The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

968
FAINIILY 12.
210. Col. Thomas William' Humphrey, [98J (Thomas jeffoson,- Capt. wuiiam')
was born in Dan-ville. Kno.x Co., Oliio, 4 Apr., 1835, and removed, with his parents, to Illinois
in 1840. He was educated at Beloit College, Wis. He married at Eelvidere, Boone Co., 111., 11
Dec, 1856. Phila J., dau. of Joseph and Esther Ann (Richardson), Smith, who was born near
Detroit, Mich., 26 May, 1837. He purchased and settled on the paternal homestead.
In the summer of 1862, on call of the President for six hundred thousand new levies, he
engaged in enlisting volunteers, and on its organization, was chosen Lieut. -Col. of the Ninety-fifth
Regiment, 111. Vol. Infantry, and was so commissioned 22 Aug., 1862. The regiment rendezvoused
at Camp Fuller, Rockford, 111., where Lieut. -Col. Humphrey, on account of the poor health of
the commander, Col. Church, bore most of the care and labor of command, and zealously and
industriously devoted himself to their drill and discipline, and to his own complete knowledge of
official military duty and tactics. They were mustered into the U. S. Service, 4 Sept., 1862, and
by November had been ordered to the field at Grand Junction, Tenn. Such was their then proficiency,
that in their first Division Drill, General McArthur, then Division Commander, remarked
that "they needn't be called a neiv regiment any longer," and were "old enough for the service,"
and he afterward practically confirmed it by invariably using and trusting them as veterans. Before
reaching the front, Col. Church resigned, and the full command devolved on Col. Humphrey.
He was not commissioned as Colonel till 21 May, 1863, to rank from 24 Jan., 1863. After a
good deal of marching and skirmishing in northern Mississippi, Col. Humphrey landed his regiment
at Milliken's Bend, above Vicksburg, 26 Jan., 1863, and having performed a prominent part
in the digging and maneuvering of that army to approach that stronghold, found himself camped,
on night of 18 May, 1863, only three-fourths of a mile from the rebel fortifications in the rear of
Vicksburg, after forced marches from Grand Gulf In the bloody but futile assault of the next
day, he occupied the advance, and led with such gallantry, and held, all day, his position within
one hundred yards of the rebel guns, under a tornado of artillery and musketry fire, as to call
from his General, on the field, a dispatch containing the approving words, "You have done well,
nobly." Of this action. Gen. Ransom, in his official report, said: "On the 19th, the Ninety-fifth
111., Col. Humphrey commanding, reached a ridge within one hundred yards of the enemy's
works, and though e.xposed to an enfilading fire of artillery, maintained their position until night,
when I withdrew them to a safer position. Early in the action. Col. Humphrey was severely
wounded in the foot, but w'ould not leave the field. His loss is much heavier than that of any
other regiment of my command.
"At 10 o'clock A. M., on the 22d, the charge began again furiously. The Ninety-fifth on
this occasion also gained an advanced position, on the crest of a ridge near the enemy's works,
encountering one of the most sweeping and destructive fires to which troops were ever exposed.
Col. Humphrey, in advance of and leading his regiment, enthusiastic with the desire to storm the
fortifications in his immediate front, determined to accomplish it if among human possibilities,
and with that natural daring which characterized the man, pressed onward over the ridge, then
being swept by rebel musketry and plowed up by rebel shot and shell. The regiment attempted
to follow their leader, and bravely rallied to the charge, but to advance was to meet certain
death, and it was plain that a further prosecution of the undertaking would annihilate the regiment.
It had gone into the charge with three hundred and sixty-seven officers, and enlisted men in line
of battle, and upw^ards of one hundred of the same had already been rendered hors du combat.
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"The heroic Colonel had gone on in advance, and was given up as killed. Orders came during
the afternoon for the murderous and unequal conflict to cease on our part, and the regiment was
gradually withdrawn to a neighboring ravine for better protection. Toward night, with thinned.