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HISTORy 
 
 
 ORGANIZATION, MARCHES, CAMPINGS, GENERAL SERVICES 
 AND FINAL MISTER OUT OF 
 
 BATTERY M, 
 
 FIRST REGIMENT ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY, 
 
 TOGETHER WITH DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF INCIDENTS BOTH 
 
 GRAVE AND FACETIOUS CONNECTED THEREWITH; 
 
 COMPILED FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS 
 
 AND FROM THE DIARIES OF THE 
 
 DIFFERENT MEMBERS. 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE BATTERY 
 
 PRINCETON, ILLINOIS: 
 
 MERCER & DEAN. 
 
 1892. 
 

 /{> 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PART [.—KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Page 11. Authority to raise a battery First rendezvous Camp Douglas 
 First death Muster roll Commissioned officers Government 
 bounty— Pastimes Sword presentation Guns— Non commissioned 
 officers Guard house rules Firstpay First deserter. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 Page 20. Marching orders Hound for Dixie -Louisville— First man 
 discharged— A doctor- A scare Explosion — Its cause— Bill and "Bat- 
 
 ( )ur new lieutenants. 
 
 CHAPTEB III. 
 
 Page 26. Marching Orders Lebanon— Columbia Millersville— Negroes 
 ordered out Target practice Fortifying. 
 
 CHAPTEB IV. 
 
 Page mi. Campbellsville Chase after Morgan— Battle in official circles 
 New Years Day Campbellsville sacked— Green river bridge Col- 
 umbia < aniphelisville again. 
 
 CHAPTEB V. 
 
 Page 36. Forrest expected On the march New Haven cheese knives 
 Quinine battery Heavy snow Farrell's sentence Louisville 
 Changes in the brigade ordered on board the boat. 
 
 PART II. CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 
 
 CHAPTEB VI. 
 
 Page 43. The .lames Thompson Portland— Smithland — Contraband 
 
 articles The Meet Up the Cumberland Dover Nashville — ('apt. 
 Miller leaves us. 
 
IV. CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Page 18. On the March— Franklin Army of the Cumberland— Forti- 
 fying -Receive a detail Coburn's brigade— Marching orders — Gen. 
 Granger Sheridan's division. 
 
 CHAPTER A' I II. 
 Page 53. Thompson's Station — Spring Hill — Forraging — Return to 
 
 Franklin— Fort Granger begun— Cleanliness vs. quinine— More de- 
 tailed men— Guns exchanged— Capt. Thompson — Company cooks — 
 Attack on Franklin— Sanitary supplies — Shelter tents— The oven- 
 Fay day— Pipes and shell works— Target practice— Whisky. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 64. Marching orders — Triune — Grand Review — Lieut. Colvin 
 leaves ns Attacked — Compliments — Drummed out — The reserve 
 corps On the march — Salem — "Warren's Grove — A joke. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Page 70. Shelbyville— Gen. Whittaker — New detail— Reviewed by Gen. 
 Rosecrans — < 'apt. Miller discharged— Wartrace. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Page 76. All together— Cowan— Cumberland mountains— Steven son— 
 1 Jridgep< >rt— Spencer promoted— Cross the Tennessee — Raccoon moun- 
 tains—Lookout Mountain — Rossville— Brigade and division com- 
 manders— Ringold— Peavine Creek— 111 omens. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Page 85. Move to the front — Engage a battery — A surprise— Take posi- 
 tion—Battle of Chickamauga- Off the field— The killed and wounded 
 -< Mlu-ial Reports — Our position — Gen. Rosecrans and Col. Banning's 
 lett ers— Rossville — The gap— Chattanooga— Congratulatory orders. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Page 9(\ Camp in the cemetery— Starve Ridge— Capt. Spencer arrives 
 Our condition Fourth Corps formed— Officers' rations — Rosecrans' 
 farewell Cross the river— Fort Negley— Patton's Mill— Detailed 
 men return Wager decided — Deserters shot. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 Page 110. Preparing for the fight— Orchard Knob— Battle of Lookout 
 Mountain Sherman's movements— Battle of Mission Ridge. 
 
CONTENTS. v. 
 
 PART III. KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 
 
 ciiaitki; XV. 
 
 Page 121. Another detail Onthemarcli Chickamauga Creek "Bat- 
 tery" deserts us Our destination Divided Fine forraging Knox- 
 ville. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Page 130. Colvin's Battery Brabson's Mills Marching orders -Blain's 
 \ mads Prospects Veteran Excitement. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Page 139. On the March — Dandridge French Broad— On the retreat- 
 Destruction of grain and clothing Strawberry Plains— Knoxville 
 again— Successful ruse— Preparing to Leave. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Page I 19. Campbell Station— Loudon Gen. Sheridan leaves us— Bridge- 
 builders' strike— A general interviewed— Gen. Howard— Marching 
 orders. 
 
 PART [V.— ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Page 163. On the move — Calhoun — Cleveland— Gen. Newton in com- 
 mand—Preparations for the campaign. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Page 167. The start— Catoosa Springs -Rocky Face — Dalton- Battle of 
 Resaca— The field — Resaca — Calhoun — Adairsville — Kingston. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Page 180. Corps badge— Saltpetre works— Burnt Hickory— Pumpkin- 
 vine Creek— Hot work scurvy. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Page 189. Tine Mountain— Shelling the enemy— Pumping prison 
 
 Kennesaw Mountain— Hotly engaged— Memorial to Gen. Howard— 
 Another doctor— Charge and repulse— Col. Harker killed -Left sec- 
 tion guns turned over — Preparing for another move. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXTII. 
 
 Page 211. Marietta— How we spent the 4th— Vining Station— Chatta- 
 hoochee River— Generals as marksmen— Cross the river. 
 
 CHARTER XX IV. 
 Page 218. Rattle of Peachtree Creek— The enemy's account of the action. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Page 224. Siege of Atlanta— Gen. Howard transferred— Shell the city- 
 Night tiring— Artillery brigade. 
 
 CHARTER XXVI. 
 
 Page 234. Move to the right— Tait a prisoner— Hard rations— Before 
 Jonesboro— Rough and Ready — Enter Atlanta— In camp— Congratu- 
 latory orders. 
 
 PART V.— OUR "HEFTY" CAMPAIGN. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Rage 247. The mouthpiece— Marching orders— Experiences of citizens 
 — New way of drawing rations — Camp rumors— Theatre. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Page 259. Leave Atlanta— Chattanooga again— Fort McAloon — Our 
 camp— Company fund— Our prominent characters — Muskets — Sani- 
 tary and Christian commission— In the wood and lumber business — 
 Raffle— Marching orders. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 Page 277. Cleveland— Veterans vs. recruits — A green musket — (rood 
 news— Salutes— Bad X ews — Mourning guns — Charleston — Salutes. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Page 289. We're going home— Corn ketchup— Nashville— Old chums- 
 Louisville— Not hungry— Camp Douglas— Raffle for " Battery "—Dis- 
 charged — Deaths— Recruits— Transfers — Deserters — Discharged — 
 Recapitulation. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 \\ hereveb there is a body of people, qo matter what be their 
 age or nationality, who are associated together for a length of 
 time, whatever be the pursuit they are following, there are always 
 incidents connected with the time of their brotherhood, that they 
 in after times are fond of recalling to mind, and often of impart- 
 ing to others. This is true, no matter what was the social status 
 dt' the fraternity, whether they were at all times at perfect peace 
 toward each other, or whether there were occasionally, or even 
 often, broils among them. 
 
 The greater the vicissitudes connected with their society, the 
 more firmly are they hound together, and the more there is they 
 wish to retain in memory. 
 
 If each keeps a journal of his doings how eagerly does he re- 
 fer to it. and how his eye sparkles with satisfaction if he finds the 
 item he wished. How different if he finds no mention made of it. 
 Hut others may have noted it. yet he cannot have recourse to their 
 private diaries. 
 
 \\ hat a solace then to the members to have a complete history 
 
 of that association as it would he if it was the concentration of all 
 tin' journals into one. 
 
 In all the different phases of life, there is nothing that will so 
 cement the tie- of friendship as when lite is constantly or at in- 
 tervals endangered, ami where each is felt as a shield fortl ther. 
 
 Ami where can life he more endangered than in war? And what 
 greater war can he pointed to than the one for the 1 nion for 
 Freedom the war of 1861 to 1865? 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 This book is intended to give all the minutiae of the doings of 
 Battery M of the Fust Regiment of Illinois Light Artillery. The 
 different items are taken from the official records and from diaries 
 kept by different members. 
 
 It is written expressly as a book of reference for the members 
 of the Battery, and therefore, no attempts are made at flowery 
 speech, rhetorical flourishes or exaggeration. There is nothing re- 
 corded but facts known to all the participators. Should, however, 
 the doings of a single company, that was engaged in the great 
 struggle for a free government, prove of sufficient interest toothers 
 than the actual participants to warrant their perusal of this vol- 
 ume, they may do so with the assurance that what they read is the 
 truth. 
 
 All our doings are recorded, not omitting such as would be 
 likely to be condemned by those who were never in the field, and 
 such as are in our favor are not magnified. 
 
PART I. 
 
 Kentucky Canopaign. 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 During the excitement occasioned by the raising of 
 troops in the spring and summer of 1862, for reinforcing our 
 armies in the Held. John B. Miller, of Ottawa, Illinois, on April 
 I'.tli. 1862, received authority from Adjutant General Fuller, of the 
 State of Illinois, to raisea company of Held artillery. He opened a re. 
 cruiting office at Ottawa, and boarded the men. as fast as they 
 enlisted, at the Everett House. < hi the 20th of Ma\ he moved the 
 nucleus of the battery to Camp Wallace, near the city. Here recruits 
 did m>t come in sufficient numbers, so about the first of June 
 he took his men, numbering about forty, to Camp Douglas, near 
 Chicago. At first they occupied the old Camp Chapel, but early 
 in July they were moved into barracks at the northeast corner id' 
 the camp, where they remained during the remainder id' their stay 
 in Illinois. 
 
 On the L2th id' June forty-two hail enrolled their names, mid 
 with John H. Colvin as First Lieutenant, were mustered into the 
 service of the Tinted States for the term id' three years, or during 
 the. war. Some of these did not remain, hut ;i!l who did were 
 again mustered in the general muster-in of the company. The 
 name-- of these will he designated by small capitals in the muster- 
 roll. 
 
 As soon as the President Issued his call in the summer of 1862 
 for 600,000 men. -,, numerous were the applications of good men 
 a- to cause the rejection of some of those who had heeti previously 
 
 mustered in. On the 12th of August a satisfactory lot, and of the 
 proper number, were finally mustered into Uncle Sam'- service by 
 Capt. Christopher, at Camp Douglas. 
 
12 
 
 BATTERY M FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 The following are 
 time of enlistment : 
 
 N'AMK. 
 
 Adams. Thomas 
 Adler, Dankmar 
 Aldrich, William 
 Amberg, John 
 Anderson, Edward 
 Axtell, Marquis L. 
 Babcock, Henry 
 
 Baker. Joseph 
 Baker, Thomas S. 
 Balzigar, Nicholas. 
 Banks, Morgan 
 Banks, Nathaniel P. 
 Barnes. Leroy H. 
 Barr. Josiah N. 
 Batterson. William 
 Beedle, Albert 
 Bonser, Thomas 
 Boylon, Christopher 
 Brailev, Watson 
 Brandon, Peter 
 Briggs, Joel 
 Briggs, Sidney 
 Briggs, Wesley A. 
 Brown, Henry H. 
 Brown, Horace 
 Brown, William B. 
 Brown. William M. 
 Brumfield, Alonzo L. 
 Cain, Edwin 
 Carey, George 
 Carroll, William 
 Clancy. Sylvester T. 
 Clute, Charles J. 
 Cogswell. William 
 Colby, John B. 
 Coslet, James 
 Dempsey, Michael 
 
 the names, ages and places of residence at 
 
 AOL. 
 
 RESIDENCE. 
 
 41 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 L8 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 42 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 24 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 25 
 
 Ottawa, Illinois. 
 
 29 
 
 Thornton, Illinois. 
 
 43 
 
 Ottawa, Illinois. 
 
 23 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 25 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 21 
 
 Thornton, Illinois. 
 
 32 
 
 Hobart, Indiana. 
 
 17 
 
 Hobart, Indiana. 
 
 18 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 29 
 
 Pontiac, Illinois. 
 
 30 
 
 Ottawa, Illinois. 
 
 36 
 
 Watertown, New York 
 
 20 
 
 Peoria, Illinois. 
 
 63 
 
 Ottawa. Illinois. 
 
 22 
 
 Ross Station. Indiana. 
 
 27 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 29 
 
 Thornton, Illinois. 
 
 21 
 
 Thornton, Illinois. 
 
 33 
 
 Thornton. Illinois. 
 
 35 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 20 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 24 
 
 Pontiac, Illinois. 
 
 22 
 
 Lake Station, Indiana. 
 
 19 
 
 Ottawa, Illinois. 
 
 34 
 
 Dimmick, Illinois. 
 
 33 
 
 Channahon, Illinois. 
 
 21 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 18 
 
 Chicago. Illinois. 
 
 26 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 33 
 
 Hobart. Indiana. 
 
 22 
 
 McHenry, Illinois. 
 
 20 
 
 Jackson. Indiana. 
 
 24 
 
 < 'hicago. Illinois. 
 
KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 
 
 L3 
 
 \ \M E. 
 
 V.GE. 
 
 1 >ezelle, Samuel 
 
 31 
 
 1 >olton, George E. 
 
 22 
 
 Drake. .lames B. 
 
 22 
 
 Duffy, William 11. 
 
 28 
 
 Farrell, William 
 
 34 
 
 Felt. Orson B. 
 
 22 
 
 Fish. Lucius 
 
 18 
 
 Flint. Henry -1. 
 
 27 
 
 France, Charles 
 
 26 
 
 Fuller, Charles C. 
 
 35 
 
 GERBERT, A DAM 
 
 35 
 
 Gillette. Edwin ( '. 
 
 28 
 
 Gregg, William 1\ 
 
 32 
 
 Hack. August 
 
 25 
 
 Hamilton. Richard 
 
 27 
 
 Hamilton. William 
 
 26 
 
 Hammond, John 
 
 22 
 
 Hansell, Joseph R. 
 
 28 
 
 Harding, James E. 
 
 23 
 
 Harter, George S. 
 
 26 
 
 Hendershot, William 
 
 29 
 
 Henderson, Erastus 1-'. 
 
 23 
 
 Hendrie, Stephen 
 
 28 
 
 HOFFER, < IHRISTIAN 
 
 in 
 
 1 lornung, Max 
 
 26 
 
 1 h iu ard, John 
 
 29 
 
 How \kii. Robert 
 
 24 
 
 1 1 ntchins, < reorge A. 
 
 22 
 
 1 1 utTmaii. Alexander 
 
 27 
 
 Hughes, Bernard 
 
 ■r, 
 
 Hunt. Charles G. 
 
 20 
 
 Hunt. Joseph 1 >. 
 
 36 
 
 Irwin. Andrew T. 
 
 21 
 
 Johnson, Hiram ( ). 
 
 22 
 
 Johnson, Nathan 
 
 2: 
 
 Judd, Charles M. 
 
 ■r, 
 
 Kane, Timothy M. 
 
 21 
 
 Kauffman, John B. 
 
 23 
 
 K ellermann. August 
 
 1" 
 
 RESIDENCE. 
 I Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Thornton. Illinois. 
 Manlius. New York. 
 ( Ihicago, Illinois 
 
 < Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 ( Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Lake Station. Indiana. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 ( Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Ottawa, Illinois. 
 ( Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Peoria, Illinois. 
 Manteno, Illinois. 
 Ottawa. Illinois. 
 
 < Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Pontiac, Illinois. 
 Thornton, Illinois. 
 Hooart, Indiana. 
 Ottawa. Illinois. 
 Ophir, Illinois. 
 
 < Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 < Ihicago, I llinois, 
 Wilmington, Illinois. 
 ( Ihicago, I llinois. 
 
 low a ( 'it v. Iowa. 
 
 < Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Thornton, I llinois. 
 Thornton, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 < Ihicago, I llinois. 
 
 < Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Palos, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 < Ihicago, Illinois 
 
14 BATTERY M. 1 
 
 7 IRST I 
 
 \ A M K. 
 
 AOK. 
 
 Kelner. Henry 
 
 32 
 
 Kempf, John 
 
 24 
 
 Kieper, Henrj 
 
 42 
 
 Kopf, Jacob 
 
 19 
 
 Korah, Alphonzo R. 
 
 22 
 
 Lissenden, George 
 
 28 
 
 Lissenden, Stephen 
 
 19 
 
 Loomis, Maynard 
 
 24 
 
 McDermot, Andrew 
 
 39 
 
 McLaflin, Myron 
 
 26 
 
 Mack. Patrick 
 
 22 
 
 Marcks. Charles 
 
 29 
 
 Marti)). .Ioh)i 
 
 27 
 
 Mead. Frank W. 
 
 17 
 
 Mercer, Ellis K. 
 
 17 
 
 Merchant. Francis M. 
 
 22 
 
 Miller. Charles 
 
 29 
 
 Morrill. John L. 
 
 56 
 
 Mundell, Alonzo G. 
 
 25 
 
 Murphy. William J. 
 
 22 
 
 Newton, Frederick A. 
 
 18 
 
 Nichol, William 
 
 44 
 
 Norton. Conrad 
 
 44 
 
 Offenlock, Henry 
 
 19 
 
 O'Toole, Patrick 
 
 25 
 
 Patton, Samuel 
 
 28 
 
 Peters, George W. 
 
 20 
 
 Peters. Thomas 
 
 23 
 
 Phillips, Lee 
 
 is 
 
 Porter Cephus L. 
 
 25 
 
 Powers, Chester B. 
 
 35 
 
 Prenier. Jacob 
 
 20 
 
 Proctor, .Ioseph 
 
 21 
 
 Quimby, John 
 
 33 
 
 Ralph, Joseph 
 
 31 
 
 Rennau, Henry 
 
 19 
 
 Rhodes, Thomas N. 
 
 24 
 
 Richardson, J nomas 
 
 29 
 
 Rollins, James 
 
 26 
 
 FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 RESIDENCE. 
 
 Chicago. Illinois. 
 Pontiac, Illinois. 
 Chicago. Illinois. 
 Milwaukee. Wisconsin. 
 Ottawa. Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 New York, New York. 
 Chatsworth, Illinois. 
 Wilmington, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 Chatsworth. Illinois. 
 Mc Henry, Illinois. 
 Princeton, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 Ottawa. Illinois. 
 Pontiac, Illinois. 
 Hobart, Indiana. 
 
 Pontiac. Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 ( Jiicago. Illinois. 
 Chicago. Illinois. 
 
 Chicago. Illinois. 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 Chatsworth, Illinois. 
 
 Chicago. Illinois. 
 
 Chicago. Illinois. 
 
 Elmwood, Illinois. 
 
 Lacon, Illinois. 
 
 ( 'enter. Illinois. 
 
 Hobart, Indiana. 
 
 Lake City, Illinois. 
 
 Ottawa. Illinois. 
 
 Bridgeport. Illinois. 
 
 Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 
 
 Hobart, Indiana. 
 
 Peoria. Indiana. 
 
 Pontiac. Illinois. 
 
KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 
 
 L5 
 
 NAME. \«'l'. 
 
 Roper, Frederick 26 
 
 Rowley, Albert .!. 28 
 
 Ryan, Daniel 22 
 
 Ryan, William 29 
 
 Schaeffer, John 32 
 
 Scales, John C. 21 
 
 Schnasse, August 23 
 
 Setzer, Peter W. 24 
 
 Si i i,i-.i.. William 32 
 
 Short, Patrick 21 
 
 .Simpson, George 2 I 
 
 Smith. < lyrus V. 25 
 
 Spencer, David E. L9 
 
 Stebbins, Edq \k 20 
 
 Stewart, Joho C. 12 
 
 Stewart, Robert 39 
 
 Stone, Israel \Y. 23 
 
 Summers, James 21 
 
 Tait, Magnus 25 
 Thompson. Edward Gr. 17 
 
 Thompson, Henry J. 1'.' 
 
 Titus, Augustus H. 21 
 
 Trowbridge, James F. 23 
 
 Tninilnill. James S. 33 
 
 Walker, William 44 
 
 Wells, Richard J. 20 
 
 W i STENDORF, FREDERIC o'J 
 
 Weyl, Samuel S. 24 
 
 White, Edmund X. 22 
 
 William. Collin, 'J'.' 
 
 Williams, Robert M. 30 
 
 Wilson. Alfred S. 2"t 
 Winnemore, Ezra S. E. 25 
 Wright, < larlos E. 
 
 Young, Louis. 19 
 
 X inger, Job n \-'> 
 
 RESIDENCE. 
 
 K ickapoo, Illinois. 
 ( Ihatsworth, Illinois. 
 Bridgeport, Illinois. 
 ( Ihicago, tllinois. 
 ( Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Lake Stat ion. 1 mliana. 
 \\ atertow n. \\ isconsin. 
 I 'out iac, Illinois. 
 ( >ttawa, Illinois. 
 Ottawa. Illinois. 
 Bloom, Illinois. 
 
 < Ihicago, I llinois. 
 Marseilles, Illinois. 
 Marseilles, Illinois. 
 
 < Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 < Ihicago, I llinoi>. 
 
 < Ihicago. I llinois. 
 
 I Ihannahon, I llinois. 
 Ottawa. Illinois. 
 Ross Station. Indiana. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 ( Ihicago, Illinois. 
 South Bend, Indiana. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 ( Ihicago, Illinois. 
 
 < M taw a. Illinois. 
 
 ( Ihicago, Illinois. 
 Thornton, Illinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 < Ihicago. I llinois. 
 Centralia, Illinois. 
 ( Mia wa. I llinois. 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 Mequon, Wisconsin. 
 
 < Ihicago, I llinois. 
 
16 BATTERY M FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 l T ]> to this time there had been much discussion among the 
 men and sonic little diplomacy on the part of some as to whom 
 should be the commissioned officers. But now all conjecture was 
 ended. John B. Miller was mustered as Captain, George W. Spen- 
 cer as Senior First Lieutenant, and John H. Colvin as Junior First 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 Now time began to wear away slowly, for like all green sold- 
 iers, we were anxious to get to the front where we could "serve 
 our country." To cause the hours, which seemed like weeks, to 
 be less dull, and to drive away the thoughts of home we had left, 
 we instituted various games, such as ball, which furnished much 
 needed physical exercise ; sparring, in which art we had some 
 adepts : and the various games of cards, dominoes, and occasionally 
 of an evening, a dance. And when we could bring our minds to 
 them, books and papers received our attention. Although con- 
 sidered " Big Farmer Boys." we numbered among our members 
 mechanics of nearly every craft, as well as farmers, sailors, miners- 
 teachers, doctors, etc., etc. That we might have music in camp. 
 a contribution was taken up and a violin purchased. Sidney 
 Briggs was considered the best player, and the violin was entrusted 
 to his care. Our officers, whom we had sworn to obey the next 
 three years, were not forgotten. Swords worth from 8125.00 to 
 $80.00, according to the rank of the officer, were presented, one to 
 each of them, on the 27th, in Camp Douglas. Wm. J. Murphy 
 presented the swords on behalf of the company after delivering an 
 appropriate speech, to which each officer briefly responded. After 
 this we adjourned to the " Pleasure Gardens" and demolished a keg 
 or two of beer. 
 
 After having received our guns, which were six 3 8-10 inch 
 James Rifles (brass) our attention was turned to learning the 
 drill. This was an exercise all sought with avidity and great was 
 considered the privilege of service in firing the " morning gun." 
 To add to the attractions of the camp, a skilled bugler was em- 
 ployed, who gave lessons in the bugle calls. 
 
 Isaiah Harper was permitted to leave on account of illness, but 
 rejoined us on February 27, 1864. 
 
 In some way an instrument of punishment, that was in use in 
 the camp, had received the name of l ' Mulligan's Mare." Riding 
 on this four-legged wooden frame was a penalty for violation of 
 camp rules. On the 22d a member of the Battery was placed 
 
KKNIliKY CAMPAIGN. 1 "i 
 
 upon it and forced to sit there until he became insensible and fell 
 t<» the ground. 'Phis, of course, exasperated us, and though we at 
 first vowed the destruction of the hated steed, we reconsidered our 
 resolution, and fortunately none of our uumber were again called 
 upon to ride this charger, which still lived when we left Camp 
 Douglas. 
 
 A squad of pris rs of the regular guerrilla stamp arrived on 
 
 the 24th. The sight of these caused us to wish more than ever to 
 be sent to the front, and question upon question was put to our 
 officers to know when we should be likely to leave. 
 
 On the 29th the prospect of an election for non-commis- 
 sioned officers was quashed by the following names being read to 
 u- as the men who were to fill the offices then assigned them, and 
 these appointments were to date from the day of the muster-in. 
 Win. P. Gregg.as Orderly Sergeant : Win. J. Murphy a- Quarter 
 Master Sergeant. The duty Sergeants were Cyrus l\ Smith. 
 Andrew T. I rwin, ( Iharles Miller, Stephen Hendrie, E. S. E. Winne- 
 more and Richard J. Wells. The Corporals were Mercer, Clute, 
 
 Stebbins, Short, Schnasse, Judd, G "ge Lissenden, A.mberg, Barter, 
 
 Dolton, Hansell and 11. H. Brown. Powers and Carey were the 
 blacksmiths; Trumbull and Brailey the wheelwrights; Titus, 
 bugler; Wesley A. Briggs, wagon-master; Michael Dempsey, 
 stable-sergeant and farrier ; Beedle and Quimby, saddlers. These 
 
 '" lions'" might not all have had office had we heen allowed the 
 election which we expected in compliance with the customs of the 
 earlier period of the war. 
 
 On Sunday, the 31st, Gov. Yates visited the camp, and we. as 
 well as the rest of the troops who could, had to go out and display 
 our soldierly qualities. We attempted to fire a salute, hut with 
 such orders as "No. 1 tire."" "No. 2 shoot.'" "No. 3 shoot, shoot, 
 -hoot!"" la friction primer had failed) together with our genera] 
 verdancy in the art of soldiery, our display was not very creditable. 
 
 As artillery men are supposed to he armed with sabres and 
 revolvers, on the first of September sabre bayonets (''cheese 
 knives." as we styled them l were issued to the privates, each of 
 the ••nous'" receiving also a French revolver. With the bayonets 
 were brought some regulation hats. These being of inferior 
 quality, we did not take, hut had a sufficient uumber made by a 
 firm in the cit\ at a cost of two dollars each. 
 
18 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 During our sojourn here, there were several camp prayer 
 meetings in our barracks, and after leaving - Chicago, such 
 services were occasionally attended by members of the Battery. 
 
 On the 6th Sergeant Winnemore was reduced to the ranks for 
 neglect of duty, and private Tait promoted to the Sergeancy. On 
 the 7th Sergeant Bendrie was reduced for a similar offense, and 
 on the 8th Corporal Amberg was made Sergeant, and Private 
 Brumfield promoted to be Corporal. 
 
 Passes had been very meagerly dealt out, only two men being 
 allowed to be absent at a time. Holes in the fence, a pleasant 
 word to the cam}) guards, and finally, "stable passes," that were 
 issued as soon as we drew our horses, furnished means of egress 
 and ingress independent of passes. But in the use of these we had to 
 be very careful, as a mis-step invariably took us to the guard 
 house, and in this institution there was a law not at all agreeable 
 to a freshman. It had been passed and was enforced by the 
 sophomores, and required each one. as he was admitted, to pay beer 
 money, and refusal was followed by a whipping with straps until 
 the required sum was "forked over." This was disagreeable only 
 as long as the strapping lasted ; as soon as that was accomplished 
 one was ready to join in inflicting the same punishment upon one's 
 successors. 
 
 In taking the horses out to water, we would occasionally 
 "double up," i. e.. let one take back the horses two had taken out, 
 and to return. Lieutenant Spencer was always ready to pass us in 
 by the guards. This and the march to the lake for the baths once 
 in two or three days, sufficed to keep us alive and active. We 
 were prohibited from holding communication with the rebel 
 prisoners, yet as they got their water from our hydrant, we did 
 buy trinkets from them, which they manufactured from beef 
 bones and rubber buttons. 
 
 On the 12th, the whole Battery visited the Great Horse 
 Fair then being held near our camp, but as it rained very hard. 
 we made but little show with our parade and attempted drill. 
 
 Occasionally, while out on drill, we would fire blanks in' order to 
 accustom our horses to the noise, and soon Became such adepts at 
 loading and tiring that we imagined ourselves already veterans. 
 Lieutenant Spencer was our drill master in mounted drill at all 
 times. 
 
KENT! CK1 i A.MPAIGN, 
 
 L9 
 
 On the 15th we received one month's advance pay. and had a 
 portion of the Articles of War read to us. This \\a^ aboui all 
 w e ever heard from thai volume. 
 
 On the Kith we were marched through the city, the whole 
 Battery looking as trim as possible. Sitting so long in the hot 
 sun was found uncomfortable, and all were glad to return tocamp. 
 
 On the 23d we signed the pax-rolls, imagining thai with the 
 signing came the money, but the sequel will show when we re- 
 ceived it. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 At last, on the 24th of September, the long-looked-for 
 marching orders came. Such running to and fro, asking for 
 passes to go to town to lay in supplies, leaves of absence for a 
 day to visit friends, packing and repacking knapsacks, etc., beggars 
 all description. Our haversacks were crammed with sufficient pro- 
 visions for a "Sherman's Raid," while our knapsacks were found 
 to be far too small to admit of carrying half we had prepared. 
 And when, on the 27th, we moved our baggage to the railroad, 
 we found five wagons insufficient to haul it all at once, while our 
 caissons and gun carriages were almost concealed from sight by 
 the piles of knapsacks heaped upon them. 
 
 We moved out of camp at 9 A. M., wondering how many 
 would ever again enter those gates, and how long ere that time. 
 All were in the best of spirits, and some had placed themselves 
 outside of so much spirit as to be soon placed hors de combat. 
 
 Many of our friends were at the train to bid us adieu. Our 
 guns were loaded on Hat, our horses in box, and we were 
 furnished with first-class passenger cars. We loaded at the cattle 
 yards of the Michigan Central Railroad, and at 1 P. M., bade fare- 
 well to home and friends, and were ready to send iron messengers 
 to our country's foes. 
 
 We left many of our comrades behind, some in hospital, some 
 who had not yet returned from a visit to their homes, and one or 
 two from a dislike of the army in prospective. 
 
 To replace two of the missing ones. John Martin, aged 27, 
 and Joseph \Y. Dyson, aged 28. enlisted with us. 
 
 At Michigan City the Government treated us to all the coffee 
 we could drink. From there we took the N. A. & S. I{. R. to 
 LaFayette. and from there to Indianapolis on the L. & I. R,. il.. 
 
KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. "J 1 
 
 and finally, the Jeffersonville l>. If. to that place, which was 
 reached at 9:15 I'. M., on the 28th, having been delayed on the road 
 -Mine hours by one of the cars jumping the track. At Jeffersonville 
 our train halted for the night alongside the stock pens and we were 
 introduced to the odors and noises of a corral of mules, with the 
 peculiarities of which we afterwards became much more familiar. 
 We lay here until 2 P. M.. of the 29th, when we crossed the Ohio 
 River on a pontoon bridge made of coal barges, properly anchored 
 and covered with planks, and entering Louisville, took up per- 
 manent camp, at the corner of Preston Street and Broadway, on a 
 \ acaut lot. 
 
 To many of us the si^-ht of so many black fates was a 
 novelty, for, as far as we man died through t he city, ehoii y faces and 
 ivory teeth were to he seen on every hand. 
 
 This day will long he remembered by us. not only from the 
 wonders we saw ami the idea that we had reached Dixie, hut as the 
 day on which Gen. Jefferson C. Davis shot ami killed lien. Nelson. 
 
 The next day Buell's army began its march tor Perryville. 
 The siu'ht of the pontoon bridge had been a wonder, hut the un- 
 broken columns of infantry and artillery tilled us with amaze- 
 ment. There is no wonder that rebels, who had never 1 n 
 
 north of Mason and Dixon's line, should he surprised at the 
 number of Yankees they saw. when we. being a portion of those 
 same Yanks, could scarcely believe our eyes! We imagined that 
 this army must certainly march Bragg 1 s army into Louisville, as pris- 
 oners, within two days unless it should prove too fleet of toot, hut 
 Perryville. though a Union victory, did not overstock our prisons. 
 
 On the 1st of October Joel Briggs, of Squad I, received his 
 discharge at Chicago. He had been thrown from a horse he was 
 attempting to break to the saddle, and so injured as to unfit 
 him for the service. He was our first man discharged; 
 
 On the 2d we received orders to march with the army, and 
 having struck tents and loaded baggage, lay waiting for the com- 
 mand, ■"Forward." hut on the 3d the order was countermanded. 
 
 On the Mli Michael Dempsey, our stable sergeant, died at 
 Chicago. We all lamented his death, for he had endeared himself 
 to all who had become acquainted with him. 
 
 Now began daily drills in good earnest, ami what at first 
 seemed sport soon hecaine a hore. We were unused to so warm a 
 climate as that of Louisville, and to drill twice a day in the broiling 
 
22 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 sun was not particularly agreeable ; especially when the dust 
 was so dense that when in the center of the column, one could not 
 see its ends. But there was a spirit of competition between the 
 different squads and sections to see which should be the best 
 drilled. 
 
 On the 4th Morrill was discharged for disability at Camp 
 Douglas, and on the 6th. Corporals Hansell and Judd. and Privates 
 CVToole and Quimby arrived from Chicago, where they had been 
 left sick. Accompanying them was a surgeon for the Battery, Dr. 
 Wm. T. Kirk. 
 
 Gen. J. S. Jackson was buried on the 11th, and our right sec- 
 tion was sent as a part- of the funeral escort. 
 
 By this time we were beginning to form some acquaintances, 
 and the choir of the camp would occasionally serenade a partic- 
 ular friend of an evening. Once in a while a "stag" dance would 
 be held on the broad pavement near our camp, and within the 
 friendly light of the nearest street lamp. Being in a sparse^ in- 
 habited part of the city we disturbed no one — the more so as we 
 never extended our dance till a late hour. At our dances the man, 
 who was to act as lady, placed his hat on the side of his head in a 
 very bewitching ( ? ) manner, that he might be distinguished and 
 respected as one of the gentler sex. 
 
 On the 14th we marched through the city with our guns, 
 creating no particular sensation. 
 
 On the 18th Sidney Briggs was appointed second bugler. 
 
 On the 19th we again received orders to march, and packed 
 up, ready to move, but we were again told to unpack and remain 
 where we were. 
 
 On the 20th the paymaster visited us. We were all aglee as 
 soon as it was known he was present, for few had brought more 
 money with them from home than would last a month, as we had 
 expected our pay every day. But great was our chagrin upon 
 learning that he had only come to pay those who enlisted prior to 
 August 1st, and up to that date only. 
 
 Our Captain did all in his power for the welfare of the men. 
 and to keep the Battery in the best condition, but left the drilling 
 almost entirely to Lieutenant Spencer. The city was in a constant 
 state of excitement, as the guerrilla. John Morgan, was reported 
 in the vicinity. ( m the eve of the 23d a few shots were heard on 
 the Bardstown road, which passed near our cam]), and at the edge 
 
KENTUCKY ( LMPAIGN. 23 
 
 of some woods about half a mile distant. This must be rebels, 
 ami soon tin- camp was aroused. "Cannoneers, to your posts," 
 shouted our Captain. " Harness and hitch up," yelled Lieut. 
 Colvin ; but Lieut. Spencer, who was ever cool, said, " Don't be 
 in a hurry, boys, let's sec what's the matter." The guns were 
 quickly unlimbered and pointed in the direction of the noise, 
 and one corporal, who was known as " Mother," asked the Captain 
 what kind of shot we should give them in case they did appear. 
 "Give them It I. was the answer. A few now started out to 
 meet the audacious foe, and found that a few cavalry scouts m 
 returning had discharged their pieces with the purpose of scaring 
 the civilian inhabitants of a house of which they were inmates, 
 Of course, we had many a hearty laugh over that scare. 
 
 On the next day an event occurred that can uever be recalled 
 by lis without a shudder. A few days previous Lieut. Colvin had 
 detached his section from the others for the purpose of especially 
 drilling on the double quick. This day a very loud report was 
 heard in their direction, and it was supposed they were firing 
 blanks, hut on looking, we saw a dense smoke rilled with pieces of 
 bodies of men and parts of a caisson. The limber-chest of No. 5 
 caisson, containing about sixty pounds of powder, had exploded. 
 Kelleruian and Grerbert were sitting on the chest, which exploded, 
 and were thrown high into the air. the former being torn in pieces, 
 and the latter died by the time he reached the hospital. Corporal 
 Brumfield ami Private- Zanger ami Aldrich were sitting on the 
 caisson body, and were thrown backward over the spare wheel to 
 the ground, being very badly burned, the two latter, each losing 
 an eve. while the former was so crippled that he partly lost 
 the use of his right hand, and was otherwise badly injured. 
 Young, the wheel-driver, received a painful wound from a splinter, 
 ami Lieut. Colvin was slightly injured by a fall from his horse. 
 
 The cause of thi> catastrophe was never fully known, hut the 
 probable cause was soon discovered the friction-primer boxes hail 
 been emptied to he used to put salt, pepper, etc.. in. while the friction 
 primers were allowed to lie around loosely in the trays id' the 
 chest, ami some of them had worked through the thumb holes, and 
 
 were fou ml a i g the shells, as was discovered by exam mum' other 
 
 chests. It is i lie-- to say that thereafter we were careful in 
 
 that respect, and seldom did we ride over rough roads or on the 
 gallop without thinking what was under us. and what a slender 
 
24 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 thread kept us from eternity. For some time after this we were 
 so careful that a lighted cigar or pipe would not be allowed within 
 two rods of the caissons, and a constant guard was kept on all sides 
 of the park, that no thoughtless person or wicked foe could ap- 
 proach near enough to do any damage. 
 
 Setzer was discharged this day, October 24th, lessening our 
 number one more. At night considerable snow fell, the first we 
 had seen that season. As it was quite cold, it behooved us, next 
 day. to stir ourselves in making our quarters comfortable. We 
 had Sibley tents, and sixteen men were allotted to each. The 
 Captain tried to draw some stoves for our tents, but he could only 
 get four or five. We immediately built fire-places of all forms, 
 sizes and materials, and we were soon being well smoked, though 
 warmed but little. We continued to improve on our first efforts 
 till, as warm weather returned, we had some quite good heaters. 
 
 On the 26th Jean Martine, aged 28, enlisted. We were by 
 this time such thorough soldiers that we imagined that whatever 
 we found iu Dixie was ours if we wanted it, and could get it. so that 
 chickens, pigs, geese, vegetables, etc., were brought into camp and 
 supplemented our rations. Many cows would come around our 
 horses to help them eat their grain, and we always drove them 
 away (after we had milked them). One night the Corporal of the 
 guard was wanted by one of the sentinels. He ran to see what the 
 matter was, saying as he approached, " What did you want to call 
 me for just then? I was milking a splendid cow." And looking 
 around, found the Captain by his side w r aiting to be passed by the 
 guard! It was laughed off. and never after did our officers see a 
 hog shot or anything else done in the forage line, for they would 
 always about face and enter their tents. 
 
 About this time there were two additions to the Battery that 
 became favorites and remained with us throughout. The first was 
 an octoroon boy, aged about eighteen, whose name was William 
 Burgess, but was by some mistake known on the Company books 
 as William West. The second was a little dog we styled " Battery." 
 or " Douglas." At first he was driven from camp, but he followed 
 Martine to camp one day. and was allowed to remain thereafter, 
 and soon became the pet of all. Bill, as we called the man, began 
 to cook for No. 3 detachment. He had just escaped from a prison. 
 where he had been seut by some Kentucky slave-driver because he 
 attempted to drive a Government team across to Jeffersonville. 
 
KKNTl'i !\V < WIl'AK.N. 25 
 
 Although we foraged so much, and thereby gave cause for 
 many complaints, yet we made man\ friends, and our invalids were 
 well supplied with luxuries from houses near by, whose owners 
 • ■veil asked and received several of them to their homes that they 
 might nourish and care for them. Among those who were thus 
 cared for was Lieut. Colvin, who, mi the 1th of November, had 
 sufficiently recovered to be able to start for his home ou a leave. 
 
 On the 5th Thomas Burton, our Senior Second Lieutenant 
 promoted from gunner in Battery A. First Illinois Artillery 
 arrived from Chicago, and with him Clancy and Westendorf. His 
 rank placed him in command of the center section, which till then 
 had had no commissioned officer. 
 
 On the 7th Bela 11. Flusky joined us: he was promoted from 
 gunner in Battery B, First Illinois Artillery, to Junior Second 
 Lieutenant in our Batten r . His rank made him Chief of Caissons 
 and Battery Quartermaster. These two officers soon became 
 favorites, and were looked upon as real lions in the art of war, for 
 the\ bad already seen service at Fori Donelson, Belmont and Shiloh. 
 
 On the 9th Charles Cope, of Joliet, Illinois, aged 19, enlisted 
 at ( !hicago. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Complaints continued to be sent into Headquarters against 
 the troops garrisoning the city, and conspicuous among the delin- 
 quents was the name of " Battery M." At least, on the morning 
 of November 11th, says Capt. Miller, one of Gen. Boyle's staff en- 
 tered the General's office saying, " General, you will have to do 
 something with that Battery, for there are too many complaints being 
 entered against it." " I will do with it," said the General, and 
 immediately he wrote an order for us to report forthwith at 
 Lebanon. "D — n my men," the Captain afterwards used to say 
 when speaking of it. " If they'd only quit foraging, we might 
 have remained there" — at Louisville. Although we were con- 
 tented there, yet all relished the idea of a move, and feared that if 
 we did not soon meet the rebels we should return home without 
 having had a light. Some of our men were out in the country 
 hunting this day (November 11th) and Trumbull accidentally 
 shot Coslett in the thigh with his revolver. He was left at the 
 hospital. 
 
 As the center section was the only one commanded by an 
 officer who had seen service, it was started in the lead, ami loaded 
 on a train of flat and box cars that night and started at seven the 
 next morning. On this trip we saw the first real results of war. 
 At Salt River, nineteen miles from Louisville, were the yet smok- 
 ing ruins of the bridge that John Morgan had burned. Next 
 Bardstown Junction was a smouldering pile of ashes. All this was 
 new and interesting to us, but the stockades passed were even 
 greater curiosities. At length we reached Chicago, and found it to 
 contain four houses in addition to the depot shanty ! 
 
 The center section reached Lebanon at noon ; sixty-seven 
 miles from Louisville. They unloaded, marched about a mile 
 northeast, and camped with the infantry. No rebels were near. 
 
KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. '!', 
 
 Thf nit'ii suffered much thai night, as it was their firsl night with- 
 out shelter, and the ground was white with frost. Water could 
 not be had within less than three-fourths of a mile. 
 
 The Brigade they joined was the 34th, of the LOtli Division, 
 Army of the Ohio, and consisted of the 50th, 98th and L21st Ohio, 
 and the s 'ith Indiana, and was commanded by Col. W. P. Reid, of 
 the 121st Ohio. The Division was commanded by Gen. Gilbert. 
 On this day KaiitTinan and .). < '. Stewart received their discharges. 
 
 On the 13th the Brigade moved out at 5 A. M. It was the 
 -i ia si mi for chestnuts, walnuts, persimmons, etc., and, as there was an 
 abundance of each in thai quarter, all feasted upon these luxur- 
 ies. A.t night the Brigade camped near Newmarket, nine miles south 
 of Lebanon. The right section, under Lieut. Spencer, started in 
 the morning from Lebanon, and caught up with the Brigade about 
 10 P. M. Next morning the two sections were off at an early 
 hour, and pitched tents a few rods south of Campbellsville. This 
 was a rich district, and the boys were -nun enjoying its luxuries. 
 At a rebel's, near by, they found an abundance of chickens, pota- 
 toes and apples. These latter, in great quantities, were soon 
 squeezed through a cider press found on the place, and many more 
 were taken to camp. We had marched twenty-one miles, yet were 
 not so fatigued but that we could travel several miles more for 
 forage. Let it be remembered that such acts of confiscation were 
 not then authorized, as was done later in the war. though uever in 
 Kentucky, which was always deemed loyal (?). This day. the 
 left section, under Lieut. Fluskey, the Captain also being with it. 
 reached Lebanon, where it was ordered to remain until further 
 orders. It was rumored that there were rebels ahead, so the Bri- 
 gade marched at daylight the next morning, though it had Keen 
 the intention to remain at Campbellsville three days, and we had 
 made arrangements accordingly, having fitted up our tents com- 
 fortably. We reached Columbia, forty miles from Lebanon, at 
 night, and camped to the west of the town, posting guards all 
 around tun- camp, in addition to the infantry guards that sur- 
 rounded t he whole. 
 
 The road from Lebanon to Columbia was a well macadamized 
 pike. The country is very hilly, the crossing ot Muldraugh's Hill 
 is a tortuous road and so steep as to make it quite an undertaking. 
 The south hank of the Green River is also a high, rocky hill, and 
 even harder to ascend than MuldrauglTs. Water was not often 
 
28 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 found on this road, and it was really a great treat whenever we came 
 to a good spring. The whole distance was heavily wooded except 
 where it had been cleared for farms. 
 
 We found Columbia to be a hot-bed of secession, and were not 
 long in coming to a conclusion as to what should be our course of 
 action toward its denizens. Camp duties were immediately insti- 
 tuted, and soon all was running smoothly. There were many 
 caves in the neighborhood, and one — Daniel Boone's — was often 
 visited by us, to explore its meandering caverns. Tobacco, the 
 soldiers panacea for all pains and griefs, could be found in almost 
 any field, and all we had to do was to pick it ourselves. This 
 natural leaf, however, was a little too strong, and we soon tired of 
 it. but no better could be had, for that got of the citizens was only 
 the same, twisted into "pig-tails." 
 
 On the 20th Gen. Gilbert ordered the left section to move up, 
 and it reached us on the 22d. Lieut. Colvin returned soon after. 
 
 All was quiet, though a constant watch was maintained to 
 guard against any surprise from the rebels. 
 
 On the 27th the camp was greatly excited over orders received 
 to march a section to Millersville, about fourteen miles south of 
 Columbia, to check Morgan, who was thought to be advancing 
 from that direction. The center section was chosen. It started 
 at noon, escorted by twenty-live men of Company A, 9th 
 Kentucky Cavalry, commanded by Capt. Harney. They found the 
 roads very rocky, tortuous and densely wooded nearly the entire 
 distance on both sides. However, at dusk, they reached the place. 
 What a scene met their eyes ! For once they had full chance to 
 take in an entire town at one glance, for this one consisted of but two 
 houses and a stable. Learning that no rebels were in sight, they 
 camped in an apple orchard. The men found lodgings as best they 
 could, some at the houses, some in the old log stable, and some at 
 a straw stack half a mile distant. Those doing guard duty faith- 
 fully watched the fire in the stable, and would relieve themselves 
 every two hours by calling the next relief. At eight o'clock, the 
 next morning, one of the cavalry fired off his carbine : to punish 
 him he was sent to the forks of the road to halt all citizens as they 
 passed. This was the amount of picketing done on that expedition, 
 and is a good illustration of the loose, unsoldierly methods in vogue 
 in this department at that stage of the war. and will account for 
 many of the minor successes achieved by the rebel forces — after 
 
KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. '.".' 
 
 another year bad passed, officers and men had learned the task 
 of soldiering much better, and picket duty bad ceased to be nom- 
 inal. 
 
 A.bout noon the expedition started on it- return, reached camp 
 at dark, and after shivering in the cold for aboui an hour, parked 
 and unhitched. Gen. Gilbert arrived that day. and preparations 
 were made to salute him, but the salute was deferred, as he 
 brought word thai Morgan was near, and at t:30 A. M.. the next 
 day, all were called to the guns to he ready to receive the enemy. 
 \\ e stood iii the cold until daylight, when we were allowed to go 
 to our quarters. 
 
 All was again quiet, and. to enliven the dullness of camp, we 
 would get the negroes to '"pa! Juba," and to dance regular hoe- 
 downs for us nearly every night. On the ith of December, it 
 having been decided to go into winter quarters, we moved through 
 town and about half a mile north, to the north hank of Russell's 
 Creek, and went into regular camp, naming it Camp Gilbert. On 
 the 5th, before we were well prepared, about four inches of snow fell. 
 On the 7th Dr. Kirk. E. <i. Thompson. Hendershot, Drake and T. 
 S. Baker joined us from the hospital, and on the 8th John Howard 
 and Fuller came. 
 
 On the loth we again began firing blanks to accustom the 
 horses to the noise. At noon a stall' officer came into camp and 
 ordered all negroes, who were not t< . to leave and return to 
 
 their masters. This cause 1 great excitement among us. for we 
 had some cooking for us, who were from Tennessee, and with whom 
 we were loath to part. Prominent among these was Bill; with 
 him we would not part, and so the only alternative was to have 
 him drive a team, which was accordingly assigned to him. 
 
 On the 12th we had an inspect ion. and tired t he first shot from 
 our guns, bj practicing at a target set on the side of a high, almost 
 perpendicular hill, and at a distance of 1,000 yards. One shot went 
 high above the trees on top of the hill, ami was never more heard 
 of. hut i< supposed to have struck somewhere near the Mississippi. 
 
 Ahout this time Gen. Boyle telegraphed the post that it would 
 be attacked within ten days, so we immediately commenced to I mill I 
 a fort, which, by the aid of the infantry, was completed by the 
 21st, hut which, iii the light of our subsequent experience in fort 
 building, can not he considered a very formidable work. 
 
30 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 On the 19th we felt so impregnable in our fortified position 
 that Squad 1 began building a log shanty to live in ; but alas, on 
 the 21st, when the shanty was about completed, orders were 
 received to move in the direction of Lebanon, where Morgan was 
 supposed to be. Sergt. Irwin, of Squad 2, left camp in the after- 
 noon, and was never more seen in the Battery ; he was considered 
 a deserter, but claimed to have been captured by the enemy and 
 paroled. 
 
< 11 MTKII IV 
 
 On the 22d of December all were up at :'> A. .M.. and soon had 
 everything ready for the march. At day-break the Brigade started, 
 a portion of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry acting as advance. We 
 reached Campbellsville at dark, and camped near our old quarters. 
 In the morning orders were received to resume the march, but 
 these were soon countermanded with the injunction : "To be ready 
 to march at a minute's warning." On Christmas we had fine 
 times for soldiers. For edibles we had turkeys, geese, chickens 
 and mutton as meats, and sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes and apples 
 as vegetables and desert, while fur drinkables there was an abun- 
 dance of peach brandy, apple jack and corn-ketchup. In fact, we 
 had everything good thai the country afforded, and that, too, 
 served in the best camp manner. The next day was. one of gloom, 
 for Leroy II. Barnes, id' Squad 6, who had been sick for sometime, 
 died ,-it } A. M.. id' typhoid fever. We buried him in the grave- 
 yard with military honors. The day was very dull, there being a 
 constant, chilly, drizzly rain falling. 
 
 On the 26th Lieut. Colvin and Corporals Judd, id' Squad t. 
 and Brown, of Squad 6, were ordered to report at Mumfordsville 
 on detached duty. At I A. M.. of the "iTth. the troops were called 
 out into line of battle, a- Morgan was expected. He came not ; so 
 
 at nO( n the *jSt h the center section and the 80th Indiana were 
 
 Sent to Muldrauu'h's Hill, which they reached at uight. A scout 
 
 Mill out. reported a camp of rebels within three miles. All com- 
 munications with Louisville were cut. as Morgan was reallj be- 
 tween ii- and there. On the 29th the Battery and Brigade left 
 Campbellsville, and at 9 I'. M., the center section proceeded to 
 Lebanon, eleven miles distant, ami reached there at '1 A. M. At 
 daylight the rot of the Brigade arrived. Here was found a con- 
 siderable force of the Kentucky troops, and all felt confident we 
 
32 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 could bag Johnny very easily. After ten or twelve hours of weary 
 waiting for orders the Battery went into camp on top of a bleak 
 hill, taking great care to get oar tents in neat order. It rained 
 hard all day till just at night, when it turned cold and considerable 
 snow fell. We had but just made ourselves comfortable in our 
 tents when the left section was ordered out, with the 16th Kentucky 
 Infantry and some Cavalry, to help guard a pass on the Springfield 
 road, already held by the 6th Kentucky Cavalry. They built fires, 
 but immediately had to extinguish them that the rebels, whose 
 camp fires were in plain sight, might not see them. Thus, the 
 Johnnies enjoyed good, warm fires, while our men had to keep them- 
 selves warm by walking. But the rebels built larger fires than they 
 needed to warm themselves, for they wanted such as would burn till 
 they could gain the bridge across the Rolling Fork of Salt River, 
 about three-quarters of a mile southwest of Newmarket. This 
 they effectually did, and then took their time for further action. 
 We, at camp, stayed up till 11 P. M., cooking rations for the march. 
 This great hubbub for marching was dispensed with thereafter. 
 In official circles there was now a great battle going on. After 
 it had been discovered that Morgan had escaped, the Colonel, who 
 thought he commanded, ordered pursuit. Soon comes an order 
 from some other Colonel, who could produce an older commission, 
 and the column must halt till he can form his plans. These 
 formed and ready for promulgation, up steps another, who has still 
 better claims to supremacy. At last, after we had lain still nearly 
 all day, Colonel Hoskins was acknowledged the rightful com- 
 mander, and the Brigade moved forward. The wagons were un- 
 loaded of baggage and crowded full of infantry, that the whole 
 force might be kept closed up with the cavalry. The 16th Ken- 
 tuck)' Infantry were detailed to support us, and they refused to be 
 loaded into wagons, but manfully kept up with us whether on the 
 gallop or at the halt — for it was by many such hitches we moved. 
 There were a number of rebel prisoners brought in just before 
 dark. This niade us still confident of success. At 11 P. M.. we 
 came up with the rebel picket near Newmarket. This had been 
 accomplished notwithstanding the many halts there had been on 
 account of the wagons and harness breaking ; for whenever any- 
 thing broke the whole column had to halt. If no more had been 
 gained we had made such a noise as to keep Morgan, who was 
 moving on a parallel road, well posted as to our progress. 
 
k k Nil < k\ c wii'Aii.N. :l: , 1 
 
 [mmediately on coming upon the rebel vedettes a ball was 
 ordered and a council of wai called. All the Colonels mel at a 
 neighboring house all save 1 [allersj . of the 6th Kentucky < lavalry, 
 who was killed in the advance. All these plans finally culminated 
 in one daring program, the first part of which was to order ;ill to 
 rest. The night was intensely cold, and no fires were allowed. 
 We laid down in fence corners, hut soon had to rise and walk for 
 exercise, otherwise we should have frozen. Noiselessly we watched 
 the old year die. and could scarcely hear the new one wish ns a 
 •' I fappy New Year."' 
 
 Private Gillette, who had succeeded Clute as A.cting Orderly 
 Sergeant, was promoted from this dav to that office. 
 
 A little after s'lurisc. on I h i m >rning o£ J muary 1st, L863, we 
 began to "feel" for the Johnnies, and found they were alread} Ear 
 ahead of us. and were in full p >ssession of Muldraugh's Hill, some 
 three miles distant, their last wagon having got out of sight before 
 our commander thought of moving. Great was our chagrin over this 
 disappointment, for we had expected to capture them here. "Joe" 
 had said, "the bag will be sure to have a hole in it." and so it was 
 discovered. Hut there was this poor consolation Morgan had an- 
 nounced that he would eai his dinner this day in Lebanon or in 
 h 1. and now if lie had any dinner it must he on the flight. But 
 the flight part was not so certain, tor he held the hill. So. slowly 
 the column moved on. up the hill we went, and no rebels were in 
 sight. Glorious! The 16th Kentucky again had to exert it-elf to 
 
 keep Up. for as soon as we reached the top of the hill it tlashed 
 
 upon the mind of the leader that Morgan would hum Green River 
 bridge uriless we were there in time to prevent it. We pushed on 
 with all possible -peed. and. approaching Campbellsville, heard that 
 he was yet ill town. The charge was ordered, and forward dashed 
 the cavalry and artillery. The road was soon lined with blankets, 
 kettle-, sabres, revolver-, and everything that could fly Loose ! En- 
 tering the town, the Government stores were found burning, the 
 streets were filled with cryin •: women and children, the store- were 
 all gutted, and such things as could not he carried along had been 
 thrown into the street. Morgan had been --one about an hour. 
 and had pillaged the town before leaving. A few stragglers were 
 caught at some of the houses. < hi we pushed, galloping wherever 
 we could. The road was strewn with ribbons and gewgaws Mor- 
 gan's men had stolen. When we reached a clearing about one 
 
34 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 mile from the bridge we saw it in smoking ruins. The right 
 section immediately opened on the spot, firing sixteen shells. One 
 of these struck near our cavalry, three in the bridge, two in the 
 palisade on the road above, and the rest around in all directions, 
 one going nearly half a mile further and wounding one of the 
 rebels, who was left at a house near by, where we found him. We 
 learned from prisoners that we had killed and wounded fourteen 
 of their number. This, we thought, was doing well, but the 
 bridge was burned, and so were two large cribs of corn, belonging 
 to the Government, that were on the north side of the bridge. 
 About sunset we went into camp to wait till the ford below the 
 bridge could be rendered passable by removing some drift wood and 
 cutting some trees on the bank. We immediately made prepara- 
 tions for a good supper and some sleep ; we secured the former, 
 but not the latter. We moved forward at 8:30, and marched by 
 tits and starts in the Egyptian darkness till 4 A. M., when it was 
 thought we were near enough to Columbia to postpone further 
 progress until after sunrise. Corporal Short, of Squad 2, was pro- 
 moted to Sergeant of the same, to date January 1st. and Cogswell, 
 of Squad 1, to Corporal of same, to date January 1st. At 10 A. 
 M., of the 2d, we entered Columbia, and found that Morgan had 
 been gone about six hours. At this place he did no more than to 
 parole a few sick prisoners whom he had left there. Along the 
 whole road we had chased him he had taken all the good horses 
 he could find, and whenever one of his horses became jaded he had 
 turned it loose. After leaving Columbia he was so hard pressed in 
 order to keep out of the way of Wolford, who had now joined us, 
 that he was forced to burn some of his wagons that they might 
 not fall into our hands. Wolford, with his cavalry, continued 
 the chase, but we camped at our first camp grounds, and in 
 the afternoon moved to Camp Gilbert. But it was finally con- 
 cluded that Morgan could be overtaken before reaching the 
 Cumberland, at Burksville, and thus prevent his crossing into 
 Tennessee, so, at dark we moved out on the road toward that 
 place. The Battery had hard work to ascend some very steep 
 hills, and had gone about six miles when we met Wolford's 
 cavalry returning. When we became aware of the force Wolford 
 had, and knowing the spider's position he had occupied in 
 relation to Morgan, all marveled that he should have allowed 
 him to escape. 
 
KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 35 
 
 We returned to camp at 10 P. M., and were glad to be allowed 
 once more to Lie quietly down and sleep. The raiD was steadily 
 falling, l>ut soon our eyes were closed, not to be opened till long 
 after sunrise the nexl morning. In addition to the Eatigue en- 
 dured during our campaign, there had been very little to eal dor 
 men or horses, having had but one good meal since the 30th nit. 
 
 Next morning, after having eaten what was to be had for 
 breakfast, we started at nine on our return to < lampbellsville, which 
 was reached at 8 P. M. : it rained hard all day and uighi and the 
 uexl day. Little ** Battery 1 ' suffered quite as much as the men on 
 this campaign, but early in the march he had learned to jump 
 upon the caissons and ride whenever he became tired. On the 4th 
 all were ready to resume the march, when orders came to unhitch 
 and unharness. Our tents and baggage, which had been left at 
 Lebanon, were sent for; Lieut. Fluskey going in person in order to 
 expedite their arrival. Thus ended our chase after John Morgan. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Although Morgan had been driven from the State, there re- 
 mained one quite his equal to keep us on the alert. At 3 A. M., of 
 January 5th, we noiselessly hitched up, no one being allowed to 
 speak a loud word. " Make no noise, boys, for Forrest is expected in 
 before light, 1 ' were the instructions received. We took position on 
 a hill that commanded the road for some distance south, and lay 
 there till about 3 P. M., and till noon were not allowed to go to 
 camp, about three quarters of a mile, for something to eat. About 
 1 P. M., rations were hauled to us where we lay, Drake acting as 
 Quartermaster Sergeant. In the afternoon the baggage train 
 arrived and reported that there was no such thing as an armed rebel 
 within fifty miles. 
 
 At an early hour on the 6th we were ready to march. No 
 one knew where we were going, save those in command, and we 
 soon began to doubt whether they did, for after going out, not 
 more than three miles, we were lost. We lay where the discovery 
 was made until the right road had been found, when the column 
 moved on and camped at night on the Summerville road, twelve 
 miles from Campbellsville. The country through which we passed 
 on this march was the best we found in Kentucky, and we enjoyed 
 it in proportion to its qualities. 
 
 By daylight of the 7th the troops were ready to start. We 
 now left that road and took old, abandoned roads bearing to the 
 north, and camped at night near Brush Creek, having made 
 about twelve miles. On the way, while passing between trees, the 
 splinter-bar of No. 3 gun was broken, which delayed us for some 
 time. Some bee gums were found during the day, whose contents 
 sweetened our evening repast. Our camps were usually upon the 
 highest and most open ground to be found, which, of course, made 
 the carrying of water, wood, etc., laborious ; but this time our 
 cam}) was in a beautiful valley within fifty feet of a clear stream. 
 
KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 31 
 
 and with fences excellent fuel all around us, while a -tack of 
 o;it straw near by furnished us soft beds. On the 8th the Brigade 
 
 ved al 7:30 traveling nearly all da\ in the valley of the creek, 
 
 crossing ii many times. \t 3 P. M. we struck the Louisville and 
 Nashville pike. It rained^cold and drizzly all the afternoon. After 
 traveling about eighteen miles we camped near the south fork of 
 Nolan's Creek. On the 9th wewereoffbj 8, al noon again crossed 
 Muldraugh's Hill, and thru filed through Knob Creek Valley, a 
 large and beautiful valley, bordered on both sides l>\ high lulls. 
 Crossing the Rolling Fork on a covered bridge, which the bullets 
 from a neighboring stockade prevented Morgan from burning, and 
 marching through New Haven, camped about three-quarters of a 
 mile south of it at 3 P. M.. having conic twelve miles. The Bat- 
 ten went into regular camp in a pleasant spot on a beautiful knoll. 
 Although, as before stated. Morgan had tailed to burn the bridge 
 on which we crossed, he had beei re successful with the rail- 
 road bridge near by. He tried repeatedly to force the inmates of 
 the stockade and block-house to surrender, but without effect. His 
 Jack-ass battery was brought to hear on it and within a very few 
 rods, but the bold occupants the 78th Illinois soon lessened the 
 number of his cannoneers so much that they were glad to with- 
 draw. 
 
 Now. being in permanent camp for at least a week, we felt the 
 want of money, and more so. as we were quite reduced in necessary 
 comforts. It had been rumored that we would receive our pay as 
 soon as we reached our destination, and we eagerly watched each 
 day for the paymaster. Closely we scrutinized each gold-braided 
 
 pair of pants to see if its pockets were not tilled with paper for 
 
 us. [n the absence of money we would draw clothing and sell it 
 for double what the Government charged, and those who were so 
 inclined, found the means to buy whatever they most needed. At 
 a monastery near by excellent bread could he bought at reasonable 
 
 prices. 
 
 On the 11th our cheese knives were turned over to the care of 
 our uncle Samuel, and we doubt whether Bunyan's Pilgrim felt 
 more relief at the falling off of his load of -in than did we when 
 no longer burdened with those detested -word bayonets. 
 
 On the 12th Lieut. Colvin arrived from Louisville, en-route 
 for Mumfordsville. He had with him a battery of three ten-pound 
 Rodman guns that were worn out and the spokes and poles gnawed 
 
38 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 nearly in two by the hungry horses that were always picketed to 
 them. The battery was manned by men from nearly as many 
 commands as there were men. They were convalescents from the 
 hospitals, and thus the battery was styled, " Colvin's Quinine Bat- 
 tery." Lieut. Colvin's command of this battery was only tempora- 
 ry, and it reflected no discredit upon him. That day Capt. Miller, 
 Lieut. Fluskey, and Privates Joseph Hunt, Carlos Hunt and Thos. 
 Peters started for Louisville to get some fresh horses for the Bat- 
 tery. They took all the " crow-baits" with them. 
 
 It rained all the night of the 13th, all the 14th, and till about 
 midnight, when it began to snow and continued till 9 A. M. of the 
 15th, when over fifteen inches had fallen. What a scene presented 
 itself in the morning as we knocked the snow from our tent flaps 
 and looked forth. Tent No. 7. or " Guard-house Cadets" — alias 
 ''Ring-tail Roarers," — was nowhere to be seen. What had become 
 of it? Where had its jolly occupants gone? No one could tell 
 till, in walking over the spot where it had stood, a movement was 
 felt underfoot, and a sepulchral voice was heard to order us away. 
 Then there was a general upheaval of the snow for the space of 
 a tent, and soon out crawled one. then another and another, till 
 all were in the outer world. They came forth covered with per- 
 spiration, for it was uncomfortably warm under that snow cover- 
 ing. Soon their story was told. Their tent pole had broken in 
 the night by the weight of the snow ; they lay still, and were 
 soon hidden from view. This tent was where all the wide-awake 
 and jolly boys of the company congregated. It was by far the 
 most noted tent of the camp. Never did such a thing as a quarrel 
 originate in it. 
 
 This great fall of snow was followed by rain, and the streams 
 were soon so swollen as to carry away several bridges between us and 
 Louisville, thus depriving us of our mails — a luxury that the sol- 
 dier longs for. next to honorable discharge at the close of his term. 
 
 While lying here we saw a Chicago paper that purported to 
 give a description in one of its articles of our chase after Morgan. 
 and concluded that either the writer or we must be. greatly mis- 
 taken, for we agreed only on one point — that Morgan had been 
 chased. 
 
 By the 17th official documents had found their way through, 
 and among them came a report of Farrell's trial and sentence. He 
 was to work on the levee three months, lose all pay, and then be 
 
KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 39 
 
 drummed out of camp. His offense was having threatened those 
 in command over him and the commission of other " acts unbecom- 
 ing a soldier." On the 19th the Captain returned, and with him 
 Coslett, nearly recovered Prom his wound. It rained hard all thai 
 night and the next day, and then thawed so rapidly as to soon make 
 the roads quite impassable. 
 
 On tlic 21st orders were received to move, and before light the 
 next morning all wen- ready. Our destination was to Louisville 
 l>\ rail. The place where the train was to be loaded was about 
 three-quarters of a mile away, but on account of the very bad 
 roads, we had to go over three miles around, and then had hard 
 work to reach the depot. It was raining and was quitecold, vet by 
 6 P. M., the Battery was loaded and started. A large mail was 
 distributed just before leaving. The train sped swiftly on till 
 reaching Bardstown Junction ; here it was learned that the con- 
 ductor had been left at Lebanon Junction, and back the engine 
 went after him, being delayed only an hour, and reached Louis- 
 ville, forty-five miles from New Haven, at 10:30 P. M. The men 
 slept wherever room could he found to lie. and the next morning 
 unloaded the battery, marched to Preston's woods, east of the city, 
 and camped. In the afternoon Brunifield, Mercer and Premer 
 joined us from the hospital. It rained hard all day and was quite 
 cold, making it very unpleasant, though by night we had some 
 wood hauled, and were able to cook and keep warm. We now 
 expected to see the paymaster and could not imagine what reason 
 there could be for further delay. On the 24th we were ordered 
 
 out for inspection, hut there was none. In the aften u our 
 
 wagons, that had been scut around by land, arrived. On the 25th 
 Quartermaster Sergeant Murphy arrived from home, he having 
 been sick since before we left Camp Douglas. 
 
 < >n t he 26th the 50th Ohio was sent to some other command; 
 and the 78th Illinois, the first Illinois troops we were associated 
 with, joined our Brigade. 
 
 A Id rich was tin- day discharged on account of injuries received 
 by the caisson explosion. The friends with whom we had parted. 
 when starting for Lebanon, were -till here, and a- warm hearted as 
 ever; as long as we would accept we could not want, for they 
 
 ottered and insisted ur taking money, etc., that might make us 
 
 comfortable. A- a consequence of this state of affairs, those who 
 were -(. inclined, had all they wished to drink, and when, on the 
 
40 
 
 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 28th. orders were received to 'go aboard a boat, preparatory to leav- 
 ing for some unknown place, there were many who decidedly 
 refused to go until they had received their pay. Our Captain, 
 whose ideas of military discipline were rather lax. while urging us 
 to comply, acknowledged that we ought to be paid before °our 
 departure. 
 
PART II. 
 
 Chickamauga Canppaigp. 
 
CHAITKi; VI. 
 
 W'i: left camp at LO A. M.. on the 29th of January, and by 8 
 P. M.. had all <>ur guns, caissons, wagons, mules, horses and bag- 
 gage <»n board the steamer .lames Thompson. This was a new 
 boat, and had been built'for a terry. It had a small cabin aft : 
 this was HI led with grain and hay, so the men took quarters on the 
 hurricane deck, the boiler deck, around the boiler in tact any 
 place where room could be found to lie down. A Long, crib-looking 
 stove had been put up near the "donkey," and on this our cooking 
 was done. The guns and horses were packed at the bow of the 
 boat, the wagons placed on the hurricane deck, and the mule- at 
 the stern of the boat. 
 
 The question, "Where are we going?' 1 was now asked, time 
 and again, and yet uo definite answer. Some thought we were 
 going to aid Grant in the reduction of Vicksburg ; others 
 thought we were going to Missouri or to Memphis ; and some that 
 it was to join Rosecrans. Our horses were becoming poor, and 
 being so crowded, began to die off. ( )n the 31st, before Leaving, we 
 witnessed one of the horrors of slavery. A negro attempted to 
 get on a ferry boat to cross into Indiana. A policeman stopped 
 him, and in the melee the negro was shot and soon alter died \t 
 •*) I'. M. we cut Loose, and steaming nearly over to Jeffersonville, 
 turned our how slowly down stream and to Portland, where there 
 were many boats Lying readj to start. The nighl was clem- and 
 
 calm, and was enjoyed with a regular stag dam-' a coal barge 
 
 that lay alongside. 
 
 At 6:30 A. M.. on the 1st of February, we went sailing down 
 the Ohio on a steamboat. While other boats had guards posted to 
 allow no one to g i shore, wherever the} -topped, we were per- 
 mitted to go where we pleased. We reached Cannelton, Indiana, 
 
 at 5 I'. M., and soon were once mor i free soil. Some ol us 
 
 took a stroll over the town and then returned on hoard. Cannelton 
 
44 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 is about one hundred and twenty miles from Louisville. In the 
 morning the boat steamed over to Hawesville, Kentucky, took on 
 coal, and by eight o'clock we were again on our way. 
 
 The Captain was quite sick the whole trip, so the command 
 devolved upon Lieut. Spencer. On the way down the river we had 
 an opportunity of noticing the vast difference that the width of a 
 river makes in the condition of the country, as between a free and 
 a slave State. 
 
 At 7 P. M. we once more came in sight of the Prairie State, 
 our home. How all longed to set foot on her soil, but we could 
 not at this time, and could only turn a longing glance at what was 
 not even the promised land — only the wished-for land. At mid- 
 night we reached Smithland, three hundred and sixty-five miles 
 from Louisville, and as we lay here some time, let us take a 
 peep at the doings on board. The Captain of the boat, Thomas 
 Gray, had a number of barrels of potatoes, some cheese, and also 
 several boxes of brandy that was put in cans filled with apples. 
 These articles he was smuggling through to Nashville, as he 
 thought the $100 per day for the boat was insufficient. We dis- 
 covered these articles, and knowing them to be contraband, forth- 
 with put the (yet unpassed) confiscation act in force, and turned 
 all such articles to our own especial use. We soon had potatoes,, 
 ham, cheese, butter, etc., etc., to eat and the best of brandy to 
 drink. The lock that guarded these articles was no impediment 
 when u Slippery Sam" took charge of it. 
 
 We were in the van of the fleet that consisted of the St. Pat- 
 rick (flag ship), Jacob Strader, Tempest, R. B. Hamilton, New 
 York, Venango, Victor No. 2, Leonora, Crescent City, Arizona, 
 Charley Miller, Hornet, James Thompson, Victress, John H. Groes- 
 beck, Odd Fellow, Cottage, Nashville, Express, Lady Franklin, 
 Nymph, Turin, Diamond, McClellan, St. Cloud, Silver Lake No. 2, 
 T. J. Patton, Capitola, Leslie Coombs, Poland, Ella Faber, Allen 
 Collier, Champion, Bostona, Duke, Commercial, Ohio No. 3, Hori- 
 zon, Wild Cat, Liberty No. 2, Shenango, R. E. Levi, Clara Poe, 
 Hazel Dell, and a few others, whose names we did not learn, as 
 transports. The gunboats, Fair Play (flag ship), the St. Clair, 
 Lexington, Silver Lake, Brilliant, and one other, accompanied us 
 as convoys. 
 
 Here, as before stated, we had expected to receive our pay, 
 but in the morning the officers learned, much to our disappointment 
 
CHICKAMAUQA CAMPAIGN. |.". 
 
 and chagrin, that the paymaster had left in the night on his 
 return to Louisville ! We were now certain as to our destination 
 Nashville. Some of our number were on board other hunt- with 
 acquaintances whom they had met, whileothers remained al Louis- 
 ville, and, learning our destination, were at Nashville to inert us 
 as we stepped on shore the\ having gone by the railroad thai had 
 been opened only a few days before. 
 
 At 3:40 P. M., of the 3d, we nit loose at Smithland and steal 1 
 
 slowly up the Cumberland. The river was high, the current swift 
 and the water full of driftwood, causing us to advance carefully 
 as well as slowly. We were constantly on the alert for rebels, but 
 our guns were in such condition as to be perfectly useless, as it 
 would have required nearly half an hour to get them into position 
 to use them. As we started, and for some time afterwards, we 
 could hear distant cannonading, and could attribute it to nothing 
 but the engagement of the gunboats, that had preceded us. with 
 some rebels who were attempting to (heck our progress, and ex- 
 pected, if such was the case, to soon have a taste of - e shore 
 
 battery, which, in our penned-up position, would have been any- 
 thing hut agreeable. Toward morning we passed a burning barge 
 that the rebels had sent down to bum the fleet, hut all passed it 
 without any damage. 
 
 We reached hover at 5 A. M. It is a village of about 150 
 inhabitants, and is about a mile above Fort Donelson and on the 
 same side id' the river. It is seventy-five miles above Smithland. 
 We made fast to the north shore, opposite. The cannonading 
 heard was at this place, between the garrison ami one of the gun- 
 boats on one side, and Forrest on the other. Soon all the canoes 
 and skiffs t<> he found were engaged in ferrying us over, and it was 
 learned that Col. Hardin, with a portion of the 83d Illinois, num- 
 bering >>'\r\\ hundred men. ami Battery <'. of the 2d Illinois, with 
 tour light and two siege guns, and also a few cavalry, had not 
 only held the place, but had driven awa\ Forrest and fourthousand 
 cavalry and artillery, killing many and capturing a number, his 
 own loss being very small. One id' our gunboats had reached 
 there in time to engage in the last act. and killed about hun- 
 dred rebels as they were retreating. Our force buried two hundred 
 rebels and only sixteen id' our men ! It appeared from the face ot 
 the field that the enemy had driven our men out at one time, for on all 
 parts of the ground could he seen dead rebels and dead rebel horses. 
 
46 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 One house was so perforated with ballet holes, on both sides, made as 
 each party would alternately gain possession and drive the other 
 out, that it much resembled the corn-graters we afterwards used 
 in the army. In front of the siege-gun were two dead horses, side 
 by side, and one dead rebel, while a short distance off was the body 
 of the other rider. They had ridden up to the muzzle of the gun, 
 and one said to the two men who were left at it, " l G-d d — n you, 
 don't you know when to surrender?" "Yes," replied he who 
 was gunner, as he fired the gun, and there lay the corpses, their 
 bodies perfectly riddled with canister. Among the rebel dead was 
 found the body of Col. (Acting Brig. Gen.) McNairy, the rebel, 
 who had published in the Nashville papers, that he could drive 
 every Yankee in Tennessee from the State with a few hundred 
 hounds, and if they could not do it, he would arm the women with 
 broomsticks and do it. 
 
 Each man appeared to want something to remember this rebel 
 by, and soon the buttons were cut from his coat for keepsakes. 
 The rebels themselves had taken the time to strip their dead of 
 shoes, etc. Among their dead were several who had been in town 
 only a day or two before and had their oath of allegiance upon 
 their persons. During the night reinforcements arrived from Fort 
 Henry, the commander having heard the cannonading and thought 
 they must be needed. Prisoners reported that Forrest would 
 soon return, so we lay there till it was thought there was no 
 further danger for the garrison, and took considerable ammunition 
 from our chests to supply the light guns. We were mustered on 
 the 5th by Capt. Stacy, (the first introduction we had to that 
 gentleman) and it was found that about seventy were present. 
 About this time Capt. Gray began to discover that the contents of 
 his larder were materially lessening, and upon overhauling his 
 potatoes and apples, found very few left to sell for their weight in 
 money. Of course he dared not make a public fuss, but to make 
 us think he would, he searched the boat and found only one can 
 of apples. On the 5th Thomas Peters died at Louisville of measles. 
 
 The night of the 4th it snowed cpuite hard, and the 5th was 
 extremely cold. During the day the transports paired — i. e., they 
 lashed together two by two. This was to protect them should they 
 be attacked, for the troops on one could retreat to the lee one, and 
 have the other as a breastwork. We lashed to the Venango. 
 Steadily we stemmed the current on the 6th, having started at 10 
 
CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 1". 
 
 A. M. The day was pleasant ami the scenery most beautiful; for 
 many of us, who had never been outside of the Prairie State, the 
 scene was really grand, and the hurricane deck, which had been 
 deserted the day before, was crowded. 
 
 The shore varied from low, level swamps to high, perpendicular 
 hills, almost mountains. Seven miles above Dover the ruins of 
 the Cumberland Iron Works were passed. The rebels had burned 
 them when the Union forces captured Fori Donelson. A little 
 further is the residence of Johu Bell, he who in i860 wished to be 
 elected to the highest office in the land, but who in 1861, was a 
 leader among those who conspired to ruin that land. We passed 
 Clarksville at 8:45 I'. M.. but it was too dark to see plainly the high 
 bridge. At 7:30, on the 7th. the shoals were passed with great 
 difficulty, as the water was getting low and the current was very 
 sw it't. 
 
 We reached the "Rock City, 11 two hundred and five miles 
 from Smithland, at 4 P. M.. passing under the new Government 
 railroad bridge, and lashed not far above. As we passed the 
 prison where some rebels were confined, they shouted at us, calling 
 some pretty hard names. 
 
 Our guns, wagons and the remaining horses and mules weir 
 unloaded in the forenoon of the 8th. The Captain, being too 
 unwell to accompany us further, went to the hospital and never 
 saw the Battery again. Lieut. Spencer was now our commander. 
 On the 9th we unloaded our baggage and moved to Camp Andy 
 Johnson, about two and a half miles southeast of the city, passing 
 Forts Negley and Confiscation, which seemed to us quite impreg- 
 nable. As Bill was driving his wagon along the street he met a 
 man who said. " Why don't you get off from that mule and ride, 
 and make that nigger drive?'* referring to one of darker hue who 
 sat in the wagon. Bill thought it a good joke that he should be 
 taken for a white man. It rained all day of the LOth. We received 
 orders to march to Franklin the next day, but they were changed 
 to have us leave on the 12th, at 6 A. M. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 On the 12th of February reveille sounded at 4 and the troops 
 moved in the direction of Franklin at 7. Orders were issued that 
 knapsacks could be strapped on the carriages, but that the cannon- 
 eers must walk. This was pronounced to be downright cruelty. 
 We had never had to do it before, not even when traveling over 
 poor roads, and this was an excellent macadamized pike. The 
 infantry soon began throwing away their extra clothing. This 
 was thought odd, having never seen anything of the kind before. 
 At 3 P. M. it was rumored that there were rebels ahead and that 
 our forces had left Franklin in the morning and the rebels had 
 immediately occupied the place. Each gunner's haversack was 
 supplied with three rounds to be ready for instant use. It was 
 raining steadily at the time. The center section was ordered in 
 advance ; it ran up within short range and brought its guns to 
 bear on a large brick house, from which a shot had just been fired 
 by one who was declared to be an officer of the day, for we saw his 
 red sash very plainly. 
 
 We were ordered not to fire, as our infantry had effected a 
 crossing of the Harpeth River and were entering the town. But 
 few shots were fired, the rebels not attempting to hold the place. 
 The center section immediately moved to a hill on the left, and 
 gun 3 fired two shots at the retreating foe. The Battery then 
 camped on a hill, where Gen. Pry, deceased, had had a splendid 
 residence ; the house had been burned some years before ; the 
 grounds were beautifully laid out, the walks bordered with box- 
 wood hedges, ornamental trees, etc. The ruins even, looked grand. 
 Just at the brow of the hill was his tomb. 
 
 Franklin is on the south bank of the Big Harpeth, eighteen 
 miles south of Nashville, and contains about two thousand inhab- 
 itants, nearly all rebels. 
 
 Coming into this department placed us in the Army of the 
 Cumberland and in the 14th Corps. On the 13th we were called 
 
• UK KAMAU.A CAMPAIGN. I'.l 
 
 into line at an early hour to guard against surprise, and in the 
 afternoon began regular drill, gun 3 firing the extra shot she had 
 in from the day before. Our tent- were placed in regular align- 
 ment, and orders were received to be in line at five o'clock everj 
 morning. 
 
 On the 14th we moved our tents to the top of the hill on the 
 spot where the guns had first taken position. It rained hard nearly 
 all day. At night three ot our men thought they would like to 
 give their horses some hay. and at the same time take a little to 
 keep themselves off the wet ground ; the} were caught in the act. 
 Gen. Gilbert ordered them to be tied to trees, and the\ were kept 
 there in the wet and cold till nearly eight o'clock at night. Tin- 
 day .John Zanger was discharged id the hospital at Louisville. 
 Several of our men were now taken siek with the measles. In the 
 afternoon of the 15th the cavalry skirmished a little near by. 
 Joseph B. Hunt. Stable Sergeant, was this day. while on duty 
 among the horse-, kicked by a vicious horse and severely injured. 
 On the 16th the Infantry began to fortify under the direction of 
 ('apt. Stacy, and the trains arrived from Nashville, which cheered 
 us much, for with the gloomy weather, sickness and no mail, we 
 had begun to feel discontented. As there was no bridge across the 
 river, there was no way of reaching Franklin except by boats. 
 This day the reconstruction of the railroad bridge was begun. 
 On the 17th the mail came, and though old. was new to us and 
 gave us much cheer. 
 
 On the 17th we were ready betimes for the Johnnies, who were 
 said to be 20,000 strong, within a few miles. At 10 A. M.. some 
 infantry were prdered across a creek flowing from the north into 
 the Harpeth. A few -hot- were tired, which caused the skirmishers 
 to tall hack, hut the ground was held, for if there was au\ body of 
 rebels near they made no further demonstrations. That night 
 several rockets were sent up by citizens in Franklin, so the troops 
 were in position long before daylight next morning, that they 
 might not he caught napping. During the daj fortifying pro- 
 gressed far more rapidly than before. On the 19th a few of our 
 men were detailed to build a bridge aero-- a creek so a- to allow 
 
 our tealll- to get to the depot. 
 
 On the 20th gun 1 knocked down a large chimney that was a 
 portion of the nun- <»f (ien. Pry's house. They used -olid shot; 
 the first -hot passed through it. scarcely causing it to totter, the 
 
50 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 , second brought it to the ground. This was done because Gen. 
 Gilbert considered it dangerous in case of an attack. 
 
 On the 21st we moved camp a little north to more favor- 
 able grounds, as we were now in the way of the ditchers. It rained 
 very hard so that what had for some time been a saying was only 
 again verified — i. e., " That we could move only when it rained. 11 
 The roads that had for some time been so muddy as to be almost 
 impassable, were, as a consequence, now much worse. The left 
 and center sections drilled and fired two Wanks apiece. About 
 noon, during the hardest rain, an alarm was given, and we had to 
 hitch up in great haste ; it was reported that the rebels • were 
 advancing and were already engaging our outposts. We could 
 plainly hear the firing and really believed we were attacked. After 
 getting thoroughly drenched we were relieved, being told that it 
 was only a few pickets who had fired off their guns to keep the 
 charges from getting wet and thus making their guns useless in 
 case of an attack. Of course they had acted contrary to orders, but it 
 was far better to be prepared than to be attacked and find them- 
 selves with weapons that could not be used. The 22d was a cold, 
 dreary day. It rained and then snowed. At noon we fired the 
 National salute — thirty-four blanks. 
 
 On the 23d six of thos*e who had objected to going on board 
 at Louisville were told that they were under arrest on the charge 
 of mutiny. They were restricted in nothing except duty — that 
 they were not allowed to perform. Of course they did not object 
 to this, as the weather was not agreeable to work in. At 10:30 
 P. M. Watson Brailey died of measles. His death resulted from 
 want of proper care. We had nothing that was really fit for 
 healthy men, and could do little for invalids. 
 
 On the 24th the Battery was relieved from working on the 
 fortifications by a hundred or more negroes. This gave us much 
 joy, but we had scarcely begun to rejoice before work was found 
 for us on some interior works ! 
 
 There were many who could find nothing better to amuse 
 themselves with than circulating such sensational reports as these : 
 " Vicksburg is taken ! 11 u A grand victory on the Potomac I 11 etc., 
 etc. These rumors would spread like wild fire and would become 
 the subject for general debate through all the camps. Though 
 these canards always ended in disappointment to the credulous, yet 
 they served to keep life in the camps. 
 
CHICK AMAUGA CAMPAIGN. J", 1 
 
 At 1 P. M., of the 25th, the center section was sent out to 
 receive any "gray hacks*' who mighl appear. There liad been 
 
 some ca nading heard during the night. Ponl is to make a 
 
 wagon bridge across the river came during the day. The railroad 
 bridge was uearly completed, but the heavy rains had so swollen 
 the stream that it washed the bridge away during the night and 
 this day. Those who were under arrest were tried, except one, the 
 ( lorporal. 
 
 The pontoons were completed on the 27th and t hen, l>\ getting 
 the proper pass, we could visit the town. We moved camp a few 
 rods north of the works. At 2 A. M., on the 28th, the long roll 
 was beaten, and all were soon in line, but shortly unhitched and 
 returned to hed. In the afternoon we had inspection and muster. 
 
 On the 1st of March the pickets were drivenin; we hitched 
 up in great haste, but our lines were recovered and quiet again 
 reigned. This day our new detail on the fortifications began. 
 
 On the 2d the men under arrest were included in the detail. 
 In order to have a sufficient number of cannoneers in case of 
 attack, several infantry were sent to be drilled on the guns. Dur- 
 ing the night Coburn's Brigade arrived, and on the 3d we received 
 sixteen men on permanent detail from the 78th Illinois. That 
 night it froze quite hard, and snowed on the morning of the 4th. 
 More troops having arrived. Coburn started in the direction of 
 Columbia on a four days' foraging expedition. During the after- 
 noon cannonading was heard in the direction he had taken, and 
 the Battery was ordered to be ready to march, hut as all was quiet 
 at night, we remained in camp. That night was quite cold. By 
 noon of the 5th heavy cannonading was heard about, as we judged, 
 six miles out. By 1 P. M.. all communications were cut with 
 Coburn and couriers could not reach him. Gen. Gilbert very 
 leisurely rode along and ordered us to be ready to move. We soon 
 crossed the pontoon and lay in column of sections on the Hat near 
 by until about 3 I'. M.. when we were ordered forward on the 
 double quick. We went out to a pass through some hills about 
 three miles from town; here we met ambulances loaded with 
 wounded, all bringing word that the rebels were advancing. The 
 lst|, Ohio Battery had returned some time before, not having been 
 able, a- they said, to draw any reply from the rebel batteries on which 
 they had tired, (iun t, of our Battery, took position in the gap, 
 ami Linn 3 was placed on the knob'to the left, from which it could 
 
52 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 command the surrounding country. The left section was placed 
 in position on the hill nearly a mile nearer the town, and was 
 commanded by Lieut. Fluskey. We lay in our several positions till 
 nearly dark, when, as the rebels did not appear to be advancing, 
 the right and center sections were ordered to return to camp, but 
 not so with the left ; they had received no orders, and long after 
 all support was withdrawn, the Lieutenant sent a request to either 
 have some support sent him or to be recalled. They were then, 
 long after dark, ordered to camp. Many were the complaints 
 raised against Gen. Gilbert for not having sent reinforcements 
 sooner to Col. Coburn, who, with nearly his whole command, was 
 captured. Van Dorn was the rebel commander. That night Gen. 
 Gordon Granger arrived with two brigades and assumed command 
 of the whole force on the 6th. Four of those under arrest were 
 relieved. The railroad bridge was this day completed. The trains 
 crossed and began unloading stores at the depot. It rained nearly 
 all day. Troops continued to arrive and the beautiful forest that 
 surrounded us began to fall under the pioneer's axe, so as to 
 lengthen our range and to prevent the enemy's approach under 
 its cover. The sick and wounded were sent to Nashville, and we 
 predicted no longer an attack from the enemv, but an advance on 
 our part. During the night we heard cannon in the direction of 
 Murfreesboro, and learned next morning that some cavalry, crossing 
 to Franklin, had surprised and captured nearly an entire cavalry 
 camp of the foe. Sheridan's Division arrived to-day. Corp. Brown 
 returned from detached duty. 
 
rHAITKIi' VIII. 
 
 On th«' 9th of March reveille sounded at 2 A. M.. and by day- 
 light the troops were in motion, separating and going out on three 
 parallel roads. We were in the center and on the Columbia pike. 
 At Thompson's Station, six miles out, the cavalry engaged a few 
 rebels, driving them. Our loss was two killed and two wounded. 
 At Spring Hill we found many of the union wounded of the late 
 battle. The enemy had paroled them before our forces arrived 
 within reach of them. It had been intended for us to move so 
 slowly as to allow the other commands to come in here, in the \'r-,w 
 of the enemy, and thus bag him ; hut our column got there some 
 time before the flanking columns appeared. We camped one mile 
 south. Immediately foraging commenced, and there was much to 
 be foraged. Pigs, chickens, »'^<;s. turkeys, hams, flour, meal, etc., 
 were soon coming into camp to visit the Yanks. 
 
 Gen. Gilbert, discovering it. sent his staff, Capt. Stacy, to arrest 
 whomsoever he might find foraging. He at times caught those 
 outside his command, and then no attention was paid them. At 
 10 P. M. it began to rain hard and continued all the next day and 
 night. On the morning of the loth Capt. Stacy was out early and 
 every man found bringing in anything was required to deposit it 
 on the heap that was soon made, near the ruins of a brick house, 
 (lose to our camp, and the criminals to stand in line near by. 
 About eight o'clock Gen. Gilbert rode up and began to lecture the 
 men for stealing. Gen. Granger, wondering what was the cause 
 of t his array of soldiers, rode up and immediately Understood it by 
 seeing the huge pile of nick-nacks. He asked Gen. Gilbert what 
 he was doing, and when he had told him, Granger ordered the 
 men back to their commands and rode away. Of course, he was 
 the soldier's idol from that day. 
 
 While marching we spared very little that belonged t<> rebels, 
 and as there were very few who were not such, the hot union 
 
54 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 man in the district, and who was then acting as guide for Gen. 
 Granger, lost all his bee gums before the troops became aware 
 whose place they were on. It was then too late to make amends, 
 yet he did not complain. About 4 P. M. the advance saw the 
 rebels in line on the east side of Carter's Creek. The stream was 
 so swollen that it could only be crossed at the regular fords, and 
 these the rebels held, so we camped. Our brigade was near the 
 residence of Tim. Whittaker ; it was soon discovered that his smoke 
 house was filled with the best of meat, and we were not long in 
 appropriating it. By " we, 11 in this connection, is meant the whole 
 brigade, as all participated. The geutlemin pretended to own 
 nothing, and only received money from those who saw fit to pay 
 him for things they took. His wife owned all and was very bois- 
 terous; at one moment she would curse us as Lincolnites, and then 
 would cry. Her splendid carriage horses were taken. This she 
 could not bear ; we could take all else, but must leave her them. 
 Gen. Gilbert, who made the honse his headquarters, had them 
 returned to her. In less than an hour not a board was to be seen 
 of the fence within half a mile, and not a picket or railing, or 
 scarcely a post, was left to show what had surrounded their costly 
 and beautiful grounds. The boards were taken to sleep on or to 
 keep us out of the water ; the pickets and posts were used to 
 kindle fires, and rails kept them ablaze thereafter. In this section 
 the rails were mostly of red cedar. A number of our men occupied 
 a small house that was half full of cotton seed. Col. Opdycke, of 
 the 125th Ohio, asked permission of them to occupy one room ; he 
 was given one, but it was the poorest in the house. 
 
 About 8 A. M., of the 11th, the center section was ordered to 
 the front to see if it could reach a rebel battery, then in full view, 
 about one and one-half miles distant. Gilbert and some others 
 decided that it was out of range, hence not a shot was fired. 
 There were a* few shots exchanged by other batteries both' to the right 
 and left of us. A long column of rebel cavalry advanced down 
 the hill and attempted to cross an open field, but a few well directed 
 shots from our guns sent it to the cover of the woods in a hurry. 
 This ended all work for that day. 
 
 We were now fifteen miles from Franklin. It seemed the 
 opinion of our commander that to attempt to cross the creek would 
 involve an uncalled for loss of life, and result in but a barren vic- 
 tory, even if the enemy should be dislodged from the hills and 
 
CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 55 
 
 forced back upon Columbia. So. at 7 A. M.. of the 12th, we began 
 the retrograde movement, having enjoyed the full benefits of a cold 
 March storm and seen a few miles moreof Dixie. lint was it Dixie? 
 No. As long as we were in the army we were aever able to reach 
 that noted land. At Louisville it was about the middle of the 
 State. At Columbia it commenced with Tennessee. Tennesseeans 
 said Georgia was the boundary. Georgians said Florida was the 
 northern limit. Hut, as the border States were not in Dixie, and 
 neither were the cotton States, one would think that land a myth. 
 
 As we passed our guide's house on the return, the stars and 
 stripes were proudly waving from one of the upper windows. 
 That cost him dearly, for before night the enemy had made him 
 almost houseless. 
 
 Passing Thompson's Station, on the return, our forces re-buried 
 ourdeadof the 5th. who were barely covered with earth, and in 
 some instances the covering had been washed off, leaving them 
 quite hare. They had all been stripped of their clothing before 
 burial. We reached camp at ."> P. M.. and found that Lieut. Colvin 
 and Corp. Judd had returned. Sheridan's division left the nexi 
 day for Murfreesboro. 
 
 On the 14th there was a grand review of all the troops, in and 
 about Franklin, in the cotton Held south of town, (ieiis. Granger, 
 Baird, Smith and Gilbert were present. Our Battery was chosen 
 to fire at a target an old log. A few rounds were fired; some of 
 the shots were excellent, while others were quite the reverse. 
 
 The tearing down of Gilbert's works, and building of new and 
 substantial ones, was pushed forward with vigor, and soon Fort 
 Granger bad become really a strong fort. This and others then 
 built, saved Nashville and perhaps another year's war. \<y aiding 
 our troops to defeat Mood on the 29th of November, L864. 
 
 On the 16th was commenced what should long before have 
 
 been the genera] order througl t the army the drilling of the 
 
 others with the musket. Thej soon discovered it was notso much 
 sport as at first supposed. 
 
 On tile 17th two twenty-four pound siege mm- were received 
 for fort Granger. They were hauled up by hand and placed iii 
 position. 
 
 The camps were required by general order to lie dailj 
 
 thoroughly policed, and the medical inspector visited all camp- and 
 examined each tent to see that it was perfectly neat and clean. 
 
56 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIC4HT ARTILLERY. 
 
 This order conduced more to health than did all the quinine that 
 was so freely given for each and every disease or complaint during 
 the war. 
 
 On the 18th the wagon train started out for forage, but had 
 gone only three miles before it was forced to retreat before a bodv 
 of the enemy. 
 
 On the 19th another camp ground for the Battery was resolved 
 upon. To get the men all out, the assembly whs blown. Think- 
 ing it must be some good news, all rushed into the ranks, only to 
 have a shovel handed us ; then after a " Right face, forward 
 march, 11 we soon found ourselves on the allotted ground, and were 
 told that we could now proceed to police it. Several who were 
 " unable to attend roll call " were thus forced to do their share. 
 
 We were a little tardy in getting into line on the morning of 
 the 20th, so orders were issued to be out punctually at four, and to 
 remain till five every morning thereafter. Eight more men were 
 received on detail from the 78th Illinois. 
 
 An order was promulgated to the effect that all offenders must 
 be tried in their own commands and by their company or regi- 
 mental officers. A Judge Advocate was to be appointed by the 
 commander of the company or regiment. Lieut. Colvin was ap- 
 pointed for that office in our Battery. 
 
 On the 22d Corp. Judd received a furlough — one that had 
 been promised him at Mumfordsville. 
 
 It had been decided that the James rifle was not the best gun 
 for field service, so we were ordered to turn ours over. We did 
 this on the 24th and drew instead two twelve-pound Napoleons 
 and four three-inch rifles, ( Rodmans. ) At first the twelve-pounders 
 were placed on the flanks of the Battery, but to have them both in 
 one section, they were given to the right. Our old guns were 
 placed in the fort, and we soon had to drill the remnants of the 22d 
 Indiana and 33d Wisconsin regiments on them. Well we remem- 
 ber the trouble we had to pack the chests of our new guns. It was 
 raining, seemingly, as hard as possible, and it was necessary to carry 
 the chests under a tarpaulin-covered shed in order that the ammuni- 
 tion should not get damp. All hands were well drenched while 
 taking off and putting on the chests. " Baby, 11 of gun 3, was ar- 
 rested for not being out at roll call that morning, and the court 
 martial in due time decided that fifteen days 1 extra duty was suffi- 
 cient punishment for the offense. The Corporal, who was among 
 
i HICKAMAI i. \ i Wll' V.IGN". D( 
 
 those arrested for the Louisville affair, was relieved without trial; 
 four of the others were to Lose $6.50, or a half month's paj ; and 
 the five to work ten days each on the fortifications. 
 
 On the 25th the rebels attacked and captured Brentwood, a 
 station about eight miles from Nashville. Thej were, however, 
 soon after driven away. A force of cavalry wassent from Franklin 
 tn aid the garrison. As no artillery was scut with them the;) com- 
 plained bitterly. "0, if we bad onlj bad a battery along, we could 
 have captured the whole of them!" This was their general cry 
 whenever they returned from an unsuccessful expedition. 
 
 Our horses were left barnessed all of the 26th, long after all 
 danger was over ai Brentwood, thai we might be ready to march 
 to its relief in case we should be wanted. Among those captured 
 there was J. H. Van, our brigade postmaster. 
 
 On the 28th the Battery was inspected by thefirsi thoroughly 
 drilled artillery-man we had ever met. He appeared perfectly 
 familiar with all movements, many not mentioned in the drill 
 books, and to have the eyes of Argus. \\ hile riding by on a trot 
 he would notice little disarrangements in the harness that tin* 
 careless drivers had overlooked. •■What's that strap out of its 
 loop for? 11 '"Where"-, the trussing strap that belongs there?" 
 "That horse wants a shoe on that foot." pointing to it. etc.. etc.. 
 until we began to think our Battery was in poor condition, while 
 we had prided ourselves that few could equal us in good order. 
 This officer was ('apt. .lames Thompson, of the Second I'. S. 
 Artillery. He drilled us often afterwards, and although he was 
 strict to a fault, still we always felt glad to have him take hold 
 of the reins of the Battery. Although our Dutchman, alia- Nor- 
 wegian, had to hold the pole up for half an hour to punish him for 
 neglecting to let the pole prop down, still even he liked him and 
 wished him to come oftener. And the cannoneer who had to walk 
 for neglecting to sit with arms properly folded, forgave him and 
 rejoiced at his coming. We never met his equal as a drill master. 
 
 He was lien. Granger's Chief of Artillen .and was soon afterward- 
 promoted to a Colonelcy. 
 
 On the 3 1st Sergt. Wells was discharged at Nashville, ami 
 Win. Siege) received notice of his discharge at the Battery. 
 
 On the 1st of April order- were read that those who merited 
 were the mi.- t<. be promoted from (hi- date, and that all who 
 
 were worthy should have their name- reported. Officers were to 
 
58 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 wear their side arras while on drill; they had fallen into the habit 
 of wearing as little as possible of the army paraphernalia, especially 
 while on drill. Hansell, gunner of gun 4, was promoted to ser- 
 geant, vice Wells, discharged. Corp. Judd made gunner of the 
 same, and Private Morgan Banks, of the same, to corporal (chief 
 of caisson). On gun 2 Clute was made gunner, and Private Korah 
 was promoted to chief of caisson of same. 
 
 A few prisoners were brought in on the 2d. In the after- 
 noon Gen. Gilbert started for Murfreesboro. It was rumored that 
 he was succeeded by Col. Bennison, of the 78th Illinois. We began 
 to rejoice over what we thought was our good luck. On the 3d 
 the report was that he was gobbled, but on the next day all our 
 joy was suddenly ended by seeing him ride inside the lines and up 
 to his headquarters. 
 
 Since starting on the Kentucky campaign, or rather since the 
 negroes were driven from camp, we had adopted the practice of 
 each man, or a few at most, cooking for himself. Each man 
 wished his sowbelly and hard tack cooked according to his own 
 taste. One chose "Dundefunk," 1 another "Slubmagullion,'' another 
 something else, so that the general cook could not please all. But 
 on the 5th strict orders were received from the brigade com- 
 mander that we must have squad cooks ; that one man was to be 
 detailed from each squad for that purpose, and these cooks were to 
 receive twenty-five cents per day extra from the Government, 
 (which they never did). 
 
 On the 6th we commenced artillery foot-drill, the first we ever 
 had in the Battery. In the afternoon we signed the pay rolls 
 again, and received the announcement that the paymaster was 
 then at the post. 
 
 On the 9th, by orders from Rosecrans, who was supposed, 
 especially by the enemy, to know everything as fast as it occurred, 
 we were up by four o'clock and ready to receive the enemy. On 
 drill that forenoon we fired three shells at a target. Another 
 brigade of infantry arrived during the night. Van Dorn sent in 
 orders for us to surrender, so all was ready by 3 A. M., on the 
 10th, to surrender if we could do no better. At I P. M. he 
 attacked our pickets, and charging through them, was soon in 
 town, where his columns were ordered to halt, but many charged 
 on; down to the pontoon bridge they came, only to bite the dust 
 or to retreat with all possible speed. We hitched up and sent the 
 
' BICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 59 
 
 left section under Lieut. Colvin to the fort. It toot several posi- 
 tions, but was not allow. m1 to fire. The L8th Ohio battery, con- 
 trary to orders, shelled the depot with great spirit, for which its 
 commander was severely reprimanded. The rebels opened on the 
 fort with their artillery. One shell passed over and struck among 
 our mulewagons, causing the drivers, black and white, to turn 
 pale, and to begin to look lor trees behind which to hide. The 
 rest of the rebel shots struck short. Many of their horses lost 
 their riders in the town and at the pontoon, and two horse- came 
 across and were captured in our camp. One man. whose horse fell 
 near the pontoon, ran almost flew back to the shelter of the 
 houses, amid shouts id' derision and laughter from our men. The 
 large guns id' the fort were doing fearful execution among those 
 who were outside the town, where they could lie reached. By this 
 time some of Stanley's cavalry, then en-route from ftturfreesboro, 
 anticipating this attack, came in Van Dora's rear, and began slav- 
 ing his men right and left. The 4th V. S. Cavalry captured four 
 of his guns. and. l>ein>; unable to haul them off, cut the spoke- of 
 the carriages, spiked the guns, and tumbled one into a creek. This 
 unlooked for attack on their rear caused the rebels to retreat pell- 
 mell. The 40th Ohio were on picket around town and were some- 
 what cut up. The rebel dead turned black immediately after death, 
 and their canteens were found in many instance- to contain 
 whisky and gunpowder. At 4 P. M. guns 1 and 3, of our Battery, 
 and two regiments of infantry were sent out to a ford seven miles 
 above. They went on the double quick most of the distance, but 
 got there too late to have anything to say to Van Dorn, as he had 
 completed his retreat to Spring Hill. The next evening the left 
 section and guns 1 and 3 returned to camp. 
 
 On the 14th there was a grand review to ascertain how many 
 recruits each command required to fill it to its maximum. 
 
 On the 15th we drew, as special delicacies and sanitary sup- 
 plies, three pickles, two peppers and four and a half pounds of 
 desiccated potatoes for the entire company! 
 
 The fields were now so green as to warrant our taking the 
 horses out daily to graze. As soon as the wheat was high enough 
 we let them feed on that in all the nearest fields, because it was 
 ■deemed unsafe to go outside the protection of the fort. 
 
 ( )n the 16th Van I lorn again sent a summons for us to surrender, 
 J nit he thought he would not attempt to enforce it. and made no at tack. 
 
60 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 On the ]8th we turned over our Sibley tents and drew "Purp," 
 or shelter tents. A description of them is unnecessary, as all know 
 how nice they are in the summer, how one's head and feet are left 
 to enjoy the cool night breezes, while the rest of the body is com- 
 fortably sheltered. Eighteen men were detailed to go south of 
 town to cut away some fruit trees and tear down or burn some 
 houses that were standing in the range of the guns. 
 
 About a hundred of our cavalry were seen returning from a 
 scout, and from a distance were taken to be rebels, so that Capt. 
 Aylshire, who commanded the Pioneer force that day, ordered 
 Lieut. Colvin to get his men into camp as fast and well as he could. 
 We despaired of ever again seeing our comrades, but soon they 
 came straggling along, taking their leisure and telling us that the 
 supposed force of rebels was only a few blue coats. This was con- 
 sidered a good joke on the officers in command of the Pioneers. 
 
 Our first night in the " Purps" gave us proof of their efficacy 
 as shelters. If one drew himself up into opossum form and was 
 careful not to touch the tent in any place, he could remain quite 
 dry, but as soon as he straightened himself, either his feet or 
 his head caught all the eaves, and if he chanced to touch the tent, 
 the water no longer followed the inclined plane, but took the 
 shortest course to him. 
 
 On the 19th Geo. W. Peters was discharged at Nashville. 
 
 At the head of our culinary department — for we had a head 
 then — was a man who had been detailed from the 78th Illinois. 
 He was an adept at his business, (pocketing money) and told us 
 if we would build an oven he would get us up some extra dishes 
 occasionally. We built one, and soon could get all the tough pie 
 crust, with a small amount of apple sauce for dressing, we wanted 
 for the sum of twenty-five cents per pie, but found that our former 
 passably good meals were now very scarce and in no season or 
 quality. To this we soon objected, but that made no difference; 
 if we would not buy, those from other commands would. At 
 length the oven fell down one night; then there was a stir; heavy 
 rewards were offered for the perpetrators of the outrage, but with 
 no success. The oven was rebuilt, and there was not quite so 
 much pilfering of rations thereafter. 
 
 On the 20th Kelner, of gun 5, was transferred to the veteran 
 reserve corps. 
 
CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 61 
 
 On the 21st the mule drivers got their extra pay; this aroused 
 us one.' more to looking for the "greenback man,"' and on the 
 24th we found him, and immediately drew six months 1 pay per 
 
 man. 
 
 Our money disposed of, camp duties were again all we had to 
 busy ourselves with, but we could not rest easy thus: we must 
 have something to awaken us and keep alive our spirits. The 
 tipping over of a caisson while on drill would give ground for com- 
 ment only f'<»r a day. At last some one discovered brier root near 
 by, and soon the camp was converted into a pipe manufactory. 
 
 But pipes alone could not satisfy us. It was s i learned that 
 
 mussel shells would make very beautiful rings, and soon the riv< 't- 
 was searched to safe distances, above and below, and rings, 
 breast-pins, etc., began to be turned out in great numbers; many 
 of them were of beautiful design, and were sent to our friends at 
 home. 
 
 On the night of the 26th signals were given to the post by a 
 spy that a camp of rebels was within a few miles. At midnight 
 the cavalry went out. and had to go but a few mileserethey found 
 the looked-for camp. They surprised it and captured nearly the 
 entire force. Darkness aided a few to escape. The officers were 
 allowed time to dress, hut the poor privates fared very badly. 
 Those who had been so unwise as to remove any of their clothing 
 uever saw it again. Some came in bootless, others hatless, many 
 coatless, and one poor fellow had to leave his unmentionables. 
 Some rode on horses, with or without saddles, some on mules, 
 while others had to walk. As they came in. our spy, who was one 
 of their number, managed to ride ahead with the colonel com- 
 manding, and motioning to the group that stood near the road, 
 galloped up to headquarters, and had communicated with Gen. 
 Granger ere the column, which was purposely retarded in crossing 
 the pontoon, had arrived. The spy was kept among the rest of the 
 prisoners and started tor Nashville on the same train, hut managed 
 to escape before he reached there. 
 
 (hi the 29th Fish was mustered out at Nashville. 
 
 A.S May-day is moving day at home, so it was with our 
 brigade that year in the army. In order to get an early start, for 
 we supposed our next tenement must he far away, all hands were 
 up l>\ 12:30 A. M.. and off by two. We reached Thompson's Sta- 
 tion at sunrise, and met a force of our cavalry returning, when it 
 
62 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 was discovered that this was some strategic move. The cavalry 
 had twelve prisoners. We returned to camp, reaching there at 
 10 A. M. 
 
 Capt. Miller, having so far recovered as to be able to travel, 
 sent Stone, who had been attending him* to the Battery, while he 
 started for New York on the 2d. That day we had artillery 
 brigade drill, and Capt. Thompson pronounced us best drilled of 
 the three batteries, viz: 9th and 18th Ohio and Battery M; of our 
 battery he said the left section was the best. 
 
 By being called up at 2:30 A. M., on the 6th, and ordered to 
 pack up everything, it was supposed that we were going on a 
 long march. Our splendid bunks were soon carried away by the 
 infantry, and by the time we started, 9 A. M., there was little left 
 to mark where our camp had been. At one mile south of town we 
 went into camp. We were only sent there to guard the infantry 
 while they were felling the heavy woods. It rained very hard, and 
 for something to lie on, we copied after the gray backs — com- 
 menced barking — the trees, and soon had the smooth side of the 
 bark for a bed. Capt. Stacy had some trouble with an infantry- 
 man, who was the son of one of the colonels of the brigade. He 
 attempted to whip the man, but soon found himself on the ground. 
 He ordered the man arrested, but the colonel soon released him, 
 and made some threats against the captain. The offense of the 
 man was having taken some boards from a rebel's stable, with 
 which he wanted to make a bunk. 
 
 On the 8th the Battery went out at noon to drill, and by 
 orders from the general, was kept there till dark, then was 
 allowed to go to camp. Broke camp at 3:45 A. M., of the 9th. and 
 were back on our old camp ground by 7, but not one vestige of our 
 comfortable bunks could be found on the ground, and we were 
 forced to lie in the mud, as our camp Avas on ground that had been 
 sown to winter wheat. This day four sixty-four-pound howitzers 
 arrived for Fort Granger. This now made the fort quite formid- 
 able. 
 
 On the 10th the rebel general, Van Dorn, was killed at Spring 
 Hill. 
 
 On the 15th the three batteries composing the Artillery Bri- 
 gade began target practice. Each gun fired two rounds at one 
 thousand yards range. On the 16th we fired test shots, Gen. 
 Granger being present. Battery M did best, and Brumfield, gun- 
 
CHICK VM.WiiA CAMPAIGN. 63 
 
 ner of gun 5, won the Laurels. Be was praised by Granger for his 
 welldoing. This so elated Lieut. Colvin thai he immediately sen! 
 lor some corn ketchup and treated his section. 
 
 ('apt. Avlshirr. who was now, l>\ date of commission, chief of 
 artillery, inspected us on the L7th. At aighl Col. Baird, who was 
 captured with Col. Coburn, and who had just been exchanged, ad- 
 dressed the few who remained of the 22d Indiana and 33d Wis- 
 consin part of his old command and charged all to Gen. Gilbert. 
 He said that had aid been sent when requested, they would have 
 defeated the rebels. 
 
 On the L8th the 18th Ohio Battery was best at targei prac- 
 tice, and Battery M was second. It was also besi the next day, as 
 we now fired at longer range, and we had only lour rifled guns, 
 while it had six. On tin' 20th, we took a mile range and tested 
 ten-pounder with ten-pound, and gun •">. of our Battery, again won 
 the day. 
 
 On the 22d we drew a barrel of whisky, and it was deter- 
 mined that it should he kept in the hospital tent, to be used only 
 for the sick or for the men when they had been at work; hut by 
 the "" si<k"" we did not at first understand that the whole Franklin 
 force was included, though thai must have been the meaning, for 
 those not always sick from other commands got more of if 
 than did our own men. To this we objected ami it was soon put 
 a stop to— as soon as the whisky was gone. 
 
 On the 25th we began building sheds for our horses, and 
 being quite comfortably situated again, it was considered by the 
 knowing ones a sure sign of an early move. 
 
 On the Hist our No. 3 and 4 guns wen- exchanged with the 
 9th Ohio Battery for two of their twelve-pounder Napoleons. 
 Guns 5 and 6 were then given to the center section, and the new 
 guns to the left section. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 On the 1st of June orders were received to prepare to march, 
 and that those not Avell enough to march were to be sent to the 
 hospital at Nashville. J. B. Hunt, who was yet suffering from 
 the kick of a horse, left us for that hospital. All our extra bag- 
 gage was boxed up and sent to the depot to be shipped to Nash- 
 ville, where it yet remains for aught we know; no attempts were 
 ever made to recover it for us. As this was our last day at Frank- 
 lin, let us bid it an affectionate adieu by reminding it that we only 
 moved camp six times in the eleven weeks of our stay. 
 
 At 3 A. M., of the 2d, we were up, and before six were on the 
 move, taking an easterly course until the Nashville and Petersburg 
 pike was reached, and, following that for a short distance, soon 
 bore off toward Triune, which was reached at 1 P. ]VL — fourteen 
 miles from Franklin. Triune was well fortified and very well 
 garrisoned, but it was much like Millersville, Kentucky — there 
 were but few houses to obstruct our view. Near by was the ground 
 our right wing occupied in the memorable battle of Stone River. 
 
 On the 3d Schoeffer was discharged at Chicago, he having 
 never joined the Battery after it left there. 
 
 On the 6th Axtell left for the hospital on account of deafness. 
 
 On the 7th the rebel cavalry came near town and surrounded 
 some of our men, who, however, cut their way out. The Battery 
 was ordered to move, and went only as far as the pike, the rebels 
 having retreated. 
 
 On the 9th the rebels came in from the west and captured our 
 vedettes. Our cavalry engaged them; our center section was 
 ordered out on the double quick, and followed them about four 
 miles, but the enemy were too far off for us to do any execution 
 upon them. 
 
 On the 10th Lieut. Colvin left to take command of a battery 
 in the Department of the Ohio. 
 
CHK KAMAUG \ CAMPAIGN. 65 
 
 Early in the morning of the 11th our horses were sent out to 
 graze. A.bout eight o'clock they came in at full speed, except one 
 team driven by "Growler." It came in lah — the driver being 
 minus his hat, la- having not only lost that, but his road also. The 
 cause of this scare was that Forrest was advancing, and his 
 advance was already skirmishing with ourpickets. We immediately 
 hitched up— that is. as fast as the horses arrived for us t<> do 
 so — and the center section was sent to the edge of the timber to 
 the east. They unlimbered just as a body of rebel cavalry charged 
 from the opposite woods upon our pickets stationed in the ditch 
 about half way across the held. As the cavalry reached the 
 pickets it halted to fire, and at this moment gun 3 exploded ashell 
 in its midst, which caused a wheel about and a gallop for the woods. 
 Before the rebels had gained its shelter both guns had dropped 
 two or three shells among them, causing the emptying of a num- 
 ber of saddles. 
 
 Following the center section, the rest of the Battery was 
 halted in the road near by and left standing in single column. \- 
 soon as the cavalry charge had been repulsed our cavalry began 
 maneuvering in our front. That is. it started out. fell back, etc., 
 and when, a few minutes later, two rebel guns opened on us from 
 the woods opposite, ourcavalry was so much in the wa\ a- to make 
 it dangerous for us to reply. At first the rebel shells passed above 
 the trees and over our heads. They gradually drew them down 
 till they struck all around the guns, and had we not been succ< — 
 ful in exploding a shell against the muzzle of one of the 
 enemy's guns, and by it killing two men and an officer and doing 
 other damage, they would certainly have done us much injury. A.s 
 it was. only Loomis, a driver of No. 3 caisson, was hurt slightlj on 
 the arm by the falling limb of a tree. The right and left sections 
 standing in the road were in the most danger. Those of the center sec- 
 tion could see the rebel shells as they flew along the straight pike and 
 passing barely over the head- of the right and left sections and the 
 other troops in the road, would go by doing no harm. A- soon as 
 we had silenced the rebel guns, the cavalry started -lowly in pur- 
 suit. The enemy had to haul off one of its guns in a wagon a- we 
 had disabled the carriage. We tired but sixteen rounds, then went 
 with the cavalry nearly to the Harpeth River, when it was decided 
 best not to attempt a crossing. The Battery had been halted 
 about a mile from the river among the many mulberry trees found 
 
66 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 there. Soon the cavalry returned — the mounted band playing 
 triumphant airs. The entire rebel loss had been about twelve killed,, 
 sixteen wounded and twelve prisoners. We were out about eight 
 miles. As we returned, an old man 102 years of age, accompanied 
 us on horseback. He said he remembered George Washington 
 well. He was a rebel at heart and so said. 
 
 During the action Capt. Russell. Gen. Granger's chief of staff, 
 was near our Battery, and said he a had never seen better firing, 
 that we got range, elevation and time quickly, and kept them." 
 
 That day Farrell and Richardson came, the former to have his 
 sentence of expulsion from the service consummated; the latter 
 from hospital. 
 
 On the 12th James Sommers and Horace Brown were missing. 
 It was at first supposed they were out on a bummer's scout, but as 
 they never returned, it was concluded that they had taken French 
 leave, and were reported as deserters, perhaps wrongfully. 
 
 On the 13th, with very little preparation, and before 
 breakfast, Farrell, with the orderly on his left, Sergt. Miller on his 
 right, and a fifer and two drummers from the infantry, and Lieut. 
 Fluskey at his back, was escorted to the tune of u Poor Old 
 Soldier," to the lines in the direction of Franklin. 
 
 On the 15th there was a general remodeling of this portion of 
 the army, and we were forever freed from Gen. Gilbert. He was 
 subsequently sent back to his regiment in the regular army as 
 captain. The following, taken from a Mnrfreesboro dispatch of a 
 later day, shows the conclusion of Capt. Stacy's military career: 
 " Capt. J. Edward Stacy, 2d Kentucky, is dishonorably dismissed 
 from the service of the United States for forgery, and is ordered 
 beyond the lines of this army, not to return during the war." 
 
 In the re-organization Ave were assigned to the Reserve Corps 
 of the Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Gen. Gordon 
 Granger. It was divided into three divisions, the 1st under Gen. 
 Baird, the 2d under J. D. Morgan, and the 3d under R. S. Granger, 
 at Nashville. We were placed in the 1st Division. 2d Brigade, 
 Col. Reid commanding the brigade, which consisted of the 98th. 
 113th, 121st Ohio, 78th Illinois, and Battery M, 1st Illinois 
 Artillery. On this day O'Toole was discharged at Nashville. 
 
 On the 21st all the batteries were inspected by Gens. Granger 
 and Baird. 
 
< IIK KAM.W <..\ CAMPAIGN. 67 
 
 On the 23d we started out to drill before breakfast, as had 
 been the custom at this post, so as to have nothing to do in flu* 
 heat of the day, when we were ordered back and told to get readj 
 to march immediately. At '.' A. M. we bade Earewell to Triune, 
 and. waiting for other troops to pass out on the pike, we were off on 
 our dirt road again. The country was very rough, and traveling 
 as we supposed on nearly a level, we suddenly found ourselves at 
 the edge of an inland promontory. To the east, till the sky 
 appeared to meet the earth, was a cedar sea! Its surface was as 
 calm as though no breeze ever ruffled it. But we must descend 
 into that green ocean, and locking both hind wheels of each car- 
 riage, we proceeded in a zigzag to the bottom. It was a poor road 
 through the red cedar swamp, at times being almost impassable. 
 About midway through we found a whisky distillery that was just 
 resuming operations, and, of course, had but little of the anient 
 on hand. We sampled such as they had. and proceeded. Crossing 
 Rock River soon after emerging from the swamp, we camped about 
 one mile north of the village of Salem, fourteen miles from Triune 
 and >ix miles from Murfreesboro. On the way man\ of the wagons 
 broke down and many were left standing where they broke. 
 
 Our camp that night was in a cornfield, the com being about 
 knee high. It began to rain the next morning. The night before 
 we had togo about a mile for water, hut this morning it was found 
 all around our tires and even in our tents. The rain slackened a 
 little at times during the day. but before ni»iit. wherever the water 
 could not run off. it lay in sheet-. About noon there was cannon- 
 ading about two miles off, and the troops were immediately on the 
 move. We traveled very slowly and stopped longer than we moved. 
 About dark we were within two mile- of Stone River, and by 
 hitches, had succeeded in reaching it and crossing by 1 A. M. of 
 the 25th. All were very sleepy, and wherever there was a fence 
 there was a fire and by each tire, in the rain and mini, lay from 
 one to a dozen men. After crossing the river l>\ fording, the road 
 
 for some distance ran through a densely w led swamp. Here it 
 
 was so dark that if one carriage happened to get a rod ahead of 
 the next following, there was no ua\ for the hinder one to pro- 
 ceed, as it would certainly lose the track. Many declared that had 
 we our cheese knives the} could he used to advantage in cutting 
 our way through this darkness. Reaching a little tinner ground, 
 we camped where the water was about three inches deep. Our only 
 
68 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLISTOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 lantern had been carried at the head of the column, but after starting 
 fires with the red cedar rails of a neighboring fence, the drivers 
 could see whether they had brought up their off horses or had lost 
 them in the darkness. Caring little for the water, and after mak- 
 ing some coffee and with it eating some of our soaked hard tack,, 
 all turned in — to the water— and were soon asleep. We slept till 
 late in the day, and then discovered that had we gone but a short 
 distance further we should have found good camping grounds. 
 
 It took but little time to get ready to move that morning. It 
 was still raining very hard, and we had to march against a strong 
 wind and through mud and water nearly knee deep. At 8:30 A. 
 M. the Murfreesboro and Shelbyville pike was reached at Warren's 
 Grove, where were found two churches and three residences. This 
 was fourteen miles from Salem . So fatigued were the troops that 
 when once asleep they heeded not the rain pelting in their faces, 
 nor even the kicks of their comrades, as they would attempt to 
 awaken them for coffee or duty. An officer of an Illinois regi- 
 ment lay by a fire sleeping soundly, and some, wishing to see how 
 much it would require to awaken him, put him on a stretcher, 
 covered his face as though he was a corpse, and carried him to the 
 church that was used as a hospital. Those around seeing, as they 
 supposed, a dead man being brought in, gathered close around the 
 stretcher; there was soon quite a group and many eager questions 
 were asked. In front of the door they set the stretcher down, and 
 uncovering the officer's face so as to let the large drops from a tree 
 strike fairly on it, he was soon awake. The look of bewilderment 
 he gave as he found himself in that position called forth so many 
 shouts of laughter that the poor officer walked away declaring, " It 
 may be a good joke, but I can't see it." 
 
 At noon it was reported that the rebels were advancing from 
 the south, and all were soon in position to receive them, but we 
 were not favored with a call. 
 
 All through here and farther to the east, Morgan had had his 
 men at work harvesting the wheat crop. Gen. Rosecrans had 
 said some time before that he did not wish Morgan to do all the 
 work; that Morgan might harvest and he would thresh. And so 
 he did. There was very little good grain left after the army had. 
 . passed, and it was quite as well, for had we not used it the heavy 
 rains would have spoiled it. 
 
( IIKK \\l V.UG A CAMPAIGN. 69 
 
 We were up by 3 A. M. on the 26th; it rained nearly all day. 
 The cavalry was near by, and among it there was a portion of the 
 Chicago Board of Trade Battery. In that we had a number of 
 friends, and it seemed like being at home to meei them, even in 
 that country. 
 
 At 8 A. M.. of the 27th, we took the pike in the direction of 
 Shelbyville, but had gone only about half a mile before we had to 
 halt to let the cavalry pass, and lay there till noon before it was all 
 by. We reached Guy's Gap at five, six miles from camp and nine 
 and a half miles from Shelbyville. As we approached we could 
 see plainly the high knob to the left of the gap, which the rebels 
 had used for a signal station; it was speedily converted to the use 
 of the union. We found about five hundred prisoners here that 
 had been captured at Shelbyville. At night the left section, under 
 Lieut. Fluskey, was scut out on picket. 
 
 The next morning three cannon arrived that had been cap- 
 tured at Shelbyville. Prisoners told us that one id' these was the 
 
 one we had failed to disable at Trim n the 11th. It was a 
 
 rifled gun and made at Rome, Ga. We took charge of the guns 
 and marched back to Warren's Grove, reaching there at 5:30 I*. 
 M., and the pike being excellent, the cannoneers were allowed to 
 tide. On the 29th the captured guns were scut to Murfreesboro. 
 About noon we moved camp to a splendid (lover field about a mile 
 north, and were beginning to stake out camp, when orders came 
 for us to march for Shelby ville. We had scarcely got in motion 
 before it began to rain even harder than it had before, and it was 
 not long ere all were thoroughly wet. It continued to rain till 
 8 I'. M. We camped at nine o'clock, four miles from Shelbj ville. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 On the morning of the 30th of June the brigade moved to 
 Walnut Grove, within two miles of town. As we stood in the 
 road a union lady of the Brown low style, came to meet us. The 
 rebels had named her Madam Yank. In many words she gave us 
 a full description of all that had been done by the rebels, and suf- 
 fered by the union people, of the trials she had passed through, of 
 what she had told several rebel generals, and of her having driven 
 so many gray backs from her house. Her narrative was as amus- 
 ing as interesting. At one house we passed, a lady, eighty -four 
 years old, presented a flag that she had kept secreted over a year, 
 to the band of one of the regiments, for which the band played 
 some national airs, which seemed to make her feel fifty years 
 younger. 
 
 Till we reached our present camp Gen. Granger had put no 
 restrictions on foraging, but he could appreciate the union feeling 
 at Shelbyville, and so issued an order, commending the loyalty of 
 the citizens, and proclaiming that any one caught in an act of 
 vandalism should be punished with death. 
 
 At 1 P. M., on the 1st of July, we entered Shelbyville and 
 found the streets alive with pale-faced, half-starved men — men 
 who had lain in the hills, burrowed like foxes, for several months 
 to keep out of the hands of the rebels. They could not reach our 
 lines owing to the strict surveillance kept up by the enemy. A 
 description of the rejoicings at the meetings of these men with 
 their families, and under such circumstances — many of them hav- 
 ing been mourned as dead — cannot be given. We found these 
 people kind and friendly, and it was not long ere Ave were at home 
 with them, and they with us. Perhaps even warmer friendships 
 were formed there than at Louisville. 
 
 Our left section was stationed in town as guards, and the rest 
 went into camp about a mile southeast of the town, and near Duck 
 River. Here our whisky was soon all issued, and we had no fur- 
 ther wrangling: about it. 
 
I UK K \M.\rii.\ CAMPAIGN 11 
 
 On, and for a few days after the 2d. some of us amused our- 
 selves in fishing for things the rebels had lost in the river, as they 
 attempted to swim across, the day the place was captured. We 
 found muskets, sabres, etc., also one or two bodies. We also dis- 
 covered that the river contained many beautiful mussel shells, and 
 soon shell work was begun in good earnest. Shell-diving was an 
 art all soon became complete uiasters of. The articles made sold 
 readily then, and for some time afterward, for almost fabulous 
 prices. As we had suffered while on our late march, so m>u we 
 rested and enjoyed ourselves. 
 
 On the 3d Axtell was discharged at Nashville. 
 
 At 2 P. M., on the 4th, the whole Battery moved into town 
 and |>nt the guns in position at the corners of the public square. 
 The men took quarters in deserted brick stores, and were soon as 
 comfortable as soldiers need he. 
 
 (hi the 6th the town was crowded with men and women from 
 many miles around. They came in to hear one more public word 
 for t he union they so loved. Addresses were made by lion. \Y. 
 
 II. Wisner, d. II. Williams special topographical engineer for 
 Gen. Etosecrans, and a resident of Shelbyville Col. Banning, of 
 the 121st Ohio, and Mr. Tilghmr.n. The latter and .Mr. Wisner 
 opposed the administration hut favored the union. 
 
 That day a little fortifying was done by placing barricades, 
 with proper passes, across the streets leading to the square. 
 
 The weather continued bad, but being in good houses, we 
 eared little for it. In a building near l>\ was found a quantitj of 
 type of the Chattanooga Rebel, and this afforded us some amuse- 
 ment. 
 
 Blackberries, of which there appeared to be no limit, were now 
 in their prime, and well we lea-ted on them. When going out to 
 graze the horses we would take the rubber buckets along and gel 
 all we could eat till the uext day and so on. The men were not 
 only cheerful and happy <>n account of our newly found friendship 
 and the cheapness of everything they wished to buy, but the 
 glorious news of the successes of Grant and Meade began to flow 
 in. and filled our cup quite to overflowing. 
 
 We could see peace and home dancing before our eyes, and 
 the many camp rumors of armistice, cessation of hostilities, etc., 
 
 made us imagine we could almost shake hands wit! rfriends at 
 
 home. 
 
72 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 On the 7th J. B. Hunt was discharged at Louisville. 
 
 On the 8th Sergt. Miller, of gun 5, was detailed as post baker. 
 He never rejoined the company, so he was, perhaps wrongfully, 
 reported afterwards on the roll as a deserter. 
 
 On the 9th Merchant was transferred to the Veteran Reserve 
 Corps. 
 
 On the 10th the citizens raised a large flag at the southeast 
 corner of the square, and suitable speeches were delivered on the 
 occasion. 
 
 We now learned that Morgan had reached Indiana, and was 
 inarching wherever he pleased. This we knew would do our cause 
 more good than harm, so we rather rejoiced at it. 
 
 Here the provost marshal's office was daily crowded with peo- 
 ple coming in to take the oath, though the union people thought 
 it hard to have to swear to sustain the Government they had never 
 deserted by act or thought. 
 
 On the 12th, during a hard shower, the 133d Illinois and 17th 
 Indiana Mounted Infantry, passed through, en-route for Columbia. 
 They had nothing to eat, and as they passed our quarters we seut 
 a shower of bread upon them from the windows. We had quite a 
 stock on hand, for we were drawing more than we could eat. 
 
 On the 14th we left our houses and moved to near our old 
 camp, south of town, as it was decided to be unhealthy to live in 
 houses ! 
 
 That day the 121st Ohio was presented with a flag that had 
 been sewed up in a feather bed for two years, and on which rebels 
 had often slept, not dreaming of its existence. 
 
 On the 16th camp was moved about ten rods. 
 
 The cars having arrived, we were now in receipt of daily mail 
 from home. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 17th Norton died: he was buried the 
 next day in the village graveyard. 
 
 As there were no rebels around, we were allowed to sleep as 
 long as we pleased. At night we beat the taps punctually with the 
 infantry, using a barrel for a drum. This was done to retaliate for 
 some encroachments the 113th Ohio had made on our cooking 
 grounds. 
 
 On the 20th we began sending" out wagons for forage, visiting 
 only rebels. At first we got only grass, then oats and wheat, and 
 finally corn. We were always certain to have a few bags along 
 
CHICK Wl \l'i. \ CAMP \1<tN. 78 
 
 to till with sweet and Irish potatoes, apples, peaches, cabbage, etc., 
 
 etc., and occasionally would find a chicken, goos ■ turkey that 
 
 suited us. This pleased the long persecuted anion people, of \\ hom 
 we took nothing without paying their price for it. The rebels 
 
 had an idea that the oath would protect them, and as we ;t]>- 
 
 proached a rebel's house she would run out with her protection 
 papers to show us we musi keep away. Wedid, of course. We 
 
 use "she" because there were SO few rebel men at home. thc\ were 
 
 not worth mentioning. 
 
 Gen. Baird was here succeeded bj Gen. Whittaker. 
 
 On the 15th Eoward and Korah returned from the hospital. 
 
 On the 26th we went to a large field on the west side of the 
 river, and about two miles from camp, to be reviewed by our new 
 general. 
 
 On the 'JMh Scales came from hospital. 
 
 On the 2d of August the detailed men returned to their com- 
 mands, and we received as new details to till our complement oi 
 men. five from the 98th, seven from the 113th, and five from the 
 121st Ohio. At dusk we received two months" pay. As our com- 
 mander intended to go home on a few days' leave, we took a col- 
 lection and sent with him for a pair of boxing gloves wherewith to 
 amuse ourselves. They never reached us as there was no trans- 
 portation for baggage till too late they were stolen. 
 
 On the 3d Gen. Rosecrans reviewed us west of town. He ap- 
 peared to have a- acute an e\e as ('apt. Thompson. Eliding h\ on 
 
 a slow canter, he noticed the absence of the onl\ shoe that was 
 
 wanting on the horses and that had 1 a lost on the road out. 
 
 After passing by on a review he rod< t in front of us. and 
 
 majestically raising his hat, said, '* You are the healthiest, largest 
 and best looking set of men I have yet seen in any battery, and I 
 hope soon to meet you at the front." When speaking of health, 
 he said the best disease preventives he knew of were soap and 
 plenty of boiled meat. " I can tell a fried meat regiment as far as 
 1 can see it." 
 
 Although we had been marched over five miles during the 
 review, and in the broiling sun. we felt rejoiced after reaching 
 camp: for to be reviewed 'o\ -'Old Rose} was considered a privi- 
 
 -i ml to he personally addressed by him, who was called and 
 really was the soldiers 1 friend, made us feel quite the love for him 
 that Napoleon's old guards so often displayed. 
 
74 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 That night Cain had all his money stolen. The thief was 
 never discovered, but Cain lost nothing, as its equivalent was 
 speedily subscribed in the Battery. 
 
 On the 4th Lieut. Spencer started for home, and Lieut. Bur- 
 ton took command. Newton returned from hospital on the 6th. 
 On the 7th we received official documents to the effect that Capt. 
 Miller had been honorably discharged on the 5th. 
 
 On the 9th Corporals Dolton and Harter were sent out into 
 the woods to camp apart from other troops. For several days Har- 
 ter had been covered with a rash that all the surgeons of the 
 brigade Were unable to give the name of, but late this day. after hav- 
 ing met several times to consult, they pronounced it varioloid, and 
 immediately the twain, for they bunked together, must leave camp! 
 All those that would were invited to come and be vaccinated by 
 Dr. Kirk. Unluckily none of the virus was good, but fortunately 
 no one else was attacked. These two remained in exile until we 
 left Shelbyville, when they rejoined the company. 
 
 On the 10th the left section and the 121st Ohio moved to the 
 west of town as guards. 
 
 On the 11th two men were sent back to the 121st Ohio for 
 disability. 
 
 On the 12th the 98th and 113th Ohio went to Wartrace, the 
 junction of the Shelbyville branch with the main line. 
 
 There was to be a grand review on the next Sabbath, and, to 
 be in proper order, the right and center sections took their car- 
 riages to the river and thoroughly washed them. We might here 
 remark that Sunday in the army is quite the opposite of what it is 
 intended to be at home. Instead of a day of rest, it is apt to be the 
 day for work. Gen. Howard was the only high officer under whom 
 we ever served who appeared really to respect the Sabbath. 
 
 On and after the 19th details of negroes, who were being fed 
 by the Government, were sent to police our camps, there being no 
 other work for them to do. 
 
 On the 20th the 121st Ohio was sent to Fayetteville and the 
 78th Illinois took its place in town. The left section joined the 
 rest of the Battery. We received orders to pack up, and for the 
 right section to move across the upper bridge and await further 
 orders. After the whole camp had been torn up, the orders were 
 countermanded, but the left section moved into town. At night 
 
CHICKAMAUGA I LMPAIGN. 
 
 five of our men were detailed to pickel the ford near by, as the 
 rebels were expected in. 
 
 Next day the right and center sections moved west of town 
 and camped. The lef t had orders to move, but after their tents, 
 bunks, etc., had been torn u|>. the orders were countermanded. 
 But on the 22d the left section went to Wartrace, distant eight 
 miles. The other sections, thinking the Batterj was now per- 
 manently located, built splendid shanties, and arranged their camp 
 neatly. A brick oven was also built. Many remarked that we 
 should certainly have to leave if we took such pains, and quoted 
 many instances to prove it; for the erection of comfortable quar- 
 ters or signs of rain were always sure omens of a move for the 
 Batterj . 
 
 On the uight of the 30th there was quite a frost: we thought 
 this strange in the sunny south. 
 
 On the -"'tli of September the right section, under Lieut. Bur- 
 ton, went to Wartrace, to join the left section. This placed the 
 rest of the Battery under command of Orderly Sergeant Gillette. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 At 9 A. M., on the 6th of September, the center section 
 marched direct for Tullahoma. It forded Duck River at 2 P. M., 
 and camped at dark within six miles of Tullahoma, and fourteen 
 miles from Shelbyville. The right and left sections marched at 
 10 A. M., and camped within one mile of Tullahoma, having gone 
 fifteen miles. The center section started with orders to be at 
 Tullahoma at 5 A. M., of the 7th, therefore they started at day- 
 break and reached the rest of the Battery before it was ready to 
 move. We were now once more together, with Lieut. Burton 
 commanding the Battery and right section, Lieut. Fluskey the 
 left, Orderly Sergeant Gillette the center, and Quarter Master 
 Sergeant Murphy the caissons. Rennau joined us that morning 
 from hospital. 
 
 At 4 P. M., after marching through clouds of dust, we reached 
 Elk River, and halted long enough to take a refreshing bath and 
 quench our thirst at a spring near by — which spring was so cold 
 one could take very little at a draught. We reached Decherd, 
 twelve miles from Tullahoma, at 6 P. M., and camped. We had 
 to carry wood and water nearly a mile, and must cook supper before 
 eating it, for so soon after leaving the dainties of Shelbyville, hard 
 tack and raw. sowbelly had not yet become palatable. When 
 speaking of dainties we do not allude to the chicken pie bought 
 from the natives and found to contain the heads and feet of the 
 fowls. 
 
 On the 8th all were up at 3:30 and off at daylight. We 
 reached Cowan at 7:35 and halted nearly an hour for a train of 
 about one thousand wagons to move to one side of the road that 
 the troops might pass. At 9 A. M. the ascent of the Cumberland 
 Mountain was begun. Such rocky roads we had never seen before. 
 With hard work the summit was reached at eleven. Nos. 1 and 4 
 had each broken a caisson stock and wheel. Repairing these 
 
CHICKAM \1<;a C V.MP LIGN. 
 
 delayed as till 2 P. M. During the ball such of us as were no< at 
 work busied ourselves at a shaft of the railroad tunnel near l>\ and 
 made various estimates as to its depth by letting small stones drop 
 to the bottom. We reached Tantallon, at the foot of the moun- 
 tain, at 3:25, twelve miles from Cowan. In descending the moun- 
 tain the infantry took a short cut to save a mile, and reached the 
 base an bour later than we, having traveled two miles out of then- 
 wax. 
 
 Dr. Kirk had been borne on a short visit and rejoined us on 
 that daw We camped at 6 P. M. one mile from Tantallon. 
 
 Next morning Col. K id said he would not start till t he men had 
 time to get their breakfast, so the brigade did not move till 7:20, 
 and took dinner just south of the Alabama State line, about eighty 
 roils south id' A ndersonville station. Here we had another splendid 
 hath in a muddy, stagnant stream. We camped on ('row ('reek. 
 having marched in a valley all day and traveled fifteen miles. This 
 night there was much trouble in evttin^- into camp, as no ground 
 
 could he found for some time that was tl ght suitable, although 
 
 it was one Large level field of high weeds. Our camp was within 
 three miles of Stevenson, which place was reached at 7:40 \. 
 M.. on the loth. Great was surprise to find only about 
 
 twenty houses in this noted town, which we had imagined to con- 
 tain several thousand inhabitants. But the army stores to he -ecu 
 there surprised us as much the other way. There seemed to us 
 more than "' RoseyV 1 army could eat in three months. Here was 
 also a company of negro soldiers out on drill, the first we had 
 
 seen. 
 
 Through more dust, dust knee deep we might saj tree-top 
 
 deep, for the trees were coated with dust to their vmy tops we 
 reached Bridgeport at 2 I'. M.. twelve miles from Stevenson. We 
 lay in the woods about a mile west id' the forts, and found, what 
 we had supposed was a very strongly fortified position, to hi' quite 
 inferior in the number of forts and their strength, and wondered 
 no longer thai the enemy had not held us Longer at this place. 
 'Idle town we were not ahle to find. Some said it was on the 
 south side oi the river, hut when there we found no signs of it. A 
 few shanties that sutlers and bakers had built were the only build- 
 ings to be seen. It was afterward learned that in the year I860 
 three houses stood where the principal fort was now standing, hut 
 that thev had been burned Long before the advance of wars 
 
7(5 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 ravages had reached them. The men wasted little time looking 
 for this lost Ninevah, but soon found their way into the crystal 
 waters of the Tennessee. 
 
 The shell fever, that had been raging during this march, was 
 really increased at the sight of the river, and those who were suf- 
 fering with the disease were soon walking up and down the bank 
 in quest of shells, but only very inferior ones were found. 
 
 Near night we camped a few rods nearer the river, and had to 
 cany water for cooking purposes over half a mile. Wood was 
 abundant, and so were scorpions. We might also state in this 
 connection that whenever we camped in the woods companions 
 were plenty: besides scorpions there were lizards, toads, swifts (a 
 sort of chameleon, ) chiggers, tarantulas, snakes, spiders, ticks, etc., 
 to crawl into our beds and clothing during the night. Of course 
 they were agreeable and welcome. 
 
 On the 11th the Battery hitched up and moved camp about 
 eighty rods nearer the river, and lay ready to move from 10 A. M. 
 till 3 P. M. Our camp was among stumps and very large, high 
 weeds. These latter had to be removed before putting up our 
 tents. On the 12th preparations were made for a long stay (a 
 move) by putting up good shebangs built of boards carried from 
 the bridge. We also drew clothing. It was customary to draw 
 clothing just before starting out on a campaign. This was not 
 very profitable to us, as Ave would not get over a day's march 
 before the order would oe given to march light and we must throw 
 away all surplus. To throw away was the order, but many of us 
 heeded it not. and smuggled our clothing into the ammunition 
 chests or wherever we could. Forty-three dollars per } T ear was the 
 allowance for clothing, but several found they had at the end of 
 the first year drawn over one hundred dollars' worth. That day, 
 the 12th, Lieut. Spencer, who was at home on leave, was mustered in 
 as captain to date from the 5th of July. In the afternoon we were 
 inspected by Colonel Thompson. Having got our camp in good 
 condition for comfort, we were ordered at 5 P. M. to hitch up. and 
 at six crossed the Tennessee on a pontoon bridge, and camped near 
 the south bank in an open field. Water was abundant at the river, 
 but wood was very scarce. 
 
 Next morning all were astir at an early hour, and at the 
 moment of marching, we received orders to leave all our baggage 
 there except a blanket and a shirt apiece. We piled up our knap- 
 
CHICK LMAUG \ CAMPAIGN. 79 
 
 sacks iii the field and left Sergt. Tait, of Squad 6, and Baker, of 
 Squad 1. who were unable to march, to guard them. 
 
 Off at daylight; passed the famous Nickajack cave at 9:20, 
 stopping long enough to lei the horses breathe, which gave us 
 opportunity to explore the cave for about balf a mile. We saw 
 one end of the Saltpetre Lake and the ruins of tin rebel Saltpetre 
 works. Passed the ruins of Whitesides or Falling Water bridge 
 at 2:30. This bridge was 1 Mi feet high above the river. The 
 rebels had 1 turned it I nd ore they left. At three we halted long enough 
 t<> allow a long wagon train and some rebel deserters to pass, and 
 
 camped at live in a beautiful basin where w I. water and Borage 
 
 were abundant. Orders were received to resume the march at ( .) 
 P. M.. hut did not start till 11:30. The night, tor darkness, 
 resembled the uight we crossed the Stone River. We very slowly 
 ascended the Racoon Mountains: the road was very rocky and 
 quite precipitous; abysses were along its south side. Several of 
 the infantry, walking beside the column, stepped oil and fell to 
 the rocks below, hurting them severely: two of our men were 
 thrown against rocks by their horses falling, and were quite badly 
 bruised. All were very much fatigued and sleepy, and once, hav- 
 ing stopped to examine the road ahead, gun 6, cannoneers and 
 drivers, were sleeping so soundly when the rest of tin' Battery 
 started that they knew nothing of it. We had proceeded nearly a 
 mile before they were missed by Lieut. Fluskey. He went back 
 to find them, and then they were all asleep the men belonging 
 to gun 6, as well as those of the Battery wagon and the forge. 
 We took breakfast next morning, the 14th. in sight of Lookout 
 Mountain. 
 
 Johnny Mem. whose name is remembered in connection with 
 Chickamauga, rode with us part of that night. He was only 
 twelve years of age, and had been two years in the service. He 
 was now acting as marker in the 22d Michigan, though he came 
 from Ohio, and was formerly in an Ohio regiment. 
 
 At the foot of Lookout there was a fig tree with some ripe 
 fruit on it. We divided as far as it went. This was all of that 
 kind of fruit we met with in the south. 
 
 We ascended tin' i itain at 11 A. M. (via the road near 
 
 tie- river, and between it and the point of the mountain, and 
 known as tin River Road.) Such a rough road we had never met, 
 with elsewhere. Cumberland .Mountain- were thought bad enough 
 
80 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 to cross, but, save its being a longer road, it could not compare 
 with Lookout. We halted for a few minutes at the cross roads 
 near the east base in sight of Chattanooga; then moved on, and 
 after waiting about an hour until Col. Reid 'could find a suitable 
 camping ground for us, pitched tents one mile south of Rossville, 
 six miles from Chattanooga and thirty-six from Bridgeport. 
 Rossville is named in honor of John Ross, the Indian chief. 
 Quite an honor it is, for it contained just three houses, two of 
 which were of logs. 
 
 Having had none too much to eat during the last two days, 
 the men began looking around for something good, and found a 
 large vineyard about a mile further south, where all feasted on 
 ripe grapes and took some to camp, of which they made wine. 
 This was drank before it arrived at great age. The division includ- 
 ing our Battery found so much forage that soon chickens, pigs, 
 quarters of beef, sweet potatoes, etc., were pouring into camp in a 
 continuous string, but this state of things could not last forever. 
 Near dark a patrol was sent out to bring in all who might be 
 caught with forage. So now all loads coming in had a bayonet to 
 guard them. However, we were satisfied. 
 
 On the next day our teams were sent back for the knapsacks. 
 Colonel Reid received orders from headquarters to report at Nash- 
 ville for duty, and Col. Mitchell, of the 113th Ohio, took command 
 of the brigade. Gen. Steadman now commanded the division, and 
 the Battery was inspected by him on the 16th. 
 
 Dame Rumor had it that Rosecrans had the enemy bagged 
 and that we were being hurried up to prevent his escape through 
 Lookout Valley. We expected every day to see the enemy, 
 unarmed, come marching in, en-route for the rear. During the 
 16th, however, this delusion began to wear away, and we thought 
 that u Joe" must have been correct when he predicted there was 
 likely to be a hole in the bag. 
 
 At 2:30 A. M., of the 17th, the reveille was sounded, and by 
 4:30 we were in motion. The force consisted of our brigade and 
 two regiments from another brigade. Gen. Steadman commanded 
 in person. We went a short distance on the Graysville road; 
 then turned back into the road leading to Ringgold. The right 
 section was kept at the head of the column. About noon the bri- 
 gade entered a narrow valley on the left of the road, and lay quiet, 
 waiting for the few cavalry of the general's guard to scout around. 
 
< BICK Wt \l ■(. \ CAMPAIGN. 81 
 
 While lying there we suffered much for water. The intense heat 
 of the almosl perpendicular rays of the sun was so great tli.it the 
 shade of the trees afforded little relief . About :? P. M. we again 
 entered the main road, but had proceeded onl] a short distance be- 
 fore we met the rebel pickets. There was a large springa few rods 
 ahead, which we wished to reach, that we might get water to 
 quench our thirst. The rebels informed us that if we wanted it 
 we must tight for it. "Thai we will.'" said Gen. Steadman. 
 " Growler" was just passing the general-; he was going ahead to 
 find water, not knowing that the enemy held the spring. The 
 genera] stopped him. "' I want to get some water," said he. " Yes, 
 but we must fight to get it." said the general. "Then let as 
 tight." replied "Growler." "That we will, my man. Blow stand 
 to arms." said the general, turning to his bugler, who. by the way. 
 was the best bugler we met with in the army. 
 
 Slowly the line of battle advanced. Our right section was 
 again up to the front. A few shots were fired from each side, a few 
 wounded sent back in the ambulances, and we had gained not only 
 the spring hut Chickamauga Creek. Gen. Steadman had no orders 
 to cross this, the movement being intended only to serve as a 
 reconnoissance, hut the east hank was so high as to entirely obscure 
 the extended view to he had from its summit. Therefore, on his 
 own responsibility, he crossed with [tart of his command and 
 ascended the hill. From there he could plainly see the enemy to 
 the east of Ringgold, nearly a mile distant. The general ordered 
 the right section up. and directed it to open on the rebels. The 
 rebels replied with a section of artillery, hut did not reach us. We 
 tired hut seven rounds ami withdrew. The general noticed a large 
 cloud of dust to the north, ami. thinking it might he a column 
 sent out to cut off our retreat, thought it best to he moving toward 
 Etossville. The enemy followed us for some distance, occasionally 
 tiring a shot to which our infantry would reply. Our left section 
 brought up the rear, but had no occasion to anlimber. Just at 
 dark we camped on the west side of ami near Peavine Creek The 
 fences near by had soon changed position, and our camp was in a 
 few minutes all ablaze. Our supper was eaten, ami many were 
 already enjoying a sou ad sleep, when at ten o'clock, those who 
 were awake saw a large flash of light a few rods east of the deck. 
 and following it came a blazing shell, accompanied l>\ a terrific 
 -hip. The shell passed harmlessl} by, asdid another, and another. 
 
82 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 The fourth one exploded near the muzzle of the gun, but the fifth 
 and last passed over us and struck near the house used for head- 
 quarters. Just at this instant there were several musket shots heard 
 near the rebel guns and all was quiet there. At camp the first shot 
 had wakened all who were asleep, and the first command given was 
 ''Lights out, 11 and soon the fires were extinguished. The infantry 
 fell in and were soon in the road leading to Rossville. The order 
 was given to our Battery to harness and hitch up. We hitched up as 
 fast as possible, but before we were ready to move out of the mesh 
 of fruit trees and vines, among which the Battery was camped, we 
 heard the command, "Halt, 11 come from the direction of the road v 
 and waited to see what next would be ordered. " Halt, 11 again 
 reached our ears, and in the well-known, husky tones of Gen. 
 Steadman, and it was evident that he w T as not satisfied, for, " Who 
 in hell commands who here? 11 was asked, and in a manner and tone 
 that suddenly brought the column to a standstill. In vain the 
 general tried to learn who had ordered the retrograde move. He 
 soon had the infantry back to their camp ground and all quiet. 
 He ordered us to put our section of rifles ( the center ) in position 
 to bear upon the spot whence the enemy had fired, and to reply 
 immediately should thev open again. As they did not, we passed 
 the remainder of the night in quiet, but few remaining awake to 
 watch, but this had not passed off without some amusing incidents 
 that in future time would cause a smile in recalling that night 
 attack. Christie, our venerable comrade, could not think of mov- 
 ing without his pipe being lit and in use, and so, before leaving 
 camp, he must light his pipe from the yet live embers. As he did so, 
 some one wishing sport accused him of trying to make a light that 
 the enemy might see where we lay. As was anticipated, he denied 
 it with much warmth at the time and for a long while afterwards. 
 So, never could we narrate the incident of that night without making 
 most prominent among them, " Lights out, Who in hell commands 
 who here? 11 and "Christie trying to show the rebels where to fire.' , 
 
 It was reported the general had said next morning, " I 
 had intended to start early enough to take breakfast in Rossville, 
 but they shan't hurry me. I'll take my own time now. 11 
 
 We started at seven o'clock the next morning, the 18th, the 
 center section bringing up the rear. 
 
 We reached Rossville at noon, and well for us it was that we 
 were no longer on the road, for the rebels had sent a heavy column 
 
CHICKAMAUGA I LMPAIGN. 83 
 
 around to cut off our retreat. At Rossville we found that a mili- 
 tary wire had been stretched during our absence. This wire con- 
 sisted of seven fine wires twisted together and coated with India 
 rubber, making it about the size of common telegraph wire, but 
 much lighter. It had these advantages: It could be easily trans- 
 ported on account of its Lightness, could be stretched in any place 
 without the support of post-, and could be used during all kinds 
 of weather. For all its superiority for military purposes, we never 
 knew any but Gen. Rosecrans to use it. 
 
 At 3 1'. M. two brigades started out as the rebels were reported 
 near. At 6 1*. M. our brigade started. We went about eight 
 miles on the LaFayette road and halted at ten o'clock. 
 
 There were two rebel camps near by, one on cither side, the 
 fires of which could be plainly seen. We made \m little noise 
 during the night, and early in the morning of the L9th our 
 pickets met the rebels, and bullets soon began to whiz through 
 camp. We went into position on the west side of the road, with 
 guns pointing westward, but the bullets soon came so fast from 
 the east that we changed position to the east side of the road and 
 were ready to receive them from that direction. It soon became 
 ■evident that our place was not there, and the retreat was ordered. 
 The enemy followed closely, and skirmishing continued until near 
 Mission Ridge. We reached Rossville at 10 A. M. 
 
 Among the prisoners taken were some of Longstreet's head- 
 quarters hand. The-e assured us that Longstreef had twenty 
 thousand and that they were at Ringgold at the time we -helled 
 them (on Thursday) and when told that our force there consisted 
 of only our Battery and six regiments, they pronounced it a good 
 joke for twenty thousand of the Bower of the rebel army to be attacked 
 by about three thousand Yankees. They also gave us the consoling 
 I ? » assurance that within three days our army would he cut to pieces 
 and made prisoners and by two week- they would have retaken 
 Tennessee and he iii Kentucky! We, of course, laughed at the idea. 
 for we yet imagined ourselves by far the stronger army. 
 
 A- soon as could he done, after getting into camp, rations 
 were issued, for all were beginning to feel hunger, having barely 
 received enough the daj before for that day. Each man tin- day 
 
 drew three spoonfuls of sugar, one ounce of coffee, olle ounce o) 
 tei. one pound of bacon and hard tact to match. 
 
84 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Cannonading could be beard all day to tbe east and southeast. 
 Rumors were flying tbick and fast. At first our forces were 
 victorious and bad captured most of tbe rebel army. Then the 
 enemy had badly cut up a portion of ours, etc., etc. At 3 P. M. 
 we were ordered to the front. We went out on the Ringgold road, 
 trotting and galloping nearly the whole time, till we reached 
 McAfee's Church, four miles from Rossville. Here we found the 
 18th Ohio Battery; they had been engaged and had two killed and 
 two wounded. Our left and center sections were immediately 
 placed in position in the woods on their left, to be ready to aid 
 them in case of another advance of the enemy, which they (the 
 18th Ohio) predicted would immediately take place. Our right 
 section, under Lieut. Burton, took position about half a mile to 
 the right, and near a large sweet potato patch, which it is needless 
 to say they did not attempt to carry away, but what they did 
 with the potatoes is quite different. Our position was on the 
 extreme left of the army. Just at dusk a very large flock of 
 buzzards came flying along: they remained several minutes, sail- 
 ing slowly over that part of the field, and though we knew that at 
 that moment none of us were ready for their work, still we could 
 not banish a feeling similiar to that which the sailor experiences 
 when he sees a shark following tbe vessel. The night seemed very 
 cold to us as we lay upon the bare ground, and were not allowed 
 fires, lest the enemy should see where we lay, and our blankets 
 w r ere quite insufficient to keep us warm. At day-break the ground 
 was found to be white with frost, and the sweet potato vines were 
 all killed. We could not understand how this could be in Georgia 
 at that season. But. as we were afterwards told by a southern 
 lady, " \ nu Yankees are such icebergs," we suppose it was due to 
 there being so many blue coats present. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 At seven o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the 20th of 
 September, our left and center sections advanced toward the east, 
 with the infantry. After going about a mile, and meeting no 
 enemy, we returned to a house uear our former position. The 
 right section closed up and Quartermaster Sergeant Murphy was 
 placed in command of the caissons. 
 
 \\ c were quietly enjoying some shade trees around the house, 
 after having assisted t he family to load such things as a one ox-team 
 could haul, when, at nine o'clock, it seemed all the artillery of the 
 heavens had concentrated and opened on a point about a mile east 
 and south, with one long continuous roar, makiug the earth fairly 
 tremble where we lay, and then it grew less, till we could hear 
 only the steady roll of musketry. 
 
 At ten o'clock we moved about two miles to the south and 
 east, and took position with the lMh Ohio Battery in a corn field. 
 Some men could be seen walking around a house to the east, hut 
 whether they were friend or foe was a matter of debate. How- 
 ever, the 18th decided they were rebs and sent them a tew rounds. 
 We limbered up. moved on about a mile further, passing l>\ a rebel 
 hospital that our forces had just captured. During the next halt 
 we could see a long column of cavalry and at its head what was 
 declared to he the identical gray horse that had made itself so con- 
 spicuous at Triune on the 1 lth id' dune. This was Stearns 1 rebel 
 cavalry. A- Gren. Granger rode by, his attention was called to 
 them, hut he thought the} were our own. ('apt. Russell pro- 
 nounced them rebels. We followed on after the general, and. mi 
 emerging from a strip of timber into an open field, were greeted 
 by -nine shells from a rebel battery near where we had seen the 
 cavalry. We took position on a low rise of -round, to our left, 
 and replied. The rebel battery was behind some trees so that we 
 could not discover it-exact position; their shells continued to come 
 
86 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 nearer and nearer; and our fire in reply did not appear to have any 
 effect on the enemy. Some of their shells and solid shot would 
 strike just in front of our guns, and rieochetting, pass far to the 
 rear. A number passed through the columns of our infantry,, 
 which on the double quick, was hurrying past the rear of our posi- 
 tion through a hollow which to a slight extent sheltered their 
 passage. Gillette remained on his horse among the guns, and 
 with reluctance dismounted, when ordered to do so the second time 
 by Lieut. Burton. Scarcely had he got to his horse's head when a 
 solid shot passed through the horse's body at a point where, bad 
 Gillette still been mounted, it must certainly have taken off both 
 his legs. About this time there came a shell over us from the 
 right. Several followed it, but were too high to do any damage. 
 Gen. Gordon Granger now rode up, and, dismounting, sighted No. 
 5 piece two or three times. At one time a shell passed so near his 
 head as to make him dodge very suddenly. Seeing we could do 
 nothing there, he ordered us to limber up and to follow him, for 
 "he had work for us to do." As we moved on, the rebels continued 
 to throw their shells very near. We afterwards learned we were 
 the fourth battery that had been engaged at this point and all 
 with the same result. 
 
 We halted a short time at a burning house near the "Snod- 
 grass place," having formed column of sections, and faced to the 
 right (south). 
 
 At twelve o'clock we moved forward into the woods, and up a 
 gradual ascent, but had advanced only a few rods ere we received a 
 broadside of bullets from the left and front. The infantry, that 
 were marching by our side, faced to the left and charged on the 
 charging enemy. Our lines steadily advanced causing the rebels 
 to halt in surprise. Gen. Steadman. who was then directing the 
 Battery to a position, discovered what our infantry were doing, 
 and. dashing after them at full speed, screamed out "Halt! For 
 God's sake, halt!" But it was impossible to hear him in that din 
 of musketry. Forcing his way to the front, and catching the 
 leading colors with one hand, his hat in the other, he managed to 
 halt them. They fell back to our Battery in good order. We 
 immediately took a position commanding a gorge near "Snodgrass 
 place," through which the enemy were attempting to pass. The 
 infantry had already formed line; but all of them were on our 
 left, thus leaving us with no right flank protection. On came the 
 
CHK KAM All. \ ( AMI'.Ul.N. 81 
 
 rebels, fairly drowning the battle's din with their hideous yells. 
 As they gained the top of the nearest hill, a few rods off, we poured 
 •canister into them, mowing a broad swath at each discharge. 
 They fell back, formed and advanced again. Again we thinned 
 theirranks. Again they fell back. During the calm thai followed, 
 the left and center sections took a better position a short distance 
 to the rear, ami the 121st Ohio supported ns. Our lines were so 
 
 Long as to give ns but line of infantry. The Battery was so 
 
 divided as to compel each section to act independent of the others. 
 Soon tlic rebels returned to the attack, charging up even nearer 
 than before, but <>nl\ to lose the more, as we double-sjiotted our 
 guns with canister and reserved our fire till they were at close 
 •quarters. The enemy then brought up some artillery, but, after 
 firing several rounds, found it could do no good without endanger- 
 ing his own men. so it ceased firing. 
 
 Sharpshooters near by had been causing us some trouble, and 
 Lieut. Kluskev's attention was called to them. Sunn a puff of 
 smoke was noticed in the top of a tree in the direction whence 
 the bullets came. One of the guns sent a charge of canister into 
 the top of said tree, and we were troubled no more by sharp- 
 shooters at that time. 
 
 The ri^ht section, after assisting in repulsing five charges, 
 was ordered to move back from the line, and to take another posi- 
 tion, but, after waiting a short time, and not being assigned to a 
 position, was ordered by Lieut. Burton to return to it- old posi- 
 tion, and to hold it till further orders. They resumed theirformer 
 position ami held it during the charges which followed. Our 
 infantry countercharged several times that afternoon and captured 
 a number of prisoner- and one or two flags. The prisoners, as 
 they were brought in. would look around and inquire where we 
 had oui- line of battle, and when told that the} there saw our 
 whole force, were incredulous, declaring that so few men could 
 not repulse a whole division so often. They declared that their 
 division id' Longstreet's corps had never charged a battery before 
 Ours that it had not taken. 
 
 It was now approaching night; a staff officer passed alone- the 
 
 line, notifying t] fficers that at the sound of the bugle (retreat 
 
 call ) the army would fall hack a short distance from the line. 
 The enemy was forming with heavy line- tor another charge. Our 
 line was arrowing so thin it seemed as if it must give way before it, 
 
88 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 but as the rebels had been repulsed at this point so often, our men- 
 were confident they could not break through. The guns were in 
 position, each gun double-shotted with canister and another round 
 of the same in the gunner's haversack for instant use. Soon the 
 rebels came again, this time with redoubled fury. All was quiet 
 save the yells of the enemy. Our fire was reserved until they were 
 so close as to be able to recognize an acquaintance, had there been 
 one there, when our Battery opened on them at short range, throw- 
 ing them into disorder. The infantry then delivered a volley, 
 holding them in check, and with the second round of double canis- 
 ter from the Battery, they broke for the rear, our infantry again 
 taking many prisoners. We then fell back to a high hill a short 
 distance to the rear, Avhere we found a strong line of infantry 
 lying behind a low line of breastworks, hastily built by piling up 
 stones. Here we halted till the Battery was together, when we 
 descended, by locking both hind wheels, into the Dry Valley road 
 at the base of the hill. Sixteen of our horses had been killed, and 
 many wounded, so that several pieces were almost without any. 
 No. 6 caisson was hauled up this steep hill with one span of horses, 
 driven by one of the detailed men. One of the wheel horses, of No. 
 5 gun, came off on only three feet, one of his hind feet hanging 
 by a shred of skin. 
 
 It seemed that none, save one or two of us, thought of dan- 
 ger or defeat, and we should have stood by our guns even longer 
 than we did had we not received orders to fall back. Our section 
 commanders, one and all, together with the acting chief of cais- 
 sons, conducted themselves so well as to call forth from us renewed 
 admiration, and cause us to more highly esteem them. Our whole 
 Battery seemed to have well pleased Gen. Steadman. for he ever 
 after styled us, " My Battery,' 1 and associated alike with the officers 
 and men. 
 
 The following is a partial list of our casualties: 
 
 Henry Rennau was shot through the body; he died upon the 
 field; his body was placed upon one of the gun carriages and 
 carried to Rossville. 
 
 Lee Phillips, shot through the body and died upon the field, 
 and his body was carried on one of the gun carriages to Rossville. 
 
 John Nations, a member of the 78th Illinois, who had formerly 
 been connected with the Battery by detail, but had some time 
 
CHICKAM \l rQ \ CAMP Won. 89 
 
 since returned to his company, was found to be mortally wounded; 
 he was placed on one of the caissons and carried to Rossville, where 
 he died during the ni-, r lit. 
 
 Joseph Hansell, wounded severely in the thigh. 
 
 Ellis K. .Mercer, wounded severely in the thigh. 
 
 Charles J. Clute, wounded severely in the neck. 
 
 .lames B. Drake, wounded severely in the knee. 
 
 Joseph Proctor, wounded slightly in the forehead. 
 
 James E. Harding, wounded slightly in the side. 
 
 Richard Hamilton, wounded slightly in the side. 
 
 August Schnasse, Josiah X. Barr, John B. Colby and hank- 
 mar Alder, were each slightly wounded. 
 
 George Lissenden was thrown some distance and his back 
 sprained by grasping the trail just as the gun was tired, thus 
 receiving the full shock of the recoil. 
 
 James Coslett, fool badly mashed by the trail sliding over it 
 during the recoil of the gun. 
 
 Of the detailed men with us. two were killed and several were 
 wounded. We have no list of them, as their names do uot appear 
 on our muster rolls. 
 
 Lieut. Burton had two horses killed under him; each of our 
 other lieutenants had a horse shot under him, and Orderly Gillette 
 had his second one killed while carrying orders. 
 
 (){' narrow escapes there was no limit. 
 
 Dr. Kirk, our surgeon, had not been seen by us during the day, 
 but was with the infantry. 
 
 Bill, our contraband, was not without his adventures. A- 
 he was hauling us a load of ammunition he accidentally got inside 
 the rebel lines. \ very polite rebel officer pointed him the way to 
 one of their batteries. " But I couldn't see it.** said Bill, who 
 headed his team toward our lines and reached us in safety. 
 
 "Battery," our dog, who had 1 n doing his fighting in con- 
 nection with No. 1 gun, would charge out from under the gun 
 after the rebels as they neared us. When they came for the last 
 time, he charged too soon and was severely scorched on the back 
 by the fire of the gun. He immediately reported at the line of 
 caissons, and made no more charges that day. 
 
 We reached rlossvilleat 9 P. ML, where we found nearly the 
 whole army, but -<> mixed up that it was almost impossible to find 
 any particular regiment or battery. We had occasion to search 
 
90 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 for several as our caissons were l'oaded with wounded from differ- 
 ent commands. Rossville was filled with wounded men lying 
 upon straw spread upon the ground, the surgeons attending them 
 by the light of rail fires and lanterns. When we left the battle- 
 field we had not the slightest idea of the true state of affairs, but 
 supposed that we were the victors, the rebels having fallen back 
 in our front before we had, and did not know of our withdrawal 
 till the next morning. We had heard but never knew till then 
 how worn out both man and beast are after an engagement. We 
 were almost lifeless, and so appeared our animals. But, though 
 we mourned the loss of our comrades killed and wounded, yet it was 
 some satisfaction to know there were none left on the field. We 
 had brought our guns off the field. We fired 360 rounds of canis- 
 ter, and 276 of spherical case. We fought from noon till dusk, 
 and while hundreds of the infantry had fallen on either side, and 
 among our guns, our own loss seemed miraculously small. When 
 we think of the loss other batteries sustained, who were not nearly 
 so hotly engaged, we cannot recall that day without a feeling of 
 thankfulness, and a shudder at the thought of how much worse it 
 could have been for us. But as that day, so there appeared 
 throughout our soldier life to be a charm around us in all dangers 
 in which we were exposed. We doubt if there was a company in 
 any branch of the service which, for as many engagements and 
 the same exposure and hazard at the front, can show a smaller list 
 of casualties. 
 
 Gen. Halleck, in his " Official Report of the War" of 1863 
 thus treats of that portion of the field we were on on the after- 
 noon of the 20th. Fixing the hour a little later than was the case, 
 he says: 
 
 u About 3:30 P. M. the enemy discovered a gap in the hills 
 in the rear of his (Gen. Thomas) right flank, and Longstreet com- 
 menced pouring his massive columns through the opening. At 
 this critical moment Major Gen. Gordon Granger, who had been 
 posted with his reserves to cover our left and rear, arrived upon the 
 field. He knew nothing of the condition of the battle, but, with 
 the true instinct of a soldier, he had inarched to the sound of the 
 cannon. Gen. Thomas merely pointed out to him the gap through 
 which the enemy were debouching, when, quick as thought, he 
 threw upon it Steadman's division of infantry. In the words of 
 Gen. Rosecrans' official report, 'Swift was the charge and terrible 
 
CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. ( .tl 
 
 the conflict, l»ut the enemy was broken. 1 A thousand of our brave 
 men killed and wounded paid for its possession, bul we held the 
 gap. Two divisions of Longstreet's corps confronted the position. 
 Determined to take it, the) successively came to the assault. A 
 battery of six guns placed in t7u gorg< poured death and 
 slaughter into tli em. They charged within a fev» yards of the 
 pieces, but our grape and canister and the leaden bail of musketry, 
 delivered in sparing but terrible volleys from cartridges, taken in 
 many instances from the boxes of their fallen companions, was too 
 much even for Longstreet's men. Aliont sunset they made their 
 last charge, when our men, being out of ammunition, rushed on 
 them with the bayonet, and they gave wa) to return no more." 
 
 All who fought on thai part of the field, know that Batter} 
 M. 1st Illinois, was the battery thai occupied that gap and is the 
 one alluded to above. It is the only battery referred to in that 
 year's report. 
 
 Not wishing to claim honors with such vague proof as the 
 above, we here insert a couple of letters. 
 
 In reply to a question asked him, Gen. Rosecrans says on 
 January 30th, 1866: " I am sorry to have forgotten whose battery 
 it was which stood in the gap on the right on the afternoon of the 
 20th at Chickamauga, nor have I the papers for reference. I re- 
 member well it was supported by Banning's Ohio regiment." To 
 the question, " Whose battery did your regiment support on the 
 afternoon of the 20th at Chickamauga?" Col. Banning replies: "\ 
 take pleasure in saying thai on the last day of the battle, the 20th, 
 we supported Mattery M. Lsi Illinois Light Artillery, then known 
 as Spencer's battery. It was the last batter) of ours to leave that 
 bloody field, except those left iii the hands of the enemy, and was 
 the only battery upon that part of the field where my regiment 
 (121st Ohio) fought. The gallantry of the officers and men of 
 Batter) M upon that da) was so conspicuous t hat the men of my 
 regiment ever afterward, when they goi into a hard fight, would 
 wish for Spencer'- battery. The official report of my regimeni 
 contains a statement of the part taken by your Battery. ' In the 
 absence of a copy of that report, we will proceed with our Battery - 
 movements. 
 
 We slept little on the night of the 20th, being called up at 2 
 A. M.. on the 21st, to refill our ammunition chests and get our Bat- 
 tery in condition to resume the fight. When once astir we found 
 
92 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 ourselves even more tired and sore than the night before, and it 
 was with great pain we moved a limb or used a muscle. As soon 
 as it was daylight, wrapping them in their blankets for shroud and 
 coffin, and marking their names on cracker box lids to mark their 
 graves, we buried our dead comrades near by, that we might not 
 be forced to leave them uninterred, should we suddenly be ordered 
 to move. About seven o'clock the left section was ordered in front 
 of the Rossville Gap. where they remained during the day, or till 
 4 P. M. About noon they had occasion to use their guns. The 
 rebels advanced their cavalry, but as they reached the gap they 
 received such a shower of canister as to make them retreat in haste. 
 We then shelled them in the valley below till they with- 
 drew out of range for the time. The infantry worked hard all day 
 at building works across the valley. Gen. Rosecrans rode through 
 the army, cheering the men by kind words, and being loudly 
 applauded in return. When he hinted that he might have work 
 for his army to do that day, he was greeted with deafening cheers. 
 At 1:30 P. M., on account of the firing from the ridge, troops 
 were ordered to the support. At three o'clock the right and center 
 sections were ordered to the gap. We consolidated our Battery at 
 the entrance to the gap and lav there awaiting orders. There 
 were several other batteries there, besides many ammunition 
 wagons, ambulances, etc., all being crowded into a chaotic mass. 
 Meantime the enemy had brought their artillery to bear on the 
 gap, and shells began to come over the ridge and strike uncomfort- 
 ably near us. We had several batteries on the top of the ridge, and 
 they were pouring shell into the maneuvering foe as fast as they 
 could get it carried to them. All not 'otherwise engaged assisted 
 in carrying ammunition up the hill. Ammunition was taken from 
 any battery that chanced to have the required kind. We contrib- 
 uted considerable. One of our men. who was engaged in handing 
 ammunition to the carriers, was thought to be cowardty and afraid 
 to go to the front by a "sardine box," who was making himself very 
 conspicuous by loudly ordering the men. swearing at and threaten- 
 ing any one who chanced to displease him. When he saw our man 
 handing the ammunition to another instead of carrying it to the 
 front, he drew his sword and swore he would cut him down. After 
 he was made to understand that the man whom he was threaten- 
 ing was outside his pale of power, he sheathed his sword and rode 
 away to vent his courage on others. As the rebel shell began to 
 
CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 93 
 
 strike upon the ridge, the l^th Regulars, who were on the skirmish 
 lint', broke and ran through their support down the hill side and 
 did not stop till at the foot of the ridge, and some, uot even then. 
 A.s one was running past us, he was asked what was the matter 
 withhim; " I have lost my ramrod," said he, still running. "Here's 
 one" called "lit one of our men who had just picked one up. "But 
 in \ luck is broken," replied the regular, and lit- was soon out of 
 talking distance. 
 
 At 5 P. .M. we were ordered, by General Rousseau, back to the 
 west side of Chattanooga Creek to camp, and by this means our 
 own immediate commander lost track of our whereabouts. 
 
 During the night of the 21st we could hear wagons and 
 troops continually passing our camp, but supposed they were 
 either guards or reinforcements, and did not even notice the direction 
 in which they were moving. 
 
 The morning of the 22d dawned bright and beautiful, and all 
 was so pleasant and calm that one could not realize how much 
 death and suffering there had been, and was then, in that region. 
 Fully enjoying this charming morning we very leisurely fed our 
 horses, and cooked and despatched our breakfast. At length we 
 noticed there was no one passing in either direction, and wondered 
 at it. We also noticed that a large wagon-train, that had been 
 parked near by us at dark, was nowhere to be seen. Also various 
 small bodies of troops in the distance, all marching in the direct ion 
 of I Ihattanooga. A cavalry officer, passing by our camp, was asked 
 by us as to the condition at the front. "The front ? Why you are 
 far in advance of the front ! There is not a man outside of this !" 
 He then told us that all the troops hail been withdrawn during tin' 
 night except a part of a company of the 78th Illinois, whom he 
 supposed captured, as he could not find them. He urged us to 
 make all haste in getting back to Chattanooga, as the rebels were 
 doubtless then advancing. This startling condition of affairs rather 
 aroused us from our enjoyment ot that beautiful morning, and it 
 is needless to say, we were soon in motion to a more healthy region. 
 
 We arrived at Chattanooga at ten A. M. on the 22d. On tl ven- 
 
 ing oi the 20th Bragg had reported to his government and the 
 newspapers throughout the world had repeated "my cavalry i- pur- 
 suing the tor." The above shows that the horses of the pursuing 
 cavalry could not have been verj fleet-footed. 
 
94 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 As this day really closed the Chickamauga Campaign, so we 
 will close our chapter, and in doing so we know of nothing more 
 fitting as a finale to that great contest, than 
 
 GEN. ROSECRANS CONGRATULATORY ORDER. 
 
 Headcpuarters Dept. of the Cumberland. 
 Orders No. 3. 
 
 Army of the Cumberland : You have made a grand and 
 successful campaign. You have driven the rebels from Middle 
 Tennessee. You have crossed a great mountain range, placed your- 
 selves on the banks of a broad river, crossed it in the face of a 
 powerful, opposing army, and crossed two other great mountain 
 ranges at the only practical passes some forty miles between ex- 
 tremes. You concentrated in the face of superior numbers, fought 
 the combined armies of Bragg, which you drove from Shelbyville 
 to Tullahoma. of Johnston's army from Mississippi, and the tried 
 veterans of Longstreet's corps, and for two days held them at bay, 
 giving them blow for blow with heavy interest. When the day 
 closed you held the field from which you withdrew in the face of 
 overpowering numbers to occupy the point for which you set out 
 — Chattanooga. 
 
 You have accomplished the work of the campaign. You hold 
 the key of East Tennessee, of North Georgia, and the enemy's 
 mines of coal and nitre. 
 
 Let these achievements console you for the regret you experi- 
 ence that arrivals of fresh, hostile troops forbade you remaining 
 upon the field to renew the battle: for the right of burying your 
 gallant dead, and caring -for your brave companions who lay 
 wounded on the field. The losses you have sustained, though 
 heavy, are slight considering the odds against you and the stake 
 you have won. 
 
 You hold in your hands the substantial fruits of a victory, and 
 deserve and will receive, the honors and plaudits of a grateful 
 nation, which asks nothing, of even those who have been fighting us, 
 but obedience to the constitution and laws established for our own 
 common benefit. 
 
 The general commanding earnestly begs every officer and 
 soldier of this army to unite with him in thanking Almighty God 
 for His favors to us. He presents his hearty thanks and congratu- 
 lations to all the officers and soldiers of his command for their 
 energy, patience and perseverence and the undaunted courage dis- 
 played by those who fought with such unflinching resolution. 
 
CHICKAMAUQ \ ( \Ml' \1<;\\ 95 
 
 Neither the history of this war nor probably the annals of 
 any Wattle furnish a loftier example of obstinate braverj and endur- 
 ing resistance to superior numbers when troops, having exhausted 
 their ammunition, resorted to the bayonel nian\ times to hold 
 their position against such odds as did our left ami center, com- 
 prising troops of all the corps, on the afternoon of the 20th of 
 September, at the battle of Chickamauga. 
 
 \Y. S. EtoSECRANS, 
 
 Major ( ieneral < lommanding. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Reaching Chattanooga, we found the troops working with all 
 their might in building breastworks, forts and bomb-proofs. The 
 Battery halted near an old packing-house that the rebels had used 
 during their stay, but which our beef contractors were now filling 
 up with hides and bones, there not being flesh enough on the 
 animals they slaughtered to make mention of. Scarcely had we 
 been halted there, at ten o'clock, before the rebels began to shell 
 our men at work on the fortifications. Surely we had providen- 
 tially escaped capture! 
 
 So much terror had the rebel shells in their "' Whar-is-ye, 
 whar-is-ye," that the cooks and "dog robbers 1 ' immediately rushed 
 for the pontoons to effect a crossing and secure safety back at 
 Stevenson ; but the guards were instructed to allow no one to cross, 
 and consequently there was soon quite a little army of those who 
 "had business with the wagons over there 11 standing at the end of 
 the bridge and almost praying to be allowed to cross. 
 
 A sutler — one of the greatest curses to an army when allowed 
 to do as he pleases — had halted his Wagon near our Battery, which 
 was near Gen. Steadman's headquarters, and was selling poor cheese 
 at the modest price of two dollars per pound and other articles in 
 proportion! The general, becoming aware of it, came out in great 
 wrath and ordered him to sell no more at such prices, or he would 
 have his wagon opened to the soldiers, and that sixty cents per 
 pound for cheese was sufficient. This manifestation of the general's 
 sympathy for the soldiers greatly strengthened the love and respect 
 Ave had for him. although we had already nearly reached the ne 
 plus ultra in our love and esteem for him. 
 
 At 5 P. M. the Battery moved to a lot on Walnut Street, then 
 occupied by a daguerreotypist's tent, which w;is speedily removed? 
 
CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. l .l"; 
 
 and we camped on the ground. The men retired early, as they had 
 not yet recovered from the fatigue of Chickamauga. At LO P. M.. 
 as we were calmly enjoying our rest, all were suddenly awakened 
 by men running over us ami uttering stifled cries of alarm. A 
 noise, as of the sweeping of a hurricane in its firs! approach, came 
 from the top of the hill, h was troops, cavalry advancing, down 
 from the hill past Rosecrans 1 headquarters and in the direction 
 of us! Some of us sprang to our feet, uol from fear, however, 
 being well aware that m> force of the enenn could reach that 
 point without hundreds of them being slain by our artillery that 
 was scattered along the whole front from river to river. We say 
 immediately they were union troop-., and learned that they had 
 just been to headquarters with despatches. There were about a 
 hu adred of them. 
 
 On the 23d the brigade moved to the grave-yard on the east 
 side of the town. We were placed at the foot of the small hill 
 on which most of the grave-yard is, so as to receive the benefit of 
 it- shelter. Gen. Steadman remained with us day and night, 
 mingling freely with the men, narrating his military experience, 
 and offering such hints as he thought might be of service to the 
 infantry or to us. He highly praised his division's doings during 
 the late battle. 
 
 The Johnnies had shelled our forces freely all this time, tit 
 which we had replied hut little, as our works were not thought suffi- 
 ciently strong to warrant an artillery duel, to he followed most 
 probably h\ a charge from the enemy. At one time all the 
 wagons were sent aero— the river, and it was firmly believed we 
 were going to evacuate, hut tin' place was held and the nation 
 knows the suffering and starvation endured ly it > defenders as 
 well as it can he explained or described on paper. 
 
 On the 24th it was resolved to speak to our foe. At:') A. M. 
 a heavy gun was fired as a signal, and ini mediately all our art tilery, 
 then in position, opened and continued to lire until live o'clock 
 without receiving any response. Our work- were now quite for- 
 midable, hut to strengthen them, or to make the test of their 
 strength less in case of an attack, a telegraph wire was stretched 
 a hoi it eight inches from the ground, and a two rods outside the moat. 
 At lo |'. M.. that night, we had to ha rue-- up. a- several volleys of 
 musketn were fired; hut a- nothing more was donesave out artille- 
 rv u'ivinu a few silencing rounds, all turned in again at 1 i :80. 
 
98 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Our wounded of the late battle suffered fully as much as did 
 those from other commands, as they were under the same treat- 
 ment, which treatment was to let each man take care of himself, 
 if he was able; if not, to get his friends to do it. There was 
 nothing at Chattanooga to at all comfort the wounded, and they 
 were shipped back to Stevenson in ambulances, mule wagons or on 
 foot, according to each man's condition, as rapidly as possible. 
 From there they were sent to Nashville by rail. 
 
 At 1 P. M., on the 25th, we crossed the river at the lower 
 pontoon, and after much roundabout zigzagging, took position on 
 Stringer's Ridge, leaving the left section near the Stevenson road 
 over the hill, and the others occupying the ground where Wilder's 
 battery had stood when it shelled the town. One of Wilder's 
 shells entered the church that was afterwards used as post chapel. 
 Near the mark it left is this couplet, written on the wall: 
 
 " This hole was made 
 On Wilder's raid." 
 
 The infantry erected only feeble works, as it was thought 
 there would never be occasion for using them. On this ridge we 
 were three-quarters of a mile from water, and to get it to our camp, 
 must descend and climb this hill, which was quite as much as a 
 man wished to do when untrammeled with any load. Our rations 
 soon began to fall even shorter than they had been for the three 
 previous weeks, and we called the hill " Starve Ridge," a name that 
 it was known by thereafter throughout the army. 
 
 On the 25th our knapsacks arrived — that is, such as were to be 
 found were brought up, which was about half of those left at 
 Bridgeport. Nearly every one had been rifled of its most valuable 
 contents, such as gold pens, revolvers, etc., etc. New overcoats, 
 pants and jackets we had left in them were also missing. 
 
 On the 26th Dr. Kirk left us and turned over his medicinal 
 stores to Lieut. Fluskey, who was now, by recent orders of the war 
 department, Battery quartermaster. 
 
 On the 28th the horses got their first taste of grain since the 
 battle, they having had nothing but dried cornstalks to eat since 
 that time. As for ourselves, our rations had been cut down to 
 nine crackers for three days. Every soldier knows there is a 
 material difference between nine crackers for three days and three 
 crackers for one day, for when he draws such small rations for 
 
CHK KAMA! o \ I WW \K,N. 99 
 
 several days at mire, he is apt to eat tliem all long before he draws 
 more, and consequently he goes hungry the rest of the time. 
 
 A.t 3 P. M., on the 28th, the left section, under Lieut. Flus- 
 key, was sent to Brown's Ferry, about three miles by road from 
 camp. They buili a small fort to protect them from bullets fired 
 by the rebel pickets mi the opposite side. Captain Spencer returned 
 
 to us mi the afternoon of the 29th. \u\ i coming from ••Hud's 
 
 Country 11 was always beset by questions from one and all, and we 
 were soon around our new captain, wanting to know all he could 
 tell us about home. 
 
 The autumn rains set in about this time with right good will, 
 and the roads were soon quite impassable in many places entirely 
 so so that the road to Bridgeport, instead id' being about thirty 
 miles, was lengthened to over sixty. All our supplies were received 
 from there, being transported in mule wagons. There being so 
 little forage, the teams were rapidly decimating from starvation 
 and overwork, and added to this the occasional capture, by the 
 enemy, of an entire train id' several hundred wagons, it i- not to he 
 wondered at that we often went to bed hungry. Our Battery 
 teams were -cut to the north, up through Sequatchie Valley, some- 
 times going sixty miles before they could find corn enough to half 
 till the wagon boxes a half load being all a team could haul. A 
 few pumpkins were always smuggled in. ami these, with the com 
 we would take from the horses, notwithstanding orders to the con- 
 trary, hid] >ed much to supply the deficiency in rations. We had uever 
 known what hunger was till now. There was a constant cra\ ing of 
 the appetite even if we had just eaten a hearty meal, for it was felt 
 there was nothing in -tore, hence the hankering for food. 
 
 On the 1st of October Capt. Aylshire inspected our horses to 
 see which ones were poor enough to send back to Stevenson to 
 recuperate. There were e igh - i as to lea\ ily four to a car- 
 riage. The condemned horses, with a sufficient number of men to 
 care for them, were sent off on the 3d. 
 
 On the night of the \<\. orders were received to march with 
 
 the brigade, hut only the infantry went. The cause of these 
 orders was the capture and burning of a large wagon train by the 
 rebels, the infantry being sent to escort the few. who escaped, to 
 camp. On the 3d, Jacob Premer returned \vo\i\ hospital. 
 
 At dark, on the Ith. the center section received orders to 
 march, but after getting read} to move, the order was counter- 
 
100 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 manded; yet the next morning - the order was renewed, and they 
 left at 6 A. M., commanded by Lieut. Burton. The infantry had 
 built two small works on the side of Starve Ridge, and about three- 
 quarters of a mile down the river from our camp. To these semi- 
 forts the guns of the center section were taken. The position 
 could not be reached from the valley below, so the only way to get 
 the guns there was to let them down from above. But this was a 
 very hard task. The ridge at one point rose to quite a mountain. 
 This had to be ascended so as to reach a point above the forts. A 
 road had to be made, and then it was so steep that ten horses could 
 not pull a gun up; we had to unlimber and haul the parts up by 
 hand. Once up, the road was good till directly above the forts. 
 Now the guns must be lowered two hundred feet almost perpendicu- 
 larly; all the prolonges were brought up and spliced. Fastening 
 them to the trail of a gun. it was allowed to slowly descend by 
 letting the rope slip around a tree. Gun 3 was put into the upper 
 fort and met with no mishap; but the combined ropes were not 
 long enough to let gun 4 to its fort, and in running the 
 remainder of the distance, it tipped over and broke a wheel. The 
 forts were christened by us, Forts High and Low. The caissons 
 and horses were kept at the foot of the ridge about one hundred 
 and fifty feet below the guns and within five rods of the river's 
 edge. They were about half a mile from Moccasin Point, and so 
 sheltered in that direction by the ridge as to be in no danger from 
 the rebel shells fired over the point. Shortly after they got there 
 the Paint Rock, a steamer captured from the rebels, made her trial 
 trip after being repaired by us. As she neared the forts it was 
 noticed she was trying to turn so as to ascend the river again. 
 She made several attempts, but at each attempt fell down much 
 further till she was in range of the rebel guns on Lookout. 
 Breathlessly she was watched to see if she would not be sunk by 
 their shells, but they did not fire — doubtless expecting she would 
 float still further down and become an easy prey. But now she 
 heads about and slowly ascends, and as she nears the forts a man 
 is seen standing near one of the beams with his hands stretched up 
 to their utmost. A rush to the bank to learn the cause. The 
 story is soon told. The engineer had been a rebel and was then: 
 he wished to let the boat fall into the hands of the enemy. He 
 raised the plea of inability to generate steam sufficient to propel 
 against the current. An officer on board mistrusted all was not 
 
CHICK VM \I i. \ I VMl'AKiN. 10] 
 
 right, and took charge of the engines himself, and was soon con- 
 quering the current. The rebel was taken on deck and tied up by 
 his thumbs. In that position he remained until another engineer 
 was secured to take the boat back to the town. We never lea run I 
 what was ultimately done with him. 
 
 That afternoon the rebels shelled our forces quite lively, but 
 did very little damage. It was a sublime sight to watch t hem from 
 the ridge. A puff of smoke from one of their guns, a report, then 
 a small circular cloud suddenly expanding to an immense size, com- 
 pared to its first appearance, then a haul report from thai direction, 
 and finally pieces of shell falling to the earth! All this was grand 
 to contemplate from our position, but to those immediately under 
 the exploding shell, the scene was not quite so enchanting! 
 
 On the 6th the 21 si and Reserve Corps ceased to exist; part 
 was detached to the 1 Ith Corps, and the remainder tunned the new 
 4th Corps; the latter to be commanded by Gen. Gordon Granger. 
 It was our brigade's lot to be divided, the infantry being put into 
 the l'lth Corps, and we into the 3d Brigade, *.M Division of the Ith 
 Corps. This brigade consisted of the 3d Kentucky, 24th Wiscon- 
 sin, 22d, 27th, 12d, 51st and 79th Illinois. 64th, 65th and I2ls1 
 Ohio, and Battery M. 1st Illinois Artillery, and was commanded 
 l>\ Col. Harker. The division was commanded by Gen. P. II. 
 Sheridan. 
 
 The enemy had greatly pestered our wagon trains as the} 
 passed a certain portion of the road that was exposed to the river 
 the rebels being on the opposite side among the rocks on the side 
 of the mountain near the river. On the I Ith the right section, 
 under Lieut. Fluskey, was sent out to see if the rebels could not be 
 dislodged. They camped that night at the foot of Waldron's 
 Ridge. A.bout daylight next morning they ascended the ridge to 
 a position whence they could see the rebels. They fired a few 
 shells, but soon discovered that the huge rocks, with which the 
 mountain side was covered formed, such a complete protection for 
 the rebels that if one should be hit it would only lie accidental. 
 On the other hand, the rebels could, unseen, step from behind the 
 rocks, and. taking steady aim, greatly imperil our men. who found 
 the distance too great for Napoleons, and therefore, moved to a 
 point near the bank of the river, and sent them a few rounds of 
 case shot. This only called forth a greater number of minnies 
 from the rebels. The section then went back to its camp of the 
 
102 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 night before, and camped for the night, and returned to the Bat- 
 tery on the 13th. having fired forty-three rounds. On the road 
 back the chests were refilled with ammunition found in a broken- 
 down ammunition wagon. 
 
 There was now much speculation as to whom were to be our 
 lieutenants, in place of Burton and Fluskey, as soon as they should 
 be promoted first lieutenants. There was a desire among the men 
 to be their own choosers, so a petition to the captain was drawn up, 
 and duly signed and presented, asking for the privilege of electing 
 those of our choice. 
 
 The very heavy rains washed away a large portion of each of 
 the center section forts, so that they became utterly worthless. 
 
 The rains had so damaged the roads as to require nearly a 
 week for our teams to make a trip after forage, and. without the 
 addition of what we got to eat from that source, it seemed we 
 must famish. Several expedients were resorted to to get food. 
 One of these was to get an order from our officers for such rations 
 as we needed — we paying for them. But great was the surprise of 
 the officers when one morning, after we had just bought a box of 
 hard tack, they sent for some, and were told that they had already 
 bought a week's allowance! As they were unable to draw any 
 more for three days, they were afterwards a little more careful as 
 to how and when they gave orders. 
 
 On the night of the 15th the enemy sent a raft of saw-logs 
 down the river for the purpose of destroying the pontoons. It was 
 discovered in time to save the bridge by cutting it in the middle 
 and letting the halves swing around to shore. The greater portion 
 of the raft was secured. These logs were much needed at the saw 
 mill to make plank for the bridges and for other purposes. 
 
 On the 17th Corp. Clute and Private Coslet received furloughs 
 on account of their wounds. 
 
 It was decided by the chief of artillery of the department 
 that each battery should have only one kind of gun. We pre- 
 ferred Rodmans, and on the 20th Ave exchanged our Napoleons 
 with batteries that had Rodmans but wanted Napoleons. The 
 same day we received orders to join our brigade on the lines, and as 
 fast as we effected the exchanges, moved our sections to the pon- 
 toons, to cross. While lying at the pontoons waiting for oppor- 
 tunity to cross — there being so many wagons ahead as to delay us 
 for several hours — Gen. Rosecrans and staff passed en-route for the 
 
CHICKAM \li, \ C LMPAIGN. 103 
 
 rear. Little did we dream we should see our beloved chief do 
 more in command of that army! No! till the next daj were we 
 
 aware that he had hidden us a final adieu, and thru we could 1 1 < » t 
 
 believe it. but in a few days we received the following, which fully 
 proved the truth of the report : 
 
 Headquarters Ihr'i of the Cumberland, i 
 Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 9, L863. J 
 
 General Order No. 2 I. 
 
 The general commanding announces to tl fficers and 
 
 soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland that he leaves them under 
 orders from the president. 
 
 Maj. (ien. Geo. H. Thomas, in compliance with orders, will 
 assume command of this army and department. The chiefs of all 
 the staff departments will report to him for order-. 
 
 In taking leave of you. his brothers in anus, officers and 
 soldiers, he congratulates you that your new commander comes to 
 
 you not as a stranger. Gen. Thomas has I Q identified with this 
 
 army from its first organization. He has led you often in battle. 
 To his renown, precedence, dauntless courage, and true patriotism 
 you may look with confidence that, under God, he will lead von to 
 victory. 
 
 The general commanding doubts not that you will he as true 
 to yourselves and your country in the future as you have been in 
 the past. 
 
 To the division and brigade commanders, he tenders his cor- 
 dial thanks for their valuable and hearty co-operation in all that he 
 has undertaken. To the chiefs of staff departments and their 
 subordinates, whom he leaves behind, he owes a debt of gratitude 
 for their fidelity and untiring devotion to duty. 
 
 Companions in arms, officers and soldiers, farewell, and may 
 God bless you. 
 
 \V. S. EtoSEi i; \N>. 
 
 Major i reneral. 
 
 Our friend had left us to return qo more! There areso mam 
 instances of his familiarity with the soldiery, that all are aware of 
 that great trait of his character. One day he visited t he left section 
 at Brown's Ferry. Dismounting, lie walked around among the 
 men. speaking cheerfullj with each man as he met him. The re he I 
 pickets on the opposite side sent over several bullets, hut he 
 appeared not to notice them. 
 
 This Hrinc>- from the rebel side was finally put a stop t<> in the 
 following manner. One morning, as a bullet whizzed through 
 
J04 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 camp, a man stepped to the water's edge and demanded at what the 
 rebel was firing. A conversation ensued in which it was agreed 
 that neither side should fire without giving warning. Knowing 
 our starving condition, they would place pumpkins where we 
 could see them, and left a large patch of potatoes in our front 
 untouched. The bait was taken. One night some of the 18th 
 Ohio men and some infantry crossed over to get them. They were 
 allowed to dig a bushel or two of potatoes, but just as they were 
 fully enjoying the prospect of a few good meals, they were fired at 
 by the rebels, and several found themselves surrounded. Three or 
 four were captured. The infantry captain, who was one of the 
 party, lost his revolver in his escape to the boat. Next day the 
 captain asked them for it. They held it up and told him to get it. 
 But in a few days they came to more amicable terms. Parties 
 would cross from one side to the other, converse awhile, and then 
 return. One lot that came to our side were given some coffee to 
 drink. As they got ready to return, " Boys," said one, " I guess 
 I'll stay whar I can get some more coffee. You uns can go back," 
 and he remained. 
 
 A few days after we left the north side of the river a pontoon 
 bridge was built, near the ferry, so that our wagon trains could 
 travel from Bridgeport on the south side of the river. The night 
 the pontoon was put down a thousand men we're detailed to act as 
 guards. The boats were noiselessly floated down past Moccasin 
 Point and checked at the desired place. A squad of infantry was 
 sent across, which found all but one rebel picket asleep. They 
 captured the whole lot without firing a gun, and the next morning 
 the rebels found a large body of Yankees on the south side of the 
 river, and a pontoon completed for them to cross to and fro on ! 
 Below this the 11th and 12th Corps were lying. A junction was 
 formed and trains immediately began using that road. There was 
 a point on the road where the rebels were quite close. It was at a 
 gap in the hills. As our teams would pass onthe gallop, the rebs 
 would fire on them and shout " Hard tack and sowbelly." and, as 
 our men were running the gauntlet, they would ask if the John- 
 nies would not like some. 
 
 But to return to the Battery, it was dark before we were able 
 to cross the river. We then camped on the east side of the town 
 near Gen. Rosecrans' late headquarters. We drew rations at nine 
 o'clock at night for that day, and received two-thirds of hard tack, 
 
CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. L05 
 
 three-fourths of meal and one-fourth of coffee, sugar and tea. 
 Soap ami such extras were not to be had. We though! our extra 
 large rations were due to our having joined our new division, but 
 we soon found we got less from the uew commissary than from the 
 old one. 
 
 On the 21st our guns were pul in position in Fori Negley, 
 which was situated about the righl center of our lines. There 
 were only three embrasures, and these were used for guns 1. 5 and 
 6, Squads 1. 2 and 3 having to make theirs themselves. The cais- 
 sons and horses were kepi back near town, close by the E. T. & Y. 
 K\ R., and only a few rods Prom Gen. Sheridan's headquarters. 
 All non-combatants were sent back to remain with them. 
 
 Now our horses began dying with hunger, for we no longer 
 could send our teams out foraging, and we shared with our horses 
 the little corn drawn for them from the quartermaster. The corn 
 made excellent hominy, and. when in meal, good pancakes. To 
 reduce it to meal, we made graters by taking such tin as we could 
 get, punching holes in it and then nailing it in an oval form to a 
 piece of board; but this was ent irely too slow and labor ions a pro- 
 cess. Patton set his wits at work, and soon produced a mill made 
 of a piece of iron pipe and a bar to revolve in it by means of a 
 crank. This mill gained great notoriety throughout the division, 
 and soon Sam"> tent was crowded from morning till night with men 
 from every company and regiment, to use " Patton s Mill. As a 
 consequence, it soon began to show wear, but before it became use- 
 less he had completed another on a larger scale. It was a wagon 
 wheel hub box with an indented shaft to work in it. This did the 
 work better and faster. The corn that was broughi to this mill 
 was either taken from the army storehouses or stolen from the 
 batteries. Much of it. however, was picked out id' the mild where 
 animals had been eating. To accompany the luxury, corn, we 
 sometimes were able to buy a beefs heart for 25 cents, a liverfor50 
 cent-, lights 25 cents, brains 25 cents, tongue 50 cents, head 25 
 cents, tail L5 cent-, etc.. i. e., first, if we had the money to pur- 
 chase them with: second, if we were in time, and finally, if we had 
 inclination to scuffle for them in a crowd of hungry fellow-suf- 
 ferers. 
 
 On the 24th all the detailed men with our Battery returned 
 t,i their commands. The next da\ orders were received to -end all 
 our horses but thirty-two back to Stevenson. The proper detail- 
 
106 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 were made out, and the column started, headed by Lieut. Fluskey r 
 but just as they reached the pontoon, they received orders to return 
 to camp. We had been unable to draw any rations that day, so in 
 the afternoon we received two ears of corn per man. At night 
 we drew three crackers to last two days. Gen. Sheridan rode up 
 in the afternoon and asked the guard, placed over the corn, how 
 much our horses received at a feed. When told he said "* That 
 will never do; they must have more, and I will order more to be 
 issued to you; 11 but the extra was never received. At nine o'clock 
 that night orders were received to be in line at an early hour next 
 morning, as the rebels were expected to attack; all were up early, 
 but not before the rebs had opened fire from Lookout at 2 A. M. 
 They continued their fire for about an hour, and then all was quiet. 
 
 We received orders to make ourselves as comfortable as pos- 
 sible, and were told that we could get lumber and brick at a large 
 brick building to the east of town, about half way to the rebel 
 pickets. This house was the late residence of Frank Paul, of the 
 Chattanooga Rebel. ■ While tearing it down, a portion of the 
 timbers fell on Stone and broke his leg in so many places that it 
 had to be amputated — the operation not being performed until nearly 
 a year later. We built very comfortable shebangs, one man add- 
 ing style to his by making the sides of large windows taken from 
 the house. 
 
 On the 27th all our mule teams, except Bill's, were sent to the 
 supply train, Hoffman going with his team. 
 
 Cannonading was of every da}^ occurrence. Lookout and 
 Moccasin would pass the time of day almost invariably. Other 
 batteries would also have a word to say occasionally. Sometimes 
 Lookout would send her shells into town, and sometimes at our 
 outposts, but there was never much damage done by either side. 
 There was seldom any skirmishing done between the pickets. 
 Every calm morning Bragg' s headquarter band would come down 
 into the valley to his lines and play the Confederate national ( ? ) 
 tunes. His trains would also run out to his picket lines and 
 wmistle. All this sounded very fine to us, when Ave did not know 
 one day Avhether we should have anything to eat on the next, and 
 expecting daily an attack from the ( as we supposed ) largely re- 
 inforced foe. However, after the 11th and 12th Corps arrived, 
 and had got used to living without butter and soft bread, we did 
 not feel so apprehensive of fatal results. 
 
' llli K.WI ML A i AMI'AM-S. ]{)' 
 
 On the morning of the 2d of November it was discovered that 
 the enemy had been at work during the night, throwing up works 
 
 in our immediate front, and just at the edge of the w Is. Gen. 
 
 SI i -rid a 11 ordered guns 1. 2 and 3, of our Batterj . to ope i them. 
 
 They did so, causing the Johnnies, who were in sight, to disappear 
 as it by magic. At 8 P. M. we received orders to bitch up. All 
 the "frames 11 that were able to stand up were put under the 
 harness and hitched to the carriages. The infantry lay along the 
 lines and railroads in our trout for aboui two bours and thru 
 ret urned. 
 
 At uight we drew our usual rations, getting eleven small hard 
 tick for three days: One man wagered he could eat the eleven 
 within an hour, taking nothing of any kind to quench his thirst. 
 Our hospital steward offered him his if lie iliil it. ami if not, he was 
 to pay the hospital man fifty cents. He accomplished tin' task in 
 fifty-one minutes, suffering quite as much for water as the other 
 did over the loss of his rations. 
 
 Aliout twelve o'clock that uight Gen. Sheridan took the 
 
 infantry out. ami. by daylight, hail a long lii f works ami a fort 
 
 liuilt uear where the rebels had been at work. Great must have 
 been the mortification, of the rebs when the} discovered it. lor it 
 not only prevented the advance of their lines, hut actually forced 
 them to draw in their pickets quite a distance. Toward evening, of 
 that day, our Battery sent a few shells at some rebels who were 
 seen in front of the n sw w irks, ha; such was the lav of the ground 
 that to hit the rebels we must endanger our own men. so nam (> 
 was taken to Fort Palmer, a more elevated position, ami from there 
 shelled the rebel camps in the valley till dark. 
 
 On the 5th all hut sixteen of our horses were sent, under 
 charge of Sergt. ^mberg and Privates Mundell ami Henderson, to 
 Sequatchie Valley, some ten miles distant, to be fed on such pro- 
 vender as could he found there, hut so little was fouiul to I I 
 
 them that all hut two or three died. 
 
 Great sensation was produced in camp for several days after 
 the 6th, over the report t hat a sixty-day furlough \\ as to be offered 
 to all who should volunteer to take Lookout and survive its 
 capture. Under the circumstances there was hardly a man who 
 would not have handed in his name had the chance been given 
 him. They had had sufficient of hand to mouth living, and were 
 willing to do anything to gain a short respite. Probablj had any 
 
108 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 such movement been meditated by Gen. Thomas, the actions of the 
 enemy, during the last few days would have deterred him. Just 
 before dark they would build large fires in regular order, on Mission 
 Ridge and on Lookout, as though they had received heavy rein- 
 forcements. Some time after, our forces practiced the same ruse 
 at points up and down the river. 
 
 On the 13th we witnessed the shooting of two men for deser- 
 tion. It was the only instance of carrying the law to its extreme 
 penalty we saw during the war. The men were from the 44th 
 and 88th Illinois Infantry. 
 
 That day Corp. Clute arrived from home. He vowed he would 
 take no more furloughs, as he thought soldiers were treated like 
 dogs till they crossed the Ohio River, and then they had to show 
 their papers at every step, or they would be arrested. 
 
 On the 15th three infantry-men were drummed out of service. 
 The troops were called out on review in front of Fort Wood, and, 
 having formed two lines facing each other, these men were marched 
 between them. They were surrounded by bayonets pointing 
 toward them. One man wore a board on his back on which was 
 "Deserter." The second bore "Coward" in large capitals: Avhile 
 the third had his head shaved and carried a stool on it. 
 
 For several weeks we had got our tire-wood on and near 
 Orchard Knob, sometimes going within speaking distance of the 
 rebel pickets. On the night of the 16th they advanced their 
 pickets, cutting off much of our timber land and causing "wood to 
 be wood." Richardson was that day transferred to the Veteran 
 Reserve Corps for partial blindness. 
 
 By daylight of the 17th we had a large force across the river, 
 to the rebel side, some distance above our lines. Only a few were 
 exposed to view, the others remaining concealed and prepared to 
 act their part. The rebels advanced in considerable force, com- 
 pared with the number they saw before them, expecting to make 
 an eas}' capture. Our few advanced pickets fell back apparently 
 reluctantly. The rebels advanced boldly, till within proper dis- 
 tance, when they received a murderous fire of musketry and ar- 
 tillery that completely paralyzed them. They brought up their 
 artillery, but did no particular injury to our forces, who held the 
 ground. 
 
 At noon, on the 18th, the rebels instituted the discharging of 
 their muskets by volley. As volley after volley was heard, and 
 
rim K \\l SlUG \ I IMP \1».\. L09 
 
 then scattering shots to fill up the intervals, it was thought they 
 tnusl be having a battle among themselves, as it was well known 
 there existed great dislike among the different State troops. 
 
 On the 20th the infantry of the division received orders to 
 ciink two days 1 rations, but we know not what they found to cook. 
 That eight all of our brigade except the 64th Ohio and our Bat- 
 tery, crossed the river, but returned sonic hour- later. The next 
 ila\ we sent our ambulance to get the paymaster, and -non we 
 were in possession of tour months 1 pay. This was looked upon as 
 a godsend ! 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Near dark, on the 22d of November, the 2d and 3d divisions 
 of the 11th Corps, and part of the 12th Corps, crossed the pontoon 
 and camped outside the works to the right of Fort Wood. This, 
 we were certain, meant a movement in the aggressive. That night 
 it was hinted that each infantry-man was to receive one hundred 
 rounds. This also sounded ominous; but nothing to compare with 
 the steady, measured tread of parts of the 4th and 11th Corps, as 
 they filed out between Forts Wood and Negley. at 1 P. M.. next 
 day (23d. ) The rebels said they thought it was to be only a review 
 of our army, and so did many of us as we saw the first troops move 
 out from the camp of the 11th Corps. As the column filed out, 
 some of the 11th Corps, who were closely watching its movements, 
 wondered what was to be done. As the body snatchers, carrying their 
 stretchers, followed, one of the spectators exclaimed: u See them 
 things; that means fight! They were soon fully convinced that 
 that was the true meaning, as their bugles then immediately sounded 
 "Stand to arms, 1 ' and the 11th and 12th Corps were soon in line. 
 
 Our few horses were harnessed and everything put in readi- 
 ness, should we be called upon to take part. How grand and yet 
 how awful was the scene we beheld from the ramparts of Negley ! 
 The day was clear and calm, adding splendor to our long lines as 
 they advanced with firm and even step, as if to martial music. 
 Our star spangled banner seemed even more beautiful as it waved 
 so majestically over them. How, almost breathlessly, were our 
 lines watched by those left at the works, as they sallied first to the 
 right and then to the left! And as they entered the woods and 
 disappeared from sight, each ear was strained to catch the first 
 sound of conflict. Not a gun was fired: they met none of the 
 enemy; and not wishing to advance too far, lest they might fall 
 into an ambush, they returned to the open field, and stacked arms. 
 
'Ill' K \M \l'o \ I \\!P \|i,n. 11 J 
 
 till a reconnoissance could be made on the Hanks. In ;i few min- 
 utes they advanced into the woods again, when they met a few of 
 thf enemy and exchanged a dozen shots the enemy retiring to his 
 works. At 2:45 Fort Wood ope lontheridge. Negley's thirty- 
 pounders followed, and then our Battery opened. In a minute all 
 the batteries along our lines were playing on the enemy's camps 
 on Mission Ridge, in the valley and on Lookout. Fori Neglej 
 used thirty-three guns, ami several other forts nearly as many. 
 Imagine a shower of shells fired from two hundred cannon, each 
 piece sending an average of four per minute and all striking \\ ithin 
 an arc two miles in length, and an idea can be formed of what 
 must have been the state of affairs within the rebel camps, during 
 our bombardment, which lasted about thirty minutes! 
 
 Ahout four o'clock the rebels ope 1 tire from Lookout, but 
 
 till then they had not fired a shot. In a few minutes several bat- 
 teries opened, from different points on the ridge, directing their 
 shots at our columns in the woods, in the valley. A little while 
 before dark our lines charged on the rebel works on Orchard 
 
 Knob. They captured the first li f works and ahout 150 
 
 prisoners, with but little loss. During the day the large doors in 
 the passenger house, at the depot, had been (dosed l>\ fitting ties 
 
 in them so firmly as t ake them quite as strong as the brick 
 
 walls of the building. Into this house the prisoners were con- 
 ducted for safe keeping. All was quiet during the night, save an 
 occasional shot fired by the opposing pickets, who were now 
 brought within quarreling distance. The rebels had by some 
 means become aware of the hundred rounds furnished to each of 
 our infantry, for, as soon as they became reconciled enough to 
 talk, after our forces had captured their first line-, their pickets 
 called out to ours, " Come on with your hundred rounds, we are 
 ready for you!" 
 
 Early on the morning of the 24th, several batteries were -cut 
 to the front, to different parts of the line. It was 7:30 \. M. 
 before a shot was fired. We borrowed horses from different bat- 
 teries, to give as enough to complete our complement, which was 
 — of good horses, -i\ to a carriage, of crow-baits, eight to a car- 
 riage. At 10:45, while waiting a movement ii r front, we 
 
 heard heavy firing begin in Lookout V^ alley, and were soon informed 
 that Hooker was trying to take the mountain. The mountain 
 it-elf was enveloped in heavj mist ami invisible from Chattanooga. 
 
112 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 We judged from the sound of the firing that it was coming our 
 way, indicating the success of our armies. Shortly after one 
 o'clock the clouds enveloping the mountain were dispelled, and all 
 eyes were turned toward it for the first glimpse of the stars and 
 stripes, as they should come up around the point, for we all looked 
 undoubtingly to Hooker's success, and were confident of victory. 
 Shortly we saw the rebel flag fall back, their lines broken, but 
 fighting as though determined not to yield! Immediately our 
 starry flag followed, our lines advancing firm and intact. Moc- 
 casin and a fort near by now did good execution, as they poured 
 their shells into the foe whenever they would rally. Wood, Neg- 
 ley and other forts shelled the valley, that reinforcements could 
 not be sent to those rebels on the mountain. At 1 P. M. the com- 
 batants were fairly in view on the open ground, facing Chattanooga. 
 All of this was in full view of our entire army, in and in front of 
 Chattanooga, and the sight — one of the most dramatic of the war — 
 called forth the most tumultuous cheering. 
 
 Willich, with his brigade, had been sent to the railroad bridge, 
 across Chattanooga Creek, earlier in the day. At the moment 
 Hooker gained the white house in the open field, before mentioned, 
 Willich's band struck up the soul-enlivening tune, u Rally Hound 
 the Flag.' 1 Never before had that tune sounded so beautiful to 
 us. The guns of the fort ceased firing, and all listened intensely 
 to the sweet notes. But scarcely had the band ceased playing ere 
 Willich had work for his men. They had made their cup of 
 coffee and drank it, but he had no "sharge 11 to lead them to; this 
 time it was to repel a 'Charge.' 1 The rebels advanced in con- 
 siderable force to burn the railroad bridge. Willich's infantry 
 and artillery drove them back several times before they abandoned 
 their object. They suffered severely in these charges, as Willich's 
 men were close to them, and did not spare their ammunition. 
 
 The day had opened clear and lovely, but toward noon it became 
 misty, and, as Hooker rounded the point, it was raining hard. A 
 cool, south wind now blew up freshly, and soon the mountain was 
 enveloped in fog. At the time we were watching Willich's battle, 
 the actors on the mountain were entirely hidden from our view by 
 the sheet of fog. After a time it cleared from the upper part of 
 the mountain so that we could plainly see Hookers men battling 
 among the rocks with the now firmly entrenched foe. There was 
 the hardest part of the contest. As a blue coat would drive a 
 
' 1IH KAMAUGA CAMP \K.N. 113 
 
 gray back from behind a rock or tree, he would jump to procure 
 the protection from which he had just driven his foe, while the 
 rebel would dodge behind the first tree or stone he came to. The 
 danger to either party was in running from one point to another. 
 Thus they fought till darkness set in. but even then tiny did not 
 remain quiet. A little alter sunset the sk\ became clear, and the 
 stars shone forth in all their brilliancy. The whole easi side of 
 the mountain, to some distance back, presented a scene, which, hut 
 for the noise that arose from there, would have made us fancj w e were 
 looking upon an Illinois prairie on some summer evening when 
 the tire Hies were thickest flash. Hash, pop, pop. wa.s what our 
 eyes and ears were constant l\ greeted with, till about eleven 
 o'clock, when the firing gradually died out. and all was calm till 
 morning, when we learned the cause of the quiet. 
 
 By daylight, on the morning of the 25th, it was discovered 
 that there were no more rebels on Lookout. Thej had withdrawn 
 their artillery and infantry during the night, and now our troops 
 were in possession of that, for which we had expected many hun- 
 dred lives would have to he sacrificed in order to obtain, dust at 
 sunrise, the stars and stripes waved from the noted rock at the 
 north end of the mountain. The mountain was ours. To the 
 hero. Gen. Hooker, the nation gives the merited praise. 
 
 Vet. although the mountain was in our possession, still our 
 work was incomplete. The enemy were yet strongly fortified in 
 our front. Mission Ridge must be captured before we could feel 
 at ease. Bui to take that we must face the whole force of the 
 enemy, as they no longer had Lookout to protect. 
 
 Sherman had not been idle during the night. He had arrived 
 a few days before, with a great portion of his army, ami during 
 the night of the 24th, had crossed hi- men to the east side of the 
 river near the mouth of Chickamauga Creek, and by daylight, on 
 the 25th, was ready to perform his part id' the program. 
 
 At an early hour in the morning, we moved our caissons to the 
 guns to be ready to move to the front if required. As the sun 
 aiose the enemy could lie seen, marching in heavy column along 
 the ridge in the direction of Sherman. Bragg evidentl} expected 
 that Gen. Grant would continue a- he had commenced attack 
 him by detail; and to inert our attack for this day. was massing 
 hi- forces in front of that part of our line where he expected us 
 to make the assault on our extreme left. C mauded l>\ Gen. 
 
114 BATTEEY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Sherman. At nine o'clock the battle began. At times Sherman 
 was gaining ground fast; then the rebels would make a stubborn 
 stand, charge, and drive Sherman's men back nearly as far as they 
 had advanced. In that way they fought all day, each side suffering 
 severely, and about equally. 
 
 Fort Negley fired a few rounds early in the morning. Gun 6 r 
 of our Battery, anticipating orders, fired one shot. 
 
 At ten o'clock our lines to the east of Fort Wood advanced. 
 Our artillery, at the front, kept up a constant fire on the rebel 
 camps in the valley. Not a word came from the rebels till half 
 past ten. when an 18-pounder, near Bragg's headquarters, opened. 
 It fired but a few rounds, when again all was silent, on their part, 
 and we concluded that portion of the ridge was nearly deserted. 
 Carefully scrutinizing the top of the ridge with field glasses we 
 discovered, by the sheen of their bayonets, a column of the enemy 
 marching southward behind their works, and concluded that this 
 column would be about all our forces would have to contend with 
 as they advanced. Our lines passed through to the edge of the 
 woods, and, meeting no enemy, returned to the open field. About 
 noon, as our troops again advanced, the rebels opened with a few 
 guns from the ridge. 
 
 At one o'clock, as all were intently watching to see our colors 
 as they should advance from the woods into the opening, between 
 the timber and the ridge, we heard such a hearty cheer in the 
 direction of Moccasin Point, that all immediately turned to discover 
 if possible, its cause. How our heai'ts throbbed as we beheld a 
 steamer — the Stars and Stripes waving over her — come slowly 
 around the point! She moved as though indifferent to danger, but 
 proud of the colors she bore, and satisfied of a kindly reception 
 because of the rations she was bringing us. Our first thought was 
 of the risk she was running in passing the point; but instantly re- 
 called the fact that the mountain was ours, and the unmolested 
 advance of the steamer, was another proof of the fact. Cheer after 
 cheer ran along the works, and was caught up by our comrades at 
 the front! Soon another boat followed and we began to imagine 
 ourselves once more sitting down to a square meal. 
 
 To add to our causes for rejoicing, Hooker, having crossed 
 Chattanooga Valley to the ridge near Rossville, now opened with 
 his guns upon the enemy. At 2 P. M. the enemy changed the 
 direction of their fire to the southeast, which seemed to indicate 
 
CHII K Wl \l i. \ I LMP V.IGN. 1 15 
 
 thai Hooker was threatening their rear through Rossville Gap. 
 While we were eagerlj watching the movernents of the rebels, a 
 darky cook brought in a prisoner whom he had captured. This 
 prisoner was a Jew, who had been a sutler in Bragg's army; but, 
 when it becam • so re luce I as to require all to bear arms who could, 
 he was forced to shoulder a inuskel an I go to the front. To this 
 he would not submit Longer than forced to, so, when Bragg's men 
 Lefl their camp thai day, he oiide his way toward our liues, and 
 was captured by the darky, wh i would uol Lose sight of him for 
 an instant till he had marched him to headquarters and delivered 
 hi in to the proper officer. Of a consequence, the darky was cheered 
 by everyone who met him, as it seemed so droll to sit a white man 
 in charge of a black one. 
 
 At t:30our troops moved to the final step of taking the ridge. 
 The signal for the charge was six guns fired from Orchard Knob, 
 at intervals of two seconds. When the sixth gun sounded, the 
 whole line, that had been so quietly Lying in the woods, sprang to 
 their feet as if our m in. and eager for the fray. A.S thej emerged 
 from the woods into the open meadow, it seemed as if the whole top 
 of .Mission Ridge was a blaze of fire over which soon hung a cloud 
 of smoke Where we had supposed a dozen guns to be the greatest 
 number they could have there, as many batteries, of from tour to 
 six guns, now helched forth their missiles of death ! How appalling, 
 and yet how grandly sublime, was the scene there presented! A 
 line of men dressed in one uniform, with the red. white and blue 
 fiag of freedom, floating over them at regular distances of a few 
 rods; this line nearly two miles in length, marching across an open 
 field, receiving the murderous lire of over a hundred cannon: then 
 slowly climbing the steep ascent of the ridge, sometimes stopping 
 from exhaustion to breathe, the] driving the enemy fr lie- 
 hind rude works or tin- shelter of the trees, till they reach the last 
 line of the enemy's works, just at the brow of the ridge; there 
 halting for a few moments while the rebels hurl huge stone- among 
 them, then springing forward once more, are soon the master- id' 
 the ground the enemy fleeing in consternation. Leaving his dead 
 and wounded, hundreds of prisoners, and nearly half of hi- artil- 
 lery behind him ! 
 
 How heart-thrilling was it. a- we -aw the enem} running in 
 dismay, the flag of our country closely following, and soon waving 
 in triumph in fn-nt of Bragg's recent headquarters! Cheer upon 
 
116 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 cheer rose along our works as we beheld this. The setting sun 
 shot his golden rays among the trees, along the ridge, lighting up 
 the scene in a grand pageant! 
 
 But our men stopped not to exult over their victory. They 
 turned the captured guns on the fleeing enemy, and as soon as they 
 were beyond reach, pursued with the musket, and staid not the 
 pursuit till darkness demanded it. The rebels in front of Sherman, 
 learning the result in our front, broke and fled, and by seven o'clock 
 scarcely a gun was to be heard. 
 
 Our men suffered a great deal while crossing the open field be- 
 fore reaching the foot of the ridge, and also while ascending its 
 side. During the ascent, the heavy guns of Negley and Wood 
 kept up a constant fire on the rebel guns on the ridge, one shell, 
 from Orchard Knob, exploding one of their caissons. Only one 
 shell from the enemy reached our works around Chattanooga, ex- 
 ploding a little to the right and at some height over Fort Wood. 
 
 This is what Battery M saw of the glorious battles of Lookout 
 Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Its participation in the same 
 consisted only in firing from the ramparts of Fort Negley, upon 
 the rebels on the ridge, over the heads of the advancing infantry. 
 In fact, but little short range work was done by the artillery, 
 during this engagement. With the exception of a few guns on 
 Orchard Knob, the artillery of the army of the Cumberland was 
 held in reserve, probably because the absence of good horses would 
 have made active maneuvers a matter of considerable difficulty. 
 To the left, in Sherman's attack, artillery was freely used, and at 
 short range too. It was our fate to participate in many more en- 
 gagements, and to do much fighting at short and at long range, but 
 we never again had an opportunity to see all the movements, and 
 maneuvers of a great battle. The certainty and positiveness of 
 the various movements, and the proper and telling secpience of 
 each successive attack and advance, as they were made in our view, 
 gave us supreme confidence in the high abilities of Gen. Grant, 
 against whom, we of the army of the Cumberland, had at first 
 been prejudiced, feeling that he had supplanted our beloved and 
 honored commander, " Old Rosey," from whom we were loth to 
 transfer our allegiance to his successor. 
 
 The result of the fight in our front was, besides the capture of 
 the ridge and the dispersion of the enemy, over forty cannon, 
 among them the noted New Orleans Washington Battery of four 
 
(UK K \M \l i. L CAMPAIGN 117 
 
 eighteen-pounder brass pieces, a number of horses, great amount of 
 forage,and many prisoners! As these latter were being marched to 
 town, when they came to the works our men had built, after captur- 
 ing their first line in the valley, they exclaimed, "See them works! 
 Why, they are stronger than ours were, and we had so many weeks 
 to build them in."* Bragg often declared that, " If a Yankee had a 
 spade and half an hour to work in, he would bury himself out of 
 reach of any shell." 
 
 That night was passed in searching and caring for the wounded, 
 many of whom could onh be found by accidentally coming upon 
 them: for it appeared as though each one felt so proud over the 
 victory that he would not even groan, although suffering excruci- 
 ating pain. The moon rose about nine, but it was later before her 
 light afforded much assistance to those in search of the wounded 
 on the side of the ridge. 
 
 Bright and glorious did the morning of the 26th dawn on the 
 field of our late victory. It was Thanksgiving Day at home: but 
 were they there more thankful than we here? The day seemed SO 
 much like Sunday used to at home, that we almost doubted we 
 could he in the army. One would glance up at Lookout, expecting 
 to hear the usual 1 tool n of t lie cannon, as the gun on the point sent its 
 iron messenger down to us: but all was as quiet as though naught 
 of life was on it. Then glancing toward Mission Ridge and seeing 
 men and teams there that we knew were our own, we would wonder 
 within ourselves, "How can it be possible that those strongholds 
 are ours; strongholds that no number of rebels can drive us from!" 
 
 In the afternoon there were a few cannon tired, far to the 
 northeast, and we could plainly see the smoke from the burning 
 rebel stores at Chickamauga and other stations. At one o'clock in 
 
 the afternoon Fort Wood fired thirty-four blanks in Ik ■ of the 
 
 victory. Toward night we took our horse- and hauled the Wash- 
 ington Battery down from Bragg's late headquarters. Twoof the 
 guns were named Lady Buckner and Ladj Breckenridge. When 
 we received our ration- that day they were full allowance of meat. 
 coffee, sugar, crackers and suit! The Battery was given twelve 
 rebel horses and harness, and received orders to march; bul the 
 marching orders were countermanded, dust at dark the 2d and 3d 
 Divisions returned to camp, so as to be prepared to move the next 
 day or whenever the order t -,nt\^ to march. Dunn- the da\ we 
 hauled more of the captured guns down from the ridge. 
 
PART III. 
 
 Kpoxville Canppaigp. 
 
CHAPTER XV. IWKT III. 
 
 At 2 P. M.. nn the 28th of November, we moved nut of Chat- 
 tanooga \\ ith our own ami the Third Division. We li.nl drawn horses 
 from various batteries almost every artillery horse of the Army of 
 th." Cumberland that survived tin- starvation of tin- siege, ami had 
 
 eight to each carriage. We also had thirty- men from Batterj 
 
 G, 1st Missouri, and sixteen from the Kith [ndiana Battery. All 
 of our men who were not well clothed were left at camp, so we 
 had only sixty-seven of our own. It was supposed we should be 
 hack in two days at the farthest, so we took only what clothes we 
 were wearing, blankets barely sufficient to keep us from freezing, 
 ami no tents for shelter: supposing we should probably chase 
 Bragg to Ringgold or Dalton ami then return. Toward dark it 
 became very cold and the wind blew hard from the west. We 
 reached the Chickamauga River just at dark, and found that a pon- 
 toon bridge was there in operation our division crossing as fast a it 
 could, hut having to wait long at times for portions of Sherman's 
 troops, who were returning from the chase, to cross. Standing in 
 the mud in an open field, th" wind having full sweep across it. we 
 suffered much, as our clothing was poor and insufficient for that 
 
 Season of the year, and as we had heen so long used to sitting ill 
 
 our tents before a warm tin', we felt the eold the more. At eleven 
 o'clock the Battery began to cross. It was aecessarj to unhitch 
 the horses as soon as the carriage was aero—, a- the north hanlc of 
 the river was so steep, ami the mud so deep and stiff, that our poor 
 horses could barely walk up under the load of the harness; in fact. 
 
 we had to help two or three of them Up the hill. 
 
 The lnnth Illinois was detailed to assist in hauling our car- 
 riages up. As soon as the horses were unhitched, they would 
 fasten their rope- to the carriages and then tug and pull through 
 the mud, knee deep, their spirits being buoyed up 03 the enliven- 
 ing words and cheers of Col. Buckner, of the 79th Illinois, who 
 had charge of the work. The lasl part of our Batter} to , fOSS was 
 
122 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Bill's wagon. It was heavily loaded, and as he came to the spot 
 where the teams unhitched, the men were ready with their ropes. 
 "I don't want no ropes for mv wagon,' 1 said Bill, and calling out, 
 " Yay there. Jennie." up went the wagon to the top of the 
 bank — the first one that night that had not been hauled up by hand. 
 All looked at the mules and driver as though they were prodigies! 
 
 We camped near the bridge, and were able to give our animals 
 a good feed once more. There were several wagons standing near 
 by, heavily laden with forage, and, having orders to, we took all 
 we wished for them. 
 
 Our dog, " Battery." had followed us this far. but next morn- 
 ing we missed him. nor saw him again till he was brought to us 
 some months later from Chattanooga. He doubtless had some 
 such foresight of what was in prospect for the Battery as rats are 
 supposed to have with reference to a sinking ship. 
 
 We here met with our " other self." Cogswell's battery that 
 had for the first year of its existence claimed to be " Battery M, 
 1st Illinois." and was thus the cause of the miscarriage of much of 
 our mail, but as we were mustered in first, the letter M was given 
 to us. 
 
 It now appeared that we were en-route for Knoxville to the 
 relief of Gen. Burnside. and that, as it was said that he only had 
 provisions to last him six clays longer. Ave must reach there at the 
 end of that time or he would be compelled to surrender to Long- 
 street, who, with his corps, had been allowed by Bragg to go there 
 some time before the late battle. The distance to Knoxville was 
 estimated to be about one hundred and twenty miles, and to make 
 that distance in six days we must average twenty miles per day. 
 and this, with the roads almost impassable on account of mud: our 
 horses unshod, many of them scarcely able to stand alone, and not 
 a dozen fit for work: ourselves poorly clothed, our foot-covering 
 such that if we stepped in the least bit of water our feet would be 
 wet. and with not sufficient blankets along to keep us comfortable 
 at night! 
 
 About eight o'clock, on the morning of the 29th. we hitched 
 up and attempted to start, but found it was impossible to move. 
 The horses would not pull. The mud was frozen sufficiently to 
 bear a man, but a horse would break through at nearly every step, 
 and thus cut and lacerate his legs badly. We began doubling, 
 but could not move till there were fourteen horses to a carriage. 
 
known. 1. 1: CAMPAIGN. 123 
 
 We then had to go nearly two miles before coming to road over 
 which eight horses could draw again. In going to and fro over 
 this bad road we were delayed till a late hour before getting under 
 headway. We reached Harrison, a small village about a mile from 
 the river, at 1:30, and camped about two miles further on. We 
 were about thirteen miles Prom Chickamauga River, and within 
 half a mile of Ooltowah Creek. This latter stream was a hoi it sixty 
 feet wide and eight feet deep. The rebels bad burned the bridge, 
 and soon the engineer corps was at work rebuilding it. While 
 the engineers were thus engaged, we were making ourselves com- 
 fortable. Quite a large lot of hogs of all ages were running about 
 over the field in which we were camped, ami we had an abundance 
 of good, fresh pork tor our supper that night. 
 
 By dark the bridge builders had completed their work. Our 
 Battery was divided ami assigned as follows: The right section, 
 under Lieut. Burton, to march with the 2d Brigade, Gen. Wagner 
 commander; the left section, under Lieut. Fluskey, to he with the 
 1st Brigade, commanded by Col. Sherman. (It was Gen. Stead- 
 nian's brigade, hut he was at home on leave. ) And the center sec- 
 tion, under <,». M. Sergt. Murphy, to remain with the 3d Brigade, 
 Col. Barker's. 
 
 A few Hakes of snow fell at night, hut being near a g 1 
 
 fence ami a straw stack not far off, we cared little for the weather. 
 
 On the 30th, all were astir at two o'clock, and in motion by 
 4:30; the center section, with the 3d Brigade, being in advance. 
 The order of marching was to he changed each day; this was to 
 make pioneering equal among the brigades. At 7:30 we reached 
 a house where was found the body of a rebel, whom our men had 
 killed some days before. Two union women occupied the house. 
 They had brought the body in from where the\ had found it, with 
 the intention of burying it. The next house we came to was that 
 of ('apt. Snow-, the noted guerrilla. It was a large brick structure 
 with plent\ of surrounding out houses, all showing its owner to 
 he a man of means and sound sense — barring the cause he had en- 
 gaged in. Hi- premises furnished us two or three wagon loads id' 
 splendid hams, shoulders and side-meat. 
 
 At nine o'clock we came to a large mill run by the water from a 
 single spring, the water being, however, too warm to drink. At 
 the mill wa- found some flour ami meal: the Batterv secured two 
 
124 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 or three bags full of each, and this added to the meat drawn from 
 the "Snow donation, 1 ' made us think we were beginning to live 
 again. 
 
 Getting now well out of the rebel forage district, we began to 
 find considerable of everything good, at rebel houses; but nearly all 
 the union people had been stripped of everything, save a barely 
 sufficient quantity of corn meal to keep body and soul together. 
 
 At eleven o'clock Georgetown was passed, and " Joe 1 ' thought 
 we should next arrive at Washington, but, instead, we halted on 
 the bank of the Hiawasse River, about a mile north of Georgetown, 
 and some eight miles from its mouth. As Gen. Sheridan rode to 
 the bank in advance of the column, a few rebels on the other side 
 fired at him, but did no damage. We expected to meet a steamer 
 here, and as it was not in sight by two o'clock, No. 3 gun was run 
 down to the water's edge and fired a blank as a signal that all was 
 right. At four o'clock the steamer Paint Rock arrived, having a 
 barge lashed to either side, she and the barges being well laden with 
 supplies, which were speedily deposited on the north bank, when 
 the steamer commenced ferrying the troops. 
 
 Although we had halted so early we had accomplished our 
 twenty miles, but the deficiency of the day before was not made up. 
 That day two of the Battery G, 1st Missouri men took the steamer 
 to return to their batteiy, as they were unable to endure the 
 march. 
 
 The boat worked steadily all night, crossing the troops. At 
 4:30, on the 1st of December, the Battery crossed. After crossing 
 the river we halted long enough to feed our horses and draw 
 rations, the last from Government till reaching Knoxville. 
 
 This was a union district, and nearly all day women and 
 children were standing on either side of the road, some looking as 
 though they expected to be swallowed the next instant, for they 
 had been told that all Yankees had horns on their foreheads and 
 were cannibals, but as they could not see the horns, they concluded 
 the latter charge was also false, and greeted us thus; u Why, whar 
 do you uns all come from?" "Oh, we are so powerful glad to see 
 you!" etc., etc. Many of these people had walked some distance to 
 see us " Yanks." At night a different atmosphere was reached. 
 We camped just at the suburbs of Decatur, whose citizens were 
 unanimously "secesh." This night the troops were not limited to 
 the top rail, but received orders to burn as much of the fences as 
 
know i i.ii: i wii' \k;n. 125 
 
 needed, as it was a rebel town, and it may be safelj said we did 
 not suffer with cold from hesitation ♦<> burn rails. The night was 
 
 bitter cold, and the morning found no fences i ir neighborhood. 
 
 Decatur was < . n i \ eleven mile- from Hiawasse Ferry, so we had 
 Lost nine miles that day. 
 
 On the 2d the march was resumed at 7::il> A. M. At ten • 
 
 advance entered a house where they found >i\ Johnnies taking a 
 fashionable breakfast. The lady of the house had spread the best 
 she had. herself waiting on her guests, who were quietly marched 
 off a- prisoners, while the blue coats began an inspection of the 
 premises. The smoke-house was found to he well tilled with meat: 
 the granaries full of corn: two or three tine horses were in the 
 stable; many chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys were running about 
 the yard: quite a drove of sheep and several head id' cattle were in 
 the Held: while in the store-room were found three barrels of sorghum 
 syrup, etc.. etc. Nearly all the meat was loaded into wagons; two 
 
 or three loads of corn were taken: the horses were exchanged for 
 such of ours as were played out: the poultry took a great liking to 
 our men and followed them away, tightly hanging to their belts, 
 haversacks, or in some other secure place, that their mistress might 
 not he able to call them hack: a detail from the division took care 
 of the cattle and sheep, driving them along to slaughter as might 
 !»' needed. But of the syrup! Canteens, tin pails, wash dishes, 
 plates, cups, saucers, jars, jugs, crocks. ( boots ami shoes might have 
 Keen used too could they have been spired for that purpose) were 
 filled with sweetening for our pancakes! dust as the last barrel 
 was about emptied, several guards rushed in and drove out every 
 blue coat who was found plundering. 
 
 Our acts would have been barbarous had we not known before- 
 hand the character of the person with whom we were dealing. Her 
 husband was a noted rebel officer. There were \er\ fev\ negroes 
 on this march, so we had no accessions to our force from that 
 source, and the few men at home were generally old and decrepit 
 and unfit to shoulder a musket. The district passed through this 
 day was quite thickly settled, the country good until nearing Big 
 Survee Creek. Mere the land was low ami heavily timbered. \' 
 the creek the column halted till the bridge could lie repaired. \\ bile 
 halted, we risited the premises of a Mrs. Mar-hall, wife of Gen. 
 Humphrey Mar-hall, whose daughter Julia was a well educated 
 young lady, hut decidedly secesh. She ackno^R ledged it ami claimed 
 
126 BATTEKY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 that Tennessee was no longer in the union. "Were she a man she 
 would fight as long as she had life." Our investigation proved that 
 the old lady was living very poorly, being poorly dressed and with 
 barely enough to eat. In a house that stood across the road from 
 where she lived were found a fine piano and a great quantity of 
 beautiful and costly furniture, which were left unharmed. 
 
 We camped that night on the farm of a rebel, whose name was 
 Prigmore, and near Little Survee Creek. We had marched our 
 twenty miles but had clone no more. That night attention was 
 given to Mr. Prigmore's movable property, which was considerable, 
 as he was a very wealthy man for that district. Near our camp 
 lived a man who had been paroled at Vicksburg. He told us he 
 had received orders to join his command just before the battle of 
 Chickamauga, "as he had been properly exchanged,' 1 but he did not 
 believe any exchange had been effected, so he remained at home, 
 hiding whenever any rebel soldiers appeared. 
 
 Our camp was at the edge of a strong union district, and soon 
 after we had resumed march on the morning of the 3d, all received 
 positive orders that "Any man, who should be found inside any 
 enclosure, no matter what the pretext, would be immediately ar- 
 rested, 11 and guards were detailed to carry the order into effect. 
 About eight o'clock, one of our corporals being thirsty, and seeing 
 a well near a house, began to climb over the fence to go after some 
 water. He had forgotten the order and was only reminded of it 
 as General Granger, who was quite near caught him by the collar, 
 and raised a rope to strike him. He sprang back, caught the 
 rope, and would have drawn the general to the ground where he 
 intended to "settle matters with him. 11 had not the general spurred 
 his horse, jerked from the corporal's grasp, and rode away at the 
 gallop. 
 
 The 3rd Kentucky had charge of the men, who were arrested 
 this day. They caught two of our men, "The Deacon's Son" and 
 "Noisy," as they were quenching their thirst at a springhouse with 
 milk they found there in jars and pipkins. 
 
 At Philadelphia our troops halted to let Sherman^ army pass. 
 They had followed around by the railroad, and had lived entirely 
 on what they foraged off the country. They had wagons, carts, 
 pack-mules and horses loaded down with forage. At Sweetwater 
 they had found a great quantity of plug tobacco. Some of the 
 men had carried a whole box apiece thus far, and were selling 
 
KNnWIl.I.K I \\ll' \l.;\. |-J- 
 
 it at 25 cents per plug. This was quite different from $1.25 we 
 had been paying at Chattanooga for the same sized plugs, but of 
 inferior quality. 
 
 We marched about three miles further and camped on Fort 
 Creek, having traveled about eighteen miles that day. 
 
 Near our camp was a grist mill, as the people there railed it. 
 The country was quite rich in food, and soon our camp was teeming 
 with such luxuries as chickens, geese, ducks, syrup, meal. Hour, etc., 
 for some of our men had been sent out with the horses to bring in 
 corn and "roughness" for the animals, and it was thought well to 
 also bring in something good for ourselves. Our poultry dressed 
 and duly cooking over a splendid rail fire, our attention was next 
 called to see how our friends, "gray-backs," sometimes called back- 
 biters, were flourishing, for they had lately made considerable com- 
 plaint about inattention. It was found they were thriving 
 admirably well. "Multiply and bite" appeared to be their motto. 
 We advised emigration, and emigrate they did. 
 
 Sherman's army was working hard at building a bridge across 
 the Little Tennessee River, about two miles from where we lay. 
 They completed the bridge by the night of the 1th and immediately 
 crossed. It was built of timbers, cut in the neighboring woods, 
 and hoards and scantling got in Morgantown, by tearing down 
 empty houses. Morgantown lies on the north bank of the river, 
 and has a population of about two hundred. 
 
 On the morning of the 5th, that we might get an early start, 
 we were up at 3:30, but did not move out till eight o'clock. The left 
 section was in advance. After going about five miles around, in 
 oi-der to have better roads, and crossing Bat Creek, we parked 
 within a few rods of the Morgantown and Madisonville pike, to 
 wait till the bridge could he repaired, as a caisson had broken 
 through not long before. It was half past two in the afternoon 
 before we could cross, and then our guns were drawn over by the 
 wheel teams, the other horses having to ford the river some dis- 
 tance above the bridge. Again, our blankets had been left in the 
 wagon, and as it did not catch up with as that day. and the nighi 
 was quite cold, we suffered considerably. A few who had been 
 thoughtful enough to r-.irvy their blankets along, doubled with as 
 many a- could get under them. 
 
 After crossing the river we bore to the right, crossed Baker's 
 Creek near its mouth, and camped at night near the creek and 
 
128 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 seven miles from the bridge. We had already been seven days on 
 the road, and, according to the rumors current when we started. 
 Knoxville must already have been in the hands of the enemy a 
 day. Yet we had marched as rapidly as possible, considering the 
 effects of starvation upon ourselves and our horses, and the con- 
 dition of the roads, for we always saved a mile where we could by 
 going across lots, and much of the way took a bee line, sometimes 
 scarcely traveling a mile on the road during a whole day. 
 
 On the 6th we moved out at an earty hour and reached Marys- 
 ville at 1 P. M., ten miles from our night's camp. Here we found 
 Sherman's array encamped, and received the joyful news that 
 Longstreet had attacked Knoxville. and had been repulsed with 
 such heavy loss as to make him raise the siege and retreat toward 
 Virginia, and that Burnside was following closely on his heels, 
 harassing him at every step and capturing many prisoners and 
 guns. 
 
 We marched two miles beyond town and camped on Scott's 
 branch. There was a mill near by, which was immediately set at 
 work. The country was gradually growing poorer as we advanced, 
 and we were reaching the limits of the rebels' foraging ground, so 
 food for man and beast began to grow less, and supplies were laid 
 in wherever we could find them, knowing that the nearer Knox- 
 ville the less would be found, while at Knoxville our troops had, 
 for some time, been at the point of starvation. 
 
 Being aware that Knoxville was no longer in danger, the 
 army moved at its leisure the remainder of the distance. It was 
 ten o'clock in the forenoon of the 7th before we started. Travel- 
 ing along the east bank of Pigeon Creek for some distance, we bore 
 off to the right and soon came to Little River. In order to cross 
 this, we had to go about a mile up the river to a ford. The ford 
 was in very poor condition near both banks, and our carriages were 
 nearly tipped over in going down and up them. Safely across, we 
 had to wait about an hour for a wagon train ahead of us to get 
 through the pass. 
 
 On the north side of the river, at this point, the hills rise to 
 the height of several hundred feet, and so nearly perpendicular 
 that a man, to ascend, has to climb by pulling himself up from 
 one bush to another. Between this hill and the river, for about half 
 a mile, there is only room for a single wagon track. This track 
 
KXDXVll.I.K CAMPAIGN. 129 
 
 was already badly cut up by our wagons in advance, and it was 
 with great difficulty we got through. At L:30 P. M. repassed the 
 village of Etockford, ten miles from Knoxville. 
 
 We now found ourselves in a hilly, rock-covered country; 
 everything wore a Look of desolation, and at Dearly every house the 
 people were in verj destitute circumstances. ''Bumming" was 
 now commenced by infantry and artillery. At a distance of five 
 milt's mi either side of the road, Yanks were to be found searching 
 for something to eat, but the} found little or nothing. At one 
 house was a woman with three children. <>ne of these was at 
 death's door,and the other two were too small to go to the neigh- 
 bor's for food or to care for the sick one while the mother went. 
 They had hadscarcelj anything to eat for three days ! We divided 
 the little we had with them. The father of these children was in 
 our army somewhere near Nashville. 
 
 When within three miles of our destination the shrill whistle of 
 the locomotive was heard the first one of ours for months. How 
 our hearts leaped for joy ! The echoes from the whistle carried with 
 them many hearty cheers from us. It seemed like getting back into 
 "God's country," to once more hear the trains running and know 
 they were not the enemy's. 
 
 The Batterj was to camp together that night, hut the left 
 section and captain lust their way in the darkness, ( we did not 
 reach our camp ground till late at night ) and did not join the other 
 sections till next day. The right and center camped about a mile 
 east of Knoxville. where tlir\ found wood and water handy ami 
 .abundant. This closed our march to the relief of Knoxville. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 We drew rations on the morning of the 8th of December, each 
 man receiving one pint of flour, half a pint of corn meal, half a 
 pound of salt pork, and his share of nine sheep as soon as they 
 were dressed. This day the following order was issued: 
 
 Headquarters Military Department Mississippi, 
 In Field, Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 8, 1863. 
 General Orders No. 7. 
 
 The general commanding takes great pleasure in publishing 
 to the brave armies under his command the following telegraphic 
 dispatch just received from the president of the United States: 
 
 Washington, Dec. 8, 1863. 
 To Major General Grant: — 
 
 Understanding that your lodgement at Chattanooga and Knox- 
 ville is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your com- 
 mand, my more than thanks — my profoundest gratitude for the 
 skill, courage and perseverance, with which you and they, over so 
 many great difficulties, have effected that important object. God 
 bless you. 
 
 (Signed) A. Lincoln. 
 
 By order Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant. 
 
 T: S. Bowers, A. A. G. 
 
 On the 9th the wagons were sent out for forage for the ani- 
 mals, but they got very little,, as Longstreet had taken every parti- 
 cle of grain in sight for miles around. 
 
 Our bread rations on the 10th were a loaf of black bread, 
 weighing about twelve ounces, to be divided among four men. 
 
 That day startling news was received, the most of it proving 
 only too true. It was that Morgan and six of his staff had escaped 
 from the penitentiary; Meade had been forced to fall back; 
 Charleston had been in flames sixty -three hours; Longstreet had 
 been reinforced by 10,000 men. and would immediately resume the 
 offensive. At dark orders were received to march the next morn- 
 ing, but at 1 A. M. they were countermanded. 
 
KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 131 
 
 Lieut. Colvin's battery was lying in town where it had beer 
 during the siege. The lieutenant, Learning of our arrival, came to 
 see us on the 11th. He had recommended Corp. Judd for pro- 
 motion to a lieutenancy in his battery, and the commission was 
 already on the road. Lieut. <'<>lvin was going home to get his 
 commission as captain, and wished Judd to be immediatelj detailed 
 to his battery that he might take command during his (Colvin's) 
 absence. Accordingly Judd left us on the 12th, and in a feu days 
 signed his orders, "C. M. Judd, Corporal commanding 7th Illinois 
 Battery." 
 
 On the morning of the L2th the left section went with the 
 1st Brigade to Brabson's Mills, distant about seventeen miles to 
 the northeast. In the afternoon the right section and 2d Brigade 
 moved to about a mile southwest of town near Fort Saunders -the 
 scene of the recent wholesale slaughter of rebels. The center sec- 
 tion and 3d Brigade camped near night about a mile west of town. 
 near the Knoxville & Covi ngton K. K. We crossed the river on 
 a pontoon that was worked on a new plan to us. Before a vehicle 
 could cross the guard would telegraph to the other end to see if all 
 was (dear, and would receive reply by the stroke of a bell. 
 
 About dark it began to rain in torrents, to the distress of us 
 'poor blue coats, who had no tents or shelter, as on account of the 
 rain no tire could be kept, and the weather was quite cold. 
 
 On the 13th the horses of tin 1 centre section were sent about 
 twelve miles southeast of town to the "Widow Martin's." Orderly 
 Gillette was in charge id' them. The surrounding valley was well 
 freighted with forage, as Longstreet's wagons had not visited 
 it on account of the rough, rocky mads that in many places ran 
 over high, steep hills. As soon as the men had their horses well 
 cared for in Mrs. Martin's stables they started nut on explorations 
 in all directions. They found hut one or two union families, con- 
 sequently there was no need of hesitation about helping themselves 
 to everything they wanted. Even the " ardent" was to he had m 
 almost any quantity wished for. Being comfortablj situated and 
 enjoying themselves fully, it was deemed a misfortune when, in 
 the afternoon of the L5th, orders were received to repori post haste 
 at Knowille. Two of the men detailed from Battery G had been 
 allowed to go out for a few hours, and as the} had not yet returned 
 when the others started tor Knoxville, their horses were left that 
 they might catch up with the column. The men started at dark 
 
132 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 on the return, and progressed well till they came to a fork of the 
 road. Here the leader decided the left hand road was the proper 
 one. "Mother," who was one of the party, u couldn't see it," so 
 took the right hand road, and was in Knoxville before midnight. 
 The others traveled on the left hand road till they entered the road 
 to Rockford and had proceeded about a mile further, when " Brick 
 Top" declared he had traveled far enough toward the moon. He 
 and the Norwegian had for some time thought they were on the 
 wrong road, and only kept silent to see how far the commander 
 would go before acknowledging his error. They did not reach 
 camp till nearly day-break. 
 
 Some of the infantry was sent out by railroad as far as Straw- 
 berry Plains. The right section started in the afternoon of the 
 15th and camped about six miles from Knoxville. 
 
 The center section started at 7:30 A. M. on the 16th. They 
 picked up a couple of good wheels that Longstreet had left on the 
 road, which they retained, throwing away two of theirs that were 
 minus a number of spokes the horses had eaten out. During one 
 of their halts, a rebel citizen came along with a wagon load of 
 potatoes, u seerup" and apples. He asked such exorbitant prices 
 that the most of his load was confiscated even to his mittens. The 
 roads were very muddy, and at 3 P. M., while going through an 
 extremely bad place, No. 3 gun broke its pole, causing quite a delay. 
 The center section camped near Rosebury Creek at 5:40 P. M. — 
 twelve miles from Knoxville. The right section camped about two 
 miles further on. The left section, at Brabson's Mills, received 
 orders to return to Knoxville. They left the mills on the 16th and 
 traveled about twelve miles. 
 
 About midnight, from the 16th to the 17th. it began to rain 
 so hard that soon the creeks were swollen so as to overflow their 
 banks. We passed a very disagreeable night, having to leave our 
 beds on account of the rain, and compelling us to shelter ourselves 
 as best we could. The march was resumed next morning. At 
 nine o'clock there was considerable disturbance in the wagon trains 
 caused by the exchange of a few shots some distance ahead, and 
 the report that the rebels were trying to get between us and Knox- 
 ville. It had been learned some days before that Longstreet was 
 not leaving quite as rapidly as was at first reported, and as it was 
 fully believed he had received large reinforcements, every rumor 
 of an attack by the enemy was received as a fact. 
 
KM>\\ li.u: campaign. 133 
 
 S l after crossing Flat Creek, the right and center sections 
 
 and infantry formed a junction and unit into camp about a mile 
 from Blain's Cross Roads, eighteen miles from Ivnoxville. 
 
 That day the left section reached the Holston River and 
 camped. On the 18th the) entered Knoxville and camped near 
 the ilt 'put to await transportation to the front, which, by order 
 of Gen. Foster, was denied them. On the 19th the) moved 
 about a quarter of a mile east of the depot, and on the next 
 da) took permanent position in a small fort on a hill, but a short 
 distance to the east ol the depot. \ small house, standing within 
 the works, served them as quarters. There they remained during 
 our sojourn in that region. Occasionally they wouldsend foragers 
 into tin- country to get corn meal and corn ketchup. They made 
 the best of everything, and lived in as jolly a manner as possible. 
 
 At the front the right and center sections lay in a state of 
 doubt for two or three days, nut knowing whether they would 
 move immediately or remain where they were for some time. In 
 this unsettled state rail shelters were built consisting of sort of 
 dog kennels made <d rails, which were covered with our ponchos. 
 In front of these kennels good fires were kept as long as there was 
 a rail to be had. On the 20th the right section received marching 
 orders which were soon countermanded. In the afternoon several 
 loads of infantry clothing and shoes arrived. How rejoiced were all 
 to see this, lor we were suffering much from told, and our " bosom 
 friends turned back-biters," as " Dick 11 called them. We had no 
 change of clothing, and if any washing was done, we must wear 
 our outer garments while our under ones were being washed and 
 dried, and vice versa. Soap we had none; some made attempts to 
 make a little, but how could it be done without grease? And 
 grease was as easily obtained as soap from the commissaries. To 
 u ash our clothes all we could do was to rub them as clean as pos- 
 sible witl t soap, then thoroughly boil them. On the 21st we 
 
 received our share oi some clothing that had arrived. It consisted 
 ot seven shirts, five pairs of socks, eight or nine pairs of pants, 
 and as man) overcoats for a section numbering thirty-five men! 
 Lots were drawn to see which ones should have them, ami as is 
 often the case when such things are left to chance, those least in 
 need were the lucky ones. It appears from General Sheridan^ 
 Memoirs that even these supplies had a different destination, 
 ami were gotten for us b) him through a stratagem. 
 
134 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Our horses fared even worse than the men. The rebels had 
 spared neither foe nor friend, and when we came into that section 
 there was not enough left to last the citizens till they could ''make 
 craps" the coming summer. Yet we must live or the nation could 
 not, and as there was nothing to be had through Knoxville, we 
 divided with the people till neither they nor ourselves could find 
 anything to eat there. Many of the citizens nocked to Knox- 
 ville, where they fared little better than in the country. Govern- 
 ment had all it could do to get rations to the post for the troops 
 stationed there. After the boats began running to Louden, and 
 the cars from there to Knoxville, we began to receive a few more 
 hard tack. The mills for miles around were kept running when- 
 ever corn could be got. Our usual rations were one pint of 
 unsifted corn meal, one pound of beef, two spoonfuls of coffee and 
 sugar, and a small pinch of salt, to last two days. That which the 
 butcher styled beef might be so called only in the absence of a 
 more suitable word. The cattle were so poor that to push them 
 slightly would tip them over, so it required little to kill them, and 
 here, as at Chattanooga and every other place in the army, 
 the poorest animal was the one always selected to be skinned. 
 Had those in better condition been selected the poorer ones would 
 have died, and that would have been a dead loss to the butcher, 
 for he would in that case hardly have dared to cut out the animal's 
 heart, liver, tongue, etc., to sell them, and even the alleged beef of 
 such shadows of cattle was probably better for us than nothing. 
 We do not remember having seen a dozen cattle that were allowed 
 to die of starvation during the whole of our soldier life, yet they 
 were not fed as well as were the hundreds of horses and mules that 
 starved to death on every hand that winter! 
 
 Wagon trains were sent off toward the west, gathering up 
 what little corn there was within thirty miles in that direction. 
 Sometimes a train, well guarded, would be sent a short distance 
 into the enemy's country, and then, everything eatable for man or 
 beast was taken, for it was known the enemy had no more than 
 we, and if we did not take the supplies they would, so that the 
 citizens would have to suffer, no matter who got them. This will 
 illustrate the sufferings of the loyal East Tennesseeans and ourselves 
 during that memorable winter. 
 
 Soldiers will be merry, and will know how to enjoy life, no 
 matter what their surroundings. The poor, starving men of 
 
KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN". L35 
 
 A.ndersonville found means to amuse themselves by carving oul 
 wooden plates, knives and forks, with and out of which to eat their 
 soup and skin beef. The pinnacle of < Jlinch Mountain stood about 
 a mile to the northeast of our camp. The men would climb its 
 rugged sides, and from its summit view the surrounding picturesque 
 scenery. With the aid of the captain's field u'k'> s - we could plainly 
 
 see the rebel camps lying far below us, some miles to the 'theast, 
 
 could trace the course lit' our wagon trains for many miles to the 
 west; could plainly see the college standing boldly out on the hill 
 near Knowille. and could catch a faint glimpse of the city itself, 
 through the openings among the trees on the tops of the interven- 
 ing hills. The view to the east was grand. Thecountry appeared 
 like a magnified, beautifully terraced garden. Regular parallel 
 ranges of hills, the farther higher than the nearer, till they became 
 small mountain ranges then larger till they suddenly ended < to 
 our view ) with the Smoky Mountains as the highest. After hav- 
 ing feasted our eyes sufficiently on this enchanting scene, we 
 would amuse ourselves for hours with our revolvers, hunting 
 squirrels and wild sheep among the trees and rocks on the mountain 
 side. We also found laurel on the mountain, and of it- root- made 
 pipes. Whenever then- was snow enough to cover the ground, we 
 would go out with our revolvers and generally bring in a rabbit or 
 two. Then there were the various games of cards ami dominoes 
 with which to pass away time at camp. All hooks that chanced to 
 he stored away in the caissons during the march were now brought 
 to light, and read and re-read till their leaves weresohadlv worn as 
 to make them almost unintelligible. Besides all these, our atten- 
 tion was daily called to the doings of the gray hacks ( not Johnnies ) 
 for there was not one. even to our officers except, only as rumor had 
 it — Gen. Sheridan who. if he chose, could not have the exciting 
 pleasure of hunting this small hut fierce game. We had one man 
 (detailed) who flourished under the sobriquet of u Kansas," who 
 never took the trouble of making a search, save when standing by 
 a warm tire, with one hand In his bosom, he would say. " A louse 
 or no louse for a dollar!" and would always win the wager, he d 
 either way. One of our own men complained bitterly of the rash 
 the unsifted corn meal brought out on hi- hack, causing an almost 
 constant itching there. "Shure and phat else is it hut the bran of 
 the male a-coming right out through me skhin?" was his reason 
 given for scratching himself so much. 
 
136 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Nearly every day a few muskets and cannon could be heard to 
 the northeast of us, and occasionally a squad of bare-footed, half- 
 starved Johnnies would be inarched by to the rear. Christinas day 
 passed gloomily enough. Our Christmas dinner consisted of a 
 little "skin beef" fried on a stick held in the fire, boiled and stewed 
 in a fry-pan or boiled in a mess-kettle and a little corn meal 
 sprinkled into the soup, a corn cake and some coffee. We ate and 
 thought of home. 
 
 < )n the 30th Corp. Harter and Privates Henderson, Porter, 
 Brown and Mundell arrived from Chattanooga. They had started 
 with a long wagon train that was coining through, bringing the 
 baggage of the division. At Charlestown they became tired of the 
 snail pace of the train and started ahead on a hand car they pro- 
 pelled by poling. Soon after they had gone, Wheeler attacked the 
 train and was defeated. Arriving at Louden, they procured 
 transportation to Strawberry Plains and then walked to the Bat- 
 tery. They brought word that Corp. Brown was at Bridgeport to 
 attend to our express matter that might come through from home, 
 and that others were with the train, taking care of our baggage. 
 
 On the 31st there was some cannonading in the direction of 
 Knoxville, and it was feared that Longstreet had slipped by us and 
 was attacking the place, but we afterwards learned that it was a 
 salute fired in honor of Gen. Grant, who had arrived to see how 
 matters stood in this department. Gen. Burnsidehad been relieved 
 and Gen. Foster put in his place. As his (Foster) health would 
 not permit his being at the front, the command devolved upon 
 Gen. Parke. 
 
 We opened the New Year. A. D. 1864, as we had closed the old 
 one, by sitting around the camp fires and appearing as merry as 
 larks, but all the time thinking of where we should get something 
 for breakfast. 
 
 On the 4th of January the center section moved their camp 
 into the woods, where fuel would be more convenient. They 
 built semi-huts out of logs and poles, covered them with pine 
 boughs and ponchos, and then built huge log fires in front of the 
 side they had left open. One night, after the captain and Nor- 
 wegian had got up a very large pile in front of their shebang and 
 had got the fire well going, they, " Billy Gegan" and others took 
 their seats in the shanty to have a pleasant game of cards; when in 
 the midst of the game they began to feel warm, and looking up, 
 
KNiiM II. IK C Wll' A ION. 137 
 
 found their ponchos on the roof .-ill ablaze. Such scrambling as 
 then was! But thev lost their roof and Bill's wagon cover was then 
 brought into requisition. The poor Norwegian suffered for this. 
 The captain had already given him extra dutj for various offenses, 
 such as snoring in his sleep, cutting too much or too little wood, 
 etc., till he had some twent} days extra duty to work out, and for 
 the shanty's burning he received ten days more! 
 
 Almiit this tunc some wheal flour was issued to us. This was 
 received as a great luxury, but lo, when we had eaten it. it would 
 not remain down! Nearly every man who ate of it was taken 
 sick. It was soon learned that it was made from "sick wheat." as 
 the citizens railed it. It was wheat that had grown in the bundle 
 before being threshed. 
 
 On the 5th the detailed men, Roach and Heiiienian. who had 
 been left at the Widow Martin's, returned without horses; they 
 claimed to have been taken prisoners and escaped. On the same 
 day Captain Nailor, of the H'th Indiana Battery, arrived, lie 
 came to get his men who wished to re-enlist, as the most of them 
 had been out long enough. All the horses and harness we had of 
 his he turned over to ns. That day part of Wood's division crossed 
 the river, and we received orders to be ready to cross on the mor- 
 row, which were afterwards countermanded. The same day Isaiah 
 Harper, aged 33, enlisted at Chicago, Illinois, for our Batter) for 
 the term of three year-. He had formerly been a member of this 
 Battery, hut had been allowed to leave, as stated in the fore part of 
 thi> work. 
 
 On the 6th Ord. Gillette -tailed for Chattanooga to attend to 
 the company's affair- there. That day was the first time there had 
 been snow enough to cover the ground since we had been there, 
 but it had not lacked in cold weat her. 
 
 On the 8th our wagon trains returned empty, having been 
 gone since the 30th ult, after forage. There was uone to be had 
 unless they went on the east side of the river, and during this time 
 the river was ton high to ford, and the current too swift to allow 
 ferry boats to cross. 
 
 On the 10th the 3d Brigade -tailed up the river <>n a foraging 
 expedition. The center section sent all their horses along. The 
 second day out, as thej were passing an opening in the hills that 
 
 exposed them to the river, thej were tired u] b] a part} of rebels 
 
 on t he opposite -ide. Three infantry-men were wounded, one of 
 
138 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 our horses was killed and another wounded. They went about 
 thirty miles, but found the country so stripped that they came 
 back with empty wagons. They returned on the 12th, on which 
 day Sergt. Amberg, Privates Wright and Loomis arrived from 
 Chattanooga. The same day Chas. D. Gammon, aged 21, and 
 Thatcher Krum, aged 18, enlisted at Odell, Illinois for our Battery, 
 and for the term of three years. 
 
 On the 14th our tents and a portion of our baggage arrived in 
 wagons in charge of Captain Batterson, our commissary; Wood's 
 division crossed the river, and the 2d Brigade, with our right section, 
 had orders to cross, but after reaching the bank they were ordered 
 back to camp to wait till morning. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 On the 15th of January we were in motion by seven o'clock 
 in the morning. Our final destination we did not know, neither 
 did we know the real object of the movement, but from rumors 
 many believed it to be to force Longstreet to an unconditional sur- 
 render. We bad the rumor from a reliable source that Longstreet 
 was upon the point of surrendering, having offered to do so mi the 
 term's that Pemberton did at Vicksburg; but that Gen. Foster had 
 decided to brave the- lion in his den by marching boldly up to Ins 
 works ami demanding his surrender, or he would , well, per- 
 haps do what he did. 
 
 Our two sections having formed a junction, marched to a ford 
 some distance below the cross road-, but found the river so high as 
 to forbid our crossing. The night before had been quite warm and 
 this day it rained from an early hour till near uight, in conse- 
 quence, the river was rising rapidly. We hurried to a ford about 
 two miles above. Upon reaching there the river was quite full of 
 loose ice. the water so high as to nearly cover our guns, and half 
 cover the chests. None but the drivers crossed with the carriages. 
 Eagerly each piece was watched as though the uext instant was 
 to be its last. The river here was about forty rods wide. As the 
 carriages neared the opposite hank they were helped up the hank 
 with ropes ready for the purpose. Maii\ of the half faun-lied 
 horses could scarcel} stand after getting out of the water, and 
 their feebleness was one of our causes for fear, for had one fallen. 
 the swift current would have carried the whole team down the 
 stream into deep water, which would have been certain death to 
 the drivers and horses. Luckily all passed safely over. The men 
 were ferried across in an old -cow about half a mile above. The 
 infantry crossed at Strawberry Plain- and joined us in the after- 
 noon. We crossed the railroad soon after four o'clock and camped 
 
140 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 near Beaver Creek, having marched ten miles. Our camp seemed 
 like a Garden of Eden to us, for we found an abundance of corn 
 for our horses, and secured enough during the afternoon to make 
 us a bountiful supper. For water we had not far to go, and wood 
 was abundant. 
 
 We moved out at seven o'clock on the morning of the 16th, 
 and at noon came to Bray's Mountain. Here we must halt for 
 over an hour to allow the train ahead of us to get over the hill, 
 which was about 500 feet high. The road over it was good, but 
 our horses were so poor we had to double up till we had eighteen 
 horses to a carriage, where, had they been in good order, six would 
 readily have done it. Once on top, there was another splendid view 
 of the country to the east. The atmosphere was in just the state 
 to make objects appear near by. Smoky Mountains appeared so 
 near that one fancied he could have discovered a man on them, 
 had there been one there, although the mountains were over fif- 
 teen miles distant. 
 
 We could hear cannonading to the east, and were told that our 
 forces were attacking the rebels above Dandridge. At four o'clock 
 we reached the town, and marched through to the north side. 
 Our cavalry was coming back in great haste and bringing word 
 that the enemy was advancing on the town and would soon be 
 there. The enemy was so near that some of their shells passed 
 over the place. 
 
 We took position near the edge of town and awaited their 
 approach. They were using three batteries, two of which were 
 near enough for us to reach them had we been ordered to fire. As the 
 day closed, so did the battle — the rebels falling back several miles. 
 Our infantry followed them some distance, and when our cavalry 
 discovered the enemy had retreated, they advanced also. That 
 morning the rebel, General Vance, brother of the governor of 
 North Carolina, was captured by our cavalry. He had sent out a 
 body of his cavalry, dressed in our uniform, to reconnoitre, and 
 seeing a body of our men advancing, thought they were his, and 
 thus allowed himself to be caught. At dark the Battery moved 
 into town and camped, having marched twelve miles that day. 
 
 About noon on Sunday, the 17th, the center section and 3d 
 Brigade moved about tw T o miles down the French Broad River, to 
 a ford, where two islands lay abreast. The 14th Illinois Cavalry, 
 with a battery of mountain howitzers crossed ahead of them to 
 
KNoWII.l.K CAMPAIGN. 141 
 
 inspect the country. The first part of the stream was not very 
 deep, and was easily bridged for the infant r\ to cross. The second 
 stream was much deeper. Bere mule wagons were placed, one 
 ahead of the other, to form a bridge over which the infantry could 
 cross. The guns crossed the firsi stream very easily, but the 
 second one was so deep and swift that it was with great difficulty 
 that No. 3 ^nn was saved. The drivers ami horses became dizzj 
 and began to turn down the stream, where, had they deviated but 
 twenty feet from the regular track, they would have sunk out of 
 - i u" 1 1 f ! Through the strenuous efforts of the sergeant and the 
 shouting of those on the wagon bridge, all reached tin- shun-. The 
 
 sec 1 island was found to be well storked with corn, roughness, 
 
 etc.. and when it was discovered that the third stream was SO deep, 
 from the rivers having risen rapidly, and could not he crossed that 
 
 afternoon, the men were not sorry, ami inn liately set to work to 
 
 make themselves comfortable, ami having cared for their horses, 
 they were soon parching corn over splendid rail tires. Some went 
 so far as to -prepare a place to sleep, when up rode an officer ami 
 said to the captain, L * Get hack from here as soon as possible, for 
 the enemy is advancing ( we had heard fighting about two miles 
 above for some time) and the river is rising so rapidly that in a 
 short time you will he unahle to re-cross!" The latter was found 
 to he the case, hut all reached the main laud in safety, do damage 
 being done save the wetting id' some of the ammunition in the 
 chests. The infantry crossed as fast as they could, some hurrying 
 so that several tell into the river and took a very cold bath. It 
 was impossible to save some of the wagons, as the river had risen 
 so high as to sweep them away. 
 
 Our section camped near the bank of the river and had just 
 parched the last corn they intended to that night, while some were 
 already asleep, when orders came to he ready in five minutes to fall 
 in with the wagon train, which was then passing. We were soon 
 in motion, our sections having formed a junction. As we passed 
 the camps of the troops that had been there some time, we saw 
 huge pile- of corn given to the flames, while many wagons were 
 empty, and could a- w.dl a- not have carried many bushels of the 
 precious -rain. But tin- was not the worst. The mill near town 
 
 was full of corn meal, and instead of its being iss I then to the 
 
 half famished men. or starving loyal citizens, or carried along to 
 issue afterward-, it was shoveled into the river t<» prevent its falling 
 
142 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 into the hands of the rebels! At Mossy Creek, where large 
 stores of clothing had been collected, hundreds of pairs of boots, 
 shoes, pants, etc., etc., were burned rather than say to the unclad 
 men, "Help yourselves, boys!" But this was not all. We had 
 been marched against the enemy with the expectation of a hard 
 battle, when half of the infantry had not a dozen rounds, and 
 many only one or two in their cartridge boxes! And now we were 
 fleeing before a phantom ! Scarcely a shot had been fired, so to 
 speak, and here we were running for dear life. From what? The 
 fancied pursuit of Longstreet with an army increased to many 
 times the size of ours, by fresh arrivals from Virginia! 
 
 It was said that Gen. Granger had offered to take his two 
 divisions and hold the ground, and that when he was assured by Gen. 
 Parke that to think of it was preposterous, "Little Phil." 
 (Sheridan) said he would do it with our division! But no, the 
 subaltern commanding, or the head chief at Knoxville, had a 
 vision, and the hosts of the confederacy would swallow us all in a 
 few hours if we did not hasten back to Strawberry Plains. It was 
 thought we might make a stand there, if not, then Knoxville. with 
 its natural and artificial defenses, was to be our shield. 
 
 It was half past ten o'clock when the retreat began. About 
 two hours later it begin to rain, an 1 continued till nearly dark of the 
 next day. So many teams passing over the road soon broke 
 through the frost, and the fast falling rain added to the water 
 already on the ground made the roads in many places almost im- 
 passable. A team would stall; "Catch hold of the wheels there, 
 men, 11 the captain would call out. All would lift with all their 
 strength, and after some minutes would succeed in extricating a 
 carriage. Perhaps a horse would fall during the efforts made to 
 advance. If he was not so worn out as to be unable to stand, we 
 would lift him to his feet and steady him till terra-firma was again 
 reached. If, however, as soon as we got him to his feet, he tumbled 
 over again, Ave would unharness him, drag him to one side so 
 the wheels of the carriages would not run over him; then, if there 
 chanced to be an extra skeleton that had been able to keep up with 
 us, it was put in in his stead, if not, we threw the harness on the 
 carriage and moved on. From two o'clock till daylight we had to 
 halt on account of the intense darkness. Fires were soon spring- 
 ing up, and in a few minutes each was encircled by a body of weary 
 men, many of whom soon dropped to sleep, nor awoke till long 
 
KNOXVII.I.K CAMPAIGN. 1 ['■', 
 
 after the column was again in motion, and many of them not then. 
 Had the enemy followed close behind as, as wassuppo3ed they were 
 doing, hundreds of our sleeping comrades would have been captured. 
 In many cases shaking, beating or kicking would rouse them only 
 td an appeal to be let alone, when tune they had closed their eyes 
 
 ill sleep. 
 
 The cavalry was mostly in front of US, buf of that portion left 
 to protect the rear, every few minutes one would come alongand bid 
 us hurry, and stating that the rebels were following (lose and gob- 
 bling even man who was left behind. 
 
 As the darkness began to break the column moved on again. 
 Whenever we came to a place in the road where the rocks were 
 bare, it was dangerous for a man to attempt to ride. The horses 
 were unshod, and if one attempted to pull, orstepped on an uneven 
 Spot on the rocks, he would he sure to slip, and there wen- very few 
 horses in the Battery that could keep from falling if they 
 slipped the least particle. By noon No. 4 caisson horses had all 
 played out. and the caisson was left with three of our men toguard 
 it until the Battery could reach the plains and send back horses for 
 it! We hardly expected to meet our comrades again, for from 
 what the cavalry reported, a man was a prisoner as soon as he had 
 got twenty rods behind our column, and here they were to stay 
 some four miles from Strawberry Plains, the nearest protection 
 after our army should have passed. 
 
 The roads were now so had and the borses SO fagged out that 
 we had to use our picket ropes and prolonges to fasten to the car- 
 riages for the cannoneers ami the infantry to pull by. With about 
 fifty men to each carriage, we wallowed through the hub-deep mud 
 until Strawberry Plains was reached at 1 P. M. 
 
 What a city was before as! One brick building, once an 
 academy, now used as quarters for the men who guarded the tort 
 that surrounded it. one frame house some distance from the bridge, 
 two or three little buildings nearer it. and a block house that the 
 rebels built on the west side of the river, some distance from the 
 bridge, were all the traces there were of a town. This, we trusted, 
 was the end id' that " Longstreet" so much talked of for some time 
 previous; but not so, the " Longstreet" ended not till Knoxville 
 
 was reached. 
 
 At 2 P. M. we crossed the river on the railroad bridge, which 
 was destroyed a day or two later to prevent the rebels using it. 
 
144 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 We pitched camp in some woods about two miles southwest of 
 town. Rain-water was abundant if caught, but we had to go half 
 a mile for water for coffee. That night, even with wet blankets 
 for bedding, was about the sweetest night's rest we ever enjoyed. 
 All were completely fagged out, and nothing could have kept us 
 awake ten minutes after our fires were fairly burning. Hunger 
 was almost forgotten, and soon was entirely so with most of us, 
 who were entirely unconscious, lying before a good, warm fire. 
 Rations could not be had that night save a very little beef, and 
 probably not that had it not been feared that two cattle of the 
 drove could not live till morning. 
 
 On the morning of the 19th we drew six ounces of flour, some 
 sugar, coffee and salt. During the afternoon a team was sent 
 back to get the caisson left behind. It was found near the bridge 
 and in possession of Gen. Willich, who, as he came to where the 
 caisson was left and learned that it belonged to Gen. Sheridan's 
 division, had his brigade haul it in, and refused to restore it to us. 
 This was clone to retaliate for something of the kind Sheridan's 
 men had done at the battle of Chickamauga. Our captain finally 
 succeeded in getting it. 
 
 Troops, especially cavalry, were passing en-route for Knox- 
 ville all day. No enemy appeared. They must have had their 
 hands full in taking care of the stragglers, whom they failed to 
 catch in the rear of our column, and were thus unable to attend to 
 eating us. 
 
 On the 20th we drew three ounces of unsifted meal and the 
 usual quantity of coffee, etc. It had been decided that the whole 
 army must go to Knoxville. 
 
 At 11 A. M. we started with our guns, leaving the caissons to 
 be sent in by rail. We left eight men to guard them. The only 
 thing that occurred on our road to the city, that was of much con- 
 cern to us, was the fording of Flat Creek. This was successfully 
 accomplished, but through great danger. We reached Knoxville 
 at 5 P. M. and took quarters partly with the left section and partly 
 with Lieut. Colvin's men till the next day, when we moved into 
 the loft of a stable, where Lieut. Colvin kept his horses. The next 
 day the enemy appeared at Strawberry Plains, but thanks to the 
 foresight of Gen. Parke, the bridge had been destroyed, so all they 
 could get across to our forces were a few shells and some bullets. 
 They were u in force," having two or three cannon and nearly a 
 
KNnwn.i.K CAMPAIGN. 1 lo 
 
 hundred cavalry-men! Who could withstand such a formidable 
 host? Our men were ordered to put one caisson on the cars and 
 to bury well and deep the ammunition of the others, and then cut 
 and burn the carriages. This they did, and No. 1 caisson was the 
 only one that reached Knoxville. Here also was much clothing 
 destroyed ratherthan give it to the men! 
 
 Thus ended our capture of thai famous Longstreet, but not 
 the whole history of the ease. When night put an end to the 
 skirmishing on the 17th. the rebels fell back to their works, think- 
 ing our forces were advancing on both sides of the river, and would 
 attack them on Momla\ . the 181 h. 
 
 On that morning they lay still, expecting their vedettes or 
 scouts would soon report us advancing. Noon came, but uo hlue 
 hacks. In the afternoon their cavalry advanced as far as hand- 
 ridge, and finding uo signs of Yanks, returned and reported how 
 matters stood. Longstreet's men were not in condition to follow 
 us, and it is probable he mistrusted a trap and chose to 
 remain behind his works, so it was not until the 21 si that anybody 
 of rebels got within cannon range of the plains. The few rebels 
 who reached the plains discovered there was no trap about it. hut 
 that the Yanks were as demoralized as a tlock of sheep with a 
 wolf close behind them. Ungallantly taking advantage of this 
 
 discovery, they followed close upon the heels of "'the last mall to 
 
 leave, 11 and without the slightest opposition, captured a large drove 
 of cattle within a tew miles of Knoxville; but were kind enough 
 
 to leave ahoilt a quarter of t he drove ( which were too poor to drive 
 
 off ) for us poor, starving Yanks. Thus ended that disgraceful 
 campaign, of the management of which Gen. Sheridan speak- so 
 indignantly in his Memoirs. 
 
 <)n the 21st the drivers were sent into the country to forage 
 for and fed their horses. Sergt. Murphy was sent in 
 charge. They were to go to or beyond Clinch River, if thej did 
 not find an abundance nearer. They started on the Jacksborough 
 road and camped the first night on Beaver Creek. They found an 
 abundance of good food for man and beast, but not enough to war- 
 rant them remaining there. The [eft section horses had been sent 
 out some time before, and the drivers reported a very rich district 
 in the valleys of the Clinch. So. on the ~l'li\ they started ahead 
 again. Every few miles they had to unhalter a horse that was too 
 poor to go farther. This day the} cut aero-- to the Clinton road. 
 
146 BATTEKY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 and at night camped some distance to its right on Bull Run. They 
 divided up that night, half of them stopping at a rebel's, and the 
 rest making themselves at home with a milk-and-water union man 
 named 'Squire Cooper. At both detachments the fare was sump- 
 tuous. Splendid light biscuit, butter, honey, syrup, ham, eggs. 
 " Oh, go 'way from me," would end the description the participants 
 gave when detailing their luxuries. The horses fared equally well, 
 enjoying all the corn and roughness they could eat. 
 
 On the morning of the 23d things were taken coolly, there 
 being no great hurry to resume the march, as it was intended to 
 average only about eight miles per day — that being as far as the 
 horses were thought to be able to travel — when some citizen ar- 
 rived with the word that the rebels had got between there and 
 Knoxville and that some were even then in that neighborhood. 
 This was told to 'Squire Cooper, who immediately informed our 
 men of the danger they were in. They sent one of their number 
 post haste to inform the others. The two squads soon met about 
 half way between their camps. They stopped to consult as to the 
 best way out of there, when some shots were heard not far off. 
 This was sufficient. The shots were fired to the southeast of them, so 
 they went northwest, and soon struck the Jacksborough road again. 
 Away they went, leaving the 'squire, doubtless chuckling over the 
 success of his ruse. At noon they dined on the premises of one 
 James Moore, who appeared to have an abundance of everything 
 that was good, even to good looking daughters. At night they 
 again divided, one lot stopping with a staunch union man, named 
 Llewellyn, the others going about a mile farther and putting up 
 with a rebel named Kirkpatrick. They were upwards of twenty 
 miles from Knoxville, and within a mile of Clinch River. The 
 country was teeming with all kinds of forage, there having been 
 no soldiers through there in any great numbers — our men being 
 the greatest number of Yanks the people had seen. Here was an 
 Eden, and here they would pitch their tents (albeit they had 
 none) and this should be their future abode till spring opened, and 
 " March" should again be the command. But alas, after despatch- 
 ing a royally superb supper, and while engaged in preparing their 
 beds, two horsemen were seen to be approaching from the east, 
 evidently urging their horses to their greatest speed. Could they 
 be rebels? All ran to the road in the hope of being able to capture 
 two prisoners. But alas, instead of two rebels ready for capture, 
 
KNOXV11.I.K i A.MPAIGN. 1 17 
 
 they beheld Sergt. A.mberg and Jean Martine, and were told that 
 all hands must be in Knoxville before daylight on the morrow to 
 1m- ready to inarch for some place in the directi f Chatti ga. 
 
 At 9:30 they started on the return. Tin- night was somewhat 
 cool, hut as bright and calm a- can be when the moon is at it- lull. 
 They started with not the slightest intention of returning emptj 
 handed. At Moore's thej bad so loaded their horses with meat 
 that it became necessary to throw som i of it away, to make mum 
 for sacks of flour ami meal obtained at mills alone- the road. Bj 
 daylight they had a complete assortment of delicacies ami substan- 
 tial, ami we doubt if ever an\ of Sherman's bummers returned to 
 camp with a load that gave more delight and satisfaction, to the 
 beholders and the sharers, than did our men on the 24th of January. 
 
 It was noon before they reached town, as they halted at a 
 rebel's about live miles out. to feed ami take a rest. Hill was with 
 them wirli his wagon, and had it filled with corn and oat- bundle 1. 
 besides many things that were palatable to man. 
 
 Many of those at camp had some good, square meal- from the 
 
 proceeds of that expedition. I!ut the meat might as well have 
 
 been left behind, for it was not salted sufficiently to keep for any 
 length of time salt and coffee being so scarce among the citizens 
 that they were ready to pay almost any price for a pound of 
 either. The garrison had received a large drove of hogs from 
 Kentucky,. and there was nothing to feed them with. If thej 
 were not killed immediately they would lose so much in weight, and 
 that would he a dead loss to the contractor-. There was not -alt 
 enough at the post to think of salting them, so thej were killed 
 and issued till we would receive no more. 
 
 A- we were not prepared, the march was delayed. Our horses 
 had to he shod. We must have more horse-, caissons and ammuni- 
 tion, and perfect our eipiipnien t as far as possible Indole leaving. 
 
 On the 25th we drew three caissons and ammunition to till 
 them from the arsenal, forty-five horses and some harness from the 
 6th Michigan Battery, and a sufficiency of such clothingas was in 
 store at the post. New men came from the LOth Indiana Battery 
 to relieve those who wished to go "vet.' 1 At night we answered 
 to our names, as a battery, for the first time in five month.-. 
 
 Order- were received t arch the next day, but, on the morning 
 
 of the 26th, thej were countermanded. The horses were again 
 sent out, this time under Lieut. Fluskey, and in the direction of 
 
148 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 the French Broad River. They fared nearly as well as did those who> 
 went toward the Clinch, though the country was not so rich. 
 Near where they stopped that night there was a ball at a union 
 man's house. At this many of the boys enjoyed themselves. 
 
 On the 27th the lieutenant returned to Knoxville to escort Bill, 
 who brought in a load of corn. Just at dark orders came for us 
 to march the next day. At midnight the lieutenant started to 
 bring in the men and horses. He reached camp with them at 1 
 P. M., on the 28th. 
 
CHAITKI.' Will. 
 
 Knox ville, notwithstanding its boasted attractions, had no 
 charms for us. and it was with willing hearts and ready hands we 
 prepared to leave. But whither were we to go? To us it mat- 
 tered little so that it was away from there. There had been 
 rumors that an attempt by the rebels would soon be made to cut 
 off our communications with Chattanooga, and that they had 
 already reached the vicinity of Marysville. Loudon was then the 
 head of steamboat navigation on the Tennessee, also the terminus 
 of the railroad on the south side of Knoxville. This was the most 
 important point, and thither we were to go. 
 
 At 1:30 P. M.. on the 28th of January, we bid a final adieu to 
 Knoxville and camped on a small creek about two miles out. The 
 only troops accompanying us was the 74th Illinois, the others hav- 
 ing gone on before. 
 
 We resumed the march at 8:30 A. M.. and at 9:30 halted near 
 an old house, then being used as a rebel hospital. In it were 
 about twenty unfortunates from the charge on Fort Saunders. 
 Some had lost an arm. others a leg, some an arm and leg, and one 
 poor fellow, just ready to hid adieu to earth, had lost one leg and 
 one of his arms, which had been taken off so (dose as to also take 
 out his collar hone. We never had seen human beings in such 
 abject misery as these were. They appeared to have very little to 
 eat. iii fact, uone of the accessaries that beings in their condition 
 would seem to require. They were their own nurses. 
 
 The roads were in excellent condition, and we were surprised 
 
 that it had not rai I the day before, as it seemed the rule that it 
 
 should rain on the day we started. In the afternoon we concluded 
 we had given the weather conductor the slip by leaving in the 
 afternoon: hut near night it began to rain as though rejoiced at 
 having discovered our escape, and had Keen aide to overtake us 
 with a shower before we reached ' destination. 
 
150 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 At Campbell's Station, which, by the way, is some miles 
 from any railroad, or anything else that one would think of calling 
 a station, the houses were completely perforated with shell holes. 
 Eight shells had entered the end of ;i house that presented at the 
 end a surface of about 16x16 feet. This was some of Burnside's 
 work while on his retreat from Loudon to Knoxville. One of 
 Longstreet's cannon was yet lying in a held near by. where one of 
 Burnside's guns had dismounted it. and there were several places 
 where the underbrush was well cut up by bullets. At one place 
 three of our men had been buried by union women, the rebels hav- 
 ing left the bodies unburied, the}' burying only their own men. 
 We camped that night on Turkey Creek, sixteen miles from 
 Knoxville. 
 
 It rained all day of the 30th, soon converting the roads into a 
 bed of mire. It was nine o'clock before feed could be found for 
 our horses, and then it was found some four miles nearer our des- 
 tination. The owner of the corn found was a rich rebel, named 
 Williams. He was at home and had his protection papers to show 
 us. He complained bitterly about our taking his corn, and declared 
 he knew not where he could get anything to feed his large family 
 on till he could " make a crap." Lieut. Fluskey assured him that 
 he would give him a voucher for the full amount taken, and this, 
 with the consoling words Kirby Smith spoke to him, made him 
 a little more reasonable. We left him about a hundred bushels 
 of corn "to feed his large family on till he could make a crap/ 1 and 
 proceeded on our way. Shortly after passing Lenoir Station were 
 seen the ruins of many caissons and wagons destroyed by either 
 Longstreet or Burnside some time before. 
 
 The river opposite Loudon was reached at 2 P. M., and crossed 
 by five o'clock by rowing across in small scows. Our guns were 
 placed in position in a rude fort on the top of a high hill to the 
 south of town. A large packing house furnished stabling for our 
 horses, while the men took quarters in what was, before the war, 
 the principal hotel of the place. In one end of this building was 
 a sick rebel colonel with a rebel soldier for nurse. These rebels 
 were visited daily by the ladies of the place, bringing in the choicest 
 dishes they could produce. There were many sick union soldiers 
 in town who needed assistance and luxuries as much as these rebels, 
 and yet they received no such attention. However, it was remem- 
 bered we w T ere not among friends, and said nothing. 
 
KNOXVILLE ( wir \h;n. i:»l 
 
 Loudon bad apparently been a flourishing town before the war, 
 but now the principal buildings were about ruined, while many of 
 them were in ashes. The wealthier portion of the citizens had all 
 gone to Dixie. Those who had not left before our forces took the 
 place were immediately sent south by us. All who now remained 
 
 were of the poor class, who could d harm if they did remain. 
 
 Of this class there were about thirty families. 
 
 Before the rebels fell back, at the time Burnside occupied the 
 place, thev burned the large covered railroad ami wagon bridge 
 that spanned the river hen'. Burnside came near capturing a 
 couple of their trains, but rather than let them fall into his hands. 
 the enemy fired the cars, and just as Burnside's advance was com- 
 ing in sight, ran both trains into the river. 
 
 Aiter the battle of Mission Ridge they ran three trains off the 
 portion of bridge from the south side. At low water these ruins 
 were in plain sight, and were taken up at a later date by ourpioneers. 
 
 The next day. after reaching Loudon, one of our detailed men 
 was taken down with small-pox. He had caught it at Knoxville, 
 where it was making tearful ravages among the citizens and 
 negroes, and had begun to appear among the troops. 
 
 At 1 P. M.. on the 1st of February, orders were received to 
 cross the river immediately, as it was rumored Longstreet was 
 crossing between us and Knoxville. At half past five we were at 
 the ferry and ready to cross. All hands worked hard, hut did not 
 get over till nine o'clock; then camped near the hank, expecting 
 to move forward at break of day next morning, hut at ten o'clock, 
 on the 2d, we got orders to report back to lien. Sheridan. Think- 
 ing we should most likely have the first use for our u'un< on the 
 north side of the river, they were left there in a fort on top of the 
 highest hill in the region, leaving a guard of twenty-four men 
 under charge of Corporal Dolton. Our horses were ferried back to 
 tlie south side, the packing house fitted up in good style for them, 
 and the men resumed their quarters at the hotel, pitying tin' poor 
 twenty-four, who were left on top of that bleak hill with onh 
 tents for shelter. 
 
 That day Samuel A. Murphy, aged eighteen, enlisted for our 
 Battery for the term of three years. 
 
 Alas, the pity we had felt for those out in the cold at the 
 •runs was reversed on the tth! They had, got good shanties built 
 and were free ami easy, while we had guard and police dutj to do, 
 
152 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 and besides, on this day, (the 4th) we were ousted from our hotel 
 and had to build shanties for ourselves. The tavern was needed 
 for a hospital. We got permission to tear down a couple of old 
 houses in town to build shebangs of. Our camp ground was 
 chosen at the foot of the hill on which our guns were first placed, 
 and between it and the river. Our wood had to be hauled about a 
 mile, and water from the river, whose bank at this side was about 
 sixty feet high and almost perpendicular. 
 
 In a few days all were comfortable and were beginning again 
 to feel commiseration for the twenty-four. Again we were the 
 ones to be pitied. While we must be up at dawn to answer to our 
 names, they slept as late in the morning as the} r pleased. At noon 
 and at night we must be at camp to again say "'here," or, if with- 
 out a permit to be absent, would be pricked, and pricking was 
 followed by extra duty. Another thing: Boats were now arriving 
 almost daily. They would unload on the north bank, their cargoes 
 then having to be hauled to the railroad and loaded on the cars to 
 be shipped to Knoxville. The teams had to pass near the camp of 
 the twenty-four, who appointed themselves inspectors in general. 
 Stationing themselves in the ravine through which the teams had 
 to go, (they chose this spot on account of its being warmer than 
 on top of the hill where the depot was — they had no other reason 
 for it ) they closely inspected each load, the drivers recognizing 
 their right to search, and if they found a barrel with too much 
 sugar in it, too many boxes of hard tack, too many pieces of bacon, 
 too many shoulders, too many sacks of coffee, too many boxes of 
 soap, stationery, candles, or too much of anything in the wagon, 
 they always took that overplus out, and, by right of confiscation, 
 appropriated it to their own use. Of course they found great 
 quantities of these contraband articles, and as they could not use 
 them all at that time, and there was danger of their spoiling if 
 left exposed to air, they buried them for future use. There were a 
 few "sardine boxes" (this title was bestowed upon all officers by 
 many of the Tennessee ladies, and, of course, the army was not 
 slow in appropriating it) who were jealous of the high authority 
 of these twenty-four, and did all they could to oust them from 
 office, but without effect. We at first lamented that we were 
 not where we could be appointed the twenty-four's deputies; but, 
 as they soon had such a store on hand that they would not take 
 their share of the rations drawn, we began to be a little more 
 
KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 1.53 
 
 reconciled to our Lot. The cars began to arrive from Chattanooga 
 on the 11th. This gave us a chance to ad as inspectors, for they 
 soon began to bring in rations. 
 
 While lying al the cross roads one of our "nons 11 had some 
 words with a private, both u sing abusive language. On the 12th 
 the private was arrested for using abusive language to his superior. 
 
 On ihf 13th the pay rolls were signed. At night then' was 
 quite an alarm in camp. Many thoughi the post had been attacked 
 and rushed out of their tents to see what was the matter. Cer- 
 tainU there had been a cannon tired at no great distance. After 
 Listening some time and hearing nothing more, all returned to 
 their bunks, and learned next day that some infantry had found a 
 shell and thrown it into the fire to see if it would explode. We 
 often saw infantry playing with these life-destroyers as though 
 the) were harmless toys, and knew of many who paid dearly for 
 their heedlessness. 
 
 Pioneers were now at work in great numbers at rebuilding the 
 bridge, and. on the 15th, they began to raise it. It was slow work, 
 as it was necessary to build four bridges, one on top of the other. 
 First a low trestle of three heights of posts was built, and then a 
 high trestle on top, after which the lower works were knocked out 
 from under. 
 
 A^mong ourselves the time was passed in shell work or the 
 various camp games. Every (dear day we would have a game of 
 ball. We also introduced a game that "Father" (give "a" in 
 father the sound of "a" in had) called i; pig-in-the-hole-ah, 11 which 
 u as soon the favorite. 
 
 On the loth Ord. Grillett and Beadle arrived from Chattanooga. 
 The same day the rumor was circulated that Longstreef had 
 received large Reinforcements and was marching with 20,000 men 
 on the south side and L0,000 on the north side of the river to the 
 siege of Knoxville. Several veteran regiments had reached Loudon 
 en-route for home, but now they had to return to Knoxville. 
 
 On the 17th we received two months' pay. At -i\ o'clock, 
 that afternoon, the captain gol orders to send one section to Sweet- 
 water, twelve miles down the railroad. The righl section, under 
 Lieut. Burton was chosen to go. Their guns crossed the river 
 immediately. The ferrymen declared we ought tobeonagun- 
 boat, for we were a floating battery anyhow, so often had the) to 
 ferry us to and fro. 
 
154 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 The section did not leave till next morning - , and then it went 
 in company with the 3d Brigade. At Sweetwater, the inhabitants 
 of which were all rebels, they took quarters in empty houses, and 
 had a grand time while they remained there. 
 
 On the 19th the arrested private was courtmartialed and some 
 days later his sentence was read. He was to lose three months' 
 pay and to return to duty. The same day four men returned to 
 the 10th Indiana Battery. 
 
 At 1 P. M., on the 22d, the right section returned and imme- 
 diately fired a salute of thirty -four guns in honor of the day. It 
 was thought best to keep those guns on that side of the river, in 
 case they might again be called out in haste. Seventeen men from 
 Battery G, 1st Missouri, arrived to relieve as many from the 10th 
 Indiana Battery, who left that day. 
 
 On the 23d a few of Longstreet's Indians came in. They 
 were headed by their chief. He wanted to know if his tribe would 
 be pardoned if they returned to their loyalty. Being encouraged, 
 the chief left his men (among them his son) as hostages, while he 
 went back to bring in more. A iew days before this the Cherokee 
 Indians, under the noted Thomas, found themselves suddenly 
 awakened early in the morning, by the 14th Illinois Cavalry order- 
 ing them to surrender. The cavalry captured a number of prisoners 
 and the entire camp equipage with the loss of but few men. 
 Among their mortally wounded was Lieut. Capron, son of Col. 
 Capron. He died on the road back. His body passed through 
 Loudon on the 11th of February. This total rout and defeat 
 caused the Indians to lose all faith in the confederacy, and if their 
 Great Father, at Washington, would let them go unpunished, they 
 would again become his children — and gladly too. 
 
 It was a feature of the confederacy to have everything as near 
 like the old block as possible, notwithstanding their protestations 
 against anything connected with the union. As soon as the 
 veteran subject was started in our army they took it up, and many 
 of their regiments re-enlisted, because they saw they might as well 
 do that as not. for they would be held as long as there was war 
 anyway. Some of these went in for forty years, or during the 
 war; while others showed their patriotism more strongly by enroll- 
 ing their names for during the war or forever. Not to make it 
 appear as entirely a farce, their government allowed a few of them 
 to go home on a furlough, the same as the Yanks were doing. 
 
KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 155 
 
 Some of these gray back "vets 11 were al Lome aear Levierville, 
 merrily enjoying themselves, when our cavalry took them in. 
 They were the best clothed Johnnies we saw during the war. 
 
 On thf 25th Gen. Sheridan lefi for borne on leave of absence. 
 
 On the morning of the 27th our camp was thrown into a state 
 ol great excitemenl by the finding of a dead body near our horses. 
 By his trousers we recognized him as belonging to the bridge 
 builders. They were immediately notified. It appeared from 
 what they said that the man had small-pox and caught cold during 
 his recovery. He had been deranged Eor several days, and during 
 that night had escaped from his tent and must have killed himself. 
 That day Harper, a recruit, joined us. and John Hammond was 
 brought back under arrest as a deserter. The same da\ Lieut. 
 Fluskey and Artificer Trumbull went to Chattanooga to get the 
 fragments of the Battery that were still there, viz: many of our 
 tents, nearly all of our baggage, the Battery wagon and forge, the 
 company's records, etc., etc., together with the men left to 
 guard them, and take all to the Battery. 
 
 That day Corpora] Schnasse, id' gun •">. was promoted to 
 sergeant, and Private Adler to corporal of the same. 
 
 On the 29th Hans Johnson, aged twenty-four, and George 
 Johnson, aged twenty-one, enlisted at Thornton, Illinois, for the 
 term of three years tor our Battery. 
 
 On the 2d of March the right section had orders to move to 
 Charleston to guard bridge builders, hut after they were ready to 
 start the order was countermanded, the 23d Indiana Battery going 
 in their stead. 
 
 On the 5th two recruits. Krum ami Alhee. arrived. One 
 man. Ebin Gower, who enlisted when they did. died in the bospi- 
 tal soon after leaving home. 
 
 On the loth some of the Hurloughed men having returned, (for 
 we had been allowed four for the Battery: Morgan Banks. \\ right, 
 Win. Hamilton and Carey being deemed most in need id' them) 
 the two former started for home. 
 
 On the 12th the reign of the twenty-four, whose number had 
 increased to thirty, was suddenly terminated by the captain con- 
 cluding lie would have the Battery all together once more. 
 
 On the 18th the Battery was inspected l>\ Capt. Edgerton, who 
 had heen our chief of artillery ever since taking position at the 
 works in front of Chattanooga. 
 
156 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 The same day Hamilton and Carey started for home on fur- 
 lough. 
 
 The 1st and 2d Regiments of Ohio Heavy Artillery were now 
 detailed to act as guards and garrison the fortified points from 
 Chattanooga to Knoxville. On the 16th one company of the 1st 
 arrived at Loudon. Some time before, six new Rodman guns 
 had arrived for Henshaw's battery. As these " heavy men" were 
 to have charge of field guns principally, they were ordered to take 
 these and drill on them. They had served over two years, but 
 only as infantry, and therefore did not know how to mount the 
 guns. We had to do it for them, and then, after the guns were 
 hauled up into the fort, we sent a detail regularly to drill their 
 officers and men. On the 19th they were ordered up to Knoxville, 
 and the guns were left for us to guard. 
 
 On the 21st the sanitary commission sent a pailful of sour 
 krout and a few dozen onions to the invalids of the Battery. 
 
 During the night of the 22d snow fell to a great depth. At 
 Chattanooga fifteen inches fell! This was something rare for 
 that district. When this melted and the spring rains had well 
 set in, the river rose so high as to carry away a great portion of 
 the new bridge, and for some time all work ceased on it, the men 
 being sent down the road to rebuild the bridges washed away be- 
 tween here and Chattanooga. When anything like that happened 
 there was a break of several days in our mails. Sometimes a squad 
 of rebels would capture and burn a train; then we would be in a 
 state of uneasiness till we learned positively whether the mail was 
 lost. A letter from home was now our greatest concern. 
 
 The method the rebels adopted for capturing trains was to 
 put a torpedo under the track at some point they could safely 
 watch, and then, if the train was broken in two and had not too 
 strong a guard along, they would rush down upon it, sack it and 
 then burn it. 
 
 On the 23d two more men arrived from Battery G, 1st Mis- 
 souri. On the next day all the 10th Indiana Battery men returned 
 to their battery, and Lieut. Fluskey, Thompson, Titus and Gammon 
 arrived from Chattanooga. 
 
 On the 25th Corporals Mercer, Korah and Brown. Privates 
 Bonser, Dyson, Wagonmaster Briggs, and others, who were left at 
 Chattanooga, or had returned there from hospital, arrived, bringing 
 
KNOXVILLE CAMP LIGN. 157 
 
 everything we had left behind when starting from Knoxville. 
 Little " Battery" was with them, and righl glad were all tosee him 
 among as again. 
 
 Thai nighl Gen. Sheridan returned and was serenaded by the 
 band of the 2 It h \\ isconsin. 
 
 A.rmed with haversacks and canteens, we marched out beside 
 our guns, on the 27th, to again be reviewed by Capt. Edgerton. 
 He found many of us poorly supplied with the above mentioned 
 articles, and ordered them to be immediately furnished us. " But," 
 said he to our captain, " have you no more non-commissioned offi- 
 cers than these wearing their chevrons?" Our captain informed 
 him that it had not been the custom in the Battery for the nons 
 to wear their badges of office. The captain said thai must go no 
 farther. We must distinguish our nons Prom privates. Out of 
 our whole number <d' nons there were not more than two or three 
 who wore their stripes at that time, and neither did they till overa 
 year later, notwithstanding the order to wear them. We were not 
 a stylish Battery, and anything that approximated show was dis- 
 countenanced. The red stripes on OUr jackets, when received, were 
 move than most of us could endure, and they were ripped off be- 
 fore the jacket was thought tit for wear. The two or three 
 unlucky fellows who presumed to show their colors wore them very 
 rarely. 
 
 On the 27th, after tramping around through a weed-covered 
 field for several hours on review, we hade a last adieu to our Little 
 Phil. At 3:30 P. M. Gen. Sheridan left us for a field where he 
 won eternal fame ami justified the confidence felt in his bravery 
 ami ability by those who had served under him in the Army of the 
 Cumberland. The band of the 24th cheered him with some Lively 
 airs as he started: Gen. Granger accompanied him to Chattanooga. 
 
 Before the train left that bore the general from us. the bridge 
 men struck for higher wages. It was reported to Gen. Granger. 
 He had the whole posse man lied out on the bridge and a guard 
 stationed at the mid. so as not to allow a man to reach shore. 
 Here they were informed they should stay till they were willing 
 to return to work. There they were, eighty fcrt above the water, 
 the weather cold, the wind blowing quite hard and sweeping freely 
 by them, no tires to warm them, no clothing on. only such as they 
 were at work in. no food, and to have mme till work was resumed! 
 Truly, this was no enviable condition, especially as the general had 
 
158 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 hinted at shooting ring leaders! Bnt they held out firmly till next 
 day, when, suffering much from cold and beginning to feel hunger, 
 one after another resumed his work, and by the second day work 
 was as lively as ever; but a strong guard was kept over these men 
 for some time. 
 
 A few days later " The Deacon's Son 1 ' came into camp in 
 high glee. " I've had a long talk with Gen. Granger," said he. 
 Of course we were all anxious to learn the burden of their con- 
 versation, not knowing but the general had disclosed to him all the 
 plans of the coming campaign. " Well, 1*11 tell you how it was. 
 I was out on the bridge looking at the men to see how they worked 
 under guard, when the general came out too. When he came up to me 
 he looked at me, and said he, 'Are you one of these workmen? 1 
 ' No, sir,' said I. ' Where do you belong?" ' Up there at that camp," 
 I answered. 'Then get there as soon as you know how, or I'll 
 help you along with my boot.' And that was what he had to 
 say." The deacon's son disappeared amid a roar of laughter. 
 
 On the 29th we drew new equipments for our guns, and car- 
 riages. At noon all were assembled in haste and given just twenty 
 minutes to have our horses hitched up. and we have our best 
 clothes on. All thought there must be something strange 
 going to happen when we should be told to put our best clothes on, 
 and upon inquiry were told that " Gen. Sherman is to be here in 
 twenty minutes, and we are to fire a salute upon his arrival." The 
 day was cold and misty, and the men stood by their guns till two 
 o'clock before he appeared. Our guns were on our usual review 
 ground about half a mile west of town, and near the railroad. As 
 the train approached we fired a salute of thirteen blanks. Upon 
 seeing the general at the depot, we thought it queer that a retired 
 farmer, as he appeared to be, should have been placed in command 
 of so many armies, but upon looking at his high, broad forehead, 
 and seeing foresight and determination so strongly written in his 
 every feature, we were willing to trust to his care all our hopes for 
 the success of our armies. 
 
 The same day Hammond's sentence was read to us. He was 
 to forfeit all pay, and to work at hard labor in some military 
 prison till the close of the war. 
 
 It might be stated here that when the orderly was absent his 
 duties usually devolved upon "Charley." One day while the orderly 
 was at Chattanooga, Charley got a little too much commissary 
 
KNox vii. U-; CAMP UGN. 1 59 
 
 on board, or, as he stated it. he had assorted too much corn, 
 and when the men were in line to answer to their names, he could 
 hardly keep his feet. He dropped his pencil, and stooping to pick 
 it up, he hesitated. ''Captain," said he, "which is the right one? 
 I can see just a half dozen there." Sergeani Duffy declared he 
 would be a cute fellow it he was only well fed. 
 
 On the 30th Lieut. Burton received his commission as senior 
 1st lieutenant, vice Geo. W. Spencer, promoted. The captain and 
 lieutenants must have a "time" over this good luck. All hands 
 were invited to headquarters, where there was an abundance of 
 commissary, singing, jesting, toasting, etc., till a late hour. During 
 the course of the proceedings the captain informed the audience 
 that Lieut. Burton would probably soon receive another promotion, 
 that he had sent in his resignation accompanied by such good 
 reasons, among which was the plea of his incompetency to com- 
 mand, that he thought there would be no doubt of its success. 
 (This paper was returned by Gen. Granger with the note that tin 1 
 captain would have to show some signs of incompetency before 
 that plea would l>e received.) Newton's appointment as company 
 clerk was also announced. 
 
 On the 31st Lieut. Burton was mustered out as senior 2d 
 lieutenant, and on the 1st id' April mustered in as senior 1st lieu- 
 tenant. 
 
 On the 8th Wood's division arrived from Morristown, en-route 
 for Cleveland, where our corps was to re-organize. 
 
 On the 9th Capt. Colvin arrived from home and paid us a visit. 
 
 Gen. Howard arrived in the afternoon on the dummy to take 
 command of the 4th Corps, relieving Gen. Granger. The dummy, 
 before mentioned, many of us had seen running between Chicago 
 and the junction on the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Rail- 
 road. It was now down here in the service of the Government. 
 
 One man, belonging to the 24th Wisconsin, hut detailed into 
 our Battery from Battery 0. 1st Missouri, returned to his regiment. 
 
 On the 10th Corp. Judd was mustered out of the service to 
 receive a commission as 1st lieutenant in the 7th Illinois Independ- 
 ent Mattery. 
 
 On the 1 1th there was a grand review id' the whole command 
 lying at Loudon, even to the mule wagons, by Generals Granger 
 and Howard, preparatory to the former leaving ami the latter 
 
100 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 assuming command. The same day Thompson was made corporal 
 on gun 5, vice Alder, reduced to the ranks at his own request. 
 
 On the 13th the bridge was so far completed as to warrant a 
 test of its strength. In the afternoon the locomotive, Greenville, 
 with one passenger car, made a trial trip, and all proving satis- 
 factory, through trains began running from Chattanooga to 
 Knoxville. Hamilton returned from home on the 14th. 
 
 At noon on the 16th orders were received from Gen. Wagner, 
 who was temporarily in command of the division, to be ready to 
 march on the Monday following. That portion of the division 
 which was encamped on the north side of the river began to cross 
 to the south side, so as to be ready to all move at once. We were 
 relieved from our charge of the six guns in the fort by the arrival 
 of the 5th Tennessee Infantry, come to take charge of the post. 
 On the 17th, as the 88th Illinois Infantry was crossing the bridge, 
 Lieut. Gibson, of Company B, fell off and was drowned. 
 
 It was now quite warm weather. This portion of Tennessee, 
 although subject to sudden changes, yet generally enjoys a climate 
 that seems like perpetual spring. The warmest portions of the 
 year are varied by days so cool that one feels the cold quite as 
 much as he does a cold snap in mid-winter, and the next day is 
 quite similiar in its effects upon the feelings of man as the bright 
 day after a long cold spell in spring. 
 
PART IV. 
 
 Atlapta Canppaigp. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Atlanta Campaign did not begin on the 3d of May. when 
 the vast army under Sherman commenced its forward march; but 
 when the first plans were laid, when the many parts of the army 
 were consolidated on paper, and when those parts were drawn in 
 about one general nucleus, reaching from Chattanooga to Cleve- 
 land. With our Battery — yes, with our division- it began on the 
 18th of April. The day before we had prepared everything for a 
 move, whither we knew not, save that it was in the direction of 
 Chattanooga. We were up by five o'clock, on the 18th, and bade 
 adieu to Loudon at a quarter past seven. At half past eleven we 
 passed through Philadelphia, where we patronized the loyal to the 
 extent of buying a few pegged, or sewed pies. 
 
 Our camp ground that night was fourteen miles from Loudon. 
 We broke camp next morning at seven, and camped at half past 
 twelve, about a mile north of the beautiful, quiet village of Athens, 
 having marched thirteen miles. We enjoyed ourselves muchly, as 
 "Charley" would say, during that afternoon, the citizens being 
 mostly all union and very sociable. The 100th Illinois had been 
 there for some time and had so worked upon those, who were at 
 first inimical, that they now really liked the sight of Yanks. 
 
 On the 20th we were off at half past six and at two reached 
 Calhoun, forty-one miles from Loudon. This, at that time, was a 
 small, forsaken-looking village, with nothing but women and 
 children in it. We crossed the Hiwassee River that forms the 
 division between Bradley and McMinn counties and separates those 
 twin sisters in wretchedness, Calhoun and Charleston. Having 
 safely crossed on the pontoon, we next sought out a suitable camp 
 ground, for we expected to remain here several days. At last the 
 sum in it of a hill to the easi of the village was selected, and reached 
 with much trouble, giving our horses a very hard pull. <>n this 
 
164 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 hill the rebels had built a small fort, which commanded Calhoun. 
 That and some brush and stumps were all the wood we could find 
 with which to make ourselves comfortable. Water was abundant 
 in the river, but it cost more effort than it was worth to descend 
 and climb that steep hill. Add to this the dullness of the place, 
 and there is no wonder that all were willing — even anxious — to 
 resume the march next morning. That night we drew rations, 
 and over the meat there was considerable fault found. The quar- 
 termaster had issued it for two pounds to the man, but it was very 
 evident there was not near so much. One man, " Growler, 11 com- 
 plained bitterly, at which our captain, who was formerly a butcher, 
 offered to bet him five dollars it would hold out weight. The man 
 immediately took the meat to some Government scales, when it 
 was found to be about a pound and a half. As the man received 
 his five dollars, " There, 11 said he, "there is only $1.50 lacking," 
 alluding to the $6.50 of his pay that had been stopped on account 
 of the Louisville affair, in which he had been implicated. 
 
 This day Conners, on detail to us from Battery G, 1st Mis- 
 souri, whom we had left in hospital at Loudon, died. 
 
 On the morning of the 21st we were off at seven, and reached 
 Cleveland at half past twelve, twelve miles from Charleston and 
 twenty-eight from Chattanooga. As we passed through the town we 
 were rejoined by Sergt. Hansell, who, being tired of hospital life, 
 had got back to the Battery before his wound was sufficiently healed 
 to warrant it. but no evil results followed. We also found three 
 recruits whom many of us had known at home. Samuel A. Mur- 
 phy, a brother of our quartermaster sergeant, and Hans and 
 George Johnson, from Thornton, Illinois. That day Brig. Gen. 
 John Newton took command of the division. Gen. Wagner had 
 commanded it on the march. 
 
 We camped on a beautiful, grassy slope at the foot of a hill, 
 within a few rods of Mouse Creek, and about half a mile south- 
 west of Cleveland. Wood was abundant, and a splendid spring 
 near by made our camp all that was desirable. 
 
 Charles C. Fuller, of gun 1, was transferred to the navy depart- 
 ment on the 24th. 
 
 ' Cleveland is a handsome little town at the junction of the 
 East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad with the Chattanooga & 
 Knoxville Railroad, and contains about three thousand inhabit- 
 ants, nearly all of whom are staunch unionists. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. L65 
 
 Here was a large copper foundry thai was completed about 
 the outbreak of the war. When Gen. Wilder took the place dur- 
 ing the battle of Mission Ridge, his men burned this foundry 
 before they knew the sentimenl of the citizens. After they had 
 destroyed this and the railroad for miles on either side of the place, 
 the) concluded to remain there that night. The} were imme- 
 diately beset by the union portion of the citizens to eat and take 
 lodgings with them. 
 
 On the 25th Lieut. ETuskey, with fifteen men. went to Chat- 
 tanooga on the cars for some horses that were said to be coming 
 through from Nashville. They did not Hml the horses there, so 
 they took quarters with the K»th Indiana Battery, and the next 
 day got aboard the train to go to Nashville. At the instant the 
 train started, the lieutenant received orders that the horses would 
 be in that night, so they jumped off. They took quarters at the 
 
 soldiers" home, where thev f id a n v quantity of gray backs, and 
 
 received coffee, hard tack, soft bread and boiled bacon to eat. For 
 dishes thev were furnished with only a tin cup and a tin plate 
 to each man. there being no knives, fork- nor spoons. 
 
 The horses not arriving on the 27th, those who desired were 
 furnished passes ami visited Lookout .Mountain. 
 
 On the 28th thev drew thirty convalescent horses, thev and 
 ('apt. Bridges taking the lot. ('apt. Bridges receiving the odd num- 
 bers and thev the even, thus invariably separating teams that had 
 been matched. They started in the afternoon, and. fording 
 Chickamauga Creek, camped about three miles farther east at a 
 house, where they were supplied with such delicacies as milk, butter, 
 etc. and reached camp the next day. having left one crow-bait on 
 the road, and having demolished all the commissary they had supplied 
 themselves with on leaving Chattanooga. During this time we at 
 the Battery had been out target practicing, firing a few rounds each 
 day. This day there was a grand review of the entire corps by 
 (Jen. Howard. The 10th Wisconsin Battery was attached to our 
 division. 
 
 We now painted our carriages and turned over our old harness 
 and ammunition, and instead of the former, drawing new. but for 
 the latter we received condemned ammunition that was far worse 
 than that we had turned over. We wore quite the appearance of 
 a new battery, hut claimed to he "the same old Battery, only we 
 Inn! new harness." 
 
166 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 On the 1st of May we received thirty men from the 3d Wis- 
 consin Battery, and received orders to send all onr extra baggage to 
 the rear for storage; but, as a burned child always shuns the fire, 
 we thought of Bridgeport, and concluded not to send any more. 
 What we could not carry along was either burned or thrown away 
 before leaving. 
 
 In turning over the ammunition, we had retained several hun- 
 dred fuses, and, on the night of the 2d, had a splendid pyrotechnic 
 display. Two parties were formed around some fires, and they 
 began shelling each other by throwing lighted fuses to and fro. 
 Some we would attach to light, slim sticks and send them up as 
 sky rockets. The infantry watched us for some time, and then 
 the 79th Illinois and another regiment began a battle with fire 
 brands. First one regiment would be driven back to its camp, 
 where, securing, in some instances, half rails, they would rally and 
 drive the other back. This was kept up till long after taps. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Orders were received on the 2d of May that on the 3d we 
 should move at twelve o'clock, and. for once, we started to the 
 minute, as did the whole division. About 3 P. M. the cavalry mei 
 some rebel vedettes and skirmished with them, losing two or 
 three men. The railroad track had Keen torn up nearly the whole 
 distance the ties being used to heat the rails, which were then coiled 
 around trees or telegraph poles, or bent out of shape by sagging 
 down in the middle, their two ends being supported on piles of ties. 
 This had been done by our cavalry at the time they first occupied 
 Cleveland. Our camp that ni^iit was a short distance south of Red 
 Clay, which is on the State line, therefore we camped in Georgia, 
 after having made fourteen miles that afternoon. 
 
 On the tth the division was up at 6:15 A.M., and at nine o'clock 
 began to move slowly, throwing out skirmishers. We crossed the 
 Tiger Creek twice, ami upon approaching it the third time, formed 
 line in an open field, as the rebels were ^u | »| m >>.■(! to he advancing 
 tip the valley from the south. This was at 1 I'. M. The infantry 
 moved up and down a range of bills near by several times. At six, 
 as the enemy did not appear, we moved a mile and a half soiithand 
 camped for the night, the Battery being far away from the division. 
 
 The next morning the Battery joined the division at Catoosa 
 Springs, about a mile to the west, and camped, expecting to lie still 
 a day or two. Most of us visited the springs, tasted the various 
 kind- of water judging from the names about forty and faith- 
 fully recorded the names of all in our diaries. After passing 
 through the Congress, Sulphur, Chalybeate, etc.. till we came to 
 one that astonished us. Even to pronounce it properly was a 
 puzzler! There it was in large capitals, and we slowly wrote down 
 each that there might he no mistake, for we could not spell it unless 
 looking al the word: C-h-a-u-t-m-o-b-o-u-s-g-a! All would repeat 
 
168 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 the letters over and over again, no pronunciation seeming grand 
 enough for such a huge name — until some cruel hearted monster 
 hinted that it would be well to use the odd letters first, and 
 then the even ones, and see what the word then looked like. We 
 walked back to camp, feeling very wise. 
 
 Orders were issued on the 6th that cannoneers must carry their 
 baggage. No more mail to go north for fifteen days. After about 
 three days this latter was proved a hoax; but the former was a 
 reality. Now much clothing we had thought to carry along had 
 to be sacrificed. 
 
 The 10th Wisconsin Battery was transferred to the cavalry, 
 and Battery A, 1st Ohio, Capt. Goodspeed commanding, became 
 our associate in this division. 
 
 On the 7th. all being now ready throughout the army, the 
 l " general" was again sounded, and all were soon moving. At 5 A. 
 M. we pulled out, and retracing our steps till after crossing Tiger 
 Creek, bore to the south around a large hill. The road was very 
 rough, and as No. 6 caisson broke its pintle hook, the caisson body 
 had to be left by the roadside. At seven o'clock, having reached 
 the crossing of the old Alabama road, we formed line, not knowing 
 but the enemy might attempt a sally through the gap of the high 
 range of hills on our left, of which Rocky Face is only a much 
 more elevated portion. Our Battery took position while the 
 cavalry advanced cautiously to inspect the country on our left 
 flank. We could hear cannonading some distance to the south, 
 and judged our forces must be near Tunnel Hill, so we moved on. 
 
 As we advanced on the wooded portion of the road, it was 
 found blockaded with trees felled across it at every possible point. 
 These had to be removed before our artillery ami wagon trains 
 could proceed, consequently our progress was slow. At 1:30 P. 
 M. w r e came to an opening from which could be seen Tunnel Hill. 
 Rocky Face and the intervening country. Rocky Face w T as directly 
 east, about a mile distant, and Tunnel Hill about two miles south. 
 We here camped, having marched about eight miles. 
 
 During the afternoon Capt. Aylshire joined us. He came 
 from Nashville to take the position of chief of artillery of the 
 division. We sent a limber back to bring up the broken caisson. 
 which, the next day. was sent to Chattanooga to lie exchanged for 
 a whole one. The Battery remained ready to move all day, only 
 unharnessing at 7 P. M. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 169 
 
 At twelve o'clock at night the right section, under Lieut. 
 Burton, was sent out to take position, if possible, on the summit 
 of Rocky Face. The enemy had possession of the whole east 
 side of the ridge and pari of the west. The section, with infantry 
 support, moved to the north end, and, with the assistance of two 
 regiments, they succeeded in getting their guns into position by 
 daylight having had to pull them up the mountain and the whole 
 distance on top h\ hand, at times having to carry one side of the 
 carriage to keep il from tipping over, as in places the rock;} sum- 
 mit was too narrow for a wagon to pass. The position was one 
 which the eiieiii\ had pronounced inacessihle to artillery, and not 
 a little were they surprised when at sunrise our guns opened on 
 them in the valley below from the top of Rock} Face! A shell 
 exploding in one of their forts caused them to speedily withdraw 
 from it. Another shell was exploded near a body of men in an 
 open field, which caused them to run in all directions in search of 
 shelter. We tired but a lew shots, as it was hard work to carry 
 ammunition up the rocky sides of the mountain. As the day 
 advanced ami the burning heat id' the sun began to pour almost 
 directly down upon them, our men suffered much for want of 
 water. We carried considerable to them in canteens, hut there 
 were so many to drink it that there was little left with which to 
 make coffee, an indispensable beverage with the soldier. Ahout 
 noon the infantry were forced to fall back a few rods in order to 
 have equal chances with the rebel sharpshooters on either side of 
 the mountain. This left gun 2 between the two fires. The can- 
 noneers had to lie prone on their faces during the whole afternoon. 
 At 5 P. M. Col. Barker rode up ami examined the position. 
 
 •• Hoys." said he. " that gun must con ut id' there." and without 
 
 waiting for further orders, Company I - ], of the 51st Illinois, rushed 
 forward, and grasping the piece on all sides, hauled it off. They 
 paid dearly for it. for many fell before they had reached the sup- 
 port. The two guns tired twenty-eight rounds during the day. all 
 with good effect. 
 
 Ahout six o'clock that morning the rest of the Battery moved 
 to the north end of Rocky Face, and thence ahout a mile down the 
 wesl valley. Here it lay for some time in quite an exposed posi- 
 tion, and where it could have done no good had it been tired upon 
 by the rebel battery near the south end id' l-!ock\ Face. This bat- 
 tery sen! several shells bv us. Lnt none -truck near. Willich's 
 
170 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 brigade whs on the side, and at the foot of the mountain, engaging 
 the enemy, and what bullets passed his men struck near us. After 
 awhile we moved back to some dense woods, about half a mile to 
 the rear and camped. 
 
 The cars arrived about noon. The engineer, for sport, ran 
 his engine through the tunnel and whistled at the Johnnies. They 
 rushed out on the track surprised at the audacity of the Yanks. 
 As soon as a goodly number were together one of our batteries 
 opened on them. 
 
 The advance of the 23d Corps on the east of the mountain, 
 and their repulse, together with the constant picking away of 
 Harker's and Willich's brigades on the west side, made the casual- 
 ties rather large that day. The large detached rocks on the moun- 
 tain side — each in itself a strong fort for whoever might reach it 
 — made every inch of ground our men advanced cost them dear. 
 
 The 10th was not an important day at this point, the bulk of 
 our army having moved toward Snake Creek Gap. A few shells 
 were fired from each side. At 4:30 P. M. the left section, under 
 Lieut. Fluskey, took position in a field about half a mile south. 
 They fired twenty-four rounds at a rebel battery on the mountain 
 side, but could do little good. The sharpshooters turned their 
 attention to them as soon as they unlimbered, and they soon sent 
 their bullets whizzing by our men's ears. Discovering they could 
 be of no service there, they were ordered back. 
 
 The 11th was a quiet day. The hard rain of the night before 
 seemed to have driven away all desire for righting. The new 
 caisson returned. In our camp "Teddy"' and ''Growler" amused 
 themselves for a few minutes in a scrap. 
 
 We were astir by 3 A. M., of the 12th, and soon moved to the 
 gap at the north end of Rocky Face. Here the right section 
 joined us from the mountain. The 23d Corps withdrew to go to 
 the right, and a portion of the 1th took their position. It was 
 expected that the rebels, as soon as they became aware of the with- 
 drawal of the 23d Corps, would advance, and preparations were 
 made 1 to receive them. The right section was put in position in the 
 gap, but it was not so easy to dispose of the rest of the Battery. 
 Capt. Aylshire would place us where he thought best, and almost 
 immediately another staff officer would order us away. The 
 infantry were hard at work building breastworks across the valley. 
 Old logs were carried together and piled one upon another. Dead 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 171 
 
 trees were felled as if by magic; a few men would walk u ; > to mie, 
 swing it to and I'm. and over it would tip. Spado, shovels, axes, 
 bayonets, everything was used in this work. To the left was a 
 thick clump of trees which was thought might give the enemy 
 protection. They were sp lily felled. Our left and center sec- 
 tions were placed so as to bear on this point. Gen. Newton rode 
 by, swinging his legs as if trying to go faster than his horse would 
 walk, and, seeing our guns, very crossly said to Aylshire. "Gel 
 this battery out of here. What are you doing with it in such a 
 position?" At last we were given a position on the slope of the 
 hill on thf cast of the valley, and waited patiently for the enemy 
 to advance, but they only came far enough to inert our men near 
 the gap and exchange a few rounds. 
 
 At 6:30 next morning we received orders to march, and the 
 word that tin- rebels had evacuated their almost impregnable posi- 
 tion tor one not near so strong! This was indeed cheering new-: 
 hut it was a wonder to us why they had retreated alter so short an 
 attempt to hold the place. A prisoner captured some time after 
 explained it as follows: "On the morning of the L2th, as Johns- 
 ton was viewing the mountain from his headquarters with his field- 
 glass, he saw a man with pompous mien gesticulating as if speak- 
 ing. Examining closely, he found it to he Sherman, and with his 
 acute ear. soon heard him command, " Attention Creation/ By 
 nation's right wheel!" Johnston immediately decided that it 
 would be useless to attempt to check Sherman if he had the whole 
 of creation under his command, and was making a wheel by 
 nations through Snake ('reek (Jap. and so he ordered his retreat. 
 which began 'that day; "and," added the man, "when I saw your 
 army march by to-day, I thought Johnston had better continue 
 retreating." We ourselves were quite surprised a1 the number of 
 Yanks that passed as while we were waiting for Hooker'- men to 
 take t he advance. 
 
 While marching through Dalton many of its inhabitants 
 cheered us as though they were really glad of our being there. A 
 
 re desolate place we had never marched through! The rebels 
 
 on leaving had taken everything they could earn away. \ great 
 quantity of tobacco and several bushels of peanut- "guba-nuts, 
 as the southerners call them had escaped their search, but the 
 prying eyes of the blue backs soon discovered them, and we sup- 
 plied ourselves with the two great luxuries in sufficient quantities 
 
172 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 to last us several days. Each caisson in tlie Battery had its bag of 
 peanuts, and each tobacco chewer his pockets full of the precious 
 weed. 
 
 In passing we were shown the spot where twelve rebel deserters 
 were murdered, according to their own papers, a day or two before. 
 We camped at night eight miles south of Dalton. 
 
 On the 14th all were astir at half past three, but did not 
 march till eight o'clock. At ten the column halted, as our skir- 
 mishers had been checked by the enemy. After a few minutes' 
 sharp tiring, the enemy fell back, and we moved on a short distance 
 further for the rebels had made another stand. Our brigade rested 
 under the trees, many making coffee. There was a lull in the 
 skirmishing ahead. An officer rode through the brigade and told 
 us to fall in. We did so, and received Stanton's announcement 
 that Hancock had captured a whole division and thirty guns from 
 Longstreet! Cheer upon cheer echoed and re-echoed through the 
 woods, carrying the sound of our rejoicings to the retreating foe. 
 The bands played the national airs. Fatigue was not thought of 
 then, and when at noon the troops moved forward, not even a dog- 
 robber lagged behind. At one o'clock we were ordered up to the 
 front, going on the double quick the most of the way. Upon 
 reaching an opening whence we could see the position of affairs, 
 we found the rebels were behind strong works. Their guns were 
 shelling our forces quite lively. The 4th Corps was to the left of 
 us. To get us there, Capt. Aylshire took us about a quarter of a 
 mile- to the rear and left us. Several random shells struck near us 
 — even among our guns. At 2:40 P. M. the 4th Corps moved to 
 the charge. On they went up to the very moats of the enemy's works, 
 but so galling was the fire they were forced to fall back, leav- 
 ing their dead and wounded where they had fallen. During the 
 charge we moved up to our main line. Cols. Harker and Opdycke, 
 who had received wounds in the charge, came back to where we lay, 
 had their wounds dressed, resumed the saddle and rode to the front. 
 
 We now took position on a small hill near by. The left sec- 
 tion was soon taken to a more advanced position. In attempting 
 to reach it, gun 6 tipped over, wounding one man and two horses, 
 and had to return. Gun 5 took position and did such execution as 
 to call forth the praise of Gens. Thomas and Hooker, who were 
 near. Guns 1 and 2 fired some from their position. Gun 5 
 returned at dusk. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. L73 
 
 Once it was reported thai our forces were Palling back at 
 the time they retreated to the woods causing an inn liate retro- 
 grade on the part of the cooks and dog-robbers, who a few hours 
 before were so brave. One man came limping along, groaning at 
 every step. As soon as he heard the word, '"They're falling back," 
 he sprang toward the rear with great agility, being cheered as 
 long as he could be seen by the men who had seen him limping 
 but an instant before. 
 
 On Sunday, the L5th, the ball opened at about half past five 
 in the morning. Battery A. 1st Ohio, and our Battery had been 
 given position early in the morning on the front line of the works 
 at the edge of the woods, and on top of a high ridge. The rebel 
 works were about eight hundred yards distant, and on thenexthill 
 to the southeast of us. The intervening space was a sort of valley, 
 being in places a hundredand fift\ feet below our position. It was 
 an open field, and at every little distance could he seen the body of 
 sonic soldier who had attempted to cross the field toward our men. 
 who were lying at the foot of the hill, and almost under the 
 muzzle of the rebel guns, yet sheltered from all danger by the hill- 
 side. During the night before, the rebels had set tire to the dry 
 leaves outside their works. The tire ran through the brush, burn- 
 ing the bodies of our men, who had fallen there the day before, 
 and which we had been unable to carry off. There were also sev- 
 eral of our severely wounded burned to death. As an explanation 
 of this inhuman act. the rebels said the fire had accidentally caught 
 from the fire of their guns. 
 
 A.t eight o'clock our two batteries were ordered to open and 
 lire us rapidly as possible. Grun 6 soon got a shell fast in the 
 muzzle, and had to lie idle till an instrument could he made at the 
 forge to drive it down. Our other nuns were soon so hot from 
 the rapid firing that premature discharges id' the guns were caused. 
 In Battery A one man lost his right forearm and part of his left 
 hand, and another lost his right hand, and Stillwell, a man detailed 
 from the 3d Wisconsin Battery, and acting on gun 5, of our Bat- 
 tery, lost his left thumb \>\ premature discharges of the guns. 
 
 There was a rebel battery a little to the right of our front, at 
 which we principally directed our lire. They soon removed all hut 
 one gun which they left with \\< muzzle protruding over their 
 work-. At "J I'. M. we began firing twelve guns at once. Our 
 Battery tired 361 rounds during the day. 
 
174 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 At eleven o'clock that night the enemy made a great stir as if 
 attempting to break through. It was expected they would make 
 the trial, and all were prepared for it. Several volleys of musketry 
 were fired, hut our artillery beginning to play freely on them, they 
 dried up. It was discovered early the next morning that all this 
 on the part of the rebels was only a feint, for we received shortly 
 after daylight the cheering word. u The rebels have gone! 11 
 
 It took but a short time for us to be ready for the pursuit, as 
 it was desired to attack them before they should reach another 
 fortified position. By seven o'clock all were on the move. In 
 passing over the battle field, we took a hasty survey of the execu- 
 tion done, as our road led by the fort, where the rebel battery was 
 we. had so mercilessly shelled. The hill on which the rebel works 
 were was nearly as steep on the rear side as in the front. Imme- 
 diately in the rear of where our target stood, were six dead horses, 
 all horribly mangled by shells. Where the guns stood were pieces 
 of the carriages, a couple of disabled wheels and other signs of 
 damage done. Pools of blood were found in many places. In the 
 hollow at the foot of the hill could be seen many traces of good 
 execution. Haversacks, canteens, cartridge boxes and straps torn 
 up or cut in two and covered with blood. As an example of how many 
 shells traveled the same track, a tree, about two feet in diameter at 
 the butt, standing on ground occupied by the rebel battery, bore 
 the marks of twelve shells! We found a number of the rebel dead, 
 but the most of them had either been carried to the rear for burial, 
 or were carried out in the woods, being barely covered with dirt 
 and leaves. There were also quite a number of our own men who 
 had been so daring as to venture through an opening there was 
 inside the rebel lines. This act cost them their lives, and we found 
 their bodies almost nude — the rebels having stripped them of every- 
 thing but their shirts and drawers. 
 
 We reached Resaca at ten o'clock. There was found a large 
 quantity of corn meal, many sacks of beans and shelled corn. At 
 the depot there were a number of old cannon, battery wagons and 
 forges. One would judge from their make that they had been 
 used either during or before the Revolution. They had also left 
 two good cannon in the fort near the bridge. The few houses of 
 the town were well perforated with shell holes. Our troops, which 
 had been within musket shot of the place all the day before, had 
 not spared anything that would be likely to shelter a rebel. 
 
\ I I. \ \ I \ I AMI'AltiN. 1 75 
 
 Though our army had been so near, this did not prevent the rebels 
 from burning the railroad bridge. 
 
 Before we started from there, the pioneers were hard at work. 
 Trees were Belled, hauled to the bridge, sawed the proper lengths, 
 mortised, and tenoned as if by magic. The bridge was completed 
 and the cars up with us by noon of the 20th! So closely were the 
 cars kept up with the army during the whole campaign that 
 scarcely could we settle down for the night, after having driven 
 the rebels several miles during the day, before the whistle of the 
 engine was heard close upon our heels. And this <la\ at Resaca, 
 just as our last caisson crossed the rickety bridge the rebels hail 
 left unburned, the train came whistling around the curve about 
 half a milr off! 
 
 Our advance kept close at the heels of the retreating foe. 
 
 There was skirmishing all the after with the rebel rear guard. 
 
 At 5 P. M. the column halted while the skirmishers dislodged 
 some rebels who were making a stand among the trees ahead. 
 Near by us was a church and school house, and by their side was 
 
 a large shed SOme eighty feet long. These had Keen used as a 
 
 hospital but a few minutes before our arrival. Legs, arms, large 
 pieces of flesh, great pools of fresh blood, all told plainly what our 
 muskets and cannon were doing for the confederacy. Citizens 
 i. e.. women told us the enemy had sent off several train loads of 
 dead and wounded during the previous night and this day. 
 
 We camped at 7 I'. .M.. five miles from Resaca. The right 
 section had been kept up with the skirmish line all the afternoon, 
 to he in readiness should there he anything to do. 
 
 On the L7th we were off at 5:30 A. M. At seven we passed 
 through Calhoun, a lovely village, and at nine o'clock took posi- 
 tion on a hill, in a grave-yard, near John's ('reek. The enemy had 
 thrown up a feeble line of works a short distance ahead, and was 
 evidently making a stand; hut it was only intended to protect the 
 retreat of his wagon trains. A.t eleven o'clock the Batter} again 
 
 took position near the house of Richard Peters, hut the enemy 
 
 fell Lack on being pressed by our infantry. The plantation on 
 
 which we had taken position reminded us of so well-furnished 
 
 northern farm. It was known a- the Atlanta Plantation, and 
 everything about it was in better condition than we had observed 
 in an\ other farm in the confederacy 
 
176 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 At the next halt gun 5 put a shell through a house behind which 
 there were several rebels who were trying to pick us off. Upon 
 reaching the house we found two women in it. One of them had 
 become a mother about an hour before. The shell that went 
 through the house passed diagonally over the bed on which the 
 mother and child lay. and only about three feet above them ! We 
 pronounced the child a young soldier, and laughed considerably at 
 the gunner over his day's work, little imagining that he had as yet 
 scarcely begun it. About a mile further on was Oostanaula Creek. 
 We reached it at four o'clock, and found the enemy entrenched 
 about half a mile south of it. For a little more than a quarter of 
 a mile before reaching the creek, the road was perfectly straight 
 and level, and ran north and south. As was usual, when the 
 column halted all parts closed up, and there was thus a compact 
 mass of guns and caissons and infantry standing in the road. The 
 enemy had a battery planted in such a position as to rake the 
 straight portion of the road its entire length. As soon as the 
 enemy thought we were in proper position they opened on us. but 
 all save one of their shells struck short, and that one passed by a 
 few feet above the drivers 1 heads, traversed the whole length of 
 the road, and struck and exploded just beyond the curve. It 
 providentially was so high that it did no damage; but it caused 
 some hasty dismounting. 
 
 As soon as it could be done our left section was put in posi- 
 tion in the road near the creek, and close by a cotton-gin, where 
 it immediately opened on the rebel battery, which immediately 
 withdrew its fire from the column in the road and directed it to 
 our section. For many minutes it was doubtful which side would 
 have to acknowledge itself silenced; but we finally kept good our 
 prestige, and that too, without the loss of a man, though many of 
 the infantry had been killed or wounded around us. Gens. Sherman 
 and Thomas and staffs had a narrow escape as they rode by the 
 section. A shell exploded in their midst, wounding one of their 
 aids seriously. 
 
 A strong skirmish line of the 1st Brigade was now sent for- 
 ward into the woods lately occupied by the rebel battery. 
 
 The 6th Ohio Battery now took position near us, and, not 
 being able to distinguish friend from foe at that distance, asked 
 whose men those were, pointing to our skirmishers. They were 
 told by an officer that they were rebels and to open fire on them 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 177 
 
 immediately. They did so. and did not discover their error until 
 they had killed nearly a dozen of our own men. ( )f course the men 
 of this battery were uol responsible for this, as thej were but obey- 
 ing orders, bul when the infantrj demanded what battery it was 
 that shelled them, the 6th charged it to us. Now. though all 
 acknowledged how gallantlj we had earlier in the day silenced the 
 rebel battery which was killing off so many of our men, yet they 
 would have condemned us on this accusation, had we uol found 
 positive proof of our innocence. Upon gaining possession of the 
 battle field, pieces of twelve-pound spherical shells and several 
 unexploded shells of the same caliber were found, hut do three- 
 inch rifle shells nor any fragments of such. As our guns were 
 three-inch rifles, while those of the other battery were Napoleons, 
 we were, as a matter of course, exonerated from all blame, and 
 stood even higher with our di\ ision comrades than before. 
 
 Alter the battery in our immediate front was silenced gun 5 
 was taken about three-quarters of a mile to the right,where it 
 could get an enfilading fire on the rebel works. Our other guns 
 were in position on the left. The left section disposed of 128 
 rounds. By six o'clock all was quiet. The northern press, in 
 speaking of this little action, gave great praise to Battery M. 1st 
 Indiana. There vvas m> such battery, as the Indiana batteries were 
 all numbered, not lettered. 
 
 On the 18th we moved out at seven o'clock, the enemy having 
 disappeared early. As we had to wait some time near the enemy's 
 position, for other troops to get in motion, we tools a general sur- 
 vey of the field, the whole-of which looked as though a drove of 
 prairie rooters had been there, it was so completely rooted up by 
 
 shells. A short distance be} I the rebel works was a brickhouse 
 
 of octagonal plan. To this house our section had directed its fire after 
 having silenced the rebel battery, for we knew well that the rebels 
 alwayssought such place-. This house was so well perforated with 
 shell boles as to make it quite airy during the approaching hot 
 weather had it been allowed to stand, but the infantry had suf- 
 fered so much by the rebels firing from the windows that it was 
 soon given to the flames. 
 
 A.dairsville was three miles further south. We reached it at 
 9 A. M.. and lay there till 3 P. M.. waiting for the Arm\ <>\' the 
 Tennessee, which was coming in from the west, to pass. We then 
 moved six miles further and camped. 
 
178 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Just as the Battery was ready to start, Harding, of gun 1, shot 
 himself through the left arm with his revolver. He was cleaning 
 it when it was accidentally discharged. He was sent to the hospital. 
 
 We reached Kingston at 11:30, and, after lying there about an 
 hour, moved about a mile east and halted till five. Skirmishing- 
 was going on lively a short distance ahead, and artillery was being 
 brought into use on both sides. Some of the rebel shell passed by 
 us; others struck near. We expected to be ordered to the front, 
 but " Long Range" was not to be found. At last, at five o'clock, 
 after the enemy had fallen back, he rode up in hot haste and 
 wanted us to hurry to the front. We went on the gallop wherever 
 the roads would permit. He took us in so many different direc- 
 tions that when we had time to look and think, we could not tell 
 in what direction we lay from Kingston or any other place. We 
 had traveled through woods, over roads, through fields, until dark 
 found us in a dense wood, and within a few yards of the rebel 
 pickets. Upon discovering where he had taken us, he went back 
 to find where our division was, and was gone nearly an hour, leav- 
 ing us where we had to make as little noise as possible to avoid 
 letting the enemy know what an easy prey we would then have 
 been. After a long time he returned telling us we must retrace 
 our steps. This was no easy task, and it was with great difficulty 
 we headed our teams toward the rear, having to unlimber some of 
 the pieces and turn them by hand. We went back some distance 
 and camped at 9:20 P. M., not with our division, not knowing 
 where to find it, but we were with the cavalry. It was ten o'clock 
 next day before we found our division, and then we moved to it, about 
 a mile to the rear, and near a large mill on Two Run Creek. At 
 noon the cars arrived. 
 
 Preparations now began for another forward move. Packing 
 the chests, drawing rations and clothing, washing and fixing every- 
 thing that might be out of order with guns, caissons or harness, 
 occupied most of our time for the next day or two. We could 
 hear musketry or cannonading far ahead every day. 
 
 On the 23d our already distasteful instructions regarding bag- 
 gage were made worse by orders being issued to all batteries to still 
 further cut down their baggage; this too just after drawing more 
 clothing. We were allowed one knapsack for four men to be carried 
 in the wagon, and one for five men to be strapped on the caisson. 
 Horses were allowed only four pounds of shelled corn each per day. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. L79 
 
 That afternoon two men, named Hulse and Barclay, joined as. 
 They had enlisted in Colvin's battery, bul had Lost the mud. and it 
 was almosl impossible to return qow. 
 
 In the 1 >i Brigade of cur division, Col. Frank Sherman was 
 removed from the command, and was made one of Gren. Howard's 
 staff. He was succeeded by Gen. Kimball, who had just arrived 
 from the west. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 "Forward 11 was the word for the 23d of May. The 14th 
 Corps moved out early. The 4th Corps started at noon, but soon 
 halted till 2 P. M., to allow other troops to pass. As our 
 wagon train moved up and parked near us, we had the first 
 sight of the badge that had been adopted for our corps. It was 
 described in the order for its adoption as follows: It shall be an 
 equilateral triangle, apex upward. For the 1st Division, a red 
 triangle, for the 2d Division, white, and for the 3d Division, blue. 
 Brigades are to have the figure representing their number inscribed 
 in it. Thus one could tell at a glance to what company, regiment, 
 brigade, division and corps a man belonged, if he wore his badge, 
 as he usually had the letter of his company, the State to which he 
 belonged, and the number of his regiment on his cap. Artillery 
 belonged simply to a division, and wore its and the battery's badge. 
 These badges were a great assistance to couriers, and to staff and 
 general officers, for they could easily find a command themselves 
 without asking innumerable questions as they would otherwise 
 have had to do. The order of color for divisions was the same 
 throughout the army, but the badges were quite different. That 
 of the 4th Corps was an equilateral triangle; of the 14th, an acorn; 
 of the 20th, a five-pointed star; of the 23d, a Norman shield; of 
 the 15th, a cartridge box with the words "40 rounds 11 on it, and 
 of the 17th, an Indian arrow. 
 
 About four o'clock we passed the ruins of an extensive rebel 
 salt petre leach and works, and reached the Etowah, or High Tower 
 River at dusk. Here were some rebel works thrown up to 
 protect the covered bridge which they had neglected to burn. We 
 had to wait for the 20th Corps to cross, so there was ample time 
 to make our coffee and take a short nap, as it was ten o'clock 
 before the road was clear for us to move on. We then went about 
 four miles further, passing more ruins of salt petre works, and 
 camped at midnight nine miles from our late camp. 
 
\TI.\NT\ CAMPAIGN 1M 
 
 Before resuming the march next morning (the 24th) orders 
 were received to make three small rations last four days. 
 
 At Enhaulee Creek we found a Large crib full of torn, and 
 filled all the bags we had. which well loaded the caissons. We 
 were determined to keep our horses well fed, even it' we had to suf- 
 fer, and often, on the campaign, our horses pulled the Batter} up 
 hills without even halting to rest, when other batteries were unable 
 to ascend without doubling. 
 
 The 20th Corps passed through Stylesboro, while we bore off 
 to the right and soon found ourselves in a dense pine forest. We 
 traveled for four hours and a half in this, without finding a drop 
 of water to slake our thirst, when suddenly, on descending a steep 
 hill, we were on the bank of a clear, swift-flowing stream Raccoon 
 Creek. Here was the 20th Corps wagon train, the corps having 
 taken a short cut and reached here some time before. It was hut 
 a few minutes before the creek was tilled with men bathing and 
 officers' horses being washed by dog-robbers for a quarter of a 
 mile above and below the road. Gen. Wagner rode out into the 
 creek and stopped beside a man who was washing his feet. Hand- 
 ing the man his tin cup. he said, " Mister, will you please hand up 
 some water?" The man hesitated, stammered something about its 
 not being very clean on account of the numher washing in it. 
 "Oh. never mind that. I've drank worse." and lie quaffed down two 
 cupfuls. 
 
 A detail was now sent from the Battery to bridge the creek, 
 and at 6:30 we crossed and camped near by. At 10 I'. ,M . Lieut. 
 Burton, with another detail, started out to cut a road up the high 
 hill to our right, and along its top, till they should come to 
 
 where the trees st 1 far enough apart to admit our pa>-ine-. or 
 
 until they should strike a road. A few minutes after they started 
 it began to rain almost in torrents, and all who were not under 
 cover were soon drenched to the skin. Our Purp tents were of 
 little use. They had long been nearlj discarded in our company, 
 and carriage tarpaulins used in their stead. 
 
 On the 25th the Battery moved at 6:40. The hills were hard 
 to ascend on account of the recent rain. The infantry had gone 
 on the uight before, and it was eight o'clock before we caught up 
 with them. Near Burnt Hickory we bore to the wot. ascending 
 
 and descending steep hills all the form i. Mica wasso abundant 
 
 about here that the road looked as though paved with silver. 
 
182 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 At four o'clock we came to an old rebel's, from whose place 
 could be seen the smoke from the battle going on, near Dallas, 
 about three miles to the southeast. We moved about a mile to the 
 northeast and parked in a wheat field within half a mile of the 
 bridge over Pumpkin Vine Creek, which Hooker's corps was then 
 crossing. As the general, who was riding in advance, reached the 
 bridge he found two women there extinguishing the fire with 
 which the rebels had attempted to destroy it. A few minutes later 
 we heard a volley of musketry, proving that the rebels were near. 
 Shortly after the volley cannonading began, and the battle waged 
 warm till darkness put an end to it. Ambulance after ambulance 
 full of wounded came back to a log house near where we lay, 
 which was being used as an amputating hospital. We saw more 
 arms and legs taken off there than at any other time or place in 
 the army. Hooker had been led into an ambuscade, and was him- 
 self nearly captured. Determined not to retreat, he ordered up 
 more men. His skirmishers fell back without giving warning, and 
 hence the main line in its advance upon the enemy received a mur- 
 derous fire at only a few yards range. The underbrush was so 
 thick they could see but a few feet ahead. 
 
 Shortly after Hooker became engaged we could hear cannon- 
 ading farther to the east, and concluded that McPherson must be 
 up with them on that side, and assumed we should be able to 
 drive them very easily from these hills. 
 
 At 7 P. M., of the 26th, we crossed the creek and moved up 
 to our lines about two miles east of the bridge. It was quite dark 
 when we reached our destination among stumps, and the bullets 
 were coming quite thick, causing us to lie low. 
 
 The next morning cannonading began at seven, and was soon 
 quite hot. Gen. Newton, commanding the division, came along, 
 and seeing we were not yet harnessed up, severely censured Capt. 
 Aylshire for neglecting to have us ready to move. "Long Range" 
 then took us toward the east and tried to find a position for us, but 
 failing to discover one, took us to a spot where he said we could 
 camp. 
 
 At noon Battery A and our left section took position and 
 opened fire. At five the right section relieved Battery A, and at 
 six the left section returned to camp. The two sections fired 229 
 rounds during the afternoon. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 183 
 
 On the 28th reveille was sounded at 2:30, as then' was con- 
 siderable cannonading. At five it was quite hard from both sides. 
 At eleven the enemy tried a charge in our immediate front, and 
 was speedily repulsed. Soon after a ball came into tamp and 
 killed the captain's favorite horse. Only a lew minutes before he 
 had refused to let his groom ride him to the front with orders for 
 the right section, because he was afraid be would be shot. At 
 eleven o'clock thai night the rebels charged again, and were again 
 sent back to their works with great loss. 
 
 The 29th passed rather quietly, there being only a few cannon 
 fired by either side. The infantry had settled down to their 
 "pecking," not a man on either side daring to show himself with- 
 out receiving a salute of a dozen bullets. At eleven o'clock that 
 night the enemy charged again. This time our artillery played 
 freely on them. At our caissons they harnessed up, so as to be 
 ready in case they should be called upon. At two, and again at 
 four o'clock, next morning, the enemy began charges again, hut 
 advanced only a few yards before retiring. 
 
 Ahout a mile to our left Bridges' battery had heen hotly 
 shelled on the '1 { M\\ by a rebel battery in its front. It replied for 
 some time hut had to cease tiring and the men found safety from 
 the rebel shells where best they could. During the 30th it was 
 silent, and at six o'clock in the afternoon our left and center sec- 
 tions were sent to relieve it. Bridges withdrew, and under cover 
 of darkness we put our guns into the works in which Bridges had 
 
 heen silenced. 
 
 Our caissons were left in a ravine a few rods to the rear of 
 our position, and our gun horses were kept in a deep hollow just 
 hack of the guns. 
 
 At daylight, on the :51st. we took a survey of our position. 
 The first head that looked out through an embrasure demonstrated 
 that we were closely watched ami that the watch was at im great 
 distance, for a bullel whizzed by just high enough to (dear the 
 works. However, we saw a fort about a thousand yards distant in 
 front of us. said fort being partly bomb proof and presenting eighl 
 embrasures. There was a wheat Held between us and our antag- 
 onist. The many bullets that struck the bank, limbers or passed 
 by, told us our gun- were standing too high to he available. To 
 raise the works when there were so many sharpshooters so ueau us 
 was impossible, SO, a- thai could not he done, we must do the ne\t 
 
184 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 best — lower our guns. We got them down a little by eleven 
 o'clock, when the enemy opened on us. We replied, but finding 
 'twere best for us to say as little as possible until better prepared, 
 we gradually ceased tiring, and went to digging as rapidly as pos- 
 sible. We sunk our guns and limbers to the hubs, and dug 
 traverses from the guns to the limbers. Then we cut down the 
 embrasures so as to fit our present position. But this we had not 
 yet completed when, at 3 P. M., the enemy again opened on us, 
 doing no material damage. 
 
 Thus ended the month of May. Our army had driven the 
 enemy from two strong positions, flanked them out of a third, and 
 we thought them nearly surrounded in a fourth. But it appeared 
 that others had opinions as well as we. An inquiry made of a 
 prisoner, captured that day, showed that an entirely different im- 
 pression was prevalent in Johnston's army. He very innocently 
 asked: " Well now, just tell me, which are you uns going to do — 
 surrender or try to cut your way out?" 
 
 June 1st opened bright and clear. We were all on the qui 
 vive, and prepared to return the rebel fire as soon as they should 
 speak. Eight o'clock came and not a shot had been fired. We 
 thought best to see if we could call forth an answer from the rebels, 
 so we opened fire. They must have been equally on the alert, for 
 the smoke had not yet risen from before our guns when three of 
 their guns had responded. Both sides now worked to their utmost, 
 each determined to silence the other if possible. Knowing that one 
 well directed shell was worth a dozen sent at random, we took care- 
 ful aim at each round. Our foes were equally careful. One of 
 their shells exploded in No. 5 embrasure, half closing it. Others 
 struck the works, and some just grazed them and exploded between 
 the guns and limbers, while many passed by and greatly endan- 
 gered our caissons. None of them did any material damage. We 
 felt that it was about an even thing, knowing that when the crisis 
 comes in the battle that side wins which, at the proper instant, shows 
 the greatest pluck. Watching closely to discover the first sign of 
 faltering on their part, it came shortly, when pouring in our shell 
 with redoubled vigor, the duel soon ceased. They never fired 
 another gun from that fort! We continued to shell them for some 
 minutes to show them we were not silenced, then paid our attention 
 to their sharpshooters, whom we found behind piles of rails, large 
 trees and in "gopher holes; 11 some were in a cotton-gin that stood in 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 185 
 
 trout and to one side of their fort. A single shell would scatter 
 their rail piles. A.bout bhe second one striking near a gopher 
 hole would cause the occupant to skedaddle to the covering of the 
 woods or their works. Two or three shells were exploded in the 
 gin-house, with what success we know not, save thai there were no 
 more bullets sent from it toward us. 
 
 That day Orange V. Mercer, aged eighteen, enlisted at Merri- 
 inac, I llinois, for our Battery. 
 
 It rained hard nearly all day of the 2d, with occasional hail. 
 At 2 P. M. the Battery moved back to near it- last position, and 
 relieved Preston's battery of twenty-pounders, the 5th Indiana 
 taking our place. In our new position we were tree from the 
 visitation of the " \Yhar-is-\e?'* hut the rebels sen! us man\ of 
 their half-starved " cats.*' They came along with their " me-a-ow." 
 and would strike the hanks, pass by over the caissons, or -top 
 among them in the mud. the sudden halt forcing a thug from 
 them. 
 
 That day Carey was placed in the ranks and given a position in 
 No. 3 gun detachment. Powers was made blacksmith. 
 
 It rained hard nearly all day of the 3d. Bullets came in more 
 numerous titan before. It seemed that the pickets had become fret- 
 ful on account of the cold, wet weather, and were venting their 
 spite by firing as rapidly as they could. 
 
 Oui- horses were beginning to eat up the carriage wheels when- 
 ever they could get to them. We had nothing to ted them, and 
 were not allowed by the enemy to take them out to graze, and 
 where we lay there were no small bushes we could cut down to 
 allow them to eat the leaves. As to ourselves, we had been draw- 
 ing about as much as the horses. Of the last corn \\>(\ our horses, 
 
 some of the infantry picked the kernels out of the mud where the 
 horses had tramped them nearly out of sight. This day we thought 
 we were really going to see better times, as we drew nearly full 
 
 rations of hard tack, hut alas, after having a good, hearty al 
 
 devouring nearly all of them, we were told there had been a mis- 
 take made, and instead of their being for three days, t hey must last 
 live! 
 
 That day Titus left for hospital with the scurvy. Several id' 
 
 the men had been c plaining lor the last few days of swollen 
 
 limbs, which in places were black and blue and quite hard. Their 
 teeth were also getting sore, and hurting them so they could scarcely 
 
186 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 masticate their food. This last could not be caused by eating hard 
 tack, for we had too few. What the disease was no one could tell, 
 till many who were with us in upper Tennessee and were affected 
 in the same way, said it was scurvy. 
 
 It rained quite hard that night and the 4th. At 2 P. M. the 
 battery next on our left opened, and gun 4, of our Battery, think- 
 ing the play had again commenced, fired a shot, when it discovered 
 its mistake. Toward night Gen. Wagner rode out to the lines in 
 front of the right section and told the men to be prepared for the 
 rebels as soon as they should rise. He then ordered the buglers to 
 blow the stand to arms, and the enemy, thinking our men were 
 going to charge, rose to receive them; but they dropped in less time 
 than they had risen, as our infantry sent them a w T ell-directed vol- 
 ley from their muskets. 
 
 It rained slowly during the night and till eight o'clock on the 
 morning of Sunday, the 5th. At six o'clock in the morning our 
 pickets were heartily cheering, and looking in that direction, we 
 saw them on or running to the rebel works! The rebels had left 
 during the night. 
 
 Our first thought was to go to the fort we had silenced and 
 discover, if we could, the damage done them. We found blood, 
 pieces of exploded shells, parts of broken wheels, scattered around 
 through the fort. To the rear of it were several trees, every one 
 of which was struck near the butt by a shell, and one or two cut 
 entirely off, although they were a foot or more in diameter, and we 
 concluded from the signs that one would not feel much like work- 
 ing were he placed in as warm a climate as that evidently had been. 
 
 By nine o'clock the Battery was together and ready for the 
 " forward 1 ' to be sounded, but no order to move came that day, 
 and near night we camped near the fort. 
 
 Sergt. Schnasse, Privates Robert Stewart, Charles Franck and 
 Christian Hoffer went to the hospital with scurvy. 
 
 At 1 P. M. fortifying began toward the rear, as it was reported 
 Forrest would attempt to capture the wagon train. Several cannon 
 were heard to the rear during the afternoon, but no Forrest 
 appeared near us, though some of his men did come near enough to 
 capture a couple of officers who were bathing in a creek some dis- 
 tance from camp. The officers escaped the same day. 
 
 At 8 A. M., on the 6th the Battery moved out. It rained a 
 little in the forenoon to keep good our sign. The roads were 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 187 
 
 fearfully cut up by the large wagon trains that had passed over them 
 ahead of us. We crossed Little Pumpkin Vine and Altoona Creeks, 
 and camped in a dense forest h\ a very small branch called Cucum- 
 ber Creek, on whose borders were found inau\ cucumber trees, from 
 which it probably derived its name. Before settling down in our 
 camp ground, "Long Range 11 had us turn around uo less than t u ice, 
 this being the third place he selected for us. We had marched 
 n i in- miles that day. At night we drew a little corn for our horses, 
 and the next morning we drew not only full rations for them, but 
 for ourselves also! And in addition to full rations, got desiccated 
 vegetables and sonic soap! 
 
 The trains could be heard running to A.cworth. Our greatest 
 cause for concern was to find vegetables or fruits to check, if pos- 
 sible, the ravagesof thescurvy. There was very little green stuff to 
 be found that was eatable, for the rebels had left uothingof the kind 
 behind them. 
 
 It had been rumored (and so fail' was the story that it was gen- 
 erally believed) that the ambulance train, which Titus had started 
 to the rear in, had been captured by Forrest; but this afternoon, as 
 an ambulance train was going past, we saw Titus, nor had be keen 
 near Forrest to his knowledge. 
 
 Toward night all thought there was quite a heavy artillery 
 battle to the southeast, but after listening intently for some 
 minutes, discovered it was the artillery of the heavens: and that 
 uight, the next day and the next night we received a shower every 
 few minutes. 
 
 At \ A. M. of the 9th "quinine 11 (sick call) was blown at 
 infantry headquarters, and our officers mistaking it for the "gen- 
 eral," ordered " boots and saddles 11 blown. The Battery was s i 
 
 ready to move, but not receiving orders as to the order oi march, 
 t he captain sent to headquarters and there learned that uo "general 11 
 had keen sounded that morning, and would not he that day. The 
 hoi-.,- were then unharnessed. 
 
 That day orders were read that did not entirely satisfy us. 
 
 hut as they appeared t eet the views of the following persons, 
 
 whose uames were appended to them in the manner given, it was 
 thought best not to demur. First came Gen. Thomas, then Gen. 
 Bran nan, his chief of artillery, next came Capt. Bridges, chiet ><i 
 artillery of the 4th Corps, ('apt. AyMiiiv. chief of artillery of the 
 :lt\ Division, and finally Capt. Spencer, commander Battery M. Lst 
 
188 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Illinois Artillery. The orders were to the effect that any battery 
 of the Army of the Cumberland found with even a canteen on gun 
 or caisson while on the march, or ahorse tied near enough to a car- 
 riage to eat the spokes of the wheels or the poles of the carriages 
 while in camp, would be sent to the rear in disgrace ! Not even a 
 sack of grain could be put on a caisson for the horses, but we must 
 wait till our forage wagons (of which we were to have four) could 
 catch up. This would prevent us feeding our horses when we 
 should halt for a few minutes, as we often did, and many times our 
 animals would have to go without their regular meals, as some- 
 times our wagons were not up with us for a day or two. As to our- 
 selves, our baggage was to be carried in a wagon allotted for the 
 purpose; but as this wagon also hauled all the headquarters' stores, 
 there was none too much room for the knapsacks and blankets, 
 though several of us had only a poncho. Nearly all tried leaving 
 their blankets in the wagon, and the first night on the march had 
 the privilege of sleeping on the bare ground, in the heavy dew, that 
 is so common in that part of the country. The refractory ones 
 carried their blankets, and the second day the whole lot of us were 
 contrary. A few days more and our tarpaulins were double their 
 usual size when folded up, and soon not a dozen men had blankets 
 to carry. The captain would occasionally look at the tarpaulins 
 and make some laughing remark about their growing so fast, and 
 there the matter would drop. In other batteries we noticed that 
 they paid less regard to the order than we, for we did put our knap- 
 sacks into the wagon. 
 
< II \ITEK XXII. 
 
 On tlif loth of June the "general" was again sounded, ami 
 thf army was soon in motion. The 1th Corps received orders to 
 give thf road to all other troops or trains: consequently, when 
 we started at ten o'clock, we had to move very slowly, ami 
 made very little progress. It rained ami thundered very hard in 
 the afternoon and nearly all night. We camped at 6 P. M.. two 
 and a halt' miles from our starting point in the morning. 
 
 A number of rebel hospital tents could he seen on a large hill 
 to the east of our camp, ami about three miles distant, proving that 
 we should not have far to go before meeting the enemy, and. in 
 fact, our advance was even then skirmishing about a mile off. 
 
 Nearly all day of the 11th it seemed to he trying to show how 
 hard it could rain, and there were few blue or gray backs in that 
 region, when night came, who were not wet to the skin. The day 
 was cold and chilly, ami tires were quite as acceptable as though it 
 was a March day. 
 
 At 1 1 A. M. the Battery moved about three-fourths of a mile 
 tti the east. Here we lay till 6 I'. ML, being kept lively by the shells 
 that were every few minutes passing through the tree-tops above 
 our heads, or burying themselves in the ground near ns. each one 
 seeming to see how close it could come and do no damage, some- 
 thing like the Indian practice of throwing tomahawks at a victim 
 as he stands hound to a tree. 
 
 At six o'clock, by doubling to gel up a steep hill, we moved 
 about a mile north. The left and center sections took position 
 neai- an old house at the edge of a tield. and facing Tine Mountain. 
 The right section ami caissons camped about a quarter of a mile 
 back in the woods. Before dark the two sections at the front had 
 fired forty-four rounds at the enemy on the mountain. 
 
190 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 It rained all that night, the day and night of the 12th, and 
 till nearly night of the 13th. There was very little firing from 
 either side. We conld hear the rebels' and our trains — theirs as 
 they came past Kennesaw — ours as they approached Big Shanty. 
 
 At 11:30 A. M., on the 14th, we harnessed up, as the infantry 
 were to charge in our front and we might have to move. At twelve 
 o'clock several batteries, including ours, opened on the mountain 
 and on the woods at the foot and front of the mountain. The 
 grounds were shelled thoroughly that, when the infantry should 
 advance, they would meet with no great force of the enemy. 
 During the cannonading the rebel Lieutenant General Polk was 
 killed, a ten-pounder shell passing through his body and burying 
 itself in the ground some distance further on. Prisoners who were 
 captured that afternoon said he was killed in the manner before 
 stated and that the battery which fired the shell stood in the field 
 near the old house, clearly describing our position. We know that 
 there was no battery within a quarter of a mile on either side of 
 us, and we were so near the house as to make use of it for quarters. 
 
 When the infantry charged — three lines deep — they met with 
 but slight opposition. They drove the enemy from the mountain 
 and about half a mile beyond. Great was the cheering as the news 
 spread that Polk was killed. At half past five we moved nearly 
 two miles further east and camped. 
 
 We hitched up on the morning of the 15th, but soon 
 unhitched and unharnessed. At 1 P. M. we again hitched up and 
 moved forward about one and a quarter miles and halted till 8 P. 
 M., when we advanced about one and a half miles and took posi- 
 tion, working all night throwing up works. At nine o'clock, on 
 the 16th, all the batteries on our part of the line opened, making 
 such a terrific noise that it sounded more like the consolidation of 
 many thunder storms than the artillery of man. Our Battery 
 fired thirty-six rounds. It was always our motto, when allowed 
 to fire as we chose, to use our ammunition sparingly, but to make 
 each shot tell — always selecting an object before sighting a gun. 
 Closely adhering to this, Battery M was never caught without 
 ammunition from having wasted it in mere noise. 
 
 During the night the enemy left their strong works in our 
 front and swung around so as to face to the west instead of the 
 north. At 8:30, next morning, we advanced and halted at a very 
 strong fort, about a mile from where we had lain. In front of this 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 191 
 
 tort were to be seen manj large trees cut, rent and splintered from 
 the effects of our fire. A prisoner told us (and pointed out the 
 place) that one of our shells had struck one of the large logs, 
 (called head logs, laid on top of their works and raised from them 
 so as to leave room to fire under) tlnvw it down upon the men 
 lying behind the works and killed and wounded fourteen. 
 
 This fort was about equi-distant from Lost and Kennesaw 
 Mountains nearly three miles from each. On the former the 
 stars and stripes were waving; on the latter the rebels were signal- 
 ing, doubtless informing their chief of every movement they saw 
 us make. 
 
 At 3 I*. M. our lines again advanced, but had gone only about 
 half a mile before finding the enemy behind new works. It seemed 
 that as fast as they were driven from one fortified position they 
 had another all ready to fall back into. While their soldiers were 
 kept constantly at the front with nothing to do but to meet and 
 oppose us. their negroes were at the rear, fortifying every place or 
 position they might have occasion to use. 
 
 Finding they were going tomakeanotherstand.it was resolved 
 they should have another taste of our artillery. Thirty guns were 
 put in position at five o'clock, the extreme ones not being over 
 eighty rods apart. At six o'clock all opened at once and tired as 
 rapidly as they could for nearly an hour. Our Battery fired 207 
 rounds, and as each of the others probably fired as many, if not 
 more, the enemy must have had to dodge among 1,035 shells 
 inside an hour. 
 
 At 11 P.M. the enemy attempted a charge. Our infantry 
 immediately formed line, while the artillery hitched up so as to lie 
 ready to receive them. A few rounds from our artillery restored 
 silence, vet tlie artillery remained prepared for them the rest of the 
 uight. Till after midnight it was almost as light as day. hut after 
 that hour it suddenly became cloudy, and long before daylight it 
 was raining very hard. By eight o'clock every little gully was 
 filled with water and the small creeks were overflowing. The rain 
 hardly stopped tor an hour till the 23d. 
 
 A.t eight o'clock A. M.. of the 18th, our infantry advanced 
 during a very heavy rainstorm. This was unexpected by the 
 
 enemy, ami their first lit f works, with many prisoners, w as easily 
 
 taken. Our artillery had previously shelled their pickets from 
 behind their rail piles ( the "gopher holes."' on account of the rain. 
 
192 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 being untenable) so there was no one to warn the rebels of the 
 charge. The prisoners taken were quite the color of the clay in 
 which they had lately been lying, and with which their clothes 
 were literally covered. Their uniform was naturally so near the 
 color of the clay of the country that at any great distance one 
 could not tell whether there was a gray back in the country or not, 
 so long as he did not fire and thus expose himself by the smoke from 
 his gun. In this respect they had a decided advantage over us, 
 whose blue contrasted strongly with the color of the landscape. 
 Though, as a rule, our blue had turned to clay color also from 
 marching, working our guns, and sleeping in the cl&j mud. 
 
 As the prisoners came in by us, the usual salutation. " Hello, 
 Johnny, yoa coming in out of the wet?" sounded so appropriate 
 this morning that all hands had to laugh — and shiver with the cold 
 too. 
 
 At ten o'clock the Battery moved about a mile to the right. 
 From here it shelled the woods to the northeast and east. In a 
 short time a rebel battery that stood almost at right angles to the 
 direction we were firing and on our right flank, opened on us, 
 dropping their shells among our guns and limbers; one shell cut a 
 sponge staff in two that a member of No. 4 gun was holding, 
 and exploded immediately after. One of its pieces struck William 
 Hendershot, of the same gun. in the leg, inflicting a severe wound. 
 He was taken to a crowded hospital at Nashville, where gangrene 
 soon made its appearance among the wounded, many of whom, and 
 among them Hendershot, died from its effects. 
 
 As soon as it was discovered where this cross-fire was coming 
 from, we turned our attention to it, and soon had the satisfaction 
 of silencing it. We then resumed our shelling the woods. 
 
 There was a point about a thousand yards to the northeast of 
 us, close up under the guns of a rebel fort, which if attained would 
 give us a decided advantage. Three batteries had attempted to 
 reach the position but had been driven back, each sustaining con- 
 siderable loss. One of the generals proposed to our captain that 
 as his Battery had never been silenced, and had never attempted to 
 take a position without doing it. he should take us to that point. 
 He readily consented and announced that he was going to take one 
 section there. For some reason he delayed doing it till after dark, 
 and then did not take us there till after midnight. That day we 
 had fired 403 rounds. 
 
\ll \\T\ CAMPAIGN". 193 
 
 Gen. Sherman had formerly been a teacher in the military 
 academy ;it Marietta, where he had taught the young idea how to 
 shoot at himself. A.s his army was now within a few miles of it, 
 he remarked that when leaving there he had no idea he should 
 make so great a noise on his return, nor that he should be so 
 warmly received. 
 
 The point to which we were taken during the nighi had been 
 strongly fortified by the enemy, who still occupied a formidable 
 fort about tour hundred yards further back, and from it had shelled 
 our batteries which had attempted to reach the works we now held. 
 
 A- soon as we reached the desired point we began reversing 
 the works, which was no easy job. To till a moat seven or eight 
 feet wide and lour feet deep with earth, thrown over an embank- 
 ment nearly live feet high, increasing in height as last as we dug, 
 without making the slightest noise lest the enemy should hear us, 
 and thus all he lost, was m. easy matter. If we should through 
 the night succeed in getting the works strong enough to guard 
 against bullets (which was as much as we could expect to 
 accomplish in that short time) how would it fare with us when, 
 in the morning, the enemy would discover our proximity, and. 
 from the fort that looked so frowningly upon us. open with per- 
 haps a dozen guns their men refreshed by an undisturbed night's 
 
 rest, whil irs had worked hard nearly the whole night? Asday 
 
 approached some would say. " Boys, this is going to he a hot day for 
 us." •" Mattery M. you can now show yourself.*' etc. Day dawned. 
 We looked forth to see what the tirst act of the enemy would he 
 at discovering as so close under the muzzles of their guns. There 
 was not a movement in the tort that we could detect. The silence 
 was almost insufferable. Should we send them an iron messenger 
 telling them it was time to he astir, and make them do something 
 we could see? "I believe they are gone," says one. What in the 
 
 keeps them so quiet?" says another. The infantry are equally 
 anxious to know how matters stand behind those works, and one 
 daring fellow crawls out over our works and make- bis way running 
 stealthily up to theirs. Others follow: they leap over and give a 
 shout of joy. The works are deserted, the enemy has gone! No. 
 not all. for here and there a sleepy gray back starts to hi- feet, as 
 it -cared out id' his senses hy the sudden appearance ami cheering 
 of our men. " Hello. Johnnies, what are you doing here? Where 
 are the i.'-t id' your brothers?" "We don't know. We went 
 
]94 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 to sleep and did not know they had gone." By this time the works 
 are alive with Yankees. The rebs caught napping are thoroughly 
 pumped by each new-comer. Sometimes a dozen questions are 
 asked them at once, and as they cannot reply to so many at a time, 
 they simply smile and say nothing. A round of fifty parts would 
 be a good representation of the catechism put to these " cornfeds." 
 One man says, " Good morning, Johnny. Thought you'd come in 
 out of the wet, did you? 11 By that time a second has said, " Good 
 morning, Johnny, 11 and the first says, "Or did you get sleepy? 11 
 when the second says, " Thought you'd come in out of the wet, did 
 you? 11 And number three has arrived and said, "Good morning, 
 Johnny. 11 By the time number twenty has said " Good morning, 11 
 number one has asked how far ahead they probably are by this 
 time, and so on, each man asking nearly the same questions his 
 predecessor did, till finally number one, having learned about all he 
 thinks he shall be able to, becomes considerate for the Johnny, and 
 says, " Boys, don't ask him so many questions; he can't answer 
 half of them. 11 "You've got through now, have you? 11 replies 
 number two, and the conversation works out among the crowd as 
 Johnny is left with only one or two questioners, who perhaps are 
 his captors, and they say, " Come, we'll be going. 11 They take them 
 to headquarters and place them in custody of the proper guards, 
 where they are again catechised by dog-robbers and officers. 
 
 After the captured works have been closely examined, all 
 return to camp and soon engage in making coffee and in frying 
 meat, the frying-pan generally used being a sharp pointed stick, 
 on which the meat is stuck and held in the fire till cooked. 
 
 Over the good news of the morning, and for our hard work 
 the day before and during the night, Gen. Wagner, always alive to 
 attend to our wants when it lay in his power, sent us four gallons 
 of commissary this morning. It was taken to Lieut. Fluskey, who, 
 supposing it was for his section, had the greater part of it issued 
 before he was aware that it was for the whole Battery. As a natural 
 result the left section contained some jolly lads that forenoon. 
 
 It was Sunday, and the day began as calm and beautiful as it 
 ever did at home, but what mattered it if it was the Sabbath? The 
 enemy had fallen back, and we must follow closely, or he would 
 have time to fortify his next chosen position unmolested. It will 
 be observed that falling back Saturdays and Sundays was becom- 
 ing quite fashionable with the enemy. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. L95 
 
 Our Battery moved out about ten o'clock, though the advance 
 
 had started s hours before, and occasional cannonading had 
 
 been heard for some time. While passing through the second line 
 of deserted works, we saw where a Johnny had been hit by a shell 
 as he lay in an uncovered shanty. His brains were so Ear scattered 
 around thai some of them were found on the second shanty on 
 each side of the one in which he was killed, a radius of about fif- 
 teen feet. A little further on was seen the body of what had oeen 
 a fat mule. Its hams had been cutout. Could it be that the rebels 
 were SO reduced ill their supplies as to he forced to a repetition id' 
 
 Vicksburg? 
 
 At eleven o'eloek we moved ahoiit one and a half miles to the 
 southeast. This brought us within about a mile id' the south end 
 >d' Big Kennesaw. the larger of the twins. We took position in a 
 field and threw a few shells at the mountain and at the knob at its 
 south end. We were ordered to send a salute as far down the val- 
 ley toward the south as we could, so with a thirty-five second fuse. 
 and an elevation of sixteen degrees, we started off the messengers. 
 Where they went or whether they ever stopped, we never learned. 
 
 The rebel skirmishers were in the pine timber about three 
 hundred yards in front of our guns, and their bullets occasionally 
 zipped close to our heads; but our infantry soon advanced, driving 
 them across a small creek further on. The sky had clouded up 
 about noon, and now. at two o'clock, it was raining quite hard. It 
 continued to rain in fitful showers the rest of the day. and we saw 
 no more sunshine till the 23d. At '.'::'(» we closed up with the 
 skirmishers, the main line lying a few rods back of our guns. 
 
 McDowell's 2d Pennsylvania Battery had already taken posi- 
 tion some farther to the front, and was supported by only about a 
 dozen infantry. It shelled the surrounding woods rapidly, and as 
 the bullets came thicker, used canister. Wherever a puff of smoke 
 could be seen we would send a shell, hut that was slow work 
 among a thousand of tl uemy scattered among trees. Mc- 
 Dowell had to retreat, having lost over a do/en horses and several 
 men in less than ten minutes. Me placed hi- battery in line with 
 ours. His were twelve-pounder guns, and of short range, a- were 
 also the guns of Ba tt ery A. 1st Ohio, which was also on the line with 
 ii- both I latteries being to our left our right lying near the woods 
 and unprotected. This weak point the rebels soon detected, and 
 crawling a> near us as they could, began using our driver- for 
 
196 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 targets. One bullet, coming from a distant point in front, struck 
 Noyes, ( a detailed man ) a driver belonging to gun 3, in the side. 
 He climbed to the ground, and upon examination, found that the 
 bullet, after piercing his clothes had not entered his body, when he 
 returned and took charge of his team. 
 
 We had been upon the ground but a few minutes before there 
 was a large puff of smoke on the knob at the foot of Kennesaw,. 
 before mentioned. We had not had time to call attention to it 
 before a shell struck in the field about ten rods in front of us, and, 
 recochetting, passed over and far to the rear. The men sprang to 
 their feet and manned the guns, and had sent a reply by the 
 time the second one reached us. A few more came, but none did 
 any damage. It required only about five minutes to dry them up. 
 The two batteries of twelve-pounders on our left could do no good 
 at such long range, so they gave us no assistance. 
 
 We then, as the infantry had driven the enemy back far 
 enough that we could freely work our guns, paid attention to 
 some sharpshooters on the side of the knob, who had been amus- 
 ing themselves by sending their " screaming cats' 1 to us. One 
 of these sharpshooters had fired several times from behind a stump. 
 A shell exploded just right to lift him up in the air so we could 
 see him plainly. Some men approached with a stretcher. A shell 
 exploded near them, and we saw no more of the stretcher. After 
 silencing a few more muskets, we moved back to where we had 
 first taken position and camped. That day we had used 375 rounds. 
 Quite a noisy Sunday for us, but we generally did make the most 
 noise on that day. 
 
 The infantry threw up light works that afternoon, and 
 on the morning of the 20th fatigue parties began to build works 
 for our two batteries, a little to the left of where we were when 
 attacked by the rebel battery on the knob. At four o'clock P. M. 
 they were to have had the works completed, as that was the hour 
 for all the batteries to open that afternoon, and oars was to fire 
 the signal. Our officers were on the ground long before the time, 
 and made such suggestions to the pioneers as they saw, if carried 
 out, would improve our position. The brush to some distance in 
 front of our position was cleared away, and a small frame house 
 that stood directly in front, so as to obscure the view, was burned. 
 We took the left of the line, fronting the knob, while Battery A 
 took the right, which was separated from ours by a road that was 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN, L97 
 
 left to be used should we have need fco advance. At r.io. though 
 the works were not yet so high but that we could easily fire 
 over them at any point, we opened on the rebels, or rather on the 
 woods in front of us. where we supposed the rebels to be. Still 
 holding a grudge against the knob t''>r its having made as work so 
 lively tlif day before, we directed our shell to any object on it that 
 we could imagine was a rebel. This firing at will was soon 
 changed to the Resaca plan of fire by battery and by piece from 
 the right, which had given our Battery the name of the " Revolv- 
 ing Battery" among the enemy. "Corn ketchup 11 ruled that after- 
 noon, and although we had objected mentally, or among ourselves, to 
 fighting under him, yet we forgot not our duty when the com- 
 mand came, "Fire by battery, ready, fire! 11 Twelve guns belched 
 forth simultaneously, and twelve shells reached their destination 
 almost at the same instant. After firing a few volleys thus, we 
 fired by piece from the right, and our captain^ voice rang out, 
 "Attention. By piece from the right, ready, fire!' 1 and our six 
 guns, one immediately after the other, were discharged. Some 
 special object was always selected,, as before stated, and if we 
 could see no enemy, would he practicing at target. 
 
 In our three years' service our target practice was chiefly at 
 the enemy, and we did not use L25 rounds in target practice 
 proper, although we had forty-four different guns which we had 
 occasion to use. the forty-four composed of six distinct kinds less 
 than three rounds to a gun and not twenty-one to a kind. 
 
 While firing by piece from the right, we noticed a larger smoke 
 on the knoh. than a shell could make, and soon a shell struck in 
 
 front of • position, recochetting over us. This told us we had 
 
 an antagonist, ami immediately the combat began, Battery A join- 
 ing us with its shot. There was a lively game of hall for a few 
 minutes, when a third party was evidently entering the lists. A 
 shell went over and just to the rear of our guns. " What is that ?" 
 asked one of the gunners. "Only the 5th Indiana ( which stood to 
 our right and rear, some BOO rods distant ) shelling the side of the 
 Kennesaw," replied some one. Scarcely were the words uttered 
 before a shell coming from the right struck just in the rear of our 
 guns, and recochetting, passedon over the infantry. We looked in 
 the direction whence it came and discovered a rebel battery to our 
 right, just in the act of firing. Our officers called to Battery A to 
 attend to the one on the knob should it again open (for we had 
 
198 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 just silenced it) and we turned our guns to our new foe, throwing 
 one gun almost exactly in the rear of the one next to its right. In 
 this way we fired several shots till it was seen that we endangered 
 our own men, our three left guns having already ceased firing, 
 when we exchanged positions with Battery A, which, on account 
 of having smooth bore guns, could not reach over half the distance 
 this flank fire was from. We now had it from all directions 
 where the enemy held the ground. From Kennesaw " drones 11 
 came down to see us. On top of the knob they had opened again, 
 and also from its side. In our new front a second battery opened; 
 this was nearer our lines and behind a heavy strip of woods, so we 
 could not tell where the battery was, except as we caught sight of 
 the blaze of the guns. We let this last battery fire for some- 
 time, thinking it was one of our own, till a shell came from it we 
 could not mistake. Col. Harker, coming up just then, reassured us 
 they were rebels. Besides these fires, their infantry pickets were 
 sending in their bullets thick and close. Shells struck all around 
 us; in front, on both sides, to the rear, and among us; one passed 
 through one of our horses and exploded inside his mate, tearing 
 him in pieces. A piece of shell hit Rundell (detailed from 3d 
 Wisconsin) in the hip, wounding him severely. 
 
 Within an hour we had silenced everything except the sharp- 
 shooters. We now rested and talked over the work lately engaged 
 in. Soon the rebels opened again from the knob and from the right. 
 We silenced them in less than ten minutes, but not till they had 
 killed some more horses for us. Our loss that day was three men 
 wounded, nine horses killed and many others disabled. At 8:30 P. 
 M. we were relieved by Battery C, 1st Illinois, and I, 1st Ohio, of the 
 14th Corps. We went back to where our caissons lay and camped. 
 
 In this engagement the limbers were in quite as much danger 
 while going to and fro between guns and caissons as at the im- 
 mediate front; for the shells struck on every side of them, and some 
 went as far to the rear as the caissons. It was almost miraculous 
 that half or more of our men were not killed, while the infantry, who 
 were just to the rear of us, suffered so severely. We fired 375 rounds, 
 and must have received fully as many. Barr, of gun 4, met with 
 an accident that disabled one of his hands for several weeks. He 
 had taken a spoiled cartridge from one of the chests, and as some 
 of the powder fell out through a hole in the cartridge and dropped 
 into the fire near which he was standing, it ignited and exploded. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN L99 
 
 .lust before changing positions with Battery A. gun 6, as well 
 
 as 5 and 4. had to cease firing or kill our own men. 
 
 On the morning of the -1st we drew nine horses, necessitating 
 the dismounting of some of Gen. Newton's orderlies ami staff 
 officers. 
 
 At six o'clock A. M. we started for the right to relieve a por- 
 tion of (ien. Hooker'- corps, which moved still further to the right. 
 The road was quite miry, yet we reached our destination, which 
 was about two miles from our late camp, with only one or two 
 stalls. 
 
 The point to which we had come was where our works 
 formed nearly a right angle and about two miles almost due south 
 from Kennesaw's kiioh. We rested some time on top of a high 
 hill, hut hidden from the enemy by some tall, heavy woods on 
 another hill in front id' us. Cannonading was going on quite near 
 our previous day's battle ground; it was reported that our relief 
 had been silenced and that the enemy was still shelling them. 
 
 The Battery was ordered hack about a quarter of a mile, to 
 where there was a sort of fort near where the 20th Corps hospital 
 had been, and where part of it still remained. As soon as possible 
 which was some little time, for we had to re-cross a miry creek 
 that occasioned us some trouble we were in position and firing at 
 sound for targets. We could locate, by the smoke above the tree 
 tops, one of the rebel forts within about half a mile that was doing 
 the damage. To the location of the other fort there were two 
 engaged in this attack on our successors in yesterday's position 
 we had nothing to guide us except sound. We tired hut few rounds 
 before all cannonading ceased around the point to which we had 
 sent our shell-. 
 
 We were given the credit of having silenced those two rebel 
 batteries. Gen. Howard sent one of his staff with his thanks for 
 wdiat we had done. ('apt. Goodspeed, who stood among our guns 
 
 during the firing, said he never saw anything t |ual it as to 
 
 splendid shot-. 
 
 During the time we were directing our shot- to the batteries 
 the rebel sharpshooters, hehi ml some rail piles in front of their work-. 
 
 al t eight hundred yards distant, had been seeing how near they 
 
 could send their bullets to us. Now that there was nothing else to 
 engage us, we thought to attempt their dislodgement. A half 
 dozen shells sent more than as many gray backs on the double 
 
200 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 quick to their works. We then exploded some shell in a large 
 house that stood in the edge of the woods, to the rear of their 
 works. This was soon in flames. Then some more in and under a 
 cotton-gin that stood to the right of the house, but that failed to 
 burn. Then, having orders to continue firing, but with no par- 
 ticular object mentioned, we chose points along the works. Our 
 shells exploded so well and went so nicely, to the very spot we 
 wished, that in a few minutes there was a line of Johnnies running 
 as if for life, from behind these works to the woods on their left. 
 We dropped a few shells near them, as they ran, to hasten their 
 flight. As the rebels left their rail piles for their works, a single 
 infantry-man, from the 17th Kentucky, followed and did not stop 
 until he was in the moat. Here he lay in safety, others coming 
 up one at a time. As soon as the rebels were seen to be breaking 
 for the cover of the woods, the whole 17th Kentucky and 15th 
 Ohio Regiments, each man armed with a rail besides his musket, 
 dashed forward, and were soon in possession of the rebel works, 
 which they speedily reversed; and by the next day they were much 
 stronger than when the rebels had left them. This rail charge 
 was never forgotten in the army. 
 
 Some of the retreating enemy had taken refuge in the cotton- 
 gin, but a shell or two soon drove them out. 
 
 At eleven o'clock, the next day, the Battery moved to the 
 north end of the captured line, and lay under some large shade 
 trees near an old house till late in the afternoon. Battery A was 
 in position a little to the left, and did some firing. One signal 
 corps had a station just to the rear of where we lay. The rebel 
 sharpshooters paid strict attention to them and succeeded in wound- 
 ing the principal signal officer. 
 
 At five o'clock a position had been found for us at some dis- 
 tance to the right. The captain rode up and said, " Boys, I'm 
 going to take you to a warm place, 11 and in a few minutes the Bat- 
 tery was in motion. 
 
 The position assigned us was just at the point where the rebels 
 had entered the woods, when shelled from behind their works, the 
 day before. Our infantry had built works there, as those of the 
 rebels did not extend quite to the woods. Just as we moved up to 
 the works, an infantry-man was killed by the side of No. 4 gun, 
 almost falling over on it. A short time after, another was killed 
 near the same place. Bullets came in very fast and close, but if 
 
ATI.WTA CAMPAIGN. "JOl 
 
 we lay low we should be ou1 of harm's reach. That, however, 
 could not be done as embrasures must be made for our guns. 
 While working at this Cogswell and Ralph were struck l>\ spent 
 balls, which left bruises on them l>ui did not unfit them for duty. 
 Xs soon as thf enemy discovered us he opened on us. from a 
 batter} they had in our immediate front, but we were so low they 
 could not reach us. yet his shells greatly endangered us by cutting 
 
 off limbs of trees over our heads. 
 
 " Whisky" now came along and ordered us to fire percussion 
 shell! To have done so would have been simply slaughtering our 
 
 own men. for our skirmish line was in the woods in front of us. 
 and if a shell hit a limb or tree, it would explode and kill or greatly 
 endanger our men beneath the trees. The order was obeyed so bn- 
 that one shell was fired, and it exploded about ten rods in front of 
 the gun, though it does not seem to have done any damage. At 
 the order "fire," John Scales, who was No. 1 (the one who fires 
 the gun) on No. 1 gun, in compliance with orders issued by the 
 chief of artillery of the army, that under no circumstances should 
 percussion shell be tired in woods over our own men. refused to 
 pull the lanyard, although he had fixed the friction primer in the 
 gun ami stood with the lanyard almost taut at t he position of " fire." 
 Thinking the order had not been heard, or had been misunderstood, 
 the order was again given and in no uncertain tones, in the words, 
 "Pull, John, pull. Why in h 11 don't you pull?" For sometime 
 alter that, when marching by the infantry that were lying within 
 hearing distance at the time, (the circumstances were soon known 
 throughout the corps ) they would call out to the commander by way 
 of recognition, "Pull, John pull. \Yh\ in h 11 don't you pull?" 
 
 That da\ order- were given for all w ho were able to sit up. to re- 
 port at the epulis for duty. We were so worn down by overwork- 
 ami the * k Georgia gallop" as to have only four or five men to a gun. 
 
 At 1 I'. M.. on the 23d, we began to throw up some light 
 works about twenty feet to the rear id' the captured ones, and 
 about fifty yards to our left, to protect us should we he replied to 
 during the approaching shelling id' tin- enemy, and our position 
 had been changed so as to give us a better chance to tire without 
 endangering our own troops. At four o'clock Capt. Bridges rode 
 up. He had Willis !i and 3 lire a few shots to test the quality of 
 our ammunition. It was found to he ver\ poor, not one-quarter 
 of the shells exploding. 
 
202 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 At five o'clock we fired, as a signal, six guns, and scarcely had 
 the last one sent forth its missile of death before all the batteries, 
 for three miles on each side of us, were firing at will. We con- 
 tinued for about fifteen minutes. Immediately on our ceasing 
 the infantry in front of the 4th and 14th Corps sounded the charge, 
 but as no one moved save a portion of the 100th Illinois, that lay 
 in our front, they were of course worsted, as they had no support. 
 As Col. Bartleson, commanding the regiment, rode through the 
 gap near our guns, he stopped to say a few words to some of our 
 men with whom he was acquainted, and then rode forward. 
 Just as he reached the cotton-gin a bullet killed him, not five 
 minutes after he was talking with us. His loss was deeply felt by 
 all who knew him, for he was an officer who had the respect of 
 both officers and men. 
 
 This demonstration on our front was a feint to call the atten- 
 tion of the enemy to our portion of the lines while Stanley, with 
 the 1st Division of our corps, (the 4th) who had been sent some 
 distance to the right, could with less risk attempt the capture of a 
 strongly fortified hill, which, if in our possession, would put our 
 lines in better shape and materially strengthen them. Stanley 
 charged and was successful, capturing the hill with very little loss. 
 As soon as the enemy could get their forces concentrated, they 
 charged resolutely to re-take the hill, but, being twice repulsed 
 with much loss, they desisted. 
 
 The mistake made in our front by the 100th Illinois caused us 
 to expect a charge by the rebels, so we ran our guns up to the 
 main works and cut embrasures as soon as we could. A few rebels 
 did appear, but they were prisoners, not wild Johnnies as rebels 
 were called when running loose. 
 
 Toward dark a large number of deserters from our army were 
 inarched by. They had been released from prison by order of the 
 President, on condition that they would return to their commands 
 and serve faithfully. Among them was John Hammond, of our 
 Battery. 
 
 On the 24th Adler wrote and handed to Gen. Howard a 
 memorial, asking that some steps be taken in regard to the immense 
 amount of whisky punished by those in authority. The general 
 read it and promised his attention. 
 
 This day Aylshire was forever separated from us. He was 
 sent to the 20th Corps, and Capt. Goodspeed, of Battery A, 1st 
 
ATI. ANT \ ( Wll'AKiN. 203 
 
 Ohio, by seniority of rank, became chief of artillery m his stead. 
 The day was remarkably quiet, very few shots being fired from 
 either side. Our horses bad not been unharnessed for several days, 
 and were beginning to look very rough. At dusk Gen. Brannon 
 rode up and ordered them unharnessed and left so until further 
 orders, or until ueeded. 
 
 That day caissons 1, 2 and '■'< were sent back to lliij; Shanty in 
 charge of Sergt. Gillette, to get ammunition, as it could not be 
 hauled to as in wagons as fast as needed. The caisson- returned 
 on the 26th. The drivers enjoyed all the commissary they wanted 
 while gone. 
 
 Pontoon trains now began to arrive, to be in readiness should 
 opportunity be ottered to effect a crossing of the Chattahoochee. 
 For several days we had very pleasant weather, and though it was 
 pas! harvest time, it seemed like spring. We had not seen our bag- 
 gage wagon (that was to have been keptclosed up with the Battery ) 
 for several days. Imt now being informed thai no more aggressive 
 movements on our part would be made for sometime, the wagons 
 w.'i-e ordered up. 
 
 On that morning there was a grand artillery duel between 
 the batteries of the 1 tth Corps and the rebel guns on top of km- 
 aesaw. We could not see where their shells struck, Imt could see 
 ours explode so nicely apparently against the very muzzles of 
 their guns — that our troops kept up almost a continual cheer. In 
 about an hour the rebel u"nns were silenced. Imt in the afternoon 
 they opened again. This time it did not require so long to silence 
 them. Our batteries continued to shell them and the knob all the 
 afternoon, and at five o'clock succeeded in exploding one of their 
 caissons on the knob. Then there was shouting and cheering 
 alone;- our lines. All that night the pioneers were hard at work 
 throwing up a fort around the cotton-gin, for a battery of twenty 
 and twenty-four-pounders the 11th Indiana Battery. The 
 enemy discovered it ami kept it quite warm for a time. 
 
 Early on the morning of Sunday, the 26th, we began to im- 
 prove on our embrasures, for it seemed that there was a storm 
 brewing. The u'uns on the right needed more done for them than 
 those on the left. SO the men of 5 and 6 assisted 1 and 2. Charles 
 
 Sickles (detailed fr the 3d Wisconsin Battery) of No. 5, had 
 
 just returned to his gun from helping No. 1. when a bullet struck 
 him in the back of his head and passed out through hi- forehead. 
 
204 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 He said, "I'm shot," and fell dead. But a few minutes before,, 
 while needlessly exposing himself on the works, he was told he 
 would be hit. ''They can't hit me," was his reply. 
 
 At 10:45 A. M. we buried him near where there had been 
 about twenty buried before. Lieut. Burton read a chapter from 
 the Bible and Sergt. Murphy offered an appropriate prayer. 
 
 That morning Hulse, who as before stated, belonged to 
 Colvin's battery, but could not reach it, died in division hospital. 
 
 The same day Dr. Brown, a three-months 1 volunteer, joined 
 us as Battery surgeon. During the whole day troops were moving 
 to the right. Telegraph lines now ran from Sherman's head- 
 quarters to all the department headquarters, thus dispensing with 
 much of the signal work, and bringing all parts of the field 
 within conversing distance. At dark the 11th Indiana Battery, 
 with four twenty-pounder Parrotts and two twenty-four-pounder 
 howitzers, moved into the new fort. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 27th our Battery was moved to 
 the front of Davis 1 (2d) division, of the 14th Corps. This was 
 about a mile and a half to the right of where we had lain. Our 
 first thought was that there was to be an attack at this point, but 
 when the infantry were maneuvered on top of the hills, in plain 
 view of the rebels, instead of in the ravines, where there was 
 ample place and where they could not be seen by the enemy until 
 at the moment they were ready to advance, we concluded it could 
 only be another feint while the attack was to be at some other 
 point. While the troops were marching to and fro, forming lines, 
 we had a short greeting with our old friends of Chickamauga — 
 the 78th Illinois, 121st Ohio, etc. But how little did we think as 
 we shook hands with them and wished them godspeed as their 
 bugle sounded, that within an hour many of them would be sleep- 
 ing the sleep that knows no waking! They were in the front line 
 and when we became convinced that it was no feint, we looked to 
 see our old firm friends march on to speedy and grand victory. 
 Twelve lines, one in rear of the other, had formed, and we 
 felt that nothing short of complete success could be the result. 
 
 At 9:40 the lines slowly moved to the attack. Col. Dan 
 McCook rode in front of the first line and addressed them : "Boys, 
 go just as far as you can and then lie down. I will keep your 
 support closed up ready to march by you." The colonel was soon 
 carried from the field mortally wounded. The front line steadily 
 
ATI.WTA CAMPAIGN. 205 
 
 and firmly advanced, bui the others halted. Up within a fev» 
 yards of the enemy's works this brave line pushed its way through 
 brush and stumps and amid a shower of lead and canister. The 
 line halts and throws itself upon the ground, though man} of 
 them press on, scale the rebel works and are made prisoners. The 
 line lies still, waiting for their support to ]>ass by them, bui it 
 conies not. The enemy are slaughtering these brave men as they 
 lie upon the ground waiting for their supports. Those who are 
 yet untouched look back and discover that no reinforcements are 
 coming. The} rise to their feel and break for the rear, uiany 
 falling a1 every foot, pierced by the enemy's bullets. As a lew of 
 our comrades came scattering back, we could scarcely believe that 
 what we beheld was the truth. 
 
 It was thought in a few minutes the charge would he re- 
 sumed; hut no. we had been repulsed -signally repulsed, and there 
 was no more charging to he done to sacrifice life. Major Y^ager, 
 of the 121st Ohio, who, not half an hour before had warmly hade 
 us good-bye, was now a corpse within twenty yards of the enemy's 
 works surrounded by scores of bodies of those he had led to the 
 charge but a few minutes before. There were not many wounded, 
 for tin' rebels had their own way and made sure work. There the 
 bodies lay for two days before we could bury them, and then they 
 were so far decayed that the stench, arising from them, made it 
 almosi impossible to approach them. 
 
 The enemy seemed quite as much surprised as we that the 
 charge was not resumed, and lay almost quiet till noon, when, dis- 
 covering that all signs of a renewal were removed, they opened 
 with their artillery. 
 
 But if our immediate front, the 14th Corps, had been defeated, 
 we were borne up with the hope that our own 1th Corps had not. 
 But listen to the word thai comes from there: "Harker led his 
 brigade to the charge. He is killed and bis men are nearly all 
 killed or made prisoners." Reports vary: "Harker is mortally 
 wounded."' "•Marker is only severely wounded: he will recover. 11 
 " Marker is dead. 11 Bui all agree that his brigade is badly cut up. 
 "Defeat, -ore defeat, 11 i< the word from all quarters. From our 
 division we learn that they charged six companies deep. They 
 formed one company in solid square in rear of another, and thus 
 they moved to the assault. With little loss the front line reached 
 the works and captured them in many places, marching a uumber 
 
206 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 of prisoners back to our works; but as the rebels who had fled, 
 discovered that our front line was not supported, they returned, 
 recaptured their works and began to mow our men down by their 
 enfilading fires, till the victors became the victims. Our division 
 (2d Division 4th Corps) was reported to have lost over 700 killed, 
 wounded and prisoners. Among the killed was brave Harker, 
 brigade commander of our brigade, the 3d. 
 
 As Col. Harker put on his coat at headquarters, preparatory 
 to going to the head of his brigade, he took a package of papers 
 from his pocket and handed them to one of his aids saying, '"Send 
 those to my mother, for T shall not return," and mounting his 
 horse he rode to — death! 
 
 Col. Harker stood high in the love and esteem of all who 
 knew him, whether officers or privates, and his loss was deeply felt 
 throughout the corps. In him the nation lost one who never 
 shrank from his duty to his country, and one who was ever at the 
 front in the hour of danger. He met danger without the least 
 sign of fear. He had long merited promotion, but as he was not 
 one to ask for it, he received it not. Long after his death he was 
 regularly promoted, first to brigadier and then to major general. 
 
 But to return to our portion of the field. About 500 yards 
 to our right, and on top of a high, bald hill, Battery M, 1st New 
 York, and the 13th New York Battery had taken position. Early 
 in the morning they opened on the enemy, and received no reply 
 till noon, when the rebels opened on them in good earnest. The 
 rebel artillery made some good shots though disastrous to us. Both 
 sides continued firing till dark. 
 
 At 1 P. M. all began building shades for the horses, for in the 
 ravine where we lay the heat of the mid-day sun was almost 
 insufferable. Just as the shades were completed, the horses under 
 them, and the men trying to catch breath after their hard work, 
 orders were given to hitch up. We did so, and lay there till after 
 five, when ordered to unhitch and unharness. At six o'clock the 
 caissons closed up with us. At eight o'clock, just as all were 
 spreading down their blankets for the night, a detail of fifteen 
 men was made, to go and cut a road to where our lines were en- 
 trenching themselves. This looked as though there might be 
 another forward on the morrow, and it was hoped there would be, 
 for the men were not satisfied with the disgraceful defeat it had 
 been thus far. 
 
ATLANTA I WIl'AIiiN. 20'} 
 
 A.rmed with axes, pickaxes, and spades, the fifteen had conic 
 to an "arms at will," and were awaiting the command "forward," 
 when they were told to turn in again, as three hundred men could 
 do v.t\ little where it was intended they were to go. 
 
 Thus ended that bloody day. We had attempted to cut the 
 rebel army in twain, ami if possible to capture one entire half of 
 it. There is no good reason for the failure. We had their works 
 in many places and could have- pushed on to complete victory had 
 all parts of the machinery worked as desired. General Sherman, 
 in his official report, takes all the Maine I'm- the failure upon him- 
 self. In this he wrongs an innocent and blameless person. His 
 plans were well formed and we think would have met with com- 
 plete success, had it not Keen for the presence of so much "fire 
 water" among his subordinates. Alas! how many thousands that 
 demon whisky killed during the war! 
 
 At five o'clock, on the morning of the 'JStli. our artillery 
 opened briskly on the enemy with shell, the rebels saying nothing 
 till about eight o'clock, when they responded, firing mostly at 
 random. All were quietly enjoying the shades with the horses, 
 when along came a shell striking on the hill above us and drop- 
 ping, exploded lietweeil the guns and caissons. Kopf. of U'Ull 3, 
 saw the shell as it ricochetted from the hill, and. knowing it was 
 coming near, fell upon his face, just as the shell struck not three 
 feet ahead of him. It (piite covered him with earth and we 
 thought he must he killed, hut he arose to his feet, shaking off the 
 dust and with his peculiar smile, said. " Gollies. that was close." 
 liut a piece of it had made even a closer call to another. Hates. 
 of gun 3, (detailed from 3d Wisconsin) was near where it ex- 
 ploded; a piece of it tore out a portion of the rim of his hat. and 
 just grazed his right ear. Sergts. Tait and Cope, of gun 6, were 
 sitting writingunder a small shade they had put up: a shell passed 
 through one corner of it and within two \'rc\ of their heads. An- 
 other shell exploded in the midst of a game of poker, eagerly 
 watched by a crowd id' perhaps a dozen men. The fragments of 
 the shell Hew upward with the cards, the stakes and a cloud of 
 dust, but no one was hurt. Other shells came close and wounded 
 some of the infantry near by. We hitched up. hut at eleven un- 
 hitched again. 
 
 \t 2 I'. M.. orders were received to rejoin our division. We 
 moved to the left about a mile and selected a camp ground about 
 
208 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 eighty rods in rear of our lines. Great care was taken in policing 
 before putting up our tents, for we expected to remain here several 
 days. In fact, there was some cause for believing we should not 
 again be sent to the front. We were told that as soon as another 
 battery could get here from Nashville, we were to be relieved and 
 allowed to go to the rear to recuperate. 
 
 At nine and then again at twelve o'clock, in the night of the 
 28th, the rebels tried charging in our front. They kept up con- 
 siderable of a rumpus for about half an hour each time, many of 
 their bullets reaching our camp. Our artillery quieted them both 
 times. 
 
 On the morning of the 29th our horses, that were unfit for a 
 fifteen days 1 march, were selected out and turned over. About 
 half of them were included among the condemned. These prepa- 
 rations for a long march did not promise much for oar relief. 
 Besides turning over the worn-out horses we must reduce the 
 number of our guns till we should have men enough to man the 
 others. Two guns were turned over. Those of the left section 
 were chosen. The cannoneers and drivers were distributed among 
 the other sections, while the "nons" were thrown out of employ- 
 ment, not entirely to their dislike. 
 
 At assembly that night orders were received to put all our 
 baggage, except one blanket, one poncho and half a Purp tent into 
 the wagon — the exceptions we were to carry. Then immediately 
 following the order, were told to go to the quartermaster sergeant's 
 tent and put down our names for such clothing as we wanted! 
 This we considered a good joke and greeted it with hearty laugh- 
 ter — to think us still verdant enough to draw clothing that day, 
 after having just been told as plainly as could be wished for, that 
 on the next we should have to throw it away. 
 
 During the day there was an armistice at our front for the pur- 
 pose of burying the dead of the late failure. Midway between the 
 lines were hundreds of blue and gray backs, not all engaged in 
 burying the slain, but many conversing foe with foe. Many pounds 
 of coffee and tobacco changed hands that day, besides scores of 
 newspapers. Some of the Johnnies came inside our works, and 
 many of them thought they did not feel like walking to and fro 
 between the lines, so they remained with us. An agreement was 
 entered into — among the privates — that neither side was to fire 
 without warning the other, and for a day or two after scarcely a 
 
\TI.\NT\ CAMPAIGN. 209 
 
 shot was tired. If. however, the rebs did feel like sending a shot 
 over, they would call out, "Look out there, Yank, we're going to 
 shoot," and soon there would come the bullet. Our men were 
 equally courteous, calling out, " Lie down there, Johnny:" 
 
 During the night Davis 1 men wen' advancing their Lines by 
 rolling barrels filled with earth in trout of them. At :'» A. M. 
 tin' rebels discovered the trick and immediately tried to drive our 
 men back with a shower of bullets. Our artillery responded, and 
 in about half an hour all was again quiet. The Battery was 
 hitched up and ready to move, not knowing how soon it might he 
 called upon. 
 
 At 6 A. M..011 the 30th, we moved to a small fort about a 
 quarter of a mile east of our camp. Between this fort and the 
 enemy the ground was open, and the Johnnies could he plainly 
 seen as they walked ahoiit on their works. The lines were almost 
 within conversing distance. Both lines were just at the edge of 
 heavy woods, so that a rod or two to the rear of the worksa person 
 would be out of sight to those opposite. The men worked a Little 
 at the embrasures, dressing them up so as to make them a little 
 more serviceable. It was noticed that the Johnnies were making 
 embrasures too, but they were allowed to work, as by agreement 
 each party was not to he interrupted without first receiving warn- 
 ing. All was quiet here, hut just to our right firing was kept up 
 without intermission. Two Kentucky regiments there confronted 
 each other. They were -worn enemies, and would not even think 
 of sparing a shot whenever they saw even a puff of smoke. At 
 night even a fire-fl) exposing its light would he tired at. being 
 mistaken for a distant flash of an enemy - - gun. There were 
 brothers opposing brothers, sons opposing fathers, yet in no part 
 of the armies was there as much intense hatred as when "Greek 
 met Greek." There was no reconciliation between them. 
 
 On the 30th Lieut. Fluskey started for Chattanooga in charge 
 of the cm idem l led artillery of the corps, each battery that was short 
 
 in ii having turned over a section. In the afternoon we had 
 
 our regular biennial muster, and Nathaniel Banks, of gun t. was 
 
 announced corporal id' the same. That month we had marched 
 
 oul\ about thirty-three miles, were engaged twelve days, had been 
 under tire twenty day- and tired 1,811 rounds. 
 
 It rained considerable on the 1st, 2d, and 3d of July. At 7 
 P. M.. Mi, the 1st, all our artillery opened mi the enemy. Tin- was 
 
210 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 thought to be ample warning to those in our front, so we took the 
 privilege of sending them sixteen rounds, expecting they would 
 reply, but they said not a word. Samuel Patton, of gun 2, went 
 to the hospital, very sick. 
 
 On the 2d cannonading began at 4:30 A. M. in front of Ken- 
 nesaw, and gradually worked around to our position, when we fired 
 forty rounds. At dusk the Battery moved back to near the posi- 
 tion occupied on the 26th. That day Corp. Brown, of gun 6, left 
 for hospital with the scurvy, and never returned to the Battery. 
 Robert Stewart, Ezra Winnemore and Geo. Johnson returned from 
 hospital. They brought the cheering news that we were being largely 
 reinforced by fresh troops. That night preparations were made 
 for a warm day on the morrow. We were to take a more advanced 
 position and were to engage the rebel fort that stood about 800' 
 yards in front of us, which we knew would not spare us when 
 they discovered our position. 
 
CHAPTER Will. 
 
 At sunrise of Sunday, the 3d, it was learned that the enemy 
 bad again fallen hack. In half an hour the star spangled banner 
 waved from the sum m it of Kennesaw, and troops were immediately 
 started in pursuit of the flying foe. At eight o'clock our Battery 
 slowly moved out. 
 
 .Marietta was ahoiit three miles ahead. We halted for SOme 
 
 time in a beautiful grove in its southern suburbs. This gave us 
 opportunity to take a glance at the large grave-yard, run through 
 the town, and to visit the much talked of military academy. In 
 the grave-yard werefound many head-hoards marked, " Killed at 
 
 Dalton." " Killed at Resaca, 11 "Killed inaction May . L864," 
 etc.. etc. 
 
 We found the town to he a vryy pretty and promising place. 
 It contained many large, brick buildings, and bore marks of hav- 
 ing done considerable business before the war. It stands on the 
 highest ground of any place on that railroad. 
 
 The military academy stands on a high rise of ground about 
 eighty roils south of the city. From its roof could he had one of 
 the grandest views ever ottered us during the war. Two mile- and 
 a half to the northeast stand the twins Kennesaw, the larger rising 
 to the height of l.S'JS feet above the level of the sea. To the south 
 ami west of them stand Lost and Pine Mountains. Then swing- 
 ing around to the left till to about the northeast, there was one 
 level green ocean as far as the eye could see. or till the heavens 
 
 appeared to meet its green surface, unbroken, save bj Stone Moun- 
 tain, about ten miles nearly east. This rises to the height of 2,200 
 feet, and appeal's like a huge sugar loaf rising from the depths of 
 the plain. Our eyes had so long been used to seeing no more than 
 a stretch of but a mile or two, that we had to shade them when 
 extending our gaze over this enchanting scene. In the distant 
 northeast could he seen the dim outline- id' spurs of the I Hue Ridge 
 Mountains, while some nearer was Hog Mountain, and still nearer 
 
212 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Black Jack and several smaller ones. This green ocean that lay 
 beneath our feet extending toward the south, and which appeared 
 as smooth as a sheet of level ice, we found" to be quite uneven upon 
 descending to its depths. Aided by our captain's field-glass, so 
 enchanting was the scene from the roof of the academy that when 
 the bugle sounded "stand to horse, 1 ' all were loath to descend and 
 march over the rough, rugged country which lay before us. 
 
 We passed one or two lines of works after leaving Marietta, 
 and camped at night about five and a half miles from there, close 
 by the side of the railroad. While marching out from Marietta 
 we met quite a number of deserters coming in, bringing their arms 
 with them. They reported that the rebel army was nearly demor- 
 alized. 
 
 The Fourth dawned bright and beautiful, but by noon it had 
 become so hot and sultry that breathing became very difficult. At 
 six o'clock in the morning we moved our guns about half a mile to 
 the front and left our caissons at our night's camp. The rebels 
 appeared to have thrown up hasty works, and acted as though they 
 were determined to stand behind them. With considerable reluc- 
 tance they gave up their first line. Their artillery, stationed in 
 small forts back of their second line, shelled us freely. The day 
 was certainly too warm for charging or throwing up works, so it 
 was passed in maneuvering and preparing for an early assault in 
 the cool of the next morning. We moved the Battery first to one 
 position and then to another — changing places several times dur- 
 ing the day, but managing each time to stop in the open field, 
 where the sun poured his burning rays almost perpendicularly upon 
 us, and where shells and slugs appeared to be trying to see how 
 near to us they could hit. At each new position Ave threw up 
 slierht works, but were not allowed to fire. There were very few 
 of us who were not perfectly willing to say nothing this day. 
 Water was scarce and the day so hot it was about as much as one 
 wished to do to breathe without working. And we were glad not 
 to be ordered to engage two or three batteries which were posted 
 so as to give an enfilading fire on us, each apparently with good 
 earth works to protect it, while we had none. But, as it grew 
 cooler, toward evening, we took position in an orchard beside a 
 small house and worked till long after dark in throwing up a fort 
 with flank protections for each gun, to guard against the effects of 
 enfilading fire. 
 
ATI. AN IT \ I VMl'AION. 213 
 
 Little " Battery' 1 left us on this day, and we mourned him as 
 dead, thinking a stray bullet from the enemy had killed him. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 5th the enemy sen! us a few 
 bullets, but our skirmishers soon advanced to "feel them,' 1 uot a 
 shut being fired from either side after they were in motion. On 
 they went up to the rebel works and then over them, \\ hen behold, 
 there stood about a dozen unarmed rebels before them ! Theothers 
 had left during the night, and these were ordered to remain and 
 keep up the firing that we might not know of their withdrawal. 
 
 Our Batterj oioved out at eight o'clock. The 4th Corps 
 traveled on the left side, and the 1 Itli on the right side of the rail- 
 road, close by the side of the railroad track, till in the afternoon, 
 when we crossed, and the two corps man lied side l>v side in the 
 same road. The advance kept (dose up with the rebel rear guard 
 all day, and every few minutes one side or the other would open 
 with artillery. At two o'clock we came out on top of ahigh ridge. 
 From here could be seen where several batteries ours and the 
 rebels 1 were in position. We got ready to fire, but were ordered 
 not to, as our lines were advancing so rapidly that it would make 
 it unsafe to fire over them. 
 
 We halted at 3 P. M. near the crossing at Vmings Station. 
 Just to our left stood , high hill from which the signal corps was 
 telegraphing to other posts. As we expected to lie here for some 
 time, man) of us were soon on top of the hill. About three miles 
 to the -..nth could he seen the whole rebel wagon train parked in a 
 large opening near the railroad bridge, waiting to cross. The 7th 
 Indiana Battery, with four ten-pounder Parrotts, was now on the 
 hill and trying to reach the rebel wagons with its shell, hut the 
 target was too far off to he hit. 
 
 About ei^hf miles to the southeast could he seen what we had 
 long been fighting for Atlanta. This was our first si<rht of the 
 
 city. With its tall steeples looming Up before us. it seemed we 
 could almost reach it with shell from where we stood. 
 
 About three-quarters of ;i mile to the east of us flowed the 
 murky Chattahoochee. Our next forward would bring us to it > 
 bank; then we expected to have a loner siege, or a bloodj battle in 
 order to effect a crossing. 
 
 The body of a rebel soldier had been found hanging to ;i tree 
 about half way down, and at the north end of the hill, lie had 
 evidently hanged himself, as he was suspended by one of his 
 
214 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 suspenders. By papers found in his pocket, his name appeared to 
 be B. P. Doncan. We afterwards learned that two more bodies had 
 been found farther around to the west on the hill. 
 
 This hill was known thereafter as Signal Hill. We used fre- 
 quently to ask citizens the names of hills, mountains or creeks, 
 and they would reply, " We don't know no name for it, but you 
 uns call it so and so." 
 
 At 8:30 .P. M. we moved forward about a mile and took posi- 
 tion on a high ridge about two hundred feet above the river and 
 near its edge. Battery A took position near us on our left. We 
 immediately began fortifying, and were soon joined by some 
 pioneers, who did so little and stole so much as to make us sorry 
 they had not remained aw T ay. 
 
 Baker, of gun 1, and Ryan, of gun 3. went to the hospital 
 with scurvy. Baker never returned to the Battery. 
 
 On the morning of the 6th we took a survey of our position. 
 We were about forty rods from the river, and between us and it, 
 and a little to our right, was a field of corn. Just below this field 
 and on the opposite side, lay a pontoon bridge that the enemy had 
 cut loose from our side and let it swing around to his own. This 
 was at the regular ferry on the road from Marietta to Atlanta. 
 The rebels had works thrown up on both sides of the road and 
 extending some distance up and clown the river. Their works 
 were within easy range of our cannon, and some so near that the 
 infantry, lying behind them, reached us with their bullets. At 
 eight o'clock the batteries above and below us began to shell the 
 rebels. Shortly after Gen. Sherman and his chiefs of staff 
 departments — Gens. Harry. Elliott and Corse; Gen. Thomas and 
 his chiefs, Gens. Brannan and Whipple; and Gens. Howard, Palmer. 
 Schofield, Newton and Wood visited us. They had Battery 
 A fire a few shots, and then called upon gun 2, of our Battery. 
 But there were too many gunners. Each general thought he 
 knew best, so very poor shots were made. They chose some rebel 
 works about 1,200 yards distant for a target, but failed to touch 
 them. 
 
 At night the cars arrived at Vinings Station, which, by the 
 way, consisted of a wood shed and a small hut used as a telegraph 
 office, and announced their coming to the rebels by whistling for 
 about half an hour. The next day an engine ran out within 
 
ATLANTA I WIT \ I U N . '!]■> 
 
 muskei shot of the enemy's lines, and whistled a long while at the 
 Johnnies, who were so taken aback by this audacity on the part 
 of our engineer thai they did not fire a shot. 
 
 At 6 I'. M., on the 7th. we fired sixteen rounds at the rebel 
 works near the pontoon in order to have the range in case the 
 rebels should open, for we though! we detected a fort standing 
 hack a short distance, hut nearly hidden by trees and brush in its 
 front. At 8:15 we fired four guns, when immediately five other 
 batteries stationed near us opened, and kept the air for about fif- 
 teen minutes perfectly ablaze with the discharge of guns and the 
 explosion of their shells. There was a large rebel camp, to judge 
 from fires to be seen, about two miles to the east. T<> that we 
 sent a number of shells. At 9:20 Gen. Howard sent us orders to 
 fire two volleys at long range, so we sent them six thirty-second 
 fuse and two percussion shells, each at an elevation of ten degrees. 
 During the night the rebels tried to secure their pontoon by letting 
 it drop down below our lines, hut as soon as it was cut loose it 
 swung across to our side. Our forces quietly took possession of it. 
 They also cut away considerable timber in front of their worksat 
 the ferry, so that on the morning of the 8th we could plainl\ see 
 their fort. Early in the morning they sent us a few bullets, some 
 of which struck in our camp. During the day an understanding 
 was come to between the picket lines, and hoth sides went in bath- 
 ing together. Our men would swim over to their side, carrying 
 coffee, gold pens, knives, etc.. and it: exchange bring back tobacco. 
 This was continued for two or three days, till a rebel colonel, who 
 was a Kentucky officer, ordered our men to remain on their own 
 side of the nver. 
 
 The enemy yet held quite a large district extending above ami 
 below the railroad bridge on the west side of the river, and on the 
 morning of the Nth. as Col. frank Sherman, with his orderly, rode 
 out to examine our picket lines, he found himself inside the rebel 
 lines and surrounded h\ rebel bayonets. 
 
 At 2 A. M., on the 9th, pioneers went to the edge oi the 
 river at the north end of the ridge on which we lay. and began 
 cutting at and pounding on tree-, and occasionally would (hop 
 one down. Others had a dozen planks which they would carry to 
 ami fro. throwing them down near the water"- edge so as to make a 
 noise. Some would play mule drivers and curse their teams vocif- 
 erously. Officers would swear at the men. and tell them to hurry. 
 
216 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 work lively, .and not to make so much noise. Then others would 
 splash in the water as though a pontoon was being launched. 
 Thus it continued until just as day dawned, when all was cleared 
 away, and by the time it was light enough for the rebels to see 
 across the river there was not a sign left of anything having been 
 done. This was a feint which attracted the enemy to this point 
 so that a pontoon could be thrown across some distance above, 
 where a crossing was effected and two cannon captured — the rebels 
 having been taken by surprise. In the forenoon Battery A joined 
 the division to go on a march up the river. They crossed the river 
 about eight miles above us, and went seven miles further on the 
 east side. At Rosswell our cavalry, which scoured the country on 
 the flanks, captured a factory and three hundred female operatives; 
 these three hundred were subsequently given their choice to go 
 north or south, and about half of them went north. The division 
 found no rebels, but great quantities of forage, for the valley 
 along the river was a rich farming district. They lost seven men, 
 killed, while they were gone. They returned on the 12th. 
 
 During the time the division was absent we did very little. 
 The rebels opened several times from their fort at the ferry, and 
 fired at the men on Signal Hill. We replied to them three or four 
 times, but they never returned the compliment. On the 11th, the 
 enemy having got all their wagons and stores safely across the 
 bridge, they burned it, leaving nothing to fall into our hands. 
 
 At night after our division returned, we got orders to join it, so 
 we were up by 3 A. M., of the 13th, and by daylight were ready to 
 move. While letting our guns down the hill to where the limbers 
 were, gun 4 got loose, and was soon going at the rate of two-forty. 
 It finally stopped as it struck a stump and capsized, breaking one of 
 the wheels and other portions of the carriage. Our division was found 
 camped at Merritt's Mills, about three miles above. We unhitched 
 and put up our tents, but at 9:30 had to hitch up and cross the pon- 
 toon bridge about a mile further ou. This bridge was made of skeleton 
 pontoons covered with canvas. We camped two miles southeast of 
 the bridge and began to throw up works, working till 9 P. M. 
 
 Blackberries were now ripening, and at every opportunity we 
 were out in search of them, as they were wanted not only as a 
 luxury but a preventive of scurvy. There were no rebels within 
 two miles of us, so we had quite a large range, but there were so 
 many others to share with us. that we got very few berries. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 
 
 •217 
 
 On the lith nit'ii were sent kick to Marietta for fresh horses. 
 They brought about a dozen thai all declared were good frames. 
 
 On tlif 17th Loomis joined us from hospital. We got a 
 sprinkle of rain uearly every day, but not insufficient quantity to 
 lay the dust. The season was quite late. Corn was only a little 
 more than waist high, yet with all the rain and told weather we 
 had had there were some days that were regular scorchers. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Now that our army was safely across the river, and with 
 scarcely the loss of a man, and since we had had several days of 
 rest, we must again onward, not to Richmond, but to Atlanta, the 
 Gate City of the south, and the great objective point of this cam- 
 paign. The 18th of July was the day on which the several 
 portions of this grand army were to break camp. At two o'clock 
 in the morning the "general" was sounding in all directions. We 
 drew rations and by four o'clock were on the road. At seven 
 o'clock the enemy's pickets Avere met and skirmishing began. In 
 half an hour they opened on us with a battery, sending their 
 shells crashing through the trees, cutting off limbs and exploding 
 or burying themselves in the earth. Several went by and struck 
 near our caissons. We took position, but the trees stood so thick 
 we could not see to tire any distance. The rebels fell back and 
 our forces followed on. At twelve o'clock they again made a 
 stand and opened with their artillery. They had a battery on a 
 high hill on the south side of Nancy's Creek. We took position in 
 a level field on the north side and replied to them, but they soon 
 withdreAv. Here Col. Opdycke lost his favorite horse. He had him 
 buried and set up a finely lettered head-board at his grave. 
 
 At 1 P. M. we halted at Buckhead Cross Roads, where five 
 roads come together, and threw up a small work for defense, should 
 the enemy try a charge. 
 
 At noon the next day we took another position about forty 
 rods to the left and made some embrasures in the works the 
 infantry had built. At half past three received orders to hitch 
 up, and moved about a mile to the front where we lay till dark, 
 then moved over hills and through swampy creeks, most of the 
 time picking our way through the brush and trees, and camped in 
 an open space, on the south side of a hill, and nearly a mile to the 
 left of the main road. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 219 
 
 Were up by 2:30 A. M. on the 20th. As soon as it was day- 
 light we discovered a large field of corn near by and gol -nine to 
 
 £ I <»ur horses. At six o'clock the Battery moved out the 
 
 infantry being already in motion going back toward the road. 
 .Inst as we began to turn our pieces a bullet struck one of the car- 
 riages. It came from the direction of the infantry camp, near 
 Peach Tree Creek, and some one called out to them to be more 
 careful, and was answered by a second one striking the lid of the 
 kitten wagon just as the men were getting something out. It 
 was then discovered thai we were within almost pistol shot of the 
 rebel pickets. The\ soon wounded a man and a horse for Battery 
 A and killed two of our horses. We took position in the edge of a 
 field, to the right of the road, and began to throw ii|> works. It was 
 rumored that all were to lie quiet till 5 P. M., or until the day became 
 cooler, when the enemy's works on the south side were to he charged. 
 
 The Johnnies had burned the bridge that spanned the creek 
 at this point, and our pioneers were rapidly building another. The 
 Creek was about sixty feet wide and eight to ten feet deep at this 
 place. On the south side there was a high hill over which the 
 
 road passed. The road ascended the hill by winding along between 
 it and the creek, for a short distance, and then going up a gradual 
 slope. The south side of this hill was quite steep. About one 
 thousand yards farther on was another hill that was as high above 
 the tirst as that was above the creek. The enemy had strong 
 works on both of these hills, hut had been driven from the first by 
 our advance. The rebels had a battery on the second hill and 
 shelled us nearly the whole forenoon with it. 
 
 Ahout I I'. M. our infantry had effected a crossing, and. push- 
 ing on. found no enemy even on top id' the second hill, his artillery 
 having been withdrawn as soon as our forces were cro^sinc- the 
 
 creek. The 20th Corps had also effected a crossing t ir right, 
 
 and ahout half a mile down the stream. The enemj appeared to 
 he engaging it some distance farther down for there was very 
 heavy musketry and artillery firing going on. 
 
 \- soon a- our infantry ascended the second hill, our Batterj 
 was ordered across in great haste by an officer of Gen. Thomas* 
 staff, who rode on to order up other batteries 1\ iiiu' in rear id' our 
 posit ion. 
 
 .lust a- we readied the summit of the tirst hill with our guns, 
 at 1:1"). we discovered the enemyissuing from the wood- in our 
 
220 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 front and to the left of the second hill, and almost immediately 
 a volley of bullets was sent into' our broadside. Our infantry had 
 thrown up some feeble works here. We unlimbered as best we 
 could, in the sudden jam that was occasioned by this unexpected 
 attack, and began to shell the enemy, who had planted two guns at 
 the edge of the woods to engage us and thus draw our fire from 
 his infantry. These guns fired but three shots before they had to 
 limber to the rear, and we heard no more from them. It was 
 evident the rebels were attempting to reach the bridge and thus 
 cut us off from our left wing; and could they but reach the shel- 
 ter of the hill, on which we stood, the way would be open to them. 
 Through the fields below us came heavy columns of the enemy, 
 with colors flying, and in as fine array as if on dress parade. 
 Gen. Thomas, who was standing near our guns, was the first to 
 point out the enemy, with the words, "There they are; give them 
 canister." We poured in the shrapnell, and, as these columns 
 came nearer we gave them canister, and as they came still nearer 
 we double-shotted our guns, General Thomas, meanwhile, looking 
 on and clapping his hands as he saw them waver. " Give it to 
 them!" "Well done!" "That is good!" he would shout. As 
 we finally checked them, when they had almost reached the foot of 
 the hill and shelled them back to the cover of the woods, he said: 
 "You have driven them back well; now give them a cheer." But 
 never had a hearty cheer been heard in the Battery, and even on 
 this occasion we could not raise one. We had done most efficient 
 work and had come into position at a most opportune moment; 
 had made the most of our grand opportunity, but, as usual, we 
 most fortunately had but one man wounded — Scanlon, of gun 1, 
 detailed from 3d Wisconsin Battery, who had been hit in the heel by 
 a bullet, while we had inflicted a most severe loss upon the enemy. 
 The rebels wavered and rallied three times, and when they fin- 
 ally broke were so nearly under us that to depress his piece suffi- 
 ciently to reach them, the gunner of gun 3, held the trail as high 
 as his breast as he commanded fire. He measured his length on 
 the ground some feet to the rear of where he had stood, but luckily 
 received no severe hurt. Once Lieut. Burton mounted the works 
 just at the muzzle of one of the guns, as the command fire was given 
 by the gunner, and, had the man at the lanyard not observed him, the 
 lieutenant would have lost his life by one of his own guns. Dur- 
 ing this day we fired about three hundred rounds. 
 
\TI \NT \ I WI1' \h.N 221 
 
 Battery A. 1st Ohio, was in position at tin' fool of tin- second 
 hill ami did excellent execution. We were on the extreme left of 
 our portion of the army, there being only a portion of a regiment 
 above us, on the creek: then there was a gap of over four miles ( (P 
 the right of Mcpherson's corps, which was passing around the 
 enemy's right to attack Atlanta from the east. 
 
 Johnston had that day been removed and Hood placed at the 
 head of the rebel army. Hood was aware of the gap before men- 
 tioned, and. seeing an opportunity to make his name immortal. 
 ordered the charge. He was mistaken in the exact locality of the 
 gap, and his mistake probably saved as several months of hard 
 fighting and many lives. As luck would have it his right hap- 
 pened to agree exactly with our left and thus, he was met at every 
 point. We confronted Stevens 1 division of Hardee's corps. Stevens 
 was mortally wounded and his dead horse was left lying about half 
 way between our guns and and the woods. 
 
 A rebel correspondent, from the rebel headquarters, thus 
 describes that day in a letter to a Macon paper. 
 
 " Night, duly '20. A battle, or rather an engagement, has 
 taken place, ami the fitful Hashes of musketry along the lines denote 
 that it has ended without substantial results. 1 will not enter much 
 into details, and probably it would not he prudent to do so. First, 
 because of the incompleteness of the affair, and secondly, the lia- 
 bility of capture while this letter isen-routetoMacon.it being 
 likely that the enemy will strike our only remaining line of com- 
 munication to-night. The following, therefore, is only a simple 
 outline of the afternoon's work: 
 
 ••The object of (Ten. Hood in planning the attack was twofold, 
 namely, to withdraw if possible from the enemy's left, to center 
 ami right, a portion of the forces with which he had been so per- 
 sistently pressing our right; and to defeat and cut up one of his 
 wings. By examining the map and recalling the preceding descrip- 
 tion of the situation of Sherman's forces, you will observe that a 
 portion of the line of 1 he latter extended from near the junction id' 
 the Chattahoochee and Peach Tree Creek in an easterly direction. 
 I nto this angle it was believed that by a proper combination of our 
 forces, we could drive the right of Sherman's army, and effect the 
 object in view. Stewart's corps held our left, Hardee the center. 
 The attack by these two bodies was uearly simultaneous. The 
 advance com men ced about two o'clock. Leaving their breasl works 
 
222 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 our men slowly, but confidently, pushed their way toward the front. 
 Skirmishing began almost immediately. Strange to say, a part of the 
 enemy's line was discovered to be advancing. Our men charged with 
 a yell and drove it back in disorder. One, two, and in some instances 
 three lines of incipient or temporary breastworks were mounted and 
 left behind, and the battle in our favor appeared to go on swimmingly m 
 ( This w r as in front of the 14th and 20th Corps. ) Suddenly Stewart 
 was brought to a standstill. In his front w T as the main line of 
 Yankee intrenchments and a redoubt manned by a Yankee battery. 
 
 "Gathering fresh strength, however, one of his brigades 
 plunged against the works and it yielded. A heavy enfilading fire 
 from a park of artillery on the right drove them back. The 
 federals re-occupied the redoubt. Our men advanced a second 
 time and again captured it; but the same terrible fire, pouring 
 upon them from the distant artillery, they were compelled to 
 abandon the prize. Meanwhile, Hardee had also reached the con- 
 tinuation of the same line. (In front of our Battery.) His 
 men fighting bravely, had overcome every obstacle thus far, and 
 were prepared to dash yet further on and drive the enemy into the 
 creek. But here the judgment of the commander and the 
 gallantry of the troops were at variance. 
 
 "Gen. Hardee deemed it imprudent to risk the lives of his 
 men in achieving an object which threatened to cost so much. A 
 halt was ordered. Our loss in the affair will doubtless not fall 
 short of 1,000 or 1,200. Six hundred and five killed and wounded 
 have been reported in the corps of Gen. Stewart. Our captures 
 are two or three stands of colors (they lost nearly a dozen) and 
 some three or four hundred prisoners. Hooker's corps is reported 
 by prisoners to be badly crippled.' 1 
 
 "Gen. Stevens was shot (in our front as before stated) while 
 leading his men; the ball entering behind the right ear and lodg- 
 ing in the brain, from which it has not, up to this writing, been 
 removed. His horse was killed at the same moment, and two men 
 who went to his relief were wounded. One may judge of the 
 severity of the enemy's fire from these statements." 
 
 At 5:30 our right section was sent to our previous night's 
 camp to check the rebels at that point should they again advance. 
 Thus closed our third noted 20th. 
 
 Next clay all the dead in our front were buried, but the enemy 
 would not allow the 20th Corps to bury the dead rebels in their 
 
ATI. Wl \ I A.Ml'AION. •J - .':! 
 
 front, neither would the rebels bury them themselves, so t hot l>\ 
 the 22d, when the enemy had withdrawn, the bodies had lain so 
 long in the hoi sun thai no one fell like approaching them; and 
 thus many were never buried. 
 
 On the morning of the '.'"-M. we drew large rations of whisky, 
 and soon some were feeling good. We moved out al 9:30. At 
 twelve the righi section moved forward and took position, and al 
 three the centre section also took position, but we had order- no! 
 to tire until the works were sufficiently strong to warrant it. so 
 we fortified, being shelled all the afternoon by the enemy who 
 was scouring the woods in search of Yankees as far as he could 
 reach with his shells. Our caissons were lefl aboul half a mile 
 to the rear and were in quite as much danger as were the guns. 
 The works we were building and on which We worked all nighi 
 were, as we afterwards learned, one mile and a quarter from the 
 city, and about eighty rods to the right of the Atlanta and Mari- 
 etta pike. 
 
 During the day heavy firing was heard toward the left front. 
 and we were told it was McPherson approaching the easl side of 
 the city. At one time it was reported he was already in the city. 
 The news was hurried to the rear and next morning's Chattanooga 
 Gas( tU contained a long account of the capture of the Gate City, 
 and of how grand the stars and stripes appeared as they waved 
 over the court house. There really was some ground for the 
 rumor, as McPherson's troops were really inside the city limits at 
 one time, and there is little doubt that, could our part of the army 
 have engaged the attention of the enemy so as to have drawn 
 some of his force to our front, the city might have been ours that 
 day and the rebel army badly crippled. Toward nigh! we received 
 the painful announcement of McPherson's death. Although we 
 hail never served under him. yet we looked upon him as being an 
 able general, and all felt that in his death the nation had suffered 
 a great loss. 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Atlanta was not yet taken, and as it seemed imprudent to at- 
 tempt its capture by charging its formidable works, a regular siege 
 was begun. Accordingly "fortify 11 was the order, and, wherever 
 there was a portion of the enemy's lines which if taken would 
 straighten ours, a charge had to be made. Thus the 20th, 14th 
 and afterwards the 16th, 17th and 23d Corps captured several lines 
 of fortifications. With the 4th Corps our first lines were our last 
 with slight exceptions as we were as near the enemy^ forts as the 
 lay of the country would permit us to approach. Between the 
 ridge on which we were and that on which the enemy had his 
 forts, was a sort of valley broken directly in front of our Battery 
 by a hill so high as to obscure our view of what lay beyond. 
 
 We continued our work on the 23d. The enemy shelled the 
 woods all clay, doing but little damage. The shells appeared to be 
 hunting either the commanders' or the cooks 1 and dog-robbers 1 
 headquarters ; for they were sent far to the rear of the main lines. 
 Our caissons went into regular camp about a mile to the rear of 
 our guns, the captain making his headquarters with them. 
 
 Being now in what was thought to be a permanent position 
 for at least the next month, we ventured that night to divest oar- 
 selves of most of our clothing. At midnight the enemy suddenly 
 made a noisy demonstration; we sprang to our pieces in just the 
 garb suited for warm work, but as all was soon quiet, we laid down 
 again, not having had a word to say. 
 
 Our horses at the guns were kept in harness all the time so as 
 to be ready for a move. In the afternoon of the 24th they were 
 sent to the rear and the caisson horses brought to relieve them. 
 That day Battery M, 1st Ohio, joined the division. The enemy 
 shelled the woods all day. 
 
 By 4 P. M., of the 25th, our works were considered com- 
 plete, but as those adjoining us were not, we were not allowed to 
 open, although orders had been given to open all along the lines, 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 225 
 
 and we had received the contents of the caisson limbers ;it the 
 jj*uiis so lis to bave a store to work from. The enemy sent a num- 
 ber of shells, some of which struck uncomfortably near us. 
 
 That day Gen. Howard left us to assume command of the 
 Army of the Tennessee. We greatly regretted his departure, yet, 
 in his successor. Gen. Stanley, we placed implicit confidence. 
 
 Gen. Kimball succeeded Gen. Stanley iii command of the first 
 division, and Maj. Osborne was made chief of artillery. 
 
 In this camp we found ourselves blessed with such associates 
 as scorpions, jiggers, lizards tarantulas, and flies by the myriads 
 were regular boarders at our tents. The springs were so murky 
 with particles of mica that one avoided drinking the water unless 
 it had first been allowed to settle, and then it was too warm to 
 drink. Newts and frogs appeared to thrive well in these springs. 
 
 On the 26th the program suddenly changed. The rebels now 
 
 had very little to say while we had become \cvy noisy. At i n 
 
 nearly every battery on our lines opened. In the afternoon our 
 center section took another position about forty rods to the left 
 and made fresh embrasures. Toward night the extra ammunition 
 was sent back to the caissons. Balziger went to the hospital. 
 
 On the 27th the Army of the Tenness vacuated its works 
 
 extending across the A.ugusta railroad, and began moving around 
 to the right. A.S soon as the enemy discovered the movement, he 
 began shelling the empty works with great vigor, andgradually 
 worked the fire around toward our right. As it swept past us we 
 received a few compliments in the shape of some caillp-ket t le> 
 
 (thirty-two and sixty-four pounder shells). We replied to them. 
 Our corps (the Ithi and 23d Corps stretched out toward our left 
 SO as to cover the railroad. 
 
 That day three of our men who belonged to infantry regi- 
 ments, but who had been detailed from. Battery <i. 1st Missouri, 
 and also Barclay, of Colvin's battery, returned to their commands. 
 \~ the Army of the Tennessee wagon and ambulance train 
 was passing, our little "Battery" was discovered and rescued, not- 
 withstanding the protestations of an ambulance driver, "That the 
 dog was his and had Keen with him for months." "Battery" was 
 warmly received by all of us. We also saw three large squads of 
 negroes that McPherson had captured. They had Keen fortifying 
 for the rebels, but were now well guarded and allowed to fortify 
 for the Yankees whenever there was necessity. 
 
226 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 It was 8 A. M., on the 28th, before a shot was fired. The 
 silence seemed ominous. Reports came in that the rebels were 
 marching toward their left to meet our forces wherever they 
 should stop. As the troops were still inarching by, the captain of 
 Battery H, 1st Illinois, rode up and inquired if we had three men 
 named Gammon, Albee and Krum, and when told we had, he said 
 they belonged to his battery and ordered them to report there im- 
 mediately. The explanation of this strange proceeding was that 
 our battery was first known at home as Miller's battery and when 
 these men went to enlist in our Battery — they having several 
 acquaintances in it — they said they wanted to enlist in Miller's 
 battery. The mustering officer told them he knew of no such bat- 
 tery, but thought it must be Battery H, 1st Illinois, so they were 
 mustered in for that battery and came to ours. It was arranged 
 to let them remain with us. 
 
 About noon heavy cannonading and musketry was heard in 
 the distance toward the right, and continued till night. The 
 infantry along our lines was ordered to make demonstrations to 
 keep the enemy from moving to the right. In the afternoon we 
 shelled the city. It was stated that an officer asked Sherman if it 
 would not be w T ell to send them warning in Atlanta before he- 
 opened on it. The general's answer was said to have been, "Send 
 them warning! Why, I have warned them ever since I started on 
 this campaign. The first shot fired at Rocky Face was a summons 
 for them to leave Atlanta." 
 
 On account of the high hill and dense woods between us and 
 the city we could not see where to fire, and therefore made an 
 observatory in the top of a tall pine tree that stood near our guns. 
 A man stationed in this would tell us whether we fired too high, 
 too low, too far to the right or too far to the left, until finally we 
 could hit any house we chose that stood within range. By our 
 reckonings we were just one and seven-eighths miles from the 
 round house that stood near the middle of the city as to north 
 and south. Our fire was directed mostly to this point. 
 
 That day Gen. Hooker left for Washington and Lieut. Fluskey 
 returned from Chattanooga. 
 
 At 10 P. M. we received orders to fire two rounds every five 
 minutes from then till daylight, at Atlanta. 
 
 It was rumored that Howard had caused a loss of over 10,000 
 to the enemy that day! And it was reported that we and other 
 
ATI. A NT \ CAMPAIGN. ZZi 
 
 batteries had been ordered to shell the city to prevent II I 
 
 making a hospital of the city. 
 
 On the 29th there was a report that a large band of guerrillas 
 was in the rear on the road by which we had come, and orders 
 were issued for uo more teams to go that way. Sergt. Tait had 
 long been in charge of our forage wagons. That afternoon he 
 came through from .Marietta over the same road, and said all the 
 
 ground there was for a scare was that a lot of Our men were 
 
 shooting pigs. 
 
 Corp. Brumfield was detailed to the 2d Division Ordnance 
 Department. ( In this da\ we fired about L 60 rounds. 
 
 On the 30th the horses at the guns were again relieved. All 
 the artillery of the corps, which was composed of the 6th Ohio. 
 5th Indiana. 2d Pennsylvania, A. 1st Ohio. M, 1st Illinois. M. 1st 
 Ohio, and Bridges 1 battery, was now placed under one commander 
 and was to be known as the artillery brigade of the Ith Corps, 
 ('apt. Bridges was made chief of the brigade. He was to have one 
 assistant, and he chose a surly Kentucky captain named Tomlinson, 
 who. lor his persistent fault finding, we soon nicknamed "Capt. 
 Troublesome." He inspected us on the 31st and made great ado 
 because we were not all wearing new pants and jackets, and had 
 not our shoes blacked. He said that on the next Sunday, when 
 he came around, we must have our hoots blacked. We thought 
 that style might do for some Mich place as Nashville, hnt here at the 
 front where we could not curry a second suit, we couldn t see it. 
 The day appeared to be generally observed by both sides, as there 
 was scarcely a shot tired. 
 
 This month we had marched thirty-two miles: Keen under 
 fire thirty-one days; been engaged nine days: and had fired 982 
 rounds from our four guns. 
 
 A.ugust opened with heavy cannonading on both sides, which 
 was kept up all day. 
 
 That day the 23d Corps moved to the right, thus leaving the 
 ith Corps on the extreme left, save a small cavalry force that was 
 kept to watch the think. As the corps had to spread out so as to 
 
 occupy the whole ground lately occupied by the 23d, it made our 
 lines quite thin, ami to maintain our strength we had to greatly 
 strengthen the work-. 
 
 On the 2d Battery A was relieved at the front h\ Battery M. 
 1st Ohio, and went into reserve coup near our caissons. 
 
228 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 On the 3d there was considerable cannonading on the right. 
 We received orders to be ready to march at a moment's warning. 
 The 23d Corps was having a warm time. The 14th Corps was 
 ordered to its support, but moved so slowly on account of a ques- 
 tion of rank between the commanding officers of the two corps, 
 that it was not up in time to lend much aid. Gen. Palmer, who 
 seemed to be at fault, was accordingly allowed to go home. To 
 our right the lines advanced and easily captured three lines of 
 works — the enemy being mostly farther to the right opposing 
 Schofield. This brought our men within twenty rods of the 
 enemy's forts, and so near the city that their bullets easily 
 reached it. 
 
 The right section fired some and was replied to. One rebel 
 shell killed both of the lead horses of gun 3, the enemy having 
 shelled both sections. 
 
 Before our men closed up on the Johnnies ladies from Atlanta 
 used to come out and stand on the rebel works to view ours. This 
 was allowed till it was discovered that just as soon as a Yankee 
 showed his head above the works a couple of bullets whizzed by. 
 The trick worked no longer. When the women next appeared 
 upon the works, a volley was sent over — the bullets passing just 
 high enough to not hit them. The ladies took the hint and came 
 no more to see the Yankees. 
 
 On the 4th Wesley Briggs was detailed to act as artillery 
 brigade wagon-master, and we received orders to get and deliver 
 our mail at the artillery brigade headquarters instead of at the 3d 
 Brigade. Twice during the night there was heavy cannonading 
 on our right. 
 
 During the greater portion of the 5th heavy firing could be 
 heard on the distant right. At 2:30 the infantry on our lines 
 made a feint to draw the rebels from the right. All the artillery 
 bearing on the city opened, and it was certainly warm enough to 
 make them " hunt their bomb-proofs." 
 
 The bridge over the Chattahoochee being completed, the 
 trains arrived during the afternoon. They made great noise with 
 their whistles, but we think the soldiers outdid them. After 
 having listened long to the whistle of the enemy's engines, it 
 seemed so good to have our own trains once more where we could 
 hear them, that all must shout and cheer — always excepting 
 Battery M, which never had cheered yet. 
 
ATI. \\ I \ CAMPAIGN". ".'•.".I 
 
 Toward night we took our caissons to the creek to wash them 
 that they might Look trim, even if the men did not, at the inspec- 
 tion next Sunday. 
 
 A.fter this date the teams were sent out daily for forage. \t 
 first there was an abundance of corn along Nancy's Creek, but 
 that was soon gone after the cavalry had mad.' its camp about a 
 mile to the rear of our guns. Then we must send in different 
 directions, until, finally, there was not a load of good corn to be 
 had inside of seven or eight miles. Sometimes the teams (we 
 generally sent two) would go on to the Hog Mountain, the 
 Roswell or Marietta road, alter passing Buckhead. Toward the 
 latter part of the siege, the infantry began going out in large 
 squads as guards sometimes a whole regiment. On such occa- 
 sions the teams would go ten or twelve miles often inside of 
 acknowledged rebel ground. Sometimes our men would, after 
 they had loaded their two wagons, star! off ou a bumming expedi- 
 tion, but never more than three together. They would sometimes 
 go three or four miles farther than the wagons had gone, and 
 would always return with all the apples, berries, potatoes, etc., 
 they could carry. That all might have a chance, different ones, or 
 those from different messes, were sent out. This gave those at, 
 the guns a nearer equal chance with those at the caissons; the 
 former being now far more in need of vegetables than the latter. 
 The cavalry vedettes were always careful to allow no wagon to 
 pass out unless it had a suitable guard, i. e., four or live men 
 along. One day the colonel commanding the picket post would 
 not allow any teams to pass out. The enemy must he in consider- 
 able force for they had come inside the colonel's lines and captured 
 two of hi- men. Two of our corporals were with our teams that 
 day; they had heard of a like incident some days before and. mis- 
 trusting it was the same, they ventured to ask the colonel 
 when the men were captured. "■Three days ago, 11 said the 
 colonel. •• Why. we were out ten miles in this direction twice 
 since then and saw no rebels." As soon as the guard learned 
 when the men had been captured, they Laughed so heartily to 
 think the cavalry were just beginning to feel scared about it, 
 that the colonel finally concluded they might pa—, "lint I 
 shall send out a Large squad of cavalry to he on hand in case 
 of need.*' There were hut few citizens at home through the 
 country. 
 
230 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Nearly every day we saluted the city with our shells. Some- 
 times the enemy would reply by sending us a few "camp-kettles" 
 or smaller missiles. One day " Charley " was sitting under a tree 
 a short distance from the guns enjoying its cooling shade. A 
 freakish shell soon came along and struck the tree near the top, 
 fell to the ground and exploded, enveloping " Charley " in smoke. 
 Many rushed toward him, thinking he was mortally wounded if 
 not killed, but how rejoiced were all to see him jump from the 
 smoke and run toward us unhurt, but exclaiming, " I never cut 
 my fuse that short before; " perhaps meaning that he had never 
 had one of his shells explode until it had got farther from him. 
 
 On the 7th Lieut. Fluskey went to the 2d Division hospital, 
 having been taken down with the measles. The sanitary com- 
 mission sent us half a barrel of dried apples that day. 
 
 Since Battery A had been in reserve they were busy making 
 neat's-foot oil for the artillery brigade harness. On this day, 
 although it was Sunday, we began oiling our harness. This day 
 Mareks was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. We might 
 here state that the members of this corps were styled in the army 
 " Condemned Yankees." They were so dressed that they could be 
 easily distinguished as far as seen and were kept in the rear to 
 guard hospitals, patrol the streets of cities, etc. 
 
 On the 8th Quartermaster Sergt. Murphy was mustered in as 
 junior 2d lieutenant in the Battery. Corporal Nathaniel Banks, 
 of Squad 4, was made sergeant of No. 4 vice Sergt. Hansell, pro- 
 moted to till the vacancy occasioned by Sergt. Murphy's promo- 
 tion. Wm. Hamilton was promoted to corporal to fill Banks' 
 place as chief of caisson. 
 
 On the next day we began building shades for our horses. 
 The caissons had already changed position four or five times, but 
 now they settled down in permanent camp, putting the caissons 
 in park. The tents of those belonging to the caissons were placed 
 in regular order and covered with shades, the camp ground being 
 policed daily. 
 
 On the 12th John G. McAllister, aged twenty-four, enlisted 
 at Springfield, 111., for the term of one year, for our Battery. 
 
 At the caissons, on the 12th, one of the detailed men was on 
 guard ( ?) and instead of being among caissons, was found by the 
 captain racing through camp cdiasing some of the men around 
 with his sword. After this the guards had to walk their beats, 
 
\T1. \NT A I WH'AIIIN 231 
 
 and this was followed by the resumption of the regular morning 
 roll-call. The same day orders were issued to deal out qo more 
 salt meat during the rest of the month. The beef we were draw- 
 ing was generally of the quality we had received at Blains Cross 
 Roads, for forage for the cattle was not to be had where ii was 
 safe to keep them, and thus the old practice of killing the poorest 
 animals was again in vogue. 
 
 On the l-Uh Lieut. Fluskey was mustered in as junior 1st 
 lieutenant. At s P. M. the Batter} received orders to fire two 
 rounds per minute till daylight, at the city. Other batteries had 
 similar orders. At midnight a large fire appeared near the heart 
 of the city. Bells rang, cries of "Fire! fire!" were heard and a 
 genera] hubbub appeared to be in progress. In about an hour the 
 fire was stifled. The next night there was another large fire in 
 the city. 
 
 On the llth Lieut. Fluskey started for Chattanooga on busi- 
 ness for the artillery brigade. That da\ Orderly Sergt. Gillette 
 was mustered as senior 2d lieutenant, and on the 1 5th Corporal 
 Morgan Banks, of gun t. was promoted to till the vacancy. John 
 Scales was promoted to Hanks' place as gunner of gun 1. 
 
 On the KHh Sergt. Tait and Corp. Harter started for Marietta 
 with some more of our worn-out horses, and to draw fresh ones in 
 their places. They returned on the '21st. 
 
 In the afternoon of the 16th the rebels were seen to be mass- 
 ing in front of the 20th Corps. Orders were issued for us to have 
 a large supply of ammunition on hand, and for all to lie on their 
 arms that night. During the night rockets were sent up at dif- 
 ferent points inside the rebel lines, and it was expected every 
 minute the attack would commence. There were some fears en- 
 tertained of some of our works being undermined, ami it was 
 thought the mines would he exploded during this night, hut the 
 17th dawned bright and (dear nothing having occurred to mar the 
 quiet of the night. 
 
 At 5 I'. M.. on the 17th. ('apt. Grant, aide to ("apt. Tonilin- 
 son, inspected us. We received orders to draw three days 1 rations 
 for ourselves and six for our horses, as if preparing for a march. 
 At 8 P. M. Battery A and a small force of infantry moved about 
 three miles to the left. Once there, they began to make as much 
 noise as possible, SO as to appeal' to he a large force. The infantry 
 bugles sounded the "halt" at different places ami immediately fires 
 
232 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 • 
 
 would spring up at each place, as though a regiment was encamp- 
 ing. The battery bugle would sound the 'malt; 11 then the '"stable 
 call; 11 then going around a hill, would halt in another place, and 
 go through the same performance. Thus they continued, till near 
 midnight, when they returned to their old camp, well tired out. 
 
 This feint was intended to make the enemy believe our troops 
 were again moving to the left, satisfied we could not reach their 
 only remaining line of railroad on our right, or that we were re- 
 ceiving large reinforcements. 
 
 At 4 A. M., on the 18th, the enemy thought they would test 
 our lines in front of the 20th Corps to see if we were yet there. 
 They opened with all their artillery that bore on that part of our 
 lines and continued the fire till nearly seven o'clock, our batteries 
 replying very leisurely. At the same hour on the 19th they again 
 opened, but had fired only two rounds before all our artillery 
 within range of their guns began to fire as rapidly as possible. 
 Not another shot came from their side. We thought the display 
 of fire-works on the night when we shelled the enemy on the 
 banks of the Chattahoochee was grand, but this was sublime! 
 Never before or after did we see anything to compare with it. 
 The surrounding space was kept as light as day for about forty 
 minutes by the flashes of guns, the burning of fuses and exploding 
 of shells. 
 
 For some time there had been two lotteries of thirty pounders 
 on our portion of the lines — one in the 20th Corps, the other ad- 
 joining us on the right. At 7:30, this morning, one of the guns 
 near us exploded a caisson that stood in one of the enemy's forts. 
 This success called forth loud cheering from our side. Some of 
 the thirty-pounder shell made a noise much resembling a passenger 
 locomotive as it leaves a station, and we soon called them "loco- 
 motives" — calling out to the Johnnies as one would start: "There 
 goes another locomotive; add that to your 'rolling stock 1 !" 
 
 On the 19th Corp. Brumfield met with an accident. He was 
 mounting his horse and, slipping, fell and hurt himself quite 
 seriously. He was sent to the hospital. 
 
 On the 20th, contrary to "beef orders," we drew a num- 
 ber of shoulders. They were so strong they completely 
 overpowered us, and we had quite a task to get them out of camp. 
 We were worse off than though we had beef; for now we had no 
 •meat. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 233 
 
 There was now rain nearly every day and sometimes in very 
 hard showers. This rain was greatly enjoyed, not even one com- 
 plaining when it fell the fastest. 
 
 On the 22d there was considerable stir among the members of 
 the center section, over two or three of their number receiving 
 heavy extra duty for doing what, till then, had not been consid- 
 ered an offense. The captain, however, set all to rights by with- 
 drawing the extra duty, and informing the young lieutenant who 
 had bestowed it. that he would not allow a repetition. 
 
 We hail preserved nearly all the "port-fires" drawn with our 
 ammunition on the campaign, not knowing what use we should 
 ever have for them, they being intended for use in firing our guns 
 should our supply of friction primers run out. But now. when 
 the object was to destroy as much of the city as possible, in order 
 to hasten its surrender, we bethought ourselves that as this burned 
 much the same as Greek-fire, it might lie made to fulfil] the same 
 office. Accordingly we cut the port-fire into pieces about one inch 
 and a half lone-, and emptying some of the powder out of the 
 shells tilled them with these piece-. Whether they did the work 
 intended, we do not know, but we do know that tire- were of fre- 
 quent occurrence in Atlanta while we lay before it. 
 
 On the 'I'.'A we s;,\\ some id' our old friends of the 10th 
 Indiana Battery who were now connected with the cavalry. Thev 
 had shortly before returned from their trip around Atlanta, and 
 gave us a glowing account of the number of nude- and horses, be- 
 longing to rebel wagon trains, they had captured or killed. Also 
 of their escape when they charged and cut their way through the 
 columns of the enemy who had surrounded them, and also of the 
 "brick" for courage Col. Brownlow had again proved himself to I.e. 
 
 On the 24th orders were received to keep three days' rations 
 on hand, and that men and horses were to have only about hall' 
 
 rations thereafter. In the afterno< tiers came for lis to he 
 
 ready to march by night of the next day. Toward night a large 
 tire appeared in Atlanta, and it was thought the enemy was burn- 
 ing hi- -ton- preparatory to evacuation. 
 
 This was our la-t day of firing at the city. Since we had lain 
 before it we had tired 2,350 rounds of ammunition from our four 
 -■mis. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 For some time there had been a rumor that our lines on the 
 left were to be drawn in or rather swung around so as to make the 
 railroad the line. On the morning of the 25th of August, as we 
 withdrew our guns from the works and were temporarily relieved 
 by Battery M, 1st Ohio, there was much conjecture as to our des- 
 tination. It was learned that at night the lines at this point were 
 to be abandoned. Not knowing what was the move, and finding 
 no one who knew, all were forced to await results to have their 
 queries answered. Certainly we were not going to make the rail- 
 road our next line, for Bill's team was dispatched to draw fifteen 
 days 1 rations for us. As the whole Battery lay at the camp of the 
 caissons awaiting the bugle call "Stand to horse 11 it began to rain 
 as hard as we had known it to during the campaign. "Well, boys, 
 you can just set it down that we are going on a long march, 11 was 
 the general decision. 
 
 We started at 1:30 P. M. and moved toward the right, camp- 
 ing at night on a high hill in rear of the 16th Corps, and about 
 seven miles from our late camp. The rebels had formerly held the 
 hill, and had built strong works on it. Our forces had subse- 
 qently built stronger ones facing toward Atlanta, so we were pro- 
 tected on all sides. No large fires were allowed to be built, nor 
 were we allowed to show ourselves on the works. At an old 
 hospital camp, at the foot of the hill, was found large quantities 
 of desiccated vegetables which proved to be quite a godsend when, 
 a few days later, we had little else to eat. 
 
 From this hill we had a plain view of Atlanta — distant about 
 two miles. It was the first time we had been where there was an 
 unobstructed sight at the object for which we had been so long 
 contending. 
 
 That afternoon Sergt. Tait had been sent to our old caisson 
 camp to await the arrival of one of our mule-teams to load up the 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN". 235 
 
 corn we had left there. The team, minus the corn, joined us the 
 next day, but we never saw Sergt. Tail again. From an artillery- 
 man, who was exchanged through the cartel entered into between 
 Sherman and Hood a short time after, we Learned thai Tail was 
 
 takni to Am. 'liens where this man bad met him. He said Tait 
 told him he had waited till late at night for the wagon, and then 
 lieum wearj he tied his horse, laid down on the sacks of corn and 
 soon fell asleep. \\ hen he next awoke the sun was shining bright 
 and (dear in his face. He sprang to his feet, remembering that 
 the troops had been withdrawn, and thinking it was time for him 
 to be leaving, but looking around discovered he was surrounded by 
 rebels who were leisurelj walking over our late camp to see what 
 they could find. They had removed his horse and had allowed 
 him to sleep on undisturbed, hut as soon as they discovered he was 
 awake they politely informed him he was a prisoner. 
 
 At midnight on the 25th the infantry began to arrive. They 
 also, as many as could, camped on the hill on which we were. 
 
 The 26th dawned clear and beautiful quite like a spring 
 morning. At noon it rained \t'\-\ hard, alter which it became 
 ver\ warm and sultry. As soon as it was daylight the infantry 
 crowded <>n top of the works to get a view of Atlanta. About 
 seven o'clock the enemy discovered it and opened on us from three 
 different forts. Some of his shells struck on the side of the hill. 
 but most of them passed high ahove so high that some made no 
 more noise to our ears than a passing swarm of bees. We hitched 
 up and moved out to get beyond their range. The enemy's in- 
 fantry was already following in ' steps of yesterday and began 
 
 to skirmish with our rear guard just as we pulled out. They 
 thought to capture a lot id' Yankees, but the tables were so far 
 turned as to cause about a score of Johnnies to lay down their 
 arm- and march under a federal guard. 
 
 We man lied at times quite fast, and at twelve, halted after 
 crossing Qtoy Creek, in an ore hard near the forks of the Atlanta. 
 Sandtown, Red Oak and East Point roads. The heavy rains soon 
 raised the creek to overflowing its hanks, so it was with difficulty 
 the infantry crossed. At I I'. M. the battery took position on a 
 high hill about a mile east of the Forks, facing our guns to the 
 southeast and bearing on the Army id' the Tennessee wagon train 
 that lay about a mile in our front. front! We could uot tell 
 which way was front, for our guns were. ley order-, faced to the 
 
236 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 southeast while we expected the enemy to come in from the south, 
 west and north! 
 
 At 9:15, on the 27th. the brigade moved to the Forks and lay 
 there till eleven o'clock when they moved out on the Red Oak 
 road. Much of the way the artillery brigade had to march at the 
 side of the road, as the main track was so badly cut up we could 
 not travel in it. In many places it was necessary to cut roads 
 through the thick, young undergrowth. Capt. Tomlinson called 
 for a detail of five men from the Battery to act as pioneers. Gen. 
 Newton remonstrated — arguing it was the duty of the pioneers to 
 keep our road open, but the captain prevailed, and the detail was 
 accordingly made out and sent ahead of the column. At 2 P. M. 
 we came up with a squad of the enemy. Our infantry began im- 
 mediately to throw up works facing to the east and south, and 
 soon a formidable line of breastworks over a mile in length was 
 ready to aid in repelling any charge the enemy might make. 
 There was a creek called Camp Creek about eighty rods in our 
 front. On the south side of this creek was a large field of corn, 
 the first we had seen on this march. Some of the infantry were 
 soon at the creek endeavoring to effect a crossing to get some of 
 the corn, but found the rebels so watchful that they had to desist. 
 Before the works were half completed the enemy had opened with 
 two guns from a hill beyond the corn field; but on\j fired a few 
 rounds. At six o'clock the 6th Ohio and Bridges' battery having 
 thrown up some works on a hill, in advance of the main line, 
 opened on the spot from whence the rebels had fired some four 
 hours before, but as the enemy no longer had any guns there they 
 received no reply. 
 
 Before breaking camp, on the morning of the 28th, we re- 
 ceived strict orders to put nothing, not even a fry-pan, on the 
 caissons or guns. At 7:40 we moved about a mile southwest, 
 across Camp Creek, but our advance had gone only a few rods be- 
 yond ere they were greeted by a volley of musketry. The artillery 
 was immediately parked. We lay there till 4 P. M., then 
 recrossed the creek and returned to near our last night's camp. 
 At 5 P. M. the caissons were sent back to inarch with the reserve 
 artillery of our brigade. We soon after advanced about four 
 miles south and camped within about a mile of the Montgomery 
 railroad. At 8:15 the caissons followed and camped at midnight 
 half a mile nearer the railroad. 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 231 
 
 That day we tried to draw rations, 1 mi could not, as we were 
 supposed to have fifteen days 1 rations in one of our wagons. The 
 wagon was not up with us yet, and all watched eagerly for its 
 arrival. At lasi it was seen comingup! Now, certainly, we should 
 have something to eat, when, lo! the wagon was loaded with solid 
 slmt! Having been unable to get any provisions, the driver had 
 loaded with the next best thing ammunition. This was noi 
 exactly " asking for bread and receiving a stone; " but, consider- 
 ing the times, it was much the same. The Norwegian shook his 
 head and repeated his solemn "No more, I thank yon:" he had 
 been fed enough <>n such by the rebels without having his country, 
 which he was so faithfully serving, issue the same to him. 
 
 On the morning of the 29th all were beginning to feel almost 
 ravenous. Bui our lucky star was yet above the horizon, for while 
 lamenting our famishing condition, one of gun 3's men found a 
 bos of hard tack that had evidently fallen out of one of the 
 wagons while passing by during the night. At nine o'clock we 
 succeeded in drawing three days' half rations, in the morning 
 the third division was sent out to destroy the railroad. They 
 returned at 3 I\ 1>L . having burned about ten miles of the track. 
 The troops remaining in camp threw up light works ♦ " be pre- 
 pared should the enemy appear. Toward night our caissons 
 joined us. 
 
 At 6:15, on the morning of the 30th, the troops were in 
 motion. Soon after crossing the railroad the advance met a few 
 of the enemy. Flankers were immediately deployed ami we moved 
 on again very slowly. 
 
 At noon heavy firing was heard to the south, and it was re- 
 ported Howard was engaging the enemy, who had go! wind of 
 our move and had outstripped us. When our troops withdrew 
 from before Atlanta, the rebels evidently thought they were fall- 
 ing back beyond the Chattahoochee ami imagined the presence of 
 their cavalry in our rear was the cause of it. The 20th Corps was 
 
 sent back to the bridge, hut i ther troops were detached from 
 
 the main army of "Sinkers." The morning the army withdrew 
 from our lines, the rebel papers were full of rejoicing. "The 
 Yankees have fled across the river, their army being badly demor- 
 alized over the fact of our cavalry having broken their communi- 
 cations. There are no more Yankee invaders threatening Atlanta!" 
 And after we had proved to them their mistake and had possessed 
 
238 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 ourselves of the city, we were told "You'uns don't right fair. 
 You'uns flink we'uns out of all our places. " 
 
 At 1 P. M. we parked in a corn field while the infantry were 
 dislodging some of the enemy who were secreted in some brush a 
 short distance ahead of us. We soon moved on, but just as we 
 approached the next piece of timber, there being a large field on 
 either side, the enemy sent a volley among us, but luckily wounded 
 but few — none of the artillery-men. There was a sweet potato 
 field on each side of the road; the cooks had already found them 
 and they were digging as if for dear life; but when the bullets 
 whizzed by they dropped hoes, potatoes and kettles, and broke for 
 the rear, affording much sport for the combatants. Our right 
 section immediately took position at the edge of the woods, while 
 the infantry hurriedly threw up slight works. Shortly after, the 
 center section was given a position to the right in the field. They 
 built slight protections against bullets and then rested. At 5 
 P. M. there was some cannonading some distance to the rear, and 
 works were soon thrown up facing that direction. ( )n the morn- 
 ing of the 31st we added a little to the strength of our works, as 
 the 14th Corps, which lay on our right, was having a lively time 
 shelling the enemy. Our captain had been out prospecting and 
 reported a large fort, well mounted, about a mile directly in our 
 front. The enemy's trains were running briskly to and from 
 Atlanta. Their whistles sounded so near it seemed we could reach 
 them with shells. At 10 A. M. the 23d Corps arrived, bringing 
 up the rear. Shortly after, we made a detour to the right and 
 came in rear of the works the 14th Corps had held in the morn- 
 ing. At twelve we came to some strong rebel works from which 
 our advance had just driven the enemy. The works faced to the 
 south and extended — as near as we could judge — for two or three 
 miles on both sides of the road. In our front and near Mar's 
 Mill on Flint Creek, they had a fort with four embrasures. At 
 four we crossed the creek and took position on a hill to the right 
 of the fort, and began to fortify. The railroad could be traced 
 for several miles by the smoke that now arose from it. Our 
 advance had struck and was burning the Macon railroad. 
 
 At dark, just as our works were completed, orders were 
 received to move forward. We advanced about two miles and 
 camped. The caissons as they closed up had much difficulty. 
 First there was a miry creek to cross, then a mile of dense woods 
 
ATI. AN I \ CAMPAIGN. 239 
 
 to travel through amid Egyptian darkness. "Ansel" and the 
 Norwegian will never forget the Lt forty rods of grape vine" thej 
 brought into camp attached to their caisson. 
 
 All the forenoon ln\i\\ cs ading was heard to the south. 
 
 Howard was fighting two corps of the enemy. 
 
 This month we had been under fire thirty days, and had tired 
 1,862 rounds in ten days; had marched thirty-three miles in six 
 days and had found the country well stripped of everything, the 
 rebel forage trains having " tithed " till t law had lefl verj little 
 for the few citizens to live on half an acre of corn being all that 
 was allowed a family of five. They had cleared the country sev- 
 eral miles on each side of the two railroads, for fifty miles south 
 of the city. 
 
 W e moved out at 7:30 on the morning of the first of Septem- 
 ber, and halted shortly after in a Held near by, where we found 
 large quantities of nice, luscious vine apricots, which were greatly 
 enjoyed. At 2 P. M. we came in sight of the railroad, ami at four 
 halted near it. Here we lay until the 3d Division could tear up 
 more of the track. At five the 23d Corps passed us. A grand 
 charge had Keen ordered to begin at 5 l\ M., and the 23d Corps 
 was to have been on its portion of the line to have acted its part. 
 Waiting half an hour after the 23d Corps had passed, we again 
 advanced at 5:30. At six we came up near the enemy's works. 
 They were shelling the woods freely. The artillery brigade was 
 jammed up in the road so it would have been impossible to have 
 moved had the enemy tried a charge. Shells flew by us and some 
 struck on both sides. Finally the artillery was moved out into a 
 field a few rods further on, and parked, leaving the infantry to do 
 the fighting alone. The charge was made, but somewhat as a 
 balky team pulls. Our loss was not great, and neither was our 
 victory when compared with what it would have been had the sev- 
 eral corps Keen on the ground punctually at the appointed hour. 
 A> it was. many Johnnies bit the dust, hundreds were made 
 prisoner-, and we had taken several cannon. 
 
 That day we lent Battery A a team, as their horses were so 
 used up they had scarcely enough to move their carriages. We 
 camped where we had parked. 
 
 At 1 A. M. all were awakened byagreat noise in the direction 
 of Atlanta, [t continued till four o'clock and sounded as though 
 there were several hundred guns firing at will. At first it was 
 
240 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 thought the 20th Corps was attacking the place, but as it contin- 
 ued, we were satisfied the eneni} r were exploding their magazines. 
 At six we moved out, went about a mile and a half south, crossing 
 the railroad, then eastwardly nearly a mile, then bore to the south- 
 west, going on the trot, sometimes through brush and trees, then 
 over old by-roads until, finally, we baited in a field where the rest 
 of the artillery brigade was camped. Looking across the railroad, 
 toward the west, we beheld our night's camp ground just oppo- 
 site us. 
 
 Our three days' rations, drawn on the 29th, were long since 
 gone, and we found so little corn to eat that all were beginning 
 to feel hunger. For three days at every five minutes' halt, fires 
 would be built and those who were lucky enough to have found 
 some would roast an ear or more of corn. Once we passed through 
 a large field of corn in which there were many nice roasting ears, 
 and then we had a feast. 
 
 But to return. We unhitched, and. having drawn three half 
 rations to last four days, began to cook breakfast, but had not our 
 "dundefunk" fried before orders came to hitch up, and were soon 
 on the road again, traveling over the ground passed over in the 
 same direction not three hours before. It was two and a half 
 miles to Jonesboro, which place was reached at 10:30, where was 
 found certainly the greatest number of Yankees we had ever seen 
 in one body. On the road were many dead rebels — the result of 
 the fighting of the day before. 
 
 We halted in town till about 2 P. M. At the water tank 
 there was an abundance of good water, and it was such a luxury 
 all were loth to leave it. There were also other good things in 
 town; we managed to dig about ten bushels of nice, sweet pota- 
 toes. 
 
 At two o'clock the different corps had spread out and were 
 again advancing. We moved on the east side of the railroad, and 
 the Army of the Tennessee on the west. After having gone 
 about three miles it was discovered we had again met a fortified 
 foe, and he opened lively on us with his artillery. Our guns were 
 placed in position on a hill near by and replied, finally camping 
 on the same hill for the night, making our coffee of water taken 
 from a branch near by. It rained hard all that night and at 
 times the next morning. 
 
ATI. \ NT \ I WII' Alt.N 241 
 
 Iii the forenoon of the 3d, we mustered and then the pro- 
 motions made in A.ugus{ were made known tuns. In the after- 
 noon nearly all the guns on the line opened. We fired 170 
 rounds. 
 
 \\ c now began to debate the question whether our arniy was 
 going to advance farther or fall hack and enjoy the fruits of our 
 labor Atlanta. The tearing up of the track as far back as 
 Rough and Heady was sufficienl answer that all would soon be 
 moving to the rear. 
 
 The 4th was quite pleasant, and so intense was the quiet it 
 seemed like being in some noisy city where all business was sud- 
 denly hushed. Confederates and federals alike seemed willing to 
 let this Sabbath pass without having the boom of the cannon mar 
 its holy calm. Toward uighl however one or two of our batteries 
 -cut a salute to the enemy. 
 
 (hi the 5th orders were received to tire as much as we pleased. 
 We -cut 'lo'-] rounds to the Johnnies and this proved to be the last 
 word we ever had the privilege of saying to them. 
 
 Our caissons started for the rear early in the afternoon of the 
 5th and camped near the place where we first struck the Macon 
 railroad, eight miles toward Atlanta. At 3 I*. M. it began to rain 
 and though it was thought we had seen the hardest rain storms, 
 yet thi- afternoon we passed through the worst storm during our 
 military career. We joined the caissons at midnight, and if ever 
 there was a lot of Yankees whose life was nearly drenched out of 
 them, we were of that nnniher. That day Emery Ml. Wilber aged 
 eighteen years, enlisted for the term of three years for our Battery. 
 
 On the 6th we drew three more rations to last four days, and 
 at eleven moved out. but went only about two miles before camp- 
 ing. It rained very hard all the afternoon. 
 
 On the 7th we were to have an early start: SO B,i L2:30 the 
 reveille was blown and all were soon ready to move; bul it was 
 four o'clock before starting. The roads were verj muddy and 
 badly cut up by the artillery and wagon train- ahead of us. We 
 passed the ruins of Chapman's and Battle Stations and saw S( veral 
 trains the rebels had burned to prevent their changing owners. 
 The famous Rough and Ready was found to he as rough as need 
 lie. all the buildings and citizens appearing to have "rough" 
 boldly -tamped upon them. The ready part was not so distinct 1 
 unless it meant ready to do anything evil. We marched about 
 
242 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 two miles further and camped, after going through fields, through 
 brush and woods, cutting a road here, and rolling a large log away 
 at another place, letting down fences — and really going over a 
 mile out of the way rather than inarch in the road, which was at 
 this point in such good order that the mule teams trotted nearly 
 the whole two miles. But this was only a feature of the artillery 
 brigade tactics and we had still more of it when, after camping, we 
 were ordered to pick up all the loose limbs lying around on the 
 ground, and were recp:iired to move the tents already put up in 
 front of the park to the rear of it. We were only about half a 
 mile from water. 
 
 On the morning of the 8th the right section was sent to the 
 rear to take its position in rear of the whole army as rear-guard. 
 As we pulled out at 7:40, Capt. Tomlinson was on the ground, and 
 as each carriage passed him, he would crossly order, "Take that 
 canteen off.' 1 "Take that horse shoe off that caisson." "There's a 
 strap; off with it." "See that mess-pan, take it off," etc., until the 
 carriages were entirely stripped. We carried the articles in our 
 hands about eighty rods, when they again took their old places on 
 the carriages. 
 
 At ten o'clock, during a hard shower, we struck the pike, then 
 formed column of sections, and marched thus to the city — some 
 three miles. The infantry with their banners flying and bands 
 playing the national airs, the artillery marching beside their 
 pieces. No one can feel the . proud upheaving of the heart we 
 then felt unless he be a member of a triumphant army, as it is re- 
 ceiving the surrender of what it has fought long and valiantly to 
 obtain.. Our hearts were rilled to overflowing as we entered the 
 first line of the enemy's works, and when we set foot within the 
 city proper our hearts were too full for utterance. 
 
 We halted awhile at the depot of the Augusta railroad, and, 
 while there, strolled around to see what was the extent of our 
 capture. The only objects of note near by were six sixty-four- 
 pounder siege guns, and one smaller, breech-loading gun, the 
 rebels had left behind. We next halted near the ruins of the 
 large foundry, machine-shop and rolling-mill which the enemy 
 had burned. There were also the remains of two trains loaded 
 with artillery, muskets and ammunition; the enemy had run the 
 trains up to the side of the rolling-mill and then burned and ex- 
 ploded them. For many rods around, the ground was so completely 
 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 243 
 
 it covered with the pieces of the various kinds of missiles, that 
 it was almost impossible to find a place large enough for the Boot 
 to stand without being on some of these pieces. There were also 
 missiles of all sizes from bhe Minnie ball to the one hundred- 
 pounder shell ami other instruments of death from the little hand- 
 grenade to the torpedo that contained 32 pounds of powder. 
 
 \t another foundry, nearer town, were found tons of shells 
 and solid shot, varying in weigh! from two to one hundred pom ids. 
 We noticed, also, that al nearl\ every house a bomb-proof had 
 been dug. This called forth a sort of satisfactory feeling that 
 
 seemed to say to US, "Well done." 
 
 We moved ahoiit a mile and a half east of the city and 
 camped on the north side of the Augusta railroad, and near the 
 -pot where Gen. McPherson was killed. A few feet in front of 
 our park was a long grave that contained a hundred or more of 
 our late enemy. 
 
 That day Lieut. Husky arrived and Samuel A. Murphy joined 
 us from hospital. 
 
 That evening at roll-call the following orders were read to us: 
 
 Beadquarters Dept. of the Cumberland. 
 
 Near Jonesboro, <>a.. Sept. 6, L864. 
 Orders. 
 
 The general commanding directs that the following order- he 
 published to all the troops composing the Armv of the Cumber- 
 land. 
 
 Headquarters Military Div. of the Mississippi. 
 In the Field, Jonesboro, <>a. Sept. 6, 1864. 
 
 Special Field Orders No. 66. 
 
 I. The general commanding communicates with a feeling of 
 just pride and satisfaction the following order id' the President of 
 
 the Tinted Stato. and the tele-ram of Lieut, Gen. l\ S. Grant on 
 hearing of the capture of Atlanta. 
 
 ( 1st ) Bxecui ive Mansion. 
 
 Washington D. C, Sept. 3, L864. 
 
 The national thanks are tendered by the president to Maj. 
 Gen. W. T. Sherman and the gallant officers and soldiers of Ins 
 command before Atlanta, for the distinguished ability, courage 
 and perseverance displayed in the campaign in Georgia, which 
 under divine favor has resulted in the capture of the Citj of 
 
244 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Atlanta. The marches, battles, sieges and other military oper- 
 ations that have signalized the campaign must render it famous 
 in the annals of war, and have entitled those who have partici- 
 pated therein to the applause of the nation. 
 (Signed) Abraham Lincoln, 
 
 President of the United States. 
 
 2nd. Executive Mansion. 
 
 Washington D. C, Sept. 3, 1864. 
 Ordered. 
 
 Second. That on Wednesday, the 7th day of September, 
 commencing at the hour of 12 o'clock M. there shall be fired a 
 salute of one hundred (100) guns at the Arsenal at Washington 
 and at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, 
 New Port, Ky., St. Louis, New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, Hilton 
 Head, and Newbern, or the day after the receipt of this order, for 
 the brilliant achievements of the army under the command of Maj. 
 Gen. W. T. Sherman in the State of Georgia, and the capture of 
 Atlanta. The Secretary of W T ar will issue directions for the exe- 
 cution of this order. 
 
 ( Signed ) Abraham Lincoln, 
 
 President of the United States. 
 
 (3rd) Citv Point, Va. 
 
 Sept. 4th, P. M. 1864. 
 Maj. Gen. Sherman: 
 
 I have just received your dispatch an- 
 nouncing the capture of Atlanta. In honor of your great victory 
 I have ordered a salute to be fired with shotted guns from every 
 battery bearing upon the enemy. The salute will be fired within 
 an hour, amidst great rejoicing. 
 
 (Signed) U. S. Grant, 
 
 Lieut. General. 
 
 II All the corps, regiments and batteries, composing the 
 army may without further orders inscribe "Atlanta" on their 
 "colors." 
 
 By command of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman. 
 (Signed) " L. M. Dayton, A. D. C. 
 
 By command of Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas. 
 
 Henry Stone, Capt. & A. A. G. 
 Maj. Gen. D. S. Stanley, 
 
 Commanding 4th A. C. 
 Lieut. D. Immel, A. A. A. G. 
 Artillery Brigade, 4th A. C. 
 
 Thus closed the Atlanta Campaign, but as our "colors" were 
 worn out, we did not inscribe "Atlanta" on them. 
 
PART V. 
 
 Our 'Hefty' Canppaigr?. . 
 
<'H.\rn-:i{ xxvu. 
 
 W'k now enter upon what proved to be our "Hefty" campaign; 
 though at its incipiency we knew not but what it would be 
 fraught with as great dangers as any other portiou of our military 
 career. Being now in the bear! of the enemy's country, sur- 
 rounded on all sides by the foe — though of course in small num- 
 bers in many parts, yet nevertheless our sworn enemies, who would 
 unhesitatingly have sent a bullet through us had opportunity been 
 given them — we looked for more hard fighting than we had yet 
 seen. A move was expected in some direction within a few days. 
 It was understood that we should have thirty days for rest, and 
 then must resume the march. We doubted not our Battery would 
 he booked for the next ■•forward:" for since we had been given the 
 chance to go to the rear, and had not accepted it, we heard very 
 little more about being relieved. Whichever direction we should 
 take, we doubted not we should not stop till reaching a point 
 whence communication could be held with the other side. We 
 looked for a move on Augusta or Montgomery, which one. we did 
 not know, but one of the two was thought certain. 
 
 While discussing the prospects of a forward move, the still- 
 ness that surrounded us made us quite forget that war was abroad 
 in the land, and even our guns, standing there in plain view. 
 scarcely recalled the fact. We seemed to be in a sweet dream m 
 which it appeared we were off in some back woods country on a 
 pleasure trip, and these, our tents, the necessary concomitants of 
 the trip. So sweet was the dream that all dreaded to be awakened 
 from it. lest they should find the realities of our surroundings 
 little pleasanter than though still pressing the enemy. 
 
 On the ( .)th of September, Sergt. Schnasse, Franck, Westen- 
 dorf, and Hoffer, returned from hospital. 
 
 • apt. Bridges, our worthy corps chief of artillery, com bided, 
 that, as he had SO many batteries under his paternal care, he 
 would camp them SO near together as to have the whole under hi- 
 
248 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 eye at once. Accordingly he set his planning machinery at work 
 to devise a form of camp that should bring us within a small com- 
 pass. No better form presented itself than to have us in line. 
 Next, he must find suitable grounds. He found such, that by a 
 few days 1 grubbing, would give plenty of room. This was on the 
 south side of, and adjoining, the Augusta Railroad and about a 
 mile from the heart of the city. 
 
 On the 12th a detail of three men, accompanied by one or more 
 commissioned officers, from each battery, was on the ground to 
 stake out the several camps. By night they had it partly done. 
 We sent out two teams for forage in the morning, expecting them 
 to be gone two days, but at night they returned with good loads. 
 
 On the 13th the artillery brigade moved to their new camp. 
 We were given the place nearest the railroad. By night we had 
 the form of our camp well staked out. Our guns were in the 
 center, Nos. 1 and 2 squads on the right or south side and Nos. 3 
 and 4, on the north. The horses were picketed on either side of 
 the park, and between the guns and our tents. The officers' and 
 staffs* (orderly, quartermaster sergeant and bugler) tents were 
 about ten rods to the rear — or nearer town. We were to assemble 
 at roll-calls just in rear of the caissons. In time we built splendid 
 shades over our tents covering them with branches of trees, and 
 hanging the sides with pine boughs. We also built good shades 
 for our horses. 
 
 In the afternoon our horses were inspected by Capt. Bridges 
 to see how many were unfit for service. He picked out twenty- 
 six which he condemned. 
 
 Our camp in good order we began to enjoy our quiet camp 
 life. During the day we had very little to do, as about the only 
 work in preparing for the coming move devolved upon the black- 
 smiths, wheelwright and harness maker. We had only six 
 guards a day so there was very little guard duty to do. During 
 the day we would visit town, the late battle fields, the rebel works, 
 or at camp we would enjoy ourselves over various games, or work 
 at our old trade — shell work. At night we would, if pleasant 
 weather, congregate at some level spot of ground where it was not 
 too dusty, and while away the hours in "stag 11 and " Juba" dances, 
 singing and yarn spinning. 
 
 During our thirty days rest, it was decided that one man out 
 of twenty-five could go home, and orders were issued from 
 
nil! " HKI'TY " CAMPAIGN. 2 I' 1 
 
 military division headquarters to that effect. Our Batterj was en- 
 titled to full four men and doubtful one there being but seventy- 
 six of our own, and twenty-five detailed men, present on the first 
 of the month. There were many applicants for furloughs, and 
 quite a Dumber had good reasons for wishing to go home. It was 
 decided we should draw lots three of the furloughs to be for our 
 men, and one for the detailed. On the L 5th about twenty drew 
 lots, ami Sergt. Short, of gun 2, Newton, the company clerk, and 
 Martin, of gun 1. were the luckj ones of our men, and Van 
 Slycke among the detailed. At night the captain was informed 
 he could give one more furlough, and Cor]!. Lissenden, of gun 3, 
 and Flint, <»f gun 1. drew for it Flint being successful. The 
 proper applications were immediately sent in. and in due time 
 were returned approved. 
 
 On the 16th we turned over our two extra caissons. That after- 
 noon some tire near the ruins of the iron foundry reached some 
 unexploded shells and soon caused them to explode. The pieces 
 were sent flying many rods in all directions. Luckily no one was 
 hurt. 
 
 At dark, on the 17th. there was a very cracked assembly 
 blown, and as it was so unusual, all rushed out to see what was 
 the matter. The call sounded as though there was an order of 
 great moment to he read. Sick. hale, guards off duty, uon-coni- 
 batants, "dog-robbers" — one and all rushed out to learn the good 
 new-. All in line and standing almost on tiptoe, so eager were 
 all to hear what was coming, they waited. The captain finally 
 spoke: "The buglers silver mouthpiece has been stolen." and he 
 like his predecessor, could not now "get a lip." We pitied him: 
 hut that was not all. We were next told that some one had it. 
 and that all were to stand where we were until the mouthpiece 
 was produced, or the theft was acknowledged! Our pity ebbed. 
 No one said: "I am he:" so after standing there some time, we 
 were told that thereafter there would he four roll-calls per day. 
 Before this there had been two. We were then ri jjd.it -faced and 
 allowed to go to our tents. ••Here's your mouthpiece." was the 
 last heard of the affair, hut the article was never found. 
 
 <)n the 19th Lieut. Murphy was detailed to a command in 
 Bridges' battery and never returned to duty in ours. 
 
 The weather was now quite warm and the many half-buried 
 rebels, near the only well in the vicinity, created such a stench that 
 
250 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 many were sickened when going after water. In many cases 
 these bodies had become entirely uncovered. 
 
 After the left section guns were turned over, there was noth- 
 ing for the ''lions' 1 to do, save to stand guard once in seven or 
 eight days; so, whenever there was a detail to headquarters of the 
 artillery brigade called for out of our Battery, these extra "nons ,r 
 were selected. On the 19th Corp. Thompson, of Squad 5, and 
 Harter, of Squad 6, were detailed to take charge of the guards at 
 artillery brigade headquarters. 
 
 The brigade had received a large stock of onions, of which 
 we received one barrel, and were truly thankful therefor. 
 
 On the 24th Dr. Brown (big medicine) left us for a more ele- 
 vated position — a department in the hospital on Lookout Moun- 
 tain. The same day Battery M, 1st Ohio, started for home, but 
 only got as far as the depot, there being no transportation for 
 them. 
 
 We now received the almost certain information that we 
 were to be relieved at the front. Rumor had it that we were to 
 go to Nashville. We did not like the place, but it would take us 
 that much nearer home. Notwithstanding we were having a 
 good rest, we still felt that we had been at the front about our 
 share of the time, and were willing to go to the rear and let the 
 "yearlings 11 have a taste of the realities of war. So. with the 
 discussion of this subject and politics, we managed to keep con- 
 siderable life in camp. If our state would not allow us to vote at 
 the coming elections, we had the satisfaction of feeling we could 
 talk as much as we pleased. 
 
 There was one other subject to which we paid some heed, as 
 its results might affect our bread-basket, even if it should not call 
 us to the field again, and that was the report that Hood was 
 crossing the river, below Sand Town, and was trying to cut our 
 communications. The 2d Division breaking camp the next day^ 
 and marching toward the rear, confirmed our belief that the report 
 had some foundation. 
 
 On the 26th Gen. Stanley inspected the artillery brigade. The 
 same day orders were received to prepare to go to the rear — to go 
 as far as Chattanooga, and perhaps to Nashville. We turned over 
 seventy-eight of our horses, retaining only such as were necessary 
 to mount the officers and the non-commissioned staff. 
 
OUB •• 1IK1TV ** CAMPAIGN. 25] 
 
 On the 28th Corps. Brumfield, Thompson and Harter returned 
 to the Battery. Thai day Lewis II. Miller, aged twenty-two years, 
 enlisted at Chicago, Illinois, for one year, in our Battery. 
 
 On the 30th orders were received to leave at seven o'clock that 
 evening; hut as there was no likelihood of getting transportation 
 for some time, we still remained at camp. 
 
 Thus ended the mouth of September. We had marched 
 forty-nine miles in seven days; had been engaged in shelling the 
 enemy two days, and had sent them 415 rounds. 
 
 The citizens, who were yet in Atlanta, were in high glee over 
 the prospects of its evacuation by our army and its re-occupation 
 by theirs. Gen. Sherman had sent all who (hose to go south of 
 our lines, while the others he was sending north as fast as trans- 
 portation could he furnished them. In a general order, or circular. 
 he had stated his reasons for removing all citizens from the city. 
 It was to be used as a military post, and nothing but what 
 belonged to the army was wanted there. In his spicy correspond- 
 ence with Gen. Hood he had vindicated himself for firing upon the 
 city while we lay before it, and for sending off the populace since 
 he possessed it. Those citizens who had chosen to be sent north 
 did so because they thought they would fare better than if they 
 went farther into Dixie, for they thought our armies would imme- 
 diately press forward and in a few months they would have to 
 move again. But where could they go to the next time? We 
 were already so far into the heart of their country they had 
 warned us to take in our long range guns or we should kill our 
 own men on the other side: and the next forward of ours could 
 not fail to again cut their confederacy in twain as had the opening 
 of the Mississippi. Hut when they saw our troops moving to the 
 rear — when they were refused transportation, they began to believe 
 what they had been told, that the rebel army was only drawing us 
 on the more easily to annihilate us. Many had professed their 
 loyalty, but. as soon as they thought the rebels were going to 
 return, they forgot it. Such was the state of affairs at Atlanta at 
 the close of September. 
 
 At roll-call on the night of the 1st of October, the order was 
 read for no more applications for furlough to he sent in. and all 
 those who had received furloughs and had not yet got outside the 
 department, were to he sent back to their commands. Tin- pre- 
 vented our men from going home, as they had not yet stalled. 
 
252 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 there having been no chance to get transportation since their 
 furloughs had been received. This day Hans Johnson was dis- 
 charged at Nashville. 
 
 On the 2d orders came for us to leave for the rear on the next 
 morning, so, by three o'clock A. M., of the 3d, everything was 
 ready to move. We borrowed horses, hauled our guns to the depot, 
 and thought surely nothing could now prevent our going. But 
 upon reaching the depot with our last baggage, word came that 
 the bridge across the Etowah had been washed away, and we 
 should not be able to go for nearly a week. We chose camp 
 ground about half a mile east of the depot and soon had up good 
 shebangs. Our camp was near a detachment from the 32d Indiana 
 and 2d Massachusetts Infantry. 
 
 That day George Little, aged twenty-one; William Little v 
 aged eighteen; Norman Chapman, aged eighteen, and James D. 
 Miller, aged seventeen; all of Bloom, Illinois, enlisted for our 
 Battery for the term of one year. 
 
 On the 5th orders were received to send our horses to the 
 country to graze, but they were soon after countermanded. In the 
 afternoon we got drivers and horses from Battery D, 1st Illinois, 
 to move our guns about two miles southwest from the depot to 
 some rebel forts. Our caissons were left about half way to town. 
 We sent no guards with the caissons, and those who had hauled 
 them out there for us were kind enough to examine the chests 
 before they left them. When we next looked into the chests they 
 were found to be minus several gold pens, soldiers housewives, 
 suits of new clothing, books, and what was prized most of all, 
 likenesses of our friends at home. Some things they did not care 
 to take had been destroyed, and the remains were found lying 
 around upon the ground. The captain said he could not pity us as 
 we had kept them in the chests contrary to orders; but we felt 
 their loss notwithstanding all that. 
 
 We were now under command of Maj. Houghteling, chief 
 of artillery of the 14th Corps. We put up good shanties, 
 boards being abundant, and were soon enjoying ourselves as 
 well as" any soldiers could under the circumstances. The 
 drivers were back with the caissons where the captain made his 
 headquarters. The fort in which our guns were placed bore proofs 
 of having received the close attention of one of our batteries 
 during the late siege. Eighteen shells had struck in the rear 
 
OUB " IIKITY "* CAMPAIGN. 253 
 
 of the fort, all of them having passed through three embrasures 
 not two feel square. 
 
 One citizen told us that one eight, when we were shelling the 
 city, lie had retired before we commenced firing, bui was unable to 
 sleep on account of the number of shells that were constantly 
 exploding near his house. He arose and walked out on his veranda 
 which he paced until he became tired; he said that each shell, as 
 it approached, appeared to he coming directly tor his house, hut 
 that they seemed to shun it as they ueared. He said he even 
 thought it was because he was a union man. (He was a member of 
 a secret Union League in the city, and had cared for several of our 
 wounded whom he had got permission In take from the rebel 
 hospital. ) When he became tired of walking his heat, he went 
 into his parlor and sat down in front of his tire-place, hut he could 
 not sit still, so he started for his heat again, hut had barely closed 
 the door before a shell entered the house, struck the floor in such 
 a place that it must have cut him in two had he vet been in his 
 seat, and exploded, the pieces making many holes through the 
 walls as they left the house. This gentleman was one of the 
 leading merchants of the city. He also said that a co-leaguer of 
 his had kept count of the number of shells that struck near his 
 house that night and that there were over eight hundred! 
 
 On the north and west sides of town and extending to the 
 heart of the city, it was hard to find a house that had not from 
 one to ten shell holes in it. In many places were the ruins of 
 houses the shells had set fire to. Nearly every house had in its 
 dooryard what we styled Bomb-holes. They were dug about five 
 feet deep and covered with, earth about three feet, an opening or 
 door heing left on the lee side. Into these homh-proofs the citi- 
 zens would go as soon as the shelling began, and would remain 
 there until we had ceased firing. Some had tried cellars, hut they 
 appeared to afford very little protection, as a shell exploding in 
 one would be very apt to injure some of the occupants. 
 
 Many of our shells had performed queer antics. In one part 
 of the city was a shell lying in a large hole it had made in a 
 chimney, its point just protruding outside the brick. It had 
 passed through one side of the chimney and only had force enough 
 to make an opening through the other side where it quietly lay. 
 In another place a -hell had just force enough to go through the 
 side of the roof of a porch in front of a -tore, and there it stopped, 
 
254 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 its butt being in plain sight to passers by. The principal engine 
 house was completely riddled. A thirty-pounder shell had struck 
 one of the rails of the railroad track near hj and cut the rail in 
 two, throwing the shorter piece several feet away. In all parts of 
 the city were found traces of the destruction the shells had 
 worked; but if the city had suffered this far, what term can be 
 applied to its final condition when our forces evacuated it. 
 
 Fortifying was going on rapidly. The rebel works were to 
 be leveled, and a strong line of forts was to be built nearer the 
 city — so near that many of them were inside the city limits. 
 These forts were lettered from the right, Fort A being almost due 
 west from the city. One fort was to mount thirty-six guns. All 
 houses that chanced to stand where these works were to be erected 
 were torn down. This destroyed many of the most beautiful resi- 
 dences of the city, as the hills, or rises of ground, that had been 
 chosen for the spot on which to erect the most costly buildings, 
 were just the places for forts. One very large and strong fort was 
 built around the court house. The forts and works once com- 
 pleted, Atlanta would really be the Gate City of the South. 
 
 The Army of the Tennessee being shipped to the rear by rail, 
 our construction corps began tearing up the track to Rough-and- 
 Ready (which had been the scene of the recent exchange of pris- 
 oners between Sherman and Hood) and hauling the iron to the 
 rear to repair the road Hood had been and was destroying. At 
 the engine and machine shops repairs were going on as rapidly as 
 possible, considerable machinery having been brought there from 
 Chattanooga before Hood made the break. Everything indicated 
 that Atlanta was to be made the strongest and best military post 
 on the whole frontier. When the citizens saw this they again 
 became loyal, and clamored for transportation to the rear. 
 
 It w T as soon discovered that in the 14th Corps a soldier could 
 buy anything he needed that they had at the commissary, if he 
 got his officer to certify that he really needed it. We were soon 
 enjoying the privilege, as our rations were now cut down; but 
 soon they ran so low at the commissary that they would not sell 
 except to commissioned officers. We took an order signed by our 
 captain in which it was stated that the articles wanted were for 
 us. "We cannot issue any more on such orders; but if you will 
 bring one stating it is for your officers 1 personal use, we will sell 
 on that.' 1 Of course we did not feel like asking our officers to 
 
OUR " IIKFTY '" CAMPAIGN. 255 
 
 write a falsehood and neither did we choose to ask them to sign 
 
 away all their rights to rations as they once did at Chattai ga; 
 
 -.1 recourse must be had to another expedient. There were many 
 fragments of regiments and companies arriving daily, and no one 
 at the commissary's knew who arrived and who did not. An order 
 of this description would always bring anything we wanted: 
 
 Atlanta. Ga., Oct. L864. 
 Commissary of Subsistence or Post Quartermaster: 
 
 Please sell to the bearer, a member of 
 my company. 3 lbs. coffee. "> 11 is. sugjir, 2 His. soap, 1 ham, 3 His. 
 desiccated potatoes, and 10 lbs. beans. For my personal use. 
 
 John Quimby, 
 Nt Lieut. Com'd'g Detach. Co. B. llth X. Y. Vol. Infty. 
 Being always careful to choose a name probably not in the 
 service and a regiment that was never in the department. The 
 next thing after the order was written was to disguise our being 
 artillery-men. For this purpose we kept a suit of infantry cloth- 
 ing on hand, for which we had traded some of our artillery gar- 
 ments. Should they by chance refuse to sell on the order we 
 would go off in high dudgeon, with threats to report at head- 
 quarters, and. after writing an order to suit them, would appear 
 again and ask if that one would do. ••Certainly, certainly. 1 hope 
 your lieutenant took no offense; hut you see we have to he so 
 careful; each order has to he worded just so." "Well, the lieu- 
 tenant was a little angry at first, hut then, you see he has not been 
 out long, ami don't understand all your hooks and crooks." That 
 was always satisfactory. We could get all the commissary, or 
 anything else wanted, if it was thereto he had. Some may pro- 
 nounce this stealing, hut we argued after the manner the negro 
 did when he took one of his master's pigs for his own use: It was 
 Uncle Sam's: we were Uncle Sam's, so it was only giving Uncle 
 Sam's to Uncle Sam's, and in that there certainly could he no 
 harm. 
 
 \\ henever trains ran through and brought in stores, we could 
 get all the hard tack we wished at the depot, the guards telling as 
 to help ourselves. ( Occasionally a box of hard tack, a chest of des- 
 iccated potatoes or cakes of desiccated vegetables, would find its 
 way into camp. We lived like lords! In a basement in town the 
 rebs had left a large quantity of rice. This we freely helped our- 
 selves to. It was considerably worm-eaten: hut we easily washed 
 
256 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 out the spoiled grains. We always chose to get what we needed 
 honestly, but if that way failed, and it was still to be had, we gen- 
 erally got it — soldiers will do so. For extra meat we generally 
 bought livers, hearts, or beeves 1 heads at the butchers 1 . 
 
 On the 8th there were fears entertained of an attack, and con- 
 siderable more artillery was sent to the lines. We drew two more 
 Rodmans and manned them from the men at the caissons. They 
 were put in position about a quarter of a mile east of our other 
 guns. No rebels appeared. 
 
 About 8 P. M. on the 9th, the Signal Corps sent the dispatch 
 to the post: "Grant is in Richmond! The city is occupied by 
 federal soldiers!! 11 In a few minutes the bulletin boards had it 
 displayed in large letters. The cheering was kept up till a late 
 hour. Bands in all directions were playing our national airs. Our 
 Norwegian had retired when the news was received, but two or 
 three made him get up and give three grunts; he declared he 
 would not cheer till his headquarters had received official notice to 
 that effect. We finally settled down to our bunks to dream of 
 home; but most of our dreaming was with eyes wide open. 
 
 Toward noon of the next day it began to be hinted that Mr. 
 H. U. M. Bug had again had hold of the wires, and, by night, all 
 were firmly convinced such was the fact. In time it was learned 
 that the sell had started at Allatoona. 
 
 On the 11th forage trains began to be sent out to the south- 
 east and east, and always returned heavily laden with the choicest 
 the country afforded, and, as we always sent Bill's team, and some- 
 times two or three teams, we fared like princes. Huge yams, pails 
 of honey, apples, sweet potatoes, fat beeves and porkers, onions — 
 everything good, for the country was rich in forage. Never, 
 while soldiers, did we fare so sumptuously as while lying at At- 
 lanta. 
 
 Harding and Rhodes returned from hospital on the 17th. 
 For some time preparations had been going on in town to 
 start a theatre. On the 21st the doors were thrown open at 
 "Hayden's Negro Sale Rooms 11 — that had been. Johnny Ham- 
 mond was soon the leading star, and quite an audience he at- 
 tracted. The house was always crowded. The band of the 33d 
 Massachusetts furnished the music. But we must not neglect to 
 state that there was also one other building which was crowded 
 every night in the week. It was a church that stood near the court 
 
OUR " HKFTY " CAMPAIGN. 251 
 
 house. It was often not large enough to accommodate half those 
 wanting admission, and then another Large church standing near 
 would be opened. 
 
 On the 29th through trains from Chattanooga arrived, the 
 break Hood had occasioned having been repaired. The sick were 
 immediately shipped t<> the rear. Next the machinery, just put 
 up. was taken down and shipped; also all the extra artillery, of 
 which there were over a hundred pieces, including captured guns 
 and worn-out guns turned over by our batteries. There were 
 some fifteen sixt y-four pounder old model l\ S. siege guns all 
 b'ut five of which had been dug up where the rebels had buried 
 them. These guns were, however, not sent to the rear, but were 
 allowed to fall into the rebels 1 hands again after Gen. Sherman 
 had burned the city. The rebels seemed always fond of burying 
 such articles as they did not wish us to become possessed of. 
 At Chattanooga our forces dug up several cannon in their grave- 
 yard. They were buried as though they were men. a head hoard, 
 properly numbered, being placed at the head of the grave. But 
 at Atlanta there was no need of examining the two acres of 
 graves, for the whole lot had sunk so — in many cases six or seven 
 graves havingsunk together as one as to leave no doubt that only 
 bona tide bodies had been interred there. 
 
 As soon as the first through trains came in we began to pre- 
 pare to leave, for we were to he shipped as soon as empty flats could 
 he had. there being standing orders to that effect. We turned 
 over the two new guns on the 29th. Our own guns were to be 
 taken hack to Resaca, there to be unloaded, the men proceeding to 
 Chattanooga and perhaps to Nashville. That afternoon a long 
 forage train returned. It had been gone three days and it had 
 been reported it was captured. The first day out it had met some 
 of the rebels and had sent back for reinforcements. All obstacles 
 overcome, it moved on. going twenty-five miles from Atlanta. It 
 had met with complete success, all the wagons being loaded as full 
 
 as they could lie. We were represented by a do/ell liiell wlio li;nl 
 
 done their share of bumming in a manner and with success 
 entirely to the satisfaction of us at camp. Bill's wagon and ('apt. 
 Batterson's famous cart were full of the choicest. It was our last 
 and best forage expedition while before or in Atlanta. From the 
 
 proceeds id' that trip we had many g 1 meals after getting back 
 
 to where there was nothing hut starvation to he had. But if our 
 
258 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 men and the infantry had fared so well, the cavalry, that was along as 
 scouts, did not. The rebels killed several of them and hung their 
 bodies to trees in conspicuous places where the main force would 
 be sure to see them as they returned. They pinned a slip of paper 
 on their clothes on which was written " Yankee Vandals. 1 ' 
 
chaitki; XXVIII. 
 
 Toward night, on the -list of October, word was received that 
 a train would he empty during the night for us to load on. The 
 whole Battery was gathered together at the caisson-, except the 
 battery wagon, forge and harness, which were at the depot where 
 they were first hauled and where there hud been live or six men to 
 guard them all the time. After dark we hauled everything to the 
 depot. About midnight the cars were switched in for us. and by 
 3 A. M. of the 1st of November we were all ready to hid adieu to 
 Atlanta. But it did seem that the city was loth to part with 
 U-. lor it was 1.2:30 P. M. before the train began to move. Till 
 about 3 P. M. the weather was delightful, hut then it turned cold, 
 clouded up and soon was raining quite hard. We were on flats 
 and for shelter spread the tarpaulins over the guns and main of 
 us crawled under them. Hut the tarpaulins were old and worn, 
 and being spread out so flat they shed very little rain, and those 
 under them were soon nearly as wet as though they had staid out 
 and weathered it. as several did. We reached Marietta at four 
 o'clock. Here it seemed we were to he forever blockaded by trains. 
 In military parlance, a train consisted of sections. In our train 
 there were ten sections, and. at Marietta, was met a down train 
 with twelve sections. The side-track was only Long enough to al- 
 low two sections to "saw-off" at a time, and as it was several hours 
 before the last section was up, no sectiou could proceed till all had 
 Closed up. as there was no chance to pass after leaving the station 
 
 for several miles; "sawing 11 was not through till noon of the 2d, 
 and then the section in front of as, ran <>tT the track near the 
 switch, which delayed us an hour longer. 
 
 It rained hard all night of the 1st; many of us soaked much 
 and slept little under our tarpaulins. Some were lucky enough to 
 find room in a large brick house near by, which was well crowded 
 with infantry. There they kept (\v\ hut shook with cold, a- there 
 
260 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 was scarcely any wood to be had and then among so many one 
 could scarcely get a smell at the small fire in the lire-place. On 
 the morning of the 2d we made coffee and boiled beef where best 
 we could. It rained so hard as to make it almost impossible to 
 keep a fire out doors. Some of the lucky ones succeeded in getting 
 something in town to warm the inner man, even if there was no 
 fire to keep warm the outer. The spirits of those few gradually 
 rose till they began to re-fight their battles. Not having any side 
 weapons they pitched in with their fists and, accordingly, two or 
 three of them came out of the fray with bloody noses. 
 
 At 12:30 P. M. of the 2d, the engine again began to puff and 
 the train started forward. We passed Resaca at 8 P. M., not 
 stopping to unload our guns as had been intended. Here we 
 passed several more down trains, all heavily loaded with provisions. 
 About dark we had passed Kingston, where we met the 14th Corps 
 en-route for Atlanta. They told us they had chased Hood into 
 Alabama and that the 4th and 23d Corps were left to watch his 
 movements. 
 
 We reached Tilton at daylight on the 3d. Here we were 
 again delayed some time in "sawing" by another train of several 
 sections. As we lay alongside we were not slow in supplying our- 
 selves with such eatables as we needed. Several boxes of hard 
 tack and one whole chest of bacon changed hands notwithstanding 
 the threats and bayonet thrusts of the men who were guarding 
 the trains. 
 
 At 8:30 we reached Dalton. How changed was the place 
 since we first saw it ! Then it wore a look of desolation and mis- 
 ery; now it bore the marks of destruction. The rebels had burned 
 everything they thought could be of service to us when we again 
 became masters there. Every track — the main road and side- 
 tracks — was torn up and burned. The whole length of the road 
 they had made their work most complete. At places, where there 
 were deep cuts, they had filled them up as full as they had time to 
 fill them, with huge rocks, trees, brush, earth — everything avail- 
 able. Doubtless had they succeeded at Allatoona it would have 
 taken us a month to remove the obstructions they would have filled 
 that cut with; but brave Gen. Corse held it against all opposition 
 and, holding that, saved us the rebuilding of many miles of rail- 
 road. The whole length of the road was strewn with wrecks of 
 engines and cars. At some places were three or four trains, in one 
 
OUB "11K.ITV CAMPAIGN. 261 
 
 continuous string, burned. There were eight or nine engines that 
 had been thrown from the track since Hood had passed. Thej 
 were merely tipped over on their side and another engine put in 
 their place at the heads of the trains. 
 
 Passing through the tunnel after leaving Dalton all wondered 
 why they had nut attempted to destroy that, as its destruction 
 would certainly have obstructed the road for months. Their rea- 
 sons may have been a recollection of their defeat at A.llatoona, and 
 also that our trains could be sent around by Cleveland, that road 
 having been repaired early in the campaign. 
 
 At 3 1'. M. the train slacked its speed! What a slack it was! 
 The most of tin- way. or at every little grade, we could and did 
 walk faster than the train moved, and how could it run slower? 
 It was approaching the suburbs of Chattanooga our future home. 
 We were switched off <>n a side-track beside a platform and told 
 to unload as soon as possible as the cars were needed to ship troops 
 to Huntsville and Nashville, as it was now thought that Hood 
 would attempt the capture of the latter place. The train was 
 unloaded in less than half an hour and the cars taken away. We 
 
 then started out to take a view of the city and to get - thing 
 
 good to eat. At t>\r\-y step after leaving the platform one would 
 sink nearly to his knees in mud. Go when- we would there was 
 nothing but mud. It. was soon found that prices hail improved 
 very much since we left here nearly a year before. Besides the 
 high prices for what they had to sell, there was very little to buy, 
 as the great numbers of troops daily passing through kept the sut- 
 ler-" shebangs well drained of everything wanted. The new men 
 coming in from home with their pockets filled with greenbacks — 
 the proceeds of their late enlistment were ready to buy anything 
 and everything a sutler might have that could be eaten by man. 
 no mattei- what the cost, and this kept the prices so high that a 
 poor doc.' from the front was rarely able ♦<> buy enough for a good 
 meal. 
 
 The night was extremely cold, and we felt it the more a- our 
 clothes were all wet and wood could not he had to build til'- to 
 dry them. We slept in a new machine shop that was then being 
 built. 
 
 Ahout -t I'. M. of the 1th. the Battery moved to fort McAloon 
 which st I just outside the town to the east ami on a high por- 
 tion of the hank of the Tennessee River. This tort was an old 
 
262 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 rebel work and was calculated to command the river for a mile 
 above. Our guns were hauled out by mule teams that were 
 detailed for the purpose from one of the corrals. 
 
 Here on the bank of the river it was dreary enough that day 
 and for many more. That night we had to sleep on the ground 
 with wet blankets for bedding, the weather cold and freezing hard, 
 the wind blowing almost a gale from the north and having unob- 
 structed sweep over our hill, the works being in so dilapidated a 
 condition (they never having been half completed) that they 
 afforded us no protection from the wind. There was a long stable 
 or shed near us; but it was so full of holes as to be worse than 
 nothing. There was no wood to be had that night and it was 
 with difficulty we found enough to build fire sufficient to boil a 
 kettle of that indispensable — coffee. The greater number of our 
 detailed men went to their commands and there had good warm 
 lodgings. Those from the 3d Wisconsin Battery formally 
 returned to that command next day. 
 
 On the 5th Capt. Colvin called to see us and found us still 
 shivering in the cold. We heartily wished the rear to which we 
 had come was in a somewhat warmer place and we back at the 
 front. Our captain immediately set out to get lumber for us to 
 build shanties with. There w T ere three or four steam saw-mills in 
 sight, but there was not a foot of lumber to be had at any of 
 them. ''They already had orders for many thousand feet more 
 than they had on hand, but if we would wait a month they could 
 supply us. 11 This was encouraging! We thought we would not 
 wait. But where or in what way could we better ourselves? The 
 heavy timber toward Mission Ridge and even to its summit had 
 been cut and used during our absence. On the north side of the 
 river Ave should have to go two or three miles before getting any- 
 thing that could be used to make shanties of. At one of the mills 
 they agreed to saw lumber for us if we would bring them logs; so 
 some were in favor of going up the river several miles, making a . 
 raft of pine logs and floating it down to the mill. But that would 
 take perhaps weeks. On the whole, it was concluded that we 
 would borrow what lumber we could at the mills (for they had 
 large piles on hand which they were selling to sutlers and citi- 
 zens) and supply the deficiency with logs and poles that we would 
 get on the north side of the river — the captain agreeing to get 
 three or four teams to haul for us. We still had Bill's team and 
 
OUR "' UK! -TV " I \MI' \i<;.\. 263 
 
 ••('apt. BattersonV 1 cart. With the former we could haul enough 
 wood to burn, while the latter could bring the ration- from the 
 commissary, and then, if we could get a detail of three or four 
 team- we should soon have enough of various material to build 
 our shanties of . We would, to economize time, haul logs during 
 the day from the woods, and carry lumber at uight from the mills. 
 
 We set to work immediately. Our camp was staked out into 
 streets and alleys -a lot being 12x16 feet and on which a shanty 
 10x12 feet was to be built. A shanty of that size was calculated 
 to be large enough for four men, and we were accordingly divided 
 off into fours. Building progressed as rapidly as it could under 
 the snatch-grab way in which it had to be done. It rained quite 
 hard nearly every day for a week; hut this only made us work the 
 livelier whenever we could get teams to haul for us. Our shanties 
 up and covered, the uext thing was to get material to build fire- 
 places of . That was really hard to be found. We would go out 
 with Batterson's cart and pick up a whole brick here, a half a one 
 there and a Hat stone somewhere else, until we finally found 
 material enough to raise the chimneys above the roofs of our 
 shanties. By the end of two weeks we were as comfortably 
 housed as any of the troops at Chattanooga, although our camp 
 must have greatly resembled Joseph's coat for variety, so many 
 different kinds of material being employed in building the shanties 
 and chimneys. There was but one thing in which we lacked and 
 that was ration-. We had supposed that once at the rear we 
 should have all we needed to eat. hut we found it not so, and soon 
 wished ourselves back at the front. But the front, where was it? 
 No one knew. In truth it was anywhere between Nashville and 
 Atlanta. 
 
 On the 1th we signed the rolls for ten months' pay. Hutchins 
 went to the hospital and never returned to the Battery. 
 
 On the 11th the Batter} was to be inspected by Gen. Brannan. 
 Everything was put in readiness to make him think as highly of 
 u- a- possible, for we knew something of his opinion of us by an 
 expression he once made during the campaign in reference to our 
 carrying grain and blankets on our caissons: "D nthat battery; 
 thej fight well, hut they give me more trouble than any other 
 battery I have." Ami to cause him to look more favorably upon 
 ii- and to prove that we wished to please him. we went SO far as 
 for six of our uumber to appear with their -hoes blacked when 
 
264 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 called upon to "fall in." We ''fell in 1 ' twice; but no general 
 appeared, save "General Dyson 1 ' of our Battery; and thus all our 
 trouble was for nothing. 
 
 On the 12th Wilber arrived and was assigned to gun 4. Our 
 pay-rolls were returned with the notice that we could not receive 
 ten months 1 pay that time, so Ave re-signed them for eight months. 
 
 In the afternoon of the 14th Gen. Brannan arrived, and, 
 though he took us somewhat by surprise, and found us not as well 
 prepared to meet him as on the appointed time; yet he appeared 
 pleased with us and said we had the best quarters he had ever seen. 
 
 Our pay-rolls were again returned to us as having been im- 
 properly signed, so on the 15th we corrected them and received 
 eight months 1 pay. 
 
 Now that we were at the rear those who had received fur- 
 loughs, at Atlanta, prepared to go home. Having received their 
 pay, on the 16th Sergt. Short, Corp. Cogswell and Private Flint 
 left us on a thirty day visit to their friends. Lieut. Burton hav- 
 ing received a leave of absence accompanied them. As he was 
 going to Chicago, where so many of our friends lived, we sent a 
 considerable sum in greenbacks with him. The same day our 
 colored blacksmith, Shadrach, left us for his home in Middle 
 Tennessee. 
 
 While at Shelbyville and other places, a great quantity of our 
 surplus rations had been sold and the proceeds put in the "com- 
 pany fund. 11 This fund was supposed to have been materially 
 increased by the addition of commutation money, we should have 
 received for the rations allowed us, but, not drawn during the 
 siege of Chattanooga and the Knoxville campaign. Now that our 
 pay had been increased, an order was issued to pay no more for 
 undrawn rations, and many were now a little inquisitive to know 
 about how much of a fund was on hand. Concluding we should 
 probably have no further need of a fund the large amount was. on 
 the 17th, distributed among us. It amounted to the enormous 
 sum of two dollars and sixty-five cents to the man. This gave us 
 something to talk about when there was nothing else to do. 
 
 To busy ourselves, after being comfortably fitted up inside 
 our shanties, most of us began shell work again. We were now 
 where these little specimens of our handicraft could be sent to our 
 friends without danger of their being captured by train burners. 
 Each shebang was soon a jewelry manufactory. When shells 
 
mi; •' | U-: I TV '" CAMPAIGN. 265 
 
 began to run Low a new material was found in which to work, that 
 was quite as easily fashioned as were mussel shells, and from 
 which could be produced articles quite as beautiful. At a fort 
 then building near the depot could be had all the Tennessee mar- 
 ble we wished. The moat was sunt three or four feel deep in the 
 marble and thus gave us a choice of several different qualities and 
 colors. Of this we made picture frames, little fane} boxes, pipes, 
 etc., etc. Some work was also going on in laurel, making pipes, 
 etc. We also drained the sutlers' stores of their supply <d' i^utta 
 pen ha rulers, buttons, etc., of which to make badges, rings, etc. 
 
 'Twas now that our "officers" and "members" became the 
 more important. "(Jeneral I >." was in favor at the quartermaster's 
 and was thus able to keep us tolerably well supplied with potatoes, 
 beans, pork, bread, etc., at regular army prices. "Major B." 
 opened a small sutler shop in camp where we could get anything 
 he had to sell, on tick, though at an advanced price, ('apt. Bat- 
 terson gave us our daily bread. •"Lieut. 15." "did us" on paper. 
 showing our position in different battles. (These pictures he after- 
 wards had photographed. ) "Serg. D." was always "so as to be 
 around with his chuck-a-luck." While "Corp. K." put chevrons 
 and cords on our jackets and pants. Johnny H. was the star at 
 "Bishops' Varieties." "Poodle" attended to our legal affairs. 
 '•Senator Wilson" was our diplomatist. "Dr. Ryan," of the 
 "Cooper Institute." attended to our medical wants, but, unlike all 
 other doctors in the army, he recommended "blue mass" instead 
 of quinine. "Slippery Jim" was careful that no key be turned 
 upon ii-. or that no lock should debar our going wheresoever we 
 would. "Father" (use a as in hare) with his venerable graj locks, 
 and "Mother" with her kit of tools, cared for the welfare of their 
 children. "Channahon" (captain of the Channahon Battery) did 
 our ironing. "Skipper" (the canal boat captain) had charge of 
 our boats for we had two and sometimes three on the river. 
 The "Deacon's Son" attended to having seventy-five photographs 
 of "Battery" taken for us, that each might have a "purp" to 
 take home with him. We also had an anatomist and entomologist 
 among us. who made it his stud} to discover the real difference 
 between the Yankee and rebel gray backs; for we all felt there 
 was a difference besides the stripes on the latter by which they 
 were readily distinguished. He found the rebel gray hack to be 
 furnished with a pair of sharp claws, and concluded thej were 
 
266 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 necessary to them in order that they might hold on to the rebels 
 whenever they ran. The discovery of these claws accounted for 
 the peculiar nip the striped gray backs gave us. Our bugler also 
 blowed and fiddled. "Billy Greagan" made sweet music while 
 u Doc H" tripped the light fantastic toe. "Christie 11 kept us alive 
 with his good humor and jokes. "Salt Pine 11 interested us with 
 his former encounters with the greasers. "Laddie" told us of 
 "Hold Hingland. 11 "Kirby Smith 11 had dropped military life and 
 taken to politics. Then there was the droll "Lop-eared Dutch- 
 man; 11 "Noisy 11 (detailed from the 24th Wisconsin); "Kickapoo, 11 
 and others who each played his part. 
 
 The Christian League that was formed at the Post Chapel had 
 several members in the Battery; but we were more largely repre- 
 sented at the "Temperance Society. 11 
 
 On the night of the 18th one of the nearest saw-mills burned 
 down. We shed no tears over it, for it was one which had kept 
 the strongest guard to keep us from "borrowing 11 boards, but with 
 very little effect. 
 
 On the 21st John Martin went home on furlough. That 
 night two of our men happened to be in town without passes and 
 were accosted by the patrols. They said they had no passes. 
 " Then we must take you to the guard-house. " The men requested 
 to be taken to headquarters, so the guards inarched them to Gen. 
 Steadman's headquarters and into the general's presence. The 
 general asked them to what command they belonged: "To 
 Battery M, 1st Illinois, sir." " What are you doing in town with- 
 out passes?' 1 The men had tasted a little commissary and claimed 
 to have lost their way and wanted to get back to the Battery. 
 "Where is the Battery stationed? 11 "On the river outside of 
 town. 11 Turning to a clerk, the general said: "Give these men a 
 pass for two days." Then turning to them he said: " You can 
 get to camp in that time, can't you? " While they were waiting 
 for the pass, the general turned to his staff and said: "These men 
 belong to ray Battery, of which I have told you. 11 
 
 On the 22d we turned over our Rodmans and drew six worn- 
 out twelve-pounder howitzers. 
 
 On the 23d Porter returned from the hospital. The same day 
 McAllister joined us and was assigned to gun 1. 
 
 On the 24th we received word that if we would send to the 
 Sanitary Commission rooms we could get some vegetables. We 
 
OUR •" HEFTY " C V.MPAIGN. 261 
 
 sent and drew about six bushels of onions, and, a daj or two later, 
 got four bushels more. 
 
 Several of our men who had been in hospitals some time, and 
 who were able to travel, were given furloughs and went home. 
 One of them, however, refused to go. "He did not wish to see 
 home till he was discharged and could remain there." 
 
 On the 24th Balziger returned from furlough. On the 27th 
 a team drove up with a load of muskets, and we were told they 
 were for us: that we must drill and stand guard with them! Here 
 we had served over two-thirds of our time, and had done our duty 
 as artillery-men, but now we must learn the infantry drill and 
 become not only infantry-men, but artillery and infantn at oner. 
 We almost felt like instituting a young rebellion, hut then remem- 
 bering how poorly the gigantic one was faring, we thoughl best to 
 take the muskets and do no more with them than we had to. 
 Toward tlight two negroes and a white man floated down stream 
 on tin- bottom of a dug-out, which hail capsized. The} were 
 beyond our help when seen. l>ut were rescued at the pontoon 
 bridge. 
 
 Mood was being closely watched, hut no one knew what he 
 was going to do. or where he was intending to go. Some thought 
 he would fall hark and on his road rail on Chattanooga. This 
 seemed to he the opinion at headquarters, so the post must In- pre- 
 pared for a sii'uv. The first thing was to gel a large supplj of 
 wood on hand, and for that purpose a large detail was made on the 
 29th. We were in the artillery garrison department and were 
 called upon for eighteen men who were to he there eight days; hut 
 the eight days became nearly eighty before they were excused. 
 
 On the 30th our rations, already small enough, were cut down 
 
 to about the "Siege of Chatti (ga 11 standard. Hood was now 
 
 where he threatened our communications and we were to he on 
 short rations until his removal from the rear. 
 
 (»n the Is! of December we drew a barrel of onions ami a 
 pail of saner kraut from the Sanitary Commission. 
 
 < Mi the 3d orders were received from Major Church, chief of gar- 
 rison artillery, regulating our camp duties. In them, hours were 
 set down for reveille, assembly, breakfast, guard-mount, infantry- 
 drill (of which there were tour, one tor the "nons," one for the 
 commissioned officers, one for the company, with muskets, and a 
 company artillery-drill) assembly at noon, retreat, tattoo, and tap-. 
 
268 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 On the 4th we had the first " guard-mount " ever performed 
 in the Battery. Never before this had the guards assembled before 
 or during the time they were on guard. On the next day we began 
 drilling with the detested muskets. 
 
 Our old, worn-out and broken howitzers had to have their 
 carriages repainted by order of the post chief of artillery, and we 
 commenced on the 7th. There were now no more trains running 
 to Nashville, so rumors began to flow in fast. First, Nashville 
 had been taken by some one proving traitor and Gen. Steadman 
 was killed. Then, Hood had charged the works thirteen times, 
 and was repulsed each time. And then we would hear that all is 
 right and Sherman is within seven miles of Savannah, etc., etc. 
 
 On the 8th we sent a detail of ten men, namely : Harding, 
 Hunt, Henderson, J. Howard, Kane, Kempf, Kopf, Krum, S. 
 Lissenden, and Loomis, to Harrison's Landing to guard men who 
 were getting out saw-logs for the mills. 
 
 We now drew live small rations to last ten days, and were 
 told that Hood was reported to be fortifying in front of Nashville, 
 and, if that was the case, we could not expect better times for a 
 long while, for Thomas had not force enough to charge and drive 
 him from his works. 
 
 On the 11th an extra guard was required for our wood pile. 
 This made our guards three or nine per day, which, together with 
 the eighteen to cut w r ood for the garrison, four to cut wood for 
 ourselves, and ten up at Harrison, brought us on duty quite often, 
 as there were now only about sixty men for duty. 
 
 On the morning of the 13th as the Chattanooga Gazette 
 made its regular calls, great was the consternation among the sut- 
 lers when they saw a price list governing sutlers and traders at 
 this post, signed by Col. Carlton, who was commanding the post. 
 This price list placed nearly all the articles at even lower prices 
 than they could be bought for in the north! Many of the sutlers 
 closed their shebangs, while others continued to sell at their old 
 prices and soon had a fine to pay — $25.00 for each article sold 
 higher than the list stipulated. Some, more sensible, sold such 
 articles as they could afford to at the fixed figures and had none 
 on hand of anything on which they would lose. This was what 
 most of the soldiers wished to see, for they had been robbed long 
 enough. We were expecting to pay a high price, but to pay five 
 or six times as much for an article as it would cost at home we 
 
OUR "' 11KFTV *" CAMPAIGN. 269 
 
 did imt relish, lint in a few days the prices were as hierh as ever 
 tin- colonel having issued an order allowing it. 
 
 "3ojers" at the rear are generally supposed to be dressed up, 
 and as there were so many all around us, even to the uegro regi- 
 ments camped next to lis, who wore paper collars, the paper collars 
 gradually worked their way around some of our necks. A soldier 
 seen with one on was either whistled ai and called "Ring," or 
 "There goes one with his descriptive list around bis neck" the 
 description probably describing him as one who wished to put on 
 style. The first man who appeared in the Battery with a collar 
 on was called to whenever be made Ins appearance outside his 
 shanty. "Here. Ring; here, Ring,' 1 would go all around camp as 
 In- showed his head outside his door. 
 
 On tin- 1 1th Carey was detailed to go to Harrison to black- 
 smith for tin* lumbermen. 
 
 At 12 I'. M., of the 18th, our guards heard iron being loaded 
 on cars at the depot. We knew from this that something had 
 been done at the rear front; besides this, the day before there had 
 been flying rumors that Thomas had defeated Hood, that he had 
 captured 1,000 prisoners and sixteen guns. And also citizens, 
 coming in from the mountains, said they heard faint reports of 
 cannon to the northwest all thai day. And on the morning of 
 the 19th we received authentic proof that Thomas had completely 
 routed Hood, had captured 8.00(1 prisoners and thirty guns, and 
 also that the road was now clear. This was glorious news for the 
 nation, and for us individually! It was thought we could now 
 see our way (dear to more and better ration-. 
 
 The same day we received orders to semi a detail of ten men. 
 to Kingston, by the first boat to guard lumbermen, and also to 
 work as well as guard. Corporal Harter was to have command. 
 The men selected were Beadle, Brown, Cope. Coslet, Mundell, 
 Murphey, McAllister, Patton and Rhodes. Beadle ami Rhodes 
 
 were finally left out. ami Gam n. Kempf and Mead put on the 
 
 list. As -"UN as they were detailed they were freed from duty in 
 the Battery, and as no boat left for Kingston till the 8th of Jan- 
 uary, they had a long rest. 
 
 Pari of the preparations for a siege was to raise, arm ami 
 equip a body of men to he called the "Civic Guards." They 
 embraced all male non-combatants who were able to shoulder a 
 
270 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 musket, and consisted of sutlers, store-keepers, citizens — rebel and 
 union, and contrabands. Now that there was no more danger of 
 Hood visiting us they were disbanded. 
 
 On the 20th it was expected we should again draw, what was 
 called, full rations; but no, we only got five rations to last the rest 
 of the month — eleven days! 
 
 On the 22d Lieut. Flusky was detailed to act on Col: Carlton's 
 staff. He left us on the next day. 
 
 Adler. of gun 1, having received the proper certificates from 
 our officers, was permitted to make copies of maps for his own use 
 at the topographical engineer's office, Department of the Cumber- 
 land. 
 
 Christmas Eve had a bad effect upon the officer, who inspect- 
 ed us on the morning of the 25th. He could not stand erect. 
 His commands were: "Close order, march. " "Right-face without 
 doubling, march." "Arms aport, march." "Break ranks, march." 
 And that was the amount of the inspection, save a great deal of 
 laughter. Our dinner that day was a little better than on the 
 sanic day a year before; but then we had seen still better, notwith- 
 standing our being told we never had sucb good grub till we came 
 into the army. 
 
 On the 29th Stone was mustered out at Madison, Wis. 
 Hoffer, of gun 5, went to hospital. That day the number on 
 detail to cut wood for the garrison was reduced to four men. We 
 now had forty-seven men on duty daily. 
 
 Gen. Meagher was now in command of the district, in Stead- 
 man's absence, and it was thought by some that he might do some- 
 thing about our small rations: so, when we drew our bread on the 
 29th, "Salt Lake"' took his loaf to the general's headquarters. 
 The general was in. "See here, general, what small rations we 
 are getting." The general took the loaf in his hand, shook his 
 head, said "It is small" — and did no more. 
 
 Orders regarding passes were now quite strict. We were 
 allowed only two passes for the Battery, so that only two men 
 could be absent at a time without being in danger of having to 
 pay a visit to a certain large brick house, on Market Street, with 
 iron bars in the windows, the house surrounded by a high board 
 fence, and known as the Bull Pen: or else be given quarters in an 
 old frame church that stood not far from our camp. Accidentally 
 our "major" was found in town on the 29th with no pass; but an 
 
OUR "" HEFTY CAMPAIGN. T, 1 
 
 abundance of corn-ketchup ( inside ). He was taken to the church 
 for lodgings ai uights and allowed to work oil the streets for 
 twenty days. 
 
 On the 31 si we were mustered by Capt Schutz, of Battery 1. 
 1st Michigan. That day Orange Mercer joined us and was 
 assigned to gun 1. At uight manj met at the captain's quarters 
 to see tlir old year die ami to usher the Dew one in. 
 
 Th<> next morning, Sunday, the first day of the year 1865, found 
 those who had watched, during the night, with such ;! headache that 
 the appointed inspection was postponed till the next Sabbath. 
 
 That 'lav George and William Little. Chapman ami Jas. I>. 
 Miller joined us. Chapman was assigned to gun 1. Win. Little 
 and Miller t<> gun 3, ami Geo. Little to gun 4. Also Lieut. 
 Burton, Corp. Cogswell ami Private Flint returned from furlough. 
 
 They had been shut up iii Nashville 1>\ II I 's embargo. They 
 
 left Sergt. Short there confined with the small-pox and John 
 Martin was with him as nurse. 
 
 On the 2d '0. W. Cooley, Esq. who was deputized by Gov. 
 Yates to visit the Illinois troops in that department, and to notice 
 the care the Sanitary Commission was taking of such troops, called 
 on us. The assembly was blown and we gathered around him to 
 hear what word he brought from the north and from our Prairie 
 
 State. He told us in few words his husiness there. He asked 
 
 what the Sanitary Commission had done for us. and requested us to 
 choose a committee to draw up a statement of what had Keen 
 received, and of wdiat we thought of the Sanitary and Christian 
 Commission, and what we thought would he the result of having a 
 State agent appointed, as had Ohio and Indiana. He then stated 
 
 that lie was also desirous of getting the voice id' the Illinois 
 soldiers upon the matter of building an asylum for soldiers' 
 orphan-. He said he had attempted to raise funds In the State for 
 that purpose, hut that all turned a deaf ear to him. and now lie 
 thought if each soldier would give a dollar toward it. those at 
 
 home would then see that we were desirous of having our children 
 cared for after rebel bullets should have laid us low. and they 
 would then he more willing to contribute. Turning to "Salt 
 
 Lake" he asked. "If the thought ever most ] > 1< >lll i 1KM t in hi- mind 
 
 was not of his children, or" -aid he. ••you may not have any chil- 
 dren?" "No," spoke up ••.!,„• of the Cooper's Institute." •"he is an 
 orphan." But doe was always ready with such droll remarks. 
 
272 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 We chose Acller to write the memorial, and he did it in a man- 
 ner that met the views of a large majority of us. The next day 
 the paper was presented to Mr. Cooley at the rooms of the Ohio 
 State agent. 
 
 On the 5th Ralph was detailed as orderly for Gen. Meagher. 
 
 On the 7th Gen. Steadman returned to the command of the 
 district (of the Etowah) and a salute of thirteen guns was fired. 
 The same day our men returned from Harrison. On the 8th the 
 new detail started for Harrison. On the 10th we drew full 
 rations! ! 
 
 For several days it had rained quite hard and now the river 
 was much swollen. Drift-wood was floating by in great quanti- 
 ties. All we had to do to get our fire wood was to choose such as 
 we wanted, tow it to shore and haul it up the steep bank. Catch- 
 ing wood afforded us much amusement, as occasionally a man 
 would slip off his log into the river, and would thus secure not 
 only wood but a good ducking. He would retreat to his shanty in 
 good order amid the cheers of those who had witnessed his mishap. 
 This drift-wood saved us sending a detail five miles to get wood, 
 but we thought we would have more and better wood, and, at less 
 risk, should we send a detail five or six miles up the river, to where 
 wood was abundant, and raft it down. Accordingly, on the 12th, 
 Corp. Cogswell, Privates Albee, Barr, Duffy, Clancy, Harper, Joe 
 Howard, Harding, Rowley and McAllister started off for that pur- 
 pose. The same day Nichol was detailed to take charge of a team 
 at the garrison artillery corral. Toward night we drew a barrel 
 of onions and a barrel of green apples at the Sanitary Commission. 
 
 On the 14th Lewis H. Miller joined us and was assigned to 
 gun 5. Dezelle returned from hospital, and Ralph accompanied 
 Gen. Meagher to Savannah via New York. 
 
 On the 16th Noyes, McDaniel, Long, Robert Powers, and 
 Bruins returned to their commands. Noyes and Long belonged to 
 the 24th Wisconsin, McDaniel to the 78th, Powers to the 51st 
 Illinois and Bruins to the 15th Missouri. 
 
 That day we began the new (to us) mode of roll call. Each 
 sergeant would march his detachment out into line, and, saluting 
 his officer, say, "All present or accounted for,'' or, u So many pres- 
 ent, balance unaccounted for" — if he knew not the cause of their 
 absence. The same day the first raft of wood arrived. 
 
0l T K " II KI-TY " CAMPAIGN. 273 
 
 On the IMli Sergt. Short and Private Martin returned to the 
 Battery, and on the next day Corp. Cogswell and squad returned, 
 bringing another raft. 
 
 On the 21st Hendrie was transferred to the Veteran Reserve 
 ( !orps. 
 
 On the 22d Corp. Mercer, Privates Simpson, Weyl, Wilson, 
 Wilber, Winnemore and Young, were detailed as guards at Lieut. 
 Kinkead's headquarters. The lieutenant had charge of the ord- 
 nance of the garrison. Thai day Kane and Newton started for 
 home on furlough, and on the 24th Corp. Dolton followed. 
 
 On the 25th Corp. Korah, Privates Barr, Colby, Duffy, Flint, 
 Franck, Harding, Loomis, Martin and Rowley, started up the 
 river to raft down more wood. 
 
 On the 27th three of those sen! to Kingston were returned to 
 the Battery on account of their having foraged a little too much 
 to suit the lieutenant in command. The three reported fine times 
 at Kingston, very little to do and plenty to eat. They said they 
 managed to hide about 2,000 pounds of pork one night which they 
 had "borrowed 11 from a rich rebel. The lieutenant discovered that 
 it was left in care of "Slippery dim" and told him that if he would 
 disclose where it was that it might he returned to its owner, he 
 would say no more about it. "Slippery dim" saw it would he the 
 best he could do. so he told, when the lieutenant immediately 
 ordered him hack to the Battery with two others as before men- 
 tioned. This breach of promise so disgusted the whole command, 
 that they soon had another officer to command them one who 
 
 was as lenient as the other was <r\rv. One of the three men. 
 
 accompanied by R. Hamilton and Henderson, returned to Kings- 
 ton mi the 30th. 
 
 On the 81st Wright was detailed to Lieut . K inkead's head- 
 quarters as corral veterinary sure-eon. The same day Hoffer 
 returned from hospital. 
 
 On the 1st of February Johnson returned from hospital, and 
 nothing further worthy id' notice occurred till the L9th, when, as 
 there had heen some inquiries made as to the number of our men 
 doing duty, all the dog-robbers except two were returned to duty. 
 
 We had had nin ■ ten excused from duty. On the 25th Kane 
 
 and Newton returned from home. 
 
 Work on the guard house was going on slowly, as no one was 
 in any great haste to sleep awaj from his regular quarters every 
 
274 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 other night. But, work as slowly as we would, the house was at 
 length completed, and on the 27th the guards were ordered to 
 make that their headquarters. They were to fall in line at the 
 approach of any general officer and to salute him as he passed. 
 Guards on duty were to salute all officers according to their rank. 
 Not wishing to disobey orders, we were very careful to not see an 
 officer until he was so far passed that it was too late to salute. 
 
 As we now came on duty only once in three days, and as we 
 were getting full rations (?), it was thought it would conduce 
 more to our health to have us work a little more. But what was 
 there for us to do? The only thing that could be thought of was 
 the improvement of Fort McAlone. The work was accordingly 
 laid out, and on the 27th a detail was made to begin work. About 
 a dozen shovelfuls were thrown out of the moat that day. We 
 never objected to fortifying while at the front and when there 
 was necessity for it, but here at the rear where there were so many 
 pioneers whose duty it was to fortify, but who were now doing 
 little or no duty, we did not relish the idea of working on the 
 fortifications. 
 
 On the 28th we were mustered by Capt. Shutz. That day we 
 received orders to draw half rations of fish, instead of all meat. 
 This order was observed about a month. 
 
 Troops were now being sent to and above Knoxville from 
 Thomas' army; once in a while a regiment would pass with which 
 we were acquainted; it would then seem as though we were really 
 meeting our friends at home. 
 
 On the 2d of March Kane was detailed as clerk at Col. Carl- 
 ton's headquarters. 
 
 On the 4th Lieut. Gillette was appointed acting assistant 
 adjutant general on Maj. Church's staff. 
 
 On the 6th S. Lissenden was detailed as clerk at Col. Carlton's 
 headquarters, and Corp. Hamilton and Private Ryan were detailed 
 as guards to a saw-mill about a mile above our camp. 
 
 The river was now rising very rapidly and families living near 
 the mills with difficulty removed their wares before the water had 
 risen above the second floor. We now had our day. The high 
 water was floating away the large piles of lumber and wood 
 already cut for the furnaces. We fastened logs together so as to 
 form a boom, and extended them so as to catch all this floating- 
 wood and lumber in the little recess at the foot of the hill on 
 
OUB ■' IIKI'TY CAMPAIGN. 275 
 
 which our fort stood; then with our boats we towed this floating 
 debris to shore, and in a short time had wood enough to last us 
 the coming summer and lumber enough to open a lumberyard. 
 The mill men objected at first, but soon concluded we were the 
 best owners. We hauled the wood op to camp and piled it up 
 nicely to dry for summer use. Twice during the month the river 
 rose so high that the families along its banks had to leave their 
 houses for other quarters. 
 
 At 1 P. M. on the 9th, the wind blowing almost a hurricane, 
 a canoe containing three men capsized just before it reached the 
 island that lav abreast of us. Two of our men. Corporals Scales 
 and Banks, immediately went to their assistance with one of our 
 boats, and succeeded in rescuing the men who proved to lie a 
 lieutenant and two negroes coming down to Chattanooga after 
 some provisions. They were bringing a barrel of eggs for the 
 market. The lieutenant lost his seventy-dollar overcoat and gave 
 the eggs to his preservers. These eggs were worth sixty cents a 
 dozen in < Ihattanooga. 
 
 On the 10th our rations were again raised to what was called 
 full rations, which was about half what we received in 1862 and 
 until September, 1863. A soldier cannot use all the rations gov- 
 ernment allows him, but what was now being issued as full rations 
 would not make two good meals a day. Government was paying 
 for really full rations; then certainly some one was filling his 
 pockets out of what should have filled our stomachs. We wished 
 the patriots who were enriching themselves by stealing from us 
 were in some good place where quartermasters were not needed. 
 But this loth day of March was one long to be remembered 
 by the members of our Battery who were that day present. As 
 wasstated in its proper place, while at Camp Douglas contributions 
 were taken and a violin purchased with the proceed- that we might 
 have music with which to pass away the time in camp. The violin 
 had always been in charge of the bugler, he being the best player 
 in the company. It was considered as company property, was 
 carried on one of the caissons on all our marches and campaigns, 
 had keen in all our engagements and was looked upon as a relic 
 that each member would like to own in after years, and which it 
 was intended to raffle off at our muster out. Accordingly, one 
 evening, as soon as all duty was over, we assembled at the public 
 hall (the guard house), and there deputed "Poodle" to demand 
 
276 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 the fiddle of its keeper, and to bring it to the hall. The violin 
 was finally surrendered and "Poodle" soon marched triumphantly 
 into the hall and was voted by all a trump. Raffling began, men 
 being chosen to represent those who were absent by detail or for any 
 reason. Several turned forty when " Salt Pine " counted forty-three ! 
 and took the fiddle. He subsequently sold it to "Mother."' 
 
 On the 16th orders were received to be ready to leave on 
 Monday, the 20th. The captain was to be chief of artillery of the 
 posts of Cleveland and Charleston. We were to be stationed at 
 the former place. Orders were immediately sent off for the several 
 men on detail to return to the Battery without delay. 
 
 On the 17th Corp. Harter, R. Hamilton and Kempf arrived by 
 boat from Kingston. On the next day the people living near the 
 mills had to leave their homes again as the river rose so as to half 
 cover the roofs of some of them. Again we had a fine oppor- 
 tunity to catch lumber and wood, but as we were going to leave 
 so soon, we did not want any more — really we knew not what to do 
 with what we already had. But soon we found there was a way 
 provided to make use of our large piles of lumber and wood. For 
 a week several companies of the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery 
 had been arriving. Among them were many "subs, 11 "yearlings" 
 and "vets," all of whom were lions, having their pockets well 
 filled with greenbacks. It would not do for them to lie on the 
 foul earth with their stylish clothes, so they were ready to pay any 
 price for lumber to build bunks first and then shanties. They did 
 not object to paying at the rate of sixty to one hundred dollars 
 per thousand, so they got the lumber. But with the wood we had 
 more trouble. Sutlers wanted it, but the question arose: " What 
 should we take for pay? 1 ' It was finally agreed we should receive 
 blacking for it, or anything else in its stead, and whether he, who 
 remained behind to settle up the Battery's business, ever disposed 
 of it, we never knew. 
 
 We had not received any pay since the loth of November. 
 and many of us had long been out of money. There was a sutler 
 who had his shebang near our camp, who had been licensed to fur- 
 nish the garrison artillery with such things as they needed on tick. 
 Our Battery had taken a number of " Mr. Purely *s scrip.*' and Mr. 
 Purely was a little anxious to get the amount due him. as we were 
 about to leave, but as we had no money, he was obliged to be con- 
 tented until the greenback man should come to see us. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 ()ru orders to move on the *- )(| th were so changed as to cause 
 us to leave on the 19th. We turned over our howitzers, sold the 
 last foot of our Lumber, packed up, left camp at uoon and marched 
 to the depot. Passing Mr. Purdy's headquarters, we could not 
 repress a very audible groan. The new arrivals wanted to know if 
 we were going home, and were answered very blithely in the 
 affirmative "and would carry any message they might wish to send 
 to their friends." At " Bishop's Varieties," we called vociferously 
 for the proprietor, but he did not respond to our call. "Poison. 
 swill, slop." escaped our lips in no very low tones, while passing 
 the noted "brewery. 11 We finally reached the depot, and, having 
 stacked arms, began to make ourselves at home. "Charley 11 was 
 always a lion at the post quartermasters, and thither he wended 
 his way armed with several empty canteen-.; he could always gel 
 the best that was to he had there, and in a short time the canteens 
 returned to camp, tilled. Those who chose to were engaged in 
 assorting corn. Several became tired in a very short time and lay 
 down to sleep. Others began the practice of rope-walking, using 
 a long boiler that lay near by, for a rope. It was too slack for 
 men in their condition and they soon found themselves lying on 
 the ground. 
 
 At length, at half past >ix. the engine whistled and we were 
 soon on our way to Cleveland. At the tunnel they missed one id' 
 their lamps after the train had passed. There was such an attrac- 
 tion on board the train that, although we passed ;it the rate id' 
 about eight miles an hour, the lamp Hew to one id' our cars. We 
 were loaded on Hats. At 9:15 the train reached its destination, 
 and. provideiitiall\ -topped jus! in time; for the switch w 
 turned that hail we gone five rods further the engine would have 
 run off the track, and doubtless some of us would have been hurt. 
 as about twenty were riding on tl ngine. 
 
278 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Switched off, our next care whs to find some place to bunk. 
 Some slept under the eaves of the depot building, others under the 
 platform, while the remainder slept out doors. 
 
 As all were preparing their breakfast, next morning, the 
 Knoxville train approached at full speed. Just as it reached the 
 switch the engineer discovered that it was turned so as to run his 
 train on a side-track, on which stood several cabooses used as cook 
 rooms by men working on the road. The engineer reversed his 
 engine, applied the full head of steam, and jumped off. The 
 wheels immediately began to spin in reverse, but on the train 
 came, struck the cabooses, piled one on another, stove in the front 
 of the engine, and only stopped when the wreck would allow it to 
 go no farther. It then began to work backwards, but the drivers 
 were slipping so that it moved only a few feet before the engineer 
 was again at his post. There was quite a stir among the cooks 
 when the engine struck. It was a droll scene to see them leap 
 from their cars and run as though some evil monster was at their 
 heels ! 
 
 There were two forts at Cleveland, both built on the ridge 
 near where Ave had camped nearly a year before. This ridge 
 extended north and south for many miles, rising in some places to 
 quite a height, at others lowered to almost a level with the valley. 
 The forts stood southwest of town — the first called Fort Howard, 
 and then mounting four guns, was about a quarter, while the 
 second, mounting six guns, and known as Fort McPherson, stood 
 about half a mile from town. Cleveland has before been men- 
 tioned as being a beautiful town, wearing a pleasant, retired look, 
 and principally inhabited by staunch loyalists. As lovely as it 
 appeared to us a year before, we were now to witness its varied 
 changes — from its winter condition to its midsummer charms. 
 Beautiful flowers and shade trees stood on both sides of the streets, 
 and added additional charm to the place. When we came there 
 was very little business done, but it soon increased until it had 
 become quite metropolitan. There were other causes that made us 
 look admiringly on the place. The citizens, at first strangers, soon 
 became friends, and friendship increased until in some instances 
 stronger ties bound us together, and caused several of our number 
 to select Cleveland as their future home. 
 
 At 8:30, on the 20th, we fell in and were soon divided up into 
 squads as well as we could be, considering the mixed up style we 
 
OUR " 1IK1-TY CAMPAIGN. 279 
 
 had lived in at Chattanooga. Nos. 1. 2, 5 and 6 marched to Port 
 McPherson with Lieut. Burton as commander, while Nos. 3 and I 
 were to occupy Fori Howard and were to be commanded l>v Lieut. 
 Gillette; the captain to be chief of artillery and t ake his head- 
 quarters al Fori McPherson. A large number of commodious 
 
 pole shanties si I near each fort. Infantry soldiers occupied 
 
 these shanties at the time, l»ut they were t<> move in a few davs, 
 and then we were to have them. Our tents were pitched near the 
 forts and some of us built temporary shanties, carrying the hoard- 
 from the late camp of the 5th Tennessee Mounted [nfantry, 
 known as the "Hog Back Regiment." That day we began firing 
 a morning and evening gun from Fort McPherson. 
 
 Some of us foraged a little, at times, as did also the 1 I'M h ami 
 150th Illinois and the 65th New York, who were stationed here; 
 but, as we were generally careful to visit only rebels, [llinoisians 
 were soon great favorites among the unionists. "Are you from 
 Eelleenoise ?" was the question first propounded by a citizen, if a 
 soldier entered into conversation with him. and if the answer was 
 in the affirmative he had the passport to the citizen's confidence 
 and he could readily learn who were true and who were not. 
 
 It was several days before we took charge of the forts. ;| S the 
 ^•iius in them were left iii charge of the infantry until they could 
 he turned over. \\ e were to draw ten new twelve-pounder 
 Napoleons and were perfectly willing the infantry should continue 
 to guard the forts as long as they pleased. 
 
 The weather was delightful, and we soon instituted the games 
 of ball and " pig-in-the-hole-ah " for out-door amusement, (diess. 
 dominoes, cards, checkers and dancing did much to make our in- 
 door time pass pleasantly until, having formed acquaintances 
 among the citizens, the hoys were in camp very little. 
 
 On the 23d the captain came up from Chattanooga. That 
 day the men at Fort McPherson moved into the shanties, and we 
 took charge of both tort-. The same day the 149th Illinois so 
 doubled up as to allow our men at Fort Howard to have four 
 shanties, and these, with one they had built, gave them quite 
 respectable lodgings. Four of our new guns arrived torn- We 
 never received more. Furloughs came for four of the men, viz: 
 
 Mr wart, of gun 2, Mead and < iaili 111 oil. of gun I. and Mack, of glin 
 
 6. They started on the 24th. Lieut. Fluskey joined us on 
 the 25th. 
 
280 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Every morning before breakfast, and at all hours of the day, 
 women — white and black — came to our camp with pies, ( '?) corn- 
 pones and gingerbread. Their pies were of two kinds — pegged and 
 sewed, but which were the toughest was almost impossible to tell. 
 We sometimes bought some, but digesting them was another thing 
 entirely. Sometimes these women brought in twist tobacco and 
 milk (milk always meaning buttermilk) and some time after our 
 arrival, great quantities of butter. To the south, and also to the 
 west of town, stood a large refugee camp. In those camps these 
 women lived. They were principally those whose natural pro- 
 tectors were in the rebel army. They came mostly from northern 
 Georgia, being forced to come inside our lines to keep from starving. 
 
 Every Sabbath there were one or two sermons preached at the 
 principal church in town, and sometimes of an evening during the 
 week. At first there were only one or two females present, but 
 toward the last, one side of the church was crowded with blue 
 coats, the other with ladies — the elite of the place. It was not 
 unfrequent that twenty-four out of our twenty-eight men were 
 present, and as we now wore our colors to the largest extent, we 
 lent quite a reddish tinge to our side of the house. Citizens and 
 soldiers in common preached to us. 
 
 On the 27th Col. Felix Prince Salm Salm. commander of the 
 Post, issued an order that "All the troops at the Post must have three 
 roll-calls and drill four hours each day. Soldiers must salute all 
 officers. No soldier could go to town without a pass, and none 
 could remain in town over night.' 1 But we managed not to extend 
 our daily drill beyond about twenty minutes, and to avoid his 
 special patrols when any of our boys were in town without passes. 
 
 On the 28th Adler, of gun 1. was officially detailed as draughts- 
 man at the topographical engineer's office, Department of the 
 Cumberland, where he had already been employed some time. That 
 afternoon several trains passed en-route for Bull's Gap, loaded 
 with our old comrades, of the 2d Division. They announced their 
 recognition of us by calling out to the first one of our men they 
 saw, "Pull, John, pull!" etc., and it so happened that the man 
 they hailed was the veritable John. 
 
 At every station passed by their train they made it a practice 
 to help themselves to anything needful that they could find, 
 especialty at sutlers' shebangs, but rarely troubled citizens. At 
 Chattanooga they had entered a car loaded with bacon and "helped 
 
our '• hi rn ' c \miwh.n. -js i 
 
 themselves to enough to lasl for the last six months to come, 1 
 according to the words of the cooper. 
 
 On the 29th a section of a train ran off the track about a mile 
 above Cleveland. The section left at the station had Gen. Opdj ke's 
 brigade on board, the soldiers of which scattered aboui the town. 
 Our of them, a drummer boy, happened to offend a couple of Col. 
 Salm Salm's 8taff officers, one of whom rode up to the boy and 
 struck him. The others of the tth Army Corps boys, who had 
 seen this, charged toward the saloon to which the officers had gone; 
 the officers ran from the saloon, crawled under the cars and ran up 
 the hill to headquarters, the 4th Corps men pelting them with 
 bricks and stones until the} were half way up the hill. The 
 officers immediately collected aboui twenty guards and had them 
 load their muskets. The soldiers (among whom were the 73d 
 Illinois and 125th Ohio) called them conscripts and told them to 
 come down to the cars and they would disarm them without using 
 a weapon. Gen. Opdyke had been sitting in one id' the freight 
 cars, a silent spectator. He now came out, and, beckoning the 
 officers to come to him, said after they were before him and had 
 told their version of the affair: "I and my men have fought 
 three years at the front ami we are not now e-,, ni o- to submit to 
 such treatment from yon who have just received your five hundred 
 dollars. Ueport yourselves at headquarters under arrest l>\ my 
 orders." And he followed to headquarters to see they did as he 
 commanded. He was given three deafening cheers, and as many 
 doleful groans were given for the benefit of the proud pair. One 
 man called out to the guards: " We hear you have Keen abusing 
 Battery ML; d m you. if you do it again, we'll come down and 
 (lean you out." 
 
 Gen. Dyson, of our Battery, go! a permit and opened a news- 
 depot on the public square, and was soon doing a large business 
 tor that locality. 
 
 So many troops four regiments and a battery could not lie 
 at one place long without instituting a place of amusement, if 
 there was not already one. Several men from the different regi- 
 ments and three or four from our Battery, made preparations to 
 open a sort of theater in an old, dilapidated hrick church, and in a 
 few days they announced a grand treat to those who wished to 
 attend. They lnul quite a full house nearly every nighl as long as 
 it was kept open. 
 
282 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 On the 2d the remainder of those who were at Kingston 
 returned, except Coslet. 
 
 On the 3d we received official notification that Petersburg 
 was captured, and in honor of the event Fort McPherson fired 
 thirty-four blanks. That day Corporal Scales was appointed 
 acting orderly sergeant at Fort Howard; Kane, of No. 3. and 
 Colby, of No. 4, acting corporals, and Brown, of No. 4, to act as 
 bugler. Orders were issued for them to have roll-calls and drill 
 there the same as had been the rule at Fort McPherson. 
 
 Our Norwegian was among those who had just returned from 
 Kingston, and while absent had not been drilled, consequently he 
 knew very little about musket drill. When called out to drill he 
 handled his gun very clumsily. Finally the lieutenant came up, 
 when he very naively said: "Lieutenant. I wish you would give 
 me a drilled musket; this one is so awkward, it don't know any- 
 thing." 
 
 On the 4th we drew whisky, probably on account of the good 
 news received the day before and which was this day confirmed. 
 
 On the 7th Balziger received a detail as butcher for the Post. 
 
 At 9 P. M. the news came that Lee had surrendered Richmond, 
 his entire army and himself! This was such glorious news and 
 spoke so plainly of peace and home that for the first time in the 
 Battery's annals, its members joined in loud and prolonged cheers! 
 The ice once broken, we found it no trouble to raise a cheer at any 
 appropriate time thereafter. Till midnight the camps were all in 
 a turmoil, soldiers running here and there bearing the glad tidings, 
 and questioning each other as to whether it might not. after all, 
 be another canard. Bands played the nation's airs and marches 
 and all bespoke complete bewilderment over the joyful news. But 
 imagine our feelings when early on the next morning the telegram 
 was received that it was Fitz Hugh and not Robt. E. Lee who had 
 been captured. 
 
 On the 8th we fired one hundred rounds from Fort McPherson 
 over the good news. A couple of our men had been out into the 
 country, and as they returned were halted by the guards after they 
 were far inside the lines, and having no passes, were marched to 
 headquarters. They there stated their case; how they had passed 
 out and in without the pickets seeing them. They were immedi- 
 ately released and the guards severely reprimanded for their 
 carelessness. 
 
OUR " HEFTY. " i AMI' AK.V 283 
 
 At 12 P. M.. of the 9th, the infantry guards roused the camp 
 with the cry oi " I'm ! fire!' 1 It was only an outhouse uear the 
 suburbs of town thai was burning, so all turned in again. 
 
 At uoon, <>n the 10th, a telegram was received, signed by 
 Secretary Stanton, stating that Lee had uow really surrendered. In 
 honor of the event Fori McPherson fired thirty-six guns. At 
 nigh! tin 1 town and camps were brilliantly illuminated. The 
 infantry at Fori Howard were congregated around a large bon-fire 
 when several of our men sent a shower of lighted fuzes among 
 them, startling them as though a body of the enemy had suddenly 
 charged upon them. Wethen began firing 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35- 
 second fuzes from our muskets. They went high in the air and 
 appeared like rockets. The citizens flocked into the streets 
 to see our pyrotechnic display. We used several hundred fuzes 
 that uight, borrowing them from the old guns that stood in 
 the forts. 
 
 On the 11th it was learned that Lee and his army were 
 paroled. This dampened our spirits much, for remembering Vicks- 
 burg and the number of Pemberton's men we had to fight at 
 Chickamauga, we imagined Lee's army marching to join Johnston. 
 
 On the 13th, upon learning of the surrender of Lynchburg, 
 the Battery received orders to tire a salute nt 1(H) guns from each 
 fni't mi the 1 tth. We did so at noon, a large uumber of citizens 
 having assembled to witness it. A.s the last gun tired, all felt that 
 now the starry flag was again floating over Sumter. 
 
 Early on the L5th our pulses, that were still beating high 
 over the happy rejoicings of the day before, were suddenly chilled. 
 Smiie had seen a telegram at the office t<> the effect that President 
 Lincoln and his secretary of state had been assassinated the night 
 before the former while at Ford's theatre, the latter while lying 
 sick on his bed! Those who had seen the telegram were disin- 
 clined to report what they had read, but gradually it became 
 known through camps. No one would believe it. hut all pro- 
 nounced it a sensation scheme of some enemy to dampen our 
 rejoicing. Toward night the particulars began to come in, ami 
 then all flocked to the office to read as fast as the operator should 
 copy and post up on the bulletin hoard. When to this confirma- 
 tion we saw Secretary Stanton's name signed, then all were com- 
 pelled to believe it. and many a tierce invective was uttered against 
 the nation's foes, wherever found. Veteran officers and soldiers 
 
284 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 and union citizens swore they would show no more leniency 
 toward traitors. Loyal citizens walked the streets till a late hour 
 that night hoping to find some rebel outside their door. Soldiers 
 were ready to shoot down the first person who should show the 
 least sign of rejoicing. As time wore on rebel citizens declared 
 that in Lincoln's death they had lost their best friend. 
 
 On the 16th we fired a mourning gun every half hour from 
 sunrise till sunset. Charles Franeke, who had been for some time 
 laboring under a partial aberration of mind, now became entirely 
 irrational and had to have constant attendance. 
 
 On the 17th the captain received orders to send men to take 
 charge of the fort at Charleston. He detailed Sergt. Schnasse, 
 Corps. Clute, Dolton and Harter, and Privates Beadle, Bonser, 
 Cope, Hamilton, Huges, Hunt, Krum, Geo. Little, Win. Little, J. 
 D. Miller, Mundell, Offenloch, Patton, Porter, Proctor, Roper, 
 Trumbull. Weyl. Wilson and Young. Lieut. Burton was to take 
 command. They left on the 18th and took quarters in two large 
 shanties standing in the fort which was called Fort Bishop. They 
 relieved a detachment of the 5th Indiana Battery, and followed 
 the customs of that batteiw so far as to board in town, and sleep 
 at the fort. The fort stood on a high hill, to the west of town. 
 and on the south bank of the Hiawassee River, and about 600 feet 
 above its waters. The fort had seven or eight embrasures, but 
 contained only four guns — two ten-pounder Rodmans and two 
 ten-pounder Parrotts. 
 
 The Hiawassee afforded them splendid bathing places, and 
 they made frequent trips there for that purpose. Although the 
 river swarmed with fish, yet they could catch few without trot 
 lines. Our men at Charleston could not keep one a week before it 
 would be stolen. The citizens were nearly unanimously sece-sh 
 and could not be trusted. Two companies of the 149th Illinois 
 were stationed there, and our men had no more restraints placed 
 upon them than as though they were at home. At first they were 
 required only to be present at inspection on Sunday mornings — 
 that being the only time the lieutenant visited the fort, but lat- 
 terly they had to answer to their names morning and evening — if 
 they were present. They had frequent parties, and on such 
 occasions, several of us from Cleveland would be present. 
 
 On the 19th we fired a presidential salute of 21 guns from 
 Fort McPherson. 
 
OUE " HKFTV " ( \MI'\h.N. 285 
 
 Being now well acquainted with the citizens, all became well 
 used to th«' ladies 1 snuff-dipping, and to thru- droll localisms. W e 
 could sav "Howdy" for "How do you do?" "Branch" for creek. 
 "Right smart." "Do you live far about bere?" We'uns" and you 
 'uns." "Eel-lee-noise" for Illinois. "Kain-tucky," "< !aval-ree-ah," 
 "Reegi-mee-en-tah," &c, &c. 
 
 On the 21st Gen. Steadman visited the Post at Cleveland. We 
 fired a salute. Re inspected us, and pronounced himself well satisfied. 
 
 A.t Charleston that day some of the men practiced a jok< 
 
 one who was known as "Snatcher." lie was seen carrying water 
 for some women. A self-appointed guard marched down from 
 the fort, ami. having told him he was wanted at camp, man lied 
 him up under guard, when' he was ordered to report himself to the 
 lieutenant who had just got to camp in time to be enlightened 
 upon the subject before the man was brought. He pleaded his 
 case to the lieutenant who dismissed him, hoping he should never 
 have occasion to again send a guard alter him. Those on furlough 
 returned on the 25th. 
 
 On the 1st of May our rations were again cut down. 
 
 On the 2d the 1 t9th Illinois left Charleston and was replaced 
 l>\ the 11th Michigan (recruits) who were quite strict, and with 
 whom our men did not agree any too well. We were now in the 
 second Separate Division, Department of the Cumberland. By 
 the 149th Illinois leaving Charleston our men there got all the 
 shanties they wanted as there were several, near the fort, that 
 were now unoccupied. 
 
 On the 3d Porter was detailed as post postmaster at Charles- 
 ton, which office he filled until government appointed a citizen on 
 the 9th of dune. That day Capt. Spencer was made chief of 
 artillery on Brevet Brig. Gen. Salm Salm's staff, and left with the 
 general on the Ith for Dalton, whither all the infantry that lay at 
 Cleveland had been ordered. We tired a brigadier general's salute 
 eleven guns. It was great -port for us to talk these recruits 
 into the belief that they were going home and we received material 
 assistance from the veterans who belonged in the same regiments 
 so much so that they (the recruits) had twice settled their wash- 
 women's hills preparatory to leaving. \> the brigade was now 
 gone and we were to draw our rations in future direct from Chat- 
 tanooga there was no further work for a butcher; so Balziger 
 returned to the Battery. 
 
286 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 On the 6th Ralph returned from the sea-coast and let us 
 know much that was going on in the outer world. He was the 
 only one of our Battery who saw the "salty brine 1 ' during our crusade. 
 
 On the 8th Lewis H. Miller, who, as stated in the proper place, 
 had enlisted as a recruit in our Battery, and who, unknown to us, 
 was a deserter from the U. S. Navy, took advantage of the presi- 
 dent's proclamation to deserters asking them to return to their 
 commands or to report and be pardoned, this day gave himself up 
 and was sent to Cairo, 111., to be discharged from the navy. He 
 was finally discharged from the steamer, Great Western, at Mound 
 City, 111., July 8th, 1865, for three years in the navy. He had, 
 however, served most of the time in artillery, having served a term 
 and been honorably discharged from Battery A, 1st Maryland 
 Artillery. After being discharged from the navy he was ordered 
 to report to Battery M for muster-out, but as nothing was heard 
 of him by our officers after leaving, he was dropped from our roll 
 as a deserter from the gun-boat service. 
 
 On the 8th Capt. Spencer returned to the Battery. 
 
 On the 9th Sergt. Tait was discharged at St. Louis, he having 
 been exchanged some time before. He was so crippled from dis- 
 eases, he had caught while in rebel prisons, that he had to walk on 
 crutches and was maimed for life. Corp. Harter. of gun 6, was 
 promoted to fill Tait's place. Corp. Dolton, of gun 3, succeeded 
 to gunner, of gun 6, and Felt, of gun 1, to chief of caisson (cor- 
 poral) of gun 3. to date from the 10th. 
 
 On the 11th the men built a ten-pin alley at Fort McPherson 
 and at Fort Howard they converted one of the largest shanties 
 into a gymnasium. That day we were informed that we should be 
 home by the first of July, and perhaps sooner, as the captain 
 desired that the whole company be mustered out at one time, and 
 those who mustered in on the 12th of June, 1862 could, by order 
 from the war department, only be held till the first of June. 
 
 On the 13th Sergt. Harter and Private Cope started for home 
 on furlough. That day a large body of Johnston's paroled cavalry 
 came in. They were fully armed and well mounted. Unluckily 
 for them, after they had spent their Mexican silver very freely in 
 buying presents for their friends and clothing for themselves, and 
 were about to start — in fact many of them had got outside 
 our lines again — they were recalled, dismounted and sent to Chat- 
 tanooga on the cars by the commandant, at Cleveland. 
 
OUR " HI'.KTY " CAMP \h.N. 281 
 
 On the Utli rumors came thai Jeff Davis had been captured 
 on the 10th. It was thought to be too good news to be true, so 
 we did not allow our joy to run high until it should be confirmed; 
 ami. by that time, we cared little more aboul it. 
 
 On the L6th T. S. Baker was mustered out at Nashville, and 
 mi the 19th Huffman returned from hospital. On the 21st no 
 more passes were required from citizens but soldiers still had to 
 show t heir "papers." 
 
 We now felt the lack of money and longed for the appearance 
 of the paymaster. But if we could not buy luxuries we could get 
 much healthier ones by taking a walk into the country, as dew- 
 berries ami blackberries were now ripe. From this till leaving for 
 home there was not a day. but from one to forty of us were out 
 berrying. As the season advanced there were raspberries, apples. 
 plums, peaches, and grapes without limit. Quite often we would 
 get vegetables potatoes being our favorite, but when we did not 
 buy them, we always borrowed from rebels. One rebel minister 
 had considerable to say about "not receiving these foreign brether- 
 ing into full fellership until they have made full restitooshun." 
 
 On the 29th 0. V. Mercer left for Chattanooga to be mustered 
 out, his year having expired. 
 
 On the 30th one of our new men wishing to follow the steps 
 of the '"Second Heavy" married a young lady living at Cleveland. 
 He had a wife and child af home. Of coins,. 1,,. was loathed by all. 
 and fhe captain told him he was a disgrace to the Battery. He 
 had lived some time at Salt hake City, which will partly account 
 for his toid crime. Two others of our company afterwards 
 married at Cleveland, but theirs were honorable weddings. One 
 brought his wife to Illinois, and the other returned to Cleveland as 
 soon as he w as discharged. 
 
 On the 3d of June Trowbridge was mustered out at Nashville. 
 
 On the 5th 0. V. .Mercer was discharged at Chattanooga and 
 Hutchins at Nashville. On the 8th Sergts. Harter ami Cope 
 returned from home. Many trains loaded with paroled rebels were 
 now | .; ( — i ! i i^-. bearing them to their homes. 
 
 The 12th of dune arrived and passed ami yet the men. sixteen 
 in number, who should have been mustered out on the 1st. were 
 still with us. and no prospects of anything being done, save by 
 themselves, t" get them out before the whole Battery should he 
 discharged. 
 
288 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 On the 13th Titus was discharged at Louisville. 
 
 On the 18th Clute, Beedle and Trumbull started out into the 
 country to help the farmers harvest for a few days, and thus, to 
 teach them how Yankees work. They were cheered as far as they 
 could be seen by our men on the fort. This caused the "11th 
 Michiganders" to think we were going home, and then they were 
 certain they would receive orders next. When our men began 
 work the farmers looked on in complete amazement! Our men 
 could with ease cradle and bind a swath while one of the citizens 
 cradled one. Our mode of binding they -had never heard of, and, 
 as it was evidently a much faster and easier way than theirs, they 
 were very anxious to learn it. 
 
 On the 22d three of our men were caught in Cleveland with- 
 out passes. They were required to work out their "poll-tax' 1 — two 
 clays — on the streets of the town. 
 
 Soldiers by the train-load were passing daily en-route for 
 home. Every train that passed only made us more restless. 
 
 On the 30th word was received that the " District of the 
 Etowah " was long since non est and that no department or com- 
 mand claimed us as belonging to it, but that we should have been 
 mustered out when the 1th Corps was. 
 
 On Sunday, the 2d of July, as the men at Charleston were 
 being inspected, the lieutenant told them he wanted them to have 
 the fort thoroughly policed by the Fourth, as they were then going 
 to fire the national salute, and the fort would be crowded with 
 visitors, male and female, and he wished the men would look their 
 best — have on collars and their hair crimped, etc. "Charley," ever 
 ready in repartee, said: "And it would not be inappropriate to 
 have something for the bowels." 
 
 It was now learned that we were in the District of Tennessee, 
 and were to report to Gen. Stoneman at Knoxville; but he knew 
 nothing about us — we were really "out in the cold." 
 
 We fired thirty-six guns from each fort on the Fourth, and at 
 times, through the day fired odd shots. At night we had more 
 fire-works with fuzes. 
 
 On the 8th word came from Lieut. Murphy who was then at 
 Nashville, that orders were on the road for us to go home. 
 
 On the 12th Hammond again left the Battery and did not 
 rejoin it. 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 we're going eome! 
 
 At last tlif long Looked tor orders came. It was about iiood 
 of July L3th when we received the telegram that a train would be 
 ceady to take us at midnight that night. The boys 1 faces brightened 
 up — we should soon We on the road for home. 
 
 Our guns were at the depot long before uight, but the train 
 did not appear till noon of the 11th. It was a train of several 
 fiats and cattle cars. As the guns were at the station at Charles- 
 ton Hughes tired a blank from one of them the last by our 
 Battery. 
 
 The train started from Charleston at L:15 P.M. We were 
 all ready to couple on at Cleveland, hut waited over two hours for 
 Lieut. Flusky, sending men in all directions to and him. We 
 finally left two men to help him load his horse so as to follow on 
 the next train. As the engine ( No. 1*21 I . S. M. K. K. ) whistled 
 and then puffed, we started for ' k God's country," waving Dixie an 
 adieu with our hats ami handkerchiefs. 
 
 We reached Chattanooga at five o'clock, just a few minutes 
 too late to take the train for Nashville as it was intended we should 
 do. The captain was going to remain behind to turn over our 
 guns and equipments. We took our meals at the Soldiers' Home 
 ami slept in box-cars. 
 
 On the Kith the guns ami caissons were hauled by hand as 
 we could get no teams to do it— first to the arsenal, where the 
 ammunition was unloaded, and then to the ordnance depot to turn 
 over the guns. We had everything turned over in time for us to 
 leave with the t wo o'clock train: hut the ordnance officer would not 
 sign his name to the receipt, after it was tilled out. until he had 
 first had his dinner, and then we were just twenty minutes too 
 late and must lie over until five o'clock of the next morning! 
 There was a little cursing done. 
 
290 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 That afternoon it rained very hard. Toward evening many 
 of ns happened in at Van's Pleasure Gardens at the Crutchfield 
 House about the same time. He recognized ns as Battery M and 
 greeted us very cordially, passing many glasses of beer among us. 
 He was our old brigade postmaster and had been, as before stated, 
 captured at Brentwood, near Nashville, in 1863. 
 
 At 4:30 A. M., of the 16th, the train slowly moved out that 
 was to bear us to Nashville, and we bade a last farewell to 
 Chattanooga. 
 
 It so happened that our train had two or three cars loaded 
 with medical stores, among which was a large quantity of "Chan- 
 ticleer whisky," put up in bottles holding three pints each, the 
 bottles being packed in boxes, each box containing a dozen of 
 the bottles. Now it further happened that one of the brakemen, 
 on the train, took particular liking to some of our men and 
 whispered to them that a certain car was not locked and that in 
 that car they would find something good. Thither our men went, 
 not waiting for the train to stop, but climbing down the side from 
 the top of the car. Over a gross found its way into our cars! The 
 result was some merry Yankee sojers. 
 
 Aboard the same train was Ex-Lieut. Gen. B. Frank Cheatham, 
 formerly of the confederate army. He had three or four horses 
 that he was taking to his farm near Nashville. He was a jolly 
 man and quite ready to make friends with us. We had fought 
 him over two 3'ears. but what of that? He now acknowledged 
 himself conquered, and did not refuse to take a drink with us — we 
 furnishing the corn ketchup. 
 
 We dined at Decherd, having been helped through the tunnel 
 by a "pony" kept for the purpose. At 5 P. M. we reached Mur- 
 freesboro, the stronge'st fortified inland town of America. We had 
 never seen such heavy and extensive fortifications before. 
 
 We reached the Rock City at 8 P. M. and bunked in the cars. 
 In the morning of the 17th, after searching for the Soldiers' 
 Home, it was learned that it had been closed over a month, there 
 being nothing more for it to do. 
 
 We marched to the Louisville depot at an early hour to be in 
 time to take the morning train, which was to leave at seven o'clock. 
 The captain started off in search of the transportation office. The 
 engine coupled on. (This time we were to have second-class 
 passenger cars — the third step toward making us citizens.) We 
 
OUE " HEFT'S " C V.MP \h.\. 291 
 
 looked through the crowd, hut qo Captain Spencer was to be seen. 
 All eyes were kepi steadily on the exil from the passenger house. 
 The engine rings. "Here he is!" cries someone, and we immedi- 
 ately " shoulder knapsacks " to find thai it was a mistake, and we 
 n 1 1 1 s i wait till night. "One minute more," the conductor tells us. 
 That minute seems to fly when just at its expiration the captain 
 appears! We jump onto the platforms and rash into the cars, not 
 being at all careful of bow much we crowded the "recruits," who 
 were standing on the platforms with their muskets in hand to 
 keep us out. The train moves off and the officers 1 baggage is left 
 behind to come on the next train with the horses. 
 
 At Gallatin we found Battery A. 1st Ohio, our old chums, and 
 a right friendly meeting it was. Luckily we had some of the 
 •• Medical Department " yet on hand, and gave them a good dose. 
 They declared us the best doctors they had met in the army, as we 
 did not mix quinine in everything we prescribed. 
 
 Our "Chickamaugas" wen- becoming sO soiled and worn out 
 that we wished to have something better to cover our heads before 
 we reached "God's country." But how were we to get better? 
 We had no money. Our credit was certainly not good, and it was 
 impossible to draw. No; was it impossible? We thought not. 
 We could draw a splendid hat quite handily from the head of some 
 unsophisticated gentleman who might stand near the train as it 
 started from a station. But we were in Kaintucky, that loyal 
 state, and it would be a shame to so maltreat a loyal Kaintuck. 
 But it would also be a shame lor us to cross the Ohio wearing 
 such miserable "poll pads;" so drawing lsegan immediately, and 
 before reaching Louisville we had exchanged many head covers, 
 though in some eases we forgot to hand out ours. 
 
 We reached Louisville at 5:45 P. M. and lay at a street corner 
 near the depot until nearly dark, waiting for the captain to return 
 with transportation. We succeeded in getting supper at the 
 Soldiers 1 Home, and a good supper it was to us half-starved 
 
 Yankees! At dark, the captain not having retur I. we marched 
 
 down to the ferry, expecting to find him there waiting for us. 
 There was no captain at the ferry. One id' our " L'als*" had a few 
 words with a "condemned Yankee" guard who proved to be an 
 old veteran; so all was speedily settled. It was growing late and 
 we -tailed men out in all directions in search id' the captain, dust 
 as the last boat was starting, the captain arrived. We shouldered 
 
292 BATTERY M, FIEST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLEEY. 
 
 knapsacks and prepared to jump on board, but lie detained us T 
 saying he had orders for us to go to Portland and take the boat for 
 New Albany, as he could not get transportation over the Indian- 
 apolis & Jefferson railroad. "We should have plenty of time to 
 reach there as the train did not leave till IIP. M." We started 
 immediately as it was feared the boats would stop running before 
 we got there. We jumped into the first street cars that started — 
 the orderly paying our fares in the first car and Lieut. Gillette in 
 the next, while the others who followed rode for nothing. Some 
 of us walked half the distance before a car caught us. The first 
 car load reached the landing in time to secure passage on the last 
 boat; the second car stopped just as the boat was out of reach. 
 Those that crossed slept in the passenger house — the others 
 calmly reposing on the sandy beach of the Ohio, and having the 
 starry canopy of the heavens to cover them, were doomed to pass 
 that night in Dixie. 
 
 At 5:40 A. M., of the 18th, we again met on the free soil of 
 "Hoosierton." Before starting the captain telegraphed to Chicago 
 that we were then at New Albany on our way home, and asking 
 that quarters be made ready for us. It gave us much pleasure to 
 ride in first-class cars after three years deprivation of that luxury. 
 Wishing to do honor to our new surroundings, and having some 
 little time left before the train was to start, we toiled much with 
 our toilet and soon appeared dressed in our best. 
 
 At 9:20 we waved New Albany farewell and were soon enjoy- 
 ing the rough road between there and Lafayette. We thought we 
 had rode over rough enough roads in cattle and box cars while 
 down in Dixie, but never had we felt anything to equal this. 
 The "Comet' 1 was at the head of the train, but it went so slowly 
 some expressed a fear that the train might pass it. Comets gener- 
 ally travel rapidly and we soon felt thankful that the order of 
 things had been changed in reference to this one, for the baggage- 
 car jumped from the track while on a curve, and had the train 
 been under great headway, some of us would doubtless have been 
 injured. As it was, the delay only gave those of us, who were so 
 inclined, an opportunity to feast on blackberries of which there 
 were many near by. 
 
 "Thirty minutes for dinner," cried the conductor, as we 
 
 . stopped at Mitchell; but we didn't feel like eating. (We had no 
 
 greenbacks was the reason.) At Bloomington we got the engine 
 
oub "• ii ii'iv camp \i«;n. 293 
 
 ••Planet," which we soon discovered traveled faster than the 
 "Comet." We stopped for supper ai Green Castle, bul still had 
 no appetite. (?) We reached Lafayette ai 10:10 P.M. and were 
 told that the train had arrived about an bour too late to connect 
 with the train going north, and that the nexi train would not 
 leave till 8 A. M. of the aexl day. Thai was our paj for follow- 
 ing a "Comet. 11 A.s it was raining quite hard we walked up to the 
 freighl depot and found shelter under the projecting eaves of the 
 large freight bouse. 
 
 The morning of the 19th found n> as hungry as wolves, our 
 appetite being sharpened by our exposure. It was still raining, 
 and we shivered while thinking of having to go hungry and chilly 
 until we gol home. Some little boys seeing soldiers al the freighi 
 bouse, came up to learn what they could from us about war. 
 Hearing us speaking about having nothing to eat. they started off, 
 and s. Mm returned bearing baskets well tilled with bread, butter, 
 pies, cakes, apples, etc. Some of them broughl the second basket- 
 ful and said that "had their parents known of our condition 
 sooner, they would have prepared us a good breakfast. 11 We. felt 
 that we were really back in "Hod's country" and thankful to Him 
 that He had seen tit to allow us to be, even if we had to he placed 
 in such circumstances to realize it. The hoys' names as far as 
 could he learned were Samuel Tierce, dames Covington, Warren 
 Carpenter, George Stevens and Jacob Sherman. 
 
 One of our men who had been out in town now returned with 
 his anus full <d' bread and cheese, lie had found a man a store- 
 keeper named (diaries Beers, who kindly lent him $2.25 with 
 which to buy something to eat. This completed our breakfast 
 and left us a morsel for dinner. We gave the noble youths such 
 army trinkets a> we could spare, and they bade us good-bye feeling 
 highly delighted. 
 
 We were off at 8:20. The captain told us that such as chose 
 could visit their homes now ami that he should not require their 
 presence at Tamp Douglas till Saturday. Some of the men who 
 lived on the Pittsburg, fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad gol off at 
 the crossing of the Great Eastern Railroad, that road having been 
 built during our absence. 
 
 We reached Michigan City at 12:30. As we came In sight of 
 Lake Michigan a cheer, louder, heartier, more prolonged than ever 
 before had been heard in the Battery hurst forth. A- soon a- the 
 
294 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 train had stopped, many of ns ran down to the beach to once more 
 feel the invigorating touch of the clear, cool waters. 
 
 As one of the cars had become disabled, we were given one of 
 the Michigan Central Railroad, and at 1 P M., were again under 
 way. While changing cars, the captain again telegraphed to 
 Chicago, this time to have a dinner prepared for us at the Soldiers 1 
 Rest. 
 
 At one o'clock the train was again in motion to be delayed no 
 more till we should reach the place where, three years before, we 
 had signed our identures "for three years or during the war," and 
 where all were soon to be restored to our civic rights. 
 
 Bill, our faithful contraband, was with us, having accom- 
 panied us home for three reasons. First, the unsettled state of 
 affairs in the south in reference to freedmen; second, a desire to 
 see the land whence so many Yankees had gone forth to battle 
 with the rebel hosts; and third, to draw his pay, he having 
 received none for over a year. After passing Lafayette he was all 
 ejaculations of surprise and delight, and as we came to the prairies 
 over which were roaming many herds of cattle, his delight was so 
 great that he could only clap his hands and say, "I deelarf 1 The 
 farming implements that stood at the different stations caused him 
 to open wide his eyes as their different uses were explained to him. 
 
 By the time w T e reached Chicago, 3:15 P. M., about twenty of 
 our number had left us. We marched to the soldiers' Rest" where 
 we partook of an excellent dinner prepared for us by Mrs. Barks- 
 dale and other patriotic ladies. Mrs. Barksdale assured us that she 
 had had a far better dinner in readiness for us, but that owing to 
 our delayed arrival it was enjoyed by another battery that had 
 arrived about an hour before. 
 
 After having done full justice to this bountiful, and to us 
 royal repast, such of us as resided too far from the city to go to 
 our homes and return by Saturday, repaired to Camp Douglas, 
 where we were furnished good quarters and an abundance to eat. 
 The entrances to the camp were no longer guarded, so we could 
 go in and out whenever we pleased; and being now at home we 
 soon found all the money needed and therefore spent but little 
 time in camp. 
 
 On Saturday, the 22d. all met at camp; but as the ''rolls'" 
 would not be completed before Monday, we again scattered. 
 
ouk •• 1 1 1:1 in ' 1 lmpaign! 295 
 
 Monday the 24th our muster-out papers were completed, but 
 there was much to be '1 before we could be linallx dismissed. 
 
 On the 25th we raffled to see who should have "Battery." 
 Nichol proved to be the lucky one. As each of us had his picture 
 we cared not so much for the possessi £ the dog himself, know- 
 ing that all could not enjoy his ownership longer as we had for 
 nearly three years. Besides the dog rnighl die, bu< the pictures 
 were immortal. We also decided on who should write the story 
 of our "sojer life" and appointed a committee of three to attend to 
 the matter. 
 
 On the 26th the old order regarding rain was still unrevoked, 
 for it poured down nearly all day. The reports of the Battery, 
 and all its papers being fully completed, at nine o'clock we "fell 
 in" once more and marched out through the east gate, where cars 
 were ready to take us to Randolph Street. Here we again, and for 
 the las! time as a Battery, formed line, and. having right faced, 
 man hed to Kin/.ie Street near Rush Street, and by threes went up 
 a flight of stairs, where two important gentlemen were standing 
 behind a counter. One counted out our greenbacks as fast as the 
 different amounts were called out, while the second very politely 
 handed us some small pieces of paper on which were our names, as 
 indebted to Mr. Purdy certain sums, which amounts had been 
 religiously taken out of our pay. not varying more than five cents 
 either way. Mr. Purdy as will be remembered was garrison artil- 
 lerj sutler at Chattaj ga. 
 
296 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Our names were called as follows: 
 
 Morgan Banks . . . . 
 
 Joseph R. Hansen 
 
 Edgar Stebbins 
 
 Patrick Short- 
 
 John Amberg 
 
 Nathaniel Banks 
 
 August Schnasse 
 
 George S. Harter 
 
 Ellis K. Mercer 
 
 William Cogswell 
 
 Chas. J. Clute 
 
 Alphonzo R. Korah--.. 
 
 George Lissenden 
 
 Orson B. Felt 
 
 John G .Scales..-. 
 
 William Hamilton 
 
 Alonzo L. Brumfield.. 
 Edward G. Thompson 
 
 George E. Dolton 
 
 *Henry H. Brown 
 
 Chester B. Powers 
 
 James S. Trumbull-.. 
 
 Sidney Briggs . _ _ 
 
 Wesley A. Briggs 
 
 Dankmar Adler 
 
 John II. Albee.- 
 
 Carlos G. Hunt 
 
 Erastus F. Henderson 
 Alexander Huffman.. 
 
 James E. Harding 
 
 John Howard 
 
 Bernard Hughes 
 
 * John Hammond 
 
 George H. Johnson - . . 
 
 Thatcher Krum 
 
 Jacob Kopf 
 
 Timothy M. Kane 
 
 John Kempf . _ 
 
 Maynard Loomis 
 
 Stephen Lissenden 
 
 William Little 
 
 George Little 
 
 Samuel A. Murphy... 
 Andrew McDermott.. 
 
 Frank W. Mead 
 
 Alonzo G. Mundell-.. 
 
 Patrick Mack 
 
 John Martin 
 
 Jean Martine 
 
 John G McAllister- .. 
 
 1st Sergt. 
 Q. M. Sergt. 
 Sergt. 
 
 Corporal 
 
 Artificer 
 
 Bugler 
 
 Wagoner 
 
 Private 
 
 Edward Anderson Private 
 
 Albert Beedle.. 
 
 William Batterson 
 
 Christopher Boylon... 
 
 Thomas Bonser. 
 
 Nicholas Balziger 
 
 \Yilliam B. Brown 
 
 Josiah X. Barr 
 
 George Carey 
 
 Edwin Cain... 
 
 John B. Colby 
 
 Sylvester T. Clancy. .. 
 
 James Coslet 
 
 Charles Cope . - - 
 
 Norman Chapman 
 
 Samuel Dezelle. -.-.-. 
 
 William Duffy 
 
 * James B. Drake 
 
 Joseph W. Dyson 
 
 *Charles Franck 
 
 Henry J. Flint. 
 
 Charles D. Gammon. . 
 
 Isaiah Harper 
 
 Robert Howard. 
 
 Christian Hotter 
 
 Richard Hamilton 
 
 James D. Miller. 
 
 William NichoL 
 
 Frederick A. Newton 
 
 Henry Offenloch 
 
 Jose ph Proctor 
 
 Cephus L. Porter 
 
 Samuel Patton. 
 
 *Jacob Premer 
 
 Albert J. Rowley 
 
 James Rollins 
 
 Daniel W. Ryan 
 
 Joseph Ralph. 
 
 Thomas N. Rhodes.. 
 
 Frederick Roper 
 
 Robert Stewart- 
 
 George Simpson . 
 
 Carlos E. Wright-- - 
 Ezra S. E. Winnemore 
 Frederick Westendorf 
 
 Samuel S. Weyl 
 
 Emery M. Wilber.. 
 
 xllfred S. Wilson 
 
 Louis Young 
 
 *Not Present. 
 
oil; •' UK I TV I AMI'AK.X. 
 
 29*t 
 
 With our greenbacks we received our discharges, telling as 
 plainly we were no longer "blue backs/ 1 We then settled up our 
 little domestic accounts, shook bands and parted, rejoiced and 
 thankful that so many of us were permitted to return, and happy 
 over the thought of a speedy return to our relatives and friends; 
 happy to think that the union was once more restored and peace 
 reigning throughout the land, hut pained to have to part with our 
 more than brothers; from comrades with whom we had associated 
 for three long and weary years years of marching, battles and 
 suffering; years in which we had stood by each other through all 
 the vicissitudes of toil, dangers and hardships. But we though! 
 that now we were free to aet as we chose, we could meet again as 
 often as we should sec tit. as long as we were given life and health, 
 and so we shook hands, sent our respects to each one's friends, and 
 said "good-bye". And Battery M, 1st Illinois Light Artillery. 
 was no more! 
 
 Our muster-out rolls showed the condition of the Battery to 
 he as follows: 
 
 DEATHS. 
 
 I.ee Phillips.. 
 
 Henry Rennau — . 
 
 Adam Gerbert- 
 
 August Kellerman. 
 William Eendershot 
 
 Leroy II. Barnes ... 
 
 Watson Brailey 
 
 Michael Dempsy... 
 
 Conrad Norton 
 
 Thomas Peters 
 
 Peter Scott 
 
 Killed in battle - Sept . 
 
 Sept. 
 
 by explosion of caisson... -.Oct. 
 
 .... Oct. 
 Died at Nashville from wounds re- 
 ceived in battle, June IS. 1864 ..July 
 Typhoid lever at ( 'ampliellsville, Ky Dec. 
 
 Measles at Franklin, Tenn -- Feb. 
 
 Typhoid fever at Chicagalll <>ct. 
 
 July 
 Feb. 
 
 Kbin Gower. 
 
 Diarrhoea at Shelbyville, Tenn 
 
 Measles at Louisville. Ky.. 
 
 Diarrhoea at Camp Douglas before 
 
 muster-in - 
 
 Recruit; died before reaching Battery 
 
 •Jo. 
 20, 
 24, 
 24. 
 
 29, 
 26, 
 23, 
 
 1"). 
 IT. 
 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 L862. 
 1862. 
 
 1864. 
 1862. 
 1863. 
 1862. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 
 June 24. 1862. 
 
298 
 
 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 00 30 CO 30 
 
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OUR " HEFT1 " C \M1' \li.N. 
 
 299 
 
 TRANSFERRED. 
 
 Veteran Reserve Corps. 
 
 Henry Kelner. 
 
 Francis M. Merchant 
 Thomas Richardson- 
 Charles Marcks — 
 Stephen Hendrie — 
 Charles C. Fuller — 
 
 Lewis H. Miller Gun Boat Service. 
 
 '•David E. Spencer... .Miss. Marine Brigade 
 *Henry Babcock — 
 *Hiram < ». Johnson 
 
 Navy 
 
 A.pr. 
 
 July 
 Nov. 
 An-'. 
 Jan. 
 Apr. 
 May 
 Feb. 
 Feb. 
 Feb. 
 
 20, L863. 
 9, L863. 
 
 If,. 1863. 
 
 7. 1864. 
 
 21, 1865. 
 24. 1864 
 
 8, 1865. 
 ■J. is<;:{. 
 •J. is.',:'.. 
 ■J. is.;;<. 
 
 Special order No. 89, 1 >«■] »t . of Mo. 
 
 DESERTERS. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Cyrus F. Smith 
 
 Edmund X. White. 
 William P. Gregg ... 
 
 Joseph Baker 
 
 August Hack 
 
 Andrew 'I'. Irwin.-. 
 
 William Carroll 
 
 Max Hornung 
 
 Nathan Johnson -- 
 
 John Quimbv 
 
 Robert M. Williams 
 
 Collin William 
 
 William Walker... 
 William M. Brown 
 
 William Ryan 
 
 Henry J. Thompson 
 
 Horace Brown 
 
 • lames summers 
 
 From what place. 
 
 ('amp Douglas 
 
 Camp Douglas, brought hack to Bat- 
 tery Nov. 22, left again at Louis- 
 ville .Ian. 30, 1863... 
 
 Columbia, Kv .. __ 
 
 Date. 
 
 Sept. 
 Sept. 
 
 is. 1862. 
 27, 1862. 
 
 Louisville. Kv. from boat. .... 
 
 Carrolton, Iml. 
 Triune. Tenii. 
 
 Sent. 27. 
 Nov. 24, 
 Nov 
 Dec. 
 
 Ian. 
 .Ian. 
 •Ian. 
 .Ian. 
 .Ian. 
 .Ian. 
 
 24, 
 
 21. 
 30, 
 :<<». 
 30, 
 3i ». 
 30, 
 30. 
 
 -Ian. »». 
 Feb. I. 
 Feb. 1. 
 Feb. I. 
 June 15, 
 June l"). 
 
 1862. 
 1862. 
 
 1862. 
 
 1862. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 |s.;:<. 
 isc,:{. 
 ls.;:<. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 
300 
 
 BATTERY Iff, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
 
 DISCHARGED. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Joel Brigga 
 
 John L. Morrill 
 
 Peter W. Setzer 
 
 John B. Kauffman.. 
 John C. Stewart... _. 
 William A. Aldrich. 
 
 John Zanger.. 
 
 Henry Kieper 
 
 Thomas Adams... 
 
 William Siegel 
 
 Richard J. Wells . 
 George W. Peters . 
 
 Lucius Fish _. 
 
 John Shaffer 
 
 William Farrell... 
 Patrick O'Toole... 
 Myron McLanin... 
 Marquis L. Axtell. 
 Joseph B. Hunt... 
 
 Peter Brandon 
 
 Charles M. Judd 
 
 William J. Murphy.. 
 Edwin C. Gillette . . . 
 
 Hans Johnson 
 
 Israel W. Stone. 
 
 Magnns Tait 
 
 Thomas S. Baker 
 
 James Trowbridge. 
 George Hutchins... 
 Orange V. Mercer. . 
 Augustus H. Titus. 
 
 Place of discharge and reasons. 
 
 Chicago. 111., rupture 
 
 " •' over age and disease. 
 Louisvillve, Ivy 
 
 Louisville. Ky. by reason of injuries 
 received from explosion of caisson 
 
 Oct. 24, 1862 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Louisville, Ky . . 
 
 Xashville, Tenn 
 
 Franklin, Tenn 
 
 Xashville, Tenn 
 
 " consumption 
 
 Louisville, Ky 
 
 Triune, Tenn. drummed out 
 
 Xashville, Tenn.. 
 
 Louisville. Ky ... 
 
 " " deafness _ 
 
 " injuries received 
 kick from horse 
 
 by 
 
 Loudon, Tenn. for promotion 
 
 Before Atlanta, Ga. for promotion. . 
 
 « « « « « 
 
 Xashville, Tenn 
 
 Madison, Wis. loss of leg at Chatta- 
 nooga campaign, 1863 
 
 Vicksburg 
 
 Xashville. Tenu 
 
 -Chattanooga, Tenn. 
 - [Louisville, Ky 
 
 Date. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 Xov. 
 
 Jan. 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Mar. 
 
 Mar. 
 
 Mar. 
 
 Apr. 
 
 Apr. 
 
 June 
 
 June 
 
 June 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 July 
 Sept. 
 Apr. 
 Aug. 
 Aug. 
 Oct. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 June 
 May 
 June 
 June 
 June 
 June 
 
 1862. 
 1862. 
 1862. 
 1862. 
 
 1862. 
 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 
 1863. 
 1863. 
 1864. 
 1864. 
 1864. 
 1864. 
 
 1864. 
 1865. 
 1865. 
 1865. 
 1S65. 
 1865. 
 1865. 
 
<>ri{ " HKKTV CAMPAIGN. 
 
 301 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Number of different commissioned officers, 
 
 •• men mustered in A.ugust 12th, lso-j. 
 
 " recruits reach the Battery 
 
 died en route 
 
 •• men mustered into the Battery. ... 
 
 detailed 
 
 connected with " " . 
 
 killed in battle. 
 
 •• detailed men killed in battle. ... .. 
 
 •• men " by accident. 
 
 died from wounds.. .-- 
 
 * disease 
 
 " taken prisoner. 
 
 " " " discharged. _._. 
 
 L50 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 170 
 
 157 
 
 327 
 
 3 
 
 l 
 31 
 
 " men transferred - --. 
 
 absent at muster-out 
 
 " " deserted 
 
 present at mueter-out. 
 
 " our men wounded in battle. — 
 
 " detailed men woundedin battle 
 
 " our " " by accident 
 
 detailed. 
 
 " furloughed. 
 
 •• promotions among commissioned officers. ... 
 men 
 
 " men received commissions. 
 
 " times drew pay 
 
 •• horses killed in battle. 
 
 '• miles traveled ■ - - 
 
 by railroad 
 
 " " water 
 
 marched-. --- 
 
 traveled bv right section.. 
 
 " left " — 
 
 " " " center " 
 
 " rounds fired at the enemy 
 
 •• •• target (about; 
 
 " blanks "_. - 
 
 •• guns discharged 
 
 " days under lire - - 
 
 • we fired at the enemy . ■ 
 
 •• guns used during our service ._ 
 
 - kinds of guns used during our service — 
 
 *One of these (Peter Scott) died before being mustered in. 
 
 10 
 
 •"> 
 
 18 
 i»4 
 1»5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 50 
 is 
 
 4 
 20 
 
 :* 
 
 7 
 
 39 
 lo-2 
 369 
 571 1 
 ,163 
 ,131 
 040 
 135 
 845 
 rj:> 
 800 
 770 
 17s 
 
 61 
 
 n 
 
 6 
 
B D '06 
 
HISTORY 
 
 o:f* 
 
 Battery M, 
 
 Pirst Regirr^er\t 
 Illinois Iwigh^t Artillery. 
 
A 
 
 
 91 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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