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DISTLER FAMILY Vol No. 1 Issue No. 1 Date 6/97 HISTORY OF FOURTEENTH CAVALRY Captain Paul Distler (born Johann Paulus Distler) migrated
to Peoria, Illinois from Unterleinleiter., Franconia (now Bavaria) by way of Bremen, DE to New York City on the Ship Rebecca in 1852.
The Fourteenth Cavalry was recruited and organized in the fall and winter
of 1862, with headquarters at Peoria. January 7, 1863, the First and Second Battalions were mustered, and February 6 the Third Battalion. In February and March, 1863, the Regiment received its horses and equipments, and
was placed under thorough discipline and well drilled in tactics. March 28, it started for the front. April 17it arrived at Glasgow being headquarters, the Regiment was almost constantly in the saddle
scouting. In June it pursued and attacked Colonel Hamilton's rebel force near Turkey Neck Bend, driving the enemy into the mountains in Tennessee. It took a number of prisoners, several pieces
of artillery, 600 stand of arms, a wagon train filled with supplies and the commander's papers. It pursued the rebel raider John Morgan from July 4, until he was captured, the expedition covering
2,100 miles; it took part in many of the skirmishes and battles on this raid and was especially conspicuous at the battle of Buffington Island, and in the six days pursuit thereafter, and at the
capture of Margan himself. On the 18th of August, it started on the East Tennessee campaign. It reached Knoxville September
The next day it drove the enemy through Bristol into Virginia, and again engaged him, on the 20th and 22d of September, fighting and driving him at every point. On the 11th of October another
severe engagement was fought by the Regiment, and on the 14th of October it again drove him from his cover. During the siege of Knoxville the Regiment did notsuffer itself to be cooped up, but
operated outside continuously harassing and annoying the rebel forces. December 19, the Brigade was attacked by a greatly superior force from Longstreet's command. Retreating with skill it
inflicted great loss on the enemy, and suffered severely itself. After the siege of Knoxville, the Fourteenth Regiment was closely in pursuit of Longstreet's forces.
On the 14th of December, at Bean Station, the Cavalry alone had an engagement, the enemy's entire Corps attacking and losing 800 men. Here the Battery manned by men of the Fourteenth did
signal service. The next day the fight was renewed and the enemy was again severely punished. December 24, the Cavalry was consolidated under General Sturgis. At Dandridge a severe battle
was fought. January 30, 1864, the Fourteenth alone, out of a large number of regiments in the Corps, was designated to fight "Thomas' Legion" of whites and Cherokee Indians in North
Carolina. February 2, with the brass pieces, after following a mountainous old Indian trail, it surprised the Legion, killing and capturing the greater part. General Grant in a special dispatch
highly complimented the Regiment for this work. May 27, at Cittico, Thomas having re-organized his command, attacked a portion of the Fourteenth guarding the mountain passes, but was handsomely repulsed.
June 13, it started to join General Stoneman's command organized for the Atlanta campaign, reaching the latter on the 19th. July 27, it left Lost Mountain on the famous Macon raid, reaching
the city on the 30th, destroying a large amount of public property and capturing many prisoners. At Sunshine Church, after a hot battle with the enemy, General Stoneman decided to surrender his
command, Colonel Capron, with the Fourteenth, first receiving permission to cut his way out. This he did, taking his command with him, with success. August 3, at 1 o'clock in the morning, Colonel
Capron supposing he was beyond the reach of the enemy, ordered a halt. But he was betrayed by a treacherous guide and the men were attacked about daylight. Being without sleep for seven days
and nights they could not be aroused. In this condition many were killed or captured. Those who escaped were hunted by rebel soldiers, guerrillas, citizens and bloodhounds. They came in singly
and in squads for weeks. One party traveled over 400 miles before reaching our lines. On this raid the First Battalion was detached, leaving the command, July 29, to make a flank and front
movement. In 60 hours, night and day, it marched 160 miles, destroying 4 depots, 500 passenger and freight cars, 40 engines, many miles of railroad track, public buildings, heavy military stores,
many bridges, including the great Oconee bridge. Several times it marched near large bodies of the enemy, at one time passing between the rebel picket and Milledgeville, not over half a mile from
the city, in which was a large rebel force. It rejoined the Regiment August 1, in time to share in the great disaster of the 3d. After this raid the scattered fragments joined the line of battle in front of
Atlanta, having the honor to enter the city with our advance forces. September 15, the Regiment returned to Kentucky, where it was remounted and re-equipped.
November 8, it arrived at Waynesboro, near the Tennessee River, where it disputed Hood's advance. The contest continuedthree days, every foot of ground being disputed, fighting on the
23d, a strong engagement. On the 24th another fight occurred, when the infantry came to the rescue. On the 20th, while guarding Duck River fords, the command, at dark, found itself cut off and
surrounded. In a gallant charge the Regiment cut its way out. At Franklin it was on the left wing of our army near the town. At Nashville it was on the right, aiding in crushing, pursuing and capturing Bragg's Army.
The battle of Nashville, including the pursuit, capture and destruction of Hood's great army, practically closed the fighting and other aggressive work of the Regiment. With the Brigade, it was
afterwards stationed at Pulaski, Tenn., performing the ordinary camp and guard duty, where headquarters continued until it went to Nashville to be mustered out. This occurred July 31, 1865.
Without considering the duty done by detachments, the main column of the Fourteenth, during its term of service, marched over 10,000 miles. It was mustered out July 31, 1865.
I have checked the book and according to the book under the Regiments officers it says: "Captain
Paul Distler, mustered as captain Company "B" January 7th, 1863. Resigned October 16, 1864" Capt Ebenezer Foote was mustered as commanding D.
The authors acknowledge the record is imperfect. I didn't find anything concerning capture of Distler. The unit was in a terrible fight and decimated on August 3rd 1864 while on Stoneman's raid
to Atlanta. They were overrun by Rebel Cavalry while sleeping. They had been in the saddle for about seven days (quoting from book) "We had made long and rapid marches and were almost
constantly in the saddle since the 31st, and indeed almost without rest since the morning of 27th of July, 7 days before." They were dead exhausted and were hampered by a group of slaves. The
confederate charge drove the negroes through the sleeping camp and there was absolute confusion and the Union men scattered through the brush. Those who escaped were reconstituted
as cavalry in October 64. I could copy that portion of the book about the raid to Macon and the final battle. It is probably coincidental that your ancestor resigned as the unit was being
remounted.
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After setteling in Peoria for just ten years he was swept into the Battle
Between the States and Served Cerimoniously as Captain of Comapny "D" of the 14th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Cavalry. The following information was lsited as the official record of his Regiment during the
Civil War. Captain Distler was wounded in the Battle of Sunshine Church outside of Macon Georgia during Sherman's March to the Sea. He was
taken prisoner of war and was held in Charleston, South Carolina until he was released in a prisoner swap due to his injuries. He took scrapnel
between the eyes and his horse was killed. A few sentances at the end of the history deal specifically about a particular listing of Captain Distler and his capture. I have now set history straight!
1, two days in advance of the main column, capturing the rear guard of the enemy, and a large amount of stores and munitions
of war. September 9, at the battle and taking of Cumberland Gap, it was active in closing in on the enemy, taking the rebel force and an immense amount of supplies. On the 18th, it pursued and
routed Colonel Carter's rebel command as far east as Bristol, killing and capturing many and securing the rebel train with a large quantity of arms, ammunition and supplies. 
