COMPANY F.

     This regiment was recruited in the summer and fall of 1891 and organized at Camp Dennison.  Company F was partly raised in Morgan County, forty-one of its members being from Homer Township.  John Jumper, of Beverly, recruited the company and was made its captain.  Robert R. Danford, of Mountsville, was first lieutenant, and William B. Williams, of Ringgold, second lieutenant.  The organization of the regiment was completed Nov. 4, 1861, and on the 6th of the month it started for Louisville to report to General Sherman.  On the 15th, at Elizabethtown, it was organized into a brigade under Colonel Turchin, of the 19th Illinois, the division being commanded by General O. M. Mitchell.  The regiment remained at Elizabethtown a month, moved thence to Bacon Creek, and remained about two months.  In February the brigade proceeded to Bowling Green and to Nashville.  After the taking of Nashville General Mitchell’s command, which was an independent one, proceeded to Huntsville, Ala., taking possession of the country, and causing the rebels to fall hack as he advanced.  At Huntsville, Apr. 11, about 300 prisoners were captured, seventeen locomotives, 150 cars and quite a quantity of supplies.  The 18th was detailed to work the railroad.  Tuscumbia was next occupied by a small force, including the 18th.  The regiment was then ordered to Athens to guard the railroad.  May 1 the pickets of Colonel Stanley were attacked by Scott’s rebel cavalry, and the regiment held the rebels in check three hours, against great odds, then retreated toward Huntsville.  Subsequently a skirmish occurred in which three of the regiment were killed and several wounded.
     May 31 the regiment joined the brigade at Fayetteville and marched thence for Chattanooga across the mountains, 240 miles in twelve days.  At Battle Creek the regiment built fortifications and remained till July 11, moving thence across the Cumberland Mountains to Elk River, and to Cowan, Tullahoma and Manchester, guarding- the railroad.  It was the last regiment to leave Manchester with Buell’s retreating column.  At Nashville the 18th was put in a, new brigade under Colonel Stanley (of the18th), and with another brigade was left for the defense of the city.  Colonel Stanley commanded the brigade from Sept. 10, 1862, till after thebattle of Chickamauga. At Stone River the regiment took a conspicuous part.  At Chickamauga the regiment gallantly participated in the closing operations of the fight, not arriving sooner.  Sergeant-Major George Hewitt, and John Imbody, of Company H, were commended in the colonel's report for gallantly rescuing the regimental colors.  The regiment performed engineering duty, hospital duty, etc., at Chattanooga, until October 20, when it was ordered to Camp Chase, and there mustered out Nov. 9, 1864.  Over 150 reenlisted as veterans, and

Page 180 -
with the reorganized 18th served through the war and were mustered out Oct. 22, 1865.