PVT Lyman W Spencer’s Civil War tour of Dixie

Private Lyman W. Spencer embodies the spirit of a true Civil War hero, his remarkable service marked by courage and resilience in the face of tremendous adversity. He stood shoulder to shoulder with some of America’s most esteemed generals, including Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman, witnessing firsthand the forging of history amidst the chaos of battle. Over the course of the war, Private Spencer fought valiantly in five major battles, numerous significant engagements, and countless skirmishes. He participated in diverse operations that included daring pursuits, relentless assaults, and vital efforts as a soldier of occupation. His journey through the war took him from the harrowing battlefield of Corinth to the crucial heights of Missionary Ridge in Tennessee.

During the pivotal campaign around Vicksburg, Mississippi, Private Spencer displayed exceptional bravery. He was with General Grant when the Union forces embarked on a daring venture, moving forward with minimal supplies to face two Confederate armies. Throughout this campaign, Spencer fought valiantly in three intense battles, one pivotal engagement, and nine demanding skirmishes that ultimately contributed to the shattering of the Confederate grip on the Mississippi River.

In the midst of this turmoil, as General Hood withdrew from Sherman’s forces at Atlanta, a fragment of the Confederate army launched an assault on the 17th Regiment at Tilton, Georgia, on October 13, 1864. In a tragic turn of fate, the regiment was overwhelmed, and Private Spencer fell into the hands of the enemy, becoming a prisoner of war. The chaos of battle led to the destruction of all records of his regiment, and the captured soldiers were swiftly transported into Alabama, destined for the infamous prison camps and the notorious hellhole of Andersonville, Georgia. Private Spencer endured the grim reality of captivity from October 13, 1864, until May 5, 1865, when he was finally paroled in Savannah, Georgia.

The echoes of pathos and tragedy resonate through these historical accounts. When he re-enlisted at Huntsville, Alabama, Spencer and his fellow soldiers were assured they would soon return home for a much-deserved thirty-day furlough upon reaching Iowa. This promise filled them with hopeful anticipation, yet the harsh realities of war proved to be overwhelming. As the exigencies of military campaigns mounted, every able soldier in General Sherman’s army was required at the front lines. Sadly, the majority of the valiant men of the Seventeenth Iowa were forced to relinquish their dreams of reuniting with their families until the war’s end. Only a fortunate few who managed to escape capture or death saw the promise of furlough fulfilled. Among those taken prisoner, many suffered wounds sustained before their capture, while countless others fell victim to disease in the brutal conditions of captivity.

Throughout the conflict, Private Spencer’s regiment suffered grave losses, with 3 officers and 66 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, alongside 2 officers and 121 enlisted men succumbing to disease.

Engaging in the thorough research and documentation of my namesake’s service has been an arduous, yet profoundly rewarding journey. The accompanying map illustrates Private Lyman W. Spencer’s movements alongside his regiment from Durham, Illinois, to his incarceration at Andersonville, Georgia. I am dedicated to finishing the chronicles of his wartime experience, recognizing that a soldier’s mission is only complete when he returns home in honor and safety. My documentation will continue as I trace his steps after the war, detailing the return journey that is as heroically poignant as it is heartwarming.

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