SUMMARY
Company A,
Tenth Missouri Infantry, was recruited in Schuyler County by Leonidas
Horney, who had been a soldier in the Mexican War and had been promoted
from the ranks to a captaincy. The most of the volunteers in this
company were from Littleton Township, but others were taken in to make
a full company. At the time the company was organized, Captain Horney
offered the services of his volunteers to Governor Yates, but the
Illinois quota at that time was full, and as the men were eager for
military service they went to St. Louis, where they were mustered into
service at Jefferson Barracks August 9, 1861, as Co. A, Tenth Missouri
Infantry. This regiment was made up largely from Illinois volunteers
who were unable to obtain admission to service in their own State.
From Jefferson Barracks the regiment went into service along the
Gasconade River, and spent their first winter at Herman, Mo. From there
they made an attack on General Cobb's troops at High Hill, Mo., and
drove the Confederates to Boonesboro. Following this engagement Captain
Horney was commissioned Major.
From Herman, Mo., the regiment was sent back to Jefferson
Barracks and from there to Cape Girardeau, Mo., thence to Pittsburg
Landing on the Tennessee River, where the regiment was in a hot
skirmish May 29, 1862. They also took part in the battle of Iuka,
Miss., September 13-20, 1862, and in the battle of Corinth, October 4,
1862, the regiment lost in killed and wounded 91 men. Major Horney was
wounded in the right leg in this engagement, but he remained with his
troops throughout the fight. For his conspicuous bravery on the field
of battle he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel October 25, 1862.
The winter of 1862-63 was spent near Germantown above Memphis,
and from there the regiment marched to Vicksburg. On May 8, 1863,
Colonel Horney received a congratulatory letter from General Grant for
capturing 1,000 prisoners and five guns while marching to Vicksburg. On
Thursday May 14, 1863, the regiment led a charge at Jackson, Miss., and
their loss was 85 killed and wounded.
In the siege of Vicksburg the Tenth Missouri was in the
engagement at Champion Hills and was held in reserve until 3 o'clock on
the afternoon of May 16, 1863. Orders were then given for the regiment
to charge, and Colonel Horney at the head of his troops drove the enemy
back and won the victory for the Union forces. After the main body had
been repulsed the regiment was ordered to clear the field of minor
detachments that had not abandoned their position. Colonel Horney rode
in advance of his regiment and noted a squad of six or eight soldiers
in blue uniform whom he took to be Union soldiers. They were, however,
rebels in disguise, and as he rode up they fired. One bullet pierced
his side and another his head and he fell from his horse into the arms
of his devoted men, who at the first sign of treachery had rushed to
their commander's aid. Colonel Horney was one of the able commanders in
the Vicksburg campaign and his death cut short a brilliant military
career, for he had the confidence of his superior officers who had
noted his fearless bravery in action and the masterly manner in which
he handled his men. He was buried on the field of battle, and nearly
two years elapsed before his remains were brought home. On February 15,
1865, they were interred with military honors in the old family burying
ground at Thompson Cemetery, Littleton Township.
After the siege of Vicksburg the regiment was sent to Helena,
Ark., on September 12, 1863, and from there marched to Chattanooga,
arriving there November 20th. On November 25th the regiment went into
action at Missionary Ridge, where a loss of 69 men was sustained. Major
Walker was wounded in the shoulder in this engagement, Captain Russell
killed and four Lieutenants wounded, but Company A went through the
battle without losing a man killed and only two slightly wounded.
Following this engagement the regiment did guard duty at
Brownsboro, Ala., and was mustered out at St. Louis August 24, 1864.
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10th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry
