Born circa 1842, at _______________,
State of Virginia, or Franklin County, State of Alabama
Parents were ______________________________ and
_____________________________
Married on ________, 18__, to _________________ at
_____________________________
Married on ________, 18__, to Hannah Grayson (Graceson) at
________________________
Died on ___________, 1___, of _________________ at _____________________________
Buried
at __________________________________________________________________
On July 3, 1863, the 15th Wisconsin went into camp at the Town of Winchester, in Franklin County, State of Tennessee, as part of the Union Army then under the command of U.S. Major General Rosecrans. There, on August 1, 1863, Bob Cheatam, "African" was enlisted as an Under Cook in Company K of the 15th. The men of Company K called themselves "Clausen's Guards" in honor of the regiment's first Chaplain, Claus L. Clausen. Bob Cheatam was recruited for a 3 year term of service by Captain Mons Grinager and his enlistment was witnessed by 2nd Lieutenant Ellend Erickson.
Bob Cheatam was examined by Surgeon A. F. St. Sure Lindefelt, who certified that he was "free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity.". On his enlistment papers Under Cook Cheatam was recorded as being a 21 year old Servant who had been born in the State of Virginia, and who had "brown eyes, Curly hair, dark complexion [and] is 5 feet 10 inches high." He signed the enlistment papers with an "X" which was noted as "his mark".
On August 17, 1863, the 15th left Winchester to participate in General Rosecran's Chickamauga campaign. Under Cook Cheatam is believed to have been present at the daring early morning crossing of the Tennessee River on August 28th, which the 15th led. He is also believed to have been present at the September 19-20, 1863, fighting at Chickamauga, Georgia -- the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War. It is not known what part, if any, he took in the fighting around Viniard's Farm on the first afternoon, or the next morning during Longstreet's Breakthrough. Some 63% of the 15th's soldiers who were at Chickamauga were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.
Under Cook Cheatam would have then served with the regiment during the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee, which began right after the battle. The siege resulted in severe shortages of food and firewood which, together with cold, wet weather, caused much suffering, sickness, and death. On November 19, 1863, Under Cook Cheatam was mustered into Federal service as an "African Under Cook" at Chattanooga. The Army recorded his residence as Winchester, Tennessee, and noted that he was mustered in under General Order No. 230, dated October 10, 1863, by the Headquarters of the Department of the Cumberland. Starting November, 1863, Under Cook Cheatam was listed as "present" with the 15th until February, 1865.
On November 25, 1863, the Confederate siege was broken by the Union Army's victorious charge up Mission Ridge, which the 15th took part in. Starting almost immediately afterwards the 15th was engaged in nearly non-stop marching and counter-marching all over Eastern Tennessee throughout the Winter of 1863/1864. By many original accounts, this was the worst period of the regiment's 3 year term of service. Poor rations, inadequate clothing and shelter, and unseasonably cold weather made these months nearly unbearable.
Starting in May, 1864, the 15th participated in General William T. Sherman's famous campaign to capture the City of Atlanta, Georgia. This campaign was marked by almost daily marching and/or combat for 4 months straight. The 15th took part in the fighting at Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, in early May, at the bloody Battle of Resaca, Georgia, on May 14-15, and at the disastrous Battle of Pickett's Mill (often called Dallas or New Hope Church), Georgia, on May 27, 1864, where the 15th suffered fearful casualties. The 15th also took part in the fighting at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, on June 23, before Atlanta on July 22, at Jonesboro, Georgia, on September 1, and at Lovejoy Station, Georgia, on September 4, 1864.
After a period of rest following the capture of Atlanta in early September, the 15th was briefly assigned to Provost (police) duty in Chattanooga starting at the beginning of October, 1864. This was followed by several months spent guarding a railroad bridge at Whitesides, Tennessee, near Chattanooga, which some of the 15th's soldiers felt was the easiest duty of their war service. On February 10, 1865, most of the surviving members of Company K were mustered out of Federal service at Chattanooga, Tennessee, upon the end of their 3 year term of service. Under Cook Cheatam was not, because he had only served about half of his 3 year term. When Company K ceased to exist he was transferred to Company H until it mustered out on February 13, 1865, and the 15th ceased to exist.
Under Cook Cheatam and the other 15th soldiers who had not yet served out their terms of service were then transferred to the 24th Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was then listed as "Present" with the 24th at Huntsville, Alabama, on February 28, 1865, and at Nashville, Tennessee, on April 30, 1865, which was right after the Civil War ended. In June, 1865, the 24th Wisconsin was mustered out of the Army and ceased to exist. Under Cook Cheatam and the other 15th soldiers who had not yet served out their terms of service were then transferred on June 10, 1865, to Company I of the 13th Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment under General Order No. 21 dated June 7, 1865, from the 4th Army Corps Headquarters. In June 1865 the 13th was sent to New Orleans, State of Louisiana. In July, 1865, the 13th was sent to the State of Texas, where it occupied several posts near the Rio Grande River. On November 24, 1865, the 13th was sent to Madison, Wisconsin, which it reached December 23, 1865. There on December 26, 1865, it was paid off and the regiment disbanded.
Further research is needed to determine what happened to Under Cook Cheatam after he joined the 13th Wisconsin and after he left it. It is known that he was an ex-slave whose owner was a man named Tom Cheatham, from which Bob got his last name. It is also known that Bob had children by both of his wives. Finally, it is known that after the war he applied for and received a soldier's pension, and that after his death one of his wives applied for and received a veteran's pension as his widow.
Sources: Genealogical data from Dee Anna Grimsrud, MLIS, CGRS; Civil War Compiled Military Service Records by Office of Adjutant General of the United States (Washington, DC); Regimental Descriptive Rolls, Volume 20 Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1885); and, Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume I Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1886).
This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep
Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created December 11, 2000. Last updated
March 6, 2001.