A Light Punishment

Oelewin (Iowa) Register, December 12,1910

Page 2

“Maj. J.C. Hendricks recently related a little story connected with his army experience. He served as Drum-Major of the Fortieth Indiana, and while they were camped at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Col. Benjamin Harrison being in command, Maj. Hendricks was informed that the Thirty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteers, his former regiment, was camped about a mile from them. Naturally, Hendricks was anxious to see some of the old boys. This was on Sunday afternoon and no passes being issued, Maj. Hendricks concluded to go without a pass. After arriving at the Thirty-third Indiana’s camp he met a great number of old friends, and among them was Lieut.- Col. Henderson, who prevailed upon him to remain till after dress parade. When Col. Harrison saw the drum corps marching without their leader, he began to inquire for the drum-major; he was informed that he had gone to visit his old comrades of the Thirty-third. Col. Harrison directed the boys to inform Hendricks to report at headquarters as soon as he returned, which after being informed, he failed to do. The following morning as Hendricks was going from headquarters, he met Col. Harrison. The Colonel stopped him and asked, “where were you yesterday, sir, during dress parade?” Hendricks replied that he was visiting the boys of his old regiment. The Colonel then asked him whether his pass was not out before his return. Hendricks replied in the affirmative, upon which the Colonel ordered him to report at headquarters after breakfast, saying ” I will attend to you, sir.” Hendricks appeared before the Colonel and made a full explanation of his action, after which the Colonel insisted that he would have to punish him for disobeying orders. Hendricks replied that he was ready for the punishment and asked what it would be, when Col. Harrison ordered him to go and drill his drum corps for an hour and a half, which was his regular duty, and Maj. Hendricks to this day congratulates himself upon only having been punished but one time for disobeying orders during his entire time of enlistment and that was not very severe.”

Thanks to Paul Calloway for this submission!

40th Indiana Regiment

3 Years

Organized at Lafayette and Indianapolis, Indiana, and mustered in December 30, 1861. January 1862, 21st Brigade, Army of the Ohio. January 1862, 21st Brigade, 6th Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Ohio. November 1862, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division,Left Wing 14th Corps, Cumberland. January 1863, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 21st Corps, Cumberland. October 1863, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Corps, Cumberland.June 1865, 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Corps, Cumberland. August 1865, Department of Texas.

Ordered to Kentucky, and duty at Bardstown, Kentucky, till February 1862. Attached to 21st Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to January 1862. 21st Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Ohio, to September 1862. 21st Brigade, 6th Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Left Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 21st Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to June 1865. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, to August 1865. Department of Texas to December 1865.

Service

Marched to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and to Nashville, Tennessee, February 10 -March 13, 1862, and to Savannah, Tennessee, March 29 – April 6. Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6 – 7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Mississippi, April 29 – May 30. Pursuit to Booneville, May 31 – June 12. Buell’s Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, June to August. March to Louisville, Kentucky, in pursuit of Bragg, August 21 – September 26. Pursuit of Bragg to Loudon, Kentucky, October 1 – 22. Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8. March to Nashville, Tennessee, October 22 – November 7, and duty there till December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro, December 26 – 30. Lavergne, December 26 – 27. Battle of Stone’s River, December 30 – 31, 1862, and January 1 – 3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro till June. Reconnoissance to Nolensville and Versailles, January 13 – 15. Middle Tennessee of Tullahoma Campaign, June 23 – July 7. Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. March over Mountains to Chattanooga, Tennessee, August 16 – September 9. Occupation of Chattanooga, September 9, and garrison duty there during Chickamauga, Georgia, Campaign. Seige of Chattanooga, September 24 – November 23. Chattanooga – Ringgold Campaign, November 23 – 27. Orchard Knob, November 23 – 24. Mission Ridge, November 25. Pursuit to Graysville, November 26 – 27. March to relief of Knoxville, November 28 – December 8. Operations in East Tennessee, December 1863 to April 1864. Operations about Danbridge, January 16 – 17. Atlanta Campaign, May 1 – September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton, May 8 – 13. Buzzard’s Roost Gap, May 8 – 9. Battle of Resaca, May 14 – 15. Adairsville, May 17. Near Kingston, May 18 – 19. Near Cassville, May 19. Advance on Dallas, May 22 – 25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills, May 25 – June 5. Operations about Marietta and aginst Kennesaw Mountain, June 10 – July 2. Pine Hill, June 11 – 14. Lost Mountain, June 15 – 17. Assult on Kennesaw, June 27. Ruff’s Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochee River, July 5 – 17. Buckhead, Nancy’s Creek, July 18. Peach Tree Creek, July 19 – 20. Seige of Atlanta, July 22 – August 25; Flank movement on Jonesboro, August 25 – 30. Battle of Jonesboro, August 31 – September 1. Operations aginst Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama, September 29 – November 3. Nashville Campaign, November – December. Columbia, Duck River, Novenber 24 – 27. Spring Hill, November 29. Battle of Franklin, November 30. Battle of Nashville, December 15 – 16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River, December 17 – 28. Moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and duty there till March, 1865. Operations in East Tennessee, March 15 – April 22. At Nashville till June. Ordered to New Orleans, Louisiana, June 16; thence to Texas, July. Duty at Green Lake and San Antonio, and Port Lavacca till December.

Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 143 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 206 Enlisted men by disease. Total 359

Frederick H. Dyer, “Compendium of the War of the Rebellion;” 1908

Description of the 40th

 Indianapolis Journal

 December 30, 1861

” This splendid regiment has been encamped in Sibley tents at the old fair grounds since last Wednesday. It is made up of men from Lafayette and vicinity, mostly prairie boys. The character of both officers and men has not been excelled by any regiment yet formed in the State with a better prospect of success.

The dress parade last evening was attended by a large crowd of citizens, and soldiers of other corps now here. Lieutenant Colonel Blake was in command. He was on General Rosecran’s staff in the three months’ service and did good service to the country at the battle of Rich Mountain. We will publish a list of officers of this regiment tomorrow.”

Pvt. Jerome B. Dooley

Pvt. Jerome B. Dooley (left); on Table Rock, Lookout Mountian 

 Jerome B. Dooley

Jerome Bonaparte Dooley was born on February 4, 1844 in Waveland, Indiana. Apparently he was totally or mostly blind in his left eye as a result of a pre-war accident involving a whip. His first experience in the Army occurred when he enlisted for 60 days in Company D, of the 78th Indiana Inf. on August 1, 1862. Statements in his pension note that the regiment was raised to drive out guerrillas from the vicinity of Henderson, KY. During their brief service, the 78th Indiana was engaged at Uniontown on September 1. There he and much of the regiment was taken prisoner, sent home and was discharged on October 1.

Jerome’s military records indicate that he stood at 5′9, had light hair and blue eyes. His occupation was listed as a farmer. In late 1863, Sergeant J.W. O’Brien returned home to Waveland for the purpose of recruiting men into his company. On December 15, 1863 he volunteered as a Private in Company H, of the 40th Indiana. He was sworn into service at Lafayette two days later. In early July 1864 he contracted chronic diarrhea near Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia and was sent to a general field hospital near Atlanta later that month. He remained there for two or three days before being sent to another hospital near Vining Station, Georgia on the north side of the Chattahoochee River and kept for another 2 or 3 days. He was then sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee about August 1 and placed in a hospital tent near Ft. Wood. After being treated there for nearly a week he was moved to US Hospital No. 2 at Nashville about August 5. He was furloughed on October 2, 1864 and readmitted on November 12, 1864. Muster rolls and pension papers state that he was wounded at Franklin on November 30, 1864. The extent of his wound is not known and he never made a claim of disability from the result of it. He was left sick and/or wounded in Tennessee from December 1864 to April 1865. On May 22, 1865 he was discharged in Nashville.

Jerome had a number of cousins that also served in the war. His Uncle Silas had three sons who served; Atellus and Rufus Dooley both served in the 21st Indiana Infantry; later designated as the 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery. Atellus died on July 19, 1864 at Baton Rouge; Barton W. Dooley served in the 115th Indiana Regiment.

On April 4, 1869 he married Martha Jane Oldshue and they would have nine children. His father-in-law, Jacob Oldshue served as Quarter Master Sergeant of the 5th Indiana Volunteers during the Mexican War.

After the war and for the rest of his life Jerome suffered from stomach ailments. For a time, in his later years, he worked as a mail carrier. One thing that he never forgets is his time in the Army. Jerome shows up in the regiments post war books as attending most of the 40th Indiana reunion meetings. His Civil War service had truly left an impact on the rest of his life. Jerome B. Dooley died on April 29, 1929 in Terre Haute, Indiana and is buried in Highland Lawn Cemetery.

Terre Haute Trinune, Wednesday, 10 April 1929

Obituary of Jerome B. Dooley: Jerome B. Dooley, 85 years old, died at the residence of his granddaughter Mrs. Allen Savage, 1440 Woodley Avenue, Tuesday afternoon at 12:45 o’clock. He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. William Grieve, Mrs. Clifford C. Wheeler, and Mrs. George J. Ensminger, all of Terre Haute, and Mrs. Maude Clark of Detroit; one son Marcus A. Dooley, of Terre Haute, and 14 grandchildren and 14 great grand-children. Mr Dooley was a Civil War veteran.

A Special Thanks to one of Jeromes Great Grandson’s, Matthew Rector,  for the great images and biography help.

Pvt. Henry Merdith Alward

Grave of Pvt. Henry Merdith Alward, 40th Indiana

Henry M. Alward was the son of Henry Arista and Eva Maria (DeCamp) Alward. Henry M. was born August 9, 1844 at Elkhart County, Indiana. The family moved to Fountain County, Indiana in the 1850’s and by 1860 the family had moved to Montgomery County, living in the town of Waveland. His father’s occupation was a plasterer and he also farmed. Henry M. was listed in the 1860 Montgomery County census as a farmer.

Henry was not old enough to enlist in 1861, he was just 17 years old. His older brother, Ira Joseph Alward had just enlisted on September 1st at Indianapolis in Company A, 54th Indiana Infantry. Henry traveled 50 miles to Lafayette, Indiana during September of 1862. He enlisted as a private in the 40th Indiana Regiment, Captain Dewitt W. Wallace of Company C was the recruiting officer. Henry Sr. vouched that his son was 18 years of age. Henry signed his enlistment papers on September 17, 1862, and received a $25.00 bounty. He is described in his enlistment papers as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, Complexion; Light, Eyes; Hazel, and Hair; Brown.

On December 6, 1862, Henry M. had caught up with his Company H, then in camp around the city of Nashville. The Army of the Cumberland was soon on the march to Murfreesboro, Gen. Rosecrans  wanted to push Gen. Bragg’s Army of Tennessee out of middle Tennessee. After being in the regiment only 25 days, he was engaged in the battle of Stones River on December 31st, 1862; January 1st and 2nd, 1863. On December 31, the regiment was pounded by heavy artillery fire along the railroad as it waited for it’s place on the front line; it’s losses during the battle were 4 Killed, 68 Wounded and 13 Missing. Henry had stood the test and survived the battle unscathed. After the Union victory at Stones River, the Army of the Cumberland settled into winter quarters around Murfreesboro. In April of 1863, Henry suddenly became ill while in camp at Murfreesboro. Confined to the Regimental Hospital, Henry Merdith Alward died on April, 23, 1863, of what doctors called remittent fever.

Pvt. Henry Merdith Alward is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery. History was not kind to Henry, his headstone reads “H.M. Alwood”, instead of Alward. Unfortunately, the NPS will not replace the marker of my Great Great Grand Uncle. Sadly he will always be seen as “H.M. Alwood” to the visitor’s that walk through the cemetery.

By Scott Busenbark

Losses in Companies E & I, 15th Indiana

“The Crawfordsville Journal” 

Thursday, December 10, 1863

Losses in the 15th Indiana

“In the recent battles before Chattanooga, Company “E”, 15th Ind., which is composed principally of men from this county substained the following loss;

Killed – Sergeants Rob’t Gilbert, musket shot in heart; Fred Waltz, musket shot in breast; Solon Bower, musket shot in bowls; Privated Wm. Emmerson, musket shot in head; Wm. R. Cank, musket shot in breast.

Wounded – Lieutenants, 1st Wm. M. Graham, slight, in bowls; 2nd Jas. T. Harvey, severely, in side; Corporals, Silas Cooley, severe, in leg; Wm. L. Hess, slight, in arm; Privates, Henry H. Mercer, severe;Wm. W. Campbell, slight, in hand; Wm. Hartman, slight, in shoulder; Albert Robinson, slight, in chest; J.C. Tyson, severe, in hand.

This company went into the fight with only 28 men; rank and file; and came out with a loss of just one-half – 5 killed and 9 wounded. The wounds of a majority of the boys, we are pleased to learn, were but slight. Lieutenant Graham is now in this city, and is doing well – his wound being in the left side and not at all serious.

We also subjoin a list of the killed and wounded of Company “I”, same regiment. This company, though recruited in and about Liberty, in this State, have many relatives and friends in our county:

Killed – W.D. Sering, 2nd Lieut., rifle ball in head; A. Crist, Sergeant, rifle ball in head; H.H. Orman, rifle ball in breast; W.J. Stanton, rifle ball in the breast.

Wounded – Sergeants, A.B. Cole, in neck, slight; Victor Miller, in the side, slight; G.B. Cliff, in head, severe; Corporals, A.H. Conover, in hand, severe; M.J. Salsan, in shoulder, slight; Henry Aldor, in foot, severe; Jas. Mullen, in thigh, severe; Privates, Isaac Allen, in thigh, severe; Moses Cory, in side, severe; John Dunton, in thigh, severe; A.J. Hiller, in nose, slight; J.B. Macy, in shoulder, severe; George Banks, in thigh, severe; S.J. Wylie, in left ankle, severe.”

Kennesaw Mt. Story

Waveland Independent, April 2, 1920

“The late Richard Rusk was led to enlist in the Army during the Civil War by the fact that his uncle, A.P. Harrell, but a little older than himself, had enlisted and he wanted to be with him. Another uncle, also named Harrell was in the 40th Indiana. At Kennesaw Mountain, the uncle was wounded in a curious way. A cannon ball struck a tree near him and a splinter knocked him down and paralyzed him but did not render him unconscious. At nearly the same moment, Richard Rusk was struck in the forehead by a spent ball and dazed so that he started running into the rebel lines and would certainly have been killed or captured if comrades had not caught him. A.P. Harrell died in the soldier’s home at Danville, Ill. on the Saturday preceding Mr. Rusk’s death on Wednesday, so the comrades were not long separted. Mr Rusk knew that his uncle was seriously ill, but was not told of his death.”

Richard Rusk enlisted in the 40th Indiana as a recruit on April 7, 1864. He was in Company C, and mustered out December 21, 1865 at the rank of Sergeant.

A.P. “Perry” and John T. Harrell enlisted in the 40th Indiana on December 6, 1861. Both were members of Company C, and both mustered out at the rank of Sergeant on December 21, 1865.

George T. Williams Profile

Private George Tri Williams

George Williams was the son of George and Drusilla Williams; the family farmed in Center Twp., Boone County, Indiana. In the 1860 U.S. Census, George was only 14 years of age.

  George Williams first enlisted in Company D, 102nd Indiana Infantry on July 9, 1863 and was mustered out on July 17, 1863. On March 10, 1864 George enlisted as a recruit in Company F, 40th Indiana Reg’t. He served through the Atlanta campaign, seeing the regiments hard action at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. At the battle of Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864, William marched into battle with his regiment. It was to be his last battle, William was killed in action at the gates of Atlanta. He is buried in the Marietta National Cemetery.

As an interesting note, Private Williams forage cap has an oilcloth cover over it. It appears that the Federal Army was still issuing those items in 1864, and that some would have appeared in the field during the Atlanta Campaign.

Thomas Moody’s Letter Home

“A Letter from “Poney” Moody”

“Waveland Independent, May 31, 1929″

“In reading the following letter wtitten by the late T.N. Moody, you should remember that he had little, if any schooling, and learned to write after he went into the army. In those days even educated people were rather vague in their ideas about punctuation and capital letters.” (W.I.)

Nashville, Tenn.

July the 27, 1864

“Dear Mother it is with mutch pleasure that I seat my self to pen you A few lines to let you know that I am well and hope that when these few lines come to hand They ma find you well and doing well Mother mi wound is getting A long fine it dont pain me anymore worth A cent James E. Sennett he has his ferlow started up good but dont I wish I was A going to get to come home I have a good doctor and he knows what is best for me I will have to as he said let it bea good or bad bad or good but I hope it will bea for the good but I think there will be A chance Starch up mi fine shert hav one or 2 ready for me to ware to the fair if I have good luck I ma be their we dont know what may hapen yet but dont forget to write I like to hear from home while I am hear let it be long or short I just wrote to you on the 12 and Kate Sympson on the 13 I have got the answer to hers and answered it Agane and yet no letter from home but I hope it will bea good for one this evening I dont know how that is but I think it is due time well I have to bea gin to close for this time So no more but remain.

As ever your son un till death

Thomas Moody TO A M Moody Goodbye”

(W.I.) ” Don’t that just sound like “Poney”? In a strange city, wounded, no older that his grandson, Heck Gilliand and yet cheerful and looking forward to a good time at the fair. The wound troubled him all his life and contributed to his death, but he never complained and always had a cherry word.”

Thomas N. Moody enlisted in the 40th Indiana Infantry, Company C, On September 13, 1862, and mustered out on June 14, 1865. His grave is at  Maple Ridge Cemetery, Waveland, Indiana.

Flag Captured by the 40th Indiana

Image of Colonel Blake

No. 52 -Hdqrs., Fortieth Indiana Vol. Infantry

Near Huntsville, Ala., January 14, 1865

Capt. L.L. Cox

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General

Sir: In compliance with your request to send you the rebel battleflag captured by my regiment at Franklin, Tenn., together with a statement of the circumstances attending its capture, I have the honor to report that the flag was captured by Private James S. O’Riley, Company I, under the following circumstances: After a part of the second line at the battle of Franklin had given way a number of the enemy came over our works and some into the yard of the brick house just to the right of the Columbia Pike. Private O’Riley with others stopped behind the house, and the fire they opened prevented the farther progress of the enemy at that place. O’Riley did not long remain behind his shelter, but sallying out met a color-bearer of the rebel force at the other end of the house, and running him through with his bayonet carried off his flag in triumph. Colonel Blake afterward obtained the flag and probably knows where it is. I shall request him to send it back to the regiment.

I remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. Leaming,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Fortieth Indiana Infantry Volunteers