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which prejudiced
the regiment very much in his favor – always cheerful and kind,
the men felt at ease and at home in his company.
E. D. FORREST
Was appointed Assistant Surgeon, vice Workman resigned.
He was detailed on hospital duty, and was soon detached from
the regiment and assigned elsewhere.
GABRIEL H. HOLLAND
Was appointed Hospital Steward, vice Coulson mustered
out. He was a young man of good attainments, always cheerful
and mirthful. He discharged his duties with great acceptability
to all. On the 22d of July near Atlanta he was captured, and
held a prisoner for several months. At the expiration of his
term of service he was exchanged, and shortly afterwards mustered
out. Joseph L. Geyer was then appointed Hospital Steward, having
been for nearly a year Dispenser in the regiment. He was a true,
faithful, and conscientiously upright man in all the duties of
his position. He was as true to the interests of the Government
in the economical use and issue of medicines as a proprietor of
his own drug store.
WILLIAM J. M'ALLISTER
Was appointed Quartermaster-Sergeant, and William
Heller, Commissary-Sergeant, both distinguished for good and accurate
business talent. The former was discharged at Vicksburg, for
disability, and the latter afterwards detailed as Clerk in the
Third Division Commissary; his term of three years having expired,
he was mustered out, and in the spring of 1865 was appointed sutler
of the regiment.
This brings us to the Field and Staff of the present
organization, and continues without much change until the muster
out of the regiment.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILES
(See Companies B and C for more specific account,)
was promoted from Captain, and took command of the regiment on
the morning of the battle of Champion Hills. Under him it became
the best drilled and most orderly regiment of the corps, and,
without doubt, the best in the Western army. Its superior discipline
and high moral character was observed by all, so that it became
known as the "Model Regiment." The Colonel, well knowing
that morality was one of the chief qualities held in request for
a good, orderly regiment, neglected no means for this attainment.
He therefore gave every encouragement to the Chaplain, and attendance
on the part of the men to divine services on the Sabbath. He
always attended himself, and usually led the singing. His example
in this respect had a decided influence, so that the regiment
generally attended preaching on the Sabbath, while some other
Chaplains complained bitterly that their regiments neglected this
duty; so that many had to abandon all efforts to get congregations.
We seldom ever preached to a small congregation, and when others
preached for us, they were surprised at the large congregations
that turned out, when compared with other regiments.
The Colonel seldom ever was compelled to inflict
punishment, but when necessary, it was severe; he was rigid in
discipline, yet kind in reformatory. Men most generally went
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