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Sgt. Augustus Hammersley Annis - 1833-1910
Company "C", 73rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment
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Updated June 1, 2009
Due to the generosity of the descendants of Augustus H. Annis, there have been some remarkable and precious items that have come to light about his time with the 73rd Indiana Infantry during the Civil War.
It is my intention to share as much of this information as space and time permit. In my eyes, the tough pioneering spirit of Augustus, and the ability to face hardship and adversity with a determination to persevere, is exactly what made this country the great nation that it once was. We seem to have lost sight of these qualities, and it is with great respect and deep admiration that I present details about the life and times of Augustus Hammersley Annis.
We are especially indebted to AFA Board Member, Jerome Russell ("Jerry") Annis of Traverse City, MI for the contribution of the photographs of Augustus and Nancy Annis. Jerry is their great-great grandson.I have included a page from Dyer's Compendium of the Civil War so that one may see the movements of Augustus' regiment during the war.
Biography of Augustus Hammersley Annis
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AUGUSTUS HAMMERSLEY ANNIS was born February 17, 1833 at Saltillo, Washington Co., Indiana; died September 9, 1910 at Grayling, Crawford Co., Michigan; married August 8, 1858, Nancy Jane Kirkendall {1835-1912} at Lakeville, Indiana.
Augustus removed to St. Joseph County, Indiana with his parents when he was a young teenager. He worked his father's farm until he married, and by the time the Civil War began, Augustus and Nancy had two children and were expecting another.He enlisted in Company "C", 73rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry on August 8, 1862 his fourth wedding anniversary and first saw serious action at the Battle of Stones River and served in several foray's against Confederate raider John Hunt Morgan. Beginning April 26, 1863 his regiment was assigned to Colonel A. D. Streight and participated in several skirmishes that were designed to destroy southern railways. But Streight's exhausted, discouraged band was compelled to surrender on May 3rd to Nathan Bedford Forrest's Confederate forces at Cedar Bluff, Alabama. Augustus was sent to the infamous Libby prison at Richmond, Virginia, because but of his higher rank, but he was soon exchanged and released to return to his regiment. After the war he removed to Crawford County, Michigan where he worked in the logging camps, and later settled a nice farm at Beaver Creek. His descendants still live on the old homestead. Augustus is buried at Grayling, Michigan.
We are fortunate to have a few of the letters that he wrote to Nancy during his two and a half years in the army. The letter below has been kept intact with regards to spelling, and it is almost possible to see Augustus, struggling with paper and pen, trying to share his life and living conditions. There is no doubt as to where he would "Drother" be. The words reflect the feelings of a man that misses his family and who is trying to manage a household from hundreds of miles away. We are indebted to his descendants for preserving these priceless documents that allow us to share the feelings of a lonely soldier far from home.
Stevenson, Ala
December 27, 1864
My Dear Wife
It is with the Grates of Plasher that I take my Pen in hand to Drop you a few lines this morning to inform you that I am well and I hope that these Few lines may find you and the children Enjoyen the sam Blessing when it comes to your hand.
Well I am with the Company Now and I Expect I will Stay with it the Balance of my time.
Well Maw I sent you aletter that was written own the 25 of this mounth With 10 Doller in it and the Rest I will pay for that Land and have it Dun with.
Well my company is Guarden the Farey at the river 3 miles from Stevenson, Ala. but I Don't think that we will stay here vary long. The Regt. was at Huntsville the last time I herd from it and I think that we will go to the Regt. in a few days. Our mail has gone to the Regt. and for that reasen I want to go to the Regt. so I can get my mail for I want to here from you and the children for it has ben some time sence I herd from you. I Don't know as I have got any thing more at the present time. Well you can tell Phillip (Phillip Kirkendall, Nancy's brother who had recently been discharged from the 29th Indiana Infantry) that I saw Captain Ream. He was well at that time and all the rest of the Boyes in the Company was well. Stiner fell overbord and got Dronded the first night that we was on the Botes. Tha was 4 more Fell over besid him and was dronded. 2 of them Belonged to the 18 Michigan and the other 2 Belong to the 100-2 Ohio Regt. Tha all got Dronded. Well tell Phillip that I wod like to here from Him wonce more for I think that he might write as well Now as when he was a souldier. Well I will cloas for the present time
By Sendin
My Best Respects &
Love to you A. Annis
to N. J. Annis
Written early January, 1864
My Dear Wife,
It is with the greates of pleasher that I take my Pen in hand to write you a few lines in reply to your letter that I resived from you a few days ago. But having no time to write any sooner to you and as this is a new year I will comence writing for to Pass the day away. I was glad to hear that you and the children are well. Your kind letter found me well and I hope that when these few lines leave me they will come into your hand to find you and the children well. I was sorry to hear of Josiah and Anny loosin thair littel girl But I supois that it was Gods will that they should give her up. I got a letter From them the same time I got them from you. They told me about thair littel girl. Ed. note: Augustus is referring to the November 27, 1864 death of Alvaretta Annis, the three year old daughter of his brother, Josiah W. Annis.
Well Maw I sent you 10 Dollars in a letter when I was at Stevenson Alabama. Well you wanted to know if I paid for my land yet or not. I hant But I have the money in my Pocket to Pay for it when the roid gites fixt so I can Express it to the man that owns the land.
Well you said that you had a bid for the land. Tell them that thay can hav it for four hundred Dollars cash down and not any les. Well I have pack this monney for too mounth in my pocket and I have got to Express it yet But I hope that I will Soon get a chance to send it away for the man wantes it I expect.
Well I must tell you about the cold wether we have. Here it comensed snowin here last friday night and it snowed till the ground was white and that was about all and it has been vary cold. Last night was vary cold the ground froze hard but it looks like it might thaw come today. Well I got that hair that you Sent to me of Jaspers and Ada Ellen and Annetty but I would Drother saw the children them selves then to saw thair hair but I was very glad to see that moush. Well you said something about the pickters of the children you said that you coulden send them to me for three weeks. I will Dew with out them for I mite not get them if you send them to me. Well Maw was two Hunderd 50 of the Regt went away yesterday for three days and the rest of us is in camp How longe we will stay I cant tell you For we had marchin orders to go to Decauter Ala and I expect that we will go thair as soon as the men comes Back. But I hope not For it is a hard plais to stay for thair ant any Thing thair to make quarters with. Thair is only 4 Houses in the Place and then tha wont let is tair down for tha want them for Comsary Stors an so forth and for that reasen i hate to go thair for we have good quarters here whare we are. I have a Shanty 10 by 12 and a fier plase in it so i hate to leav it own that acount Well the 100 & 2 Ohio lost tin men this mornig. Scrap in the Tennessee river the Boats Run together and knocked about 30 men an 10 of them was Dronded. That is about all the Knews that I hav to Day and that is Bad Knews. I wod Drother not hav any and to hav Such as that Well I must tell you what I am goin to hav for Diner to Day. I will a pot of Beens for Diner to day and som coffee and a littel old Sow Belley. That is my Diner except a few hard tack and that I hav to get my self
Well I Don't know as I hav any thing more to write about that wod Be worth while or that wod Be interstain for you to read So I will cloase For to Day. You can giv my Respects to all and so forth General Stedman Recaptur Decatur with his fors and got one Six Pound Gune and some Prisnors But how many I did not larn. General Stedman went Down the River to Browns Fary and he had a Fight with Some of _____? men and took another paece of Artillery and some 15 men and that is all the Knews that I hav.
So I will cloas For the Present Time So Good By and I wish you a Happy Knew Years
When this you see Remember Me & Write When you can But Dount Waid Snow Knee Deep to get to tha Pois offis
So no more this time
A.Annis to N.J.Annis
Service of the 73rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry
Organized at South Bend, Ind., and mustered in August 16, 1862. Ordered to Lexington, Ky. Evacuation of Lexington August 31. Attached to 20th Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Ohio, September, 1862. 20th Brigade, 6th Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Left Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 21st Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April, 1863. Streight's Provisional Brigade. Dept. of the Cumberland, to May, 1863. Prisoners of war to December, 1863. Post and District of Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to January, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, January, 1864. 1st Brigade, Rousseau's 3rd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 20th Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland, to March, 1865. District of Northern Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.--Pursuit of Bragg, to Loudon, Kentucky, October 1-22, 1862.
Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8.
March to Nashville, Tennesee, October 22-November 9, and duty there until December 26.
Advance on Murfreesboro, Tennesee, December 26-30.
Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863.
Duty at Murfreesboro until April. Reconnaissance to Nolensville and Versailles January 13-15.
Streight's Raid to Rome, Georgia, April 26-May 3. Day's Gap, Sand Mountain, Crooked Creek and Hog Mountain April 30. East Branch, Black Warrior Creek, May 1. Blount's Farm and Center May 2, Cedar Bluff, May 3, Regiment captured.
Reorganized and rejoined army at Nashville, Tennesee, December, 1863. Guard duty along Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, and picketing Tennessee River from Draper's Ferry to Limestone Point. Headquarters at Triana until September, 1864. Paint Rock Bridge April 8, 1864. Scout from Triana to Somerville July 29 (Detachment). Action at Athens, Ala.. October 1-2. Defense of Decatur October 26-29. Duty at Stevenson, Alabama, until January, 1865. At Huntsville, Alabama, and along Mobile & Charleston Railroad until July. Gurley's Tank February 16, 1865 (Detachment). Mustered out July 1, 1865.Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 41 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 191 Enlisted men by disease. Total 241.
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The Resting Place of Augustus H. Annis, Grayling, MI
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The Family Plot
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