September, he assumed command of all the forces there, by virtue of senior commission. From this time forward, he has been constantly engaged in the war. On the 21st of October, 1861, very early in the morning, Col. Carlin entered Fredericktown, with the 21st, 33d and 38th Illinois volunteers, the 8th Wisconsin volunteers, Capt. Mauter's battery, 1st Missouri light artillery, and about 400 of the 1st Indiana cavalry. When they marched from Pilot Knob, on the 20th of October, at 3 o'clock, he had precise information as to the whereabouts of Jeff. Thompson and his forces, and had based all his plans on the expectation that he would remain where he was for a few hours longer; and so he would, but for the unfortunate occurrence now to be related. Col. J. B. Plummer was marching from Cape Girardeau, to find Thompson, and unfortunately sent a despatch by one of his Sergeants, for the commanding officer at Pilot Knob. This dispatch bearer went directly along the main road leading to Thompson's camp, and was, of course, arrested by the rebel picket. The dispatch was delivered to Thompson, and he immediately availed himself of the information it contained, and started on his retreat, marching twelve miles on the afternoon and night of the 20th. Early next day, thinking his seizure of the dispatch would prevent the arrival of any force from Pilot Knob, Thompson made a move with the view of cutting off Plummer, and routing him. But in finding the latter, he found it necessary to return to the vicinity of Fredericktown, where Col. Carlin's force was now united with Plummer's. The result of the fight, and Col. Carlin's gallantry during the engagement, is well known. ten days' delay in consequence of having to build the road. Including these delays, their march from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Benecia, Cal., a distance of 2,250 miles, occupied just five months. They had little time to rest at Benecia. In December, Lieut. Carlin's company was ordered to march to the head of Russian river, into the Indian country, about 100 miles north of Benecia. After remaining there, endeavoring to preserve peace between the whites and Indians, for nine months, Lieut. C. was assigned to the command of Fort Bragg, in Mendocino county, directly on the Pacific coast. There he remained for nine months more-without the society of any other officer, and with but two or three companionable citizens within a day's ride. In May, 1860, he was detailed for general recruiting service, and embarked for New York, where he arrived June 13th, 1860. He was assigned to the station of Buffalo, N. Y., and entered upon the duties on the 1st of July, 1860, remaining there during the whole of the exciting political campaign, but taking no part therein. On the first call of President Lincoln for troops, Lieut. Carlin received the unanimous vote of the officers of the 74th N. Y. S. M., at Buffalo, for the position of Lieut. Colonel. The regiment was then under orders for Washington-which orders were, however, countermanded. Subsequently, the Secretary of War authorized him to raise a regiment of cavalry in western New York, but this authority having been sought by other parties, against his wishes and without his knowledge, he declined to act under it. He had resolved, if he entered the volunteer service, to serve with those from his own State, preferring that if ever he achieved a desirable reputation, it should be in connection with the sons of his native State. Finally, on the 15th of August, 1861, Governor South-East Missouri, which he retained till Yates tendered him the Colonelcy of a regiment, which was immediately accepted. Gov. Kirkwood, of Iowa, at the same time tendered him the Lieutenant Colonelcy of an Iowa regiment, which, of course, he felt compelled to decline. Col. Carlin joined his regiment, the 38th Illinois Volunteers, at Camp Butler, September 7th, 1862. On the 19th of the same month, he was ordered by Maj. Gen. Fremont, then commanding Department of the Missouri, to Ironton, Mo. Arriving there on the 21st of On the succession of Gen. Halleck to the command of the Department, he appointed Col. C. to the command of the District of the column of Gen. Steele was organized for the purpose of marching through Arkansas. He commanded the 1st brigade of that column. On their march southward, the advance guard of his brigade, under Col. Hall Wilson, 5th Illinois cavalry, attacked and routed a force of 150 rebels, strongly posted on Current river, opposite Doniphan. This occurred on the 1st of April, 1862. About the 20th of April, his brigade occupied Pocahontas, Ark., till recently a rebel stronghold. Early in May, his brigade being several days in ad- ticipate in the expected battle at Corinth. On vance, entered Jacksonport, Ark. It was the 24th of May the brigade reached Hamhere that the infantry regiments of the bri- burg, Tenn., and on the 26th joined Gen. gade, the 21st and 38th Illinois volunteers, Pope's army, at Farmington. On the 28th, received orders to go to Corinth, by forced 29th and 30th of May, the brigade occupied marches, via Cape Girardeau, Mo. Col. Car- the trenches on the extreme left of our posilin received the order at 9 o'clock P. M., on tion, while demonstrations were being made the 9th of May. On the 10th of May his bri- in front of Corinth. They participated in the gade marched twenty miles. On the 20th of march of Gen. Pope's army, in the rear of the May, they arrived at Cape Girardeau, having retreating rebels, to Boonville, Miss. Since been delayed one and a half days in ferrying then Col. Carlin has served in the army of the Black and Current rivers-thus marching, in Mississippi, commanded by Brigadier General very hot weather, 212 miles in nine and a half Rosecranz, and now commands the 2d brigade, days. His brave soldiers were eager to par- 4th division. COL. CAMERON. DANIEL CAMERON, JR., commanding the 65th (Scotch) Regt. Ill. Volunteers, now in service in the valley of the Shenandoah, was born in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Scotland, on the 13th of April, 1828, and is consequently in the thirty-fifth year of his age. Though a borderer by birth, Col. Cameron is of Highland extraction (the family coming originally from Breadalbane, Perthshire), and is a lineal descendant of Cameron of Lochiel, who fell on the ever-memorable field of Culloden. After receiving a good English education, he was placed in his father's office, where he remained until he acquired, by practical experience, a thorough knowledge of the "art preservative of arts," which proved so beneficial to him in after-life. Like most of the people of that good old town (for the world does not seem to whir there as it does here), he pursued the even tenor of his way, no event transpiring worthy of record, till the spring of 1851, when, in company with his family, he resolved to seek a more extended field of action-one which offered greater inducements to the industrious and enterprising than the little town of Berwick. Naturally he turned to the prairies of the West, and after completing the necessary arrangements, sailed from Greenock on the 21st of May, and arrived in New York, July 3d, where, after spending a short time in visiting old friends, he resumed his journey, and finally settled near the vil lage of Wheeling, in the northern part of the State of Illinois. Naturally of an ardent and ambitious temperament, and failing to appreciate the inducements or seclusion of a country life, he came to Chicago in the spring of 1854—then in the zenith of her attractions—and shortly afterwards became connected with the Courant newspaper-which was merged into the Young America, and subsequently into the Chicago Daily Times, which latter journal obtained such an extended reputation from its being edited by the trenchant pen of James W. Sheahan, and being acknowledged as the home organ of the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas; and was one of the proprietors of that journal during the eventful campaigns of 1855, '56 and '58. In 1859 he disposed of his interest to Mr. Price, ex-postmaster of Chicago, and again took up his residence in the country, in the hope of recruiting his health, which had been failing for some time. In the spring of the following year he recommenced business in Chicago-and shortly afterwards resumed the business management of the Times (which had again changed hands), which position he retained until it was purchased by William F. Storey, late of the Detroit Free Press. In politics, it is almost unnecessary to state that Col. Cameron is, or rather was (for I do not know how recent events may have changed his opinions), an ardent Democrat, and the firm, unwavering supporter of Stephen A. Douglas. He took a prominent part in every Democratic convention held in Chicago since 1855, and was for two years a member of the Executive Committee of Cook county. Shortly after the President issued his call for 300,000 troops, and when the glorious 79th Highland Regiment of New York had vindicated the valor of Scotchmen on more than one well contested battle-field, the question was asked, why should Illinois lag? The subject once broached was put to a practical test, and after encountering difficulties which would have dampened the ardor of those less determined, he received special permission from the War Department and from Gov. Yates, to raise a regiment of infantry, to be known as the Scotch Illinois. There is one feature in connection with the raising of this corps which is worthy of notice and commendation: no false or exaggerated inducements were held out. The truth was simply and plainly stated; thus avoiding a prolific source of recrimination and mutiny. And although the season was deemed inaus picious, and fears entertained of its success, yet, with the energetic co-operation of his brother officers, he succeeded in raising a body of men of which any State or commander might be proud. After doing garrison duty for several months at Camp Douglas, in guarding the Fort Donelson prisoners, the regiment left Chicago, amid the "God-speed" of thousands, on the 24th of June, en route for Harper's Ferry, which was afterwards changed to Martinsburg, Va., where they are at present stationed, and which is the headquarters of the commissary department of the army of the Shenandoah. The regiment is, however, under the immediate command of Major Gen. Wool, stationed at Annapolis, to which point they expect daily to be ordered. Although the 65th has seen but little active service, we believe that when the hour of trial comes, it will not be found wanting, and will prove that Scottish valor has not degenerated by being transplanted to the prairie soil of Illinois-for "High, high are their hopes, for their chieftain has said, That whatever men dare they can do." COL. OZBURN. LINDORF OZBURN was born May 19, 1824, in Jackson county, Illinois, and until the age of eighteen spent his life upon a farm, without having received during that period any educational advantages. In 1842, he left home to enter the employment of a person engaged in the Indian trade, and for nearly two years young Ozburn was trafficking among the Indians of Arkansas. At the expiration of this time he was taken seriously ill, and as soon as he recovered sufficiently to travel, he returned to the home of his childhood, and was elected Deputy Sheriff of the county. At the breaking out of the Mexican war, Mr. Ozburn volunteered in an Illinois regiment, and was appointed First Sergeant of the company. He served throughout the war with distinction, and at its close returned to his native county, and engaged in the lumber trade. This business he continued with success until 1852, when he entered the well known "Dowdall Flour Mills," which he carried on until the breaking out of the rebellion, filling during the period of ten years, including 1861, several responsible county offices with great credit to himself and advantage to the public. When the call for volunteers was made by the President, Mr. Ozburn at once enlisted as a private in the 31st Illinois Regiment, Col. John A. Logan, and was soon promoted to Regimental Quartermaster, in which position he served until Col. Logan's promotion to a Brigade Generalship, when Quartermaster Ozburn was unanimously elected to the vacant Colonelcy, and by Gov. Yates was appointed, April 1st, 1862, to the command of the 31st. Col. Ozburn has been actively engaged in the field ever since, with his regiment, which now forms a part of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of the army of the Mississippi. |