Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and NEWTON, Indiana Historical and Biographical F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1883 693-696 Ninety-ninth Infantry. - The Ninety-ninth Regiment was organized during the months of August and September, 1862, in the Ninth Con- gressional District, and rendezvoused at South Bend. Three companies recruited in the Sixth Congressional District for the Ninety-sixth Regiment; were assigned to the Ninety-ninth, completing its organi- zation, and it was mustered into the service October 21, 1862, with ALEXANDER FOWLER as Colonel. The regiment moved in November to Mem- phis, Tenn., and upon its arrival there, was assigned to the Third Brigade, First Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. On the 26th, the regi- ment moved with its corps on the Tallahatchie campaign, and, return- ing, was placed on duty on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, at La Grange and Moscow, Tenn., where it remained during the winter of 1862 and 1863. On the 6th of May, 1863, the regiment moved to Memphis, and em- barking on steamers, sailed down the Mississippi River, and joined the besieging forces of Gen. GRANT, in the rear of Vicksburg. On the 4th of July, the regiment marched with SHERMAN'S command for Jackson, Miss., and was engaged in a skirmish on the Big Black River during that march. Our advance reached Jackson on the 9th, and its invest- ment was complete on the 12th. The siege progressed vigorously, and for three days the regiment laid under a heavy artillery fire from the enemy, and was engaged in skirmishing. On the night of the 16th, the enemy evacuated Jackson, and SHERMAN'S command moved into the place, and destroyed the railroads and public buildings. Expeditions were at once sent to the surrounding country, and the railroads centering at Jackson destroyed. The regiment assisted in capturing Brownsville, Miss. The regiment remained in camp at Big Black River until the latter part of September, when it moved with its corps to Memphis, and from thence, in October, marched by the way of Corinth, Iuka, Florence, Decherd and Stevenson, to Chattanooga, arriving at the latter place on the 24th of November. The Ninety-ninth at once took possession of Indian Hill, the eastern extremity of Mission Ridge, and worked all the following night throwing up works. By daylight the next morning, the regiment had improvised a fine line of defenses, being compelled to use sticks, tin plates and cups as intrenching tools, no shovels or picks being convenient. On the 25th the regiment was engaged in the battle of Mission Ridge. Immediately after the battle, the regiment marched with SHERMAN'S army in pursuit of BRAGG'S, in the direction of Graysville. The road was lined with broken wagons, abandoned cais- sons, and debris of a retreating army. As the head of the column emerged from a swamp, it encountered the rear guard of the enemy. A sharp fight ensued, but night closed further operations. Upon reach- ing Graysville, the column moved east for the purpose of cutting com- munications between BRAGG and LONGSTREET, and to relieve Gen. BURNSIDE, then besieged at Knoxville. The regiment, this dreary march, was almost entirely destitute of clothing, blankets and shoes, and without regular rations or supplies of any kind, and marched bare- foot through mud and over rocks, and compelled LONGSTREET to raise the siege of Knoxville. Returning with its command, the regiment reached Scottsboro, Ala., on the 26th of December, having made a march of more than 400 miles, and fought its part of the battle of Chattanooga. At Scottsboro the regiment remained in camp until the 11th of Feb- ruary, 1864. It then moved into East Tennessee, and was engaged at Rocky Face Ridge on the 25th. The regiment then returned to Scotts- boro, and encamped until the 1st of May. SHERMAN'S army then moved on its campaign, of which Atlanta was the objective point. The Ninety-ninth marched and fought with the dashing Army of the Tennessee, and was engaged in every skirmish, as- sault and battle, in which that army took part under the gallant Mc PHERSON. The regiment was engaged at Resaca, May 14; at Dallas, on the 28th. The enemy made a bold assault upon our columns, but met a bloody repulse. On the 15th of June, the regiment participated in a charge at Big Shanty. Subsequently it was engaged in skirmishing for seven days, near Kenesaw Mountain. The regiment also took part in skirmishes at Nickajack Creek, and also at Decatur, on the 20th and 21st of July. On the morning of the 22d, Gen. McPHERSON had gained a high hill, which gave him a command- ing position within view of the heart of Atlanta. At noon, HOOD'S forces made a desperate assault, and a terrible battle raged along the whole front, and after four hours' fierce fighting, the enemy was checked and driven back. In this battle, the noble McPHERSON was killed. On the 28th, another battle was fought in front of Atlanta, in which the corps to which the Ninety-ninth was attached, was chiefly engaged; the regiment was an active participant. The Ninety-ninth was engaged every day in skirmishing from August 3 to the 15th The regiment marched with SHERMAN'S army on its flank movement around Atlanta, and had a slight engagement at Jonesboro on the 31st of August; also a skirmish at Lovejoy's Station on the 1st of Sept- ember. It then returned with the main army to Atlanta, and went into camp at East Point. On the 3d of October, it joined in the pursuit of HOOD, and had a fight at Little River, Ga., on the 26th. After a march of 200 miles, it again reached Atlanta. On the 15th of November, the Ninety-ninth marched from its camp, and with its colors pointing to the South, moved with SHERMAN on his great march to the sea. The regiment moved with the right wing of the army, under Gen. HOWARD. On the 7th of December, it had a sharp skir- mish with the enemy at a crossing on the Canochee River, and on the 9th a sharp fight on the Ogeechee River. After having marched over 300 miles in twenty-four days, our army reached the front of Savannah. On the 15th of December, the regiment took part in the charge upon Fort McAllister, which, after a desperate hand-to-hand struggle with its garrison, surrendered, and opened SHERMAN'S communications with the sea. After a short rest at Savannah, the regiment, with SHERMAN'S army, through the Carolinas, was engaged in a skirmish at Duck Creek and Edisto River, and occupied Columbia, S.C., on the 17th of Febru- ary, 1865. From Columbia, the march was continued through Camden, Cheraw and Fayetteville. On the 19th of March, the regiment re-en- forced the Twentieth Corps at the battle of Bentonville. The march was then made to Goldsboro, from there to Raleigh, and thence, by way of Warrenton, Petersburg and Richmond, to Washington, D.C., where, on the 5th of June, 1865, the regiment, then commanded by Col. FARRAR, was mustered out of the service of the United States. Six companies only of the regiment were entitled to discharge, but, by a special order, the remaining four companies were mustered out of the service. The remaining recruits were transferred to the Forty-eighth Indiana Veterans, with which organization they served until its muster out. The Ninety-ninth left for the field with 900 men, and returned from its campaign with 425 officers and men. It marched during its term of service over 4,000 miles. Upon arriving at Indianapolis, the regiment was present at a reception to returned soldiers on the 11th of June, in the State House grounds, and was welcomed by Gov. MORTON and others. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more information about Newton County, Indiana by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/in/newton/ ===========================================================================