A PAGE OF AMERICAN HISTORY
Contributed by Roger L. Johnson
The following autobiography is exactly as written by my Grandfather's Grandfather, Daniel Hilton in the year 1909, and five years before his death:
excepts from
The Biography of Daniel Hilton
covering his experience in the
47th Indiana Infantry
On May third, 1859, I married Jane Clendenen, daughter of James and Mehetabel Clendenen, born in Pickwick County, Ohio, and coming to Indiana with her parents in the fall of the year 1837. To us were born nine children:
Lydia Ann Born March 13, 1860
Twins Born August 4, 1861 (both died in infancy)
Orlando James Born December 5, 1864
Mary Elizabeth Born November 8, 1866
Cora Etta Born May 28, 1869
George Walter Born August 22, 1872
John Edgar Born March 10, 1874
Ella May Born May 9, 1879
One year after our marriage, I took a lease of 25 acres of land from my Brother-in-Law, Salem Clendenen, and built a cabin sixteen feet by eighteen feet with clapboard roof and puncheon floor. We went to work clearing five acres and soon had some stock about us.
In 1861 the War between the North and South broke out and my Father-in-Law complained that none of his sons or sons-in-law were in the Army. I therefore volunteered and mustered into the United States Service for three years, or duration of the War in Company A, 47th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, assembling at Indianapolis.
Having sold my lease to Mister John Wilson for $65 and leaving my wife and child at her father's house, I started on my way to Indianapolis. After arriving, we rendezvoused at Camp Sullivan in the city.
Our Officers were Colonel James R. Slack, Lieutenant Colonel Milton S. Robinson, Major John _____, and Captain John A. McLaughlin. In December, 1861 we left Indianapolis, going by rail to Jeffersonville, then crossing the river to Louisville, Kentucky and then to Bardstown, remaining there and acting as Provost Guards at that place. From there we moved to Muldron Hill or Camp Wickliffe in Larn County where we drilled constantly until the Spring of 1862 when the movement was made against Fort Donelson.
We left Camp Wickliffe marching to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. From that place we marched to West Point on the Ohio River, where we took a boat for Evansville, Indiana, where General Nelson was collecting his part of the Army for Fort Donelson. Upon arriving there, owing to trouble between Colonel Slack and General Nelson, we were ordered to report to General I.J. Pope at Cairo, Illinois, who was organizing for the movement against New Madrid, Missouri, and (Mississippi Islands) Eleven and Number Ten. After the capture of these places, we took part in the opening of the Mississippi River from Cairo to New Orleans, being in many movements and actions:
New Madrid, MO March 12-13, 1862
Riddles Point, MO March 18, 1862
Brown's Plantation, Coahoma County, MI on August 11, 1862, where I was wounded in the left arm by a ball. I was promoted from Private to Corporal on that day.
Port Gibson, MI May 1, 1863
Fourteen Mile Creek, MI May 12, 1863
Champion Hill, MI May 16, 1863
Siege of Vicksburg May-July, 1863
Jackson, MI July 1863
Grand Cattau0 Bayou, LA November 3, 1863
Muddy Bayou, LA May 5, 1864
Skirmish on Red River April-May 1864
Atchafalaya Bayou, LA July 28, 1864
Spanish Fort, AL March-April 1865 (13 day siege)
Fort Blakeley, AL April 1865
We made three attacks on Vicksburg from different sides by way of Chickasaw Bluff, Yazoo River and then from the rear under General Grant.
After a siege of nearly two months time, Vicksburg was taken. After the capture of Vicksburg, we were transferred from the Thirteenth Corps under General McClernand to the Nineteenth Corps under General William H. Emory. Leaving Vicksburg by steamer we went down the river to New Orleans, camping at Carlton, six miles above the city. After some service there, we moved to New Iberia, Louisiana where we remained until December. We re-enlisted in the United States Service for three years more, having served two years.
The government gave us $402 for re-enlistment and a 39 day furlough. On arriving at home I found that my wife had gone to visit her Uncle William Fox in Pickwick County, Ohio. I followed her there and after visiting a few days with them we returned to her Father's place. While at home, I purchased eighty acres of land in Wells County. This land became our home place.
Returning to New Orleans, I arrived just in time to be sent to the assistance of General Banks, who had been defeated by Dick Taylor at Mansfield, Louisiana. We were placed on board a transport and rushed up the river, meeting Bank's forces at Alexandria, Louisiana, (early March 1864) on the Red River. After several engagements we retreated to Morganza Bend on the Mississippi River. From this place we were in two expeditions against the Rebs, on July 28th 1864 on the Atchalafaya River. After staying some time at this place we took a steamer for New Orleans to organize for a movement against Sabine Pass going to Opelousas, Louisiana. Returning to New Orleans, we were reorganized for the capture of Mobile, Alabama, concentrating our forces on Dauphine Island and at the entrance of Mobile Bay. We were under the command of General Gordan Granger. After the capture of the city by a thirteen day siege of Spanish Fort, we took the earthen defenses of Fort Blakely in March and early April, our Division Commander became General Veach. On 9 April, General Hawkins's Negro troops distinguished themselves by capturing much of Fort Blakely.
After these battles were won, we camped at Spring Hill, six miles West of Mobile. After remaining there for a short time, we were ordered to Shreveport, Louisiana to gather a lot of cotton and other supplies left at that place by General Kirby Smith and Joe Shelby.
We remained at this place as Provost Guards from the last of April until the middle of October, when we took a boat and went down the river to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where our discharge papers were made out; when we again took a steamer for our trip home. Arriving at Indianapolis, we were paid off November 2, 1865, having been in the service four years.
Before I came home, my wife had moved in with her sister, Keziah. Upon my arrival, we moved from there to the old Cavender House, since owned by Henry McCalister until we could get a house built, into which we moved in the Spring of 1866. After cleaning up the farm, both Jane and I being broken in health—especially my wife—we left the farm and moved to Pennville in November 1890, having bought property there; remaining there until the death of my wife, which occurred on June 18, 1909 after having been an invalid for over thirty years. Thus she went to her reward; having lived a true Christian life, a good mother, a faithful wife, loving and serving her children and her husband, and looking for the Resurrection with our Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST...AMEN.
page added Mar 8, 2008