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ARMY LIFE; 
 
 FROM A SOLDIER'S JOURNAL, 
 
 BY 
 
 ALBERT O. MARSHALL 
 
 INCIDENTS, SKETCHES AND RECORD OF A UNION 
 SOLDIER'S ARMY LIFE, IN CAMP AND FIELD; 
 
 1861-64 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. 
 
 JOLIET, ILL. 
 1883. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 1883, 
 
 By Albert 0. Maesha.ll, 
 In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 Stereotyped, Printed and Bound 
 
 by the 
 Chicago Legal News Company. 
 
 ^^> 
 
co:ntei:tts. 
 
 CHAPTER PAOE 
 
 I. Earlt Soldieh Life 11 
 
 II. In MfssouRi -Battle OF Fkedkricktovvn 24 
 
 III. In Winter Quarters at Arcadia, Missouri 48 
 
 IV. Our first March Southward . . ; 70 
 V. In Arkansas— An Insulate and Destitute 
 
 Army 100 
 
 VI. Battle op Cache River . ... . 114 
 VII. After the Battle— Hard March to the 
 
 Mississippi River 138 
 
 VIII. Skirmishing, and Confiscating Cotton . 144 
 IX. Return to the North— A "Winter Campaign 
 
 IN Southern Missouri V)2 
 
 X. Our Winter Campaign, continued . . 168 
 
 XI. Return to Pilot Knob 175 
 
 XII. A Public Meeting— Last March in Missouri 184 
 
 XIII. Down the Mississippi 192 
 
 XIV. Across to the Vicksburg side of the River 197 
 XV. Magnolia Hills— To the Rear of Vicksburg 203 
 
 XVL Battle of Champion Hills .... 210 
 XVII. Battle of Black River . . . . ,215 
 (5) 
 
Q Contents. 
 
 ^^r, PAGE 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 XVIII. VlCKSBURG 229 
 
 XIX. Siege OF ViCKSBURG 244 
 
 XX. Chargeupon ViCKSBURG— A few Incidents 261 
 
 XXI. With the Army of the Gulp . . . • '-^"^6 
 
 XXII. In Louisiana » 279 
 
 293 
 
 XXIII. Up the Teche Valley 
 
 XXIV, On the Gulf of Mexico .... 
 
 ■XXV. In Texas ^^^ 
 
 XXVI. Capture of Fort Esparenza ... 319 
 
 XXVII, In Winter Quarters at Indianola, Texas . 3-'.9 
 
 XXVIII. Re-enlistment of the Thirty-third . 347 
 
 XXIX. With the Ninety-ninth 3tj8 
 
 XXX. Slavery, the Ballot and the Presidency— 
 
 AN Essay ^^^ 
 
 XXXI. Return from Texas to Louisiana . . 390 
 XXX 11. From New Orleans to New York, and 
 
 thence to Illinois 400 
 
 XXXIII. Mustered Out— Home Again . • • .405 
 
PEEFACE. 
 
 Books are merely word pictures. The true artist 
 makes the scene upon tlie canvas appear life-like and 
 actual. 
 
 It has been truly said, that if the biography of 
 any man, however humble his station, were written 
 so truthful and complete as to display his whole inner 
 and outer life, from the cradle to the grave, it would 
 be immortal. To write such a biography is impossi- 
 ble. TliO writer, like the painter, only produces a 
 likeness; neither creates the real. 
 
 Many histories of the late war have been written, a 
 perusal of which calls to mind my own soldier life; 
 and in reading of tiie brave deeds of many officers, as 
 recorded, the thought has often occurred to me, that 
 the simple story of the private soldier's actual army 
 life would not be devoid of interest. 
 
 Turning occasionally to my army journal, after 
 these many years, the sketches written from time to 
 time by the light of the evening camp fires, appear to- 
 me, deeply interesting. They may, perhaps, be en- 
 tertaining to others. 
 
 The preservation of the little memorandum books 
 in which my army journal was written is al- 
 
8 Preface. 
 
 most iniraeiilous. The knapsack in wliicli tliev were 
 carried, was often left beliind on some forced march, 
 or just before a battle. Other knapsacks were lost. 
 But through all the varied changes, dangers and vicis- 
 situdes of three years of a soldier's life at the front, 
 on the march, in bivouac and battle, this knapsack 
 was never so mislaid or lost as not to bring along its 
 little army journal. These memoranda are simply 
 jottings, made rather as a pastime than with any 
 thought of future use, or of their being of sufficient 
 value to send home for safe keeping; an army blanket 
 wa& then more iiighly prized and carefully guarded; 
 yet with all the neglect and hazard attending its jour- 
 ney, this journal always returned and was at the mus- 
 ter out, or these pages could not have been presented. 
 N'o published histories nor public records have been 
 consulted in compiling this volume. Itcontains only 
 such matters as were, at the time, deemed of sufficient 
 interest to be noted in my army journal. 
 
 In reviewing this army journal, I discover that 
 many things written at the age of twenty appear crude 
 and incomplete, twenty years thereafter. A t this time 
 I have sometimes felt inclined to erase the Avords of 
 youthful enthusiasm, wild extravagance, or, perhaps, 
 boyish foolishness, found therein! Such correction 
 would, however, leave the picture less vivid, distinct 
 and real. Hence, with but little change, or even ver- 
 bal alterations, and omitting only such peculiar per- 
 sonal matters as no one need ask nor expect to see, 
 the pages are presented as they were written twenty 
 years ago. 
 
 When it is remembered that a majority of the pii- 
 
Peeface. 9 
 
 vate soldiers were, at enlistment, between the ages of 
 sixteen and twenty- three, it will be realized that a 
 true picture of their soldier life must, of necessity, 
 portray a youthful and immature one. 
 
 If my comrades of the great Union army, when 
 reading these reminiscences are carried back, in mem- 
 ory, to the old camp fires and army scenes — if their 
 friends in reading the story can, in imagination, see 
 wdiat the soldiers endured and what they accomplished, 
 my object is attained. I have made no attempt to 
 write a war, nor even a regimental history; but this 
 little book is submitted for simply what it claims to 
 
 be A WCTURE OF A PKIVATE SOLDIER's ARMY LIFE. 
 
 A. O. M. 
 JoLiET, III., 1883. 
 
ARMY LIFE 
 
 FROM A SOLDIER'S JOURNAL. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 LEAVING HOME. 
 
 The eleventh day of September, clnrinc: the event- 
 ful year of 1861, found me riding at railroad speed 
 down the Chicago and Alton road, on my way from 
 my Will countv home, to Camp Butler at Spring- 
 Held, Illinois, where I was to join the army, shoulder 
 a musket, and go forth to the bloody fields of battle 
 to fight for the'irrand cause of Country and Liberty. 
 I will not attempt to portray the varied emotions I 
 felt upon this, to me, long to be remembered day. 
 Such emotions as any young man must feel when 
 leaving the dearest of home associations, the kindest 
 of frielidly relatic^ns, the most cherished and valued 
 school privileges; leaving all of these for the first 
 time, and that, too, not as fond anticipation had often 
 promised, to mingle in the common contests of active 
 life, but for the uncertain, desperate battle field, by 
 and by to return, perhaps— perhaps not. Attempt- 
 ing to throw the veil of forgetfulness over these 
 memories I will let this journal recount other thoughts 
 and scenes. 
 
 (11) 
 
^^ AiiMr Life, 
 
 The day was bright and beautiful; one of the fair- 
 est of early Autumn. The journey passed Mviftly 
 and i)leasantly. "^ 
 
 FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE TniRTr-TIIIKD. 
 
 I had decided to join the Thirty-third Illinois C^^or- 
 mal) Eegi.nent. At Bloomington two intelhVent and 
 accomplished ladies joined the j/assengers foi- Sprin..- 
 iield. I was much pleased to learn that they were 
 acquainted with the Normal Regiment, to which, in 
 tact, they were on the way to make a visit. One was 
 the wife of Colonel Hovey of the Thirty-third and the 
 other a sister of a young man, lately from the Nor- 
 mal school, and now orderly sergeant of the company 
 I intended to join. With one exception they were 
 the first members of the Normal Kegi men t- which 
 they were in spirit and interest, if not in fact-I had 
 ever met. 
 
 If the regiment sustains even a small part of the 
 good impression created in its favor by this first 
 meeting with any of its members, it will prove to be 
 one of the best regiments that Illinois or anv State 
 can send to the field. 
 
 _ We arrived at Springfield at sundown. Jum,.inc. 
 into a carriage I was soon in Camp Butler and the 
 camp of the Thirty-third shown to me. I then found 
 Company A and was furnished with soldier quarters 
 tor the night. 
 
 FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP-YOUNG SOLDIERS ON GUARD. 
 
 I lay down with the soldiers, but sleep ;vas out of 
 
At Springfield, III., September, 1S61. 13 
 
 the question. Of all the strange and queei- racket and 
 sound ever heard, none could exceed the unearthly 
 clamor made by a large number of jouDg volunteei-s 
 during the first few nights they are in camp. One 
 soldier near my tent kept up a continual yell,' of, as I 
 thought, "corporal-of-the-guard-want-something-to- 
 eat." This early evidence of starvation in camp raised 
 ratherdubious suggestions when I thoughtof our future 
 prospects. As he continued to yell louder and louder, 
 instead of ceasing, at last I became vexed, as I sup- 
 posed he was only yelling for fun, and was about 
 ready to go out and try the virtue of throwing a brick 
 at his head, merely as a gentle hint for him to cease 
 such unreasonable midnight .howling, when one of the 
 boys in our tent, Charley Huston, a/i old soldier— he 
 had been in the army three full weeks— informed me 
 that the soldier was on guard and was only trving to 
 utter the simple call of, "corporal of the guard :N'o. 
 17," which meant that he wanted such officer to come 
 to his post for some reason or other. Thus it appeared 
 that the soldier was only doing his duty and not 
 merely yelling nonsense as I had supposed. How he 
 had been able to give such a plain call the sound I 
 first heard I am unable to understand. 
 
 Although the commotion appeared to subside a 
 little^ as night advanced, yet it seemed to be only so 
 that it could become more dismal and hideous. Thus 
 the night's confusion continued with all the wild and 
 weird variations possible until the early reveille of 
 tlie next morning called up those thousands of entha- 
 siastic young soldiers, who soon transformed the 
 hideous, fantastic scene of a dark, foggy night canm 
 
14: Army Life, 
 
 into a grand and bewildering sea of life, action and 
 labor. Thus passed my first niglit in camp. 
 
 THE NORMAL REGIMENT. 
 
 The original idea of having the Normal Kegiment 
 contain only young men of literary aspirations and hab- 
 its, had not been insisted upon as strictly as at first bad 
 been intended. And yet, the regiment contained many 
 who had left schools and colleges to join the army; 
 many who well deserved the name of " Student sol- 
 diers of Illinois." Taken altogether, the regiment 
 appears to well deserve the honor of carrying through 
 the war the name, Normal Kegiment, and being thus 
 identified with that favorite school of the Prairie 
 State, the Normal University. 
 
 My first acquaintances were among Company A. 
 Of course, I was more interested in them than in 
 others, as they were to be my immediate associates 
 and comrades for the next three years. Among them 
 were quite a number of students from the Normal 
 University— and a noble class of young men they 
 were— some from other colleges, others were school 
 teachers, and quite a large number had come from the 
 best class of farmer boys, who were, many of them, 
 equal, if not superior, in intelligence and all soldierly 
 <pialities, to their college comrades. 
 
 Many good people would regret to see so many 
 bright and promising young men rushing to meet 
 the deadly exposure of camp life and the battle field. 
 It is indeed, a sad, a terrible thought. Still if it 
 proves to be the will of Heaven that they should fall, 
 
At Camp Butler — Swokn In. 15 
 
 why should friends at home monrn? If they were 
 to live for ages, when could they again have an ep- 
 portuiiity to give their lives to support and uphold a 
 nobler, a better cause? In these trying days how 
 often has the thought been repeated in thousands of 
 earnest hearts: If I have not my loved country to 
 live in, I have nothing to live for. If this is to be 
 its end, let it also be mine. Such a cause thus sup- 
 ported, thus maintained, must be right and in the end 
 must surely win. 
 
 SWOKN IN. 
 
 I was sworn into the service on the fourteenth day 
 of September. Only four others were sworn in at the 
 same time. The medical examination was skipped in 
 my case. The doctor simply bowed to me pleasantly 
 and said: "I guess you will make a good soldier." 
 The company had been mustered and fully organized 
 before I joined it. All the officers had been elected, 
 commissioned and appointed, and every thing was in 
 working order. 
 
 I was somewhat amused to see the reluctance with 
 which our officers, at my direction, inserted the word 
 " farmer " instead of " student " in the column of the 
 muster-rolls headed " occupation." They were anx- 
 ious to have all who had left universities to join the 
 army entered on the rolls as " students." But being 
 a farmer boy I preferred to enlist as one. 
 
 MY FIRST SABBATH IN CAMP. 
 
 Sunday, the fifteenth, was my first Sabbath in camp. 
 
16 
 
 Army Life, 
 
 There was not any religions services in onr regiment, 
 so I songlit relief from the long, dull hours by visiting,' 
 reading and writing letters liome. As if to remiird 
 ns of the holiness of tlie day, which seemed to have 
 been almost forgotten, one of our regiment was called 
 from among us to meet his Maker. This was the 
 second death in the regiment. 
 
 A FULL DRESSED SOLDIER. 
 
 On Monday I drew my uniform and soon was in full 
 soldier trim. Got a very good, well fitting suit of 
 clothes. Felt quite soldier-like. From what prouder 
 position could a young man of this noble country 
 desire to commence active life, than that of a free 
 American soldier? And should he die in this cause, 
 every good Christian will admit that he ought to o-o' 
 right straight to Heaven. ° '^ 
 
 MARCHING ORDERS — HURRAIl!- 
 
 On Tuesday, September seventeenth, in answer to the 
 sudden call, "Fall in," our company was immediately 
 assembled together. We were then informed that we 
 were likely to soon move to the front, and ordered to 
 be ready to march at an hour's notice. " Hurrah ! Plur- 
 rah,boys!! Hurrah!!!" What a yell rang and echoed 
 and re-echoed through the camp and woods, until the 
 staunch old oaks themselves seemed to have caught 
 the inspiration and vibrated with the wild enthusi- 
 asm. The boys threw their hats high in the air, ran, 
 jumped, tumbled, hallooed and yelled until they were 
 hoarse and exhausted. In fact I never saw boys or 
 
Leaening to Use the Knapsack, etc. 17 
 
 men so wild, so enthusiastic, so delighted as those of 
 the Thirty-tiiird were when the order came for them 
 to leave Camp Butler and start for the seat of war. 
 All the afternoon every thing and every one was in 
 the greatest commotion. The strange excitement and 
 enthusiasm continued at the highest pitch. And such 
 excitement, such enthusiasm! It seemed in fact as 
 though each and everyone was a powerful electric bat- 
 tery cliarged to the full and overflowing with the 
 electricity, created by the wild enthusiasm of that 
 hour. It appeared as though they thought that the 
 greatest events of a thousand eventful years had been 
 combined and condensed into one brief moment of 
 time, and the victory of them all given to the boys of 
 the Thirty-third 'in those brief commands: "To the 
 front," " Prepare for active service." 
 
 Our knapsacks, haversacks and canteens were is-, 
 sued to us at once. Many funny scenes occurred as 
 the young soldier boys were trying to understand the 
 new, and to them, curious soldier trappings. Each 
 commenced trying to solve the unknown mystery at 
 once. Most of the soldiers could, at first sight, un- 
 derstand the use for which the different articles were 
 designed, but the more awkward ones made some 
 laughable blunders. The canteens being simply a 
 round tin water flask with flat sides and a strap at- 
 tached to carry it by, so plainly showed for what it 
 was intended that all could understand its use at once, 
 except a few of those odd fellows who never under- 
 stand anything, and who were laughed at for the way 
 
18 Akmy Life, 
 
 in which thev explained tlieir supposed powder-horns. 
 This was the only mistake made with the canteens, 
 unless the enthusiastic indorsement of one soldier 
 could be called a mistake, wiio, when he received his 
 canteen, earnestly embraced it and spontaneously ex- 
 claimed, "What a neat and convenient thing to carry 
 a drop of whisky in to have in case of accident." 
 
 Tlie knapsacks with their different parts, pockets, 
 and straps, pnzzled them more. The liaversacks 
 being simply a canvas bag with a strap attached 
 long enough to go over the shoulders, were so plain 
 and simple that they could, as they erroneously sup- 
 posed, understand its use at once. By the time a single 
 blanket was crowded into it, the haversack, never in- 
 tended for such purpose, was full and running over, and 
 the perplexed and bewildered soldier would look with 
 blank astonishment and comical dismay at tlie large 
 pile of necessary blankets and clothing for which he 
 had no room. By this time the more dexterous ones 
 had solved the mystery of their knapsacks and with 
 them fully packed were trying them in position on 
 their backs. Upon looking at the more ingenious 
 ones, the unhappy and confused soldiers began to see 
 where they were wrong, and soon understood that the 
 baversacks they had been trying to use as a bag for 
 their blankets and clothing was only designed for a 
 dinner bag. With the help of their more efficient 
 comrades the awkward soldiers learned how to pack 
 their knapsacks. In this way even the dullest volun- 
 teer was set right as to the different and proper uses 
 of the knapsack, haversack and canteen, and we were 
 soon pronounced to be all in marching order. 
 
TVe Leave Camp Butler. 19 
 
 going — but where to? striking tents. 
 
 Altliough we have received orders to be ready to 
 march at an hoar's notice, we do not know when we 
 will start nor whither we are to go. Some trj to 
 guess, but it is no use. Already every place from 
 Washington to Texas has been mentioned. The only 
 thing we seem to be certain about is, that we are go- 
 ing somewhere. 
 
 The next day we completed our arrangements for 
 leaving Camp Butler. Many of the soldiers had 
 clothing, books, etc., which they could not take with 
 them. Such things were disposed of in different ways; 
 some were given or thrown away; some, Yankee like, 
 traded off; and others sent to friends at home. Every 
 thing being ready we impatiently waited for marching 
 orders. 
 
 At five o'clock in the afternoon the welcome, 
 anxiously-waited-for order came: " Strike tents." No 
 sooner said than done. Even now the laugh went 
 round at the expense of two or three wildly enthusi- 
 astic, awkward ones who, this being the first time 
 they had heard this command, had taken the order 
 exactly as given and with the nearest clubs at hand 
 were hastening to vigorously perform their share of 
 " striking tents." Our zealous friends soon learned 
 that to "strike tents" did .not mean, like " whipping 
 carpets," to vigorously pound them with a stick, but 
 to take them down. A thousand willing hands seized 
 the tents, took them down, rolled them up and loaded 
 them on the wagons and we were ready to start. 
 
 It was now general! v understood that we had bocn 
 
20 Army Life, 
 
 ordered to Washington. We marched out to onr last 
 parade at Camp Butler. Colonel Hovey was absent 
 from camp. He was in the city of Springfield arrang- 
 ing for our departure. Major Koe on horseback 
 was in command of the regiment. He made a few 
 happy remarks which were enthusiastically cheered 
 by the command. We marched from the camp to the 
 public road, and supposed that we were now fairly on 
 the way; but just as we were starting for the railroad 
 depot we were ordered to stop a few minutes. The 
 few minutes ran into hours. It turned out that we 
 had to stay waiting on the roadside all night expect- 
 ing every moment to start forward. Waiting for 
 what? Waiting, as we afterward learned, for Uncle 
 Sam to make up his mind where he wished to send us. 
 Colonel Hovey and our other officers, so it was under- 
 stood, were anxious to cast their fortunes and the 
 future of the regiment with the Western army and 
 not with that of the East. Finally the order for us to 
 go to Washington, in response to much telegraphi 
 was countermanded and we were sent to Missouri 
 
 mo-. 
 
 FIRST MARCH. 
 
 After lying upon the roadside all night we got 
 up at an early hour and returned to our old camp, 
 where we took an early breakfast and then marched 
 to Jimtown, the nearest railroad station. 
 
 Our first march, although a short one, only two and 
 a half miles, was to us a hard one. Lying as we did 
 by the roadside all night, expecting every moment to 
 be called into line to go to the supposed waiting rail- 
 
On the "Way to Missouri. 21 
 
 road train, with little chance to sleep or keep warm 
 during all the long hours of a chilly September night, 
 did not have a tendency to put us in an extra good 
 inarching trim. Besides this, we were all heavily 
 overloaded. Each was carrjnng about as heavy a load 
 as he could lift. And then our knapsacks, the awk- 
 ward things, would not set right; or rather perhaps 
 we did not know how to make them do so; something 
 was wrong. Going in this condition, by the time our 
 little inarch was ended, many of the young and un- 
 seasoned soldiers were completely exhausted. This, 
 it must be confessed, was rather a poor beginning for 
 soldiers who had such high expectations of the great 
 wonders they were to accomplish when opportunity 
 offered. 
 
 JIMTOWN. 
 
 "\Ve took the cars at Jimtown; such at least was 
 given as the name of the place where we took the 
 cars when leaving Camp Butler, The city — if it is 
 ever to be one— at the time we were there consisted, 
 according to my recollection, of quite a iiumber of 
 substantial, erect and well preserved white oak stumps, 
 one corn crib and a small house upon the side of one 
 of the hills. 
 
 ON THE EOAD FROM SPRINGFIELD TO ST. LOUIS. 
 
 The train was waiting for us. Embarking took 
 hut a short time. The sight of the snorting railroad 
 engine waiting to start us on our journey to some 
 more war-like lands, seemed to bring back the enthu- 
 
23 Army Life. 
 
 siasm of the previous day. Every one was revived 
 as if by inagic and at once forgot tiie weariness 
 caused by our lirst march. All were soon on the cars, 
 the tents and everything loaded, all ready, and away 
 we went. 
 
 We had a very pleasant ride over the grand prai- 
 ries of Illinois, down to Alton and thence along tlie 
 river to St. Louis. The sympathy and earnest good 
 will extended to us by the noble-hearted, loyal and 
 true people of Illinois, whose free and happy homes 
 we were so rapidly passing, was unbounded. At 
 every city, village and farm house the citizens and 
 inmates, men, women and children, all would come 
 out to cheer us on our way and bid us an earnest, 
 heartfelt " God bless you." From Springfield to St. 
 Louis our route was lined with flying flags and wav- 
 ing handkerchiefs. It seemed as though all the peo- 
 ple were our own, well known neighbors and friends. 
 
 The neatest, best part, was to see the pretty girls, 
 the blooming maidens, the farmer's daughters as they 
 came tripping across the fields to wish us — many of 
 us hoped that it might not prove to be the last — timid 
 yet earnest "good-by." Perhaps there is more truth 
 than would at first appear in the spontaneous words 
 of one soldier, who could not help exclaiming: " If 
 every man in the United States was a ftirmer's daugh- 
 ter, there would not be any rebels for us to fight." 
 Most certain it is that, if all hearts were as loyal and 
 true as those that beat within the breasts of the kind 
 and noble daughters of our Illinois farmers, there 
 would not be any bloody, treason-stained hands in the 
 lund. 
 
Loyal Daughters of the Pkairie State. 23 
 
 At Alton we stopped a short time. This delay gave 
 the soldiers an opportunity to buy a fresh supply of 
 fruit, cakes, pies, etc. It was strono;ly suspected that 
 a few had something stronger than "cold coffee" in 
 their canteens, which they insisted was what they had 
 purchased. A peculiar kind of cold coffee no doubt. 
 One which, the colder it was, the hotter it became. 
 Its use was not general. One intoxicated man was all 
 I saw in our entire regiment. (This was, please re- 
 member, before we had learned to be old soldiers. At 
 that time it was thought to be very wrong for a sol- 
 dier to get drunk.) 
 
 When we first arrived at Alton we ex])ected to take 
 a steamboat and sail down the river to St. Louis. As 
 the boat which was to take us would not be ready to 
 start for several hours, it having part of a cargo to un- 
 load, it was decided that we should continue by rail. 
 This was quite a disappointment to the soldiers, es- 
 pecially those, of whom there were many, who had 
 never had a steamboat ride. "We were soon under way 
 again and arrived at lUinoistown on the Mississippi 
 river, opposite St. Louis, at night. As it was now too 
 late to cross over the river, we took up quarters in the 
 railroad station houses, where we passed the night 
 quite comfortably. 
 
 The next morning we went aboard the steamboat 
 Louisiana and crossed over to St. Louis. This little 
 trip somewhat reconciled the boys to the loss of 3^es- 
 terday's anticipated ride. Although it was a short 
 one, not quite two miles in length, still it will bear 
 the name of a steamboat ride, and by many of us will 
 long be remembered, not only as our first steamboat 
 
24 Army Life, 
 
 ride, but also as the first time we were ever upon tlie 
 waters of the grand old Mississippi river. 
 
 FROM ST. LOUIS TO PILOT KNOB. 
 
 "We stopped in St, Loiiis only long enough to nnload 
 from the steamboat and re-load on the railroad cars. 
 As our freight consisted only of camp equipage and a 
 small supply of rations, the work of transferring was 
 soon done and we were ready to start forward. The 
 sharp railroad whistles sounded. Colonel Hovey acting 
 as railroad conductor for our train, cried, "All aboard," 
 and we were on our way for Pilot Knob. 
 
 Through that part of Missouri which we passed the 
 people seemed to be loyal at heart and cheered us with 
 nearly the same hearty enthusiasm as that which 
 greeted us in Illinois. If we had not known the fact, 
 we would not, from what we saw, have believed that 
 we were travelino; in a slave State. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 AT PILOT KNOB. 
 
 It was late at night when we arrived at Pilot Knob, 
 too late to pitch tents, so we spread them on the 
 ground for a bed and slept upon them with nothing 
 over us except the starry sky during our first night 
 in Missouri. " Pitch tents," does not, like " pitching 
 quoits," mean to throw them as far as you can but, to 
 
At Pilot Knob, September, 1861. 25 
 
 erect tliem. In tlie army the order is, " pitch tents," 
 when they are to be put up, and " strike tents " when 
 they are to be taken down. 
 
 We found the Seventh Nebraska, the Twenty-first 
 Illinois Infantry and part of the Seventh Indiana 
 Cavalry at Pilot Knob. They talked mysteriously of 
 unknown bands of rebels bein_^ in force at various 
 surrounding points and in threatening proximity. 
 They appeared anxious upon one point at least, that 
 it should be understood that they were doing very im- 
 portant duty in a military point of view. 
 
 To judge by the talk of volunteers who have for the 
 first time found themselves within fifty miles of an 
 armed enemy, one would think that all the great 
 issues of the entire war depended upon their valor. 
 Of course we soon learned to do our part in this line. 
 But a few weeks had passed before every circle in 
 camp was nightly enlivened by the recital of the im- 
 portant and eventful exploits that some of our young 
 heroes had performed. Every scouting expedition of 
 even two miles distance multiplied the numbers of 
 wondrous deeds accomplished. He was a poor sol- 
 dier, indeed, who could not at least add his one little 
 story to the countless number nightly recounted. It 
 was estimated by the more prudent and wise ones, that 
 our regiment had, to say the least, already done enough 
 to make its name historic. 
 
 The Twenty-first Illinois put on airs because their 
 first colonel, an officer by the name of Grant, was acting 
 as a brigadier-general and in command of a small 
 force at Cairo. 
 
26 Akmy Life. 
 
 on pilot knob. 
 
 "We arrived at Pilot Knob at a late liour on Friday, 
 September twentieth. As we were not to move on Sat- 
 urday, the noted mountain of iron, Pilot Knob, from 
 which the village received its name, claimed our first at- 
 tention. Every one was anxious to climb over its iron 
 sides and surmount its higliest point. Permission 
 was granted and we started forward in high glee. In 
 a short time that gigantic mountain of iron was a 
 grand sight to behold. It was completely covered 
 withcurious and impetuoussoldiers. Upon everypoint 
 and crag they could be seen, clambering, laughing and 
 racing until they swarmed upon the topmost peaks. 
 As they gathered at the top they could be seen swing- 
 ing their hats high in the air as they gave cheer after 
 cheer for the Union, for the flag and for the country 
 we all love so well, until the stern old iron mountain 
 seemed itself to reply with redoubled eclioes. To see 
 those earnest young men thus faithfully remember- 
 ing their country and their country's flag in the 
 midst of the enjoyment caused by their first visit to 
 a place they had so often read about in their school- 
 boy days, was enough to warm the coldest heart to the 
 highest enthusiasm. 
 
 OUR GUNS. 
 
 The time granted for us to visit the mountain ex- 
 pired, and we returned to our camp at the village. 
 Upon arriving there we were called into line and 
 marched to the quartermaster's quarters and he issued 
 our guns to us. Colonel Ilovey had procured them at 
 
Our Guns. 27 
 
 the arsenal in St. Louis when we came through. There 
 was no time to issue them to us then, so they were 
 brouoht down on the cars in the same trains with us 
 in the boxes as received. It seems strange soldiering 
 this. A lot of green country boys, undrilled, undis- 
 ciplined and without a single weapon in their hands, 
 with no training as to how to use them if they had, going 
 as it were into the very face of an armed enemy in 
 such a destitute and helpless condition. Thus it was 
 our war commenced. 
 
 ThegunB we drevv^ were muskets of a European 
 make, said to be some of those purchased for our 
 Government by General Fremont. The boys were 
 very much disappointed. Tliey had expected to get 
 some of the best rifles in use. Tliey had enlisted with 
 the understanding that this regiment was to be armed 
 with the Eniield rifles, or better, if better were to be 
 had. It was to be the crack regiment of the State, you 
 know. Every regiment organized was formed upon 
 the idea tliat it was without fail to be number one, 
 the especial favorite and pride of the Union army. 
 
 Expecting to get the best rifles and then to get a 
 musket — and such a musket! Phew! A musket that 
 needed the services of a skillful engineer to run it suc- 
 cessfully. To load one of tliem: commence by taking 
 a cartridge out of the cartridge-box, tear oif the end 
 of it and pour the powder down in the gun, then place 
 the ball in after the powder; now go for the long iron 
 ramrod, which must be pulled out of its pocket, in- 
 serted in the mouth of the gun, and with it drive 
 the ball down upon the powder; then take out the 
 ramrod and return it to its own pocket. At this stage 
 
-S Army Life, 
 
 of the proceeding, with a decent gun, a percussion cap 
 would be taken from its box, the hammer of the gun 
 raised, and the cap placed upon the gun tube, but 
 these guns do not go off with a simple little percussion 
 cap such as we are acquainted with. No, indeed. 
 First, the hammer must be raised and then a little 
 trap door must be opened, then a funny little primer 
 about two thirds of an inch in length' with a pretty 
 little wire string attached, must be taken from its box 
 and inserted "just so" in a cunning little pocket, and 
 then the amusing little trap door must be carefully 
 closed dovyn over it, and thus go through all of this 
 elaborate ceremony before the gun can be loaded. 
 ,These guns must bo intended for soldiers who go out 
 and fire one shot and then return leisurely to camp and 
 go back the nextday to fire thesecond volley. But they 
 are so cunning. Yes, just as cunning as a little red 
 wagon and probably about as dangerous. They are a 
 smooth bore gun and the charge contains one ball and 
 three buck shot. They are good for nothing except at 
 short range, and even at that but little better than a 
 common shot gun and much more complicated and 
 unhandy. In every respect except for use as a club, 
 where their weight would be available, a double bar- 
 relled shot gun would be far more desirable. These 
 guns were a poor apology for those the members of our 
 regiment had expected; the i3romised rifles with 
 which they could pick off a rebel with perfect ease at a 
 distance of nine hundred yards. 
 
 AN ACCIDENT. 
 
 This morning, Saturday, a serious accident occurred 
 
In Camp IIoyet. 29 
 
 in the Seventh Nebraska. A lieutenant wascarelesslj^ 
 handling his revolver when it went off and wonnded 
 two men, one quite badlj through the leg and the 
 other mortally. The latter died during the day and was 
 buried this evening. Such carelessness as this ought 
 to be severely punished, 
 
 CAMP HOVEY 
 
 Oar chaplain not having arrived, our first Sabbath 
 in Missouri was passed without any religious services 
 being held in our regiment. 
 
 On Monday we moved and established a permanent 
 camp. Our new camp lay between Ironton and Ar- 
 cadia, two little villages near Pilot Knob. It was 
 named Camp Ilovey. It was upon dry ground, 
 shaded with some fine old oaks, and upon the whole a 
 very pleasant place. Just beyond our camp was a 
 commanding hill upon which the trees were being cut 
 preparatory to building a fort. The boys went to work 
 earnestly, and soon had made a fine army camp. 
 
 It would surprise any one not acquainted with the. 
 inexhaustible resources and utility of Yankee ingenu- 
 ity, to see how soon apparently useless pieces of boards 
 and planks and even the broken remains of deserted 
 secesh buildings were transformed into articles of con- 
 venience and utility. Tent floors, bunks, tables, wait- 
 ing desks, seats, etc., were made with 'surprising ra- 
 pidity and skill. Three hours after onr tents were 
 pitched our canip presented the appearance and con- 
 tained all of the conveniences of an old and well 
 arranged camp. The easy-going people of Missouri 
 
30 Army Life. 
 
 were surprised and astonished. ""Why," tliej ex- 
 claimed, " if these men stay here six months they could 
 build a big city." They had never before seen men 
 work in earnest. 
 
 GOOD WATEK. 
 
 One of the best things of this country is the qual- 
 it}^ and abundance of good water. Flowing springs 
 pour forth their streams of cool and clear water from 
 every mountain side. The springs are unnumbered 
 and their supph'' of good water is inexhaustible. Good 
 water is necessary to preserve the health of an army. 
 The bad water of Camp Butler no doubt did much 
 to impair the health of the soldiers camped there. 
 Unhealthy water frequently destroys more soldiers 
 than the enemy's bullets. A commander who would 
 allow his soldiers to use bad water when good can be 
 had without fighting too hard, ought to be drummed 
 out of the service. 
 
 A SUICIDE. 
 
 Shortly after we were established in our new quar- 
 ters at Camp Hovey, fourteen men came from Illi- 
 nois and joined our company. Some of them were 
 new members who had lately enlisted, and others those 
 who could not come with us when we left Camp But- 
 ler. They brouglit us the sad news that Henry John- 
 son, a fine, intelligent young man who had been left 
 in the hospital at Camp Butler, had committed sui- 
 cide by drowning himself in the small lake at that 
 place. Tliis sad information seemed too incredible 
 
Building Fort IIovet. 31 
 
 for "belief. I saw and had a talk with hira jnst before 
 we came away and he appeared to be in good spirits, 
 lie said that he was ^^aining nicely and would be with 
 ns in a few days. When I expressed ir\j regret that 
 he could not go with ns he replied in a happy, ]*yely 
 manner and laughinglj'- anticipated the pleasant vime 
 lie would have going down to Missouri in a nice, com- 
 fortable passenger coach, while, we would have to 
 go in crowded freight cars. In these rushing times 
 passenger cars for the transportation of soldiers had 
 to be extemporized out of freight cars. Some new, 
 discouraging memories and thoughts must have oc- 
 curred to the young soldier after we came away or he 
 would never have sacrificed his life so vainly. With 
 a big war on hand and his command going to the 
 front, it would seem that a soldier would know that he 
 could have lots of good chances of being killed and 
 to die in an honorable and useful way, and that ho 
 need not commit suicide. Young Johnson left a short 
 note bidding his friends good-bye and telling them 
 that he was " going to the happy land above." Poor 
 boy! Let us pity although we may not understand 
 him. 
 
 BUILDING A FOKT. 
 
 The early building of a fort upon the hill near our 
 camp was deemed a pressing and important matter. 
 The work was placed in charge of Colonel Hovey, 
 who took hold of it in earnest. He examined the 
 plans and estimated the work to be done. He then 
 appealed to the members of his regiment; mentioned 
 the importance of the work, the desire and necessity 
 
32 Army Life, 
 
 tliatit should be done immediatelv; explained that it 
 must be done either voluntarily or by regular detail. 
 He would prefer to work with us as volunteers rather 
 than otherwise; would the Thirtj-third volunteer 
 to do the work and have the honor of building the 
 fort, instead of assisting others to build it as detailed 
 soldiers? The boys of the regiment most willingly 
 assented, and to work we went. An additional In. 
 ducement was given by a promise of twenty-five cents 
 per day in addition to our regular pay as soldiers. 
 Those who worked as mechanics to have forty cents per 
 day. All of us who could use an ax, saw or hammer, 
 were put down on the list as mechanics. Eight 
 hours to be credited a day's work. Every hour more 
 than that to be credited as double time. Thus twelve 
 hours' work in one day would be credited as two days' 
 work. We usually put in the full twelve honors. 
 Thus many of us were earning eighty cents per day 
 extra. ^ Trustworthy sergeants were appointed to keep 
 these important time tables with strict impartiality 
 and military exactness. The boys jokingly called this 
 promised extra pay "boat money," a name derived 
 from the case of the always insolvent man who was 
 continually bargaining for the purchase of a farm 
 which he would pay for " when his boat came in." 
 (Of course nothing was ever paid upon these carefully 
 kept accounts.) 
 
 The work was pushed forward with the utmost ra- 
 pidity. Officers and men all worked together. In 
 this work all rank is ignored. The best workmen 
 were our recognized leaders. The timber in the woods 
 near at hand was freely used. Large trees were cut 
 
Colonel IIovet and the Woekman. 33 
 
 and tlio logs hauled to the fort and placed in the 
 walls. 
 
 By the time the week ended the walls of the fort 
 were so well established and the work in such a state 
 of progress, that the chaplain of our regiment who 
 had now arrived, thought that the fort ought to have 
 some sort of a dedication, so he obtained permission 
 and held religious services in it on Sunday. 
 
 As seemed proper and appropriate the fort was 
 named after the colonel of our regiment and called 
 Fort llovey. 
 
 COLONEL IIOVEY AND THE WORKMAN 
 
 One day while the work on the fort was being carried 
 on with its accustomed vigor, Colonel Ilovey, as was 
 usual with him, was around among tlie boys to see 
 how the work progressed, lending a lielping hand 
 now and then as he saw occasion. Among others, he 
 came across a man who was working with consider- 
 able difficulty by reason of not having the proper tools- 
 to use. The man did not recognize the Colonel, who 
 was dressed in a plain way, and looked, it must be 
 confessed, more like a common soldier than like 
 what we would expect to see in the person of the com- 
 mander of the famous Normal Regiment. Colonel 
 llovey noticed this workman a moment and then 
 asked: "Could you not do that work better if you 
 had a good hand-saw to use?" "Why, yes," said the 
 man; " I believe that I could. Say, old chap, w^on't 
 you go over to the tool house and get one for me?" 
 The Colonel trudged off to the tool liouse, nearly a: 
 quarter of a mile distant, and promptly returned with, 
 3 
 
3i AemV Life. 
 
 a liand-saw. The workman praised liim for lils 
 promptness and continued his work. The Culonel 
 stood looking on and soon again snorgested: "I should 
 think that you could do that better if you had a good 
 ax to use." "Yes, I never thought of that; won't 
 you ]'un over to the other side of the fort and see if 
 YOU can find one for me?" Colonel Hovej went as 
 before and soon returned with the desired tool. His 
 apt suggestions and willingness had completely won 
 the workingman's good will. "Well, old lioss," 
 said he, in his warmest, friendliest manner, "you are 
 a mighty handy chap, and if you will come around 
 and see me this evening I will go with you to head- 
 quarters and have you assigned to help me as a car- 
 penter, and yon will tlien get better wages than you 
 do now as a common laborer." 
 
 At this time, seeing that some of those who knew 
 him were beginning to notice the interesting inter- 
 view, Colonel Hovey passed to some other part of the 
 work. The honest workman's astonishment, when in- 
 formed who his " handy chap" actually was, can be 
 well imagined. 
 
 SOLDIER DYEING. 
 
 One evening after our work for tlie day was done, 
 our jovial little comrade, Elisha Burrows, was seen 
 walking down toward the officers' quarters. Ilis face, 
 always the picture of mirth and lun, was now 
 covered with sadness. He had just come from his 
 tent. Corporal Lewis was one of his tent mates. 
 Lewis, one of our best soldiers, was a general favor- 
 ite, and especially so with Lieutenant Burnhara, 
 
A Soldier axd nis Mu.stacue. 05 
 
 one of the warmest hearted and most sympathetic 
 men in the army. 
 
 As Burrows came near Lieutenant Burnhain his 
 face grew more sad and in mournful tones he asked: 
 "Lieutenant, did 3'ou hear about Corporal Lewis?" 
 In liis quick, impulsive way the Lieutenant answered: 
 "iSTo, what is the matter with him? " With a voice 
 trembling with emotion Burrows slowly replied: 
 " Pie is now in his tent dyeing P With tears of heart- 
 felt sorrow and sympathy coursing down his cheeks, 
 Burnham rnshed to the soldier's tent, exclaiming: 
 "Poor Lewis!" "Poor Lewis! " and found him — 
 sitting before a glass dyeing his new-grown mustache. 
 
 OLD SECESH AND HIS TIG. 
 
 Although we were quite well supplied with provis- 
 ions by the Government, some of the boys would per- 
 sist in having a relish for the many little nicknacks 
 which the farms and larders of Missouri furnished 
 and not included in the army rations. Ko doubt 
 they were in error in their belief, yet some of the 
 boys were actually foolish enough to affirm, and the 
 extreme ones even to go so far as to really believe, 
 that fat chickens and plump pigs were good to eat 
 even in the army. Whether or not any of them ever 
 attempted actual proof is another question. As a 
 general thing our soldiers were, in those early days 
 of the war, very generous and exact in respecting tlie 
 Union citizen's right of property, but woe to him who 
 was known to be a secesh sympathizer. Although 
 military rules and orders would not allow anything 
 
36 Army Life. 
 
 to be disturbed unless properly and formally con- 
 fiscated, yet the soldiers' ingenuity enabled tliem in 
 many ways to show their respect to rebel sympa- 
 tliizers. 
 
 One of the wealthiest men living in the vicinity 
 of Arcadia was of this stripe. One day this rebel 
 sympathizer when passing through the woods near 
 camp saw one of his fattest shoats fall down not far 
 from him, it having met with a severe accident in the 
 shape of a ball from an unseen gun. The Missourians 
 allow their hogs to run at large in the woods, and he 
 was no doubt slipping slyly around to see that noth- 
 ing happened to his pigs. Tliere being no hunter in 
 sight to claim the game, and being unable to find 
 from what part of the thick brush the shot was fired, 
 the owner picked up his pig, a good sized one, and 
 started home. 
 
 He was soon met by a soldier without any gun. 
 "Goodness,"the soldier said, "are you foolish enough to 
 tire yourself out carrying that fat pig home when all 
 yon iiave to do is to go to Colonel Ilovey who will not 
 only make the rascals who shot it carry it home and 
 dress it nicely for you, but also punish them severely 
 in the bargain? " " Yes," he replied, " but how will 
 he know who shot the pig?" "Oh, that is easy 
 enough. He keeps a list of all the boys out of camp. 
 He cln spot the lads for you." This plan tickled 
 old secesh hugely. The idea that he could go to 
 camp and then come back marching proudly at the 
 head of the despised Yankee soldiers, who would have 
 to do the drudgery of lugging the pig to his house 
 and perform the dirty work of scra])ing and cleaning 
 
Old Secesh and his Pig. 37 
 
 it, with him in command to see the work well and 
 thoroughly done, and then to send them back to 
 camp to remain with ball and chain in the guard- 
 house, while he, old importance himself, was at home 
 eating his fresh meat, was too great a temptation for 
 him to withstand. He quickly assented to the plan. 
 The friendly soldier kindly helped him to place the 
 pig in a nice shady place where it would safely re- 
 main until the owner's anticipated, victorious return. 
 The old cove then went briskly into camp to find 
 Colonel Ilovey. 
 
 The sequel can be easily imagined when we add 
 that the pig was soon transferred and keeping com- 
 pany with an unloaded gun. which the kind soldier 
 had hid before volunteering his unselfish and valuable 
 
 advice. 
 
 Suffice it to say that Colonel Hovey impatiently 
 listened to the complaint, more than half intimated 
 that he doubted its truth, and then sent some men to 
 investigate. 
 
 When the owner got to the place and looked for 
 the dead pig, to his great astonishment there was no 
 pig there, Imd the officers returned and reported old 
 secesh to Colonel Hovey as an old fraud. 
 
 That day at supper a fine piece of fresh pork steak 
 was furnished the Colonel. As he finished it with 
 much relish he said to his cook: "How did you get 
 this, Sam?" "Selled eggs and byedit,"said Sam. As 
 it was not dignified for a great man like the com- 
 mander of the Thirty-third to have an extended con- 
 fab with his cook the Colonel finished his supper in 
 peace. But it is said he shortly afterward sent to the 
 
38 Akmy Life. 
 
 owner of tlie lost pig and bouglit two of his best — the 
 value was not large — and fonjot to ever send for one 
 of them; in this way paying for the confiscated pig. 
 
 WAKLIKE TIMES, 
 
 While the work on the fort was being pushed for- 
 ward with the utmost rapidity, many other things 
 claimed our attention. We were in many ways made 
 to appreciate the fact that armed forces of the enemy 
 were within tlireatening distance of us. Countless 
 wild and exaggerated rumors were circulated day and 
 niglit. Among tliem were some stubborn facts. 
 
 A squad of men went to Arcadia and took two pris- 
 oners and 22,000 secesh gnu -caps. The men protested 
 that they were true Union men and that the rebel who 
 was trying to take the ammunition through our lines to 
 the enemy wasanother fellow who could not be found. 
 They were given the benefit of the doubt and discharged 
 and the gun-caps confiscated. 
 
 Two negroes were brought in by our picket guard. 
 They claimed to have been connected wit i the rebel 
 army as servants, from which they had escaped and 
 come to the Union army. They were taken to head- 
 quarters and freely gave all the information of the en- 
 emy they could. 
 
 Three companies of our regiment, E, B and Iv, 
 were, as soon as they had received their gnns, after 
 our arrival at Pilot Knob, sent back toward St. Louis 
 to guard the railroad bridges. They were the first 
 of our command to get into trouble. Quite a large 
 force of the enemy had been hovering around us. 
 x^ot being bold enough to attack the Union troops 
 
The First Engagement. 39 
 
 in llie vicinity of Pilot Knob they had passed np be- 
 tween ns and the Mississippi Kiver and then thrown 
 a force aronnd in onr rear to destroy the bridges on 
 the railroad and thus cut us off from communication 
 witii St. Louis. 
 
 They were too strong for tlie small force we had at 
 those places and our soldiers were soon driven away 
 and the bridges burned. Those of our troops nearest 
 to us made their way back to Pilot Knob; those near- 
 est to St. Louis fell back toward that city, and Cap- 
 tain Elliott and his company (E) were captured. 
 
 Captain Lippiucott had command of those that fell 
 back to Pilot Knob. When he and the men of Com- 
 pany K came in and we were told of the fighting they 
 had'seen, we began to appreciate what it was to be in a 
 warlike country. Captain Lippiucott received much 
 credit for the able manner in which he saved his little 
 force fro.u being captured by the large band of rebels 
 bv which they were surrounded. 
 
 "Two men of Company C went outside our lines to 
 hunt in the woods and were captured by some strag- 
 gling band of the enemy. 
 
 Our cavalry now began to get in their work in feel- 
 ing of the enemy. They were sent out in every direc- 
 timi and met roving bands of rebels almost every day. 
 These small forces \vhen found were easily driven by 
 our men. When the neighborhood of the main rebel 
 army was reached, our cavalry would have to skip back. 
 Our cavalry scouts soon learned so that they could tell as 
 soon as they saw a rebel picket whether or not it was 
 supported by a large force. If it was, tlie rebels would 
 only fall back on their supporting guard and show 
 
40 Army Life. 
 
 li^'lit. If it was only a part of a detaclied force tliev 
 would go pell-mell over the hills and out of reach, and 
 it would be as impossible to get a second sight of 
 them as it would be to get a second shot at a flock of 
 wild tui'keys. 
 
 JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE. 
 
 It will be remembered tliat we did not get onr guns 
 until the twenty -second of September. The next'^day 
 we moved and established a new camp, and then went 
 to work building the fort. Soon threatening move- 
 ments of the enemy near us admonished our oflicers 
 that the new soldiers needed some training in the use 
 of their guns. On the twenty-eighth we commenced 
 drilling in the manual of arms. From this time, 
 all of the leisure moments that could be taken from 
 other duties were spent in drilling. With buildino- 
 forts, drilling and watching rebels, the last of SeptenC 
 ber and first of October, 1861, were very busy times 
 with us. 
 
 ' Toward the last of October all of our available 
 force was called into line and we started out fully ex- 
 pecting to meet the enemy near at hand. After go- 
 ing a short distance a halt was called, and in a short 
 time a march back to camp ordered. Two or three 
 days afterward the same movements with the same 
 expectations of a battle were repeated. 
 
 On the fifteenth of October it seemed that the so 
 often expected engagement would certainly take place, 
 ^ewsfrom our cavalry told us that they were beino- 
 driven back toward camp. It was believed that the 
 enemy were moving upon us with their entire force. 
 
Makching and Skirmishing, Oct., 1861. 41 
 
 At four o'clock we started out on the Fredericktowii 
 road to meet thein. We did not expect to go more 
 than one or at most two miles before being obliged 
 to select a battle ground. Instead of this we went 
 seven miles without seeing any rebels, but we met. 
 our returning cavah-y. They liad met some of Jeff 
 Thompson's forces with whom they had quite a severe 
 brush. Our men were repulsed but they succeeded 
 in brino-ing off their wounded. From the cavalry it 
 was learned that the enemy were in force at or near 
 Fredericktown. We now halted and a council of 
 war was held by our commanding officers. After a 
 session of two or three hours it was decided that we 
 should return to our quarters at Pilot Knob and Iron- 
 ton and wait for future arrangements. So we turned 
 and marched back again. 
 
 It was upon this march that Lieutenant Burnham, 
 who for a short time had command of our company, 
 gave the order which afforded considerable amusement 
 and came near making him famous. While we were 
 descending a steep hill, for some reason the front of 
 the coinmn stopped which made it necessary for us to 
 halt. Burnham, like the rest of us, was new in 
 military life, and in tlie confusion of the moment the 
 proper com raand "Halt ! "escaped his memory, and tlius 
 in its place in thundering tones upon the night air 
 came the command: " Mark time!" The idea of stop- 
 ping upon a sharp march to a supposed battle fiehl, 
 witii the enemy perhaps within hearing distance, to 
 go through the idle ceremony of " marking time," 
 which is to take up one foot al'ter tlie other in succes- 
 sion and repl xe it in the same place was so absurd that 
 
^^ Army Life. 
 
 the entire company cauglit the spirit of tlie joke and 
 obeyed the command. And there stood Company A, 
 in battle array, upon a steep hill in si^^htof their com- 
 rades and the enemy near, vigorously '^ marking time " 
 until one of his brother officers suggested the ri-lit 
 word, when Burnha.n stopped the interesting cere- 
 mony by the command "Halt." 
 
 Other troops had followed us to Pilot Knob so that 
 we now had quite a respectable force at this point. 
 Among the new arrivals was the Thirty-eio-hth Illi- 
 nois, Colonel Carlin commanding. By some means 
 his commission had been issued so that it bore a prior 
 date to the one Iield by Colonel Hovey, which made 
 him the senior and commanding officer of the armv 
 at this point. This led to considerable unpleasan't 
 feehng, but nothing serious grew out of it. The 
 Thirty-third having been organized so as to take the 
 earliest number, it did not seem just right that it 
 should be outranked l)y the Thirtv-eighth. Our 
 soldiers being volunteers took a deep "interest in these 
 matters. For a time excitement ran high. At one 
 time Colonel Carlin for some trilling'reason put 
 Colonel Hovey under arrest. That is he went so far 
 as to order Hovey to consider himself under arrest 
 This continued for a few days. The lively times the 
 surrounding rebels were now giving us claimed our 
 undivided attention, and other reasons served to 
 smooth over the miamderstanding for the time beino-, 
 but it can be safely said that Carlin and Hovev never 
 became very loving to each other so long as they re. 
 mained in the same command. 
 
Battle of Fkedericktown. 43 
 
 battle of fredericktown. 
 
 It now became known that Jeff Thompson was fast 
 concentrating an army of considerable force in the 
 neighborhood of Fredericktown, and between ns and 
 the^Missisiippi Eiver. This large force of the enemy 
 and its position made an attack npon us more than 
 probable. It seemed certain. All military rules de- 
 manded it. The bridges between us and St. Louis 
 had been burned. The enemy had successluUy thrown 
 himself between us and the only Union troops within 
 supporting distance. The situation of affairs de- 
 manded that General Thompson should attack us, 
 and do it at once. We expected it. Orders were 
 given for us to keep our guns loaded and ready for 
 use. We "slept on arms" every night. We were 
 frequently called out expecting an immediate battle. 
 At last, however, it became certain that Thompson 
 would not attack us in the strong position we held. 
 His movements were strange, indeed. To occupy the 
 position he did required great bravery, if tiot abso- 
 lute recklessness. To remain where he was inactive, 
 was at once both dangerous and silly. He should 
 have immediately come on and made an attack upon 
 the forces at Pilot Knob before reinforcement could 
 have reached them, or else have promptly retired to a 
 safe position. His delay gave time for communica- 
 tion to be made with the Union forces upon the Mis- 
 sissippi Kiver. A force large enough to compete with 
 Thompson, under command of Colonel Plummer, had 
 crossed the river from Illinois, and coming north- 
 west from Cape Giardue were within easy striking 
 distance of the rebels. Another force from Cairo had 
 
44 Army Life. 
 
 crossed to Bird's Point. It was easy to be seen tbat 
 Tlionipson's entire force conkl easily be captured. 
 The bo3'S were now in high spirits. Soldiers in tlie 
 ranks talk of and study military points almost as 
 mnch as the officers in command. By going to the 
 southeast from Pilot Knob and having the force from 
 Bird's Point move to the northeast and then let the 
 Union troops from Cape Giardue come up and strike 
 liim from the east, Jeft' Thompson would not only 
 Jiave been defeated but would also have been cut off 
 from all chance of escape. 
 
 Such was the condition of aifairs when the forces at 
 Pilot Knob, with Colonel Carlin in command, started 
 out to join in the attack upon the enemy under Gen- 
 eral Thompson, who had now concentrated his entire 
 force at Fredericktown. We were aware of the fact 
 that the Union troops under Colonel Plummer were on 
 the way and within striking distance of the rebel army. 
 
 On the twenty-first of October the troops came up 
 and a sharp brisk battle was fought in which Thomp- 
 son was quickly and severely defeated. Most of the 
 fighting on the Union side was done hy the soldiers 
 under Colonel Plummer. As he outranked Colonel 
 Carlin he was the ranking officer of the united com- 
 mand. Plummer's own soldiers did most of the 
 fighting. Most of the Pilot Knob forces, however, par- 
 ticipated in the battle; some of them in the thickest 
 of it. Company A was on the skirmish line. The 
 balance of the Thirty-third was held in reserve at 
 first, but they were so anxious to go in that they were 
 permitted to do so. The fight was, however, so soon 
 over that they only came up in time to fire one voHey 
 
Battle of Fkedericktown. 45 
 
 at the retreatins^ rebels. It was a short, sharp and deci- 
 sive contest. As I was confined in the camp liospital 
 at Ironton, during this time, with a severe attack of 
 typiioid fever, I will not attempt to give incidents of 
 the contest. 
 
 Instead of falling to the south of the enemy as they 
 conld easily and safely have done, the troops from 
 Pilot Knob had kept to the north so as to form a junc- 
 tion with the troops under Colonel Flummer. This 
 left an open road for Thompson to the south, and with 
 his defeated army he retreated in hot haste toward the 
 Arkansas state line. In war if you are sure to defeat 
 the enemy strike so as to cut off his retreat and make 
 the victory complete. 
 
 Although the enemy's entire force was not captured 
 as it ought to have been, still the battle of Frederick- 
 town was in many respects a very important one. It 
 gave us undisputed possession of all of Southeastern 
 JNIissouri and was the first battle of the war that 
 could be claimed as a decided Union victor^^ 
 
 The loss upon the Union side was smalL That of 
 the rebels comparatively large. It is claimed that 
 our soldiers buried over 200 of the rebel dead, left 
 by them upon the field. The enemy's severest loss 
 was that of Colonel Lowe, who was second to General 
 Thompson in command of the rebel forces. He was 
 one of the most promising young officers in the rebel 
 army. He was killed in the early part of the battle. 
 His death had a very depressing effect upon the rebels 
 of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas, where 
 before the war, he was well known as a brilliant, 
 promising and popular young lawyer. 
 
4G Army Life. 
 
 The bci^iiming of the contest shows that Thompson 
 attempted to lead the Union army into an ambush. 
 When Colonel Plnmmer arrived at Fredericktown, ho 
 found that Colonel Carlin had preceded liini and 
 been near the town since morning. It was believed 
 by Carlin that the enetny had beat a hasty retreat. 
 Colonel Plnmmer desired to advance and see what 
 had become of the confederates. As arrangements 
 were being made for this movement, Colonel Flum- 
 mer directed Captain Stewart, the captain of an inde- 
 pendent cavalry company, and A. J. Sanger, a soldier 
 of the Twentieth Illinois, to go forward and take obser- 
 vations. The two rode forward and from the brow 
 of a hill saw some smoke arising from the distant 
 Avoods. Stewart used his Held glass but could discover 
 no evidences of a large force. They now passed on 
 down the road, which was narj-ow and inclosed on 
 both sides b}' a high old-fashioned rail fence. The 
 high and thick weeds and grass growing along the 
 fence were not easy to be seen through. As they 
 passed down in this narrow road the Captain, in a 
 clear, distinct voice, discussed the strength of the force 
 in the woods beyond, giving it as his opinion that it 
 Vv'as nothing more than a detached band of rebel 
 scouts. Just at this moment Sanger's keen eyes peered 
 through the fence and weeds, and there discovered the 
 rebels in full army line lying still as mice upon the 
 ground. At the same moment the thought flashed 
 through his mind that the rebels had planned an 
 ambush and were waiting for the Union troops to 
 come in solid column down this road, when they 
 would raise up and slaughter them. Kightly guess- 
 
Battle of Fkedericktown. 47 
 
 ing that they were waiting for larger game and would 
 not care to discover tliemselves by firing upon two 
 men, Sanger assumed not to see them and coolly 
 continued the talk with the Captain, in a tone easily 
 heard by the rebels within a rod of them; agreeing 
 that there were no rebels worth noticing near, and 
 tliat our soldiers could come down without being 
 disturbed. ''Yes," said the Captain, "I guess that 
 we M'ill not see any more secesh in these parts." 
 " That is so. Suppose we cross into that field, go up 
 over that hill, and tell our boys to come on," sug- 
 gested Sanger. " All right," was the reply. They 
 had by this time passed quite a distance along by the 
 heavy ranks of rebels lying upon the other side of the 
 fence. They were near enough to almost have reached 
 our scouts with their sabers and heard every word 
 spoken. Sanger dismounted, let down the fence to 
 the field opposite, let their horses through and slowly 
 put the fence up again, all the time chatting about 
 the situation as though there was not a rebel within 
 a hundred miles of them. Re-mounting, both rode 
 up the hill on a slow walk and as they passed over and 
 out of sight of the rebels, Sanger for the first time 
 spoke of what he had seen and asked the Captain if he 
 saw the rebels by the fence. "]^o, did you see any?" 
 The situation was explained in a few words, a brisk trot 
 under cover of tlie hill M-as made back to the Union 
 lines, Colonel Plummer informed of the situation and 
 the rebels themselves were soon surprised by a sudden 
 and destructive fire, which told them that their w^ell 
 laid plans to get the Union troops into a pocket and 
 slaufyhter them had failed. 
 
48 Army Life. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 IN WINTEK QUARTERS. 
 
 After returning from Fredericktown onr regiment 
 remained in Camp Hovey until the middle of No- 
 vember and then took up winter quarters, in which we 
 remained until the first day of March. 
 -■ We took possession of the vacant houses in Arca- 
 dia, of which there were quite a number and they 
 made us very good and pleasant quarters. 
 
 Three companies, A, C and D, went into the sem- 
 inary building. Schoolhouses, colleges, churches and. 
 all kinds of public buildings are vacant and un- 
 used in this part of the country during these war 
 times. The seminary was a large and roomy frame 
 building. 
 
 Our company had a number of small rooms. 
 When we were divided into squads, there were from 
 eight to twelve men in a room, according to its size. 
 
 In each room there was either a stove or a fire- 
 place. The one I was in had a good large fire-place. 
 These old-fashioned fire-places, relics of the past in 
 more civilized lands, are j-et in quite general use in 
 Missouri. These are, as all pioneer people will well 
 remember, simply an open fire-place at the end of 
 the room, built of brick or stone and connected with 
 a chimney running to the top of the house for the 
 smoke to escape. Filled with large pieces of wood 
 and a rousing fire well under way, there is a degree 
 of sociability in the glowing coals and the sparkling 
 fire of these old-fashioned open fire-places that the 
 modern invention of iron stoves can not approximate. 
 
At Arcadia, Nov., 18^1. 49 
 
 During along winter evening a bright, sparkling fire 
 in an old-fashioned, open fire-place would be far 
 more pleasant company than a smoking stove and a 
 scolding wife. One can sit before such a fire and 
 easily imagine that it talks. 
 
 We built bunks three tiers high in one end of the 
 room to sleep on. This left us considerable room for 
 other purposes. Seats, writing desks, etc., we made 
 to suit our taste and convenience. That is, my com- 
 rades did this. Having myself just left the camp 
 liospital and the typhoid fever, both of which I was 
 right glad to get away from, I was not in a condition 
 to take much part in Iieavy work. "When fairly 
 settled we had as good winter quarters as soldiers 
 could wish for, the best in tlie army. 
 
 Our conveniences and means for entertainment and 
 amusement were varied and ample. Here we re- 
 mained having jolly, good times until tlie first of 
 March. In fact tlie only thing we had to grumble 
 about was the easy, inactive times we were having, 
 and to envy those who were sufiering untold liardships 
 elsewhere. Many were fearful that the rebels would 
 all be whipped and the war ended by others, while we 
 remained here and simply performed garrison dut3\ 
 It seems to be a natural desire to be at the work to 
 be done. Even the well-fed, thorough-bred race horse 
 will jump and pull and bruise himself in his frantic- 
 attempts to escape from the well supplied stall, where 
 he could eat and sleep and take his comfort, to join 
 his mates when he sees them liard at work in a con- 
 tested race. And so with soldiers enlisted for the 
 
50 Army Life. 
 
 war, tliey are never contented except when tryln^^ to 
 accomplish something. 
 
 KELIGION IN" THE ARMY. 
 
 Daring tlie first part of onr soldier life a steady, 
 deep and increasing religious interest was maintained. 
 Each new camp we established usually made it neces- 
 sary to form new squads. At Camp Butler, Camp 
 Ilovey, and at this place, I was connected with three 
 different squads in all of which it was customaiw each 
 ev^enino; befo-re retirino- for the nic^ht to observe some 
 short religious exercise such as reading a chapter in 
 the Bible and acknowledging our accountability to 
 our Maker. In the seminary our squad continued 
 this during the winter. All were nominally Chris- 
 tians, althongh not all professors of religion. All 
 creeds were ignored. Even church members rarely if 
 ever knew to what church or denomination others 
 belonged. Each one of our members would in turn 
 lead in' these evening services by reading his own 
 selection from Scriptui-e and end with a short prayer. 
 Whenever this duty fell to one of us common sinners 
 who was not a member of any church, he would do 
 the reading and then turn to some one of our pro- 
 fessed Christians with the request: "Brother 
 
 will please lead us in prayer," 
 
 It may be added that with a few noble exceptions 
 but little assistance was derived from the army chap- 
 lains in maintaining this or any other religious inter- 
 est in the army. The fault was probably more in 
 the want of adaptation to the Avork before them than 
 in the lack of inclination to perform it. 
 
Eeligion in the Akmy. .f)l 
 
 The field was a large one. A deep religions feeling 
 prevailed. It could not have been otherwise. The 
 religions sentiment of a country will, during a war, 
 nhva^'s be strongly represented by its soldiers. A 
 great war never was, and never will be, fought by 
 those who do not believe in anything. Those who do 
 not believe in a future existence can not believe any 
 reward sufficient for the loss of this life. Unbelief 
 doth make cowards of all. He that hath no hope in 
 his soul hath no bravery in his heart. 
 
 SETTLING REBEL CLAIMS. 
 
 During the winter some of the disloyal owners 
 came to claim rent for the buildings occupied by the 
 Union soldiers. Colonel Carlin, who had joined the 
 army as a strong Democrat in politics, had at this 
 time much faith in the effect of kind and liberal treat- 
 ment to the erring Southern brothers, and freely 
 listened to them upon all occasions, (lie became 
 radical enough before the war ended,) Thinking 
 that it was right to pay rent, he directed Captain 
 George R, Dyer, the post quartermaster, to investi- 
 gate and make out proper vouchers. Captain Dyer 
 looked the buildings over and made out vouchers far 
 such rent as they would have commanded before tlie 
 war. At this time there was no demand for them at 
 any price. Colonel Carlin approved the vouchers and 
 sent them forward. Soon the owners of the buildings 
 learned the amount and loudly insisted that it should 
 be increased. They wanted to rob the Government. 
 Captain Dyer would not cliange the figures, havinw; 
 already allowed liberaJlv for the use of buildinirs 
 
5ii Army Life, 
 
 wliicli would have been vacant if we had not occupied 
 them. To Carlin the owners went, talked sweet to 
 hiln, and soon got him to order Captain Dyer to make 
 out new vouchers for an increased amount. 
 
 Ilememberin^ that he was post quartermaster and 
 not fully accountable to Colonel Carlin, he at once 
 wrote a statement of the case to General Allen, then 
 department commander. Promptly the answer came 
 bacU ordering Captain Dyer not to make any vouchers 
 for an increase of rent but to allow the owners to 
 apply to the department at Washington if they felt 
 aggrieved. Soon in came the secesh owners. "We 
 want our new vouchers," tliey demanded. "We have 
 concluded not to make any," said the Captain. In hot 
 haste they went to Colonel Carlin and reported that 
 his orders liad not been obeyed. Threatening to place 
 the quartermaster under arrest he sent for him. He 
 came. "Do you intend to obey my orders?" he 
 fiercely demanded. "All proper orders," meekly an- 
 swered the Captain. " Sir, I want you to understand 
 that as commander of this post I am the judge of 
 what are proper orders. Have you made the voucliers 
 I ordered for these men ? " " I. have received other di- 
 rections upon that matter," said the quartermaster, 
 handing the Colonel the order from General Allen. 
 Colonel Carlin read the order and then simply said: 
 "You may return toyour quarters." lie never referred 
 to the matter again. The grasping owners did not 
 dai'e to send their fraudulent claims to Washijigton, 
 and thus a laroe sum was saved to the Government. 
 
Soldier's Letters. 
 
 READING MATTER. 
 
 Daring the winter we spent in Arcadia Seminary 
 we were well supplied with reading matter. A nice 
 little library had been selected and sent to us by kind 
 friends, mainlv by the good people of Bloomington 
 and Normal, Illirois. It contained good and inter- 
 esting books which were well adapted to our use. In 
 addition to the books of larger size a neat box came 
 full of Harper's and other good and instructive 
 mao-azines. The latter were sent to us by the 
 fail" inmates of the Eockford Female Seminary. 
 Those good girls had thoughtfully re-covered ttie 
 magazines with their own hands and expressly for the 
 soldier boys. Such true, unassuming kindness as 
 this, and from personal strangers,. will always be re- 
 membered. The soldier's motto is. Hurrah for the 
 flag— God bless the ladies! And it is hard to say to 
 which the simple fellows can be the most faithlul. A 
 brave soldier will be a true lover. Added to the books 
 and magazines we received the daily papers promptly 
 each day. 
 
 LETTER AVRITING. 
 
 The ever fruitful source of improvement, pleasure 
 and happiness, letter writing, filled an important place 
 with us. Our conveniences for writing were so good ; 
 the leisure time we had at hand; the anxiety to hear 
 from absent friends and the desire to tell them of our- 
 selves; the force of example and the inclination to do 
 as we see others doing; all these things combined, 
 served at one time to make letter writing almost a 
 
54 Armv Life. 
 
 panic with ns. If one could get a copy of all the 
 letters written during this tinie he would have a volu- 
 minous if not interesting collection. It was no 
 uncommon thing for some of the boys to write as 
 many as from live to ten letters per day. Weekly 
 correspondence home was changed to semi and tri- 
 weekly, and often, especially if there was a girl in the 
 case, to daily. Many new correspondences were com- 
 menced. Common kind of friends at home were 
 no doubt annojxd with the ceaseless flow of letters. 
 The amount of soft sentiment that was sent to the 
 fair ones was truly amazing. Letters were written 
 and sent upon the smallest pretext. No doubt many 
 of Illinois' ftiir daughters were surprised to receive an 
 unexpected letter from some soldier in Missouri. 
 Those who had left a girl at home pushed their suit 
 with all the ardor and impetuosity of a soldier lover. 
 And then, in those cases wliere there was actually a 
 
 confessed sweetheart mercy save us! Turn the 
 
 pages down; do not let even imagination attempt to 
 uncover those sacred secrets. Let no ruthless hand 
 ever dare to break the seal of a soldier's letter to his 
 own true sweetheart. 
 
 AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 Our means for and sources of amusement were vari- 
 ous and sufficient. ^Ye indulged in all of the differ- 
 ent games of chess, clieckers, backgammon, doininos 
 and card playing. Cards as usual in the army being 
 the most patronized; while chess with us, as else- 
 where, was recognized as a game' of art and skill, re- 
 
Our ^\^inter Amusements. 55 
 
 quiring tliouglit and good judgment to play success- 
 fully. "^ 
 
 Nothing in the nature of actual gambling was per- 
 mittedin our company. In fact the viceof gambling 
 was soon and effectually driven out of our army. No 
 officer should ever allow gambling to gain a foothold 
 in his command. 
 
 A little contest, " for the treats," was not consid- 
 ered actual gambling. One day the officers of our 
 company concluded that the boys were entitled to a 
 treat of a box of cigars. After the cigars were or- 
 dered, Lieutenant Norton, who was a very good player, 
 proposed to Captain Potter who was not, that they 
 should play checkers to decide who should pay for 
 the cigars-' the one first getting live games to win. 
 The Captain assented and they commenced. After 
 easily winning four games, seeing that he could decide 
 the contest at his pleasure, Norton allowed Potter to 
 take two games. In the next he played still more 
 carelessly, so that Potter not only won but was also 
 able to prevent Norton from making a king. The 
 Captain now claimed that a "skunk " always counted 
 as three games, which made him five, and the winner, 
 and declared the contest ended. Norton paid for the 
 cigars and tried to get satisfaction with another con- 
 test, but Potter insisted that his record as the cham- 
 ]Mon checker player was established, and from that 
 time ceased to indulge in the game. 
 
 In front of the seminary was a fine lawn upon 
 which, in fine weather, we had rousing times playing 
 ball and other athletic school-boy games. 
 
 Anion"- other things we sent to St. Louis and pro- 
 
56 Aemt Life, 
 
 cured a set of boxing gloves. Tbej were well pat- 
 ronized by the company and gave the boys much 
 amusement and healthy exercise in learning the man- 
 ly(?) art of self-defense. 
 
 When we wanted a real linge time we tried the 
 blanket game. This consisted of taking two large, 
 strong blankets spread together to give them the 
 needed strength, and surrounded by a lot of soldiers 
 all taking hold of the sides and ends of the blankets, 
 and tiien capture some victim, throw him into tlie 
 center of the blanket and commence lively throw- 
 ing him up into the open air, carefully catching him 
 as he eaine down. The height to which a person 
 can be thrown in this manner and safely canght as 
 he comes down is truly surprising. We first com- 
 menced by taking the smaller men and throwing 
 them up but a little distance. In time we freely 
 threw them liigher and became indifterent as to the 
 size of the one thrown. Sergeant Ed Pike, one of the 
 heaviest men in the company, and as big hearted as 
 he is large, was often a leader in tliis game of throw- 
 ing up the boys. One day as he had hold of the 
 blanket, having just finished with one and waiting to 
 toss up the next, before he knew what was coming, 
 some others had come up behind him and Pike him- 
 self was tumbled into the center, two stout lads had 
 taken hold of the blanket in his place, and to his 
 great surprise he was immediately flying sky-wards. 
 His look of dismay as he went into the air the first 
 time Whs comical enough. He expected, of course, 
 that his heavy weight would, in the tall, carry 
 him through the blanket as easy as though so much 
 
Soldier Dances. 57 
 
 paper and tliat Lis neck was liable to be broken 
 upon the hard ground below. He came out all right 
 aud after a few flights twenty feet or more high, be- 
 gan to like it and was willing to give the boys all the 
 exercise they wanted in throwing him up. In fact 
 this is the way it always worked. After being thrown 
 up a few times they all seemed to enjoy it, so that 
 when we wanted to send up some one who would look 
 wild as he went into the air, we had to pick out anew 
 chap, one who had never been sent up. 
 
 Another source of rare amusement was what we 
 called " stag dances "—soldiers tilling th place of 
 both ladies and gentlemen. The smaller, best look- 
 ing lads taking the women's part of the dance. The 
 part each assumed was designated by the gentlemen 
 appearing on the floor bare-headed, while those who 
 represented the ladies wore their caps with the front 
 piece behind. At best the prettiest boy, in place of 
 a o-irl, is a sorry partner for a dance. These dances 
 were, of course, delightful— I never dance. 
 
 Sometimes, to change the programme, we would 
 get some limber-toed negro to come in and dance a 
 lively old-fashioned Southern break-down. If a col- 
 ored man is strong in any part it is in his legs. "Why 
 in thunder they did not, long ago, all run away and 
 save us from this fearful war upon the slavery ques- 
 tion, I can not understand. At tliis time Company A 
 o-loried in the possession of two violins and half a doz- 
 en fiddlers, so that we could indulge in these dancing 
 amusements whenever we chose. 
 
 Add to all of these the endless number of camp 
 jokes aud never-ending plans of play and fun that 
 
58 Army Life, 
 
 soldiers are always, day and niglit, inventing, and it 
 will be readily conceded that we had no reason to 
 complain for lack of aniusetnents during the winter 
 we spent in Arcadia. 
 
 OUR RATIONS — MISSOURI PIE — GOOD THINGS FROM HOME. 
 
 "We had a convenient cook and dining room in 
 which the rations for the whole company were pre- 
 ])ared and served. The supply furnished by the Gov- 
 ernment was liberal and excellent, that is, for army 
 rations. 
 
 We were supplied with good bread, a liberal quan- 
 tity of beef, pork, beans, rice, coffee, tea and sugar, and 
 occasionally with potatoes and other vegetables. The 
 cooking was not the best in the world, but as good as 
 could be expected by our soldier-boy cooks. Audible 
 com])laints about the cooking were not often made. 
 The prompt and decisive answer to such complaints 
 always was: "If you do not like this cooking come 
 and do it yourself." Improperly cooked food is one 
 of the greatest evils of a volunteer army. A lot 
 of young boys who never had the least experience in 
 cooking, are brought from their homes and given a 
 suppl}' of raw provisions to cook or eat raw as best 
 they can. Ko doubt the fearful amount of sickness 
 and loss of life by disease in the army during these 
 early days could be justly traced to this cause. It 
 became an oft-quoted maxim, that: more soldiers are 
 killed by raw beans than by bullets. 
 
 If another war ever calls such a mass of the raw 
 and inexperienced youth of our land into the soldiers' 
 ranks, let it be seen to that competent cooks are at 
 
Missouri Pie. 59 
 
 liand to give tliera assistance and instruction in the 
 beginning of their army life. If nothing else can 
 be done, let some of the mothers go to their first 
 camp and show their boys how to cook. Wo officer 
 should ever venture to lead a thousand young men 
 from their homes to the army who is not alive to the 
 importance of preventing improperly cooked food 
 from killing more of his soldiers than do the ene- 
 my's bullets. 
 
 This part of Missouri is a good fruit country and 
 the surrounding farms were well supplied with apples 
 of an excel lent\uality. The farmers were right glad 
 to trade fruit for our extra pork, coffee and sugar, so 
 that we had good apples nearly all winter. The women 
 folks wanted to trade for tea while their husbands 
 were trading for pork and coffee, so they commenced 
 making pie's to sell us. They sent the pies into 
 camp by their children. In a short time the little 
 folks could every day be seen around camp with their 
 basket of pies— and such pies— goodness save the 
 mark! If the women of Missouri know how to cook, 
 making pies certainly is not their strong point. It 
 would be a toui^h man who could eat one of their pies 
 and live. Well cooked leather would be a luxury in 
 comparison. One day Captain Potter felt a hankering 
 for something extra to eat. Seeing a boy with a bas- 
 ket of pies the Captain's mouth began to water for 
 one. A pie was soon bought, a round one of common 
 size, about a foot in diameter. When in his hands 
 the Captain thought that the pie looked suspicious and 
 he commenced to pull it. The tough, half cooked 
 crust stretched like rubber. As his pie extended in his 
 
60 Army Life, 
 
 liands a cloud spread over his face. " What do you 
 call this?" he asked tlie boy. "It's pie." "Who 
 made it?" "Mother." Growing more fierce as his 
 pie extended, which was now all of two feet in length, 
 in fierce tones he exclaimed: "Does she want to 
 kill our soldiers with such stuff as this?" The bare- 
 headed boy's hair was by this time standing straight 
 up, and as the last word was said he turned and 
 scampered away as for dear life. The story he told 
 his mother was no doubt a confused if not an exag- 
 gerated one. It at least was effective. In a short 
 time it was reported among all the women folks 
 around, that the Union officers believed that some 
 of the Missouri women were trying to kill the 
 Yankee soldiers with poisoned pies, and fearing that 
 it might be true, not knowing what some of their ex- 
 treme rebel sisters might attempt, and not wishing to 
 be themselves under suspicion if it was so, they quit 
 the business and the pie trade was ended. 
 
 Being in easy raih'oad communication by way of 
 St. Louis with our Illinois homes, we were often re- 
 membered by something good to eat, cooked by our 
 own kind of folks. The cakes, fruits, preserves and 
 nicknacks of all kinds they sent us were delicious. 
 Every few days a well filled box would come to some 
 one of our boys. Eich would of course share with 
 his comrades. Thus we had good things nearly all the 
 time. Every thing sent was excellent, but after all 
 nothing else was quite as nice or tasted as good as 
 those which came in a big box, crowded full, sent 
 to me by my mother. No one else can cook quite as 
 well as she. But this I found the same with all the 
 
Standing Picket and Catching Apples. G1 
 
 boys. When a bov is away from home he can never 
 find anytliing tliat is as nice as those his own mother 
 used to make for him. 
 
 STANDING PICKET AND CATCHING APPLES. 
 
 In these days standing picket was considered a de- 
 sirable and pleasant, instead of being a tiresome and 
 unpleasant dnty. Among the mountains that sur- 
 rounded us it was found necessary to have picket guards 
 posted only upon the few different roads that led out 
 into the country. A picket guard is that which is 
 sent to the farthest outpost to give the alarm in case 
 of tlie approach of the enemy. The high mountains 
 around us rendered all directions of approach, except 
 the roads through the valleys, impracticable. The 
 necessity for picket duty was limited. A guard 
 was sent out upon eacli road to perform this duty, re- 
 maining out a week at a time. The reason was dis- 
 covered why the boys were partial to this kind of 
 duty. 
 
 A Missourian was chided for charging such exorbi- 
 tant prices for his produce. "Wall," said he, " '^^ears 
 like you ough ten to complain, seeing as we have to 
 pay such big taxes." As all civil government was 
 completel}'' disorganized in this part of the country 
 and no one in office or authority to collect taxes or do 
 anything else, this reply was a surprise. " Taxes, 
 wdiat kind of taxes do you pay?" "Why, every time 
 we come in we have to give your soldiers out on the 
 road, part of our chickens, butter and apples for taxes." 
 As he did not have any other taxes to pay, this burden, 
 
G2 Army Lite. 
 
 waiving tlie mode of its collection, was not a veiy 
 heavy one. 
 
 One day a practical joke of this kind was carried 
 almost bej'ond pardonable limits. A countryman 
 from tlie backwoods was coming in with a wagon box 
 full of apples. As he was ascending a steep hill near 
 the picket guard, a miscliievous trick was played upon 
 him. The rear end-board of his wagon fell out, acci- 
 dentdlhj, of course, and tlie whole load of apples came 
 pouring down to the foot of the hill. The man came 
 back and commenced securing his load. At this mo- 
 ment one of the boys claimed his attention, and in an 
 earnest, solemn manner took a piece of writing paper 
 from his pocket and proceeded to read a supposed 
 order, stating that all property of whatever kind fall- 
 ing from a wagon to the ground within the army lines 
 should be forfeited to the Government. The man 
 could not read a word and supposed that what he had 
 Jieard was actually true. He then sorrowfully started 
 homewards to muse by the way upon the beauty of a 
 decisive GovernmeYit and cogitate upon the profit of 
 attempting to drive a load of loose apples up a steep 
 hill with a loose end-board in his wagon box. 
 
 Before going he promised to return soon. The boys 
 set to work and saved the apples. In a few days the 
 same man, ignorant and good-natured, returned with 
 another load of produce. After he had treated the 
 boys to some of his new load of apples they produced 
 and gave him a lot of coffee, sugar, etc., for which they 
 had traded the apples he had lost on the former occa- 
 sion. Tliey had run a temporary store with his load 
 of apples and had lots of fun. He was greatly sur- 
 
OcR First Dress Parade. 63 
 
 prised and went bis way the haj^piest man in Mis- 
 souri. 
 
 UNPOPULARITY OF THE NORMAL REGIMENT. 
 
 It innst be confessed tbat tbe Kormal Regiment did 
 not at first bave tbe best opinion of its comrades in 
 otber regiments, as to its soldierly qualities. Its 
 fame as a scbool-boy organization bad preceded it and 
 created an unfavorable opinion. Tbe beavy work 
 done by tbe regiment in building Fort Hovey and its 
 known anxiety to be in tbe figbt at Fredericktown bad 
 in a measure dispelled tins feeling, but our cosy winter 
 quarters and jolly times in Arcadia revived it. Dur- 
 ing tbe winter, bowever, tbe prompt and willing way 
 in wbicb tbe Tbirty-tbird boys performed tbeir share 
 of every duty tbat fell to the lot of our army, re-es- 
 tablished on a firm basis tbe more favorable feeling. 
 Tbe men of tbe different regiments were also becom- 
 ing personally acquainted with each otber. Our boys 
 made many warm personal friends in tbe otber regi- 
 ments. Tiiese things all helped to increase the grow- 
 ing good will in favor of tbe Thirty-third. Still many 
 a little joke was cracked at the expense of tbe ISTormal 
 Hegiment. "Pretty school-boys," "nice ladies' men," 
 "school-master's regiment," and like expressions were 
 often used. Each good story told of us was taken 
 good-naturedly and often repeated by our own boys 
 in a more graphic shape than when first invented. 
 
 DRESS PARADE AT CAMP HOVEY. 
 
 The story of our dress parade was one of those that 
 
Gi Army Life, 
 
 did not lose anything in the telling. The foundation 
 for it was small, at the same time I do not think that 
 any military man having had experience with young 
 volunteers would discredit it as improbable. I will 
 give the story as our own boys learned to repeat it: 
 
 Soon after we had gone into Camp Hovey as we 
 had drawn our guns, our ambitious adjutant, Crandall, 
 who was the only AVest Point ofhcer our regiment 
 could boast, and who was the general director and 
 manager in all little military points, thought that we 
 ought to have a dress parade. Of course we should. 
 What could a regiment do without a dress parade? 
 
 He proceeded. First calling the officers together, 
 Crandall instructed them in the part they and their 
 men were to perform. The time appointed was four 
 o'clock p. M., our regular supper hour. The time 
 came and we formed upon tlie parade ground. As 
 we went from our quarters we could see and smell 
 our supper steaming hot and waiting. 
 
 Dress parade is not as elaborate an affair as a hi;;-h- 
 toned dress party. The companies simply form in line 
 with their guns in hand and march to the parade 
 ground where the entire regiment forms in line. The 
 lirst part of the parade is performed by the entire 
 regiment performing some simple movements, mainly 
 going through the manual of arms. 
 
 The parade went on brav^ely, each part was properly 
 performed, until the adjutant gave the command, 
 " Parade dismissed," which means that the officers 
 shall all leave the men standing in. line and at rest 
 while they march up in front of the center of the regi- 
 ment and then forward to the commanding officer, 
 
At Aecadia, Dec, 1861. 65 
 
 who stands quite a distance in front, to receive from 
 him such instructions as he has to give, or perhaps a 
 "curtain" lecture if he has anything to scokl about, 
 after which tlie officers return each to his own com- 
 pany, which is then to be marched back to quarters. 
 The men had not yet learned all of this and when the 
 adjutant in his full, sounding voice said: " Parade dis- 
 missed," they took him at his word and promptly dis- 
 missed themselves and broke for quarters and supper 
 like a lot of wild school-boys just let loose. The ad- 
 jutant wisely concluded not to make matters worse 
 by attempting to recall tlie fleeting soldiers; but at 
 our next dress parade the men were informed that 
 they were not to " break ranks" until such command 
 was given, and that " Parade dismissed" did not mean 
 the same as " school dismissed." 
 
 CUE DEAD COMRADES. 
 
 Many of our noblest boys sickened and died during 
 our sojourn in Missouri. A quiet, pleasant, dry piece 
 of ground was selected for our army burial place. Ere 
 the winter had passed, the rows of little mounds of 
 earth covering our dead increasing day b}^ day, be- 
 came long in length and many in number. Often 
 were we called upon to make our sad march to the 
 hallowed place to add to the number sleeping there; 
 with guns reversed, keeping step to the sad dirge of 
 the funeral march, we would slowly, sadly follow the 
 remains of our dead comrade to his last resting place, 
 stand with uncovered head as the body was lowered 
 into its lonely grave, tenderly cover it with mother 
 earth, listen to the last prayer for the departed one, 
 
66 Army Life, 
 
 fire a farewell shot over the grave, and then return to 
 onr quarters wondering whose turn would come next. 
 Of those who died, A. M. Brookiield was my most 
 intimate friend. He was in the same squad and room 
 with me. His death was almost as sudden to us as 
 though he had fallen in battle. He had been quite 
 sick but it was thought had fully recovered, and he 
 had returned to quarters from the hospital rejoicing 
 in being again at home, as it were, with us. He was 
 taken with a relapse and died in a few short hours. It 
 was a sad event to our little number, his room-mates. 
 Living he was loved by all who knew him, dying, 
 mourned by them as a brother. He was buried on 
 the twenty-second of December. On the twelfth of 
 January his sad, gray-haired fatlier came, and we, the 
 special friends of his dead boy, went with him to per- 
 form the sad, pleasant duty of taking up the remains 
 so that the sadly stricken father could remove them 
 to his Illinois home. Although a sad duty, still 
 it was one we were glad to do, so that the last 
 sleep of our dead comrade could be at his own home 
 and beneath the gj'ass that will grow, and the flowers 
 that will bloom over his grave in our own Prairie 
 State. 
 
 WAR RUMORS. 
 
 During the winter numerous reports came in of an 
 advancing enemy. We became so familiar with such 
 reports that but little attention was given to them, ex- 
 cept the strife to see who could make the most exag- 
 gerated additions to them. One can imagine the ter- 
 rific heights to which these reports would in this 
 
07 
 
 manner sometimes reach in passing through the arm3\ 
 The well-known fact that a large rebel force was win- 
 tering near the Arkansas state line immediately south 
 of us, and occasionally made some demonstrations, was 
 sufficient to cause us to keep well on guard, and was 
 an ample foundation for all the war rumors that it was 
 found necessary to invent and circulate. About the 
 middle of January the rebels became more aggressive 
 and l)egan to push their scouts up toward our lines. 
 Things began to look quite warlike. On the twenty- 
 sixth affairs appeared so pressing that orders we^ ^ 
 issued for us to " sleep on arms " which means to 
 sleep witli our clothes on and a loaded gun by our 
 side. We did so for three or four niglits. The work 
 of finishing Fort Hovey was also pushed forward with 
 renewed vigor. It would have taken a large force to 
 hav^e dislodged us from the strong and well fortified 
 position we held. In a few days the threatenings of 
 the enemy were over and we were not troubled with 
 any more war alarms. 
 
 WINTER MAKCII OF THE TWENTY-FIEST ILLINOIS. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth day of January, 1862, the 
 Twenty-first Illinois Infantry started south for Green- 
 ville. It was decidedly one of the worst times ever 
 known for soldiers to march. It had been raining for 
 nearly all of tlie preceding w^eek, filling the roads 
 with mud and water. The weather now suddenly 
 turned freezing cold and a heavy coat of snow was 
 thrown upon the deep mixture of mud and water. This 
 made the surface look fair enough, like a body of in- 
 
68 Army Life, 
 
 nocent snow, bnt woe to the hicldess one who trusted to 
 appearances and risked himself upon tlie covered but 
 not less dangerous swamp of slush. This was the con- 
 dition of the roads when the Twenty-first started. As 
 they went by our quarters a new and terrific snow 
 storm had burst upon them. For two or three days in 
 this freezing cold weather with a fierce storm pelting 
 them they marched through the cold, soft, wet snow six 
 inches deep beneath which lay the much worse mixture 
 of almost unfathomable mud. Surely a worse time 
 for marching was never known. Some of the men 
 died in the attempt to go through, but the regiment 
 reached its destination. It was a march almost un- 
 equalled in the hardships under which it was under- 
 taken and one which well deserved the place it filled 
 by being the subject of an historic picture of the war 
 in one of the leading New York illustrated papers. 
 
 NEW GUNS AND A SHOOTING MATCH. 
 
 About the middle of February we exchanged onr 
 old muskets for good rifles. Our regiment got guns 
 of three or four kinds, and part were supposed to be 
 better than others. Our colonel decided to arm 
 Companies A and K, the right and left flank of the 
 regiment, with the best ones. Of the best there were 
 two kinds. Ilovey concluded to have a shooting 
 match by A and K for first choice. The contest was 
 arranged, twenty men of each company to participate. 
 Two large, pine board targets were erected, one for 
 each company. The boys went out and fired away, 
 one after the other, until the entire twenty of both 
 
A Rifle Shooting Match. 69 
 
 sides had shot. The result was then decided by tak- 
 ing the two targets and measuring from the center to 
 the place where each ball liit. If twenty holes were 
 not found the missing shot was measured to the out- 
 side of the target. Company K had one or two of 
 this kind of shots and Company A three or four. 
 After considerable time the referees had figured it u]), 
 and decided tliat Company K had won by about three 
 inches in the aggregate distance of the shots from the 
 center of the target. Thus a side with five plump 
 center shots and one miss could be defeated by others 
 who had not made a single center shot out of six; a 
 manner of determining such contests that would 
 not be countenanced by any well advised authority. 
 Tlie shots found upon the targets showed the best for 
 Company A, but the larger number of outside shots 
 made the case against thein. Another blunder was 
 discovered. As none of the bullet holes had been 
 closed it occurred to some that perhaps the missed 
 shots might have sent a ball through a hole previously 
 made. Upon looking at the target evidence of this 
 was found. Had it been so counted the decision 
 would have been for Company A. But as the referees 
 had decided, and there not in reality being any first 
 choice so far as the quality of tlie new guns was con- 
 cerned, tlie targets were split up for kindling wood. 
 
 We got the Dresden rifles. They were a very good 
 gun and tlie boys were much pleased with them. 
 They were a great improvement upon the old worn- 
 out lumber wagons in the shape of muskets we had 
 been carrying for the preceding four months. 
 
70 Akmy Life. 
 
 CIIAPTEE IV. 
 
 LEAVING AECADIA SEMINARY — THE FAREWELL SrEECII. 
 
 On the twenty- seventh day of February we received 
 marching orders. These orders were received with 
 glad enthusiasm. It is not necessary to describe the 
 wild scene. It was almost an exact repetition of the 
 scene at Camp Butk-r on a like occasion. All were 
 anxious — wildly so — to go forward. To attempt to 
 interest and satisfy soldiers who enlist only for war, 
 with dull, idle camp duties, while others are doing the 
 real soldiering in the active field, is as useless as it 
 would be to attempt to satisfy ahimgrv, groioi7ig boy 
 with thin porridge while his brother upon the other 
 side of the table is devouring ham and eggs. And 
 it is well known that if there is any one who does get 
 hungry clear down to his boots it is a growing boy. 
 
 On the first day of March, 1862, the order to start 
 was given. Our company with arms, knapsacks, etc., 
 formed in front of the seminary building. 
 
 Among the cheers that we then gave, such 
 cheers as only soldiers can give, none were given with 
 a more l:eai-ty good will than the one proposed by 
 Captain Potter: " Three cheers for the seminary and 
 the good old times we have had here." 
 
 We then formed with the regiment. Major Roe, 
 strangely enough, as at the time when we started from 
 Camp Butler on horseback, was again in command 
 of the regiment. We of course expected the last and 
 best speech from him. He had given us a rousing 
 one upon the former occasion. He was at this time 
 
FoRWAKD, TO Dixie, March. 71 
 
 the recognized orator of tlie Normal Regiment. We 
 were not disappointed. The speech he made upon 
 this occasion was one of the shortest, best and most 
 eloquent ever made. I will give it in full. In tones 
 that rang down the entire line and up over the hills, 
 as clear and sharp as the bright steel sword he waved 
 in his hand, he made the farewell speech and gave the 
 last command in Arcadia in these words: "Forward, 
 to Dixie, march!" 
 
 The speech itself consisted of only two words. The 
 other two were a militaiy command. How much 
 these words suggested. They meant everything. 
 The entire object of our existence as soldiers; the 
 object and aim of the entire Union army was ex- 
 pressed in them. Forward to all of Dixie's land 
 meant that the Union army was to successfully march 
 from Northern borders to Southern gulf, frotri AVest- 
 ern land to Eastern sea; that every force of armed 
 rebellion was to be crushed ; thatour gloriousUnion was 
 to be preserved unin. paired; that every star upon our 
 banner M-aving above lis was again to shine with its 
 old-time luster and glory ; that victory, complete victory 
 was to be ours, and that we were to help win and 
 share in it. The soldiers were satisfied, more than 
 satisfied. The speech they had expected, and far 
 better than they had hoped for, had been made. A 
 multiplicity of words, the most eloquent words of 
 mortal tongue at this time on this occasion, would 
 have been tame in comparison. A few words fitly 
 spoken will live a thousand years. Had the historian 
 been there to have recorded the words they Avould 
 lung have lived; yea, have become immortal in the 
 
72 Akmy Life, 
 
 world's poetry, song and history. As it was, ujion 
 many a hard and tedious march, through many a 
 cane-brake wild, across many a dark and dismal 
 swamp, during many hungry and weary liours, 
 througii many long, sad days and upon many crimson 
 and bitter battle fields, they were carried in soldier 
 memory. With a rousing cheer oft repeated, as 
 over the hills and through the valleys w^e went with 
 the brightest hopes and lively step, we indorsed the 
 words and obeyed the command: " Furvvardj to Dixie, 
 march." 
 
 Thus we left Arcadia Seminary. 
 
 PIRST MaKCU to dixie OUR TENTS AND THE TKICKS 
 
 THEY PLAYED TS. 
 
 As already stated, we commenced our march south- 
 ward on March lirst, "VVe started with light hearts, 
 banners flying, boys hurrahing and high hopes for the 
 future. We had become so tired of the dull monot- 
 ony and sameness of soldierlifein winter quarters that 
 almost any hardship elsewhere would be welcomed as a 
 relief. Besides this the men of our command thought 
 that we were hardly doing our duty by remaining in- 
 active while our brothers in arms were doing all the 
 fighting. It became a common ex])ression and com- 
 plaint that "the war will be over before we have a 
 chance to see an armed rebel." Thus when march- 
 ing orders finally came, they were gladly received and 
 promptly obeyed by the soldiers of the Thirty-third. 
 We willingly started out to participate in the most 
 tedious duty of soldier life — foot marching. 
 
 We started at three o'clock p. m. and inarched five 
 
Going South, March, 1SG2. T3 
 
 miles tlie first day. At night we camped in the woods 
 npon the banks of a small stream of clear water. As 
 soon as we stop for the night lively work commences. 
 Tents have to be unloaded from the wagons and 
 pitched; fuel must be found, fires built and sup- 
 per prepared and eaten. All the cooking we do 
 wdiile on a march is to make some coffee and fry 
 some bacon. 
 
 The tents we brought with us were a new kind, 
 known by the name of " Sibley tents." Their tbrmis 
 circular.* A strong center pole standing in the mid- 
 dle of the tent supports its top. The bottom is 
 stretched out in equal distance all around from the 
 center, and fastened to the ground. Thus the tent 
 when standing presented the appearance of a perfect 
 cone. The bottom of the center pole is supported 
 upon a set of iron legs which unites at the top and 
 spreads apart at the bottom. Tiiis gave room in the 
 center between the legs for a small sheet iron stove— 
 also in the shape of a cone -which had been furnished 
 us. A hole at the top of the tent permitted the 
 smoke to escape. 
 
 To sleep we lay with our feet toward the middle 
 of the tent and near the fire. This made a complete 
 circle of soldiers with their feet all toward the center 
 and heads toward the outside. We were very crowded. 
 There were from eighteen to twenty men in each tent. 
 In the morning the boys of one of the most crowded 
 tents claimed that they had commenced sleeping all 
 lying upon their right side closely packed together, 
 and "that during the night becoming tired and wisl - 
 ing to rest by changing to the left side, it was found 
 
'^^ Aemy Life, 
 
 necessary for the soldier nearest tlie door to i^et up 
 and go outside in order to give tlie others room to 
 turn over. 
 
 This storj was probably as nearly true as the 
 other one afterward repeated in camp as having oc- 
 curred upon this march, and which I will give here. 
 It runs thus: One morning as the Colonel was 
 about to give tlie order, " Forward, march," he was 
 chagrined to see one tent belonging to his regiment 
 still standing. Without ceremony he ordered it 
 pulled down, which was promptly done, whereupon all 
 were greatly surprised to see the whole squad of its 
 occupants lying there upon their backs in a complete 
 circle. Upon lying down each one had, unwittingly, 
 extended his arms under his comrades on each side, 
 making a complete net-work of the entire circle, 
 and they were so crowded that not one could move 
 enough to break the chain holding them together. 
 Comprehending the situation the Colonel directed his 
 soldiers to surround the helpless squad and take each 
 one by the shoulders and pull them outward, which 
 of course enlarged the circle and released the un- 
 happy members who formed it. 
 
 ON THE ROAD — REBEL CAVALRY — UNION MEN — BRAVE 
 GIRLS. 
 
 Sunday, March second, we started at 8:30 a. m. 
 and marched ten miles. The roads were very bad. The 
 late heavy rains had rendered them almost impassa- 
 ble. The mud was fearful. Mud reigned supreme here. 
 The little rivulets coursing down the hillsides were 
 changed into mountain streams; while streams usually 
 
On the Road. *5 
 
 of moderate width were now raging, sweeping rivers. 
 Crossing tliem was very difficult and sometimes dan- 
 gerous. Throuib the valleys which we were obliged 
 to follow, as the mountains are impassable, the number 
 of swift and rapid streams seemed unlimited. At one 
 time, after we had with much difficulty crossed five 
 laro-e streams in going four miles, our wonder was 
 turned into vexation by learning that each was only 
 a different crossing of the same stream. When we 
 came to other like streams we attempted to evade some 
 of the crossings by going around, but the rough In Is 
 and stubborn mountains made it impracticable. ^ ihe 
 only safe way in a mountainous country is to lol ow 
 the road others have traveled, no matter how mucli it 
 may, seemingly, take you out of the course you wish 
 to go. 
 
 The next day we started at eight o'clock and made 
 a cood day's march. Profiting by our previous diffi- 
 cnUie-^ men were sent in advance to fell trees across the 
 stream's. By means of these temporary foot bridges 
 we had but little difficulty in crossing. Wet logs, 
 however, do not make the safest kind of a foot bridge. 
 Everv now and then, as the soldiers were running over 
 them; some luckless chap would lose his footing and 
 go into the swiftly running water. All of these were 
 fished out and placed upon dry land and no lives lost. 
 A -nn now and then and some other small property 
 was all the tribute the raging streams succeeded in 
 requiring our army to pay for the privilege of crossing 
 over their mad waters. Only three days out and yet 
 the boys begin to complain of short rations. 
 
 After we had started on Tuesday morning, we were 
 
'^Q Akmy Life, 
 
 surprised to learn that a force of one luindred and fifty 
 rebel cavalry had been within 'sight of our camp Hvcs 
 during the night. They captured a lieutenant who 
 was carrying dispatches to some of the Union troops. 
 But, as luck would have it, they did not get the dis- 
 patches. He took the chance, the only one left, and 
 slyly placed the papers in the hands of a citizen of 
 Missouri sranding near. It proved that he had trust- 
 ed the right man. The citizen concealed the dispatch- 
 es and gave them to Colonel Ilovey thenextmorningas 
 we came up. This proves that some true Union men 
 live in this part of Missouri. He ought to be remem- 
 bered. Am sorry that I did not learn his name. 
 
 Full and reliable information was given ns of this 
 rebel force. Most of it by two young ladies, whose 
 home we passed. The rebels had made a lengthy halt 
 at their home. This gave the girls an opportunity to 
 become well posted as to the numbers and doings of 
 the rebel troops. A few months previous to" this 
 time these two young ladies had become quite noted 
 by making, raising and protecting a Union flag and ■ 
 that, too, in the midst of a large number of despera- 
 does who wished and threatened to tear it down. It 
 was believed, probably was true, that the plucky Mis- 
 souri girls would shoot the first one who touched their 
 flag, and it was not disturbed. We made a halt of 
 some length at their home, and as they were delight- 
 ed to talk with the Union soldiers, most of ns 
 exclianged a few words with them. They were act- 
 ual heroines in the eyes of our soldiers. Woman 
 never received a more earnest and respectful ovation 
 than our soldiers gave these two true, loyal girle. 
 
Brave Girls. 77 
 
 Had they wished it every soldier in tlie command 
 would have sworn to come back when the war was 
 over to marry either of them. And they might do 
 worse than to have kept such a pledge had it been 
 made. Each will make some one a splendid wife. A 
 woman who is loyal and true to the land of her birth 
 will be faithful and loving to the husband of her 
 heart. One who is willing to risk her life for the flag 
 she reveres, will, if necessary, die for the husband she 
 loves. None but brave soldiers are fit to wed such 
 girls. 
 
 The bravery of these two young girls was wonder- 
 ful. For two farmer's daughters, living in the moun- 
 tain wilds of Missouri, with no one near to help them, 
 to stand and protect the flag of our country and bid 
 defiance to a large band of desperate rebels who swear 
 they will tear it down, shows a degree of bravery that 
 may well claim the admiration of all. It was an 
 event rarely, if ever, equalled, and never excelled in the 
 world's history. All honor to these brave daughters 
 of Missouri. 
 
 AT GREENVILLE — A LIEUTENANT-COLONEL A VOTE. 
 
 We reached Greenville at sundown Tuesday, March 
 fourth, and camped there for five days. During the first 
 day of our camp at Greenville we were reminded of 
 an almost forgotten fact, namely: that we have had a 
 lieutenant-colonel. In organizing our regiment the 
 office of lieutenant-colonel was the one reserved to 
 be filled by executive appointment. The other offi- 
 cers had been chosen by members of the regiment. 
 Of course all commissioned oflicers had to be appointed 
 
78 Army Life. 
 
 by tlie Governor of the State, but the custom was to 
 allow the members of volunteer regiments to desig- 
 nate their choice for officers, usually leaving one for the 
 executive to fill by his own selection. In our case 
 our good Governor made an unfortunate selec- 
 tion. After some delay in making the appointment, 
 Loclvwood was sent to us as lieutenant-colonel. 
 His brief stay with us was not the most pleas- 
 ant. He did not have the faculty to correctly learn 
 military commands. When attempting to drill us 
 he was sure to make some blunder, run one com- 
 pany into another, get one company started away 
 from the rest and lose it, not knowing what command 
 to give to get it back in place. Undoubtedly much 
 of his perplexity arose from the propensity of the of- 
 ficers and men to increase instead of helping him out 
 of his difficulties, One day he was in command at a 
 dress parade. He had brought the command to "pre- 
 sent arms." According to our tactics, when a battal- 
 ion is at " present arms " the only command that can 
 properly be given is to " carry arms." Lockwood 
 gave tlie improper command, " Right shoulder, shift, 
 arms!" Not a gun was moved. The entire command 
 stood in line still presenting arms. With more care 
 as to clear pronunciation he repeated the command. 
 !No one moved. Turning to the adjutant he said: "It 
 don't fetch them yet, does it?" At another time, 
 while we were at Arcadia, in attempting to drill the 
 regiment he ran the command into a heavy rail fence. 
 The boys were watching and as they struck it, all 
 pushed together and the entire fence was thrown flat 
 bofoi'C them, much to his disgust. The only com- 
 
A Lieutenant-Colonel. 79 
 
 mini li3 could think of was: "What in li ■ 
 
 did you i^o through that fence for?" lie was said to 
 be a man of abilit3^ If so, the Normal Eegiment 
 gave him no chance to show it. He soon became dis- 
 gusted. He asserted that: "Unless a command is 
 spoken grammatically, punctuated correctly and each 
 word emphasized properly, the Normal Regiment will 
 not pay any attention to it, and as I did not come to 
 the army to teach grammar or rhetoric, I do not want 
 
 a d thing more to do with it." And he kept his 
 
 word good by promptly resigning. 
 
 Having virtually crowded Lieutenant-Colonel Lock- 
 wood out of the regiment, it was thought as a vote had 
 never been taken for that office, that the men of the 
 regiment had the right to take a vote for his successor 
 and ignore all questions of regular promotion. A 
 vote was taken on March fifth. The candidates voted 
 for were: Major Eoe, Captains Potter, Lippincott and 
 Elliott, and Adjutant Crandall. To the surprise of 
 all, especially the officers. Captain Elliott received a 
 majority of the entire vote cast. Two or three causes 
 helped to give Captain Elliott his unexpected large 
 vote. Among them were his supposed military ex- 
 perience, he having had a fight with, been whipped 
 and taken prisoner by Jeff" Thompson and afterward 
 been exchanged, his very pleasant and social way 
 among the soldiers, he having in a short time formed 
 the personal acquaintance of every member of the 
 regiment, and last, but not least, his good looks, he 
 being the handsomest officer in the Normal Regiment. 
 
 One of the strangest votes was that of Company A, 
 which gave its own captain, Potter, only six votes out 
 
80 Army Life, 
 
 of about seventy cast. And stranger still, tlio six votes 
 were cast by the six men in the corapan}" the least 
 friendly to hira. The majority voted against him be- 
 cause they wanted him to remain in command of their 
 own company. 
 
 Major Roe got a light vote because he was, you 
 know, the orator of the regiment. Tlie only proper 
 office for a regimental orator to hold is that of major 
 of the regiment or a second lieutenant of a company 
 — those with the least duties attached. 
 
 Captain Lippincott could well claim to at least 
 equal Captain Elliott in military experience. He had 
 safely brought his men to camp when surrounded and 
 threatened with capture by Jeff" Thompson's troops, 
 and had been at the battle of Fredericktown. 
 
 The result of the vote was sent off to the Governor 
 of Illinois, It was of course of no binding force, but 
 was supposed to be a recommendation that would be 
 complied with. 
 
 A REBEL CAMP GROUND. 
 
 During the afternoon some of us visited Jeff 
 Thompson's drill and camp ground. This is the 
 place where his army went into camp after being 
 driven frotn Fredericktown. Judging from the lines, 
 or rather all absence of lines, the rebel troops did not 
 take much pride in the order or regularity of their 
 camp. After attempting to trace the lines our boys 
 declared that it was impossible to find where more 
 than two tents had stood in a line. The rule with the 
 rebels seemed to have bsen for each to pitch his tent 
 where he chose. The only interest connected with 
 
At Eeayes Station, Maecii, 1862. 81 
 
 tiie ground was tlie uninteresting fact that it had been, 
 for a time, a rebel camp ground. 
 
 At Greenville our company was divided into small 
 messes, each mess to do its own cooking. Until this 
 time the rations for the entire companj had been 
 cooked together. 
 
 ON THE ROAD. 
 
 Sunday, March ninth, we left Greenville to go 
 farther south. Found the roads much improved. 
 Marched nine miles. 
 
 The next day we started at eight o'clock and reached 
 Black Kiver by noon. It was quite a good sized stream. 
 The water was high, caused by the late heavy rain-fall. 
 We had to cross on a slow ferry boat and it took until 
 a late hour for the regiment and its wagon train to 
 pass over.. 
 
 Tuesday we lay still. Wednesday we moved up the 
 river and camped at Reaves Station. The Thirty- 
 eighth Illinois and one company of artillery had pre- 
 ceded us. 
 
 This ended what might be called our first real 
 march. It told a little upon some of the boys, but 
 upon the whole was a very easy march. Our regiment 
 came the entire way alone. Our \yagons were always 
 with us and we generally stopped at noon each day 
 and made some warm coffee for dinner. 
 
 IN CAMP AT KEAVES STATION. 
 
 Our camp at Black River was known as Reaves Sta- 
 tion Camp. Our regiment pitched their tents about 
 
83 Army^ Life. 
 
 lialf a mile from tlie river. Simple camp duties 
 such as standing guard, drilling, etc., occupied our 
 time. 
 
 F. M. Gastlimnn, of our company, died on ]\[arch 
 twenty-second. He was a talented, good hearted 
 young man, one of the Normal University students. 
 Even when it became certain that lie must die and that, 
 too, in this inhospitable land, his ])leasant, iMioyant 
 spirits sustained him. One day he said: "It does 
 seem rather hard to have to die so early and in this 
 lonely land." Except this no word of regret ever 
 passed his lips. He siuiply joins the many that have 
 gone before. The entire regiment went to his funeral 
 and followed him to his grave. It is very unusual 
 for the entire regiment to follow a soldier to his bu- 
 rial; doing so showed the high esteem all had for our 
 lamented young friend. 
 
 Tlie Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry arrived on IVfarch 
 twenty-seventh. It was to be in the same brigade with 
 the Thirty-third. The entire command was to be put 
 into more army shape. Brigades were to be formed 
 and the division was to be commanded by a brigadier- 
 general. His name was General Steele. 
 
 Friday, March twenty-eighth. General Steele ar- 
 rived. He was a fine-looking oiBcer. He did not put 
 on extra fine airs like some of our fancy generals. 
 The soldiers seemed well pleased with their new com- 
 mander. He had at least their good will to commence 
 with. 
 
 The next day after the arrival of General Steele 
 the assignment of troops to brigades was announced. 
 This division under the command of General Steele 
 -was divided as follows: First Brigade, Twenty -first 
 
Drumming a Thief out of Camp. S3 
 
 and Tvventj-ei^^hth Illinois, Colonel Carlin command- 
 ing; Second Brigade, Thirtj-third Illinois and 
 Eleventh Wisconsin, Colonel Hovey commanding; 
 Third Brigade, Fifth and Eighth Indiana and First 
 Indiana Cavalry, Colonel Baker commanding. 
 
 Our vote at Greenville was ignored and Captain Lip- 
 pincott appointed lientenant-coloneL With Colonel 
 Hovey in command of the brigade, Lippincott will 
 be in command of oiir regiment. 
 
 March thirty -first the First Brigade of this division 
 started forward. The army telegraph was completed 
 to this place. One of the first dispatches was: " Island 
 No. 10 is ours." 
 
 On April first, a drove of pack mules arrived from 
 Pilot Knob. This was a new feature in the transporta- 
 tion of army supplies with us. The mules were wild 
 and hard to manage. Three of them ran away and 
 were lost, packs and all. Upon the whole tlie experi- 
 ment was claimed to be a tolerable success. 
 
 On the third of April a company of our cavalry came 
 in with some rebel prisoners. Our advance guard 
 was attacked by a band of bushwhackers. None of 
 our soldiers were hurt. Some of the enemy were 
 killed and others taken prisoners and brought in. 
 
 Considerable excitement was created on the ninth of 
 April by the drumming of a man out of camp be- 
 cause he was found to be guilty of stealing. He be- 
 longed to the cavalry that was acting as the Gen- 
 eral's body-guard. With one side of his head shaved 
 clean with a sharp razor, his coat turned wrong side 
 out, the word " thief" in large letters upon his back, 
 with the guards close behind him, with the sharp 
 
84 Army Life, 
 
 points right close up to liis rear, making liim tat'e 
 qnick steps m- get pricked^' with the drum and fife 
 playing the rogue's march, heNvas marched all through 
 camp amidst the- hoots and jefors of- the entire' army, 
 then out of camp to the top of a hill- in sight, and then 
 with a vigorous kick from the butt of a heavy gun in 
 tlie hands of a stout soldier, he was sent over the hill 
 and out of sight and never again seen by his army 
 comrades. 
 
 While at Heaves Station Cayitain Potter appointed 
 some non-commissioned officers. Our big, jolly ser- 
 geant, Ed Pike, was promoted to orderly sergeant in 
 place of Baker, who had been discharged on account 
 of failing health. Pike would get good rations for us 
 if any one could. AVillis was appointed fifth sergeant, 
 and Piggs and Harris corporals. 
 
 On the twenty-first we came near having a serious ac- 
 cident fn our company. Whited was handling Riggs"' 
 revolver when it was accidentally discharged and hit 
 Bovee.'- Biit'as good fortune M'ould have it, Bovee's 
 substantialfodt'wa^ in- front of him, " so that 'the ball 
 striick the ■bottom of his solid arnfy boot. The boot 
 got well Wo one else was hurt. ; Some more cavalry 
 joined us at Reaves Station, so that we now have the 
 most of fi^ur cavalry regiments with our division. 
 
 FORWARD AGAIN. 
 
 TTe started forward again on the twenty-second of 
 April. Marched twelve miles and camped for the night 
 npon the banks of the Little Black River. We found 
 a grist mill there which some of our men had taken 
 possession of and were running. It is c^sy enough 
 to find men in our army who can run a grist mill. 
 
To Pitman's Ferry. 85 
 
 • Tlie' roads arfe very bad.' The back\^oodsman with 
 Ills ox team, pressed in for the occasion, briniring onr 
 tents, was all night wi getting through tlie deep mud, 
 so we had to pass the night without any tents. 
 
 Our transportation being so much delayed by the 
 condition of the almost impassable roads, we had to 
 wait and only went six miles the second day. 
 
 On the third day we went through to Pitman's 
 Ferry. During the day I had charge of and ran an 
 independent command. It was a unanimous com- 
 mand and was not troubled by any differences of opin- 
 ion as to where the best walking was to be found — in 
 truth there was no best, each side of the road was the 
 ^Torst— nor when a halt was to be made, nor how fast 
 to push forward. All were agreed. The "command" 
 consisted of myself only. Tiiree different detach- 
 ments of the army were upon the road, but I made 
 the march'alone, selecting such paths througli.the 
 woods as suited me best.. 1 had delayed when the regi- 
 ment advanced ^ to give Sey bold, one of our mess, his 
 breakfast and rations for the day. He had been on the 
 rear picket guard during the night, and according to 
 the rnle pi this time, was to be part of the rear guard 
 during our day's march. . After I rejoined the com- 
 pany at night, as the 'usual day's adventures, real and 
 imaginai-y, were being recounted around our evening 
 camp fires, my comrades insisted that, having been on 
 a separate march, I ought to have some incident of 
 the day to relate. ' After telling the many little inci- 
 dents of the day, wliich were numerous for the reason 
 that "the natives" toot more liberty to stop my "com- 
 mand" with curious questions than they would a 
 
86 Aemv Life, 
 
 larger force, the boys insisted that it should end 
 with a romance. The one given was in substance as 
 follows; adding two short sentences to the beginning 
 to make it readable should it ever be found alone. 
 Perhaps it is true. As to that, no confession is re- 
 quired. Let the story be repeated as then told. 
 
 EOMANCE OF MISSOURI, IN THE BACKWOODS. 
 
 One day I stopped to give one of the boys of our 
 mess his breakfast. He had been on rear picket the 
 night before and consequently would be with the rear 
 guard of the army that day. Our regiment having 
 the advance, made an early start and I did not expect 
 to rejoin it until a late hour at night. After find- 
 ing our comrade and giving him his morning coifee, 
 I pushed forward. In course of the day, wisliing to 
 rest a short time, I ventured to call at a dwelling by 
 the roadside. The house was simply a log hut like 
 all others in the backwoods of that part of Missouri. 
 Entering I found it had but one room and that fur- 
 nished in tlie plain, rough style common to such lo- 
 calities. 
 
 In one part of the room sat — what shall I call her? 
 How shall I describe the charming creature who sat 
 before me? A woman; an angel beautiful as day; 
 fairer than the fairest; in age just passed beyond 
 charming, sweet sixteen to lovely womanhood. No, 
 I will not attempt to describe this most beautiful one. 
 Let it suffice that my highest ideal of angelic per- 
 fection was more than realized in the person of the 
 lovely being before me. Being a young and enthu- 
 siastic volunteer, such a feast of beauty completely 
 
A EOMANCE. 8*^ 
 
 captivated me. iN'uinarous remembrancss of stories 
 where I had read of princesses of beauty bein- 
 found elsewhere by some singularly fortune-favored 
 knight flashed through my brain. All my faith in 
 love at first sight returned with redoubled force. Al- 
 though enrapt I had not yet heard her speak; had not 
 heard the enchanting tones of her sweet voice. 
 
 Her mother— could it be? Was it possible that this 
 plain, coarse woman was the mother of one so divine? 
 No! I would not believe it. I would believe that 
 she was the child of love- a being of heave.dy, not of 
 earthly origin, and I almost trembled for fear she 
 would suddenly vanish from my sight and soar to 
 her far-off home above. Her mother went to the door 
 and called: "William, come here; your sister wants to 
 see you." Her brother would come, she would speak 
 to him. Then, oh, then! I should hear the delicious 
 music from that sweet angel's tongue. The bare an- 
 ticipation intoxicated me. What, then, would the 
 sweet reality be? Would it then be possible for me 
 to control myself? Could I then refrain from throw- 
 ing myself a^ her feet and praying to be her slave for- 
 ever? She rises to speak to her brother. Oh! sweet 
 anticipation! One moment now is an age of bliss. 
 She opens her mouth. Oh! sweet, charming, delight 
 
 what? The words she spoke were: '-Bill, you 
 
 little cuss, give me a chew of tobacco." Thrusting 
 his dirty hand down into his greasy pocket he brought 
 forth a filthy piece of the vile weed, and— words are 
 worthless— the romanc? was bursted. 
 
88 Army Life, 
 
 AT pitman's FEERT. 
 
 On Frida}'-, April twenty-fifth, we remained at 
 Pitman's Ferry. On Saturday we crossed the river. 
 General Steele and his staff came up during the (]ay. 
 
 Captain Potter got " on his ear " because, as lie 
 thought, the bo^'s did not obey his orders as fully as 
 he thouglit thoy should and ordered a company roll- 
 call every two hours. Not a very severe punish- 
 ment 
 
 The rebel General Hardee was in command of a 
 force of rebels at this place for some time. Visited 
 his drilling and camp ground. All that remains liere 
 now to mark the staj'- of the rebel army is their bury- 
 ing ground. Its size plainly shows that they, as well 
 as we, suffer much by sickness and death in the army. 
 
 THE MAJOR AND CHAPLAIN HOLD MEETING. 
 
 On Sunday the regiment .was ordered into line and 
 marched out under military orders to a convenient 
 place to attend religious services. When soldiers are 
 lying quietly in camp a regiment never can be ordered 
 into line, it matters little what tlie occasion may be, 
 unless for alight, but that there are sure to be some of 
 the men who would prefer, to do something else rather 
 than to " fall in." As we were marching to the preach- 
 ing ground one soldier was heard to impatiently say 
 in a side remark that he " wished that the chaplain 
 was in h — ," or words to that eifect. In some strange 
 way the words happened to strike Major Eoe's quick 
 car. As soon as we were assembled in preaching 
 array the Major commenced the services by referring 
 
The Major AND.;diArLAiN'-IIoLD Meeting. 89 
 
 to the remark -trmtliadtreeri made by the' thoughtless 
 soldier, refraining, however, from calling him byname. 
 The Major regretted to hear snch remarks, and re- 
 minded, the soldiers that the Chaplain held a position 
 above insult, given him by the Government; referred 
 to the importance of religion to those who, like us, go 
 forth every day. with our- lives in our hands, and after 
 a proper amount of scolding with his pleasant voice 
 and eloquent words, even talked' liimself into a liaippy 
 frame of mind and finally ended with the suggestion 
 that probably he iiad misunderstood the words used, 
 and that the soldier: meant "to wish the Chaplain in 
 heaven instead of h — ." 
 
 Dr. Eddy, our v^ery.able and conscientious chaplain, 
 was evidently much affected hy this unexpected cir- 
 cumstance. He was sorry to think that any mem- 
 ber of the regiment held sheh feelings against him. 
 Did not believe that any in. reality did. Assured 
 us "that he had none but ttie kindest feelings toward 
 each and every one of the Normal Eegiment." Of 
 course he did, we all knew that without his mention- 
 ing it. ■ And finally the Doctor freely gave his permis- 
 sion for those who did not wish to hear him preach, to 
 leave the meeting. " Of course no one accepted ,the 
 offer. The Chaplain, you see, had got the, wrong 
 idea. lie did not well understand soldiers. Getting 
 up out of his tent, where he was lying upon, hi,s back 
 and reading some story, and taking his ease in true 
 soldier style, to. fall .into line and murch out to the 
 meeting place was what disgusted the most indolent 
 soldier and not the Cha])lHin's preaching, for he was 
 \n fact one of the most pleasant clergymen to listen to. 
 
90 Army Life. 
 
 Now tliat they were sitting upon the oTecn grass 
 and ready, all, even tlie soldier who made the em- 
 phatic remark — if it actually was made — would rather 
 stay and hear Dr. Eddy preach a good sermon, which 
 he was sure to do, than get up and walk l)ack to camp 
 
 None wishing to leave, the Chaphi'in, as the Major 
 had done, got into a happy frame of mind and gave 
 us a splendid sermon. 
 
 In time our good Chaplain, no douht, learned 
 to better understand soldiers. They all respected him 
 and his calling. Brave soldiers are naturally relig- 
 ious. Some religious belief is necessary to create 
 good soldiers. Faith and hope always are a soldier's 
 steadfast friends, while iniidelity and ignorance are 
 but sorry comrades in a battle. 
 
 OUR MARCH RESUMED. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth of April we resumed our 
 march, went fifteen miles and camped on Focia Creek. 
 Here we found Company C of our regiment. They 
 had been sent in advance to fix up the roads. 
 
 The next morning we started at eiglit o'clock and 
 marched five miles, to Pocahontas. 
 
 Eeceived news of the capture of New Orleans. 
 The soldiers gave three cheers for General Butler and 
 three times three for the success of the Union cause. 
 
 We laid over in Poca, as the people here call the 
 place, one day. 
 
 On Friday, May second, marched down the river 
 twelve miles and camped at the ferry. Fouiid the 
 first good ferry-boat we have yet met upon our travels 
 
Our March Resumed, April, 1SG2. 91 
 
 and as for bridges, tliev are absolutely out of the 
 question in this indolent, heathen country. 
 
 A CYPRESS SWAMP. 
 
 On Saturday we crossed the river and marched 
 through a cypress swamp. 
 
 A cypress swamp is quite a cariosity. The cypress 
 is, like the pine and cedar, an evergreen tree. They 
 seemto thrive best in a swamp upon which thewattr 
 stands most of the year. From the roots, " knees', 
 grow up without number. The knees have a smooth, 
 round top without any limbs or other ])r()jections. 
 In fact they are like suiall stumps running up a foot 
 or two out of the water, over the round top of whicli 
 the smooth bark has grown, and are from a few inches 
 to half a foot or more in diameter. Tiiey annoyed us 
 fearfully. In taking our wagons through, the wheels 
 would sink down in the soft mud and the cypress 
 knees would catch the axletree and hold the wagon 
 fast. We had to turn in and cut them off. As they 
 liad to be cut off from one to three feet under water it 
 was a verj^ difficult and unpleasant task. Fortu- 
 nately we were well supplied with saws. Axes are no 
 good to chop a log under three feet of water. By 
 Avading out into the water, often waist deep, and run- 
 ning the saws under water we were able to cut open 
 the necessary passageway for our wagons. For a few 
 men the undertaking would have been an hopeless 
 task, but we had a thousand willing soldiers and the 
 tedious and difficult work went on merrily. 
 
 On Sunday we marched twelve miles, part of the 
 way througii cypress swamps, but the bottom being 
 
92. Akmy Life. 
 
 formed of a firmer substance than the soft muck over 
 which we passed the day before, it did not break through 
 as much and we did not liav^e to stop so often to 
 cut roads for our wagons and artilleiy. 
 . It was during this Arkansas march that one of the 
 iTnion officers decorated some of his soldiers. In 
 riding up lie suddenly came upon five or six of his 
 men who in passing the garden of a rebel sympathizer 
 liad each pulled a handful of onions and turnips. AVith 
 tlie tell-tale evidence in their hands there was no doubt 
 of their having been tresj^assing, which was against 
 orders. Feeling that he must punish them in some 
 manner Jie at once ordered that a label with the word 
 ''onion" should be pinned to each cap. It was done. 
 But the result was contrary to expectation. Instead 
 of being a disgrace, the men of tlie regiment construed 
 the labels to be a decoration of honor. Tlie word was 
 willfully misread and wherever the "onion" boys ap- 
 peared, the men cheered and praised them as "Union " 
 boys. This plaj^ upon the word took so well, and the 
 boys of the army not believing that it was actually any 
 great harm to pull an onion or two from a secesh gar- 
 den, it was soon seen that the attempted punishn}ent had 
 miscarried, and a request m'hs quietly sent asking the 
 boys to remove their "onion " labels. Tliis was done, 
 but the badges were preserved as an interesting tro- 
 phy of army life." 
 
 MlSSOriil AND ARKANSAS LAND. 
 
 By marching fifteen miles, on tlie fifth of May, we 
 
 Keached 'Jefferson Ci;ty, or. Bird's. Point, as it is called. 
 
 "We have now .entered upon, l.ands which will,- no 
 
A 'IFxTON Woman 0'3 
 
 doubt, some day prove to be rich farming lands. 
 Having come on foot all the way has given ns a good 
 opportunity to see the country. From Pilot Knob 
 down to Arkansas the country is very rough and 
 broken, the high hills often running up into small 
 mountains. Tiirough this section the valleys generally 
 have a deep, rich soil and appear to be specially adapted 
 to the growth of all kinds of fruit and rich blue grass. 
 A field of the latter left uncut will keep hardy stock 
 in fair condition all winter without any other feed. 
 Corn and other kinds of grain will, no doubt, also 
 do well. 
 
 As we strike the lands of Northern Arkansas, it is 
 not so broken nor to such an extent entirely worthless, 
 but the soil is not as rich as the Missouri valleys. 
 As we near Jefferson City it greatly improves. Here 
 the land is nearly all fit for tilling- and ' the soil 
 very good. With an enterprising, willing-to-work 
 class of people, like' our Nortliern famicrs, these 
 rich valleys' would soon IJe the paradise of the world. 
 4s it is we find but little that is desirable except the 
 land, timber, springs and water-courses, often with a' 
 fine water power, and these are so only when seen as 
 nature left them, with none of the natives or their 
 habitations in sight. The indolent, go-easy, do-noth- 
 ing squatters who incumber much of this land would, 
 if they were upon it, make the fairest, sunniest land 
 in the world look dark and gloomy. 
 
 A UNION W^OMAN. 
 
 Most of the peo])le In this vicinity are bitter seces- 
 sionists, but there are among them a few true Union 
 
9-i Army Life, 
 
 folks. As we were coming into Jefferson Citj, we 
 passed the hnmble home of an old couple, an old man 
 and his wife who had remained true to the flag they 
 had learned to love in the good old days of the past. 
 She stood at her humble door as we inarched by, with 
 a glad welcome for ns all, waving in her hand the cher- 
 ished and loved Union flag she had herself made, 
 in her long since passed girlhood days, and which she 
 and her husband had brought with them when in early 
 life they had come to this wild land to make them- 
 selves a home. During these . many long years she 
 had kept the little flag, but little larger than a stout 
 man's broad hand, and then this fierce, dark storm of 
 treason came on when this aged couple, as if putting 
 their firstborn in his cold grave, had been obliged to 
 hide away tlie little flag where it could not be found 
 by their rebel neighbors, and thus it had remained 
 during the days when fierce rebellion swept every thing 
 before it. But now the Union troops have come, and 
 the little flag can again in triumph wave. There she 
 stood at her own door as the afternoon sun was going 
 down, her white hair like a wreath of silver loosely 
 floating in the wild wind and like a crown of glory 
 shining in the golden sun, while her aged hand 
 proudly waved her own Union flag above her devoted 
 head. By her side stood her husband, old ajid feeble, 
 and yet his arm seemed to move with the strength and 
 vim of youth as round and round he swings his hat to 
 cheer on their way those who were bearing aloft the 
 flag he himself had once fought for and helped to 
 maintain. As each regiment passed and as each large, 
 beautiful and proud regimental flag was waved in 
 
Searciiikg foe a Eebel Flag. 95 
 
 salute to her and lier little flag, tears of joy would 
 start afresh and course down the old woman's cheeks. 
 The two happiest people in the State on this day was 
 this loyal old man and his Union loving wife. Manv 
 a rousing cheer was given to them by our soldier boys 
 as they passed by. 
 
 E. VISING A LIBERTY POLE — LOOKING FOR A REBEL FLAG. 
 
 AYe laid over at Jefferson City a few days. These 
 delays became necessary to let our supplies be brought 
 up. The roads are so bad that our wagon trains have 
 hard work to get through. 
 
 The rebels had made arrangements to raise a grand 
 liberty pole at this place. The pole, an elegant piece 
 of timber, had been selected and dressed with much 
 care, and was on the ground ready to be erected. But 
 tlie approach of the Union troops had alarmed the 
 rebels so that they had skipped away, leaving their 
 liberty pole lying like a stick of common timber on 
 the ground. Finding it thus we concluded to proceed 
 with the good work. Our soldiers promptly and 
 merrily erected the flag-staff, and with a brass bai.d 
 pla^ang a loyal national tune, dedicated the lib- 
 erty pole for our secesh brethren by running to its top 
 a good Union flag, where it waved foi* the balance of 
 the day, high over their heads and in sight of all the 
 peo])le of the town. 
 
 The Johnny Rebs had not only run away, leaving 
 their flag-staff in the dust, but had gone in such hot 
 haste that the Confederate flag which was to wave upon 
 it, a large one already made and at hand, had also been 
 left behind. This fact soon became known to our sol- 
 
9^ • ArMy- LiFi3, 
 
 diers. Now for tlie flag. There is notliing soldiers will 
 attempt with a more lively zeal than to capture an en- 
 emy's flag. To tell them where one is to be found is 
 like putting a zealous hunter upon a fresh deer track. 
 The location of the flag was soon learned — too well 
 learned. Its location made its capture impossil)Ie 
 — that is, impossible to gallant soldiers like those of 
 our army. The house containing the flag was soon 
 known. As the search for it was being made, a little 
 colored girl, a little pickaninny, so small that she ran 
 around among the men without attracting any at- 
 tention, and who probably thought that it would be 
 huge fun to see the rebel flag captured, privately gave 
 information where it was, by slyly lifting up the cor- 
 ner of the dress of a young lady of the house. It 
 was at once seen that the young woman had extempo- 
 rized the rebel flag into an undergarment and was 
 wearing it as part of her underclothing. The loca- 
 tion of the flag was soon whispered around and the 
 soldiers promptly came away, leaving the flag in tri- 
 umph to wave around Ithe b^ave but disloyal maid. 
 
 Had the .flag been; guarded by a thousand armed 
 men it. would have, been bro^ight away. As it was, I 
 do note believe tliere was one soldier in our army who 
 desired to have it; taken. ; If the young woman had 
 known'., that ■ the Ti^nkee soldiers had discovered 
 its hiding place, knowing as she did how anxious 
 they '^vere. to. capture a rebel flag, she would un- 
 doubtedly liHve fainted on the spot. As it was our 
 soldiers canie away so quietly that she flattered her- 
 self with; th'e' idea that the flag had been hidden so 
 cunningly, that it could not be found. . 
 
At Jacksonport, Ark., May, 1862. 97 
 
 The nearest approadi to a desire to have the flag capt- 
 ured after its location had been discovered, was the 
 suggestion of one who had not been there: "She 
 could have been requested to retire to a priv^ate room 
 and disrobe." "Yes," was the fullj indorsed answer, 
 "but who in thunder would ever want to show a flag, 
 which when captured, was only apiece of cloth in use 
 as a woman's petticoat?" 
 
 When doing duty as part of a woman's undercloth- 
 ing a rebel flag can remain undisturbed; but when 
 waving as an emblem of rebellion it must come down. 
 
 AT JACKSONPORT EXCITEMENT CAUSED BY A SLAVE- 
 CATCHER IN OAMP. 
 
 At the hour of six o'clock in the morning on May 
 tenth, we started forward again and marched to Jack- 
 sonport. This place is at the junction of Black and 
 White Rivers. We remained in the place four days. 
 The soldiers consider it the meanest secesh place we 
 have yet found. And they have to guard the stores 
 and property of the miserable rebels. They would 
 much prefer to guard, the disloyal owners as prisoners 
 of war. But that we can not do because they never 
 have courage enough to fight. Brave Southern sol- 
 diers command our respect for their bravery, but these 
 sneaking, cowardly, stay-at-home rebels are contempt- 
 ible in every respect. 
 
 On Tuesday, the thirteenth, much excitement was 
 created in camp by a rebel slave owner. Some of his 
 slaves had attempted to run away. He found one 
 within the lines and tied him to his wagon and led 
 him away. This was bad enough and he ought, in 
 7 
 
98 Armv Life. 
 
 all conscience, to have gone away in peace, but he was 
 one of the domineering kind and could not go away 
 without throwing back vile names at the soldiers, call- 
 ing them "nigger dogs," and the like. The story 
 passed swiftly through the entire command. Soon 
 another active young negro told some of the soldiers 
 that he belonged to the same owner. He was not sent 
 away. His absence was soon discovei-ed and in came 
 the lordly slaveowner. Tlie army officers had felt the 
 rising storm and wisely declined to attempt to find any 
 soldiers who would go through camp to find the run- 
 away. ]N'o matter who might have been detailed for 
 this purpose no military commands would have been 
 obeyed. The soldiers .could have been placed under 
 arrest; in such case the entire army would soon have 
 been in disgrace, as all would have refused to act as sen- 
 tries to such a guard-house. JSIot a step would have 
 been taken for the slave owner who wished to use the 
 soldiers as " dogs " to catch his slaves. As property in 
 slaves was yet acknowledged, the army rules required 
 it to be protected. This our officers could not well ig- 
 nore. They could not kick the slave owner out of camp. 
 Their only course was evasion. By some means know- 
 ing the feeling prevailing in the ranks, the officers to 
 whom the slaveowner applied informsd him that they 
 knew of no runaway slaves, that they would not look 
 for them, and that if he had lost any he would have 
 to hunt them up himself. Having two or three of 
 liis low, contemptible lackeys with him, some of those 
 indigent ^'poor white trash" who never own eo much 
 as a dead chicken's feather, but who do all the fight- 
 ing for their masters, the slave owners; this slave 
 
A Slave-Catcher in Camp. 99 
 
 owner tlionglit that a trip and searcli tliroiigli tlie 
 soldiers' quarters was jnst wliat lie most desired. He 
 started. By this time the soldiers became aware of 
 his presence and its object. In a brief moment a fierce 
 commotion was ragin<^. The slave owner did not 
 search a sino-le tent; but was hooted and driven out 
 of camp in hot haste. The last seen of him, with 
 all of his boasted bravery oozing out at his finger ends, 
 white as a sheet and trembling, like the coward that he 
 was, he was running for dear fife to escape the threat- 
 ened hanging he so well deserved and feared he would 
 get. Even after he was safely away from our lines, 
 it is said that he was still so badly scared that he 
 traded his high-toned coat and hat with a poorly 
 dressed negro he met upon the road so as to be in dis- 
 guise if by chance any Union soldier should meet 
 him. He never again returned to our camp. 
 
 This is the first real excitement or interest that has 
 been awakened in our army on the slavery question; 
 on all other occasions, when any slaves have strayed 
 around camp the owners have come in a quiet, manly 
 way, treated the soldiers respectfully, and generally, 
 by pleasant talk with the runaway himself, got him 
 to go back without difficulty. One case happened in 
 Missouri where an uncommonly intelligent slave had 
 run away. His owner having found him, they sat 
 down and talked the matter over together. The negro 
 argued that Missouri would soon be a free State and 
 said that he was afraid of being sold and sent South. 
 The owner settled this by promising that the negro 
 should not be taken out of the State. He was known 
 to be a man who would keep his word, and the slave 
 
IQQ Akmy Life. 
 
 trusted him fully and went back and took charge of 
 his master's stock and farm as before. 
 
 Considerincr the existing condition of aifairs, this 
 Jacksonport incident plainly shows what a fierce storm 
 a very smallthing can start. The right of an owner 
 to take his slaves away was not questioned. It ire- 
 nuently occurred without attracting the least atten- 
 tion. Now a quick-tempered slave owner, in the heat 
 of the moment, had termed the soldiers " nigger dogs._ 
 His words had been reported in camp. From this 
 small matter such a fierce storm arose that an entire 
 army of the most loyal and obedient soldiers tne 
 world ever produced would have refused to obey their 
 own officers and incurred the severest penalty, rather 
 than to allow that particular slave owner to take one 
 of his slaves out of the army lines. Men are strange 
 beino-s Thino-s that move the feelings of men strike 
 a deeper cord°thaii those that only reach their reason. 
 During the world's history, mere sentiment has led 
 to moi'e wars, than matters of substance. 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 IN CAMP AT BATESVILLE. 
 
 DuKiKG the afternoon of May fourteenth we crossed 
 
 Black River. ^ c n 
 
 General Curtis, who had come down from boutli- 
 western Missouri, through Northwestern Arkansas 
 
At Batesville, Ark., May, 18G2. 101 
 
 is near us and we liave crossed to the north side of 
 Black River on the way to join him. 
 
 We made two easy marches and camped near Bates- 
 ville on the evening of the sixteenth. Our division is 
 now with and actually a part of General Curtis' army. 
 
 A curious incident happened on Sunday. By in- 
 vitation, some of our soldiers met with and joined in 
 a prayer meeting at the residence of a widow who 
 lived near our camp. The widow, a very zealous, re- 
 ligious old lady was there and participated with the 
 Union soldiers. In fact it was her j^rayer meeting. 
 The soldiers were there by her invitation. At this 
 very time iier own son was away from home and serv- 
 ing in the rebel army. This old lady's religion is so 
 strong that she is much more anxious about the sol- 
 diers' souls than she is as to which side they fight 
 upon. Probably she is right. All good people will, 
 no doubt, agree with her. But, nevertheless, it ap- 
 pears to me tliat she is rather over-zealous. For a 
 woman to entertain a number of Union soldiers as 
 her invited guests, even though it be to a Sabbath 
 evening prayer meeting, while her own son, with all 
 his hopes for the future, is in the rebel army, and fight- 
 ing for a cause she is in sympathy with, seems strange 
 to me. I did not go to her prayer meeting. 
 
 On the twenty-first of May the members of our 
 regiment voted upon the adoption of the proposed new 
 Constitution for the State of Illinois. The vote of our 
 regiment was nearly solid against it. There were 
 only six votes for it in ther entire regiment. This 
 Avas undoubtedl}^ the first vote many of our soldiers 
 ever cast. A very large share of our number were 
 not old enoufjli to vote at the last election in ISGO. 
 
102 Army Life, 
 
 Our first camp at Batesville was upon very low and 
 wet ground. By general consent it was called "Mud 
 Camp." 
 
 Owing to the uncertainty of our future movements 
 we lay at Mud Camp nearly two weeks before looking 
 for a better camp ground. As it began to appear that 
 our stay was to be a protracted one, a hign, dry piece 
 of ground was selected for a new camp. The only 
 desirable place we could find was in tlie woods thickly 
 covered with hazel brush and small trees. We went 
 to work and cleared it off and soon had a first-class 
 camp ground. 
 
 A WIND CAVE AND THE AGUE. 
 
 A few miles from our camp there were some natural 
 caves. Many of the boys being anxious to visit them, 
 it was arranged that the soldiers should go in compa- 
 nies, so as to avoid all danger of being captured by 
 roving bands of rebels, of which there were many in 
 the surrounding country. 
 
 Companies A and B went together. Only those who 
 wished to do so, made the march. The first cave we 
 came to was a small one; the second a more interest- 
 ing one, known as the "bone cave." The third and 
 last one we visited was the somewhat celebrated " wind 
 cave." It is so named from the fact that a strong wind 
 is always blowing out of its mouth. AVe stopped at its 
 mouth to rest and then explored it to our satisfaction. 
 It proved to be much more interesting than we had 
 anticipated. 
 
 (Even at this late day I am tempted to interpose a 
 
The Ague. 103 
 
 line to say: confound tliat wind cave. It was there 
 1 _c;ot the ague. The exposure to the unhealtliy 
 swamps we liad marclied througli had probably 
 planted the seed, but this wind cave certainly sprouted 
 it into action. When we reached the cave at the end 
 of a warm march I thought it refreshing to sit in 
 the cold, damp wind coming from its mouth. In 
 a siiort time I commenced to realize that I was very 
 cliiily and began to feel some queer little fellows 
 running over me; sometimes they appeared like a 
 drove of frisky mice phiying a game of ball, then like 
 livelj' crickets going with a hop, skip and jump; at 
 times like a more active leap-frog going from knee to 
 elbow, from head to foot with a single jump; and 
 again sometimes, worse than all, like some vile viper 
 slowly winding up and down my bones, the entire 
 crowd of wliicli I found to consist of only one — the 
 ague. Soon such entries as this began to appear in 
 my journal: "Sick with the ague this week." For a 
 year and more thereafter I was a liberal patron of 
 Uncle Sam's quinine box. Although it was no doubt 
 the swamps that laid the eggs, X always believed that 
 this wind cave, with its unhealthy breath, was the 
 old hen that hatched them into a full grown ao-ue 
 shake.) 
 
 HARD TIMES, 
 
 "We now began to see hard times. Tlie distance 
 between us and Pilot Knob was so great that roving 
 bands of rebels fell in our rear and effectually cut oft" 
 all communications by that route. It would take a 
 
104 Army Life. 
 
 large force to guard a wagon train tlirough. To at- 
 tempt to capture these bands of the enemy was use- 
 less. At the approach of a large force they would 
 scatter and disappear from sight and hide among the 
 heavily timbered hills and mountains, and thus be 
 ready to come out and again assemble to capture and 
 burn any of our supply trains that might unhappily 
 be on the road. The still longer and more difficult 
 route by wliich General Curtis had come, had long 
 since, by the same causes, and by reason of its length, 
 been rendered impracticable, ah*J was totally aban- 
 doned. The fearful condition of the roads and the 
 long distance to be traveled would well-nigh have 
 rendered it impossible to supply an army by over 
 land even if the enemy had let our supply trains 
 alone. 
 
 The supply trains that our army had brought from 
 Pilot Knob, when we came, were virtually tlie last 
 that came through. These supplies were quite large 
 when we started, but our long mai'ch had seriously re- 
 duced them. General Curtis' army was nearly desti- 
 tute when our division reached him. The surrounding 
 country is poor and destitute. The most successful 
 forao-ing expedition can barely find enough to last 
 themselves back into camp. As for clothing, we had 
 not drawn any to speak of since we left Pilot Knob, 
 on March first. Thus we found ourselves in Butes- 
 ville, ragged and hungry, with no supplies within 
 reach to draw from. 
 
 All communications being cut off we know noth- 
 ing of what is going on elsewhere. Conjecture is all 
 that is left us. lias McCellan's grand army marched 
 
A Destitute and Insulated Akmy. 105 
 
 on to Richmond and even now virtually ended tlie 
 rebellion, as was promised when last we heard from 
 the East? Or has another Ball Run disaster over- 
 taken onr army and again placed Washington in 
 danger, as the enemy were eqnally confident of doing? 
 Between the two onr hope is, for fear that it may be 
 worse, that both sides have remained facing each other 
 and are still as when last we heard from them, stand- 
 ing like two bad boys with a good wide road between 
 them, each vigorously telling the other that if he will 
 " come over 1 will knock your eyes out." 
 
 No letters from home can reach ns. We have no 
 tidings of our individual friends and relatives in other 
 armies. How are they '^ How are onr own folks at 
 home? What do they think has become of us? 
 
 In the midst of all of this we while away many a 
 tedious honr with some pleasant game, and at times 
 become almost gay over some jolly arn)y jest. It 
 was during these days that Company A's claim to 
 superiority in one respect was acknowledged. In 
 bringing in good, fat chickens, onr march through 
 Miss^ouri and Arkansas had established the fact that 
 Peverly, of Company A, and Hayes, of Company I, 
 had no equals. These two surpassed everything and 
 swept the board clean. Between them it was hard to 
 decide. Either of them could start out after a hun- 
 dred soldiers had returned, certain that there was not 
 a chicken within twenty miles of camp, and in less 
 than an honr return with a sack full. One day a 
 plump but b.idly frightened chicken was seen running 
 and flying through camp. Where it came from or to 
 whom it "belonged no one cared. The question was 
 
lOG Army Life. 
 
 wlio would own the chicken by catcUini^ it. Twenty 
 boys or more M'ere after it. It was wild and active and 
 led the boys a liv^ely race. Peverly lay under his tent, 
 the side of which was si i_^htly raised, reading. He 
 would not get up for one little chicken. As it was 
 flying past lie reached out one arm and took it in, 
 without losing his plac^. in the book he held in the 
 other hand, and still continued to read. His mess had 
 the chicken for dinner and the entire regiment con- 
 ceded that Company A's man was entitled to the 
 belt until Company I's man could publicly show 
 that chickens would also voluntarily ran to him to be 
 killed. 
 
 LEAVING BATESVILLE. 
 
 All communication overland being cut off, and our 
 provisions being about exhausted, it was fast becoming 
 necessary for us to act and to act promptl}-. To re- 
 turn within reach of supplies by way of the Missouri 
 railroads was out of the question. The raih-oad only 
 came to Pilot Knob. We had nothing to live uviou 
 while making that long march, and the produce of the 
 country would not avail toward feeding so large a 
 force. A like want of supplies would prevent us tVom 
 marching on to Little Rock and the Arkansas River 
 valley countrj-. The success of the Union forces in 
 clearing the upper part of the Mississippi River of all 
 formidable obstructions led us to hope that the (Tnion 
 boats would soon be able to reach the mouths of the 
 "VThite and Arkansas Rivers and come up them so 
 that we could establish a base of supplies upon one or 
 both of these streams. 
 
On the March, June, 1SG2. lOT 
 
 On the fourteenth of June we heard that Memphis 
 had been captured, and soon thereafter that our gun- 
 boats had cleared the way as far as the mouth of 
 White Eiver. This river is not, as we understand it, 
 obstructed by any strong rebel works, and the water 
 is high enough for boats of light draft to reach Jack- 
 son port. 
 
 At last it is decided that we must move. March- 
 ing orders are issued on June twenty-lirst. By night 
 every thing was ready. There was not much to do 
 except to look up conveyances for our sick soldiers. 
 This being done we went to sleep as usual. Loss in- 
 terest wa? felt in this preparation for a march than 
 ever before. But for the anxiety felt to be once more 
 where we could hear from home and friends and got 
 some food to eat and clothes to wear, there was nothing 
 in our expected march to excite attention. We sim- 
 ply expected that by easy marches we would go down 
 the river and meet our boats at or a little below Jack- 
 sonport; get an abundance of supplies; receive letters 
 and newspapers from home; go into camp, rest and 
 recruit and then strike out and capture Little Rock 
 and all of Arkansas. We felt sure that we would 
 meet our boats. Kews that they were well up the 
 river had been received. Such were the prospects with 
 which we left Batesville. 
 
 FROM BATESVILr.E TO JACKSONrORT. 
 
 Sunday morning, June twenty-second, the reveille 
 beat at two o'clock. We got up. When the reveille 
 drum beats, that means soldiers wake up. We had a 
 
108 Army Life. 
 
 lively time sjetting breakfast, packing knapsacks, fill- 
 ing canteens — our lean haversacks did not require 
 much attention — and striking tents at this early 
 morning hour. It is truly an interesting scene to see 
 an army packing up and starting on a march at night. 
 
 At half-past three we started and marched until 
 ten o'clock, and then camped for the da}'. The reason 
 why we start and then stop so early is to avoid trav- 
 eling in the heat of the da}'. This is the plan we will 
 have to adopt if we do much marching during the 
 summer in this Southern climate. To march in the 
 hot summer dust at mid-day would be next to im- 
 possible. 
 
 The secesh, the lazy fellows, who never work and 
 can hardly endure the hot summer weather of their 
 own climate, have said and fully believe that the 
 Northern soldiers could not live through the summer 
 season in this hot and sultry climate. As for march- 
 ing, it was the lieight of absurdity to think of such a 
 thing. AVhen this hot weather struck us at Bates- 
 ville they believed that we were as effectually penned 
 as though enclosed within impassable walls. That all 
 they had to do now was to prevent supplies from reach- 
 ing us and then all whom the heat did not kill would 
 die of starvation. Thus they have been looking upon 
 us as virtually prisoners of war and for this reason are 
 making such desperate efforts to prevent us from get- 
 ting any provisions. They will no doubt be much 
 surprised to see how well we enjoy starting out at 
 two or three o'clock for an early morning walk. 
 
 To make these early morning walks more pleasant we 
 do not have to carry our kna])sacks. Plenty room in 
 
SiiOKT Eations. 109 
 
 the wagons now. All the supplies they have to carry 
 is a few boxes of hard-tack. Tiiis is all the provisions 
 we have left and not nuich of that. Hard-tack is the 
 soldier name for army crackers. It is simply flour 
 and water baked into hard crackers. So we use the 
 provision wagons to carry our sick men and knapsacks 
 and everything except our guns and accoutrements, 
 canteens and lean haversacks. We think it mighty 
 lucky if we can And a hard-tack or two to put with 
 our drinking water for one day's lunch. We put 
 only a small load in eacli so as not to overload the 
 wagons as the army mules are not in prime condi- 
 tion. We begin to look them over now and then as 
 they are driven by to see what chance there is for a 
 mule steak for breakfast, but the prospect is not prom- 
 ising. Hide and bones are about all there is of the 
 mules. The hot weather has dried up the roads so that 
 they are as dry and hard as a barn floor, and as long as 
 the mules can walk six of them run a lightly loaded 
 wagon without much effort. 
 
 Monday we started at four o'clock and marclied 
 eight miles to Black River near to Jacksonport. We 
 then threw our pontoon bridge over the river and the 
 next two days were spent in crossing over to Jackson- 
 port. Our rations are hard-lack and water. 
 
 LIVELY TIMES. 
 
 Our division started forward on June twenty-sixth, 
 and marched down the river and camped at a small 
 stream called Village Creek. 
 
 AVe are obliged to send out forage trains in every 
 
110 Army Life. 
 
 direction to gather up enough provender to keep our 
 mules alive, and of course we take every thing we find 
 for men to eat, "We do not find much in this country 
 for man or beast. 
 
 On the twenty-seventh we sent out a forage train 
 with a strong guard. It was attacked by a band of 
 iour hundred rebels. Our men stood their ground, 
 wliippedthe rebels and brouglit their forage into camp. 
 AVe lost four killed and thirty wounded. The rebels 
 left eight of their dead ui^on the field. How many 
 dead and wounded they took away is unknown. Our 
 men returned to camp at night. 
 
 The next day General 'Benton took the Thirty-third 
 Illinois and Eighth Indiana, one battery and part of 
 the Seventh Indiana cavalry, and went in pursuit of 
 the rebels. We went over the battle ground of yes- 
 terday's fight, and after marching twelve miles found 
 that the rebels had passed out ot reach. As we re- 
 turned to camp the night became fearfully dark and we 
 had much difficulty in finding our way through the 
 dark woods. 
 
 On Sunday our forage train, out in another direc- 
 tion, was attacked by a small band of rebels. The 
 Eleventh Wisconsin went out to assist our men but 
 found the train and guard coming in all right. A few 
 shots had driven the enemy away. It is thought that 
 some of them were hit. None of our men were hurt. 
 
 Monday, June thirtieth. Company A went out as 
 guard to a forage train. We kept our eyes open for reb- 
 els but did not see any. Had good luck. We got some 
 corn fodder, rye in the straw, etc., for the mules, and 
 some bacon, molasses, lard and potatoes for the men. 
 
An Audacious Skirmish. Ill 
 
 Our officers settled with the owners for every thing 
 taken. It seems strange to pay for what we get 
 first and then fight for it afterward. The rebel sol- 
 diers and rebel citizens seem to well understand each 
 other — so well that there is not nsnalij much danger 
 until the owner has been settled with and passed out 
 of sight — then look out. Every piece of woods is 
 then liable to prove to be filled with a band of Jiid- 
 ing rebels ready to fire upon us. 
 
 Having waited at Yillage Creek until all of Gen- 
 eral Curtis' army had crossed Black Eiver, we shirted 
 forward again on July first and marched twelve miles 
 beforenoon. our advancedrivingtherebels before them. 
 At four o'clock six companies of our regiment went 
 ahead to reconnoiter. Two miles from camp we found 
 that the rebels had blockaded the road bj^ felling a 
 large number of trees across it. We supposed that 
 the rebels were in force upon the other side and 
 crawled through the fallen timbers to see what they 
 were about. We soon came to their picket guards 
 which we drove in and then chased the rebels until dark 
 but could not catch them. We then slowly picked our 
 way through the dark woods back to camp. Kather 
 risky business this. The enemy had force enough 
 to have easily captured us. We did not tire through 
 this blockade as they expected but were upon their 
 side and right upon them when they first saw us. They 
 probably thought that none but a very strong force 
 would thus venture into their very teeth, and left 
 the field, one in which they had a capital position for 
 a good fight, without firing a gun. Where our six lit- 
 tle companies would have been if they liad turned 
 
112 Army Life. 
 
 upon us is hard to tell. Probably swept off at the 
 first fire. How clisf^nsted that rebel army would have 
 been if they had learned that they had been driven 
 from their chosen field by a little band of less than 
 three hundred men. In war, as in love, audacity often 
 wins, while superiority is asleep. 
 
 The next day onr soldiers went to work and soon cnt 
 a road through the woods. The alarmed rebels did 
 not return to annoy us. We made a new road and will 
 leave the one the rebels have blockaded with so much 
 ^trouble for them to repair when they get ready. AVith 
 dry, hard ground and no bridges to make, it was easy 
 work to cut a new road through the woods, and it was 
 soon done. The First Indiana cavalry went ahead and 
 had a sharp brush with some of the enem3\ x^one of 
 our men were lost, but a number of the rebels were 
 killed by our cannon. 
 
 We made an early start on the morninjT of the third 
 of July and went through to Augusta. We expected 
 a tilt with the rebels here as they had loudly threat- 
 ened thatwe should not enter the town. Some heavily 
 timbered hills that we had to pass through before 
 reaching the city gave them the choice of many cap- 
 ital places for a battle. Our company was on the skir- 
 mish line and we made our rapid advance with much in- 
 terest, but as we approached the nimble rebels skipped 
 out so lively that we could not catch any of them. We 
 got in at noon. Other troops continued to come in 
 during all of the afternoon. 
 
 JULY FOUKTII. 
 
 We celebrated the fourth of July in good style in 
 
To Cache River— July 1862. 113 
 
 Angiista, A salute was fired, speeches were made, 
 and this place treated to the first good, honest fonrtli 
 of July celebration it ever had. The Declaration of 
 Independence is alwaj'-s indorsed with mental reserva- 
 tions by the people of the South. The declaration 
 that " all men are created free and equal " never was 
 popular with slaveholders. Why should it be? 
 
 During the day an advance guard was sent ahead 
 and they had a sharp skirmish with the enemy. The 
 rebels were severely punished with our " little bull- 
 dogs " (steel guns) and. it is reported that about sixty 
 of them were killed. 
 
 As it was known that the enemy was gathering a 
 large force in frojit of us, to block our advance, it was 
 deemed prudent for the army to move in a more com- 
 pact form, so we remained in Augusta on July fifth. 
 This gave all of General Curtis' army time to come in 
 or at least to reach within supporting distance of us. 
 
 Considerable interest was created by the arrival of 
 the First Arkansas Regiment, one raised by ,General 
 Curtis since he came to Batesville. It was the first 
 time they had met our division. 
 
 July sixth we started at four o'clock and marched 
 fifteen miles to Caciie River. The advance came upon a 
 force of the enemy who had commenced to blockade the 
 road. If they expect to seriously annoy us, why do not 
 the lazy fellows do their mischief before we get to them ? 
 After a short, sharp skirmish they ski]-)ped across the 
 river. At night they commenced to annoy us by fir- 
 ing into our camp from their side of the river. Our 
 artillery opened and soon cleared those woods and we 
 slept in peace the rest of the night. Our army is sup- 
 8 
 
114 Army Life. 
 
 plied with much the best artillery, and whenever we 
 can g-et two or three good batteries into play upon 
 them tlie rebels always skip out of reach. Eebels do 
 not like cannon balls. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 UATTLE OF CACHE EIVER. 
 
 The early morn of a summer day, as tlie light began 
 to break in the eastern sky on Monday morning, July 
 7, 1862, found us camped on the west side of Cache 
 River. Work was commenced at an early liour and 
 our pontoon bridge was soon thrown over the river. 
 The army iu)mediately commenced crossing. Our 
 guards had been thrown some little distance ahead, 
 but we were not troubled by the enemy. Our effect- 
 ive artillery work of the previous night luid taught 
 them to keep at a safe distance. 
 
 At eleven .o'clock four companies of the Thirty- 
 tliird Illinois and four of the E'.eventh Wiscousin, 
 with one piece of light artillery^ belonging to a cavalry 
 regiment, all under command of Colonel Ilovey, went 
 forward to see what the enemy in front of us were doing. 
 
 With a skirmish line in advance, we went forwa)-d 
 on a rapid walk. Nothing occurred until we had 
 marched about seven miles. Here we came upon a 
 rebel picket so suddenly that they were obliged to take 
 to the woods, leaving their guns and other traps upon 
 
Battle of Cache Eiveb. 115 
 
 tlie i^ronnd. At the point where this picket guard"- 
 liad been posted another road crossed the one we' were 
 upon at right angles. This picket post was to our 
 left as we advanced or upon the north side of our 
 road. Thej disappeared in the woods in front of us, 
 keeping to onr left. Believing that thej had gone to 
 join the command to whicli thej belonged, we were 
 confident that the main force of the enemy was in the 
 M'oods directly in our front. 
 
 Upon the south side of our road and just beyond 
 the cross road was an old frame house. It was 
 un plastered and the side boards were so loose and 
 cracked tliat a person inside could easily look out 
 upon the road in front. Some of our men made ii 
 hasty search of this house, but failed to find any 
 rebels. It afterward proved that a rebel officer was 
 at the time secreted in one of the rooms up 
 stairs. He had been aided by the good, honest 
 woman of the house who earnestly assured our men, 
 " upon the word of a pious Christian Avoman," that 
 there had not been any rebels at her house and none 
 in sight. In reply to a question she asserted that the 
 men who had run into the woods, as we came up, 
 were only a small hunting party who had stopped by 
 the road to make some coffee. While no reliance was 
 placed upon her earnest stf^tements it was not thought 
 worth while to leave any guard to watch the house or 
 lier. As soon as our men withdrew, she of course 
 promptly notified the rebel officer up stairs. 
 
 About three quarters of a mile in front of us were 
 very heavy woods, thick with underbrush. We 
 Avere sure tlie rebels were in those woods waiting for 
 
IIQ Army Life. 
 
 us 
 
 u.. Wc would go and see tliem. Without a mo- 
 ment's delay we puslied forward, our entire force 
 passing in fi'ont of the frame liouse. The rebel officer 
 in one of the upper rooms, with the woman below act- 
 ing as his sentinel, peeked through a convenient hole 
 and saw and counted our entire force. We had by act- 
 ual count three hundred and eighty-two men all told. 
 It is understood that the observing rebel's report to 
 his commanding officer was " not quite four hundred 
 men." This shows that he was reasonably accurate. 
 
 Passing rapidly by the house and the partly cleared 
 field we soon reached the heavy woods where we ex- 
 pected to find the rebels. We did not find them. 
 We did, however, find two negroes who had been hid- 
 ing in the thick brush. Tliey were frightened almost 
 to'death. As soon as we came near enough so that 
 they were sure we were Yankee soldiers, they ran 
 toward us exclaiming: "Lord a-golly, massy! Big 
 Lord bless you'uns ! We's mighty glad to see you'uns! 
 Don't shoot! Oh! Lord a-massy; look out! I'se 
 afeared of dem big guns. Don't, don't let 'em big 
 mouths come dis way. Swallow up dis darkey sure." 
 They were quieted with tlie assurance that they should 
 not be harmed and their excited exclamations cut 
 short with the questions: "Are there any rebel 
 soldiers near here." " Oh, Lord-a-mighty, bless you, 
 lots of 'em. Woods chuck full of 'em. More dan 
 hundred thousand. Oh, d'ey eat you all up sure, sure 
 as you live d'ey will, massy! All the woods full of 
 'em." "Are they in these woods?"— Jumping five 
 feet high in terror at the bare thought.—" In dese 
 woods ! Lord a save you, no; dese darkies nebber 
 
Battle of Cache River. 117 
 
 liids in dese woods if de vebs be here — Dead darkey 
 sure — Woods full of 'ein, eat you'uns all up sure, sure 
 as you live a minute, you'uns all dead men sure. Sure 
 as you live you is ! Dis darkej^ dead, too ! Oh, golly 
 save us; let dis darkey take to the woods! Dey be 
 liere mortal minuts sure! Dis darkey must go !" Of 
 course all this took place in much less time than it 
 can be written, ll^y a few questions we learned that 
 the rebel force, whatever it was, was not far from us. 
 By looking in the direction their hands most elo- 
 quently pointed, we could easily see the deep woods 
 in which the rebels were undoubtedly covered. That 
 these poor frightened negroes, wh.o all their lives liad 
 been the slav^es of their rebel masters, told us the 
 truth, we did not for a moment doubt. We can al- 
 ways depend upon the colored folks to tell us the 
 truth about the rebels. 
 
 It was now plain that if we wanted to find the en- 
 emy the place to go was to retrace our steps nearly a 
 mile to the frame house we had passed, then take the 
 cross-road leading into the woods lying off to the south 
 of the road by which we had come. 
 
 In the meantime the rebel oflicer secreted in the 
 house when we passed it had not been idle. Having 
 carefully noted our strength as we passed, he hastened 
 to rejoin the rebels massed in heavy force in the woods 
 near at hand. Here was a glorious o])portunity — for 
 them. A force of Union troops of less than four 
 Inindred men had gone past and left off to their right a 
 rebel force of more than as many thousand nicely hid 
 in the thick woods and not two miles distant from tlio 
 road the Union troops had taken. No more of the 
 
118 Army Life. 
 
 Union army was within hearing distance. A cavalry 
 guard could easily be thrown in that direction to give 
 warning if danger arose. AH they liad to do was to 
 come up rapidly, turn in our rear, and slaughter our 
 little force. Of course they at once resolved to do it. 
 A band of rebel cavalry was sent through the woods 
 toward the road by which we had advanced to watch 
 and give warning if reinforcements should be coming 
 to us. Their main force was put in shape to march up 
 and capture us. 
 
 By this time unknown to them, we were rapidly 
 upon our way to meet them. The rebels had not cal- 
 culated upon our finding some negroes in the woods, 
 and thus becoming posted as to their position. They 
 expected to give us a complete surprise by coming up 
 in our rear. They calculated, and with good reason, 
 that by coming up in our rear we would believe that 
 it was some of our own troops and that they could 
 fall upon and slaughter us with a single volle3^ We 
 had been warned in time, but none too soon. With a 
 rapid march we had hastened back to the road cross- 
 ing. Here we left two companies of the Eleventh 
 Wisconsin as a reserve guard. The rest of our little 
 force started south to enter the woods where we knew 
 the rebels were. The two other companies of the Wis- 
 consin regiment were placed in front as skii-mishers. 
 The four little companies of the Thirty-third followed 
 in solid column. What an army column, hardly two 
 hundred strong! With this force we went into the 
 thick woods to mset an enemy of unknown strength. 
 Of course it was not for a momsnt supposed that 
 wc would meet an enemv that would stand and make 
 
Battle of Cache Eiver. 119 
 
 a stubborn contest. Our daily experienca in the past 
 had been that when found, the enemy would fire only 
 one volley and then seek safety by rapid flight -into 
 the depths of the wild woods. Colonel Ilovey, al- 
 ways ready and ev^er anxious for a fight, had so little 
 hopes of anything but a deserted' rebel camp being 
 found that he started leisurely to ride back toward 
 the main army at Cache Iliver to give the informa- 
 tion that the road was open. Ere he had gone far his 
 quick ear caught the first sound of clashing arms, 
 and dashing the spurs into his steed witii headlong 
 speed he returned to his little command and joined 
 in the wild conflict that was then raging, as we shall 
 presently see. 
 
 Oar rapid march had brought us back so that we 
 turned toward them by the time the rebels had fairly 
 started tor us. Discovering our approach they quick- 
 ly adopted another plan. Their strong advance in 
 solid line of battle was hid by lying close upon the 
 ground well covered by fallen logs and thick under- 
 brush. In this way they expected to lie concealed 
 until we were witliin reach when they would rise up 
 and sweep us oft* at the first fire. Back of them, fur- 
 ther out of sight, was a heavy body of mounted men 
 who were to rush in at the proper time and complete 
 the slaughter. That a slaughter was their design was 
 plainly shown. Had they simply wished to capture 
 us, able as they were to surround us with such an 
 overwhelming force, they could, and by all rules of 
 civilized war ought to at once have sent in a flag of 
 truce, informed us of their large force, advised us of 
 our real condition and demanded our immediate sur- 
 
120 Army Life. 
 
 render. Their action showed that it was not a capt- 
 ure but a slaughter they desired. But their last 
 well laid plan, like the lirst, was doomed to fail. 
 
 We advanced in colnmn and without any line of 
 battle, having- in front only aline of skirmishers. Our 
 keen-eyed skirmishers, many of whom had been suc- 
 cessful hunters in the viild woods of Wisconsin, were 
 too quick for the hiding rebels, Proliting by our re- 
 peated experience in the woods of Arkansas with the 
 rebels who at first sight would slioot .and run away, 
 our established rule had become to fire at the enemy 
 as soon as we got near enough. Some of our skir- 
 mishers soon saw the heads of the prostrated and hid- 
 den rebels and commenced firing at them. Now the 
 wild music commenced. Seeing that they were dis- 
 covered the entire rebel line rose up and fired a ter- 
 rific volley at our skirmishers. The distance was so 
 great that their poor guns did no serious damage, while 
 the powerful rifles in the hands of our men told with 
 deadly effect upon the enemy. But it was only our 
 skirmish line of a few nien engaged. They had no 
 time to reload their guns and tire a second shot. 
 Many of the rebels liad double-barreled shotguns 
 and thus each had a charge still in reserve. Their 
 lieavy support on horseback had started rapidly for- 
 ward at the first shot. Now the entire rebel force, 
 cavalry and infantry, came forward upon a fierce run. 
 Wisconsin's little band of skirmishers had to skip 
 back at a lively rate. They were now out of the 
 fight. Our time had come. Company A was in the 
 advance. The ground upon which we stood was 
 some hio-lier than that over wdiich the rebels were 
 
Battle of Cache River. 121 
 
 advancing. Standing at the brow of tlie hill our one 
 little steel gun had coniinenced a lively play upon, 
 the advancing rebels. As our skirmishers came back 
 on the run we barely had time for part of the company 
 to turn into line in support of the cannon and face 
 the enemy when they were upon us. They came 
 npon a fearful charge and with but little attention 
 to military' order. The heavy lines of the enemy's 
 infantry breaking up to let through a more dense 
 mass on horseback. In this way they M'ere right 
 u])on us before they saw our line. Now a terrific 
 clash of arms followed. Here we were but a few 
 yards ajmrt. Into the dense throng our trusty rifles 
 were fired with fearful effect. They replied with a 
 volley that made the timber roar and the ground 
 tremble. Lead enough went screeching over our 
 heads to have swept off an entire army. In front 
 of our few guns, horses, horsemen and footmen 
 were falling to the ground. In front of theirs our 
 men stood unharmed. Hardly a man upon our side 
 Mas hit by this first volley. We were standing 
 waiting for them. They were surprised to meet us 
 face to face when they supposed that our entire line 
 was upon the run to the rear. In the thick woods 
 numbers could not be accurately estimated, and our 
 little line of skirmishers had given the advancino; 
 enemy such a warm reception that they believed 
 our entire force was in the advance line and had 
 been driven back, and the rebels rushed madly on, 
 never dreaming of the stubborn resistance they were 
 yet to meet. In surprised confusion they fired 
 wildly. Standing as we did upon higher ground also 
 
122 Aemy Life. 
 
 lielped to save us. In firing they aimed too liigli. 
 A few feet above our heads the trees were ahnust 
 swept clean by the leaden balls fired above us. 
 Leaves and twigs and limbs sev^ered from the trees 
 by the leaden storm dropped upon us like hail. Had 
 the rebel guns been aimed so as to have sent the bul- 
 lets five or ten feet lower none of us w^ould have been 
 left alive to tell the tale of our defeat. Their lines 
 wavered and trembled at the fearful punishment they 
 received, but the force of tlie heavy mass coming so 
 swiftly impelled them on, on into our very midst. 
 Fortunately their guns, like ours, had been fired and 
 were now unloaded. But close at hand fast rushing 
 upon us, were still otlier heavy forces of the enemy 
 with lead in their guns. 
 
 Let no one suppose that Company A, a mere hand- 
 ful of men, stood there in formal army line, with these 
 hosts of fresh rebels coming up to shoot at us, while we 
 went through all of the motions of reloading our empty 
 guns. No, indeed! Plenty of good trees to get behind 
 were too near at hand. But ere we fell back there 
 was a. little work to do. As soon as it became cerlain 
 that we must fall back, the first thought was to save 
 the little steel cannon. The driver swung his team 
 into place, the gun was hooked on the caisson, the 
 gunners scampered back under cover of the woods, and 
 yet, oh, misery! there stood our little cannon. The 
 soldier heart always bleeds to see a flag or apiece of 
 artillery fall into the enemy's hands. At the ilrst 
 jump of the team, the quick start had thrown the can- 
 non from its fastenings. The bold driver was wound- 
 ed and could not at once bring his horses to a stand. 
 In the midst of the fierce storm raging about us, C/ap- 
 
I>ATTLE OF Cache Eivee. 123 
 
 tain Potter coolI_y said: "Steady, bojs; save the gun." 
 Sergeant Ed Pike, of our company, ran up and 
 grabbed hold of the cannon with one hand, his own 
 rifle in the other, and with the strength of a giant and 
 the assistance of one comrade ran the cannon down the 
 road, hooked it on the caisson, and the team galloped 
 to the rear and saved the gun. The rebels were all 
 around. The nearest liorseman was almost close 
 enough to have struck Pike with his saber. The rebels 
 were, however, completely dashed by the supreme 
 audacity of the movement. Half a dozen of us, the 
 tallest members of thecompanj'-, and thus thrown near 
 to Pike, our orderly sergeant, were all that were near 
 enough to witness the strange scene. A strange scene, 
 indeed! AVith one false step, or the loss of a single 
 second of time, it would have been a tragedy. AVith 
 our heavy guns in hand we were ready to aid our 
 brave comrade, if we could, had the rebels raised their 
 sabers to strike, but, it may be confessed; we had no 
 desire to enter into a clubbing fight with unloaded guns 
 unless compelled to do so. As soon as the cannon 
 was hitched to the caisson and saved by the galloping 
 team, we made lively time to join our comrades in find- 
 ing good places and friendly trees behind which we 
 could stop and reload our rifles. As I dodged under 
 a limb it caught my cap and it fell to the ground 
 behind me. Pike had saved a cannon. A pretty 
 story it would be if I could not save a little army 
 cap. Without scarcely any thought other than the 
 appearance of coming out of the fight bare-headed I 
 turned back for the cap. The faces of the rebels who 
 had witnessed our audacious actions in takiuij the steel 
 
124 Army Life. 
 
 gun from their very teeth were covered with amazo- 
 inent. Thej looked as though they were in doubt 
 M'hether we were really fighting or only engaged as 
 two parties in some huge play. As I looked up with 
 the recovered cap in hand, and the real situation began 
 to appear to me, while overwlielmed with astonish- 
 ment, I could not help returning the surprised smiles 
 of the nearest rebels and then scampered back right 
 lively to find my tree. It was more thought'essness 
 than any thing else that caused me to save my cap from 
 such a place. As I was reloading behind a good, stout 
 tree, and began to fully realize the situation, a thousand 
 miserable army caps could have lain there at their lei- 
 sure and I would have gone bare-lieaded twenty years 
 before I would, have run into the teeth of that rebel 
 host to get one of them. 
 
 All of this had hardly taken more than a second 
 of time. Upon occasions like this, actions and events 
 are swifter than passing time. The terrific rebel vol- 
 ley had answered our fire; almost at a single jump 
 Pike had taken the gun to its place; and into the 
 woods we went hardly a pace behind the rest of our 
 company. At this point the woods-were, fortunately,, 
 so thick with underbrush that two rods distance com- 
 pletely hid us from our foes. 
 
 And still on came the crowding mass of anxious 
 rebels who had not yet fired a gun. We had not 
 been a moment too soon. Company A had barely time 
 to scamper into the thick woods to our left, when this 
 seething, rushing horde of fresh rebels came up, passed 
 the ground where we had stood, and fell u|->on the three 
 othercompaniesof the Thirty-third. Each had turned 
 partly into line. There had been no time to change 
 
Battle of Cache Eiver. 125 
 
 from column into line by battalion. The scene our 
 company met a moment before was now re-enacted. 
 Steadily, coolly and with deadly aim the laro^e rifle balls 
 M'ere sent into the dense rebel ranks. The effect was 
 too terrible. Flesh and blood conld not stand it. 
 Brave men though they were, the rebel lines wavered, 
 halted and then rushed back in wild dismay. 
 
 By the time this desperate charge was over we had 
 ceased to pay any great attention to mere comjjany 
 lines. Officers and men all fought together. About 
 the oidy indication of rank was the fact that wher- 
 ever our lines were the thickest an officer would gen- 
 erally be seen in the midst of them. Scattered 
 through the deep woods, only watching that we kept 
 in the general line of the Union soldiers, we sought 
 such shelter as we could, and rapidly loaded our rifles 
 and fired at the best mark we could see. Thus the 
 rebels withdrew, suffering at every step until they 
 were out of reach of our long range rifles. 
 
 Do not think that this retreat of the enemy was the 
 end of the battle of Cache River. AVe thought so for 
 a brief moment. Colonel llovey, who had now reached 
 the front, said to his orderly; " Report to camp that one 
 officer and two men are severely wounded and that we 
 want a surgeon immediately." He was standing near 
 me when he said this and evidently had as little 
 thought of a renewal of the attack as any of us. 
 More from a soldierly spirit, than from any thought 
 of necessity, our lines had been somewhat re-formed 
 by the soldiers changing places and getting nearer to 
 their own ofiicers atul company comrades. But a brief 
 moment was, however, allowed for this. Before formal 
 
120 Army Life. 
 
 lines conld be planned, mncli less made, we were clearly 
 advised of our error in believing the battle ended. 
 So soon that it seemed but an echo of the departing 
 cry we had so lately and with so much satisfaction 
 heard, the returning rebel yell, rapidly coming nearer 
 and nearer, told us that all was not yet over. Their 
 cavalry guard had informed the rebels that no rein- 
 forcements were yet at hand to rescue the little band 
 of Union soldiers. For a large army, thousands in 
 number, to be baffled by a few hundred, and that, too, 
 out in the open woods with no protecting works, was 
 something tlie hot Southern blood could not endure. 
 Rushing among them, with information of how con- 
 temptible we were in numbers, appealing to the pride 
 of boasted Southern chivalry, sneering in words of 
 contempt at the plow boys of tlie North, the rebel offi- 
 cers at once rallied their men for another charge. 
 On they came more fierce than before, blowing mon- 
 strous horns, pounding kettles, beating drums, screech- 
 ing; the harsh, shrill rebel yell. What possessed them ? 
 Did they think to scare the soldiers by whom they had 
 been so severely punished a few minutes before by 
 mere noise? So it seemed. AVitli the most dismal 
 racket that all of these things conld make, added to by 
 the less weird but more dangerous flash of rebel guns, 
 the furious, overwhelming force was thrown upon us 
 with all the insane zeal of maddened fury. This 
 second charge took a more deadly and continued 
 form than the first. As they came, in this headlong 
 career, our trusty rifles were emptied into the dense 
 mass with fearful results. Our deadly fire broke the 
 i-ebel charge but they could not themselves fully stay 
 
Battle of Cache River. 127 
 
 tlie force of the onward rush. The fierce advance of 
 the enemy carried many of them far beyond where 
 our soldiers stood. 
 
 Now our guns as fast as loaded could be used upon 
 rebels in our rear as well as in front. Rebels before 
 us, rebels behind us, rebels each side of us, rebels, reb- 
 els everywhere. The enormous mass of rebels was 
 strong enough to crush our ranks; to pass through and 
 trample them down and to have captured* or slaugh- 
 tered us if they could have found our army lines — but 
 we had none. Wherever the enemy were too thick to 
 be driven back we would run in both directions and 
 thus open a way for them to pass through while we 
 looked for the protecting side of other trees. Noble 
 trees they were. Many of them had firmly stood there 
 loyal and sound to the core, since Washington's day. 
 In a battle a good tree is often a soldier's bosom 
 friend. Perhaps instead of recording that over five 
 thousand Confederates fiercely fought less than four 
 hundred Yankee boys we should count five or ten thou- 
 sand trees as in line upon the Union side and thus in 
 numbers make the contest equal. True it is that 
 those staunch Arkansas trees right royally gave the 
 strength of their side to the cause of loyalty upon that 
 day, and in after years — far, far away — after this story 
 is all forgotten, ^\ hen those trees become brown and 
 leafless with age and decay, and the woodman's ax 
 lays them low, in the hearts of those old oak trees 
 that stood for the grand old Union flag when mis- 
 guided sons of the South would tear it down, will be 
 found many a leaden ball which has rested there 
 since that eventful day, when the}^ stood within the 
 fierce contest of July 7, 1862. 
 
12S Akmy Life. 
 
 The fierce, unequal contest was raging still. Each 
 of us was now virtually fighting upon liis own hook. 
 Each selected the best protection he could while load- 
 ing his rifle and then sought for the largest band of 
 rebels he could see to fire into. All of our-officers did 
 well their part, but all they could do was by example, 
 and each officer was fighting side by side with the 
 soldiers. Colonel Hovey went in on foot with the rest. 
 During the most desperate part of the contest, as 
 they were reloading their rifles, some of our soldiers 
 raised a shout and laugh on seeing Colonel llovey 
 popping away toward the enemy with a little pocket 
 revolver. A pop-gun would have been fully as dan- 
 gerous at the distance he was attempting to slioot. 
 "Boys,*' said he, "shooting is all that will do any 
 good in this fight, you are doing better work than T." 
 Soon, however, he borrowed a rifie from a wounded 
 soldier, who was crawling to the rear, and from that 
 time on he went right in with the soldiers wherever 
 the fight was thickest, now and then borrowing a 
 handful of cartridges from the cartridge box of the 
 nearest soldier, and thus continued until the last gun 
 was fired. All of our officers did the same, and long 
 before the battle ended every officer in those woods, 
 . who was not himself wounded, had the rifle of some 
 disabled soldier. 
 
 A charge of nearly spent small balls from a shot- 
 gun or musket struck Colonel Ilovey in the breast. 
 lie stopped a moment, examined the wounds, picked 
 out some of the balls that were buried in his flesh; 
 said: "This does not amount to much," and paid no 
 further attention to his wounds until the fight was 
 over. 
 
Battle of Cache Eiver. 129 
 
 A round bullet hole, as it was supposed, was no- 
 ticed in Colonel Lippincott's felt hat, "A pretty 
 close call. Colonel," some one remarked. " Oh, no," 
 said Lippincott, with cool indiiference, as the rebel bul- 
 lets were whistlinoj past his head, "I cut these holes 
 this morning for the purpose of ventilation i)i this 
 hot weather." He was too brave a man to be willing 
 to accept any undue credit. 
 
 This second charge was soon broken by our accu- 
 rate, telling fire. In a spasmodic form it continued. 
 The fight became continuous. Heavy forces of the 
 enemy were in front of ns; some upon our flank, and 
 often many were, by their fierce ride, carried through 
 to our rear. It was fighting all around. Every few 
 minutes a desperate band of rebel cavalry would rush 
 npon us. During one of tliese fierce charges a power- 
 ful rebel, npon a superb horse, came dashing through 
 our lines at the head of his band. The first man he 
 reached was Sergeant Dutton of our comjjany. Dut- 
 ton had just fired and was reloading his rifle. Seeing 
 his advantage the athletic rebel drew his heavy saber 
 and w'.th a cry of desperate rage went fiercely on to 
 stiike and ride the Union soldier down. None of 
 our boys within reach had at that critical moment a 
 loaded gun so as to fire and save Dutton from his 
 thi'eatened doom, -and besides, just about this time 
 each of us had about a dozen rebels of his own to 
 attend to and was kept mighty busy dodging out of 
 reach of rebel balls while putting each fresh load in 
 our rifles. Being just then near a fence which blocked 
 his reti'cat, with an open space of ground in front of 
 him, giving the rider an unobstructed way, no escape 
 9 
 
130 Akmy Life. 
 
 seemed possible and Dutton's doom seemed at liand. 
 Just as the fatal blow was about to fall, the little ser- 
 geant whipped arevolver from his belt, without movinn^ 
 a single step, and fired. The uplifted hand fell help- 
 less, the bold rider dropped dead to the ground, and the 
 riderless horse passed on through our lines and out 
 of sight to our rear. Had Dutton's wonderful nerve 
 for a second wavered, had he even given a single 
 glance to IcJok for a way of escape he would have been 
 a dead man, and perhaps the result of the battle 
 changed. Like incidents could be told of each soldier 
 who stood in tliose woods at that liour. With the 
 fearful odds against us the part of each was important, 
 Hud had one failed, disaster to all would have been 
 the result. Dismayed at the loss of their impetuous 
 leader and terrified by seeing so manj of their num- 
 ber fall from their saddles by the certain aim of the 
 Union rifles, this band of rebel horsemen, like others, 
 disappeared, only to be followed by others as desperate 
 and reckless as tliose who had gone before. 
 
 The only military command I heard during that 
 long contest after the battle was underway, was given 
 by Captain Potter. A number of us were near him. 
 lie had been wounded, and with a handkerchief tied 
 around his bleeding leg to stop the rapid flow of blood, 
 as a little lull in the fierce storm occurred, he gave 
 •what was probably the only command given during 
 those two desperate hours, in these words: "Eoj-s, I 
 .believe that we can get some good shots over there," 
 pointing to a clump of trees nearer to the rebels who 
 were firing upon us. We advanced, and with the rifle 
 lie had been using for a cane, he come hobbling along 
 after us. 
 
Battle of Cache Eivee. 131 
 
 Tluis for two long hours this fearful contest contin- 
 ued. And only four small companies of the Thirtj- 
 third Regiment, with hardly fifty men each to meet 
 tlie desperate onslaught. True, a like number of the 
 Eleventh Wisconsin were with lis, and right nsefnl 
 they were. Two companies, it will be remembered, 
 were left at the road crossing. The other two compa- 
 nies upon the skirmish line, at the beginning of the 
 battle, had been so hotly pressed that each man had all 
 he could do to save himself. The companies upon the 
 road formed in line. As the skirmishers came back 
 they joined them. Oar little cannon, after being saved 
 fi'om the enemy, had also gone back and taken place 
 in the line. There was not much opportunity to use 
 the cannon, but now and then, when our boys were 
 clear from the road, a solid shot or shell would be sent 
 through to greet the rebel hosts. J^ow and then some 
 of the Illinois boys being entirely cut off from their 
 comrades would run through the wood or field to the 
 i-ear and form in line with the Wisconsin boys. 
 Thus when tlie enemy came with such fierce force that 
 we could not stay their headlong course but were 
 compelled to fall to the right or left and let the heav- 
 iest columns through, as they passed by and looked 
 down tlie road and saw the solid line still in front, 
 raked as they wereby the ceaseless side fire we were 
 ])Ouring upon them, they would in dismay rapidly 
 pass off in the open woods to our right leaving us at 
 libert}'- to turn and give our undivided attention to 
 other rebels still advancing in our front. Standing 
 there without a wavering man in their lines, that little 
 band of AVisconsin men was of untold help to us. If 
 
233 Army Life. 
 
 Colonel Ilovey left them there during all this time 
 bv design, it was a happy thought. If the fighting 
 was so hot that he had no chance to send an order for 
 them to advance, it was a most fortunate accident. 
 Had the manv rebels who, at different times, passed 
 our lines in their mad career, been permitted nnmo- 
 lested to reform and reload and open fire in our rear, 
 no protecting trees could have caught all of the rebel 
 bullets, and "we wonld have been swept off in a few 
 
 brief moments. 
 
 A plan of the battle field would show the advantages 
 which aided us in this desperate contest. Supposing 
 that the main road we had advanced upon in the 
 morning, was running east, that upon which the bat- 
 tle was fought would be running south. At the cross- 
 ing of the two roads our reserve had been stationed. 
 On the left of the cross road going south toward the 
 enemy was a field connected with the frame farm 
 house referred to, and all enclosed by a strong rail 
 fence. This fence ran south along the road, about 
 three" quarters of a mile. Tlie fence then turned east 
 running in that direction until the heavy and almost 
 inpenerrable woods east of us were reached. The first 
 part of the field near the farm house was qnfte free 
 of trees, but the lower part ran into and included con- 
 siderable of the woods in which we found the enemy. 
 On the right of the cross road, which would be look- 
 in o- inthe°directionof ourmain army on Cache Kiver, 
 wS along stretch of ground thinly covered with large 
 trees but free of underbrush. This, of course, ran 
 back to and connected with the heavier woods where 
 the enemy had made his rendezvous. For a 
 
Battle of Cache liivER. . 133 
 
 short distance on the riglit side of the cross road 
 there had formerly been an enclosure, and about a 
 quarter of a mile from the main road the remains of 
 a rail fence, running sume little distance west, was 
 still standing. When we first met the enemy we had 
 passed beyond the farthest fence, but as the battle pro- 
 gressed we had fallen back to it, and many of our men 
 were in the woods of the enclosure. Thus it will be 
 seen that when the enemy's cavalrj' charged upon 
 us, with the highway for his center, his right wing 
 would strike the heavy fence and tlius be thrown 
 into confusion with his center u]>on the road, 
 and this would naturally carry many of them into the 
 woods to his left, our riglit, and those still advancing 
 would soon strike the remains of the fence on that 
 side causing many more to turn off into the open 
 woods. Those who had kept in the open road would 
 now suddenly come in sight of our reserve line; if 
 near enough receive a leaden salute, and they, too, 
 would then turn into the woods and disappear. Re- 
 membering that these desperate charges were mainly 
 made by men on horseback in a mad headlong gallop; 
 that they were first thrown into confusion by a ienee 
 on one side and then broken by the remains of one 
 on the other side; that at every step and from each 
 side they were severelj^ suffering from the rifles of 
 our sharpshooters, it will readily be seen that great ad- 
 vantages were open to us and that we improved them 
 to the utmost. 
 
 The fight still goes on. The ciieiny became at last 
 most desperately enraged. Their nnubstructed access 
 to the road between us and the I'est of the Union 
 
134 Army Life. 
 
 army still gave them full knowledge that no aid had 
 yet come to us. AVhj don't thej come? We have 
 been fighting on, on, expecting each moment to hear 
 the dash of the Union cavalry coming to our aid. 
 And then our own comrades of the Tliirty-third and 
 the brothers of the Wisconsin boys, why do the}^ not 
 come? Only four companies of each regiment are 
 here. Six of each are there. Why do they dally in 
 the woods? Are they playing by the wayside and 
 we struggling here? Why don't they come? If all 
 others become indifferent to our fate they can not. 
 No, indeed! Too oft have they and we divided our 
 scant rations with each other; suffered together; 
 mourned at the same graves; mingled in the same 
 joys and shared the same trials. A faintly whispered, 
 dread suspicion passes among us. Can it be that the 
 lieavy rebe armies have come from east of the Missis- 
 sippi or other fields in overwhelming force tj destroy 
 the Union army in these Arkansas M'ilds? Let it be 
 remembered that we have long been cut off from com- 
 munication with the outside world. We have no 
 definite information from other fields. At the North 
 it is reported that Curtis' army is lost in Arkansas. 
 So little have we known of what has occurred in 
 Kentucky and Tennessee and in the far East during 
 the past months, that only wild imagination is our 
 guide. Are the heavy forces so hotly pressing us, 
 part of a monstrous, gigantic rebel army that has, 
 unknown to us, crossed the Mississippi and come up 
 the Arkansas and White Eivers? Has a still heavier 
 force thrown itself between us and our army? Is the 
 Union army we so lately left even now cut off fVum 
 
Battle of Cache River. 135 
 
 f.'ling us? "With our ej^es stead ilv fixed ujwn the 
 eueuiy in front, our ears are turned anxiously toward 
 our own army to hear if the murderous air sliall 
 brinof to us the sound of their boomino; euns. But 
 it matters little to us what the fate of others mny be. 
 It is now too late. Too well we know that the en- 
 raged rebels have already suffer&d too severel}'^ and that 
 now no terms will be asked or given. It is now a 
 fight to the death. The thought that life can be saved 
 by a surrender is banished from every mind. To 
 steal our way through the dark woods and deep 
 swamps to our Northern homes is impossible. We 
 begin to gather in more compact form. There is a 
 feeling that in a few moments our last cartridge will 
 be fired and then all that will be left is to fix bayonets 
 and with the cold steel do all we can as we rush to 
 our doom. 
 
 It is afterward learned that the Union troops have 
 been so busily engaged and created such a continual 
 racket in crossing Cache Hiver that they did not hear 
 anything of our fierce fight. It was supposed that we 
 would only advance some two or at most three miles 
 at which distance a stubborn contest could be easily 
 traced by the sound of the firing guns. Thus it was 
 su]>posed that we were quietly lying in the woods, 
 waiting for the advance of the army. Instead of that 
 we had gone some seven or eight miles and were so 
 far away that the guns they now and then heard were 
 thought to be ou\y idle shots fired at random into the 
 woods to see if any strolling bands of rebels were try- 
 ing to creep upon us. The first information the 
 Union army had of our hot engagement was given by 
 
136 Army Life. 
 
 one of our soldiers wlio liuJ become completely 
 demoralized at the first fire and ran back reporting us 
 all killed. In quick time a force of Union cavalry 
 was galloping to our rescue. Of this we were not 
 advised. 
 
 Thus no reinforcements had reached us and the 
 desperate rebels, chagrined, mortified, raving mad for 
 the third time, with a fully organized force, came 
 up on a des])erate, sweeping, reckless charge. On 
 they come with unbridled fury. AVe break into little 
 bands among each thick cluster of trees and keep up 
 a continued fire into the dense mass of advancing foes. 
 All of the former scenes are re-enacted now with re- 
 doubled force. AVe turn and fire at rebels in our rear 
 as often as we do at those in front. Upon each occa- 
 sion we had been obliged to fall further back. We 
 were now so near that the rebel charge through our 
 line carried some of them within range of the guns of 
 the Wisconsin boys, who well and promptly improved 
 their opportunity. Pressed by fire in front together 
 with the shot we gave them in the rear those rebels 
 who had passed our line rushed with headlong speed 
 into the woods on our right as those who came beft)re 
 had done. Grand confusion now reigns. The woods 
 are full of riderless horses, running here and there, 
 racing and tearing, hardly more reckless or aimless 
 than those yet guided by their rebel riders. Our 
 ammunition is now nearly exhausted. Those entirely 
 out borrow two or three cartridges of others, but none 
 have much. The store of our wounded has been 
 greedily taken by those who still can use their guns. 
 Straining every nerve, firing with the utmost care we 
 
Battle of Cache Rivkr. 137 
 
 wateli the result with vivid interest. Too well we 
 know the fatal result that threatens us. A few sec- ^ 
 onds of this vital anxiety and then the rebel lines be- 
 i^in to tremble, waver and then break, and those alive 
 iiasten away leaving the groui.d, even where we stand, 
 strewn with their dead. Thus for the third time, a 
 rebel charge in mass, has been repulsed and driven 
 buck. We now have to fire at long range, careful to 
 do so only when we have a good shot. If they come 
 on us again, in solid mass, we are helpless. Every 
 movement is quickly noticed. The rebels who have 
 crossed our lines in their headlong career and been 
 driven into the woods on our right, toward our main 
 army, are now seen to increase their hot speed toward 
 tlie rear. Farther off, glimpses of the rebel cavalry, 
 who have been watching upon the road, can be seen 
 o-oii:«j,^ fiercely toward their main command. Beyond 
 these, still farther off, a cloud of dust is seen swelling 
 U]) through and over the trees, and a moment more 
 the glorious music of the rattling sabers of the 
 Union cavalry is heard and then v,-e see their foaming 
 horses as they come to our aid. Closely following 
 the cavalry, as they come to our relief, we soon see 
 the o-leaming guns and hear the glad hurrah of our 
 infantry boys. The soldiers of the Thirty-third Illi- 
 nois and Eleventh Wisconsin had run those seven long 
 miles on a hot Southern July day to relieve us, their 
 own comrades, and the battle is over. 
 
■^^S Army Life. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 AFTEK THE BATTLE. 
 
 The Union loss in the battle of Cache Elver was 
 seven killed and forty wounded. Company A had 
 three wounded: Captain Potter, Serc^eant Fyffe and 
 Corporal Bi^crger. Seein^^ how lame Captain Potter 
 was, one of the boys ran out as the battle ended, and 
 captured a riderless horse which the Captain rode the 
 balance of our journey to the Mississippi. 
 
 The loss of the enemy was large. How great is un- 
 known. As we were continually obliged to fall back 
 it gave the enemy an opportunity \o remove his 
 wounded, which was zealously done. It is believed 
 that the rebels also took away many of their dead. 
 The Union soldiers were obliged to bury those left 
 upon the field of whom they found over two hundred 
 This probably covered only a small fraction of their 
 actual loss. But even that was fearfully large. For 
 a small force that numbered all told three hundred and 
 eighty-two men to come out of a long contested fight in 
 the open woods with only seven of tlieir number killed 
 and over two hundred of the enemy left dead upon 
 the field is victory enough. 
 
 As to how many of the enemy were engaged is also 
 unknown. By the best information we deri v^ed. gained 
 from the rebel prisoners who fell into our hands, and 
 from other sources, it is believed that there were at 
 least ten thousand armed rebels in those woods and 
 that nearly all of tlicm wei-c at one time or another in 
 
After the Battle. 139 
 
 tlie fi^lit before it ended. Large forces of botli cavalry 
 and infantry were certainly bronglit against ns. The 
 first heavy "^onslaught was led by heavy lines of in- 
 fantry. The effective force of their charge was prob- 
 ably retarded instead of aided by the heavy columns of 
 rebel cavalry that followed so close as to ran npon 
 them by the time they reached our first line after driv- 
 ing in our skirmishers. The following charges upon 
 lis were mainly by mounted cavalry. To this we were, 
 undoubtedly, much indebted for the success we 
 achieved. ^Mounted cavalry, in thick woods, can 
 not successfully contend with well armed infantry. 
 Another advantage we had was in our guns. We had 
 trusty, far-reaching rifles that told with deadly eff'ect 
 at a distance the inferior rebel guns could not reach. 
 When our cavalry reinforcements first came up, 
 believing that it must be an insignificant force that 
 our little band could hold at bay so long, they at once 
 decided to go in and take those who v.-ere left prison- 
 ers. On they went. They soon came up to the re- 
 treating rebels but found the enemy so strong 
 they were exceedingly glad to come back to us on a 
 riaht lively run, 
 
 ^Did we go over the battle field? No, indeed, I did 
 not! Those who wished to do so, did. But few of 
 those who had been in the fight cared to review that 
 gory field. Many a time our individual aim had been 
 too distinct. By passing over the battle ground evi- 
 dences could be found to tell whether the rebel aimed 
 at had dropped to the ground only to escape from the 
 whistling bullet or for a more fatal reason. Soldiers, 
 even in the hottest fight, do not often care to know 
 
liO Akmy Life. 
 
 that their iiulividnal shot lias proven fatah "For this 
 reason most of us carefully kept from that bloody 
 field, and the duty of gathering and burying the rebel 
 dead was left to those who had not been in the battle, 
 
 ON TO CLARONDOK. 
 
 After the battle of Cache Eiver or Cotton Plant, as 
 it was sometimes called, was ended, our troops came 
 up rapidly and we were soon ready to push forward 
 again. Our little force was highly complimented fur 
 its gallant action in the severe contest it had passed 
 through and as a mark of honor we were to have the 
 advance during the rest of our march. We went for- 
 ward rapidly hoping that the entire force of the enemy 
 would remain in our front and that we would be able 
 to overtake them. A strong part of our army now 
 kept near enough to our advance to be able to partici- 
 pate, and we would have made quick and thorough 
 work of it if we could have caught the rebels. This 
 we were not able to do. They took good care to keep 
 out of our reach. What an ending of their great pre- 
 tensions. They had been gathering a large force and 
 loudly boasted that the Union army should never o-et 
 out of the Arkansas woods. All of their availfrhlc 
 troops had been thrown in front of us to obstruct our 
 advance. After a two-hours' fight with our little de- 
 tached band, the grand rebel army that intended to 
 capture the entire Union army that had come from 
 Southwest Missouri under General Curtis and from 
 Southeast Missouri under General Steele, was so com- 
 pletely demoralized that the smallest scouting party 
 we could send out could hardly get sight of them be- 
 
To Claeondon, July, 18G2. 141 
 
 fore tliej would scamper awav. Thej- liacl not courage 
 enough left to fire a single gun. 
 
 At Bayou DeYiew we found a good bridge. '^Ve 
 came up so suddenly that the enemy had not time to 
 burn it as they designed doing. The force left there 
 by them for tliat purpose had hardly time to cross and 
 save theniselves before we were upon them and had 
 possession of the bridge. It was now becoming quite 
 dark and they had not expected us imtil the next 
 morning. It was very important to save the bridge, 
 and we at once charged across it, expecting a sharp 
 contest with tiie enemy upon the other side, but they 
 did not stop to trouble us. Throwing a sufficient force 
 across the stream to guard the bridge we waited for 
 our main army to come up. 
 
 At night on July eighth our army commenced cross- 
 ing Ba_you JJeYiew, and with the Tliirty-third on tl e 
 advance, started forward. We expected to make an all- 
 night march of it, but the swamps we liad now reached 
 were so bad and the army mules so feeble for want of 
 feed, that it took all night for the wagon train to be 
 brought up. 
 
 The next niorning we started at eiglit o'clock and 
 pushed forward as rapidly as possible. The Southern 
 July heat was terrific. The soldiers were faint and 
 hungry. A lonely hard-tack and some miserable 
 slough water was all we had for dinner. In this con- 
 dition we marched over thirty miles before we found 
 a resting place. 
 
 We reached Clarondon at ten o'clock a. m. on July 
 tenth. After arriving there we Avent up the river two 
 miles and selected a pretty camp ground. We did 
 
Ii2 Army Life. 
 
 not know liowlong we should stay there. In truth, 
 we were sadly disappoiiiteJ. The Union steamboats 
 with snj^plies had safely reached this place. We had 
 been able to hear of them, but they conld not learn 
 anything about us. We had made a forced march in 
 this hot July weather so as to reach the boats. Some 
 of our men fell upon the road with sunstroke. Ar- 
 riving there we found that the Union fleet, despairing 
 of reacliing us and fearing capture by the rebels, la I 
 sailed back down the river. Our artillery were firing 
 signal shots to advise them of our arrival, but we failed 
 to hear the anxiously listened for reply of the gun- 
 boat cannon. Our condition was becoming critical, 
 indeed. Our rations were exhausted. There was no 
 supply in that forsaken, inhospitable land either to 
 buy or confiscate. All the enemy needed to do to 
 destroy this army was to block us in and prevent sup- 
 plies from reaching us for a few days. Our con- 
 dition was serious. What next? 
 
 FROM CLARONDON TO HELENA. 
 
 On July eleventh it became certain that the Union 
 boats had left for good. Our cavalry scouts had pushed 
 down the river as far as the worn-out condition of 
 their horses. would permit and returned with the in- 
 formation that the fleet had gone down the river with 
 its utmost speed. The strength of the threatening 
 enemy assured our sailors that departing speed was the 
 only course of safety. Only the smallest kind of river 
 steamers can navigate the treacherous water of this 
 small river. They could not safely contend with land 
 artillery. Had they only known that we were in reach 
 
Feom Clakondon to Helena. 143 
 
 tlieir safest harbor would have been under the protec- 
 tion of our guns. 
 
 Tlie boats had gone. There we were witli notliing 
 to eat. Only one thing was left for us to do. That 
 was to attempt to reach the Mississippi River. We 
 started and marched fifteen miles, most of the way 
 through a pelting rain storm. But this was a luxury 
 compared with the scorching sun and hot dust we 
 had lately been marching tlirough. Oiir wagons did 
 not come up. 
 
 The next day we marched twenty-one miles. Our 
 wagons were upon another road. They would not 
 have been of much use if with us. There were no pro- 
 visions on board. All the good they would have done 
 would have been to bring our blankets for us to sleep 
 on. As it was we had no blankets for the night, no 
 food for the day, no decent water to drink. During 
 the entire day the only water we could get was from 
 one swamp we passed. In that, the thick green scum, 
 from an eighth to a quarter of an inch thick, had to 
 be pushed away before we could get to the filthy, poi- 
 sonous water beneath. "We were tired and worn out, 
 foot-sore, sick and hungry. That was soldiering in 
 earnest. 
 
 On Sunday, July thirteenth, by marching, or rather 
 crawling, twenty -five miles, we reached Helena, on the 
 Mississippi Eiver. Only a few were able to go in 
 with us. Company A only had twenty-four men in 
 line. The others still less. Some companies of our 
 regiment did not have over half a dozen men to stack 
 arms when our journey ended. Back for miles the 
 sides of the road were strewn with our sick and ex- 
 
144 Aemy Life. 
 
 liansted soldiers. Full three fonrtlis, if not more, of 
 the entire command were tlius lying upon tlie road- 
 side. The teams are bringing in tlie most exhausted. 
 I3nt now, thank Heaven, we had reached the shores 
 of the Mississippi, which was in loyal hands, and 
 we could rest and get something to eat. 
 
 Early the next morning the steamboat Acacia ar- 
 rived with provisions for us. JS'ever was a vessel more 
 tliankfnlly received than tiiis one bringing relief to us 
 in our destitute and starving condition, '""it took two 
 or tliree days after we arrived to bring in our worn- 
 out and sick soldiers. The first thing being, of course, 
 to send back food to distribute to them along the road. 
 All were brought in and all were soon all right again. 
 A few full meals of hard-tack, coffee and bacon '^oon 
 put us in prime condition and we commenced to glee- 
 fally recount the incidents of our hard march oiU of 
 the woods of Arkansas. 
 
 CHAPTER yill. 
 
 FEOM HELENA TO OLD TOWN— LIVELY TIMES— GATHERING 
 COTTON AND FIGHTING REBELS. 
 
 We remained at Helena two weeks resting and eat- 
 ing; both of which we took to, as only tired" out and 
 starved soldiers can. 
 
 Friday, July twenty-fifth, we received orders "to be 
 ready to march by land or water at an hour's notice." 
 
 TJie next day the Government paymaster arrived, 
 
Feom Helena to Old Town. 145 
 
 tlie first paymaster we had seen for a loi\i? time, and 
 onr regiment was paid. Soldiers look with consider- 
 able interest for the army paymaster. The pay the 
 soldiers receive, small as it is, thirteen to sixteen dol- 
 lars per month, is to them quite an important matter. 
 A little money to buy things not furnished b}' the Gov- 
 ei-nmenl, is at times much needed. Again, many of the 
 soldiers have at home aged parents, a widowed mother, 
 young sisters, or perhaps a wife and infant children 
 to whom the small pittance of five or ten dollars a 
 month is a matter of great importance. These things 
 make the paymasters visits of ranch interest to the 
 soldiers. Of course there are sure to be some who put 
 their money to such bad use that it would be better for 
 them not to have any. This class of people will be 
 found everywhere. Their number, liowever, is small 
 with us. As a rule, the soldiers of the Thirty-third 
 are men of good habits. 
 
 After we had been paid we went on board of a 
 steamboat and sailed twenty-five miles down the Mis- 
 sissippi River. "We then landed and camped on an 
 old field a mile or so' below "Old Town landing." 
 
 Sunday, July twenty-seven tli, we moved up and 
 camped at Old Town. The " town " is so " old " that 
 it has disappeared. All that is now loft of it is part 
 of an old log house. Yile and unhealthy swamps lay 
 all around us except on the river side. The object to 
 be gained by occupying this place, in any military 
 point of view, is not apparent. 
 
 Tuesday afternoon our mission at this point be- 
 came manifest. We are to guard the bringing in of 
 the cotton that is confiscated by our Government. 
 10 
 
1-A6 • Army Life. 
 
 AVe went down tlie rlvev a few miles and got some 
 cotton on the Arkansas side. AVe then crossed over 
 and hmded in Mississippi. This is the first time I 
 was ever in t]ie State. We went out one and a half 
 miles to look around and then returned, and the 
 steamer soon landed us at camp. 
 
 Just at dark Thursday nig-ht. our company received 
 orders from Colonel Ilovej, who was over in Missis- 
 sippi after cotton, to join him. It took us until 
 eleven o'clock to get our teams and wagons together 
 and load them on the steamboat. We then went 
 down and stopped at .Wilkinson's landing. Eeaching 
 that place we disembarked and remained upon the 
 river bank until morning. 
 
 At daybreak, Friday morning, we went forward 
 six miles and found Colonel llovey and his force. 
 They were all ready to start, so we at once went five 
 miles farther out into the country. Onr destination, 
 this time, was Mcl^eal's plantation. He had a large 
 farm and we found over two hundred bales of cotton. 
 The teams made two trips during the day, taking tlie 
 cotton to the river. 
 
 During the afternoon we were awakened to the fact 
 that we were in the enemy's country, by a lively fir- 
 ing from the heavy woods npon our picket guards.* 
 It lasted but a moment. The rebels fired upon our 
 ]nen and then ran away. One of our i^icket guard, a 
 member of Company C, of our regiment, was badly 
 wonnded. 
 
 Saturday morning we took the balance of the cotton 
 at McXeal's to the river and loaded it on th.e steamer. 
 After dinner we went out on another road. The rebels 
 
Confiscating Cotton. 11- 7 
 
 liad preceded ns. We found the cotton burn in <r. 
 Tlie enemy was not far off and a sliarp skirmish fight 
 soon commenced. We chased the rebels until dark 
 Two men of the Eleventh Wisconsin were wounded. 
 How many of the rebels were hit we did not learn. 
 As it became too dark to chase rebels any farther we 
 stopped for the night. What a field for imagination 
 to build upon. Here we were, a little handful of men, 
 far out in the enemy's country. He could easily throw 
 a large force upou us. Would he not do so before 
 morning? Our situation suggested many desperate 
 possibilities. But these things did not trouble us 
 much. Soldier life has now become too real for us to 
 waste much time fighting imaginary battles. Except 
 those whose duty it was to stand on guard, the soldiers 
 in those dark woods, with such an unknown destiny 
 hanging over them, quietly wrapped their blankets 
 around their tired bodies, and with the warm ground 
 beneath and the summor sky above them, they slept 
 as soundly as children in their mothers' arms. 
 
 The next morning we started back toward the river. 
 We did not know but that the rebels had cut us oflf. 
 We approached each dark piece of woods with caution, 
 liolding our trusty rifles iu our hands, not knowing at 
 what moment we might run into a fatal ambush kid 
 for us by the rebels. Relying greatly upon Company 
 A Colonel Hovey gave us the advance as skirmishers. 
 We proceeded forward rapidly but found none of the 
 enemy who would tarry long enough for us to get 
 within gun shot of them. 
 
 The rebels in that vicinity appeared to be well 
 mounted on good Mississippi horses so that it was idle 
 
143 Army Life. 
 
 for us to try to catc1\ tliein wlien thej^ wish to run 
 away. We reached the river in safety and remained 
 upon its ban'.cs all ni^ht. 
 
 The following morning, Monday, August fourth, 
 our company went down the river one and a half miles 
 to a place where there was a small amount of cotton. 
 While it was being loaded into our army wagons, we 
 were suddenly attacked by a band of one hundred and 
 iifty bushwhackers. After a sharp skirmish we drove 
 them off. When our quick victory was complete, and 
 w^e looked over the tield, every heart of our little band 
 w^as crushed with grief. Alvin T. Lewis, one of our 
 best and bravest boys, was dead. Sadly we placed his 
 body in an army wagon and brought it back with us. 
 J. W. Straight was badly wounded. Bovee, Mont- 
 gomery and Farwell were taken prisoners and car- 
 ried away by the retreating rebels. 
 
 Dnrino- the afternoon the steamboat took us back to 
 Old Town. It was after dark before we could per- 
 form our last duty to our dead comrade. Lewis, the 
 noble boy, was the first of Company A to fall before 
 a rebel bullet. We went out in the dark evening 
 hours, selected the prettiest piece of ground we could 
 ^\k], duo- his grave in Arkansas soil, repeated the last 
 prayer a^nd fired the farewell shot over his grave as we 
 thus in sorrow laid him away. The darkness of the 
 hour, the deep gloom of the surrounding scene, the 
 love of all for our dead comrade, the manner of his 
 death, all of these combined, impressed us as nothing 
 we had before passed through had done. As his spirit, 
 during that dark and sacred hour, soared to its heav- 
 enly home, it carried above the renewed pledge of each 
 
A Sad Skikmisii, Aug., 1SG2. 1-Jl) 
 
 stricken comrade lieart, that those still left would 
 always be true to the cause for which Lewis fought 
 and died. 
 
 We lay in camp Tuesday. The three members of 
 our company taken prisoners are with us. They were 
 paroled and sent back. It turns out that Bovee and 
 Montgomery were both badly wounded before they 
 were taken by the rel)els. 
 
 On the eleventh of August we went down the river 
 on another cotton expedition. We went nearly to the 
 mouth of White Eiver. Landed on the Arkansas side. 
 Found some cotton. Our company did not leave the 
 boat. Started back after dark, lieached camp at Old 
 Town at nine o'clock the next morning. 
 
 Thursday, the fourteenth, went down the river five 
 miles. We then landed in Mississippi and marched 
 seven miles into the country. Got one hundred and 
 thirty bales of cotton and returned to the river. At 
 one o'clock p. m. the steamboat started and returned 
 us to camp. 
 
 On Sunday another expedition went down the river 
 after cotton. I had an interview with the ague and 
 could not go. 
 
 Thursday, the twenty-first, we moved our cam]) 
 nearly a mile up the river, attempting to find a better 
 camp ground. It is all bad enou^iriierc. Our new 
 camp is right upon the river bank.^ Shaking with the 
 ague so That I had to be moved in the ambulance. 
 
 By the time we had been in our new camp a week 
 the river bank commenced caving in. By the last of 
 August it was caving in so fast that we were obliged 
 to move farther back. The hauk whieli is now about 
 
150 Army Life. 
 
 twenty feet above the river water, will snaJenlj com- 
 mence settling down, and then we have to np and get 
 or else swim for it. The Avater of the mighty river, to 
 jndge by appearances, first washes ont the soft and 
 yielding sand underneath and when a sufficient amonnt 
 is undermined the more compact clay and soil above 
 will suddenly, and with but little warning, drop down 
 into the deep waters underneath. By this time tlie 
 sand is gone so as to create a large and deep under- 
 irround fake. The only warning given that the 
 ground upon which we stand is going down is that 
 cracks begin to appear in the surface. When these 
 cracks appear it is notice for all to at once hasten back 
 beyond where the last crack appears. I do not know 
 to what extent the same conditions existing elsewhere 
 produce the same result. If the same results are 
 usual elsewhere upon the banks of this river, the 
 Mississippi is a dangerous stream for those who ven- 
 ture to build upon its banks. 
 
 We commenced the month of September by send- 
 ing a boat load of our sick up the river on September 
 1,1862. A steamboat came down from Helena after 
 them. One of our sick men who went away was 
 Lieutenant Burnham who was down with the typhoid 
 fever. Our wounded boys. Straight, Bovee and Mont- 
 gomery, went with the rest. 
 
 At seven o'clock p. m., on September sixth, a force 
 consistinij of six companies of our regiment and six 
 of the Eleventh Wisconsin, started down the river on 
 another cotton trip. 
 
 On Sunday, the seventh, a large number of rebel 
 prisoners, part of those taken at Donaldson, passed 
 
Still in the Cotton Business, Sept., 1SG2. 151 
 
 down the river on their way to be delivered to the en- 
 emy at Yicksburg. Tliey liave been exchanged, it is 
 understood, and now they \vill have to be taken in 
 another fight. 
 
 Various expeditions after cotton were sent out from 
 time to time. One returned to camp on Saturday, 
 September twentieth, tliat had an interesting trip to 
 report. They went down the river some considerable 
 distance. On the way down they were fired into by 
 rebels upon the banks of the river. For a time it was 
 lively work for our boys. They returned the fire as 
 well as they could and the steamer soon carried them 
 out of reach uf the enem3\ Two of our men were 
 killed. On the return trip they passed through a still 
 more severe fire. Four of our men were killed. 
 
 Ca])tain Potter, of our company, had returned from 
 the North, where he had been sent to recover, on the 
 thitteenth of September, nearly well from the wound 
 he got at Cache E-iver. On Saturday, September 
 twenty-seventh, our company and some other troops 
 went to guard a train of wagons to Colonel Lippin- 
 cott who had sent back word that he had taken lots of 
 cotton. "When five miles from the river the rebels 
 made a fierce attack upon our guard and Captain Potter 
 was again wounded — the only one of our company 
 injured. One man of Company D was killed and four- 
 others wounded. 
 
 The next day Culonel Lipi)incott and his entii-e com- 
 mand returned back to our camp on the west side of 
 the river. lie brought in a lai-ge amount of cotton 
 marked " C. S. A." which shows that it belonged to 
 the Confederate Government. 
 
152 Akmy Life. 
 
 Wehad,0Ti September twent^'-first, moved still nearer 
 to Helena and were now camped at a place that at tlie 
 time bore the name of "Cockle Burr." 
 
 By the last of September our force was much re- 
 duced. Many had been sent North too sick to longer 
 walk, and many of those remaining were not in much 
 better condition. The Old Town swamps had got in 
 their work and as the result general sickness prevailed. 
 
 All we have or could hope to accomplish at this 
 point is to ])ick up a few boat loads of cotton. Ail 
 we have got is not worthy of a moment's consideration 
 in comparison with the lives our stay here has cost us. 
 Achange is mostearnestly desired. The soldiers think 
 that they should be sent into an active field whei-e they 
 can have a fighting chance with the rebels or else that a 
 healthier camp should at once be found . To attempt to 
 contend against these fever breeding swamps is useless. 
 
 ClIAPTEll IX. 
 
 NORTHWARD BOUND, 
 
 SuNDAT, October fiftli, the good news, marching or- 
 ders, came. We are ordered up the river. During 
 the day we took a boat ride to Helena w'here we aie 
 to take a larger steamer for our northward trip. 
 
 On the sixth, at the hour of five p. u., the good 
 steamboat, Des Moines, started with us on board from 
 Helena and we were on our wav northward. During 
 
Northward Bound, October, 1S62. 153 
 
 the night we passed tlie inoiith of St. Francis River 
 and reached Memphis at seven o'clock the next morn- 
 ing. The boat h\v at Memphis some honrs wliich gave 
 us an opportunity to see some of the city, which we 
 improved. 
 
 At four p. M. we started north again. Passed Fort 
 Pillow during the night. During AVednesday night 
 we passed New Madrid and Island No. 10. Too dark 
 to see much of them. 
 
 Tliursday morning at ten o'clock we reached Cairo. 
 Tlurrah for our noble prairie State. We gave Illinois 
 three rousing cheers. A sight of even the least part 
 of "God's country " is refreshing to our soldier boys. 
 The name " God's country " became one in daily use 
 in the arm}'. There was no thought of profanity in 
 its familiar use. It was the one name that clearly 
 showed how the soldiers looked upon the land of their 
 Northern homes compared with the Southern country 
 in which their active soldiering was done. In their 
 o])inion a name having absolutely the opposite mean- 
 ing would be the only one to describe the rebel country. 
 Of course the feeling of dislike related more to the 
 ])eople of the South than to nature's handiwork. In 
 the soldier's dictionary the name of " God's country " 
 means the land of our Northern homes. 
 
 We took on a new supply of rations at Cairo and 
 then proceeded up the river. 
 
 During Friday we passed Cape Giardue and St. 
 Genevieve. Arrived at Sulphur Springs on Saturday, 
 October eleventh. Unloaded, pitched tents and slept 
 in Missouri. 
 
 Thus we have returned from our first march to 
 
154 Army Ltfr. 
 
 Dixie. It has been to ns soldiers an eventful cam- 
 paign. AVe have passed through many hard marclies 
 and although not participated in any extensive bat- 
 tles, have often had to meet tlie whistling rebel bul- 
 lets. One thing is remarkable; although we have 
 always been in near communication with and part of 
 a large army, through some strange combination of 
 circumstances the fighting has nearly all fallen to our 
 lot. From the time we joined General Curtis at 
 Batesville in May last, np to the end of our Southern 
 campaign, a large share of his command have not 
 been called upon to lire a single gun. But the Tiiir- 
 ty-third seemed destined to have a iiatid in every 
 fight. A reason for this can be found in the fact that 
 we were usually the advance of the army, where all 
 the fighting was done. Another thing can also be 
 said: It mattered not how small our numbers were, 
 we never left the field of contest. In every case, 
 when the battle was over, the flag of the Thirty- 
 third was waving over the field. 
 
 Coming North now is undoubtedly a wise move for 
 US. The broken health of tlie command dema ided it. 
 With restored health we will be ready for any active 
 work. With the Mississippi River in the control of 
 the Union forces so far south, we can, at short notice, 
 be landed in the heart of the rebel country. What 
 our part is to be we will wait and see. 
 
 IN PII,OT KNOB AGAIN. 
 
 Sunday, October twelfth, we remained camped at 
 Sulphur Springs. 
 
 On ]\[onday we struck tents, got on the railroad 
 
In Missouri, ISTovembeh, 18G2. 155 
 
 cars and went to Pilot Knob. From tliere we went 
 into camp at Arcadia. It was nine o'clock at night 
 when we reached our destination. 
 
 October thirteenth we pitched tents for a perma- 
 nent canp. Here we remained daring the balance 
 of the month. On the last day of October we re- 
 ceived orders " to be ready to march w^ith two days' 
 rations." 
 
 TQE TniRTY-TIIIRD STARTS SOUTH. 
 
 On November first onr regiment started for Pat- 
 terson. Two large tents of each company were lel't 
 for onr sick soldiers. About two hundred men of our 
 reo-iment remained here. This inclndes those who 
 are still too unwell to march but not sick enough to 
 be sent to the hospital. I was one of them. 
 
 On Monday, November third, our sick squad 
 moved into Ironton and camped near the hospital. 
 
 On the twelftli those who had become strong enough 
 started for Patterson under the command of Potter, 
 wlio is now major of the regiment. Ilovey has been 
 appointed origadier-general, Lippincott, colonel, and 
 Roe, lientenant-colonel of the Thirty-third. 
 
 Before they started those of Company A present 
 took a vote for second lieutenant; the promotion of 
 our captain, first and second lieutenants, creating the 
 vacancy. There were twenty-four present, twenty 
 voted for Button and four for Pike. It is nnderstood 
 that the main body of the company now with the 
 regiment are taking a vote on the same matter at the 
 game time. 
 
 On the twenty-third some more of our boys with 
 Dr. Ilex started to join the regiment. 
 
156 Army Life, 
 
 we eejoin the regiment. 
 
 December 1, 1862, tlie balance of the Thirtj^-tliird 
 boys who had been left at Ironton on account of 
 sickness started to join the regiment. There were 
 about eighty of us with Captain Morgan in com- 
 mand. We go with and as guard- to an army train 
 of seventj^-iive wagons. AVe marched seven miles. 
 
 The next morning we started at six o'clock and 
 marched fifteen miles. Found the roads in good con- 
 dition. 
 
 Wednesday, December third, started at half past 
 six and marched through to Patterson, After a short 
 stop at this place we started forward for Black River 
 where our regiment is now can)ped. 
 
 We started at half past six Thursday and reached 
 our regimental camp at noon. We found the boys 
 well and enjoying themselves finely. 
 
 IN CAMP ON BLACK RIVER — THE GUERRILLAS — A MOUN- 
 TAIN STORM PRESENTING A SWORD. 
 
 We were now comfortably camped on the banks of 
 Black River. 
 
 Drilling was now resumed. December seventh v.e 
 liad a battalion drill, the first since we left Reaves 
 Station in April last. 
 
 On December tenth a report came in that the rebel 
 guerrilla, Tim Reaves, with his band of thieves and 
 murderers was within ashort distance of us. The rep- 
 utation of this Reaves, as it comes to us is that before 
 the war he was some sort of a preacher in Southei-n 
 Missouri and Xorthern Arkansas. lie is said to be a 
 
At Black River, Mo., Dec. 1S02. V)7 
 
 iTieinbor of the family from which Eeaves Station 
 took its name, tliej being hmdovvners in that vicinity. 
 After the war commenced the Eev. Timothy Reaves 
 developed into one of the meanest leaders of an 
 irregular band of thieves and pretended rebels that 
 the mountains of Missouri and Arkansas harbored. 
 
 These guerrilla bands are thieves and murderers by 
 occupation, rebels by pretense, soldiers only in name, 
 and cowards by nature. They terrorize over those 
 the}^ pretend to befriend and run from acknowledged 
 enemies. They are hated by the rebel citizens of 
 their own country and despised by the soldiers of the 
 ISTorth and disowned by those of the South. 
 
 It being reported that Tim Reaves was near, a force 
 consisting of our little cavalry force and some mounted 
 infantry, was sent out to look fbr him. A few men 
 were taken from each company. Wm. Pierce and 
 John Wood, of Company A, went. After being gone 
 two days the expedition returned, not having suc- 
 ceeded in catching the nimble-foo.ted bush-whacker,-. 
 
 Those who were camped with us on Black River, 
 in December, 1862, will never forget what it is to see 
 a mountain stream on the rampage. 
 
 A heavy rain storm came up on Saturday, the thir- 
 teenth, continuing all of that and most of the next day. 
 Our camp was on a reasonably high piece of ground. 
 The river at this point runs through a valley lying be- 
 tween the high hills and mountains on each side. On 
 our side of the river they were some little distance 
 back of us. The ground upon which we were camped 
 was some feet higher than the rest of the valley be- 
 tween us and the high hills to our rear. By Sunday 
 
158 Aemv Life. 
 
 night the rain had ceased. The river had been rising 
 rapidly and during tlie evening we liad watched it with 
 considerable interest. The rain storm being over, the 
 river ceased to increase. Our camp being upon sncli 
 high ground it was thought that we were above possi- 
 ble high water-mark. The " oldest inhabitants " of the 
 neighborhood had assured us that such was the fact. 
 By looking at the lay of the ground we could see that 
 the volume of an entii-e river could pass between us 
 and the high hills, and our camp ground still remain 
 untouched. The river itself would have to rise many 
 feet more before its waters w^ould overrun its deep 
 banks to take this coarse. We went to sleep appre- 
 hending no danger. We were not at the time fully 
 advised as to the actual force of the fierce mad winter 
 storm. It proved that the rain storm we had seen was 
 only the slight outcropping of a most terrific one that 
 was gathering and was to burst in its greatest fury on 
 tlie mountains miles above us, and in which Black Biver 
 has its source. Those of us whose lives have been 
 ])assed in a level prairie country can not, until we 
 once see it, comprehend the rapidity and fuiy with which 
 water will rusli down from the mountain sides. iSTo 
 jnatter how heavy the rain-fall, it is all at once, hy hun- 
 dreds of little mountain streams, thrown into the river 
 outlet by which it is carried to thesea. Thus any river 
 fed by mountain ranges will always be liable to sudden 
 and severe overflows. Wehad contentedh^goneto sleep 
 Sunday night. At the hour of three o'clock in the 
 morning, the attention of the guards was called to a 
 fearful roar from np the river. The camp was at once 
 aroused. What a fierce commotion met our ears! 
 
A Mad Mountain Steeam. 150 
 
 The mm], rnsliing waters, the sluirp snap of brealciufi: 
 timbers, a contimions sound of roarin^^ thunder could 
 not excel it. The guards far up the river, loudly cry- 
 ing one to the other, passed the alarm down: Look out 
 for the river! Instantaneously all comprehended the 
 situation, "Without ceremony or the loss of a moment 
 of time, we at once started for the high hills. True 
 to the soldier's instinct, each was sure to grab his gun 
 and cartridge box before he ran. And yet with all 
 this liaste, before we could run that short distance, the 
 water in its mad career was waist-deep as we waded 
 through. In a brief moment more the swift and deep 
 current between the hills upon which we had taken 
 refuge and our deserted camp ground was impassable. 
 Strong horses in attempting to swim it, were, by the 
 swift current, thrown back to the side from which they 
 started. A few of those soldiers who had been a mo- 
 ment too late found it impossible to escape. They 
 were compelled to seek safety by climbing the trees 
 that stood upon our high camp ground. For a wonder, 
 no lives were lost. 
 
 High upon tlie side of a friendly hill we sat during 
 those early morning hours and viewed the rushing 
 fury of that mighty mountain stream. Strong tim- 
 bers were broken as though they were but a mere 
 twig. Deep rooted trees were torn up as though they 
 were but a weed upon the road side. The effect may 
 be seen, but none cau fully comprehend the full 
 ])Ower of the rushing waters of a mad mountain 
 stream. 
 
 In the midst of all this, army plays and soldiers' 
 jokes went on. Each, as usual, following the bent of 
 
IGO Army Life. 
 
 his own mind. Here would Lc a circle telling stories; 
 there others playing euchre. Daniels, the company 
 student, instead of reading from the big book of nat- 
 ure open before him, was conning over the mass of 
 wise maxims he had selected and was continually add- 
 ing to. AVeed, the flighty romancer, was mourning 
 over the loss of the ten page letter he had finished 
 writing the day before, to his imaginary sweetheart. 
 
 By noon, Monday, the waters commenced falling 
 rapidly. Onr camp ground was soon uncovered and 
 yet when we returned at night, the water was still so 
 deep over the lower part of the valley that we had to 
 return over a pontoon bridge. 
 
 AVithout him being advised ^f our intention, our 
 Company had sent to St. Louis and procured a splen- 
 did sword and belt to present to our old cap- 
 tain, now Major Potter. At the close of the day on 
 Thursday, December eighteenth, our company called 
 him out and surprised him with the present. The 
 presentation speech was made by Corporal S. M. 
 Durflinofer. Considering that it wag prepared and 
 delivered in the wild woods of Missouri by a soldier in 
 the ranks, without any of the aid that a well-filled 
 library would give, Durflinger's speech is worthy of 
 record. He said: 
 
 Majok Potter: For the past fifteen months you have been 
 connected with us in one ot the most endearing relations arising 
 from the intercourse of men. That relation has been disturbed, 
 yet we can not permit a separation without some expression of es- 
 teem, some testimonial of gratitude. United in this relation, we 
 have mutually shared danger and adversity, health and prosperity. 
 We have traversed together the mountains and fastnesses of Mis- 
 souri, the long lanes and shady aisles of Arkansas, and the jungles 
 of Mississippi darkened with all the wild untrained luxuruince of 
 the primitive forest. We have drank at the same springs, crossed 
 the same streams, climbed the same hills, sustained each other in 
 
PrvESENTIXG A SwORD TO CaPT. PoTTER. 161 
 
 the same perils and rejoiced in the sam9 ti'iumphs. Though we 
 have not been catlecl to stand on the trophied field of Marathon 
 and Arbela, of Austerlitz and Ulm, of Yorktown and Shiloh, yet 
 the events of the past year furnish many circumstances of sad and 
 pleasing memory — many incidents of " bitter and sweet" I'ecoUec- 
 t on. 
 
 It is a sad thought that traitors would despoil the land we love. 
 
 We love to visit the tomb of Wa^imgton, to linger around the 
 shades of Ashland, and to think the Hermitage our own. It is an 
 unpleasing thought that treason would shut us out from these sa- 
 cred retreats. 
 
 We love our homes, the onses in the desert of life, with all their 
 tender associations and sweet influences. It is a sad recollection 
 that we have gone from them, perhaps forever. It is a sorrowful 
 thought that some of our companions a.re tenants of the "narrow 
 house," sleeping in a stranger's land, with no marble to mark their 
 last resting place. Their memories are cherished by many a fond 
 mother whose sighs are not loud but deep; whose tears are not 
 many but consuming "heart's tears." 
 
 Let us, as we pass along, render the poor tribute of a sigh to the 
 living, and mingle a tear with the dust of the dead. 
 
 It has been our lot to happen upon a momentous era. and to com- 
 bat in the great contest of the ages. To our hands are entrusted 
 the destiny of our country, and with us rest the highest hopes of 
 a great republic. 
 
 Our pilgrim lathers are slumbering among the hills and pines 
 of New England; the pioneers of our country are reposing in the 
 valleys of the West in many an unmarked resting place. Wash- 
 ington has fallen and sunk uncensured to a peaceful tomb by 
 which the traveler will pass remembering his many virtues and 
 noble deeds; and as he drops a silent tear upon the sod that hides 
 his noble form, he lifts his accents of praise to the Grod of freedom 
 for the gifts of such a boon mingling- a suppliant petition that 
 Heaven would spare another such a man; Warren sleeps at the 
 base of Bunker Hill, and upon the present age devolves the duty 
 of perfecting what they had begun. Proud as were their achieve- 
 ments, prouder yet will be our place on the escutcheon of fame if 
 we preserve the rich heritage they have bequeathed us. The in- 
 terests of centuries are suspended on the efforts ot moments. Let 
 us act in view of these great responsibilities. 
 
 Two parallels of civilization, the Atlantic and the Pacific, laden 
 with all the rich results of art and invention, of science and indus- 
 try, of learning and religion, are fast pushing their approaches to- 
 ward the center of a mighty continent. When, like the tides in 
 conjunction, these advancing waves shall roll over each other, let 
 them close forever over the last vestige of despotism. 
 
 Let the happy millions of toiling freemen, who shall yet dwell 
 along these streams, learn to chant the requiem of slavery and sing 
 the high prcon of truth and freedom. Let these high hills and 
 
 11 
 
1G2 Army Life. 
 
 voiceless solitncles, now the strongholds of treason, Ipecome the 
 paradise of liberty. 
 
 The despots of Europe are looking on this strugrgle with jealous 
 apprehension or scornful de ight as the tide of success goes up or 
 down. Every victory we win, every cannon we place in position, 
 every trench we dig, we are pushing our lines nearer the sinking, 
 wavering walls of European despotism, and sending a new ray of 
 hope to the downtrodden sons of Gaul and Erin, of Athens and 
 Rome. Let us not disappoint the hopes of expectant humanity. 
 
 Thus ujiited with us by a common cause, bound together by 
 kindred ties, sutfei-ings and sympathies, you have shared with us 
 whatever of "bitter and sweet " the past has afibrded. That 
 invisible tie uniting heai't to heart and friend to friend, has, we 
 little know where or when, sprung up between us. Though these 
 pre-existmg relations have been disturbed, we trust this bond of 
 union may never be sundered. Though the events of the past 
 year and the proceed. ngs of this d;iy may have no place on the 
 historian's page, by ourselves they will be fondly cherished while 
 memory holds her place, and when hoary age comes on, it will de- 
 light us to remember these things- 
 
 In remembrance of past associations, in view of your many 
 merits, and with feelings of sincerest regard, we otter you this token 
 of our esteem, this memorial of our gi-alitude, knowing that it 
 will never be dishonored; knowing that it will never be drawn but 
 in the cause of justice and humanity; knowing that it will never 
 be sheathed till the wrongs of oar country are redressed. Accept 
 it in the kindly spirit in which it is offered. (Uncovering and 
 handing the sword to him.) And whenever in coming time you 
 may chance to see it, either in the din of battle or the peaceful 
 quieiude of home, bestow a hasty thought on those who now stand 
 about you, breathing a petition to thi Goi of Heaven that your 
 life may be spared and your arm nevved to strike long and val- 
 iantly in the battles of freedom. 
 
 The chaplain of our regiment, who liappened to be 
 present, reported the Major's acceptance thus: " Major 
 Potter, who was taken entirely by snrprisc, made a 
 brief reply in which he warmly referred to their pleas- 
 ant relations which had been unbroken from the 
 first; how wdiile he had been their Captain they had 
 never failed him in battle or the faithful performance 
 ofdntyin any of the trying scenes through which 
 they had passed; and that should they again go into 
 battle, he would hope to lead them still. He believed 
 
"With a Supply Tkain to Pilot Kxob. 108 
 
 tliej would follow him wherever they slionlcl see the 
 gleam of their elegant present. He thanked them for 
 that beautiful token of their esteem and confidence." 
 " Major Potter has been twice wounded in battle, 
 once at the Cache and once in one of the raids into 
 the State of Mississippi. 'Boys,' said he, 'you know 
 that I am lame/ don't rnn till you see me run.' " 
 
 ON THE KOAD — GUARDING A SUPPLY TRAIN TO PILOT 
 KNOB. 
 
 On the twentieth of December we received march- 
 ing orders. The next morning we started and marched 
 nine miles. We camped in a pretty little valley 
 among the pines. Most of the country around here 
 is very broken and worthless for cultivation. In the 
 small valleys there is a limited amount of good 
 land. "We found the roads very bad. Our teams did 
 not get in until the next morning. This compelled 
 us to lay over one day. 
 
 Tuesday, the twenty-third, we started at six o'clock 
 and marched ten miles through to Current Kiver and 
 camped near to Van Buren. 
 
 At four o'clock the next morning our company 
 were called up and ordered to prepare for an imme- 
 diate ir arch. AVe are to go to Patterson, or perhaps 
 farther, as guard to a supply train. Marched ten 
 miles and camped in the same pine grove we left yes- 
 terday morning. 
 
 During our day's march we were informed of a 
 band of rebels who Avere lurking in the vicinity wait- 
 ing for an opportunity to capture some of our supply 
 
16i Army Life. 
 
 tniins. Captain Burnliam sent back for reinforce- 
 ments to streni^tlien our guard. Two more companies 
 reached ns Thursday morning and we pushed foi- 
 ward, going fifteen miles before we stopped for night, 
 crossing BLack River during the day. 
 
 We went forward and reached Patterson at three 
 o'clock Friday. The late liard rains have made the 
 roads very heav}^, so that our teams can only make 
 slow progress. 
 
 Saturday we remained at Patterson. A small fort 
 and block house have been built here. It is decided 
 that we will goon to guard a supply train to Pilot 
 Knob. 
 
 We started the next morning at eight o'clock and 
 marched seventeen miles, half way from Patterson 
 to Pilot Knob; camped for the night near a mill. A 
 few of us took possession of a deserted log house and 
 converted it into soldiers' quarters for the night. " 
 
 Monday, December twenty-ninth, we started ateight 
 o'clock and reached Ironton at sundown. Came on 
 and camped at Pilot Knob. Every thing looks natural 
 here. Our boys are all well and in good spirits and 
 having good times. This active life suits them. 
 
 On Tuesday we unloaded the ordnance stores our 
 train had brought back from Patterson. 
 
 Wednesday, the last day of the year, we passed in 
 camp at Pilot Knob. At night we celebrated New 
 Year's Eve in Ironton and Arcadia, and welcomed in 
 the new year with oysters, apples, cider, Poman 
 candles, music, singing, etc. Ending the old and 
 commencing the new year in a jolly, happy manner. 
 
Kew Yeaii's Day Januaky 1, 18G3. 105 
 
 A KEVIEW OF THE YEAR AS WRITTEN IN CAMP. 
 
 Thursday, January 1, 1SG3. New Year's day. A 
 liappy New Year to all. We part with the old, and 
 welcome the new year. 
 
 The year of 1862— the memorial year— is no more. 
 It is now to be known only in the history of the past. 
 We part with it sorrowfully, and yet are glad that it 
 is past. It has brought us many, many sorrows, - 
 given us much to mourn over, and at the same time 
 has taught us much and improved ua much. It has 
 been a year of stern, unrelenting reality to our coun- 
 try, to us as a nation and to us as individ-mls. All 
 have felt the harsh, iron hand of the past year. 
 
 Our country has been involved in all of the horrors 
 of one of the most gigantic and desperate civil wars 
 that has ever been waged upon the face of our 
 world. 
 
 The year commenced; we then thought that surely 
 we are 'in the midst of the war; that it had even then 
 reached the highest point of its fury, and would soon 
 subside; that at the end of the year 1862 at farthest, 
 happy peace would look down upon a contented and 
 re-united people. 
 
 The year ends and we are bewildered; instead of 
 looked-for peace we find the war and strife hardly yet 
 fairly commenced; the mighty hosts are still marshal- 
 ing, preparing for battle— for the bloody field. 
 
 We mourn the loss of many, many of the bravest, 
 noblest ones wlio haveilied a willing sacrifice for their 
 country's cause. Some fall by the enemy's hand; 
 others'push on, bravely bearing aloit iheir country's 
 
^^6 Army Life. 
 
 banner until camp fevers and army exposures sap their 
 life's blood— then tliej die. 
 
 Others now come to fill tlie ranks of '• brotliers i^one 
 before." Time passes swiftly and their places are in 
 turn left vacant for others to fill. This is war; war 
 in reality. Such has been the history of thepastyear 
 and such promises to be the history of the new. Pa- 
 rents, brothers, sisters, children and lovers mourn the 
 untimely death of departed ones. 
 
 Thus closes the year. A year of momentous, event- 
 ful history. The most eventful in the history of our 
 country. It is not strange that it should be so. Long 
 have the elements of fierce strife been gatheriuiT 
 The mighty powers of freedom and slavery" which' for 
 years and ages have been contending in desperate, 
 savage strife— ofteu overturning empires, crushing 
 kingdoms, destroying and desolating countries, and 
 even shaking the whole world to its very center by 
 their tremendous and deadly conflicts, have at last coii- 
 centrated them all— all the tierce hordes of slavery, 
 all^ the mighty hosts of freedom— all concentrated in' 
 a flnal, last death struggle. 
 
 One year of desperate warfare and still the awful 
 contest has hardly yet commenced. Some grow im- 
 patient and ask, when is the war to end ? ^Bnt why 
 do they look thus early for the end? Who can rea- 
 sonably expect a miglity, fierce contest like this, which 
 has been growing for ages— a contest for life or dfeath 
 between freedom and slavery- to be ended in one 
 short year? No, we need not,^can not expect the end 
 for a long, long time to com'e. Ko man can tell 
 when or how loved peace will return to ns. We must 
 
Eeview of the Yeak 1862. 167 
 
 accept what comes to ns. Let us not quarrel with our 
 destiny, but quietly submit, knowing that we are but 
 as mere instruments in the hands of a just God, who is 
 working out his own will on earth. Let us willingly 
 submit to Ilim, hoping, believing, praying and know- 
 ing that all will yet be well. 
 
 During the past year the armies of our country 
 have gained many victories and satiered numerous de- 
 feats. Upon the whole we can boast of but little that 
 we have gained and held, except the Mississippi 
 River, and that is not yet entirely won. The rebels 
 still hold Yicksburg which is so strongly fortified 
 that as yet our gunboats have not been able to take it. 
 Last summer our fleet exhausted its strength in the 
 fruitless attempt and then withdrew. Now an army 
 and fleet are moving down the river to make another 
 attempt. If that does not succeed, try again. In 
 the end we must win. 
 
 From the earlier days of the war the cry has been : 
 "On to Richmond." Two splendid armies have 
 made the attempt and failed. The first was under 
 General McClellan, the last under General Burnside- 
 McClellan was defeated; Burnside out-generaled. 
 
 As the year closes we find the Eastern army hold- 
 ing nearly the same ground that it did a year ago. 
 True, Yorktown and Manassas, two strong military 
 points have been evacuated by the enemy, but our 
 armies are still met by armies of the enemy holding 
 other positions fully as strong. 
 
 In the West the success of the Union armies has 
 been more uniform. We can claim the glory of Fort 
 Donaldson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, llatche. Pea 
 
1*^8 Army Life, 
 
 Rl<lgc, Cache River and otlier battle fiel.Is. WJiy 
 tliis striking ditierence between tlie AVestern and 
 Eastern armies? Tliej seem to figlit as bravely, as 
 earnestly— cowardice is certainly not the reason" Is 
 the fault in their commanders? It can hardly be. We 
 liave sent tiiem some of our best generals and still 
 they fail. The reason is truly unaccountable; but 
 let it pass. Perhaps the coming year--now present 
 —will change this, and the Eastern troops win a series 
 of glorious victories. We earnestly hope that it may 
 be so. 
 
 A year ago we were quartered in the seminary here 
 at Arcadia. The year passes and a few of us happen 
 back here in ti'me to serenade the seminary at the be- 
 ginning of the new year, 1SG3. Here we are, with 
 renewed health, buoyant spirits and unwavering hope, 
 ready to go wherever duty calls, fully believing that 
 the year 1863, like that of 1862, will fail to bring any 
 enemy who can stand before us. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 FROM PILOT KNOB TO VAN BURKN — THE ARMY MULE, ETC. 
 
 We remained in Pilot Knob until the seventh of 
 January and then started to guard a wagon train to 
 our army camp. Bailey and 1 waited in Pilot Knob 
 for the railroad train to arrive from St. Louis so as to 
 get the mail for our boys and some newspai)ers. It 
 
A ISiiGHT Visit in the AVoods. 1G9 
 
 M'as late before we got started. Had to wade the 
 streams and were so much delayed that it became 
 dark before we reached the command and were not 
 able to get through. It was useless to attempt to 
 ])roceed in those dark woods, liable at any moment 
 to fall into some ditch of ice cold water. Just as we 
 were looking for a dry piece of ground to stay over 
 night upon wc discovered a solitary can^p tire just off 
 from the road not far from us. We at once went up 
 and found a Missourian and his wife who with their 
 ox team were on their way to Ironton to barter their 
 produce for goods. This is the way the people in the 
 backwoods go to town. Men and women together, 
 go as far as their slow teams will take them, during 
 the day, and then camp for the night in the wild 
 svoods. They are usually from one to three weeks 
 on the road going and coming before again reaching 
 their wild woodland home. Those we met were very 
 socially inclined and Bailey and I had a huge evening 
 visit with them. We shared rations all round. They 
 seemed to like a change, and relished our hard tack, 
 while we took more kindly to the corn bread the 
 woman had made. Of course, with other necessaries 
 they had a supply of home-made whisky which was 
 offered as liberally as every thing else. It is strange, 
 but it is undoubtedly a fact, that there is not a neigh- 
 borhood anywhere in the wilds of Missouri, that 
 does not have some way to make whisky, A little still 
 to make a little whisky seeuis as necessary to the pion- 
 eer mountaineers of this wild country as a mill to grind 
 their corn. And stranger yet, you will hardly ever 
 find a drunkard amon<^ them. After the evening was 
 
170 Ak:my Life. 
 
 well spent, we threw logs enough on the fire to keep 
 it burning bright all night and then Bailey and I 
 spread our blankets on one side and the Missourian and 
 his wife theirs on the other and all hands were soon 
 fast asleep. The only guard on deck that night being 
 the mountaineers two big dogs, sleeping and watch- 
 ing under the wagon. jN'ow there was no disguise of 
 the fact, which we knew full well, that in their own 
 lioine, the man, and his wife, too, for that matter, were 
 fierce rebels, and they at the same time knew that we 
 were members of the hated Yankee army. Yet there 
 was no thought of suspicion on either side. It is 
 only the cause we each believe in that is at war. In- 
 dividually we have no quarrel to maintain. We met 
 as would members of opposite political parties or 
 members of different church organizations. In the 
 early morning we bid our night-friends adieu and each 
 went his own way. 
 
 We found our army comrades early i'n the morning 
 and the entire force started at eight o'clock and went 
 through to Patterson. 
 
 The train we came with from Pilot Knob this time 
 is made up of raw mules that have never before been 
 hitched to army wagons. It has been fun alive to see 
 the teamsters attempt to drive the stubborn, unbroken 
 animals. At first it was a continual runaway through 
 the entire line. But being in the woods all the time, 
 the only result would be that the ponderous armv 
 wagon would in a moment be caught upon a tree and 
 then the mules would become tangled together and 
 tumble in a heap. The thing to do now was to untan- 
 gle the huge pile of mules. Let imagination ])icture 
 
The Army M u l e. 171 
 
 the scene. Sometimes in a fierce run a small tree 
 would be bent over by the force with which the mnles 
 would strike it and then regainino its strength would 
 straighten up and thus frequently a team of the 
 smaller mules would be found hanging up in a tree. 
 An army team consists of six mules. The two larg- 
 est ones being the wheel mules and the smallest two, 
 the lead mules. The entire team is driven by a sin- 
 gle line running up to the bridle of the right lead 
 mule. A steady pull on the line means that the lead 
 mule is to turn to the left, quick jerks tell him to 
 turn to the right. It is wonderful how soon a raw 
 mule can be taught to obey this awkward mode of 
 indicating to him which way he is to go. With this 
 single line the driver riding one of the wheel mules 
 guides his team of six through many of the most diffi- 
 cult and dangerous places. The array mule occupies 
 a place that no other animal could so well fill. His 
 life in the army shows that the mule has never been 
 fully appreciated, [n reputation a mule is concen- 
 trated stubbornness and obstinacy, lu reality he is 
 generally docile, faithful and tireless. Even when run.- 
 ning away a mule team never gets wildly crazy as 
 liorses often do. They never knock their own brains 
 out against a tree or stone wall. Unless it is raw 
 mules that have never learned to pull a wagon, like 
 those we were driving on this trip, a runaway mule 
 team will only go so far as it can have a safe place to 
 run in. Of the hundreds of times that I have known 
 of a team of six mules escaping from their drivers and 
 starting on a run, I have not seen any tiiat would run 
 any farther tlian where they could find an open road. 
 
172 Army Life. 
 
 Six horses in tlie same condition wonld become so 
 frightened that the wagon would be broken to pieces 
 and some of tlie horses killed. The mule as an army- 
 mule is a success. 
 
 Our wagons were run empty to Patterson. The 
 tvvo days' drive had broken in the raw mules so that 
 they knew how to draw. During the forenoon of 
 Friday, the ninth, we loaded up and started for Van 
 Buren. Went five miles. At night camped by a va- 
 cant schoolhouse which some of us used for our 
 night's sleeping room. 
 
 Saturday we went through to Black Eiver, our raw 
 mules drawing very well. 
 
 The next day we started at eight o'clock and went 
 twelve miles. "VVe have taken a new road, one a few 
 miles north of the one we took before. 
 
 We started at eight o'clock Monday and drove 
 within five miles of camp. . 
 
 Tuesday, January thirteenth, we went to Van Bu- 
 ren in the forenoon, crossed the river in the after- 
 noon and rejoined our regiment, which had crossed, 
 the day before. 
 
 As we were nearing camp a flock of hawks appeared 
 in the high trees near ns. We promptly shot some of 
 them. Back came Captain Burnham in haste. It 
 was against orders to fire guns near camp. 'He ar- 
 rested half a dozen of us, tliat is, he said: "Boys, con- 
 sideryourselves underarrest." They laughed and some 
 of them offered tlieir guns to him. Of course it is ab- 
 surd to call a soldier underarrest while he has his gun 
 in his hands. The captain turned and went forward 
 to the advance of the command. We never heard any 
 
FoKWARD Again. 173 
 
 more about it. He did not even discharge the " arrest.'' 
 Probably those soldiers are still under arrest. The ob- 
 ject of the Captain was probably this: General David- 
 son, our army commander, was a very strict military 
 officer and Burnham undoubtedly wished to be able to 
 say, in case he M-as called to task for the firing, that it 
 was not with his consent and that he had ordered those 
 who did it under arrest. Except that he was respon- 
 sible to those above him as captain, Burnham always 
 considered himself as only one of the members of the 
 company. 
 
 FORWARD TO WEST PLAINS. 
 
 The army started forward on Wednesday, January 
 fourteenth, and marclied only five miles. The 
 weather is very bad, raining and snowing. The mud 
 is almost knee deep. The roads are so fearfully bad 
 that it took two days for the teams to come up the five 
 miles we had advanced. It turned still colder Thurs- 
 day and by night there were four inches of snow on 
 the ground. This is unusual for this climate. 
 
 "We went forward eight miles Friday. The roads 
 are much better, the ground being now frozen hard 
 enough to carry the M-agons. 
 
 Marched nine miles Saturday and camped at Fall- 
 ing Springs. Visited some small caves in the moun- 
 tain. As in all mountainous countries springs of 
 good water are numerous here. One large spring at 
 this place runs a mill. It is something of a curiosit3^ 
 One side of the mountain is, for some distance up, a 
 perpendicular rock. Up some distance from the 
 
IT-J: Akmy Life," 
 
 gronnd of the valley below, there is a hiri^-e opening 
 rii^ht in the side of the rock from which there comes 
 a large stream of water. Here a mill has been built. 
 A wooden water-way from the opening in the moun- 
 tain side carries the water to the wheel of the mill. 
 Thus we have in effect a mill run by one spring. 
 
 We started at seven o'clock, Sunday, and marched 
 ten miles. Camped upon the banks of Eleven Points. 
 For a wonder we found a wagon bridge here upon 
 which we crossed the stream. 
 
 The next day we went nine miles reaching Alton, 
 the county seat of Oregon County. It is a little 
 town of no importance. The surrounding country is 
 covered with worthless scrub oaks. The land is poor 
 and never can be very valuable or productive. 
 
 On Thursday, January twenty-second, we started 
 back again to guard the supply train on the road, which 
 it is reported the rebels design capturing. Went as far 
 as Eleven Points and camped for the night. 
 
 Crossed the river the next morning and camped 
 near Falling Springs. 
 
 On Saturday went twelve miles reaching within 
 three miles of the su])])ly train. Here we waited for 
 the train to pass. 
 
 The supply train having all come np we started 
 back as its rear guard on Monda}'. 
 
 Tuesday we passed Falling Springs and then took 
 the Thomasville road. We reached Thomas ville 
 Wednesday night. 
 
 We crossed the river at Thomasville Thursday 
 morning and marched fourteen miles. Ed Pike's 
 inicle from Illinois is with us. By some means he 
 
At West PlzMns, Mo., January, 1SG3. 175 
 
 is in possession of an ox team and wagon, and lie car- 
 ries the knapsacks of our company in tlie ox wagon. 
 The old gentleman seems to tliink that he is having a 
 huge time soldiering with the boys. 
 
 Friday, January thirtieth, we reached West Plains. 
 The entire army is fast coming in from Alton. A 
 large force of rebels was expected to meet us in this 
 Vicinity, but they do not seem inclined to wait for us 
 to get near them. 
 
 ^Ye camped a few days at West PLains. In coming 
 and while here we took quite a number of prisoners. 
 At one time we had nearly one hundred under guard, 
 many of them belonging to the rebel army. It is not 
 easy to always know whether tlie fellow you catch is a 
 rebel soldier or not. Citizens and soldiers are all dressed 
 in the same kind of home-made butternut clothing. 
 When cornered the rebel soldiers throw their guns 
 away and claim to be innocent citizens. General 
 Davidson's p'an is severe but just. At least it is the 
 only one we can safely follow in this country. He 
 holds every suspicious butternut that is found away 
 from where he ought to be, until the prisoner can 
 show that he is not a rebel soldier. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 WE EETUEN TO TILOT KNOTl. 
 
 It being plainly evident that the enemy would not 
 remain for us to get within striking distance of liini, 
 
176 Army Life. 
 
 and the object of our winter's advance being accom- 
 plislied by clearly demonstrating that the Union troops 
 could at any time drive all rebel bands out of South- 
 ern Missouri and Northern Arkansas, we were ordered 
 to march back " nearer to supplies." 
 
 We started at eighto'clock Sunday, February eightli, 
 and marched twenty miles to Barnesville. The next 
 day we went six miles. After seeing his army fairly 
 under way General Davidson left us to go to Pilot 
 Knob and thence to St, Louis. 
 
 Tuesday we marched fifteen miles and camped at 
 Jack's Forks. We have now left the scrub oak country 
 and reached one where the soil is strong enough to 
 produce fine large trees. They are oak with some very 
 good pine. There is a combined carding, saw and 
 grist mill at this place. It is a small aff'air. There 
 is, however, a grand water power here \vhich, with an 
 enterprising people occupying the surrounding coun- 
 try, would be very valuable. 
 
 We lay over at Jack's Forks until the thirteenth, 
 on which day we broke camp at eight in the morning 
 and marched twelve miles. 
 
 The next day our company was sent to guard the 
 ammunition train. We went back two miles, met the 
 train and then came forward with it six miles. 
 
 Sunday, February fifteenth, we marched to within 
 ten miles of Eminence. The rough and heavy roads 
 have broken the mules up. A large number of oxen 
 have been pressed into the service to help move our 
 heavy wagons. 
 
 The soldiers are in splendid health but many of them 
 nearly barefooted. The rough mountain roads wear 
 
"VVe Eetuen to Pilot Knob, Feb., 1SG3. 177 
 
 out shoe leather fast. A few days, ago the raw hides 
 of the heef cattle that were killed were ordered dis- 
 tributed for the soldiers to make something for them 
 to walk in. But they are no good. The soldiers 
 seem to succeed better in tjilig bark and pieces of 
 wood to the bottom of their worn-out shoes. 
 
 AVe reached Eminence at two o'clock Monday. 
 Crossed the river and went four miles farther before 
 we camped for the night. We helped to drive the 
 ox teams over the mountains. Had lots of fun. 
 
 AYe now learned that we are to go to Pilot Knob. 
 Company A of the Ninetj^-ninth Illinois is detailed 
 to assist us in guarding the ammunition train and to 
 help drive the Missouri oxen up and down the hills. 
 The next day we marched sixteen miles. 
 
 The ammunition train being now safely out of 
 reach of any strolling bands of the enemy we nejoined 
 the regiment AVednesday morning and then marched 
 twenty-one miles to Centerville. 
 
 The next day we went twelve miles and camped 
 near Lesterville. 
 
 On Friday, February 20, 1863, we marched to our 
 journey's end and camped at Belleview Yalley, near 
 Pilot Knob. 
 
 Lieutenant Norton, with his usual vim, had pushed 
 ahead and when we camped he had the post commis- 
 sary ready to issue us good rations including fresh 
 bread instead of hard tack, so that we celebrated our 
 arrival with a first-class soldier's supper which we 
 were in condition to fully appreciate. 
 12 
 
178 Army Life. 
 
 A FEW DESCRIPTIONS, 
 
 Pilot Knob. — The greatest iron nioiiiitain in tlie 
 world deserves a passing word. The first time I ever 
 visited that mountain pile of iron ore known by the 
 name of Pilot Knob was on Saturday, September 21, 
 1861, the day after the arrival of our regiment at the 
 village of the same name. 
 
 Since then I have visited it, climbed to its top and 
 roamed over its sides a number of times. It did not 
 appear as I had expected it to. There is nothing that 
 we become acquainted with by name before seeing, 
 that does when met, agree with the picture that imag- 
 ination had created. I do not know why, but for some 
 reason I was surprised to see trees growing not only 
 upon the sides but also upon top of the mountain. 
 As I found it, trees were growing all over it exce])t 
 the highest peak, which is perfectly bare. I had 
 not formed any definite idea of its appearance but 
 from what I had read I rather exj3ected to see a huge, 
 gigantic and barren pile of iron ore. Yet, 1 must 
 .confess tluxt it is much more interesting as it is than 
 it would be otherwise. While new things when first 
 .seen are sure to do violence to our preconceived 
 ideas, still there is a compensation in the fact that 
 they will probably be found more beautiful than im- 
 agination had pictured them. 
 
 Pilot Knob might be described as resembling the 
 jioble bald eagle as he is sometimes seen sitting on 
 the top of an old oak tree with his bald and naked head 
 resting, with such marked and striking contrast, upon 
 liis huge body thickly covered with a heavy growth 
 
A Mountain of Ikon. 
 
 179 
 
 of feathers. Thus do?s Pilot Knob, with its huge 
 l)ody covered with growing trees and creeping vines, 
 above which its bald and naked head is extended, ap- 
 pear to us as we look at it from a distance. Its naked 
 head is so marked, that it became customary when 
 any of the soldiers were a long distance away, and 
 wished to distinguish Pilot Knob from the mountains 
 in its vicinity they always looked for the " bald head." 
 •'Old bald head " became its popular name with our 
 soldiers. 
 
 Pilot Knob, with the exception of Shepherd Moun- 
 tain, is the highest one of the cluster of mountains 
 that lay in this part of Missouri. It is truly a gigan- 
 tic mountain pile of iron ore. One to simply see it, 
 gets but a faint idea of its actual size. To compre- 
 hend its magnitude one should pass a day or two in 
 climbing over and examining it; and even then a per- 
 son can hardly realize what a vast quantity of iron 
 nature has hei-e heaped into one mountain of solid ore. 
 Standing on its top one can only view with amaze- 
 ment the mineral wealth that lies beneath him. 
 
 At the foot of tlie mountain stands a furnace for 
 converting the raw ore into pig iron. The ore is taken 
 from near the top of the mountain. All the work 
 that has to be done in mining, is to break the ore up 
 so that it can be loaded upon the cars which deposit 
 it at the mouth of the furnace. The cars that bring 
 down the ore run upon a double track built for the 
 purpose. The cars are drawn by a wire cable fastened 
 upon pulleys at the top and which are so arranged 
 that the loaded cars coming down, by their weight 
 draw up the unloaded ones on the other track. Thus 
 
ISO Army Life. 
 
 the ore desired for use, not only lies conveniently at 
 Land, but also furnishes the motive power to haul it- 
 self to the furnace. 
 
 With all of its mineral wealth, its large amount of 
 fertile lands, its superior commercial advantages, the 
 State of Missouri, with an enterprising people for its 
 citizens, will become one of the grandest States of our 
 N'ation! 
 
 FoKT Ho VEY.— Almost the next thing that claims 
 our attention in point of interest in the vicinity of 
 Ironton, after Pilot Knob Mountain, is Fort Ilovey, 
 whicJi lays between Ironton and Arcadia. 
 
 First, as to the name of the fort. I have written it 
 Fprt Ilovey, but that, we now find, is not the only 
 name it has borne. The reasons for insisting upon its 
 original name are good. In the first place. General 
 Ilovey, then Colonel of our regiment, did more than 
 any other one man to push forward the building of it, 
 and that in a time of danger. Colonel Carlin, then 
 commander of the army here, though not exceedingly 
 friendly to Colonel Ilovey, was willing to acknowledge 
 his services in the work and issued a general order in 
 which he said: "The fort being built near Ironton will 
 be named Fort Ilovey and when finished will be 
 garrisoned by the Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Yol- 
 unteers." This was considered as settling the matter 
 at that time, and the fort was so called by those who 
 built it and by the army that was here at that time. 
 But now, over a year afterward. General Davidson, 
 the present commander of the district, in a general 
 order refers to the fort as Fort Curtis. For what 
 reason, no one knows. It may be said that Colonel 
 
Fort IIovey. 181 
 
 Ilovey did not desire liis naine to be given to the f<jrt. 
 The name he preferred was Fort XorniaL 
 
 When we arrived at Iron ton in September, 18G1, 
 the fort had hardly been bnilt. The trees had 
 been cut on the g-roiind but none of the breastworks 
 had been built. In fact the lines of the fort had 
 not Jbeen fully established. At that time our con- 
 dition looked dark in Southeast Missouri. The 
 Union troops held Pilot Knob and a few places on the 
 Mississippi River. AYitli this meagre exception the 
 entire district was completely overrun by the rebels 
 under Hardee, Thompson and Lowe. Pilot Knob was 
 <3very hour in danger of being attacked. It was not 
 safe to pass out of our army lines. Two men of 
 Company C ventured onit ojie day and were immedi- 
 ately gobbled up. Our force was small and undisci- 
 plined. Much was thought to depend u])on the rapid 
 building of the fort. The work was placed under 
 charge of Colonel Ilovey. The Thirty-third under- 
 took to do the work and commenced at once. The 
 work was pushed forward early and late. Many of 
 our young soldiers in their earnestness overtaxed their 
 strength. I donl)t not but that the cause of the death 
 of many of our soldier boys could be directly traced 
 to overworking themselves on Fort Ilovey. 
 
 The walls of the fort are built of heavy timbers. 
 Two walls were in fact built, one inside of the other, 
 of hewn logs rinned together. The center between 
 tlieiu was then tilled with tinibei-and earth pounded 
 solid. When finished it gave a solid wall of about 
 twelve feet in thickness at the bottom and eight at 
 the top. 
 
182 Army Life, 
 
 The fort covers considerable ground, enongli to ac- 
 commodate quite a large force inside. Platiorms are 
 built around the sides for infantry to stand upon. It 
 is arranged to contain four heavy cannon and so 
 built that three of them can command a given point. 
 In addition a number of pieces of field artillery can be 
 used in it when necessary. It is situated upon a hill 
 which seems to have been intended for the very pur- 
 pose. It is almost the only high ground in Arcadia 
 valley and the fort upon it commands the entire val- 
 ley. It would be a very difficult place for an enemy 
 to take. In case occasion should require, it may be- 
 come important, but the present indications are that 
 no rebel force will ever trouble this vicinity again. 
 
 Pilot Knob village having been our head-quarters 
 and " base" of action so long, and to which we have 
 returned so often, is deserving a passing notice. It is 
 a quiet little village lying snugly beneath the shade 
 of the high mountains which surround it. It can 
 never become a very large city for one good reason: 
 there is not room in the little valley for a large city. 
 There are only four outlets, through the mountains, 
 from the place. One is occupied by the Iron Moun- 
 tain Eailroad which comes from St. Louis and ter- 
 minates at this place. One is the Fredericktown road 
 running east. One runs south through Ironton and 
 on to Dixie's land. The other is a road running west 
 through Eelleview valley. For a military post a 
 stronger natural position could not well be found. 
 
 Ironton is the county seat of Iron County and situ- 
 ated about a mile soutii of Pilot Knob, and just the 
 other side of the iron mountain of that name. It is 
 
Pilot Knob, Ikonton and Arcadia, 183 
 
 a very pleasantly located town and contains a brick 
 court house, two church buildings, a number of fair 
 stores and residence houses. In prosperous times it 
 must have been quite a business center. It lies at 
 the foot of Shepherd Mountain and Pilot Knob and 
 upon the borders of the pleasant valley of Arcadia. 
 An enterprising, pleasant city will some time in the 
 future, no doubt, be found here. 
 
 Arcadia is a pleasant little village a mile south of 
 Irontou. The only building of note in the place is 
 the Arcadia Seminary, where the good people of St. 
 Louis used to send their children to school before the 
 war and which furnished us such nice quarters during 
 the winter of 18G1-C2. The beauties of the valley of 
 Arcadia are often spoken of. Our regimental chap- 
 lain was so impressed with it when we first came here, 
 that he wi'ote a long article for publication, describing 
 its many beauties and attractions. 
 
 But for the mountains that break them into differ- 
 ent parts. Pilot Knob, Ironton and Arcadia would 
 probably have been in a more compact form and con- 
 stituted but one city. As it is they may practically 
 be considered as only different parts of the same town. 
 
 MiDDLEBEooK is a Small place about two and a half 
 miles north of Pilot Knob, and is simply a small rail- 
 road station. 
 
 Iron Mountain is about three miles farther north 
 and is situated near tlie mountain of that name. The 
 place is noted for the fine quality of its iron ore that 
 is found in inexhaustible quantities. It also gives 
 name to the railroad that runs throuiih the town, the 
 
184 Army Life. 
 
 Iron Mountain Jliulroad. It contains an iron foundry 
 and a number of good buildings. 
 
 Belleview, west of Pilot Knob, is a vallej' of wonder- 
 ful fertility, and in beauty and pleasant scenery can 
 well compete with the valley of Arcadia. 
 
 Such as these are the surroundings among wiiiehour 
 lot has been so often cast during our soldier life. 
 Upon the whole it has been to us a pleasant place, and 
 when the -war is over the memory of many soldiers 
 will return to it with happy thoughts. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A PUBLIC INIEETING. 
 
 All politics were ignored in the army. As to the 
 political belief of our comrades, we cared not. It was 
 a rare case when one learned his comrades' preference 
 as between mere political parties. It would be a cor- 
 rect statement to say the soldiers of our army have no 
 politics. The election of 1862 claimed but little of 
 their attention, in fact, was not thought of. Believing 
 •that all at home were true Union men, the soldiers 
 were indifferent as to who was elected or defeated 
 in an election. BuL when the Legislature of Illinois, 
 elected in the fall of 1802, began in the following win- 
 ter to take such action as, whether so intended or not, 
 was giving sympathy and encouragement to the rebels, 
 its course was closely watched by tlie Illinois soldiers. 
 The feeling became so deep that the soldiers, in con- 
 
A ruBLic Meeting. ISo 
 
 forinit}^ with the ways they had been accustomed to 
 at home, concluded to hold a public meeting to '/wo 
 an expression of their sentimento. The meeting was 
 called. It was in regular public meeting style; those 
 came who wished, those present called upon such as 
 they desired to hear, to speak; the floor was open to 
 any who asked for it. Being the only public meeting 
 our soldiers ever held, a record of its proceedings may 
 properly be given. As written at that time, the fol- 
 lowing is the record: 
 
 Camp Middlebrook, near Pilot Knob, Mo , 
 March 2, 1863. 
 
 At a meeting of the Thirty-third and Ninety-ninth Regiments 
 Illinois Volunteer Infantry, held at the head-qnarters of the Thir- 
 ty-thiid Illinois, Dr. Rex, Surgeon of the Thirty-third Regiment, 
 called the meeting to order and nominated Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Roe, Thirty-third Illinois, who was unanimously elected Chairman; 
 Captain E. R. Smith, Ninety-ninth Illinois, Secretary. Colonel 
 Roe (Democrat) addressed the meet'ng as follows: 
 
 " Ladies and Gentlemen : I suppose that this is an assembly 
 tha' has met for the purpose of announcing opinions in regard to 
 the action of the assembled, I had almost siiid wisdom, of the State 
 of Illinois. I am glad I did not say wisdom; for wisdom and 
 leaning go hand in hand with loyalty. I kifow all Illinois sol- 
 diers read, and that you are posted in regard to the action of the 
 Illinois Legislature. I need not rehearse that action before you. 
 We do not love war; we abhor it. But are we now, in the midsfc 
 of the thickening dangers that surround our banner, to ignob'y 
 desert it? 1 never expect to find an llbnois soldier who is willing 
 to sav to such men as have almost made the name of SDringfield 
 detestable, ' I agree wi.h you in sentiment and sympathize wi'h 
 you in your legislative treason.' No such man can be found. 
 
 " We will spend our last drop of blood in defense of the Con- 
 stitution and the Union; and oh! how willingly would we see a 
 fiw of the traitors at home immohiAcd uiion (reedom's altar. We 
 want to send home an expression of opinion; w'e, who have been 
 for the time disfranchised — an opinion that may prove, in time, 
 stronger than the biUot-box. In tini'' we moan that the t)allot-box 
 at home shall tell what is now to us so apparen' : that m^i in high 
 p'aces have fallen! fallen!! fallen!!! never again to control public 
 opinion." 
 
 Colonel Lippincott, of the Thirty-thud Illinois (Dcmocr.it), came 
 
186 Akmy Life. 
 
 forward and announced that upon consult ition with many officers 
 and privates he had been induced tj otfer the followmg resolu- 
 tions: 
 
 Whereas, Recent developments in our beloved State of Illinois 
 seem to call for an expression of opinion and feelinfj among I!li- 
 noisans who belong to the volunteer army of the United States, 
 therefore, 
 
 liesoJrert, That we took up arms in defense of the Constitution 
 and the Union of these United States of America from a de p- 
 seated loyalty to the Government established by our fathers; that 
 we were not and are not actuated by any. sectional prejudices or 
 hostilities, but only by a strong sympathy with the dec-hiration of 
 Andrew Jackson: "The Federal Union — it must and shall be 
 preserved." 
 
 Resolved, That the treason which has brought the existing civil 
 war, with all its horrors, upon the country, owes no part of its 
 enormity to the section which produced the original traitors, but 
 is hateful for its own sake, and would have been equally odious had 
 it originated in any other quarter of our indivisible Union. 
 
 Resolved, That as sworn soldiers of the United States, and as 
 citizens of Illinois, we owe constant and earn'^st allegiance to the 
 Government of our country, find that we will maintain our alle- 
 giance against all treason, whether coming from the armed and 
 open rebels in the South, or from their abettors in Illinois, or 
 elsewhere. 
 
 Resolved, That we, volunteer citizen sildiers from IlTnois, tem- 
 porarily deprived of onr accustomed privileges at the ballot-box, 
 esteem it a privilege to be able in this manner to express our 
 scorn, abhorrence, and contempt of the display of disloyalty and 
 sympathy with an armed and bolder treason recently made by a 
 large part of the Illii;ois Legislature; and we pledge our duty as 
 soldiers, and our honor as men, to free our glorious State from the 
 disgrace with which it has been threatened. 
 
 These resolutions were enthusiastically cheered. The Coloi^l 
 continued with characteristic and well-timed remarks: 
 
 " Mr. President and Fellow-Soldiers : I did not purpose to mnko 
 a speech on this occasion, and in offering these resolutions as the 
 index to ray sentiments, I suppose I ha\re s.iid all I ouarht to say 
 upon this subject. But a casual remark of Colonel Roe's, as to 
 the political name of our Illinois traitors, leads me to sav some- 
 thing more. He spoke of the men who have disgraced the State 
 of lllniois as Democrats. We hav.^ not met here for any political, 
 and, least of all, partisan object. T am, and always have been, a 
 Democrat. lam proud of Democracy. I am proud of that De- 
 mocracy whose principles are made manifest in the teachings of 
 Thomas Jefferson, wlinsc lum )r found an unflinching and devoteil 
 advocate in the lami'iitfl Sli'|ilicn A. Douglas. 
 
 ■'I repudiate the 1 )(miiii( niry of the Illinois Legislature, which has 
 repudiated all the teaching? of Steph-^n A. Douglas. 1 denounce 
 these men as false to Democracy and false to men. 
 
A Public Meeting. 1S7 
 
 " Bat it matters not whether they are Democrats or not, the}' 
 were chosen to the Legislature by the people of llhuois, and they 
 have betrayed their trust. ,.„... 
 
 "While the oaths they had oronounccd were still ringing m 
 their ears, they were basely contriving means for the violation of 
 those oaths, and for the subversion of the Constitution they had 
 sworn to support. They have done all they could to assist the 
 men, in contending against whom many of our men have lallea 
 into patriot graves. Our foes have received aid and comfort tiom 
 the Legislature of Illinois. , , - i 
 
 " 1 am glad you have met here with me to-day to aenounce such 
 men and the odious principles they represent. 1 am glad we have 
 come here on an equal footing. No man came here und r orders. 
 Every man is privileged to openly declai-e his opinion. If there is 
 one man among you who would defend the lUmo s Legislature, 
 he is invited to come forward and take the place which 1 now oc- 
 
 " If we stand in the position now which we occupied in the 
 beo-inningof this war, these resolutions will be fully vmdicited. 
 
 " I went to visit the rebel officers who were in charge of the n^ig 
 of truce which ciune into West Plains. I never was so humiliated 
 since I was born as when one of the officers told me that the Legis- 
 latures of Illinois and Indiana were with them, and passed resolu- 
 tions favorable to their cause. I told them that we could take care 
 of rebels at home as well as those abroad." 
 
 Mcijor Crandell, Ninetv-ninth regiment Illinois Infantry, saul: 
 • " Mr. Chairman and Fellow-Soldie-s: I shall not attempt a 
 speech on this occasion. Those of you who have left your homes 
 and come here to fight lor your country have read the proceedings 
 of the Legislature of Illinois, and know what they are. While we 
 are fighting the enemy, they are aiding and abetting treason. 
 We have met here to tell them that we detest rebellion, that we 
 are willing to go to our homes, and there put down traitors, as 
 well as to'put down traitors in the South. I know there is no 
 soldier here but who is here from motives of loyalty. I know 
 that you will indorse the resolutions which have been offered. 
 
 Dr. Rex, Surgeon 33d 111 : "Fellow-Soldiers : 1 cordially indorse 
 every sentiment th it has been read in your hearing, and I would 
 that th "se words could be sent in tones of thunder to those trai- 
 tors at home. We, as volunteers from the Prairie State, now say 
 we a' e with our country. , • , :. , i. 
 
 "Our motto is: Our country— may she always be right, but our 
 country, right or wrong. Our country forever! The Illinois Leg- 
 islature have shaken hands with the stink-fingers of Davis, that 
 we have already branded as traitors. 
 
 " In my opinion there never was a truer man, or a nobler pa- 
 triot than Stephen A. Douglas. There is a little story of him I 
 must relate. Fort Sumter was bombarded on Saturday, the 
 next day, while Douglas was walking down the streets of the cap- 
 ital, he heard a friend say thufc the President was about to issue 
 
1S8 Army Life. 
 
 his proclamation calling for troops. Douglas wont to the Wlillo 
 House, and calling upon the President, paid: 'Mr. Lincoln, 1 hear 
 that you have prepared your proclamatioii; if agreeable, I should 
 like to hear it.' 'Certainly, .ludge,' said the President; and 
 standing before Mr. Douglas and his friends, he read the procla- 
 mation. Says the man who relates this story, never hawk eyed 
 a chicken more closely than Douglas eyed the reader. When the 
 reading was ended, he grasped Lincoln's hand and said: 
 'Mr. Lincoln, I indorse every sentiment in that proclamation.' 
 Such patriots let us be. Let us stand by our Government, and, 
 r ght or wrong, sustain it. The man who gives aid and 
 comfort to our enemy is a traitor, and the man who stands by his 
 counti-y is a true patriot. 
 
 "1 hope that these resolutions will be adopted; that those trai- 
 tors at home may know that we are coming, and they h d better 
 get off the track." 
 
 Corporal Durfl'ngei', 33d Illinois: "Fellow-Soldiers: We are 
 here to-day to expi-ess our feelings upon questions of the highest 
 moment in this hour of our country's danger and peril. As the 
 mere automaton, and the unthinking agent, the private soldier 
 must, in a measure, be amid the routine of camp and field. But 
 as the thinking, intelligent patriot; as the disfranchised citizen of 
 the State of Illinois, I but express your feelings by saying, thnt 
 we indorse these resolutions, word by word. They are not the 
 flashy rhetoric, or the empty soulless effusion of the partisan and 
 politician, but the earnest, calm, unsludied expression of loyal 
 men. Men who have more faith in actions than words; who are 
 acting in the f.,ce otlthe impending storm, and we are aware of 
 their danger, and are justly indignant at the authors of that dan- 
 ger. 
 
 "Can loyal men talk of peace, when all that we have so nobly 
 contended for must be sacrificed to gain that peace? When every 
 provision of the Constitution is violated by our foe in the field ? 
 When all the interests of our State, our country and humanity are 
 suspended in the balance, and when our financial, commercial 
 and national existence is dependent upon the success of our arms? 
 Can loytd men propose peace in view of these facts, because eman- 
 cipation, conscription or confiscation are contrary to our Constitu- 
 tion? These are but the weak subterfuges of traitors, and traitors 
 base enough to avow their malignant, though restrained treason, 
 in the hall of our National Capitol. Let us si'ud home a voice of 
 expostulation ami Warning. Let us bid our mothers, wives, sis- 
 ters and daughters to spurn from their presence the cowards that 
 have sent us into the thickest of the contest to gain political honor, 
 and now disfranchise us at home, and mock our noblest efforts in 
 the field." 
 
 Sergeant George S. Marks, Ninety-ninth Illinois: " Fellow-Sol- 
 diers of the State of 11 inois: ] feel at liberty to express my senti- 
 ments on the present occasion. I feel that the soldiers of Illinois 
 have been slandered by t-ose infernal traitors at home. We can 
 
A Public Meeting. 189 
 
 see their mark in nearly all the press that have published the pro- 
 ceedings of the Legislature. Fellow-soldiers, I am a Douglas 
 Democrat, and labored ibr his election at the last Presidential elec- 
 tion; but the voice of the people was against my choice, and I said 
 when Mr. Lincoln was elected, oh, people, thy wdl be done!_ I 
 am willing to sacrifice my life for the Union and the Constitution 
 as my fathers made them. I trust that the Illinois soldiers may 
 return home and blast the hopes of those devilish Copperheads. 
 May God grant that the enemies of our country, both in the front 
 and rear, shall be brought to see their error, and lay down their 
 arms upon the one side; upon the other, their sympa'hy. Then 
 will peace be restored to our distracted and divided country." 
 
 Captain Elliott, Thirty-third Illinois— " Fellow Soldiers: T in- 
 dorse and believe every word of the resolutions read in your hear- 
 ing. I would like to introduce one other resolution, to the effect 
 that those traitors in the Illinois Legislature should be hanged 
 until they are dead." 
 
 Captain McKenzie, Thirty-third Illinois— Approved of the res- 
 olutions, and denounced traitors at home and abroad. 
 
 Captain Lawton, of the Thirty-thud, also approved of the reso- 
 lutions, and especially denounced traitors at home for writing 
 treasonable letters to his boys. 
 
 Rev. N. Hawkins, of Perry, Illinois, made some timely remarks, 
 which were well received by the soldiers. 
 
 Chaplain Eddy, of the Thirty-third, remarked that he hated 
 snakes; but of all snakes, he hated the copperhead snake the 
 most. He denounced the majority of the Illinois Legislature for 
 the treasonable course they pursued; but complimented the 
 manlycour.se pursued by Isaac Funk, a member of the Legislature. 
 
 The speeches were well received and heartily cheered by the 
 soldiers. 
 
 The Chairman arose and remarked that " it had become a one- 
 sided affair, '.' and so he put the question on the adoption of the 
 resolutions, and they were unanimously adopted. 
 
 Colonel Lippincott proposed "three cheeis for the Union as it 
 was. and as it will be." They were given with a will. 
 
 Chaplain Eddy proposed '"'three cheers for Isaac Funk, who 
 bravely branded a portion of the' Illinois Legislature as traitors." 
 Given. 
 
 Colonel Lippincott proposed " three cheers for Richard Yates, 
 the soldiers' friend." These were given as only soldiers can give 
 them. 
 
 Lieutenant Lewis, Thirty-third Illinois, offered a resolution to 
 the effect " that the resolutions of this meeting be published in 
 the Missouri Denwcrat and Republican, the Ch\cdcro Times and 
 Tribune, th3 Springfield (Idinois) liegi.tter and Journal, and the 
 Pike Count,!/ Democrat.'' 
 
 The meeting then adjourned. 
 
 Lt. Col. Roe. 
 
 E. R. Smith, Cai't. Co. F, 09th 111. 
 
190 Army Life. 
 
 OUR LAST CAMP AND TRAMP IN MISSOURI. 
 
 We remained in our Belleview camp a week and 
 then moved to within half a mile of Middlebrook. 
 On the third of March we moved our camp to the vil- 
 lao^e. 
 
 General Carr, onr new commander, having arrived, 
 he reviewed onr division at Middlebrook on Wednes- 
 day, the fourth. Tlie following Tuesday, March tenth, 
 we broke camp and started for St. Genevieve, on the 
 Mississippi River. Marched sixteen miles, camped 
 near the lead mines and within one mile of Farming- 
 ton. We made a good march on Wednesday, passing 
 through Farmington in the morning and Yalley Forge 
 during the day. The next day our march ended at St. 
 Genevieve. 
 
 The boys were now in high spirits. We are now to 
 go down the Mississippi River, join the army at A^icks- 
 burg and help to remove the last rebel obstacle upon 
 our great river. Vieksburg must be taken. No 
 stranger's flag shall be permitted to hold sway over the 
 waters that flow from our Northern fields. The Mis- 
 sissippi can not be divided, the great river never can 
 be broken. It is strange that any should think other- 
 wise. The great Northwest will always insist upon 
 their natural right to the free navigation of this great 
 river. Until the water that flows from their fields is 
 mingled with that of the deep sea and becomes free to 
 all the world, it belongs to them and their right must 
 be maintained. The people of the South by whose 
 doors through nature's course it flows, must not claim 
 
Ouii Last March in Missouri. 191 
 
 exclusive riglits or ownership in tlie waters of onr 
 great river. Tliey can, with us, freely use it, but no 
 more. The water that flows from Eastern Alleghanies 
 and Northern lakes and Western mountains must, for 
 all time, be permitted to go un vexed to the sea. 
 
 On Monday, March 16, 1863, we bid farewell to 
 Missouri, broke camp, embarked on the steamship 
 Illinois, and with banners waving, music playing and 
 soldiers hurrahing, we started down the Mississippi 
 River. 
 
 Personally, I did not participate to any great ex- 
 tent in these parting scenes. I was still just a little 
 too sick to be very lively. On the last day of our 
 march to St. Genevieve I gave out and had to be car- 
 ried in On an army wagon. Arriving in camp it was 
 found that a very severe attack of pneumonia was well 
 under way. In a couple of days its severity was bro- 
 ken, but I was fully aware of the fact that our army 
 surgeon had tried on me his favorite remedy of severe 
 blisters. If I had not been extra strong, I presume 
 the doctor would have used me up with his harsh 
 treatment, even if the pneumonia had not done so. 
 Thus I was found in the regimental hospital when 
 marching orders came, and remained there until after 
 we had passed Memphis. A regimental hospital al- 
 ways goes with the army. If a disease threatens to be 
 length}', sick soldiers are sent to the post hospital. It 
 was proposed to send some of us to a post hospital, 
 but all were so anxious to go with the regiment that 
 the surgeon took his sick men on the steamboat, and 
 we all went together. After leaving Memphis I be- 
 came strong enough to rejoin the company. 
 
192 Akmy Life. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 "We left St. Genevieve on Monday and readied Cairo 
 at three o'clock Tuesdaj^ afternoon. The steamboat 
 started again at ten o'clock that niglit, reacliing Mem- 
 phis, Thursday, the nineteenth, where we stopped to 
 take on a supply of coal. We were detained here the 
 next two days. On Sunday Chaplain Eddy preached 
 to us in the cabin of the boat. Shortly afterward the 
 steamboat whistle sounded and in short order we were 
 again under way. The result of our hasty departure 
 was to leave a nnmber of our soldiers to follow ns as 
 best they could on some other boat. Garrett, Eoss, 
 Smith, Bailey and Alderson, of our company, were 
 among those left in Memphis. 
 
 We arrived at Helena, Monday. We find that the 
 ground we camped npon when here last summer is 
 now completely under water. Most of the town is also 
 overflowed by the very high water now in the river. 
 
 On Tuesday afternoon we left Helena. Passed by 
 where our camps at Cockle-burr and Old Town were 
 last summer. It is not to be seen now. When we 
 were here our camp was all of twenty feet above the 
 water of the river. Now the water is a dozen feet or 
 more above the ground. One of the largest river 
 steamboats could now easily pass all over the gronnd 
 we camped upon. During the day we passed what 
 is colled Yazoo Pass. Some of the steamboats were 
 saving distance by taking a short cut through between 
 
At Milliken's Bend, March, 18C3. 193 
 
 the trees. It appears strange to see a steamboat going 
 through the woods as easily as does the pioneer drive 
 his ox wagon through the unbroken forest, 
 
 Wednesday, Marcli twenty -fifth, we passed Lake 
 Providence. Logan's and McArthur's divisions are 
 here. After a short stop the boat went twenty miles 
 farther down the river to land us at our camping 
 ground. 
 
 We landed Tliursday morning, and had only got 
 fairly on land when General Carr, with his boat, 
 arrived, and ordered us to re-embark and go further 
 down. AYe went on and landed and camped at Milli- 
 kin's Bend. 
 
 We are now part of the thirteenth army corps, Gen- 
 eral McClernand commanding. 
 
 Among the first news we hear is that part of 
 Farragut's fleet has passed Port Hudson and arrived 
 at the foot of the canal, just below Yicksburg. We 
 also hear that two of Porter's boats attempted to run 
 past Vicksburg from this side. The Lancaster is re- 
 ported sunk, the Switzerland through in safety. 
 
 We camped at Millikin's Bend a few days. During 
 the night of the twenty-eighth a fierce wind storm 
 overturned our tents, blew away all light articles and 
 raised the mischief for us generally. 
 
 On the thirty-first General Ilovey, whose command 
 is at Young's Point, called to make his old regiment a 
 short visit. He did not forget to call upon Com- 
 pany A. 
 
 On the first day of April, Captain Burnham left us. 
 He has resigned and is going home. His health is 
 so bad in this Southern climate that he felt that he 
 13 
 
104 Army Life. 
 
 was becoming more of a burden than assistance to the 
 company. He seemed to mncli regret liis parting, as 
 the boys surely did. His resignation had been sent 
 forward before we had reached tliis important field. 
 If it had been possible for him to have done so, he 
 would to-day, no doubt, recall his commission and go 
 with us until the important work tliat now appears to 
 stand before us is completed. 
 
 About this time I began to be aware of the f;ict that 
 I had not yet fully recovered. Although the pneu- 
 monia did not return to vex me, cliills and fever did. 
 
 On the sixth of April the regiment drew six days' 
 rations and went down the river to work on the canal 
 that was being made so as to let the river take a short 
 cut across the bend and leave Yicksburg out in the 
 cold, two miles from the river. Those of us who were 
 too unwell to work were left in camp at Millikin's 
 Bend. 
 
 OUR MARCH PAST VICKSBURG. 
 
 On Tuesday, the fourteenth, we found that the reg- 
 iment was to go forward. All of us who could move 
 immediately went down and joined the regiment and 
 then all started on. 
 
 We are upon the west side of the river, and a march 
 south will take us past Yicksburg, which is upon the 
 .other side of the Mississippi. 
 
 Tiie next day we started at five o'clock in the morn- 
 ing. Grossed a bayou and then went through Rich- 
 mond, camping for the night one and a half miles be- 
 yond the town. The land around Richmond appears 
 to be very productive. The plantations are large and 
 
Marching past Yicksbiteg. I95 
 
 nearly all have good buildings. In time of peace this 
 was evidently a rich and prosperous country. 
 
 Thursday, April sixteenth, we marched twelve 
 miles, which brought us within five miles ofCarthao^ 
 on the Mississippi and below Vicksburg. Durinc the 
 inght we heai-d heavy firing toward Yicksbnrg, which 
 we find was caused by our gunboats getting up a fi^ht 
 with the rebel forts so that some of our transport bo!us 
 could run by under cover of the smoke of the battle. 
 Jt IS understood that they succeeded. 
 
 On the seventeenth heavy firing was heard below us 
 all the afternoon, which was reported to us as an en- 
 gagement with a force of rebels, which resulted in the 
 capture of eighteen hundred prisoners. It is so far 
 merely a report. We get definite news, however, that 
 our tents and camp equipage have been run past Yicks- 
 bnrg onaflatboat. A flatboat is just the thino- to 
 run a blockade down stream. A hole throuo-h them 
 does not do any harm. The rebel cannon can fire at 
 tliem at pleasure. All that it is necessarv to do is to 
 get the flatboat in the right part of the current of the 
 river and then let her go. After it has passed the rebel 
 works, a Union steamboat is on the watch and takes 
 the flatboat in tow. That is all there is in a flatboat 
 running a blockade down stream on the Mississippi 
 For a steamboat to run by the strong rebel fort is an- 
 other question. 
 
 Tuesday, April twenty-first, we received orders to 
 march immediately, and on we went. Marched down 
 the levee two and a half miles. This is the only 
 ground we can find to walk on here now. Every 
 thing except tlie high levees is under water. At the 
 
196 
 
 Akmi' Life. 
 
 end of tlie two and a half miles' marcli we had to cross 
 a bayou As we were attempting to cross, our boat 
 run aground on a sand bar where the water was about 
 four feet deep. It was concluded that the quickest 
 way to -et off was for some of the men to go into the 
 water and pry the boat off with handspikes A num- 
 ber of them immediately volunteered to do so and 
 commenced taking off their shoes, etc, so as to go into 
 the water. To encourage them General Benton an- 
 nounced: "Five dollars reward for the one first in." 
 The clothing began to fly lively. To win was more 
 of an object than the money. It promised to be a 
 pretty race. The enterprise of Biggerstaff of our 
 company ended it. He was standing by the side of the 
 boat not having made any move toward getting ready 
 to go into the water, and the moment General Ben- 
 ton made the announcement Biggerstaff leaped over 
 the side of the boat into the water. He was cheered 
 upon his short cut to victory. Others followed his 
 example and jumped into the water with their clothing 
 all on The boat was started, the boys pulled upon 
 ileck, and Biggerstaff called up by General Benton who 
 at once gave him the promised reward in five bran 
 new one dollar bills. 
 
 After crossing the bayou we went on to Carthage 
 and then marched six miles farther down the river, 
 and camped on a plantation known as "Perkins' 
 Place." The next day we moved at four p. m. and 
 took up our quarters on some reasonably dry ground, 
 which but a few days ago was occupied by the 
 rebel soldiers. During the night some of our trans- 
 
Mistaken Opinion of Southern People. 197 
 
 ports with supplies ran past Yicksburgand it kept ns 
 bnsj next daj unloading them. 
 
 GOVEKXOR YATES. 
 
 On Sunday, April twenty-sixth, Governor Yates of 
 our State made us a visit. He was in compan}^ with 
 General McClernand. Both made short speeches to 
 the soldiers. The soldier boys think there is no one to 
 excel " Uncle Dick Yates." Wherever he is seen by the 
 Illinois soldiers a lively time commences. They do not 
 stop for any cei-emony, but at once cr}^ out " Hurrah 
 for Dick Yates." All who can get near him shake 
 hands with him. Every Illinois boy knows him by- 
 sight. The reception he meets must be tiresome, but 
 lie seems to enjoy it hugely. It is plain that Gov- 
 ernor Yates is popular with the soldier boys. 
 
 CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 CONFEDERATE NEWSPAPERS — ERRORS OF SOUTHERN 
 OPINION. 
 
 During our advance we have met many things that 
 show that the rebels. are sadly at fault as to the real 
 spirit and feeling of the Northern soldiers. Their 
 newspapers sliow tliat they believe that the Union 
 soldiers, if not in actual S3-mpathy with them, at least 
 are opposed to fighting the rebels uj)on Southern 
 ground. As we advance we tind copies of their hite 
 
198 Army Life. 
 
 papers. They seem to fully believe tliat tlie IS^ortliern 
 soldiers only enlisted to protect their own States from 
 invasion. They believe that all the State troops are 
 anxious and determined to return to their own States. 
 This would only leave a few lonely soldiers of the re^^- 
 nlar army for the rebels to dispose of. 
 
 One of their late papers is a curiosity. It contains 
 a strong, pleading appeal to the ^Northern volunteer 
 soldiers to unite and demand that their officers imme- 
 diately lead them back to their own States. The 
 sanguine rebels evidently thought that it would create 
 a wonderful effect upon the Union volunteer soldiers, 
 and went to extreme lengths to be sure that copies of 
 the paper should be placed in their hands. As we 
 advanced, the papers containing the fatal appeal came 
 to us in every conceivable way. They were upon the 
 roadside cunningly placed in every place a soldier 
 was apt to investigate. Even the secesh women were 
 made useful. They, all at once, became extremely 
 sociable, and every time an opportunity offered, they 
 would slyly place some of the wonderful papers in the 
 liands of our soldiers; acting as though they were 
 doing such an awful act that their lives would be 
 sacrificed if an}^ of the Union officers should detect 
 them. Judged from their own belief and standpoint 
 these Southern women exhibited the highest braver3% 
 For the Union soldiers it was huge fun. The absurd- 
 ity of such oft- repeated scenes was increased by our 
 soldiers falling into the spirit of it. They would, 
 apparently in just as sly a manner, instantly hide the 
 paper until out of sight of the fair distributors. 
 !N"ever before had they been furnished with newspa- 
 
At Perkins' Place, Apkil, 1863. 109 
 
 pers by such prettj newsboys. It was truly a comical 
 scene; t!ie rebels using their wives and daughters, 
 dressed in their prettiest gowns and smiles, to place a 
 fearful engine of destruction in the way of their 
 enemies. Upon one side were the Southerners in dead 
 earnest, on tlie other, the entire Union army laughing 
 at the way in which they were receiving handfuls of 
 harmless Soutliern newspapers. While it lasted it was 
 one of the highest jokes of our army life. Growing 
 out of it many a jest passed through the army lines. 
 Among other things it was reported, whether true 
 or not no one stopped to inquire, that one timid offi- 
 cer of the regular arm}' became so alarmed that he 
 went to General Grant with the suggestion that an 
 order ought to be issued to prevent rebel newspapers 
 from falling into the hands of our soldiers. To which 
 Grant is said to have replied: "Yes, yes, I understand 
 all about it, and if it becomes necessar}^ — I — will — ap- 
 point — you — (stopping to light a fresh cigar) — to be 
 news agent to see that the Southern newspapers are 
 promptly distributed to my soldiers." 
 
 T PEEKINS' PLACE. 
 
 The regiment remained at Perkins' Place a week. 
 It rained much of the time. The ground and every 
 thing was wet and damp. It was a fearful time for all 
 of us who were on the sick list. To add to all else, our 
 supj)ly of quinine gave out. Chills and fever in such 
 a damp and unhealth}' place and climate without any 
 quinine to check them, are fearful. Then the dread 
 of being left when the advance was made. It is the 
 daily talk that we are now to make a move u])on 
 
200 Akmy Life. 
 
 Vicksbiirg. None doubt its suco.ess. All anticipate 
 participating in a battle that will become historical. 
 One who is sick two or three days now may miss the 
 opportunity of participating in the great battle of 
 the war. 
 
 Tuesday, April twenty -eighth, the regiment went 
 npon a boat and went down the river nearly to Grand 
 Gulf, and then landed upon the west bank of the 
 Mississippi. It was a sad squad of us who were left 
 in the hospital tent. As our doctor was leaving he 
 called the attention of the one left in charge, to tvv'o 
 of us who were lying near together, saying : " These 
 two men of Company A you must treat with care or 
 they will not live." My sick comrade proved the 
 prediction to be well taken. Poor fellow, he never 
 carried his gun again, but was buried upon the 
 banks of the Mississippi. I was bound to see Vicks- 
 burg, and lived. The truth probably was that the 
 fearful ague shakes, without any quinine to check 
 them, had made me appear much sicker than I was. 
 On Thursday morning a wagon with medical sup- 
 plies came to our post. At my earnest request the 
 young doctor left with us went and got a liberal sup- 
 ply of quinine for me. Either because he had not 
 time to distribute it in doses or because he thought 
 it made no great difference, he gave it to me in bulk 
 to use as I wished. I commenced taking it freely 
 and by afternoon called for something to eat. By 
 night I could eat quite a moderate supper. 
 
 I not only got the quinine but during the day Gen- 
 eral Hovey can.e up the river and stopped at our 
 camp. For some reason he leaves the army. lie 
 
Across the Mississiiti Eiver, May, 1SG3. 201 
 
 broiiglit the information that onr troops are now be- 
 low Grand Gulf and crossing the Mississippi over to 
 the Yicksburg side, the Thirty-third in advance. Now 
 is the time to be there. Tlie big battle is liable to be 
 fought within a week. 
 
 FORWARD AGAIN. 
 
 Friday morning, May first, found me with sufficient 
 strength to walk, and I determined to make an effort 
 to go forward. A good-natured soldier who happened 
 near carried my gun and knapsack on board a steam- 
 boat that was getting ready to go down the river. I went 
 aboard, selected a good place on deck, spread my blank- 
 ets, and thus the boat was bound to take me when- 
 ever it started. This was not as much an undertaking 
 as people at home would suppose. If a soldier is sick 
 in the army, one place is just as good as another forhim. 
 No worse camp ground can be found than the one I 
 was leaving. As to going forward on my own hook, 
 that was all right. Every one was in the midst of the 
 commotion created by a moving army. There was 
 no one to issue any orders, so I issued my own and 
 went as I chose. I could have gone north or any- 
 where else, and no objections would have been made. 
 The quinine held out and I gained strength rapidly 
 all day. The boat was late in starting and did not 
 leach the landing to which it was destined until night. 
 As the boat was not to move again until the next day, 
 I retained my quarters on board all night. 
 
 Saturday morning I went ashore. Our landing- 
 place was about four miles above GimuJ Gulf, and on 
 
203 Army Life. 
 
 tlie west side of the river. From liere we march over- 
 land so as to pass Grand Gulf, wliich is occupied by 
 some strong^ rebel batteries. The rebel fort is at tlio 
 point of the river bend. By marching across two and 
 one half miles we struck tlie river at a point over 
 tliree miles below the rebel forts. Had we followed 
 the course of the river tlie distance would have been 
 some seven miles. 
 
 We find quite a fleet at this point. The transports 
 are very busy carrying the army over the river. The 
 gunboats standing guard. While waiting we were en- 
 tertained by looking at the gunboat Lafayette, which 
 M-ent up and exchanged a few shots with the rebel forts. 
 !No apparent damage was done on either side. 
 
 One of our transports was soon ready to start. I 
 took passage upon it and went down the river about 
 twelve miles, and at three p. m. landed at Bruins- 
 burg, Mississippi. The first thing we saw upon land- 
 ing was a lot of rebel prisoners who were taken in the 
 hot figlit at Magnolia Hills the day before. 
 
 Having an independent command of in)' own — con- 
 sisting of myself alone — I was not delayed by others, 
 and immediately started forward. My quinine held 
 out, its liberal use kept the chills off, and I was gain- 
 ing strength rapidly. My gun and knapsack, how- 
 ever, made a load too heavy for me to carry, so I set 
 about to And some transportation. I struck a good- 
 natured teamster who was driving a team and wagon 
 belonging to a regiment of the regular army who 
 agreed to carry my gun and knapsack. By the time 
 he was ready to start forward we had become quite 
 well acquainted, the result of which was that I paid 
 
Magnolia Hills. 203 
 
 for a ride for myself by telling army stories to the 
 driver, When the wagon train reached tlie end of 
 its day's journe}'', it still being early in the afternoon, 
 I concluded to go forward. As I had done most of 
 my day's march by riding, I concluded that a little 
 evening walk would be beneficiah I went forward 
 as far as the battle field of the day before, and took 
 up quarters for the night with some soldiers who had 
 been sent back to pick up the guns, etc., that were 
 strewn upon the field. 
 
 CHAPTER Xy. 
 
 MAGNOLIA HILLS. 
 
 Sunday morning I went forward and passed over 
 much of the hard-fought battle field of Fridav. 
 
 The battle field presented a scene both grand and 
 terrible. The dead had nearly all been buried and all 
 of the wounded taken to the field hospitals. Enough 
 remained, however, to plainly show how fierce the 
 struggle had been. Horses, mules, wagons and guns, 
 both large and small, lay strewn upon the field, often 
 heaped together in a huge, misshapen mass, and 
 the strong forest trees, the staunch old oaks, the beau- 
 tiful magnolias, were torn and scattered as though 
 fierce tornadoes had swept them down. 
 
 The ground that was fought over beggnrs descrip- 
 tion. Tiie huge hills and deep guUeys running and 
 
201 Aemy Life. 
 
 connteM'uniiing in every direction created a wild and 
 broken country. What a place for a battle field! 
 
 Taking position upon the top of the high hills the 
 Confederates supposed it impossible for theni to be dis- 
 lodged. They were certain, they thought, that a suc- 
 cessful charge could not be made against them. This 
 belief was a natural one. It would naturall}' be sup- 
 posed that a steep hill or mountain side, with an as- 
 cent so steep that soldiers could o"nly with great diffi- 
 culty climb it, would be the easiest defended and the 
 most dangerous ground for an attempted charge. Our 
 soldiers soon learned differently. They discovered 
 that whenever the enemy held the top of a liigh hill a 
 charge could be made up its steep sides much more 
 safely than upon more level ground. Even when it 
 was so steep that they had to support themselves by 
 catching hold of the underbrush and limbs of trees 
 and even actually climbing up on their hands and feet 
 they could successfully charge the enemy who was 
 holding the brow of the hill. 
 
 One reason why this is so arises from the fact that it 
 is almost impossible for those on the top of a liigh 
 elevation to fire low enough to harm those advancing 
 up the elevation. In an open field fight a charge up 
 the side of a high hill or mountain side is the safest 
 one that can be made. 
 
 The Confederates upon the top always fired over the 
 heads of the Union boys. Our soldiers found that 
 they could safely run up hill, under the enemy's bullets 
 without firing and when they readied the top they 
 would, with loaded guns, meet the Confederates with 
 unloaded irnns in their hands. All the rebels could 
 
Geand Gulf and Port Gibson. 205 
 
 do under such circumstances was to seek safety in 
 running down the otlier side of the hill. Thus each 
 Union charge up the steep sides of Magnolia Hills 
 was successful. 
 
 When within two miles of Port Gibson, T stopped 
 to eat breakfast, and had barely finished when some 
 of our soldiers came up and said that w^e were on dan- 
 gerous ground, as an attack was expected from the 
 rear. Upon reaching the open road, 1 was surprised 
 to find that, while I was eating breakfast, a line 
 of battle had been formed within two hundred yards 
 of and fronting toward us. My companions in the re- 
 ceipt of the cheerful information were an old col- 
 ored man and his wife, living in a log cabin by the 
 roadside, and at whose fire I had made some coffee. 
 They were thoroughly alarmed, and without ceremony 
 rushed through the Union line of battle, and sought 
 safety in its rear. I went up and joined the Union 
 line of battle. In a short time our scouts came back 
 with the information that rebels were running away 
 instead of coming up for a fight. I then bid the 
 Union soldiers farewell and pushed ahead. 
 
 GRAND GULF AND PORT GIBSON. 
 
 I soon reached Port Gibson. Here I learned that 
 Carr's division had started for Grand Gulf. I started 
 forward and soon found the Thirty-third. They were 
 slowly advancing with a skirmish line in front. "When 
 we got within four miles of Grand Gulf, information 
 was received that the forts at Grand Gulf had been 
 evacuated by the rebels and were now in the hands of 
 our soldiers. Thus our mission in that direction was 
 
206 Army Life. 
 
 ended. We now returned to Port Gibson, crossed the 
 bajou and marched five miles toward Black River. 
 At night we camped in line of battle, in a field of 
 growing corn which the boys pulled and placed under 
 their blankets to keep them out of tlie mud. 
 
 AVe lay still most of the day Monday. Toward 
 night moved forward and crossed a small stream called 
 Stone Eiver. 
 
 On Tuesday our brigade had a sort of amass meet- 
 ing. General Benton and other officers made speeches 
 to the soldiers complimenting them upon their ac- 
 tion in the late battle. 
 
 The next day Company A went out on a foraging 
 trip. All we found was a little corn meal. 
 
 TO THE REAR OF YICKSBURG. 
 
 Thursday we started at three a. m. and marched 
 fifteen miles, and camped near Rocky Springs. The 
 advance drove the enemy as we advanced. 
 
 General Grant informally reviewed our troops on 
 Friday by passing in front of our lines in company 
 with General McCIernand, Logan, Carr, A. P. Ilovey, 
 Benton and others. 
 
 We were called up at one o'clock Saturday morn- 
 ing, at three we started forward and marched nine 
 miles. 
 
 Sunda}^ May tenth, we remained in camp. We 
 hear that Sherman's corps is crossing the Mississippi 
 at Grand Gulf. 
 
 The entire army will soon be on the ground and 
 ready to advance on Yicksburg, which we are now 
 
To THE Reak of Yioksburg. 207 
 
 ^vitllin twenty miles of. The next day Sherman's 
 men commenced coming np. 
 
 Tuesday we marched forward to within six miles 
 of the rai'lroad running into Yicl^burg from the east. 
 Our advance had a sharp skirmish witli the enemy. 
 We learn that the Confederates are in force npon the 
 railroad in front of us, and in the neighborhood of 
 Edwards' Station. Indications of an approaching bat- 
 tle are seen upon every hand. 
 
 Wednesday, May fifteenth, we started forward ex- 
 pecting to have a battle with the enemy in our front at 
 Edwards' Station. After going two miles we turned 
 toward the right and started east toward Raymond, 
 at which place some of our troops were having an 
 engagement with some of the enemy. The battle 
 wa's over and our troops victorious before we got 
 there. 
 
 The battle of Raymond was an illustration of what 
 odds a brilliant, determined effort can often over- 
 come. The battle was fought by General Logan with 
 a small force against an enemy three or four times as 
 strong in numbers. Logan determined to hold his 
 ground at all hazards until other Union troops could 
 reach him. The Confederates, evidently posted as to 
 the small number of Union troops engaged, pressed 
 on determined to crush the small Union force. The 
 battle had continued some considerable time and 
 the heavy mass of rebels was pressing down upon 
 the little band of Yankee boys with increased zeal. 
 Seeing liow his soldiers were suffering Logan became 
 mad and with a number of strong words (when oc- 
 casion requires, Logan, like AV^ishington, sometimes 
 
208 Army Life, 
 
 swears in the army) he told his soldiers to "give the 
 rebels hell," and started the work by himself, leading a 
 fierce charge upon the enemy's line. With aloud hur- 
 rah the entire command went forward on a fierce run 
 and in less than five minutes the entire Confederate 
 foi-ce was on a disorganized race to the rear, and the 
 battle won by the Union boys. 
 
 Logan had learned one great secret of a battle field; 
 in all sharply contested open field battles a time is 
 sure to come when each side is so much in doubt as 
 to the actual condition of afi^airs, and so uncertain as 
 to what the result is to be, that if one side will press 
 forward with sufiicient rapidity and determination, 
 the other is sure to give way. Li other words in all 
 sharply contested battles both sides are at times beaten 
 and tenacity and viin win the day. 
 
 A small number of soldiers who have confidence in 
 themselves, in each other, and in their officers, can any 
 day take a field from thrice their number of timid 
 souls. Confidence, tenacity, rapidity, determination 
 and vim, with moderate skill always win upon a bat- 
 tle field. 
 
 Our entire army, it will be remembered, had turned 
 to the east, leaving the main Confederate army 
 at liberty to fall in our rear. Looking upon our ac- 
 tion of this day with the light of later events it will 
 be clearly seen that General Grant's action was one 
 of the most audacious ever taken in the face of a strono- 
 enemy. The Confederates were known to be in force 
 in front of us at Edwards' Station. To go on and at- 
 tack them our army would be facing to the north, 
 theirs to the south. In case of a repulse we could 
 
Leaving the Enemy in Ock Eear. 209 
 
 M\ back to the protection of our gunboats on tlie 
 Mississippi Eiver. At the same time the enemy, if 
 defeated, could fall back and then retreat to the inte- 
 rior of Mississippi. By going toward Jackson we left 
 the large Confederate force in position where it could 
 fall into our rear. Kot only this, but by taking that 
 route we would drive all of the rebels into one' body 
 and thus strengthen them for the great battle that was 
 evidently near at hatid. The course taken by Gen- 
 eral Grant was to go to Jackson, throw his entire 
 army between the Confederates and their only route 
 for retreat, thus producing this condition of affiiirs: 
 If defeated, tlie enemy could only fall back and be 
 penned in at Yicksburg, and on the other hand, the 
 Union army, if defeated, would be entirely destroyed, 
 because there would be no possible road for retreat left 
 open. All of these things were well understood by the 
 army, and as we turned toward the east all were elated 
 M'ith the audacity of the movement. No one doubted 
 our ability to drive the enemy when the time came 
 for the fatal blow to be struck. The confidence of the 
 army in itself and in its commander was unbounded. 
 The very audacity of our movement in turning to the 
 east and leaving the enemy to fall into our rear if he 
 chose, increased the enthusiasm of every soldier in the 
 ranks. Each one felt as though he had said to the 
 rebels: "You are not of much account, tumble into 
 our rear if you like." Grant's movement in the rear 
 of Yicksburg was like .that of a farmer gathering up a 
 flock of sheep. A few scattering ones are not worth 
 trying to drive in. The object is to surround the en- 
 tire flock and drive them all into the pen together. 
 14 
 
210 Army Life. 
 
 On Thursday we passed throngh Eaymond and con- 
 tinued our march toward Jackson, camping at niglit 
 within five miles of that city, the capital of Missis- 
 sippi. A dispatch soon came informing us that our 
 troops had taken tlie place and that General Grant's 
 head-quarters for the night were established in the city. 
 
 Jackson being safely In our hands, and our army 
 having now got outside of all of the Confederate sol- 
 diers connected with the Ylcksburg army, we wei'o 
 ordered to "About face" and started upon our march 
 to drive tliein In. On Frid ly we went through Ray- 
 mond and then three miles farther on toward Ylcks- 
 burg, Our advance under Osterhaus had a sharp 
 skirmish with the enemy. As we camped for the 
 night, every thing assured us that a stubborn battle 
 was now to be fought. AVe were now fronting west 
 toward Ylcksburg. All of the scattering bands of reb- 
 els had been driven in. Our cavalry scouts brought 
 back word that the entire Confederate army had come 
 up and were now in line of battle In our Immediate 
 front. On our side, we slept in line of battle with our 
 guns by our sides and ready for any emergency. 
 
 CHAPTER XYl 
 
 BATTLE OF CIIAMPIOX HILLS. 
 
 At an early hour on Saturday morning, May IG, 
 18G3, our entire army was aroused, a hasty breakfast 
 
Battle of Champion Hills. * 211 
 
 consisting of some coffee and hard tack eaten, and 
 every thiniv put in readiness for tlie comin,^ contest. 
 TJie thick woods in onr front covered the Confederate 
 army lying there and waiting for lis. The ground 
 was broken and hilly as well as covered with a heavv 
 growth of timber. Many capital positions could be 
 selected by an army tliat chose to stand on the de- 
 fensive. Tliis was the course taken by the enemy. 
 Between where we had canjped for the night and the 
 wooded hills where the rebels had taken their stand 
 was some open ground. 
 
 Our army corps, the thirteenth, was the left of the 
 advancing Union army. At an early hour, between 
 seven and eight o'clock, and before we were fairly un- 
 der way, we heard the first guns of the day's contest. 
 It was commenced by the advance of our corps and 
 to our extreme left. This first firing being thus to 
 the left of our army suggested the probability that 
 the enemy was attempting to pass from the immedi- 
 ate front of our army and probably looking for a way 
 to escape instead of maintaining his fightino- o-round. 
 Our heavy infantry columns immediately went for- 
 ward. As they did so the slight firing we had heard 
 in front of our left passed along to our center and be- 
 came somewiiat heavier. It now became apparent 
 that the rebels had determined to make a stubborn 
 stand. Of course all the firing yet done had been 
 only that of the advance skirmishers on both sides. 
 The tell-tale stubbornness with which the rebel skir- 
 mishers stood their ground, in our front, plainlv 
 showed that heavy forces of the enemy were immedi- 
 ately bshind them. A soldier, by observation, will 
 
212 Army Life. 
 
 learn so as to know wlien a strong force of the en- 
 emy is near at hand as pLainly as an experienced sea 
 captain, when npon the water, can tell when a fierce 
 storm is approaching. As we neared the open woods 
 in our front we formed ii\ army line in tlie open 
 fields and were all ready to march in and attack the 
 waiting rebels. 
 
 Now a strange and wonderful day's experience 
 opened before us. Although we were the first of the 
 Union troops upon the ground, and within striking 
 distance of the enemy, we lay still'and made no for- 
 ward move. A ten minutes' march would have 
 brought us upon the main rebel line. The real bat- 
 tle had not yet commenced. We formed in line and 
 waited. During the day all of the varied phases of 
 the fierce battle could be noted by us. 
 
 Eleavy firing soon told us that the real battle had 
 commenced. Now a fierce artillery duel would be 
 fought and then succeeded by the more desperate and 
 stubborn confiict of small arms. Then a seeming 
 lull in the contest would be again followed by the 
 fierce roar of artillery, and this again followed by an 
 infantry contest. Up and down the line the thunder 
 roar of the battle would go; at one time fierce at one 
 point, then to quiet there and rage with increased fury 
 at another. The heavy cloud of battle smoke, as the 
 dark mass arose above the trees, also told its story of, 
 the fierce contest. Now and then we would plainly 
 Lear the wild cheers of the Northern boys as some 
 of our troops would charge upon and carry some 
 point held by the enemy. During all tliis time we 
 lay still. No order for us to go forward was given. 
 
Battle of Champion Hills, 213 
 
 As tlie hours passed by some of our impatient sol- 
 diers would leave the ranks and j^o forward into the 
 woods and then return with news of the battle. From 
 them and other sources we had almost continual in- 
 formation from tlie front. This was hardly necessary, 
 howev^er, for we were so near that the smoke of battle, 
 the firing guns and the variedsoundsof tlie fierce strug- 
 gle plainly told us of advances and retreats made. 
 The progress of the battle was ever before us. 
 
 At last, after long waiting and much wondering 
 why we were not permitted to go forward and share in 
 the fierce conflict, the order to " Forward, march," was 
 given. In a brief moinent we were on the way. As 
 we started the wild and advancing cheers that rose 
 above the battle roar told us that the Union troops 
 were making a fierce and successful charge upon the 
 rebel lines. As we went in the battle was well-nigh 
 over; we went into the woods and struck the right 
 wing of the rebel army. It vanished before us like 
 snow beneath the summer sun. Had we struck this 
 wing of the rebel array an hour earlier it would have 
 been thrown upon the enemy's center and the confusion 
 that would then have overwhelmed thein would have 
 led to the destruction of the entire rebel army. As 
 it was, at the time when we struck them, the Union 
 troops under McPherson had made their last charge 
 and driven in the main rebel line, so that all were now 
 upon a fierce run to escape. Had we been soon enough 
 the confusion in the rebel lines would h.ave been so 
 great that they could not have seen any open way of 
 escape and they would have been obliged to throw 
 down their arms and surrender en iiutsse. 
 
214 Army Life. 
 
 We drove all before ns and tlion rnslied on to the 
 main road where the fiercest contc^^t of the battle hiul 
 been fonght. The hill upon which the enemy had 
 made his most desperate contest M-as thickly covered 
 with the dead of both sides. Broken gnns and rnin 
 covered the field. Rebel artillery with its horses and 
 men were Lere and there all heaped together in a 
 mountain of death and ruin. Over this gory field 
 we rushed, and on into the v.'ocids beyond where we 
 struck all that was left of the rebel army. It was the 
 last shot of the day. The frightened enemy hardly 
 liaving courage to return our first fire. AVe cut the 
 remains of the rebel army apart. The largest force 
 was driven toward Vicksburg. The other part ran 
 over the hills and went to the east. The Thirty-thii-d 
 liad been given the advance of the reserve force as it 
 went upon the field. The last guns fired in the bat- 
 tle of Champion Hills was by our men and at the force 
 of the enemy we drove to the rear. 
 
 Many pieces of rebel artillery fell to our hands. 
 Hosts of rebels surrendered as we advanced. These 
 were left for others to guard, as we pushed on, rapidh^ 
 following the retreating rebels. Letting those who 
 had gone to the east pursue their wa}^ to escape or be 
 captured by other Union forces as their fate might be, 
 we pushed toward the west after the rebels who were 
 retreating toward Yicksbnrg. Darkness soon ended 
 our pursuit and we stopped for the night at Edwards' 
 Station. 
 
 At night, as the full I'esults of the battle became 
 known, it was found that a great victory had been won 
 by our troops. 
 
Battle of Black Eiver. 215 
 
 Having become historical, and its general results 
 being op°n to all who choose to refer to the pages of 
 written history, it is not necessary to here reconnt at 
 large the scenes and results of the battle of Champion 
 IliTls. 
 
 CHAPTER XYII. 
 
 BATTLE OF BLACK KIVER. 
 
 Sunday morning, May 17, 1S63, found us ready to 
 move forward as soon as it was light enough to march. 
 ^Ve were now given the advance. A rapid march 
 brought us within sight of the rebel worlds at Black 
 Eiver. The outside picket guards were driven in 
 without difficulty. 
 
 The conditions for a stubborn defense were ample. 
 The rebel position was a strong one. At this point 
 Black Biver is a stream of considerable size. The 
 wagon road to A^icksburg, as well as the railroad, hero 
 cro'sses the river. On the west side of Black Eiver 
 are some high bluffs. We were a])proaching from 
 the east. Why the Confederates did not select these 
 bl nil's on the west side of the river as the place for 
 their fortifications, it is hard to tell; they probably 
 thought the position chosen preferable. It certainly 
 was a mistake. Still, the place selected for their forti- 
 fications was by no means a weak one. Had not the 
 we,t bank of Black Eiver furnished stronger natural 
 positions, that selected by the rebels would have been 
 
216 Arair Life. 
 
 considered a wise selection. Some little distance from 
 the east side of the main river was a channel of con- 
 siderable width and depth. Tliis virtually created an 
 island, which lay between the main river and this 
 channel or bayou. The island was the place selected 
 by the enemy for his fortiiications. The island was of 
 sufficient size, and the ground beinc^ comparatively 
 level and unbroken, it was probably selected by the reb- 
 els as a better place for the movement of troops than 
 wonld have been the nneven hills upon the west side 
 of the river. Ai^ain, east of the bayou was a smooth 
 valley varyincr from half a mile to' a mile in width. 
 As the attackinfr force would have to pass over this 
 level ground, the rebels doubtless thought that they 
 could easily destroy all who attempted to approach, 
 before their works could be reached. 
 
 A range of forts well supplied with heavy artillery 
 had been built along the east side of the bayou. 
 These had been connected with a complete chain of 
 breastworks for the enemy's infantry. Thus an at- 
 tacking force would have to first charge over a wide 
 space of level ground ; then pass a deep and wide stream 
 of water, and then climb the rebel fortifications upon 
 the bank of the channel before they could reach the 
 well fortified rebels. What possessed the enemy to 
 waste so much valuable strength in fighting in the 
 open woods upon Champion Hills when Blaciv Kiver, 
 so near at hand, afforded them such superior positions 
 of defense, is, indeed, a marvel. 
 
 We were upon the skirmish line and consequently 
 the first troops in sight of the enemy that morning. 
 The position our company held was next to and ujwn 
 
Battle of Black River. 217 
 
 the south side of the road running west toward Vicks- 
 burg. This brought us in front of the center and 
 strongest part of the enemy's works. The valley be- 
 tween the rebel works and the small wood- covered 
 hills was at this point a little over half of a mile in 
 width. The valley at tliis point had been a culti- 
 vated corn or cane Held. The previous year's furrows 
 ran parallel with the rebel works. The small hills 
 back of this field were covered with a thick growtli 
 of underbrush. Had the enemy been thoughtful and 
 industrious enough to have cut and bnriied all of the 
 small trees and brush upon these hills as far back as 
 heavy artillery could reach, it would have been of un- 
 told advantage to him. To our right the valley less- 
 ened in width so that the ground covered with trees 
 reached nearer to the rebel works. To our left it con- 
 tinued to widen so that the rebel works upon that 
 part of the line had at least a mile of level ground 
 over which to' tire. 
 
 Onr early morning call had evidently greatly sur- 
 pi-ised the indolent enemy. As we, upon the skir- 
 mish line, came out of the' woods and upon the level 
 field in front of their works, we beheld wild confusion 
 in the rebel lines. Evidently they ha I not yet all gut 
 up and finished their breakfast, much less formed 
 into line read}' to meet us. All were aroused and 
 called into line. If we had been supported by a solid 
 column, at that moment, we could no doubt have 
 rushed over and taken the works before the enemy 
 was prepared to defend them. But just then the Un- 
 ion troops at hand were only those of a small skirmish 
 line of barely sufficient strength to feel of the enemy. 
 
218 Army Life. 
 
 From the o-ronnd we were upon, all of the move- 
 ments of the enemy conld be phiinly noted. (Officers 
 mounted in hot haste and rushed among the rebel sol- 
 diers to arouse and hurry them into position. Every 
 movement of the enemy was plainly seen by us. AVe 
 could note the strength of each rebel command and 
 see to which part of the line it was sent. Probably 
 no battle was ever before fought which was so com- 
 pletely seen from its commencement to its end as was 
 the battle of Black River by those of us who were 
 upon the advance skirmish line. 
 
 To get as near to the rebel works as we did upon 
 such ground was wonderful. ]'or any of lis to live 
 through the fight that ensued, holding the position we 
 did, was a miracle. Our ability to advance so close to 
 them was no doubt largely owing to the confusion in 
 the enemy's ranks caused b}^ our early a])proach. 
 The first firing of the rebels was fearfully wild. They 
 seemed only to put the muzzles of their guns over 
 their breastworks and fire into the air at random. 
 Such firing is more apt to hit those far in the rear as 
 the bullets fall to the ground, than to trouble those 
 w'lio, like us, are near at hancL Now and then a gun 
 in the hands of a cool-hea<led rebel would be fired 
 with more judgment a' our line. A few M'ere hit. I 
 supposed that I was one of the unfortunate ones. A 
 rifle ball passed near enough to '' burn" my f ice. I 
 then knew by experience how it was with so many 
 others who for a moment supposed they were hit, 
 when they were not. I plainly felt a hole cut 
 through my clieek. That the passing bullet had cut 
 a deep, long gash through the side of my face I did 
 
Battle of Black River. 219 
 
 not doubt. I immediately put up my hand to see 
 liow much of my cheek was left, and to my ghid sur- 
 prise found that the bullet had simply grazed and not 
 cut me. Those who have experienced both, insist 
 that at the first moment, a bullet that passes near 
 enough to ''burn" by the "hot wind" of a swift re- 
 volving bullet, produces a much sharper sting than 
 that caused by a direct shot. 
 
 Our skirmish line pressed well forward, much far- 
 ther than prudence would have permitted, and then 
 each selected the best place he could find and lay 
 upon the ground and commenced to load and fire as 
 opportunity offered. Amidst thickly flying bullets it 
 is surprising how small an elevation of ground a sol- 
 dier can make available as breastwork. The rough 
 plowing of the previous year's crop had left deep fur- 
 rows and corresponding ridges, the best of which 
 served us well during the hot fight in which we were 
 engaged. The success with which a soldier can, under 
 such circumstances, apparently sink into the ground 
 and out of sight while loading his gun, can not be 
 realized by those who have never seen it done. 
 
 Some of our artillery were soon in place on the 
 hills behind us and commenced their work upon the 
 enemy. The artillery was supported by the infantry 
 columns. This heavy force on the higher ground in 
 our rear soon claimed the entire attention of the rebels 
 in our front. They no doubt also believed that all 
 who had advanced on the skirmish line had been 
 killed. These things combined caused us to be neg- 
 lected by the enemy so that we were at liberty to load 
 and fire at i)leasure and almost unmolested. While 
 
220 Army Life. 
 
 it, 110 doubt, did f\ir more liann in tlie rebel ranks, 
 still the few i^ans on the skiniiish line attracted no 
 attention when mingled with theiiercefiringof the two 
 contending armies. And then onr nearness to the rebel 
 line made it difficnlt for thein to look ov^er their works 
 to take effective aim at us. Even when the condi- 
 tions of the gronnd are favorable, the experience of 
 war is that most of the firing done carries the balls 
 high above the effective point. Situated as we were 
 it was safe to calcnlate that tlie rebel bullets would 
 pass above us. There being so much vacant space in 
 the open air compared with the little space occu])ied 
 by one individual, is the reason why so k\v are killed 
 compared with the amount of lead shot in battle. 
 Tlie space occupied by a man is but a mere speck 
 compared with all out doors, and there are a thousand 
 chances to miss, to one to hit him with the ball of a 
 random shot. 
 
 Our artillery had a capital position. The hills 
 upon which our cannon were placed were within 
 easy range of the rebel works. Our gunners were 
 much better marksmen than those handling the rebel 
 artillerj. The thick underbrush completely covered 
 the movements of our men. An entire battery would 
 be run into position under cover of the thick young 
 trees, careful aim taken and then altogether com- 
 mence a rapid fire upon the rebel works. As. soon as 
 the rebel artillery began to get their guns bearing on 
 the spot our men would run their guns to another 
 point and the first notice of the change the enemy 
 would get was another well-aimed volley. With dif- 
 ferent batteries do'ini this and a fine range of favor- 
 
Battle of Black Bivee. 221 
 
 able c^roimd to stand upon onr artillery did most ef- 
 fective work. With our sharj3-sliooters on the skir- 
 mish line so near at hand to annoy every one who 
 attempted to handle a rebel cannon, and our artillery- 
 men so well improving their opportunities, the result 
 of the artillery duel was favorable to the Union side. 
 All things combined produced the strange result, 
 that superior artillery protected by com])lete works 
 was worsted by smaller guns in the open Held. Dur- 
 ing the tight many of the protected rebel guns were 
 dismounted, while our artillery out in the open field 
 escaped with but little harm. 
 
 Thus the battle raged with our cannon in our rear, 
 and the rebel guns in our front, both firing over us. 
 We were fortunately low enough so that both sides 
 fired their balls and shells above us. The smoke and 
 confusion of the heavy contest also served to withdraw 
 all attention from our skirmish line and left us free 
 to use our trusty rifles to the best advantage. After 
 the engagement had commenced in earnest, the great- 
 est danger we were in was from imperfect shells which 
 would burst on the way, and from faulty charges of 
 powder or misdirected guns which now and then 
 sent iron and lead to plow the ground where we lay. 
 
 It would be useless to attempt to describe the ter- 
 rific scenes of this fierce contest as viewed from the 
 position we held between the two contending forces. 
 The heavy battle smoke rapidly rising continually 
 opened the entire scene to our view. Even in the 
 hottest of the fight every move of the enemy could be 
 noted by us. One rebel ofiicer, mounted upon a pow- 
 erful white horse, attracted unusual attention. As he 
 
223 Army Life. ' 
 
 first started at the beo'inning of tlie figlit ho ap])earcd 
 to be supported by a noinerons staff. His darino- ^va3 
 so reckless that he often became the mark our rifle- 
 men aimed at. As time passed swiftly on, one by one 
 of his assistants were seen to be disabled. He rode 
 until the last of his staff had fallen or left the field, 
 and still the rider upon the white horse, within range 
 of our guns, continued to inspire the rebel soldiers. 
 At last, as it became plain that the day was soon to 
 be ours, a desire seemed to spring up to let the reck- 
 less rider live, and he was permitted to ride away at 
 the last unharmed. As the aitillery battle reached 
 its heiglit, all incidents and individual matters were 
 absorbed by the fierce grandeur of the terrific storm 
 raging around and above us. For a time the cannon in 
 front of us, the cannon behind us, the cannon around 
 us, thundered and roared and poured forth their fierce 
 storm of fire and shot. Look to the front, look to the 
 rear, look everywhere and the red-mouthed artillery 
 seemed opened upon us. Above us was the black cloud 
 of battle smoke, through which crashed and burst and 
 screamed the murderous shell and ball. But few ever 
 looked upon what we saw during that houi', and lived 
 to tell the tale of the day's conflict. Imagination has 
 often suggested that the grandest place from which to 
 view a battle scene would be from a stationary balloon 
 anchored high above the field of battle, and from 
 thence to h)ok down upon both contending forces. 
 Even this would not prove equal to the position we 
 held, because the rising smoke would then obscure the 
 view, while with us, the dense cloud continually rose 
 
Battle of Black Biver. 223 
 
 so that we could look beneath it and see the entire 
 fa 17 of the fierce conflict. 
 
 Although the gigantic grandeur of the conflict was 
 created by the heavy artillery and the solid ranks of 
 infantry in our rear, still the most eff'ective work of 
 the entire battle was done by the line of skirmishers, 
 wlio, with their trusty rifles, had approached so near 
 tiie rebel works. We held our ground during the en- 
 tire battle. In fact it was better to do so than to 
 have attemped to go back while so plainly within 
 range of the rebel guns. I had a little experience in 
 this. Near to me was John Spradling of our com- 
 pany. A piece of bursting shell struck him in the 
 side or top part of his hip inflicting a fearful wound. 
 He supposed that it was fatal and told us that he 
 would soon die. His wound bled badly but his 
 strength remained so well that he soon thought that 
 if he could get medical aid there might still be a 
 chance for him to live. If death is inevitable a sol- 
 dier will die without a single word of complaint. 
 While there is hope of life he is anxious to improve 
 it. Spradling became wildly anxious to get back 
 where his wound could be attended to before he bled 
 to death. He desired me to help him. It was a dan-' 
 gerous undertaking. The artillery on both sides was 
 still firing rapidly. Standing up incurred more dan- 
 ger from the balls and shells swiftly flying from both 
 front and rear over our heads. The worst, however, 
 was to slowly walk over so much exposed ground, and 
 that in plain sight and range of the solid line of rebel 
 riflemen. The hope was that they would not care to 
 waste any shots at a crippled soldier and his assistant, 
 
--^ Aemy Life. 
 
 going to tlie rear. I got our wounded comrade np and 
 started. With my gun fastened iq^on one shoulder— 
 a soldier never abandons his gun -I lent mj other 
 shoukler and arm to the wounded man. He was so 
 injured that practically he could use only one 
 foot to assist in the walk. Going back in this condi- 
 tion was slowand tedious. The hope of magnanimity 
 on the part of the rebels was misplaced. We had not 
 gone far before the screeching rifle balls aimed at us 
 commenced hissing by our ears. Spradling knew that 
 lie would die if he stayed upon the field. Another 
 ball could do no more than kill him. He begged to go 
 on. As a soldier who could yet be useful in frontal 
 ought not to have taken the chances. But who 
 could withstand the pleading of a wounded soldier. 
 And then who could tell what the result would be? 
 The chances wei-e even that he would be hit as soon 
 as I. Then my mission toward the rear would be 
 ended. A soldier's life makes all reckless of dano-cr. 
 All places in the midst of a fierce battle are danger- 
 ous. What great difference did it make, for us to <ro 
 or stay? I told Spradling to brace up and we would 
 contmue until one or the other of us fell. It is not 
 wild to say that, during our tedious journey, at least 
 a thousand rifle balls aimed at us passed near, and, 
 strange to say, neither of us was touched. There 
 must have been some special Providence that protected 
 us. With much difficulty I managed to get back over 
 the open ground, reached the woods, dragged our 
 wounded comrade up over the hill and then back until 
 we met a squad with their white badges and a 
 stretcher in whose hands I placed the wounded sol- 
 
Battle of Black Kiver. 225 
 
 dier and who carried him back to the field hospital 
 where his wounds could be dressed. 
 
 Relieved of our wounded soldier I turned and 
 immediately went forward to rejoin my comrades. It 
 is usual in- sucli cases to remain with the main line 
 and not hazard tlie attempt to reach the skirmish 
 line in fi-ont. Probably it would be more correct to 
 state the fact that it is always usual in all battles for 
 the entire skirmish line to fall back out of the way 
 when the actual engagement commences. It was 
 only owing to the peculiar condition of the ground 
 upon which it was fought that in this battle we upon 
 the skirmish line retained our advanced position and 
 allowed the heavy firing to be done over our heads. 
 
 Many indications told us that the battle would soon 
 be ended. Most of the rebel cannon had been silenced. 
 The rebel infantry began to exhibit evidences of 
 uneasiness. I was anxious to be in at the end. To 
 go forward was of course far different from what 
 my retreat had been. Being alone I could skip along 
 lively. There was a chance to select the ground and 
 now and then dodge behind some protection. In 
 short, going back was not by any manner of means a 
 matter of recklessness. 
 
 My return had been none too soon. I had hardly 
 reached our skirmish line when the last move in the 
 battle of Black Biver was made. It was a brisk, sharp 
 and successful charge upon the rebel works. This is 
 how it happened: The woods to our right ran well 
 down toward the rebel works. (Jolonel Bailey of the 
 Ninety-ninth Illinois — "old rough and ready num- 
 ber two,'- General Benton had called him after the 
 15 
 
226 Akmy Life. 
 
 battle of Magnolia Hills — was with the advance. lu 
 their zeal the Union soldiers had pressed to the verge 
 of the woods which brought them near to the rebel 
 works. It became right hot for our boys so near to 
 the enemy's lines. They had no orders to go farther; 
 in fact, had already pushed on farther than orders had 
 been given for them to go. The proper thing to have 
 done was to have fallen back to a less exposed posi- 
 tion. Colonel Bailey was one of those awkward offi- 
 cers who could never learn military rules. His only 
 idea of war was to pitch in and whip the enemy 
 whenever and wherever he could be found. By his 
 impetuosity he became the hero of the day's battle. 
 Had his unauthorized movement failed he would 
 probably have been at least dismissed from the army. 
 ]S"o, he would not. Had it failed and he come oat of 
 it alive, he might have been tried by a court-martial, 
 but that never would have happened. His rash act 
 was bound to succeed or Colonel Bailey would have 
 been killed in the attempt. 
 
 Finding it disagreeable to be so near the rebel 
 work? and seeing the efiective fire upon his soldiers, 
 Colonel Bailey became fighting mad and yelled out 
 in thundering tones that rang along the line: " Boys, 
 it is getting too d . liot here. Let us go for the 
 the cussed rebels!" Before the last word was out of 
 his mouth, with a drawn sword flashing in the air, he 
 was on a fierce run toward the rebel works. With a 
 wild hurrah his entire command joined him in the 
 wild race. Others to the right and left, without a 
 moment's delay or a single command, joined in the 
 mad career, and thus with wild cheers the entire 
 
Battle of Black Rivee. 227 
 
 Union line joined in a cliarge upon the rebel works. 
 The disheartened Confederates having alreadj^ suf- 
 fered so severely, and vividly remembering the fearful 
 pounding they had received the day before at Cham- 
 pion Hills, at once gave up all hope of further defense 
 and immediately abandoned their works, and were in 
 a hot race to the rear before the Union troops had 
 reached their lines. Crossing the bayou was no easy 
 matter. In front of part; of our line the water was only 
 breast deep; through this the soldiers easily waded, 
 holding their guns and cartridge boxes above the water. 
 In some places the stagnant water was covered with 
 drift-wood. Here some would jump from one log {& 
 another like rabbits. In places where the water was 
 jnore open a soldier running up would jump on to a 
 floating log and the momentum of the fierce run would 
 carry both him and the log across so that he could 
 jump dry shod upon the other side, before the log he 
 thus used for a boat commenced to tnrn wrong side up. 
 In front of us the water was deeper and wider, but as 
 good fortune would have it, the rebels had only removed 
 the planks from the bridge, leaving the narrow string- 
 ers still running over. Our company immediately 
 jumped upon these stringers and ran across like squir- 
 rels. The rest of the skirmish line followed, and thus 
 the Thirty-third was soon all inside of the rebel works, 
 being the first troops inside the main part of the fort. 
 Other troops came in hot haste. The rebels were gone. 
 And the battle of Black River was ended. 
 
 A fine lot of rebel cannon was taken \vith the fort. 
 Oar boys had learned a little war experience from the 
 fight of the day before. As we drove the enemy from 
 
238 Akmy Life. 
 
 some of his cannon at Champion Hills, we rushed 
 forward without regard to the guns. AVhen we after- 
 Avard sent back for them we found that the troops who 
 had followed us had taken possession of the captured 
 cannon, and were thus entitled to the credit of their 
 capture. The rule is, that if a command captures ar- 
 tillery it must retain possession of it, or else the next 
 command coming up will have the right to claim it. 
 Infantry troops can not always carry captured artil- 
 lery along with them, nor stop in the midst of a fight 
 to retain possession of it. To provide for these and 
 other difficulties that might arise, the established rule 
 has become for the troops who capture a cannon to 
 have one of their men "straddle" it, that is, sit upon 
 it as though on horseback. Then the command can 
 go to any other work at hand, and the one soldier 
 upon the gun will be recognized by the entire army 
 as in full possession of it. Thus one man for each 
 piece of artillery is all the regiment need leave to re- 
 tain possession of captured cannon. Of course, should 
 any of the enemy return, the "straddling" is ended, 
 and it is again a fight for possession of the guns. We 
 had profited by the Cliampion Hills lesson, and the 
 result was that the captured rebel forts were full of 
 Thirty-third boys "straddling" the captured cannon. 
 Thus'we were credited with the capture of cannon 
 enough to supply a good sized army, and were more 
 than made even for the loss of those we had neglected 
 to " straddle " at Champion Hills. The captured guns 
 came near being a burden to us, there were so many 
 of them that they could not be disposed of at once, so 
 an entire company of our regiment was detailed to 
 
YlCKSBUEG. 229 
 
 take care of the captured guns until tliej could be 
 properly disposed of. 
 
 The rebels retreated across the river and went toward 
 Vicksburo^. One of their batteries took position upon 
 the high bluffs on tlie west side of the river and fired 
 a few rounds at us, but as soon as they saw one of our 
 batteries getting into position to reply to them, they 
 " limbered up" and scampered away. Thisw^as the last 
 we saw of tlie rebels at Black River. 
 
 CHAPTER XYIII. 
 
 VICKSBUKCx. 
 
 AVe crossed Black River Monday morning May 18, 
 1863, and marched toward Vieksburg. The rebels 
 carefully kept out of our M'ay. We camped for the 
 night within a shoi't distance of the noted city. 
 
 On Tuesday, May nineteenth, the battle of Vieks- 
 burg commenced. The first day's contest was mostly 
 by the artillery. We drove the enemy to the inside of 
 his foi'tifications. 
 
 The next day firing was kept up from morning till 
 night. In many places our riflemen got near enough 
 to annoy the rebel batteries. Toward night our di- 
 vision moved to the right, crossed the railroad and 
 charged over a hill. Captain Kellogg of our regiment 
 was killed. 
 
 The ground here is broken into steep hills and deep 
 
280 Army Life. 
 
 ravines. Cliargiiig over this hill i^ave us possession 
 of a ravine near the rebel works. In places the hills 
 are very steep. In the charge, part of our line suddenly 
 came to a place where there was a parpendicnlar fall of 
 nearly twenty feet. Thej' were going so fast that many 
 fell over and a number were severely injured. 
 
 The ravine we had taken by our charge was of con- 
 siderable width and length. It was of sufficient size 
 to contain quite a large force. Situated so near to 
 the rebel works its possession was an important gain 
 to our side. It is surprising that we were able to pass 
 the exposed hill, over wliich we charged, with so little 
 loss. Our move was so sudden and unexpected that we 
 Avere over the hill and in possession of the ravine before 
 the Confederates had sufHciently recovered from their 
 surprise to fire upon us with any accuracy. 
 
 The next day our regiment acted as sharp-shooters. 
 A company would deploy as skirmishers and then 
 work its way as far as possible upon the hills in our 
 front and fire at the enemy. When tlie turn of Com- 
 pany A came we relieved Company D. They had 
 been having a hot time with the enem}-. Two men 
 of the company had been killed. AVe had a lively 
 time ourselves, but came out of the contest more for- 
 tunately. Marion Deboice of our company was 
 wounded, no one else was hurt. 
 
 To soldiers there is no need to describe our move- 
 ments while acting as advance sharp-sliooters. It 
 may aid those who never were in the army to explain 
 a little. The high hill that protected our ravine from 
 the enemy's guns was witliin easy rifle shot of the 
 rebel forts and rifle ])its. As soon as we reached the 
 
YlCKSBUKG. 231 
 
 brow of the hill we were near enough to shoot them 
 or be shot eurselves. The ground between the Union 
 and rebel lines was everywhere badly broken by 
 ravines and hills. AVhen up out of the ravines a few 
 scattered trees, once in awhile an old stump, now and 
 then a little mound of earth or stone, and other things 
 here and there served to give our sharp-shooters pro- 
 tection against the enemy's bullets. Without some- 
 thing to protect or some place to hide in, soldiers 
 could live only a few brief moments that near to so 
 many of the enemy's guns. 
 
 We advanced under such cover as we could tind. 
 After reaching the top of the main hill in our front 
 each would select the best route he could find to ad- 
 vance. Then by dodging, running and creeping we 
 would get as far forward as possible. Each of us 
 would then select such cover as he could find, be it an 
 old stump, a tree, or rock, or mound of earth, or best 
 of all, a hole in the ground, and then lie there and 
 watch and fire whenever an exposed enemy could be 
 seen. 
 
 Company A had hardly got upon the ground, when 
 some of our sharp-eyed boys discovered that the most 
 dangerous shots did not come from the continued and 
 aim.less firing from the rebel forts and rifle pits, 
 but from a small band of rebels who had advanced 
 in front of their works, and like ns were acting 
 as sharp- shooters. The_y had a position off to our 
 right and at a point where the Union line was not ad- 
 vanced as near to the rebel works as with us. A 
 small bunch of trees on high ground furnished them 
 an excellent position. No doubt the shots from which 
 
232 Akmy Life. 
 
 Company D had suffered the most caine from that 
 quarter. As soon as discovered some of onr boys 
 slipped along a convenient ravine, ran off to the right 
 far enougli to uncover the hidden rebels, and with 
 theirtrustj rjflcs ended all difficulty from that source. 
 After this none of tlie enemy were seen outside of 
 their fortified lines. The death of the two men of 
 Company D was fully avenged by Company A. 
 
 Friday, May twenty-second, cams to us as an ill- 
 fated day. The day's early morning face was covered 
 with blood. A rebel ball that had been fired high in 
 air, probably an accidental discharge, in its downward 
 fall, struck and killed a member of Company I while 
 he was still asleep. He was lying beside his comrades 
 Avho were awakened by the striking ball, but he who 
 was struck never awoke again. As the morning sun 
 cast its light over the field, our artillery, placed on 
 the hill behind us, commenced a vigorous fire over 
 our heads at the enemy. Tiirough some fault in their 
 manufacture or other cause, some of the shells burst 
 on the way, resulting in wounding three men in our 
 regiment and four in the Indiana Regiment whicli was 
 beside us. 
 
 At nine o'clock official information was given, that 
 in one hour the entire Union army would cliarge upon 
 the rebel works. All necessary preparations were 
 soon made. Each one carefully examined his gun to 
 see that it was in proper condition. As a prelimi- 
 nary part of the contest the Union artillery along the 
 entire line commenced firing upon the enemy's 
 works. As the hour of ten came near to hand, every 
 cannon upon our side was used to its utmost speed. 
 
YlCKSBURG. 23S 
 
 The rebel forts and breastworks were torn and rid- 
 dled bj the iierce cannonadinpj. The rapid firing 
 created a continuous roar of the terrific battle 
 thunder. The fierce commotion shook the earth un- 
 der our feet. Had the enemy been enclosed with 
 solid walls of brick or stone, the fierce pounding they 
 received would have torn such walls down and buried 
 the inmates with the scattered fraj;inent3. Nothing 
 but earthworks could have withstood such terrific 
 firing. Thick walls of clay and sand will stand un- 
 der a pounding that would knock those built of more 
 solid material out of existence. Cannon balls pene- 
 trate and bury themselves in the soft walls made of 
 earth, while if they strike those built of harder ma- 
 terial, tlie parts displaced with each striking ball or 
 bursting shell will be scattered far and wide. 
 
 At te'Ji o'clock we started. The plan of the cliarge 
 was for us to advance in solid column. That is, to 
 march upon the armed enemy in the same form that 
 a lai-ge procession on a peaceful parade would march 
 up the street. This is a very awkward way for a lurge 
 force to advance upon a strong and well fortified 
 enemy. There is no chance to fire on our side while 
 the enemy can all along the line direct his shots at 
 the solid advancing column. Upon the other hand, if 
 the attacking force is formed in line facing the enemy, 
 each can, as, he advances, fire at tlie enemy, whose 
 fire must, on his side, be scattered along his entire 
 front, and one ball can not hit more than one or two, 
 while one properly directed into a solid column 
 might disable twenty or more. 
 
 One reason why we advanced in solid column was 
 
231 Army Life. 
 
 because of the lay of the land. From the ravine held 
 by ns, an opening ran np between two hills on to the 
 high ground immediately in front of one of the main 
 rebel forts. The Thirty-third was given the advance. 
 Company E was selected to head the regiment. Go- 
 ing np the ascent between the two hills not only 
 bronght ns npon a level with and immediately in face 
 of the rebel forts in our front, but also carried us 
 across the main .wagon rjad going through the rebel 
 works and into the city of Vicksburg. 
 
 The plan of the attack is understood to have been: 
 that the first troops up should cross this road and gain 
 possession of the brow of the hill on the other side, 
 and that the next regiment should turn to tlie right 
 on the road and go in and take the rebel fort before 
 the enemy could reload their guns. It must be re- 
 membered that tlie rebel works were not built npon a 
 direct line, but made to conform with the crests of the 
 chain of hills upon which they were built. Thus by 
 going straight ahead in the direction we had taken, it 
 would not only take us right past the front of the fort 
 nearest to us but also bring us upon the brow of the 
 same hill upon which the rebel works were built. 
 
 We went forward on the desperate charge. Com- 
 pany E nobly led the way. As the head of the col- 
 umn raised upon the l)row of the hill -and came in 
 sight of the rebel line, the iearful storm, with all of 
 its unbounded fury, burst upon our ranks. The first 
 of the column was virtually swept away. Of all of 
 Company E only one was left unharmed. All the 
 rest of the company, who participated, were either 
 killed or wounded. Those who followed did not fare 
 
YlCKSBURG. " 235 
 
 mucli better. It was a fearful storm. The enemy 
 was well prepared for us. The heavy cannon were 
 charged with monstrous loads of grape and canister 
 and swept our lines with fearful effect. The enemy's 
 infantry used their guns with all the vim of maddening 
 fury. They not only used their rifles and muskets, 
 but as we passed so near to them, the extra arms, 
 consisting of double barreled shot guns heavily 
 charged with buckshot were caught up and the con- 
 tents poured into our ranks. How a single man ever 
 went tlirough that leaden storm and lived I do not 
 know. At one point we passed a piece of ground 
 that lay in such shape that the balls aimed at us from 
 the top of the rebel works would strike the dusty 
 ground of the well-trodden road over which we passed. 
 The flying dust from each striking ball plainly told of 
 the thickness of the leaden storm. I have seen many 
 severe hail storms, and yet never passed through one 
 where the frozen hail stones seemed to strike the ground 
 thicker than did this leaden hail through which we 
 were compelled to pass. It would seem to be impossi- 
 ble for a rabbit to run, or a bird to fly, through this 
 fierce storm unharmed. Many, many noble boys fell 
 upon the deadly field. On we went, unheeding those 
 who fell. I do not suppose that there was a single one 
 in the advance of that fierce charge who expected to 
 pass through it in safety. I did not. The only thing 
 to do was to press on while we could. With others it 
 was probably the same as with me. " I am not yet 
 hit," was the thought that passed through my mind. 
 With a fierce run, those of us who were not disabled 
 reached the side of the hill to which we were going. 
 
^^(^ Army Life. 
 
 Tlins tlie rebel line was upon the inside and we in pos- 
 session of the outside of the same range of liills.* 
 
 The advance had accomplished their share. We 
 had passed across the road,drawn the enemy's fire, and 
 gained the position which would enable us to at once 
 jump over and into the rebel breastworks. Those who 
 came after should have turned to the right as they 
 struck the road in front of the nearest fort and rushed 
 into it before the Confederates had time to reload. In- 
 stead of this they bore to the left, which carried them 
 in our rear and away from instead of into the nearest 
 part of the enemy's lines. A little farther on they, 
 too, come up to another part of the enemy's fortifica- 
 tions, of which they took the outside the'same as we 
 had done. In truth, however, it was the entire division 
 that did this. By the time our charge was ended all. 
 company and regimental organizations were destroyed. ' 
 All were mingled together. No attempt to retbrm 
 was thought of. Each held the ground they had taken. 
 It made no difference to which regiment the soldiers 
 by our side belonged. All mingled together. The 
 Indiana and Illinois boys stood by each other like 
 brothers. 
 
 The following diagram will serve to give an idea of 
 the situation under which the charge was made. 
 
 *NoTE.— A further description of this charge will be ffiven here- 
 after. 
 
ViCKSBUKG. 
 
 237 
 
 The golden opportunity, if there was one, was lost. 
 My opinion is that there was no chance for ns to have 
 achieved a greater success than we did. We took the 
 outside of tlie rebel works. We could not dislodge 
 them; they could not drive us away. To make such 
 a charge as we did in solid column out of a ravine 
 never could be successful. We should have formed 
 in line facing the enemy and then made a direct charge 
 upon his works. A charge en column is always dan- 
 gerous, having to advance up out of a ravine in the 
 manner in which we did, and upon ground covered 
 by'a large part of the rebel lines made it doubly so. 
 A better position for the slaughter of our entire 
 
23S Army Life: 
 
 command could not liave been taken. That any of us 
 lived tlirongli it was owing more to good fortune than 
 good management. 
 
 This, of course, does not apply to tlie main part of 
 the Union army. Our division, so far as I know, was 
 the only one that entered the charge in such a cooped 
 ■up manner. And still none were much better off. 
 The trouble was, that the steep hills selected as the 
 line of defense at Yi'cksburg, were, when fortified as 
 they were, practically impassable. Soldiers can not 
 easil}^ climb up a perpendicular bank fifteen or twenty 
 feet high. The deep and narrow valley was the only 
 approach opened to the Union troops. To carry the 
 fortified works was impossible. 
 
 Having gained possession of the outside of the 
 range of hills upon which tlie rebel works were built, 
 and with the enemy in possession of the inside, an 
 all day's contest ensued. The depression of the hill 
 upon our side made us nearly as good rifle pits as 
 those the enemy had built on his side. Under such 
 circumstances neither could fire with mucli eff'ect 
 upon the other. Our zealous marksmen with their 
 trusty rifles w^ere able to compel the enemy to con- 
 tinually seek safety by closely hiding in his works. 
 AVhile we held them thus closely, they could not 
 greatly harm us. Had either side been supplied with 
 hand grenades to throw over and burst in the other 
 ranks the result would have been difi'erent. With 
 such weapons we could, in fifteen minutes' time, 
 have cleared the enemy's i\^orks. The trouble was we 
 did not have any. 
 
 With all possible advantage, such a fierce hand- to- 
 
YlCKSBUKG. 239 
 
 hand contest conld not continue without considerable 
 loss of life. Both sides suffered during the entire day. 
 At one time, for some unexplained reason, seem- 
 ingly by mutual consent, all firing ceased in our 
 immediate neighborhood. A number on each side 
 rose up and looked over the dividing ground. In 
 some cases words were exchanged between the oppos- 
 ing troops. Upon each side there were a number 
 fuHy exposed, had the other desired to fire. I stood 
 lip with the others. At this moment I saw one rebel 
 who, disregarding the open truce his comrades were 
 so plainly maintaining, cowardly rose up behind his 
 more honorable and braver comrades and took delib- 
 erate aim at us. He was not far away. Having been 
 born in Illinois in tlie days when game was plenty, I 
 was familiar enough with fire-arms to easily see wheie 
 a gun was aimed. As I glanced over the barrel witli 
 a well-practiced eye I easily saw tliat it was correctly 
 aimed at me. Quick as a flash I dropped to the 
 ground, the murderous bullet passing over at the same 
 time. There is no doubt but that when the bullet 
 started I was directly in its path. Directly behind 
 me, sitting on the ground, was Curtis of our com- 
 pany, who fell over insensible by the force of the bul- 
 let. Standing right behind him was a member of 
 another regiment who was struck in the breast by the 
 same bullet and badly wounded. Had I been the 
 merest part of a second later in dropping out of its 
 range the bullet, as intended, would have first struck 
 
 me. 
 
 In a moment Curtis revived. At first he placed his 
 hand on the top of his head, saying: "I guess I am 
 
240 ARirr Life, 
 
 done for," In a sliort time more lie was all riijlit 
 and then the most disgusted man in our army was 
 Curtis when he found that he had been knocked in- 
 sensible by a bullet that had not fairly touched him. 
 It had passed just alon<^ the top of his head and the 
 " wind jar " had struck him insensible, while the bullet 
 had actually done no greater harm to him than to cut a 
 few hairs off from the top of his head. But he was 
 mad, nevertheless, and during the balance of the fight 
 lie was zealous in looking for good chances to fire at 
 tlie enemy. 
 
 The sound of the first gun, of course, ended the 
 spontaneous truce, and the soldiers on both sides at 
 once dropped to cover and the fight continued as ear- 
 nestly as before. 
 
 Colonel Lippincott, always the first to enter, and 
 the last to leave a fight, was beside us at this time, 
 Now that there was nothing to be accomplished 
 except to hold our ground, he became anxious to pre- 
 serve all the soldiers possible, and exerted himself in 
 liaving all keep under cover as much as they could. 
 His wise counsel no doubt saved the lives of many of 
 our soldiers. 
 
 During tlie afternoon an unfortunate attempt was 
 made to renew the charge with fresh troops. Mis- 
 management seemed to rule the day upon our part of 
 the line. At first some ofiicers came through brin^- 
 ing word that some fresh troops were coming up to 
 assist us in a renewed attempt to take the rebel works. 
 By passing through the winding ravines the orderlies 
 who brought this information had no difficulty in 
 reaching the ravine at the foot of the hill we were upon. 
 
YlCKSBUKG. . 2il 
 
 It will be remembered that we held a place somewhat 
 to the left of where we had ads^anced in the morning. 
 Below us was a ravine of some considerable size. Back 
 of the ravine — in front of it when looking toward the 
 enemy — was another hill with high table ground at the 
 top, of considerable width, the whole of which was 
 easily swept by the guns of different parts of the en- 
 emy's fortified line. 
 
 AYe supposed that, of course, the new troops would 
 pick their way under cover until they reached the 
 valley held by us ; then form, and at once run over 
 into the rebel works. We were all ready to go with 
 or even lead them if desired. To our great surprise, 
 the first thing to claim our attention was the rebel ar- 
 tillery, which, from its difiPerent convenient forts, com- 
 menced a fierce firing toward the broad topj^ed hill in 
 our rear. Looking in that direction we saw the new 
 troops advancing on a walJc in solid line of battle. 
 Not only were they within range of the enemy's ar- 
 tillery, but they were also within easy range of rebel 
 rifles. The efforts of the officers seemed to be to keep 
 the advancing troops in proper line. What they 
 ought to have done, was to have come over the hill 
 with a rush as soon as they came within range of the 
 enemy's guns. The result can be easily imagined; 
 in less time than it can be told, the Union line was 
 broken to pieces and the scattered soldiers who were 
 not shot, fell back to a place of safety. 
 
 Of all the sad sights I ever beheld, none were more 
 heart-rending than to see those Union soldiers de- 
 stroyed in such a useless and aimless manner. Many 
 of our own immediate comrades laj^ strewn upon the 
 16 
 
242 Army Life. 
 
 bloody field; ere the day's fight ends more of lis will 
 probably be sleeping with them the last sleep, and j^et 
 in the midst of ail this, many exclamations of horror 
 were heard among our thin ranks at the way the re- 
 serve force was brought up and shot down within our 
 sight. As to who was responsible for the movement 
 I did not know and have never cared to inquire. It 
 is certain that there was not a private soldier with us 
 who conld not have gone back and more skillfully led 
 up the troops that so vainly attempted to come to our 
 aid. Had they been able to charge over the fatal hill 
 from which they were driven back, they would then 
 only have reached the valley or ravine already held by 
 our trooyjs. The place where the}' should have started 
 from to make the pi'oposed charge was never reached 
 by them. 
 
 While it was difiicult for us to gain this ravine in 
 the first instance, still the command we had over some 
 parts of the enemy's works and the possession of the 
 advance ground we held gave ns such advantage, that 
 by some judicious movements between the numerous 
 hills, this place could have been gained by the fresh 
 troops without any great inconvenience or serious 
 loss. With the aid of a brigade of fresh troops, it 
 was the firm belief of our men who were holding the 
 outside of the rebel hill, that they could, in a brief 
 moment, have surmounted and taken the enemy's 
 works in our front. With one part of the Confeder- 
 ate line in our possession, the whole would have at 
 once fallen. 
 
 The reserve force was destroyed and driven back 
 as stated, and we saw no more of them during the day. 
 
ViCKSBURG. 2i?j 
 
 This left us to continue the battle alone. We con- 
 tinued, compelling the enemy to keep well under 
 cover. We had no dinner during all of the long day, 
 but no one thought of hunger. Many of us ]iad*bee"h 
 thoughtful enough to bring a canteen of water. This 
 was valuable to moisten the parched lips of our 
 wounded comrades. Those in command of soldiers 
 should always see to it that their men are each pro- 
 vided with a canteen of water whenever a move of any 
 kind is made. A canteen of water is not much to 
 cai-ry and no one can tell how valuable it may be. 
 come. 
 
 All of our wounded who were not in a helpless con- 
 dition were from time to time assisted back throngh 
 tlie winding ravines. 
 
 As night began to approach orders were passed 
 along our lines for our troops to withdraw. As it 
 grew dark we did so. Those in the most advanced and 
 exposed conditions coming first. Sadly we wended 
 our way back to the lines we had held before making 
 our charge upon tlie rebel works of Vicksburg. 
 
 One of our most disgusted men was Lieutenant 
 Button. lie had been struck upon the leo- by a 
 small, nearly spent ball. The ball was not going with 
 force enough to break the skin, but as it happened to 
 strike upon a tender cord the injured part commenced 
 to swell, and by the time we withdrew he could hardly 
 use his foot, and was obliged to hobble along as best 
 he could. To be so lame without any wound to show 
 for it he thought disgusting. 
 
 The last one 1 was called upon to aid before leav- 
 ing the bloody field, was Colonel Roe. He had been 
 
2-1:4: Army Life. 
 
 Avonnded in the early part of the charge and found 
 protection from other rebel bullets in a deep ravine, 
 lie had not had a drop of water during all the long, 
 tedious hours. My canteen, fortunately, still con- 
 tained some, which refreshed him so that he was able 
 to make his way back with us. 
 
 As the members of our little band, on our return, 
 looked among its numbers— no formal roll-call was 
 11^ fide— the strange fact appeared that after all we 
 had gone through, Company A had lost only two men. 
 Two of our noble boys, William Biggerstaff and Ab- 
 salom Zartman, had made their last fight with us. 
 That more of us did not go with them on the journey 
 to eternity is a wonder, flow men could go through 
 what we passed through this day and leave no more of 
 their number on the field is one of the unexplained 
 miracles of a battle field. How some live while others 
 arc killed in a battle, is something which no human 
 reason can explain. 
 
 While grateful to the Divine mercy by which our 
 lives had been spared, we deeply mourned the loss of 
 our noble boys who fell in the immortal charge upon 
 Yicksburg on the 22d of May, 18G3. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. ^ 
 
 THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 May twenty-third, the day following the charge, 
 weremained hi support of our artillery, which kept 
 up a slow fire on the rebel works. 
 
Siege of Yicksbueg. 215 
 
 Dnring all of these lively times, since crossing the 
 Mississippi, I had often been reminded that the ague 
 was still slaying with me. By the liberal use of qui- 
 nine, and the exercise of some determination, I had 
 gone with the company while there was so much 
 active work to be done. Before the charge yesterday 
 morning, two of us, as the least able to go, were desig- 
 nated by our company officers to remain with and 
 guard the company knap>aclvs and effects we were 
 obliged to leave in the ravine. Before ten o'clock 
 arrived another of our boys became sick and I 
 exchanged places with him and went while he stayed. 
 By Saturday afternoon it became apparent that no 
 important move would be made for a few days, and 
 Lieutenant Dutton, in command of the company, 
 ordered me to the rear and into the doctor's care. 
 
 On Monday, May twenty-fifth, by agreement tlie 
 firing ceased and both sides proceeded under a flag of 
 truce to bury their dead who were killed during the 
 assault of tlie twenty-second of May. The saddest 
 part of all was to find some of our wounded boys still 
 alive who had lain helpless upon the field since Fri- 
 day noon. What they suflered during those three 
 long days, helpless and uncared for, with the guns of 
 both sides continually firing over them, can only be 
 imagined; it never can be told. 
 
 The siege of Vicksburg may be said to have fairly 
 commenced on Tuesday, May twenty-sixth. Our 
 men commenced building rifle pits and to so fortify 
 our line that the escape of the besieged enemy would 
 be impossible. The day will never be forgotten by 
 the members of Company A. The cooking, what lit- 
 
MQ AmiY Life. 
 
 tie there is — is done iu the rear and the food carried 
 to the soldiers in the ravines held by them. When 
 this day's box of cooked provisions for the company 
 was broao^ht in, Sergeant Besse went to it to takeout 
 and distribute the food. Just as he was bending over 
 to do so, a large piece of artillery shell struck him, 
 cutting off both arms, one above, the other below, the 
 elbow. Tliis was one of the saddest things that 
 ever happened in our company. He wa? a splendid 
 young man and loved by the entire command, lie 
 was taken to the hospital in the rear. Every thing 
 possible was done for him. He lingered a week 
 and died on Monday night and was buried, with 
 soldier honors, on Tuesday, June second. 
 
 Each day work upon our line continued amidst the 
 firing guns on both sides. It was a continued battle 
 from day to day. While our loss was not large, still 
 not a day passed without some of the Union soldiers 
 being hit. Our experience in these ravines had shown 
 that all places were alike dangerous. We had seen 
 soldiers hit while asleep. Besse, when shot, was in 
 what was thought to be the safest part of the ground 
 occupied by our troops. Awake or asleep, it made no 
 ditference, the fated bullet was liable to oms at any 
 moment. 
 
 With proper treatment I had checked the ague so as 
 to feel fit for duty and rejoined the regiment on 
 Wednesday, May twenty-seventh. The next morning 
 our company went into the rifle pit to act as sharp- 
 shooters. While there a rifle ball struck our brave 
 comrade, Abram Myers, killing him instantly. He 
 was standlnof beside me and fell over without saving 
 
Siege of Yicksbukg. 247 
 
 a single word. The only mark upon him was a small 
 bullet hole in his chin. It had probably glanced up 
 into his brain or passed through and broken the spinal 
 cord; at all events he fell over and never breathed 
 again. His body was tenderly removed and given the 
 honor of a soldier's burial. 
 
 Tliursday evening I was detailed to act as provost 
 guard for one week. Our duty was to guard the com- 
 missar^' stores just back of onr army line. Those up- 
 on the sick list and not able to use a spade in the hard 
 clay to advantage, were selected for this duty. It be- 
 came necessary for us to change quarters. In doing 
 so we had to pass over a high hill on the top of which 
 was the Vicksburg road bringing us in open view of 
 the rebel fort in front and within range of their can- 
 non. They opened fire upon us but did not do any 
 damage. Our teamsters fully appreciated the position 
 and after the first rebel gun was fired it was interest- 
 ing to see how they woulti make full preparations and 
 as the exposed place was reached whip the team into 
 a dead run and thus cross the place of danger. With 
 all their efforts the Cunfederates did not succeed in 
 hitting a single team or wagon. Men on foot could, 
 of course, skip across with even less danger. 
 
 On the fifth of June my week as provost guard ex- 
 pired. The regiment had come out of the works to 
 rest and wash and I joined it before its return. In 
 our works there is but little chance to wash, so that it 
 becomes necessary to relieve the soldiers long enough 
 at least once a week so that they can indulge in a bath. 
 Much refreshed with the fresh water and a quiet rest 
 under the trees, at night the regiment returned to its 
 place in the front line. 
 
248 Army Life. 
 
 Each sncceedini^ day was now mneli like tlic pre- 
 ceding one. Work continued day and niglit on tlie 
 rifle pits and the approaches to the enemy's lines. 
 The first thing was to build a strong chain of rifle pits 
 along our entire line aronnd from the river above to 
 the river below the rebel works of Vicksburg. Tliis, 
 with our gunboats to guard the river side, completely 
 enclosed the entire Confederate army. After the rifle 
 pits were built, including, of course, numerous places 
 for our artillery, the approaches to the enemy's works 
 were pushed forward with the utmost speed. 
 
 After the preliminary arrangements were completed 
 our work was not seriously interrupted by the enemy. 
 Our artillery, when properly placed, was too strong for 
 the Confederate guns. In fact, the rebels soon learned 
 to keep the artillery openings of their forts closed with 
 bales of cotton. In such condition they could not 
 fire at us. Now and then they would open some of 
 the embrasures and commence firing. A few well- 
 directed shots from our cannon would silence tl]em. 
 In the rifle pits we also had the advantage. The op- 
 posing lines were within easy rifle range of eacli 
 other. Our riflemen were so alert that it was rare for 
 a rebel gun to appear above their breastworks. 
 
 During the beginning of the siege the enemy got 
 what satisfaction they could by firing during the night 
 as a recompense for not being able to use their guns 
 during the day. The result of this was that during 
 the early part of the siege we were under fire day and 
 night. Our rifle guards in front keeping up their 
 work, and the rebel artillery in front and the Union 
 artillery in our rear would both fire over us. Thus 
 
Siege of Yicksbukg. 2-19 
 
 the thunder of tlie artillery would continue day and 
 nii^ht. Men soon became accustomed to anj^thing. 
 "With a little practice, our soldiers learned to sleep 
 right under the thundering cann*bn and just as 
 soundly as though in their peaceful Northern homes. 
 
 As time wore on, by gradual process, without any 
 formal agreement, we came to a mutual understand- 
 ing with the Confederates in our front. After this, 
 firing at night practically ceased on our part of the 
 line. A sort of spontaneous truce would spring up 
 each night. The way it worked was this: 
 
 As the sun went down the artillery would cease 
 firir.g; after this the rifie tiring would gradually 
 grow less, and by the time daylight began to pass 
 away it would cease entirely. A few minutes after 
 the hist shot was heard some one upon one side or 
 the other would rise a little above his works for a 
 second and then drop back out of sight. If no gun 
 was fired upon either side, some soldier on the other 
 side would repeat the action. If no gun was now 
 heard, a soldier upon our side or the rebel side wonld 
 o])enly stand up in sight of the opposite line, and his 
 action would be replied to by one of his opponents. 
 These two soldiers, Union and Confederate, would look 
 across at each other a moment, and, then, no firing 
 being heard, one after another on each side would get 
 up, and then we would have a line of Union sharp- 
 shooters sitting upon the top of their works looking 
 over at a line of Confederate soldiei-s sitting upon 
 theirs, each within easy rifle range of tlieother. When 
 this was done it was understood that all firing was over 
 for the day. As it began to grow dark, each side 
 
250 Armi' Life. 
 
 would send a line of guards over in fn.nt of tlieir 
 works to remain during the night. These lines were 
 often within a short distance of each otlier. As we 
 had much work to do upon our new lines, the eneinj^ 
 was usually first ready, and it would be on his side 
 that the movement for the night's truce was made. 
 Thus, tlie first man to rise was usually on the rebel 
 side. If for any reason we were not ready, the soldier 
 who exposed himself for this purpose would not be 
 fired at, but a gun would be fired in the air, which was 
 notice for all to again seek protection. In the morn- 
 ing it was the same. If the guards who had advanced 
 upon the open ground between the two opposing lines 
 tarried longer than the other side desired, a warnino- 
 gun would be fired in the air above tlieui, but no one 
 would be fired at until ample time had been given for 
 all to return to their own works. Without any formal 
 agreement, all of the Confederate soldiers in our front 
 and all of ours seemed to fully understand the mu- 
 tual arrangement. 
 
 One of the strangest things connected with these 
 nightly truces was that they were confined to differ- 
 ent parts of the line. :N"o agreement having been 
 formally made, such a cessation of hostilities could 
 only occur where each side had confidence in the en- 
 emy in his front. The Union troops at our imme- 
 diate left and the rebel troops in their front never 
 liad any such understanding, and with them it was a 
 continual fight, day and niglit. Thus, a visitor, pass- 
 ing along tlic line in the evening, would see tlie 
 strange contract of Union and Confederate soldiers 
 peacefully looking at each othei- at one point, and as 
 
Siege of Yicksburg. 251 
 
 he came to the next division, would find a fiei-ce con- 
 test still raiding. 
 
 The reason of this was found to be in the rebel 
 soldiers in that part of the line. The Union soldiers 
 at our left never had any confidence in tlie rebels in 
 front of them. It was found that tl.ey were the most in- 
 ferior and worthless soldiers in the rebel army. Only 
 brave soldiers can be safely trusted. The rebel who 
 fired the cowardly shot during the charge of the twen- 
 ty-second of May, we learned, was one of the com- 
 mand that our comrades at our left would never trust. 
 They were despised by the braver men of their own 
 army as well as by us. 
 
 After the night guards of both sides returned to 
 their own works each morning, firing would commence 
 and continue all day. We were so well fortified that 
 we suffered but little loss, but occasionally some would 
 get hit. Lieutenant Higgins of Company K was shot 
 through the face by a rifle bullet, while in our rifle 
 pit, during the afternoon of June eighteenth, mak- 
 ing an ugly wound. 
 
 During all of this time work had gone on swim- 
 mingly. The soil was most favorable for our plans. 
 The clay was so firm that it could be safely mined 
 through without the necessity of building any sup- 
 porting walls. The deep ravines carried off all surface 
 water, so that we were not troubled any from that 
 source. As stated, our first work was to build a 
 complete chain of forts and rifle pits. This done we 
 commenced digging the approaches toward the ene- 
 my's works. These were governed by the lay of the 
 land. The general plan was to run open ways as far 
 
252 Army Life. 
 
 toward tlic Confederate line as possible. These were 
 run in such a direction that soldiers could pass aloni^ 
 them and not be exposed to fire from tiie enemj^'s guns. 
 By gradual approaches we were at last able to strike 
 the foot of each hill upon which a rebel fort had been 
 built. This point gained, we started straight in dig- 
 ging a tunnel directly under each iort. . 
 
 A strange war incident is connected with our gain- 
 ing possession of the desired ground, facing the main 
 fort in front of our command. During the day, while 
 the firing was going on, all of the rebels were back 
 of their lines. Our men had, during the day, con- 
 tinued digging in the trenches. The work to do was 
 so situated that the enemy could not well reach our 
 workmen, besides, our men were so low down that 
 the rebels could not see them without getting up and 
 looking down over their best works. If a rebel at- 
 tempted this during fighting hours, he was a dead 
 man. The trenches we were making were approach- 
 ing the objective point diagonally from each direction, 
 and in such a manner that they would meet at a sharp 
 angle, directly in front of the main rebel fort; that 
 is, the two trenches would meet in a V shnpe with 
 tlie point resting on the rebel hill. On Monday'-, June 
 twenty-second, toward night, firing ceased in the 
 manner before described and our night guards were 
 sent out. Company A had often been sent out for 
 this purpose. For some reason we were selected 
 again at this time. The Confederates came out of 
 their works at the same time. Our approaches liad 
 taken up so much of the space between the two lines 
 thatthcyhad but ashort distance to come and had their 
 
Siege of Yicksbukg. '253 
 
 line in place before we got to our ground. Of course 
 our guards were always thrown out far enough to en- 
 close all of our works. Now there was some trouble. 
 We went up in the advance, an engineer in charge of 
 building the trenches came with us, and it was found 
 that the line of rebel guards covered the ground upon 
 which onr two trenches were to unite. Their line 
 cut off the point of our proposed trenches, ^ye went 
 up and formed a line right along with the rebel pick- 
 ets. Still we were not advanced ft\r enough. The 
 Confederates were notified of the difficulty. The 
 trenches had to be dug that night or else have a fight 
 over the ground. If we could not do otherwise, each 
 would return to his own lines, and then see what the 
 result would be. That would, of course, mean a stub- 
 born night fight. The rebels consulted over the 
 matter, then called for our engineer, who went over 
 the ground with them and marked the course our 
 trenches would take. After this was done the Con- 
 federates called in their guards and placed them in 
 such positions that our work could go on. It cei-- 
 tainly was a strange war scene, for the opposing men 
 of a desperate contest to meet and talk over the dis- 
 puted ground just as though it was adjoining neigh- 
 bors who had met in a friendly way to establish their 
 line fence. For the Confederates to kindly withdraw 
 their guards so as to give us room to build our ap- 
 proaches to a vital point of their line of defense was 
 indeed remarkable. It certainly is entitled to record 
 in the history of the great events of which it was an 
 incident. 
 
 They fell back, and as we were to keep outside of 
 
254 Akmy Life. 
 
 our workmen we went with tlieni. The plan of our 
 gnavd was to form a chain by ])lacinf^ three men at 
 each post, tlnis to prevent the necessity of relieving 
 the guard during the night. One of the three mnst 
 be on guard all the time so as to fully note every 
 thing between him and the next post, whicli was 
 only a short distance awny. The enemy posted his 
 guard the same way. There were six of ns together, 
 three Union and three Confederate guards. Instead 
 of standing guard it was more of an evening's visit 
 with them. Another amnsing thing connected with 
 our ditch occurred. The Confederate guard we were 
 with remained near to the line marked for our trenches. 
 The excavated earth had to be thrown toward them and 
 ns, too, as we were Avith them. It proved that they 
 were just in the place where the loose dirt would be 
 thrown. Either the Confederates and we must move 
 farther over on the enemy's ground, or be buried np, 
 or stop the work. We suggested that we move back. 
 " Oh, that don't make any difference. You Yanks 
 will soon have the place anyway," one of them said, 
 and without bothering their officers, they and we 
 moved forward far enough to give the men in th.e 
 trenches room to finish their work. 
 
 Some of our boys who had tobacco shared with the 
 rebel guards. Jackknives and such things were traded 
 and the situation talked over. So far as the condition 
 of the Vicksburg armies was concerned, there was not 
 much chance to specuhate. The Confederate soldiers 
 knew as well as we, that it was only a question of 
 time when they would have to surrender. Conse- 
 quently there was not much ground for discussion. 
 
Siege of Vicksbukg. 255 
 
 Altliongh actually on the same ground we did not 
 mix up with the rebels. Oh, no! that would not do. 
 We were soldiers of opposing armies. Both sides 
 were armed. We were part of opposing armies, still 
 lighting. An imaginary line passed between us. 
 Tiiey kept on their side, we remained on ours. Even 
 wlien the pickets were moved back this order was not 
 changed. The imaginary dividing line was, so to 
 speak, takeji up and carried farther on. In other 
 words, as tliey moved back at our request, the ground 
 over which the Union flag floated was extended and 
 that under the Confederate flag lessened. If at any 
 time a Confederate had been seen upon our side of 
 the line he would have been captured and taken in as 
 a prisoner of war. Had one of our boys strayed over 
 to their side the enemy would have promptly dis- 
 armed and taken him inside of the rebel forts. The 
 various phases of war are strange, indeed. Personally 
 we had not the least feeling against the opposite 
 guards with whom we were apparently simply hav- 
 ing a pleasant evening visit. As representatives of 
 causes at war with each other we were deadly ene- 
 mies. We could smoke, and visit, and trade jack- 
 knives with them to-night, and when to-morrow's sun 
 arose be engaged in a deadly contest. 
 
 AVhen my' turn came I selected a good place, 
 .wrapped my blanket around me, leaving my com- 
 rades on guard, and thus slept soundly with the armed 
 rebel guards within ten feet of where I lay and slept. 
 For our guards to meet the enemy's guards on the 
 picket line was a common occurrence during a part of 
 the siege of Yicksburg. Toward the last, however, a 
 
25<7 Akmy Life. 
 
 change was made. Our aj^jM-oaches had been ad- 
 vanced so as to cover most of the open ground be- 
 tween the two fortified lines. Tliere M'as no avail- 
 able space between our advanced trenches and the 
 rebel works for night pickets to occupy. The condi- 
 tion of affairs suggested that the Confederate night 
 guards should remain within their own works and 
 ours within our advanced trenches. After this, there 
 was no occasion for the night pickets to meet. 
 
 The work now to be accomplished was to under- 
 mine the rebel forts. 
 
 Starting from our trenches which had been com- 
 pleted to the foot of the hill, upon which the fort was 
 situated, we commenced to dig directly toM^ards the 
 enemy's works. Some protection against rebel bul- 
 lets was now necessary. For this purpose huge roll- 
 ers of sufficient length and from twelve to fifteen 
 feet in diameter were made. These were made with 
 wild cane stalks, such as are shipped from the South 
 and nsed by the ISTorthern boys for fishing poles. 
 When the huge rollers were completed, a cannon ball 
 could not pass through them. With hand spikes they 
 would be slowly turned forward in advance of the 
 work in the trench. After advancing a short distance 
 into the hill, the thickness of the clay overhead be- 
 came sufiicient and then the open trench would be 
 changed into a tunnel. The object was to run the 
 tunnel under the enemy's fort and then when all were 
 ready, a wagon load of powder could be taken in and 
 the fort blown out of existence. That is the idea. 
 Time will tell how it succeeds. 
 
 While the land forces, on our part of the line, ceased 
 
Siege of ViCKSBURa. 257 
 
 from fii-ing during the night, tlie gun-boats and mor- 
 tars upon the river side were the most active during 
 the darkest hours. The mortars were used to fire 
 liuge shells high in the air at such an angle as to drop 
 within the enclosed rebel lines. Many an evening 
 hour, after our day's duties were performed, we would 
 pass in our protected quarters telling stories, talking 
 of home and watching the course of the huge shells 
 our river sailors fired up over the city. The burning 
 fuse would plainly mark its course. In clear moon- 
 light nights we could sometimes see the dark body of 
 the sheir itself. Often a brilliant flash would tell us 
 that the huge shell had burst in the air, throwing its 
 scattered fragments far and wide, and bound to strike 
 in a hundred different places as the pieces of iron fell 
 to the ground. These bursting shells created brilliant 
 fire-works for us to look at. 
 
 The firing, day after day, by the land forces became 
 monotonous from its sameness. One would serve as 
 descriptive of each day's proceedings. The record for 
 the entire month- runs about like this: Tuesday, June 
 twenty-third. As soon as the night guards returned 
 this morning, the enemy sent a few artillery shots at 
 us. They were at once silenced. During the day our 
 riflemen kept up a slow fire; the only return the 
 enemy attempted was to occasionally fire a rifle in the 
 air. It is not safe for them to raise up in their breast- 
 works high enough to aim at us. 
 
 The next day our artillery commenced the day's 
 work by opening a heavy fire upon the enemy's works. 
 He attempted a reply, but after a few feeble efforts 
 subsided. 
 17 
 
258 Aemy Life. 
 
 At one o'clock on Thursday we were ordered to be 
 ready to fall in. The occasion of this was that Loojan 
 was ready to blow ujd one of the rebel forts in his 
 front. At three o'clock we fell into line to be ready 
 to take advantage of any opportunity that offered. 
 The fort, a small one, was blown up. The p(nvder- 
 charge had not been large enough to hav^e much effect 
 upon the earth fort The real purpose of the cxperi- 
 iDent, which was to ascertain the effect and determine 
 the amount of powder needed for such a purpose in 
 such ground, was accomplished. 
 
 The next day there was some firing along the army 
 line on our side. The Confederates seem to be com- 
 pletely discouraged. They can not open with a single 
 gun but that half a dozen or more on our side will 
 immediately reply. They keep their port-holes closed 
 with bales of cotton most of the time. 
 
 Our mines and tunnels under the rebel forts are now 
 nearly completed, reaching up to and uiuler the rebel 
 forts. We meet witli but little difficulty. Why the 
 enemy did not counter-mine against ns by digging 
 trenches and tunnels to cut us off, is a wonder. We 
 expected, of course, to meet some such difficulties. 
 We have not, and every thing is approaching comple- 
 tion in fine shape. 
 
 It is understood that General Grant has consented 
 that the soldiers who first complete the excavations 
 under an important rebel fort may try the experiment 
 of blowing it up. As it is doubtful whether the be- 
 sieged enemy will hold out until all are ready and the 
 general blow-up occurs, the soldiers are anxious to win 
 in this race to be first. 
 
Siege of Yicksbueg. 259 
 
 Sunday, June twenty-eighth, it was announced that 
 Logan's boys, who were just to our riglit, had won 
 and were ready to blow up the Large rebel fort in 
 their front, which we called by the name of Fort 
 Hill. We went into the rifle pits to be ready for any- 
 thing that might turn up. At the appointed time 
 Logan blew the large fort into the air. Being so 
 near to it we had a full view of the gigantic exhibition. 
 The entire hill seemed to rise in the air. The more 
 compact pieces of earth and all solid bodies in the fort, 
 such as magazine timbers and artillery, and even men^ 
 were shot up into the air like rockets. " The ground be- 
 neath our feet trembled as though a fierce earthquake 
 was passing beneath us. As the force of the exi3lo- 
 sion ended, the loose earth and broken fragments of 
 the destroyed fort fell back, into the openhig made, 
 a shapeless mass. Had it been so desired our sol- 
 diers could easily have gone upon the broken remains. 
 Such was not the design, as other rebel works covered 
 the ground of this one. The trne course was to wait 
 until all were ready, blow them all up and then the 
 enemy would be powerless in our hands. 
 
 The first of July found every thing almost finished. 
 We not only dug a tunnel under the rebel forts, but 
 when there cut run-ways and side tunnels in every di- 
 rection. This would enable us to place large quanti- 
 ties of powder under all parts of the works tcTbe blown 
 up. With pick and shovel, day and night, the work was 
 pushed to completion. Every thing was to be ready 
 by July fourth. It was. If our plans are consura*! 
 mated we will witness the grandest explosion the 
 world ever knew. But— 
 
^Q(y Army Life. 
 
 On Friday, July third, a flag ot truce caine out of 
 the rebel lines. It was at once understood that it was 
 Urouo-ht by Confederate officers who came to treat for 
 terms of surrender. At night we had no definite infor- 
 mation as to what the result of the rebel mission had 
 been, but it was generally thought that Pemberton had 
 or would agree to terms of surrender. 
 
 A bright, pleasant and grand summer day opened to 
 lis on the morning of July 4, 1863. The first infor- 
 mation that passed along our lines was, that terms of 
 surrender had been given to the enemy. His accept- 
 ance was to be indicated by the Confederate soldiers 
 comin.o- out in front of their works, and stackmg 
 their a'rms and colors and returning unarmed to then- 
 own lines. They had been given until the liour of ten 
 to do this. We were to hold our lines without firing 
 until that hour. 
 
 No formal order was issued as to what our recep- 
 tion of them should be if they came out to surrender. 
 But word was passed along th« line to this efi^ect: 
 General Grant desires his soldiers not to make any 
 loud demonstrations when the enemy surrenders. 
 
 Between nine and ten o'clock the Confederate sol- 
 diers came out, laid down their arms and colors and 
 returned unarmed into their own lines as prisoners of 
 w^ar, and Yicksburg was ours. 
 
 The wonderful regard the Union soldiers had for 
 their commander was shown in a manner never more 
 vividlv illustrated in the world's history. In response 
 to Grant's simple request, the entire Union line 
 -looked on in silence, and saw the entire rebel army 
 lay down its arms and surrender, without raising a 
 
Chakge upon Yicksburg. 261 
 
 sirii^le cheer of triumph over the famous victory they 
 had achieved. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 CHARGE UPON VICKSBUKG. 
 
 The charge upon Vicksbnrg was described in an 
 address delivered in Lockport on July 4, 1866. As 
 the journal from which this record is taken was drawn 
 upon for part of that description, it can properly be 
 given here: 
 
 Some of my friends have expressed a wish — per- 
 haps most of you desire — that upon this occasion I 
 should, as a soldier, give a brief picture of a battle 
 scene. Such request I can not well disregard, yet I 
 would prefer some more pleasant theme. 
 
 Standing here as I dotoday, and remembering that 
 this is not only the anniversary of our National birth, 
 but also that of a later event, how can I forget that 
 three 3'^ears ago I saw the surrender of Yicksburg. 
 
 Those of us wlio were there can never forget the 
 time when we stood upon the immortal hills of Vicks- 
 burg. We can never forget tlie trying hours, the 
 dreary days of that long, desperate, eventful and 
 bloody conflict. And the desperate charge of the 
 twenty-second of May! It can never be forgotten. 
 How can it be portrayed? Words would fail to de- 
 scribe the scene. One might as well try to paint on 
 
2C2 Army Life. 
 
 canvas the fearful sound of roaring thunder, as to at- 
 tempt to fully describe a battle. 
 
 Opposing armies lay confronting each other. The 
 enemy was intrenched behind his seemingl}' invincible 
 works. Nature's strongest fortifications had been im- 
 proved, if improvement was possible, by the most ehib- 
 orate engineering skill. The high and steep hills made 
 most directions of approach impossible. Through 
 deep and narrow defiles converging toward the city 
 were the only possible roads; and at the end of each 
 of these an absolute guard seemed to have been placed 
 in the shape of some stubborn hill from the hights of 
 which frowned the red-mouthed artillery of the rebel 
 battlements. Where can a comparison be found? 
 Could you, my friends, by soaring off on fairy wings 
 to other worlds, imagine a scene where the arcli fiend 
 of evil having been defeated had retreated to thehi^h 
 realms of his own domains, and there, with all the skill 
 of his destrojnng genius, had invented a castle, the 
 only approach to which was through long, deep and 
 narrow defiles, in which only a narrow column could 
 advance; Ihe whole length of which was swept by the 
 most destroying machines that satanic ingenuity could 
 invent, you will then have some impression of what 
 we met on our attack upon Yicksburg. 
 
 Such as these were the conditions opposed to us 
 upon that eventful morn of the twenty-second of May, 
 when word was passed along the line that in one hour 
 we would charge the enemy's works. 
 
 The emotions caused by this announcement can 
 not be explained by any natural passion of the human 
 heart. No fear nor dread seemed to be coursing 
 
Charge upon Yicksburg. 263 
 
 through the soldier's veins. It was not false indiffer- 
 ence nor wild, consuming enthusiasm; all spoke 
 calmly or thought quietly of the desperate contest in 
 which they were soon to mingle, perhaps to die. 
 Love tokens and short messages were left with the 
 simple and seemingly almost indifferent request. " If 
 I do not come back, send them home," Perhaps some 
 of yon, ray friends, have some of those last tokens 
 of remembrance; and all, j'es, upon every heart 
 throughout the land, there is, I know, impressed the 
 token of kindest remembrance for some noble soldier 
 who did not come back from the war. Neither could 
 vaulting ambition nor lofty patriotipm, nor wild, con- 
 suming religious zeal fully explain tliose strange 
 emotions. It was as though some all-powerful spirit, 
 like the ancient god of war, had come down and con- 
 sumed the human hearts of those who once were men. 
 Not brutalized them — no! no, indeed! All were ten- 
 derly kind to each other. And yet the fiery god had 
 clianged them so that all would march quietly on to 
 death as though it was a higher aim to contribute to 
 the fame of fiery Mars than to simply live a human 
 life. A clear and pretty stream, clothed by imagi- 
 nation with human life and thoughts courses sweetly, 
 quietly on its way; leaping down the nigged hills, 
 playing across the fertile valleys, laughing over the 
 blooming meadows and passing through the golden 
 fields; running on, on toward the grand and beautiful 
 lake, or boundless ocean, by which it will soon be 
 swallowed up and consumed. It appi'oaches the end 
 with a quiet dread and solemn regret that its indi- 
 viduality is to be lost; yet it would not stay if it 
 
2C4 Ak3iy Life. 
 
 could, because it will soon form part of that greater 
 and more niao^nificent grandeur beyond. Is it some 
 strange, nndetined emotion like tliis, that actuates the 
 soldier when he so willingly marches on to death, and 
 which the world, that through ages past, carelessly 
 named the soldier's love of glory? Perhaps it is so; 
 yet to those who judge according to the dictates of 
 reason how L.range it is. Although I once, to s .me 
 extent, felt this strange spirit of war, yet as I am here 
 to-day, in this pretty grove, surrounded by the cool, 
 peaceful and pleasant influences of this hour, it all 
 seems but as a dream, and I can understand it no mere 
 than those who never saw a battle Held. 
 
 The fated hour of ten arrived. Officers of high 
 rank seemed to have forgotten the usual words of mili- 
 tary command. No formal commands of " Forward, 
 inarch" were given. With drawn swords they started 
 forth, simply saying, " Bjys, come on, follow nie." A 
 moment more, and the hurricane of ruin burst ui^on 
 us, as with but one stroke of a sweeping, crushing 
 tornado. Witnin, what a rapid, seething sea of denta 
 were we now mingled. Even at this late day, I harc'.ly 
 dare, even in thought, to review that gory scene ; nor 
 could I do so if I would, for the terrible grandeur of 
 that terrific conflict so completely drowned us with 
 its sweeping fury, that we were not able to appreciate 
 its destructive powers. The thunder roar of ponder- 
 ous artillery; the hevy flash of bursting shell and 
 powder blast; the singing, screeching rifle balls ; the 
 h^avy sulphurous clouds of battle smoke that envel- 
 oped those murderous hills and deep valleys of the 
 dead in one great, dark and mysterious sea of fir.', 
 
Charge upon Yicksjjueg. 265 
 
 and death, and ruin — all this combined was a scene of 
 realitj which conld not be equaled except by trans- 
 forming the scene of the first great battle; relbnght, 
 not beneath heaven's shining light, but amidst those 
 clouds of darkness — darkness so dense that it could 
 be felt — that reigns throughout the realms of eternal 
 night; — combine these two most graphic of human im- 
 aginations; combine the fury of heaven's battle with 
 the darkness of eternal death, and 3'ou will then have 
 a picture of the realities of a battle scene. 
 
 Deep ravines were filled with the bodies of fallen 
 heroes, over which passed succeeding ranks. Still 
 on, on pressed rank after rank until the rebel works 
 were reached. Our comrades lay strewn upon the 
 field behind us. Those left had not strength to 
 surmount and hold the works upon which we were 
 now contending. Both friend and foe were now upon 
 the same range of hills, only separated by the narrow 
 breastworks: and there, through all the hours of tiuit 
 livelong day, the terrible conflict continued, in a bit- 
 ter hand-to-hand contest. Thus the fury raged until 
 night mercifully threw its mantle of darkness over 
 the gory scene and then each of the contending par- 
 ties returned to the lines from which they advanced 
 to commence that unparalleled conflict. 
 
 Such as these were the scenes through which we 
 passed during our desperate charge upon Yicks- 
 burg. Then during those long hours of night, as I 
 stood, watching upon the borders of that gory field 
 from which we had returned, and where so many 
 loved comrades lay; in those dark hours of night, as 
 the truth passed before me in thought, I could but al- 
 
2G6 Ar>[y Life. 
 
 most doubt the realities of our own existence. Do we 
 live in a world of truth, or witliin the d;irk realms of 
 despair? Is this earth, or is it the place of eternal 
 death? Were these beings before me men and broth- 
 ers, or were they demons? Does God reig-n and are 
 such things as these real? Alter many long and 
 tedious days the glorious anniversary of our National 
 birth returned, bringing with it, as it ever does, the 
 glorious shout of victory. Oa the fourth of Jul}', 
 Viclvsburg fell. Then the feeling of jo)^ in every 
 lieart, could be equaled in depth only by the anguish 
 of those former days. Then throughout our lines 
 every soldier's heart rose up in praise to heaven in 
 thanks, that the cause of justice and right had tri- 
 umphed, and that we could once more believe in the 
 reign of a just God. 
 
 A FEW INCIDENTS. 
 
 During the siege of Vicksburg many amusing in- 
 cidents occurred. A few will be recounted: 
 
 One of our soldiers, an Irishman, was on guard 
 one night in the front trenches. These advanced 
 trenches ran so near to the enemy's line that the 
 picket guards could at night, when it was still, talk 
 across from their rifle pits. Discovering that Pat 
 was easily annoyed, the rebel guards commenced 
 blackguarding him. After plaguing him about 
 other matters they began to tease him about the 
 worthlessness of the sliells fii-ed from the Union mor- 
 tars on the gun-boats. As a rule it must be admit- 
 ted that these shells did no great damage. Among 
 other things the rebels told Pat that "the onlv harm 
 
YicKSBUKG Incidents. 267 
 
 tlie sliells luive yet done is to Icili two mules and 
 lame one old woman." Just then throui^h some 
 strange accident a shell happened to come from the 
 river dropping and bursting among Pat's tormentors, 
 injuring two or three and causing the balance to 
 scamper for dear life. Ere the sound of the bursting 
 shell had died away the shrill voice of Pat was heard 
 crying: " There, ye infernal cusses, put that in ye 
 liaversack and chaw it, will ye, ye blathering black- 
 guards." 
 
 Another about the mortar shells is this: When 
 General Bowine, the Confederate officer, fiist came 
 out under a flag of truce, on the tliii-d of July, to treat 
 for terms of surrender, he suggested that iiostilities 
 cease during the nogotiations. The Union officers 
 readily acquiesced, but mentioned the difficulty of get- 
 ting orders to the gun-boats in time. "Oh, well," he 
 replied, "that is of no consequence; never mind the 
 gun-boats; they never harm us any." 
 
 One day toward the end of the siege, one of the 
 Confederates cried out to our soldiers, saying: "We 
 are going to have a new General." "Ah, indeed," 
 was the reply, " and who is he?" " General Starva- 
 tion," coolly replied the comical Confed.^rate soldier. 
 To appreciate this it should be remembered that the 
 rebel soldier was at the time almost starved; with 
 liini it was an empty stomach joke. 
 
 One of the incidents that was often repeated with 
 a lively jest and caused many an evening laugh to 
 ring among those stubborn hills even during the 
 darkest, dreariest and hardest days that we passed in 
 trenches during the siege of Yicksbiirg, ran thus: 
 
26S AmiY Life. 
 
 One niglit after Logan's men liad worked their ap- 
 proach up to the foot of the rebel works in front e»f 
 them, thej discovered the Confederates at work in- 
 side bringing up bales of cotton to repair the damage 
 our artillery had done to their works. Among the 
 L^nion soldiers was a Yankee sailor who had been, as 
 he claimed, " all over creation and the rest of the 
 world," and who " could do a little of every tiling, and 
 a thing or two besides." He suggested the plan, 
 which was quickly indorsed by his merry comrades, ot 
 trying to steal the cotton away fro:u the rebels. The 
 suggestion was promptly acted upon. Some grap- 
 pling hooks with a long rope attached were procured. 
 Placing the rope in the hands of his comrades so that 
 they would be ready to give a sudden pnll at the right 
 time, the sailor-boy soldier gave the grappling hooks 
 the proper swing and cast them over the walls of the 
 rebel fort As the hooks struck inside he cried to the 
 boys who had hold of the rope to "pull like h — 1!" 
 which of course they did with lively zeal. The first 
 pull showed that the merrj^ experiment had succeeded, 
 a result thej' had hardly expected. Tlie hook had evi- 
 dently, actually caught a firm hold of a bale of cotton. 
 The wild cry that arose from the bewildered and aston- 
 ished rebels, and the tenacity with which they hung to 
 their end of the line, showed that they were not well 
 pleased to see their cotton climb over into the Union 
 lines in tliat manner. Tliose nearest at hand had 
 caught hold and were doing their best, but a band of 
 terror-stricken rebels made but poor show when pull- 
 ing on a rope against twenty wild, enthusiastic Yan- 
 kee boys. With a cry of triumph the Union soldiers 
 
Gen. Logan as Post Commander. 269 
 
 brought the rope, grappling hooks, cotton and all 
 over the walls of the rebel fort and down into the 
 Union trench. Their surprise was now unbounded, to 
 find that instead of a bale of cotton, as they supposed, 
 they had actually caught and brought over a rebel 
 lieutenant. The grappling hooks had firmly cauglit 
 in his clothing and he was obliged to come over. lie 
 was hurt considerably, but with good and proper care 
 at the hands of his captors soon recovered, but insists 
 that he can not understand how he happens to be on 
 our side of the line. This incident is insisted upon 
 so strongly that we are almost compelled to believe 
 that in the main it is true. There is only one matter 
 of doubt: 
 
 It is well known that Logan's soldiers are not 
 only famous fighters but also capital story tellers. It 
 would be hard to find boys that do more fighting and 
 have more fun than they. 
 
 They also had a little story they told about Logan 
 himself. When Yicksburg surrendered Logan was 
 placed in charge of the city as post commander. 
 Many of the citizens were in a starving condition, and 
 were supported by our Government. Among the first 
 to apply for aid was one of those haughty Southern 
 ladies, Mdio had not yet discovered that any one from 
 the North deserved any other treatment than such as 
 she had been accustomed to extend to her negro 
 slaves. When her mission was told she was directed 
 to the commissary quarters as the proper place to 
 apply. But no, it was beneath her dignity to talk 
 with ■'nv one of lower rank than a major-general. 
 So she went to General Logan. She commenced by 
 
270 Akmy Life. 
 
 demand inr,^, "Are you the man Lo^an?" Like all 
 good fii>liting soldiers Logan is slow to anger, espe- 
 cially toward a woman, and although considerably 
 surjM-ised at the unladylike form of her question, as- 
 sented. " Then, " said she, " I want you to give me 
 some provisions to pay for what your dirty soldiers 
 have stolen." " The h — you do," the General replied. 
 The sharp answer of the Northern commander seemed 
 to penetrate her mind as a revelation. The new dis- 
 pensation was beginning to open before her. For the 
 first time in her life the idea penetrated her brain 
 that all Northern men were not mud-sills to be 
 treated as on a par with mere chattels. With an 
 humble apology she withdrew and meekly went to 
 the sergeant in charge of the commissary and received, 
 as a donation, the necessary food to keep lier and her 
 family from starving. Logan's sharp, four word reply 
 was repeated far and wide, and no doubt did more to 
 educate the people hereabouts as to the respect due 
 to Northern soldiers, than many more elaborate les- 
 sons would have done. 
 
 A slaveholder received his lesson at the hands of 
 one of his own late slaves. The former slave had be- 
 become a contraband, and had been enlisted in a 
 colored regiment that had been formed since we came 
 to the neighborhood of Vicksburg. He was on guard 
 with orders not to let any citizen pass his line. "Who 
 should happen to be the first one to come up and at- 
 tempt to pass but his old master. He was at the head 
 of a little procession, consisting of himself and family, 
 and remaining slaves. He came boldly np, walking 
 as though the dignity of the entire world was upon 
 
A "Contraband" Soldier. 271 
 
 his slionklers, and he feared, if a single unmeasured 
 step was made, that some of it would drop off. " Halt, 
 there! Halt, I saj!"- cried the colored soldier as his 
 former master approached his beat. The haughty 
 Southerner did not intend to be checked in his career 
 by one of his own slaves, but continued to advance, 
 and with a haughty wave of his hand, majestically 
 exclaimed: " What do you mean by such impudence, 
 Jim? Out of the way and let me pass." " But stop 
 there," said soldier Jim. " I hab orders, massey, and 
 you can no pass ober me now." The master con- 
 tinued as though determined not to further notice the 
 obstruction. Jim^ became desperate, and with fixed 
 bayonet started toward and w^ould no doubt have run 
 his former proud master through had he not appre- 
 ciated the real condition of affairs in time and beat a 
 hasty and inglorious retreat, leaving soldier Jim 
 master of the situation. The owner may well have 
 been astonished at Jim's course. There is something 
 in these cases that is puzzling to us all. As a mat- 
 ter of fjict the master is still the owner of Jim. Jim 
 is as much his property as the other slaves he has 
 under his control. The only difference is this: They 
 are good, Jim is bad. His other slaves were kind and 
 docile and remained with their master, Jim was 
 naughty, ran away and became a contraband. For a 
 man to be stopped upon the road by his own j^roperty, 
 with a gun in its hands, and compelled to obey the 
 orders given, is strange indeed. When and where 
 will all of these puzzling things end? 
 
 While the prisoners were being paroled we fre- 
 quently met and talked with some of them. I talked 
 
272 Aemy Life. 
 
 with one who was in New Orleans at the time Gen- 
 eral Bntler was there and in command. Knowing 
 the extreme hitterness existing against Butler among 
 the Southern people, I suggested that it was probable 
 that General Banks, who had succeeded General But- 
 ler, would prove more acceptable to people of New 
 Orleans. The Confederate, who belonged to the la- 
 boring class, and who was a well-informed and intel- 
 ligent one of tlieir number, replied: "No, that is alia 
 mistake. General Butler is the best man that ever 
 ruled in New Orleans." I expressed surprise at this 
 view from a Southern man, and asked: "Do not the 
 people of the city complain that he ruled them with 
 unnecessary severity?" He replied: "The rich com- 
 plain, but the poor people do not. If he had not fed 
 the poor people many of them would have starved." 
 This Confederate was in New Orleans when it was 
 taken by the Union troops, and left to join the South- 
 ern army during the time when Butler was there. 
 Said he, with mucli earnestness: "I wish to God, I 
 was back in New Orleans, and that General Butler 
 was in command of the city." In reference to the 
 rich class who so loudly complained, he said: " But- 
 ler is not as harsh as they are ugly." Such views as 
 these from one wlio had fought us through all of the 
 campaign and siege of Vicksburg, and who was now 
 going to the interior of the Confederacy under parole 
 to be afterward exchanged and tlien fight against us, 
 .seemed peculiar. If an opportunity had been given 
 to all who wished to enter into an obligation not to 
 again enter the rebel army, and they allowed to go to 
 some part of the country within control of the Union 
 
Confederate Opinion of Gen. Butler. 273 
 
 army, no doubt but that many of the rank and file 
 would gladly have embraced it. It seems that this 
 should hav^e been done. 
 
 Sometimes we meet some of the extreme class, 
 those who talk of "fighting until the last dog is eaten 
 and then dying in the last ditch." A squad of Con- 
 federates were talking with a number of Union sol- 
 diers. One of these extreme rebels became the prom- 
 inent talker. The difficulty of a harmonious settle- 
 ment at the end of the war was being discussed, dur- 
 ing which the following dialogue occurred: 
 
 Confederate — " And what does it signify if you 
 are successful and take all of our most important 
 cities, what do you propose to do then?" 
 
 Union — "We simply purpose to do this; put down 
 the rebellion ; defeat your armies; and conquer the 
 tlie entire South if necessary to restore the Union." 
 
 Confederate— "But if we will not submit what can 
 you do? You may burn our cities, desolate our land, 
 yet we will never submit to be ruled by the 
 Northern Yankees." Growing warmer: "No,. never; 
 we will die first. I would die a thousand times first. 
 Yes, sir, I tell you I will die first Die before I will 
 yield an inch." 
 
 Union — In a pleasant good-natured tone it was re- 
 plied: " My good fellow, are you not a little too fast? 
 You have just taken an obligation not to fight again 
 until duly exchanged. Do you not know that with a 
 few surrenders like Yicksburg, the entire South will 
 be under our control. If you wished to die for your 
 cause what better place than this do you ever expect 
 to find? Why did you not die in Yicksburg instead 
 18 
 
274 Akmy Life. 
 
 of snrrenJering before you were even wounded?" 
 This was bringing the point a little too near home. 
 For some reason his Confederate comrades commenced 
 laughing loudly at his confusion, which caused him 
 to beat a hasty retreat. As he departed, his Confed- 
 erate comrades said: "Oh, yes, that is the way he 
 always talked when there were no bullets flying near 
 liim. When actual danger came he dug a hole in the 
 clay bank, crawled into it and never came out only 
 when he was pulled out." 
 
 We will now bid farewell to all Yicksburg scenes 
 by a brief reference to our commander. Grant is a 
 wonderful man. He does not make mistakes. The 
 volunteer soldiers of our army are not mere machines. 
 The perceptions of the soldiers in the ranks, as to the 
 correctness of military movements, are often equal if 
 not superior to those of the officers in command. 
 The actions of other officers are often criticised, and 
 justly so. Every thing that Grant directs is right. 
 His soldiers believe in him. In our private talk, 
 among ourselves, I have never heard a single soldier 
 speak in doubt of Grant. 
 
 He is one of the most modest and unpretending 
 officers we have served under. His usual course is to 
 ride along the line unattended save by one or two 
 orderlies. These are necessary to carry orders if 
 occasion arises. Officers of less rank often ap- 
 pear in grand style attended by a full staff and 
 cavalry body-guard. By the careless way lie goes 
 among them, Grant evidently thinks that every 
 Union soldier he meets is part of his body-guard. 
 Jhe soldiers seem to look upon him as a friendly 
 
Genekal Geant. '2T0 
 
 partner of theirs, not as an arbitrary commander. 
 As he passes by, the private soldiers feel as free to 
 greet him as they would to address one of their neigh- 
 bors when meeting him at home. "Good morning, 
 General"; "Pleasant day, General," and like expres- 
 sions are the greetings he meets everywhere. The 
 soldiers when meeting him are never embarrassed by 
 the thought that they are talking to a great general. 
 Upon the other hand the soldiers do not become as 
 wildly enthusiastic when Grant passes the lines as 
 they sometimes do with others. When General 
 Grant passes, the entire line is not impelled to throw 
 up their hats and greet him with thundering cheers. 
 A pleasant salute to, and a good-natured nod from 
 him, in return, seems more appropriate. 
 
 General Grant evidently has a wonderful memory. 
 He seems to always know merely by memory where 
 every part of his entire army, even down to the 
 smallest detachment or company, is or ought to be. 
 He will ride along the long line of the army, appar- 
 ently as an indifferent observer; yet he sees and 
 notices everything. He seems to know and remem- 
 ber every regiment, and in fact every cannon, in his 
 large army. If a single gun or regiment is out of 
 position or can be better placed he sees it at once. 
 An expert chess-player will look over a game and at 
 once detect the weakness of even a pawn out of 
 proper position. Grant seems to look over and com- 
 prehend all the complications of a battle field as easily 
 as an expert player looks upon and comprehends a 
 game of chess. But the great thing can be briefly 
 told. One thing is the key to military success. It 
 
2TC Army Life. 
 
 can be stated in a word. It is: Confidence. Grant' 
 soldiers have full coniidence in their commander. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 AFTER THE SURRENDER. 
 
 The regiment started for Black River on Monday, 
 July sixth. I was not able to keep np, but reached 
 the night camp after sundown. 
 
 At noon the next day the command started for- 
 ward. Doctor Rex came along and ordered me to the 
 hospital. I stayed and the regiment went on its jour- 
 ney. Not caring to stay at the over-crowded hospital 
 at Black River, I took passage with a wagon train go- 
 ing back for supplies, and went to the convalescent 
 camp at Yicksburg. With plenty of quinine and 
 proper care of myself, and avoiding the army doctors, 
 I soon had the ague again broken. 
 
 On the twenty-fourth of July tlie regiment returned 
 and went into camp on the banks of the Mississippi 
 River, two miles below the city of Vicksburg. 
 
 On the first day of August one division of our corps 
 started down the river. On Sunday the chaplain of' 
 our regiment preached his farewell sermon. 
 
 WE JOIN THE ARMY OF THE GULF. 
 
 We received marching orders on August eighteenth. 
 We are to go to New Orleans and join the Army of the 
 
At Carrollton, Aug., 1863. 277 
 
 Gnlf. The next day we went on board the steamboat 
 Gladiator, and started toward onr destination. We 
 reached Natchez after dark and remained there until 
 the next morning. At da_y-break on the twentieth we 
 started again and arrived at Carrollton, near Xew Or- 
 leans, during the following night. 
 
 Friday, the twenty-tirst, we landed and camped at 
 Carrollton. The next day we had a review by Gen- 
 eral Banks, our new commander. 
 
 Carrollton, at this time of the j^ear, is a pretty 
 place. We had a line camp ground. In front of our 
 camp was the famous shell road, much patronized by 
 the people who have a good team to drive. People 
 from New(3rleans often show their horses upon it. 
 
 The orange and lemon trees, now full of fruit, are a 
 pretty sight. These and other convenient trees, with 
 a soft bed of grass underneath, furnish us elegant 
 places to rest during the heat of the day. 
 
 Lake Pontchartrain, a few miles back 3f us, and to 
 which accommodation trains on a narrow gauge rail- 
 road run, give us a splendid place for saltwater bath- 
 ing. 
 
 On the twenty- fourth we commenced, what is very 
 unusual with us Western soldiers, a change guard 
 around the camp ground. 
 
 Tuesday, the twenty-fifth, I went down to see the 
 city of New Orleans. Looked at the St. Charles, City 
 Hall, Clay's Monument, Jackson Square and monu- 
 ment, and other buildings and places of interest. The 
 cleanliness of the city was notable. Along the gutters 
 between the sidewalk and wagon track, on many of 
 the streets, there was a running stream of fresh water. 
 
'27S . Aemy Life. 
 
 All filtli is kept well swept oft* the streets. It is said 
 that General Butler is the one who taught the people 
 here how to keep their city clean and healthy. 
 
 On August twenty-ninth tliere w^as a general re- 
 view of the Thirteenth Army Corps by General Banks 
 and other officers. General Banks is one of the finest 
 appearing and best looking officers in the army, 
 
 Tlie first of September found us again under march- 
 ing orders. We are to cross the river at New Orleans 
 and go west on the railroad. On the third, we com- 
 menced shipping our supplies. With some others, I 
 went in advance to guard the goods. We rode down 
 to ISTew Orleans and then crossed over to Algiers. 
 
 September fourth. — Grant, Banks and other officers 
 had a grand review of the troops at Carrollton. After 
 the morning review was over, our regiment came down 
 and crossed the Mississippi and went forward on the 
 railroad. It took all of the next day to ship all of our 
 supplies. After this was done, we who were guard- 
 ing them, took the train and joined our command at 
 Bayou Bouef at midnight. 
 
 We have a disagreeable camp ground at this place. 
 The ground is low, wet and marshy. The tents we 
 now have are what the soldiers call " dog tents." 
 They consist simply of two pieces of canvas about 
 seven feet in length by five or six in width. The two 
 pieces are buttoned together, thrown over a center pole 
 and the bottom sides fastened to the ground. Each 
 soldier has half a tent. When put together and 
 erected there is just about room enough for the two 
 soldiers to crawl into them. All they are good for is 
 to sleep in, and a poor excuse for even that. 
 
At BRASHEA.R City, Sept., 18G3. 270 
 
 Our mission at this place is to guard the raih'oad 
 bridge over the bayou. It is a new bridge. The old 
 one was burned by the rebels during a late raid made 
 by them. 
 
 "Wednesday, September ninth.— Once more we are 
 in the near neighborhood of strong enemy. They 
 are a large force about twenty miles from us. It is 
 Dick Taylor's band and said to be about fifteen thou- 
 sand strong. Some things indicate that we have a 
 good prospect for an early fight. Other reports say 
 that Taylor has already commenced to retreat. Yes- 
 terday five deserters from the rebel army came into 
 our lines. They report that Taylor's force, many of 
 whom are conscripts, are discouraged and tired of the 
 war. This seems to be the feeling of the Southern citi- 
 zens and soldiers upon this side of the Mississippi Kiv- 
 er. If free to act no doubt but that a large majority of 
 them would now gladly come back into the Union. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 AT BKASHEAR CITY. 
 
 The enemy began to show a very threatening spirit 
 toward our troops at Brashear City, nine miles further 
 west. On September eleventh we started at four 
 o'clock in the morning and marched to that place. 
 
 Brashear City is a small place of no great impor- 
 tance except as a military post. Tlie river at this 
 
280 Army Life. 
 
 place is the dividing line between the Union and 
 rebel armies. The enemy liolds the west side and our 
 troojjs the eastern side of the river. The river itself 
 may be said to be entirely in our control. The enemy 
 taking good care, to keep out of range of our gun- 
 boats. Two small gun-boats came up from Sabin 
 Pass this morning. They bring us news of a severe 
 engagement between our boats and tlie rebel forts. 
 Our side was whipped. Two boats were lost and oth- 
 ers disabled. 
 
 Troops continued to arrive until quite a large force 
 was assembled at Brashear City. General C. C.AVasli- 
 burne, who is to command, came in from New Orleans 
 on September fifteenth. Tlie prospect is good for an 
 early forward movement. 
 
 While we were camped at Brashear City, with our 
 lines on the east side of the river, and the enemy in 
 possession of the country on the west side, a little 
 band of five boys belonging to our brigade had an 
 adventure that at the time attracted much attention. 
 The five Union soldiers got possession of a skitf and 
 crossed over to the enemy's side of the river. The ob- 
 ject of this raid, it must be confessed, was to forage 
 some chickens and pigs; everything in that line be- 
 ing very scarce on our side. Of course they had no 
 right to thus venture into the enemy's country. 
 Considerable time had passed without success, and . 
 the prospect of leaving the rebel land as hungry as 
 they came began staring them in the face. At last 
 they discovered the smoke curling up from a fire in 
 the woods near at hand. As they approached they 
 were surprised to see that they had r;n upon a camp 
 
A Eeckless Adventure. 281 
 
 of some thirty Confederate cavalrymen. The rebels 
 were evidently on a scouting expedition, and at the 
 time when discovered by our boys, were busily 
 engaged in cooking their dinner. The discovery 
 brought the Union boj'S to a halt. What to do was 
 tlie question. Should they retreat? No. The boys 
 of the Tliirteenth ^rmy Corps never retreat. As for 
 fighting that was equally out of the question. They 
 only had one gun among them, and besides the odds 
 were six to one against them. In this dilemma they 
 decided that the only thing to do was to frighten the 
 Confederates out of their position. It must be remem- 
 bered that the little band was composed of five of the 
 most reckless and daring men of our brigade. If they 
 had not been so, they would not have thus ventured 
 so far, merely for the chances of finding some fat 
 chickens. The plan was no sooner sugijested than 
 acted upon. With a whoop and a yell like wild sav- 
 ages they dashed through the thick brush and right 
 into the midst of the astonished rebels. The alarmed 
 Confederates thought that Old Nick himself had 
 come, and ran for dear life, leaving guns and sabers 
 and even part of their horses in the possession of the 
 wild Yankee boys. The reckless Union soldiers 
 grabbed up the abandoned guns and fired rapidly, 
 thus completing the Confederates' delusion that they 
 were being attacked by a large force, and they con- 
 tinued their rapid retreat without once looking back, 
 glad to escape with their lives. The dinner, consist- 
 ing of some fat chickens and plump pigs about ready 
 for eating, was also left hy the departing rebels. 
 With cool impudence the five reckless boys sat down 
 
282 Army Life. 
 
 and ate the dinner. After the dinner was disposed 
 of, they gathered up the things they liad captured and 
 returned to camp. Tlie large amount of plunder they 
 brought in was conclusive evidence that their report of 
 the adventure had not been exaggerated. But from 
 the fact that in crossing the river in the first instance, 
 they had violated positive military orders, they would 
 no doubt have been highly commended and rewarded 
 for their brilliant action. 
 
 On the twenty-first of September, recommendations 
 favoring the promotion of Colonel Washburn of the 
 Eighteenth Indiana Volunteers were circulated and 
 largely signed by the men of our brigade. The boys 
 signed freely saying that they "wanted to see one man 
 promoted who did not get drunk." 
 
 Our rations since we came here have been very 
 poor. For dinner we had baked beans, bread and cof- 
 fee. An extra good meal for these times. Most of the 
 time all the bread we have had is wormy and buggy 
 hard tack, and the meat issued to us was actually rot- 
 ten. This with some coffee is all we have had for 
 days at a time. The soldiers think that this is rather 
 severe while we are near ample means of transporta- 
 tion. 
 
 Our knapsacks were brought to us from New 
 Orleans on September twenty-second. Since we have 
 left Carrollton up to this time, all I have had with me 
 consisted of one woolen blanket, one rubber blanket, 
 one half of dog tent, one pair of trousers, one hat, 
 one shirt, one pair of shoes and stockings — all in con- 
 stant use — my canteen, haversack, gun and accoutre- 
 ments and one small memorandum book. Many of 
 
The way Soldiers sleep. 2S3 
 
 my comrades are worse off than T, for tlie reason that 
 their clothing has more holes in it than mine has, 
 Kow my knapsack has come, adding one coat, one 
 shirt and one pair of socks to my list of clothing-. 
 Although yet limited it is about as much as I wish to 
 carry on a march in this warm Southern climate. 
 
 Soldiers manage to be reasonably comfortable with 
 a very limited amount of clothing to wear and bed- 
 ding to sleep in. Two will join togetlier. The moist 
 ground they are often compelled to sleep upon is more 
 dangerous to their health than storms from above. 
 An experienced soldier will never la_y down without 
 iirst spreading his rubber blanket on the ground. At 
 night two soldiers fasten their pieces of tents together, 
 erect it, and then spread on the ground inside, one of 
 the rubber blankets and upon this a woolen blanket 
 and the bed is complete. With the other woolen and 
 rubber blanket fur a cover they sleep as snug as a bug 
 in a rug. 
 
 TJuirsday, September twenty-fourth. — We are now 
 ordered to cross to the west side of the river, there to 
 be ready to start forward on a foot march. Some of the 
 troops have already crossed. Tlie transportation train 
 of our brigade was sent over to-day. 
 
 The next morning we broke camp at six o'clock 
 and crossed the river and camped upon the river bank. 
 
 Quite a lively excitement was created in part of 
 the camp during our last night in Brashear City. 
 About ten o'clock, after we had gone to sleep, Ave 
 were awakened by a lively racket in the vicinity of a 
 brigade camp next to ours. A large number engaged 
 in shouting, yelling, screeching, running, command- 
 
284 Army Life. 
 
 ing, halting and defj'ing, all combined, created a scene 
 and commotion tliat can be more easily imagined than 
 described. Knowing that it was some of our sol- 
 diers, probably on a spree, I did not get up to see 
 wliat the trouble was. 
 
 This morning we learned the cause of the disturb- 
 ance last night. There is, as is well known, consider- 
 able jealousy between the Western and Eastern soldiers. 
 ,It is not deep enough to cause any serious anxiet}', 
 lonly extending far enough for each to wish to make 
 the others the butt of any merry joke that may be 
 devised. As soldiers are apt to do, ih3 boys often 
 carry their jokes to an extreme length. Since we have 
 joined General Banks' army, a month ago, is the only 
 time we have had Eastern soldiers for neighbors. Get- 
 ting acquainted with them and becoming accustomed 
 to their ways, is almost like the beginning of new 
 camp life. The boys seem to be almost as much 
 given to wild pranks now as when they first met in 
 camp lite at Cajnp Eutler two years ago. 
 
 Last night a number of the wildest boys of our 
 brigade determined to celebrate the last night in camp 
 at this place with a spree at the "Yorkers' " expense. 
 They easily ran our brigade guard as the night was 
 dark and the weeds high. Each brigade has its own 
 guard around its camp. Arming themselves with fire- 
 brands, clods of dirt and other harmless weapons, our 
 wild boys made a charge upon, and drove in the 
 entire guard of the Eastern brigade camped near by. 
 As was to be expected the officers of the brigade were 
 iliuch vexed at this proceeding. They soon had a 
 number of companies in line and by a quiet move in 
 
Western Boys Alarm Eastern Soldiers. 285 
 
 the dark night had the disturbers surrounded before 
 they were aware of the movement. The boys, who 
 had only come out for a wild spree, did not relish the 
 idea of being captured, and thus raised a wild commo- 
 tion, in the confusion of which most of them made 
 good their escape. Tiiis was the first racket we heard 
 last night. 
 
 Tl e affair did not end here. The Eastern men 
 were holding a few of the wild jokers under guard. 
 Another plan was formed. Just as quiet was again 
 restored and the Eastern soldiers retired to their night 
 quarters their entire camp was thrown into the 
 wildest confusion. They w-ere alarmed in earnest 
 this time. In wild dismay they broke from their 
 tents, running fiercely and wildly, crying to their 
 comrades to run for their lives. "They are going 
 to shoot!" "There they come, run, run!" "They 
 are going to fire upon us; see their cannon, run, 
 run!" were the wild exclamations that came from the 
 now thoroughly alarmed camp. Above the din 
 could be heard, as was supposed, a battery of artillery 
 as it went thundering at a fearful rate over the 
 rough ground of an old cane-field. Added to this, 
 a deep strong voice could be heard in the night air 
 giving the commands: "To the right! " "Unlimber to 
 the rear!" "Aim to the center of the camp!" all of 
 which were given in quick succession and with a mas- 
 ter's decision. The Eastern soldiers fully believed 
 that the wild "Western boys had become maddened to 
 absolute recklessness and had stolen some cannon and. 
 come to take revenge for the capture of their com- 
 rades. 
 
28 G Army Life. 
 
 The New York boys are not cowards, and as soon 
 as i'aWy awake they charged upon and captured tlie 
 cannon. The wild raiders, as was expected, dis- 
 persed without going to the extreme length of firing. 
 When the Eastern boys came to look their capture 
 over they were surprised and could not refrain from 
 smiling at their needless alarm, when they found 
 instead of deadly cannon, the boys of the First 
 Brigade had only stolen the wheels of some old army 
 wagons. 
 
 Such wild night pranks as these ought not to be 
 indulged in. It seems impossible, however, to ever 
 tame some of our wild boys. The onlj^ thing that 
 will keep them within proper bounds is hard marches 
 and heavy duty. 
 
 BRASHEAR CITY AND VICINITY. 
 
 BrashearCity is situated on the AchafalayaEiver and 
 lies about seventy-five miles west of New Orleans, 
 with which it is connected by a railroad. 
 
 It is a city of no great pretensions save as a mili- 
 tary post Such at least is its condition in these war 
 times. Perhaps in times of peace it may be different. 
 I think it is. To judge by its situation as connected 
 with the surrounding country it ought to become, with 
 prosperous times of peace, an important commercial 
 town. It lies at the foot of the rich Teche Yalley; is 
 w^ithin easy communication with the Gulf of Mexico 
 by water and with New Orleans by rail. 
 
 Only a small part of the land lying east of here is 
 under cultivation. It is mostly wild, low, swampy 
 land generally covered with a heavy growth of tira- 
 
Spanish Moss — Louisiana Mosquitoes. 287 
 
 ber. In many places everj^ tree is buried beneath an 
 enormons load of Spanish moss. Why it is so called 
 I do not know. It grows upon the limbs of the trees. 
 It often covers the trees from the bottom to the top. 
 It grows like small vines and hangs down from the 
 limbs in thick clusters. It becomes so thick as to 
 often smother large forest trees to death. Where it 
 is the thickest it creates a " dismal swamp " indeed. 
 It seems to thrive upon those trees that stand in the 
 lowest ground and in swamps where water stands on 
 the ground nearly the entire year. When a thick 
 grove of large forest trees becomes thoroughly cov- 
 ered with this moss even the light of the sun can not 
 penetrate the dense mass. At mid-day it is dark and 
 dismal beneath such a grove. No one ever ventures 
 far within them. They are full of vile reptiles. As 
 for mosquitos they are thick enough to darken the 
 sun even were it upon an open prairie. The mosqui- 
 tos are night birds, and as it is always night in these 
 dark swamps, they are ready for business at all hours. 
 Unless your delight is mosquitos keep out of the 
 Louisiana swamps. 
 
 Brashear City will have its little share to claim in 
 the history of this war. After having remained under 
 Federal control for a long time, and being made a de- 
 pot for a large amount of military stores, it was re- 
 captured by the Confederates. Thus it is one of the 
 very few places that have been under the Confederate 
 rule the second time. The re-capture by the rebels 
 was in June last. 
 
 General Banks had withdrawn most of the Union 
 troops to have them operate on the Mississippi. After 
 
288 Army Life. 
 
 the fall of Yicksbnrg and Port Iliidson this place was 
 speedily re-occupied by our troops. The enemy 
 promptly withdrew without a battle. 
 , A strong fort is being built here by our troops. 
 It is an easy city to strongly fortify. It is surrounded 
 on three sides by water. The Achafalaya River bends 
 around the north and west sides of the city. A deep 
 bayou runs along tlie south side of the city, emptying 
 into the river. The only open ground upon which to 
 approach the city is on the east side. The fort is be- 
 ing built so as to fully cover this ground. When the 
 fortifications are completed the place will be absolutely 
 impregnable so fiir as any rebel force in this vicinity 
 is concerned. Had the fort been built in time it 
 would have saved our Government the heavy loss of 
 property and the deep mortification it suffered last 
 June when the Confederates came in and captured the 
 city and a large amount of Government stores. 
 
 After our arrival here I was in a building that had 
 been occupied by our Government prior to the rebel 
 capture. In one room a mark on the wall showed 
 tliat it had been used for "ordnance stores." This 
 the rebels had completed so as to make it read: " Ord- 
 nance stores captured from the Yankee army June 27, 
 1863." Beneath this, at a later date, some one, evi- 
 dently a young collegian, a sojjhomore at least, for 
 want of something better to write, had added: 
 " Avaunt, Old Jeff, Louisiana is redeemed." In other 
 places less esthetic hands had covered the walls with 
 such notes as this: " Vicksburg captured, July 4, 
 1863. Old Jeff, you are going to the devil." 
 
Makch up the Teche Yallet. 2S9 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 MARCH UP THE TECHE VALLEY. 
 
 "VYe remained in camp at West Brashear Citv, or as 
 it is otherwise called, Berwic City, a week. 
 
 Saturdaj', October 3, 1S63, saw us again on tLe 
 road. We started at six o'clock iu the morning and 
 marclied fifteen miles. Our present course is up the 
 Teclie River. The next day we marched ten miles. 
 On Monday we started at six o'clock and marched 
 thirteen miles. Passed through Franklin during the 
 forenoon. ' We started at seven o'clock, Tuesday, and 
 marched thirteen miles and camped for the night on a 
 prairie within four miles of New Ibeary. 
 
 Our trip this far has been through a splendid coun- 
 try. We have passed rich prairie lands and some 
 fine ]>lantations. Most of the cultivated farms are, 
 however, at present in a sorry condition, plainly show^ 
 ing the sad effects of war. The natural fertility of 
 the soil is unequaled; cotton and sugar cane grow finely. 
 The Teche Yalley will some day be the home of a rich 
 and prosperous people. 
 
 Our rations have improved very much. Tlie rich 
 prairies have furnished feed to fatten the cattle whicli 
 are numerous enough to furnish us with fresh beef. 
 It addition to this the country furnishes us with a 
 liberal supply of chickens, green corn and beans, 
 sweet potatoes and other vegetables. With these, 
 added to the rations we brought with us, our soldiers 
 are living high at this time. 
 19' 
 
290 Army Life. 
 
 "We lay in camp "Wednesday and started forward 
 a<^ain at three p. m. Thursday, October eighth. "We 
 niarclied through New Ibeary and four miles farther 
 and camped. The next morning we made arrange- 
 ments to establish a permanent camp for a few days. 
 News then came of trouble aliead and we imme- 
 diately started forward and marched eleven miles. 
 Puring tlw} early part of the day we lieard some 
 artjllery firing in our front. It is evidently consider- 
 able distance ahead. Had chicken and sweet potatoes, 
 hard tack and coffee for breakfast, a cold lunch for 
 dinner, and fresh beef, hard tack and coffee for sup- 
 per. Boys are growing fat. 
 
 Saturday, October tenth, — We started at seven and 
 marched twelve miles and camped in line of battle 
 near Yerniillionville on the Vermillion bayou. The 
 bridge across the stream at this place had been burned 
 by the enemy and we crossed on a pontoon. It was 
 at this place that the firing took place that we heard 
 yesterday. 
 
 Our wagon trains started back for supplies on Sun- 
 day. We are to remain in camp a few days. Some 
 of the boys of our brigade are becoming rather law- 
 less. It is impossible to keep them in camp. This 
 fine country is too tempting for them. They seem 
 bound to get out of camp and roam at large over it. 
 That the Confederates do not capture many of them 
 ^s a wonder 
 
 Monday, October twelfth. — We have a new expe- 
 rience to-day. This afternoon a regiment from Law- 
 ler's brigade was sent to guard our brigade, because, 
 it is said, of the lawless action of some of our sol- 
 
At Yermilliok Bayof, Oct., 1863. 291 
 
 diers svlio persist in rnnning at large all over the 
 conntry. During the next day the guard around our 
 brigade was continued. A chain guard is placed 
 entirely around our camp. The Fifty-fourth Indiana 
 is performing the duty. The guard is more a matter 
 of form than anything else. Our wild lads are on 
 too good terms with the Indiana boys to have any 
 trouble in running the guard whenever they wish. 
 Tlie Illinois and Indiana soldiers are always on 
 friendly terms. And then half of our brigade are 
 Indiana soldiers. Colonel Shunk, commanding our 
 brigade, is ordered to report to New Orleans under 
 arrest. As to just what the real cause of the trouble 
 is about no one seems to know or care. 
 
 We remained in lield camp at Yermillion baj^ou 
 nine days. We drilled nearly every day. The open, 
 smooth prairie makes us a splendid drill ground. 
 Colonel Lippincott, while a good soldier in a battle, is 
 not the most proficient drill- master. He usually 
 makes some awkward blunders. One day during a 
 brigade drill he got our regiment so badly mixed up, 
 that he was obliged to have the regiment reform on 
 the colors. Such blunders remind us of the days of 
 Lock wood. 
 
 Tuesday, October twentieth. — We started forward 
 again and marched twenty miles, and camped on the 
 banks of the Teche River, The soil here is wonderful. 
 We dug some sweet potatoes that had grown so large 
 and solid that we had to cut them with an ax, a butch- 
 er's knife not being heavy enough for that purpose. 
 
 The next day we marched forward eight miles and 
 then back three and staved over night at Leonville on 
 
293 Akmy Life. 
 
 the Teclie. On Thursday we marched twelve miles, 
 camped on tlie east side of the Teche near Barr's 
 Landing. Here we found General Burbridge with 
 his command, who Ijad come on another road. 
 
 We remained at Barr's Landing until Tuesday, 
 October twenty-seventh, and then started on a march 
 back toward New Ibeary, to which place it is thought 
 we are to return. Marched fifteen miles. The next 
 day we marched fourteen miles, keeping on the east 
 side of the Teche. "We have found a better road than 
 that taken during our advance. We save considerable 
 in distance. On Thursday we marched twelve miles 
 and crossed the river at St. Martinsville. The next 
 day we marched tlirongh to Xew Ibeary. 
 
 We received two months' pay on November first. 
 This time we settled for our second j^ear's clothing. 
 We are allowed a certain amount for clothing and 
 all we draw is charged to ns. The advantage of a 
 warm climate where but little clothing is needed, was 
 shown in our accounts. Although the amount allowed 
 to ns is not large, I found that my allowance exceeded 
 the amount drawn by the sum of six dollars and 
 ninety cents. This 1 received in money in addition 
 to the two months' pay. 
 
 We made quite a stay in New Ibeary. Early on 
 Friday morning, November sixth, we were called out 
 to meet an expected attack. We went out and formed 
 in line of battle, and remained in that condition all 
 day and night. The expected enemy did not arrive. 
 The next day we heard of an engagement near OpjDC- 
 lonas. One brigade of our troops was surprised and 
 cut to pieces. 
 
Starting fob Texas, 'Nov., 1S63. 293 
 
 Sunday, November eighth. — "We started at seven 
 o'clock and marched twentj-fiveor twenty-eight miles. 
 It was a hard day's march. We stopped for the night 
 within three miles of Franklin, Tiiis looks some as 
 tliough we were running away from the rebels. It 
 would suit the boys better to stay and light. 
 
 The next morning we started expecting to march 
 all day, but when we got to Franklin we found a boat 
 waiting for us. Embarked and sailed down to Ber- 
 wic City. This ended our march up and down the 
 Teche River vallev. 
 
 CHAPTER XXiy. 
 
 TO TEXAS. 
 
 "We soon learned that the reason for our hasty re- 
 turn from the Teche Valley, was to go to Texas by 
 water. The overland route was too long and difficult. 
 Part of our brigade started on November twelfth. On 
 the fourteenth we crossed over to Brashear City and 
 took the cars and went to Algiers. General Wash- 
 burne, commander of our division, came with us. 
 
 The morning of November ]5, 1863, was actively 
 occupied by us in embarking in the steamship 
 Clinton. 
 
 Genera] Washburne was with us directing and watch- 
 ing the work. This prevented much of tlie delay 
 often incident to such occasions. In such times we 
 are often much delayed by the confusion that always 
 
294 Akmy Life. 
 
 exists wlien there is no clear-beaded person in con- 
 trol to direct the work. 
 
 Our wagons and inules had been brought along 
 with the intention of taking them with us. After 
 the wagons had been taken to pieces for the purpose 
 of loading them, it was found that there was not room 
 enough on the boat and we were obliged to leave 
 them. This we much regret, as we have always 
 found insufficient transportation for supplies the 
 greatest drawback we have to contend with. 
 
 General AVashburne and staff, and part of the Eight- 
 eenth Indiana sailed with us on the Clinton. Most of 
 the field and staff officers brought their horses with them. 
 These with the few mules we brought crowded all of 
 the space that was available for animals on the boat. 
 
 After every thing else was loaded the men went on 
 board. The boat was badly crowded. The rule 
 seemed to be to crowd the soldiers in the odd places 
 where nothing else could be put. There was hardly 
 standing room. In fact General Washburne and Col- 
 onel Bailey, the ranking officer of our brigade pres- 
 ent, had to use every effort to find room to crowd the 
 men in even standing: "Crowd up, crowd up a little 
 more, boys," said Washburne. "There will be plenty 
 of room when we get started." The boys liked Wash- 
 burne's plain, blunt, "Western ways and did the best 
 they could to comply. At the same time some of 
 them seemed to doubt the boat being any larger when 
 at sea than it is when lying at the wharf at Algiers. 
 At last it was announced that the last man had 
 walked the plank and that all were on board. In a 
 moment more we heard a sudden, stentorian voice 
 
Down the Lower Mississippi. 295 
 
 commanding: "Stand by there, my hearties"; "Heave 
 off. " Looking up, wc saw that the fat, jolly, old sea 
 captain of the Clinton had mounted the top of the 
 wheel house, and was giving the necessary commands 
 to start us on our journey to Texas. 
 
 Oiir voyage from Algiers and I^ew Orleans down 
 the lower Mississippi was pleasant and interesting; 
 considering our crowded condition it was as delight- 
 ful a ride as we could expect. 
 
 As we leave !Nev/ Orleans, the country along the 
 shore of the river appears to have a rich, fertile and pro- 
 ductiv^e soil. Many pleasant and cheerful residences 
 could be seen upon the banks of the river, surrounded 
 with many evidences that they were the homes of a 
 contented and prosperous people. Having been under 
 the protection of a strong Government ever since the 
 capture of New Orleans by General Butler the country 
 along the lower Mississippi shows evidence of thrift 
 and industry that contrasts happily with most of what 
 we have seen since we came to this Southern clime. 
 
 As we were sailing down the river notice was given 
 for the men to till all their canteens, camp kettles, 
 coffee-pots and every thing else that would answer for 
 the purpose, with fresh water. All of the water casks 
 were carefully re-filled. This was done, so that when 
 we came upon the briny water of the gulf, we should 
 start across the salt water with the fullest supply 
 possible of fresh water. With the largo number of 
 soldiers on board this was a wise forethought. The 
 time has often been when careful anticipation like this 
 would havepreventedsome of the severest hardships of 
 our soldier life. Provident attention to such things as 
 
296 Army Life. 
 
 these, by a commanding officer, does more to win tlie 
 confidence and respect of liis soldiers than the most 
 imposing reviews or grandest exhibitions of military 
 style. Washbiirne's strong point is in the care he takes 
 of his soldiers. After he arrived at Brashear City 
 there was not any more rotten provisions issued to us. 
 General Washburne is extremely popular with b's 
 soldiers. 
 
 It was a lively, jolly crowd of soldier boys that 
 went down the Mississippi on this trip. The general 
 health was never better. To see the healthy, fat, jolly 
 crowd now sailing down the Mississippi in the Clinton 
 no one would have believed that they were the same 
 tired, worn-out and sick men that were a few months 
 ay^o seen in the trenches in front of Vicksburg. 
 Most of our soldiers are between eighteen and twentv- 
 three years of age. Boys of that age with good 
 health and plenty to eat recuperate with wonderful 
 rapidity. We start for Texas in the best of health 
 and spirits. 
 
 As night came on, we commenced to think of how 
 we were to sleep. Many laughable scenes ensued. 
 Boom to lie down in, was out of the question. It 
 liad been found difficult to get the men all on board 
 even when all were standing. The boys doubled and 
 twisted themselves up into the smallest possible com- 
 pass. They supported each other sitting thick to- 
 gether. In places they were even piled on the top of 
 each other. Thus crowded most of them slept part 
 of the night. A hungry soldier can eat and a tired 
 one can sleep under almost any circumstf; ices and 
 with little regard to the fitness of things. Mere pro- 
 
Delta of the Mississippi. 297 
 
 prietj and beauty are at a discount witli a soldier 
 when he is at dinner, asleep or in a fight. 
 
 As we neared the month of tlie river it was thouglit 
 that, owing to the darkness of the night, the crowded 
 condition of our boat, and the shallow water, that it 
 would be unsafe to attempt to pass the bars at the 
 mouth of the river; so we anchored at midnight and 
 la}' still until the next morning. 
 
 At early daylight on the morning of the sixteenth, 
 we hove anchor and sailed through one of the narrow 
 chaimels that form the Delta of the Mississippi. To 
 our right, as we passed out, was a light-liouse stand- 
 ing upon a forlorn sand bar. The only building near 
 it was one little hut, intended, I suppose, for the use 
 of those whose duty it was to take care of the light- 
 house. 
 
 The deep, rich and fertile soil, with its smiling foli- 
 age that greeted us from each bank of the river as 
 we came down from New Orleans has here given 
 place to barren tracts of sand. 
 
 I found that the mouth of the river was different 
 from the idea I had formed of it. I had supposed, 
 from the descriptions I had read, that the Mississippi 
 at the mouth was broken by two or three large islands, 
 and that the water ran into tlie gulf through about 
 three large channels. But as it appeared to me this 
 morning, from the deck of the steamer where I was 
 standing, the river is broken by a host of little islands 
 and sand bars, and runs into the gulf through a large 
 number of narrow and crooked courses. 
 
 Passing through one of the numerous channels at 
 the mouth of the Mississi).])i, we were soon sailing 
 
298 Army Life. 
 
 quickly and pleasantly u))on tlie broad waters of the 
 Gulf of Mexico. With interest M'e watched the re- 
 ceding shores, as one after another, this and then 
 that particular point was lost to us; until the last, 
 boldest point, in its turn, also became enveloped and 
 finally lost in the undefined mist of the distant shore. 
 We looked ai^ain, carefully and long, but all is lost. 
 The water around us and the sky above is all that can 
 now be seen. For the first time in my life I am out of 
 sight of land, sailing upon the deep, deep sea. Most 
 of tlie young soldiers, my comrades, being farmer boys 
 like myself, were also taking their first ride over deep 
 and boundless waters. 
 
 A strange and weird feeling comes over one, as he, 
 for the first time in his life, realizes that he is out of 
 sight of land and upon the waters of the deep sea, 
 with nothing to cling to but the frail craft that carries 
 him above the rolling deep. All there is near him is 
 the thin air above and the hardly less yielding water 
 beneath him. In case of danger he might as well 
 attempt to cling to a handful of one as the other, A 
 handful of water, like that of air, would melt in his 
 grasp. Cast adrift here how helpless one would be. 
 A feeling of man's insignificance, compared with nat- 
 ure's greatness, comes over us. Many unbidden 
 thoughts will come to him, who, thus for the first 
 time, realizes that he is upon the deep sea and out of 
 sight of land. 
 
 After the young soldiers became accustomed to the 
 situation many queer questions were asked and wild 
 speculations indulged in. The chances of a jollj' fit 
 of seasickness received a fair share of consideration. 
 
Upon the Gulf of Mexico. 29'9 
 
 Tiie sea was calm and smooth, the ship ran as even as 
 does a boat upon the smooth waters of a placid river. 
 AVhen niglit came only a very few had experienced any 
 symptoms of seasickness, and many of the boys 
 seemed disappointed in not bein^^ as sick as they had 
 expected to be. Many of them becauie convinced 
 that the stories of seasickness, deep waves and phing- 
 in<y boats, were merely sailor yarns, and protested that 
 sailinof npon the deep waters of the gulf was fnlly as 
 pleasant as riding upon the smooth waters of the land 
 protected rivers. Those of experience smiled to them- 
 selves and kept their peace. They could well wait 
 for time, and the treacherous gulf, to answer the ob- 
 jection; that sailing upon the deep waters was too 
 smooth and monotonous to be pleasant. 
 
 During the night a sharp wind sprung up. In a 
 short time the waves were running high. Tlie boat 
 plunged up and down over them. Many of the 
 soldiers were soon sick enough to satisfy old ocean for 
 the fun they had laughing at him during the day, be- 
 cause he could not make them sick. Seasickness is 
 peculiar. It shakes some up lively, others it leaves 
 alone. Kever having been seasick myself I will not 
 attempt to explain what it is. 
 
 As the sun rose the next morning and smiled down 
 npon the sea, the stormy elements quieted down, and 
 in a few hours the ship was again running as smooth 
 as though we were sailing along the shores of some 
 pleasant river. Thus passed our second day at sea. 
 During the niglit following the wind came up again, 
 but not as strong as during the preceding night. We 
 had a pleasant all night sail. 
 
300 Army Life. 
 
 At an early hour on the morning of the eighteenth 
 we came in siglit of the rongh sand bars of the Texas 
 coast. We kept within a few miles of land during 
 Ithe remainder of our voyage. The wind that had 
 come up during the night had continued to increase 
 and gave us a rough sea during the entire day. 
 Miiny of the boys ^'ere quite seasick. 
 
 Just an liour before sundown we arrived at the 
 Pass of Point Isabel, at the mouth of the Rio Grande 
 River. We attempted to go through the pass into 
 the harbor but failed. AVe ran aground on a sand 
 bar. Signals were given for some of tlie boats in the 
 liarbor to come and help us tiirough. None came, 
 and the attempt to get through was abandoned. With 
 much difficulty the ship was backed off of the sand bar, 
 and we considered ourselves fortunate in being once 
 more on the open sea, and safely away from the dan- 
 gerous shores. 
 
 When daylight came the next morning it found us 
 sailing up and down the shore off Point Isabel. We 
 were also within sight of the shores of Mexico. 
 Along the coast of Mexico, just below the mouth of 
 the Rio Grande, we saw a large fleet of steam and sail 
 vessels, all flying the French flag. We were in- 
 formed that it was part of Louis Napoleon's French 
 fleet, sent over by him to capture and subjugate un- 
 happy and sad-fated Mexico. The American soldiers 
 do not look with pleasure upon the French flag, float- 
 ing in American waters for such a purpose. The 
 views of all were expressed by one of our soldiers, in 
 a manner more forcible than elegant. Shaking his 
 fist at the French fleet, he exclaimed: "When Uncle 
 
Within Sight of Mexico. 301 
 
 Sam and his old woman get over their little family 
 difficult}', you French rascals want to be right lively 
 in getting out of that melon patch." 
 
 Returning as near as possible to Point Isabel, we 
 fired signal guns in hopes of receiving some assist- 
 ance from the harbor, but the sea was so rough that 
 none w^ould venture out to us. Toward night, when 
 the tide was at its highest, we again attempted to en- 
 ter the harbor. In doing so we ran aground twice. 
 It was a critical time for us. The huge breakers 
 were tearing fiercely. I have read graphic accounts 
 of the huge wave breakers of the Texas coast, but 
 none gave* me more than a faint idea of such fierce 
 pnes as those by which we were now surrounded. 
 Lying in the fierce wa\es in front of us, as stern evi- 
 dence of what our fate might be, were the broken 
 wrecks of the fated vessels that had a few days previ- 
 ously attempted to pass through those terrible break- 
 ers. It was plain that no boat could live long in 
 such a fearful place. The staunchest boat ever 
 made would soon be pounded to pieces if aground 
 among those fierce waves. The first sand bar upon 
 which we were caught was a small one and we got off 
 from it in a short time. We hardly had time, how- 
 ever, to take a free breath when we struck again. 
 This time it seemed certain that we caught for keeps; 
 it was a serious affair. The vessel ran aground hard 
 and fast. We worked hard and earnestly. Still we 
 stuck fast. The tide had turned. Soon it would run 
 down and then we would be left helpless, and by 
 morning nothing but the broken pieces of our staunch 
 boat would be lelt. The front half of the boat was 
 
302 Akmy Life. 
 
 fast on the bar. Every thing movable was carried 
 to tlie back part of the vesseh The plan was to 
 lighten the front half of the ship so that it would 
 raise while the rear half settled down in the deeper 
 water. After every thing of weight that could be 
 moved had been carried back, and just at the critical 
 moment the soldiers on the boat were asked to move 
 to the rear. They did so effectively. How the large 
 crowd of soldiers hung on to the stern of the boat as 
 they did without some falling overboard is a mystery. 
 The last effort was made, the boat trembled for a mo- 
 ment, and then commenced to move, and then after 
 once getting a start continued with increased speed 
 and slid back with a huge splash into the deep water. 
 We were fortunate, indeed. In ten minutes more the 
 tide would have receded enough to have made our 
 escape impossible. 
 
 At one time the captain of the boat almost gave up 
 all hope of being able to save his ship. He earnestly 
 declared that he " would never be caught in such a 
 place again." When the darkest moment came he 
 sadly commenced a remark which if ended as intended 
 when he commenced speaking, would have shown the 
 boat of but little value at that moment. Said he, "I 
 would not give one hundred— thousand— dollars for 
 this boat." The amount mentioned was more than it 
 was worth standing at the wharf at New Orleans. At 
 first he only intended to say one hundred dollars. 
 Even, although badly alarmed, the old fellow could 
 not withstand the sailor's propensity to joke a little. 
 It was second nature with him. We were fast and 
 in critical danger for about two hours. During all 
 
OuK Ship in Danger. 303 
 
 of this time the boys remained cool and unexcited. 
 They bantered each other on the prospect of attempt- 
 ing to swim ashore when the vessel broke to pieces, 
 bargained with the little ship boys for lemons, in- 
 vented practical jokes upon each other, and in many 
 ways showed an indifference to danger that was hardly 
 allowable even in soldiers, A load of cftizen passen- 
 gers on the boat under such circumstances would have 
 been well-nigh frantic with fear. I sometimes think 
 tliat tlie greatest difficulty in dealing with soldiers 
 who have been in much service, would be to con- 
 vince them of actual danger. A few were some- 
 wliat alarmed. I noticed one who was of the class 
 called " no account soldiers." Tliey are usually drunk 
 while in camp and hiding when there is a fight on 
 hand. lie became so frightened that he would have 
 thrown himself overboard in the mad attempt to swim 
 ashore, had lie not been caught by some of his com- 
 rades. 
 
 The reckless indifference of the soldiers proved of 
 great advantage to us. The captain of the boat after- 
 ward declared that he had never seen such coolneSS in 
 time of danger, and that it was owing to the prompt- 
 ness with which the soldiers complied with every 
 request made, that enabled him to save the ship. 
 
 When at last the announcement was made, "She 
 moves, we are now safe," a loud and hearty cheer arose 
 from the entire command. This plainly sliowed that 
 beneath the seeming indifference tlie soldiers really 
 had a deep sense of the danger they were in, and were 
 truly delighted when it vas past. 
 
 As sQon as we were free from the dangerous sand bar 
 
304 Army Life. 
 
 we ran out into the deep water to remain over night. 
 "We had barely time to get fairly anchored and make 
 some arrangements to sleep when the weather-wise 
 sea captain gave us notice to secure everything, as 
 "in a few minutes it will be blowing about four 
 points." "What a " four points" wind was we did not 
 know but took the ca]itain's advice and proceeded to 
 secure our guns, knapsacks and other soldier's fixings. 
 We were none too soon. In a few moments a hard 
 wind storm with some rain burst upon us. It was 
 impossible for the boat to lay at anchor. The only 
 course of safety was to run out into the deep sea. 
 This we did. During the night the storm raged with 
 tremendous fury. Tlie water of the deep sea was 
 whipped into rolling mountains of white foam. The 
 angry waves raged as though they would tear asun- 
 der the bottom of the roighty deep. The ship ca- 
 reened and rocked from side to side until at times the 
 bottom seemed uppermost; and then jump and 
 plunge headlong, up and down over the huge moun- 
 tain waves as though it would turn a somersault 
 and dive down to the bottom of the unfathomable sea. 
 Huge waves often threw great sheets of water over 
 the highest part of the deck. The mad sea covered 
 the entire boat with the white foam it spit forth in its 
 fearful rage. Each deep opening between the gigantic 
 waves resembled a mouth of boundless width and un- 
 measured depths opened to swallow us. It appeared 
 as though some monster of gigantic size had come 
 that could devour our entire boat and its contents at 
 one effort as easily as a huge ox swallows a mouthful 
 of corn. A fierce, wild animal foaming with rage is 
 
A Gulf Storm. 305 
 
 a fearful sight to behold. An an^ry sea like this can 
 well be compared with an angry wild beast of gigan- 
 tic size. It seemed as though the entire gulf had 
 . been changed into some fierce animal of destruction 
 as large as the entire sea and with unnumbered 
 mouths of monstrous size, each foaming with rage 
 and opened to devour us. guch as this is a storm at 
 sea on the Gulf of Mexico. After passing through 
 one we never questioned the wildest storj the most 
 gifted sailor could relate. 
 
 By the next morning the furj of the wild storm had 
 abated and we again returned as near as possible to 
 Pass Isabel, anchored, raised the flag, Union down, 
 in signal of distress, and fired signal guns to those in 
 the harbor. These are the sailors' signals of distress. 
 The intention was to try by every means to get some 
 assistance, at least a pilot from the harbor. If not 
 successful in doing so before night the conclusion was 
 that it would be necessary to start back for New 
 Orleans. This we would have to do to save the horses 
 and mules we had on board. We have not fresh 
 water enough to keep them alive much longer. In 
 fact they have had but little water since we left the 
 Mississippi. This and the rough sea we have had has 
 almost ruined the liorses and mules. A rough sea is 
 a hard place for live animals. During the fierce 
 storm they were, by the plunging of the boat, thrown 
 against the sides of the vessel with a crash that 
 seemed as though it would break every bone in their 
 bodies. Tliey were badly injured. Some were killed. 
 During the forenoon the dead horses were drawn up 
 and thrown overboard. One horse was thrown over 
 20 
 
306 Army Life. 
 
 wliicli became revived by the salt water of the sea 
 and for a while struggled witli the waves and kept 
 swimming around the ship. Of course it was im- 
 possible to fish him out and some of the boys out of 
 pity shot him. 
 
 No assistance came from Point Isabel, but during 
 the afternoon a small messenger boat ai-rived from 
 some other quarter, bringing us orders to effect a 
 landing at some otlier point. We hove anchor and 
 sailed up the coast of Texas, and the next morning 
 found us anchored off Aransas Inlet. 
 
 Our I'ations upon this voyage, as they usually are 
 upon such occasions, were very poor. About all we 
 liave had to live upon was hard tack and some coffee. 
 One reason why we did not fare better was because 
 tliere were no conveniences on board to cook for our 
 large number. For the first p)art of our trip the boat 
 cooks charged us at the rate of about ten cents per 
 quarV for hot water to make our coffee. The objec- 
 tion to this was the well known fact that the Govern- 
 ment paid for all the fuel, and liberal wages to every 
 one connected with the boat. Even at the rate 
 charged w'e could not get more than half enough. 
 When hardships are unavoidable our soldiers pass 
 througli them without a murmur. In this case they 
 could see neither necessity nor justice. The matter 
 was soon settled. Some of the soldiers, without con- 
 sulting their company officers, went into the cabin 
 and reported the facts to General Washburne. He 
 took the matter in hand at once. The trade in warm 
 water immediately ceased. During the balance of 
 our cruise upon the gulf we had an opportunity of 
 
At St. Joseph's Island, l^ov., 1863. 307 
 
 making all the coffee we wanted twice a day. Sol- 
 diers can live very well with plenty of coffee and hard 
 tack. Still it is not a very rich diet. The reaction 
 of the first seasickness had given the boys huge ap- 
 petites. Before our voyage upon the gulf was ended 
 they were hungry as wolves. 
 
 After an understanding was had with the boat offi- 
 cials, by closing the money making part of their busi- 
 ness, and, no doubt, a little plain talk from General 
 Washburne, they became quite clever and we managed 
 to get some meat cooked now and then. The com- 
 missary, witii the assistance of the boat cooks, one dav 
 cooked a full barrel of pork. Some of the boys met 
 the commissary before the cooked meat was issued. 
 When he was asked to explain why he had let some 
 of it go before it was regularly issued, he declared that 
 the "hungry soldiers were determined to eat either the 
 pork or the commissary sergeant and I preferred to 
 let them eat the pork." The explanation was accepted 
 as satisfactory. 
 
 During the forenoon of Saturday, November twenty- 
 first, the steamboat Warren came along-side and part 
 of the men and horses were transferred to her from 
 the Clinton. This was done to lighten the latter boat 
 so that she could pass up the channel. Our company 
 went on board the Warren. We then sailed up the 
 inlet. At first we stopped a short tirwe at Mustano- 
 Island. Here we found part of our brigade. Those 
 who came on the St. Mary from Algiers. When they 
 first landed they had a short engagement with a force 
 of rebels they found entrenched here. Our boys capt- 
 ured their entire force and their fortifications and 
 
308 Army Life. 
 
 arms. These consisted of two small forts inonnting 
 tliree lieav^y guns, and its garrison of one hundred men 
 and all of their camp equipage, small arms, ammuni- 
 tion and supplies. "VVe stopped a short time without 
 landing and then sailed up and landed upon the south- 
 western end of St. Joseph's Island. 
 
 We had considerable diflicultj in landing. The 
 pier and wharf had been destroyed. Tlie water was 
 so shallow that we could not reach the shore with the 
 Warren. The only way for us to land was to use the 
 ship's small row-boats. They were put to work and 
 the men were soon ashore. Then came the horses 
 and mules. How shall we manage them? Anyone 
 can easily see that it will be cpiite a difficult matter 
 to carry heavy horses and nimble legged mules 
 ashore in small row-boats. Apparently the only way 
 is to lay them on their backs, in the little boat, with 
 their feet tied as tlie countrywoman ties her chicken's 
 legs when moving. Then only one animal could be 
 taken at a time. Should a mule's legs get loose, look 
 out. He would have a boat all to himself in short 
 order. Evidently there is lots of fun ahead. But ia 
 the army, things very difficult in theory become ex- 
 ceedingly simple in practice. In this case the soldiers 
 promptly solved all difficulty by drawing the horses 
 and mules up out of the ship and throwing them 
 overboard without ceremony. They struck the water 
 in every shape. Some would strike head first. 
 Others would turn a complete somersault in going 
 down. The fall from the place on the boat where 
 they were thrown oft" to the water was some twenty 
 feet. Each would be plunged out of sight in the deep 
 
Landing in Texas. 309 
 
 water. Although thej M-ere somewhat stunned and 
 confused, none were seriously disabled. After float- 
 ing around the ship awhile some of the men in row- 
 boats wo«ld head them to the land and they would 
 swim ashore. All except one were saved. One horse 
 became bewildered, or else disgusted with such treat- 
 ment, and concluded to desert from Uncle Sam's serv- 
 ice, and started iip tiie bay swimming toward the 
 land of rebeldoin. Tlie last I saw of him he was a 
 mile or more distant. Some of the men started after 
 him in a small row-boat. I do not know M'hether he 
 was captured or not. 
 
 More difficulty was found in getting the artillery 
 asliore than anything else. The cannon could not 
 be thrown overboard as the liorses had been. This 
 difficulty was also soon solved. We lashed some of 
 the small boats togetlier, laid some planks across, and 
 in this manner made a flat boat of sufficient strengtli, 
 and soon run all of our artillery on shore. Then 
 cime our supjilies and ammunition, all of which re- 
 quired much liard work to land. Even the small 
 boats could only reach within several rods of the 
 shore. The water ran veiw sludlow and we carried 
 every thing over water from two to six inclies deep for 
 considerable distance. The artillery wlieels could 
 run without injury to the gun in water of that depth, 
 but nearly every thing else had to be carried by hand. 
 AVe all took hold and worked nntil midnight, when 
 our task was finished, and during the balance of the 
 night for the first time we slept upon the land of 
 Texas. 
 
310 Army Life. 
 
 CIIAPTEPv XXY. 
 
 FIRST MARCH IN TEXAS. 
 
 The southern or southwestern end of St. Joseph's 
 Island, where we landed, consists mainly of rough 
 riclo^es of sand. AVhile the rough, wild scenery 
 could hardly be called beautiful, still it M'as quite 
 interesting to us who were not accustomed to see 
 the moving hills of drifting sand, AVhen I looked 
 upon the white sand rolling and drifting up into 
 huge piles I thought of the grand old times we 
 used to sometimes have in our Northern clime as we 
 went dancing with the merry bells over the huge 
 drifts and through the flying snow. Sweet remem- 
 brances of the past! When will those happy times 
 bo ours again? 
 
 There is some level land on tlie island, upon which 
 considerable wild grass grows. Although the soil is 
 light, some of it might repay cultivation. It is evi- 
 dently better adapted for grazing purposes than any 
 other. The coast along the gulf is very rough. 
 The breakers run very higli with a never-ending roar, 
 sounding, sounding, day after day and night after 
 night as though old ocean was determined at all hours 
 to remind us of his unbounded power. It would be 
 madness to attempt to land anywhere upon the gulf 
 shore. The only way is to sail up some chajinel or 
 inlet before attempting to land. The large bay be- 
 tween the island and the main land furnishes a safe 
 harbor for any number of vessels. The only difticulty 
 
FiKST March in Texas. 311 
 
 is in reaching it. The channel running from the 
 gulf to the bay is narrow and its water shallow. It 
 is not deep enough to admit large gulf steamers. 
 
 Sunday, November twenty-second, was fully occu- 
 pied by the balance of our troops in landing on St. 
 Joseph's Island. 
 
 By Monday morning we were in marching and 
 fighting condition. The entire command were safely 
 on shore. Our artillery and every thing had beeii 
 landed in good shape. More ammunition was issued 
 so that each soldier now had eighty rounds. Three 
 days rations of hard tack and coffee were issued. This 
 was all the rations we had on shore. Having no 
 transportation we will have to carry every thing and 
 til us march heavily loaded. 
 
 The water of the bay is warm and the bathing 
 splendid. At our Northern homes we would look for 
 ice instead of outdoor bathing at this season of the 
 year. 
 
 At Monday noon the order to " Fall in" was given 
 and we at once started for the northern end of the isl- 
 and. We kept along the gulf shore all day. Upon 
 the beach were many rare and curious shells. The 
 boys would pick them up, admire them and then throw 
 thera away again. Cartridges instead of things of 
 mere beauty are carried by soldiers in time of war, 
 with an armed enemy near at hand. 
 
 By keeping upon the wet sand near the water of the 
 gulf, we had a smooth, hard and splendid road the en- 
 tire distance. We readied the' northern end of the 
 i^riand at a late hour of the night, pretty well tired out 
 by our heavy loads and rapid marching. 
 
312 Army Life. 
 
 When our advance first reached the extreme end of 
 the island they overtook a band of Confedc rites who 
 were rapidly crossin^j the channel over to Matagorda 
 Island. A slight skirmish ensued bnt the enemy 
 soon passed out of range of onr guns upon the other 
 shore. One rebel officer was shot. JS^one of our men 
 were hit. 
 
 A chain of islands ran along the entire gulf coast 
 of this part of Texas. Evidently the gulf shore was, 
 ages ago. along what is now the main land. Some 
 sudden convulsion of nature probably produced such 
 an cH'ect that the subsequent accretions of sand and 
 earth washed up was deposited along the shore some 
 distance in the gulf from the former water-line. 
 These accretions in time formed into solid land, leav- 
 ing a space for water, between it and the former shore. 
 At different points the action of the waves and water 
 has kept a channel open through the later-formed 
 land. This leaves the new land in the form of long- 
 islands, running parallel with the main land, from 
 which they are separated by the water lying between 
 them. Thus there is a chain of long islands running 
 along the shore and a chain of bays rnnning along 
 between the islands and the main land. These inland 
 waters are convenient to the light boats that run 
 through thein, along the Texas sh(»re. Xone but 
 large ocean steamers or ships can venture far upon tlie 
 waters of the gulf. Small sail and row-boats can i-uii 
 through the inland waters with as much safety as if 
 in the best protected harbor. 
 
 We lay in camp on the northern part of St. Jo- 
 seph's Island, during the following day. We found 
 
Feasting on Yenison. 313 
 
 o^-sters in the bay nnd gathered wliat we wanted to eat. 
 We are also feasting on venison. The island is well 
 stocked with deer. They liave been troubled so little 
 lately that they have increased to a large number and 
 are quite easily approached to M'ithin good rifle dis- 
 tance. As we marched up the island many deer were 
 seen on our route. Some even came near enough to 
 fall a victim to the soldiers' rifles. As we remained in 
 camp ail day our hunters went over the island and 
 had a grand time hunting, Nearly a hundred deer 
 were brought in to our brigade during the day. 
 
 During the daytime of Wednesday our regiment 
 remained at the same place. Other troops were busy 
 crossing over to Matagorda Island. During our stay 
 here we had a tedious time. We had our first experience 
 of a Texas " norther." A steady wind will commence 
 coming down from the far-ofl" snow -covered mountain* 
 in the north and northwest, and the result is a fierce, 
 cold, penetrating storm. We were exposed to the full 
 blast of the severe storm for nearly two full days. 
 Our little skeleton tents furnished but little protection 
 against the fierce driving storm of cold wind, freezing 
 rain and frozen sleet. To make our exposed condition 
 worse, there was no wood within reach upon the island. 
 It was with much difficulty that we found fuel enough 
 to cook a little meat and make some coffee. Our only 
 resource for fuel was to gather "buffalo chips," (A 
 large number of cattle had at one time fed upon the 
 island.) The boys used their rubber blankets as bas- 
 kets to bring in the fuel. The best we could do was 
 to make a fire to half cook our rations; fire enough 
 to keep warm by was out of the question. A roaring 
 
31i Army Life. 
 
 camp-fire, such as we used to have in the woods of 
 Missouri would have been a rare luxury to us. 
 
 The fury of the storm had somewhat abated by the 
 night of November twenty-fifth. At sundown we jMit 
 every thing in readiness to cross over to the other isl- 
 and. Two small boats were the only means we had 
 of crossing. Our regiment waited for its turn, and 
 it was nearly ten o'clock at night when we got over. 
 
 We marched forward immediately. For the first 
 two miles we kept along the gulf shore, and tlien 
 turned off so as to pass through the sand hills to the 
 prairie back of them. The boys supposed that this 
 was a signal for camping, and commenced picking up 
 drift wood, of which there happened to be a reason- 
 able supply on the beach. After we had passed 
 through the sand hills to the open prairie, instead of 
 camping, as was expected, we again turned to the 
 right and continued marching up toward the nortliern 
 end of the island. Still thinking this was only to find 
 a better place to cam.p, the soldiers continued to carry 
 their back-loads of wood in hopes that a halt would 
 soon be made. As we continned our onward course 
 they soon became tired of such an addition to their 
 previously heavy loads, and first one, then another, 
 with an exclamation of disgust, threw away their load 
 of wood amidst the laughter of their more plucky 
 comrades, who declared that they ''would never pick 
 up anything that they could not carr}-." Each quar- 
 ter of a mile was expected to end our march, but we 
 went on, on, tramping along our night's march, and 
 others in turn became still more disgusted and threw 
 down their extra loads- amidst the still louder laughter 
 
A Night Makch. 315 
 
 of their mevrj comrades. Some, more stubborn still, 
 disdained to throw theirs awaj, and the wood thej 
 had picked np was actually carried full eight miles 
 during a night march, and the plucky soldiers used 
 the fuel they had carried so far to make some coffee 
 with when we finally camped. 
 
 At last, toward one o'clock, we stopped for the bal- 
 ance of the night. Forming in line of battle, know- 
 ing that there was an avmed force of the enemy some- 
 where in our front, we wrapped our blankets around 
 Hs, lay down upon the prairie grass and were soon 
 sleeping as soundly and happily as though we had 
 never heard of war, nor ever learned what liardship 
 was. Many a one who never saw a line of battle 
 formed, tired and exhausted with business affairs or 
 disease, as he lies sleepless upon his warm and soft bed 
 at home, would willingly make almost any sacrifice if 
 he could sleep as soundly as we did this night, and 
 have upon many a more critical occasion. 
 
 At an early liour Thursday, November tweiitj-- 
 sixt)h, we were awakened from our quiet slumbers 
 by the drum's earnest and sudden reveille. Ere 
 the echoing sound had passed away, the command, 
 " Fall in," was given. Without stopping for a mouth- 
 ful of brealcfast the lines were formed and the column 
 put in motion. We marched forward as rapidly ; s 
 possible. At eleven o'clock we came to a halt, long 
 enough to make some coflee. We carry coffee boilers 
 and other light cooking utensils with us. Son:e 
 ground coffee, ready for the coffee-pot, will always be 
 found in the prudent soldier's haversack. Dry drift- 
 wood was convenient, and some coffee w'as soon made. 
 
316 Army Life. 
 
 A combined breakfast and dinner, consisting of coffee 
 and hard tack was soon disposed of and we pnshed 
 forward again. 
 
 Matagorda Island seems to be the home of Large 
 droves of cattle. AVe saw a number of droves during 
 our day's march. They were extremely wild. Every 
 little while we would come near to a drove that Avere 
 quietly grazing, or resting upon the rich grass. At 
 our approach they would spring up and raise their 
 shaggy heads, crowned with the huge, unsightly horns 
 of the Texas caitle, look upon us in wondei*, and then 
 gallop away in grand disorder for half a mile or more. 
 Moved by some strange and unexplained cause, the 
 entire drove, in a body, like a company of soldiers, 
 would at once wheel avound, stop and gaze upon us as 
 though inclined to come back and get acquainted, and 
 then, as if suddenly repenting of such folly, again 
 turn and scamper away faster than before, and thus 
 continue until they disappeared from sight behind 
 some distant and friendly knoll. 
 
 We also started up many droves of beautiful deer. 
 They would scamper and circle around us, gazing in 
 innocent bewilderment and strange surprise at the 
 moving column of soldiers, until some horseman 
 would dash among and fire at them. The little deer 
 would then, terror-stricken, scamper away in wild dis- 
 may, to join the drove of cattle that was by this 
 time fast disappearing beyond the distant hills. The 
 deer upon this island seemed to have learned to keep 
 near a drove of the almost equally wild cattle for pro- 
 tectnon. Probabl}'^ many generations of deer have 
 been accustomed to run among a drov^e of cattle to 
 
On Matagokda Island, Kov., 1863. 317 
 
 escape from wolves and otlier animals of pi'e}^ nntil 
 it has become natnral for them to run to a drove of 
 cattle when thej are alarmed. 
 
 During the afternoon a few Confederate soldiers oc- 
 casionally appeared in view, for a brief moment, and 
 then suddenly disappeared beyond the distant sand 
 hills. But little attention was paid to them. A 
 brief announcement that "some rebels are in sight" 
 was passed along the line, and no further notice given 
 them. But few of our soldiers took any pains to even 
 look at them. A nice flock of deer, capering over the 
 sand hills attracted more attention. It appears nat- 
 ural for old soldiers to think that scattering bands of 
 an enemy are beneath their notice. Besides this, ex- 
 perience had told us that whenever we were approach- 
 ing an armed enemy, we would frequently see a band 
 of his scouts who would always take good care to run 
 awa}'' before our advance came within gunshot of 
 them. The occasional appearance of a band of rebels 
 in our front simply meant, as we knew to be the fact, 
 that an armed force of the enemy was still in our front 
 and upon the same island with us. Their brief appear- 
 ance to view, and promptness in running away also as- 
 sured us that we had not yet reached the place they had 
 selected to stand and contest our further advance. 
 Thus seeing a few of the armed enemy now and then, 
 instead of indicating danger, was an assurance that for 
 the present there was none. 
 
 At night we stopped within ten miles of the north- 
 ern end of the island. The northern end of the island 
 is at the entrance to Matagorda Bay. That is the 
 place where we expect to find the enemy in force and 
 
318 . Aemt Life. 
 
 probably strongly fortified. If strong enough they 
 may venture oat to meet us. Thus it is important 
 for us to be well on guard from this time on. 
 
 This day's march can be classed among the hardest 
 marches we have in our varied career ever made. 
 Many of our toughest soldiers became exhausted and 
 were compelled to drop out of the ranks a!id lie down 
 upon the sand, unable to proceed farther. As they 
 revived they would resume their wearied step and fol- 
 low after us. During the entire night the tired sol- 
 diers continued straggling into camp, one after an- 
 other. Some were so completely exhausted that they 
 had to seek the warm side of some friendly sand hill 
 for an all night's rest, and were unable to reach their 
 regiments until the next morning. 
 
 I think that we here reached the climax of bad 
 drinking water. How it would be possible to find an}' 
 worse drinking water than that we were obliged to 
 use at this place, I can not imagine. Two small sink 
 holes contained all the fresh water we could find. 
 The supply was small and it soon became so muddy 
 that by dipping up a cupful and letting it settle, there 
 would be a full quarter of an inch of mud and filth 
 at the bottom. The water was fairly alive. Unless 
 the cup was held very still the active insects caught 
 in it would never let the water settle. The two 
 places that were the only source of our supply were 
 in the center of a piece of low, marshy ground. 
 Having been the place where large droves of thirsty 
 cattle had, during many years, concentrated when at- 
 tempting to quench their thirst, it had all of the ad- 
 vantages of an old barnyard, coloring and scenting 
 
CxiPTUKE OF FOKT EsrARENZA, 319 
 
 the water in a beautiful manner. Straining this 
 water was of but little use. That only removed the 
 larger kind of insects and the solid pieces of filth. 
 Boiling the water improved it very much, and when 
 the coffee was made pretty strong, it was considered 
 quite passable. As much as we could, we boiled the 
 water and let it settle and cool over night. When 
 impure water must be used, it should be first boiled. 
 A wise commander will always teach his soldiers to 
 boil impure water before drinking it. If all would 
 do this, an army could pass through a country infected 
 with malaria without the entire command being laid 
 low with fever. With our large force and limited 
 conveniences, it was on this hurried occasion impos- 
 sible to boil enough water to go round. When it came 
 to filling canteens with the water just as it could be 
 dipped up, muck, insects and filth altogether, without 
 time enough to let it settle, even the veterans of the 
 Thirteenth Army Corps admitted that it was " rather 
 tough." . ' 
 
 CHAPTER XXYI. 
 
 ADVANCE UrON, AND CAPTUEE OF FOET ESPAEENZA. 
 
 On the morning of Friday, IsTovetnber 27, 18G3, 
 after a light breakfast, consisting of coffee and hard 
 tack, in heavy marching condition and in complete 
 fighting order, we moved forward. We had some ex- 
 
320 Army Life. 
 
 pectations of seeing an armed enemy ere the sun 
 went down. We knew tliat they were yet upon the 
 same island with us, and tliat only ten short miles 
 were left between us and its northern end, whicli we 
 were now approaching. Our real expectations, how- 
 ever, were to find that the enemy had evacuated. 
 The morning was so dark and foggy that the most 
 prominent objects could be discovered only with the 
 greatest difficulty. 
 
 Our brigade marched upon the beach along the 
 gulf, and under cover of the sand hills. Had occa- 
 sion arisen, these sand hills could, at once, have been 
 extemporized into splendid breastworks. Another 
 brigade, under command of General Eansom, moved 
 forward upon the opposite side of the island. 
 
 Our mounted men, consisting mostly of staff and 
 artillery officers, displayed commendable energy in ex- 
 amining the neighboring hills, to guard against a 
 S'lrprise by the enemy. General "Washburne, with field 
 glnss in hand, was foremost in scrutinizing every sus- 
 picious place. 
 
 AVe went forward in this manner until m'c reached 
 the light-house at Pass Cavallo, without meeting any- 
 thing of greater interest than a brief view of a few 
 mounted Confederates, who quickly passed out of 
 sight. The heavy fog still made it difficult to sec far 
 in advance. The light-house is at the northeast cor- 
 ner of Matagorda Island. Having reached this point, 
 we made a halt to rest, and also in order to give 
 Ransom time to come up and join us. 
 
 Among other things we found here, worthy of note, 
 was an old fort, said to have been built by the soldiers 
 
Captuee of Fort Esparen/a. 321 
 
 under General Taylor, during the Mexican War. It 
 had been built of sand and earth, and was now nearly 
 beaten down by the wind and storms that have year 
 after year passed over it; still the walls retained their 
 form enough to plainly show the plan of the fort. 
 Whether or not any guns were ever mounted in it, I 
 can not say. 
 
 Having reached Pass Cavallo, at the northern part 
 of the island, and finding no enemy in siglit, our pre- 
 vious impression that the Confederates would evacuate 
 before we could reach them was apparently realized. 
 
 When we started forward we were soon convinced 
 of our error. Instead of having reached tlie end of 
 the island, as it appeared when we struck Pass Cav- 
 allo, we now found that the long, narrow island, 
 which had thus far continued with so much uniform- 
 ity in a direct course, here turned suddenly to the 
 west, forming almost a direct angle to our left. It 
 is one of the strange freaks that nature sometimes 
 deliglits to surprise us with. A little observation 
 shows us how nature's work at this place was done. 
 When the new land of the long island lying paral- 
 lel with the shore of the main land was formed by the 
 sand washed from the deep gulf, it left at this point 
 a bay of considerable width between the island and 
 main shore. The wind and tide then carried more 
 sand through the opening now known as Pass Cavallo 
 and deposited it so as to build up and leave Matagor- 
 da Island with an L shaped end as we now find it. 
 
 After waiting for Ransom's brigade to come up and 
 join our left we moved forward and soon found our- 
 selves in front of the still occupied rebel works. A 
 21 
 
322 Army Life. 
 
 lively little skinnisli now ensued. Oiir skirmishers 
 advanced near enough to exchange rifle shots with 
 the rebels in their outer works. A few shots of 
 heavy artillery coming from beyond, claimed our at- 
 tention and we soon distinguished the elaborate walls 
 of a strong and complete rebel fort. The foggy mist 
 had now commenced to raise and we soon saw that we 
 were in front of more complete and much stronger 
 fortifications than we had expected to find. Xot be- 
 ing ready to commence a general engagement we 
 jnoved back out of range of the cannon on the rebel 
 fort and camped for the night. Company G of our 
 reginjent being in advance as skirmishers were the 
 most exposed part of our force. Some of their men 
 Avere wounded. Lieutenant Fifer, of our regiment, 
 who, acting as aid for General Washburne, was shot, 
 a rifle ball striking him in the breast. He had gone 
 to the front with orders for the skirmishers to retreat. 
 Thus fell a young, brave and accomplished officer, 
 nobly doing his duty. 
 
 It was nearly sundown when we fell l)ack. By this 
 time the atmosphere had cleared. When there are 
 no cloudy mists or fogs around, the atmosphere here 
 is much clearer than that to which we Northern sol- 
 diers have been accustomed. It now became so clear 
 that we could easily see the balls as they were fired 
 toward us from the largest cannon in the rebel fort. 
 Even the smaller cannon balls and shell could often 
 be seen as they flew through the air. It was an in- 
 teresting sight. Looking at the rebel gun, we coiild 
 see the smoke that told of a discharge, before the vi- 
 brating sound reached us. Coming toward us, we 
 
Capture of Fort Esparenza. 323 
 
 could see and watch the course of the eleven and thir- 
 teen inch shell and ball. The trained ejes of our 
 Western soldiers easily determined the exact course 
 of the approaching missile, and quickly running to 
 the right and left, gave them a good wide and unob- 
 structed way of passage. The time from its discharge 
 until it reached our line was sufficient for us to run a 
 safe distance. This was the first battle we were ever 
 in where we could easily watch and dodge the cannon 
 balls fired at us. The shell fired from the fort fell 
 short or burst on the way. It was only solid shot 
 that the}^ could easily send far enough to reach our 
 line. The balls that came generally were so well- 
 spent that they would commence striking the level 
 prairie as they came in our neighborhood. At the 
 first strike the ball would bound high in air, again to 
 strike and then go on striking and bounding to the 
 end of its career. Some coming with less force, 
 would have passed through the striking and leaping 
 play before reaching our line, and then continue roll- 
 ing easily and slowly along on the ground. Appar- 
 ently one of these slowly rolling balls could easily 
 have been stopped with a touch of a soldier's boot, 
 but no one attempted it. All of our soldiers M'-ell 
 knew of the deceptive, hidden force in a heavy rolling 
 cannon ball. Kear us were pieces of light wood, 
 washed up long ago by the waves, and seasoned 
 through many a Southern summer's sun. The sol- 
 diers took pieces of this light wood ten or twemty feet 
 in length and over a foot in thickness, and watching 
 an opportunity, threw them in front of some of the 
 balls that moved so slowly that apparently a touch of 
 
324 Army Life. 
 
 the hand would stop them. The seemingly dead ball 
 would strike with fierce force, sending the timber lar 
 out of the way, and the ball itself bound high in air, 
 and then go bounding on its way with renewed Irfe. 
 A few such examples were sufficient to warn the sol- 
 diers not to touch a live cannon ball, no matter 
 how slowly it was moving. The hidden force of an 
 almost dead cannon ball is supposed to consist in this: 
 while moving forward slowly it is also spinning 
 around rapidly. An obstruction brings into actaon 
 the force of the unnoticed rotary moflon. If the ob- 
 struction struck is of sufficient resisting power, the 
 ball will fly rapidly in some other direction than that 
 of its direct course. 
 
 During our little engagement we had an oppor- 
 tunity to°witness the difference between experienced 
 and raw troops. Most of the soldiers with us were 
 those who had seen hard service. Among them, how- 
 ever, were two Maine regiments, and this was the tirst 
 time' they were ever under fire. One of the regiments, 
 tresh from the pine tree State, was immediately to the 
 left of ours. As the skirmish line only was engaged, 
 all we had to do was to remain in line of battle behind 
 our skirmishers and watch the progress of the slight 
 and irregular contest. The fresh soldiers had been 
 so eager to see what was going on that it was with 
 difficulty that their line had been called to a halt at 
 the desired place. In fact their part of the line was 
 pressed rather farther ahead than ours. When the 
 lieavy rebel cannon first opened, the balls were di- 
 rected to their part of the line. The Maine boys now 
 skipped back right lively. They did not even stop 
 
CAFrUKE OF FOET EsPAEENZA. 325 
 
 when in line with ns but fell back a few rods further 
 where a raise in the ground gave them good protection. 
 The heavy guns were now turned so as to bear on our 
 part of the line. The old soldiers who had become 
 familiar to the fire of artillery during the siege of 
 Yicksburg and elsewhere, remained coolly within 
 sight of the rebel works, trying to ascertain their ex- 
 act position and strength, and to judge of their dis- 
 tance by watching the fire of their guns, promptly 
 stcjiping to one side or the other when a ball came 
 directly toward them. With a time-piece in hand 
 one watched the smoke that told of the discharge, and 
 another the ball and thus determined the number of 
 seconds after it left the gun before it struck. As the 
 enemy liad only two guns bearing on us of sufficient 
 caliber to send a ball thus far, it was quite easy to 
 notice their fire and evade the balls when necessary. 
 Loading and firing such large cannon is a slow and 
 tedious proceeding. Old soldiers, in an open field, do 
 not much fear heavy artillery. In fact our men kept 
 their eyes wide open watching, and had more fear 
 that some of the enem3''s sharp-shooters might creep 
 along the sand hills and up within rifle range, than 
 they liad of the eleven inch cannon in the rebel fort. 
 Mention of the action of the Maine boys is given 
 only as an illustration, not to censure them. They 
 were not demoralized, but fell back in good order and 
 reformed with their line of battle intact. I have no 
 reason to doubt their bravery. A number of balls 
 came near to them, and a shell struck a building in 
 their immediate neighborhood, bursting with a terrific 
 explosion. As they were not engaged at the time it 
 
32G Aemy Life. 
 
 was the wiser course to fall back out of range of the 
 rebel cannon. In fatt, it was but a short time after- 
 ward, when Major Elliott, chief of our brigade staff, 
 came up and ordered our regiment to also fall back 
 out of range of the strongest rebel guas. "We did so. 
 The day was now spent, and all there was now to do 
 was to pass the night as best we could. 
 
 The engagement for the day was over. After our 
 skirmish line was withdrawn no one was hurt. After 
 that the enemy turned his entire attention to our line. 
 It was a funny fight. The reb 'Is would fire away and 
 our boys would play. We could plainly see them and 
 every move they made; and tlej' could just as plainly 
 see us and every motion we made. All kinds of 
 bantering motions Avere made by our soldiers toward 
 the enemy. The most absurd was to mimic their 
 firing. While the Confederates were loading, our 
 boj^s would, apparently, become impatient, and by 
 vigorously motioning with hats and hands and loud 
 yelling, linrry them up. When the rebel can- 
 non was fired, loud cheers showed the rebels that their 
 efforts to amuse our boys were appreciated. Some of 
 our wildest boys would also run out with their hats 
 in hand as though, like small schoolboys playing 
 ball, they would catch the flying ball in their hats. 
 Then one would take his rifle, step plainly in front, 
 and hold it in a horizontal position, while three or 
 four of his merry comrades came up and went 
 through all the motions of loading an eleven inch can- 
 non. The gun would then be fired and our soldiers 
 would loudly cheei', as though they believed the shot 
 had dismounted the rebel cannon. Pai't of those 
 
Capture of Fokt Espaeenza. 327 
 
 running the gun would fall as though the discharge 
 had done more execution in the rear than front. Tlie 
 rebels seemed to fullj appreciate the pantomime and 
 eased up on their firing toward us. They even be- 
 came good-natured, and, as if wishing to amuse us, 
 turned their heaviest gun away from us and toward 
 the water and fired a few shots in that direction. It 
 was a splendid sight. The huge balls would strike 
 the water opposite ns, throwing up a huge volume that 
 sparkled brilliantly in the bright rays of the setting 
 sun. Glancing up, the ball would again fly through 
 the air, strike and bound again, and thus for a long 
 distance go skipping and playing across the smooth 
 water. Our boys were not slow in showing the enemy 
 that they appreciated the cfntertainment. 
 
 The night of the twenty-seventh of November was 
 one of the severest I ever passed. It fell to my lot to 
 be on picket guard. My post was between our line 
 and the enemy's works. About two o'clock, during 
 the night, a fearful storm of wind, rain and sleet burst 
 upon us from the north. The fierce sharp northern 
 wind seemed as though it would pierce our vitals. 
 Each blast seemed to be a piece of sharp frozen steel 
 that out us through and through. Thus it continued 
 all night. The following day was but little better. 
 No doubt the storm was felt by us more keenly ow- 
 ing to our long exposure to the warm Southern sun, 
 which had tempered us to its warm and penetrating 
 rays. The warm marching we had done and the short 
 rations we had lived upon had also served to unfit us 
 for the exposure of a severe, cold storm like this. An 
 empty stomach gives but little warmth to a freezing 
 
328 Army Life. 
 
 man. The penetrating force of these "northers" is 
 beyond description. No comparison witli the severest 
 storms of our Northern States would portray the 
 fierceness of tliis Texas storm as experienced by us. 
 As well attempt to compare the fierce and driving 
 .March tornado, with the mild and gentle June zephyi-p, 
 as to compare a Tesas "norther," with any Illinois 
 storms. 
 
 Having finished my turn on guard I joined with my 
 comrades in fighting the fierce storm. The officers, 
 for once, were in a worse condition than the men. No 
 tents had been brought with us except little, "dog 
 tents" the soldiers had carried in their knapsacks. 
 By joining our little shelter tents together in a long 
 row, and sodding up the sides and ends, they made 
 something of a protection against the severest part of 
 the storm. When the soldiers offered the officers a 
 place in their tents the fiivor was gladly accepted. 
 The only hesitancy soldiers in the ranks ever have in 
 sharing rations and shelter with their officers arises 
 from a fear that the officers may view the offer as a 
 bid for official tavors. An independent volunteer sol- 
 dier disdains to be judged as acting from such motives. 
 Thus it is that the best soldiers sometimes neglect to 
 extend their friendly services to the officers, which 
 they would freely extend to them as men and broth- 
 ers. This is different in the case of those officers who 
 liave risen from the ranks with the approval of their 
 comrades. Such officers can share with their men 
 without stopping to insist upon the dignity due to 
 their official position. 
 
 The severity of the storm is shown by the fact that 
 
Capture of Fort Espaeenza. 329 
 
 tlie rain turned to snow and covered the gronnd with 
 a heavy coat of snow before the storui was over. In 
 still Welter, on land, ice of considerable thickness 
 formed. Cold of this severity is said to be almost 
 nid^nown in this climate. 
 
 The severe storm continued with unabated fury all 
 da}' Saturday. Every effort was necessary to keep 
 from freezing and we were thus prevented from mak- 
 ing any move upon the enemy. When night again 
 came upon us, the storm was not yet over, but had 
 modified so that the sharj) sting of the raw, cutting 
 wind had lost its keeuest edge. We were bound to 
 press the enemy as soon as possible. After dark a 
 night force was sent forward to plant a battery, and 
 build some rifle pits near to the rebel works. With 
 many willing hands, plenty of shovels, atid soft, plia- 
 ble sand, complete works were soon erected. 
 
 Early on the morning of the twenty-ninth of No- 
 vember, our artillery, that had been placed in position 
 during the preceding night, opened fire upon the 
 enemy. He was, no doubt, greatly surprised to re- 
 ceive a morning salute from works built within such 
 easy range of the heavj^ guns of his fort. The South- 
 ern rebels wquld as soon expected to see us flying in 
 the air above them as to believe it possible for the 
 Northern soldiers to go out in such a cold storm, and 
 in the dark hours of night, build elaborate works right 
 in their teeth as we had done. 
 
 During the forenoon our infantry went forward to 
 feel of the enemy. The Eighth Indiana went first 
 and was soon followed by our regiment. The enemy 
 made but a feeble resistance to us. As we pressed 
 
330 Army Life. 
 
 them, tliey proin])tly abandoned all of tlieir advance 
 lines and fell back under cover of Fort Esparenza, 
 leaving ns in possession of all tlieir outside works. 
 
 Our artillery did splendid work, proving tbe benefit 
 our gunners have derived from ranch practice in 
 many more desperately contested fields than this. As 
 we advanced, we brought other battei-ies with us. In 
 coming up they had to pass in open view and within 
 easy range of the guns on the rebel fort. They moved 
 up grandly and gained their position without accident. 
 With accurate firing our unprotected guns liave the 
 advantage of the cannon in the enemy's fortifications. 
 We trouble them so that they fire but little and that 
 at random. 
 
 At night our blankets were brought up and we 
 slept in the captured rifle pits. The boys are de- 
 lighted with their success thus far. With but little 
 loss we have gained every position we have attempted 
 to take. The prospect is bright for us. We will soon 
 have entire possession of the rebel works. If the 
 Confederates do not evacuate before the investment 
 is complete we will have them, too. But for the 
 delay the fierce storm has caused, we would before 
 this have had the enemy completely boxed up. We 
 la}^ down in the captured rifle ])its and slept soundly 
 right under the rebel cannon, our only anxiety being, 
 for an early return of daylight so that we can proceed 
 with the work at hand. Uj) to this time, this contest 
 seems more like a picnic than a battle. 
 
 We were sleeping, as only soldiers skep, when, 
 nearly an hour after midnight, the entire command 
 was suddenly aroused by a terrific explosion near 
 
CArTURE OF Fort EsPAREaNZA. 331 
 
 US. We at once knew that it was a magazine in tlie 
 rebel works. This told us, in the plainest tones, tliat 
 the enemy had evacuated and fired the fort. We 
 were immediately upon our feet and went forward 
 witliont delay. As expected we fonnd the fort aban- 
 doned and the magazines burning.- The second mag- 
 azine blew up just as we reach the fort, the third soon 
 afterward. Before the fire was subdued two more blew 
 up, leaving only two of the seven magazines that 
 were not destroyed. The enemy seemed to have cal- 
 culated on the fire burning through the woodwork of 
 each magazine until the powder was reached. To 
 some extent, as is seen, the plan succvieded. But 
 why did they take any such foolish chances? A mere 
 schoolboy could liave told them that it was easy to 
 lay powder trains to each magazine and thus made it 
 certain that all should be blown up and the fort de- 
 stroyed to the fullest possible extent. 
 
 Some of our boys were hurt by the falling debris. 
 The wonder is that a large number were not seriously 
 injured. When the second explosion occurred we 
 were up to the walls of the fort. Large masses of 
 earth, together with timber of all shapes and sizes, 
 from pieces of thin boards to heavy logs, were thrown 
 high in the air. All that goes up must come down. 
 The ground where the falling fragments struck was 
 the place of danger. The first explosion showed us 
 where the place of safety was. It was to remain 
 near to the burning fort. The night was still, cold 
 and clear. Every thing was plainly seen. Ail the 
 debris that was sent directlv up fell straight down 
 and sfei-uck inside of the walls of the fort. Every 
 
332 Army Life. 
 
 thing that went into the air diagonally from the ze- 
 nith, in its fall kept the same angle and in the same 
 direction, and consequently struck the ground a long 
 distance away. The thick and strong wall of the fort 
 prevented every thing thrown sideways i'rom passing. 
 Thus there was a zone of entire safety just outside of 
 the walls of the fort. "While the danger lasted we re- 
 mained within the place of safety. As to how far the 
 line of danger extended to the rear it would be hard 
 to say. The magazines had been built with heavy 
 hewn timber. Pieces twenty to thirty feet long and 
 eighteen inches oi- more in width and thickness were 
 thrown far out of sight in the air and fell, some of 
 them, more than half a mile away. 
 
 No place can be dangerous eoough to deter some 
 soldiers from its investigation. We had " stacked 
 arms " and were leisurely waiting for the burning fort 
 to exhaust itself. Some of our soldiers must, of 
 course, look inside. Captain Lyons of Company I, 
 and Sergeant Pike of Company A, among others, 
 slipped away without orders, went around to the fur- 
 ther end of the fort and then inside. They came near 
 being buried by one of the explosions. Fortunately, 
 they happened, at the moment, to be near the 
 walls of the fort and escaped harm. Pike, true to his 
 nature, as the best orderly sergeant in the army, 
 always looking for rations for his company had dis- 
 covered the store-house and secured a large sack of 
 fiour and otlier eatables, an old fashioned " Dutch 
 bake oven " and a frying pan. As the explosion 
 occurred he dropped down by the fort wall and 
 placed the sack of flour over his head as a protec- 
 
Capture of Fokt Espakenza. 333 
 
 tion from the MUncr dehris. He presented a comical 
 picture, when he returned to us, covered with flour 
 and loaded with his captured provisions and cooking 
 utensils. Captain Lyons, appreciating what he needed 
 most, our officers having none at this time, brouglit 
 out an officer's tent. They were the first Union sol- 
 diers inside the rebel fort. It is fortunate they wei-e 
 not killed. A soMier should never be killed except 
 when in line of duty. They had no business inside the 
 fort at that time. 
 
 Inside of the walls of the fort were some dry frame 
 buildings. They were on fire. They burned like cot- 
 ton. The strange scene we were witnessing was made 
 doubly grand by the bright light of the ftist burning 
 pine buildings. The darkness of night and the 
 brightness of day were combined and added to the ef- 
 fect of the grand exhibition. Standing where we 
 did, we had an unequaled view of the terrific ex- 
 plosions and the sights they presented. It was a won- 
 derful display. A mountain of earth, iron and tim- 
 ber all mingled together; darkened with immense 
 clouds of smoke and brightened with the fierce flame 
 of fire was, with one huge burst, thrown high above us 
 by the powerful power blast, creating one of the wildest 
 and grandest scenes mortal man ever witnessed. It 
 was a fire-work exhibition never excelled and one, 
 those of us who stood beneath the imposing sight, 
 will never forget. 
 
 The first thing done, without waiting for the hour 
 of danger to pass, was to place the emblem of victory 
 — the Union flag upon the conquered walls. The flai^ 
 of the Thirty-third was the first to wave over the capt- 
 ured fort. 
 
334 Akmy Life. 
 
 The result of our victory was, a few prisoners, some 
 provisions, ammunition and small arms, eight heavy 
 guns and Fort Esparenza. It gave us the entire coin- 
 ]nand of Pass Oavallo and Matagorda Bay, one of 
 the best harboi-s upon the coast of Texas. 
 
 The fort was a very strong one in many respects, 
 but built more with reference to an attack by water 
 than by land. The walls, especially towards the gulf, 
 had been built with care. They were thick and heavy. 
 Being built with sand and earth, cannon balls could 
 not have had much effect upon them. Judging, how- 
 ever, by the ease with which our field artillery silenced 
 them, it is probable that a careful gunner, aiming at 
 the fort's embrasures, with a good ship cannon could 
 easily have silenced the fort. jSTot only this; but 
 there were the frame buildings in the fort. They were 
 built of Southern pine, full of rosin, and thoroughly 
 seasoned with the heat of many Southern summers 
 and ready to burn as fiercely as though soaked with 
 tar. A most indifferent gun-boat could have fired 
 them almost at the beginning of an engagement. 
 These buildings once on fire, the ruin of the fort was 
 certain. Even the powder magazines were largely 
 built with the same inflammable wood. A child ought 
 to have been able to have made valuable suggestions 
 to those who left the fort in such a condition. One of 
 the Confederate officers, whom we captured, when 
 asked why the dangerous frame buildings had been 
 left in the fort, replied, that the highest ground had 
 been selected as the location of the fort, and the build- 
 ings happened to be in its centre, and thus were left 
 standing; that they had made convenient quarters 
 
Captuee of Espabenza. 335 
 
 for tlie soldiers, and tlie intention was, if a fleet ever 
 attacked them and the buildings were found danger- 
 ous, to tear them down and throw the lumber out of 
 the fort. 
 
 Thej must have been the most simple class of home 
 guards who pretended to practice soldiering in this 
 fort. Tlie idea, that if a fleet attack them, thej could 
 stop in the midst of the tight and tear down and 
 remove the dangerous tinder boxes, was absurd in the 
 extreme. Every thing would have been burning and 
 tliey driven out of the fort by the flames and exploding 
 magazines long before they could have removed the 
 sliingles from the smallest house. Tiiey evidently 
 thought that war was merely some sort of a friendly 
 parade and if the first part of the exhibition did not 
 pass satisfactorily they could commence over again 
 and thus continue until the show ran all right. The 
 strangest part of all was, that the rebels of the coun- 
 try round about thought that they Iiad a second Gi- 
 bralter. They had come from far and near to look at 
 and admire it, and actually believed that Fort Espa- 
 renza never could be taken. 
 
 There is but little doubt l)ut that our field artillery 
 could have driven the Confederates out of the fort, 
 had they been turned loose to do their best for an 
 hour, during Sunday afternoon. But it was a sort of 
 free and easy fight. Our men would silence the rebel 
 guns and then stop and look at them. If a move was 
 made by the enemy to reload their cannon another 
 well-directed shot would drive them under cover. 
 The object on our part was, not to be in too much 
 haste in driving them out, but to bi-ing up enough 
 
336 Aemy Life. 
 
 force and advance far enongli to first cut off tlieir ro 
 treat. But for the fierce "nortlier" that burst anc 
 raged upon us we would have done so. It is prob 
 ablj fortunate that we did not. "VYe gained the posi 
 tion and full command of the bay and harbor which 
 was all there was worth taking. The prisoners, if we 
 had captured them all, would not have been worth 
 guarding. It is not probable that any of the rebels 
 that ran away from Fort Esparenza will ever be with- 
 in reach of another Union gun. As prisoners they 
 would not have been worth their feed. It is just as 
 well they ran away. 
 
 A CONFEDERATE ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF FOKT 
 ESPAEENZA. 
 
 I have before me at this time (1883) a copy of a 
 paper published by our soldiers while in Texas. It 
 contains an account of our capture of Fort Esparenza 
 from the Confederate standpoint. It can appropriately 
 be inserted here. In the little soldier paper it is 
 preceded by a short editorial note. 
 
 At the urgent request of many friends we republish 
 
 the following account of the Fort Esparenza affair, 
 
 communicated to the Houston (Tex.) Telegrajjh by 
 
 one of the chivalry: 
 
 Port Lavaca, Dec. 3, 1863. 
 Bear Sir: — After what 1 wrote you the other day, when I was 
 about to start clown to the fort, you will naturally expect me to 
 say something of the finale of that affair, especially as it created 
 quite a sensation in the State, and is really a very unfortunate af- 
 fair for our cause. Those who are g-uilty are the very ones that 
 will escape in the whole matter, and those brave officers and men 
 who periled their lives in that " man trap," called Fort Esparenza 
 are the victims, of course, to whatever odium is attached to its 
 evacuation. 
 
A Confederate Report. 337 
 
 _ Ton have, no doubt, lieard that the work was xpIeinJicJ. and so 
 it was; for a prettier thing- to look at no man would wish to see- 
 and, unal 1 saw it tried I thought it the best thing in the world! 
 tiut it only shows that a man may know very well how to dio- a 
 trench, or grade a street, and yet know nothing al out military 
 matters or preachmg. I therefore infer that a man may go to 
 school " a heap " and learn to make a beautiful drawing on 
 paper, and then by aid of the bone and sinew of the country can 
 construct a pi-etty thing to look at, and yet, after all, not kno"w the 
 hrst thing about military matters or preaching. This is the idea that 
 occurred to my unmilitary cranium. In other words, the fort was 
 built with the sole view to an attack by water, and if they had made 
 it that way they might have hammered away till doomsday, and we 
 would have been there yet. and I have not the slightest doubt but we 
 coufd have demolished the whole ten vessels that were otf the bar 
 ffV ' "n^/?'"tunately for us, the enemy knew our weak points and the 
 lay ot the land, just as well as we did; hence they landed at the 
 west end of the island, in Cedar Bayou, where they found no op- 
 position, and took their time to get everything on shore in good 
 order, with their two thousand five hundred veterans and five hun- 
 dred horses and, with all their appliances came upon us in our 
 rear picked their locations and went to work on us with their 
 ritiecl guns, and in short, got our range to such a nicety that al- 
 most every shell dropped into the fort— every one of which was 
 liable and pertectly able to penetrate one or all of our seve-i maga- 
 zines, which were adjoining our bomb-oroofs, that were intended 
 for the protection of our men; thereby making them the most un- 
 gate places in the fort; in tact, the only safe place about it was the 
 parapet. 
 
 Some may say that it is the business of a soldier to die, and ihat 
 we ought to have stayed there till at least half of us were killed 
 and then surrender to a merciless enemy, whose motto is- "No 
 more exchange of prisoners till the war ends. " This is very pretty 
 talk for those who are at a safe distance; but I would sugo-est a 
 change ot place for the time being. Let them imagine themle'ves 
 cooped up in a pen like sheep for the slaughter, and this too with 
 litt e or no means to hurt the enemy, while they had all the i^eans 
 to hurt us they could ask. Let them also imagine their number 
 to be only six hundred, a large majority of whom had never been 
 in a battle, and aljout half the number State troops, who, althouo-h 
 they were good ^nd true men, yet knew very little about the drill of 
 a soldier, and consequently were not near so effective as they other- 
 wise would be, and that the guns of our fort were located with 
 strict reference to a water attack, and were of very little use for a 
 rear attack from a force of two thousand five hundred veterans 
 with rifled guns that could throw with as much precision, almost' 
 as an old deer hunter could shoot a buck at a hundred yards I 
 say, let those who are disposed to criticise our evacuation at a safe 
 distance place themselves in our position for a moment and then 
 22 
 
33S Army Life. 
 
 let them say what they would do, otherwise, "let hiui who is 
 without sin, cast the first stone." , , p ^r, f f^oc^r. 
 
 But I have not told all the trouble we had, for the fort was on 
 an island, bounded on the east by Pass Cavallo, where the gun- 
 boats would have been up as soon as the norther ended wh ch 
 proved to be the next morning; on the west and southwest by the 
 enemy, in full posssssion of the prairie, with their teams m ml six- 
 teen horses to a gun, dashing about at a full gallop, and taking 
 position wherever they pleased, as we had no cavalry to oppose 
 them and the little harm we could do them with our smooth bore 
 guns 'did not seem to trouble them at ail In fact the wnole three 
 davs' ficrht seemed to be a sort of a holiday for them, and re- 
 minded me of a cat at play with a mouse that she knew to be per- 
 
 '*^0n the n'^oSrwe were bounded by Saluria Bayou, nearly two 
 miles from the fort, and it is a deep and wide one with only one 
 tolerable ferry-boat, the rope of which was old and rotten I hen 
 two miles this side is another called Big Bayou, and is, hke Big 
 River, also crossed by one frail ferry-boat Then, before we get 
 to Powder Horp, there are two other smaller ones, with a bridge 
 over one and a ferry over the' ther. i u „i ft.n,-i 
 
 Now then, withall of these bavous to cross, and by such tiail 
 means 'with a wily foe that we knew could certauily .-urround us 
 at their leisure with batteries, I would like to know what else we 
 could do but evacuate the place while we could .-' -u , ^ 
 
 1 reo-ret this sad affa'r as much as any one possib y can, but we 
 had the alternative placed before us to evacuate and destroy every 
 thing, or wait a day or two and surrender with what men we 
 might have left, thereby giving to the enemy the full possession of 
 the fort and all our munitions of war. Now, if we could l?f^ve had 
 a reo-imant ot well-drilled cavalry, to have skirmished with them 
 aid kept them at bay when they first began to come in sight, until 
 our re-inforcements could have got to us the case would have 
 been very different. Yet with such field batteries as they h aye got 
 while we have none, we have got to ba pretty strong to fight 
 them, even in the open field. j j „ o 
 
 Thev will, no doubt, make raids up here among us and do us a 
 heap of damage, but unless they are very largely re-inforced. and 
 that soon, we will soon pick them up-although it would be con- 
 sidered conlraband for roe to say why 1 thmk so. 
 
 We have news from below this mornmg that the whole^ fleet 
 (Union) is inside the bar; also that two or three hundred heavy 
 guns were heard to-day near the gulf shore oft Guadalupe .nd 
 we hope that Seemes has got among them. Our fight at he fort 
 occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November twenty- 
 seventh, twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth. For pai-ticulars see 
 
 .official report. Tkxas 
 
 Yours truly, iKXAS. 
 
At Indianola, Texas, Dec, 1863. 339 
 
 The careful observer will readily notice that the 
 Confederates, at least their anonymous corresj^ond^nt, 
 profited to some extent and discovered sonae of the 
 weak points of their defense. In other respects the 
 delusions seem still to exist. As to their strength 
 against an attack by water their confidence remained 
 nnshaken. Two or three shells from a gun-boat, 
 bursting among the frame buildings, would have cor- 
 rected them of that error. The delusion in relation 
 to " a regiment of well drilled cavalry" to keep us 
 back is still worse. With our trusty rifles, and the 
 convenient sand hills among which we could skip 
 along, a regiment of cavalry would have been more 
 nseless than their " smooth bore guns " proved to be. 
 Our regiment alone could have disposed of half a 
 dozen regiments of Texas cavalry in that locality. 
 They needed many things to have " kept them at 
 bay when they first began to come in sight," but cav- 
 alry was not one of them. Cavalry was just what 
 they did not need, on that narrow island. But, it 
 is notour purpose to review the enemy's report. Let 
 it be read as written. It speaks for itself. 
 
 CIIAPTEE XXYII. 
 
 i:S W^INTER QUARTERS AT INDIANOLA. 
 
 The first of December, 1863, found us camped upon 
 tlie sliore near to the captured Fort Esparenza. As 
 we now had possession of Pass Cavallo and the harbor 
 
uo 
 
 Akmy Life. 
 
 of Matagorda Bay, other troops commg to act Mtl 
 us had a good and easy landing place. The thiu 
 brigade of our division came December ^f^J^^^^ 
 landed at Dedcroo's Point, on the opposite side ot the 
 channel. For the next few days boats continued to 
 arrive, bringing in more troops and army supplies. 
 
 Oui' time was passed pleasantly. A little guard duty 
 and some drilling npon the prairie was all the soldier 
 duties we had to perform. 
 
 On December twentieth our regiment went on boaixl 
 a steamboat and sailed up the bay to Indianola W e 
 landed and caught a few sU-ay Confederate soldiers 
 who were visiting in the town. AYe tore up part ot 
 the pier and carried the material on l^oard and took it 
 back with US, to build a pier at Pass Cavallo. ^^ e 
 returned to camp after dark. The plan is to make a 
 vv inter camp here. 
 
 Three days afterward the plan for ns to camp on 
 Pass Cavallo at Fort Esparenza was changed and we 
 left Matagorda Island and went to Indianola and tcK.k 
 up quarters in that town. We are in the part ot In- 
 dianola known as New Town, or Powder Horn, as it 
 is sometimes called. Four companies of our regiment 
 were given quarters in a large building that had loi-- 
 merly been used for business purposes by " Ivunge cV: 
 Co""' Our company had one room, which was the 
 front half of the main floor. Company B liad the 
 rear half C and D had the rooms above. In the 
 condition in which we put the building we soon had 
 splendid winter quarters. 
 
 General Warren was the ofhcer in command ot our 
 troops at this time. He was rather strict in his wa^^s; 
 
TuE Eneegetic Fitz Heney Waeeen. 341 
 
 tlie boys at first thought more so than necessar}'. 
 AVhen we came into the town it had been hastily de- 
 serted by many of its inliabitants. They supposed 
 that tlieir former activity in belialf of the Confeder- 
 acy would subject them to arrest and punisluneiit. 
 Stores were abandoned with goods in tliem. Some of 
 the hojs would insist upon looking them through 
 General Warren had properly given strict orders 
 against their doing so. One evening as he was walk- 
 ing along tlie street lie found some of the lawless sol- 
 diers who had found a way through a back window 
 into one of the deserted stores and were taking a look 
 at the tobacco and other like goods. Instead of hav- 
 ing them arrested General Warren dismissed them in 
 his own prompt and energetic way. One of them 
 was the eccentric AV^eed, of Company A. lie was al- 
 ways sure to be caught if any one was. Weed soon 
 returned to our company quarters. lie had been sud- 
 denly converted. General Warren was now his ideal 
 of a thorough soldier. He rushed into the company 
 quarters with wild enthusiasm — "I tell you, boys," he 
 exclaimed, " General Warren is just one of the staving 
 best officers we ever had! He means business! He is 
 the kind of officer we want! " Sucli unexpected com- 
 mendation for General Warren brought all the boys 
 around him, asking for explanation. Weed explained: 
 '' I just now saw the General catch some of the boys 
 who had broken into a store and were stealing the to- 
 bacco and sugar. He did not fool about it a bit. He 
 caught one fellow and kicked him lively — kicked him 
 clear into the middle of the street. I tell you, boys, he 
 is a splendid officer! He is a staving fellow! He is 
 
342 Army Life. 
 
 the boss! " As soon as tins eloquent praise conld be 
 broken into, the boys asked: " Weed, who was it that 
 got the kicking? " AVith increased enthusiasm Weed 
 answered: 
 
 " Oh, I tell you, boys, General Warren is a staving 
 fellow— a good officer— chock full of energy! I— got 
 the — kicking." 
 
 And it was true. Weed, in his awkward way, had 
 stumbled in after some of the other soldiers; they had 
 skipped lively out of sight, and Weed, the most inno- 
 cent one of tiie crowd, was left to be caught and booted 
 into the middle of the street by the angry and ener- 
 getic Fitz Henry Warren. 
 
 Early on the morning of the twenty-sixth of De- 
 cember, a large portion of our brigade, under the 
 command of General Warren, started out to make a 
 reconnoissance in force up the country, to learn, if 
 possible, something of the number, whereabouts and 
 intentions of the enemy in our vicinity. 
 
 We went as far as Port Lavaca before returning. 
 When fairly out upon the open prairie, every now and 
 then we would see a small band of rebels, sometimes 
 only two or three and then other squads of a dozen or 
 more, start up from some distant hiding place, look 
 at us a moment like a frightened deer when awakened 
 from its quiet slumbers by the near approach of the 
 dreaded hunter, then mount their horses in hot haste 
 and scamper away until lost to sight in the far dis- 
 tance. As it was impossible for us to overtake them, 
 we made no effort to do so, but marched quietly for- 
 ward without paying any further attention to them. 
 Within four miles of Port Lavaca we came to the 
 
Ekconnoissance to Port Lavaca. 3J:3 
 
 Chocolate River. The river here is crossed b j a very 
 fair bridi^e. AVe found the bridge in tlie possession 
 of a small band of the enemy. They had set it on fire 
 and attempted to hold it until it should barn enough 
 to i^revent us from crossing. This plan of theirs did 
 not suit us in the least, as, had it been executed, it 
 would have detained us considerablj^, if not actually 
 prevented us from crossing. Our artillery was 
 wheeled into line and opened on the enemy. Under 
 cover of the fire of our cannon, some of our soldiers 
 ran up, and using their hats for buckets carried water 
 from the stream and put the fire out, almost in the 
 f ice of the furious Texas ran^^ers who had attempted to 
 burn the bridge. Seeing that they were defeated, our 
 opponents mounted their horses and rode away and 
 were soon out of our reach. As we were unfortunate 
 in not having any cavalry with us, they easily escaped. 
 With a couple of companies of good cavalry we could 
 have captured them. 
 
 To throw a few planks in place of those burned was 
 the work of but a few moments. We then crossed 
 over and continued our march into the town without 
 further obstruction. 
 
 Lavaca, situated at the head of Lavaca Bay, is an 
 interesting little town, and to judge by appearances 
 was once quite a lively business place. Of course, 
 nothing to amount to anything in a business line is 
 done here during these war times. Some future day 
 it will become a very important commercial town if 
 its opportunities are improved. 
 
 Many of the people at this place appeared glad to 
 see us, and welcomed us with demonstrations of joy. 
 
344 Army Life. 
 
 Men and women at their open doors and windows 
 greeted us with such kind words and earnest a})phiuse 
 as could not be mistaken. Numerous little incidents 
 served to show that most of these protestations of 
 fi-iendship to the Union cause were their genuine 
 sentiments. The varied and extensive experience we 
 have had in soldiering from Northern Illinois through 
 to Southern Texas has taught us to easily read the true 
 sentiments of the people among whom we pass. In 
 the beginning, a strong Union sentiment existed in 
 many of the towns of Texas along the gnlf. Euin 
 and decay have been their share since the war com- 
 menced. They have no hope for tlie return of pros- 
 perity until peace returns. The unbroken success of 
 the Western Union army convinces most of them that 
 the end can only be when the National flag waves 
 over the entire land. This revives the original Union 
 spirit of such towns as this, and tiiey gladly welcome 
 the arrival of the Union troo})S. 
 
 We took up quarters for the night in some of the 
 vacant houses. 
 
 At eight o'clock the next morning we started to- 
 ward Indianola, where we arrived at an early hour 
 during the afternoon. 
 
 The country over which we passed was one continu- 
 ous prairie, unbroken save by an occasional stream or 
 bayou. It is well covered with wild grass upon which 
 cattle feed and keep in good order during the entire 
 year. AVe often came across droves that contained 
 many fit for beef. AVhat grand pastures these prairies 
 of Texas will be in some future day! 
 
 AVe had some little excitement on AVednesday, De- 
 
A Few Confederates. 345 
 
 comber thirtieth. In the morning onr company went 
 up to Old Town, as outpost pickets. Two companies 
 are sent out together, and they are relieved each 
 morning by others. We relieved a company of the 
 Eighteenth Indiana. They had had a hard guard dur- 
 ing the night. An alarm on picket had caused them 
 all to stand on guard all uight. The usual rale is for 
 part to stand on guard while the others sleep. The 
 provost-marshal, or post commander of Old Town, was 
 in hot water. He was a Texas officer. A captain in 
 the Second Texas (Union) Cavalry. He was undoubt- 
 edly much more anxious than a Northern soldier would 
 liave been in his place. Our arrival seemed to re-as- 
 sure liini and we were quietl}' assigned to our places. 
 Toward noon, some of the roving bands of rebels 
 that run wild upon these prairies appeared in sight. 
 "Word was sent to theprovost-marshal. He immediate- 
 ly mounted his horse and came out to the picket post. 
 To his excited imagination, a few horsemen were 
 magnified into the advance guard of an immense 
 army, moving in line of battle, and coming down to 
 destroy the Yankee army in this part of Texas. Every 
 soldier in Old Town was ordered out to reinforce the 
 pickets. A messenger was dispatched, in hot haste, 
 to General Warren, with the information, "that the 
 enemy is adv^ancing upon us in force." We soon 
 heard the drums beating the long roll, and soon horse- 
 men commenced coming up from Indianola, and in a 
 short time more. Colonel Bailey, at the head of the 
 Ninety-nintli Illinois, appeared. This made us a good 
 strong picket line. We also leai'ned that the entire 
 force at Indianola, artillery and all, had formed inline 
 
84:Q Army Life. 
 
 of battle with tlie full certainty that a hard hattle was 
 at hand. During all of this time our sharp-eyed 
 pickets, who were watching the open prairie over 
 which they could see for miles, insisted that it was 
 merely a small band of horsemen moving upon the 
 prairie. A few of our horsemen soon started out, 
 and the Texas rangers skedaddled right lively. At 
 night the Thirty-third came up and the Ninety-ninth 
 went back to their quarters at Indianola. 
 
 The next morning all of the troops except our 
 company went back to quarters. During the after- 
 noon, we also went, leaving Old Indianola unguarded. 
 It was not thought advisable to keep a mere picket 
 post so far from the army quarters. We performed 
 what soldier duties there were to do and returned to 
 our quarters for the night. Tiiii is Thursday night, 
 December 31, 1863, the last day of the year. Thus 
 closes the year of 1863, — an eventful year — one 
 that has witnessed many great, strange and bewilder- 
 ing events. Who can fully comprehend the magni- 
 tude of such momentous events? Already many of 
 the scenes through which we have passed seem im- 
 possible; seem to me more the remembrances of a 
 strange dream, than of reality. I would that it were 
 so, but it is not. Ah, no! the absence of so many 
 loved comrades that we have laid in their soldier 
 graves, only too vividly reminds us that we are in the 
 midst of scenes of sad reality. As I shall have but 
 little of soldier duties to occupy mj' attention on 
 New Year's Day, it may afford me some satisfaction 
 to indulge in and write here, — a few reminiscences of 
 the year that has gone; for to-night, to the year 1863, 
 — farewell. 
 
Kew Yeak s Day, 1864. 3i7 
 
 CHAPTER XXYIII. 
 
 THE TEAR 1863 AS VIEWED BY A SOLDIER — AN ARMY 
 NEWSPAPER — SHORT RATIONS. 
 
 iNDiANOLA, Texas, January 1, 1861 — New Tear's 
 day. Another year has come and passed. An event- 
 ful, historic year; one that history will ever remem- 
 ber; a year that we, the actors in its scenes, can never 
 forget. It is a year that has witnessed many strange, 
 great and important events. No one can tell how far- 
 reaching the results of the past year's work will be. 
 
 A year ago, the objects, the aims, the purposes 
 and the intentions of this great struij^gle could hardly 
 be said to be more than fairly determined. Prior to 
 that time, it seemed as though both sides were slowly 
 feeling their way to determine what great principles 
 were involved in the gigantic war that had burst upon 
 us. Since then, it has been a contest for the princi- 
 ples then acknowledged to be involved. During the 
 year, neither party has suggested any new principles 
 to sustain or justify its side of the contest. It lias 
 been an undisguised conflict between freedom and 
 slavery. 
 
 The strife has been desperate and earnest. The 
 desperate, passionate and madly insane struggles of 
 slavery bavebeen met by the earnest, patient, cool but 
 determined zeal with which freedom has reluctantly, 
 yet thoroughly, learned to fight in defense of its cause. 
 
 The cause we advocate and fight for, the cause of 
 liberty and justice to all men, the cause of our coun- 
 
348 . Army Life. 
 
 try, has, during tlie year, been successful enough to 
 warrant ns in the belief that a just God figlits our 
 battles with lis. We need not write down tlie battles 
 which have been fouglit in 1SG3 to remember tliem. 
 No American will ever forget the names of Yicks- 
 burg, Gettysburg, Chattanooga and hosts of others that 
 have been made historic during the year 1863. 
 
 To me, personally, the year has been, by far, the 
 most eventful one I have yet or ever expect to pass, 
 A year ago to-day we were at Ironton, Missouri, 
 with one of General Davidson's supply trains. We 
 soon rejoined the army at Van Buren, Mo., and then 
 went through last winter's campaign to Alton and 
 West Plains and thence back again to Ironton. From 
 there we marched to the Mississippi and came down 
 the river. Then came the important Vicksburg cam- 
 paign. Being sick I was not at the battle of Magno- 
 lia Hills, in which the regiment took part, but re- 
 joined it soon afterward at Port Gibson. Then fol- 
 lowed the battles of Champion Hills and Black lliver, 
 charges of twentieth and twentj^-second of May, and 
 siege of Vicksburg, all of which, owing to the protect- 
 ing care of a kind Providence I passed through in 
 safety. 
 
 Next came our short campaign in AVestern Louisi- 
 ana and lately our operations in Texas, the capture of 
 Fort Esparenza and Matagorda Baj'. And now New 
 Year's day finds us enjo^ang comfortable quarters in 
 Indianola; where with a consciousness of being engaged 
 in a jnst and hoi}' cause, and with everj^ promise of 
 an early, successful and honorable termination of this 
 unhappy civil war, we arc as happy and contented as 
 
At Ixdiaxola, Jan., 1864. 349 
 
 soldiers in active service and far away from home and 
 friends could expect to be. Gladly we greet the new 
 year of 1864. 
 
 The first of January found us quartered in Indianola 
 with but few soldier duties to perform. We were 
 soon quite well supplied with reading matter, and the 
 time was largely passed in reading books and papers, 
 playing chess and other games, and some of us re- 
 sumed our interrupted school studies. 
 
 Among other things we found in an abandoned 
 condition was a printing office. Some of our soldiers 
 who understood the printing business took possession 
 and printed a little army paper. They do very well 
 considering the disadvantages under which they la- 
 bor. 
 
 I will take the liberty of interrupting the history of 
 the journal to describe one of the papers issued at that 
 time. As before stated, I have at this time, 1883, a 
 copy of one of those papers. It is dated: Indianola, 
 Texas, January 5, 1864. Vol. I, No. 4. The name is 
 " Tiie Born Extra, W. M. Berry, Editor. " It is print- 
 ed on a sheet of letter writing paper, opened out to 
 its full size, making a two page paper, nine inches in 
 width by fourteen in length. The printed matter is 
 three newspaper columns in width by one foot in length. 
 
 It is "published semi-occasionally on the first full 
 moon before hog-killing time, by W. M. Berry & Co." 
 
 No sign having been painted, "persons looking for 
 our office will observe a large horn hanging to our 
 door knob." 
 
 Fair warning is given to the soldiers given to gal- 
 lantry, in thelbrowlng editorid: " We learn thatsev- 
 
350 Army Life. 
 
 eralof onr soldier boys have contracted matrimonial 
 alliances with some of the fair ladies of Indianola and 
 Old Town. One wedding has already taken place. We 
 give fair notice to those already married, and those con- 
 templating a consummation of the happy event, that 
 cake or no cake, we shall give publicity through the me- 
 dium of the Horn of their marriage, giving names, 
 company and regiment to which they belong, as then- 
 friends at home will be anxious to hear from them." 
 Two advertisements are copied from the Galveston 
 News of October 3, 1863, as showing the " value of 
 Confederate money, and also the scarcity of fighting 
 material amongour misguided brethren." The first is 
 the announcement by "an able-bodied man" of his will- 
 ingness to go as a substitute "for $2,000 in specie." 
 
 The second states " that a substitute can be had for 
 $10,000." 
 
 On the same page is the "roster of the Thirty-third 
 Illinois Infantry Yolunteers, field and staff"," giving a 
 full list of all of the officers of the regiment. Then 
 ■ follows the Confederate account of the capture of Fort 
 Esparenza, heretofore given. A few unimportant 
 matters complete the page. 
 
 The opposite page commences with brief mention 
 of news gleaned from late New Orleans papers. A 
 complimentary mention of Colonel II. D. Washburn 
 follows. 
 
 The Chaplain heads the second column with the fol- 
 lowing card: « Mr. Editor— In compliance with your 
 kind hivitation the following items are furnished for 
 yonr spirited and loyal sheet. We are enjoying a re- 
 freshing time of religious ingathering. Between one 
 
A Soldier I^ewspapee. 351 
 
 and two linndred are already banded togethei- for good. 
 The temperance organization for the first brigade, first 
 division, Thirteenth Army Corps, now numbers one 
 hundred and twelve members. Come, see, hear and 
 act to-night in this good work. J. S, Donaldson." 
 
 Then follows the announcement of the staff of 
 Brigadier-Genei-al AVarren, which is lieaded by Major 
 J. H. Elliott as chief of stafi; 
 
 Obligations are acknowledged to Captain S. H. 
 Dunbar "for late New Orleans papers"; to Sutler 
 Boas of the Thirty-third " for part of the paper on 
 which this issue is printed"; and to Lieutenant E. B. 
 Chambers of tlie Thirty-third " for valuable assistance 
 in getting up this number." Eacli in country news- 
 paper style being referred to in a separate editorial 
 note. 
 
 Two or three editorial notes tell where " Wash- 
 ingtonian cigars and fine fruits can be found," 
 
 The card of an Indiana attorney is the only matter 
 appearing in regular advertising form and it closes as 
 follows: "Particular attention paid to procuring 
 divorces — especially soldiers recently married or those 
 who have done so 'just for a joke,' Charges moder- 
 ate." In an editorial note the attorney is indorsed 
 by the editor on his personal knowledge. 
 
 Other small editorial notes complete this page. 
 That the publishers were about out of ink is shown 
 by the following appeal: "Will some of our friends 
 in New Orleans, send us a small quantity of printer's 
 ink? If this paragraph meets the eye of Li(*utenant 
 Colonel Cliarles or Captain J. B. Tyler, we are confi- 
 dent that it will be attended to." 
 
352 Army Life. 
 
 For some reason supplies have failed to rcacli lis. 
 We commenced to live on short rations. By running 
 in cattle off of the adjoining prairies we have plenty 
 of Texas beef. There is something peculiar in the 
 atmosphere here. At nearly all seasons of the year, 
 dressed beef can be hung up in the open air and it 
 will keep in good condition for a number of days. 
 By the sixth day of January, all of our rations were 
 exhausted so that all we had was coffee and beef. 
 This is a light diet, but as our work is also light we 
 can stand this living for a short time. 
 
 On January seventh enough meal to make mush 
 twice, was issued to our company. The boys ground 
 the corn in one of the little Texas wind-mills they 
 have here. These wind-mills, only suitable for grind- 
 ing corn, are not of much account. It took two days 
 and one night steady running to grind the small 
 amount we had to distribute to the company. 
 
 THE TIIIETY-TIIIRD RE-ENLISTS FOR THREE YEARS MORE. 
 
 A regimental meeting was held at our company's 
 quarters on Friday, January eightli, to consider the 
 matter of re-enlisting for three years more. The 
 orders from Washington, offering a bounty of some 
 $4:02, were read. Lieutenant-Colonel Potter and 
 Major Elliott made some remarks in favor of the 
 soldiers re-enlisting and showing the advantages to be 
 gained by accepting the propositions made by the 
 Government. Enlistment papers were afterward cir- 
 culated and the bo^'S joined quite freely. The next 
 day Colonel Potter came over in the evening and 
 
Ee-ENLISTMENT of the TlIIKTY-TIIIRD. 353 
 
 talked to the members of Company A about re-enlist- 
 ing, lie is very anxious to have enough of the boys 
 re-enlist to hold the regimental organization. Colonel 
 Lippincott has gone home to Illinois. Lippincott 
 is peculiar. Sometimes he is popular and at other 
 tunes unpopular with the regiment. He had got into 
 one of his unpopular streaks just before he started for 
 home. Potter at the time was the favorite. Potter 
 did not hesitate to tell us that Lippincott had gone 
 home to strive for a brigadiership and that if he 
 could not get promoted, he would resign and not return 
 to the regiment. With some of the boys this was an 
 inducement, with others it was not. A large share 
 of those present with us have signed the re-enlist- 
 ment papers, but not quite the full three fourths de- 
 sired. There is no doubt but that the required num- 
 ber will join. 
 
 The Chaplain held what he calls "an interesting 
 meeting" on Sunday. Meetings are held nearly every 
 evening. Quite a religious revival is in progress. 
 
 A few pounds of shelled corn were issued to-day. 
 The buys are parching and eating it. Except this, all 
 they have lately is beef and water. 
 
 On Monday we received a supply of rations. The 
 boys have lived through the period of starvation, as it 
 can ahnost be called, without complaint. They even 
 enlisted for three years more when the hungriest. 
 
 The next day while on brigade drill with simply 
 our guns with us, news came of an approaching force 
 of the enemy. We made quick time to quarters for our 
 cartridge boxes and then marched to the northern end 
 of town to meet their attack. The enemy apj)roached 
 23 
 
354 Army Life. 
 
 within firing distance and onr artillery opened upon 
 tliem. A few shots caused thera to beat a hasty re- 
 treat. We followed them a short distance and let 
 them go; they were mounted and we were not. 
 
 January thirteenth, the Third brigade came up from 
 the camp at Fort Esparenza. General Dana has ar- 
 rived and relieved GeneralWashburne who has started 
 for New Orleans. 
 
 On Thursday, the fourteenth, our brigade was re- 
 viewed by our commander. General Warren. He 
 came out in full dress, with gold fringed epaulets, a 
 big feathar in his hat and all of the other fixings that 
 go to make up a full dressed brigadier. In fact, Fitz 
 Henry Warren came out a little ahead of anything I 
 have yet seen in this line. 
 
 On the seventeenth our men commenced work on 
 the fortifications north of town. 
 
 New officers are always thinking of something new. 
 The new military duty added this time is for one regi- 
 ment of the brigade to fall out at daylight and remain 
 on the parade ground under arms every morning. 
 This is claimed to be to prevent the enemy from sur- 
 prising us. Extra zeal was also used in other ways. 
 With two drills each day and dress parade every 
 afternoon, our time was quite fully occupied, rather 
 more so than the soldiers really enjoyed. 
 
 The question of re-enlisting claimed the attention 
 of our regiment during these days. Tlie time set by 
 the War Department for the re-enlistment of our 
 regiment had expired and Major Elliott went to New 
 o3eans to get an extension. He returned with per- 
 mission from General Banks for the Thirty-third to 
 
Ee-ENLISTMENT of the TlimTY-TIIIRD. 355 
 
 complete its re-enlistment and to go home on furlouo-b. 
 The order of the War Department is to be evaded by 
 ante-dating the muster rolls to January first. 
 
 After inspection Sunday morning, January twentv- 
 fourth, our regiment went out upon the prairie and 
 held a mass- meeting to consider the question of re- 
 enlisting— or rather for the purpose of persuading the 
 boys to re-enlist. Colonel Potter, Major Elliott" and 
 others made speeches. The boys responded nobly. 
 Full three fourths of the regiment will re-enlist. 
 
 The next morning Colonel Potter requested those 
 of Company A who had not re-enlisted to meet him at 
 his quarters. There were twelve of us besides two 
 others not present with the company. Potter had got 
 the strange crotchet into his head that it would be a 
 big thing for him if he could persuade all of his old 
 company to re-enlist. Of course we all complied with 
 his request and met him at his room as invited to do. 
 When there he used his best endeavors to persuade us 
 to re-enlist. Spoke of it as a plain case of duty and 
 mentioned the history that would be published, in 
 which he should give those re-enlisting the highest 
 honor. After talking in this manner for awhile, 
 he put the question to each individually: " Provided 
 every man will go if you do, will yon go with 
 them?" This was a severe test to refuse. Potter 
 possesses a powerful will and in this case he chose to 
 exert it to the utmost. Most of the boys assured him 
 that in such a case they would not refuse. When lie 
 came to me, I replied that I was in full sympathy 
 with the movement, l)ut thatowing to many reasons and 
 other duties it was impossible for me to re-enlist for 
 
356 Army Life. 
 
 three years more. Two or three more also feeling 
 that other duties called upon them stronger than those 
 which would induce them to re-enlist, refused. Find- 
 ing it impossible to persuade us all to re-enlist, he 
 dismissed us with the assurance that he still expected 
 many of us to go and would probably speak to some 
 if not all individually. During the day a deep 
 and exciting interest continued upon this question, 
 and before 9 p. m. nearly all of those who had not 
 done so, changed their minds and were sworn into 
 the veteran service. All honor to those brave boys 
 who after passing through all the trials of the sever- 
 est soldier life, while in far-off Texas, and far away 
 from home and friends, went up so nobly and re-en- 
 listed for three years more. And yet under all of 
 these adverse circnrastances, all were anxious to do so. 
 Those of us who could not had the hardest struggle. 
 To refuse was harder tlian to go. 
 
 Tuesday evening Colonel Potter requested those of 
 the regiment who had not re-enlisted to meet him, so 
 that he could inform us what our future fate would 
 be. We met him at his quarters, Major Elliott being 
 present. Potter read the orders" from General Banks 
 transferring us to the Ninety-ninth Illinois. This was 
 pleasing news to us. We had been with the Ninety- 
 ninth so much that the ties of comradeship existing 
 between us and them were almost the same as those 
 existing among members of our own regiment. Major 
 Elliott evidently thought that Colonel Potter was 
 treating the boys in a crusty, if not harsh manner. 
 AVith tears in his eyes the major bid the boys an af- 
 fectionate farewell, said that he " should always hold 
 
Ke-enlistment of the Thirty-thied. 357 
 
 each in grateful remembrance" and wished ns "a 
 happy future, and may God bless you wherever yon 
 go." 
 
 The Major was evidently somewhat mistaken in his 
 estimate of the Colonel's feelings. Potter did not in- 
 tend to be severe. It was his natiiral way. In niy 
 own case, he was fully aware that by far the best way 
 was for me to remain through the winter in Texas. 
 For fully two thirds of my army life I had been 
 troubled with the ague. I had passed through a se- 
 vere case of typhoid fever and another of pneumonia. 
 As ca]>tain of our company he had at different times 
 deemed it best for me to go to a JSTorthern hospital or 
 receive a discharge. Knowing that I was bound to 
 see the three years through, if possible, lie had ac- 
 quiesced and assisted me whenever he could. I was 
 doing nicely in the bracing air of the gulf and the 
 best opinion was, that to remain the entire winter on 
 the Texas shore would be more beneficial than anything 
 else. When he talked with me, even when most anx- 
 ious to have all re-enlist, his suggestion was that if I 
 commenced shaking with the ague again on our re- 
 turn to the Southern swamps, I should then go home. 
 Even this he did not insist upon when I informed him 
 that it was not my purpose to agree to do a thing and 
 then not do it. If I re-enlisted, well or sick, I should, 
 as I liad done, remain at the front. At the end, as he 
 saw that enough had rejoined to preserve the regimental 
 organization, he was undoubtedly glad that those who 
 could not consistently do so, had not re-enlisted. 
 Potter's natural way was blunt and harsh and those 
 not well acquainted with him would think him severe, 
 
353 Army Life. 
 
 when in reality, none but tlie kindest feelinn;s existed 
 in his heart. As it appeared to hi in we were to re- 
 main with our friends of the Ninetj-ninth and have a 
 jolly, happy winter, upon the warm and healthy shores 
 of Southern Texas. To Major Elliott it looked like 
 banishment. Potter's cool reason led him to the cor- 
 rect view. Elliott's warm and sympathetic heart led 
 him into error. 
 
 The regiment started for New OrleaTis, on the way 
 north, on January twenty-seventh. When the regi- 
 ment returns we will probably rejoin and serve with it 
 until our three years expire. We wished them a 
 happy journey and a pleasant time. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 WITH THE NINETY-NINTH ILLINOIS. 
 
 Thursday afternoon, January twenty-eighth, we 
 moved into our new quarters with Company B of the 
 Ninety-ninth Illinois. They treat us royally. The 
 old Company A boys, four of us, J. D. King, C. 
 A. Bailey, S. Smith and myself, were given a nice 
 room by ourselves. The non-veterans of Companies 
 B and I of the Thirty-third were also assigned to 
 the same company. The next day we made writing- 
 tables and other things, and fixed up our new quarteis 
 in nice shape. 
 
 With reading, studying and playing and light mil- 
 
"With the Ninety-ninth, Feb., 1861. 359 
 
 itary duties, our time passed pleasantly. Rations 
 were now plenty. On February third, our little squad 
 of four made capital arrangements about our food. 
 The captain of Company B kindly directed our rations 
 to be issued to us. A citizen by the name of Smith 
 living near had a neat housekeeper for his wife, and 
 a good cook by the name of Theresa for his hired girl. 
 We made arrangements to board with them. By giv- 
 ing them our rations and the sum of fifty cents each 
 per week they felt well repaid. It certainly suited us 
 nicely. Our food was now much better cooked, and 
 of more variety than ever had been our fortune to 
 have since we joined the arm}-. Our jolly first 
 winter camp at Arcadia was now duplicated with the 
 one exception, that it was farther away and more dif- 
 ficult to hear from home; and on the other hand, two 
 important advantages: our food was prepared in a 
 more wholesome shape and the health of all was much 
 better than when at Arcadia during the first winter of 
 our soldier life. 
 
 Friday morning, February fifth, a force consist- 
 ing of six regiments of infantry, some cavalry and 
 artillery, all under command of General Warren, 
 started out to make a reconnoisance and to get some 
 lumber. We marched fifteen miles, keeping west of 
 Lavaca. We found a good supply of lumber, loaded 
 the wagons and camped upon the prairie for the night. 
 
 The next morning we started back at eight o'clock 
 and arrived at our quarters at half past three p. m. 
 When coming back some of the boys thought that 
 they must have the fun of seeing the prairie grass 
 burn and started some lively j)rairie fires. This made 
 the General hoj^ping mad. 
 
360 Army Life. 
 
 Sunday, February seventh, there was a grand re- 
 view of the troops at Indianola. Generals Ord aud 
 Dana came up from Pass Cavallo and joined our offi- 
 cers in making tlie review. 
 
 The Eleventh Wisconsin, Colonel Harris, started 
 home on February fourteenth, they having re-en- 
 listed for three years more or for the war. We have 
 been with and near them. so much during the past 
 three years that we have become well acquainted with 
 them. They are a fine body of men and splendid 
 soldiers. Colonel Harris would not part with any of 
 his boys and took them all home with him; those 
 who did not as well as those who did re-enlist. 
 
 On February twenty-second, a force of the enemy 
 came down toward us. The Ninety-ninth went out 
 under arms and worked all day upon the fort and 
 breastworks. The enemy appeared within sight 
 upon the prairie but did not come near enough to 
 disturb us. 
 
 A skirmish took place between the enemy and 
 some of our mounted men some distance away. 
 Fourteen of our men were captured. The next day a 
 flag of truce came in from Port Lavaca bringing let- 
 tei-s from our captured men. One was badly 
 wounded. The rest reported that they were all right 
 and being fairly treated by their captors. 
 
 With these few exceptions the month of February 
 passed quietly. Our duties were light and every thing 
 passed pleasantly. With the exception of the "north- 
 ers" the weather was delightful. These cold wind 
 storms come occasionally and last from one to three 
 days. As we were now in comfortable quarters all 
 
Indianola Evacuated. 3»U 
 
 the trouble they were to us, was, it required a little 
 more attention to keep our tire going. None of 
 these winter "northers" equaled in severity the one 
 that first welcomed us to Texas while we were advanc- 
 ing upon Fort Esparenza. 
 
 INDIANOLA evacuated. 
 
 On March first, orders came for us to evacuate In- 
 dianola and rejoin the Union army on Matagorda 
 Island. The next day some boats came up and we 
 commenced loading our army s ores upon them. In 
 a short time we suspended the moving work. The 
 citizens of this place are wildly anxious for the 
 Union troops to remain. They do not wish to again 
 come under the control of their Southern brethren. 
 If we leave the place the Texas rangers will at once 
 return to town. A short delay was granted and a 
 delegation of the citizens started for New Orleans to 
 petition General Banks to countermand the order to 
 evacuate. As a military point the place is of no im- 
 portance. All we need do is to hold Matagorda 
 Island and retain control of Pass Cavallo. Unless an 
 advance up into the interior is to be made, Indianola 
 is of no particular importance. Should the Confed- 
 erate soldiers come down we could return and drive 
 them out any day. The only thing to be considered 
 is the citizens of the place. They are heartily tired of 
 the rebellion and do not wish to again see the Confed- 
 erates in town. Should we go and they come back 
 they could not do any harm unless they burned their 
 neighbors' houses over their heads. The only thing 
 1 can see in the citizens of Indianola going across the 
 
362 Army Life. 
 
 gulf to ]S^e\v Orleans to Leg for the retention of the 
 Union troops, is a mere matter of sentiment. They 
 are so completely converted to the cause of loyalty 
 that they do not wish to see another Confederate flag 
 waving in the town. 
 
 General McClernand has been restored to the com- 
 mand of our army corps. He came up to Indianola 
 on March eighth. Ilis old soldiers were well pleased 
 to see him. 
 
 The efforts to have our troops retained at Indianola 
 failed. "We evacuated on March thirteenth. All of 
 the troops except our brigade started in the morning. 
 During the day all of the army stores were loaded on 
 the boats and we started at one p. m. The soldiers 
 marched down to the island. Tiie l^inety-ninth was 
 the last regiment to leave Indianola. Colonel Bailey 
 is a good ofScer to leave in charge of the line most ex- 
 posed to attack. lie would rather fight than eat his 
 dinner any time. "We camped for the night near the 
 place where the town of LaLala is said to have once 
 been located. The city has gone away. 
 
 "W^e started early the next morning and soon reached 
 Big Bayou. We had an all day's job of it to cross Big 
 Bayou, and Saluria Bayou, two miles apart, both of 
 which we were obliged to cross before reaching the 
 island. "We had to cross on very poor ferry boats. 
 
 The troops in our advance had a sad accident yes- 
 terday. "While they were crossing one of the ferries 
 lieavily loaded with soldiers sunk in the deepest part 
 of the water. About forty men were lost. Twenty- 
 five of those who met this sad fate were membeis of 
 the Sixtv-ninth Indiana Volunteers. The others were 
 
At Matagokda Island, March, 1864. 
 
 363 
 
 some of the colored troops who were working the ferry. 
 Such a serious loss of life in such a manner is far sad- 
 der than to see our comrades Ml in battle. A feeling 
 of deep sadness was felt by the entire army. 
 
 We succeeded in crossing in safety and camped for 
 the night npon Matagorda Island at the place where 
 General Washburne's head quarters were established 
 during the battle of Fort Esparenza. 
 
 COLONEL BAILEY AND THE NINETY-NINTH ESTABLISH A 
 JOLLY CAMP ALL ALONE. 
 
 Tuesday, March fifteenth, we procured some lum- 
 ber which we loaded on the army wagons, with our 
 tents and camp equipage, and marched down the gulf 
 shore to find a good camp ground for ourselves. At 
 night we camped upon the same ground where we 
 spent the second night when first upon the island in 
 November last. 
 
 The next morning it was concluded that a more de- 
 sirable camp ground could be selected about two miles 
 nearer the northern end of the island, and we returned 
 to that place and established the camp of " Bailey's 
 Pasture." The name arose from this: Once while drill- 
 ing his regiment wlien at [ndianola. Colonel Bailey 
 used the expression, " Hold your heads up like fat 
 cattle!" From this arose the nick-name, "Bailey's 
 fat steers." AVhen we got back to the island with the 
 rest of the army. Colonel Bailey got permission to 
 camp his regiment by itself. Our camp was npon a 
 prettv piece of grassy prairie six miles away from any 
 other troops, and under the sole command of Colonel 
 
364: Army Life. 
 
 Bailey. The boys claimed that he had bronf^ht his 
 '•fat steers" out to recruit on better pastures than 
 any others liad, and insisted upon calling our new 
 camp by the name of "Bailey's Pasture.'' Thus it 
 goes into history that for one full month we camped 
 at "Bailey's Pasture." A jolly camping grou)id it 
 was, too. In front of us was the sandy shore of the 
 Gulf of Mexico. It was soon warm enough to enjoy 
 bathing in its waters. There was no possible chance 
 for the enemy to reach us. . All soldier duties were 
 of the lightest kind. Colonel Bailey and his men had 
 a fine and easy time together. If the boys wished to 
 drill, Bailey would take them out and after a short 
 time would say, " Boys, guess you can have more fun 
 in camp," and back to camp we would go. We had 
 about one such drill as this per week. Bathing in the 
 gulf, gathering shells upon the shore, roving and 
 playing upon the island, reading and writing, lying 
 around resting and having fun, with plenty of rations, 
 was the way our time was passed. At the end of our 
 camp at " Bailey's Pastiire," there was not a sick man 
 in the regiment. To give each day in detail would 
 only be to quote such as these: 
 
 " Wrote letters to-day. Weather fine." 
 
 "Eead some in Washington Irving's Sketch Book, 
 and went bathing." 
 
 "A short skirmish drill this afternoon. Grand 
 weather." 
 
 " Bathing and rambling along the shore. A fine, 
 grand daj'." 
 
 "Lying around, doing nothing. Weather too nice 
 to think of anything else." 
 
At "Bailey's Pasture," April, ISGi. 365 
 
 "Reading and writing letters. 
 
 "Sunday. — As the Ninety-ninth lias no chaplain, 
 there were no religious services with us to-day." This 
 shows that our ease was not disturbed even on the 
 Sabbath. 
 
 Our pleasant camp at " Bailey's Pasture" was estab- 
 lished on the middle of March. On the seventeenth of 
 April Colonel Bailey left us to rejoin the camp of the 
 army near Fort Esparenza, known as Camp of Mat- 
 agorda Island. By the absence of all officers ranking 
 him, Colonel Bailey had to take command of our 
 brigade, and of course he had to go to brigade he^id- 
 quarters. The old fellow seemed to at once become 
 lonesome when out of sight of the boys of his 
 regiment; at least he soon sent for us and, on April 
 nineteenth, we moved up and joined the brigade 
 camp. 
 
 Our new camp was also a pleasant one. We still 
 had fine opportunities for salt water bathing, and 
 nearly all the advantages we had enjoyed during the 
 past month. On April twenty-second, Smith, the man 
 with whom we boarded in Indianola, came to camp and 
 made us a visit. General Roberts came on April 
 twenty-eighth to take command of the post, relieving 
 General Warren, who goes to New Orleans. Three 
 days after his arrival General Roberts declared that 
 we did not need so many men on guard at the same 
 time and ordered them reduced one half. This pleased 
 the boys, as standing guard is the only hard duty 
 they have to perform now, and our situation is so well 
 protected that the reduction can as well be made as 
 not. 
 
366 Army Life. 
 
 On Thursday niglit, May third, the Ninetj-ninth, 
 with Colonel Bailey in command, started off for a 
 night trip. After dark we embarked oji some small 
 boats to take a run up the bay. Those present of two 
 companies, A and B, were united as one company, in 
 all forty men, and we went upon the tug Perry. 
 The balance of tlie regiment went on the steamship 
 Sufficks. In attempting to pass up the channel we 
 ran aground and did not succeed in getting o\^er the 
 sand bars until morning. Thus our night exiDcdition 
 failed. After we were safely past the sand bars in the 
 morning Colonel Bailey decided to go up the bay a 
 short distance, any how. He did not wish to return 
 without passing out of sight of the fort, and report 
 "nothing accomplished." On we went, sailing up the 
 ba}'. As it was now daylight we Vv'ould have to move 
 carefully in order to succeed. The main object was to 
 slip in somewhere and pick up a few of the enemy's 
 soldiers and learn sometliing of the Confederate force 
 up in the interior. The plan adopted was for the 
 small tug to run ahead some four miles so as to be 
 able to run in on them. Running with as little smoke 
 and steam as possible so as not to attract attention, 
 we passed the landing at Indianola, keeping off as 
 though running toward Port Lavaca until we came to 
 the farther side of Old Town. The tug was now sud- 
 denly run toward the shore. Striking the shallow water 
 we jumped into the small boats and rowed ashore. 
 Then came an interesting foot race. As expected 
 some of the enemy's soldiers were in town on a visit. 
 They attempted to save themselves by flight. They 
 had nearly a mile the start of us and made lively time 
 
A Little Excuesion, May, 1864. 367 
 
 across llie prairies. But we had some fleet runners. 
 With a lively run they would get near enough so tliat 
 by firing high tlie balls would pass witliin whistling 
 distance of the running Confederates. The sound of 
 one bullet was enough. They would instantly stop. 
 As our good rifles could send a ball nearly a mile, we 
 soon had the runaways sitting upon the prairie as evi- 
 dence of their surrender. We brought them in, came 
 back through Indianola, found our boat at the landing 
 and re embarked at three p. m. and returned to the fort 
 with our prisoners, reaching there after dark. Colonel 
 Bailey had one captain, one sergeant and four private 
 soldiers to turn over as prisoners of war and was 
 consequently, reasonably happy. 
 
 The boys found a deserted library from which they 
 selected and brought down a few choice books. 
 
 Friday, May twelfth. — By some means our command- 
 ing general has got into the belief that the Confeder- 
 ates want this place bad enough to fight for it. To- 
 day all liands are busy upon the new line of works 
 near Fort Esparenza. "When completed these works 
 will be very strong. They will be harder to take than 
 were the rebel works of Vicksburg. In short, we 
 would be willing to lay behind them and defy all the 
 armies the Confederates choose to bring against us. 
 
 The next day I was ofif duty and finished my first 
 reading of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. This was 
 one of the books our boj's confiscated on our trip to 
 Old Town. Through some unexplainable reasons I 
 had never thoroughly read it till now. It is a strange, 
 ingenious and instructive work. At one moment we 
 are completely bcvvildered; the next we smile at our 
 
368 Army Life. 
 
 own confusion and say that it is so plain and simp'e 
 that a child could understand it. From beginning to 
 end the same strange ingenuity is found. Aptly has 
 the poet said of him: 
 
 Ing-enious dreamer, in whose well-told tale, 
 Sweet fiction and sweet truth alike i^revail. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 NATIONAL QUESTIONS — ABOLISHING SLAVERY — HONEST 
 
 VOTING — THE PRESIDENCY YIEWS OF A PRIVATE 
 
 SOLDIER. 
 
 Among other things with which we occupied our 
 time and amused ourselves was thatof writing, school- 
 boy like, upon different subjects. After being read for 
 our entertainment, such writing was, of course, usually 
 thrown away. One of these essays having, however, 
 by many curious accidents, escaped destruction, to ap- 
 pear to us nearly twenty years after it was written, 
 will now be permitted to join the journal as part of 
 the history of our army life. It is not given for the 
 matter it contains, but as an illustration of the 
 tlioughts of our private soldiers. As then written it is 
 as follows: 
 
 Matagorda Island, Texas, May, 1864. 
 
 As this terrific storm of treason begins to abate; as 
 this black cloud of rebellion begins to break; as we 
 begin to see through this dark night of strife and con- 
 flict, through which our country is now passing, and 
 
National Questions. 369 
 
 discover the morning light of the coming daj; as this 
 terrible war is nearing its end, does it not become us 
 to earnestly and carefully review the position we, as 
 a people, occupy; the principles upon which our Gov- 
 ernment rests and by which it is controlled, that 
 errors, if any there be, may be rectified, and the true 
 principle of human rights strengthened and perpetu- 
 ated, so that when bounteous peace once more returns 
 to our loved country, she may reign unshaken and 
 unvexed by the jarring of any false theories in the or- 
 ganic law of our land? The great, the divine princi- 
 ples of human rights voiced in the Constitntion of onr 
 forefathers, will, we trust, long remain the funda- 
 luental law of a great, contented, prosperous and 
 liappy people. And yet, perfect as it is, we can not 
 donbt, but that even in this Constitution, there are 
 some errors that can be rectified. To deny this, would 
 be to deny its human origin. To be entirely perfect 
 it would have to pass be^'ond the influences of this 
 world of human error, to one of divine puritjr. And 
 then, in such times as these, none can say that there 
 is no error in the theory of our Government; that there 
 is in our country no conflict of false principles with 
 those of right; ah, no, too vividly has this war con- 
 vinced us of such a conflict. Still, I doubt whether 
 all the wisdom of this age combined with all our dear 
 bought experience could better our grand old Consti- 
 tution, further than with a few brief amendments; 1 
 would suggest only these: 
 
 I. A constitutional amendment immediately abol- 
 ishing and forever prohibiting slavery in this Rejuiblic. 
 
 II. A constitutional or statutelaw determinino- the 
 24 ° 
 
370 Army Life. 
 
 qualifications of electors and guarding tlie pnrity of 
 the ballot box. 
 
 HI. An amendment to the Constitution, changing 
 the term of office of our President from four to ten 
 Ycars, and making tlie occupant ineligible for a second 
 term. 
 
 Is it proper to consider these matters at the present 
 time? This is the first question that meets us. There 
 are undoubtedly many good and thoughtful men who 
 are opposed to any change during the continuance 
 of our present troubles. They wish first to re-estab- 
 lish the Union as it was under our fathers, and then 
 under the quiet reign of peace, to calmly and dis- 
 passionately review our position, and make what 
 changes reason may dictate, unbiased by the high 
 excitement that always exists during the continuance 
 of a bitter civil war. They argue, and with a sliow 
 of reason, that during the existence of such unnatural 
 excitement, it is both unwise and unsafe to depart 
 from old and well tried landmarks; that we are not, 
 in such times, qualified to reason with the cool and 
 impartial judgment necessary to fairly understand all 
 of the varied and complicated questions that will arise, 
 and that if we attempt to adopt and establish new prec- 
 edents and rules under such circumstances, we not 
 «nly are liable to infringe upon the rights and liberties 
 of others, but also liable to neglect and endanger our 
 own. 
 
 Thoughtful men admit the force of such suggestions. 
 But is there not another light in which we can view 
 this matter? May we not think, may we not hope, 
 .that such trials as these are given for the purpose of 
 
J^ATioNAL Questions. 371 
 
 piirlfving ns? Is it not a duty, as well as a privilege, 
 for a people, as it would be of an individual, to r?se 
 to a higher, truer state, whenever the furnace of trials 
 lias fitted them to fill it? Most certainly, the time of 
 the greatest trials is the time to call forth the great- 
 est excellences; the time of trial is the one that devel- 
 ops the noblest, truest virtues. Does the smith, when he 
 takes the iron from the furnace, stand still and let it re- 
 turn to its cold and untempered state, still harder, more 
 brittle and unyielding than before? No, indeed! he 
 strikes with quick and heavy blows, tempers it aright, 
 and forms it into the useful implement. 
 
 It is the same with man, with communities, with 
 peoples. When the fire of adversity has made them 
 wiser they must rise to a higher state— then or never. 
 If they wait for a return of prosperity, they will be- 
 come harder and more unyielding than before. 
 Through evil and vile habits a man falls into misfor- 
 tune. A friend wishes to reclaim him. « When I am 
 again prosperous I will reform, and not till then," is 
 the savage response. Leave sucli a man alone. He 
 never will reform. So, too, with nations. In every 
 case in history where great reformations have been 
 made, it has been during the heat of the greatest ex- 
 citement and often also amidst the deepest of bitter 
 experience and trials. The inspired Declaration of 
 Independence is not an exception to this general rule. 
 The noble Warren's blood had been shed upon 
 Bunker Hill, and many, many immortal patriots had 
 died a willing sacrifice for their country before the 
 Independence of America was earneetly advocated by 
 our forefathers. It will be admitted that great 
 
372 Aemy Life. 
 
 wrongs have sometimes been committed during the 
 heat of great excitement, such as occurred during the 
 French Eevolution. But this rule will always hold 
 good: No great wrong was ever committed by the 
 "party or people that followed the principles of right. 
 We need never fear doing injustice to others so long 
 as we follow the dictates of justice and right. 
 
 I. 
 
 The proposition to abolish slavery in our country 
 by an amendment to the Constitution is now receiv- 
 ing the earnest consideration of our ablest statesmen; 
 at least we judge so by what meagre news we receive 
 from the North. As soldiers we have had many op- 
 portunities to become acquainted with the institutiou 
 of slavery. The slaves early learned to confide in 
 the Union soldiers, and would freely tell us of their 
 hopes, desires and ambitions, such as the most ob- 
 serving slave owner would noiver have thought 
 could possibly have found a home in the breasts of 
 the patient "and apparently unthinking negroes. 
 Large volumes could be filled with incidents and 
 anecdotes illustrating this. Every colored man that 
 comes into the Union camp proves it. I confess that 
 my experience proves the black man different and of 
 greater capabilities than I had supposed. With many 
 others I had serious misgivings for the result, when 
 it was proposed to let him at once step from the 
 depths of slavery to the high position of a freeman. 
 I feared that a change so sudden, so great, would so 
 intoxicate him that he would be dissatisfied with his 
 natural condition as a member of an inferior race and 
 
Abolishing Slavery. 373 
 
 would refuse to fill such position unless Ins extrava- 
 gant and impossible demands were allowed. Becom- 
 ing acquainted with the natural traits of the race 
 has convinced me of the error of such views. As 
 a race they make the fewest demands and are the 
 easiest satisfied of any people in the world. To "be 
 my own man" seems to be their greatest expectation. 
 Only let them know that they are free and they will 
 work willingly and faithfully, and be fullj' contented 
 with a position that the proud Anglo Saxon race 
 would never long endure. * •» * 
 
 It is not necessary to ai'gue, at length, the question 
 of slavery in the abstract. That it is an evil to be re- 
 gretted and that ought to bo abulislied as soon as prac- 
 ticable, is now conceded by the whole civilized world. 
 * * * The only question now seems to be, Avhen 
 shall it be done? Many who are in favor of abolish- 
 ing slavery, ask that it may be done by some gradual 
 process, so that the bondman may become accustomed 
 to the new position and learn to fulfill its duties. 
 Perhaps the time was, when such would have been 
 the wisest course; but it is now past. After review- 
 ing their present qualifications I am convinced that 
 the present is the best time, we can hope to ever see, 
 for the success of the black race. The colored people 
 are better qualified, to-day, to commence life as free- 
 men than they probably ever will be again. This 
 war has taught a deeper lesson to them than to us. 
 It has awakened every better impulse of their nature 
 and developed their every trait of true manhood to a 
 high degree. * * * If we honestly wish to im- 
 prove the colored race we should not fail to improve 
 
S74 Armv Life. 
 
 the time when their eiitlinsiasra is raised to the liigli- 
 est degree by the grand excitement of this gigantic 
 war between freedom and slaver^'. Kow is the most 
 favorable time America will ever have to assist the 
 colored race to a nobler, higher position. Does it 
 become a great and wise people to endanger the loss 
 of this auspicious opportunity by procrastination? 
 
 As far as the feelings of the Avhite people of the 
 South are concerned, we are still more emphatically 
 called upon to abolish slavery within this Eepublic. I 
 am convinced of this more from actual experience 
 and a knowledge of their sentiments, than from any 
 theory of reason or logic. With slavery abolished 
 they can think of the Union restored without morti- 
 fication. In such case they will look at it as slavery, 
 not themselves, that is defeated. If the Union should 
 be restored with slavery, the only explanation that 
 could theii be made would be that the people of the 
 South had been defeated in a military contest. Any 
 one acquainted with the strange pride of our Southern 
 brethren can well understand how much they would 
 prefer to lose all they ever had or claimed in the in- 
 stitution of slavery rather to be shorn of their mili- 
 tary glory. 
 
 It is claimed, by some, that there-establishment of 
 fraternal relations between the North and South will 
 be impracticable if not absolutely impossible owing 
 to the bitter feelings that have been created by this 
 war. A portion of the remaining rebel leaders lay 
 emphatic stress upon this argument. In fact it is the 
 only tangible one they now have to support their 
 falling Confederacy. To some extent these Southern 
 
Abolishing Slavery. 375 
 
 leaders are n\<if]it. It ma}^ be possible for people of 
 otlier countries that have once foui^ht as enemies, to 
 unite as fraternally as may be required under a des- 
 potic form of government, witliout the cause of the 
 contest being removed. But I do not believe it possi- 
 ble for tiie Korth to unite with the South in as fraternal, 
 trusting and brotherly union as should exist between 
 the people of the same republic so long as one part of 
 our country upholds the institution of slavery. De- 
 stroy slavery and then it will not be necessary to re- 
 unite our people, for the simple reason that they will 
 not then be divided. Slavery is all that ever divided 
 the people of our country. Take it away and there 
 will be nothing to separate us. With slavery abol- 
 ished the South will have stronger interests and more 
 pride in the preservation of the Union than the 
 North. The quiet sons of the North could content 
 themselves with a mild and unpretending government, 
 but the ambitions sons of the South will never be 
 happy unless they have a share in a nation of suffi- 
 cient strength and power to demand the respect of 
 the entire world. Forgetting all differences, union 
 with the North will appear to tiie South as only so 
 ranch additional strengtii to the common government. 
 I have yet to see or hear of the first Southern 
 Abolitionist who was not an enthusiastic Union man. 
 It is invariably the rule, that whenever those fight- 
 ing against us signify their willingness to abandon 
 the rebel cause, and it is a frequent occurrence, it is 
 alwtiys because they believed that slavery is de- 
 feated. They never say the South is defeated, but 
 always, slavery is destroyed. The impetuous sons 
 
376 Army Life. 
 
 of the South can not endnre the thoui^ht of being 
 themselves defeated, Thej can easily look npon de- 
 feat with the thonght, as I have heard it expressly 
 that, " perhaps, after all, slavery is not right, if so 
 we can never succeed in its defense; but with a just 
 cause the South can never be subdued." Tiiis char- 
 acteristic spirit is frequently plainly manifested. A 
 case like this will often occur: 
 
 Confederate — "But what can you hope to accom- 
 plish in the end? You can not expect to conquer 
 the vihole of tlie Southern people and then hold them 
 in sni)jection." 
 
 Union — "Oh, no! we only expect to subdue the 
 rebellion and destroy slavery; and then, as there will 
 then be nothing to divide iis, we will be united to- 
 gether again as brothers, with stronger ties of Idn- 
 dred and interests than ever before." "Well, well," the 
 proud Southerner thoughtfully replies, " I don't know 
 about that. "We always thought that slavery was a 
 divine institution; if so it will exist forever. But," 
 he adds with enthusiasm, "if our people are united 
 again nnder one flag and government they can whip 
 the world." This is no fancy sketch but one of act- 
 ual occurrence. We meet with this spirit evej-y- 
 where. They will admit that a wrong cause may be 
 defeated, and yet curious as it is, maintain that they 
 never can be subdued. Nor is it strange that they 
 should be governed by such feelings. AVere we placed 
 in a like position we would easily understand how an 
 unjust cause which we had, through error, been led to 
 support, could be overthrown, and j'et be loth to admit 
 that we, ourselves, had been defeated. 
 
Abolishing Slavery. 377 
 
 This is, no doubt, a new tlieorj and one that wouM 
 not be accepted by those who judge of people only by 
 what they know of the arbitrary governments of the 
 old world. Being accustomed, as they are, in all con- 
 tests, to see error pitted against error, they have 
 never learned that a cause can be defeated without 
 the power of those who supported it being broken. 
 But in a Government like ours, where all the people 
 have a right to participate, we have learned that a 
 bad cause can be defeated and yet those who sustain 
 it remain as before. The very like principle of a free 
 republic is to permit the united wisdom of all to de- 
 cide which shall be adopted and for the defeated party 
 to submit without being themselves defeated further 
 than the one question in issue is concerned. Many 
 of our hardest fought political contests prove this. 
 Parties have often seen this cause fail, but its mem- 
 bers, as men and as citizens would never admit that 
 they had been defeated, or their individual rights 
 impaired. It is the cause, not the individual, that 
 has been overthrown. 
 
 With slavery destroyed, what would remain that 
 need mortify the proudest Southern heart? In antic- 
 ipation I can look forward and see our country re- 
 turned to more than its former prosperity; with peace 
 regained, the Union restored, slavery abolished, and a 
 free and happy people, brothers of the same republic, 
 only striving to see which shall be the most zealous in 
 advocating human rights and in adding to the renown 
 and o-lorv of our common country. Hand in hand the 
 people of the South will then join with those of the 
 Xorth in pushing forward every good work. AVhat 
 
378 Akmy Life. 
 
 would then be found in the history of our counti-y 
 tliat need give shame to the proudest of an illustrious 
 race? Going back to its first commencement as a fee- 
 ble Government, and tracing up tlie course of our 
 nation's various contests, it will be found that the sons 
 of the South have had their share in every great and 
 noble event. On every battle field they were repre- 
 sented. In civil and political matters they were lead- 
 ers more often than followers. Down to our present 
 contest the South has alwaj^s nobly done its share. 
 With slavery abolished they will regret that they ever 
 attempted to maintain a wrong cause, but need not 
 feel chagrined at their want of valor in its behalf. 
 While we of the North regret some of the strange 
 fanaticisms and great wrongs committed by our pil- 
 grim fathers, still we proudly trace back to our Neio 
 Englandj ancestry. There is a deep and earnest re- 
 ligious faith firmly implanted in the hearts of the 
 Southern people, and as soon as they plain Ij^ see the 
 sin of slavery they *vill look upon its defeat as a decree 
 of Heaven. But for the great mistake made by min- 
 isters of the gospel who claimed to prove that slavery 
 w^as justified by tlie teachings ot the Bible, not a sin- 
 gle regiment could ever have been organized to fight 
 for the Southern Confederacy. 
 
 Emancipation is also necessary to give us the con- 
 fidence and trust that ought to exist between the 
 brothers of the same republic. No matter how ex- 
 tremely Southern a man is in liis views and interests 
 we are willing to trust his loyalty to the fullest extent 
 when we know that he is opposed to slavery. 
 As a son of Illinois I fought long and hard to re-open 
 
Honest Voting. 3(9 
 
 the Mississippi, and now I frankly admit tliat witli 
 slavery destroyed and the Union re-established upon 
 the true principles of* universal freedom, I know of 
 none in whose hands I would sooner trust the immor- 
 tal hills and works of Yicksburg and the guarding of 
 our great river than those of the sons of Mississippi. 
 
 Believing that the slaves are better prepared now 
 than they ever can again be, that the interests and 
 especially the feelings of the white people of the South 
 will not be in harmony with those of the North until 
 slavery is abolished; that the North will never have 
 full confidence in the South while it sustains slavery; 
 and that procrastination will only be to continue 
 the errors of the past, I am convinced that immediate 
 emancipation is the true policy. 
 
 II. 
 
 The proposition to place better guards around our 
 ballot boxes will be passed over briefly. Not having 
 witnessed an election during the three years past, and 
 when I did, not being old enough to cast a ballot, I d^ 
 notfeel at liberty tosay much about voting. Confessing 
 that I know but Mttle about the subject, I will say 
 that I have a strong belief that some attention should 
 be given to the qualifications of voters and to prevent 
 illeo-al voting and false returns. 
 
 Although not old enough before the war to vote, I 
 did occasionally " look on " at an election. I well re- 
 member how disgusted I then felt to see some of the 
 poor , ignorant beings who did not or could not think for 
 themselves, led up to the ballot box by some political 
 leader and vote the ticket he had, already folded, per- 
 
oSO Army Life. 
 
 liaps, placed in their hands. As far as giving an in- 
 telligent ballot is concerned it would have been just 
 as well to have given the party leaders the right to 
 vote the same number of wooden men. Allowing 
 totally ignorant and irresponsible men to vote has the 
 effect to destroy the equalitj^ it strives to give to each 
 citizen. In the end it amounts to the same as giving 
 half a dozen or more votes to a sharp wire- worker while 
 an honestand quiet citizen has butone. There ought to 
 be some plan devised by which a voter would go to the 
 ballot box untrammeled by hangers-on, and where he 
 does not know enough to designate for whom he wishes 
 to vote, let his vote go without being counted. Just 
 what plan would be the best I will not attempt to decide, 
 if it was arranged so that a ticket with the names of 
 all the candidates upon it could be given to a voter by 
 the election officers, and the voter required to step into 
 a private box and mark the names of those he wishes 
 to vote for, and no one allowed to see or know how lie 
 was making his ticket, nor to approach or speak to 
 the voter from the time the ticket was given to him 
 until it was placed in the ballot box, it would do 
 away with the ticket peddler's occupation. 
 
 In cases where the voter could not read the lan- 
 guage in which the ticket was printed it might be 
 provided that a sworn officer should read tlie names 
 and mark it as the voter dictates. Some would, M'ith 
 much force, argue that if a man could not read 
 enough to mark the names upon a ticket he ought 
 not to be permitted to vote. Probably a more simple 
 and efficient mode than the one here suggested can be 
 devised. The idea is to require every voter to vote 
 
Honest Yoting. 3S1 
 
 ]iis own ticket and do away with electioneering and 
 cat-hauling at the polls. 
 
 The more graver question is that of fraud at elec- 
 tions. Illegal voting onght to be prevented. With 
 the slavery question disposed of, the next great dan- 
 ger to our country will arise from illegal voting or 
 false returns. In a republican government confidence 
 must be maintained or the nation can not long exist. 
 The only basis upon which a republican government 
 can exist is that the majority shall rule. Where the 
 elections are tinctured with fraud none can know what 
 the true expression of the majority is. The ballot 
 box should be guarded by such strict laws and gov- 
 erned by such absolute rules that all will have confi- 
 dence in its purity. A family will soon break to 
 pieces if there is a want of coi.tidence therein. A 
 republic is but a large family. Want of confidence 
 will soon destroy it. A moment's thought will plainly 
 show this. To start with, we will take a people 
 who are agreed that the majority shall govern. Tlie 
 majority believe that they have been out-counted by 
 illegal votes. How long will the majority be content 
 that the minority shall rule by illegal votes? AVhether 
 fraud actually exists is not so much the question, but 
 does a large portion of the people believe that they 
 have been defeated by fraud? Want of confidence 
 is where the danger lies. Thus the importance of 
 having such rules and laws that all will know that no 
 illegal votes are cast and that the ballots are honestly 
 counted. I believe that some plan of keeping a per- 
 manent record of the voters of each district should be 
 established so that the right of any one to a vote 
 
3S2 . Army Life. 
 
 could be investigated prior to the day of election. 
 Much could be said upon this, our second proposi- 
 tion, but for the reasons stated, inexperience as to- de- 
 tails, we will pass it with these brief suggestions and 
 proceed to the consideration of the third proposition. 
 
 III. 
 
 There are, I think, many reasons why the presiden- 
 tial term of office should be increased, and the occu- 
 pant prohibited from being a candidate for re-election. 
 There are many vexations connected with frequent 
 changes of administration that would be avoided by 
 less frequent elections. It is worthy of consideration, 
 whether much of the bitter partisan spirit that some- 
 times threatens to endanger our wisest institutions 
 and dearest liberties, is not created more by the fre- 
 quency of our elections than by the elections them- 
 selves. If a longer period was allowed to elapse from 
 one political contest to another, the excitement and 
 bitterness caused by one campaign would pass away 
 and the people would enter uj)on a new election as 
 men rather than as partisans. They would vote for 
 principles and not for a mere party name. 
 
 Our elections are now so frequent that one political 
 contest can hardly be decided before anotiier presi- 
 dential campaign is commenced. The whole country 
 is kept in a continual fever heat by these frequent 
 contests. Who will be our next President, is the 
 question that meets us in every society, every place 
 and every day in thej^ear? The baneful effects of such 
 unhealthy excitement are felt in every branch of our 
 
The Pbesidenct. 383 
 
 Government. If a true statesman suggests a wise 
 measure or policy the chances are tliat it will be de- 
 feated by the opposition of rivals to him, with bat lit- 
 tle reference to claims of the principles involved. 
 
 lieforms have often been defeated by selfish jeal- 
 ousy. The suggestions of the wisest statesmanship 
 have often been ignored or opposed because the con- 
 temporaries of him who introduced the measures were 
 atraid, that if successful it would make tlie originator 
 President instead of one of his rivals. During this 
 war how many hard fought battles have been turned 
 from victory into disaster by the detestable spirit of 
 rivalry? "When a man gets it into his head that he 
 " may be the next President" he is of no further use 
 at tlie head of an army nor as a leader in Congress. 
 AYhen a farmer gets tlie idea into his head tliat he 
 owns a fast horse that will win the next race, that horse 
 is of no further use upon the farm. It will not plow 
 any more. Such horse is at once put into training 
 upon the race track. ISIeither horse nor driver will 
 now earn their feed. All is wagered upon the result 
 of the coming race. 
 
 It is so with the presidential race. When once 
 thoughts of the presidency possess a man he may, like 
 tlie supposed race-horse, just as well abandon every 
 thing else and go into training at once. Presidential 
 candidates and race-horses, while in training, are of no 
 use in the every-day affairs of life. If the race is won, 
 all right; if it is lost, "all is vanity." Itwould have 
 been better if all but the winning horse had been 
 kept at the plow, and for all but the successful candi- 
 date to have ffiven attention to other duties. When 
 
384 Army Life. 
 
 the end is reached, even the owner of the wliming 
 horse is usually out of pocket in inoney and totally 
 bankrupt in morals. It would be well for farmers and 
 statesmen and others to learn the golden lesson: Stick 
 to the plow. 
 
 Less frequent elections would diminish their sup- 
 posed chances for the presidency, and thus the onlj' 
 hope our statesmen would have of seeing their names 
 high upon the roll of fame would be to gain the last- 
 ing gratitude of their fellow-men by noble works of 
 patriotism and earnest labors for the cause of human- 
 ity. Then, perhaps, the vaulting ambition of some 
 of our leaders would be turned from their own selfish 
 ends, to work for the glory of their country and the 
 happiness of their fellow-men. 
 
 One thing in which a republic is far superior to 
 any other form of government is in being able to 
 choose from among its ablest and best men for its 
 administrative officers. This advantage is seriously 
 impaired when our elections are so frequent that 
 every man of moderate abilities and medium talent3 
 is led to think that the presidency is within his reach 
 if he can succeed in destroying the influence of some 
 of his brother statesmen. This is, undoubtedly, one 
 of the reasons why our ablest statesmen are the most 
 bitterly opposed by professional politicians. This 
 jealousy often leads the crowd of weaker men to op- 
 pose the true, earnest teachings of the wisest states- 
 manship. Because of such opposition, such men as 
 Webster, Clay and Seward are never elected presi- 
 dent. John Quincy Adams never would have been, 
 only that he was so fortunate as to live in an age be- 
 fore politicians learned their trade. 
 
The Presidency. 385 
 
 If our Presidents were elected for a term of ei^-lit 
 or ten years we could look for an improvement in tliis 
 respect. Political leaders would then devote their 
 talents and abilities to the best interests aud im- 
 provement of their country. Wire-working and po- 
 litical knaver\' would not pay. Congress would then 
 look to the good of the country instead of the next 
 presidency. The people being free from bitter party 
 spirit and extreme political excitement would learn to 
 view matters of government with cool judgment and 
 careful reason; and as they learned to think for them- 
 selves the baneful influence of political tricksters 
 would diminish. The election of a President for a 
 long period would be viewed as a serious matter and 
 the people would insist upon choosing from among 
 our best and wisest men. An able statesman would 
 then be looked for and chosen. As it is now, it seems 
 impossible for us to elect a great and able man unless 
 by accident, we find one in disgnise like "Honest Old 
 Abe." Such frequent elections only tend to bewilder 
 the people and create an intense political excitement, 
 and then some one is chosen more by luck or chance 
 than upon merit or from deliberate choice. In such 
 a scrub race the one who promises to be the most pli- 
 able in the hands of "his friends " is the favorite. 
 
 Changing our chief magistrate so often has a ten- 
 dency to weaken and destroy the esteem and rever- 
 ence that the people should feel and extend toward 
 the head of their government. Retaining good men 
 in office tends to increase the people's confidence. 
 The different branches of our Government emphatic- 
 ally prove this. Look, for a moment; make a com- 
 25 
 
'6SQ Akmy Life. 
 
 parlson; mark the contrast and note tlie degree of re- 
 spect given to each. There is the House of Represen- 
 tatives, whose members are only elected for two years, 
 the Senate, wliose members are elected for six years, and 
 the Supreme Court, whose members continue in oftice 
 during good beliavior, which, with honest judges, 
 means for life. The confidence of tlie people that is 
 felt in each, as a body, increases in about the same 
 ratio. For stability in public affairs, the people turn 
 with much greater confidence to the Senate than to the 
 House ofTlepresentatives. Any military man would 
 liighly prize a resolution of commendation by the 
 Senate. He would feel tliat such an indorsement 
 was one that would command the respect of all. The 
 same resolution, indorsed only by the House, would 
 not be as highly prized. "Whether right or wrong, 
 the popular opinion is, that the favor of the lower 
 liouse and tlie passage of measures therein is gener- 
 ally to some extent aided by shrewd maneuvering, 
 while the action of the Senate is more apt to be gov- 
 erned by merit. 
 
 Great as is the respect and confidence of the Amer- 
 ican people in the Senate as a body, it is in turn 
 eclipsed by the higher regard for the Supreme Court 
 of the United States. Tliis regard is so great that the 
 people will faithfully obey the rulings of the court, 
 although they believe it wrong in principle, until it 
 is reversed by the same high authority. 
 
 It seems to be an inherent principle of liuman nat- 
 ure, that the longer we are obliged to trust others, 
 the greater will be our care in the selections made, 
 and the greater will be the confidence we will feel in 
 
The Pkesidenct. 387 
 
 those chosen to fill the position. When a man enters 
 into a brief business partnership he respects the hon- 
 esty of the one chosen; when he chooses a partner 
 whom he thinks worthy of sharing the "joys and sor- 
 rows of life with him," he esteems and cherishes her; 
 when his heart tells him that he has found one who 
 will be united with him through all eternity, he loves 
 her with wild devotion. None would expect to see a 
 college of learning establish an enviable reputation, 
 whose president and professors were frequently 
 changed. Where efficiency is demanded frequent 
 changes are never allowed. None would attempt to 
 maintain an efficient army where the officers were ap- 
 pointed for brief terms, and the successors chosen by 
 frequent elections. Prior to the war it is plain that 
 the South often exerted more than her due share of 
 influence in national affairs because of its custom to 
 re-elect members of Congress, while in the North, 
 frequent chancres is the rule. 
 
 It is conceded that many things can be said against 
 a long presidential term. There are two sides to al- 
 most ever}'- question, especially to one like this which 
 involves only matters of policy. Upon questions of 
 princi])le, like that of slavery, the only possible divis- 
 ion is between right and wrong. Questions of mere 
 polic}^ are always open for discussion. Most of the 
 objections against a long presidential term will be 
 obviated by providing that no President shall succeed 
 himself. Even without reference to the length of the 
 term there are many reasons in favor of prohibiting 
 an occupant of the presidential office from being his 
 own successor. With a term of increased length these 
 
388 Army Life. 
 
 reasons would be multiplied. Let us suppose that a 
 man is elected President for ten or even eight years. 
 At the age he must have reached before he would be 
 selected to tliishigb position he would look upon the 
 work before him as practically the end of his life's du- 
 ties. The only ambition that could actuate him would 
 be to have the best possible administration, to serve 
 the people well, and leave an honored name in his 
 country's history. He would be above all mere mat- 
 ters of party politics. In fact, in this rapid age of 
 change and progress, when all groat questions like that 
 of slavery and secession are disposed of, it is probable 
 that parties would so mingle and change that at the 
 end of such a presidential term the President, looking 
 only to the best interests of all, would not know to 
 which political party his leanings were. Like a true 
 armv officer he would forget all mere party divisions 
 among the people and be zealous only in the perform- 
 ance of his actual duties. It is a question worthy of 
 consideration whether all of the administrative 
 branches of the Government should not be, as is con- 
 fessed the army and navy should be, managed solely with 
 reference to efficiency, and confine all political ques- 
 tions to Congress. The peculiar manner provided by 
 the Constitution for the election of a President and 
 appointment of other officers would indicate that the 
 fathers designed that the administrative officers should 
 be selected for efficiency and not for political reasons. 
 In practice the plan has been changed so that in effect 
 the name of the party candidate for President heads 
 the party ticket at each so-called presidential election. 
 As now practiced the cumbersome electoral college 
 
The Pkesidency. 389 
 
 mit^lit as well be abolislied, and allow tlie candidates 
 named for Pi-esident and Yice-President tobe directly 
 voted for. At the last election I witnessed, all were 
 voting for Lincoln or Donglas. No one seemed to 
 understand that he was voting only for electors, and 
 probably not one in twenty could have repeated from 
 memory the names of the list upun his ticket. A long 
 presidential term, it is believed, would, to a large ex- 
 tent, remove the office from mere party politics. 
 
 With the changes purposed, the ratio of the terms 
 of the different branches of our Grovernment would be 
 gradual and natural. The lower honse of Congress 
 would be renewed every two years; the terms of the 
 senators six years, and the executive eight or ten 
 years. Tlie confidence of the people in the conserva- 
 tism of each would run in about the satne proportion. 
 Then the President of the United States being certain 
 of the support of the people in all just measures, could 
 at home and abroad claim the respect that ought to 
 be shovv'n to the representative head of a great people. 
 
 Thus we suggest that the immediate prohibition of 
 slavery, the protection of the ballot box and an in- 
 crease of the presidential term are matters deserving 
 the earnest consideration of the American people. 
 
390 Army Life. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 WE LEAVE TEXAS AND RETURN TO LOUISIANA. 
 
 By the middle of May there began to be consider- 
 able talk of Matagorda Island being evacuated. We 
 were loth to believe this. With the fortiticatioiis in 
 the shape they are a small fc^rce could successfully 
 hold this place and thus command the entrance to the 
 only ars'ailable harbor upon this part of the Texas 
 coast. 
 
 On May eighteenth we moved up and camped be- 
 side the fort on the beach of Pass Cavallo. The next 
 day positive orders came to commence the evacuation. 
 AVe worked all day disn)Ounting the heavy guns upon 
 the fort and in loading ordnance stores upon the 
 gulf steamboats. From this time on we continued 
 to load our boats as fast as they came. 
 
 On the twenty-seventh of May while strolling along 
 the beach of Pass Cavallo, I stopped to look at the 
 grave of one of the soldiers who fouglit in the Mexi- 
 can War. The grave has been sadly neglected. A. 
 short time ago a little mound of earth over which 
 horses and cattle roamed at pleasure, was all that 
 showed that here was the last resting place of one 
 who was once a noted officer in our army. General 
 Roberts, whose head -quarters are near b}', has remedied 
 this neglect to some extent. He has caused some 
 posts to be set around the grave and a rope fastened 
 upon them, which serves to keep the horses and cattle 
 from treading over the remains of the dead. A plain 
 
A Soldier of the Mexican "VVar. 391 
 
 plank head board has also been erected to mark the 
 i,n-ave. Upon one side in lar-^^e, awkward letters are 
 the words: 
 
 Drowned, near 
 
 Salura, about 
 
 1852. 
 
 Upon the other side is the name: 
 
 General 
 
 Alexander 
 
 Siiinmerville, 
 
 One of the heroes of 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 If General Roberts superintended the marking of 
 the head board, the work is not very flattering to him 
 as an artist, yet we can not refrain from giving him 
 due praise for the respectful regard he has shown for 
 the remains of one who once fought in defense of our 
 country's noble flag. 
 
 By the last of May most of the troops had sailed 
 for New Oi-leans. 
 
 General Robei-ts and all the higher ofiicers had gone 
 and the month ended with Colonel Bailey, the com- 
 manding ofiicer, at this post. 
 
 He is the right man to leave to guard a retreat. 
 About all he knows or can learn of military matters, 
 is to fight if he sees a eiiance. If he only had two 
 liundred men left on shore and five thousand rebels 
 were approaching, while he had only a single wagon 
 to take on board, the chances are that he would stop 
 and fiorht before he would allow it to be said that the 
 
392 Akmy Life. 
 
 rebels had captured even an old ai-my wagon from 
 him. 
 
 During the last of May and first half of June we 
 had jolly, eas}^ times upon tlie Ishmd. Our rations 
 were abundant and excellent. As the large supply 
 was being reshipped to New Orleans we selected the 
 best for our own use. In shipping we retained the 
 barrels containing the haras and shipped those filled 
 with army bacon. Other things we served the same 
 way. The rest of our army go and leave us all the 
 chances of fighting; we select the best rations and 
 send them the balance. 
 
 The climate surprises us. The weather is delight- 
 ful. Cool and refreshing sea breezes come to us 
 nearly all the time. We were somewhat afraid that 
 the hot summer sun in tliis Southern land would be too 
 severe for us Northern soldiers. The cool, refreshing 
 breezes from the gulf have thus far made it otherwise. 
 None are sick. 
 
 Tuesday, June fourteenth, the last of every thing 
 movable was loaded on the boat, or burned; Fort Es- 
 parenza was blown up and the rear guard, consisting 
 of part of the Twenty-first Iowa and theNinety-nintli 
 Illinois, went on board tlie steamship St. Mary. 
 With the Thirty-third we liad been the first to enter, 
 and with the Ninety-ninth the last to leave Fort 
 Esparenza. It was so dark by the time every thing 
 was on board that we could not pass the sand bar at 
 the entrance to the harbor. The next morning M-e 
 passed out of the harbor and started for New Orleans. 
 Just as we entered uj)on the gulf the steamship Clin- 
 ton met us with our mail from New Orleans. After 
 
giving it to ns she went on her way to the Rio Grande 
 and we went on our way to the Mississippi. 
 
 We liad a quiet and slow trip across the gulf and 
 reached the mouth of the Mississippi late in the after- 
 noon of June seventeenth. We found the river very 
 liigh, so much so, that we found fresh water while 
 yet a long distance from the mouth of the river. We 
 entered the river through what is known as the 
 " Southwest Pass." 
 
 We reached New Orleans and disembarked early 
 the next forenoon. We marched toward Carrollton 
 and camped for the night. 
 
 On Sundaj^, June nineteenth, the IsTinety-ninth 
 Avas favored by the arrival of a new chaplain — an of- 
 ficer we have not had for a long time, and also by re- 
 ceiving news that the resignation of Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Parks had been accepted. His resignation 
 was probably a matter of necessity. Whisky had 
 ruined him. lie is a total wreck. Naturally Colonel 
 Parks was a man of fine abilities and should have 
 been a good soldier in the field and a useful man at 
 home. He has held the office of Lieutenant-Colonel 
 ever since the Ninety-ninth took the field, but been 
 such a drunkard as to be entirely worthless. His en- 
 tire pay has been squandered in riotous living and his 
 family at home have been entirely neglected. He 
 will either reform or die soon. 
 
 On Monday, Demp King and I went to New Or- 
 leans. When we got back, we found that the regi- 
 ment had moved camp. At last we found them near 
 Carrollton. 
 
 The next morning we broke camp at four o'clock, 
 
394: Army Life. 
 
 and marclied up the river and cam])cd at Keiider- 
 ville. We lay in camp here three days. At two 
 o'clock on the morning of the twenty-fourth, we were 
 called up and at once commenced to load our camp 
 equipage on a steamer. When this was done, we went 
 on board a steamer and sailed up the river and landed 
 at Donaldsonville. We established a pleasant camp 
 a quarter of a mile from the river. 
 
 Fort Butler, a strong work, mounting nine heavy 
 guns, is here located at the junction of Bayou La 
 Fourche and the Mississippi River. One regiment is 
 required as a regular garrison. During the past sea- 
 son it has been garrisoned by the Ninetieth New York. 
 By some mistake the Twenty-sixth Indiana and our 
 regiment have both been sent here. As to which will 
 remain has not yet been decided. 
 
 Donaldsonville appears to have been quite a thriv- 
 ing town in former times, but it is now in a sorry con- 
 dition. The best part of the town has been burned, 
 and of course, it will not be rebuilt during these war 
 times. 
 
 We reached Donaldsonville on Saturday, June 25, 
 1864. I remained in camp on Sunday. On Monday 
 went through the town. Tuesday I went out into the 
 country. The soil is very rich and productive in this 
 vicinity. This will some day be the home of a pros- 
 perous people. Spent part of the day gathering wild 
 blackberries. They are very plenty here. Blackber- 
 ries seem to be adapted to nearly every climate. Ev- 
 erywhere from the far North to New Orleans, I have 
 seen them growing in great profusion. As a general 
 thing, as the wild berries are crowded out by cultiva- 
 
Farewell to the NiNETr-NiNTu, July, 1SG4. 395 
 
 tion, that is the last we see of them. I wonder whj 
 more attention is not given to their protection and 
 cultivation. 
 
 WE REJOIN THE THIRTY-THIRD. 
 
 On Sunday, July third, we, the Thirty-third boys, 
 bid farewell to our comrades of the Ninety-ninth, and 
 started to rejoin our ownregiment,whichis now camped 
 at Brashear City. We have had jolly good times with 
 the Ninety-ninth boys and were sorry to part with 
 them. We had been in hopes that the Ninety-ninth 
 and Thirty-third would again meet in brigade to- 
 gether. In that case we would all still be together. 
 Instead of going down to New Orleans and then out 
 on the raih-oad, we took a small steamboat that runs 
 down one of the bayous that liere brandies otf from 
 the Mississippi. We rode down to a place by the 
 name of Thibodeaux, and landed and remained there 
 over night. We saw a number of line plantations on 
 the way down. Among others we passed the one that 
 had formerly belonged to the Confederate Gen. Bi-agg. 
 They have a peculiar mail delivery along the bayou, 
 A young man upon the steamer is provided with 
 some small pieces of wood and string. As he comes 
 to a residence he ties the papers and letters to a stick 
 of wood and throws it ashore. Should he miss in 
 throwiog, all the difference it makes, in this still wa- 
 ter, is that the people have to take a small cant)e, and 
 all have them, row out and get their mail and then 
 wait until it dries before reading it. 
 
 The next morning, July fourth, we marched from 
 Thibodeaux down to the railroad. At one o'clock we 
 
396 - AKMi' Life. 
 
 took the cars and went to Brashear, \v])ere we met 
 and joined our old comrades of tlieThirt_y-tliird. We 
 Lad a riglit jollj greeting from tliem. We found 
 them doing well and enjoying themselves. The boj's 
 liad been having quite a jolly time celebrating the 
 Fourth of July and the first anniversary of the sur- 
 render of Yicksburg, We were in time to join in 
 the evening pastime. 
 
 AVe remained at Brashear until the twentieth of 
 July. In this short time an old acquaintance of mine, 
 whose home is in these swamps, made me one of his un- 
 welcome visits. lie greeted me most cordially, shook 
 both hands and in fact shook me all over. I was not 
 a bit glad. It was the ague. 
 
 On the twentieth of July, Compan}' A took the 
 cars and went to Ti<rerville Station; a small railroad 
 station fourteen miles east of Brashear. Our duty at 
 this point will be to guard the railroad. We relieved 
 a company of the Eleventh Wisconsin, This is the 
 fii'st time our company was quartered in a place by 
 themselves. Captain Dutton will be in command of 
 the post. We were soon nicely quartered in the build- 
 ings at this place. 
 
 Our time now passed rapidly and in many respects 
 pleasantly. Occasionally there was a report of the 
 enemy approaching to make a raid upon us. We 
 were sometimes called up in the night to ]-)repare to 
 meet the Confederates, but none ever came within gun- 
 shot distance of our lines. Our guard duty was quite 
 severe. Usually each of us would have to be on guard 
 as often as every second night. With this exception 
 
"With the Thiety-thikd, August, 186i. 397 
 
 our soldier duties were light, and tliese days can be 
 classed among the most pleasant of our soldier life. 
 
 The big man among the citizens of this place is a 
 very wealthy planter by the name of Gibson. He is 
 a large slave holder and is recognized as a loyal man. 
 This district, it seems, is also considered as loyal 
 and was excepted by the Emancipation Proclamation. 
 Gibson's property in his slaves is thus still respected. 
 He remained loyal, after the Union troops came, for the 
 double reason that he is too old to join the rebel army 
 and because he has so much property to protect. His 
 son is said to be a general in the Confederate army and 
 his daughter is being educated in Europe. These 
 things show how the Gibson family actually stand, 
 better than the old man's oath of loyalty that he has 
 taken. Waiving these things he is a fine, pleasant old 
 man. He is frequently in visiting with the soldiers 
 and they are much pleased with him. His large plan- 
 tation is now in cultivation and it has been found de- 
 sirable for one of our soldiers to be quartered at his 
 place. The soldier is supposed to be a sort of referee 
 between the colored people and the overseers. In 
 case of difficulty the negroes are told that they must 
 do their proper work and that they will be protected 
 from abuse. The moral effect of a Union soldier 
 being present seems to settle every thing. The plan 
 is for one or two soldiers to go thei'e and remain one 
 or two weeks at a time. Mr. Gibson provides for 
 them in his own house and practically all they have to 
 do is to visit, hunt, fish and have a jolly time. The 
 old gentleman makes it exceedingly pleasant for those 
 who stay with him. In the middle of August when 
 
398 Army Life. 
 
 tlie guard at Gibsoirs was being changccl, Captain 
 Diitton proposed that I should go there for two weeks. 
 This was for my benefit as it would be much easier 
 for one with broken health than to stand guard at our 
 post. The Captain was much surprised when I told 
 him that I preferred to remain with the company and 
 perform my share of the more severe camp duties. 
 I explained to him that I had been born upon the 
 line of what was known in early abolition times as 
 the " underground railroad." That my grandfather 
 while he lived was always a zealous Abolitionist. 
 That in those early days, before he had a following of 
 any size, Owen Lovejoy, when making his country 
 school-house speeches, was a frequent visitor at my 
 father's house. Thus by birth, education and belief I 
 was opposed to slavery and did not wish to take a place 
 where it could even have the appearance of assist- 
 ing a slave-holder to make his slaves work for him. 
 Captain Dntton said that such views had not occurred 
 to him and good-naturedly asked, "Suppose you were 
 sent out, what would you do when there?" "Probably 
 get his negroes all to run away within two weeks." 
 "I believe you would," he laughingly replied, "and I 
 guess for fear of farther difficulties, I had better let 
 some one else go." Which was done and I remained 
 in camp taking quinine for the ague each day and 
 standing guard every other night. 
 
 On August eighteenth, some conscripting officers 
 came up from New Orleans and conscripted some of 
 the colored men. Only a few were taken from this 
 vicinity. Some of the colored women appeared nearly 
 frantic when they were parted from their men. 
 
At TigeevillEj Septembek, 1864. 399 
 
 Crocker's discharge papers came on August twen- 
 tieth. He was one of those who re enlisted. He was 
 so broken in liealth at that time, that he should liave 
 been discharged then. He was permitted to re-enlist, 
 examined and passed. When the regiment was re-en- 
 listing, it was an inducement held out, by some of the 
 officers, to those who were too unwell to re-enlist, that 
 they would thus get the extra bounty and then be dis- 
 charged for disability. Such things look to rae like 
 dishonesty. Some cases in the regiment were so pal- 
 pable that they have been sent North so that they can 
 be discharged at some military hospital and thus re- 
 lieve those who were responsible for their wrongful 
 re-enlistment from responsibility. 
 
 The early part of the summer here is very wet and 
 disagreeable. For a long time we had a rain-storm 
 every day, and often as many as from three to five in 
 one day. By the last of August, this wet season 
 seems to be about over. We now have fair weather 
 most of the time. 
 
 By the first of September, the planters have com- 
 menced gathering their cotton, 
 
 Youngman, a recruit brought to the company, was 
 discharged on September second-. He enlisted, re- 
 ceived a large bounty and drew pay for six months and 
 during all of that time all he ever did was to answer to 
 his name twice. He was a poor, helpless imbecile, 
 who had always been subject to fits. He should have 
 been sent to a charity hospital or poor-house instead 
 of having been enlisted as a soldier. An army sur- 
 geon who would pass such a helpless being ought to 
 be cashiered at once. 
 
400 Akmy Life. 
 
 On the eleventh day of September an order came 
 for the muster-out papers for those whose three 3'ears 
 expires, to be made out. Accordini^ to date of en- 
 listment papers tlie three years expired on August 
 twenty-first; according to date of muster rolls on Sep- 
 tember fourth. As it will be some little time before 
 all the necessary papers are made out and we reach 
 Illinois to be discliarged, we will probably make agood 
 start into the fourth year before we reach home. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 FEOM NEW ORLEANS TO KEW YOEK AND THENCE TO 
 ILLINOIS. 
 
 Saturday, September seventeenth, we were surprised 
 by the sudden and unexpected orders to start at once 
 for the JSTorth. A special train at once took us to 
 Akners. "We immediately crossed the river to New 
 Orleans, The reason for this sudden haste was this: 
 a large number of Confederate prisoners w^ere on 
 hand and it was desired that we should guard them on 
 the way to the N©rth. We are to take the prisoners 
 to New York and then go to our own State to be dis- 
 charged. There are over one hundred soldiers of the 
 Tiiirty-third whose time has now expired, who will go 
 with ns. 
 
 On Sunday, September eighteenth, we embarked on 
 the steam propeller, Cassandra. We had some three 
 
Fkom New Okleans to jSTew York. 401 
 
 Imiidi'ed prisoners.. Thev were part of those capt- 
 ured at Fort Morgan. They were very well clothed 
 and the best looking set of Confederate soldiers I have 
 yet seen. As we took thera through the streets from 
 the prison to the ship, the Southern women came ont 
 to smile upon and wish the Confederate prisoners 
 good-bye. This pleased the prisoners. ^Ye took the 
 j>risoners on board at three p. m. At five o'clock 
 every thing was ready and we steamed down the river. 
 At sunrise Monday morning we passed from the 
 river to the gulf through the Southwest Pass and 
 then turned southeast and, sailed toward Key West 
 We had a pleasant sail Monday and Tuesday, 
 Toward night on Tuesday the wind began to rise 
 d through the night and the next day we had a 
 gh sea. Many of the boys became seasick. We 
 reached Key West after dark Wednesday. We had 
 Dne passenger and some mail to land. As the yellow 
 fever is raging in Key West we did not wish to run 
 into port and laid outside until Tliursday morning, 
 A small boat then took our passengers and the mail 
 and we went on our way. At night we passed the 
 last light-house we will see on the southern coast of 
 Florida and turned to the north. The boys were 
 greatly pleased when the boat commenced running to 
 the north. It seems like going home when we can 
 see the north star in our front. During our three 
 years' sojourn in the south, with danger and death 
 for our daily companions, often, in the dark night 
 march, and still more frequently during the lonely 
 night guard, the only steadfast guide we could see 
 and know was the ever faithful north star, always 
 26 
 
 an 
 rou 
 
402 Aemy Life. 
 
 sliining like a beacon li.i^lit over our Korthern nomes. 
 Thus the north star, always reminding us of Northern 
 liberty and the land of our birth, has become to us 
 soldiers of the North, a well-known friend and faith- 
 ful cnide, and with glad hearts we follow in the path 
 it marks, knowing that every step taken, with its light 
 ■ in front, takes us nearer home. Glorious star of the 
 north; glorious land of liberty, gladly do your sons 
 follow the light of the one that guides them to the 
 bosom of the other. 
 
 Saturday and Sunday we had a splendid sea with a 
 o-ood brisk wind in our rear which aided us to sail 
 nicely. During part of the time enormous shoals ot 
 fishes followed us. It was a wonderful sight. 
 Where could so manv fish come from? Some of the 
 boys declared that all the fish in the sea had assembled 
 and come up to greet us on our happy journey home 
 We passed Cape Hatteras during Sunday night and 
 ran within sight of the Atlantic shore most of the day 
 Monday. As we began to near the busy cities of the 
 North we met with evidences of their busy commerce 
 bv seeing many sails upon tbe water. 
 "On this trip I lieard more politics than is usual 
 ^vith us in the army. The services were very short, it 
 consisted of this: Some of our soldiers had news- 
 papers, part of which were given to the rebel prisoners, 
 whom we kept guarded in their part of the boat. 
 Among the papers given to them was one tliat sup- 
 ported theDeinocratic candidate for President, General 
 McClellan, and contained a positive prediction of his 
 election. This was read aloud by one of the Confed- 
 erate prisoners to the others, and thereupon they all 
 
Upon the Atlantic Ocean. 403 
 
 joined in loud cheers for General McClellan. Upon 
 iiearing the rebels cheer for McClellan the few Union 
 soldiers who had intended to vote for him announced 
 that they should vote for Lincoln. It was the sliortest 
 and most effective political address I ever heard. A 
 speech without words — simply three rebel yells — 
 changed all the McClellan voters into Lincoln men. 
 
 The weather remained fine and we had a pleasant 
 run the rest of the way to New York. Reaching that 
 place the first thing to do was to turn our prisoners 
 over to the proper authorities. This done we landed 
 in New York City. Wednesday afternoon and even- 
 ing we had a little time to run around the city, which 
 we improved. 
 
 Thursday, September twenty-ninth, we took the 
 cars for the west at Jersey City. Passed through 
 some fine towns and country. Paterson, as we saw it, 
 appears to be a very pretty place. Goshen is the 
 center of a splendid farming country. We passed 
 through Elmira during the night and ran on to Hor- 
 nellsville where we changed cars. We took the fore- 
 noon train Friday, from this place, and ran through 
 to Dunkirk. We arrived too late to make connection 
 with the west bound train, and had to lay over 
 and take the evening train for Cleveland. We rode 
 all night and reached Cleveland at a late hour Satur- 
 day morning. We were again too late to make con- 
 nection and had to lay over in Cleveland for the after- 
 noon train. Ran around and looked at the town a 
 little. Yisited the water-works and a few other places. 
 Cleveland is one of the prettiest cities I ever visited. 
 At half- past two we started again and passed through 
 
40 i Army Life. 
 
 Oberliii and other tln-iving Oliio towns and reached 
 Toledo at a late honr at night. Our afternoon ride gave 
 us a fine view of some of the finest farming country 
 in the world. We stopped at Toledo, sleeping in the 
 depot buildings over night. AVe remained in the 
 city over Sunday. As it was our first opportunity 
 for three long years, a number of lis attended church, 
 in a peaceful land, Sunday forenoon. At niglit we 
 got upon the cars and just before midnight start4|d for 
 Illinois. AVe passed through Fort Wayne duriifg the 
 night and reached Peru in time for breakfast. At the 
 State Line we found tlie train of the Great Western 
 waiting for us. Our cars were attached and we started 
 forward and reached Camp Butler shortly after dark, 
 Monday, October 3, 1864. 
 
 Thus after three yeai"s' absence once again our feet 
 are upon the soil of our own noble State. All hail 
 to Illinois! Proud and noble State, your sons are as 
 proud of you as you are justly proud of them. The 
 land of our birth; the home of our youth; the hope 
 of our future, gladly do we greet thee, our own prai- 
 rie State. If the returning soldier hoys, stood erect, 
 if they walked with a pf-oud step, if their eyes 
 beamed with glad satisfaction as they returned the 
 cheers that greeted them on their return to Illinois, 
 who can blame them? In every battle from Missouri 
 and Kentucky to the Southern gulf and even on to 
 the borders of Mexico the soldiers of Illinois have 
 been in the thickest of the figlit. On every occasion 
 the Illinois soldiers have added to the proud fam.e of 
 the grand prairie State. No matter how thickly came 
 the iron and leaden hail from the rebel guns, the vol- 
 
Hail to Illinois! 405 
 
 unteer soldiers from sister States never wavered when 
 by their side they could sec tlie regimental banners 
 with Illinois written thereon. All knew that the Illi- 
 nois part of the line would be maintained. 
 
 "With all of the long distance over which we have 
 marched and desperate fields upon which we have 
 fought with the gallant Western arm}' we have never 
 left our wounded nor our dead to be handled or bur- 
 ied by rebel hands. Upon all occasions we have 
 taken care of our own. We have never left a con- 
 tested field except as victors. Fortune has been ex- 
 ceedingly kind to us, and we return to our own State 
 at her capital, to lay down unsullied the proud com- 
 mission she gave iis to serve as part of her volunteer 
 soldiery. Grand and noble State of Illinois! May 
 her sons throngh all time sustain the record made in 
 the years of is61-G2-G3 and '64. All hail to the 
 State of Illinois! 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 THE END OF MY SOLDIER LIFE — HOME AGAIN. 
 
 There was some delay in the making out of our dis- 
 charge papers, which gave us an opportunity to visit 
 tlie city of Springfield and other points of interest in 
 the vicinity of Camp Butler. 
 
 On Wednesday, October fifth, some of us attended 
 a <2:reat mass-mcetins^ of those who favor the rc-elec- 
 
406 
 
 Akmy Life. 
 
 tion of Lincoln. I saw Governor Yates, Judge Tnim- 
 bull, Senator Doolittle, Generals Logan, Palmer and 
 Oglesby, Deacon Bross, Colonel IngersoU and other 
 sp'eakers. Met Lieutenant Fyffe of Company A, and 
 M. J. Nye, a former member of our company. 
 
 Edward Pike, the orderly sergeant of Company A, 
 whose term expires and who came home with us, be- 
 came so unwell that he had to be taken to the camp 
 hospital. 
 
 Sunday, October ninth, the One Hundi-ed and 
 Thirty-eighth Illinois came into Camp Butler, having 
 just returned from Western Missouri. " My brother 
 Griffin was with them. Tliis was the first time 1 had 
 seen him, or any of my relatives, for over three years. 
 He had grown considerable since I saw him last. 
 Then he was a little boy, now he is a young soldier. 
 
 Monday, October eleventh, the mustering officer 
 called the roll of our detachment, and then in formal 
 manner pronounced the words: "You are now honor- 
 ably discharged from the service of the army of the 
 United States of America." 
 
 The only thing now to do was to wait for the pay- 
 master and then go home. Those who lived near 
 enough to Springfield went to their homes immedi- 
 ately! those of u^s wliose homes were too far away 
 remained. The paymaster was slow in coming, caus- 
 ing ns to wait longer than we expected. 
 
 I spent most of the day, the following Wednes- 
 day, in Springlield, and in the afternoon returned to 
 Camp Butler. I was much surprised to there meet 
 two more of my brothers in camp, Ralpli and Webb. 
 They had lately enlisted in a new company that was 
 
In Camp Butler, Octobbe, IStil. 407 
 
 organizing to join the old Twentietli Illinois. The 
 first had served for a time in the One Hnndredth Illi- 
 nois and was now retnrning to the armj. The latter, 
 who was younger, had grown up, so as to be large 
 enough to be a soldier since I left home in 1861. 
 Both were buoyant and happy. 
 
 A few months afterward a sadder page was here 
 inserted: Of us four brothers who had thus hap- 
 pened to meet as soldiers in Camp Butler, Webb, the 
 poor boy, was the only one who was destined to fill a 
 soldier's grave. He was stricken down, while in 
 Camp Butler, with tliat fearful scourge of the army, 
 typhoid fever. He was brought home sick, but all 
 assistance was in vain. He died and was buried in the 
 little country grave-yard near our farm home. He 
 was the pride of the family. His strength of mind 
 was never excelled by one of his years. Knowing 
 him as I did, and fully appreciating how such men- 
 tal activity as he possessed, unfitted one of his tender 
 years for the physical hardships of soldier life, I 
 had often written to dissuade him from joining the 
 army. He ought to have remained at school. But 
 the spirit of soldier ancestors was too strong, and he, 
 like the rest, was bound to be a soldier before the war 
 ended. He joined the army and was mustered out by 
 death, and all that is left of our brightest hopes is to 
 revere the memory of our young soldier brother, Ed- 
 win Webb Marshall, who died on January 24, 1865. 
 
 On Monda}^, October seventeenth, I went into the 
 cit}', and, at head-quarters, found that the United States 
 paymaster would be on hand the next day. I tele- 
 graphed to Bloomington and Carlinville, for the Thirty- 
 
408 Army Life. 
 
 third boys to return. This was iiiv last opportunity 
 to serve my old comrades as soldiers. I went to Camp 
 Butler, packed up my personal traps and then went to 
 Springfield and stayed at the hotel over night. This 
 .was the first time I had slept in a bed, other than one 
 made out of my soldier blankets, since I left home in 
 1861. 
 
 On Tuesday we met at Camp Butler; the Govern- 
 ment payniaster paid us the balance our due, we bid 
 farewell to our comrades, and each started for his own 
 liome. I toak the ni^ht train on the Chicago & Alton 
 going north and reached Joliet at an early hour the 
 next morning. Here I took the morning train on the 
 Chicago & Bock Island railroad, and ran up to Mo- 
 kena. From there I walked across the fields to the 
 township of J^ew Lenox and was soon upon the old 
 home farm, upon which I was born; and thus I 
 reached home on Wednesday, October 19, 1864. 
 The first one I met was little sister Mary — how she 
 had grown while I was away. The little girl was 
 out in the field trying to do what she could, attending 
 to the farm stock, as her big brothers were all away 
 soldiering. It is not strange that it was difficult for 
 me to recognize her. I had never thought of the lit- 
 tle puss only as f)r her brothers to tease and play 
 with — ^just big enough for us to throw up and catch, 
 as a ball, when playing with her. 
 
 The youngest of tiie family, little George, he, too, 
 had grown and now was quite a large boy, had his 
 team in the field, commencing to gather the fall crop 
 of corn. Having come on the first train, my early 
 arrival was taking those at home somewhat by sur- 
 
Home Again. 400 
 
 prise. At the house, both busily engao-ed, I found 
 sister Sarah — our oldest sister, whose frequent home 
 letters had so often gladdened uie during- the past, 
 three long years— and our mother — a mother, who, 
 many, many long years ago, had been left a widow, 
 with two little girls and five small boys to care for. 
 All of her boys who were old enough had taken a part 
 as soldiers, and now the prospect was fair that the 
 end wonid come and she not be called upon to make 
 her sacriiice. Upon this day a happy mother was she. 
 Iler greeting, to me, will not be described. 
 
 Wednesday, the day of my arrival, was a hoine visit. 
 The next day the neighbors, hearing of my return, 
 dropped in, one after another, to talk with and ask a 
 thousand questions of army life. 1 was glad to meet 
 md greet them all. And yet, sad greetings some of 
 them were. Now and then, when the honest old 
 farmer, his white-haired wife, or other kind neighbors 
 grasped ni}'- hand, I could see tears mingled with the 
 joyous words. The tale the tears told did not need to 
 be exp'ained in words. Too well I knew, that in the 
 neighbor's home there was a vacant chair that never 
 would again be filled. Many of the boys with whom 
 I had joined in many a wild play at the little old log 
 school house, in the edge of the woods, with whom I 
 liad worked, and rambled over the prairie land, with 
 whom I h^d passed raanj^a long, jolly night in the 
 wild woods, lunching upon roasted, green corn and 
 ripe apples gathered by the way, while hunting wild 
 raccoons and other game; with whom I had robbed my 
 own melon patch as well as theirs in turn, many of 
 these boys had gone to the war never to return. 
 
410 
 
 Army Life. 
 
 Thus was sorrow mixed with joy. Could I have 
 said to each honest old father, to each fond mother to 
 each devoted wife, to each loving sister, brother, child 
 and sweetheart: "Your soldier has lived to return from 
 the war," these hours of my return home would have 
 been the happiest of my life. 
 
 But for the sorrow it brings, every young man 
 could well commence his worldly career by spending 
 three years in army life. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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