55                                  HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT O.V.V.I.

which prejudiced the regiment very much in his favor – always cheerful and kind, the men felt at ease and at home in his company.

E. D. FORREST

Was appointed Assistant Surgeon, vice Workman resigned. He was detailed on hospital duty, and was soon detached from the regiment and assigned elsewhere.

GABRIEL H. HOLLAND

Was appointed Hospital Steward, vice Coulson mustered out. He was a young man of good attainments, always cheerful and mirthful. He discharged his duties with great acceptability to all. On the 22d of July near Atlanta he was captured, and held a prisoner for several months. At the expiration of his term of service he was exchanged, and shortly afterwards mustered out. Joseph L. Geyer was then appointed Hospital Steward, having been for nearly a year Dispenser in the regiment. He was a true, faithful, and conscientiously upright man in all the duties of his position. He was as true to the interests of the Government in the economical use and issue of medicines as a proprietor of his own drug store.

WILLIAM J. M'ALLISTER

Was appointed Quartermaster-Sergeant, and William Heller, Commissary-Sergeant, both distinguished for good and accurate business talent. The former was discharged at Vicksburg, for disability, and the latter afterwards detailed as Clerk in the Third Division Commissary; his term of three years having expired, he was mustered out, and in the spring of 1865 was appointed sutler of the regiment.

           This brings us to the Field and Staff of the present organization, and continues without much change until the muster out of the regiment.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILES

(See Companies B and C for more specific account,) was promoted from Captain, and took command of the regiment on the morning of the battle of Champion Hills. Under him it became the best drilled and most orderly regiment of the corps, and, without doubt, the best in the Western army. Its superior discipline and high moral character was observed by all, so that it became known as the "Model Regiment." The Colonel, well knowing that morality was one of the chief qualities held in request for a good, orderly regiment, neglected no means for this attainment. He therefore gave every encouragement to the Chaplain, and attendance on the part of the men to divine services on the Sabbath. He always attended himself, and usually led the singing. His example in this respect had a decided influence, so that the regiment generally attended preaching on the Sabbath, while some other Chaplains complained bitterly that their regiments neglected this duty; so that many had to abandon all efforts to get congregations. We seldom ever preached to a small congregation, and when others preached for us, they were surprised at the large congregations that turned out, when compared with other regiments

.            The Colonel seldom ever was compelled to inflict punishment, but when necessary, it was severe; he was rigid in discipline, yet kind in reformatory. Men most generally went from under

Intro Previous Next ToC Index