History of the 1st U.S. Inf.

On the 31^st of January, 1850, Colonel Davenport resigned from the army and was succeeded by Brevet Major General Bennett Riley, who was then commanding the military department of Upper California. General Riley died June 9, 1853, and was succeeded by Colonel Joseph Plympton.

In January, 1850, the regiment garrisoned Forts Merrill, McIntosh, Duncan and Ringgold Barracks, and early in this year the Indians became very troublesome, murdering settlers and stealing stock, and many attempts were made to punish them.

Captain King of the First, commanding at Fort McIntosh, sent Lieutenant Hudson, with a detachment of Company G in pursuit of Indian horse thieves, April 3, 1850. They encountered a party of Indians on the 7^th and had a severe fight in which one soldier was killed and Lieutenant Hudson and three men were wounded.

Captain Plummer of the First, commanding at Fort Merrill, sent out Lieutenant Underwood with a sergeant and 12 men June 8, 1850, to open a direct road between that post and Laredo. He met and exchanged shots with Indians on the 8^th, and on the 12^th had a fight with them in which he was wounded and seven of his men were killed or wounded.

From this time until the year 1856 there appears to have been little of interest in the history of the regiment.

In September, 1856, a scouting party from Fort Clark, which included Captain Gilbert and 18 men of Company B, surprised three parties of Indians near the junction of the Rio Grande and Pecos rivers, killing four and wounding four of them.

In July, 1857, the Indians, numbering from 80 to 100, attacked a mail escort from the 8^th Infantry, and a wood party consisting of a sergeant and six men of the 1^st Infantry, at a place called the “Ripples.”

A detachment of 40 men of the 1^st Infantry at Fort Lancaster under Lieutenants Haskell and Sherburne, with 40 men of the Eighth from Fort Davis, was sent out against them. The men were placed in the wagons and the column was given the appearance of a provision train. The ruse was successful and the Indians, supposed to be Mescalero Apaches, attacked the train, July 24, 1857, and were driven off with loss.

Lieutenant J. E. Powell, 1^st Infantry, left Fort Arbuckle February 23 1859, with a detachment composed of men from Companies D and E, 1^st Cavalry, and E, 1^st Infantry, in pursuit of Comanche Indians. He met and defeated them the next day, killing five, with a loss of three men wounded, one mortally.

On May 7, 1860, Sergeant T. G. Dennin, Company K, 1^st Infantry, in command of the escort to a train going to Fort Lancaster, was attacked by 40 or 50 mounted Indians, who were repulsed. The sergeant and party were commended for their courage and cool judgment.

Colonel Plympton died June 5, 1860, and was succeeded by Colonel Carlos A. Waite, who, on the 1^st of January, 1861, had his headquarters with a part of his regiment at Fort Chadbourne, Texas. The other companies were then at Fort Lancaster, Camp Cooper and Camp Verde, in Texas, and at Forts Cobb and Arbuckle in the Choctaw Nation.

Texas seceded from the Union, February 1, 1861, and appointed commissioners to confer with General Twiggs in regard to the surrender of all Government property and the removal of all U. S. troops from the State. General Twiggs was relieved from the command of the Department of Texas January 28, and was succeeded by Colonel Waite, who found everything military in a chaotic condition and devoted his whole energy to getting his troops safely out of the State and back into loyal territory. But five companies of his own regiment were in Texas,—A, G, H, I and K,—the remainder being in the Indian Territory. The Texas companies were ordered to rendezvous with other troops of the Department at Green Lake, 20 miles from Indianola, and succeeded in reaching that place.

Companies A, H and I got safely away, but the non-commissioned staff and band, with Companies G and K, were captured April 25, on transports, at Saluria, Texas, by the Texan forces. They were immediately paroled , engaging not to serve against the Confederates until exchanged, and sailed on the schooner Horace, reaching New York May 31.

The first transport that got safely away was ordered to leave two companies of the First at Key West, and probably did so, for a Return of the Department of Florida of date December, 1861, reports a part of the regiment at Fort Taylor. These companies were relieved early in 1862 and in April of that year Companies A, H and I, had joined the other companies of the regiment in the West.

Company G was reorganized in 1861, and in October of that year formed a part of the city guard of Washington, D. C. It was still in Washington in May, 1862, but for Pope’s campaign in Northern Virginia (August 16 to September 2, 1862) it was attached to the 6^th Infantry battalion, and with it formed a part of the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 5^th Corps. At the Second battle of Bull Run it was under the command of Captain Marston and lost eleven men killed and wounded.

On the night of September 16-17 at Antietam the battalion was on picket duty, and on the 20^th took part in the action near Shepherdstown.

At the battle of Fredericksburg Company G was attached to the 2d Infantry battalion and with it crossed the river December 13, and on the 14^th was under fire all day within short range of the enemy’s line. It recrossed the river on the 16^th.

This company remained with the 2d Infantry in the Army of the Potomac until after January 31, 1863.

The five companies of the regiment in the Indian Territory at the outbreak of the war,—B, C, D, E and F,—marched to Fort Leavenworth, reaching that post May 31, 1861, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Emory, who had been directed (April 17) to collect all the troops in the Indian Territory and take them to that station.

On the 24^th of July, 1861, the organization of General Nathaniel Lyon’s army at Springfield, Mo., was announced, and Captain Plummer’s battalion, consisting of Companies B, C and D, 1^st Infantry, and a company of recruits for the Mounted Rifles (3d Cavalry), formed a part of its third brigade.

This battalion was present at the battle of Wilson’s Creek, Mo., August 10, 1861, losing 80 officers and men killed, wounded and missing. It was in the advance from the first, and in the battle was on the left of the line. The conflict lasted six hours almost without interruption and left the Union forces in full possession of the field. Captains Plummer, Gilbert and Huston, and Lieutenant Wood were mentioned for gallantry, the two first being wounded.

At the siege of New Madrid, March 3 to 14, 1862, Companies A, B, C, D, H and I, 1^st Infantry, were present and were not assigned to any division, but were detailed, March 4, as a support to the artillery. Companies A and H, under Captain Mower, manned a siege battery, and the men of this command were the first to enter the enemy’s works, March 14, 1862.

Immediately after the capture of New Madrid the Union forces were pushed down the right bank of the Mississippi and batteries were constructed, the lowest being on Ruddle’s Point nearly opposite Tiptonville, through which latter place all the enemy’s supplies for Island No. 10 were received. On the 17^th of March, five of the enemy’s gunboats

“advanced against the battery,—which consisted of two 24-pdr. siege-guns and two 10-pdr. Parrotts, manned by a detachment of the 1^st Infantry (Company I), under Lieutenant Kinzie Bates. * * * The gunboats ran up to within 300 yards and a furious cannonade was kept up for an hour and a half, when they were repulsed with the loss of one gunboat sunk, several badly damaged, and many men shot down at their guns by our sharpshooters from the rifle-pits. Our loss was one man killed.

From that time no attempt was made against the battery and all communication from below with the forces near Island No. 10, was cut off.”

Although their line of communication was cut the Confederates held their position until April 8, when they surrendered. The final attack by the Union forces on the 7^th was supported by a battery of 32-pounders under Capt Williams, 1^st Infantry, which had been erected a few days earlier opposite Watson’s Landing.

Later in the same month Companies A, B, C, D, H and I were at Hamburg, Miss., under Captain George A. Williams, and on the 24^th the battalion was detailed to man the heavy siege artillery, consisting of two 20-pounder Parrotts, four 30-pounder Parrotts, and four 24-pounder siege guns. With the exception of the 20-pounders, which were attached to the reserve, the heavy batteries were directed to remain temporarily at Hamburg and to place the guns in position to protect the storehouses there. On the 13^th of May the battalion was before Corinth with its siege train, and on the 15^th the 60^th Illinois Volunteers were detailed to support its guns. On the 29^th the 20-pounders and 30-pounders opened fire, doing considerable execution, and on the 30^th the enemy evacuated the place. The works were at once occupied by the Union forces and the First Infantry battalion with other troops took station there.

When the five companies came in from the Indian Territory they were stationed at Fort Leavenworth and Brevet Major W. E. Prince, captain of Company E, 1^st Infantry, commanded that post for many months.

This company under Lieut. Offley was sent with other troops, August 12-14, on a reconnoissance [sic] to Independence, Mo., but did not come into contact with the enemy.

It was also sent August 17-27, 1862, with an expedition to Kansas City, which place was reported in danger of an attack. The company manned a light battery on this occasion and was commanded by Lieutenant C. S. Bowman, 4^th Cavalry. The expedition moved August 17 and after repairing the fortifications of Kansas City, moved on in search of the enemy, who was finally found in an almost impenetrable forest about fifteen miles from Independence, Mo. Colonel Burris, who commanded the column, reports :

“I then moved with my command in a westerly direction toward the nearest point to where water could be obtained, when soon the enemy was seen emerging from the Woods, marching south, and crossing our line of march at right angles, directly in our rear. We quickly took position on an eminence near the Hickory Grove with the battery, supported by the infantry in the centre and a battalion of cavalry on either flank. The enemy (some 1000 or 1200 yards distant) formed line of battle, but after a few well directed shots from Bowman’s battery their line was broken, they were thrown into confusion, and their march to the south resumed. Following them up with small detachments of cavalry they were soon discovered to be in full retreat.”

In October and November, 1862, Companies E and F were at Fort Scott, Kansas, very much reduced in numbers; and in February, 1863, Company E was at Fort Leavenworth.

Companies A, B, C, D, H and I, at Corinth were still in charge of the heavy artillery in position for the defense of that place when the Confederates attacked it, October 3 and 4, 1862. Company C under Lieutenant Robinett manned Battery Robinett; Companies D and I, Battery Williams, and Companies A, B, and H, Battery Phillips. Captain G. A. Williams, was in command of all the siege artillery, and reports as follows:

“About 3.30 A. M. October 4, the enemy opened on our forts and their supports with artillery. Battery Robinett returned the fire immediately. * * * I opened with three 30-pounder Parrott guns, immediately followed by Battery Phillips with an 8-inch howitzer which enfiladed the rebel battery. The rebel artillery was silenced in less than thirty minutes, and they retired leaving one gun and a caisson on the field. About 9.30 or 10 A. m,, the enemy were observed in the woods north of the town forming in line, and they soon made their appearance charging towards the town. As soon as our troops were out of the line of fire of my battery we opened upon them with two 30-pounder Parrott guns and one 8-inch howitzer which enfiladed their line * * * and continued our fire until the enemy were repulsed and had regained the woods.

“During the time the enemy were being repulsed from the town my attention was drawn to the left side of the battery by the firing from Battery Robinett, where I saw a column advancing to storm it. After advancing a short distance they were repulsed, but immediately reformed and, storming the work, gained the ditch. They then reformed, and, restorming, carried the ditch and the outside of the work, the supports having fallen a short distance to the rear in slight disorder.

“The men of the First U. S. Infantry, after having been driven from their guns (They manned the siege guns) resorted to their muskets and were firing from the inside of their embrasures at the enemy on the outside, a distance of about ten feet intervening; but the rebels having gained the top of the work, our men fell back into the angle of the fort as they had been directed to do in such an emergency. Two shells were thrown from Battery Williams into Battery Robinett, one bursting on top of it and the other near the right edge. In the meanwhile the 11^th Mo. Vols. (in reserve) changed front, and, aided by the 43d and 63d Ohio Vols. with the 27^th Ohio Vols. on their right, gallantly stormed up to the right and left of the battery, driving the enemy before them. The battery could not open on the retreating enemy, for its commander,—Lieutenant Robinett,—was wounded, and 13 of the 26 men that manned it were either killed or wounded.”

General Stanley says concerning this part of the conflict:—

“At the same instant the 11^th Missouri and the 27^th Ohio rushed upon the enemy at a run without firing, and the hill was cleared in an instant, the enemy leaving the ditch and grounds covered with his dead and wounded. Many threw down their arms and called for quarter. The old soldiers of the First Infantry quit their cannon and picked up their old trusty muskets and prevented the enemy crossing the parapet with the bayonet. The enemy was repulsed and the fight was over.”

On the day after the battle—October 5—the battalion with other troops was assigned as the garrison of Corinth and remained there until General Grant ordered it to Memphis, January 22, 1863. At this time Major Maurice Maloney was in command.

During February, 1863, the battalion, still consisting of Companies A, B, C, D, H and I, under Major Maloney, moved from Corinth to Memphis and, later, to the vicinity of Vicksburg. It was nominally a part of the 1^st Brigade, 14^th Division, 13^th Corps, but was actually in charge of a siege train throughout the siege of Vicksburg and never served with its brigade.

On the 22d of March, General McClernand was directed to forward at once to the Yazoo Pass expedition four 30-pdr. Parrotts, with not less than 80 men of the 1^st Infantry, to be under the command of Captain G. A. Williams, 1^st Infantry; but as General Grant wrote on the same day that “It is now clearly demonstrated that a further force, in by way of Yazoo Pass, can be of no service,” it is probable that this order did not go into effect.

Captain E. D. Phillips of the First reports, under date of April 22, 1863, from “Camp at Millikens Bend, La.,” that on the 17^th April he had opened fire upon the court-house and railroad depot in Vicksburg with two 30-pdr. Parrotts placed in a casemate battery opposite the town, and had continued the ring with increasing accuracy until the night of the 20^th, when, in obedience to instructions, he had embarked his detachment, guns, ammunition, etc., on a transport and had reached the camp of the First Infantry on the date of the report.

At the time of the first assault upon Vicksburg (May 22), Captain Offley with a detachment of the regiment was in charge of a sunken battery containing two 30-pdr. Parrotts, situated on that part of the line occupied by the 3d Division, 17^th Corps, afterwards known as Battery Logan; while Major Maloney, with the remainder, was opposite the point assaulted by the 2d Brigade, 14^th Division, and the 2d Brigade, 10^th Division.

General McClernand reports concerning this assault that “A portion of the 1^st U. S. Infantry, under Major Maloney, serving as heavy artillery added to their previous renown. Neither officers nor men could have been more zealous and active. Being in the centre, they covered in considerable part the advance of Benton’s and Lawler’s brigades and materially promoted their partial success.”

This battery was on an elevation about 600 yards distant from the salient of the enemy’s line which was assaulted, and commanded a fine view of all the movements in its front. General Grant afterwards frequently visited one of the batteries served by the battalion during the siege, to watch the effect of its fire and that of the other batteries in sight. His favorite seat was on a certain log which soon became known as his and was always reserved for him.

On the 17^th of June the 30-pdr. Parrotts were moved to a redoubt far advanced in the sap, where they were established under the command of Lieutenant Branagan, 1^st Infantry, while Captain Offley was given two 9-in. Dahlgrens in Battery Logan.

On the 25^th of June, at 4.30 o’clock in the afternoon, a mine was sprung under one of the enemy’s works and the 45^th Illinois Volunteers charged into the gap thus made. Hand grenades were freely used on both sides in this fight, Private William Lazarus of Company I, 1^st Infantry, being detailed on the Union side to throw them. After throwing about twenty he was mortally wounded, when three men were detailed from the same command to continue the work.

The regiment added greatly to its reputation for gallantry and efficient service during the siege and, though always on duty at the front, met with little loss.

With the successful termination of the siege (July 4, 1863), the besieging army was at once made use of in other directions, and the First Infantry finally went to New Orleans where it became the provost guard and was quartered in Odd Fellows’ Hall, opposite Lafayette Park. Here it was joined by its colonel-R. C. Buchanan-who had been promoted to the regiment from the 4^th Infantry, February 8, 1864, by the retirement of Colonel Waite. In December, 1865, however, Colonel Buchanan left the regiment on detached service and was succeeded in command by Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Wood.