2nd great-granduncle of Dorotha Piechocki

 

Private    Co. E and Co. M    1st MI Light Artillery

Dates of Service:  07 Mar 1864 - 01 Aug 1865

 

Peter Stillman Meabon, known as “Still”, the son of James Meabon and Amanda Foster Meabon, enlisted on March 7th 1864 in Grand Rapids , Michigan , into Company E 1st Regiment Michigan Light Artillery at age 28.  It did not take long for Company E to see action. In May of 1864 the 1st MLA was detailed to General William Tecumseh Sherman's Army of the Tennessee , which was pushing its way toward Atlanta , Georgia . Shortly after their arrival Company E, armed with its six ten-pound Parrot guns, was selected to serve as artillery support for the 8th Indiana Cavalry, the 5th Ohio Cavalry, the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, the 8th Ohio Cavalry, and the 4th Tennessee Cavalry -- some 2,500 men -- for a raid into Alabama (yes Alabama).

The raid, known as "Rousseau's Raid" for its commander Major General Lovell H. Rousseau, was to move deep into Alabama and cut the one remaining rail link into Atlanta , Georgia . If the West Point and Montgomery Railroad line could be cut, a vital supply line for munitions and food stored in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, as well as troop reinforcements might bring Atlanta that much closer to capitulation. 

 

The raiders rode out of Decatur, Alabama in the early morning hours of July 10, 1864, and headed south through Somersville, Blountsville, and Asheville, creating quite a stir throughout the region and drawing to them any Confederate troops in the area like bugs to a flame. During the night of July 13th the force had reached the Coosa River where the troopers found the best crossing --Ten Islands Ford -- blocked by 200 Confederate cavalrymen of the 6th and the 8th Alabama under General James H. Clanton. Under heavy enemy fire the Union raiders crossed the ford and successfully drove the rebels from the far side and chased them down the road to Greensport , Alabama . While at Ten Islands Ford, the Union forces made good use of their delay by destroying the Janney Furnace Iron works, which produced cannon balls and sheet metal.

 

On July 15th the Rousseau Raiders reached the town of Talladega where they destroyed the railroad depot, gun factory, and many railroad cars loaded with Confederate supplies of food on the side tracks, destined for Atlanta . As the Union raid moved out of Talladega , Rousseau headed the column toward Montgomery as a deception. While Confederate troops moved vigorously to the defense of Montgomery , the Union force suddenly turned east instead and destroyed the Tallessee Arsenal where the new Confederate carbine was being put into production.

 

On July 17th the raiding force reached its main objective and began the business of destroying as much of the West Point and Montgomery Railroad as time would allow. This was done by burning the torn-out railroad cross-ties, which were made of pine, and melting the tracks until they could be bent beyond re-use. This was done in several key locations along the rail line where it could have the most devastating effect. In all, about 30 miles of track was destroyed. During the fun, a fully-loaded Confederate train happened upon the troopers and was captured and destroyed as well. A small force from a nearby hospital in Auburn tried to harass the work but was no match for the force and was sent running.    

   

With their mission accomplished, the force turned north for the safety of the Union lines but were surprised to find their way blocked near the town of Chehaw Station in Macon County. A force of about 500 Confederate soldiers had been shipped in by train from Montgomery to cut off their escape. The soldiers blocking the route were not a cohesive unit but rather cadets and men on leave thrown together hastily and were no match for the hardened Union troopers. Although they put up a very good defense, they were no match for the artillery of Company E and during the cannon barrage, were soon flanked and routed leaving behind 40 brave dead and an unknown number of wounded. With no real resistance to impede them the force made good time returning to the Federal lines.

       

The raid achieved its purpose of destroying nearly 30 miles of the West Point and Montgomery Railroad and halting the flow of men and supplies into Atlanta by rail line. It took over a month for the Confederates to repair the line and until then the defense of Atlanta suffered by the loss if its use. In addition, tons of supplies and raw materials were denied use by the enemy. The Confederate army was never to get enough carbines due to the destruction of the Tallessee arsenal.  

 

On August 11, 1864, Pvt. Meabon transferred to Battery M, 1st Brigade, 4th Division, of the 23rd Army Corps and was posted to Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, where they spent the rest of the summer building fortifications defending the road to Knoxville, seventy miles to the south. On December 12, 1864, Company M, which was now without its artillery, accompanied General Stoneman into southwestern Virginia. The raid was intended to destroy the lead mines at Marion, VA, and salt works at Saltville, VA. On December 17th the force was met by a force of Confederates hurriedly assembled to defend the lead mines. The engagement was short but sharp costing a total of 274 casualties on both sides. The Confederates were sent packing and the mines were blown up.  

 

On December 20th the Confederates once again tried to halt the Federal advance, this time personally led by Confederate General John C. Breckinridge, but the Rebels were again outnumbered and outflanked causing them to fall back and leaving the saltworks to the Federals. 

   

The regimental history makes mention of several other small raids and forays into southwestern Virginia during the spring of 1865 but no details are given. It can be assumed that during this time there were few if any Confederate troops in the area as most of the historical events were occurring on the other side of Virginia . Yet current events in history are seldom seen as preeminent and there was one more, possibly life-altering, experience in store for Pvt. Meabon and his compatriots.  On April 1st 1865 , Company/Battery M was transferred to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Cumberland , which was positioned on the north end of the Cumberland Gap , with the purpose of cutting off any retreat General Lee and the Army of Virginia might have in mind if they could outmarch the Army of the Potomac .  It can only be imagined the anticipation of the men as they received the daily telegram news of the approaching Confederate Army as it was retreating from General Grant but heading right toward them. Would they perhaps die in the last major battle of the Civil War? Would they be the force that would defeat and capture the Army of Northern Virginia or perhaps be defeated by it? Neither was to be the case, as the Confederate forces were forced to surrender some 150 miles short of the Gap at Appomatox Court House on April 7th 1865 .

 

On July 7th 1865 Company/Battery M began a train journey from Nashville , TN , to Louisville , KY , to Indianapolis , IN , to Jackson , MI , on July 12th. There it camped until August 1, 1865 . The Company was then paid off and disbanded, ending Peter Meabon's adventure to "see the elephant". 

“Still” returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for awhile and then moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he and his wife Mary Patterson Meabon made a living growing popcorn. They had no 

children.  “Still” was a member of the Eagle Post, No. 52, Dept. of Wisconsin, GAR. He died in 1897 after a long battle with tuberculosis.

 

Death notice from the "Eau Claire Leader, 2 Feb 1897, Page 4

'The death of Peter Meabon, aged 60, occurred at his home in this city on Sunday.

 

The deceased as a member of Company D [E & M] First Michigan Light Artillery during the late war. He was also a member of Eagle Post, G.A.R.' " 

 

GRAVESITE:  Forest Hill Cemetery, Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI

Written by Jerry Piechocki, March 2004, updated March 2020