Notes for Jacob A. Jackson:
General Notes:
Jacob Jackson was a Captain in 69th Reg. IN Volunteers in the Civil War. Marta Jackson Vaillancourt has a framed tin-type picture of him in his Civil War uniform. From the arrears of Pension application filed by Jacob's wife, Esther, in 1879, it shows that a physician who attended Jacob at his death, John W. Botkin,MD, testified "Jacob came home from the Army suffering with an injury to his breast and collar bone with said bone being broke. " Jacob said he was injured by being thrown from a horse and the doctor believed such to have been the case. The injury continued to affect him, and inflammation ensued which resulted in his death, on 23 Nov 1865. This was found in Randolph County, Indiana Book # 15, p. 88
Marta Jackson Vaillancourt has in her possession Jacob and Esther's marriage certificate and a certificate of the family bible records in file stating Jacob was born 6 Nov 1835 although Esther states in her widows pension application that she was married to Jacob on 20 Mar 1854. (she was remembering the date incorrectly) She has four different photographs of Jacob in his various regimental Civil War Uniforms. She states that in the year 2002 Jacob will be honored with a photo and biographical exhibit at the Indiana War Memorial to celebrate the memorial's 100th anniversary in Indianapolis, IN
Biography of Capt./1st. Lieut. Jacob A. Jackson
1833-1865
Civil War Soldier Jacob A. Jackson was born November 7, 1833 in West River Township, Randolph Co., Indiana where his parents Samuel Jackson III and Jemima Cox of the Carolinas had settled in 1820 from Ohio. He was the youngest son of his parents eleven children: William, Hannah, Elizabeth "Betsy", Sarah, John, Anna, Rebecca, Jemima, Mary, Jacob A. and Malinda Jackson. Not much is known about his early life, but he resided in Randolph County when he was married at 20 years of age to Esther (sometimes called Hester) Ann Davisson on March 22, 1853 in that county, and they had: John W. (this author's great-grandfather), Jemima E., Sarah E., Samuel Ira, Armilda Catherine, Martha Elizabeth, Jacob Elza, Millicent "Millie", Eliza, and Mattie Jackson.
At the age of 27, at the beginning of the Civil War, Jacob A. Jackson, son of Samuel and Jemima Cox Jackson, was commissioned in the Union Army with Company D - 69th Regiment of the Indiana
Volunteers on August 19, 1862 and initially served as a Private and last promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. On the 20th of August the regiment left for Kentucky, and on reaching Lexington moved in the direction of Richmond, Kentucky. Near Richmond on the 29th and 30th of August, the regiment participated in the battle against Kirby Smith's rebel forces, outnumbered four to one fighting from six o'clock in the morning until seven o'clock in the evening, losing two hundred and eighteen men and officers killed and
wounded. Jacob was wounded in this battle. Jacob A. Jackson's skill as an expert marksman was legend in family history as he could shoot glass bottles that had been lined up on a fence while riding upon a galloping horse, and at least 4 different photos of him in military dress (including two tin-types) have been handed down to his descendants. A photograph of he and his siblings and mother, also exists, taken ca 1852-1861.
From an excerpt from a narrative written and read by Alonzo H. Good of Selma, Indiana on September 14, 1897 at the 13th Reunion of the Sixty-Ninth Indiana Infantry held at New Castle, Indiana, Alonzo Good stated: "At the Battle of Richmond on the 30th of August, an artillery horse that had succeeded in running the gauntlet to the point where Lieutenant Jackson was walking, and in falling, fell on Lieutenant Jackson who was making for the fence, breaking him down and fracturing his collarbone. Although it was now night, a full moon allowed us to see Jackson distinctly. He extricated himself from under the horse and mounted the fence, and while on its top he was shot through the left arm, fell to the ground and made his escape."
The 69th regiment as a whole were captured and the men were paroled and sent to parole camp at Indianapolis and exchanged in a few weeks with Jacob A. Jackson resigning January 14, 1863. The following is also an account of the 69th by Richard Manifee Hunt, a member of that regiment:
"The 69th Regiment was organized at Richmond on the 19 of August, 1862 where they remained in camp a few days before being mustered into service by Gen. Carington, with William A. Bickle as Colonel. The regiment was sent via Louisville to Lexington, Ky some 25 miles further south. Just as they were leaving Lexington a Cincinnati man name Korff, who claimed he was in the service who really had resigned from the 2nd Ohio under pressure, was assigned by Gen. Reynolds to the command of the 69th (Col., Bickel being detained at home to organize the 86th) because of Lieut. Col., Stout then in command. On arriving at Richmond, KY we went into camp and on 28 Aug 1862, the Company D was sent out on picket duty for the first time about 9 o'clock AM relieving another company who was there on picket. About noon Metcalf's cavalry brought in two prisoners and delivered them to Capt. Ross to take care of and reported Kirby Smith advancing in force some miles distant. The prisoners were an old man and his son, a big stout looking fellow. They complained of being very hungry and asked to be sent to a house about 1/2 mile in our rear to rest and get something to eat. Capt. Ross detailed comrade Jerry Bly and myself to take the prisoners to the house and guard them until further orders. When we arrived at the house the old man made his wants known and while the Negroes were getting dinner the man of the house brought from the cellar some Peach Cordial which comrade Bly pronounced the best he had ever tasted. Soon after the prisoners had eaten and we are all resting on the porch in front of the house comrade Bly said if I would guard the prisoners he would go to the orchard and get some peaches. Soon after he had gone the youngest prisoner became very restless saying he was tired of sitting. He got up and began to walk back and forth past me. I noticed he was casting sly glances at my gun as though he could use it if he had it and for fear he would get my gun I invited him to take a seat which he did very reluctantly. About this time comrade Bly came in with a haversack of peaches and a large warm corn pone which he said he had bought of the Negroes, but I always thought Jerry found it. We were soon relieved of our prisoners and returned to our post. During the night Ser. J. N. Cropper came to our post under some excitement and reported Rebel cavalry in our immediate front but upon careful examination they were reported to be a drove of mules in a woodland pasture. Nothing more of interest occurred during the night and
we were relieved about 9 AM and returned to camp. About 2 PM we noticed a carrier ride hurriedly into camp and going directly to our Col.'s headquarters he delivered his orders and disappeared as quickly as he came. All now was excitement, the long roll was beat on the drums, the Regimental Officers were quickly in the saddle, the men were called into line hurriedly and two days rations and 80 rounds of cartridges issued to each man. Gen. Manson now rode along our lines, he told us he had never lost a battle yet and boasted more of his generalship than we did afterward. All now being in
readiness the order was given to march and we passed quickly from our camping ground onto the pike, turned south on the double quick and marched south but a short distance when the booming of cannon in our front made us believe that it was cavalry and not mules comrade Cropper had seen the night before. We pushed rapidly on driving the enemy before us, we passed through a little town called Rogersville about dark and filed off to the left of the pike and lay down on our arms to rest until morning. The next morning we were up before day trying to make coffee for breakfast and after a scanty meal we were called into line again and had hardly reached the pike and the head of the column turned south when the boom of cannon and the bursting of a shell over our heads informed us we had not far to go to find the enemy but we pressed forward when the rebels opened out on us in earnest and we turned to the right and formed in line of battle just south of a little brick church. The firing had become very hot when our brave Col. called our Adjutant (Oren Perry) to him and told Perry that Gen. Manson had sent for him for consultation and he wanted the Adj. to look after the regiment until his return ( I will here say that Perry was the only regimental officer we had that had ever seen any service, he having served about one year in the Army of the Potomac) Korff put spurs to his horse and galloped to the rear, which was the last we saw of him during the fight. Perry immediately informed Lieut. Col. Stout of Korff's action, when Col. Stout and Maj. Walterhouse turned the command over to Perry as neither of them had any experience in military affairs and they cheerfully and loyally received orders from him and tried to make up in splendid courage what they lacked in military tactics.
Both of them were severely wounded in less than half an hour.
The battle was now raging terribly on both sides, the cannon firing from the enemy being particularly severe. I will use Perry's own words for he says, "I had an order to march by the left and take a new position and then began the movement under a terrific fire that made us famous for the time and set the papers to voicing our praise all over the country. It took a splendid exhibition of nerve on the part of raw recruits and I have never ceased to be proud of it". He further says "Only a couple of months ago I picked up a Saturday Evening Post published at Philadelphia and under the head of what raw troops can do was an account of this change of position under fire by the 69th Ind. claiming that it was never excelled by any veteran troops in the world." Perry further says "When we had gained this new position the rebels seemed to come right up out of the earth by thousands. I had orders from Gen. Manson to hold the place at all hazards. We did so for some time when by flank movement of my own accord because we had no support of any kind on our left this change of front and reforming the
lines was something that has always given me special pleasure for I really can't see how the 69th men could have done it better on an open field and nobody shooting at us." During this movement the Adj. was severely wounded and his horse killed. In a short time the promised re-enforcements arrived
of three or four regiments led by Gen. Manson in person. To use Perry's own words, "Manson was drunk as a lord and crazy as a loon." He came charging our rear and Perry ran forward and did all he could to turn him from his course and make him understand the situation. It only resulted in his nearly
riding our Adj. down and breaking up our regiment which had been up to this time under good discipline and ready to obey orders no matter what they were but with a terrible foe in front and misguided frauds led by a howling drunkard with fixed bayonets charging our rear there was nothing left to do
but to break and run and Col. Perry says, "Away we went every one for himself and the devil take the hindmost". Perry being wounded turned and fled to the west being joined by Lieut. Lacey and several others when they ran into the 48th Tennessee Regiment and was captured with about 40 or 50 others who were trying to make their escape in that direction. The other part of the regiment came back
toward Richmond in bad order for about two miles when our officers succeeded in calling us to a halt and reformed us in line of battle again. We now found our loss had been very heavy in those killed and wounded. Maj. Walterhouse was badly wounded in the thigh and was bleeding badly but he took charge of the regiment and stayed with us to the last. The enemy were now seen advancing in double column and a battalion of Metcalf's cavalry was thrown forward as skirmishers but they fired but one volley, wheeled about face and dashed back through our lines throwing us in some disorder but we soon rallied and poured volley after volley into the enemy which had the effect of bringing them a halt and they seemed to advance with more caution but seeing ourselves badly outflanked our Maj. ordered us to retreat which we not did in good order falling back slowly and firing at every step. Gen. Manson now rode up and ordered us to fall in behind the only gun we had left of a Michigan Battery which we did and were retreating in good order and nearing the town of Richmond when we were met by Gen. Nelson and an aide who rode quickly up to Manson and asked what regiment that was (I will here remark that the 69th, was all of the regiment or part of the regiment that was retreating in any kind of order). Manson replied "The 69th Ind." Nelson said, "Bully for the 69th Ind." "Boys, I have twenty thousand men in 15 minutes march if you will hold your ground the day will yet be ours". The boys cheered him and he ordered us to turn to the left and form in the line of battle just south of the cemetery. As he galloped forward to select the ground for us to form on one of the staff officers rode up to Maj. Walterhouse and asked him "Why the hell don't you keep up with the Gen." The Maj. replied, "I am wounded sir". Some of the boys called to him if he did not let the Maj. alone they would shoot the Pumpkin blossoms off his shoulders. We were now formed in line of battle and Co. D was thrown forward as skirmishers to meet the overpowering enemy but we held our ground as long as possible falling back slowly and contesting every inch of ground and fighting only as soldiers can fight who are driven to desperation. We had now been driven back to our regiment and the boys opened on the enemy along the line. Our Michigan gun fired her last shot, was out of ammunition, limbered up and left us to fight it out. I now found I had fired my last cartridge and tried to borrow some of the boys but they told me there was plenty in a wagon just in our rear. I ran back to the opposite side of the
wagon and filled my cartridge box where I found several of the boys doing the same and quickly resumed my place in line, but I thought Nelson's 15 minutes was surely out by this time. The Rebels were now pressing us sorely on every side and the boys were fighting for all that was out but alas we were forced to give way which we did with more speed than grace and we went into the town
of Richmond every fellow for himself and to add to our discomfort the citizens set into firing at us from upper windows and open doors even women throwing iron skillet and stove wood to help us along a little but we continued to retreat for about a mile north of town when we found ourselves directly in front of a battery of 6 mountain howitzers supported by Scott's Rebel cavalry which opened on us in a lively manner. The battery was on a hill on the west side of the pike. On the east was a pond of water, into which Generals Nelson and Manson rode to water their horses when the firing commenced both put spurs to their horses and dashed down the pike toward the enemy. When in about 100 yds of their line they shot Manson's horse from under him, he making a long running fall throwing the Gen. heavily on the ground but Nelson ran straight through their lines where they were four deep across the pike and they made no attempt to hinder him, though they were standing close enough to have cut his head off. The firing now became general on both sides at close range when the boys on our side made a simultaneous rush for the battery and drove the rebels back some distance and capturing the entire battery. This charge was made by all men of the regiment without any attempt at organization and was but the rush of a mob who were in a tight place and wanted out badly. By this time it had begun to get dark and firing had ceased and I thought we had nothing to do but to walk out. I had thrown away my coat and haversack and lost my hat during the fight retaining my gun, cartridge box and canteen and as I pressed forward slowly, being very tired, I saw Jonnies old white hat in the road I picked it up and tried it on but it was too big for me I now picked up a blue cap but discovered it was covered with blood I picked up some weeds and wiped it off but discarded both hat and cap. Just then someone ordered me to halt and surrender. I....(here the narrative stops)
At the age of 30, Jacob A. Jackson re-enlisted on May 16, 1863, and late on the evening of July 8, 1863, word came to Indianapolis that Gen. John H. Morgan had crossed the Ohio near Corydon, Indiana. Gov. Morton issued his call immediately, and in forty-eight hours 65,000 men had answered the call. On July 10, 1863, Jacob was commissioned to oust Morgan's Raiders from southern Indiana, as Captain for the 105th Regiment-Company D (Minutemen)-Indiana Volunteers, commanded by Col. Kline G. Shryock. Thirteen regiments were organized and Capt. Jackson and his regiment of 77 men left instantly for Lawrenceburg and after marching around for several days in pursuit of Morgan, and finding that he had gone eastward through Ohio and beyond their reach, they returned to Indianapolis in just six days after they had finished and were mustered out July 18, 1863.
Later that year, Jacob re re-enlisted in Richmond, Indiana on December 18, 1863 as a Private in Company C, commanded by Capt. Bery F. Brown. Soon after joining the 9th Indiana Cavalry-121st Regiment (which had been organized on March 1, 1864 in Indianapolis by Colonel George W. Jackson and Lt. Col. Eli Lilly), Jacob was named a 1st Sergeant March 1, 1864, promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on July 6, 1864, then 1st Lieutenant on July 1, 1865. There were 48 officers, 1219 men, 67 recruits, 206 died, 126 deserted, and 20 unaccounted for for a total of 1334 men in the company. The regiment left
Indianapolis on May 3, 1864 for Pulaski, Tennessee and was on duty there until November 23, 1864, engaged in the Forrest and Wheeler campaigns of the time. At Sulphur Branch Trestle, Alabama on September 25, 1864, a detachment of the regiment lost, in an engagement with Forest, 120 killed, wounded and missing. On Hood's approach, the regiment fell back to Nashville, and the men were mounted and sent to the front. At Franklin, it suffered a loss of twenty-six officers and men, and after Hood's retreat, they took up winter quarters at Gravelly Springs, Arkansas from January 6 to February 6, 1865. Remaining on duty there to May 5, 1865, they were remounted and employed in garrisoning posts in the interior of Mississippi. On May 22, 1865, the regiment came again to Vicksburg to be mustered out, but the act was not accomplished until August 28, 1865. (On April 26, 1865, fifty-five of the 9th Cavalry, but not in Jacob's Company D, were lost by the explosion of the steamer Sultana on her homeward passage up the Mississippi, they having been paroled from rebel imprisonment. The survivors reached Indianapolis in May, and were mustered out as a paroled prisoners of war. They arrived at Indianapolis on September 5, 1865 and a public reception was held for that and other returned regiments on September 6, 1865. The number of men on the muster-out was 386.)
From the Arrears of Pension application filed by Jacob's wife Esther in 1879, it shows that a physician who attended Jacob at his death, John W. Botkin, MD, testified "that Jacob came home from the Army suffering with an injury to his breast and collar bone with said bone being broken. Affiant was informed that said injury was received by being thrown from his horse, and he (Dr. Botkin) believes such to have been the case. (Actually a stampeding horse had fallen on him during the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky and this may have been an old injury) Said injury continued to affect him, and inflammation ensued which resulted in his death, the same being the sole direct and immediate cause of his death 23 Nov. 1865 at the age of 32 years.
(this was signed by Dr. Botkin on 13 Dec 1869) This was only 3 months after his August 28, 1865 muster-out. He is buried in the Union chapel Cemetery, Union Township, Randolph County, Indiana. He left 10 young children with his widow Esther.
From the actual text of the Declaration for Widows Army Pension:
State of Indiana
County of Randolph
On this 21 day of April, 1869, personally appeared before me James Goodrich (hard to read this signature), Clerk of the Circuit Court, within and for the County and State aforesaid, Esther Ann Jackson, a residence of ___ in the county of Randolph and State of Indiana, aged 33 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, dot, on their oath, make the following the declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress, approved July 14, 1862. That she is the widow of Jacob A. Jackson who enlisted in the service of the United States at Richmond, in the state of Indiana on the 14th day of December 1863, as a Private in Company C, commanded by Capt. Benjamin F. Brown in the 9th Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Cavalry in the war of 1861; promoted to 2nd and 1st Lieutenant who while in the service aforesaid, in the line of his duty, received an injury (from which he died after discharge) at Randolph County in the State of Indiana on the 23rd day of November A.D. 1865. She further declares that she was married to the said Jacob A. Jackson in the County of Randolph and State of Indiana on the 20th day of March, in the year 1854; that her name before her said marriage was Esther Ann Davisson. That her husband, the aforesaid Jacob A. Jackson, died on the day above mentioned, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. An further, the following are the names and dates of births of the minor children of the said Jacob A. Jackson and Esther Ann Jackson now living, who are under sixteen years of age at the time of his decease, viz: John W. Jackson was born on the 27th day of January 1854, Jemima E. Jackson born on the 22nd day of June 1856, Sarah E. Jackson born on the 7th day of February 1858, Samuel J. Jackson born on the 21st day of December 1859, Armilda C. Jackson born on the 12th day of October 1860, Martha E. Jackson born on the 10th day of April 1862, Jacob E. Jackson born on the 28th day of November 1863. She also declares that she has not, in any manner been engaged in, or aided, or abetted the rebellion in the United States. She hereby appointed Jacob T. Wright of Indianapolis, State of Indiana, her true and lawful Attorney will full power of substitution to prosecute this claim for pension, and to receive the certificate which may be issued therefor. She requests that her pension be paid at Indianapolis State of Indiana. Her
post office address is Trenton County of Randolph, State of Indiana.
Signature of Claimant: her mark (X) (Esther Ann Jackson)
Signature of Witnesses: George Stevenson
Jacob Oren
Also, personally appeared George Stevenson and Jacob Oren, residents of County of Randolph State of Indiana whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me first duly sworn, say they were present and saw Esther Ann Jackson sign her name and make mark to the
foregoing declaration and power of attorney; and they further swear that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of the applicant and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; that they have been well acquainted with her and her said
husband Jacob A. Jackson deceased for 1 year, and know they lived together as husband and wife, and were so reputed that the names, ages and residence of his children as represented by her in the foregoing declaration are true as they verily believe; and also, that the only child of said Jacob A. Jackson under sixteen years of age at the time of his decease.
(signed by the two witnesses mentioned above on the 21st day of June, 1869)
Upon his military headstone in the small church graveyard in Randolph Co., Indiana are the crossed flags of the Union Army as a symbol of his allegiance to this great country that he believed in. His dedication to the cause made this patriot answer the call to arms on three different occasions where he fought bravely and died in the end of his wounds.
Excerpts for this biography from various sources, including:
1. HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, IN by Ebenezer Tucker (1882)
2. "First Battle of Richmond, KY during the Civil War" by Richard Manifee
Hunt, with this article located at the Genealogical Collection of Randolph
County, Indiana Historical Society
3. Marta Jackson Vaillancourt, 11827 Eagle Lake Court, Fort Wayne, IN 46814
(260) 672-8859 (VMarta@aol.com)