Have you ever researched a military unit’s history to write about an ancestor’s military service? I have to admit, that I haven’t done much of that research.
While going thru my HAMMOND files, I re-discovered a document that provides lots of details about the military service of my second great-grandfather, Richmond F. Hammond. This magic document is a certificate from the Soldiers and Sailors Historical and Benevolent Society.
Certificate of Records
To all whom it may concernRequested to every American
is a priceless legacyPreserved to us by the valor
of the Boys in BlueThis Certifies that Richmond F. Hammond
Enlisted from Knox County, Illinois, on the 25th day of May,
1861, to serve three years or during the war, and was mustered
into the United States service at Galesburg, Ill., on th same
day, as a Private of Captain Roderick R. Harding’s Company “E”
17TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, Colonel Leonard
Fulton Ross commanding.Shortly afterward he was taken sick at Bird’s Point, Mo.,
and was confined in hospital at Iron Mountain, Mo., until Au-
gust 21, 1861, when he received an HONORABLE DISCHARGE by
reason of a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability.He re-enlisted at Galesburg, Ill, March 1, 1862 to serve
three years or during the war, and was mustered into the United
States service as a Private of COMPANY “G”, 1ST REGIMENT ILL-
NOIS VOLUNTEER CAVALRY, Colonel Thomas A. Marshall commanding.
This regiment had been captured at Lexington, Mo., on Sep-
tember 18, 1861, and was awaiting exchange, but on July 14, 1862,
it was mustered out at St. Louis Mo.He re-enlisted at Galesburg, Ill., September 29, 1862, to
sere three years or during the war, and was mustered into the
U.S. service at Peoria, Ill., as a Private of Captain E. L.
Foote’s COMPANY “D”, 14TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER CAVALRY,
Colonel Horace Capron commanding.The Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry was recruited and organ-
ized in the fall and wither of 1862, with headquarters at
Peoria. January 7, 1863, the 1st and 2nd Battalions were mus-
tered, and February 6, the Third Battalion. On March 8, it
started for the front, and arrived at Glasgow, Ky., April 17,
where it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, Stoneman’s Division,
Cavalry Corps, Army of the Ohio. Two hours later the Brigade
started to attack the rebels at Celina on the Cumberland River,
marching day and night. Pursued and attacked Colonel Hamilton’s
rebel force near Turkey Neck Bend, driving the enemy into the
mountains of Tennessee, capturing a number of prisoners, sever-
al pieces of artillery, 800 stand of arms, a wagon train of
supplies and the Commander’s papers. It pursued the Rebel
raider, John Morgan, from July 4, until he was captured, the
expedition covering 2,100 miles. The regiment participated in
the following engagements, viz: Buffington Island, Ohio; Cum-
berland Gap; Bristol, siege of Knoxville, Bean’s Stations, Dand-
ridge, and Franklin, Tenn. January 30, 1864, the 14th alone
was designated to fight the “Thomas Legion” of whites and IN-
dians in North Carolina. February 2, it surprised the “Legion”
in the mountains, killing and capturing the greater part, for
which the regiment was highly complimented in a despatch from
General Grant. June 13, it started to join General Stoneman’s
command organized for the Atlanta Campaign. July 27, it left
Lost Mountain on the famous Macon Raid, reaching the City on
the 30th. At Sunshine Church, after a hot battle with the
enemy, General Stoneman decided to surrender his command, Colo-
nel Capron, with the 14th regiment, first receiving permission
to cut his way out, which he did with success, taking his com-
mand with him. August 3, at one o’clock A.M., Colonel Capron,
supposing he was beyond the reach of the enemy, ordered a halt,
and about daylight the men were attacked. Being without sleep
for seven days and nights, they could not be aroused. In this
condition, many were killed or captured. After this raid, the
scattered fragments joined the line of battle in front of At-
lanta. September 15, the regiment returned to Kentucky, where
it was remounted and re-equippped. November 8, moved to Waynes-
boro, Ga., where it disputed Hood’s advance, and took part in
the engagements which followed on the 23rd and 24th. It after-
wards took part in engagements at Duck River and Nashville, and
was later stationed at Pulaski, Tenn., performing guard and
camp duty, until July 31, 1865, when it was mustered out, hav-
ing marched over 10,000 miles during its service.
The said Richmond R. Hammond was promoted to Sergeant ofRecord continued : –
Compiled form Official and Authentic Sources by the
Crawford Family Papers; privately held by Marcia Philbrick, 803 N. 8th, Seneca, Kansas, 2016. Richmond F. Hammond Certificate of Record form Soldiers and Sailors Historical and Benevolent Society. photocopy from unknown source.
Soldiers and Sailors
Historical and Benevolent Society
In testimony whereof I hereunto set
my hand and cause to be affixed the
seal of the Society
[D]one at Washington DC this 13th day
of Sept. A.D. 1907
[M Wallingsford]
[Historian]
No. 62730
Page 2
-: Record No. 62730. concluded :-
Company D, 14th Illinois Cavalry.
He was captured during Stoneman’s raid in Georgia, Aug. 3,
1864, and taken to Andersonville prison, thence to Charleston,
S.C., thence to Florence, S.C., thence to Wilmington, N.C.,
thence to Raleigh, N.C., and from there to Goldsboro, N.C.,
where he was paroled and sent to Wilmington, at close of the
war.He was constantly with his command during its service as
above outlined, until captured, and rendered faithful and meri-
torious service to his Country.He received a final HONORABLE DISCHARGE at Springfield, Ill.
on the 16th day of June, 1865, to date May 30, 1865, by reason
of General Order from War Department.He is the son of Horatio and Louisa (Fisk) Hammond, and was
born in Licking County, Ohio, on the 20th day of November, 1840.
He was untied in marriage to Sarah E. Ralston, in Knox County,
Ill., January 1, 1867, from which union were born six children,
four of whom are living, viz: – Stella M., Nellie E., Jessie
M., and Clyde N.His wife died on the 28th day of March, 1892.
His second marriage was to Mary E Myers, at Dodge City,
Kan. on the 7th day of November, 1897, from which union was
born one child, viz: Hattie L. This wife died March 14, 1901
He was married to Mary E. Grim at Larned, Kan., on the
28th of October, 1906.He is a member of Lewis Post, No. 294, Department of Kansas
Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is at present (1907)
Officer of the Day, and has held all other offices including
Commander.He has held civil office as Justice of the Peace.
His brothers, Jehial P. and George M., served in the 71st
Illinois and 5th Iowa, respectively. His father served in the
war of 1812. His grandfather, Jason Hammond, served in the
Revolutionary War.His son, Clyde N., served in the 21st Kansas Volunteers in
the Spanish-American War.These facts are thus recorded and preserved for the benefit
Crawford Family Papers; privately held by Marcia Philbrick, 803 N. 8th, Seneca, Kansas, 2016. Richmond F. Hammond Certificate of Record form Soldiers and Sailors Historical and Benevolent Society. photocopy from unknown source.
of all those who may be interested.
While I have no record of how a photocopy of this document came to be in my possession, I am very thankful for locating this rare document in my files!
