Gladwin County MI Archives Photo Person.....Justin, Alonzo July 4, 1863 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Don Justin drj1229@yahoo.com January 12, 2009, 1:20 am Source: Family Records Name: Alonzo Justin Date Of Photograph: July 4, 1863 Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/gladwin/photos/justin29893nph.jpg Image file size: 136.1 Kb Alonzo Justin in Civil War Uniform circa 1863 CIVIL WAR SERVICE: a) ENLISTED AGE 15, ST. CLAIR COUNTY MICHIGAN DEC 24, 1861 Served in Battery "H" (DeGoylers Black Horse Battery), also called the 8th Michigan Battery, 1st Michigan Light Artillery. Brothers William, Issac and George, Cousins Amasa Chaffee, Phillip Chaffee & Theron Chaffee, George Bowman, Joseph, and Peter Wolvin in same Unit. SERVICE.--Operations against Island No. 10, Mississippi River, March 15-April 8, 1862. Expedition down the Mississippi River to Fort Pillow, Tenn., May 19-23. Duty in District of Columbus, Ky., Injured and sick he was hospitalized in Columbus, Ky., sent to St. Mary's Hospita, Detriot, Michigan on l June 1862, Discharged 13 July 1863. b.) Enlisted in Company "H", 8th Michigan Calvary in 1863, at age 17, with Cousins John, Robert and Milton Bowman, James and William Wolvin. SERVICE; 8th Regiment Michigan Cavalry 1862-1865. During General Stoneman's Raid on Macon, in July, the Eighth Michigan, engaged the rebels on the Chattahoochie River, then after fighting Anderson's Brigade of cavalry, drove them across the river, receiving the cheers of General Stoneman for their gallantry. On the 29th., a detachment of the Regiment, captured and destroyed, three trains of cars on the Macon and Milledgville Railroad, loaded with supplies. The command, finding themselves outnumbered before Macon, retired. The 8th., having the advance, was almost constantly fighting with confederates, then at Clifton, on the 31st., an engagement took place. The Regiment made several charges, but was finally, by superior numbers, forced to give way. The General in command, finding himself completely surrounded, with further resistance useless, finally surrendered. When Stoneman became entirely surrounded, with surrender evident, the 8th., then under the command of Colonel Mix, unwilling to lay down their arms, bearing in mind the honor of their State, as well as their own, obtained permission from the commanding general to cut their way out, then dashing forward, commenced the desperate undertaking, surrounded entirely, fighting with sabres, hand to hand. Colonel Mix captured, owing to the loss of his horse, Major Buck assumed command, then succeeded, by, stubborn and persistent fighting, in breaking through the encirclement, he tried to reach the Union lines near Atlanta. Private Justin’s horse was shot out from under him during this battle. In the fall, Private Justin’s hip and leg were broken. A splint was improvised using his Sharps Carbine and Private Justin was tied into the saddle of another dead Troopers horse by his Cousins and told to "Ride or Die". Being nearly worn out from fighting, having been in the saddle for seven days and eight nights, pursued and harassed, they were overtaken, then after a large engagement, many were taken prisoner, including Private Justin’s Cousin, Private John Bowman, yet a portion of the Regiment reached the safety of the Union lines, after a loss of 215 officers and men.(Private John Bowman was imprisoned in the infamous Confederate prison at Andersonville Georgia until the end of the war. Private John Bowman was killed in the explosion of the paddle wheel steamer "Sultana" while being transported home at the end of the war.) Wounded when horse was shot from under him and fell on him, Private Alonzo Justin was hopitalized in Marietta Georgia, in late July 1864. Transferred to St. Mary's Hospital in Detriot, Jan 1865. Honorable Disability Discharg 22 Sept 1865. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/gladwin/photos/justin29893nph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb