The words that account for the activities of the 72nd OVI are prety dry. When my cousin Harold and I were doing research about Great Great Grandfather a couple decades ago we saw his service record, but I took notes on paper and they are long gone.
The unit diary has the places, but not the context. I directed some inquiries to the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library, and got some encouraging news: James Foley enlisted in Compnay K of the 72nd in January of 1861, and it was a three year enlistment. That means he was with them through probably December of 1864 at leat.
Here is what they did after the Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Brandon Station July 19. Camp at Big Black till November. Expedition to Canton October 13-20. Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. Ordered to Memphis, Tenn., and guard Memphis & Charleston Railroad at Germantown till January, 1864. Expedition to Wyatt’s, Miss., February 6-18. Coldwater Ferry February 8. Near Senatobia February 8-9. Wyatt’s February. Operations against Forest in West Tennessee and Kentucky March 16-April 14. Defence of Paducah, Ky., April 14 (Veterans). Sturgis’ Expedition to Ripley, Miss., April 30-May 2. Sturgis’ Expedition to Guntown, Miss., June 1-13. Brice’s Cross Roads, near Guntown, June 10.
Pretty dry, hiuh? A lot of trudging around Mississippi looking for Rebels. I was checking out the note about Guntown, since I had never heard of it before, and the date means something to me.
It turns out there was a lot more that happened at the crossroads named after Mr. Brice. A Southern gentleman- Sherman called him a devil- named Nathan Bedford Forest kicked the 72nd’s collective butt, and most of the casualties they suffered were right there.
It was a horror show, and is linked to a death camp. I was stunned. I am going to have to tell you more about it tomorrow.
This 1908 image of the survivors of the 72nd OVI is in the archives of the Haye’s Library. Due to his status, it is unlikely (though possible) that James Foley is in it:
Copyright 2015 Vic Socotra
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