Page 62 - Armstrong Bloodline - ebook_Neat

much of that period. While much of it may not have been fun, it sure beat the heck out of life on the farm. Alva
would probably not have called himself a patriot, but I am sure that his commitment to the Union cause must
also have been part of what he felt. Alva’s disability discharge must have been a crushing blow to him, and his
father's undoubted relief at his safe return would probably have been difficult for him to appreciate. Instead of
returning to his home in Parma, Michigan he instead went to live with his uncle, Ransom S. Armstrong, in
Lawton, Van Buren County, Michigan. 212 & 213 It appears that whatever problems he may have had with his
father continued, and that he continued to struggle with what to do with his life. In August 1863, his Uncle
Ransom died, and he returned for a short period to Parma. Apparently, his wound had improved in the year
and a half since his injury and the disabled 21 year old civil war veteran was determined to try once again to
make whatever active contribution he could. To his obvious satisfaction, he was allowed to reenlist for an
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additional three-year term in Company F, 13 Regiment, Michigan Infantry Volunteers, on November 26, 1863,
in Jackson, Michigan, again as a Private Recruit. 211

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The Michigan 13 Regiment was originally organized at Kalamazoo, Michigan and mustered into Federal
service in January 1862 and assigned to the Fifteenth Brigade, Fourth Division, Army of the Ohio. Prior to the
time that Alva joined the Regiment, it had distinguished itself in several encounters such as Shiloh, TN (April 6-
7,1862); the advance on and Siege of Corinth, MS (April 29-May 30, 1862); Pursuit to Booneville, MS (May 30-
June 12, 1862); March to Louisville, KY in pursuit of Bragg (August 31-September 26, 1862); Pursuit of Bragg to
Wild Cat, KY (October 1-16, 1862; and various skirmishes in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia which
culminated in the Battle of Chickamauga, GA, the Siege of Chattanooga, TN in September 1863, and the assault
and capture of Missionary Ridge, TN on November 24-25, 1863. After this last encounter, the regiment was
transferred from the Army of the Cumberland to the Engineer Brigade, Department of the Cumberland, where
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its primary assignment was the construction of military hospitals in and around Chattanooga, TN. It was here
that Alva reported in early December 1863 under the command of Colonel Joshua B. Culver, and where he and
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the Michigan 13 were stationed on Chickamauga Creek, and engaged in cutting and rafting saw-logs. It was
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also here that he was promoted to Corporal in May 1864, and where he remained until his regiment was
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relieved from duty on Lookout Mountain. On the 28 of September 1864, his regiment, numbering
approximately 700 men, broke camp and marched to Rome, Georgia where it arrived the next day. Soon
thereafter, his regiment transferred to the Second Brigade, First Division, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland,
and again it was his destiny to participate in history. Over the next several months, he and his ever advancing
regiment under General William Tecumseh Sherman, brought the Confederacy to its knees during their “March
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to the Sea,” the siege of Savannah, GA and the Campaign of the Carolinas.

During these events, Confederate General Hood won a costly battle at Franklin, Tennessee on November 30,
but his army was subsequently crushed at Nashville on Dec. 15-16. The remnants of the Army of Tennessee,
restored to Johnston's charge, streamed through Georgia in an attempt to delay Sherman's powerful columns
as they advanced through the Carolina's toward Goldsboro, North Carolina.

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Captain S. A. Yerkes, who assumed command of the Michigan 13 after the regimental commander was killed
at Bentonville, reported as follows on the regiment's campaign: On March 11 we entered Fayetteville. March
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13, (we) crossed the Cape Fear River. On the 14 we resumed our march, with the enemy constantly
skirmishing in front. On the 16th, at the battle of Averysborough, the regiment was in the line of battle as
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support, but not actively engaged. On the 17 , we bridged and crossed the Black River. On the 18 , we crossed
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Mingo Creek. On the 19th, 20th, and 21st, we fought the battle of Mill Creek. On the 19 instant, in an
unsuccessful charge upon the enemy's works, and being in turn driven from our own, the regiment lost 15
killed, 81 wounded, and 10 missing, making an aggregate loss to the regiment of 106.

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