As related in the text, Arthur was born March 25, 1846 in Black River, Wood Co., Ohio. He died May 9, 1930, at Soldier's Home, WI (now Wood, WI) and is buried in the National Cemetery in the same grave as Hiram, with a personal headstone (Gravestone picture and story here).
Little is known about Arthur except that he had two wives, one unknown and the other, Rebecca J. Holand who he married July 9, 1876 in Crawford, McLennan Co., TX. He had two children in this marriage, Julie and Fannin. Rebecca died on October 17, 1891. It is also known that he was living at Soldiers' Home in 1915. Records indicate that by May 1, 1920, he was almost deaf and blind. Records indicate that after discharge, he had lived in Wisconsin, Texas and California.
At the time of his enlistment he had just turned 17, his brother Hiram was 14. Arthur described Hiram as "large for his age," however enlistment papers describe both boys as "slight build." It cannot be imagined the impact the horror of war had upon such young boys, but the "old West" and "logging country" of the post war period were inhabited by rough & tumble no-hold-barred characters who exhibited some of the same characteristics that have become known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Hiram never married and worked as a lumber-jack in the forests of central and northern Wisconsin. He also was at Soldier's Home, WI and died there October 10, 1903 at the age of 55. The "malarial fever" was a contributing cause of death
The pamphlet "Memorandum and Anecdotes of the Civil War was written about 1912. I found a copy of it in the Wisconsin State Historical Archives. I have includes some of the illustrations from the book, but please realize they are taken from a photocopy. I have also put the stories in order. The original pamphlet was 5x7 and two columns, except for the section on his boy hood, I have put everything else in a single column for ease of reading
Paul Johnson, great grand nephew of Arthur J. Robinson
 |
 |
|||
| Cover of pamphlet | picture of Arthur in 1912 - inside pamphlet |
Dear Readers:
In writing this little book, I
have
endeavored to make it as interesting as possible without any false
coloring.
It is made up from memoranda that I kept during my service of three
years
in the Civil War, and is an accurate description of the marches and
campaigns
in which I was a participant.
I have enlarged from memory,
brought
vividly to mind in pursuing my memoranda, and have related anecdotes
that
actually came under my observation. I now submit it to your perusal,
hoping
that it may meet with your approbation, I am,
Most respectfully yours,
ARTHUR J. ROBINSON,
Co. E, 33d Regt.. Wis. Vols.
BIOGRAPHY OF BOYHOOD DAYS
|
On the morning
of the 26th of March, 1846, I was ushered into the world, as I have
often
been informed by my dear mother, who ought to know, and in whom I have
always had great confidence and respect. It was a cold, blustering
March
morning: Father had started out for the doctor, first going to a near
neighbor's,
a Mrs. Osburn, and procuring her service until he should return. The
doctor
lived in the village of Black River, Wood County, Ohio, a distance of
about
four miles, which distance father had to walk, making a delay of
several
hours in his return.
On father's return, accompanied by the doctor, I was presented to my father by Mrs. Osburn with the ejaculation, "Nort, it's a boy" Well, there was considerable confusion and bustle for several minutes. I was weighed with the old-fashioned balance and broke the beam at eight pounds avoirdupois. The doctor had attended to my mother, matters had quieted down to normal conditions, and I, the first born, a boy, was peacefully slumbering on my dear mother's breast. The doctor had taken his departure for the village and announced my arrival to the editor of the Black River Eagle, and the news was heralded to the readers "Born, boy, to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Norton Robinson. Father and mother both doing well." I was a healthy, hardy lad at eight years, when father concluded to move to Seville, Medina County, Ohio, and here father worked at his trade as a carpenter and I was entered at school. In the intervening years there were two brothers born, Hiram N., two years younger than I, and Edgar L., five years my junior. With three healthy, hearty lads, mother was taxed to her full strength and was failing in health, and father was forced to seek another climate for the benefit of mother and place his boys where they could assist him in the struggle for the support of his family. In March, 1851, we moved to Wisconsin, first locating at Hartford, where we remained one year, then moved to Orfordville, Rock County, where we lived continuously until the breaking out of the Civil War. Mother had improved in health and there had been two other additions to the family - two sisters, Estella, born 1857, and Lottie, born 1859, Father had rented a farm in the spring of 1857, and I, a boy of 13 years of age, was made a full hand |
and did the greater part of the spring
work, while father
worked at his trade. We followed farming until the spring of 1859, when
I was hired out to a Mr. Lamont on a farm and father worked at his
trade.
We worked until the spring of 1861, when the war agitation was rife and the country enthused with patriotism. In April, 1861, father enlisted in the 7th Wisconsin Volunteers, of which regiment his brother, W. W. Robinson was lieutenant colonel, and father was appointed quartermaster sergeant. Father remained with the regiment until May, 1862, when he was sent home on recruiting service, after being ruptured by a fall from his horse at the battle of Bull Run. He remained in Wisconsin until about the middle of June, when he returned to his regiment, and in July was discharged for disability and returned home. I, the eldest son, had been the matters of the family during fathers absence in the army. Brother Hiram had caused mother considerable anxiety, and in July had run away and enlisted. He was then only 14 years old, but large for his age. He had declared his age to be eighteen and had passed muster and was assigned to the l3th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers and was about ready to be sent to the regiment when father returned and took him out. On August 13th, 1862, Hiram ran away again and enlisted the second time. Father was put to a stress to decide what to do, and as I had been begging him to allow me to enlist, he had finally concluded that it would be best to allow me to go with Hiram. On the morning of the 15th of August, 1862, I walked to Janesville, a distance of twelve miles, and enlisted in the same company with Hiram. Father coming in on the following Saturday and signing papers giving his consent, we were both mustered into the United States Army as full-fledged soldiers. My dear readers, the preceding pages are a biography of my early life up to the time of my enlistment in the army, and are recorded to give the reader some idea of the circumstances and conditions causing my enlistment, and I will now leave it to the reader to derive his own conclusion whether it was a pure motive of patriotism or a boy's desire for adventure that I left a comfortable home and a fond mother's care to enter the service for three long years. |
COMPANY AND REGIMENTAL ORGANIZATION.
There were eight corporals chosen, and my brother, Hiram, was the eighth, but it was only for a short time he retained his chevrons, as he was always into some mischief, for which he was reprimanded.
We were now fully organized as a company. On the 1st of September we wore transported to Camp Utley Racine, Wis., on the shore of Lake Michigan, where we were joined by other companies and organized into a regiment of 1,000 men, consisting of ten companies, and receiving our letter, E Co., 33d Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers. We remained at Camp Utley for one month, going on regimental drill and daily routine of camp duty. We drew our uniforms the first week we were at Camp Utley. No guns, doing guard duty armed with clubs and canes. Woe to the enemy who ventured too close, for he was in great danger of life and limb.
WISCONSIN THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT VOLUNTEERS.
Regimental Field Officers.
J.B. MOORE, Colonel ........................
Lancaster,
Wis.
F.S. LOVELL, Lieut. Colonel .............. Kenosha,
Wis.
H.H. VIRGIN, Major ..........................
Platteville
Wis.
Wm. WARNER, Adjutant .................Shullsburg, Wis.
J.W. NICHOLS, Quartermaster .......... Janesville,
Wis.
J.B. WHITING, Surgeon ....................
Janesville,
Wis.
C.R. BLACKALL, lst Asst. Surgeon .... Kenosha, Wis.
D.W. CARLEY, 2d. Asst. Surgeon ...... Boscobel, Wis.
A.A. OVERTON, Chaplain
The Rock County Plough Boys for Union or Death.
Company E.
Commissioned Officers.
IRA MILTIMORE, Capt. ................... Janesville,
Wis.
HENRY S. SWIFT, Jr., 1st Lieut. ........ Edgerton,
Wis.
PARDON H. SWIFT, 2d. Lieut. .......... Edgerton, Wis.
Non-Commissioned Officers.Sergeants.
1-H.B. CORNELL .....................................
Lima, Wis.
2-EDWARD COOK .................................
Porter,
Wis.
3-BARTHOLOMEW QUIGELY ......... Edgerton, Wis.
4-DANIEL D. RICHARDS ...................
JanesvilleWis.
6-WM. CORNELL ....................................
Lima.
Wis.
Corporals,
1 - S.B. CROCKER ...................................
Lima, Wis.
2 - NATHANIEL SMITH .......................... Lima,
Wis.
3 - A.H. RIME ....................................
Plymouth,
Wis.
4 - THOMAS QUIGLEY .................... Edgerton, Wis.
5 - C.E. GREEN
........................................
Lima, Wis.
6 - C.W. NICKERSON .............................
Lima,
Wis.
7 - JAMES REESE .............................
Janesville,
Wis.
8 - JACOB SMITH .............................
Janesville,
Wis.
ALONZO E. MILTIMORE, Fifer........ Janesville, Wis.
S.H. CALLENDER, Drummer .......... Broadhead, Wis.
LEVI H. FOUNTAIN, Wagoner .............. Porter, Wis.
Privates
| ANDERSON,
FRANKLIN ........................
Lima, Wis.
BABCOCK, ADELBERT ......................... Lima, Wis. BARBER, W.G. ........................................ Lima, Wis. BYRNES, ANTHONY .............................. Lima, Wis. BYRNES, THOMAS ................................. Lima, Wis. BURNHAM, RENSALAER ................... Hebron, Wis. BUNCE, J.P. ...................................... La Prairie, Wis. CRAIG, OTHO ......................................... Lima, Wis. COFFEE, JAMES ............................... Edgerton, Wis. CLIFFORD, R.W. .................................... Porter, Wis. CLARK, JAMES K. ................................. Porter, Wis. FAIRCHILD, HENRY .............................. Lima, Wis. FREEDMAN, JAMES ............................... Lima, Wis. FLINT. J.A. .............................................. Lima. Wis. FEIRO, FREDERICK ....................... Johnstown, Wis. GOODELL, WOLDO ......................... Edgerton, Wis. GOODMAN, JOHN ................................. Lima, Wis. GALE, WILLIAM ..................................... Lima, Wis. GROEN, N. ........................................ Plymouth, Wis. HALL, JOSEPH C. ........................... Broadhead, Wis. HOWARD, IRA M. ............................. Edgerton, Wis. HAVILAND, NATHAN .................... La Prairie, Wis. HAUGEN, A.N. ................................. Plymouth, Wis. HEHIR, PATRICK ............................. Janesville, Wis. JOHNSON, J.C. ....................................... Porter, Wis. KENNEDY, C.A. .................................... Porter, Wis. KNUDSON, INGEBRET ............ Spring Valley, Wis. LEVORSON, KNUD ................... Spring Valley, Wis. LEVORSON, HENDRICK........... Spring Valley, Wis. ANDERSON, FRANKLIN ........................ Lima, Wis. BABCOCK, ADELBERT ......................... Lima, Wis. BARBER, W.G. ........................................ Lima, Wis. BYRNES, ANTHONY .............................. Lima, Wis. BYRNES, THOMAS ................................. Lima, Wis. BURNHAM, RENSALAER ................... Hebron, Wis. BUNCE, J.P. ...................................... La Prairie, Wis. CRAIG, OTHO ......................................... Lima, Wis. COFFEE, JAMES ............................... Edgerton, Wis. CLIFFORD, R.W. .................................... Porter, Wis. CLARK, JAMES K. ................................. Porter, Wis. FAIRCHILD, HENRY .............................. Lima, Wis. FREEDMAN, JAMES ............................... Lima, Wis. FLINT. J.A. .............................................. Lima. Wis. FEIRO, FREDERICK ....................... Johnstown, Wis. GOODELL, WOLDO ......................... Edgerton, Wis. GOODMAN, JOHN ................................. Lima, Wis. GALE, WILLIAM ..................................... Lima, Wis. GROEN, N. ........................................ Plymouth, Wis. HALL, JOSEPH C. ........................... Broadhead, Wis. HOWARD, IRA M. ............................. Edgerton, Wis. HAVILAND, NATHAN .................... La Prairie, Wis. HAUGEN, A.N. ................................. Plymouth, Wis. HEHIR, PATRICK ............................. Janesville, Wis. JOHNSON, J.C. ....................................... Porter, Wis. KENNEDY, C.A. .................................... Porter, Wis. KNUDSON, INGEBRET ............ Spring Valley, Wis. LEVORSON, KNUD ................... Spring Valley, Wis. LEVORSON, HENDRICK........... Spring Valley, Wis. LEVORSON, TOLEP .................. Spring Valley, Wis. LYON, ALEX. K. ............................... Edgerton, Wis. LOOBY, CHARLES ................................. Lima, Wis. MEEGAN, J.C. .................................. Janesville, Wis. MELVIN, VALENTINE..................... Janesville, Wis. McKEE, William ............................... Janesville, Wis. MEDGORDAN, H.H. ......................... Plymouth, Wis. McDONALD, ALEX ................................ Lima, Wis. MORY. ADAM ................................ Cooksville, Wis. NOE, LEWIS
.....................................
Janesville, Wis.
|
NIGHT, THOMAS
.............................
Janesville, Wis
0LS0N, OLE ................................ Spring Valley, Wis. OLSON, SYVER ......................... Spring Valley, Wis. OLSON, HALGREIM .................. Spring Valley, Wis. OLSON, HENDRICK ......................... Plymouth, Wis. PATCH, HENRY ...................................... Lima, Wis. RHODES, ORVILL ............................ Janesville, Wis. ROBINSON, EDMUND ............................ Lima, Wis. ROBINSON, HIRAM N. .............. Spring Valley, Wis. ROBINSON, A. J. .............................. Plymouth, Wis. RIDER, BRAINARD ............................... Porter, Wis. SOUTHWICK, WILLIAM ....................... Turtle, Wis. STOKES, CHARLES ............................... Porter, Wis. STEWART, R.B. ................................ Janesville, Wis. SMITH, JAMES ...................................... Porter, Wis. STAFFORD, R.A. ...................................... Peru, N.Y. SUTTON, ALONZO ................................ Porter, Wis. STEELE, F.A. ......................................... Porter, Wis. SQUIRES, E.R. ........................................ Porter, Wis. TEARNEY, JOHN .................................. Fulton, Wis. TURNER, JAMES .................................... Lima, Wis. VAN PATTON, FRANCIS ...................... Porter, Wis. WEST, JOHN ..................................... Edgerton, Wis. WAIT. HIRAM ........................................ Porter, Wis. WEAVER, WILLIAM ........................ Janesville, Wis. WATT, JOHN ......................................Edgerton, Wis. WILLIAMS, RIGHT ................................ Porter, Wis. WHEELER, G.H. .................................... Fulton, Wis. YOUNG, CHARLES ..........................Johnstown, Wis. LEVORSON, TOLEP .................. Spring Valley, Wis. LYON, ALEX. K. ............................... Edgerton, Wis. LOOBY, CHARLES ................................. Lima, Wis. MEEGAN, J.C. .................................. Janesville, Wis. MELVIN, VALENTINE..................... Janesville, Wis. McKEE, William ............................... Janesville, Wis. MEDGORDAN, H.H. ......................... Plymouth, Wis. McDONALD, ALEX ................................ Lima, Wis. MORY. ADAM ................................ Cooksville, Wis. NOE, LEWIS ..................................... Janesville, Wis. NIGHT, THOMAS ............................. Janesville, Wis. 0LS0N, OLE ................................ Spring Valley, Wis. OLSON, SYVER ......................... Spring Valley, Wis. OLSON, HALGREIM .................. Spring Valley, Wis. OLSON, HENDRICK ......................... Plymouth, Wis. PATCH, HENRY ...................................... Lima, Wis. RHODES, ORVILL ............................ Janesville, Wis. ROBINSON, EDMUND ............................ Lima, Wis. ROBINSON, HIRAM N. .............. Spring Valley, Wis. ROBINSON, A. J. .............................. Plymouth, Wis. RIDER, BRAINARD ............................... Porter, Wis. SOUTHWICK, WILLIAM ....................... Turtle, Wis. STOKES, CHARLES ............................... Porter, Wis. STEWART, R.B. ................................ Janesville, Wis. SMITH, JAMES ...................................... Porter, Wis. STAFFORD, R.A. ...................................... Peru, N.Y. SUTTON, ALONZO ................................ Porter, Wis. STEELE, F.A. ......................................... Porter, Wis. SQUIRES, E.R. ........................................ Porter, Wis. TEARNEY, JOHN .................................. Fulton, Wis. TURNER, JAMES .................................... Lima, Wis. VAN PATTON, FRANCIS ...................... Porter, Wis. WEST, JOHN ..................................... Edgerton, Wis. WAIT. HIRAM ........................................ Porter, Wis. WEAVER, WILLIAM ........................ Janesville, Wis. WATT, JOHN ......................................Edgerton, Wis. WILLIAMS, RIGHT ................................ Porter, Wis. WHEELER, G.H. .................................... Fulton, Wis. YOUNG, CHARLES ..........................Johnstown, Wis. |
Adjutant Orderly
Major Colonel Lieut. Colonel
A G
D
F B
iiiiiiiiii
C H
E
K I
iiiiiii iiiiiiii iiiiiii iiiiii iiiiii iiiiiii iiiiiiii iiiiiiii
iiiiiiii iiiiii iiiiii iiiiiiii
The preceding diagram is a representation of our regimental formation in line of battle.
On the 2d of October, 1862, we
received
orders to pack knapsacks and be ready to march to the depot at 10 a.
m.,
where we were loaded on freight cars bound for Cairo, Ill., arriving at
Cairo the morning of the 3d, where there was The "White Cloud": a
Mississippi
transport, awaiting us, and on which we were embarked, floating down
the
river at 8 a. m. Arriving at Memphis, Tenn., the morning of the 8th, we
disembarked and marched on to the south suburbs of the city and camped
ln an old cotton field, without shelter or arms, In the enemy's
country,
with nothing to protect us from an attack. We dear little boys, away
from
home and mother's care, were destined to put in one night at least on
the
cold, cold ground, with nothing to protect us but our blankets and
rubber
ponchos and the canopy of heaven.
On the morning of the 9th we were
awakened
by the sound of the reveille and lined up for roll call, to which we
answered
as our respective names were called, by "Here'." After roll call we
were
busily engaged In preparing our breakfast, which was the first meal
that
each individually had prepared since our enlistment. Our meals had
formerly
been served by a company cook, and there were some very amusing
circumstances
during our morning repast.
After our breakfast the orderly
sergeant
came around, making the detail for camp guard, and also a fatigue
squad,
to which Charles Steel, Ruf Stafford and I were selected, with Corporal
Clifford In charge, to report at headquarters at 8 a. m. We were
marched
to the adjutant's tent and there were lined up with a like detail from
each company, when we were instructed by the adjutant to report to the
quartermaster at the city wharf, where we were marched and set at work
unloading a boatload of camp equipment, tents, guns and ammunition, and
loading them into our regimental wagons. to be hauled to our camp.
When more arrived at our camp at
noon
there had been quite a change. Our new bell tents had been raised in
company
rows of twelve tents to each company and two wall tents for company
officers,
forming a white City. Our guns and forty rounds of ammunition were
issued
to us. Our guns were the long Enfield rifles, and with cartridge boxes
and belts, bayonet and scabbard, weighed twelve pounds.
At 4 o'clock that afternoon we
were
ordered out for regimental drill and parade with full equipment, and
from
that time on were drilled twice a day while we remained in Memphis. We
were now organized in regular military form and put through a rigid
drill
of arms and general camp duty. Our company was divided into twelve
messes
of eight men to a tent, and we paired off in bunkmates to suit our own
choice.
On the l2th of October.
1862,
I was detailed for the first time on regular picket duly and placed out
as sentinel on the outside line, and I vividly remember that night. We
were on the main pike road to Holly Springs in an oak forest, perhaps a
mile from our camp. My turn came for outpost at 1 p. m. to 12 m. It had
rained all day and the night was very dark. I had a beat of about 200
yards
to walk and pass the words to comrades on adjoining beats, "Who comes
there?"
Answer, "All is well." We could scarcely see the form of a man ten
steps
distant. I was making my return to the road to my right when I saw the
form of an animal I took to be a horse coming in on the road. I
commanded
"Halt!" it paid no attention. My next command was "Halt! Who
comes
there?" cocking my gun at the same time. but the object still came on,
and another showed up in the rear. I fired with the third command and
brought
down the leading object, and there was a scurry through the woods of
several
sounds on the run. I reloaded before I advanced on my prey and walked
up
stealthily at bayonet charge upon my enemy. To my surprise, I found I
had
killed a calf.
I had an attack of the buck ague
all
the balance of my two hour stand. and I was the jest of the camp the
next
day.
We remained at Memphis until the 20th of November,
1862,
and during the time were put through a thorough drill at arms and were
organized in brigade of four regiments as follows: 33d Wisconsin
Infantry,
3d Iowa Infantry, 4lst Illinois Infantry, 44th Missouri Infantry. Our
brigade
commander was A. J. Smith, then brigadier-general.
The three regiments we were brigaded with had been
through
the campaign with General Grant at Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh and had
been badly cut up. They were sent to Memphis to garrison until they were
recruited and organized. They were greatly put out to
think they should be reorganized with a regiment of new, inexperienced
men, and we were the butt of ridicule with them for some time and until
our first engagement in battle, when the tide was turned. and we were
all
great friends thereafter.
The garrison of Memphis was
in command of General Washburn during our stay, and the old regiments
did
not like him. They thought him a coward, as General Forest had raided
into
Memphis and drove them to cover of the fort but a few days previous to
our arrival. There was but a small garrison at that time, of new troops
principally, and Forest was making his raids frequent to cut off
Grant's
supplies while on the campaign through Mississippi.
OUR FIRST CAMPAIGN.HISTORY OF OUR FLAG.
by A. J. Robinson, Co. E. 33d Wis. Vol. Inf.
Our grand old flag
Composed of rags,
As history has recorded
Composed was She
Of colors three.
How nobly have they blended.In I777 of our history has thus stated
By Betsy Ross, who stitched acrost,
with hands and fingers nimble:
Thirteen stripes of red and white,
A field of blue she added,
With thirteen stars assembled.Our forefathers old,
So we have been told,
In Congress had assembled;
And with bared heads
Proclaimed, it is said,
It a Symbol of freedom and Independence.Oh! Long may She wave
Over the home of the brave
Over land, and sea, and ocean:
And with honor rare
She is received everywhere,
By every land and nation.
On the 20th of November, 1862,
we received
orders to strike camp and be ready to march by 7 a. m, We were issued
two
days' rations and sixty rounds of cartridges, which meant there was
something
doing. We were all ready and waiting orders. The boys had loaded
themselves
down with goods from home, and nearly all had supplied themselves with
heavy shoes or boots and were wearing them instead of the army shoe.
Sergeant
Cook had been in the regular army and had experience in marching. When
he saw the boys were discarding the army shoe, he said with his Irish
wit:
"Me boys, let me give ye a bit of advice. Throw away them boots and put
on them army stogies and ye'll be thankin'' the old man before the day
is done."
We were delayed until 10 a. tn.,
when
the order came to march. There were two brigades and a four-Run battery
of 12-pound howitzers, 1st Missouri, Battery M, and a battalion of
cavalry
in the command. We marched out on the Hernando road, camping the first
night about 20 miles out from Memphis in a cornfield. It was raining
when
we went into camp and dark. There was a ten rail fence around the
field,
and in a very few minutes we had large fires of pine rails throughout
the
camp.
The boys were busy making coffee
in
a cup held over the blaze, also frying their bacon on bayonet or
ramrod.
We had not been in camp but a short time when I was detailed for picket
duty and with a squad of 100 from our regiment was marched out a mile
south
of camp. But quite different were the arrangements to those we had
formerly
gone through. The sentry was placed stationary every sixty steps, and
our
orders were to watch closely in our front and to call "Halt!" to the
least
sound, and at second command to shoot, taking no chances from the front
of our line. it seemed that we were tn close proximity to the enemy by
the precautions taken.
My dear readers, you may imagine
the
thoughts of a boy in his seventeenth year, standing a lonely sentry on
a bleak, wet night, with the enemy within a rifle shot of his post, and
in fact a skirmish line in the early morning, when we exchanged shots,
and the bark chipped from the tree at my ear, which was my only
shelter.
This was my experience the second day after our leaving Memphis and the
morning of the 2lst of November we were in pursuit of a detachment of
Forest's
army and drove them into their breastworks at Coldwater, where we had
the
river between us and they in a fortified camp. We had proved our mettle
in the fight at Coldwater and won the cheers of the old battle- scarred
comrades of our brigade. But we bad lost five noble officers. Our first
lieutenant, Henry Swift, was killed in the first volley. Captain
Lindsly,
of Company H, and three of Company A were also killed, and 17 in the
regiment
were wounded,
That evening we were marched back
about four miles north to Coldwater and went into camp on a large
cotton
plantation. It was raining hard and we were without tents. There was a
large cotton gin and negro quarters and outbuildings, which the boys
used
for shelter. I found a small bin filled nearly full of field peas, in
which
Stafford and I made our bed, and we were not slow to investigate our
find,
and the next morning we had a fine pot of peas prepared for our
breakfast.
When we were called by reveille that morning and lined up for roll
call,
It was with sad thoughts of our loss of the previous evening. Instead
of
the cheerful greeting of our first tn command, we were greeted by our
second
lieutenant, P.H. Swift, a brother, so filled with emotion that he could
not give the commands, but broke down with grief. There were tears in
every
eye of that company, for we had all learned to love Henry Swift
P. H. Swift proved his equal and
was
made our captain shortly after that campaign. Our old captain,
Miltimore,
had shown the white feather and was terribly sick with gout the morning
of the fight, had gone to the ambulance train, and on our return to
Memphis
we asked him to resign by a vote of the company.
Captain Miltimore returned to
Memphis
with the remains of Lieutenant Swift, and P.H. Swift was in command of
the company from that time on through our entire service.
Here I must relate a laughable
incident.
As I have Previously stated, a portion of our company had
occupied
the cotton gin during the night, my brother among the rest. They had
slept
in their wet clothes ln the lint room, and when they came out In the
morning
they had a fleece of white which they found would not rub off, I leave
it to the reader to imagine their plight and appearance for several
days,
I will also give here a
description
of the plantation before I continue our march, so that you may have
some
idea of the southern country of that date and the crude machinery and
farm
implements in use. Our camp was on one of the largest plantations ln
southern
Tennessee. There were about 100 acres In cultivation. The planter's
house
was on high ground, about the center of the plantation, and was a large
frame two- story house with a large, spacious hall through the center.
The ground floor, 48x30 feet, a living room 15x18, kitchen 12x18,
parlor
18x18 and bedroom 12x18 on opposite sides of the hall, with a large
open
fireplace in each room. The upper story was divided into four bedrooms
with hall, all rooms opening into the hall. The negro quarters were
about
80 rods from the mansion and were a row of log cabins. There were
thirty
of them and they were surrounded by a high stockade of sharp pickets
set
in the ground. A large iron gate was at the entrance, which was locked
securely every night by the overseer, whose quarters were close by the
gate. At the overseer's cabin there was a large bell on a post
twelve
feet high, which was used to call the negroes to the work and their
meals.
The stock corrals were close by,
with
cribs or troughs through the center of the corral for feeding, but no
shelter
or shed, and a short distance from this corral were the corncribs and
gin
house. The gin house was a building 40x40 feet, raised on pillars or
posts
ten feet high, supported by truss beams, giving space for the power
under
the gin house. This power was a large four-sweep wheel made of wood
with
wooden cogs adjusted to a pinion that drove the belt wheel above that
attached
to the gin-head. The gin house is partitioned into three rooms, one for
the reception of the cotton as it came from the field and in which the
gin-head stands; the other two, a lint room and a press room. The press
la a pit or case 3x4x8 feet deep in which the cotton is tramped until
full
by two negroes. Then it is compressed by a large wooden screw from a
truss
above, which is also turned by hand levers by the two negroes until it
is one-half the size, or 3x4x4 feet, making s bale that would weight
about
600 pounds, which is encased in sacking and bound with iron hoops
before
it is taken out of the press.
The tools used on the plantation
were
of the old, ancient style and clumsy and heavy to handle. The plows had
wooden moldboards or what was styled a bulltung plow. The stock used
was
principally the mule and was used single to plow. The harness used was
a shuck collar, wooden hames and chain tug. with a piece of sacking
across
the back of the mule to hold the chains at its side, with rope line and
bridle, which were all manufactured by the negroes or slaves.
The foregoing is a true
description
of the plantations throughout Tennessee, Mississippi. Alabama and
Georgia
at the time of the Civil War, and the description of the plantation la
that of the wealthier and largest in the country.
The morning of the 22d of
November,
1862, the sun rose clear and bright, and by 7 a. m. we were on the
march
on the Hernando road, with the cavalry deployed on our front,
exchanging
shots occasionally with the enemy. Forest had evacuated Coldwater
during
the night and had moved toward Tupalo, Mississippi, to intercept our
progress
there, and had also sent a troop to our rear that made a charge on our
right flank and cut through our train at Carrmango about 11 a.m. Our
regiment
was rear guard and we were thrown in line and charged on them,
repulsing
them, taking 20 prisoners and a stand of colors they had left in their
flight. Corporal Clifford was wounded here, There were five wounded in
the regiment.
The evening of the 22d we camped
on
the south slope of Red Mound and on the morning of the 23d we were
surrounded
by Foster's entire command. He fully expected to capture our entire
force
that day but General Smith was just as determined that he should not,
and
massed our whole force at the top of the hill in readiness for their
attack.
Forest's army outnumbered us, but we had vantage ground which was
covered by heavy timber, while they had to advance through open field.
We had parked our train and were
formed
in hollow square around it. The time had passed very quietly until
about
10 a. m., when the enemy opened fire from the north with their
artillery
and kept the air full of shells for a half hour, but most of these
shells
passed our lines and did but little damage to us. We remained quiet,
holding
our fire until they made their charge. On they came in solid column up
through the open cornfield, and as the first column came ln our range
we
were ordered up with volley and charge bayonets repulsing their line,
and
they turned and ran for cover of their reserve. We were ordered
to
lie flat on the ground and await their second charge. In a very few
minutes
on came a second column, a third following in the rear. We were held
back
until they had come nearly to the top of the hill, when we poured in
our
volley and charged, mixing in a hand-to-hand conflict, following them
up
in their retreat and routing their entire force. We had gained the
victory
with but small loss at Red Mound. Our regiment had seven wounded; our
company
one. Amond Rema was struck by a spent ball in the forehead that
flattened
and stuck to the skull, setting him crazy for several hours, but he
reported
back to the company the next day with a bandage around his head and the
ball as a pocket piece in his purse. Forest had last 400 killed, left
on
the field, and quite that many wounded. They had sent in a flag of
truce
and request to bury their dead. I passed over the field shortly after
the
battle, and I hoped then to never witness another field of carnage as
was
fought in that four hours' battle of Red Mound, but it was my fate to
see
many others during my three years' service, and it is with the same
feeling
of awe that I have written this description of the scene. We remained
in
camp on the field until the morning of the 24th, when we pursued our
march
to Tupalo, Miss., where we had another engagement with Forest's
cavalry,
but only for a short skirmish. We camped at Tupalo for several days,
until
the 2d of December. On December 2d we were ordered to strike camp and
be
ready to march by 7 a. m. Two days' rations and cartridges to fill our
cartridge box, 40 rounds, with 20 rounds extra, were issued to us, and
at 7 o'clock we were on the road, leading southeast toward Holly
Springs,
Miss. We marched probably fifteen miles that day and camped that night
at Pleasant Valley, a large Baptist school on the Tallahatchie River.
We
had barely gone into camp when the long roll was beat and we hustled to
our guns, for the rebel cavalry came dashing in on us, and ran right
through
our camp, but with no great damage to us, only upsetting a few cans of
coffee that had been placed on our fires. It was "one of Forest's
daredevil
raids." We gave them a parting volley as they passed. We had not
stationed
our pickets when they made their charge, but we gave them a warm
reception.
That was the first time we had met with such a surprise, and we were a
lot of excited boys for a short time, with a feeling that is hard to
describe.
"Something like an ague shake." We soon got down to business again,
preparing
our evening meal and eating it with as much relish as if nothing out of
the ordinary had occurred to disturb us. On the morning of December 3d
we were on the march by 1 o'clock for Holly Springs. During the night
there
had been a dispatch by courier that Forest had captured the place and
burned
the army stores there, and was tearing up the railroad tracks. We were
put through on a forced march and arrived at about 4 p. m., to find the
place evacuated. They had plundered the camp and torn up about two
miles
of railroad between Holly Springs and Grand Junction. They had gone in
the direction of Grand Junction. Pap Thomas' cavalry were ln hot
pursuit.
We camped at Holly Springs and repaired the railroad and garrisoned the
place. I was detailed for picket duty that night and nearly froze while
on my post. It bad turned cold, with rain. Our rations were about
exhausted,
and the track torn up. Forest had burned all the supplies at Holly
Springs,
and the country had been stripped of everything for miles by both the
rebels
and our army.
We were put on quarter
rations
until supplies could be brought from Memphis. The morning of the 4th
there
was a forage train sent out to procure feed for the mules. Stafford was
on the detail from our mess. They were sent to the south of Holly
Springs
to a large plantation on the Tallahatchie. A negro had reported that
the
old planter had an abundance of corn and provender secreted, and had
described
the place as to finding everything, but would not go with the boys for
fear of his life. There were 200 men detailed to guard the train and
they
soon found everything as the negro had reported and came back to camp
with
a full load and plenty. Stafford was a good forager, and our mess was
well
supplied with chicken, goose, yellow yams and corn cakes.
We received orders December 6th to
march on to Moscow, Miss., where we arrived the 8th, and pitched camp
in
a cotton field south of the village.
We had gone into an old, deserted
camp, at Holly Springs, and It was only a few days until our boys were
infested with vermin and disease, which took five of our company in a
very
short time. Rufe Stafford, my bunkmate, was the first. Poor boy, he was
taken with dysentery and died within a week after our arrival at
Moscow.
Charles Smith, Nat Goodwin and two of our Norwegian boys were all
burled
within twenty days. Brother Hiram was very sick and I feared that he
would
be next, but he pulled through by my careful nursing. We were barely
over
with dysentery when the smallpox broke out. Joe Hall, of our company,
was
the first to come down with it. Very fortunately, it did not spread in
the regiment. His tent was left under quarantine and our camp was moved
some distance, and only one other of our company had been exposed,
Brainard
Rider, who remained and nursed Hall through his sickness. The rainy
season
had set in and the red clay hills of Mississippi were a perfect bog.
There
were many of the boys sick with chills and fever, dysentery or the
jaundice,
and there was not a day passed while we remained at Moscow that there
was
not some poor boy of our regiment burled, and it cast a gloom over the
whole camp.
The afternoon of December 28th at
dress parade orders were read to strike camp In the morning, with light
marching equipment, 40 rounds of cartridges and five days' rations,
which
meant to load everything in wagons except our rolls of blankets,
rations,
guns and accouterments, and be ready to march by 7 a. m.
There was a rousing cheer
throughout
camp; hats were twirled and sent as high was they could be thrown.
Every
boy was glad to get out of that dismal camp, no matter where. A fight
with
Forest was preferable to staying at Moscow. We were not informed was to
where we were to go, but the five days decided our destination, when we
marched into Memphis and went into camp south of the fort below the
city
and close to the Mississippi River. The impression was that we were to
remain at Memphis for some time, and we all went to work to make our
camp
as comfortable as possible for the winter. Ground was cleared, our
tents
were raised and walled three feet, fireplaces built of cobblestones,
mud
and sticks, and in a few days we had very comfortable quarters. Our
time
was occupied by regimental drill, picket duty and city patrol.
The 9th of January it turned very
cold, with snow and sleet. It was my misfortune to be on picket duty
again,
and I suffered with cold. The ground had frozen hard and there was
about
three inches of snow. We were not allowed any fire, only on the reserve
post. The sentinel had to keep on the move to keep up circulation, or
freeze.
It was so cold that ice formed on the river along the bank strong
enough
to hold up a man's weight and a great many of the boys ventured out for
a slide. It remained cold for several days, and our fireplaces were a
great
comfort
Captain Swift was a great hand to
play pranks on the boys. One night when we were all enjoying our fire
he
made up a squad and had every chimney covered with a board. The reader
can imagine the result. A short distance from our camp lived an old
Irish
woman who had a large flock of geese. Orval Rhodes, of our company, had
been down to the river fishing, and in coming to camp passed the old
woman's
geese. He slipped a bait on the hook and trailed the line out. As he
passed,
Mr. Goose spied the bait and seized it, hook and all. The result, the
goose
followed Rhodes to camp - and also the old woman. There was a dialogue
between the old woman and Rhodes that is not worthy of space here.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
We
had our joy and sorrow, privation and amusement, and with a camp of a
thousand
men you will find all classes and characters of humanity. Time at
Memphis
passed very pleasantly. Grant's army was coming in and were sent down
the
river by steamboat. There was also a great many new regiments arriving
daily. The 38th Wisconsin came in and were camped only a short distance
from our camp. They had brought lots of goodies from home and, of
course,
our boys were very friendly with them and were glad to share their
sweet
morsels with them and talk of "Home, Sweet Home." We had a beautiful
camp
and fine parade grounds. Our streets were kept perfectly clean and in
perfect
sanitary condition, and our boys had all regained their health and were
happy and contented, and entered into all kinds of enjoyment-- dancing,
theatrical plays and minstrel shows. We had an excellent band that gave
life to our camp. Thus time passed off at Memphis while we remained
there.
VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN.THE DEUTCHER VOLUNTEER.
Copyright Secured
Composed by A.J. Robinson, Co. E, 33d Wis Vol.My name is Jacob Snyder,
Und I just come here this night
From Mississippi from Smith's army,
Where all the time they fights.
It was in Janesville city
I first heard the drum and fife,
Und mit a chicken tail stuck to my hat
I marched up mitout fear
Und joined the Yankee Army,
As a Deutcher Volunteer.
Now when we left Janesville City
The people all did stand,
At the depot for to see us off
Und shook us by the hand.
The woman's shook their handkerchiefs,
Und bid us all good bye.
Und the boys began to cheer us,
Und I began to cry.
But when I thought of the beer gardens,
Where the Deutchers used to meet,
To walk around with Deutch girls,
Und sing Deutch songs und treat
I swallowed down two quarts of snoops
Und a keg of lager beer,
Und brave just like a gineral
Was this Deutcher Volunteer.
Und when we got to where the war was,
They stood us in a row,
For to learn us when they holler
Which way we have to go.
We load our guns mit nothings
Und try to shoot them right,
Und charge upon the rebels
When no rebel was in sight.
Und 1 was just so proud on drill
As no man effer vas,
Und when we charge on nothings
I was never known to pois,
Shots mine gun more times off than all,
None else could louder cheer,
Und brave just like a Gineral
Was this Deutcher Volunteer.
One morning very early
The rebels comed ln sight,
Und the Officers they tell us
We must prepare to fight.
Oh! my teeth did knock togeder,
Und my hands they shook so bad,
I tried to shoot my bayonet off
I was so devilish mad.
Und when the rebels shoot their gun off,
The balls they come so thick,
I think I must go somewhere,
I was so very sick.
Und the boys they all did laugh at me
When I went to the rear,
Und they stuck the bayonet somewhere
In this Deutcher Volunteer.
Now all you gentlemen what goes to war!
To fight mit your country's foes,
Take my advice, prepare yourself
The day before you goes.
Take a couple barrels of sauer kraut,
Mit lots of Switzer cheese,
Und some bologna sausage,
Und eny tings else you please;
Und when you goes to battle
Drink all the snoops you can,
Get behind some big tree.
That be some Officers' plan;
Lower your knapsack down your back
To cover up the rear,
Und then you won't get wounded,
Like the Deutcher Volunteer.
The morning of February 7th,
1863,
we were paid four months' pay, issued five days' rations, 60 rounds of
cartridges and a sheet of canvas 6 feet by 6 feet, with buttons on one
edge and stake loops on the other, so that two sheets could be buttoned
together, which we called dog tents. These were to be our tents and
shelter.
Our quartermaster had been around and taken an inventory of our camp -
That meant there was something in the wind. That afternoon, on dress
parade
there were orders read to be ready to march to the city landing by 6 a.
m., leaving our tents and camp stand. This was not approved by some of
the boys. they did not like the idea of leaving our comfortable camp
for
some new regiment to occupy and enjoy, and there were a good many
pranks
played, each as splitting the forks of the stakes that supported the
bunks,
burying blank cartridges ln the fire places, or stuffing the chimneys
with
old blankets and cast off clothing: anything that would be likely to
give
annoyance to the new occupants.
We were ln line promptly at 6
o'clock
the morning of the 8th, and were marched to the city landing. There we
stacked our arms and lay awaiting our turn for loading on the boats.
There
were three boats assigned to our brigade. The 3d Iowa and 4th Illinois
were embarked on the "White Cloud," a large boat; and the one that
first
brought our regiment to Memphis. The 44th Missouri was next, on the
"Queen,"
a stern- wheeler; our regiment the 33d Wisconsin, on the "Natchez," a
stern-wheeler,
and we were started down the river In that order, leaving Memphis at 11
o'clock a.m. The third day, as we neared Young's Point, the "White
Cloud"
was fired into by a masked battery from the east bank. We answered with
a volley of musketry, and our boat in the rear was ordered to land at a
landing a short distance above, the other two going down the river. Our
regiment was landed and marched across the bend about two miles, where
we came in sight of the battery, two guns. They had spied us and were
off
on a gallop. Here they had another embrasure and would have given the
boats
another shot had we not surprised them. We pursued them four miles. We
then marched back to Iuca, twelve miles below where we bad landed, and
found our boat awaiting us there. We were not molested again in our
going
down the river, and arrived at Millican's Bend the l2th, where we were
disembarked and went into camp.
February 13th we awoke in the
morning
to find our camp flooded with water from the river, everything
drenched,
and we were wading our to higher ground, and the boys were singing the
nautical song as they marched our, "Mark Twain, Mark above water Twain,
nine feet, no bottom." It was quite amusing to see how cheerful the
boys
took their wetting. The country la a flat level and protected by a
levee,
a bank of earth thrown up along the bank of the river. This had washed
out or broken in many places, letting the water in.
Grant was concentrating his army
here
and some had already gone below Grand Gulf, on this side of the river.
Troops were moving south every day. We were in sound of the gunboats'
fire
on Vicksburg. There was a large lot of army stores here, which we were
guarding, unloading from boats every day, and wagon trains were loaded
and sent down below Vicksburg. A deserter came to our camp on the l7th
and reported that there was a rebel camp up the river about 80 miles,
near
the mouth of White River, where they had a small steamboat and two
barges
that they were crossing men to the east side with; that their camp was
secreted on a bayou entering the White River, a camp of 500 men,
commanded
by Colonel Gurley.
We had received orders to be ready
to march at 10 o'clock, issued five days' rations, 40 rounds of
cartridges
and light camp outfit, two wagons loaded with picks and shovels, and
were
marched up the river 20 miles, where we apparently go into camp, but
only
until darkness, then our regiment was divided into two troops.
Companies
K and I were sent up the river to the mouth of White River; the balance
of the regiment was marched west to the cypress swamp over a corduroy
road.
We moved with great caution. I must here state that our picks and
shovels
were unloaded at the river, where they were put tn array as if we were
to work on the levee, ostensibly for a blind, to lead the rebels, if
any
were spying our movements, to think our purpose was to repair the levee.
We were moving with great
caution,.
probably having gone twelve miles, when we came to a halt, and there
one
company was detached, turning their ponchos wrong side out over their
shoulders.
They marched on and we heard them halted by the enemy's picket. The
deserter
who had come to our camp was dressed in rebel uniform and was sent up,
announcing a friend with the countersign. He relieved the picket and
told
him that they are on the march to cross the river. This ruse was
followed
up until we relieved all their sentinels and we stationed our pickets
and
disarmed the rebels. Then we marched in on their camp and took them
totally
by surprise without firing a gun. We found their guns stacked and
took
possession of them before we aroused them. The jig was up. We had
captured
400 prisoners, with their entire camp outfit, and we guarded them in
their
own camp until daybreak, when we burned everything that would burn -
the
two scows and steamboat - and marched out to where we had formed our
camp
and were back in Millican Bend February 20th in our old camp. The
Johnnies
were sent up the river the next day. They wanted a boat ride, and they
got one. They had been ferrying troops across the river to the east
side
at night and secreted their boat during the daytime. This had been the
source of reinforcements to Pemberton for some time.
We remained at Millican Bend
guarding
the army stores until the 28th of March. That afternoon we were ordered
to embark on a boat, and with two of the marine boats were sent up the
Yazoo River after dark. The fleet ran the blockade that night, the sky
was red with shell from our mortar fleet, and the rebel batteries were
pouring their shot into our fleet. Our motive was to blow out the
blockade
in the Yazoo River while the fleet passed Vicksburg, but it was found
impracticable,
as the rebels had it covered in range of four of their siege guns and
were
on the alert, and commenced shelling us before we could reach the
blockade.
They had spies out all along the river.
We returned to Millican Bend and
were
in our old camp again. The river was very high and the Yazoo was
flooding
the whole country on its north bank, which is nearly all cypress swamp.
The mortar fleet was firing shell into Vicksburg every night. It made a
beautiful sight as the fuse twirled with the revolution of the shell,
but
it must have created sad havoc in the city, and it made me shudder with
horror for the poor people who were within their range. War is cruel!
war
is inhuman.
April 7th, 1863. We have received
orders to march at 7 a. m: do not know what is up. but probably will by
night. Three days' rations and the usual 40 rounds of cartridges were
issued
to us. Our equipment is always light now ,and we carry our entire stock
with us, consisting of roll of blankets, dog tent, canteen, haversack,
gun and cartridge box; the whole outfit weighs about 22 pounds. We have
cast off our knapsacks and all surplus clothing.
A change of shirt, socks and
underwear
we carry in our roll of blankets, which is tied together at the ends
and
worn across our shoulder. Our cooking utensils are a tin plate, cup.
bayonet
and ramrod of our gun. which we use to broil our bacon and hold our
coffee
over the fire. we were not long in learning to adhere to Sergeant
Cook's
advice on our first march out from Memphis, to throw away everything
unnecessary
and lighten our burden; also wear the army "stogy." We are
embarking
on the "Icua" and going up the Yazoo again. There are eight boats
loaded
with our division and the 1st Missouri. Battery M. We are nearing the
blockade
and the rebels have opened fire with solid shot and shell from their
siege
guns, we land on the north bank of the river. The "ESIC;' one of our
ironclad
gunboats, is engaging the rebel battery and also firing on the blockade
to break it. It is composed of rafts of logs, strongly chained
together,
and we fear there are mines laid. The shell and solid shot from the
rebel
batteries are shrieking over our heads as we disembark, but they have
overreached
their mark and have done no damage thus far. The transports are backing
down the river out of range as fast as they are unloaded. We are
marching
through the swamp northeast; are in water sometimes up to our thighs.
The
rebel batteries seem to direct their fire mostly an the "Esic."
It
is nearly dark and we are all moving on in the swamp through dense
cypress
trees.
We have reached high ground and
have
entered camp. Our battery was not unloaded and has gone down the river;
none but infantry, two brigades. We get our supper and are put to work
making a road to the river, cutting small trees and laying corduroy. We
work in relief's of 200 men all through the night; are making good
progress,
but the boys are badly fatigued at daybreak: but still the work goes on.
April 11th, The sapper and miner
corps
have mined the blockade and blown it out today, opening the river, but
the gunboats cannot go up any further. They have to back down, as the
river
is too narrow for them to turn. We are continuing our road on up the
north
bank and are out of range of the rebel batteries. There are other
troops
coming up today and our batteries have come to the camp. We are about
twelve
miles above the mouth of the river and have thrown a pontoon across and
are crossing today, the 14th; are on dry land again, in heady timber.
We
are still building road, southeast now toward Jackson, Mississippi.
There
are a good many of the boys having chills and fever.
We have not seen a farm or a
living
being except our own force for nine days, but can hear the bark of dogs
this morning, April 17th.
Have struck civilization again
today;
have camped at a plantation twenty miles east of Vicksburg on a road
leading
to Jackson, have a strong picket line out and have had some dispute
with
some of Pemberton's cavalry this morning. We are holding them back
while
the other troops are working on the road repairing back through the
swamps
and helping our train of wagons through. Our force is getting stronger
every day - more troops coming up and two more field batteries. We can
hear the cannon to the south of us today. May 15th, at Champion Hills,
and a courier has brought the news that Grant is driving Pemberton into
Black River and we are ordered to advance toward that point. The cannon
are booming louder every hour. We are nearing Black River and have a
connected
line surrounding Pemberton, who has crossed the river today, May 17th,
and has burned the bridge after him.
May 19th. There are two pontoon
bridges
thrown across the river, and troops are crossing as rapidly as they can
and marching on to Vicksburg. We are guarding the ford and bridge. The
railroad bridge is still burning this morning, the 20th. We hear the
siege
guns booming at Vicksburg. We are about eight miles east, and still on
the east side of Black River, guarding the ford. The cavalry came in
today
"Pap" Thomas commanding.
They had followed Joe Johnson's
retreat
from Jackson, and kept him on the run to the Alabama line, where they
made
a stand and were too much for him. They came back through. Jackson and
burned the bridge across the Pearl River; tore up the railroad for
miles.
They have relieved us and we are moving across the river and are
building
a fort commanding the ford of Black River and have placed four big
"siege
guns." Grant made a charge on the works at Vicksburg; the 22d, and was
repulsed with heavy loss. We could hear the roar of the artillery here.
Another division of troops crossed the river today. May 24th, and have
moved on to Vicksburg. They came from Grand Gulf and report the
fleet
has come up the river from New Orleans.
We are having but little fear here as long as "Pap"
Thomas
is
on the east side and Grant at Vicksburg. We are pretty well protected
for
the present; but it is rumored that Joe Johnson is moving back towards
Jackson and is reinforced by Hood's army and we are strengthening our
works
every day, and placing more siege guns, The east side of the river is a
low, flat country, heavily timbered, and where we are stationed is
high,
rough, clay hills, and when it rains, as it has done for several days,
it is very muddy and disagreeable working, as we are doing every day
extending
our rifle pits.
Today, the 28th, I am on picket
duty
at the pontoon bridge. Three families of negroes came, with their whole
belongings in pack, eighteen in number, big and little, and wanted to
cross
and go to "Massa" Grant, but we have strict orders to allow no
contrabands
to cross: no one but those with the proper pass word or countersign can
go across the river.
Another division came in today;
the
29th, and has gone into camp here. We have orders to move to the front
and are moving to the left flank of our lines, and have camped in a
ravine
about one mile from the Mississippi River. Minnie balls are whistling
all
around us, and every Little while a shell bursts and the fragments go
"chippering"
in every direction. There is constant musketry fire. We are assigned a
position in the line of pits right opposite a large fort and to the
left
of one of our heavy field batteries of six guns.
Today, the 30th, we are in the
rifle
pits. Brother Hiram was taken with fever last night and sent to the
field
hospital, which caused me much anxiety. I am as tough as a pine knot,
and
have not been sick a day since I enlisted. Our pits are about 880 yards
from the enemy, but in range of our Enfield rifles, and we make the
dirt
fly every shot. We are digging the laterals out and advance a little
every
night and throw up new rifle pits. There are two six-hour relief's:
one-third
of the regiment at a time in the front line, the same as on picket
duty,
though we are on six hours instead of two. The night shift is in the
least
danger, as the firing ceases at dark generally unless there is a night
charge.
June 7th.. I have got a permit to
visit Hiram today at the hospital. I find him improving. Dr. Whiting
says
he will bring him around in a day or two. He has malarial fever. I am
on
night shift, went on at 7 p. m. Our relief's are arranged so as
to
change at dark, to avoid danger of exposure to the rebel fire. About 11
o'clock we advance across a ravine and throw up new pits. We are
working
lively. The rebs fired a volley at us, but their shots went wild.
We make baskets that are filled
with
earth and rolled on ahead of us as we dig. our laterals, and as we draw
closer to their works we are more cautious. There were two of Company B
wounded in our advance last night. We never know the casualties until
our
relief comes.
June l4th. The whole regiment is
or
ordered out tonight to take the pits. There is something out of the
usual
going to happen tonight; 60 rounds of cartridges have been issued to
us;
are in the pits by 7 p. m.; the batteries are playing lively all around
our lines; also the mortar fleet are more active and are sending shell
lively; there is a constant rattle of musketry to our right; we are
ordered
out of our pits about 10 o'clock and charge about 200 yards to the
crest
of a hill in our front, and there is a line of men with pick and spade
set to work on another line of pits, while we lie in front of them
guarding
the work. At the time we make our charge there was a heavy roll of
sound
to our right and a perfect hum of musketry. We did not know what had
happened
until morning, when we learned there had been a mine touched off and
one
of the rebel forts blown up; a charge into the rebel lines, but
unsuccessful,
and a heavy loss of life. This was the third unsuccessful charge made
to
enter their works and General Grant has concluded to continue the siege
and starve them out. Smoke won't work. We are now within 400 yards of
one
of their strongest forts, and the muzzles of their big guns look ugly
to
us. They have tried our line with shrapnel today, but no harm has been
done, except to knock some of our baskets out and throw the dirt over
us
in our pits, We lay low until they spent their ammunition to their
content
and have ceased their fire, and then, it there is a hat raised above
the
works, there will be a hundred shots strike pretty close thereabouts.
June 23d we have wormed up pretty
close to the Johnnies and can talk to them, but both sides have to be
very
cautious how they show themselves, Both sides are getting to be expert
shots. Sometimes the boys put their hats on their ramrods and hold them
above the works and they are usually pierced with a dozen bullets.
There
have been four killed today, two of Co. K, one in Co. C and one in Co.
B. There are some wounded nearly every day. It we stay down in our pits
there is but little danger, but some get careless and they are the ones
to suffer. We are digging a tunnel to the fort in our front and have it
nearly finished, but have suspended work for two days; do not know why,
but we obey orders when they come from headquarters.
June 28th. Gen. Grant was
reviewing
our works that morning and inspecting the line. He was dressed in an
old
slouch hat, common blouse and pants tucked in his bootlegs, with spurs,
and the usual cigar, the only marks to identify him from the common
solder,
and he certainly knew how to duck his head when a ball passed too
close.
There were five other officers with him. None of them carried their
swords
and all were dressed in common fatigue uniform.
Last night three of our boys
met three of the rebs half way between our lines and exchanged coffee
for
tobacco. They sat and chatted for half an hour, and it is a usual
occurrence
to hear the following dialogue between the Johnnies and our boys: "Say,
Yank, when you-all goin' to move into Vicksburg, hey?" "Well, Johnny,
when
you have eaten your last mule and dog we expect to come over; see."
"But
we have got lots of ‘em yet. Say, ‘Yank. you got any coffee to swap?
Give
you pound of tobacco for cup of coffee. What you say?" "All right;
bring
it over, Johnny'. I'll met you half way," "All right; here I come.
Don't
you shoot." "We won't. Come on, I am with you." These conversations are
an every evening occurrence since we have been in close to their works,
between 7 p. m. and 9 p.m., and there is no firing on the lines, and
when
there is an order on either side to commence firing we hail them with,
"Johnny, look out, for we are going to shoot", and they do the same to
us.
July 1st, 1866. There is an
armistice
today. Pemberton and Grant are negotiating terms of surrender and there
are a lot of the boys sitting out on the works on both sides, talking
over
the terms that will be agreed to. The rebel band is playing "Dixie,"
while
ours is playing "Columbia," and they both join in "America;, and the
air
is rent with cheers. Then our band strikes out with "The Girl I Left
Behind
Me," and the rebs with "The Girl That Wears the Palmetto Hat."
Everything
passes harmoniously. At 4 o'clock p. m. hostilities are begun and the
word
is passed, "Look out, Johnny, we are ordered to shoot," and all dive
for
their holes. There is a regular roar of artillery all around the lines
and the mortar fleet keeps the air full of shells.
July 3rd, 1868. There are white
flags
placed all along the rebel works this morning; firing has ceased and
there
appears to be a perfect gloom on the rebel side. None of the boys show
themselves. Grant and Pemberton are out under a big live oak tree
between
the lines conferring.
A good many of our boys are at
work
washing and cleaning up; say they are going to a play in Vicksburg, and
some have even shaved and blacked their shoes for the occasion. Captain
Swift has just appeared and announced: "Boys, we are going to march
into
Vicksburg tomorrow at 10 a m. Hip, hip, hurrah!" and there is a rousing
cheer all around the line. Brother Hiram came back to the company this
morning. He has been very sick and It shows on him yet. The doctor gave
him permission to visit the company, but he must report to the hospital
steward ever morning for a time.
The boys are all very cheerful,.
and
many a joke and prank are passed. Jimmy Tierney is taking a nap with
his
head on a chunk of wood, under a big pine tree. He is a quaint little
Irishman,
and the boys like to torment him. Several have thrown pine burrs at him
and awakened him. He raises up on his elbow and rails out, "Ye bloody
spalpeens,
can't ye let an honest man rest a minute? There isn't a man of ye got
any
raisin', if ye would mind yer own business, as I do mine, ye would be
better
men thin ye are."
July 4th dawns gloriously, and we
are called together by the reveille and lined up for roll call, the
first
time for over sixty days. The roll has been called for the past month,
the orderly sergeant groping his way through the pits hunting up the
men
as they were on their posts. Now there is no fear of a deadly bullet or
shell. There are five of our company who have answered their last roll
call at Vicksburg, and eleven are lying at the hospital with fair hopes
of recovery.
At 10 o'clock we are in line, with
our best appearance under the circumstances, as we are somewhat ragged
and tattered by the long siege, but our old musket is as bright as a
dollar.
"Haven't seen one for so long we don't know whether they are bright of
green."
The rebs are marching outside
their
lines and stacking their guns and drooping their colors over the center
stack of each battalion, leaving them and marching back inside of their
works. There is a salute fired by our artillery all around the works
and
also by our fleet. We are marched into Vicksburg by merry music and
cheers
from the lusty throats of the boys. It is a glorious celebration of old
Independence Day and one that every participant will ever remember.
We have stacked our arms by 12
o'clock
and are preparing our dinner. The Johnnies are mingling with us and we
invite them to partake with us. Nearly all of them accept our
hospitality.
There are some few who hold out stubborn and sullen.
JACKSON (MISSISSIPPI) CAMPAIGN.
We remain at Vicksburg until
the morning
of the 7th of July, when we are ordered to march, issued 60 rounds of
cartridges
and five days' rations. We cross Black River and are marching toward
Jackson,
camping the first night about five miles east of the river and near
Champion
Hill. Near our camp is where Pemberton made his last stand before
crossing
the river, and there is a trench where the dead were buried, and the
heavy
rains have washed gullies and exposed the dead. It is s horrid sight.
The
buzzard and raven have been at work on the bodies exposed. We have men
reburying or covering those that are exposed to view. It is a gruesome
task and makes a chill of horror run through me.
July 9th, 1863. Our Cavalry had a
skirmish with Johnson yesterday evening and that morning they are at it
again. We are advancing in line of battle and to our left there has
been
some hard fighting. Our brigade is on the extreme right of the line and
have not been engaged yet, but our battery, 1st Missouri, are engaging
a rebel battery, and we lie in their support, looking for something
every
moment. The rebel line is on the crest of Champion Hill and are in an
open
field; the center of our lines is also in an open field. We on the
extreme
right are sheltered by timber and are on higher ground, but we are
located
where we can see their whole line, and our batteries raking their
lines.
They have moved up another battery and are placing it a few yards to
the
left of the one of our guns have been playing on. General McPherson
rode
up to General Pue, who has command of our brigade, and said: "Colonel,
take your brigade and charge that battery." We are marched down to our
right about 400 yards, under cover of the neck of timber, where we are
within about 600 yards of their guns. We are commanded, "Left flank,
charge,
double quick." In fifteen minutes after McPherson's command we had the
battery and our battery boys had their guns trained on the rebel line
in
retreat. We had captured four guns, but they had run off with their
caisson.
That was the finish of the second battle of Champion Hill. Johnson is
on
a hurried retreat to Jackson and we are in hot pursuit.
Sunday morning, July 11th, we are
awakened by the orderly sergeant with a shake of the shoulder of each
man
and ordered to fall ln line at 3 o'clock a. m. Our movement is very
cautious
and we are marching around to the south of Jackson. Just at daybreak we
reach the Mobile & Ohio Railroad track, when we are ordered to drop
our guns and seize a tie and turn the track over for several lengths of
our regiment. Then we are marched to the extreme right and take our
position
close to Pearl River in dense timber, our regiment at the river.
We are supposed to have Johnson's
army corralled by a strong line surrounding Jackson.
Time passed quietly until about 10
o'clock, when our batteries opened up all around our line. The rebel
batteries
answered, and while they were booming our infantry were forming for a
charge.
Our regiment was held in reserve of our brigade. The 3d Iowa, 4th
Illinois
and 44th Missouri were ordered to charge. They had about 200 yards of
timber
before they came to an open field. We advance in their rear in support
and are halted at the edge of the timber, when the three regiments are
ordered on the double quick. The rebels hold their fire until they are
within fifty yards of their works, when they open with a volley of
musketry
and their battery with grape and canister, mowing our boys down in a
terrible
slaughter. The 3d Iowa has charged up to their fort and placed their
flag
on the fort, when they are repulsed and turn and retreat to our line,
leaving
three hundred of our boys dead on the field.
There had been a
misunderstanding
of orders. The charge was not to have been made until 4 o'clock p. m.,
and was to have been all around the lines in concert, and our poor boys
had to suffer; for the blunder of a few men with shoulder straps and
minus
brains. This act had frustrated McPherson's plans for the day and
caused
a general quarrel among the officers at headquarters.
We lay in line until Monday
morning,
the 12th. Johnson had evacuated Jackson during the night and had moved
out every gun. He had prepared for the retreat long before our attack
and
had kept the railroad busy shipping out army stores; had cut and built
a road through the Pearl River swamp east of the city and had the river
bridged with pontoons, which he had cut loose after crossing with his
army.
The quarrel between our officers had given him the opportunity to get
away
without loss. We buried our poor boys Monday morning and marched into
Jackson
about 10 o'clock a. m., and returned to Vicksburg, where we arrived
July
7th. When we marched into Jackson we passed a place that had a terraced
lawn where there was a group of woman jeering the boys as they passed,
and one of them stood on the terrace and beckoned to the boys to come
up
and talk. Charles Stokes, of our company, had taken the dare and went
up
to see what she wanted. He had no sooner got within reach than the
woman
threw her skirt over his head and gathered it tight around his throat
and
hailed the other girls to come and help choke a Yankee,
The morning of July l6th, 1863, we
are embarked on boat bound for Natchez, Miss., arriving on the 18th,
disembarked
and marched up through the city to the north suburbs, where we camp
close
to the river and also close to a deep canyon which encircles the city.
The upper city is elevated about sixty feet above the river or lower
part
of the city, which are distinguished as Lower and Upper Natchez.
Upper Natchez is a beautiful
place,
mostly residences, churches and schools, and is inhabited by wealthy
planters
of Mississippi.
We remain at Natchez and send out
scouts through the country to gather in cotton belonging to the
Confederate
government, which is confiscated and shipped down the river to New
Orleans,
there compressed and shipped by ocean steamers east, where our Uncle
Sam
makes good use of it.
THE MERIDIAN AND GUNTOWN EXPEDITION:
The morning of the 7th of
Sept., 1863,
we commenced our march for Meridian, Miss, We have a long and footsore
march over the red clay hills, through pine forests, to Meridian,
Guntown,
and Lagrange, where we camp for, two days, I could not see the
necessity
of this expedition as we did not meet with the enemy or accomplish
anything
by the march. All we did was to wear out our shoes and clothes, and
live
on quarter rations for the entire march.
At Lagrange we are camped in a
large
peach and mulberry orchard where the fruit was ripe and delicious, and
we feast on it while we are there. The boys also discovered a
distillery
and a quantity of old Peach Brandy and Mulberry wine which they imbibed
with most too free and became intoxicated and we had a merry time while
it lasted and many were put under guard and locked up in a log cabin
until
they sobered off.
We then marched back to Vicksburg,
where we entered camp the 7th of December, near old camp of May 22d,
where
we go into winter quarters.
We have extreme cold weather
during
the month of December, 1863, and three men were frozen to death on
picket
the 23d.
The night of December 24th,
"Christmas
Eve," our Regimental Officers are invited to a party, just outside of
our
picket line. The boys have got the scent, and have prepared a surprise
for them, for several yards apart they have stretched the Muscadine
grape
vine across the road, just high enough to strike their horses' knees,
after
which the boys hide in ambush to watch the fun. There was fun immense
for
those who were watching for it. There was language used that was
unbecoming
an officer. and I forebear to repeat it.
THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
The morning of February l7th,
1864,
we received orders to march into Vicksburg and are embarked on boats
for
Red River. We move down the Mississippi to the mouth of Red River and
up
that stream to Yellow Bayou, where we land on the l2th. The l3th of
March
we advance on Fort Deruca, La., from the rear, while our fleet attacks
the river front. We make a concentrated attack and charge into the
works,
where we remain for two days, when we blow up the magazine and fort and
again take the boats for Alexandria, La., where we disembark on the
east
side of the river the morning of, March 17th., We are on the opposite
side
of the river from Alexandria and are scouting the country for a radius
of twenty miles, on the lookout for Gen. Taylor's force. Have several
skirmishes
with guerrilla bands in sympathy with the South, in reality bands of
cut-throats
and robbers. We remain here until the 26th of March, when we are again
embarked on boat and go up to Bayou Cotila, where we remain until April
2d, scouting the east bank of the river and surrounding country. We are
living high; the country is rich - plenty of chicken, duck, geese and
cashaw,
a hard-shell squash which equals the Hubbard in flavor and is grown in
the cornfields. There is also a field bean that is grown in the corn
that
is also a great relish with us; they are called field peas by the
natives.
The wealthy planters through
Louisiana
are French, and to protect their property they have up the French flag,
but the boys are capable of getting away with what they want.
On April 2d we are sent up the
river
to Grand Ecor, from which point we are sent out upon a scout to Campti,
and on our return we are embarked on boat April 5th to guard the fleet
of supplies up the river, arriving at Loggey Bayou the 9th, where we
were
disembarked to remove the blockade. A large boat had been sunk squarely
across the river and filled with brick and atone. Here we are busily
engaged
in removing the obstruction when a courier came and informed our
colonel
of Bank's defeat at Sabin Crossroads. We are hastily embarked on our
boat
and backed down the bayou and river a distance of about six miles
before
we could turn our prow down the stream, as the Stream was too narrow to
admit of turning. We also barricaded our boat with bales of cotton for
breastworks, expecting the enemy to make an attack and try to cut us
off
and capture our fleet.
On April l2th we are attacked by
Gen.
Greene with a force of 2,000 rebel cavalry when at Pleasant Hill
Landing.
They make a desperate charge to the river bank and several of their men
plunge their horses into the river, swimming to our monitor and board
it,
but they are mistaken in their undertaking and were shot down on the
deck.
We had held our fire until they were at the water's edge, when we
Poured
in our volley, and the four guns, 12-pounders, on our boats fired forth
their grapeshot, killing Gen. Greene and several hundred of his men,
besides
many wounded.
They retreat, leaving their dead
and
wounded on the field. Our boats steam down the river as fast as
possible,
fearing another attack, as they were reforming in the distant timber
for
another charge. Our monitor, remained and shells them until our fleet
gets
underway. Our regiment was the only troop in escort of the fleet, with
lst Missouri, Battery M. We continued our course down the river to the
rapids, where the fleet had to remain until there was a dam built to
raise
the water before they could pass over the shoals, as the river was very
low. .
Our regiment is sent back lo our
brigade
and takes position in the center of our lines in an open sugar field,
newly
planted. and where the cane was just piercing through the ground.
Here I will endeavor to give the
reader
a description of a sugar plantation. Our camp was one of the largest in
Louisiana, Governor Moore's plantation. The field that we occupy is
perfectly
level and there are two hundred acres. The seed used is the stalk, two
or three joints laid in a furrow and covered with a plow. The rows are
six feet apart in drill with a continuous layer of the stalk, which
puts
out a sprout at each joint. This cane where it puts forth its sprout is
very sweet, and the boys had dug out nearly the entire field and eaten
it. The cultivation is similar to that of cotton. When the cane is
mature
it is stripped by a wood cleaver in the hand of slaves by a stroke down
either side of the stalk, when it is allowed to stand two weeks. Then
it
is topped and cut and loaded into carts, drawn by a single mule to the
crusher - a set of three rollers, which are of wood and are adjusted in
a wooden frame with wooden cogs mortised in the upper ends of the
roller,
with one of the rollers projecting above, mortised into a large sweep
that
is made by selecting a tree of proper crook to extend down, forming an
arch. This gives space for the negro to feed the cane in the rollers to
extract the sap, which runs through a trough to the evaporator pans
over
the furnace. The crusher is turned by a span of mules hitched to the
sweep
which I have described. This machinery is all of old, ancient and crude
form, made by the slaves. The sugar house is a building 40x60 feet and
stands on descending ground, with the furnace of masonry through
the center and evaporating pans six feet wide, forty long, partitioned
in several divisions, On either side are corrugated floors, inclined to
the pans. On the floors are barrels in which the sugar is dipped as it
crystallizes, the barrels being perforated to drain back the syrup to
the
pans. This process is continued until the barrels are filled with
crystallized sugar, when they are closed and shipped
to New Orleans for refining. At the time of our campaign there were
fifty
barrels of sugar standing on the drips and the pans were full of syrup,
the winter's work which our campaign had stopped. The boys had nearly
exhausted
the entire stock and the place was in a pretty mess. Our regiment lay
about
400 yards from the sugar house and there was a constant stream going
and
coming from the house. One morning Sergeant Quigley had been to the
house
and in reaching to dig sugar out of a barrel slipped and fell into the
pans of syrup. He was making his way back to the regiment when the boys
spied his condition. Orval Rhodes made a run for him, dipping his
fingers
in a rake up his back, stop and lick them off, then he would run up and
make another dip, and that comical maneuver made others of the company
follow his example, causing a shout from the whole command. Quigley was
called from that time on "Sweet Quigley."
We remain in camp here until the
fleet
is floated over the rapids; are under the fire of the enemy every day;
have thrown up pits and are quite well shielded, but some poor boy is
taken
off each day.
April l8th, 1864, we are on the
retreat
from Alexandria and are rear guard; are under fire of the rebel
cavalry,
our regiment being employed as skirmishers through the day. The 23d we
are engaged by Taylor's whole army at Cane River by a flank movement on
our right at 3 p. m., when they attempt to cut our line. We are
reinforced
during the night, and the morning of the 24th we rout them and continue
our retreat to Bayou Chafallia, or Yellow Bayou, where they again
attack
us in force while Banks is crossing the bridge formed with river
steamers
anchored and chained together, forming a pontoon. Here our division are
alone, as Banks has crossed with his entire force, leaving Smith to
fight
his way out or be taken prisoner. Fortunately we repulse them and cross
the bayou just at dark under cover of the "Esic's" guns. We camp on the
east side of the bayou. The morning of April 26th we are embarked on
boats
for Vicksburg.
ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI CAMPAIGN.THE PATRIOT.That dear old Flag whose faintest flutter fills,
A stirring echo in each Patriot's breast,
Can never coax to life the closed eyes
That has its wrongs redressed, -That watched it waver when the fight was hot,
And blazed with newer courage to its aid,
Regardless of the shower of shot and shell
Through which the charge was made;And when at last they saw it plume its wings,
Like some proud bird in stormy elements,
And soar untrammeled on its wanderings,
They, close their eyes, in death content.
We remained at Vicksburg until
the
lst of September, when we are embarked on boat and sent up the river to
White River, and up that stream to Dual Bluffs, Arkansas, where we
arrive
the 9th of September, 1864. We disembark and are camped until
September
9th awaiting our commissary supplies, which are very essential to the
soldier,
especially when in close proximity to the enemy, which we were assured
was the case, as Price's army was traversing the country on his raid
through
Arkansas and Missouri, and we were sent to tickle his rear and harass
him
as much as possible through his march.
The morning of September
10th
we began our march, and on the llth we have an engagement with Price's
rear guard. They have struck the Iron Mountain pike and hold the right
of way, while we have to take to the swamps and keep out of the reach
as
much as possible, striking whenever we have an opportunity to cause him
any delay. Our purpose is only to delay his progress, so that our force
can reach the city of St. Louis ahead of him. Our first engagement is
near
Little Rock, Arkansas, where we strike his rear. In this tight our
major
has his horse shot and is left on foot. He is a jovial fellow and is
liked
by all the boys.
The second day, Ira Howard, of our
company, captured a mule, which he found gentle and rode into camp and
up to the major's quarters and presented him to the major. The next day
the major was riding mister mule with great pomp and met with a lusty
cheer
from the boys throughout the whole regiment.
Our route is through heavy timber
and swamp, as Price's monopolized the pikes. Our custom is to take a
short
rest at noon and make our coffee, broil our bacon, eat our dinner and
rest
for an hour. The major had finished his dinner and rode his mule back
to
where our company lay; had dismounted and sat down by a large tree for
a rest and social chat with the boys. He had been seated but a few
minutes
when he felt something warming his lower extremities, and, with a
bound,
he reached his mule and mounted. Then the fun began; the mule was
likewise
active and commenced to pitch and kick, and the major was thrown to the
ground. Everybody got busy. The major had stirred up an enemy that was
making the place too warm for any of us; he had sat down on a yellow
jackets'
nest, and there were some remarks that I will refrain from mentioning
ln
this narrative. We were nineteen days making our way through to Cape
Guiardo,
Missouri, where we took boat up the river to Jefferson City, Missouri,
where we disembarked the 24th of September; camped over until the next
morning.
September 26th, 1864, we are again
following In Price's rear. He had preceded our force several days and
had
torn up the railroad from a few miles west of St. Louis to Jefferson
City;
had burned all the bridges on his route. Gen. Steele was ln hot pursuit
and had over taken him at the Big Blue River near the Kansas line;
where
he captured nearly all of his artillery and 400 prisoners.
Our command went as far as
California,
a small place about sixty miles west of Jefferson City, where we were
halted
and were put to work repairing the railroad back to Jefferson City.
When Steele arrived with his
prisoners
October llth, they were placed in our charge and were loaded into box
cars
with our regiment as guard, forty men in a car, with the car doors open
six inches and locked with chains, to give that space for air. Our
guards
were placed on top of the cars.
October l2th we start with the
prisoners
for Jefferson City, arriving the l3th. During the night of the l2th it
had turned cold and a light snow had fallen, making it very cold and
the
tops of the car very slippery, and we had to clinch the narrow
footboard
in the center to keep from slipping off the top of the cars. Our
progress
was very slow, as the road was in a very bad condition, and we were all
night making the distance of sixty- seven miles to Jefferson City. We
suffered
extremely with cold. The 13th we transferred our prisoners to the boats
and went down the river to Herman, Mo., where we embarked and again
took
the railroad to St. Louis, which had been repaired to that place, about
sixty miles out from St. Louis.
At Herman, one of the prisoners, a
spy, was shot on a high bluff overlooking the city and river. The
prisoner
was one of Marmaduke's band of guerrillas and was a desperate man. He
had
jumped from the boat twice into the river and attempted to escape; was
handcuffed and chained when he made the effort We also had Gen.
Marmaduke
and Gen. Cahill among the prisoners. At Herman we were loaded on open
flat
cars and the guards were mingled with the prisoners. We arrived at St.
Louis the morning of October l7th, were disembarked and marched through
the city to the Schofield barracks, where we turned over our prisoners
and were marched out to Benton barracks, where we remained until
November
23d. Here we had good quarters and were paid and issued new uniforms,
lived
high as long as our money lasted, and were given freedom to visit the
city
as long as we behaved properly. Some of the boys were given furloughs
and
visited their homes. This ended our campaign after Price. While at St.
Louis we had the opportunity to vote for President, and a good half of
the regiment used the opportunity to vote at the election of November
5th,
1864. Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson were the Republican
candidates.
Gen. George B. McClellen was the Democratic choice. Our regiment was
about
equally divided, and there were some hot political arguments among the
boys.
The time passed very pleasantly
while
in St. Louis, and we had no arduous duties to perform - nothing but
ordinary
camp duty. Our stay was a necessary rest after our long march through
Arkansas
and Missouri of nearly 400 miles on half rations and through a desolate
swamp and wilderness.
FIELD OF OUR CAMPAIGNS
SIEGE AT NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
November 23, 1864, we embark on
boat
and are sent down the Mississippi River to the Ohio River, up the Ohio
to the Cumberland River to Nashville, Tenn., where we disembark and are
marched through the city to the extreme right of our line, where we
enter
camp December 2d, and are put to work building fortifications. A few
days
thereafter Gen. Hood had us under siege.
On December l5th our division is
massed
in solid column at the center of our lines in a clear, open field in
plain
sight of the enemy. At 3 o'clock p. m. we moved on Hood's center a
heavy
fire of his artillery. We charge and break his line; routing them, they
giving way and retreating to the Franklin pike where they have taken
cover
of a stone fence, where they rally and hold their ground until the
following
morning, the l6th. We charge them in their stronghold between the two
stone
walls, completely routing them and taking 400 prisoners. Then commenced
the running fight, they on the retreat to Franklin, Tenn. Two companies
of our regiment, Companies E and H, were sent back to Nashville with
the
prisoners, where we corralled them in a stone quarry for several days,
until the 19th, when we were drowned out by heavy rain that flooded the
quarry and we had to move to the Zolicoffer House, a large hotel, which
we turned into a prison.
On December 20th, 1864, we are
relieved
by new troops, 100-day men, and are sent back to our regiment at
Eastport,
Miss., on the Tennessee River, arriving on the 23rd, where we remained
for Christmas and until the 2d day of January, 1865, awaiting boats of
commissary stores.
At Eastport we are put on quarter
rations and are compelled to live on parched corn, and even had to
steal
the corn from the mules when they were fed. The country had been
stripped
of everything by both armies for two years and there was no forage. On
January lst two boats came up the river with supplies. They were
greeted
with cheers and were soon unloaded. Many a cracker box was smuggled
into
camp before they reached the quartermaster's tents.
The 2d of January, 1865, our
wagons
are loaded and we are on the march to Memphis, Tenn., where we embark
to
Helena, Arkansas, which we reach on the l7th of February. We remain at
Helena until the lst of March, 1865, when we again embark on boats for
New Orleans.
We arrive on the 10th, and go into
camp at Chalamet, the old Jackson battle ground of 1815. We are flooded
out that night by a break of the levee, and on the llth we march
through
the city to Lake Ponchartrain, where we embarked on boats for Dolphin
Island.
The lake is very rough and our boats are beached and we have to wade
out
through the water breast deep, the swells washing over us. We march
down
the coast some distance to where the boats can make a landing.
We are camped in a cypress swamp
over
night, re- embarking the, 12th, reaching Dolphin Island the l4th;
disembark
under fire of a rebel fort on the east side of Mobile Bay.
Dolphin Island is midway between
the
mainland of the east and west sides of the bay at the entrance,
and
is a barren sandbar in the mouth of the bay. There we are camped until
the 20th, the rebel batteries shelling us from the mainland on both
sides
of the bay. When the tides are out We wade out. to the oyster beds and
gather oysters.
On the 20th we embark and sail to
the mouth of Black River, near the Florida shores, go up the river 40
miles,
where we disembark and march through a dense pine forest to the rear of
Spanish Fort, opposite Mobile, forming a line around the fort the 27th
and engaging the enemy. On the 28th the rebel gunboats got range of our
lines and sent in shell thick and destructive, one shell killing nine
men
in Company B.
We moved our camp out of their
range.
In this camp Aldo Swift was shot through the neck and was taken oft the
field, supposed to be dead, but revived when prepared for burial and
was
taken to the hospital. He recovered, returning to the company at
Vicksburg
the day we were mustered out of the service, a much alive boy and a
great
surprise to his brother, Captain P. H. Swift, as well as the entire
company.
His wound was a source of great benefit to him, as he was relieved of
an
impediment of speech, stuttering, of which he was entirely cured.
We besieged the fort until the 8th
of April, when we made a charge at midnight into their works, to find
it
evacuated except for a small line of pickets, whom we took prisoners.
Fort
Blackly, a twin fort 4 miles up the bay, was also taken the same night.
The 10th of April Mobile
surrendered
and our fleet ran the blockade and chased Admiral Sims up the Tombigby
River, where they had destroyed their fleet and taken to the woods. The
l2th of April there was great rejoicing in our camp as we had just
heard
of the capture of Richmond and Petersburg, Lee and Johnson on the run,
with Grant in hot pursuit. It was with cheerful hearts and buoyant
spirits
we received orders on parade the evening of the 12th to be ready to
march
!n the morning on to Montgomery, Alabama.
The morning of the l3th of April,
1865, we were on the march to Montgomery, Alabama. Our route was
through
heavy pine forests for two days, when we entered an open farming
country
rich with forage, and we were living on the bounty of the land -
watermelon
and roasting ears. The third day's march a negro came to my mess and
told
me of an old planter who had secreted a lot of meats, hams and bacon,
in
his cornfield. Freeman and I, accompanied by the negro, went in search
of the meat, which we found buried in the cornfield between the
rows.
They had dug a pit about twelve feet long and two feet wide and cased
with
boards three feet deep, which was filled with fine hams and side meat,
packed in ashes and straw, covered with boards and earth, which they
had
cultivated over ln plowing the corn. We were afraid that it might spoil
if left there, so we helped ourselves to as much as we could carry and
hurried back to camp, and others of the boys were soon on our trail and
the box was soon empty.
On the l6th of April we met some
paroled
prisoners on their way home, who gave us the first news of General
Lee's
surrender to General Grant. The air was rent with cheers, hats were
thrown
up, with a shout from every throat, and our band strikes up with "Home,
Sweet Home," and "The Girl I Left Behind Me."
The following day we entered the
small
town of Enterprise, where we captured a printing office that had one
side
of a four-column four page folder printed with rebel news and the news
of Abraham Lincoln's assassination. This was very sad news to us and we
could hardly believe it to be true until it was confirmed by our own
papers
a few days later, when we arrived at Montgomery on the 23rd of April.
We remained at Montgomery awaiting our transports with commissary supplies. We found the place evacuated and a general gloom over the citizens. We found a large quantity of Confederate paper money at the courthouse there - "A promise to pay after the ratification of a treaty of peace" - which the boys used to gamble with, and the stakes were often up into the thousands.ODE ON THE DEATH OF LINCOLN
What means that solemn dirge I hear ?
What means those mournful sounds?
Why toll the bells the awful knell of fate?
Ah' why those sighs that do my fancy sate?
Where'er I turn the general gloom appear;
Those mournful badges fill my soul with tears.
Hark! - yonder rueful noise! - ‘tis done! ‘tis done!
The silent tomb enshrouds our Lincoln!Must virtues exalted, yield their breath?
Must bright perfection find relief in death?
Must mortal greatness fall! - a glorious name
By the vile assassin's treacherous hand?The august chief, the father and the friend,
The generous patriot - the humane man;
The People's glory, America's pride,
There lies enshrined our immortalized Lincoln'
On the 30th our fleet arrived and to us were issued new clothes. rations and ammunition, and we were ordered to be ready to march the morning of the lst of May to Tuskegee, Alabama, 40 miles southwest of Montgomery on the Tombigby River, where we arrived the evening of the third. At Tuskegee we enter into provost duty of the city and patrolled the country to quiet disturbances between the planters and the negroes, a duty of reconstruction between the planter and their former slaves. I was sent out the first week 12 miles from the city on a duty of straightening out a difficulty with the negroes. They entertained the idea that they were to possess the lands of their former master and were about to dispossess him, and when I attempted to reason with them they accused ms of being an impostor and not "Massa Lincoln man," was they termed it, and I had to resort to my rifle for protection and arrest the leader and take him to headquarters. We had daily calls to quiet such troubles while we remained at Tuskegee. We remained at Tuskegee, Alabama, doing provost duty the remainder of our service. We had gained the good will of the citizens and were treated cordially by them.
There were a great many of the Confederate soldiers returning to their homes here and they were very friendly and glad that the cruel war was over. We had organized an opera club, which was made up of both sides, Yank and Reb, and had plays every week. A great many of our boys were smitten by the Southern belles and I feared they would forget the girls they left behind in old Wisconsin.
Time passed on, gay and festive, with social parties at the residences nearly every day while we remained at Tuskegee. We carried no arms, except when on duty, and there was no sign of military strife. The Blue and the Grey were mingled as one common brotherhood - with a congenial, friendly spirit.
The morning at the 23d of July, 1865, we received orders to march to Montgomery to embark for Vicksburg, where we arrived the 31st. We entered camp in the city, turned over our arms and were mustered out of the service on the 9th day of August, 1865. We were paid and embarked for "Home,Sweet Home,; on boat to Cairo, by rail from Cairo to Madison, Wis, where we arrived the 16th of August and were disbanded to go at will to our several homes.
At Madison we were greeted by parent, wives and sweethearts with a joyous greeting, mingled with tears of joy and happiness. But there also sad recollections brought vividly to mind. There were mothers draped with mourning there to meet us broken down with grief, with the question unspoken, "Where is my boy?" "Where did you leave my boy?"
There