ALBERT PHILBROOK
(1862 - 1865)
&
THE 14TH ILLINOIS CAVALRY

The "War of the Rebellion", now known as our Civil War, had been raging for almost two years when a 44 year old Albert Philbrook volunteered for enlistment in the Federal Army at Vandalia, Illinois. Like many other patriotic Americans on both sides, Albert felt his duty to serve, surely with the memories of his ancestors who had fought in various conflicts since the French-Indian War. On October 25, 1862 Albert enrolled in the Union Army, listing his occupation as a farmer and place of birth as Licking County, Ohio. Several months later on January 7, 1863 he was mustered into service at Peoria, Illinois as a private in Captian Jenkin's company, 14th Illinois Cavalry. Illinois Archive records show that Albert was 5 feet, 5 inches tall with light colored hair and blue eyes.

David P. Jenkin's company eventually was designated as Company F., 14th Illinois Cavalry and was to be commanded by Capt. William H. Guy. From Peoria, the 14th Illinois Cavalry moved to Louisville, Kentucky during March of 1863. By April it had moved on to Glasgow, Kentucky. here the unit was attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of the Ohio. Colonel Horace Capron oversaw the 14th's preperations during its' prelude to war.

{Colonel William H. Guy, Co. F., 14th Illinois Cavalry}

 

From April through June 22, 1863 the 14th is recorded as scouting in the vicinity of Glasgow and their first contact being with Rebel forces at Celina, Kentucky on April 19. Further engagements take place at Lafayette, Tennessee on May 11 and at Kettle Creek on the 25th. On May 15, 1863 records show 800 men present for duty assigned to the 14th Illinois Cavalry. Between June 8 - 10, Col. Capron's Brigade went on an expedition from Glasgow to Burkesville and the Tennessee State line, returning again to Kettle Creek and engaging Rebel pickets on June 9th.

Confederate Cavalry raids into Ohio were disrupting Federal supply lines and bringing fear to loyal citizens in the North. After the 14th's move to Tompkinsville, Kentucky on June 22, the unit is seen pursuing Morgan's Rebel cavalry from July 4th to the 26th, engaging him at Buffington Island, Ohio on July 19th. During the month's of August and September 1863, Albert and the 14th participated in General Ambrose Burnside's campaign in East Tennessee. On August 13th, having started their march at 4:00 a.m., the 14th Illinois Cavalry passed an old revolutionary war soldier, "of more than a hundred winters," as one soldier described him. "He stood by the roadside greeting us as we passed. He said hated the tories of the revolution; but, if possible, he hated the traitors of the present day still more."

The 14th Illinois Cavalry proceed into Knoxville, Tennessee on September 1st, 1863. An officer described the scene with pride, "The citizens all along this route were perfectly wild with delight... the ladies came to their doors, and many to the roadside welcoming us, some with shouts, some with songs, some with tears of joy, and all with uncontrollable emotions. Our march resembled a Roman grand triumphal march."

From September through December the 14th engaged in many skirmishes with Rebel forces including the following: Rheatown, Sept. 12; Kingsport, Sept, 18; Bristol, Sept. 19; Jonesborough, Sept. 21; Hall's Ford, Watauga River, Carter's Depot and Blountsville, Sept. 22; Blue Springs, Oct. 10; Henderson's Mill, Oct. 11; Warm Springs, Oct. 20 7 22; and the Siege of Knoxville, Nov. 17 - Dec. 5.

On December 2nd the 14th Illinois Cavalry attaced Wheeler's Cavalry at Walker's Ford, Tennessee. Union forces consisted of the 14th Illinois and 5th Indiana Cavalry; 65th, 116th & `118th Indiana Infantry; and the 21st Ohio Battery. Losses during this battle were:

Union: 9 K.I.A., 39 W.I.A.

Confederate: 25 K.I.A., 50 W.I.A.

Late December brought engagements at Bean's Station on Dec. 14 - 15; Blain's Crossroads, Dec. 16 - 19; Clinch River, Dec. 21; Dandridge, Dec. 24 and Talbot's Station on Dec. 29. During the battle at Bean's Station, 14th Illinois Cavalry soldiers battled Tennessee Rebs after holding a brief conversation before realizing the other parties were not friendly troops. A 14th Union standered bearer was killed during the exchange of musket and carbine fire.

Various clashes continued into early 1864 and Albert with his fellow soldiers were in high morale due to thier successes during the previous year. Casualties up to this point had been few. In February, the 14th Illinois Cavalry was sent into Jackson County, North Carolina on a raid to attack a Rebel force known as Thomas' Legion. This Confederate unit was comprised of Cherokee Indians and White southerners under the command of Colonel Thomas. At Deep Creek, February 2, 1864, the 14th Illinois Cavalry encountered elements of Thomas' Legion and during the battle 20 to 30 Indians and Whites were captured and 2 Indians killed. Southern forces reported killing 2 Union officers and 6 enlisted men with 1 Union soldier captured. The 14th Illinois Cavalry strength at the time is recorded as 600 men strong. One more action occured in February at Flat Creek on the 20th, after which the 14th Cav. was assigned to the District of Kentucky til June.

In June the 14th Illinois Cavalry was sent on its' fateful trip to Sherman's fight for Atlanta. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 23rd Army Corps, the 14th moved south under Colonel Horace P. Capron. During the march, as the unit neared Atlanta, they passed within sight and sound of the raging battle at Kennesa Mountain where the Union Army suffered terrible casualties.

By July, General Sherman's encirclement of Atlanta was near complete. One problem was that Rebel supplies were still coming in by way of the railroads to the south in Macon. Sherman tasked General George Stoneman, under which the 14th was assigned, and Generals Kenner Garrard and Edward McCook to take their cavalry units south to disrupt, "the stores and ammunition that maintained the rebel army in Atlanta." Opposing the Union Cavalry was Joseph Wheeler's Confederate cavalry, with a total of five brigades. (After the war, Joseph Wheeler would eventually be a senior commander over Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders during the charge of San Juan Hill.) Sherman felt that his forces were sufficient enough to "whip" Wheeler's Cavalry. The three generals had a combined force of 9000 troops, 5000 in Gen. Stoneman's and Gen. Garrard's cavalry and an additional 4000 in Gen. McCook's forces.

Upon hearing the instructions of General Sherman to raid towards Macon, General Stoneman came up with an ambitious plan. Sherman recounts, "At the moment almost of starting General Stoneman addressed me a letter asking permission, after fulfilling his orders and breaking the road, to be allowed, with his command proper, to proceed to Macon and Andersonville and release our prisoners of war confined at those points. There was something most captivating in the idea, and the execution was within the bounds of probable success." General Sherman, moved by Stoneman's plea that despite the odds and anticipated losses, felt, "If we accomplish the desired object, it will compensate for the loss, as prisoners, of us all, and I shall feel compensated for almost any sacrifice."

Sherman responded to Stoneman, "If you can bring back to the army any or all of those prisoners of war, it will be an achievement that will entitle you, and your command, to the love and admiration of the whole country." Should the raid be successful, it would restore Stoneman's tarnished image amongst his peers in the Union Army and the President that resulted from his poor performance at Chancellorsville in May of 1863. Word of a possible raid made its' way to Andersonville prisoners whose morale increased due to the chance liberation, however the Rebels also know of the intended raid and started preparing for it.

General Sherman's plan was to split his cavalry forces, Gen. Stoneman and Garrard's units to the left around Atlanta to McDonough; and Gen. McCook to the right on Fayetteville and for the two groups to meet at the Macon road near Lovejoy's Station. However, a change in plan had Gen. Garrard's force follow Gen. Stoneman's only as far as Flat Rock, thus splitting the 5000 man task force. Gen. Garrard had been instructed by Sherman to operate as a support for Stoneman's now small force of 2200 men and to deal with Wheeler's cavalry units should it be necessary while Stoneman headed to Lovejoy Station to join Gen. McCook.

On July 27th, the 14th Illinois Cavalry with its' brigade left outside of Decatur passing to the right of Stone Mountain. Continuing South-East, the 14th passed through Covington, however the Rebel leadership had been aware of this movement and General Hood of the Confederate Army stated, "A raid has started in the direction of Covington; our cavalry in pursuit." July 28th saw the 14th Illinois Cavalry passing through Covington and coming within three miles of Monticello. Several Rebel pickets were taken prisoner there on or about the 29th. Continuing south towards Hillsboro and Clinton, the 14th proceeded onto it's objective.

At Clinton, a detachment of the brigade, including Major Davidson and 'H' Company, 14th Illinois Cavalry was sent down to Gordon to destroy as much as they could of the Confederate supply line. Veering south-west, and with Company 'L' of the 14th guarding the crossroads near Clinton, the division moved to within 10 miles of Macon. Four miles before Macon, the 14th engaged the enemy in force driving the Rebels back towards the city. Col. Capron's brigade, with the 14th, reached their objective and fought with rebel pickets, destroying major portions of railroad.

All was going well until the evening of the 29th of July. Gen. Stoneman's forces, including the 14th Illinois Cavalry, had met tough resistance from the 3000 plus militia in Macon. The Union scouts had been unable to find a crossing point over the Ocmulgee river in order to proceed towards Andersonville prison. Even worst news was that Wheeler's Cavalry was closing on Stoneman's rear, cutting him off from the Union forces farther to the north.

Gen. Stoneman ordered his soldiers to advance north, back towards Clinton and engage the Rebels now closing on him. At dark on the 30th of July, the Union raiding party had recaptured Clinton and liberated some prisoners who had been captured by the Confederates earlier. (These men were probably from company 'L', 14th Illinois Cavalry who had guarded the road near Clinton several days before.) Small skirmishes continued through the night in and north of Clinton. Stoneman halted his forces six or more miles to the north of town and bivouacked for the night.

Between Hillsboro and Clinton, Stoneman's men had encountered a large Rebel force which had prepared defensive positions blocking the Union troop's movement back north. To the south, more Confederate units were advancing towards Stoneman's rear from Macon. Wheeler's units were almost six times greater than Gen. Stoneman's and imminent defeat was near for the Union raiders. Stoneman decided he would attempt to penetrate the enemy lines to his front in hopes of breaking out of the encirclement instead of surrending his entire force to face the dreaded Andersonville Prison he had hoped to liberate.

Due to the nature of the terrain, the Union Cavalry forces were destined to fight dismounted, their Henry .44 caliber repeating rifles and Navy revolvers were outmatched by the long range capabilities of the Rebel's muskets. All morning on July 31, 1864 Stoneman's soldiers charged the Confederate positions and they were met with murderous rebel fire. When a hole was opened in the enemy lines, southern reserves filled the gaps. It was during these morning battles that Col. Capron's troops fought at a location known as Sunshine Church. Through out the day, they would make several charges against the Rebel battle lines.

By noon the situation was desperate, the Union forces exhausted from days of fighting, low on arms and ammunition, was about to be overrun by the Confederate forces closing on all sides. Col. Capron's brigade of Ohio and the 14th Illinois Cavalry soldiers made a final dismounted charge. Just as the assult began, rebel units let out a yell and charged from their breastworks. Ordering his men to return to their horses, Capron directed a retreat to the rear. Some of the Union troops were captured while trying to mount their horses.

By 4:00 p.m. General Stoneman decided that as many of his men as possible would attempt to break out of the encirclement to the south-east where the enemy was the weakest. Union forces desperately fought their way out of the tightening noose of Confederates by heading south then north-east on the Eatonton road. Meanwhile, Gen. Stoneman and elements of the 5th Indiana Cavalry, some artillery and a conglomerate of other seperated units set up a delaying action. Two thirds of the Union troops escaped the encirclement, but the 700 remaining troops with Stoneman surrendered after running out of ammunition. The raid had ended in a rout of Union forces, the bright hope of liberating Andersonville gone with the retreating men of the 14th Illinois Cavalry heading north from Eatonton towards Madison. All along the way they were harried by Wheeler's Cavalry units of the Confederate Army.

It was during the 31st of July that Albert Philbrook became seperated from his unit along with John Spiker of the Ohio cavalry squadron. This probably occured during the final assult at Sunshine Church, prior to the breakout near Clinton. Between Sunday of the 31st and Friday August 5th, Albert and John evaded Confederate forces until coming upon Sgt. Jonathan Melvin and a Sgt. Duval, of Company "E" 14th Illinois Cavalry, and an unidentified soldier from the 1st Kentucky Cavalry on the evening of the 5th. A happy reunion was celebrated between the men with Albert and John sharing some corn dodger and boiled pork that had been given to them by Negroes. An account of their capture is detailed by Sgt. Melvin:

"In the afternoon of the day following we had just finished the delicious dodger and pork and were resting in a quiet thicket when a small white boy and a large Negro boy, with two blood hounds, came on to us unexpectedly to all of us, even the dogs. Of course they escaped and we started north with a rush. Within less than an hour they or their dogs, with a squad of men, were making a welkin ring with their howls and yells, but when so near that we could hear the sniffle of the hounds the artillery of heavan broke loose and within three minutes the rain poured and the chase ended for the evening. On the day following, while asleep in our blanket, about 1 o'clock we were startled by the shout: 'Here they are; surrender boys and we will treat you well.' There were four of them with guns and leading their horses, following four bloodhounds that were still tracking us as quietly as a cat stealingg upon its' prey. We were searched for arrms, then for money... At the first crey of our captors the remaining Kentucky man plunged into the dense thicket just below us on the hillside and was not noticed by the enemy. Of us four who were captured there I (John) am the only one who ever returned."

By late August of 1864 Albert was in Andersonville prison. What proceeded after that is unclear but several facts are known. Albert was one of three Philbrooks to die at Andersonville. On September 3, 1864 a J.E. Philbrook from a Massachusetss unit died and was buried (Grave #7671.) November 17, 1864, F. Philbrook from a Maine artillery unit died (Grave #12056.) Albert was the last to die on February 6, 1865 from Diahrea 'C' and his grave is #12594. Albert's brother Flavius Josephus Philbrook spent 15 months at Andersonville Prison but survived his captivity.

{Photo courtesy of National Archives}

No pictures or letters from Albert remain in existence to record his personal part of the Civil War, but a dedication recorded in the history of the 14th Illinois Cavalry pays a final tribute to him and his comrades in arms: "To the living comrades in the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, and to the descendants of the living and the dead... should their country ever need their services in arms, we trust that our descendants may be inspired by the same lofty patriotism that led us to the field of glory and victory, and self-sacrafice in the service of our country and humanity."

Written by: Robert Wayne Philbrook, descendant of Albert Philbrook, 1991

Published here by permission of the author.

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