SERVICES IN ALABAMA; AND CONCLUSION--1865.
The regiment left New Orleans on the 6th of March and proceeded along
the river six miles to the plain of Chalmette, where at a point a
little below the old battlefield, and exactly opposite the present
rebel earthworks, it embarked on the small ocean steamship Cromwell.
Lieutenant Holl and wagoner Henricks did not go along with the company.
This was a wretched voyage. The men were packed as closely as negroes
on a slave-ship; the majority being unable to get more than sitting
room, and no chance to lie at full length for sleep. In the afternoon
of the 8th the troops were landed at Fort Gaines, Alabama, whence they
marched to a camping ground on the south shore of the island (Dauphin)
about two miles west of the fort.
Mahle was detached to serve on brigade provost guard by order issued on
the 10th; Knopf and Stengelin rejoined on the 13th; and Scheibel was
detached to serve in the Division Pioneer Company, by order issued on
the 17th.
While at Dauphin Island the system of company cooking was abandoned,
and that of distributing to each man his proportion of the rations, for
disposal at will, adopted instead. Company cooks, consequently, were no
longer required.
Broke camp on the 19th, and embarked at Fort Gaines on a gunboat (tin
clad). Lay all night in Navy Cove near Fort Morgan. Next day the fleet
crossed to Fish River and ascended it several miles to Dalney's Mill
Landing, on the west side, where the force disembarked and went into
camp, the Second Brigade being about a mile from the river on the south
side of a small but rapid creek. While at this place breastworks were
commenced to the west, but soon discontinued. Lieutenant Holl and
wagoner Henricks rejoined on the 21st, the former having been relieved
by the return of the regimental quartermaster.
On the 25th the forward march of the troops began, and eight miles were
made. The next day the Second Brigade was in front and the Sixth
Minnesota was detailed for skirmishing, Company E being employed to
cover the left flank of the brigade while marching. The enemy's
skirmishers hovered in front the whole time and an incessant fusillade
was kept up. By noon the creek on which Cyrus Sibley's house and mills
were was reached and crossed, and at about a mile beyond the company
was halted, and remained, with some other companies, on picket there
the whole night. The enemy's pickets and ours were often in view of
each other and exchanged many shots. Next morning, the 27th, the rest
of the regiment moved up and camped there; and breastworks were thrown
up and a battery stationed on the right flank. On the 28th the regiment
fell back; to the south side of the creek, where the camp of the Second
Division was entrenched, immediately opposite Sibley's house.
Here there was very little to do or see, but time enough to listen to
the almost continuous cannonading at the Spanish Fort, which however
soon ceased to be an object of remark except when, occasionally, the
rush of the enormous shells from the rebel gunboats drew every one's
attention. A reconnoissance on the Blakely road, to a point three miles
out, was made on the 2nd of April by the brigade. Near the place of
return two torpedoes were exploded by the feet of the horses at the
head of the column. On the same day Klinghammer, who had been arrested
on Dauphin Island, for very insubordinate conduct, and subsequently
tried by court-martial, found guilty, and sentenced to one year's hard
labor at a military prison, was turned over to the provost marshal, and
the company saw him no more.
On the 3rd the division broke camp and moved, by the way of Origen
Sibley's mills, to the front, near Blakely, on the Tensas River, about
twelve miles from Mobile, taking position on the left of the Thirteenth
Corps, which had appeared before the enemy's defenses there a few days
previously.
About a mile and a half to the eastward of the rebel works immediately
defending the town are some private graves among the pine trees,
apparently the commencement of a cemetery, but without fencing or other
general improvements. The tomb of one of General Marion's men, Godbold,
is there; and, immediately to the north of it a couple of rods, a local
family, the Wilkinsons, have a little plot of land, about fifteen paces
square, surrounded by a low brick wall.
Here, shortly before sunset on the 3rd of April, the brigade encamped,
the Sixth Minnesota being a couple of hundred paces distant from the
brick graveyard, to the east and southeast of it. The troops were told
to pitch no tents, light no fires, but lie on their arms, keep as quiet
as possible, and await further orders. It was rumored that the enemy's
works were to be stormed that night, but we were not disturbed. The
musicians, however, were called out and held subject to the surgeon's
orders. Next day, the 4th, tents were pitched and the usual camp
arrangements recommenced, except that all calls were discontinued lest
the sound of the bugles and drums should reach the enemy's ears and
guide them in shelling our camp.
While here a large detail was furnished every day by the regiment for
duty in the trenches and on the skirmish line. Before sunrise each
morning the soldiers filed off through the gloomy ravines to their
posts in the trenches and pits of the advance, some half a mile away,
there to lie and exchange shots with the enemy, and subject to their
shells, till relieved. Fortunately during the week spent in this camp
not a man of the company was injured, and it is understood that but two
casualties (slight wounds) occurred in the regiment the whole time the
siege of Blakely lasted. On two or three occasions shells reached the
brigade camp, one of which cut off a thick pine near to Godbold's
grave, but did not injure either living or dead. These shots were
provoked by men climbing the tall pine trees to get sight of the
enemy's works. The bombardment of the Spanish Fort on the evening of
the 8th was very plainly heard. It lasted from 5:30 o'clock to 7, and
the reports averaged about thirty a minute, by count.
In the afternoon of the next day tents were struck and the regiment
left camp, knapsacks packed, at 4 o'clock, and moved silently through
the woods to the line of trenches used by the reserve of the picket
guard, and there, knapsacks being unslung and with other impediments
piled together, the men were stationed to await orders. Immediately to
the right of the Sixth was a battery and beyond that another regiment,
also posted in reserve; and on the left there was nothing. From this
position to the enemy's redoubts it was about half a mile in a direct
course westward, and from the advanced skirmish line to the same works
some 400 yards. About 5:15 p.m. the various batteries of the Union
forces opened fire upon the enemy's lines, but their guns did not reply
for about ten minutes, when the cannonading became brisk on both sides,
lasting until 25 minutes to 6; the battery near the regiment sharing in
it. Now it ceased suddenly on our side, and in its place were heard the
ringing cheers of the soldiers as they rose, in full view of the
reserves, from their trenches in the front and rushed towards the
Confederate fortifications. By 6 o'clock the noise of the cannon had
ceased and a white flag was visible, which told of the enemy's
surrender; and shortly the Stars and Stripes superseded it. Thus, on
the evening of the 9th of April, 1865, took place the battle of
Blakely, which, like that of New Orleans in 1815, was fought after the
necessity for it had passed away.
The regiment returned to the original camp for the night. Next morning
if crossed the battle grounds and encamped immediately within the
former hostile earthworks, about a quarter of a mile from the village,
but remained there only two days, returning on the 12th to the
neighborhood of the cemetery. Here Ferlein, unable to march, was left
behind.
Without the men having any idea as to where they were going, the line
of march was taken up on the morning of the 13th of April, but a few
hours proved that it was neither to Mobile nor to Pensacola, but to the
north, showing that the Sixteenth Corps was on one of its
characteristic marches again. The strength of the company was now:
Present, 63; aggregate, 76. For over sixty miles the route lay through
pine forests, with very few clearings; and the villages then
successively passed were Burnt Corn, Midway, Activity, Greenville, and
Sandy Ridge. No enemy was seen, but, on the contrary, when the settled
country was reached, every house displayed a white flag or cloth,
generally with the words "The Union Forever" on it. On the 19th, a few
miles south of Midway, the official news of the surrender of Lee's army
overtook the expedition; and at camp on the 24th the rumor of Mr.
Lincoln's death, not at first believed, met it. For thirteen days, to
the 25th, the troops marched each day, arriving then at a stream five
miles south of Montgomery, having traveled a distance of 170 miles,
from the cemetery near Blakely. The 26th was spent in camp, to rest and
wash. On the 27th the troops moved through the city,--the cradle of the
rebel government,--and encamped beyond it. The camp of the brigade was
just beyond a swamp on the river road, about two miles northeastward of
the city. From the 26th to the 30th, as the transports had not arrived,
the soldiers were supplied by foraging parties with cornmeal, supplies
of fresh beef, and a little bacon. F. Henricks and Knopf, sick, were
sent to the hospital in the city, May 2nd. Ferlein rejoined on the 8th.
On the 18th of May the regimental camp was moved about a mile further
from the river, nearly to the Wetumka road, to get higher ground and
purer water. Sergeant Leitner rejoined on the 22nd. Lieutenant Holl
left on sick furlough on the 25th. Eberdt and Gropel rejoined on the
26th, the former being detailed in the band on the 29th. On the 31st
Sergeant Steifel was honorably discharged for disability contracted
while in the service. The same day a review of the Second Division took
place. Private Ferlein was honorably discharged on the 1st of June, his
term of service having expired. On the same day Mahle and Scheibel
rejoined, and Huth was sent to the hospital. On the 6th soft bread was
issued for the first time in three months. Jakobi was sent to the
hospital in town on the 13th. Sergeant Huth (in hospital) and privates
Gantner and Parks were honorably discharged on the 15th, their terms of
service having expired. On the 25th Krueger was sent to the division
hospital in town. The same day Schermann died of disease. He was buried
near the second mile-post on the Wetumka road. On the 30th Corporals
Sauer and Joseph Smith were promoted fourth and fifth sergeants,
respectively, and J. Mueller and Blesius seventh and eighth
corporals,--to take effect on the 16th of June. Knopf rejoined July
1st. Private Jakobi was honorably discharged on the 7th for disability
contracted while in the service; and on the same day the regiment acted
as guard at a military execution. Private Schene died of disease on the
8th, and was buried in the city cemetery. Musician Seidel was honorably
discharged on the 9th, his term of service having expired. He was the
last man discharged previous to the general mustering out. On the 13th
the men whose terms of service did not expire before the 1st of October
were transferred to and ordered to join the Fifth Regiment; those from
Company E being as follows: Bryan, Foglesang, Frank, Hildebrandt,
Holtzmer, Iwan, Knopf, Lieber, and Troska. While at Montgomery, by
change of captains in Company D, Company E became the first in rank,
its appropriate position in regimental line being the first on the
right flank, with Company I on the left.
After much weary waiting the regiment at last received orders to
proceed to Vicksburg, to be mustered out, and, joyfully striking tents
for the last time, on the 16th embarked on the steamer Coquette for
Selma, which place was reached next morning. Here, instead of
proceeding at once, the regiment remained three days by reason of
change of opinions in regard to the recruits just transferred. The
order transferring them was revoked, and they were returned to their
companies to be mustered out with the main body. The strength of
Company E was now as follows: Present, 60; absent, 6,--aggregate, 62.
On the 20th, left Selma by railroad. Reached Demopolis in the
afternoon, and descended the river there, on a steamboat, four miles to
the continuation of the railroad on the west bank, which place was
known as McDowell's Landing. Here camped for the night. The next day
arrived at Meridian, Mississippi, and lay there over night, and on the
day after, the 22nd, arrived at Pearl River opposite Jackson. Owing to
the destruction of the bridge over this stream, and that of the Big
Black, there was a gap of over thirty miles in the railroad
communication, which had to be traversed the best way possible. Most of
the men walked, having hired teams for their things. By the 25th nearly
all of the regiment had rendezvoused on the west side of the Big Black
River, near the railroad. The next day took cars for Vicksburg.
The regiment was now, it seems, ordered to report at St. Louis, and
accordingly, on the evening of the 26th, embarked at Vicksburg on the
steamboat Missouri for that place. Having arrived at St. Louis on the
31st, it received orders to proceed to Fort Snelling, and on the 1st of
August started on the steamboat Brilliant for St. Paul. Private W.
Smith was found dead in his place on the deck on the morning of August
3rd, and his body was left at Burlington, Iowa, for interment. On the
7th arrived at St. Paul, where a most cordial reception by the citizens
was experienced, and after being entertained at the capitol,
re-embarked and went to Fort Snelling. Here Lieutenant Holl, and F.
Henricks, Krueger, Schauer, Simon, and some others who had remained at
Jackson, rejoined.
The company was mustered out, with the rest of the regiment, on the
19th of August, at the fort. Of the original members there were now
discharged 47, who had served their full three years. Their names were
as follows, viz.: Bast, Beckendorf, J. B. Bell, Besecke, Blesius,
Blessner, Bristle, Burch, Detert, Eberdt, Gaheen, Goldner, Gropel,
Hahn, F. Henricks, H. Henricks, A. J. Hill, Holl; Hoscheid, John,
Kernen, Kilian, Kraemer, Krueger, Leitner; Mahle; Martin, Metz, M.
Mueckenhausen, J. J. Mueller, M. Mueller, G. Paulson, Praxl, Radke,
Reimers, Rohde, Sauer, Schafer, Scheer, Scheibel, Schoenemann, Siebert,
Simon, J. Smith, Sproesser, Stengelin, and Temme, The recruits
discharged numbered 12, and were: G. Bell, Bryan, Churchill, Foglesang,
Frank, Hildebrandt, Holtzmer, Iwan, Knopf, Lieber, Steinmann, and
Troska.
* * * * *
Although the foregoing pages are but a history of one company of the
Sixth Regiment, yet in general the account of its movements applies
generally to all.
The lot of this regiment, as an organization, was somewhat peculiar,
and, in respect to military glory, unfortunate. It boasts of no hard
won victories, laments no disheartening defeats, but it did faithfully
its assigned duty; and, in so doing, deserved well of the Republic.