THE CIVIL WAR CAREER
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JOHN GIBSON PARKHURST

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Jerry L. Bower

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page
Ll <A PRE-WAR PORTRAIT. .. + ee © & @ 4 ow @ @ © ol

2 OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSER. . « « « « 8

3. CHICKAMAUGA-ATLANTA-NASHVILLE . . . «2 « « « « 38

b, GONCIUSION, «wae sw tise aen te eee s « «BB
BIBLIOGRAPHY. «ss we eee we ee we ew we ew oe BO

 

 
Chapter I

A PRE-WAR PORTRAIT

A war which had the size and the violence of the American
Civil War cannot cross the pages of history without having a
profound influence upon the society in which it takes place,
amd upon many members of that society. Many men and women who
served in the Civil War have long since been forgotten; yet
they did tneir share in shaping the future of our nation, The
roles that these individuals played must not be forgotten, even
though they have not been proclaimed great heroes. This is
the situation concerning the Civil War career of John Gibson
Parkhurst, a lawyer from Coldwater, Michigan, who, though never
recognized as a hero, served as a regimental commander during
most of the war and made a record that is worthy of recognition.

Information on Parkhurst's early life is scanty. Born
in Oneida Castle, New York, on April 17, 182), he was one of
the eight children of Stephen and Sally (Gibson) Parkhurst.
When John was seven years of age his mother died, leaving the
responsibility of rearing the family to Stephen and the older
daughters. John obtained a thorough literary education at the
Oneida Academy. At the age of nineteen he began to read law

at the office of N.F. Graves and four years later, in 18h7,

he was admitted to the New York bar, A

After two years of successful law practice in New York,

Parkhurst came to Michigan in 18)9 and settled in Coldwater.

 
2
From 14.9 to 1861 he practiced law, part of that time as the
partner of George A. Coe, who later became lieutenant-governor
of Michigan, Parkhurst* also established other business in-
terests, including an insurance agency that he held throughout
his life. Over the years he invested money in farm lands in
the Coldwater area, @

In politics, Parkhurst supported the Democratic Party. He
continued to hold his original views despite the formation of
the Republican Party at Jackson, not far from Coldwater, in the
spring of 185. In fact the lawyer was among those Democrats
in Branch County who were defeated by the new party in the
summer of 185) when he lost the race for office of prosecuting
attorney to John Wé Turner. ?

Parkhurst continued to follow his interest in politics,
and in the Democratic State Convention held in Detroit, in
February, 1860, he was chosen as a delegate to the Democratic
National Convention to be held in Charleston, South Carolina,
in April, 1860, 4 Parkhurst received numerous congratulatory
notes upon his election as a delegate to the Charleston Con-
vention, many of which urged him to go to Charleston and work
for the nomination of Douglas, One note said that if Douglas
succeeded, Parkhurst should receive a good position, "for if
there is a faitnful working Democrat in Michigan who deserves
to be rewarded it #& yourself." Parkhurst was to play an
active role in promoting Douglas! nomination in this convention.
Parkhurst left Coldwater for Charleston on April 11, 1860. 6

Enroute he stopped to visit the New York legislature and
3

viewed, with disgust, the actions of the "Black Republicans"
in that body. He commented that the New York Republicans were
much worse than Michigan Republicans because they knew more
ways to steal legally than did their couterparts in Michigan. ?

Parkhurst commented in letters to Amelia, his wife, on
the chances of nominating Douglas. While in New York he noted
that the New York delegation generally favored Douglas, but that
an effort was being made to promote the candidacy of either
Daniel S,. Dickinson or Horatio Seymour, Parkhurst felt that
Douglas could be nominated, but that the Southern delegates
would provide the greatest opposition, 8

On the eve of the convention Parkhurst noted that the
administration of President Buchanan was trying to defeat
Dovglas! nomination. In fact, he said that some of the admin-

istration's followers and the Southerners were more bitter to-

ward Douglas than toward the Republicans, In view of this

opposition some members were predicting that the convention

would last eight of ten days, but Parkhurst felt that he would
be on his way home in less than a week, 9
On April 21, the day after he arrived in Charleston, Park-
hurst was mdde a member of the Democratic National Committee
in place of Jacob Olmot. Three davs later, he was elected to
the post of Recording Secretary of the convention, a post that
gave him an excellent opportunity to view and to hear the
proceedings. a
In a very interesting letter to his wife, dated April 29,

1860, Parkhurst described the convention in great detail and

ventured a prediction as to its outcome. He noted that the

 
 

 

h

convention had been unable to agree upon a platform and that
the Platform Committee had returned two reports. The majority
report rejected Douglas! popular sovereignty, and the minority
report unheld it. Parkhurst believed that the minority report
would finally be adopted and that Douglas would be nominated.
He was equally confident that Douglas! nomination would cause
the Southerners to withdraw from the convention, but that they
would remain as long as there was any hope of defeating Douglas.
He closed his letter with the prediction, "that We Shall break
up in the Wildest Confusion and that one half or rather one
portion of the Convention will be dissatisfied with the acts
of the Convention and will attempt to Establish Another organ-
ization, but that they will fail success." 11

The prédiction was wholly accurate as the delegations from
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louis-
tana and Texas withdrew on the very day the letter was written--
Appil 29, 1860, The rupture of the Democratic Party caused
Parkhurst to foresee a dark future for the party and for the
Union. He believed tiat three, or perhaps four, candidates
would seek the presidency and that in such a contest Douglas
would undoubtedly be defeated, 12

Parkhurst also performed the duties of Recording Secretary
at the convention which opened on June 18, 1860, in Baltimore,
where the CLemocratic Party made one last attempt to settle its
differences. For Parkhurst there was but one course, It wuld

be better for the entire country to go to the "d---1," he as-

serted, than for the Douglas Democrats to rely on "such a class

 

 
3

of Men as Yancey or Rhet Lt)" for support. Nothing could be
gained by yielding to the Southern fire-eaters, 13

Parkhurst's predictions with respect to the Democracy were
again accurate. On June 22, 1660, the Southern delegations a
bolted the convention for the second time and the Democratic
Party was hopelessly split. On. June 23 Douglas was nominated
by the remaining delegates and Parkhurst returned home. Al-
though hecould see nothing but defeat for the Douglas Democrats,
he clung to the opinion that it was better to lose the election
than to yield their principles. 1

After his return from Baltimore, Parkhurst resumed his
regular duties as a lawyer and businessman, but he also kept
abreast of political developments and their consequences. There
is no evidence to indicate that Parkhurst actively campaigned
for Douglas in Michigan during the summer and fall of 1860,
With Lincoln's election, in November, 1860, the Southern States
began to secede and the firing on Fort Sumter, in April, 1861,
precipitated the Civil War, Parkhurst actively supported the
Union war effort through speeches given at Coldwater (April 17),
Batavia (April 22), and Quincy (May 8). Neither Parkhurst's
Diary nor the newspapers of the time presented the text of these
speeches; the only comment made by Parkhurst was that his ad-
dress at Coldwater was "Enthusiastically cheerea," 15

Parkhurst decided to serve his country and promptly made
efforts to secure a commission in one of the Michigan regiments
that was being formed. He wrote directly to Governor Austin
Blair requesting a commission, probably a colonelcy, and he

also had some of his friends write to the Governor in kis behalf,
 

 

6

On May 28, 1861, he accepted 'a captaincy in the Coldwater Artil-
lery but continued his efforts to secure a better position. 16

While this great national crisis was developing a second
daughter was born, on May 2, 1861, to Parkhurst and his wifé,
Amelia. However the happiness of this event was short-lived
for Amelia became ill and died on July 26, 1861. During his
wife's illness Parkhurst spent almost all of his tine with her
and the entries in his diary reveal the great heartaches of
this month as Amelia alternately improved and failed until her
death. Since Parkhurst was a devoted family man, Amelia's death

brought a great crisis into his life; he had lost his beloved

wife and he was left with two small daughters, 17

 

 
 

 

7

1 Rev. Henry P. Collin, A Twentieth Century History and
Biographical Record of Branch County Michigan (Chicago, 1906),
Pe 30.

2 Ibid., pp. 30-32.
3 Ipid., pe 211.

 

i February 21-22, 1860, Parkhurst Diary, Museum of
Michigan State University. Hereafter cited as Diary, MSU.

3 Phin to Parkhurst, April 4, 1860, Parkhurst Papers,
Michigan Historical Collections of the University of Michigan.
Hereafter cited as Papers, MHC,

© appil 11, 1860, Diary, MSU.
7 Parkhurst to his wife, Amelia, April 15, 1860, Papers,

MHC.

2 Ibid.

? toid., April 17 and 21, 1860.

10 nerty 21 and 2h, 1860, Diary, MSU.

it Papers, MHC,

12 pbarkhurst to wife, May 1, 1860, Papers, MHC,

13 Thid., June 20, 1860,

14 tphid., July 14, 1860.

15 april 17, 18, 22, 29 and May , B, 1861, Diary, MSU.
ap Ibid., May 16, 28, 30 and June 1, 18, 1861.

L’ thid., May 2h-duly 26, 1861.

 

 
Chapter II
OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE

Parkhurst went to Detroit, early in August, to see
Governor Blair about an appointment to an infantry regiment.
Blair informed Parkhurst that while he could not give him
command of a regiment, he could and would appoint him a
Lieutenant Colonel in either tne Highth or Ninth Infantry.
Colonel William M. Fenton agreed to Parkhurst as the Lt.
Colonel of his regiment, the Highth Infantry, but for some
reason Governor Blair deferred the appointment and he returned
to Coldwater without a commission, +

Upon his return home, Parkhurst made arrangements to send
his children to New York, The baby, Maggie, was sent to live
with Parkhurst's sister, Helen Starr. An older daughter,
Kittie, was to live with her Uncle William Parkhurst, who came
to Coldwater and took the children to New York with him, leav-
ing Parkhurst alone in his now "desolate home." 2

Parkhurst's family urged him not to go to war. His sister,
Helen, was especially adamant in her opposition to Parkhurst's
decision to join the service, She argued that the war was the
reault of "black Republican" policies and that a good Democrat
like Parkhurst should not offer his services. Furthermore,
she accused her brother of neglecting his duty to his children
by even considering entering the army. 3

Parkhurst replied with firmess. "Government or no govern-

ment, Republicanism or Despotism. This is no partisan war,"

8
g
he declared, “it is a War for the life of the Nation. Now I
am Willing, yes anxious, to Serve My Country in their (sic)
hour of peril to the Constitution." 4 Parkhurst reaffirmed
his decision to volunteer, adding that he desired to make the
country safe for his children by doing his share to insure the
continuance of a unified nation.

After receiving word from Governor Blair, on September 3,
1861, that he would be appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Ninth
Infantry, Parkhurst made a short visit to New York to see his
children, 5 On September 23, 1861, he returned to Detroit to
take up his duties in preparation for the mustering of the
regiment into the federal service.

The Ninth Michigan Infantry Regiment was raised during the
late summer and early autumn of 1861, but when the men were
called to muster at Detroit many of the companies were not
yet filled to capacity. Thus the men who had been promised
captaincies in the unit were asked to report how many soldiers
they had enrolled and were urged to fill their quotas as aoon
as possible, 6 One of the companies was made up exclusively
of men from Coldwater and Branch County, and since other cap-
tains also recruited men from the area, that county was well
represented in the regiment. ?

Parkhurst spent the rest of September and the first half
of October in Detroit taking care of military and personal
affairs. He spent much time at Fort Wayne, where the men
rendezvoused, getting the regiment ready for service. He pur-

chased the supplies that he would need as a soldier and
 

 

10

arranged his personal affairs by making a will, by storing hs
books and other possessions, and by checking over his business
affairs. 8

The officers and men of the Ninth Michigan Infantry Regi-
ment were mustered into the service on October 15, at Fort
Wayne, in Detroit. 9 At that time the Ninth was placed under
marching orders and, as Parkhurst wrote, was ready to "go to
Kentucky as soon as we can get arms." 19 The regiment spent
several days waiting for weapons and finally left Detroit with-
out them. Parkhurst explained that they were leaving without
arms because those they had were so poor that they expected to
find better ones when they reached Kentucky. i

The Ninth left Michigan on October 25 and reached Jeffer-
sonville, Indiana, the following day. le After a one day stop-
over the organization was ordered to take up a post at the
mouth of the Salt River, near West Point, Kentucky. Here the
Ninth was assigned to guard supplies and roads in the area, 13

While the first duties of the Michigan men were anything
but spectacular, they had been called for service in an im-
portant theater of the war, Kentucky was considered a key
area by both the North and South since it was a border state
strategically located along the Ohio River, The state officials
of Kentucky proclaimed neutrality in May, 1861. However
Kentucky was too important to be allowed to live in peace and
both Unionists and Secessionists were doing their best to seize
control of key points in that state, At the outset the Con-

federates held a numerical advantage and the only action by

the Federals was to attempt to hold the invaders in check,

 

 
11
As part of the Union plan the Department, or Army, of the
Ohio was created in November, 1861, and placed under the
command of Don Carhos Buell. The Department included the
states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Tennessee and that part
of Kentucky east of the Cumberland River, 14, The Ninth Mich-
igan became part of this Army.

While the Ninth Michigan was located on the Salt River,
Parkhurst kept up a steady correspondence with his sisters and
brother in New York. In these letters he expressed his views
concerning the regiment's duties and his own progress in the
service, Parkhurst wrote, no doubt in a burst of enthusiasm,
that the Michigan men had been given a "post of honor" although
their activities were limited to guard duty and occasional
foraging missions. He believed that their unit compared favor-
ably with other volunteer regiments and even excelled many of
them. He had nothing but praise for Col. Duffield, whom he
regarded as "an accomplished officer." 15 In commenting upon
his own progress in the service, Parkhurst said that he felt
he had given satisfaction to the men and other officers and

hat he liked military life, at least as much of it as he had
experienced to that time. 16

Colonel Duffield commented about the Ninth and Lt. Colonel
Parkhurst in correspondence with John Robertson, Adjutant
General of Michigan, His main concern was the condition of
the muskets carried by his men. Our arms are so poor, he
wrote, that "it is unsafe to send men into the field with

such Miserable Weapons as those We have." Duffield expressed
 

 

12
the hope that the governor would be able to obtain better arms
for the regiment and charge the expense to the federal govern-
ment. 17 we also mentioned that Parkhurst was proving to be
a valuable officer who would soon be as good as any officer
in the Michigan units, 18
In November the Ninth was organized along with the 13th
and 15th Kentucky and 3rd Minnesota into the Sixteenth Brigade
of the Army of the Ohio. A brigade commanderwas not appointed
at the times; but the units were under General Thomas, whose
entire command was designated by General Buell as the First
Division of the Army of the Ohio. 19
During November and December the Ninth was hard hit by
illness and at one time 332 of the approximately 950 men were
on the sick list. In early December, when it appeared that
a battle would soon be fought, the sick men were ordered to
a hospital in Louisville. z0
A battle was fought at Mill Springs or Logan!s Crossroads
on January 19, 1462, which resulted in a Confederate defeat
and forced therm to retreat. Unfortunately for the Ninth
Michigan, the only action it saw was to move from West Point
to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where it was again assigned to
guarding bridges and roads. el Parkhurst noted that the big-
gest battle for the men inthis situation was to overcome bore-
dom. Frequent drills and dress parades were held to keep the
men busy. ee
Parkhurst was placed in command of the Ninth during the

latter part of January when Duffield was given a special

assignment in Bardstown, Kentucky. During Duffield's absence

 

 
13
Parkhurst commanded his first battalion drill and, after it
was over, said he was well-pleased with the results. 23
Parkhurst anticipated that his responsibilities as commander

of the Ninth would continue since he expected Duffield would

soon be promoted to a higher position in the brigade. el.

Since the Ninth had few duties at Elizabethtown, the men
had an opportunity to enjoy some recreational activities. In
particular, they made good use of the stream running through
their camp for swimming. This was certainly a new experience
for Michigan boys--swimming in January--and it seemed to work
wonders for the health of the men. According to Parkhurst,
"This little stream is worth more to our Reg't than all the
25

calomel in Ky." Parkhurst himself found time for social

activity, making frequent visits to acquaintances in the area
for dinners and parties. 26
The Ninth remained at Elizabethtown through the month of
February, and Parkhurst became anxious for the regiment to go
into action. He wrote his sister that he was certain that he
would live to the end of the war since there was no immediate
prospect of the Ninth moving forward. Parkhurst was provoked
by the sight of other units, with less time in the service,
going into action while he and his men remained at Elizabeth-
town. Bf
The Ninth Michigan and the other units of the Sixteenth
Brigade boarded a steamer on March 19, 1462, and headed for
a rendezvous with the rest of the Army of the Ohio. They trav-

elled via the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers to Nashville and

thence to Murfreesboro, where they established a camp south

 
 

 

Lh.
of the town. 20° the designation of these regiments was now
changed to the Twenty-third Independent Brigade of the Army
of the Ohio with Colonel Duffield in command. ©9

The assignment of the Ninth was part of a large operation.
General Buell had gathered an army of over 73,000 men at Nash-
ville by early March and had deployed almost one-half of these
troops to guard important roads, railroads, river crossings
and mountain gaps in Kentucky and Tennessee, With the other
units, totalling about 37,000, Buell was moving to Savannah,
Tennessee, to join General Henry W. Halleck's command for
operations against General Johnston, who, after suffering re-
verses at Forts Henry and Donelson, had concentrated his army
at Corinth, Mississippi.

The movement against the rebels of Corinth precipitated
the Battle of Shiloh. In this great clash, the first major
action in the Western theater, the Confederates were forced
into a retreat on the second day of the battle--April 7, 1862.
In the months that followed this bloody test of strength the
two armies continued to spar with one another, each seeking
an opportunity to strike a crippling blow.

While their comrades had been engaged at Shiloh and in
subsequent operations against Corinth, the Michigan volunteers
remained at Murfreesboro, and they were to reinforce any of
the other garrisons in the vicinity when the need arose, 30

Lt. Colonel Parkhurst was ordered to take the post of
Provost Marshal of Murfreesboro by General Ormsby Mitchel, who
was in charge of several ga¥risons around Nashville. Parkhurst

gladly accepted this position and thereafter spent a part of

 

 
15
each day in his office carrying out this new responsibility.
These tasks, not very heavy, consisted mostly of handling pris-
oners and of exercising legal powers for the military over
the civilians in the area, 31
The men of the Ninth did see limited action, being involved

almost daily in skirmishes with the rebels. However these

clashes were, "nothing which [would] warrant the command of a

Col. or Lt.-Col.," as Parkhurst noted in his dairy. 32

In his correspondence with his sister Parkhurst described
the countryside around Murfreesboro and commented upon the
sentiment of the citizens in the vicinity. The scenery was
beautiful and delightful, but the people were “all rebels.
There is Scarcely a Union man in the whole Country," he de-
clared. "I suppose this is the worst portion of the State in
respect to politics and will probably be the most difficult to
Hstablish a Union Feeling in." The people around Murfreesboro
expected that the Federals would soon be driven out, but Park-
hurst said that the men in blue were determined to hold their
position, 33

Late in April the hopes of the Ninth were raised at the
prospect of joining Halleck's forces near Pittsburg Landing
to aid in the advance upon Corinth. 34 On April 23 General
Ebenezer Dumont was ordered to take the Twenty-third Brigade
to Pittsburg Landing, however these orders were countermanded
on the very next day. 32 In place of the intended move the
brigade was directed to proceed to Huntsville, Alabama to re-
inforce Mitchel. From this point Parkhurst expected a move

upon Chattanooga or Corinth, and he even conjectured that

 
16

his men might be part of an operation against Atlanta or Dal-
ton, Georgia. 36

But the Twenty-third Brigade was unable to carry out its
orders to join Mitchel, for the military situation in Tennessee
took a new course which demanded its attention. Parkhurst had
commented several times about the presence of "marauders" in
the area and that their attacks had increased enough to demand
some decisive action. 37 the group that commanded the attention
of the Ninth was a rebel cavalry unit led by Colonel John H.
Morgan. The Michigan Infantry marched to Shelbyville in pur-
suit of Morgan on May 3, along with other wnits under General
Dumont and Colonel Duffield. The next day they learned that
Morgan had moved to Lebanon and, since pursuit by infantry was

too slow, the Ninth was ordered back to Murfreesboro. At the

request of the commanding officers, Parkhurst accompanied the

Union cavalry to Lebanon, 38

The next day the Federals surprised Morgan's cavalry at
Lebanon and defeated tnem after a house to house battle. Park-
hurst directed the attack against a group of rebels holed up
in the Odd Fellow's Hall and forced them to surrender after
threatening to fire the building, In all 200 prisoners were
taken along with 250 horses. The casualties listed 50 killed
for Morgan and nine for the attackers. Parkhurst, as Provost
Marshal of Murfreesboro, took charge of the prisoners and sent
them north to Nashville. ?”

After his return to Murfreesboro Parkhurst was forceably

impressed with the pro-South sentiment of the citizens when

he was fired upon by a would-be assassin. As a result of

 
17
this incident, Parkhurst, acting under orders of Governor
Andrew Johnson, searched the city for arms and arrested twelve
citzens who were sent at once to Nashville to be held as
hostages. ho

While the Ninth and other units in Tennessee were en-
gaged in protecting Union communications, Halleck was conduct-
ing his snail-paced advance on Corinth. Halleck's movement
with superior numbers finally forced General Beauregard to
leave Corinth without a fight.

In conjunction with the Corinth campaign the Michigan men
participated in an advance upon 6hattanooga which was designed
to draw rebel troops from other areas to defend that city. This
enterprise was under the command of General John S. Negley,
who assembled his men at Fayetteville. The Federal forces be-
gan to move forward on June 2, 1862,. In addition to eight

infantry regiments, the group included two cavalry regiments

and two batteries of artillery--a total of about 10,000 men. id

In order to move rapidly the troops travelled without camp
equipment. They arrived opposite Chattanooga on June 7 after
a series of long, rapid marches through the rugged Cumberland
Mountains, He

Unable to cross the Tennessee River the Union troops
threw a few shells into Chattanooga and then withdrew back
over the Cumberland Mountains. Neither Parkhurst nor his men
could make much sense out of the whole operation. The retire-
ment was made by long, rapid marches which brought the Ninth
back to Murfreesboro on June 13, 3

While Parkhurst was understandably disappointed over the

retreat, the feint at Chattanooga had forced the rebels to

 
 

 

18
make certain adjustments which proved advantageous to the
Union, The threat posed by Negley's forces caused General E.
Kirby Smith's command, as well as rebel troops in the Cumber-
land Gap, to hasten to Chattanooga. As a result Federal troops
were able to occupy the all-important Cumberland Gap without
a fight, Ws

After evacuating Corinth, part of the Confederate forces,
now under General Braxton Bragg, headed for Chattanooga wi th
Buell in pursuit. Buell and Halleck had a sharp difference
of opinion over the best route of advance upon that city.
Buell wanted to keep the Nashville-Chattanooga Nailroad open
for his supplies, but Halleck ordered him to advance along
tae Memphis-Charleston Railroad which laid parallel to the
rebel lines. Thus Buell was forced to disperse his troops
to protect his communications from being disrupted by Con-
federate Gavdlary under Colonels Morgan and Nathan 8. Forrest.
The Confederate strikes were especially destructive during
June and July, and the raid that hit Murfreesboro on July 13
stirred a great controversy.

In Murfreesboro was the lwenty-third Brigade, which was
racked by internal discord, the friction being particularly
high between the Ninth Michigan and the third Minnesota. When
Duffield was called to ather duties in late May, Colonel H. C.
Lester of the Minnesota regiment became the commander of the
brigade. Parkhurst held a very low opinion of Lester's ability
anddid not believe he was qualified to command a brigade, Lb

On dune 20, Col. Lester placed Parkhurst under arrest for

refusing to obey an indirect order to move the lines of the

Michigan Infantry. When threatened with being put in irons

 

 
 

 

19

Parkhurst told Lester that "he was not man enough to do it."
After an exchange of notes on the following day, Parkhurst
was released from arrest with Lester expressing satisfaction
that the matter was settled. 6 This incident heightened the
ill-will between the two men and during the next week the
Minnesota men, along with their supporting battery, withdrew
from Murfreesboro and established their camp north of the city. \7
In the last days of June the Michigan regiment holding the city
was further reduced when four of its companies were ordered
to reinforce the garrison at Tullahoma. 48

Thus when Duffield, wno had been promoted to the rank of
General, and General Thomas T, Crittenden returned to Murfrees-
boro on July 11, they found the Twenty-third Brigade located
in widely scattered camps. The following day Crittenden assumed
over-all command of Murfreesboro while Duffield took charge
of the Twenty-third, Both Generals felt that it was dangerous
for the units to be so widely separated, Parkhurst concurred
in their opinion, stating that "Col. Lester must take the
responsibility so far," 49

At dawn on July 13 Confederate cavalry under General N. B.
Forrest smashed into the camp of the Ninth, catching many of
the men still in bed. Approximately 1,200 raiders hit Park-
hurst's command of about 250 men, consisting of six companies
of the Ninth and 80 members of the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry. 20
After this initial impact, in which Duffield was severely
wounded, Parkhurst rallied the men and they poured a heavy
fusillade of fire into the Confederates who were somewhat dis-
organized after galloping through the enemy camp. Taking ad-

vantage of this situation the Union men drove their attackers

 

 
 

 

20

some two hundred yards and improvised a strong stockade in
an enclosed garden, D1

From their new position the handful of men under Parkhurst
repelled several thrusts by the rebels. The attackers then
gave up their attempts to carry the stockade by storm and de-
ployed the dismounted cavalry in positions around the strong-
hold, keeping up a steady stream of fire wnile awaiting the
return of Forrest, who had taken part of his men to attack the
camp of the Third Minnesota, 52

Soon after the fighting commenced Parkhurst sent two
couriers to tell Colonel Lester that he was in serious trouble.
Both of these men got through, as did one sent by Lester to
check on conditions in Murfreesboro, 23 However, despite his
knowledge of the determined attack by the rebels upon the
Ninth and their Kentucky comrades, Lester's only action was
to form a line of battle and advance 600 yards. The Minnesota
volunteers strongly desired to aid the beleaguered garrison,
but their Colonel did not allow them to budge. According to
It. Colonel Christopher C. Andrews, "While Colonel Lester sat
upon his horse at his proper post in rear of the line, different
officers approached and asked him, in tone of entreaty, if he
would not march the regiment into town. Lester replied, 'We
will see,'" 5h

In view of Lester's obvious reluctance to throw his
regiment into action, Forrest concentrated almost all of his
men against the Federals in the stockade, At this time, around
11:30 A. Me, Forrest sent in a flag of truce and demanded the

surrender of Parkhurst and his men. Duffield, whose wound had

 

 
 

21

taken him out of action in the first assault, relinquished
this decision to Parkhurst. Parkhurst met with the other
officers and they decided to surrender their decimated force
at noon. They reasoned that since Lester had made no attempt
to relieve them, further resistance with 13h fit men against
about 1,800 rebels would be fruitless and could only lead to
the fulfillment of Forrest's threat to execute the entire com-
mand if they continued hostilities, >>

The surrender of Parkhurst showed that he had about 130
unwounded men who were marched off by Forrest as prisoners of
ware Some seventy wunded were paroled at Murfreesboro, and
twelve men of his command had been killed. 56 Shortly after
the capitulation of the post in the city, Lester surrendered

the Third Minnesota and its battery without a struggle. This

left Forrest free to destroy Federal supplies whose value was

estimated at 1,000,000, a7 This raid, along with others by

Colonel Morgan, caused Buell a great deal of trouble and often
forced him to alter plans in order to protect his supply lines.
The engagement at Murfreesboro raised many questions as
to who was responsible, causing the establishment of a board
of inquiry to investigate the affair. The first reports of
the destruction placed the onus upon the Ninth and upon T. T.
Crittenden and Duffield, However, the investigation absolved
Crittenden of any neglect on the ground that he had been
assured by Lester that enemy troops were no closer than
Chattanooga. The great surprise effected by Forrest resulted
from Lester's regular practice of removing pickets at night

from the roads leading to Murfreesboro, Because of his obvious

 

 
22

neglect in taking proper security precautions and for not
coming to the aid of the beseiged men, Lester was dishonorably
discharged from the service, 58

The findings of the board of inquiry absolved the Ninth
and Parkhurst of any responsibility for the great loss of
property at Murfreesboro. In fact General Crittenden in his
report highly commended the Michigan volunteers and the Lt.
Colonel for the stiff resistence in the face of great odds. 9
Parkhurst always felt, however, that his men were never totally
cleared of the onus attached to their surrender, for as he
wrote in 1866, "the Regiment has never received a proper degree
of credit, having in a manner received the reproach which
should have [been] attached solely to Col. Lester of the 3rd
Minnesota, whose refusal to allow his regiment and Hewitt's
battery to go into the fight was the sole cause of the Capture
of Murfreesboro! ©

Forrest paroled all of his prisoners, except the officers,
and the next eight days were spent in marching, or in riding
southern railroads, to a Confederate prison at Madison, Georgia.
While on the march General Forrest took Parkhurst's horse and
gave his "poor" mount in return. In addition to this "exchange"
Parkhurst discovered that most of his horse-riding equipment
and other valuables were stolen by the rebels, Although this
was most annoying, his greatest indigation was aroused when
a Negro, to whom he gave $2.50 to £111 anteen, made off with
both container and money. ol

In the prison which was located in an old cotton will

surrounded by a board fence, boredom was the biggest problem
23

for the men, and they whiled away the time reading, talking,
and playing cards, At first the prisoners were often stirred
with excitement as rumors of exchange were circulated; but
hope of a short internment soon died, for this gossip proved
false. Some of the Federals wrote an inscription upon the
fence which greatly irritated the Confederate guards, and the
officer in charge of the prison demanded the immediate removal
of "Dixie the Land of Snakes, Scorpions and Traitors." Adding
another insult the inmates hired a Negro to remove the offend-
ing sign. Early in October there came a reliable report that
an exchange had been arranged, and the prisoners prepared
themselves for the trip north, 62

On October 7, 1862 the prisoners left Madison by rail for
Virginia and parole. After a short stay in Libby Prison at
Richmond the men were transferred to a steamer and taken to
Washington, D.C. While in the capital Parkhurst called on

President Lincoln and recorded this event in his diary with

the exasperatingly cryptic notation that the Chief Executive

"is quite ugly and inferior looking." 63

During Parkhurst's imprisonment the Army of the Ohio under
Buell was encountering difficulties. The raids by Morgan and
Forrest in June and July had raised havoc with its communica-
tions, Bragg's move to Chattanooga put him in position to
invade the North by several routes$ he could advance into
middle or eastern Tennessee, or he could move through the
mountains into Kentucky.

In early September, Buell, faced with uncertainty, de-

cided to concentrate his forces at Murfreesboro and await

 
 

 

2h
Bragg's next move. He did not have to wait long. Bragg,
taking advantage of certain developments in Eastern Tennessee
and Kentucky, decided to march into Kentucky with hopes of
driving north to the Ohio River, This movement touched off a
race tor Louisville with the Union Army arriving first, on
September 29, 1862, After considerable sparring the two armies
met in the bloody battle of Perryville, on October 8, which re-
sulted in a Confederate defeat, Bragg then retreated to Mur-
freesboro, the former canp of the Union troops.

This period is often viewed as the height of Confederate
military success. General George B,. McClellan had been forced
to abandon the Virginia peninsula; the Federal troops under
General John Pope had been whipped at Second Bull Run, after
which the Army of Northern Virginia prepared for its first
invasion of the North, In the West, as already noted, Bragg
had driven from Chattanooga northward into Kentucky. But
both invading forces were defeated and turned back--Lee at
Antietam, and Bragg at Perryville.

The Confederate successes caused President Lincoln to re-
move both commanders--McClellan in the East and Buell in the
West. General William S. Rosecrans was placed in charge of
the Army of the Cumberland (formerly the Army of the Ohio).

His first action was to relieve the pressure on the garrison

at Nashville, which enabled the entire army to move from
Louisville to Nashville. Here the month of November and part

of December was spent in organizing the troops for an offensive
against Bragg at Murfreesboro.

Lt. Colonel Parkhurst and the other Union officers who

had been gent north by the secessionists were merely on parole.

 

 
 

 

25
Under the rules adopted for the exchanging of prisoners, these
men could not return to active duty until the Union authorities
had released an equal number of Confederate officers of corre-
sponding ranks, If a soldier was recaptured before had beén
officially exchanged, he faced death before a firing squad.
When Parkhurst learned that he was not free to return to the
front, he said, " [this is] Not very flattering news to us.
Our Govt should have had us exchanged," Oh

During his parole Parkhurst visited relatives in New York,
old friends in Coldwater, Michigan, and enjoyed a happy re-
unionwith his two children, Kittie and Maggie, whom he had not
seen in over a year. The trip to Coldwater included a sad
visit to the grave of his beloved Amelia, whom he often re-
membered fondly in entries in his diary.. 65 This was a time
for reflection, and the lawyer-turned-soldier contemplated
what the future might hold in store for himself and his broken
family.

The notification of Parkhurst's official exchange was
communicated to the military authorities in Detroit on Novem-
ber 10, This news was relayed to Parkhurst, who was at Syra-
cuse, New York; however, he did not receive orders to rejoin
the Ninth until the nineteenth of December, 66 When he arrived
in Nashville, Parkhurst found the bulk of the Army of the Cum-
berland concentrated in that city. 67

The reunion with his regiment was a joyous occasion for
the commander of the Ninth. He made a short speech which the
men heartily cheered while throwing their hats into the air. 68

During his absence the Michigan volunteers had received a

 

 
 

 

26
post of honor, being assigned to the headquarters of General
Thomas as Provost Guard, 69 Parkhurst described the station
as "one of which any Regiment in the Service would feel a
pride and that's the position of Select Guard for the Army
Corps of Maj.-Genl Thomas--Similar to the Body-guard of a
European officer," 70

When Parkhurst returned to Nashville he noted a great deal
of activity that indicated a major battle would soon be fought.
This assumption was correct, On December 26, 1862, Rosecrans
ordered his men to move toward the rebels at Murfreesboro and
four days later the Union army established their positions
along Stone's River, However Rosecrans! lines were poorly
located, Thus when the Confederates seiged the initiative on
December 31, they threatened to overrun the entire Union army
and to cut off its line of retreat toward Nashville.

When the battle began the Ninth Michiganwas located at
the rear of the lines near Thomas! headquarters, Shortly after
the action commenced, Parkhurst noticed a large number of men
rushing to the rear, He described the scene in his "Recollec-
tions of Stone's River,"

And in advance of the running mules was one partic-
ular Negro, who, though very black, had an absolute

pallor upon his countenence, and about four inches of

tongue protruding from his mouth, his eyes bulging nearly

out of his head,
It being a part of the writer's duty to prevent
straggling and to Keep men with their respective Conmands,

he Sent out details to pick up these terrified troops;

 

 
ey
but, the picking up soon became a pretty livety business
ana he found it necessary to place the 9th Michigan in
line of Battle across the Nashville Pike Extending its
flanks to the utmost limit, and he was none too Soon in
this Movement. Cavalry--Artillery--Infantry Quitters and
Camp followers came rushing with the force of a cyclone,
and the 9th Michigan was ordered to fix bayonets and charge
upon this panic Stricken Mass of men.

The Charge was Made andf Sault was gratifying--the
Stampede was Checked and the fleeing Mass of troops were
halted, put in line facing the enemy, until a force of
some thousands of Infantry about 2,000 --Seven pieces
of Artillery and several hundred Cavalry were placed in
a favorable position, from which this recently terrorized
force several times repulsed the Charges of the pursuing
Enemy and finally after General Wilkes with his brigade
including the lth Michigan Artillery came foreward from
Stewarts Creek, We were Enabled to drive the Enemy back
to his lines and relieve the right of Rosecrans! Army, 7

After the opening rush had turned back the extreme right
of Rosecrans! lines, the entire rebel force began to pivot
on Stone's River bringing it into action against the Union
center and left. Rosecrans finally relocated his forces and
turned back repeated attacks by the Confederates, who undoubt-
edly sensed an opportunity to achieve a decisive victory. The
Northerners held out until darkness finally brought an end to

a day of hard, costly fighting.
 

 

28

During the night both armies were busy consolidating their
position. Bragg believed that enemy lossed were so heavy that
the Federals would retreat. Rosecrans, however, held a council
of war with his chief officers and all decided that the Union
position could be held. Thus when daylight broke on New Year's
Day the Army of the Cumberland was still on the battlefield
ready to receive an attack, It never came, for Bragg had not
formed any definite plans. The Federals, unprepared to launch
an offensive, were content to hold their position, repulsing
the few probes that were made by the Confederates. The great-
est activity occurred in the rear, where rebel cavalry har-
assed Union communications, It was in that quarter that Park-
hurst's regiment saw action.

Well before dawn the Ninth received orders from Thomas
to escort to Nashville a train of wagons which carried unneeded
equipment and wounded men. Nine miles from their destination
the column was hit by cavalry which had been harassing the rear
of the Union lines, The attack threw the teamsters into a
general stampede, which Parkhurst's regiment managed to check.
The man were then lined up ready to repulse any subsequent on-
Slaught by the enemy, but the Confederates made no further
efforts to stop the train and it proceeded unmolested to
Nashville. te

Karly in the morning of January 3, the Ninth, under orders
from Thomas, left Nashville to return to the battlefield with
supply wagons and the troops who had fled the front. They
reached Lavergne about noon and found Colonel William P. Innes
and his First Michigan Engineers awaiting an attack from Con-

federate cavalry. The Michigan volunteers and their column

 

 
29
joined the Engineers and after an uneventful two-hour wait,
decided to proceed. The train reached the battlefield in the
late afternoon after a hard march of twenty-seven miles. 13

Dawn of the following day found the Army of the Cumberland
alone on the battlefield before Murfreesboro. Bragg had with-
drawn his men during the night, leaving behind his dead and
wounded. The decision to retreat was based upon a report by
General Joseph C. Wheeler of the rebel cavalry that Rosecrans
was receiving reinforcements. The Union troops spent the day
in burying the dead and resting.

The occupation of Murfreesboro was a happy event for the
men of the Ninth Infantry as they were allowed to enter: the
city at the head of the army. Thus the Michigan Volunteers
returned to the scene of their earlier defeat at the hands
of Forrest. 7h

The conclusion of the great clash at Stone's River brought
a time of reflection for the troops. Parkhurst, in looking
back over the activities of his men, said that they had ful-
filled their duties well. Reflecting on the two stampedes
halted by his Ninth Michigan, he asserted: "I think I have
saved our army from two sad disasters and disgraces if I
never do anything More for My Country." 15 For their timely
action the Michigan volunteers were commended by Thomas in
his official report of the battle for rendering "most valuable
service" to the army. 76

Parkhurst said, in commenting upon the rebel retreat, that
his regiment had played a key role in causing that movement,

In writing a report of Stone's River after the war he began
 

 

30
one portion with the statement, "I trust it will not be re-
garded immodest in the Writer, at this remote period, to furn-
ish the Companies of this Commandery--but the information must
go no further (underline added) -- [imowledge ot] the occasion
Which influenced General Bragg to abandon a claimed victory,
and to withdraw his army from the front of what he proclaimed
a defeated foe." There follows a brief description of the
Ninth's return to Stone's River on January 3 with the ammuni-
tion train and the stragglers collected in Nashville. The
appearance of this column relieving the beseiged Innes and
his Engineers at Lavergne had caused the rebel cavalry to
hasten to Bragg with the report that Rosecrans was receiving
fresh men, Parkhurst continued, "No other troops came to
Rosecrans on the 3rd and the inference is fair that he [imeeier ]
referred to the 9th Michigan,

"Thus you can see comes the conclusion that not only was
Innes saved by the opportune arrival of the 9th Michigan at
Lavergne, but Wheeler was so impressed with its Extended Col-
ums 8s to induce him to hasten a report to Bragg of its March
to reinforce Rosecrans." 7

If Parkhurst's information is correct, he and his regi-
ment were instrumental in securing an important victory for lhe
Union--a matter which deserves deeper investigaion, Bragg
reported that he withdrew because Wheeler had informed him
by noon on January 3 that Rosecrans was being reinforced, 78
Van Horne said that Bragg's information was incorrect or else
the Confederate leader had interpreted the arrival of General
James G, Spears! brigade as giving a great preponderance to

79

to the Union army. A study of the official reports disclosed

 

 
JA;
that Spears arrived at 5 P. M. on January 2 while Wheeler and
his men were operating in the rebel lines at Stone's River. 80
Thus Spears! unit did not prompt the retreat. It appears from
this evidence that Parkhurst'!s assumption was correct and that
it was the approach of his colum that was reported to Bragg.
This is further borne out by Wheeler's report which teidls
of being unable to attack a wagon train about noon on Jan-
vary 3 because it was heavily guarded by infantry and cavalry. 81
In short, the evidence in the official records reveals that
the Ninth had, quite by accident, caused the rebels to leave
the battlefield at Stone's Hiver thus bringing a great victory
to the Army of the Cumberland.

The actions of the Michigan volunteers become even more
significant when the results of the battle are viewed, The
Federals had finally forced Bragg to make a stand. In the
battle the Union troops suffered a near-disaster on the first
day, but recovered from the shock, regained the ofrensive on
January 2 and forced the rebels to abandon their strategic
position at Murfreesboro on the Nashville-Chattanooga railroad,
Of great importance, too, was the psychological impact of the
victory upon the men-in-arms and the people of the North, for
this was the first major success for the Federals in several
months, Conversely Bragg's retreat caused considerable con-
sternation in the South, It may very well be true that the
Ninth Michigan has never received proper credit for their part
in securing Murfreesboro for the Union,

The Army of the Gumberland spent almost six months at Mur-

freesboro without engaging in any important action against

the rebel army, which established itself behind the Duck River
 

 

32

The Ninth, during the six month occupation of Murfreesboro,
performed routine duties as Provost Guard for the headquarters
of Thomas, while Parkhurst discharged his responsibilities as
Provost Marshal for the Fourteenth Corps. The Michigan vol-
unteers sometimes escorted foraging parties into the surround-
ing countryside, but beyond this their activities were very
limited. 82

During February, 1863, Lt. Colonel Parkhurst corresponded
with the military authorities in Michigan concerning his pend-
ing promotion to the rank of colonel. He requested that the
commission be dated January 17, 1862, the day on which he
assumed command of the regiment, 83 In support of his request
the other officers of the Ninth wrote: "We believe that he
has earned this by a faithful and satisfactory performance of
his duties while in command of the Regiment. ..." The
officers went on to say that Parkhurst's commission should be
antedated so that he would no be out-ranked by some other
colonel with less time in the service. On February 27 Park-
hurst received confirmation of his promotion, which bore the
date March 25, 1862, oh,

Throughout this eventful period Parkhurst carried on a
regular correspondence with his sisters in New York. His
letters contain several interesting mmments and observations
about the prosecution of the war, Parkhurst believed that
the activities of certain elements in the North made the pro-
secution of the war an unnecessarily difficult task. 85 On
one occasion he declared that if "the whole North would turn

out and give these rebels what they deserve and then go home

 

 
 

33

and pitch into the abolitionists [,] we could soon put our

country into its old position];] but it is impossible to carry

Tt 86

on both wars at the same time and succeed in either. . .
The Colonel was disturbed that the Northern populace was
not giving total support to the war and found it difficult to
understand. "I don't know," he wrote, "why people suppose
the rebellion is going to be put down when they don't furnish
the Means to do it. It is My opinion that We Shall have a
war on our hands for years to Come and that these rebels will
resist the Government so long as there are any of them left
to fight. They will never come into the Union willingly. .
o «" ali In short, by the spring of 1863 Parkhurst realized
that the South must be conquered; he suggested that the only
way to do it was for, "the North to turn outEmMasse and give
the South a Whipping." 88
Early in June some forty members of the Ninth Michigan be-
came a mounted guard as a result of the efforts of Parkhurst.
The Colonel felt that the presence of this group would add to
the efficiency of the regiment in discharging its duties for
General Thomas. 89
In late June Rosecrans finally decided to advance, It
appeated that Vicksburg was so close to surrender tnat is was
too late for Bragg to offer any effective aid to that army.
The Union offensive was directed against Shelbyville and Tulla-
homa, where Parkhurst was sure the enemy would form for "a big
pattle." 7° Ordens to move were issued on the twenty-third,
and the advance began the next day. In a last-minute letter

Parkhurst saidg "We move foreward today--the whole army--

We go in the direction of Chahtanooga," 91

 

 
34,
1 august 7, 1861, Diary, MSU.

e Ibid., August & and 12, 1861; Parkhurst to sister, Helen
Starr, August 9, 1861, Papers, MHC.

3 Sister to Parkhurst, August 19, 1861, Papers, MHC.
4 Parkhurst to Sister, September 2, 1861, Papers, MHC.

5 Governor Blair to Parkhurst, September 1, 1461, Papers,
MHC.

© John Robertson, combiler, Michigan in the War, revised
edition (Lansing, Michigan, 1882), pe 293.

? Crisfield Johnson, History of Branch County, Michigan
(Philadelphia, 1879), p. 63.

8
September 23-27 and October 11-1, 1661, Diary, MSU.

9 Tbid., October 15, 1861.
10 parkhurst to Sister, October 15, 1861, Papers, MHC.
11 Parkhurst to Sister, October 22, 1861, Parkhurst Papers,

Museum of Michigan State University, Hereafter cited as
Papers, MSU.

12 October 25-27, 1861, Diary, MSU.

13 The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I (Wash-
ington D. C., 1880), Vil, 66. Hereafter cited as OR. and from
series I unless otherwise indicated,

 

Ly Accounts of Kentucky's early position with regard to
the war can be found in William H. Townsend, Lincoln and the
Bluegrass; Slavery and Civil War in Kentucky (Lexington,
Kentucky, 1955), pp. o70-255; Thomas D, Clark, A History of
Kentucky (New York, 1937), pp. 46-50.

15 Pankhurst to Sister, October 28, 1861, Papers, MIC,
16 thia,, October 28 and 30, 1861.

17 "inth Michigan Infantry," Records of the Michigan
Military Establishment, record group 59-1], Michigan Historical
Commission Archives, Lansing, Duffield to Robertson, Novem-
ber 7, 1861, Hereafter cited as RG 59-1), MICA.

18

 

 

Ibid., December h, 1861.
19 og., VII, 62.

20 Parkhurst to Sister, December 5, 1461, Papers, MHC.;
November 13, 1061, Diary, MSU.

 
35

el Parkhurst to Sister, January 11, 1862, Papers, MHC.3
January 3-7, 1862, Diary, MSU.

22 February, 1862, passim, Diary, MSU.

3 Ibid., January 17 and 23, 1862,

2) Parkhurst to Sister, January 2), 1662, Papers, MHC.

25 parktitirst,to Robertson, January 27, 1862, RG. 59-1), MHCA.
26 January, 1862, passim, Diary, MSU.

2? february 13, 1862, Papers, MSU.

28 warch 19-April 1, 1862, Diary, MSU.

2? Prederick H. Byer, A Compendium of the War of the Re-
bellion, 3 vols. (New York, 1956), Ill, 1205,

39 april 11, 1862, Diary, MSU.
31 thid., April 3-30, 1862, passim.

3¢ Parkhurst to Sister, April 12, 1862, Papers, MICs;
April 11, 1862, Diary, MSU.

33 parknurst to Sister, April 1, 1862, Pepers, MHC.
34, Parkhurst to Sister, April 20, 1862, Papers, MHC.
3$ april 23-2, 1862, Diary, MSU.

3° Parkhurst to Sister, April 26, 1862, Papers, NEC.
37 toid., May 11, 1862.

38 tpid.; May 3-h, 1862, Diary, MSU.

39 May L-7, 1862, Diary, MSU.3 OR., X, part I, 885-886;
Parkhurst to Robertson, May 10, 1862, RG. 59-1, MHCA.

1.0 Charles W. Bennett, Historical Sketches of the Ninth
Michigan Infantry (Coldwater, Michigan, L913), pp. 9-10;
May 10-13, 1662, Diary, MSU.

 

 

41 Parkhurst to Sister, June 1, 1862, Papers, MHC.

42 tune 2-7, 1862, Diary, MSU.

43 Ibid., June 9-13, 1862,

uh Parkhurst to Sister, July 9, 1662, Papers, MHC.

45 Parkhurst to Robertson, May 10, 1862, RG. 59-1), MHCA,
 

 

36
46 Sune 20-21, 1862, Diary, NSU.
Me Ibid., June 26, 1862,
48 tpia., June 29, 1862.
49 tphid., July 11-12, 1662.
50 thid., July 13, 1862; OR., XVI, part I, 801-802,

51 on., XVI, part I, 603-807; John A. Wyeth, That Devil
Forrest (New York, 1959), pp. 73-The

 

52 thid.

 

53 on., XVI, part I, 803-807,

5 : = ; . : 13 . + .
Dl C.C. Andrews, editor, Minnesota in the Civil and Indian
Wars, 1861-1865 vols, (St. Paul, 1890), I, 153.
3 23 ’

55 op., XVI, part I, 803-807; July 13, 1862, Diary, MSU.;
Wyeth, That Devil Forrest, p. 75; Ralph S. Henry, Forrest
(New York, 190L), p. 87.

56 Parkhurst to Sister, July 15, 1862, Papers, MHC.

57 Hanry M. Cist, The Army of the Cumberland (New York,
1852), pp. 43-5.

7 OR., part I, 796-798..

 

29 thid., pe 795.

60 Parkhurst to Robertson, December 29, 1866, RG 59-1, MHCA,
61 Suly ljy22, 1862, Diary, MSU.

62
63

Ibid., July 23-October 3, 1862, passim.
Ibid., October 7-16, 1862,

t Tbids,r0atobén: 2, 18625, 5,

65 Ibid,, October 16-November 1, 1862,

66 OR., Series II, V, 46; November 13, 1862, Diary, MSU.
©7 December 19-23, 1862, Diary, MSU.

68 Ibid., December 2):-25, 1862,

©9 Dyer, Compendieum, III, 1285.

70 Parkhurst to Sister, December 26, 1862, Papers, MHC.

71 Recollections of Stone's River," Papers, MSU. This is

a report of the battle written by Parkhurst for his comrades
of EBe Ninth after the war, . -

 

 
 

 

37
72 gsanuary 1, 1863, Diary, MSU.; OR., XX, part I,

652-65),

03 OR., XX, part I, 652-654; January 3, 1863, Diary, MSU.
7h January 5, 1863. Diary, MSU.; Bennett, Historical

Sketches of the Ninth, p. 30.

berland (Cincinnati, 1885), 3 vols., I, 251.

75 Papkhurst to Sister, January 2, 1863, Papers, MHC.
76 on., XX, part I, 37k

7? "Recollections of Stone's River," Papers, MSU.

76 OR.» JX, part I, 653.

1? Thomas B. Van Horne, History of the Army of the Cum-

eee es

80 on., XXÂ¥ part I, 16, 959.
81

82
83

Ibid. ; 959,
January 3-June 23, 1863, passim, Diary, MSU.
Parkhurst to Robertson, “ebruary 9, 1863, RG 59-1, MHCA,

Bh Ibid., Officers of Ninth to Robertson, February, 1863;

February 2/7, 1863, Diary, MSU.

June

85 Parkhurst to Sister, February 15, 1863, Papers, MHC.

86 Ibid., February 25, 1863.
87 Parkhurst to Sister, May 20, 1863, Papers, MHC.
88 inia., March 23, 1863; May 29, 1863.

69 June 9-11, 1863, Diary, MSU.; Parkhurst to Sister,
14, 1863, Papers, MSU.

99 Parkhurst to Sister, June 1, 1863, Papers, MSU.
91 thid., June 2h, 1863.

 

 
 

 

Chapter III
CHICKAMAUGA = ATLANTA - NASHVILLE

At this point the nature of Parkhurst's Civil War ex-
periences changed, After the Battle of Stone's River he was
less directly engaged in the military events, primarily be-
cause his duties as Provost Marshal for General Thomas were
taking up more and more time. As a result the military as-
pects of the war from mid-January, 1863 to the close of the
conflict will be discussed as briefly as possible while con-
tinuing’to describe Parkhurst's reactions and comments.

The movement toward Chattanooga was designed to flank
the forces of Bragg which were located at Manchester, Tennessee.
The goal of the Army of the Cumberland was to position ibself

between the Rebels and Chattanooga. However heavy rains pre-
vented this movement and the Colonel of the Ninth Michigan
viewed the failure with disgust. 1

The Confederates now fell back slowly toward Chattanooga
while Rosecrans continued his attempt to trap them. Unfortu-
nately the heavy rains had caused rivers to flood making any
rapid advance impossible. Ib even became necessary for the
men to live on one-half rations for several days. 2

The duties of the Provost Marshal of the Fourteenth Corps
were constantly increasing. In addition to processing pris-
oners and returning stragglers, Parkhurst became responsible
for all Negroes who were picked up along the way. Most of
these refuggees were sent north to keep them from hampering
the activities of the army. His regiment was also ordered

to make reports upon the condition of citizens in the Decherd

38

 

 
 

 

39
area who had been stripped of supplies by the retreating rebels. 3
John C. Love of the Ninth said, in commenting about his com-
mander, ". . « our Colonel is Provost martial General for the
lth Army Corps, it is a good position, but he has a good deal
of business to doe. But he is a verry business man and it
does not trouble him to doe what there is to be done." 4

Early in August Colonel Parkhurst was granted a leave of
absence from the army. After putting his affairs in order he
proceeded to Murfreesboro to attend to a pleasurable personal
matter. 5 In April, 1862, Colonel Parkhurst had made the ac-
quaintance of Miss Josephine Reeves and throughout thefollowing
months he called upon her whenever an opportunity presented
itself. 2 Their friendship grew into love and the couple
became engaged in July, 1862. Now nelne momentarily free
from military affairs, the Colonel married Josephine on
August 10, 1663, 7 * §

The newlyweds travelled to Coldwater, Michigan, where
Parkhurst presented his bride to friends and showed herhis
home. The couple then went to New York to join Parkhurst's
children at Oneida Castle. 7 Here they reaffirmed their vows
in a church in accordance with the wishes of Mrs. Parkhurst
since the marriage ceremony in Tennessee had been performed

LO

by an army chaplin,. On August 26 Parkhurst bade farewell

to his wife and children and two days laterreturned to the
Ninth, then encamped at Bolivar, 1

Upon his return to the front, Parkhurst found that the
military situation had not changed significantly during his

absence, After several months of preparation Rosecrans felt

that he had enough men and supplies to renew the advance

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

LO

toward Chattanooga. Thomas notified his men to be ready to
move on the first day of September, while the Ninth was ordered
to collect and send all tents, excess supplies and baggage
back to Nashville. 12 The men then moved forward to seek out
General Bragg and his army.

General Thomas encountered Bragg's entire army at Stevens
Gap on September 12 and was forced to hold off the rebels
until the rest of the Union troops arrived, This encounter
set the stage for the Battle of Chitkamauga during which the
Ninth Michigan again stopped a stampede of dispirited soldiers
away from the battlefield,

While the battle raged Parkhurst and his men performed
the unglamorous task of escorting a hospital train to Chatta-
nooga. They had just returned to the front, arriving at
about noon, when Crittenden's and MceCook's corps gave way
and rushed to the rear, The Michigan men fixed bayonets, as
at Stonds River, and taking position across the road they
halted the mad rush to the rear, 13 Parkhurst's men served
as a rallying point for the rapidly retreating soldiers,
who were reorganized into a semblance of fighting order.
General Crittenden passed by but refused to take command of
the men gathered by the Ninth. Ewidently he believed the
entire army was lost. 1 Presently General John 8S. Negley
seappeared and took command of the force collected by Park-
hurst. 15 The timely actions of the Ninth were commended by
both Generals Rosecrans and Thomas in their official reports
of the battle. Thomas said, "Col. J. G. Parkhurst, ...
at the head of his regiment did most valuable service on the

20th, in arresting stragglers and reorganizing the troops which
had been driven from the field,

 

 
Wa

The Union forces retreated to Chattanooga with Bragg in
close pursuit. The Confederate commander then attempted to
starve out the Federals by cutting their supply lines. During
the seige Rosecrans was removed and General Thomas was placed
in charge of the Army of the Cumberland. On the day that this
change took place Parkhurst dropped in at the headquarters of
Thomas. Thomas called Parkhurst into his room and told him
of the change in command. The General regretted the change
as he felt it was wrong to remove Rosecrans simply because he
had lost a battle. Parkhurst and his regiment were requested
to continue as the provost guard for Thomas' headquarters.
The Colonel noted that Thomas felt the weight of his new duties
but was sure that the "Rock of Chickamauga" was equal to the
task. +7 “

Parkhurst was very busy during the month that followed

the Battle of Chickamauga. He spent many days processing

prisoners and, on Novemberg6, Thomas gave him the additional

18

duty of commanding the Post of Chattanooga. In this capac-
ity the Colonel was responsible for governing the city and
for directing police activities. Within a few days the
Fifteenth Kentucky was placed under Parkhurst's command to
aid in fulfilling these duties. 19

Thomas! first objective was to break Bragg's seige of
Chattanooga. This was done late in November with the aid of
reinforcements from Grant's army. The Confederates were
driven from Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, forcing

them to retreat southward, The extent of the Union victory

was revealed in the fact that after the battle Parkhurst

 

 

 
2
sent over ||,000 prisoners north in one day. 20 Since winter
was setting in the Colonel of the Ninth did not expect much
action until the following spring, but then he anticipated a
strong offensive would be mounted against the enemy to "get
him confined to so narrow a limit he will be Compelled to Sub-
mit." 22

During most of December Parkhurst was busy preparing his
regiment for leave and re-enlisting 27, of his men who decided
to return as veterans. The other men were released as they
had served their two year enlistment. Thomas informed Park-
hurst, on December 2, that he would be promoted to Provost
Marshal General of the entire Army of the Cumberland upon his
return. Four days later the Michigan volunteers boarded a
train and headed for Michigan and a much needed rest, ae

During January, 186), Parkhurst and his wife visited in
Coldwater and travelled to see his family in New York. In
February the couple journeyed south to Murfreesboro, where
the Colonel left his wife and reported for duty in Chattanooga.
As expected Thomas ordered Parkhurst to assume the post of
Provost Marsnal General of the Army of the Cumberland, 3 The
responsibilities of the new office included processing all
prisoners captured by Thomas! troops, commanding the military
railroad police and granting passes to military personnel

for travel on the railroads, 2h

Parkhurst began his new duties
on February 11, fully aware that he now had "a very important
position" which would require "a vast amount of hard labor and
constant attention." 2

In March, 18611, the events of the war took a momentous

turn and General Grant was called east to become the general-

 
 

 

13
in-chief of all tre Union armies. In the west Sherman was
promoted to the position vacated by Grant. The North then
revised its strategy. Grant was to engage General Lee and
Sherman was to pursue General Bragg until the Confederates
either surrendered or were destroyed. Sherman's tactics dur-
ing the Atlanta Campaign were to trap the Confederates ina
position where his superior numbers could be used with de-
cisive effect,

During the first days of the campaign Parkhurst remained
in Chattanooga as the commander of tne post while the Ninth
Michigan moved forward as Provost Guard of Thomas! headquarters.
On May 16 Parkhurst received orders to join his men. Thomas
was glad to see him and requested that he remain at the front
where he was needed, 26 Thomas a sees were evidently
quite friendly with one another as the General often revealed
his thoughts to the Colonel. In one of tnese conversations

Thomas said that he felt Sherman was not "operating as well

as he might." ev

Unfortunately Parkhurst did not say, if he
knew, on what grounds Thomas criticized his commander,

During the month of June, as Sherman's army was attempt-
ing to dislodge the rebels from their lines around Marietta,
Colonel Parkhurst and his regiment were executing their duties
for Thomas, A steady stream of prisoners kept the Provost
Marshal General very busy. However these forts were not
without reward for on June 25 Parkhurst was brevetted a
Brigadier General, an honorary appointment which carried

neither an increase in pay nor the authority accorded to a

brigadier-general, 2b Nevertheless, Parkhurst could be justly

 

 

 
 

 

by

proud of this recognition. Late in June the Colonel, whose
duties as Provost Marshal General were extremely demanding,
was relieved of direct command of the Ninth Michigan. eg

In viewing the progress of the Union armies in the West,
Colonel Parkhurst observed that their goal had not been ob-
tained, It appears that Parkhurst misunderstood Sherman's
true objective because he emphasized the fact that the enemy
would make great efforts to keep the city of Atlanta, 30
The fact is that Sherman's primary goal was not Atlanta but
the destruction or severe crippling of Johnston's army. The
Colonel realized that they still faced the hardest fighting
of the campaign but he believed "that a Divine Providence
will give us the victory and sooner terminate this unhappy
war," 31 “

Atlanta finally fell to Sherman's army on September 2,
1861, Shortly thereafter General John B. Hood, who had re-
placed Bragg, was forced to retreat into Alabama, The Union
troops could now rest and review the events of the campaign,

As Parkhurst reflected upon the campaign to Atlanta
he noted that their efforts had been crowned with success,
but at the cost of thousands of lives on both sides. Here
Parkhurst corrected his earlier error concerning the goal
of Sherman's army as he pointed out that "the rebel army is

still Strong and the war is yet to continue and possibly

the same ground over which we have fought for four months
may again be a theater of contest. An army of 50,000 men is
a great machine, a Monster that cannot be destroyed in a day,

a month nor in years and never will it be destroyed nor the

 

 

 

 
 

 

4S

rebellion crushed till the people of the North unite as one
man and push with their whole Strength upon the Enemy." 32

In answer to the requests of his sisters that he resign
the service Parkhurst said, "I feel that My Service is of
value to the Government now that I am familiar with My duties
and I cannot make up my mind to withdraw from a field of duty
so important and so necessary." 33 Parkhurst continued saying
that he would never quit until the end of the rebellion was
in sight and until he had done everything within his power to
insure the honor and stability of the nation, 3h

On the last day of October Parkhurst moved from Atlanta
to Chattanooga in accordance with orders from Thomas, who had
gone to Nashville several weeks wrlier, 25 The war was now
in its last phase and the Army of the Cumberland was destined
to fight the great Battle of Nashville as Hood's army made
its last great effort to save the rebellion for the Confederacy.

Hood's army could have caused great difficulty for the
Army of the Cumberland if it had acted quickly. General
Thomas was outnumbered by about 10,000 men throughout November,
186), But new recruits and reinforcements poured into Nash-
ville so that when the Confederates struck they were outman-
ned 55,000 to 23,000. On December 15 Thomas initiated his
attack and quickly broke through the rebel lines throwing
them into a wild retreat back into Alabama.

The significance of this battle cannot be overestimated
as it removed any serious rebel threat in the West. RPmikhurst

considered this victory as the most decisive of the war, agree-

ing with the opinions of other: observers. He said the rebels

 

 

 
 

 

6

were "Whipt badly." 36 The Colonel had nothing but praise
for General Thomas, whom he described as, ". . » our beloved
Hero--the Noble Thomas. No purer--braver--or better Man Ever
drew a Sabre and thank God that on this occasion no one can
take from him his laurels so proudly won," 37

During the Battle of Nashville Parkhurst's command was
small. Most of the Ninth Michigan was on duty in Chattanooga. 38
The Colonel's official report showed that in December he had
handled 8,30 prisoners, a good indication of the extent of
the Union sucess at Nashville. 3?

With the defeat of Hood's army, fighting in the West
subsided. During January, 1865, Parkhurst completed the pro-
cessing of Confederate prisoners taken in Tennessee before
he returned to his command at Chattanooga, 0 Karly in Feb-
ruary he was ordered to contact all "prominent and influential"
citizens in the area under his control, Suspected rebel
sympathizers were requested to show reason woy they should not
be sent through the Union lines and into Confederate territory..
Parkhurst was directed to discover "where their sympathies
are fixed and where their friends are to be found." 41 this
step was taken to remove those people who might stir up trouble
for the Federals.

On February 17, Parkhurst received orders from Thomas to
meet General Forrest in Mississippi to arrange an exchange

of prisoners. le

He proceeded under a flag of truce to
Rienzi, wiere rebel pickets telegraphed forrest that Parkhurst
had arrived, The conferees met and Forrest accepted the Union

proposals for the exchange, but final approval of the plan

 

 

 
47

had to be given by General Kichard Taylor. The Confederate's
decision, delayed several days because a storm damaged the
telegraph wire, was to execute the exchange at Iuka, Mississippi,
in early March. 43

Parkhurst returned at once to East Port, reported to
Thomas, and recommended that a guard accompany the rebels to
Iuka and then proceed to St. Louis with the exchanged Federals

yh

to prevent them from deserting. In accordance with Park-
hurst!s request, the Forty-Fourth Wisconsin was assigned to
carry out this duty. Kb The Colonel spent the first half of
March travelling between Nashville and Fast Port trying to
make final arrangements for the exchange, On March 15, Forrest
informed Parkhurst that the exchange would have to take place
at Nashville since floods prevented the rebels from reaching
Tuka.. ho

The Provost Marshal General reported this development
to Thomas, who approved the plan and released the Colonel
from this assignment, ordering him to bring the Ninth from
Chattanooga to Nashville. 47

Parkhurst's sisters had been concerned about his safety
aGuring the negotiation. He dispelled their concern by say-
ing, "I came out with dispatches from Genl Thomas to Genl
Forrest and came under a Flag of Truce so you need not appre-
hend any danger as I have a Sufficient Escort to defend My-
self against Guerillas and the Enemy are to (sic) high toned
to fire on a flag of truce," AS The Colonel described the
many flooded areas which he passed through, saying that the

Tennessee River had never reached a higher level, The floods

 
48
destroyed much property in northern Mississippi woich increased
the hardships created when Hood's retreating army stripped
the countryside of all supplies. 49 To alleviate the svuffer-
ing of the citizens, Parkhurst arranged for Forrest to trans-
port supplies from southern Mississippi.. 50

Momentous events occurred during the month of April, 1865.
Richmond fell into Union hands on the 3rd after Grant cracked
the rebel lines at Petersburg. Lee attempted to escape the
pursuing Federals but was forced surrender at Appomattox Court
House on the 9th. General Johnston turned his forces over
to Sherman Late that month. and the Western Departments of the
Confederacy formally surrendered: during May..

The news of the great victory in Virginia caused spontan-
eous celebrations in Nashville. seat Parkhurst sent Thomas
a bottle of "good whiskey" after learning of the fall of
Richmond. a1 Lee's surrender brought another jubilee to the
happy troops and a formal celebration wags planned for April 15.
But the news of Lincoln's assassination turned Nashville from
a happy city into one which was draped with black, pe On the
19th Parkhurst "attended the funeral obsequies of President
Abraham Lincoln, as true a man as the Gountry had in its
history." 23 In summing up Parkhurst said, "this Month has
been frequented with the Most important Events of the Whole
War and under ordinary times the occasions of this month would
have turned the nation crazy but we have become accustomed
to all sorts of life and familiar with death so that we be-
come Shocked at nothing," Ph

The closing of the war caused Parkhurst to begin think-

ing about the future, Since Parkhurst expected that his duties

 
as Provost Marshal General would hold him in Nashville until
winter, he decided to send for his wife and children, 55 De-
spite the cessation of hostilities, the Colonel was still oc-
cupied with preparing the rebel prisoners for parole. The
entries in his Diary for several months merely show the nota-
tion "very busy in office all day." 56

In May Colonel Parkhurst's earlier promotion to Brevet
Brigadier-General by Thomas was made official. The commission
stated that the promotion was granted for "gallant and meritor-
fous service." 27

In mid-September the Ninth Michigm Infantry was mustered
out of the service, but Parkhurst remained in Nashville as
Provost Marshal Génerals Thomas requested President Andrew
Johnson for permission to retain the Colonel on his staff
hroughout the winter, Parkhurst believed that ", . . as the
policy now is to Muster out of Service all officers and all

white troops Except the regulars I think it is very doubtful

whether they will allow him to keep me." 58 On October hl he

received orders relieving him of his duties and his official

release came on October 10, 1865, 59

 

 
50
1 sune 28-30, 1863, Diary, MSU.
2 Parkhurst to Sister, July 12, 1863, Papers, MIC.
3 July 16-30, 1863, Diary, MSU.

4 Love to Parents, July 13, 1863, John C. Love Papers,
Michigan Historical Collections of the University of Michigan,

5 August 6, 1863, Diary, MSU.
6 Ibid., April 13, 1862-August 10, 1863, passim.
7 Ibid., August 10, 1863.

8 marital difficulties soon arose for the Parkhursts.
Mrs, Parkhurst's impulsive and indiscreet xtions caused her
husband much worry. Josephine visited a male acquaintance
in Buffalo, New York, while Parkhurst was on duty in Tennesseee
She constantly requested sums of money from her husband,
and when it did not arrive, tried to obtain the money from
Parkhurst!s business manager in Coldwater. In November, 186l,,
Josephine lost a baby through miscarriage. John attributed
the tragedy to imprudence on the part of his wife because she
had travelled from Murfreesboro to Louisville, Kentucky, with-
out his consent or knowledge. These personal problems diverted
the Colonel's attention from his military concerns and pre-
vented him from giving full attention to his duties.

J August 11-25, 1863, Diary, MSU.

LO 4 Newspaper Clipping without hame or date, Papers, MSU.
il August 26-28, 1863, Diary, MSU.

12 thid., September 1, 1863.

13 parkhurat to Sister, September 29, 1863, Papers MHC.

1h on., XXX, part I, 263-265, 612.

15 tpid., 331.

16 thid., 85, 256.

17 october 19, 1863, Diary, MSU.

16 OR., XXXI, part III, 66.

19 November 7-9, 1863, Diary, MSU.

20 Parkhurst to Sister, November 28, 1863, Papers, MHC.

et Ibid., December 6, 1863.
22

23

December 24-28, 1863, Diary, MSU.

February 9, 186, Diary, MSU.; OR., XXXII, part II, 370.

 
51
au “Hi Stery,of O£fjcers--Ninth Michigan Infantry,"

statement by Parkhurst, February 23, 187, RG 59-1), MHCA.

25 Parkhurst to Sister, February 11, 166), Papers, MHC.
26 May 18, 186), Wiary, MSU.

27 Ibid., May 30, 186).

28 on., XLIX, part II, 103k.

29 parkhurst to Sister, June 28, 186, Papers, MHC.

20 Ibid., June 16, 186),

aa Ibid., June 28, 186).

32 Ibid., October 2, 186).

33 Ibid.

3h Ibid.

35 october 31, 1864, Diary, MSU.

36 Parkhurst to Sister, December 18 and 21, 186),

Papers, MHC.

251-252,

354.

37 Ibid., December 21, 186h.
38 December 18, 186), Diary, MSU.; OR., XLV, part II,

39 on., XLV, part II, 05.

4.0 January 1-31, 1865, passim, Diary, MSU.

41 on., XLIX, part I, 628-629.

h2 toid., 735-736; Bebruary 17, 1665, Diary, MSU.
HF on, , sertel-ti, VEEE, 3260327

43 Bebruary 19-27, 1865, Diary, MSU.

Wh on., Serial II, VIII, 326-327.

45 Toid., 367.

osiiaren 1-9, 1865, Diary, MSU.; OR., Serial II, VIII,
05.

47 thid., March 22, 1665.

48 parkhurst to Sister, February 26, 1865, Papers, MHC,

 
52
49 Ibid., March 7 and 18, 1865.
20 Ipid., March 2, 1865.
OL Sree, es., April 3, 1865, Diary, MSU.
52 thid., April 15, 1865.
53 tpid., April 19, 1865.

54 Parkhurst to Sister, April 28, 1865, Papers, MHG..

55 tpia., May 8 and June 18, 1865,

36 June-August, 1865, passim, Diary, MSU.

at General George H. Brown, Record of Service of Michigan
Volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-65, 6 vols. (Kalamazoo,

Michigan, n. d.), IX, 1103; "Military Record of Hohn G,
Parkhurst," Papers, MSU.

 

 

28 Parkhurst to Sister, September 19, 1865, Papers, MHC.

59 october 4, 1865, Diary, MSU.; "Military Record of
John G. Parkhurst," Papers, MSU.

tO

 

 
Chapter IV
CONCLUSION

After his release from the army, Parkhurst returned to
civilian life. in November, 1865, he opened a law office in
Nashville; however he soon found that the pressures upon a
Northerner attempting to live in the South were more than
he could bear, He returned to Coldwater in July, 1666, and
resumed his law practice in that community. .

Parkhurst also reactivated his activities in the Demo-
cratic Party in Michigan. He ran unsucessfully for several
state offices on the Democratic ticket in the ten years im-
mediately following the Civil War, iit 1872, when his party
backed a Liberal ticket, Parkhurst accepted the nomination

as a candidate for representative from the Third Congressional

District. Again the voters rejected him, but he was not very

disappointed as he had not expected to win. 2 Commenting on

Parkhurst's political activities, the Reverend Henry P. Cohlin

said: "In politics General Parkhurst was an uncompromising

Democrat, and were it not for the fact that his party [was]

in the minority in Michigan he would have at various times

been honored by election in high political station," 3
Parkhurst was called to an interview in New York City in

September, 1888, by John Dickenson, President Cleveland's

Postmaster General. Dickinson offered him the embassy at

St. Petersburg, Russia, but he was obliged to decline because

the salary would have provided only one-half the anount needed

53

 

 
 

 

54
to operate the embassy. Subsequently he was tendered an ap-
pointment as minister to Belgium wich was accepted after
consultation with friends in Coldwater. Parkhurst served in
Belgiwm until May 31, 1889, when he was recalled by President
Benjamin Harrison. - The last public office ned Mrarkhurst
was Postmaster of Coldwater. He was appointed in 1893, during
President Cleveland's second term. His resignation in 1897
marked his retirement from active participation in politics. >
On April 17, 1906, John Parkhurst happily celebrated his

eighty-second birthday with his daughter, Kittie, his brother,
William, and several friends, While Parkhurst described the
festivities in his diary, he struck an ominous note by writing
that he was weaker on tnat day then.at any of his past birth-
days. 6 Almost every entry thereafter contained some comment
upon his health and it appears that Parkhurst was aware that
his life was drawing to a close; he wrote, "If I keep getting
weak I will soon nave to travel on the Hiver and leave this
beautiful world." ! Six days later, he wrote "I think I grow
weaker Every day and get short of breath." Here the writing
stops for the life of John Gibson Parkhurst came to an end

8

as he sat at his desk, peneil in hand, writing in his diary..

‘
v
ale
¢
ale
“s

It is now appropriate to attempt to evaluate the career
of John Gibson Parkhurst. The amount of material that has
already been written about the American Civil War is almost

beyond imagination. However as the viewpoint of the historian

 

 

 

 

 
55
is molded by an ever-changing society, the study of the Civil
War goes through a constant re-evaluation. It was with this
realization in mind that the study of Parkhurst'!s war exper-
ilences was undertaken.

The greatest reward that one receives from the study of
aman's diary and letters is insight into his ideas and beliefs.
Parkhurst's letters were particularly valuable in disclosing
his political beliefs, his reasons for fighting in the war,
his observations on the prosecution of the war, and his opin-
lions of the generals whom he served. On the other hand, Park-
hurst's diary was somewhat disappointing as he seldom recorded
his inner thoughts about the events he witnessed. As a result
the diary served mainly to trace Parkhurst's movements through-
out the various campaigns that qen8 © part of his Civil War
career,

Parkhurst's account of the Battle of Stone's River re-

vealed new and interesting insights into that great clash be-

tween Northern and Southern armies. In these papers Parkhurst

stated that he felt his regiment had played an important role
in the Union victory--a role which had never been recognized
by the histories of the period, This contention was explored
and it may be concluded that, within limits, Parkhurst's views
were correct. The evidence indicated that the actions of the
Ninth Michigan did help convince General Bragg that the Union
forces were receiving reinforcements which caused him to re-
treat,

Upon Parkhurst's death The Detroit News stated that he

should be recognized as "a soldier, a lawyer, a diplomat, a

 

 
56

politician and always an honored citizen." 9

Parkhurst'!s
career as a soldier was the major concern of this study, al-
though his service in other capacities was recognized. It
cannot be said that he proved to be an outstanding soldier.
But he did serve effectively as Colonel of the Ninth Michigam
Infantry, especially while it acted as Provost Guard for Gen-
eral Thomas. His promotion to Provost Marshal General of the
Army of the Cumberland indicated that he was regarded as an
efficient and trusted administrator. Throughout the war he
showed his concern for a successful prosecution of the war

by the North, for he felt that a Northern victory was essential
to the continuance of the United States as a strong, unified
nation. It must be concluded that Parkhurst executed his

service during the Civil War very well. As the Detroit Free

 

 

Press said, "His death marks also the passing of another of
that group of Michigan men who rose to distinction and high
rank in the Civil War," 10

 
1 Parkhurst to Sister, October 1 and November 1, 1865,
Papers, MHC.; August 1, 1865, Diary, MSU.

@ august 29, September 23-October 30, 1872, passim,
Diary, MSU.

Collin, Biographical Sketches of Branch County, p. 32.

 

Sepbember 10-13, 18868 and May 31, 1889, Diary, MSU.

Collin, Biographical Sketches of Branch County, p. 342.

April,17, 1906, Diary, MSU.

Ibid., April 30, 1906,
Ibid., May 6, 1906; The Detroit News, May 7, 1906, pe 9.
Ihe Detroit News, May 7, 1906, p. 9.

Detroit Free Press, May 8, 1906, p. 11.

 

 
 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Manuscripts

John C. Love Papers. Michigan Historical Collections of
the University of Michigan

"Ninth Michigan Infantry." Records of the Michigan
Military Hstablishment. Record Group 59-1. Michigan Hist-
orical Commission Archives, Lansing, Michigan.

 

John G. Parkhurst Diary. Museum of Michigan State
University.

John G. Parkhurst Papers. Museum of Michigan State
University.

John G. Parkhurst Papers. Michigan Historical Collections
of the University of Michigan.

Printed Public Documents
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official

Records | of the Union and Confererate Armies. Serial I - 53 vols.,
Serial Il - 8 vols., Serial Ill - 5 vols., Washington, 1880-1901.

Newspapers

Detroit Free Press. January-June, 1860; May 8, 1906.

The Detroit News. January-June, 1860; May 7, 1906.
Michigan Studies

Bennett, Charles w. Historical Sketches of the Ninth
Michigan Infantry. Coldwater, Michigan, 1913.

Brown, Brigadier General George H. Record of Service
of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-1865. [6 vols.,
Kelamazoo, Michigan, n. d.

 

Collin, Rev, Henry P. A Twentieth Century History and
Biographical Record of Branch County Michigan. Chicago, 1906.

Johnson, Crisfield. History of Branch County, Michigan,
Philadelphia, 1879.

Robertson, John, Adjutant General, Compiler. Michigan
in the War, rev. ed., Lansing, Michigan, 1882.

58

 

 

 

 

 
59

General. Sources

Andrews, C. C., ed. Minnesota in the Civil and Indian
Wars. 3 vols., St Paul, 1890,

aA Cist, Henry M. The Army of the Cumberland. New York,
1562,

Clark, Thomas D. A History of Kentucky. New York, 1937.

byer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the
Rebellion. 3 vols., New York, 1959.

Henry, Ralph Selph. Forrest. New York, 19.

Townsend, William H. Lincoln and the Bluegrass; Slavery
and Civil War in Kentucky. Lexington, Kentucky, 1955,

Van Horne, Thomas B. History of the Army of the Cumber-
land. 3 vols., Cincinnati, 1885,

Wyeth, John Allan. That Devil Forrest. New York, 1959.