Fifty-eighth Infantry. — Col., Valentine Bausenwein ;
Lieut.-Cols., Ferdinand F. Remple, Peter Dister, Ezra P. Jackson, William S.
Friesner; Maj., Andrew Gallfy. This regiment was organized at Camp Chase,
from Oct. 1, 1861, to Jan. 28, 1862, to serve for three years. It remained at
Camp Chase, perfecting itself in the "school of the soldier," until
in Feb., 1862, when it was transported by rail to Cincinnati, and there
embarked on steamers for Fort Donelson, Tenn., where it arrived on Feb. 13.
Preparations were at once made to take part in the assault on the fort and
after moving a short distance a furious attack was made by the enemy, but the
shock was met with coolness, ending in the Confederates being hurled back
into their intrenchments. Early on the morning of the 16th the regiment was
marched to the center of the line, where it remained until the announcement
of the surrender of the fort. It went into the battle of Shiloh on the
morning of the second day's fighting and was under fire until 4 p. m., its
loss being 9 killed and 43 wounded. Then came the tedious, exhausting march
on Corinth, creeping with snail-like pace toward that miserable town, and
after the evacuation the regiment with the rest of the army took possession.
In a reconnoissance down the Mississippi on transports a Confederate steamer
with 5,000 stands of arms and 2 pieces of artillery, was captured near Milliken's
bend, La. In the affair at Chickasaw bluffs the regiment lost 47 per cent, of
the whole number engaged. It remained in this vicinity until in January, when
it reembarked on transports and sailed down the Yazoo river to its mouth;
thence up the Mississippi and White rivers to Arkansas Post, where it took a
prominent part in the capture of that place. In March an expedition was
ordered up the Yazoo river to Deer creek, resulting in a three days' fight,
in which the regiment lost a few men. In the battle of Grand Gulf the
regiment lost heavily. It then joined the land forces at Vicksburg, where it
remained until ordered home to be mustered out, which was consummated on Jan.
14, 1865.
|
