862, and the companies were formed during August, 1862, and from the following places and counties: Company A, Captain Thomas J. Campbell, Fountain Green; Company B, Captain R. W. McClaughry, Carthage; Company C, Captain A. W. Marsh, Hamilton; Company E, Captain J.S. Allen, Warsaw; and Company H, Captain  F. G. Mourning, Basco, all in Hancock county,--Company D, Captain J. H. Holton, Quincy; Company F, Captain W. J. Evans, Richfield, and Company K, Captain J. D. Rosenbook, Mendon, Adams county; Company G, Captain Joseph Shaw, Terre Haute, Henderson county, and Company I, Captain Charles During, Gallatin county.

The companies rendevoused at Camp Butler during the month of September, 1862, were respectively sworn into the service by Adjutant General Fuller, and organized into a Regiment. In October an election was held for Regimental officers, at which Major John G. Fonda, of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, then commanding Camp Butler, was selected Lieutenant Colonel, Captain R. W. McClaughry, Major, Madison Reece, Surgeon, J. K. Boude, Assistant Surgeon, W. K. Davison, Quartermaster, and Thomas M. Walker, Chaplain.

The Regiment remained on duty in charge of the post and guarding rebel prisoners until December. It was mustered into the United States service on the 7th of November, 1862, by Captain Washington, for three years,--with a total of 820 men and officers. November 21, it was armed with Enfield Rifles. November 29, Lieutenant Colonel Fonda was promoted to Colonel, and Captain Thomas Logan, of Company G, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, was made Lieutenant Colonel.  December 1, left by Chicago and Alton Railroad, for Alton, and there by boat to St. Louis and below, arrived at Memphis, Tenn., and went into camp on Wolf River. Here the Regiment was assigned to the First Brigade (Colonel Sheldon, Forty-second Ohio commanding) Third Division, General G. W. Morgan--and Thirteenth Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee. While here received its first tents, first watery beds, first "powder and ball" cartridges, its first scare, first "turn out for firing on the pickets," and first introduction to rebel jay hawkers, in a day and night skirmish.

On December 20, embarked on the steamer "Northener" with forces under General Sherman, for Vicksburg, Miss. Reached Milliken's Bend December 25, and the following day proceeded up the Yazoo River, and participated in the attack upon Chickasaw Bluffs, from 26th of December to January 2, 1863. On January 2, after the troops had re-embarked, the Regiment while on boat was under a heavy fire from a rebel line.

From here proceeded with the force under General McClernand to Arkansas Post, Ark., and took part in the two days fight January 10 and 11, which resulted in the capture of the fort and some 6,000 prisoners.

January 23, returned to Young's Point, La., where it assisted in digging in the famous "canal," and remained til March 9, when it moved to Milliken's Bend and went into camp.

The Regiment was now Brigaded with the Forty-ninth and Sixty-ninth Indiana, One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio, Seventh Kentucky, First Wisconsin and Seventh Michigan Batteries and part of the Third Illinois Cavalry, as the First Brigade, General T.T. Garrard commanding, Ninth Division, General P. J. Osterhaus, and Thirteenth Army Corps, General John A. McClernand. On April 2, moved out in the expedition against Vicksburg under General Grant, crossed the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg April 30, 1863, and took part in the battle of Thompson's Hill (Port Gibson,) May 1, Champion Hill, May 16, Black River Bridge, May 17, and the assault upon Vicksburg May 19to 23--in the former two and the latter two suffering severely in killed and wounded--in the battle of Black River Bridge, a whole rebel regiment was captured by, and surrendered to Company D, commanded by Captain Brown.

May 24, moved with General Osterhaus' Division to Black River Bridge, and there remained until the surrender of Vicksburg, holding the rear against rebel General Joseph Johnston's forces, having frequent skirmishes with them. About June 10, a Battalion of the Regiment was mounted by order of General Grant.

July 6, started with force under General Sherman to Jackson, Miss., and took part in the fighting and siege from the 10th to the 17th, and from the 17th to the 20th. The mounted portion of the Regiment went on a raid to Brookhaven, a distance of 60 miles, and back, having frequent skirmishes, tore up the railroad and burned the rolling stock and depot buildings.

July 22, started for Vicksburg, where it arrived July 25, and went into camp on the flats below the city.

While here the Regiment was dismounted and its horses turned over to the Quartermaster's Department, and the Regimeny with the Thirteenth Army Corps was turned over to the Department of the Gulf.

August 8, left by boat for Port Hudson, where it went into camp the next day.  Remained there until August 15. Shipped for Carrollton, La., and encamped there on the 16th. September 4, joined in a grand review of 20,000 troops, by General Grant and Banks. September 5, crossed the river to Algiers, on the 6th, took cars for Bayou Boeuf, where arrived the morning of the 7th.

September 16, marched to Brashear City on Berwick Bay. September 26, crossed Berwick Bay to Berwick City. October 3, started with an expedition under General Franklin up the Teche Bayou, at Camp Bisland, that night received orders to report to General A.L. Lee, chief of cavalry, Department of Gulf, at Algiers, La. October 6 took the boat to Brashear, and cars to Algiers, arriving there on the morning of October 7.

The Regiment having been again mounted, on October 11, returned by cars to Brasheaar, crossed the bay and started on the march. October 12, marched to Franklin, La. 13th, New Iberia. October 14, rejoined the main force and our Army Corps (Thirteenth.) October 15, passed Vermillionville, having a heavy skirmish, and at night reached "Carrion Crow Bayou." October 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, scouting and skirmishing. October 18, Colonel Fonda assigned to the command of the Brigade composed of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Mounted Infantry, Second Illinois, Fourteenth New York and First Louisiana Cavalry. October 21, marched to Opelousa, skirmishing all the way. October 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 and 30, scouting and skirmished with the rebels. November 1, moved back to Bayou Bourbent, or Carrion Crow Bayou, or Grand Goteau, as it is known. November 2, heavy skirmishing . November 3, in the battle of Carrion Crow Bayou, or as sometimes called Grand Goteau, in which our forces lost two regiments and a battery, and about 108 to 150 men killed and wounded.

On the 5th, reached Vermillion Bayou. On the 7th, re-brigaded with Second and Third Illinois Cavalry under command of Colonel Fonda. November 11, battle near Vermillionville, in which lost severely. November 15, moved to New Iberia. November 22 and 23, on a scout to Vermillion Bayou, heavy fight and captured 100 prisoners.  December 2 and 3, scout to St. Martinsville, heavy skirmish and took some prisoners. Remained at New Iberia taking part in daily scouts and skirmishing until December 18, when received orders to march to Donaldsonville, La.