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IX. EPILOGUE: THE CIVIL WAR JOURNAL OF You must tell the world the story; When the boys in Blue are gone.” ―John Hendricks, Last Surviving Veteran of the 89th Indiana Volunteer Infantry  | |
After the surrender of Vicksburg, the 114th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was ordered to Carrollton, Louisiana (six miles north of New Orleans), on August 13. They remained in that general area through October 3. Scouting for rebels, the 114th marched several hundred miles through Louisiana, before returning to New Orleans in late November 1863.
On November 28, 1863, the 114th sailed for Texas, making camp at Matagorda Peninsula on December 3. Moving about the barren Texas coast, the 114th was ordered back to Alexandria, Louisiana on April 18, 1864. In May, under the command of General Nathaniel P. Banks, the 114th defeated rebels in engagements at Graham's Plantation, Marksville and Yellow Bayou, Louisiana. The 114th remained at Morganza, Louisiana through November 1864, and was involved in several raids, scouts and skirmishes without engagement.
Arriving at the mouth of the White River, Arkansas in late November 1864, the 120th Ohio was consolidated with the 114th Ohio. The combined 114th then returned to Morganza, and then to Kenner, Louisiana until being ordered to Barrancas, Florida in late January 1865. In May 1865, with the Civil War virtually ended, the 114th was sent with other forces back to Texas. Then in July 1865, the 114th was ordered to Columbus, Ohio, to be paid off and mustered out.
During its term of service, the 114th marched by land and water over ten thousand miles, and performed duty in ten different states. It was engaged in eight hard fought battles and many skirmishes, being successful in all except the affair at Chickasaw Bayou. In killed and wounded, the 114th lost six officers and eighty men. The losses from disease were very great the first year, with two hundred men having died and quite a number discharged for disability.
Having served with the 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company C, Isaac Brown was also a veteran of the Civil War and the Vicksburg Campaign. Mr. Brown was twice wounded. First during the Battle of Raymond, and later in a wagon and mule-team accident that led to his being mustered out of the service in 1864. Isabella Ramey Nickell and Isaac Brown had six children of their own, and that was not good news for Andrew's sons! Mr. Brown expected Elias "Doc", my great-grandfather, and his younger brother, Robert Calvary, to provide for themselves at a very young age. Mr. Brown kicked Elias out of his mother's home at the age of eleven. Elias managed to find his way to the fertile farmland of central Illinois. He settled first in southeast McLean County, near Leroy; then later to eastern Piatt and Champaign Counties. Younger brother Robert soon followed. Since Elias "Doc" Nickell arrived in Illinois around 1870, my two sons represent the fifth generation of our Nickell Family in Illinois. As University of Illinois graduates, they are both fourth generation Fightin' Illini!
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I. Andrew Becomes a Soldier... |
II. Headed South... |
III. The First Fights... | "THE CIVIL WAR JOURNAL OF ANDREW JACKSON NICKELL" "Battle Hymn of the Republic" -- U.S. Army Band -- Public Domain mp3 |
