GRANT COUNTY BEACON
October 1989
published by the Grant County Genealogy Club
Soldier Home Notes
February 6, 1897
Michael Cook, late US Navy has been transferred from extra duty in the hospital to
duty in barrack No 2, Home Co. B., Capt. Martin Broderick commanding. Patrick Brophey,
Co. H 120th New York Infantry, has been sufficiently restored to health and sent to duty
in Home Co I, under Capt Joseph F. Tibbits. Wm. Depeyster, K Co, 5th New York Heavy
Artillery, and Lewis P. Streeter, late Co A 54th Indiana, have returned to duty, and were
sent to Capt Highbergerof Home Co E.
Musty Thomas, "Old Musty" of Barrack No2, is the most prominent character
from the "Rock Ribbed City" Neath the Hills," Madison, In., that has yet
taken up a permanent abode in this National Home. "Old Musty" is known from the
headwaters of the Monogahela and Allegheny streams that form the Ohio river, on both banks
of the placid stream, at every landing from Pittsburg to the delta of the Mississippi
River. "Old Musty" Thomas came as a child six years of age into Southern
Indiana in the year 1820, and since that time between steamboating on the Ohio and
Mississippi as a mate, with a blacksnake whip in his hand, has a record of unloading more
cargoes of freight and cotton than any mate that ever trod a deck. He sprang to his
country's call and assisted his brother in raising Co. A 54th Indiana infantry, a one
year regiment, organized in Oct. 1862, at Indianapolis, which, with few exceptions, was
composed of drafted men and substitures. It was mustered into service on !
the 16th of November, 1862, with Fielding Mansfield of Madison, Ind., as colonel. On the
9th of Dec. of that year the regiment left Indianapolis for Memphis, Tenn., which it
reached on the 12th of Dec. 1862. As soon as it was known what material it was composed
of Gen. Grant decided at once that this regiment should see active service. So the 54th
Indiana was assigned to Col John Decourcey's brigade in Gen. George W. Morgan's
division of the 13 th army corps. It was sent on the Sherman expedition to Vicksburg,
then up the Yazoo river, where it felt the enemy, drew its fire, and fell back under cover
of the gunboats. It was then ordered to the front and participated in two charges on the
rebel works at Vicksburg, losing 264 men killed, wounded and missing. It was sent on the
Arkansas post expedition in Jan. 1863, and took part in the battle of Thompson Hills.
Then the 54th was placed in the trenches and participated in the seige of Vicksburg.
After the surrender they!
were shoved ahead in advance, fought in the Black River campaign and
the capture of Jackson, Mississippi. They were sent then to New Orleans, joined the Army
of the Gult, where it moved with the expedition of teche, going as far as the Opelousas at
Vermillionville, La. Returning to New Orleans on the 1st of Nov. 1863, it was mustered
out Dec. 8, 1863, and sent home. Old Musty's commission from Gove. Oliver P. Morton,
bears the signature of Indiana's war governor, Oct. 28, 1862, the dame as his brother
John W. Thomas, who was his captain. Both commissions were issued at the same time. So
when Musty tells the warriors that they know nothing about fighting and when they say stat
substitures and drafted men would not fight, he just closes their mouths and tells them
what the 54th Indiana did in putting down the rebellion.
JCT