FOLLOWING COMPANY G; LOCAL HISTORIAN TRACKS CAPE COUNTY SOLDIERS THROUGH 3 YEARS OF CIVIL WAR

One hundred thirty years ago this week, a group of Cape Girardeau County men joined the Union Army and fought America's Civil War from the forts at Cape Girardeau to the siege at Atlanta.

The 108 soldiers enlisted Sept. 13, 1861 and made up an engineering group called Company G. In an effort to preserve these soldiers' stories, the great-grandson of one member has compiled a history of their tour of duty.

Michael Hahn of Egypt Mills began following Cape County's Company G a year ago when he discovered a book dated 1889 in his father's attic. The book, "An Illustrated History of the 25th Missouri Regiment (USA)," includes information about Company G, a part of that regiment. Hahn's great-grandfather, Frederick Hahn, was a member of the company.

"There has been a lot of interest in the book," Hahn said. "I plan to write a small book to cover all this information," Hahn said.

He has been giving presentations about the book and Company G at area genealogy meetings.

"People are always coming up afterward to look at the roster," he said. "They want to know if their relatives served in Company G." He added that the spelling of several family names has changed over the years.

"A lot of people know their relatives served in the Civil War, but they are ignorant about what they actually did.

"The fascinating part is that we can follow exactly where they are at all times," Hahn said. "I always wondered what did my great-grandfather do during the Civil War. Now I can follow him day for day, everything that he did."

Hahn considers himself the unofficial Egypt Mills historian.

"I live on the farm my great-grandfather bought in 1869 and my grandchildren are living there now. That's seven generations who have lived on the Fred Hahn farm.

"I feel that you know a lot more about yourself if you know about your ancestors," Hahn said, "what they went through. The hardships they lived through.

"I have a soft spot in my heart for all the suffering they did back in those terrible times, and it's being forgotten. I believe it comes down to preserving history."

The Cape Girardeau engineers helped construct four Civil War forts here before the men were sent to the South for the duration of their enlistment.

The principal job of Company G was to keep railroads, bridges and roads in repair so union troops could continue their campaigns.

"But they did a lot more," Hahn said.

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March 20, 1861 It was determined that a canal would have to be cut through the swamps at New Madrid so that Island No. 10, which was held by the Confederates could be taken.

March 22 The detail was employed getting cutters, lumber and barges. The barges were empty coal barges drawing only 1 foot of water. There were 12 cutters, each mounted on a barge. The cutters were operated by five men, two on each end and one in the middle to guide the blade. The cutters could cut trees off 4 feet under water. First the tree was cut off 8 foot above the water and a hole was drilled through it for the pivot of the cutter. The barge was lashed to the tree and the sawing would begin.

March 25 Had gotten through the levee, across a cornfield that had tree stumps in it that had to be cut off, and made it through to the woods. After getting into the woods the progress of the regiment's cutters was more rapid. A two-mile cut had to be made through the woods, three miles on Wilson's Bayou, very crooked, narrow and overgrown with small trees and brush, two miles on East Bayou, very deep and swift, and then on St. John's Bayou that had considerable drift on the upper end.

March 31 The first steamship (W.B. Terry) went halfway through Wilson's Bayou with hopes that in two days more boats could make it through. But the river began to fall and many of the stumps that were to near the surface had to be cut off again.

April 6 The boats made it through to the mouth of the Bayou where it connected with the river but stopped back out of sight so the enemy could not see them.

April 7 The men set to work preparing for the crossing of troops, worked all day and all night.

April 8 The enemy, on the opposite side of the river was drawn up in order of battle. When they saw the four transports loaded with troops round the point, word was given to get out as soon as they could. But being hemmed in, nearly their whole force was captured, 3,000 soldiers. The capture of Island No. 10 by Gen. John Pope was at the same time as the battle of Shiloh under Gen. U.S. Grant.

April 12 The whole regiment, except Companies A & I, went on board the steamer McDowell and proceeded down the river with the Army of General Pope.

April 13 Disembarked in Arkansas opposite Fort Pillone, where they enjoyed the music and stings of the myriads of mosquitoes for one night.

April 14 The whole army re-embarked, going up the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee rivers to Hamburg, Tenn., where they arrived April 22, 1862.

As the successful operations of the Engineer Regiment had been published in all newspapers, the passage up the Ohio River was a continual ovation, especially at the towns of Mound City and Metropolis, Ill. The streets were covered with enthusiastic people, who with cheers and waving of thousands of handkerchiefs bade the regiment "Godspeed".

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April 25, 1861 From this time until the 30th of May the regiment was actively engaged with the left wing of the army in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi. The distance between the Tennessee River and Corinth was 22 miles over swampy country and it was a very wet spring, rendering the so-called roads impassable for an army. To transport the siege wagon trains and supplies the whole road had to be corduroyed and enlarged to a double track for passage of long wagon trains in opposite directions. This was done by cutting down young trees, splitting them ... and forming into a roadbed. Batteries also had to be constructed and heavy guns placed in position. Two famous batteries that were constructed at Corinth were batteries Williams and Robinette.

May 30 It was found that the enemy had evacuated Corinth and the army was ordered in pursuit. The engineer regiment was the first to march in pursuit. About dark the Tuscumbia River was reached. The enemy had destroyed the bridge and had placed a battery with infantry support to dispute the passage. The engineers being in advance were the first to receive the enemy's fire. A sergeant and corporal were killed and two enlisted men were taken prisoners. One of the enlisted men later escaped. Darkness coming on, the whole command rested on their arms until morning. The next morning the enemy was still obstinate and the troops were unable to effect a crossing. An order was made to construct a bridge under fire. A portion of the day and night was passed in getting materials ready to lay the bridge with as little delay as possible. In the morning, everything ready, the men moved with the materials to the river, prepared to meet a shower of bullets, but contrary to expectation the enemy had withdrawn and the bridge was built without further hindrance. When the bridge across the Tuscumbia was finished, the regiment returned to Corinth where the headquarters, hospital and corral had been located.

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Nov. 8, 1862 In the evening the regiment received marching orders to accompany Gen. Grant's expedition to Grenada, Miss., and the next morning the camp equipment was loaded on cars and put in motion, the greater part of Companies C and G having already proceeded to Bolivar to build some important bridges.

Nov. 10 The regiment received orders and went to Moscow, Tenn., to build a large bridge across Wolfe River near there and remained there until the 14th, when orders were received to open the Mississippi Central R.R. south from Grand Junction.

Nov. 16 Headquarters were moved to Davis Mill, where three large bridges had been destroyed. After the bridges had been repaired the regiment moved under orders to Moscow again on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and began re-construction of the road that had been destroyed by General Sherman's forces the summer before.

Nov. 27 After completing the R.R. the regiment was ordered to resume operations on the Missouri Pipe Central and went to work on a partially destroyed bridge at Hudsonville, Miss.

Dec. 1 The whole camp was moved to the Coldwater River where a long and high trestle had to be constructed, there were also many smaller trestles that had to be constructed.

Dec. 13 The bridge over the Coldwater having been finished, the regiment camp was moved to Holly Springs, Miss. The regiment then moved to the Tallahatchie River bridge. They found that the bridge had been completely destroyed by the retreating Rebels. The bridge was about a half mile long. Several smaller bridges were also destroyed. While working on these bridges the regiment became short of rations and a foraging party was detached nearly every day, which went 10 or 12 miles into the country, and sometimes brought in prisoners, besides their forage and provisions. The regiment continued working on the bridges until Dec. 20, when Holly Springs was captures by the Confederates under Gen. Earl Van Doran. The regiment camp was then moved to the south side of the Tallahatchie River, into strong fortifications built by the Rebels before their retreat. The ordnance stores in Holly Springs were captured by the enemy together with a detachment of about 20 men. Doctor Shelton was also taken prisoner but, on learning his position in the army, was released. The other prisoners were paroled and were forwarded to St. Louis and exchanged. A full car load of tools designed for the regiment were also captured and destroyed.

Dec. 24 Moved into Holly Springs, except Company G, left to keep the bridges in repair until the whole army had recrossed.

Dec. 26 Company G returned to Holly Springs in a severe rain storm.

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Sept. 1, 1864 The firing in front has increased. The shells were dropping very near our camp. At one time in the afternoon the enemy brought out a battery of six-pounder guns in an open field, about a mile west of our camp. We could watch their maneuvers without being in danger. Later in the afternoon the 14th Corps, supported by the 4th Corps, charged the enemy and drove them from their works into Jonesboro, Ga.

Sept. 2 It was found this morning that the enemy had retreated, leaving only a small rear guard. About noon we marched through Jonesboro, and the men were set at work tearing up the railroad track, which they did by placing a company along one side of the track with levers and hooks. They would lift about 150 feet of the track at one side and turn it over, then taking crowbars and sledge hammers, would knock the ties free from the rails, lay them in piles of fifty or so, set fire to them, and place the rails across the burning ties until they were red hot, then two men at each end of a rail would seize it with a pair of tongs, give it a twist, take it to the nearest small tree and wrap it around, making an iron collar for the tree. Went into camp three miles south of Jonesboro.

Sept. 3 About 2 a.m. heavy explosions were heard in the direction of Atlanta, about 20 miles away. The impression prevailed that Atlanta had been abandoned. This proved to be correct and the explosions were from the blowing up of the Confederate ordnance stores.

Sept. 14 The men all engaged in destroying track, repairing wagon roads and building earthworks. In the afternoon work was ordered stopped, and in the evening we marched back to Jonesboro and beyond, where we lay in camp until the evening of the 5th.

Sept. 6 Marched five miles repairing wagon roads as we went.

Sept. 7 In camp at Gaines Mill, the roads are badly out of repair, the men busy repairing them. Just at dark we were in motion again and marched two miles, rained all night.

Sept. 27, 1864 The time of a great many of the men expired, they were discharged and went home from East Point, Ga. A few of the men of Company G went with General Sherman in his "March to the Sea," (and were) at General Johnston's surrender and at Washington, D.C. for the victory celebration. Afterwards they were sent to Louisville, Ky., for six weeks, then sent to Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis and from there back home to Cape Girardeau County.

Following is the roster of Company G. Members enlisted at Cape Girardeau Sept. 13, 1861 for three years in the Union Army.

Henry Allers, Henry Amlung, Richard Barrington, Charles Blackwendt, Christian Bock, Fred Brinkhoff, Bernard Broecker, Fred Breuning, Louis Breuning, John Bronkhorst, Fredrick Camp, Henry Claproth, Peter Conrad, Hiram Cooley, James Cooper, Casper Damm, Fred DeMier, Henry Eggeman, John Eggeman, John Fassold, Joseph Gallitine, Richard Gauser, Gottfried Garns, Anthony Gerchwiler, Casper Gerchwiler, DeWitt Goodwill, Christian Grebe, Fred Haende, Henry Haenze, Fred Hahn, Jacob Hahn, Chas Haupt, Jacob Hartman, Christian Hartung, Chas Hasil, and William Hennes.

Also Ernest Henning, Henry Henze, Michael Herbst, Adolph Hoff, August Hunze, William Kaempfer, Jno. Kassell, Henry Kirchhoff, William Klaunenberg, John Koch, Henry Kopper, Henry Kroll, Robert Lamb, William Lenscke, Fred Lohkamp, Henry Look, Robert McFadden, Henry Martens, James Matthews, John Mathinglly, Fred Mehring, August Meier, Fred Meier, Henry Meyer, Robert Mouiss, Louis Mund, John Noelle, Fred Oehl, Henry Peppelbaum, Henry Pottstock, Pierce Power, Henry Rabick, Louis Reiner, Henry Reineka, Henry Rehmann, and Christian Ritgarot.

Also Jacob Rubel, John Reddick, Fred Sanford, Fred Schmidt, Henry Schmidt, Emil Schneider, Henry Schoen, Henry Scholl, Christopher Schrader, Fred Schrader, Fred Schroeder, William Schottman, John Schurner, Michael Siler, Fred Steinberg, Adolph Steineman, Ernest Steinhoff, William Steinhoff, Fred Sternberg, Christopher Stolte, Michael Suler, William Swittman, William Taube, Julius Tullner, Christian Ulrich, Ernest Ulrich, William Vogel, Conrad Vornkuhl, Fred Walders, Louis Werth, August Wessell, Henry Wessell, Elijah Wilks, William Witzel, Henry Wolfkuhl, and Gottleib Winkler.