John Henry Searl

95th Illinois Infantry

The NINETY-FIFTH INFANTRY was organized at Camp Fuller, Rockford, by Colonel Lawrence S. Church, and was mustered into the United States service September 4, 1862. It was recruited from the counties of McHenry and Boone, three companies from the latter and seven from the former. The Regiment moved from camp November 4, and proceeded via Cairo and Columbus to Jackson, Tenn., and afterwards to Grand Junction, where it was assigned to General McArthur's Division, Army of the Tennessee. Colonel Church being compelled by feeble health to return home from Columbus, Lieutenant Colonel Humphrey was in command of the Regiment. Took part in General Grant's campaign in Northern Mississippi in the winter of 1862. After the capture of Holly Spring by General Van Dorn, General Grant's Army took up its line of march for Memphis, starting soon after Christmas. The Ninety-fifth arrived at Moscow a small town between La Grange and Memphis December 30. On the 1st day of January 1863, it resumed the march, and on the 2d arrived at Collierville. Colonel Deitzler's Brigade, to which the Ninety-fifth was assigned, was ordered to halt here a few days prior to advancing on Memphis, during which time the regiments were mainly occupied in repairing and guarding the railroad. While remaining at this place the regiments were required to be up and in the line of battle at 3 o'clock A.M. for several mornings in succession, watching for the enemy until daylight. The disaster which had occurred at Holly Springs made all commanders more watchful. On the 13th of January the Brigade moved forward to Memphis, arriving there in the afternoon, and went into camp three miles out from the city. The campaign thus closed in Northern Mississippi. Simultaneously with the presence of General Grant's Army at Memphis a large fleet of transports was also collected at that point for the purpose of conveying the troops down the Mississippi River to operate against Vicksburg. These were ready by the 19th of January for the reception of General McArthur's Division, which was now designated as the Sixth Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps, commanded by Major General James B. McPherson. On that day the Ninety-fifth embarked upon the steamer Marie Denning. The Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Eightieth Wisconsin, and a company of the Second Illinois Artillery also embarked on this boat. Finally when the troops were loaded one long whistle sounded from General McArthur's flag boat, Platte Valley, as a signal for starting the splendid fleet of 15 steamers swinging out into the stream, and were soon steaming down the river toward the subsequent scene of busy military operations around the Hill City of the South. The fleet landed each day before dark, lying at nights, and arrived at Milliken's Bend, 15 miles above Vicksburg, on the 26th of January. The troops disembarked on the following day, going into camp near the levee. Participated in the march to Grand Gulf, and the battles between that place and the rear of Vicksburg. Was in the charge of May 19, before Vicksburg. A charge was ordered along our whole lines upon the enemy's works to take place at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and at the appointed hour the furious onset commenced. General Sherman's Fifteenth Army Corps occupied the right of the federal line resting on the river above Vicksburg, General McPherson's Seventeenth Army Corps held the center and the Thirteenth Corps, under General McClernand, held the left, extending nearly to the river on the south side of the city. The ground in front of General Ransom's Brigade and over which it charged at the time was located near the Jackson road on the right of the celebrated "White House" and near Fort Hill. The Ninety-fifth held an important position in the Brigade during this charge. While maintaining this position Colonel Humphrey received a congratulatory dispatch from General Ransom. In this assault Colonel Humphrey received, early in the action, a wound in the foot but remained with his command cheering on his men until he received orders to withdraw his Regiment, under the cover of darkness, from the attack. The Ninety-fifth lost in this engagement 7 killed and 54 wounded. General Grant ordered the assault to be renewed on the 22d of May, and at 10 o'clock A.M., a furious charge began. The Ninety-fifth gained an advance position on the crest of the ridge near the enemy's works encountering one of the most sweeping and destructive fires to which troops were ever exposed. Captain Manzer of Company C, and Captain Cornwell, of Company K, were killed; Major William Avery, Captain Cook of Company D, Lieutenant Smith, of Company C, Lieutenant Sponable, of Company A, and Lieutenant Pierce, of Company I, were severely wounded. The total killed, wounded and missing in these two charges was 25 killed, 124 wounded and 10 missing. After the unsuccessful charges of the 19th and 22d of May, the great siege began and was prosecuted vigorously all through the sultry days of May and June, and on the 4th of July, the Ninety-fifth was among the first regiments to enter the city. On the 12th of July, General Ransom's Brigade was ordered to proceed to Natchez for the purpose of occupying that point. It arrived there on the following day and effected a landing without opposition. The Brigade remained at Natchez until the middle of October. While the Ninety-fifth was in camp at this place General McArthur, commanding the Division, paid the troops a visit and on invitation of Colonel Humphrey attended a dress parade of the Ninety-fifth. The General expressed himself greatly pleased with the appearance of the Regiment and he and his staff joined in the opinion that they had never witnessed a more perfect dress parade during the service. About the middle of October the Brigade, now commanded by Brigadier General Thomas K. Smith, was ordered to Vicksburg. The Ninety-fifth remained at Vicksburg during the fall and winter, assisting in the construction of fortifications and performing garrison duty. In the early part of February an expedition, consisting of the Sixteenth Army Corps, under Major General Hurlbut, and the Seventeenth, commanded by Major General McPherson, moved toward Jackson taking different roads. The enemy were found in position 3 miles out from Jackson, but being routed the army moved as far as East Meridian, Miss., where important railroad communications, arsenals and confederate stores were destroyed. This expedition was absent about 20 days, and having accomplished its purpose returned to Vicksburg the latter part of February 1864. The Ninety-fifth bore a conspicuous part in this march in the enemy's country. The Ninety-fifth was temporarily detached from the Second Brigade, Seventeenth Army Corps and assigned to the Brigade made up for the Red River expedition, consisting of the Fourteenth Wisconsin, Eighty-first and Ninety-fifth Illinois, commanded by Colonel L. M. Ward. These troops left Vicksburg on the 9th of March to join the army under General Banks. The Ninety fifth was engaged at the capture of Fort De Russey and in the battles of Old River, Cloutierville, Mansuar, Yellow Bayou and all the movements of that advance and retreat. In the battle of Bayou the rebels fought with desperation, losing 300 prisoners and many killed and wounded. The Sixteenth Corps was hotly engaged, and the Ninety-fifth fought during a portion of time under one of the severest fires of artillery it ever experienced in a field fight. On the 22d of April the Ninety-fifth embarked at the mouth of Red River, on the steamer Golden Era, for Vicksburg, arriving there on the 23d. The Brigade to which the Ninety-fifth properly belonged was still at Vicksburg but notwithstanding this the Regiment was sent to Memphis and assigned to a Brigade in which the Eighty-first and One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois formed a part. The Ninety-fifth was in the thickest of the fight at Guntown and fought with undaunted bravery. In the early part of the action Colonel Humphrey fell mortally wounded and the command devolved upon Captain William H. Stewart, of Company F, but he soon receiving a severe wound through both thighs, was carried helpless from the field. Next Captain E. N. Bush, of Company G, assumed command, but soon he was counted among the killed, when Captain Schellenger, of Company K, was called to the command of the gallant band, and though their brave Colonel and other commanders had fallen one after another yet the fight was continued with indescribable desperation. Finally both flanks of the Regiment were turned by overpowering numbers of the enemy, and it was obliged to fall back or suffer entire capture. Soon afterward a general and hasty retreat was ordered by General Sturgis, when his whole army fled precipitately in the direction of Memphis. The enemy, victorious at all points, lost no time in pursuit of the routed and demoralized troops. The remnant of the Ninety-fifth was led back to Memphis by Captain Schellenger but amid the excitement each man looked out particularly for himself. In this engagement the Ninety-fifth was nearly annihilated, and on this account it was given a few weeks rest on its return to Memphis. After recruiting the command joined, in August, General Mower. Moved up White River and marched from Brownsville through Arkansas to Missouri in pursuit of General Price. The Ninety-fifth arrived at Benton Barracks November 1. November 30, moved to Nashville. Took part in the battle of Nashville, December 15 and 16, and in pursuit of Hood's defeated army to the Tennessee River. On December 18 the Ninety-fifth camped on the battle grounds of Franklin, moving thence to Columbia, thence to Pulaski and Lawrenceburg. January 2, 1865, it moved up the river to Eastport. RECAPITULATION. The following is a list of the battles and campaigns in which the Ninety-fifth took part: General Grant's campaign in North Mississippi; Tallachatchie River. Campaign against Vicksburg; Grand Gulf, Raymond, Champion Hills; charges on works at Vicksburg, May 19 and 22; siege operations at and around Natchez., during summer and fall of 1863. Red River expedition; Fort De Russey, Old River, Cloutierville, Mansuar, Yellow Bayou, Guntown, June 10, 1864. During the summer of 1864, the Regiment had a detachment of 100 men, with Major Charles B. Loop, Captain James Nish and Captain A. S. Stewart, in charge. They participated in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. Campaign against Price, in Arkansas and Missouri, in the fall of 1864. Campaign against Mobile, Ala.; siege of Spanish Fort; charge on works, April 8, 1865; Fort Blakely, April 9, 1865. Battles in which the detachment of the Regiment participated during General Sherman's Georgia campaign: Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Atlanta, Ezra Church, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. Distance traveled by the Regiment while in the service 9,960 miles.

ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

Illinois Civil War Detail Report

Personal Characteristics

Service Record

       

John Henry Searl applied for an Invalid Pension record.

The Clarinda Herald-Journal, Clarinda, Page Co., IA, Thursday, November 24, 1932

T. G. Searl

Thomas Greenfield Searl was born in Ashton, Canada, Sept 20, 1852, and died at his home in Clarinda, Ia., just a few minutes before midnight on the 17th day of November 1932 at the age of 80 years, 2 months and 27 days. He was the son of John and Eliza Searl, and was one of nine children, all of whom have preceded him in death except Matilda Brown, the oldest of the family, now residing at Minneapolis, Minn. and Eliza Haynes of Chana, Ill., and Stephen Searl of Morland, Kans. The parents of the deceased came from England and settled in Canada, where Mr. Searl was born. When he was 3 years of age, his family moved to Fond du Lac, Wis., and later to Bremer county, Ia. He was thrown upon his own resources at the early age of 12, through the death of his mother, and was in the fullest sense a self-made man. In about 1875 he took his invalid brother to Texas for the benefit of the latter's health and resided in that state until 1883. He then moved to Clarinda, Ia., where he has resided continuously since. He was married April 30, 1878, at Taylor, Tex., to Alice McLean, and together for over 54 years they have been permitted to share the joys and sorrows of married life together. Four children were born, one of whom, Ora, died in infancy. In addition to the wife, three children survive him: Mabel, county superintendent of Page county, Iowa; Maud, a teacher in the schools of Des Moines, Ia.; and Roy, of Nodaway county, Missouri. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Helen, Maurine, Katherine, Gertrude, Claire, Jean and John Roy Searl. He, together with his wife, was baptized in the Lampasas river at Youngsport, Tex. and united with the Christian church there in 1884. After he moved to Clarinda he identified himself with the Christian church of this city and has remained a faithful and loyal member, for many years holding office as elder. He has been closely identified with the life and development of this community for over 40 years, for many years being connected with different business enterprises. He lived among us, a gentleman, an active citizen, an honored, trustworthy and competent business man. Mr. Searl was a man everyone liked, as he was a good husband and father, a sympathetic and obliging neighbor, a true friend, a loyal citizen and a devout Christian. He was not attracted by the unimportant and artificial in life, deriving most of his pleasures from like and work in the open. He was a friend of all and among his many friends are little children, who will miss his kindly smile and cheery greeting and they also mourn today as they realize that Uncle Searl will be with them no more. His work is now closed. His record has been fully and finally written and the best that can be said of him is that he was an honorable man, a good citizen and a true Christian. Funeral service was held at the residence, 622 east State, Sunday, November 20, at 2 p. m., with Rev. Hall in charge. The grandchildren acted as flower bearers. Interment in Clarinda cemetery.