Category: Mobile Campaign

Following the Journey of the 49th – The Mobile Campaign

In early 1865 the 49th Missouri was gathered together and sent from Missouri to New Orleans to participate in the Mobile Campaign.  They arrived at Camp Chalmette, east of New Orleans on February 21, 1865.  This low, swampy ground was full of mosquitoes and incredibly unhealthy and many soldiers took sick.  This area is now the Chalmette National Cemetery and at least 8 members of the 49th are buried there: Pvt David Berry (Co. F), Pvt. William Carver (Co. D), Pvt. Lewis Collins (Co. G), Pvt. James Graham (Co. D), Pvt. Thomas Hampton (Co. I), Pvt. Charles Harris (Co. I), Pvt. Joseph Harris (Co. I), and Pvt. Charles Stonebarger (Co. A).

After leaving New Orleans on March 10th, the 49th Missouri and other federal forces camped in heavy forest on Dauphin Island at the head of Mobile Bay.  The island is now a popular tourist destination, but of most interest to Civil War buffs is historic Fort Gaines.

Unfortunately, almost the entire battlefield upon which the 49th Missouri fought during the siege of Spanish Fort during the 1865 Mobile campaign has been turned into residential housing.  After federal forces, including the 49th Missouri, captured Spanish Fort on April 9, 1865 they were ordered north to help in the siege of Fort Blakely, however that battle was concluded before they arrived.  The 49th camped 3 miles from Blakely on April 10th and arrived just east of there on the 11th.  However, they only stayed there a few days before marching north to Montgomery.  The site of the battle of Fort Blakely is now an Alabama State Park and is open for visitors.

 

 

The 49th Goes South for the Mobile Campaign

After a period of garrisoning towns across northern Missouri, in January and February the scattered companies of the 49th Missouri were brought together to be sent south to take part in the campaign to capture Mobile, Alabama.

From the St. Louis Dispatch, February 10, 1865:

DEPARTURE OF THE FORTY-NINTH MISSOURI
This splendid regiment, Lieut. Col. Dyer, commanding, arrived at St Louis from Northeast Missouri last Saturday and marched out to Benton Barracks.  This morning, preceded by their brass band and with colors flying, the Forty-ninth Missouri regiment of infantry marched down Fourth Street to Chesnut, and then to the levee, where they embarked on board the steamer Ed. Walsh, bound for New Orleans, where they will join the command of Gen. Canby, and its expedition into the interior of the cotton states.  The regiment is over eight hundred strong, the men large and healthy.  Our Missouri regiments have a glorious record, and we predict that the Forty-ninth will keep up the reputation of Missouri for fighting men.  Success to them say we.