Report of Lieut. Col. John A. McLaughlin, Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry, of operations March 17—April 12.
HDQRS. FORTY-SEVENTH INDIANA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS,
Spring Hill, Ala., April 20, 1865.
SIR: In obedience to orders from headquarters First Brigade, First Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Forty-seventh Indiana Veteran Volunteers in the operations at Spanish Fort and Blakely, together with a journal of the march from the time of leaving Dauphin Island:
On the morning of the 17th of March I received orders to embark my regiment on the steamer Mustang for Navy Cove, which point was reached at 1 p. m. of the 17th, where with but trifling delay the regiment debarked and marched a distance of three or four miles up the peninsula, going into camp for the night. March 18, lay in camp. March 19, received orders to move at 5 a .m.., reaching an arm of Bay Bon Secours at 10 a. in., which was forded, the men wading. Went into camp at 5 p. m., having marched a distance of fourteen miles. March 20, broke camp at 5 a m.; marched in rear of the brigade. Came upon the train of the Third Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, which was unable to move forward on account of the roads being impassable, about 9 a m.., when a halt was ordered and 200 detailed from the regiment, by order of General Slack, for the purpose of bridging, to enable the columns to pass over the swamps that lay in our way. After several hours’ labor were enabled to move forward a distance of two miles, going into camp about dark, soon after which it commenced raining, and continued during the entire night. March 21, were engaged the entire day in bridging and getting trains forward. Detail of 100 men from the regiment relieved hourly during the day. March 22, moved at 4 a. m., going into camp at 12 m., having marched about four miles. Detail of 200 men to work at bridging. March 23, ordered to move at daylight. Marched three miles, bridging as before. March 24, moved at 6 a. m.; marched to Fish River, a distance of sixteen miles, with but little delay on account of roads, going into camp at 9 p. m. Lost three men, they being captured by guerrillas in a dash made upon the train of the First Division, Thirteenth Army Corps. March 25, received orders to move at 12 m. Marched six miles, going into camp at dark. March 26, received orders to move at 6 a. m. After marching about eight miles the advance met the enemy’s pickets, drove them, and went into camp in line of battle one mile from Spanish Fort, where fortifications were ordered to be thrown up, and Companies I, F and C were thrown forward as pickets. The enemy advanced on the morning of the 27th about daylight and attacked the pickets. The regiment on the left gave way, allowing the enemy to advance upon the flank of the line occupied by the Forty-seventh Indiana, who seeing their situation formed in line and charged the enemy, regaining the ground and driving the enemy from the field, with a loss to the Forty- seventh Indiana of 1 killed and 6 wounded, 1 mortally, and who died on the 27th. On the morning of the 27th, at 10 a. m., moved forward in line of battle within a short distance of Spanish Fort, where fortifications were erected, and one company was thrown forward, by order of General Slack, as skirmishers, intrenching as they advanced. No casualties. March 28, were on the advance line; shelled by the enemy at regular intervals during the day, the skirmish line advancing about 100 yards. Casualties, one man of Company E wounded while in the main line, not serionsly. March 29, engaged in fortifying main line and advancing skirmishers, which the enemy attempted to check. Regiment ordered into line about 11 o’clock to support skirmishers. Remained under arms during the night. March 30, received orders and moved at 12 m. with supply train for General Steele’s command. Marched three miles and encamped for the night. March 31, moved at 6 a. m., leaving regimental train behind. Marched six miles and encamped on Holyoke farm. Threw up fortifications.
April 1, remained in camp. April 2, remained in camp until 6.30 p. m., when we were ordered to move, reaching Sibley’s Mills, three miles from Blakely, about 11 p. m. April 3, moved at 3 a. m. without knapsacks, taking position on the line at 8 a. m. Remained in camp during the day. April 4 and 5, remained in camp. April 6, remained in camp during the day, going to the advance trenches at 7 p. m. During the night advanced the trenches 100 yards, covering the entire front of the regiment. April 7, were relieved by the Ninety-ninth Illinois at 7 p. m. April 8, remained in camp during the day, and 7 p. m. received orders to move to Spanish Fort, but before reaching our destination the order was countermanded and we returned to camp, reaching it at 2 a. m. April 9, remained in camp during the day. April 10, moved camp about three miles. April11, remained in camp until 7p.m., when we received orders to move. Reached Starke’s Landing at 4 a. m. on the 12th and embarked on the steamer Landis, landing at Magnolia Race-Course Pier at 12 m. Debarked at once in small boats principally, the pier being but a temporary fixture, over which but one rank was able to pass. Formed immediately after landing and moved forward with the brigade, entering the city of Mobile about 8p. m. Marched through the city, encamping for the night in the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Depot. During the campaign ending with capture of Mobile the officers and men of the Forty-seventh Indiana bore the part assigned them without complaint, every man doing his duty to the entire satisfaction of his commanding officer.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN A. McLAUGHLIN,
Lieutenant- Colonel, Commanding Regiment.
Capt. M. D. MASSIE,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brig., First Div., 13th Army Corps.
source- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records Volume XLIX pub. 1897