The S. J. Churchill Family

The base of supplies for the Union army was at Holly Springs, Mississippi, and on December 20, 1862, the rebels raided the town, capturing 1,000 of our troops and burning all our supplys. We were camped then on the Tallahatchie river, where we were obliged to subsist three weeks on corn that was foraged in the country. I will never forget the joy we felt when we heard the whistle of the first train that brought us rations. We then marched to Memphis, Tennessee, and in the spring of 1863 we were ordered down the Mississippi river on transports to Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, where General Grant massed a large army for attact on Vicksburg, Mississippi. From thence we marched to Hardtimes Landing, Louisiana, below Grand Gulf, Louisiana, where we took a transport to cross the Mississippi river and get in the rear of Vicksburg, Mississippi. In crossing the river another boat collided with us which caused our boat to sink. We had a very narrow escape from being drowned. We lost all our guns, nearly all of our horses, (except that broke away and swam out); but all our battery was saved except two men, who were in the stern of the boat with the horses and could not get out. This was before daylight of May 1, 1863. We had to retrace our march back to Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, where we embarked for Memphis, Tennessee, to get a new equipment of guns and horses; also clothing, for we had lost everything we had, except what was on our backs. We soon got our equipment and started again for Vicksburg, Mississippi, this time by way of the Yazoo river. Our battery was stationed in front of Fort Hill, which was undermined and blown up. We were in the siege and under fire about six weeks before the surrender. I saw Rebel General Pemberton when he came out with a flag of truce to negotiate terms of surrender with General Grant. They stood just in front of our battery for some time, and the rebel soldiers-whom we had not seen for weeks-came upon the breast-works to look over. We did the same thing. It was a beautiful sight down the line of fortificaitons as far as we could see were the soldiers in blue on one side and the rebels in gray on the opposite side all standing in bold relief, where but a few moments before not one on either side dared to show his head. Our battery was mong the first to march into Vicksburg, Mississippi, the morning of July 4, 1863. It was a glorious Fourth to us. Our battery was stationed here for some time, and many of the boys got sick. I among the rest was taken down with the malarial fever, and had I not got a furlough just when I did I would have been buried with the innumerable in southern soil. I was placed on the United States hospital boat, and that was the last I knew until I reached Cairo, Illinois, five days later. I was taken from the boat and placed on the cars, and by the time I reached Joliet, Illinois, I was barely able to walk.

I shall never forget the hearty welcome and the good nursing I received from my sisters and brother-in-law in Joliet, Illinois. As soon as I was able I returned to my battery, but the chills and fever did not leave me; and I have suffered at times all my life from the effects of that sickness. Soon after my return to the army we were ordered to Memphis, Tennessee, to join General A. J. Smith's command, the Sixteenth Army Corps. On October 14, 1863, we took part in the battle of Brownsville, Mississippi. Some of my battery were killed; I don't remember how many, but I do remember John Weir. The top of his head was shot off by a cannon ball and his brains spattered in my face. Soon after this we were ordered to Union City, Tennessee, where we camped during the winter, which was very cold. Some of the soldiers froze to death in their tents.

On January 1, 1864, neally all of my battery re-enlisted as veteran volunteers, and I among the rest. This entitled us to a veteran furlough. I received my furlough in April, 1864, and I went home to Sudbury, Vermont, where, on May 4, 1864, I was married to Adelia Augusty Holmes, to whom I was engaged in 1860, returning to my battery which was then at Memphis, Tennessee. I was promoted to corporal and had command of a gun detachment of eight men and the right gun of our battery. On July 14, 1864, was the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, our battery taking a very conspicuous part. My comrades charged the killing of Rebel General Falkner and his fine gray stallion. (as he was leading the rebel charge on our line), to the explosion of a shell shot from my gun. I do not care to know that I killed any one, even a fine horse: but I did my best at sighting the gun upon that occasion. This was a very bloody battle in which about 700 rebels were killed and wounded. The Union loss was eighty-five killed and 453 wounded. Our victory was complete. We also participated in the battles of Harrisburg, Mississippi, July 13, and Old Town Creek July 15, and Hurrican Creek August 14 16 and 22, 1864.

Soon after we were ordered to Jefferson Barracks at St. Louis, Missouri, and, during Rebel General Price's invasion of Missouri, from September 24, to October 28, 1864, we were on the march all the times across the state of Missouri and camping one night in Kansas, thence back to St. Louis, marching about 700 miles without a rest. Here, after two days' rest, the Sixteenth Army Corps, under General A. J. Smith, embarked for Nashville, Tennessee, to join General Thomas; and a part of the corps arrived in time for the Franklin battle, November 30, 1864. During the siege of Nashville, Tennessee, by Rebel General Hood, we were in line of battle two weeks, firing more or less everyday. We could hear the rebel band play. "Whose been here since I've been gone." To answer them our band would play. "Yankee Doodle." On December 15, 1864, the Union line advanced and attacked the rebel army in their fortifications. We had to march for some distance under a galling fire from the enemy before we could get our battery in position. Number one, of my gun detachment, seemed very anxious to get into the fight. He would hug the cannon with both arms and say, "We'll give it to 'em, won't we, old Bett?" Old Bett was his pet name for the gun. Our battery was ordered in position on high ground in plain view of two rebel batteries, one to our right and the other directly in front, about 240 yards distant, which were doing their best to dislodge the Union forces, and several men and horses were killed before we could get our battery in position. My gun, a 12-pound Napoleon, was located about eight feet to the right of a large brick house. At the command "load!" number one of the cannoneers (referred to above) took the sponge staff, sponged the gun, and while waiting for number five to come up with the ammunition, a volley from the rebel batteries caused him to become terror stricken. His terror spread to the other cannoneers, who also fled, and neither command or entreaty could move them to return to their gun. It was there that I won my medal of honor. In the face of a terrible rain of shot and shell from the enemy I loaded and fired my gun eleven times alone before assistance came. The rebel batteries were silenced and driven back and the Union forces took an advanced position. The result of the battle is well know in history. Over thirty-two years after I received the following letter:

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, January 20, 1897.

Mr. Samuel J Churchill, Late Corporal Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery:

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, by direction of the President and in accordance with the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1863, providing for the presentation of medals of honor to such officers, non-commissioned officers and privates as have most distinguished themselves in action, the Assistant Secretary of War has awarded you a medal of honor for most distinguished gallantry in action at the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, December 15, 1864.

In making the award the Assistant Secretary used the following language:

"This non-commissioned officer, commanding one gun detachment, and when the enemy's batteries opened upon his gun compelling the men of his detachment for a short time to seek shelter, stood manfully at his post and for some minutes worked his gun along."

The medal has been forwarded to you today by registered mail. Upon the receipt of it please advise this office thereof.

Very respectfully,

F. T. AISSWORTH,
Colonel U.S. Army,
Chief Record and Pension Office

The part within the quotation marks is taken from the Official War Records, Volume XLV, Series I, Part I, page 492.

I did not know until then that a "special mention" had been made of me in the official war records. My reply to the letter was as follows:

LAWRENCE, KANSAS, January 25, 1897

Chief of the Record of Pension Office, War Department, Washington, D.C:

DEAR COLONEL: Yours of January 20 was received the 22d, and the medal was received the 23d. I am very happy to be accounted worthy to receive such an honor, and I assure you that I appreciated it very highly and thank you most sincerely. I just want to say to you that there was a private soldier in my battery that deserves a medal of honor as much or more that I did. It was at the battle of Nashville, December 15, 1864: he was the wheel driver of the caisson and his position at the time was comparatively out of danger. He saw my situation as I was manning the gun alone, and asked permission of the lieutenant to come and help me, which was given and he came boldly up where the missiles of death were flying thick and fast and said to me, "Let me help you; the lieutenant says I can." I never was so glad to see a man as I was to see him. He took the sponge staff and went to work like an old warrior, and he was ever after that my number one of the gun detachment, and the number one that left me had to take his place as driver. That was true gallantry. His name was J. A. Thorp, private, Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery. I have not heard from him since the war, and know not if he is dead or alive. I shall always hold him in grateful remembrance as a true and brave patriot.

Thanking you again for your kind remembrance, I am very truly,

Samuel J. Churchill

This letter was published and copied by many papers all over the country, and finally I received the following letter from the man himself:

MONTROSE, KANSAS, February 6

Samuel J. Churchill,

FRIEND AND COMRADE: In reply to your letter of inquiry, which has been published, will say that J. A. Thorp is still in the land of the living and well. I came to Kansas in the spring of 1883, and settled here in Jewell county. My occupation is farming. For a good many years I have been trying to locate some of the Battery G boys, but never have succeeded in hearing from any of them until I saw your letter, and it came to me in such a way that it does me lots of good-it revives old memories. I congratulate you for the medal of honor that has been awarded you for your heroism at the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, December 15, 1864. It was the men that stood by their guns in the heat of battle that won the victory, no the skulkers. And when number one dropped the sponge staff and skulked to the rear and you were left alone, I could hardly wait for my relief to come, and when I took that sponge staff there wasn't a man on earth that felt any better than I did. If you remember I pulled my jacket off and rolled up my sleeves as if I was going to chop wood. I really thought for a while that we were going to get the worst of it, but the victory was ours, and the old battle stained flag--Stars and Stripes--looked brighter than ever before.

I must say that words are inadequate to express my gratitude for the part that you have taken in my behalf, and if I should succeed in obtaining a medal it will be through your kindness. Give me the address of as many of the battery boys as you know, as I would like to hear from every one of them. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain as every.

Your friend,

JAMES A. THORP,

Formerly of Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery.

I have seen this comrade several times since and have done my best to get him a medal, but have failed for the reason that no "special mention" was made in the official war records of what he did. I am very proud of my medal, and shall hand it down to my posterity whom I trust will prize it enough to take good care of it. The time will come in the future generations when this medal will be looked upon as a great relic of a soldier of the war of the rebellion. The medal is engraved as follows:

The Congress
to
Corp. Samuel J. Churchill.
Battery "G" 2nd Ill. L.A.
for
GALLANTRY
at
Nashville, Tenn.
Dec 15, 1864.

In closing I will say that the reason I have made more extended remarks in reference to my family than others, is becasue I know more about it. I have tried to be just and generous with all. In all my searchings I have not found one family skelton to cover up, and this is remarkable, for it is said that every family has a skelton to conceal.

I have traversed through 268 years of my line of the Churchill family in America, and I have not found a law-breaker in any form, an inebriate, or even a moderate drinker, or even a person of unsound mind; but all have been loyal to their country and loyal to their God-a band of patriots and Republicans. No one need be ashamed of the record, for it is glorious, and one to be proud of.

Wishing all the readers tof this little book a long, happy and prosperous life of usefulness, and consigning them to the tender love and constant care of Him "who doeth all things well," I bid you adieu, and subscribe my name this 15th day of February,
A. D., 1901.

SAMUEL J. CHURCHILL