ILLINOIS EIGHTY-NINTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Eighty-ninth Infantry. Cols, John Christopher, Charles T. Hotchkiss; Lieut.-Cols., Charles T. Hotchkiss, Duncan J. Hall, William D. Williams; Majs., Duncan J. Hall, William D. Williams, Bruce H. Kidder. The "Railroad Regiment," was organized at Chicago in Aug., 1862, by the railroad companies of Illinois. It was mustered into the U. S. service on Aug. 27, was ordered to Louisville, Ky., Sept. 4, and was assigned to the 3d brigade, 2nd division, Army of Kentucky. When mustered in it was composed of but nine companies, but the tenth company joined the regiment at Bowling Green, Ky. When in the service but about four months it took an active part in the memorable battle of Stone's river, where by its gallant conduct the men soon became classified among the old, tried soldiers. At Liberty gap a small loss was sustained, and at Chickamauga the regiment suffered severely. At Missionary ridge it again encountered the foe, scaling the enemy's works and driving him from them. With the brigade it participated in the splendid victories of Rocky Face ridge, Resaca, Pickett's mill, Kennesaw mountain, Peachtree creek, the flank movement of Atlanta, and pursued the routed enemy in his retreat to Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station. It participated in the brilliant achievements of Spring Hill, Columbia, Franklin and Nashville. On June 10, 1865 the regiment was mustered out in the field, near Nashville Tenn. In 1863, 440 recruits were added to the regiment, making a total borne on the rolls of 1,403. The regiment left in the field 202 recruits (transferred to the 59th Ill. infantry), and mustered out on its rolls 381 men, leaving 820 men killed in action, died from wounds or discharged on account of disability contracted in the service. Source: The Union Army, vol. 3 Stone's River after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. Charles T. Hotchkiss, Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry. HDQRS. EIGHTY-NINTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, RIGHT WING, In Camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 7, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this regiments in the series of engagements between the Federal and rebel forces near Murfreesborough, Tenn., and upon the approaches thereto, commencing on December 26, 1862, and ending on January 4, 1863, when the latter, under Gen. Bragg, were defeated by the army of Gen. Rosecrans and forced to evacuate all their positions in and about Murfreesborough. This regiment left camp, in front of Nashville, with my brigade on the morning of December 26, taking the Nolensville pike and moving slowly with the column [as the enemy had to be driven by the advance] through Nolensville, Triune, and along the Murfreesborough and Franklin road, arriving, on the night of the 30th, at a point about 3 1/2 miles due west from Murfreesborough, where, just after dark, the brigade was put in position on the extreme right of our right wing, about 200 yards in rear of and at right angles with Kirk's brigade. My regiment was formed in double column at half distance in rear of the Forty-ninth Ohio, which was formed in line, fronting south. The Fifteenth Ohio formed in line, fronting west, on my right flank, with Battery A, First Ohio Artillery, near the right flank of the Forty-ninth Ohio and the left flank of the Fifteenth Ohio, the Thirty-second and Thirty-ninth Indiana Regiments being on picket covering the front of our position both south and west, thus protecting the rear of the extreme right [Kirk's brigade] of the right wing. In this position my men bivouacked without fires for the night. At 5.30 o'clock on the morning of December 31, as my men were building fires for cooking, rapid firing was heard on Kirk's front, which was almost instantly follow by the men of his brigade rushing in confusion and indiscriminately through our ranks and over my men, closely followed by a heavy upon us, and the large number of fugitives passing through and covering my front, together with peremptory orders communicated to regimental commanders of his brigade by Gen. Willich the night previous, made it impossible for me to make a deployment or otherwise advantageously change my position. To protect my men as much as possible from the enemy's fire, I ordered them to lie down. In that position they remained without confusion until my left wing was uncovered of fugitives and the enemy within 50 yards of my position, when I ordered that wing to fire, which was done with good effect, the colors of the leading column of rebels falling. Having received no orders as yet, and seeing the other regiments of the brigade falling back, I gave the order to retire by the right flank, on double-quick, which was done [but with some confusion], to a lane, about 400 yards in a northwesterly direction, where I placed Capt.'s Willet's, Whiting's, and Comstock's, and Lieut. Wells' companies in a very good position. But few of our shots were wasted, the colors of the leading column of the enemy again falling under our fire; but, being closely pressed, I ordered the companies to retire on the same line of direction to a point on a small creek, about 500 yards distant, where I placed Capt.'s Rowell's and Blake's companies under the partial cover of a thicket, and their fire most materially checked the enemy's advancing skirmishers, allowing me time to cross the creek with, and partially reorganize, my command, Capt. Rowell's gradually following. Following the line of the creek, I again crossed to a point some 500 yards southeast of the Second division hospital, where, in an open field, I joined a portion of each of the Forty-ninth and Fifteenth Ohio and Thirty-second Indiana Regiments. The enemy's cavalry appearing on our right, and their infantry approaching on our left flank, threatening to cut us off, I moved by the left flank, the other regiments following, in a northeasterly direction, to a position in the woods on the south side of the Wilkinson pike, and about equidistant from the hospitals of the First [Gen. Davis'] and the Second [Gen. Johnson's] Divisions, a position from which our fire, at short range over an open field, thinned the ranks and partially checked the advance of the rebels' closely pressing columns. At this point, being informed of the loss of Gen. Willich and Col. Gibson, the next senior officer, the command of the brigade was assumed by Col. Wallace, of the Fifteenth Ohio. The forces [to me unknown] which here formed upon the right and left flanks of our brigade having retired, in obedience to orders I retired my regiment in line and in good order, making several stands in the same woods with the balance of the brigade to and near the right of Gen. Rousseau's division, where I was ordered by Gen. Johnson to take position in a cedar thicket on the right with some troops [to me unknown] who were in front and joining on the right of said division. Soon afterward, the troops on my right and left of the line, which they and I in common held, having unexpectedly and rapidly retired, and my position just then receiving the brunt of the enemy's artillery and musketry fire, and my ammunition being exhausted, I retired my regiment, by the flank, to the rear, there replenishing my ammunition and resting my men, who had up to this time taken and delivered an unceasing fire for nearly five hours. Later in the day, being informed of the position of the balance of the brigade, I at once rejoined them, when I was put in position on the right of the same, thus unitedly forming the second line of infantry [Gen. Davis' division being in front] on the extreme right of the right wing, where we bivouacked that night without fires. The operations of the regiment during the subsequent four days were in common with the brigade, and were not of a character to need form me particular mention, with the exception of the part taken by it on the night of Friday, January 2, when, under the command of Capt. Williams [myself being unable to take active command], it had the responsible position of guarding the ford and supporting Capt. Stokes' [Chicago Board of Trade] battery, while the forces under Gen. Negley made the successful charge upon the enemy's right. The behavior of the officers and men during this period, particularly in the trying action of the 31st, was, in steadiness and bravery, all that could be required by any commander. This phrase fully expresses my estimate of their conduct: "Every man that day did his duty." Where bravery and obedience were so general it is difficult for me to make personal discrimination; but among my non-commissioned officers I particularly commend, for their gallantry in rallying to my colors fugitives from other commands, Sergt. Maj. John M. Farquhar and Sergt. Erastus O. Young, of Company A; also Capt. Button G. Cody, of the Thirty-ninth Indiana, and Lieut. Seifert, of the Thirty-second Indiana, who tendered their services to me on the field and fought gallantly in my ranks. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. T. HOTCHKISS, Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Capt. CARL SCHMITT, Assistant Adjutant-Gen. Source: Official Records PAGE 310-29 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. [Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.] Chickamagua after battle report: Report of Maj. William D. Williams, Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry. HDQRS. 89TH ILL. INF., 1ST Brig. 2d DIV., 20TH A. C., In the Trenches, Chattanooga, Tenn., September 25, 1863. SIR: In compliance with orders received this day, I present a brief outline of the operations of the Eighty-ninth Regt. Illinois Infantry Volunteers since breaking up camp in Tullahoma, Tenn.: On the 16th of August, 1863., the Eighty-ninth Regt. received orders to march at 4 p. m. We started at the appointed time under the command of Lieut. Col. D. J. Hall (Col. C. T. Hotchkiss, 5 line officers, and 10 sergeants being absent on special recruiting service). The regiment in company with the brigade marched all night, passing through Winchester and Salem, and thence by easy marches over the mountains to Bellefonte, Ala. The regiment and brigade encamped at Bellefonte six days awaiting orders. On the morning of August 30 we broke up camp, and proceeded up the Tennessee River road to a point opposite Stevenson, Ala. On the 31st the brigade and regiment crossed the Tennessee River on a pontoon bridge, thence by easy marches over the Sand Mountain to Broomtown Valley, thence back again to Winston's thence up the mountain again and along the ridge to Stevens' or Frick's Gap, through the same to a point 4 miles south, opposite the enemy's extreme left. The operations of the regiment, from the crossing of the Tennessee River to striking the enemy's left, embraces a period of some sixteen days, which was employed in marching and countermarching over mountains and through valleys. On the 18th of September the regiment stood picket opposite the enemy's left and about 800 yards distant therefrom. At daylight on the morning of the 19th of September we marched with the brigade about 4 miles to a point opposite the left of Gen. Thomas' corps, it being understood we were to re-enforce the left of our line of battle. We arrived abut 11 a. m. at Gordon's [Crawfish] Spring, formed in double column, marched with the brigade 2 miles toward the left of Gen. Thomas' corps, wheeled to the right, deployed column within easy musket range of the enemy, the Eighty-ninth Illinois and Fifteenth Ohio forming the second line, the Thirty-second Indiana and Forty-ninth Ohio forming the first line. The Eighty-ninth Illinois occupying the right of the second line, we had no connection, so far as I could discover, on our right. We lay flat on the ground, without firing, about forty minutes, subject in the meantime to the heavy musketry and artillery fire of the enemy, which wounded 5 of our men, at the expiration of which time the brigade bugle sounded "Forward;" the officers and men obeyed with alacrity, starting forward on a double-quick, driving the enemy almost without stopping (at least not stopping more than five minutes) upward of a mile. About a mile from where we started to charge the enemy, the right and left companies of the Eighty-ninth encountered two of the enemy's batteries; the left, Company C, Eighty-ninth, captured one of the pieces opposite them (a 6-pounder Parrott and caisson), the enemy escaping with the balance. The three right companies were checked by the murderous discharges of grape and canister from the enemy's battery opposite them. It was here that Capt. W. H. Rice, Company A, Capt. John W. Spink, Company D, Lieut. Warren, Company E, and Lieut. Ellis, company B, fell with many of our men. Lieut.-Col. Hall, seeing the right thrown into some confusion (caused by an over-zeal of the three right companies to capture the only remaining rebel piece, which was being dragged off by hand), ordered the regiment to halt and fall back 20 yards, firing. In the meantime order was restored on the right. At this point Brig.-Gen. Willich came forward and, standing in front of the regiment and amid the shower of bullets poured into us, complimented the regiment for its impetuous advance, calmed their excitement, instructed them how to advance firing and maintain their alignment with the advance of the brigade, and by h is own inimitable calmness of manner restored order an confidence in the regiment, and after dressing them and drilling them in the manual of arms for a short time, ordered them to advance about 30 paces to the edge of an open space. They did so in good order; lay down and kept the enemy in check for the next two hours. In the meantime the enemy kept up a constant fire, which was vigorously returned by our men. About 5.30 p. m. the enemy, having been re-enforced and somewhat recovered from the severe fright and punishment we had inflicted upon him, advanced in heavy force and pressed our regiment and brigade back some 250 yards, where the brigade made a determined stand in an advantageous position., checked the advance of the enemy, but not without severe loss in killed and wounded. By this time it was pitch dark; prudence suggested a withdrawal to maintain connection with the brigades on our right and left. Gen. Willich led the Eighty-ninth Illinois, Thirty-second Indiana, Forty-ninth and Fifteenth Ohio, his brigade, to position in the rear near to the position occupied in the morning, when we deployed column. Here we bivouacked for the night, exultant in our success, proud of our brigade and its incomparable commander, but saddened with the sight of our thinned ranks and the loss of personal friends. Thus ended the eventful 19th of September, 1863. Early on the morning of the 20th, the brigade took a rendezvous position in double column abut the center of a large open field and about the center of the left of our entire line of battle, which, at this point, partook of the convex order of battle, around which the enemy was in heavy force. The Eighty-ninth and Thirty-second formed the first line, the Forty-ninth and Fifteenth the second line. After considerable maneuvering the brigade was faced to the east and ordered to advance to the support of the Third Brigade, then hotly engaged with the enemy. The Eighty-ninth and Thirty-second moved straight forward over two lines of temporary breastworks to the Third under a heavy fire. The forty-ninth and Fifteenth oblique to the left. The attack of the enemy, after a fierce contest, was handsomely repulsed. After lying at this point perhaps two hours the Eighty-ninth and Thirty-second, together with the Forty-ninth and Fifteenth, were ordered to the support of Goodspeed's battery, near a log-house at the southwest corner of the field, the enemy having swung around to the rear of our position. At this point, while lying in support of this battery, which played vigorously on the enemy, and was fiercely shelled and played upon in return, about 3 p. m. fell Lieut. col. D. J. Hall, commanding Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, pierced through the bowels by a musket-ball at the hands of a rebel sharpshooter. I cannot let the opportunity pass without adding my humble tribute to the many excellences of this young and promising officer and, accomplished gentleman. "None knew him but to praise." His death at this juncture is an irreparable loss to the regiment and the service. His last words were, "Tell my parents I died for my flag and my country." On the happening of this dreadful misfortune I assumed the command of the Eighty-ninth Regt. About 5 p. m. it was observed that regiments and brigades on our right and left were giving way in inextricable confusion; at the same time the enemy were shelling us furiously on our front, right, and rear, mingled with terrific musketry. Gen. Willich ordered the battery to take position about 100 yards to the left of original position. They did so. The Eighty-ninth moved in good order by the left flank, fronted, and laid down, the Thirty-second, Forty-ninth, and Fifteenth doing the same on our left. During this change of front a stream of fugitives was running through and over us, but the brigade stood firm and undaunted. It was during this trying ordeal that the First Brigade of the Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps earned its sobriquet of the "Iron Brigade of the Cumberland Army." After the battery had withdrawn and the cloud of fugitives had passed to the rear, the First Brigade about-faced, and halting and fronting every 50 yards, presented a bold and defiant front, effectually checking the enemy. The Eighty-ninth, with the other regiments of the brigade, halted about half a mile to the rear of original position in the morning, confronting the enemy and holding him in check, while the balance of the Army of the Cumberland filed by our rear in full retreat to Chattanooga, some 10 or 12 miles distant. The First Brigade formed the rear guard of the Army of the Cumberland; the Eighty-ninth Illinois formed the rear guard of the brigade. We marched about three hours, picking up countless stragglers, and forcing them on to chattanooga. The enemy did not molest us. We halted with the brigade about 8 miles from the battle-ground of Chickamauga. The next morning, September 21, we took position about 4 miles in front of Chattanooga, remaining there in line of battle until 1 a. m., September 22, when we withdrew to within a mile of Chattanooga, formed in line of battle, threw up a temporary breastwork, and are, at the moment of writing, awaiting the enemy. In the above sketch I have endeavored to give a truthful account of the operations of the Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry from my standpoint, but the operations of the regiment are so mingled and mixed with the brigade, that it is necessarily more or less imperfect, desultory, and obscure. It remains for me but to say the men and officers of the Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry are, in my judgment--and, I trust, in the judgment of my superiors--worthy to belong to the First Brigade, and to be under the command of such a general as A. Willich. I trust the time will come when we can all sit by our peaceful firesides (when great command shall have been awarded him), and recount the time when he was our brigade commander, standing in front of our regiment, amid the rain of bullets and shells, and drilling us into steadiness and confidence. Of the officers of the Eighty-ninth, during the memorable two days of historic Chickamauga, I cannot speak in too high praise; of the gallant dead, Capt.'s Rice, Spink, and Whiting, and Lieut. Adams, they fell gloriously at the head of their companies. Can language furnish a more eloquent epitaph for a soldier's tomb? Of the wounded, Adjt. E. F. Bishop added new laurels to the chaplet won at Stone's River; Lieut.'s Warren, Ellis, and Darcy led their commands with distinguished bravery and coolness. It would ill become me to speak of the merits of such officers as Capt. John M. Farquhar, Capt. H. L. Rowell, Capt. Hobbs, Lieut.'s Dimick, Sampson, Young, and Harkness; it would be a feeble and pitiable attempt to "gild refined gold or paint the lily;" their praise should be a general's encomium and a nation's gratitude. Of the non-commissioned staff, Sergt. Maj. E. J. Stivers deserves especial mention for brave and intrepid conduct. The men fought like veterans, and proved themselves worthy of the title. I did not see a single enlisted man of the Eighty-ninth flinch from his duty. Where such is the case it would seem invidious to discriminate, yet the conduct of Private Beecher, of Company D, deserves especial notice. All the commissioned and non-commissioned officers present with his company were either killed or disabled in the early part of the action of the 19th. Private Beecher assumed the command, the men instinctively obeying his orders; his intrepidity, coolness, and excellent judgment kept the company together, and stamped him as worthy of command. Sergeant Friday, the colorbearer, stands out a hero, and has no superior for the position he holds. But space admonishes me to close. Appended please find exhibit marked A, which attests the severity of the actions of the 19th and 20th of September, 1863. and which exhibits the casualties* of the Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry. The missing are undoubtedly killed, wounded, or prisoners. All of which is respectfully submitted. W. D. WILLIAMS, Maj., Comdg. Eighty-ninth Regt. Illinois Infantry. Capt. CARL SCHMITT, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., First Brigade.

Source: Official Records CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 542-50 [Series I. Vol. 30. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 50.]

Illinois 89th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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