CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE SECOND CAVALRY-RE-ENLISTMENT-DEATH OF COLONEL Mudd-Service in TEXAS -THE EIGHTH CAVALRY-HUNTING BOOTH-MUSTER-OUT ROSTER-DAMAGE TO THE ENEMY-MAJOR JAMES D. LUDLAM-THE NINTH CAVALRY-VETERANIZING-BATTLES OF FRANKLIN AND NASHVILLE-THE SIXTEENTH CAVALRY-THIELMAN'S BATTALIONA REGIMENT RAISED-THE FIGHT IN POWELL'S VALLEY-HEAVY LOSS-FINAL ROSTER-CAPTAIN HIRAM S. HANCHETT-THE SEVENTEENTH CAVALRY-CAMPAIGNING IN MISSOURI PURSUIT OF PRICE-FIGHT AT BOONEVILLE-BATTLE OF MINE CREEK-A SABER CHARGE-IN A TIGHT PLACE THE ENEMY RETIRE-SURRENDER OF JEFF THOMPSON-GENERAL H. Beveridge.

IN

SECOND ILLINOIS CAVALRY.

N the first volume of this work [p. 301 et seq.] we have given the original roster of this regiment, and its history to the 1st of January, 1864. We quote from a newspaper correspondent the following respecting its subsequent career :

"At New Iberia, Louisiana, January 5, 1864, more than two thirds of the regiment re-enlisted and took their first furlough home. The remainder were through the Red River campaign of the following spring, and, being constantly exposed to the enemy in the front going up, and covering the rear coming back, suffered severely.

"At Baton Rouge, May 1, 1864, good Colonel Mudd shook hands and bade us good-by, to embark for Alexandria, on duty as Chiefof-Staff to General McClernand. It was his last greeting and final adieu. Two days after, when a few miles below Alexandria, the boats were furiously attacked with rifle and cannon from the left bank, and soon Colonel Mudd fell, shot through the head. Never was leader more respected, nor friend more esteemed. He knew every man in his regiment to the latest recruit, and each remembered

THE SECOND CAVALRY.

547 him for some special favor and kindness. In November, the regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Marsh, made a quick and successful trip. Leaving Baton Rouge in the evening, at 9 o'clock, it the next night completely surprised Liberty, Mississippi (rebel headquarters of General Hodge & Co.), taking a large number of prisoners. The circuitous route taken made the distance ninety miles. A few days after this, it went on the Davidson raid to Pascagoula Bay. New Year's day, it embarked on the Gulf, and returned to Baton Rouge, but soon again had the privilege of sea sickness, and, March 12th, landed at Barrancas, Florida. On the 21st mounted again and went on Spurling's raid; was General Steele's advance, charging the enemy at Blakeley, and in at the death of the rebellion in the South and West-the fall of Mobile; took our last prisoners, before the final surrender, at Union Springs, Alabama, General Pillow and staff and the rebel Governor and Lieutenant-Governor being among them. Then to Montgomery and, by way of Columbus, Mississippi, to Vicksburg, making a horseback ride of about 1,500 miles. Went by boat to Shreveport, Louisiana, and thence to the southwest frontier. Have been stationed at San Antonio, but made a trip of twenty days to the outposts, Eagle Pass and Fort Clarke, a few having had a chance to cross the Rio Grande, and stand on foreign soil.

"Going home, going home to the old hearthstone!' We see the door open and the outstretched arms of welcome rushing to clasp us. "For the past, sober thoughts and satisfaction at duty fulfilled, with a tear and regret for our missing comrades, a smile for the present, and a thrill of good purpose and hope for the future-civil life and duty, welcome!"

The regiment was mustered out of the service at San Antonio, Texas, on the 24th of November, 1865.

EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.

In Vol. I. (p. 451) of this work, we have given the original roster of this gallant regiment, with its history up to the date of its "veteranizing," about the 1st of January, 1864.

In February of that year, the 8th, which had recruited up to 1,140 men, resumed duty as provost guard in Washington, where it remained until June, 1865, when it was ordered out to Muddy Branch

and thence to Monocacy Creek, where it had the pleasure of meeting Early on his famous raid. From Monocacy, seven companies were sent to Frederick City, and the remaining five companies were dispatched to Baltimore. The campaign was a very severe one, but ended in the rebels being beaten and driven across the Potomac.

In August the 8th was sent to Loudon Valley, and after a brief employment in the duty of catching smugglers and other obnoxious persons, was ordered out to Fairfax Court House, where it wintered, keeping itself from stagnation by frequent dashes after Mosby. After the assassination of President Lincoln, the regiment was ordered to Maryland, and put upon the duty of hunting Booth, the assassin. On the 23d of May, 1865, it was relieved from duty at Washington, and returned to Fairfax, where it remained until receiving orders to report at St. Louis, on June 23d. On the 17th of July following, it was mustered out of the service, and returned home. The following was the roster at the time of muster out:

Colonel, William Gamble; Lieutenant-Colonel, D. R. Clendenin; 1st Major, Geo. A. Forsyth; 2d Major, John M. Waite; 3d Major, Edward Russell; Adjutant, George Gamble; Surgeon, Abner Ward; Assistant Surgeon, T. W. Stull; 2d Assistant Surgeon, E. L. Nelson; Chaplain, W. A. Spencer; Quartermaster, R. W. Gates; Commissary, B. L. Chamberlain; Sergeant Major, John C. Ketchison; Quartermaster's Sergeant, J. R. Manville; Veterinary Surgeon, G. E. Corwin; Commissary Sergeant, J. A. Soles; Hospital Steward, G. Van Bathelle; Chief Trumpeter, G. W. Bartholomew; Saddle Sergeant, W. D. Raslett.

Co. A—Captain, R. A. Humphrey; 1st Lieutenant, L. Y. Smith; 2d Lieutenant, B. Van Dyke.

Co. B-Captain, G. W. Corbitt; 1st Lieutenant, R. R. Hakes; 2d Lieutenant, J. Weed.

Co. C-Captain, P. J. Kennedy; 1st Lieutenant, D. P. Martin; 2d Lieutenant, C. W. McLenawee.

Co. D-Captain, W. C. Hazelton; 1st Lieutenant, Andrew Denning; 2d Lieutenant, S. D. Martin.

Co. E-Captain, M. E. Jones; 1st Lieutenant, Alexander Ridley; 2d Lieutenant, E. Wane.

Co. F-Captain, J. Clapp; 1st Lieutenant, R. Pierson; 2d Lieutenant, C. W. Sprague.

Co. G-Captain, George F. Warner; 1st Lieutenant, Lewis Rucker; 2d Lieutenant, Charles Scriber.

Co. H-Captain, John W. Delaney; 1st Lieutenant, vacant; 2d Lieutenant, A. V. Teeple.

Co. I-Captain, F. M. Gregory; 1st Lieutenant, W. A. Chase; 2d Lieutenant, R A. Sheldon.

WHERE TO FIND THE EIGHTH,

549 Co. K-Captain, R. J. Ingersoll; 1st Lieutenant, G. Rupp; 2d Lieutenant, George R. Wells.

Co. L-Captain, C. L. Bradley; 1st Lieutenant, vacant; 2d Lieutenant, B. F. Lee.

Co. M-Captain, J. Sargent; 1st Lieutenant, A. C. Fowler; 2d Lieutenant, R. B. Swartout.

A correspondent says with truth: "The old Eighth was like a flying sword, turning every way; never quiet, always on the start, never caught napping, ever sleeping with one eye open. It was never taken by surprise, lost but few prisoners, and with two or three exceptions it always inflicted greater damage on the enemy than itself received. Some one-Stoneman perhaps-asked General Sumner, while the Peninsular campaign was in progress, where the 8th Illinois was; and the old gray-haired hero answered: 'You go to our outside picket line and then two miles further, and you will find the 8th still four or five miles further on.' It always was the first body of troops in an advance and the last in a retreat.” The following is an official list of casualties inflicted upon the rebels by the 8th during the war:

Besides the articles enumerated, the regiment destroyed and captured over $2,000,000 worth of corn, oats, etc., together with many thousand stand of small arms.

But how few of the original gallant band returned at the close of the war! Scarcely one fifth! The rest nobly gave up their lives on the altar of their country-some from disease, others from the fatal messenger which, as it went whistling through the air, gave its

victim no warning note. Although many of them "sleep the last sleep" on the banks of those Virginia streams, which have been the silent witnesses of many a sanguinary fight, without any stone to mark their last resting-place, still their names will live forever green in the minds and hearts of their countrymen, even among generations yet unborn.

The record of the 8th cavalry from first to last is a glorious one, and every member was a Murat-the hero of a hundred battles. They fought "like brave men, long and well," and although sometimes opposed to overwhelming numbers of the enemy, never once beat an inglorious retreat.

Major James D. Ludlam is the second son of Dr. Jacob W. Ludlam, formerly of Cumberland County, New Jersey, and more recently of Evanston, Illinois. He was born in Cumberland County, June 22, 1833, and was educated there for the calling of a farmer. In 1854, he removed to Chicago, and soon after arriving there associated himself with Messrs W. F. Dominick & Co., remaining with them for five years. At the expiration of this time he embarked in mercantile pursuits, and was successfully prosecuting his business at the breaking out of the war, in 1861. When President Lincoln' issued his call for 300,000 men, and General Farnsworth secured permission to raise a cavalry regiment, General Beveridge waited upon Mr. Ludlam, and together they signed the muster roll, on the 18th of August, 1861. When his company was organized, he was chosen 1st Lieutenant. The regimental organization was completed on the 18th of September, when Colonel Farnsworth appointed Lieutenant Ludlam Adjutant. This position he filled with credit until August 4, 1862, when he was commissioned Captain of Company F. On the day on which he received this commission he was placed in command of a squadron. On the 1st of March, 1864, he was appointed Major, vice William H. Medill, who died of wounds received in battle. When the 8th came home to re-enlist, Major Ludlam was one of the first to enter his name for the "end of the war," and was placed in command of the regiment, which he retained until its return to Washington. In consequence of the continued ill health of his family, he resigned his position in the army, in January, 1865. This resignation was twice refused by his commanding officers, but was finally accepted.