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Alois Rasch was born in Prussia in 1840 and immigrated to America and settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His brothers Robert Rasch, Adolph Rasch, Julius Rasch, and his sister Frances Jackoboice Rasch also immigrated to Grand Rapids. His brother Julius joined the Second Michigan Infantry. On September 4, 1861, Alois joined the Second Michigan Cavalry, Company H, as a private. According to his muster rolls, he was twenty-one, five feet six inches, light complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, and listed his profession as a farmer. i
The 2nd Michigan Cavalry was organized by F. W. Kellogg, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who was a member of Congress. The regiment rendezvous at Grand Rapids and finished their recruitment in Detroit, Michigan on October 2, 1861, with 1,163 officers and men. Their original commander was Colonel Gordon Granger. The second colonel was Phil Sheridan. Both Granger (May 25, 1862) and Sheridan (July 1, 1862) were promoted to general and left the regiment to Colonel Archibald P. Campbell to take command of their new assignments. Campbell was promoted to colonel on July 1, 1862. On November 14, the regiment left for St. Louis, Missouri. The regiment fought at the New Madrid and Island Number 10, Missouri and the siege of Corinth, Mississippi. In early September 1862, a strong Union force was left at Corinth, while the rest of the Union army, including the 2nd Michigan Cavalry, started in pursuit of Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s Army of Mississippi, which had entered Kentucky. The 2nd Michigan Cavalry boarded trains and on September 9, they arrived in Columbus, Kentucky. At Columbus, the 2nd Michigan boarded thirteen government transports. The 2nd Michigan arrived in Louisville, Kentucky. The 2nd Michigan scouted as far as Elizabethtown, Kentucky and charged into town capturing Confederate outposts and a portion of the troops stationed in the town. A Confederate flag was waving above the Elizabethtown courthouse, but a few men of Company F, 2nd Michigan rushed in and took the flag down. The 2nd Michigan also scouted along the Bardstown turnpike and found the Confederates strongly posted a few miles from the city. The 2nd Michigan received grape shot from a battery. Lieutenant Daniel Moody of Company E was killed. On October 1, 1862, the Army of the Ohio, under General Don Carlos Buell, marched out of Louisville, along with the 2nd Michigan Cavalry, who were leading the front. The 2nd Michigan Cavalry was assigned to Captain Ebenezer Gay’s brigade of cavalry. The brigade was comprised of five hundred men of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel James, five hundred men of the 9th Kentucky Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel Boyle, and 350 men under the 2nd Michigan Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel Campbell. The 2nd Michigan marched out on the Bardstown turnpike and met the Confederate outposts. The 2nd Michigan pushed the Confederate rear guard with a continuous running fight for seven days. ii.
Late in the afternoon, on October 7, the 2nd Michigan Cavalry arrived near a fork of Doctor’s Creek, on the Springfield Road. The Second, with two companies, were thrown out in advance and drove back the Confederates across Doctor’s Creek, along the Springfield Road. Confederate sharpshooters brought the 2nd Michigan to a halt. A company of the 2nd Michigan deployed on the right of the road and a company deployed on the left of the road and slowly moved forward, dismounted, when Wharton’s 8th Texas Cavalry, Terry’s Texas Rangers, attacked the 2nd Michigan. The 2nd Michigan gave the Rangers a volley and the Rangers scattered. The Rangers returned to Samuel Bottom’s Hill. The Confederate artillery opened up on the mounted portion of the 2nd Michigan as they stood near the Union skirmish line. The Union line was reinforced with infantry and artillery. iii. Darkness brought an end to the advance.
On October 8, the 2nd Michigan Cavalry, armed with their Colt Repeating Rifles, rode to the front and found the Confederates had retired a short distance, when the 2nd Michigan uncovered their position after crossing Doctor’s Creek and were met by fire from muskets, lodged on Samuel Bottoms Hill. The regiment was dismounted. A large body of Confederate sharpshooters were decimating the ranks of the 2nd Michigan. Six companies of the 2nd Michigan, under Major Alger, pressed forward to the foot of Peter’s hill. The 2nd Michigan came in direct contact with Arkansas sharpshooters. Seventeen men of the 2nd Michigan of Company D went down. The sharpshooters were silenced by the fire of the 2nd Michigan. The sharpshooters fell back and formed a new line. The 2nd Michigan stood up and jumped over the fence and mounted the ridge and drove the Confederates down the hill on the other side. When they got to the other side, they faced the Confederates new line. The fire became too intense for the 2nd Michigan, and they withdrew part of their regiment. The Confederates rushed towards the 2nd Michigan and the 2nd Michigan retired. The 2nd Missouri and 44th Illinois Infantry came to assistance of the 2nd Michigan. Once the two infantry regiments arrived, the Confederates fell back and driven off the ridge. Off to the 2nd Michigan’s right, they saw Union General Phil Sheridan and his staff riding along the crest of the hill. iv.
Barrett’s and Hescock’s Union batteries were ordered up the right of the Springfield Road and Loomis battery on the left, where the 2nd Michigan Cavalry moved and formed on the front and rear of the battery as a support. An artillery duel broke out. Union General Lovell Rousseau made observations to his right, when Confederate General William Hardee corps arose and poured a heavy fire into Rousseau’s division. Rousseau rode along the lines as the men fell back. v.
Firing increased in front of Sheridan. The position of the cavalry took shot and shell from the Confederate artillery on each wing, crossing each other, and dropping in their midst. The cannon fire from Barrett’s battery continued at regular intervals. The Confederates assaulted Sheridan’s position. Sheridan ordered the infantry to attack the oncoming Confederates and put them to flight. The 2nd Michigan focused their attention to the left where the firing intensified and they moved up to assist Rousseau, but the sound of muskets died away as darkness settled upon the battlefield and the artillery alone kept up their firing at close range long after darkness had fallen. After the battle, Gay wrote in his official after action report that the “Second Michigan in this action well sustained the good reputation it had previously earned.” The regiment lost four men killed and thirteen wounded.
After the battle of Perryville, the 2nd Michigan gave chase to Bragg’s army to Harrodsburg, followed by Lancaster, and finally Rockcastle River. On November 1, 1862, Alois was promoted to Corporal. After the regiment broke off their pursuit of Bragg, the 2nd Michigan Cavalry remained in Kentucky. In December and January, the regiment participated in the raid under General Carter into East Tennessee. During the twenty two day raid, the regiment fought at Blountsville, Zolikoffer, and Watanga. Soon after the Carter Raid, they proceeded to Louisville. On February 3, 1863, they moved to Nashville. During the months of February and March, they were stationed at Murfreesboro and Franklin, Tennessee making several reconnaissance patrols on the surrounding roads, having several skirmishes at Milton, Cainsville and Spring Hill. On March 4 and 5, they had a severe skirmish with forces under the commands of Confederate Generals Earl Van Dorn and Nathan Bedford Forrest on the Columbia Pike. From March 8 through March 12, they participated in an important reconnaissance, during which the Confederates were driven across the Duck River. On March 25, they fought the rebels under the command of Stearns and Forrest, killing and wounding a large number, while capturing fifty-two prisoners and a large number of wagons filled with arms, ammunition and supplies, with a loss to the Regiment of one killed, six wounded and two missing. On June 4, while returning to Franklin from Triune, they had a brisk skirmish, with a loss of two killed and three wounded. Remaining at Triune until the Union army advanced from Murfreesboro, they were engaged at Rover, then Middletown, and on June 27, they charged the rebels into Shelbyville. On July 2, the regiment aided in driving the Confederates from Elk River Ford, and on July 3, they drove the Confederates from Cowan.
In the early part of September, they were actively engaged in scouting among the mountains near Chattanooga and northern Georgia. On September 18, 19, and 20, they were involved in the Battle of Chickamauga, charging the rear of Bragg's army at Fayetteville, capturing eighteen men and important information. During the battle, the regiment ascended the mountains, reported to Union General William Rosecrans, then moved to the rear of the battlefield at Crawfish Springs, where they assisted in holding a critical point.
Leaving Rankin's Ferry, on the Tennessee River on October 3, the Regiment participated in the chase of the Confederates under General Wheeler, who were at the time making raids on the communication lines of the army. They crossed the Cumberland Mountains, marching on the October 3, 4, and 5, 103 miles, followed on the 6, 7, and 8, 82 miles, all over rough and mountainous terrain, meeting the rebels at Anderson's Cross Roads. The Regiment camped at Winchester, serving in the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division of the Army of the Cumberland.
In November, the Regiment proceeded on a foraging expedition to Fayetteville, securing 400 bushels of wheat, 65 beef cattle, between 500 and 600 sheep and many horses and mules. On November 16, the regiment left Winchester and moved to Shelbyville, Murfreesboro and Milton, to Liberty, then to Sparta, over the Cumberland, through Crossville, Kingston and Knoxville, to Strawberry Plains, fording the Holston River. On November 23, the Regiment marched to Dandridge, where at daylight on November 24, they participated in an attack on a Confederate superior force. The fight lasting through the day, the Union forces falling back to New Market, the 2nd Michigan, losing two men killed, eight wounded, with ten captured. On November 25, they camped at Mossey Creek, remaining here until January 14, 1864. On January 17, they skirmished with the forces of General James Longstreet, moving on Knoxville. Falling back to Knoxville, they participated in attack on the rebels at Pigeon River, from whom they captured three pieces of artillery along with seventy-five prisoners.
On the March 29, 1864, 366 men re-enlisted, including Alois Rasch. On April 14, the regiment was sent home on Veterans Furlough for thirty days leave. On May 3, the remainder of the Regiment broke camp and moved with Sherman's army on the Georgia Campaign. On May 11, the 2nd Michigan marched through Tunnel Hill and onto Dug Gap, where on May 13, they skirmished with the Confederates and constructed breastworks at Tipton, but crossed the Coosa River on the next day continuing the advance to Atlanta, reaching Cassville Station on May 20, forded the Etowah River on May 23, reaching Lost Mountain on the May 17. During this advance the 2nd Michigan lost three killed, thirteen wounded. The Regiment was then sent by rail to Franklin, arriving there on July 10, where they were joined by the re-enlisted Veterans returning from leave.
On July 30, the regiment moved out the Murfreesboro Road in pursuit of General Wheeler's Cavalry, engaging them twelve miles outside of Nashville, driving them several miles, then again at Campbellsville on the August 5, before returning to Franklin on August 12. On August 27, they again marched out, to Florence, Alabama, engaging the forces of General Forrest at Cypress River on the September 7.
The Regiment moved to Four Mile Creek, Alabama, where they encamped until the September 29, when the Confederates, led by General John Bell Hood, crossed the Tennessee River. For the remainder of the month the Regiment was engaged checking the rebel advance. On the September 30, they encountered the Confederates at Raccoon Ford, but forced to retire. On the September 31, they marched to Sugar Creek, which for the year, brought the total, exclusive of patrols, to a total of 1,364 miles on the march.
On November 1, they moved towards Shoal Creek, Alabama, where they were attacked on November 5, when after a gallant defense, were forced back to Four Mile Creek, sustaining heavy losses.
From November 9 through the 14, they were in camp doing scouting and picket duty. On the November 15, they broke camp and made a reconnaissance to the right of their position, encamping at Taylor's Springs, remaining there until November 20, when they marched to Lexington, Tennessee leaving there on November 21 to Lawrenceburg, where they were attacked on the afternoon of that day, then fell back towards Campbellville and Columbia, skirmishing at both of these points. The November 25, they crossed the Duck River, engaging the rebels, then, and on the next two days, then on November 28, was in line of battle near the Lewisburg Pike. On November 29, they retired to Spring Hill, there engaged in skirmishing and again at Bethesda Church. On November 30, they were engaged at Franklin, fighting all day, sustaining a loss of 1 killed, 17 wounded and 3 missing. The Regiment marched from near Franklin, December 1, to within a few miles of Nashville, going into the line of battle that night. On December 2, they passed through the city, crossing the Cumberland River, going into camp at Edgefield, remaining there until December 12, when they retraced their route back through Nashville, camping on the Charlotte Pike.
On March 11, the 2nd Michigan crossed the Tennessee River into Alabama, raiding into different towns destroying supplies, and skirmished with Confederates. When the war ended they were broken up into detachments and used to garrison Perry, Thomaston, Barnesville, Forsyth and Milledgeville, while two full companies remained to help garrison Macon.
On August 17, they were mustered out of Federal service, returned to Michigan by rail, arriving at Jackson on August 26, where they were paid off and disbanded.
On September 13, 1862, Julius Rasch was discharged from the Union army because a gunshot wound at the Battle of Williamsburg, which left him disabled. He returned to Grand Rapids and opened a grocery store at 122 Canal Street. After the war, Alois worked for his brother Julius. In 1872, Julius made Alois a partner. In 1880, Julius died and Alois became the sole owner of the “Rasch Brothers” business. Alois married Ann Marie Andersch in 1870 and had seven children, five boys and two girls. On September 5, 1898, Alois died from stomach cancer and buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and buried next to his wife. He is also buried near his brother Julius.
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