k *>6* o * a • • • A° ^>> * » * - ^r •*cr .V ^c? *s,<* <> ''TV. 1 ^ & **<& *g* &. °o. %°. % m havmg he ay ZZZZi: W H", marCh beHind a " * e ^ » d £ ™ quick ,t a m,le or more to cateh up again. A com- 2l6 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. mon time step or 90 to the minute, in front with a brigade of 1,500 over the average of these roads, makes the rear in order to keep up, take more than quick time, or over 112 steps to the minute, during their marching time. So you can imagine our races, though fun to the advance, make the rear work — no laughing matter. The point of the race is for the advance regiment to move so fast that the others will break up, tired out, and straggle. Yesterday the 97th Indiana coming in had the lead and undertook to run us. We had the rear, but by not waiting to cross on logs, but wading through creeks up to our knees or middles kept at their heels for 8 miles without a rest. 'Twas raining all the time and the roads were awful slippery. Our brigade tried hard to run us down at first, but now none of them doubt our ability to march with any regiment. When the men are resting along the road they have a great fashion of making remarks about any strange soldier or citizen who passes. As we were rest- ing on the 5th inst., a bare-footed, sick-looking soldier came hobbling through. One man said, "He's sick, don't say any- thing to him ;" another said, "No, he's shod a little too rough ;" another, "Yes, and he interferes ;" another, "Keep still he's slipping upon ^something ;" another, "He's showing us how Fanny Elssler went over a looking glass;" another, "Come here and I'll take the pegs out of your shoes," etc. Wouldn't that be interesting to the passerby? Scottsboro, Ala., March 6, 1864. By marching 21 miles on the railroad ties we reached "home" yesterday, after an absence of 24 days, in which we traveled 280 miles. Altogether it was a very pleasant trip, although the first 10 nights were almost too cold for outdoor sleeping. I kept a "sort" of a diary of this trip in a memorandum book, and being too lazy to copy, tore out the leaves and mailed to you. You should receive three letters of that kind. One about the "Wills Valley" trip, one of the march from here to Cleveland, and the third of the trip from Cleveland to Dalton and back. The rain ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 217 was pouring down when we received orders to start home from Chattanooga and it rained almost until night. We marched 16 miles without a rest, and did it in five hours. Did exactly the same thing next day, although it did not rain. This was from Oltewah to Chattanooga. In addition to this march I took a look over the part of Mission Ridge where our regiment fought, and also climbed Lookout mountain. The 103d, the brigade they were with, un- doubtedly got the hottest part of the whole Lookout, and Mission Ridge fight. The nature of the ground was such that not a shot was fired by either side until they were within 200 yards of each other, when our men charged. Some of our boys were killed a little to the right of, but on a line with the Rebel guns. The trees and shrubs show marks of extraordinary hot musketry work. I cut a hickory walking stick right where our men commenced the charge. This hickory stood by an oak that I should think was hit by 400 musket and canister balls. It helped me later in the day to climb Lookout Mountain. I think the view from Lookout worth 1,000 miles travel. The high mountains of Western North Carolina, and the Blue Mountains of Virginia are very plainly seen from the sum- mit. There is a summer retreat, some 40 or 50 nice houses with public hall and school on top. Scottsboro, Ala., March 15, 1864. I am again on court martial duty, with a prospect of a long siege ; but we have an experienced President and a Judge Advocate who promises to be a fast worker ; so we may get through quicker than we anticipated. The Presi- dent, Colonel Heath, 100th Indiana, is a Bob Ingersoll for the world, that is, full of anecdote and fond of malt. 'Tis probably fortunate that at this time none of the latter is to be had in our division. I dislike detached service in any shape, but prefer court martial duty to almost any other. Would much rather be with my company, and if it were not considered so nix military would ask to be 2l8 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. relieved from this. You can't imagine how proud I am becoming of my company. I have never had an iota of trouble with them. We certainly work as smoothly as any company could. We are all in high feather over the pros- pect of going to Richmond. Everybody wants to start immediately. If the 15th and 17th corps reach the Rapidan, we doubt your hearing anything more about recrossing the Rapidan and taking positions inside the Washington fortifications. Our corps don't get along well with these Cumberland and Potomac soldiers. To hear our men talk to them when passing them or their camps marching, you'd think the feeling between us and the Rebels could be no more bitter. We are well off by our- selves, but still we don't feel at home. We're too far from our old comrades, 13th, 16th and 17th Corps. This feeling that grows up between regiments, brigades, divisions and corps is very strong and as strange. The 4th and 14th Corps Cumberland chaps our men can endure, although much in the spirit a dog chewing a bone, allows another to come within ten feet. The nth and 12th Corps Poto- mac men, and ours never meet without some very hard talk. I must do the Yankees the justice to say that our men, I believe, always commence it, and are the most un- gentlemanly by great odds. I do honestly think our corps in one respect composed of the meanest set of men, that was ever thrown together. That is, while on the march they make it a point to abuse every man or thing they see. They always feel "bully," will certainly march further with less straggling, and make more noise whooping than any other corps in service, but if a strange soldier or citizen comes in sight, pity him, and if he's foolish enough to ask a question, as "what regiment," or "where are you bound for?" he'll wish himself a mile under ground before he hears all the answers, and ten to one not a whit of the information he asked for will be in any of them. We have no pay yet, and no prospects now, but doing good business borrowing. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 2IO, Scottsboro, Ala., March 12, 1864. I have been tremendously demoralized for nearly a month in consequence of a terrible cold I caught by some of my care- lessness, I suppose, but am now coming out of it all right. Weather is most beautiful. Not too much duty, excellent camp, remarkably good health, and everything so near right, that almost think a soldier who'd grumble here deserves shoot- ing. Were I disposed to complain am sure I could only find two little topics whereof to speak; one being the fact that 'tis impossible to get anything to eat here excepting regular army rations, not even hams can be had, and the other the long-continued absence of the paymaster. We are hoping that both these matters will be remedied 'ere long, but have been so hoping for months. We have a division purveyor now, who pretends that he will furnish us in good eatables. We have had but a few articles from him, and I'll tell you the prices of those I remember. Can of strawberries, $1.75; cheese, 80 cents a pound; bottle (about one and one-half pints) pickled beets, $1.50. If I could draw the pay of a brig- adier general, and then live on half rations, think I might come out even with said purveyor for my caterer. Everything perfectly stagnant. We did hear day before yesterday some quite rapid artillery firing for an hour or two; it sounded as though it might have been some ten or twelve miles southwest of us. 'Twas reported by scouts a few days ago that the enemy was preparing flatboats at Guntersville to cross the river on, with intent to make a raid up in this direction or toward Huntsville. The 15th Michigan Mounted Infantry was sent down to look after the matter, ran into an ambuscade and lost a dozen or so killed and wounded. That's all I heard of the matter. We were very sorry that the loss was so light, for they are a miserable set. We are going to have a dance here in a few days. Think I'll go. Anything at all to get out of camp. I'm as restless as a tree top after marching so much. You don't know how tame this camp business is. Am afraid I will get the "blues" yet. Hurry up the spring campaign, I say. 220 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Scottsboro, Ala., March 20, 1864. What under the sun can I tell you that will interest you. That it is intolerably dull, bah! Have just had a long visit from Lieutenant Colonel Wright, now army assistant inspector general of the division, and Lieutenant Van Dyke, A. D. C, to our new commander, General Harrow. The lieutenant is a splendid looking fellow of about 23 years, and has served up to the time of coming into our division with the 2d Corps, Army Potomac. Van Dyke informed me that a despatch from Logan was received by Harrow this a. m., informing him that Forrest was prowling around on the other side of the river with intention of crossing and making a little dash on some part of our line. "Our" railroad from Nashville via Decatur is about completed (will be finished to-morrow) and then we hope to have something to eat once more. This rail- road will be all for our corps, or at least we will get the choice of what comes over it. We are at outs with the general to-day. In the field we are not accustomed to having camp guard, considering a strong picket and the regular property alarm guards sufficient. But because two or three men got drunk yesterday, and a gun or two was fired, out comes Harrow in an order and requires a strong camp guard. It may be one of the faults of our discipline, but 'tis a fact that our men would much prefer two days of any other duty, to one of camp guard. Our court gets on slowly. Oh ! We had a dance a few nights since. Northern ladies, officers' wives, and a few "Mountain Ewes" (the poetical name given the Jackson county beau- ties by some genius of a Yankee). We really had a delightful time; and I understand they are to be continued, one every two weeks Anything to keep a man from getting blue. I see Abraham calls for 200.000 more. Keep asking for them Lincoln, that's right, I'm sure there are yet many who can be spared for their country's good in more meanings than one. It's queer that our regi- ment don't get more recruits. We need them very much, and yet I dread getting them, they are so much trouble ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 221 for a year. The 26th and 48th Illinois have respectively 200 and 500 and the officers are bored terribly over them. There is to my eye, as much difference between the aver- age of recruits and the average of veterans, as there is between the physique of a tailor and that of a blacksmith. Some of the veterans who have returned to camp, are sick of their last bargain with the United States, but the majority are right glad to get back. Scottsboro, Ala, March 24, 1864. Two months and twenty-four days without changing camp; which is the longest time our tents have covered one piece of ground since we organized. We have marched, though, some 35 days during this time, and some such marching. Whew ! I think I never suffered on a march as 1 did on the Sand Mountain in DeKalb county. I wore a thin blouse, and had no overcoat. I'd lie so close to the fire nights that the clothes on my back would scorch and my breath would freeze on my whiskers. We had nothing to keep the freezing dews off us, and it seemed to me that it went through my clothes and an inch of flesh before the dew-point would be blunted. One night about 2 o'clock I had a huge pine knot fire and was trying to warm some half frozen portions of my body, when Cap- tain Smith came over from his bed, as blue as a conscript, to thaw out. He turned one side and then t'other to the blaze, time and again but without much progress ; finally he shivered out, "By G — d, Captain, I could wish a tribe of cannibals no worse luck than to get me for breakfast. I'm frozen hard enough to break out half their teeth, and the frost would set the rest aching." Next morning a lot of us were standing by a fire nearly all grumbling, when the major asked me how I passed the night. "Capitally, slept as sweetly as an infant, little chilly in fore part of night, but forgot it when sleep came." They looked so pitifully, doubtfully envious, that I got me laugh enough to warm me clear through. Captain Smith, Soot and Lieu- 222 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. tenant Ansley have been in with me playing old sledge all evening. A storm came up, blew half of my camp house down, and broke up the party. Have just got fixed up again. Those pine knot fires we had on the mountains, made us all look like blacksmiths. Day before yesterday a foot of snow fell. Last night only drifts on the north side of things were left and to-night you have to hunt for a flake. Two shots on the picket line back of our camp. Guess it's some of the 26th or 48th recruits. Out of every dozen or twenty recruits, there's sure to be one who will see men skulking around his picket post, and who will shoot a stump. Six-thirty a. m. 25th. — Bless me, how it rained and blew last night. Do you remember the storm at Point Pleasant, Mo., April 1, 1862? Never a high wind that I do not think of it. Believe we had two killed, about a dozen disabled and 20 horses killed. No paymaster yet. Goldsboro, N. C, March 25, 1864. We were two days coming back here from Bennettsville ; and have Sherman's receipt for another campaign and his promise of a little rest. Have a nice camp ground and will enjoy ourselves, I think. Huntsville, Ala., April 3, 1864. Thunder, lightning and rain are having a little time by themselves outdoors to-night. No audience, but guards and government mules, but that don't seem to affect the show. We have a right good hotel here, a rather lively party, and have spent a pleasant, highly gaseous evening, Colonel Oglesby, Dr. Morris and Captain Wilkinson of our division. We came down on two days' leave, principally to see the place, but all having more or less business. Found Will Trites this a. m. ; dined with him, and this afternoon four of us have been riding. I enjoyed it very much. Had good horses, and 'tis a beautiful town. I think the finest I have seen ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 223 South ; but nothing near what Decatur, Bloomington, Quincy and a dozen other Illinois towns promise to be when they have half its age. In the cemetery there are as many really fine monuments as there were in the Chicago cemetery in 1859, and should think it not more than half the size of the new Canton graveyard. Our soldiers have been registering their names on the finest of the monuments. It looks so sac- rilegious, and fully as ridiculous. They have a beautiful cus- tom here of placing wreaths of flowers and bouquets upon the graves. This p. m. (Sabbath) nearly every grave had one or more such offerings. I attended the Presbyterian church this a. m., and certainly never heard the English language so abused before. The minister was a citizen. Did not by a word allude to the war in sermon or prayers. Most of the ladies wore mourning. Very full attendance of them. All who refused the "oath" here, have been sent across the river. Saw General McPherson at breakfast this morning looking as of old. We were paid four months last Thursday. Scottsboro, Ala., April 9, 1864. Don't be alarmed and imagine that I have "photos" on the brain. This is in all probability the last remittance of the article that I shall make you. General Corse, our old brigade commander, we think a great deal of, and would like to have you preserve his picture. The little soldier, Johnny Clem, was a sergeant at the time of the Chickamauga battle, and fought like a hero. His comrades say he killed a Rebel offi- cer of high rank there. For his gallant conduct in that mas- sacre, General Thomas gave him a lieutenancy and position on his staff, where he now is. He is almost a perfect image of one, Willie Blackburn, who was my orderly in the 7th. The day of jubilee has come at this post; that is, we have, once more, something fit to eat. This is the first day since we've been here that our commissary has furnished us with aught but regular rations. We can wish for nothing now, except "marching orders." My men are in splendid condi- tion. Everyone of them in Ai health and spirits. All the 224 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. veterans of the division are back, except the three regiments of our brigade. The 55th Illinois has at last concluded to veteran. Two hundred of them will be at home shortly. They held a new election, left Malmsberg and Chandler out in the cold, and I understand, a goodly number of their best officers besides. Men who have not been under good discipli- narians, will almost invariably, if an election is allowed, choose good fellows for officers. That is, men who allow everything to go at loose ends, who have no business what- ever with commissions. Captain Milt. Hainey and Captain Augustine, I understand, are to be colonel and lieutenant colonel of the 55th. They are said to be good men and offi- cers, and exceptions to the above, but my experience is such exceptions are rare, and I'd rather time would prove them than man's words. I believe my company would veteran, al- most unanimously, to-day. I am still on court-martial duty, and having a very easy time. We seldom sit over two hours, and never more than four hours a day. The most of the cases are for desertion, and absence without leave, with oc- casionally a shooting or cutting affair among some drunken men. The major and several of the other officers are ab- sent at Nashville on a shopping excursion. Captain Wyskoff is commanding. He has been trying for the last eight months to resign, but papers come back every time disapproved. It's hard work now to get out of the army. By a few items I have seen in the papers, believe the 17th Army Corps is com- ing up the river. Wish they would be sent here. We need another corps to move with us on to Rome. Suppose that Grant thinks he must have the 17th with him at Richmond. Operations cannot possibly commence here for 25' days yet. Wish we could move to-morrow. Colonel Wright and I were out a few miles this p. m. to see a couple of maidens. While we were enjoying our visit a party of excited citizens (all liable to the Southern conscription) rush in, and kindly in- vite us to go clown to Fossets' in the bottom, and clean out a half dozen "guerils" who were there after conscripts. 'Twas only a half mile through the woods to Fossets' and that was ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 225 closer than we wanted to be to such a party (we had no arms). So we told the excited citizens that they and the guerillas could all go to the d 1 and we'd go to camp. Within a mile of camp we met a company on the way to look for the Rebels, but I know they might as well look for a religious chaplain in the army as for the Rebels in that swamp. There is hardly a sign of spring here yet. Have certainly never seen vegetation as far advanced North at this season as it is here now. Need a fire every day. The last month has been colder than January was. I met a woman to-day who prides herself on belonging to one of the first families of Virginia and boasts that her grandsire's plantation and George Washington's al- most joined, and showed me a negro woman no years old, that formerly waited upon George Washington. She claims to be chivalry, par excellence. Her husband is in the Rebel Army. She lives off of the United States Commissary De- partment, and begs her chewing tobacco of United States soldiers. She's a Rebel, and talks it with her mouth full of Uncle Sam's bread and bacon. Scottsboro, Ala., April 24, 1864. Spring is here at last, and summer is almost in sight. The last two days have been fully as warm as I care to see weather in April. There has been a great deal of cold, wet weather here this spring, and vegetable life is unusu- ally backward ; but the last few days have effected a great change in the forests. The north side of the mountains still look bare and wintry, the soft maple being the only tree I have noticed "in leaf" on those slopes; but nearly all of the trees and bushes on the southern mountain slopes are in full leaf. In the valleys, the poplars, the beeches, and the black gums are nearly in full spring dress, being far in advance of their comrades — the oaks, chestnuts, hickories and white gum. Of the smaller trees the dogwood leads in assuming a spring costume. Two years ago this date, vegetation was further advanced at the mouth of the Ohio than 'tis here now. Do you remem- 226 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. ber, I arrived home just about two years ago this time ; stayed two and one half days, and then, for Corinth? How easily my three years in the army have made way with themselves. That I have lived something over a thousand days, in a blue uniform seems incredible. Six months sounds much more reasonable. "Black Jack" reviewed our division yesterday. Only eight of the 13 regiments could be present; but 'twas the finest review I ever saw. Logan rode through our camp, and expressed himself much pleased at our way of keeping house. We have a beauti- ful camp, every part of it cleanly swept every morning. It is also decorated profusely with evergreens from the mountains. I suppose it is unnecessary to tell you what we killed in the deerhunt, I spoke of in my last, as in pros- pect ; but we did have a power of fun. Colonel Young, the citizen who proposed the party to me, is probably some 55 years old ; and at heart a Rebel (he is now a member of the Alabama Legislature) but has taken the oath. I noticed a suspicious "auburn" tinge on his nose, and pro- vided myself with a canteen of pure lightning commissary whiskey. The colonel had tasted none of the ardent for a long time, and his thirst was excessive. He became in- tensely demoralized ; and proved the most amusing char- acter of the party. He made us a speech, and committed so many fooleries, that if he had been anything but a Rebel, I would have been ashamed of myself for my part in his fall. Captains Wyckoff and Brown received orders yesterday accepting their tenders of resignation, and have started home. Lieutenant Worley has been detached to the Signal Corps. He is worthy of it. We (the whole corps) received orders this morning to prepare for the field immediately. The order is from McPherson and says : "Not one tent will be taken into the field, only two wagons will be allowed the regiment, one for the officers and one for the cooking utensils of the men." That is coming down pretty low. Three years ago we had 13 wagons to each regiment. Two years ago eight, one year ago 'twas ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 227 reduced to six, and now to two. What will it be next? Captain Sid. writes that two divisions of our corps will be left on this line of railroad to guard it this summer. I think ours and Morgan L. Smith's will probably be the two; but 'tis hard to tell. I would for my part much rather march ; if we do march, I have no doubt our course will be what I have before told you, Larkin's Landing, Lebanon and Rome, Ga. They have made a change in our artillery. Two batteries now accompany each division, and the rest goes into an artillery reserve, a corps organization. You remember that I told you that the 1,500 horses we foraged in this country would be dead loss to the government. Our authorities fed them all winter, and this last week an order came to give them back to the citizens. Remember they have all been paid for. But they are of no account to the army, and 'tis the best thing that can now be done with them. Scottsboro, Ala., April 18, 1864. No changes to note in the military situation of our por- tion of Dixie, but the note of preparation is heard on every side. All making ready for the Spring campaign, which every one prophesies will be the bloodiest one of the war. Johnston is undoubtedly collecting all the Rebel troops in the West, on the Georgia Central R. R. and will have a large force. But ours will be perfectly enormous. Not one of our regiments but is stronger to-day than a year ago, and many divisions number from one-third to three- quarters more than then. Our division when we marched through from Memphis last fall was hardly 4,500 (for duty) strong. Now 'tis 7,000, and growing every day. We have no doubt of our ability to whip Johnston most completely, but if he can raise 70,000 men, and we think he can, of course somebody will stand a remarkably good chance for being hurt in the proceedings. He has crossed a division of infantry, away off on our right, beyond Elk river. 'Tis hard to tell what for. Maybe to cooperate with Forrest. Certainly to forage some, and some think is 228 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. possibly to attract our attention in that direction while he makes a dash on our lines east of Huntsville. This latter would, to my idea, be akin to the action of that youth Harper represents in his "April," standing on his head on the railroad track, six feet before the locomotive under way : "Rash." Twenty- four years old yesterday, and three years in the service. Celebrated the day by calling on a good looking "mountain ewe," and dining there- with. Made arrangements to have a deer and turkey hunt with her papa and some of his friends, Colonel Cobb, (formerly of United States Congress) among others. To give you an idea of the Southern love for titles, I'll name part of the citizens who help to form our party next Wed- nesday. Colonel Cobb, Colonel Provinse, Colonel Young, and Majors Hall and Hust. Every man who owns as many as two negroes is at least a colonel. None of them rank as low as captains. Spring is coming very slowly. At least four weeks behind time. Trees are becoming quite ver- dant, and many of the flowers are up. I would like to send you a few haunches of nice venison after my hunt, but expect, all things considered, 'twould hardly be worth while to try. Heard to-day of the wedding of one of my most particularest friends, a young lady of Decatur. Was sensi- ble enough to marry a soldier; but am not certain she got the right one. Heaven help her. Scottsboro, Ala., April 28, 1864. We received marching orders last night, and will proba- bly move to-morrow morning. Supposition is that we go to Huntsville first, there store our baggage, and then cross the Tennessee river and open the Spring campaign. I am much pleased at the prospect of moving once more. Have never been so well and comfortably situated in the army, nor was I ever tired of lying still. Lieutenant Miller R. Q. M. while hunting some mules a few miles from camp, last Monday was captured by the enemy, and is now on his ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 229 way to the "Hotel de Libby" (not) rejoicing. Tis some- thing of a joke on Miller. Weather is becoming most uncomfortably warm. Altogether too hot for marching. Boys of our regiment and troops of the whole corps, never started on a march in better spirits. Will write as often as have opportunities. Swarms of flies interfere with my after- noon naps lately. 23O ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. V. April 30, 1864 to August 24, 1864. Under marching orders at last. "Mule Soup" and cabin smashing. Guying a Potomac general Playing the "cousin" game on the "cits." Operations around Dalton and Resaca. Sherman's advice and warning. Lively fighting fol- lows. Kilpatrick wounded. Deploying in sight of the Rebel guns with artillery duel going on overhead. Digging rifle pits fifty yards from the enemy's lines. Resaca captured. Fight at Adairs- ville. Planters running off their slaves. General Harrow and his "Potomac horse." A dead Rebel colonel in a garden of flowers. Heavy fighting near Dallas. Sustaining a Rebel charge, losing ten men out of thirty-one. In rifle pits under storm of shot and shell. Logan's inspiring presence. In charge of brigade skirmish line. Moving out from under the enemy's guns. Midnight work in the trenches. Nine days under continuous fire. Pestered by "chigres" and ants. Storming the Rebel rifle pits and charging a hill manned by three Rebel regiments, killing 100 and capturing 542. Fighting three little battles in three days, and repulsing two charges. Battle of Kenesaw Mountain. Fighting around Atlanta and on the banks of the Chattahoochie. Desperate charge on Rebel works across a ravine. A repulse and Colonel Wright wounded. Great suffering from heat. Battle of Atlanta and death of McPherson. Gruesome incident in the trenches. Summary of the regiment's record : Battles of Vicksburg, Black River, Jack- son, Mission Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope, Big Shanty Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta. Seventy-two days under fire; 300 have fallen in defense of the regimental colors. Scottsboro, Ala., April 30th, '64. You know we nave been under marching orders for several days. At dress parade this evening orders were read notify- ing us that the division would move out on the road to Chat- tanooga at 6 a. m., May 1st. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 23 1 This is the first intimation of the direction we would take. It surprises me very much, and I think many others. I was certain we would either cross the Tennessee river at Lar- kins Ferry or near Decatur and take Dalton in flank or rear, but Sherman didn't see it. I would rather do anything else save one, than march over the road to Chattanooga. That one is to lie still in camp. When the boys broke ranks after the parade, cries of "mule soup" filled the camp for an hour. That is the name that has been unanimously voted to the conglomeration of dead mules and mud that fills the ditches on the roadside between Steven- son and Chattanooga. The whole division has been alive all evening; burning cabins has been the fashion. Captains Post, Smith and my & - self got into a little discussion which ended in our grabbing axes and demolishing each other's cabins. May 1st, 1864. Bivouac at Mud Creek. Up at daylight, and off on time. 6 a. m. The camp was full of citizens early, all after our leavings. The way they did snatch for old clothes was far from slow. They actually stole lots of trash right under the noses of the soldier owners. Out "jayhawking" old jayhawk himself. Started off in best of spirits— men cheering right from their hearts. About two miles out on the road, General Harrow and staff passed us. The men not having the fear of "guard house" in their minds, yelled at him, "Bring out your Potomac horse," "Fall back on your straw and fresh butter," "Advance on Washington," etc., all of which counts as quite a serious offense, but he paid no attention to it. You recollect he is from the Potomac Army. The first expression comes from a punishment he inaugurated in our division. He put up a wooden horse in front of his quarters, and mounted on it all the offenders against discipline that he could "gobble." Some waggish fellows wrote out some highly displayed ad- vertisements of the "Potomac horse" and posted them through- out the camp, and finally one night the men took it down and 232 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. sent it on the cars to Huntsville, directed to McPherson, with a note tacked on it, telling him to furnish him plenty of straw and use him carefully, as he was Potomac stock and unused to hardships. We only marched some ten miles to-day and have a splendid camping ground. Have had a wash in a mill race near by. West bank of Crow Creek, near Stevenson, May 2d, 1864. Only about seven miles from last night's camp, but will have to wait until to-morrow to build a bridge. The creek is some 150 feet wide. Our Pioneer Corps will from the rough put a bridge over it in ten hours, that is to be passed over within the next three days by 800 wagons and 100 cannon of our corps. We reached here about 9 this a. m., and were led into a very large field of prairie grass, standing three feet high and as dry as tinder. A stiff breeze was blowing and the first fire started in our regiment set the grass in our front on a per- fect rampage. It run down on the 46th Ohio, and such a grab- bing of "traps" and scattering was never before seen, but was equaled about half an hour afterwards when a fire set in our rear came sweeping down on us. We threw our things out on the bare space in our front and escaped with little loss. My drummer had his coat, cap, drum and a pet squirrel burned, and a number of ponchos and small articles were also sent up in smoke. The days are almost like summer, but the nights are rather cool. The trees are about in full leaf and vermin are becoming altogether too numerous. Every man is a vigilance committee on the wood-tick question. They are worse than guerrillas or gray-backs. On an ordinary good "tick day" we capture about ten per capita. They demoralize one tremendously. The boys did some good work fishing in the p. m., catching a number of fine bass, etc. A surgeon, who I think belongs on some brigade staff, has been stopping at nearly every house visiting, etc., and then rides past us to his place in front. This morning, after a visit ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 233 he was passing our regiment; as we commenced crossing a little stream his horse got into a hole some four feet deep, stumbled, fell, rolled over, and liked to have finished the doctor. He was under both water and horse. The boys consoled him with a clear 1,000 cheers, groans, and sharp speeches. Any- thing short of death is a capital joke. I have seen them make sport of a man lying by the roadside in a fit. Twelve miles east of Bridgeport, May 3, 1864. Have made about 15 miles to-day. This is the fourth time I have been over the same ground, have ridden over it five times. This is the first time I ever started on a march where real judgment was used in breaking the men in. We always before made from 15 to 25 miles the first day and broke down about one-fourth of our men. This time you see, our first two day's marches were short and the 15 miles to-day seemed to affect no one. I hear from good authority here that Thomas is in Dalton, after some heavy skirmishing. Everything is mov- ing to the front here. A portion of the 12th, or 20th Corps now, is just ahead of us. Morgan L. Smith and Osterhaus are just behind us, but Logan will not be along until relieved by some other troops. I expect Dodge, with some 6,000 of the 16th Army Corps, is behind us. The 17th Army Corps was coming into Hunts- ville as we left. Camp is in an orchard, and apples are as large as hazel nuts and we make sauce of them. Whiteside, May 4, 1864. The day's march has been much more pleasant than any of us expected. Most of the dead mules have been buried, and the road much improved, especially through the narrows. We smelled a number of mules, though, after all the improve- ments. This, Whiteside, is like Bridgeport, a portable town, with canvas covers and clapboard sides. The boys have been catching some nice fish in a little stream by our camp this evening. Made about 15 miles to-day. 234 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Between Chattanooga and Rossville, May 5, 1864. It has been a very warm day, and the 16 miles between 8 a. m. and 4 p. m. counts a hard march. The dust in many places has been ankle deep. We again crossed the point of old Lookout. I think since yesterday morning at least 20 trains loaded with troops have passed us while in sight of the railroad, with from 15 to 20 cars in each train. We hear to-day that Dalton is not yet ours, but Sherman only waits for his old corps before attacking. Have sent everything back to Chattanooga to store. It is estimated that we will have over 100,000 men at Dalton day after to-morrow. Will keep a diary and send every opportunity. Camp at "Gordon's Mills," Ga., May 6,. 1864. We lay in camp on Chattanooga creek, two and one-fourth miles this side of Chattanooga, until 11 this morning, waiting for the division train to be loaded and turning the bulk of our camp and garrison equipage over to the corps quartermaster to store for us until we return from this campaign. We have cut our baggage for the regiment to what can be put in three wagons. Of course, we do not expect to find any of our things again that we leave. The 6th Iowa Veterans re- joined us last night. I notice *hat all these veterans come back dressed in officer's clothing. They have, I expect, been putting on a great many airs up North, but I don't know who has any better right. The last four miles of our march to- day has been through the west edge of the Chickamauga bat- tlefield. I believe the battle commenced near these mills on our right. It is supposed that we are moving to get in rear of Dalton. No more drumming allowed, so I suppose we are getting in the vicinity of Rebels, and that skirmishing will commence in about two days. The Big Crawfish springs near the mill is only second to the one that supplies Huntsville with water, neither one as large as the Tuscambia spring, but much more ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 235 Beautiful. General Harrow had a fuss with our Company A last night. He struck one or two of the men with a club and put the lieutenant (Willison) under arrest. * * * It is im- possible to get along with him. We heard last night that Grant had crossed the Rapidan in four places, but don't know where. We know nothing about what is going on here, but feel cer- tain that the Rebels will get a tremendous thrashing if they don't move promptly. Marched n miles to-day. Two miles south of the Gordon's Mills crossing of the Chickamauga, May 7, 1864, 12 m. We started at 8 this morning and made this by n. We are now waiting for two or more divisions of the 16th Corps to file into the road ahead of us. I think they are coming from Ringold. A circular of McPherson's was read to us this morning before starting, telling us we were about to engage the enemy and giving us some advice about charging, meeting charges, shooting low, and telling us not to quit out lines to carry back wounded, etc., and intimating that he expected our corps to occupy a very warm place in the fight, and to sustain the fighting reputation of the troops of the department of the Tennessee. The men talk about hoping that the divisions now going ahead will finish the fighting before we get up, but I honestly believe they'd all rather get into a battle than not. It is fun to hear these veterans talk. I guess that about two-thirds of them got married when they were home. Believe it will do much toward steadying them down when they return to their homes. They almost all say that they had furlough enough and were ready to start back when their 30 days were up. It is hot as the deuce; two of our men were sun struck at Lookout Mountain on the 3rd. Dust is becoming very troublesome. I am marching in a badly-fitting pair of boots, and one of my feet is badly strained across the instep, pains me a good deal when resting. That 236 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. and my sprained wrist make me almost a subject for the Invalid Corps, but I intend to carry them both as far as At- lanta, after our "Erring Brethren," if I have no further bad luck. One of my men, when he rolled up his blanket this morning, found he had laid on a snake, and killed him — poor snake ! Near LaFayette, Ga., 12 m., May 7, 1864. Have just got into camp and washed my face. Four divisions filing into the road ahead of us, delayed us five whole hours, and their trains have made us seven hours marching 8 miles. Somebody says we are 19 miles from Rome. The boys have started a new dodge on the citizens. One of my men told me of playing it last night. When we camped for the night he went to a house and inquiring about the neighbors found out one who had relatives North ; and something of the family history. Then he called on this party and represented himself as belonging to the northern branch of the family, got to kiss the young lady cousins, had a pleasant time generally, and re- turned with his haversack full of knicknacks, and the pictures of his cousins, with whom he had promised to correspond. At one house on the road to-day 10 or 12 women had congregated to see the troops pass. An officer stopped at the house just as our regiment came up, and the boys commenced yelling at him, "Come out of that, Yank;" you could have heard them two miles. Never saw a man so mortified. Colonel Wright tells me we are about seven miles from the Rebels at some ridge. We will get into position to-morrow and fight next day — that is, they would, if I were not present. We camped in a "whale" of a sweet potato patch, and the boys have about dug up the seed and gobbled it. May 8, 1864, 1 -.30 a. m. Have about given up the train before daylight, so will curl down and take a cool snooze, minus blankets. Made 11 miles to-day.. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 237 Fifteen miles southwest of Dalton, May 8, 1864. We traveled to-day over a better country than I have seen for five months ; the Yanks were never seen here before. All the negroes and stock have been run off. A little shooting commenced in the front to-day, and we passed a deserted sig- nal station and picket post. Saw some Rebels on a mountain south of us just before we went into camp. Dispatch came to Sherman this p. m. that Grant had whipped Lee three succes- sive days. Our fight will come off to-morrow. I entertain no doubt as to the result. They have cut us down to three-quarter rations of bread and one-fourth rations of meat. Seven miles west of Resaca, 15 miles from Dalton, May 9, 1864. Yesterday we traveled southeast, crossing six or seven ridges, one or two of which were quite high. Taylor's was the highest. To-day we have made only about eight miles all the way through a pass in Rocky Face ridge, which is a high moun- tain. There are four divisions ahead of us. A regiment of Kentucky cavalry (Rebel) slipped in between ours and the di- vision ahead of us, trying to capture a train. The 9th Illinois Infantry had the advance of our division and killed 30 Rebels and took four prisoners, losing only one man killed and their lieutenant colonel slightly wounded. Pretty good. Dodge has got the railroad and broken it, so we hear. The fight seems to be a stand-off until to-morrow. We are in line of battle for the first time on the trip, and the ordnance train is ahead of the baggage. Just saw an officer from the front (your letter of the 3d of April received this minute) ; he says Dodge is within a mile of Resaca, and driving the enemy, and will have the town by dark. Has not cut the railroad yet. This officer saw a train arrive from Dalton, with some 2,500 Rebel troops aboard. McPherson and Logan are both on the field. Some Rebel prisoners taken to-day say they intend making this a Chickamauga to us. Have a nice camp. There is some little forage here, but it is nothing for the number of troops we have. 238 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Same camp, May 10, 1864. The 9th Illinois Infantry lost about 30 men, killed, wounded and missing, yesterday. We find the enemy too strong on the railroad to take, but have succeeded in breaking it so no trains can pass. Gerry's division, of the 20th Corps, came up at dark, and the rest of the corps is within supporting distance. Rations were issued to us this evening — one-ninth rations of meat for three days just made a breakfast for the men. More rumors are flying than would fill a ream of foolscap. We had orders this p .m. to march to the front at 2 p. m., but did not go- Six miles from Resaca, May 11, 1864. We had a real hurricane last night, and a tremendous rain-storm. We lay right in the woods, and of course thought of the Point Pleasant storm and falling trees, but were too lazy to move, and thanks to a bed of pine boughs, slept good and sound. There is a scare up this morning. We have moved a mile toward the front, and building breast-works is going on with the greatest life. A full 1,000 axes are ringing within hearing. Our division is drawn up in column by brigade and at least another divi- sion is in rear of us. The latest rumor is that "the railroad has surrendered with 40,000 depots," May 12th. — We are in just such a camp as I was in once near Jacinto, Miss. Hills, hollows and splendid pines. Pine knots can be picked up by the bushel, and the pitch smoke will soon enable us to pass for members of the "Corps d'Afrique." I am perfectly disgusted with this whole business. Everything I have written down I have had from the Division Staff, and that without pumping. I am beginning to believe that there is no enemy anywhere in the vicinity, and that we are nowhere ourselves, and am sure that the generals do not let the staff of our divi- sion know anything. The railroad was not cut at daylight this morning, for I heard a train whistle and rattle along ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 239 it. I do know for certain that we are putting up some huge works here, and that they run from mountain to mountain across this gorge. Still in Snake Creek Gap, May 13, 1864. Moved forward a half mile and our regiment built a strong line of log works. We have had a perfect rush of generals along the line to-day: Hooker, Sickles, McPher- son, Thomas, Palmer, Sherman and a dozen of smaller fry. The boys crowded around Sherman and he could not help hearing such expressions as "Where's Pap?" "Let's see old Pap," etc., nor could he help laughing, either. The men think more of Sherman than of any general who ever commanded them, but they did not cheer him. I never heard a general cheered in my life, as he rode the lines. Sherman said in hearing of 50 men of our regiment, "Take it easy to-day, for you will have work enough to-morrow. It will be quick done though." Now see what that means. May 14, 1864. Reveille at 3 a. m. and an order has just come to leave all our knapsacks and move at 7 a. m. Great hospital prepara- tions are going on in our rear. I think we are going to take the railroad and Resaca. Large reinforcements came last night. Could hear the Rebels running trains all night. Ten- thirty a. m. — Have moved forward about four miles. Saw General Kilpatrick laying in an ambulance by the roadside. He was wounded in the leg this morning in a skirmish. Met a number of men — wounded — moving to the rear, and a dozen or so dead horses, all shot this morning. Quite lively skirm- ishing is going on now about 200 yards in front of us. One forty-five p. m. — Moved about 200 yards to the front and brought on brisk firing. Two thirty-five. — While moving by the flank shell com- menced raining down on us very rapidly; half a dozen burst within 25 yards of us. The major's horse was shot and I think 24O ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. he was wounded. In the regiment one gun and one hat was struck in my company. Don't think the major is wounded very badly. Three thirty p. m. — Corporal Slater of my company just caught a piece of shell the size of a walnut in his haversack. Four p. m. — Colonel Dickerman has just rejoined the regi- ment. We would have given him three cheers if it had not been ordered otherwise. Five p. m. — Have moved forward about a mile and a real battle is now going on in our front. Most of the artillery is farther to the right, and it fairly makes the ground tremble. Every breath smells very powderish. A battery has just opened close to the right of our regiment. I tell you this is inter- esting. Our regiment is not engaged yet, but we are in sight of the Rebels and their bullets whistle over our heads. The men are all in good spirits. Eight p. m. — A few minutes after six I was ordered to deploy my company as skirmishers and relieve the 1st Brigade who were in our front. We shot with the Rebels until dark, and have just been relieved. One company of the 12th Indiana who occupied the ground we have just left, lost their captain and 30 men killed and wounded in sight of us. The Rebels are making the axes fly in our front. The skirmish lines are about 200 yards apart. I have had no men wounded to-day. Dorrance returned to the company this evening. May 14, 1864, Daylight. We have just been in line and the intention was to charge the Rebel position, but two batteries were dis- covered in front of us. The skirmishers advanced a little and brought down a heavy fire. A battery is now getting into position in our front, right in front of our company, and when it opens I expect we will have another rain of shell from the Rebels. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 24I Nine thirty-five a. m. — Our battery has opened, but the Rebels cannot reply. Four of their guns are in plain sight of us, but our brigade skirmishers have crawled up so close that not a Rebel dare load one of them. Joke on them ! One of my men was struck on the foot while talking to me a few minutes ago. Made a blue spot, but did not break the skin. Eleven forty-five a. m. — I think our regiment has not had more than six or eight wounded this morning. Very heavy musketry firing is going on on our left. It is the 14th Corps. Two p. m. — Since 1 p. m. terrific artillery and musketry firing has been going on on our left. The enemy was mass- ing against the 14th A. C. when Thomas attacked them. I think he drove them some distance. Two thirty p. m. — My company is ordered to be deployed and sent down the hill to support skirmishers. We are in position, very lively firing is going on. Five p. m. — A splendid artillery duel is going on right over my head. The Rebel battery is just across an open field, not 600 yards, and one of ours is a short ioo yards in my rear. Osterhaus a half mile on our right is playing on the same battery. Thomas is still fighting heavily. He seems to be turning their right or forcing it back. Every time the Rebels fire our skirmishers just more than let them have the bullets. I tell you this is the most exciting show I ever saw. Their battery is right in the edge of the woods, but so masked that we can't see it, or wouldn't let them load. I write under cover of a stump which a dead man of the 26th Indiana shares with me. Eight p. m. — Just relieved ; I lost no men. The fighting on the left was Hooker and Howard, and was very heavy. May 15, 1864, 1 130 a. m. At 11 p. m. went again on the skirmish line with Captain Post and superintended the construction of rifle pits for our skirmishers. A good deal of fun between our boys and the Rebels talking only 50 yards apart. 242 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Five thirty a. m. — At 3 a. m. moved and are now supporting Osterhaus, who is going to charge the railroad. Will see fighting this morning. Nine a. m. — The skirmishers are fighting briskly. Oster- haus' artillery is on both sides and behind us. Sherman has just passed us to the front. When we first came here about daylight the Rebels charged our folks on the hill ahead, but were repulsed without our assistance. McPherson is now passing. Osterhaus gained that hill last night by a charge, losing about 200 men in the operation. From a hill 50 yards from our position I can see the Rebel fort at Resaca and Rebels in abundance. It is not a mile distant. One thirty p. m. — Our artillery is beginning to open on them. One man was killed and two wounded within 40 yards of the regiment by Rebel sharpshooters. Seven p. m. — No charge yet to-day, but has been heavy fighting on the left. I have seen, this evening, Rebel trains moving in all directions. We have a good view of all their works. May 16, 1864, 6 p. m. The old story — the Rebels evacuated last night. They made two or three big feints of attacking during the night, but are all gone this morning. It is said they have taken up a position some five miles ahead. Prisoners and deserters are coming in. At Resaca we captured eight cannon, not more than 100 pris- oners, and some provisions ; don't know what we got at Dalton. Some estimate our whole loss up to this time at 2,500 killed and wounded. Everything is getting the road for pur- suit. The prisoners say Johnston will make a stand 40 miles south. Six p. m. — The 16th Corps moved out on the Rome road, and while we are waiting for the 14th Corps to get out of our way word came that the 16th had run against a snag. We were moved out at once at nearly double quick time ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 243 to help them. Trotted four miles and passed a good many wounded, but we were not needed. We bivouac to-night on the southeast bank of Coosa river. I hear to-night that our loss in the corps is 600 and that no corps has suffered less than ours. Some think the whole will foot over 5,000. May 17, 1864, 10 a. m. Our regiment moves in rear of the division to-day and we are still waiting for the trains to pass. We can hear firing in front occasionally, and although we have seen fighting enough to satisfy us for a time, still it's more disagreeable to be away in the rear and hearing, but not knowing what's going on, than to be in the field. I saw several hundred Rebel prisoners yes- terday, among then one colonel. The country is much more level this side of the Coosa, but the pine woods spoil it. Our advance, from the faint sound of the artillery firing, must be seven or eight miles ahead. We will make it very warm for Johnston. Ten p. m. — Have just got into camp, madei2 miles to-day. Heavy firing on our left, which I hear is a division of How- ard's Corps. May 18, 1864. Our division has had the advance to-day, but no infantry fighting. At noon we get into Adairsville and meet the 4th Army Corps. Saw Generals Howard, Thomas, Sickles and a hundred others. We are camped five miles southwest of town and by the prettiest place I ever saw. The house is excellent, the grounds excel in beauty anything I ever imagined. The oc- cupants have run away. Our cavalry had a sharp fight here this p. m., and on one of the gravel walks in the beautiful garden lies a Rebel colonel, shot in five places. He must have been a noble looking man ; looks 50 years old, and has a fine form and features. Think his name is Irwin. I think there must be a hundred varieties of the rose in bloom here and the most splen- did specimens of cactus. I do wish you could see it. At Adairsville, night before last, we lost 400 killed and wounded in a skirmish. 16 244 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Nine a. m. — Rapid artillery firing on our left front. We are waiting for Osterhaus and Morgan L. Smith to get out of the way. Our division has the rear to-day. Our cars got into Adairsville yesterday evening and the last Rebel train left in the morning. Firing on the left very heavy. Kingston, Cass County, Ga., May 19, 1864, 5 p. m. The artillery has been working all day, but have not heard how much of a fight. That dead Rebel colonel was Iverson, of the Second Georgia Cavalry ; we think he was formerly a M. C. of this State, and a secessionist. The citizens here have most all left the towns, but are nearly all at home in the coun- try. The cavalry had sharp fighting in the road we have come over to-day. Many dead horses and a number of fresh graves by the roadside. I wish I was in the cavalry. This plodding along afoot is dry business, compared with horse-back travel- ing. I hear this morning that Wilder's mounted infantry cap- tured two cannons and 600 Rebels this afternoon. Also that 6,000 prisoners were yesterday started from Dalton for the North. Kingston, May 20, 1864. Our cars got here this morning ; the whistle woke me. One of the most improbable rumors afloat is that letters will be allowed to go North to-day. I know you are anxious, so will not lose the rumor of a chance. Billy Fox returned to-day. My things are all right at Chattanooga. I'm in excellent health and all right every way. The news from Grant encourages us very much, but if he gets whipped it won't keep us from whal- ing Johnston. We're now about 50 miles from Atlanta. Will probably take a day or two here to replenish the supply trains, and let the men recruit a little after their twenty-day march ; don't know anything about Johnston ; it is not thought he will give us a fight near here. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 245 May 21, 1864. The 23d Army Corps moved South yesterday. I hear that they found the enemy on the south bank of the Etowah river, and that he disputes the crossing. Grant seems to be checked in his "on to Richmond." It seems that Rebel Iverson, whom I saw dead near Adairsville, was a brigadier general and a son of the ex-Congressman. This Kingston has been a gem of a little town, but the Rebels burned most of it when they left. Our railroad men are very enterprising. The cars got here the same night we did, and a dozen or 20 trains are coming per day, all loaded inside with commissary stores and outside with soldiers. May 22, 1864. Two regiments of three-year's men who did not "veteran" started home to-day. The loss of the army in this way will not be much. Not more than one or two regiments in any corps refused to veteran. We are drawing 20 days' rations, sending sick back to convalescent camp at Chattanooga, and making all preparations for a hard campaign. Four miles northwest of Van Wirt, Ga., May 23, 1864. Weather is getting very hot. We have made 21 miles to- day, and the distance, heat and dust have made it by far the hardest march we have had for a year. Excepting about six miles of dense pine woods the country we have passed through has been beautiful, quite rolling, but fertile and well improved. In the midst of the pine woods we stopped to rest at Hollis' Mill, a sweet looking little 17-year old lady here told me she was and always had been Union, and that nearly all the poor folks here are Union. In answer to some questions about the roads and country, she said, "Well, now, I was born and raised right here, and never was anywhere, and never see any- body, and I just don't know anything at all." 246 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. I never saw so many stragglers as to-day. For 12 miles no water was to be had ; then we came to a spring, a very large one, say 4 or 5 hogsheads a minute. All the offi- cers in the army could not have kept the men in ranks. Saw no cases of sunstroke, but two of my men from heat turned blue with rush of blood to the head, and had to leave the ranks. Some think we are moving on Montgomery, Ala. Our orders say we need not hope for railroad communications for 20 days ; I think that Atlanta is our point, although we were 50 miles from there this morning and 60 to-night. The planters in this country own thousands of negroes, and they've run them all off down this road. They are about two days ahead of us, and the poor people say as thick on the road as we are. Have passed several to-day who escaped from their masters. Four miles southeast of Van Wirt, Ga., May 24, 1864. Short march to-day — because it is a full day's march from here to water. At Van Wirt we turned east on the Atlanta road. Will pass through Dallas to-morrow. My company was rear guard to-day for the brigade. One of my men spilled a kettle of boiling coffee last night, filling his shoe. All the skin on the top of his foot that did not come off with the socks is in horrible blisters. The surgeon said he would have to march, and he has, all day, don't that seem rather hard ? You remem- ber how I used to detest fat meat? If I didn't eat a pound of raw pickled pork to-day for dinner, shoot me. Things don't go nearly as well as on the march from Memphis. 'Tis much harder, though we don't make as many miles per day. One reason is the weather is much warmer, and another thing, each division then marched independently, and now all three of them camp together every night. Dorrance is nearly sick to-night. I thought I heard some artillery firing this morning, but guess I was mistaken. The cavalry report they have not found any force of Rebels yesterday or to-day. Small-pox has broken out in the 6th Iowa — some 20 cases. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 247 Pumpkin Vine Creek, near Dallas, Ga., May 26, 1864, 8 a. m. We did not make more than seven or eight miles yesterday, on account of some bad road that troubled the trains very much. We got into camp at dark, just as a thunderstorm broke. We hurried up our arrangements for the night — kicking out a level place on the hillside to sleep) — gathering pine boughs to keep the water from washing us away, and spreading our rubbers over rail frames. Everything just finished, was just pulling our stock of bed clothes over me (one rubber coat), when the brigade bugle sounded the "assembly." It was dark as pitch and raining far from gently — no use grumbling — so everybody commenced yelping, singing, or laughing. In ten minutes we were under way, and though we didn't move a mile, every man who didn't tumble half a dozen times would command good wages in a circus. We finally formed line of battle on a bushy hillside, and I dropped down on the wet leaves and slept soundly until 1 o'clock, and woke up wet and half frozen, took up my bed and made for a fire and dried out. Do you remem- ber the case when the Saviour commanded a convalescent to take up his bed and walk? I always pitied that man, carrying a four-post bedstead, feathers, straw and covering and failed to see it, but if he had no more bedding than I had. I can better understand it. Heavy cannonading all the p. m. yesterday. It seemed some five or six miles east; don't understand the way matters are shaping at all. Sherman has such a way of keeping everything to himself. The country between Van Wirt and Dallas is very rough, but little of it under cultivation ; along this creek are some nice looking farms. The Rebels were go- ing to make a stand, but didn't. Two p. m. — We started at 8 this morning, and have not made more than one and one-half miles. Soldiers from the front say that Hardee's Corps fronts us two miles ahead, and that he proposes to fight. I have heard no firing that near this morn- ing, but have heard artillery eight or ten miles east. A number of prisoners have been sent back, who all report Hardee at 248 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Dallas. I think Thomas now joins our left. McPherson last night rode up to some Rebel pickets, who saluted him with a shower of hot lead, fortunately missing him. Osterhaus' com- missary drives along a lot of cattle for the division. Last night he got off the road and drove them into a party of secesh, who took commissary, beef and all. Back at Kingston, a big box came to General Harrow with heavy express charges. An ambulance hauled it 20 miles before it caught up with him, and on opening it he found a lot of stones, a horse's tail, and a block of wood with a horses' face pinned on it labeled, "head and tail of your Potomac horse." At Van Wirt before we got there the Rebels had a celebration over Lee's capturing Grant and half of his army. There's a great deal of ague in the regiment. We will have a great deal of sickness after the cam- paign closes. I have only seen one man at home in Georgia who looked capable of doing duty as a soldier. My health is excellent. This creek runs into the Talladega river. One mile south of Dallas, 2 p. m. After a lively skirmishing Jeff C. Davis' division of the 14th Army Corps occupied Dallas at 2 p. m. The Rebels retired stubbornly. We passed Dallas about dark, and are now the front and extreme right of the whole army. I guess fighting is over for the night. Two very lively little fights have occurred before dark. The heavy fighting yesterday was Hooker. He whipped and drove them four miles, taking their wounded. Near Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864, 8 a. m. There has been some very heavy fighting on our left this morning, and everywhere along the line. We have been mov- ing in line since 6 o'clock, supporting skirmishers and the 3d Brigade. Have driven the Rebels about three-quarters of a mile. The 14th Corps must have had a severe fight about 6 :3c The bullets have whistled pretty thick this a. m. Skirmish line, 11 a. m. — Osterhaus and Smith (I think), have just had a big fight on our left. At 8:30 I was ordered ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 249 to take Companies E, K, B and G, deploy them and relieve the 3d Brigade skirmishers. Deployed and moved forward over one-half mile through the very densest brush — couldn't see six feet, expecting every minute to find the 3d Brigade skirm- ishers, but they had been drawn in, and we were right into the Rebels before we saw them. Three of my company were wounded in an instant and three of K's taken prisoner, but our boys made the Rebels skedaddle, and all of them got away. Twenty-one Rebels came up in rear of Captain Smith and two of his men. Private Benson shot one of them, and Smith roared out for the rest to surrender, which they did. They (Rebels) said they would not have been taken if the Georgia brigade had not fallen back. I think that is doing pretty well for four companies of our regiment, running a whole brigade. Firing is very heavy all around us. Twelve thirty m. — A chunk of Rebel shell lit 15 feet from me. Lively artillery firing right over head. Four p. m, — At 2:15, after firing a few shells, the Rebels set up a yell along our whole front. I knew a charge was coming. At 2 130 another yell was much nearer. My men then commenced firing on them, but they came on yelling pretty well, but not as heartily as I have heard. They came jumping along through the brush more then, making the bullets rain among us. I think they could not fly much thicker. My men did nobly,but they were too many for us, and we had to fall back. I heard their officers halloo to them, "to yell and stand steady," and they were right amongst us before we left. Our line of battle checked them and made them run. I lost A. Huffard — killed ; Seth Williams — died in two hours ; Wm. Gustine — severely wounded ; E. Suydam — ditto ; S. Hudson — ditto ; H. Stearns — slight wound ; J. H. Craig — ditto ; F. Cary — ditto; W. Roberts — ditto; W. G. Dunblazier — captured. Seven p. m. — I tell you this was exciting. My men all stood like heroes (save one), and some of them did not fall back when I wanted them to. The bush was so thick that we could hardly get through in any kind of line. Gustine and Suydam 250 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. were about 20 feet on my left when they were shot, but I couldn't see them. The Rebels were not 15 feet from them. I had 31 men on the line, and nine killed and wounded, and one prisoner, is considerable of a loss. They took six more of Company K prisoners, but three of them got off. I don't think anyone can imagine how exciting such a fracas as that is in thick brush. As quick as our line started the Rebels running, I went back on the ground, and found a lot of dead and wounded Rebels. Every prisoner of the 20th Georgia had whiskey in his canteen, and all said they had all issued to them that they wanted. I never say such a dirty, greasy, set of mortals. They have had no rest since they left Dalton. On account of my skirmishers losing so heavily, we have been relieved from the line, and are now in rifle pits, and are sup- porting those who relieved us. May 28, 1864, 9 a. m. Still in rifle pits. We have been treated to a terrific storm of shells, spherical case, and solid shot. The bat- teries are in plain sight of each other, and the gunners call it a thousand yards between them. I don't think either battery does very fine work, but they make it more than interesting for us. A conical shell from a 12 pound gun passed through a log and struck a Company C man on the leg, only bruising him. Two solid shot fell in my company works, but hurt no one. Seven p. m. — Talk about fighting, etc., we've seen it this p. m. sure, of all the interesting and exciting times on record this must take the palm. At about 3 145 p. m., a heavy column of Rebels rose from a brush with a yell the devil ought to copyright, broke for and took three guns of the 1st Iowa Battery which were in front of the works (they never should have been placed there) ; the 6th Iowa boys, without orders, charged the Rebels, retook the battery and drove them back. They came down on our whole line, both ours and the 16th A. C, and for two hours attempted to drive us out. We repulsed them at every point without serious loss to us, but I ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 25 1 believe they are at least 3,000 men short. In our brigade Colonel Dickerman, Lieutenant Colonel 6th Iowa com- manding, and Major Gilsey, commanding 46th Ohio, are wounded. Besides these I don't think our brigade lost over 80. It was a grand thing. I did not lose a man and only three companies of our regiment lost any. When the mus- ketry was playing the hottest, Logan came dashing up along our line, waved his hat and told the boys to "give them hell, boys." You should have heard them cheer him. It is Hardee's Corps fighting us, and he promised his men a "Chickamauga," but it turned out a "Bull Run" on their part. It is the same corps our regiment fought at Mission Ridge. Our line is very thin along here, but guess we can save it now. I heard a 40th boy get off an oddity this evening, he said : "If they come again, I am going to yell if there's any danger of their taking us, 'Worlds by Nation Right into line Wheel!' and if that don't scare them, I propose going." May 29, 1864, 4 p. m. Have been in the rifle pits all day. We're now expecting a charge from the Rebels, that is, our division commander is. I think they will lose an immense sight of men if they attempt it. News to-day of Davis moving his capital to Columbia, S. C, and of Grant driving Lee across the Savannah River. Monday, May 30, 1864. At dark last night I was put in charge of our brigade skirmish line of four companies ; by 9 :30 I had everything arranged to our notion. About that time the musketry commenced fire on our left and continued for a half hour ; it was very heavy. Some three or four pieces of artillery also opened on our side. That thing was repeated eight times during the night, the last fight being just before daylight. When I was down on the right of the line I could hear the Rebels talking about the fight and saying it was a mighty hard one, and "I wonder whether our 252 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. men or the Yanks are getting the best of it." These night fights are very grand. I understand this fighting occurred between Hooker and the "Johnnies." Attacks were made by each side, repulses easy. I guess from what little I hear there was a good deal more shooting than hitting on both sides. I think it was the intention for us to move to the left last night, but so much fighting prevented it. I don't know when I have been so used up as this morning, and the whole command is not far from the same condition, but a few hours' sleep made me all right again this morn- ing. The Rebels are much more tired than we ; they have had no rest since leaving Dalton. One of their wounded, a captain, told me that one of their surgeons told him their loss since leaving Dalton in killed and wounded would amount to 25,000. That's pretty strong, the third of it or 10,000 I could believe. I was relieved at dark to-day from skirmishing duty. May 31, 1864. Generals Sherman, McPherson, Logan and Barry visited our position yesterday. Sherman looks very well. Logan smiled and bowed in return to my salute as though he recognized me. During the fight of the 28th I was stand- ing, when he was riding along our lines on the inside of the rifle pits (with a hatful of ammunition), just over my men. He stopped by me and said : "It's all right, damn it, isn't it?" I returned: "It's all right, General." The Rebels were quite busy last night running troops and artillery along our front both ways. Some think they planted a number of guns opposite us. I hear some of the officers talking as though a fight was expected to-day. Their sharpshooters are making it quite warm here this morning; several men have been struck, but none hurt seriously. Seven p. m. — The Rebels have just finished throwing 126 shells at us, only 19 of which bursted. We expected they would follow it with a charge, but they hardly will attempt ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 253 it this late. I think we have lost none to-day in the regi- ment. Their shell hurt no one. Logan was slightly wounded in the arm yesterday. Colonel Dickerman died this morning. Five miles west of Acworth, June 1, 1864. At daylight this morning we left our position on the right and moved over here, six or seven miles, and relieved Hook- er's 20th Corps, which moved around to the left. It was ticklish business moving out from under at least 30 of the enemy's guns, and we did it very quietly. They did not sus- pect it. We are now within 90 yards of the Rebel works, and the shooting is very lively. Only one of our regiment wounded to-day. I would much rather be here than where we were, for there they shot at us square from three sides, and here they can but from one front. This is dense woods and the ground between our works nearly level. There are two lines of works here, 30 yards apart; we occupy the rear works to-day, but will relieve the 6th Iowa to-morrow and take the front. This is the ground that Hooker had his big fight on on the 25th of May. He lost some 2,000 men killed and wounded. The woods are all torn up with canister, shell and shot, and bloody shoes, clothing and accoutrements are thick. June 2, 1864. The 40th Illinois returned to-day, and I was right glad to see them back. We have lost no men to-day. The 17th Army Corps is beginning to come in. We advanced our works last night, commencing a new line in front of our regi- ment. The Rebels didn't fire at us once, though they might as well killed some one as not. Colonel Wright and ten men picked out the ground and then I took a detail and went to work. By daylight we had enough of rifle pit to cover 50 men and had the men in it. I tell you it waked them 254 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. up when our boys opened upon them. This is getting on the Vicksburg order. The troops are in splendid spirits and everything is going on as well as could be wished. I think this thing will be brought to a focus in a few days. June 3, 1864. Relieved the 6th Iowa at 6:30 this a. m. The Rebels shoot pretty close. Killed Orderly Sergeant of Company [, (VanSycle), and wounded three men in our regiment to-day. This makes 50 in killed, wounded and prisoners, or one in every six. June 4, 1864. We have had a good deal of fun to-day. The firing has been brisker than usual on account of our advancing our works. We got up a mock charge this afternoon, which came pretty near scaring the Rebel skirmishers out of their boots and made a good deal of fun for us. Our regiment is on fatigue duty. We are working within 80 yards of the Rebel works. They cut a Company C man's finger off when he raised his pick to-day. Another of our men was shot in the face. I, with my company, work from 12 to-night until three in the morning. June 5, 1864. The Rebels run last night. Everything gone this morn- ing slick and clean. Our regiment was the first in their works. I was over their works to-day and find three lines, two of them very strong. A number of dead men lay beween their lines and ours, which neither side could bury. They were killed during Hooker's fight of May 25th. Well, I expect another heat like this at the Chattahochie river and when we get them out of there, as we are bound to do, ho ! for easy times ! My health continues excellent, and I hope it will until this campaign is over. I am making up for some of my easy times soldiering. The Rebels were awful dirty and the smell in their camps dreadful. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 255 We got some 25 prisoners in front of our division. I think one more big stand will wind the thing up. They made no noise whatever in getting away. I was from 12 to 3 o'clock in the night working within 75 yards of them and did not hear them at all. At one place their works ran through a graveyard, and they had torn down all the palings inclosing graves, to make beds for themselves, and unnecessarily destroyed everything of beauty around. I am sure we would not have done so in our own country, and / would not anywhere. I don't give these Rebels half the credit for humanity or any of the qualities civilized beings should possess, that I used to. I estimate loss of our army here at 7,000— killed, wounded and missing. It may be more. Heavy reinforcements are arriving though, and the strength of the army is much greater than at any time heretofore. Spirits excellent. I could tell some awful stories of dead men, but forbear. We moved at 9 a. m. about four and one-half miles toward the railroad and have gone into camp for the night. This is the first day since May 26th that I have been out of the range of Rebel guns, and hardly an hour of that time that the bullets have not been whistling and thump- ing around. I tell you it is a strain on a man's nerves, but like everything else that hurts, one feels better when he gets over it. June 6, 1864. I will try and send you this to-day. Our postmaster never calls for letters, though we could send them if he would. I will try hereafter to send oftener, though you must not feel anxious about me. I will take the best care I can of myself (and do my whole duty). I yet think that to be connected with such a campaign as this is well worth risking one's life for. It occasionally gets a little old, but so does everything in this life, and altogether I don't know but that it wears as well as any of life's pleasures. Do you remember when I 256 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. was at home how little I knew about good eatables? Here it is a great advantage to me. For five weeks we have been living on "hard tack," pickled pork and coffee, varied by not half a dozen meals of beef, not even beans or rice. Nearly every one grumbles, but I have as yet felt no loss of appetite, and hardly the desire for a change. Nearly all the prisoners we capture say they are done fight- ing and shamefully say, many of them, that if exchanged and put back in the ranks they will shirk rather than fight. It would mortify me very much if I thought any of our men that they captured would talk so. It seems to me that the Confederacy is only held together by its officers exercising at least the power of a Czar, and that should we leave it to itself it would crumble. Well, I am calculating that this campaign will end about the 15th of July, in Atlanta. I cannot hope for a leave of absence again until my time is out, unless I resign, and if active campaigning continues, as some think it will, until the war is over, of course I will have no chance to do the latter. Cousin James is near me here, and I expect to see him soon. Passed Charlie Maple on the road yesterday ; also saw Cleg- get Birney. He is a splendid looking boy. They say the 7th Cavalry will soon be here; also the 8th Illinois. I will try to write you every week hereafter. One mile South of Ackworth, June 16, 1864. We moved through town and arrived here this p. m. Ack- worth is a nice little town. All the "ton" have moved south. We will lay here two days, and then for Atlanta again. I was out of provisions all day yesterday, and when I got a supply last night filled up to suffocation, but feel splendidly to-day. They credit a prisoner with saying that Sherman will never go to hell, for he'll flank the devil and make heaven in spite of all the guards. The army is in glorious spirits. I hope the next time to date from Atlanta, but can hardly hope that for three weeks yet. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 257 Same place, June 7, 1864. Our brigade has to-day been on a reconnoisance, supporting Girard's (formerly Kilpatrick's) Cavalry Division. We started the Johnnies not more than a mile from here, and skirmished with them, driving them to the Kenesaw range of mountains, about five miles. Our brigade lost noth- ing. Wilder's mounted infantry did the skirmishing and had some eight to ten wounded. Four dead Rebels fell into our hands. Cousin James called on me yesterday. I am much pleased with him. He is a No. 1 soldier, I know. He has run some pretty close risks this campaign, but who would not for the sake of taking part in it? I shall always think it abund- antly worth risking one's life for. To-morrow night we can tell whether the enemy intends fighting us at this place or not. They left on the field to-day a dozen or twenty real lances. They are the first I ever saw in the service. The staff is eight or nine feet long with a pointed head of ten inches in length. They were a right plucky set of Johnnies. Our battery burst a shell over the edge of a piece of woods and I saw some 20 Rebels scatter like a lot of scared rats. Near Big Shanty, Ga., June 10, 1864. Army moved this a. m. Found the enemy again at this place, and have been in line of battle a dozen times, more or less. Our brigade is in reserve for the rest of the division. This is the Kenesaw Mountain ; from the top of one peak the Rebels could see probably 25,000 Yanks. Some ladies were there in sight observing us. We are to-night in a dense wood some three-quarters of a mile southwest of the main road. The enemy does not seem to be close in our immediate front, but there is considerable firing about a brigade to our right. General Sherman's staff say that a general fight is not expected here. A. J. Smith is starting for Mobile from Vicks- burg. That's glorious. We to-day heard of the nomination at Baltimore of Lincoln and Johnson. Very glad that Lin- coln is renominated, but it don't make any excitement in the army. The unanimity of the convention does us more good 258 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. than anything else. I received a letter from Gen. "Dick" (Oglesby) last night. He is much pleased with his nomina- tion and has no doubt of his success. Neither have I. If we had the privilege the whole Illinois army would vote for him. We are having a good deal of rain, say about 6 hard showers a day. The roads are badly cut up. The hour or two hours sun between showers makes the men all right. The Rebels have no oilcloths and must be troubled with so much rain. June 11, 1864. Colonel Wright and I rode out to the front to-day. The Johnnies are about one and one-half miles from us, and oc- cupying what looks like a very strong position. Rumor says that Sherman has said that he can force them to leave here any moment, but will wait for supplies and the roads to dry up. The cars got to Big Shanty about noon to-day, and indulged in a long and hilarious shriek. The Rebel locomotive about two miles further down the road answered with a yell of defiance. I hear to-day that the 23d Corps took 2,000 prisoners and two cannon. I guess its yes. Rosencrans is actually coming, they say. I don't think we need him. Sherman moves very cautiously, and everybody feels the utmost confidence in him. I saw him yesterday — seems to me he is getting fleshy. He don't look as though he had anything more important than a 40-acre farm to attend to. It has rained almost all day. You musn't expect me to write anything but military now, for it is about all we think of. June 12, 1864. It commenced raining before daylight, and has not ceased an instant all day. We are lucky in the roads where it can't get very muddy, but so much rain is con- foundedly disagreeable. The only source of consolation is the knowledge that the Rebels fare much worse than we do. They have neither tents nor oilcloths. For once our ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 259 corps is in reserve. The 16th and 17th united their lines in front of us this morning. The 17th A. C. especially is using ammunition with a looseness. They are just getting their hands in. The rain is real cold. If it were not for hearing the musketry and artillery firing we wouldn't know there was an enemy within 50 miles. This is said to be the Georgia gold country. I could just pick up some beautiful specimens of quartz and a flinty stone (maybe quartz also) in which the isinglass shines, and in some places I have picked off sheets two inches square. No forage here. Four deserters came in to-day. They say that Johnston had an order read to his troops that Wheeler had cut the railroad in our rear, and de- stroyed our supply trains. The troops all cheered it heart- ily, but hardly had they got their mouths shut when our locomotives came whistling into Big Shanty, one mile from their lines. The deserters say it disgusted them so much they concluded they'd quit and go home. I wish Sherman would attack them now, for we would be sure to get what trains and artillery they have here. June 13, 1864. The rain continued until 5 p. m. Everything and every- body thoroughly soaked. Our division moved about one- half mile to the left this p. m. Strategy! We moved out into an open ploughed field. You can imagine the amount of comfort one could enjoy so situated, after two days' constant rain, and the water still coming down in sheets. The field is trodden into a bed of mortar. No one has ventured a guess of the depth of the mud. It is cold enough for fires and overcoats. My finger nails are as blue as if I had the ague. There is one consolation to be drawn from the cold, it stops the "chigres" from biting us. I would rather have a bushel of fleas and a million of mos- quitoes on me than a pint of "chigres," — don't know the orthography— They are a little bit of a red thing,— just an atom bigger than nothing; they burrow into the skin and 17 260 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. cause an itching that beats the regular "camp" all hollow. Some of the men have scars from "chigre" bites that they received at Big Black last summer, and will carry them across the Styx. The ants here also have an affinity for human flesh and are continually reconnoitering us. I kill about 200,000 per day. Also knock some 600 worms off of me. Great country this for small vermin. I pick enough entomological specimens off me every day to start a museum. I do manage to keep clear of greybacks, though. Every time I commence talking about chigres I feel short of language. I am satisfied of one thing, if my finger nails don't wear out, there'll be no flesh left on my bones by autumn. The case stands finger nails vs. chigres, and skin is the sufferer. Notwithstanding rain, cold or chigres, we are in excellent spirits. Sherman don't tell us anything (in orders) good or bad, but every man feels that we have "a goodly thing" and is content to work and wait. I never heard less complaining, or saw troops in better spirits. If we get to Atlanta in a week all right ; if it takes us two months you won't hear this army grumble. We know that "Pap" is running the machine and our confidence in him is unbounded. We have so far had abundance of rations, but if it comes down to half, we will again say "all right." Our army is stronger to-day than it ever was in numbers and efficiency. I am sure that there is not a demoralized company in the com- mand. There has been considerable shooting along the front to-day, and the lines have been advanced some, but we are nearly a mile back, and being constantly ready to move. I have not been out, and don't know much about the exact sit- uation. Its something new for our division to be in reserve. Time passes much more quickly in the front. The general opinion is that we are gradually working to the left, and will cross the Chattahoochie about east or northeast of Marietta. We are now 26 miles from Atlanta by railroad and some- thing nearer by pike. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 26l June 14, 1864. Four officers and 28 men deserted from the Rebels last night. The Rebel captain told one of my corporals that in their brigade there is an organization the members of which avow it their purpose to desert the first opportunity. These men are satisfied the game is up with them, and give it as their reason for deserting. They say the whole brigade will come as opportunity offers. Lively artillery firing in front of us this morning. We hear that Grant has pushed Lee to his for- tifications at Richmond. Suppose the report will be, Grant will cut his communications south and west and Lee will evacuate. I see the papers have us across the Chattahoochie, away south of the railroad. Of course that is a poor article of gas from our sensational correspondent in the far rear. It looks to me as if the Rebels have a very strong position in front of us now, but I may be mistaken. We have been quietly laying in camp all day. I must credit Georgia with one pleasant June day, that is not too warm. There has been the usual amount of firing to-day, though few hurt. June 15, 1864. This has been a star day, and a better feeling lot of men that compose our brigade will be hard to find, for to-night any way. The morning was occupied in cleaning guns, etc. At 11 o'clock the assembly was sounded, and we moved one and one-half miles, which brought us on the left of the whole army. By 1 p. m. we had our line formed running from right to left, 103d Illinois, 6th Iowa, 46th Ohio, 40th Illinois, with the 97th Indiana deployed as skirmishers. We were in about the center of an open lot of plantations, facing a densely- wooded hill of maybe 300 acres. It was a plumb one-third of a mile to it and already the enemy's sharpshooters were reach- ing our men from it. One of Company K's men was shot here, and one of H's. At precisely 1 p. m. we started, the men having been notified that they would have to get to that woods as quickly as pos- sible. The Rebels opened pretty lively. Right in front of 262 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. where I am now writing is a house. On the porch I see 11 children, not over nine years old. All belong to one woman. Haven't seen her, but from what I have seen in this country, wouldn't dispute the man who would tell me she was only 20 years old. This is a great stock country. As we started, the boys raised a cheer that was a cheer, and we went down on them regular storm fashion. A hundred yards before we got to the hill we ran into a strong line of rifle pits swarming with Johnnies. They caved and commenced begging. The pit I came to had about 20 in it. They were scared until some of them were blue, and if you ever heard begging for life it was then. Somebody yelled out "Let's take the hill," and we left the prisoners and broke. At the foot of the hill we came to a muddy rapid stream, from 10 to 15 feet wide and no cross- ing, so we plunged in. I got wet to my middle, and many did to their breasts. The banks were steep and slippery and muddy. Though we all expected a serious fight on the hill, up we went every man for himself, and through to an open field, over which some 200 straggling sandy looking Johnnies were trying to get away, which most of them accomplished, as we were too tired to continue the pursuit fast enough to overtake them. How- ever, the boys shot a lot of them. Well, they call it a gallant thing. We took 542 prisoners, and killed and wounded I suppose 100. The whole loss in our brigade is not 10 killed and 50 wounded. I only had one man wounded in my company, Corp. E. D. Slater. There were three killed and nine wounded in the regiment. There were three regiments of Rebels — the 31st, 40th and 54th Alabama. They ought to have killed and wounded at least 500 of us, but we scared them out of it. They shot too high all the time. Osterhaus also had a hard fight to-day, was successful in taking a line of rifle pits. Thomas drove them a mile. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 263 June 16, 1864. We moved back a mile last night, being relieved by the 17th Corps. Taking it easy again to-day. There has been a lively artillery fight right in front of us to-day. Tell * * * if any of the 31st or 40th Alabama officers report at Johnston's Island, to give them my compliments. One captain offered me his sword, but I hadn't time to stop. We wanted that hill, then. Near Big Shanty, Ga., June 17, 1864. Has rained steadily all day, wetting everybody, but "drying up" all shooting. A very disagreeable day. I saw 83 Rebels come in to-day, about one-half of whom were deserters and the rest figured to get captured. June 18, 1864. It rained steadily until 4 p. m. and had hardly ceased a minute when our guns opened and the skirmish lines joined issue. General Harrow and Colonel Wright rode out to the left some 200 yards from the regiment and narrowly escaped a trip over the river, a shell bursting right under the nose of the general's horse. June 19, 1864. This is the 50th day of the campaign. Our brigade has been under musketry fire 12 days, artillery about 30. We have as a brigade fought three nice little battles, in as many days, repulsing two charges, and making one which was a perfect success. We have captured all told about 650 prisoners, and I think 1,000 a very low estimate of the number we have killed and wounded. I think Cheatham's and Bates' Rebel di- visions will say the same. We have thus cleared ourselves with a loss to us of nearly 300, or fully one-fifth of the com- mand. The other nine days we were on the skirmish line, in the rifle pits or front line. 264 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. This morning an order was read to pursue the enemy im- mediately and in ten minutes the "assembly" was sounded. The enemy had fallen back on his flanks, and maybe was in- tending to evacuate, for our right had swung around him fur- ther than I, if in his place, would consider healthy. But he had not yet left the Twin Mountains. The line now runs from right to left by Corps 23d, 20th, 4th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th. The 14th Corps lost heavily to-day, but drove the Rebels four miles. The 23d Corps was still going at last accounts. The artillery firing to-day was beautiful. Our division advanced about one-half mile only. The Twin Mountains are right in front of us, and I have seen the Rebels shooting from six batteries on the crest and sides. Our batteries on a line 600 yards in front answer them promptly. Only one shell has burst near us, and that 100 yards to our right. The 55th had one killed and two wounded just in front of us, by shells. All parts of the line advanced from one to five miles to-day, the right swinging forward farthest, a-la-gate. Osterhaus' headquarters are 30 yards to our right. A solid shot from the mountain went through one of his tents yester- day. It has rained hard all day, but nobody minds it a par- ticle. The general feeling is that the Rebels have fallen back to their main position, although they have abandoned ground that we would have held one against five. I can't hear that any line of battle has been engaged to-day, but the force on the advance skirmish lines was probably doubled at least. You would not smile at the idea of sleeping on the ground allotted to us to-night. Mud from six to eight inches deep. Same place, front of Twin Mountains, June 20, 1864, 11 a. m. Rebels still on the mountain, a good deal of our artillery, a little of theirs, and not much musketry this morning. Wheeler is in our rear, but we don't care for that. I do hope, though, that Forrest will not be allowed to come over here. We are ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 265 all well and feeling fine, but wishing very much to see the level country beyond these mountains. In a "Commercial" of the 15th I see the Rebel loss in the charge of Bates' (Rebel) divi- sion on the 27th of May was 72 killed and 350 wounded, and 56 missing. That charge was made almost altogether on our brigade, and my skirmish line did three-fourths of the damage. The 40th Alabama we captured the other day inquired for the 8th Illinois. They fought each other at Vicksburg and got well acquainted in the rifle pits. McPherson and Logan have just gone down to the front and there is talk of a fight to-day, but it is hard telling when one will have to go in. Can't tell until the order to "commence" firing is heard. Wagstaff will be home in a few days. I would like to date my next from a new place, but Sherman and Johnston will decide that matter. This is becoming tedious. Johnston has no regard for one's feelings. We are all exceedingly anxious to see what is the other side of these mountains, but this abominable Johnston has no idea of letting us take a look until he is forced to. He is a good-natured fellow in some respects, too, for here we have our "flies" stretched, and our camp fires and our wagons around us in good range of his guns and not a shot does he give us. You understand that we are in reserve. Our front line is along the foot of the mountain, and we lay back about a mile. But it is all open between us and the front, and we sit in the shade, and (as we have this p. m.) see 20 Rebel guns firing on our men. Why they don't make us get out of this is beyond me to tell. Hundreds of wagons and ambulances are parked around us, and right by us is parked the reserve artillery of our corps, all in plain view of the Rebels on the mountains, but not a gun is fired at us. Yesterday they dropped one shell a hundred yards to our right and quit, as much as to say : "We could stir you Yanks if we wanted to, but it is all right." I don't know how this looks to outsiders, but it seems to me as the coolest thing of the campaign, pitching tents right under the enemy's guns, without a particle of cover. Being under 266 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. artillery fire in a fight or while supporting a battery is all right, and if we were in rifle pits or behind the crest of a hill 'twould be ditto, but moving right out and pitching tents un- der the noses of Rebel 32-pounders beats me and I guess it beats them. We all feel a pride in the thing and I'd see the the Johnnies to the devil before I'd dodge the biggest cannon ball they've got there. The artillery this p. m. has been the heaviest I have heard this campaign. June 21, 1864. No variation to report to-day. Heavy rain yesterday and to-day. Some 350 prisoners were sent in from the right yesterday, and about 80 more that I know of to-day. Figure that we have taken about 3,000 prisoners at this place. Since the army went into position here the right has advanced about six miles, the center two miles, and the left three and one-half to four miles. The musketry from dark last night until up. m. was very busy in front of the 4th Corps, though it may have been only a heavy skirmish line. I hear to-day that the 4th Corps took a strong Rebel position last night while that firing was going on and held it. June 22, 1864. Our Adjutant Wagstaff is out of the service and the recommendation for Frank Lermond to receive the ap- pointment has gone on to Governor Yates. Frank is well worthy of the place and has earned it. We flatter our- selves that no regiment has less skulkers than ours in battle, and we have through the corps, a name that Fulton need not fear will disgrace her. We have all day been ready at a moment's notice to support the 4th Corps. Saw Chandler yesterday. He is on M. L. Smith's staff. I wish a little party of Cantonians could be here to-night to see the artillery firing. Our view of the Rebel guns is excel- lent. With glasses we can see them load. The artillerists ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 267 say our field glasses are not so good. Many are prophesy- ing that the Johnnies will vamoose during the "stilly night." Much as I want to, can't see it. Looks like too good a thing. June 23, 1864, 9 a. m. The Rebels opened furiously from the mountain last night about 12. Here they are firing at a division of the 14th who had advanced and were fortifying. No harm done. I failed to wake up. It is reported this morning that Ewell's Corps has arrived to reinforce Johnston. Don't think it will make him strong enough to assume the offensive, if true, and don't believe it any way. Artillery commenced again half an hour since, and goes on slowly. Rebels haven't gone, surely. Front of Kenesaw Mountain, June 26, 1864. Nothing worth mentioning has occurred since my last. The usual amount of artillery and musketry have kept us sure of the enemy's still holding his position. I have sent you, piecemeal, a journal of every day since May 1st, excepting the last four days, which were stupid. It prom- ises to be interesting enough now. We received orders yesterday p. m. to be ready to move at dark, and were all glad enough. When we are in the face of the enemy I believe one is better contented in the front line than any- where else, though, like every other good thing, it becomes old. At 7 p. m. we moved out and it took us until 2 a. m. to march three miles. We relieved Jeff C. Davis' division, which moved farther to the right. It is right at the foot of the west one of the twin mountains. The Johnnies shot into our ranks with impunity. They have to-day killed one and wounded three of our brigade that I know of, and more in the 1st Brigade. Dr. Morris' brother is the only man struck in our regiment ; he is not hurt much. 268 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. June 27, 1864, daylight. The battle comes off to-day. It will be opened on the flanks at 6 a. m. We do not commence until 8 a. m. Our brigade and one from each of the other two divisions of the corps are selected to charge the mountain. The 17th A. C. will try the left hand mountain. If we are successful with a loss of only half our number in this mountain charging, I will think our loss more than repaid. I believe we are going to thoroughly whip Johnston to-day, and if we fail I do not care to live to see it. June 28, 1864. The attack was not general ; it was made by our brigade and M. L. Smith's Division. We lost nearly one-third of the brigade. Our regiment's loss is 17 killed and 40 wounded. My company had five killed and four wounded. Colonel Wright was shot quite badly in the leg, and Lieu- tenants Montgomery, Branson and Bailey were killed. In my company Corporals Whittaker, Myers, and Private Sam Mclntyre, Art. Myers, and Jacob Maxwell, were killed Sergeant Breed, Privates Bishop, Frank Breed and James Williamson were wounded. We held all the ground we took (under our fire), but had to leave a few of our dead until dark. On the p. m. of the 26th Colonel Wright told me that General McPherson and Colonel Walcutt (our brigade commander) had been out through the day examining the ground in front, and that it was in contemplation to carry the southwest spur of the mountain by a charge, and further, that it was not impossible that our brigade would be in as usual. This was kept quiet in the command. About 8 p. m. I was at Colonel Wright's headquarters with several of the officers and we were talking the matter over, when an order came for the colonel to report at brigade headquarters. I believe every one present in- stantly concluded that we were to fight, and knowing the country before us to be about on a par with Lookout ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 269 Mountain you can imagine we did not particularly enjoy the prospect. The colonel returned in about an hour. We had all, I believe, fallen asleep. He woke us and said: "Have your men get their breakfasts by daylight; at 6 a. m. the fight will begin on the right, and at 8 a. m. our brigade will, with one from the ist and 2d divisions, charge a spur of the mountain." I turned away and after notifying my orderly sergeant to have the men up on time, I turned in. Thought the matter over a little while and after pretty fully concluding "good-bye, vain world," went to sleep. Before daylight in the morning we were in line, and moving a few hundred yards to the rear of our works, and stacked arms in a grove, which would hide us from the observation of the Rebels on the mountain. You know from where we have been for a few days, we could see them plainly. Cannonading commenced on the right at 6 a. m. and at 7 130 we moved a half or three quarters of a mile along our lines to the right, after piling our knap- sacks and haversacks. A canteen of water was the only extra baggage any one carried. The Rebels caught sight of us as we commenced moving, and opened a battery on us It had the effect to accelerate our movements considerably. Right in front of a Division of the 4th Corps we halted, and rapidly formed our line. While forming the line Cor- poral Myers of my company was killed by a bullet within six feet of me, and one of Company K's men wounded. I don't know how many more. The ground to be gone over was covered with a dense undergrowth of oak and vines of all kinds binding the dead and live timber and bush together, and making an almost impenetrable abatis. To keep a line in such a place was out of the question. Our skirmishers were sharply engaged from the start, and men commenced falling in the main line ; at the same time some 50 of the Rebel skirmish line were captured, and many of them killed. A Rebel lieutenant and five men lay dead, all nearly touching each other. 27O ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. I understand that they had been summoned to surrender, and were shot either for refusing or before negotiations were completed. Not a man in our regiment knew where the Rebel works were when we started, and I think the most of them found them as I did. I had with my com- pany got within, I think, 60 yards of the Rebel works, and was moving parallel with them. The balls were whistling thick around us, but I could see no enemy ahead. I did not even think of them being on our flank, until one of the boys said: "Look there, Captain, may I shoot?" I looked to the right, and just across a narrow and deep ravine were the Rebel works, while a confused mass of greybacks were crowding up the ravine. These latter, I suppose, were from their skirmish line, which was very heavy, and trying to escape us. The Rebels in the works were firing vigorously and have no excuse for not anni- hilating our three left companies K, G and B. The right of the regiment had seen them before and already started for them. I shouted "forward" to my men and we ran down across the ravine, and about one-third the way up the hill on which their works were and then lay down. There was little protection from their fire, though, and if they had done their duty, not a man of us would have got out alive. Our men fired rapidly and kept them well down in their works. It would have been madness to have attempted carrying their works then, for our regiment had not a particle of support, and we were so scattered that we only presented the appearance of a very thin skirmish line. If we had been supported by only one line, I have no doubt but that we would have taken their line of works. Colonel Wright was wounded a few minutes after we got into the hollow, and Frank Lermond came to me and told me I would have to take command of the regiment. I went down to the center and the order was heard to retire. I communicated it to the left and saw nearly all the men out, and then fell back. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 2 J I I could not find the regiment when I came out, but col- lected about 30 of our men on the left of the 6th Iowa, and after a while Colonel Wright and Captain Post brought the regiment to where we were, when we formed a brigade line and threw up works within 200 yards of the enemy's, where we remained until 9 p. m., when we returned to the position we occupied in the morning. About 12 of our dead were left in the ravine under the fire of the enemy's guns. But we have as many of their dead as they have of ours. Lieutenant Colonel Barnhill of the 40th Illinois, and Captain Augustine of the 55th Illinois were killed and left on the field. My loss is five killed and four wounded. Two of my dead, Corporal Whittaker and Artemus Myers, were left on the field. Loss in the regiment is 17 killed, 40 wounded. In the brigade 245 killed and wounded. It was a rough affair, but we were not whipped. The prettiest artillery fight I ever saw was over our heads in the even- ing, about 10 guns on each side. June 29, 1864. There was a night charge made by the Rebels on our right last night. They got beautifully ''scooped." We have been laying quiet all day. Lots of artillery, though but few shots come near us. June 30, 1864 8 a. m. There was a terrific fight on our right, commencing at 2 this morning and lasting until 3. I have not yet heard what it was. Some deserters passed us this morning. I have lost just half the men I left Scottsboro with just two months ago, but what I have left, are every man ready to help. We have a good deal more than "cleared" ourselves. I had my canteen strap cut off by a bullet and a spent glancing ball struck my ankle. 272 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. July I, 1864. This campaign is coming down to a question of muscle and nerve. It is the 62d day for us, over 50 of which we have passed under fire. I don't know anything more exhaust- ing. One consolation is that the Rebels are a good deal worse off than we are. They have lost more men in battle, their deserters count by thousands, and their sick far exceed ours. We'll wear them out yet. Our army has been reinforced by fully as many as we have lost in action, so that our loss will not exceed our sick. You notice in the papers acounts of Hooker's charging "Lost Mountain," taking a large number of prisoners, and the names of officers. You see they are all from the 31st and 40th Alabama. It is also credited to Blair's 17th Corps. Our brigade took all those officers on the 15th of June. I wrote you an account of it then. It hurts us some to see it credited to other troops, but such is the fortune of war, and soldiers who do not keep a reporter must expect it. Colonel Wright starts for home to-day. July 2, 1864. We have been taking it easy since the charge. Our shells keep the Rebels stirred up all the time. Sham attacks are also got up twice or three times a day, which must annoy them very much. July 3, 1864. Rebels all gone this morning. Our boys were on the moun- tains at daylight. Hundreds of deserters have come in. Os- terhaus moved around the left of the mountain to Marietta, all the rest of the army went to the right of it. We are about one-half a mile from town ; have not been in. All who have, say it is the prettiest place we have seen South. Some artil- lery firing has been heard this p. m. five or six miles south, and there are rumors that an advance has captured a large number of prisoners, but nothing reliable. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 273 July 4, 1864. I count it the hardest Fourth I have seen in the service. About 8 a. m. we moved out, passed through Marietta, which is by far the prettiest town I have seen South (about the size of Canton), and continued south nearly all the way along our line of works. Marched about n miles. Not more than one-third of the men stacked arms when we halted for the night; fell out along the roads. I have seen more than 1,000 prisoners and deserters. July 5, 1864. Can hear no firing this p. m. It seems the Rebels have got across the Chattahoochie. We are about 12 miles from At- lanta. The river will probably trouble us some, but we all think "Pap" will make it before August 1st. Johnston don't dare give us anything like a fair fight. We are all in splendid spirits and the boys have made the woods ring with their Fourth of July cheers, tired as they are. We have lost no men since the charge of the 27th. I have an Atlanta paper, giving an acount of that fight. They say we were all drunk with whisky and fought more like devils than men. p. m. We have continued our march about four or five miles to- day. Osterhaus and M. L. Smith are ahead of us ,and I think we are on the right of the army again. The 4th Divi- sion, 17th Army Corps is engaged one-half mile ahead of us or rather are shooting a little with their big guns. I climbed a tree a half hour ago, and what do you think?— saw Atlanta, and saw it plainly, too. I suppose it is ten miles dis- tant, not more than 12. The country looks about as level as a floor, excepting one-half mountain, to the left of the city, some miles. We seem to be on the last ridge that amounts to anything. We are, I suppose, two and one-half miles from the river at this point, though we hold it farther to the right. Very large columns of smoke were rolling up from different parts of the city. I suppose they were the explosions of foun- 274 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. dries, machine shops, etc. Dense clouds of dust can be seen at several points across the river; suppose it means trains or troops moving. Have seen but few wounded going back to-day. We are laying along some very good rifle pits, occasionally embra- sured for artillery, which the 17th Army Corps took this morning. They were not very stoutly defended, though, and the artillery had been moved back. With some pretty lively skirmishing the line has been advanced this evening. Not much loss on our side; saw some one-half dozen ambulance loads only. July 6, 1864. I went down to our front this evening. Our advanced ar- tillery is yet some 1,200 yards from the Rebels, but there is nothing but an open field between, and it looks quite close. The Johnnies have thrown up a nice fort, embrasured for nine guns. They have not fired a shot to-day. The captain of our advanced artillery told me the Rebels have 20 Parrott guns in the fort, and excellent gunners. We moved this evening one mile to the left and relieved a portion of the 20th Corps, which went on further to the left. We started on this campaign with 10 field officers in our brigade and now have but two left. Three killed, three wounded and two left back sick. I hear the Rebel works here are the last this side of the river, and but few hundred yards from it. July 7, 1864. The shooting still continues in our front, but hear no Rebel artillery. The water here is excellent, and everybody seems to get a few blackberries. We also stew grapes and green apples, and everything that ever was eaten by anti-cannibals. There is so much confounded fighting to be attended to that we can't forage any, and though fresh beef is furnished to the men regularly there is some scurvy. I have seen several black-mouthed, loose-toothed fellows, hankering after pickles. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 275 Teamsters and hangers-on who stay in the rear get potatoes, etc., quite regularly. I do not believe the Johnnies intend fighting again very strongly this side of the river. Our scouts say that between the river and Atlanta the works run line after line as thickly as they can be put in. Per contra, two women who came from Atlanta on the 6th say that after we get across the river we will have no fighting, that Johnston is sending his troops to Savannah, Charleston, Mobile and Richmond, except enough to fight us at different river crossings. Our scouts also say that the Rebels are de- serting almost by thousands, and going around our flanks to their homes in Tennessee, Kentucky, etc. I have not been in a house in Georgia, but several citizens I have met in camp said they had heard many soldiers say they would never cross the river with Johnston since the charge of the 27th. Harrow has kept our brigade in reserve, and I think he will continue to do so unless a general battle is fought. We have suffered more heavily than any other two brigades in the army, and when we started we were one of the smallest. I am will- ing to see some of the others go in a while, though I want to help if Johnston will stand a fair fight in open ground. The chigres are becoming terrific. They are as large as the blunt end of a No. 12 and as red as blood. They will crawl through any cloth and bite worse than a flea, and poison the flesh very badly. They affect some more than others. I get along with them comparatively well, that is, I don't scratch more than half the time. Many of the boys anoint their bodies with bacon rinds, which the chigres can't go. Salt-water bathing also bars chigres, but salt is too scarce to use on human meat. Some of the boys bathing now in a little creek in front of me ; look like what I expect "Sut Lovegood's" father did after plowing through that hornet's nest. All done by chigres. I believe I pick off my neck and clothes 30 varieties of measur- ing worm every day. Our brigade quartermaster yesterday found, under his saddle in his tent, a rattlesnake, with six rattles and a button. 276 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. This is the 68th day of the campaign. We hope to end it by August 1st, though if we can end the war by continuing this until January 1st, '65, I am in. Reinforcements are com- ing in every day, and I don't suppose we are any weaker than when we left Chattanooga. The Rebels undoubtedly are, be- sides the natural demoralization due to falling back so much must be awful. My health is excellent. Remember me to all the wounded boys of the 103d you see. Nine miles from Atlanta, two and one-half miles south- west of railroad crossing, July 9, 1864. On the evening of the 7th, just dark, a Rebel battery in a fort which our guns had been bursting shells over all day, suddenly opened with eight 20-pound Parrotts, and for one- half an hour did some of the most rapid work I ever heard. They first paid their attention to our batteries, then demol- ished some half-dozen wagons and 20 mules for the 4th Di- vision of the 17th Army Corps half a mile to our right, and then began scattering their compliments along our line, wherever I suppose they had detected our presence by smoke or noise. They kept getting closer and closer to us, and finally, a shell burst in front of our regiment. The next one went 50 yards past us and dropped into the 40th Illinois. Neither of them did any damage, and no more came so close. An hour afterward we fell in, and moving a mile to the left and one- half a mile to the front, occupied a ridge which we fortified by daylight, so they might shell and be hanged. The Rebel skirmishers heard us moving as we came over, and threw more than a thousand bullets at us, but it was so pitchy dark that fortunately they did us no damage. From our colors we can see the fort that fired so the night of the 7th. They are about three-fourths of a mile distant. There have not been any bullets or shells passed over us since we got our works up, though the skirmish line at the foot of the hill, has a lively time. We have it very easy. I was on the 8th in ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 277 charge of a line of skirmishers on the left of our brigade. The Rebels were seemingly quite peaceable, so much so, that I thought I'd walk over to some blackberry bushes 50 yards in front of our right. I got about half way out when they sent about a dozen bul- lets at me. I retired in good order, considering. In the p. m. of the 7th, the skirmishers in front of a brigade of the 20th Corps, and the Rebel line, left their guns, and went out and were together nearly all the afternoon ; 13 of the Rebels agreed to come into our line after dark. At the time appointed, heavy firing commenced on the Rebel side, and our boys, fearing foul play, poured in a few volleys. Through the heaviest of the fire two of the Rebels came running in. They said that the 13 started, and that the Rebels opened on them. The rest were probably killed. One of my men has just returned from visiting his brother in the 20th Corps. It is reported there that the 23d Corps crossed the river this p. m. without losing a man. The heavy firing this evening was our folks knocking down some block houses at the railroad bridge. The 4th Corps to-night lays right along the river bank. July 10, 1864, a. m. The Rebels evacuated last night, and our flags are on their works and our skirmishers at the river. A number of John- nies were left on this side. I believe they have every time left on Saturday night or Sunday. Their works here are the best I have seen. Three lines and block houses ad libitum. P. m. — Every Rebel is across the river, and our 23d and 16th Corps are also over, away up to the left. It is intimated though that they will only hold their position a few days. We are expect- ing orders to join them. July 12, 1864. We lay quietly in the shade all day the nth, save those who had ambition enough to go fishing, berrying or swimming. The other bank of the Chattahoochie opposite us is yet lined with Rebel sharp-shooters, but there is a fine creek from which 278 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. the boys get some fine fish. I saw an eel two feet long which came from it. Our boys never have made any bargain with the Johnnies to quit picket firing, even for an hour, but other corps and divisions often do. It would almost break the heart of one of our boys to see a Rebel without getting a shot at him. On the 12th, at 5 p. m., the "General" and "Assem- bly" sounded almost together, and we were under way in a twinkling. We understand we are going back to Marietta, and then over the river where the 23d Corps crossed it. We stopped here (about seven miles from Marietta), at 11 p. m., and had reveille at 3 this morning. Stoneman, with at least 10,000 cavalry, recrossed the river on the night of the 10th on a grand raid between Atlanta and Montgomery. We had a real amusing scene last night. About 12 o'clock we were nearly all asleep, when a mule came charging at full speed right through our regiment. In an instant every man was on his feet, and all who knew what was up, were swinging blank- ets and shouting whoa ! The most of us did not know whether a cavalry charge was on us or the devil. Many of the men caught up their guns, and "treed," and altogether it was most ludicrous. Our regiment now marches 190 guns and 7 offi- cers. I have 20 guns, all I started with, except what I have lost in battle. Just half. July 13, 1864. We passed through Marietta this morning at 9; rested in a cool, nice, woody place from 11 to 2, and made this place in the cool of the evening. We marched about 14 miles to- day. I would rather be in a fight than endure such a day's march, and I think fighting lacks very much as deserving to rank as amusement. I saw a number of cases of congestion of the brain, and a few had real sun stroke. Saw one poor fellow in a grave- yard between two little picketed graves, who I made sure was gasping his last. Some heartless fellow made a remark as we passed about his luck in getting sun struck so near good bury- ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 279 ing facilities. After one heat of only three miles the regiment had all fallen out but about 50 men, and we had more than any other in the brigade. If we had been given one hour more in rests, we would not have lost a man. July 14, 1864. Another hot day. We marched down to the river at Roswell and crossed it, and have gone into camp on the bank a mile above town. This Roswell is a beautiful little town, such splendid trees all through it. Our cavalry four or five days ago destroyed some very large factories here. Judging from the ruins, they were more extensive than anything of the kind I ever before saw. About 1,000 women were employed in them; 700 of them were taken by our folks and sent to Marietta ; I don't know what for. Can't hear of any enemy here. July 15, 1864. This is a glorious place. The current in the river is very swift, and it is the nicest stream to bathe in imaginable. I've a mind to stay here and have my meals brought to me. Ex- pect we will catch some nice fish after they get over being scared at having so many Yanks bobbing around with them. It is too hot to write, and altogether too hot to enjoy good health, except in swimming. We are all glad to hear of those raids into Pennsylvania and Maryland. Go in Imboden and Early. July 16, 1864, 76th of the Campaign. I can hear no firing to-day, but we are so far from the right or center that we could hear nothing less than a 13-inch mortar. I will tell you all I know of the situation just to let you know how little a soldier knows of what is going on. In papers of this date you will see twice as much. The 17th Army Corps lies on the right bank of the river, and to the right of the army, six miles below the railroad crossing, skirmishing with the enemy on the opposite side. Next 280 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. comes the 20th, 14th and 4th on the same side, the 4th lying across the railroad four miles, further up the 23d crossed the river, but probably only holds a position, as we do. Then the 16th Corps joins the left of the 23d, and the 15th last, both on the left bank. Not being perfect in heavy strategy, I can't exactly see the point, but no doubt Sherman does. I suppose the 4th, 14th and 20th Corps will cross near the railroad bridge, and be the first to occupy Atlanta. If we can't get to give Johnston a sound thrashing, I don't care about marching another step until fall. Health of the regiment still good, but we are expect- ing sickness soon. We have had a terrific thunderstorm, killed five men and wounded eight in the 18th Missouri, and killed a teamster and some mules. I never saw but one or two more severe ones. June 17, 1864. After erecting some good works at Roswell (the best we have yet built), capable of holding at least 25,000 men, we were provided with three days' rations and cartridges "ad libitum," for another of what an Augusta paper calls "Sherman leap-frog-like advance." Our corps is the ex- treme left of the army. We moved out this morning, our brigade in advance of our division, and Osterhaus and Smith's Divisions following on the Decatur road. Did I tell you in my last among the "locals," that these Roswell factories have been turning out 35,000 yards per day of jeans, etc., for the Confederate Army, that there is the greatest abundance of blackberries and whortleberries here, that one of the 48th Illinois was drowned in the Chattahoochie while bathing, and that of several hundred factory girls I have seen, hardly one who is passably handsome? Some fine fat ones, and a few neat feet, but they are not "clipper built," and lack "get up" and "figure heads." We moved six miles without meeting a Rebel, and then only a squadron of cavalry that lacked a devilish sight of being "chivalry," for they more than ran without just ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 28l cause. We only went two miles farther and then bivou- acked. Our brigade was thrown half a mile in front and across the road. We put up a rail barricade across the road and a temporary rail-work along our front, and then abandoned ourselves to the longings of our breadbaskets, and desisted not until every man was in himself a miniature blackberry patch. The boys brought me pint after pint of great black fellows they had picked in the shade of dense woods or on a steep bank, and I assure you they dis- appeared without an exception. This road, the last 10 days, has been filled with refugee citizens running from the Yankees. An old gentleman in whose yard the reserve pickets have stacked their arms, told me that all the men of his acquaintance over 45 years old are, and always have been, Unionists, and are to-day ready and willing to give up slavery for our cause. I have been a deluded believer in the hoax of fine "Georgia plantations," but I assure you I am now thoroughly convalescent. I haven't seen five farm houses equal to Mrs. James — , and only one that showed evidences of taste. That was where I saw the Rebel General Iverson dead among the flowers. The coun- try is all hilly, and the soil, where there is any, is only fit for turnips. The timber is all scrub oak and pine, and some more viney bushes peculiar to the climate. I notice some of the white moss hanging from the trees, like that there was so much of at Black river. The 16th Corps is on our right moving on a parallel road, and the 23d joins them. I don't know whether our other corps have crossed yet or not. Near Stone Mountain, July 18, 1864. Osterhaus (or his division, for I hear that he resigned and yesterday started for the North, en route for Mexico, where he formerly resided, and that he intends entering the Mexican Army to fight "Johnny Crapeau") was ahead to-day, and only lost a dozen or 50 men. Our brigade has been train guard, and we did not get into camp until 11 282 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. p. m. This night marching hurts us more than the hottest day marching. We camp to-night near Stone Mountain, and the depot of the same name 16 miles from Atlanta. It is evident to me that the Army of the Tennessee is doing the "flanking them out" this time. The 1st Division cut the railroad effectually. A train came from the East while they were at it, but discovering the smoke, reversed the engine and escaped. The 17th Corps I hear is close behind us protecting the commissary trains and forming our rear guard. Decatur, Ga., July 19, 1864. To-night we are in Decatur, six miles from Atlanta. The Rebels were yet in Atlanta this morning, for they ran a train to this burg this morning, but they may now be gone. Our line of battle crosses the railroad nearly at right angles, facing Atlanta. I think the 23d Corps has swung around in front of us, and the 16th Corps is now on our left. Our cavalry had some fighting after 1 p. m. today. A citizen says there was nearly 4,500 Rebel cavalry here. A small portion of our mounted forces made a half- charge on the Johnnies just this side of town, and the Rebels stampeded. They knew we had a large force, and, of course, could not tell just what number was coming on them. They broke down every fence in town and ran over everything but the houses in their mad panic to get away. Our men, as usual, all stopped in town to flank the onions, potatoes, chickens and sundries, in which they were busily engaged when the Rebels, who had rallied and got a battery in position, opened right lively. Our men drove them away, and then all hands went to foraging again. To-morrow night, I think, will give us Atlanta, or there will be a fair start for a new graveyard near the town. I hear no fighting on the right. We have passed over the same miserable looking country to-day. I caught a small scorpion to-day, also a reddish brown bug not quite as large as a thrush, and as savage as a mad rat. Wish I could preserve some of these bugs and things ; I know you'd like 'em ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 283 July 20, 1864. Assembly has just sounded. In a few hours we will know if it is to be a fight. Frank says we are detailed for train guard. If the army marches right into Atlanta, I'll think it d — d mean, but if there is a fight will not feel so badly, unless we can get a big battle out of Johnston. I want to help in that. We have moved up near the town the army has gone on. Can hear heavy guns occasionally, sounds about three miles away, half the distance to the city. This little town is quite an old place. About half the citi- zens are still here. I saw a couple of right pretty girls. Some Confederate prisoners tell me that Johnston is gone to Rich- mond, and that Hood is commanding and intends to fight us at Atlanta. The wheat and oats raised this year in this part of Georgia, if it had all been saved, would not more than have fed the citizens. Full one-half the cornfields will not turn out any- thing. July 23, 1864. The fight came off the 22d, and a glorious one it was for us. Lieutenant Blair of our regiment was killed, also Charles Buck, of Company F, and John Smith of my company. There were seven wounded only. Our brigade gets credit for 400 prisoners. They took us in rear and every other way, but the repulse was awful. Everybody is wishing that they may re- peat the attack. Generals McPherson and Force are killed. (Force, was not killed.) Our regiment gets credit for its part, though we were very fortunate in losing so few. Our skirmish line is within one mile of the town. July 25, 1864. We moved up to the rear of the corps on the 21, and had just got comfortably fixed for the night when orders came that we should report back to the brigade on the front line. Just as we started a heavy rain set in, and continued while we 284 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. marched one and one-half miles to the left, where we stacked arms in rear of a line of work occupied by the 6th Iowa. The Rebel line lay in plain sight, just across an open field, and the bullets made us keep pretty close. At sunset we were ordered to extend, or rather build a line of works to hold our regiment, between the 6th Iowa and 40th Illinois. We had fairly commenced, and the boys were scat- tered everywhere, bringing rails, logs, etc., when the Johnnie's bugle sounded "forward," and the Rebels raised a yell and fired a couple of volleys into us. There was a lively rush for our guns, but we saw through it in a minute, and in three minutes were at work again. Only two men were hurt in the regiment, one from Company C, and Wm. Nicholson of my company had the small bone of his leg broken just above the ankle. We got our works in shape about daylight, and about 8 a. m. I heard a cheer from our skirmishers, and saw the Rebel skirmishers run right over their works like deer. Our line followed them and took possession of their works, and no Rebel or works being in sight, and our boys knowing they were only two miles from Atlanta, thought sure they had the town, and all started on the "double quick" for it, yelling, "potatoes" or "tobacco," or what he particularly hankered for. They got along swimmingly until within about three-quarters of a mile from town, when they ran against a strong line of works and were brought up standing, by a volley therefrom. They deployed immediately, and by the time their officers got up had a good line established, and were whacking away at the fort apparently as well satisfied as if they had got their to- baco. McPherson had an idea that all was not right, for our line was allowed to advance no further than the one the Rebels had left, and we were set to work changing its front. At dinner when we were about leaving "the table," Captain Smith men- tioned hearing some heavy skirmishing in our rear as we came to our meal. That was the first any of us knew of the battle. In a few minutes we all heard it plainly, and from our works could see exactly in our rear a body of grey coats, advance ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 285 from a wood and the battle opened, although we did not know what troops of ours were engaged. Have since heard it was a portion of the 16th Corps who were moving out to extend the line. Their being just in that position was a piece of luck, as it saved the trains of the Army of the Tennessee, and, per- haps, the whole army. I should think they fought an hour before the battle swung around toward us. During the battle, our regiment changed position three times, facing east, west and south. We helped repulse four charges, took 115 prisoners, and helped take 400 more. Also ran the enemy out of a line of works they had taken from our 3d brigade, and the best of it is, we lost only ten men. I cannot for my life see how we escaped so well. General Blair is reported to have said that the Army of the Tennessee is eternally disgraced for going outside of all precedent, in refusing to be whipped when attacked in flank and rear, as well as in front. Hood confines his strategy to maneuvering troops for battle, and pretends to be emphatically a "fighting cock." He attacked Thomas on the 20th and 21st, away on the right, and on the 22d walked into us. He got his comb badly cut, and if I am any prophet at all, will not attempt another fight soon. Sherman estimates the enemy's loss in the three days' fight- ing at 12,000. Our loss in the same time is less than 3,500. I am surprised that we have not attacked them in return before this, but am far from anxious to charge their works. Although I do know that if we charge with two lines as good as our brigade, and don't go too fast, we can take any ordinary works. The prisoners we got the other day were run down. When our regiment drove the Rebels out of the works of the 3d brigade, a man shot through the thigh, asked me for water as I passed him. I asked him if the Rebels robbed him, he said, no, but they killed a man in the ditch with a spade right in front of him. I looked where he pointed and found a 97th Indiana boy with his thigh broken by a pistol shot, and three cuts in his face by a spade. He was not dead, he knew me, and reached out his hand smiling. He said an officer rode up with some footmen and told him to surrender, when he shot 286 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. the officer and ran his bayonet through one of the men. An- other shot him, and the man he bayoneted used the spade on him. McPherson was killed early in the fight. The Rebels had his body a few minutes, but the 16th Corps charged and retook it. Altogether, it was the prettiest fight I ever saw. The Rebel plan of attack was excellent, and if their assault- ing columns had charged simultaneously, there is no telling what might have been the upshot. As it was, part of 17th Corps changed position in their breastworks three times, that is, repulsed an assault from one side, and being attacked from the rear, jumped over and fought them the other way. I was up to where the 20th and 31st Illinois fought. The dead Reb- els lay about as thick on one side of the works as the other, and right up to them. Two more fights like this, and there will be no more Rebel army here. We lost about 600 prisoners, and took 2,000. Garrard's cavalry division went out to Covington on the Augusta road. Am just going on picket. One and three-quarter miles southwest of Atlanta, July 29, 1864. On the evening of the 26th, Adj. Frank Lermond sent me word that the Army of the Tennessee was going to evacuate its position, the movement to commence at 12 p. m. When the lines are so close together the skirmish line is a ticklish place. The parties can tell by hearing artillery move, etc., nearly what is going on, and in evacuation generally make a dash for the skirmish line or rear guard. At nearly every position Johnston has fortified we caught his skirmish line when he evacuated. Luckily our line got off about 4 a. m. on the 27th though they shelled us right lively. That day our three corps moved along in the rear of the 23d, 4th, 14th and 20th, the intention being, I think, to ex- tend the line to the right, if possible, to the Montgomery and Atlanta railroad and thus destroy another line of com- munication. We have thoroughly destroyed 50 miles of the Augusta and Atlanta railroad. The 16th Corps formed its ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 287 line on the right of the 14th, and the 17th joined on the 16th, and on the morning of the 28th, we moved out to extend the line still further. At 12 m. we had just got into position and thrown a few rails along our line, when Hood's Rebel corps came down on Morgan L's and our divisions like an avalanche. Our two divisions did about all the fighting, and it lasted until 5 p. m. We whipped them awfully. Their dead they left almost in line of battle along our entire front of two divisions. It was the toughest fight of the campaign, but not a foot of our line gave way, and our loss is not one-twentieth of theirs. The rails saved us. I am tired of seeing such butchery but if they will charge us that way once a day for a week, this corps will end the war in this section. Our loss in the regiment was 17 out of 150 we had in the fight, and the brigade loss will not exceed 100. I never saw so many Rebels dead. We are in excellent spirits, and pro- pose to take Atlanta whenever Sherman wants it. August 1, 1864. Since the glorious battle of the 28th, everything has been quiet in our immediate front, though the heavy artillery firing continues to the left. I think it is between the 14th and 20th Corps and some Rebel forts. Prisoners say that our shells have hurt the city very much. We all think that the last battle is by far the most brilliant of the campaign. Our offi- cials' reports show that we buried 1,000 Rebels in front of our and M. L. Smith's divisions. In fact, our two divisions and two regiments of Osterhaus' did all the fighting. Our total loss was less than 550, the Rebels 8,000. In the last 12 days they must have lost 25,000 men. Our loss in the same time will not reach 4,500. There is no shadow of gas in this, as you would know if you could see an unsuccessful charge on works. The enemy is reported as moving to our right in heavy force. 288 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. August 5, 1864. After the fight of the 28th July, we advanced on the 30th, 31st and April 1st, when we came to a strong line of Rebel rifle pits, densely populated, and their main works about 400 yards behind the pits. On the 2d details from each brigade in the corps were ordered to drive the Rebels out of said pits. It was done, our division capturing 78 prisoners. The Rebels tried to retake them, but failed, of course, leaving with our boys, among other dead, a colonel and a major. Only one company (K), of our regiment was in the fight ; it had two men wounded. I was on picket there the next day ; 'twas a lively place, but I lost no men. Some of the men fired over 100 rounds. The 23d and 14th Corps have swung around on our right, the object being to throw our line across the Macon railroad. We have heard that Stoneman was captured with 400 men at Macon. Kil- patrick started on a raid yesterday. Stoneman burned a Rebel wagon train of 600 wagons, and sabered the mules. Cruel, but right. The 14th Corps yesterday gobbled 700 prisoners. There are a few Rebel riflemen who keep the bullets whistling around us here ; they killed a Company E man 20 yards to the right on the 4th. Health of the regiment never better, and that is the best index of the morale. August 8, 1864. Never was army better cared for than this. No part of it has been on short rations during the campaign. Extra issues of dessicated potatoes, mixed vegetables, etc., have bundled the advance guard of General Scurvy neck and heels outside the pickets. Extraordinary dreams of green corn, blackberries, new potatoes, etc., have done very much towards keeping up the health and morale of the army, and as much towards reconciling us to this summer sun, that ripens said goodies. We draw supplies of clothing monthly as regularly as when in garrison, and a ragged soldier is a scarcity. At least 30 days' rations are safely stored in our rear, making ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 289 us entirely unmindful of railroad raids, for, if necessary, we could build the whole road in that time. The heat has not troubled us much, save during a few days' marching. We have had hardly three days without a rain for a month. We have done a great amount of work since our last battle, have constructed nine lines of works, and it will take at least two more before we get the position that I think Howard wants. We keep those poor Johnnies in a stew all the time. Our artillery is any amount better than theirs, and it plays on them from morning until night. Nothing worries troops so much, though compared with musketry it is almost harmless. I guess their ammunition is short, for they don't fire one shot to our 40. I think we'll like Howard first rate. If he is as good as McPherson, he'll do. Four divisions are on their way to reenforce us. I don't think we need them, but the more, the merrier. August 10, 1864. Our "color" that has floated over the 103d for nearly two years has become much worn and torn. One shell and bullets innumerable have passed through it. It is entitled to be inscribed with the following battles: Vicksburg, Black River, Jackson, Miss., Mission Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, At- lanta. It has been under the enemy's fire 72 days on this campaign. Nearly 300 of the regiment have fallen under it. August 11, 1864. We have lost 35 men since Colonel W r right left us. There has been a tall artillery fight this p. m. right here, but as usual no one hurt. August 20, 1864. During the last few days cavalry has been operating on the right against the enemy's communications. We have been making demonstrations, as they call it, or diversions 29O ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. in favor of the cavalries; that is, one, two or three times a day we raise a yell along our corps line, and open on the enemy with cannon and muskets. This, aside from scaring them a little (and it is getting most too old to do even that), does but trifling damage, for at the opening yell they all "hunt their holes," in army slang, take position in their works. Everybody is satisfied the Johnnies here are only waiting for dark nights to evacuate. August 24, 1864. The Johnnies in our front are either tired out or short of ammunition or inclination, or else, like the quiet swine, "studying devilment." Certain it is, that chey shoot but little lately. Five Rebel batteries which have thrown shell into our division line did not on the 20th or 21st fire a shot, on the 22d but two shots, and in response to a more than usually vigorous cannonading on our part yesterday returned not more than a dozen shots. These Rebels just opposite are a very glum set. Won't say a single word, though the lines are at one point at least, not more than 20 yards apart. Whenever I have seen the line so close, our men invariably get the advantage, and keep the Rebels down. We go on the skirmish line every fourth day, but with ordinary care there is little danger. The 4th, 20th and 16th Corps are preparing to start for the right. The raids in our rear — on the railroad amount to nothing. We have at least 60 days' rations accumulated, and could rebuild the entire road in that time. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 2QI VI. August 29, 1864 to February 13, 1865. Wondering what the Chicago Con- vention will do. Covering an evacuation. Marching with muffled guns under Silent "Pap" Sherman. Tearing up railraod tracks by hand. Fighting near Jonesboro. Charging a South Carolina brigade, capturing and holding the rifle pits they were digging. Captain Post wounded. Repulsing sorties. Bringing off the pickets. Sherman announces occupation of Atlanta. Congratula- tory orders by Howard, Logan and Harrow. Destruction of At- lanta. Guarding the neutral ground. On the march again. Sam- ple "grapevine" dispatches. Camp humor. Osterhaus loses his temper. Tragic fate of ten stragglers; swift revenge. Rubber pancakes. "Grabbing" for foraged meat. Three witches. Marching through Georgia. Destroying our own "cracker line" and preparing to live on the country. Successful and abundant foraging. Battle of Griswoldville. Old men and little boys among the Rebel dead. Howard's congratulatory order. Marching through lonely pine forests with cheers. Hampered by contra- bands. Gentle Milly Drake and her slave. Unanimously chosen major, vice Willison, resigned. By sea to Beaufort, S. C. Why Buford's bridge was found abandoned. Using up a small town to build bridges. Burning and destroying railroads and twisting red hot rails. Wading a swamp to flank the Rebels. Rear guard of the corps. August 29, 1864. I would much like to know what the Chicago Convention is doing to-day. We hear there is a possibility they may nominate Sherman. How we wish they would. He would hardly accept the nomination from such a party, but I would 19 292 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. ♦ cheerfully live under Copperhead rule if they would give us such as Sherman. Sherman believes with Logan, "that if we can't subdue these Rebels and the rebellion, the next best thing we can do is to all go to hell together." We have already thrown our army so far to the right that our communications are not safe, but yet we can't quite reach the Montgomery or Macon railroads. It is determined to leave the 20th Corps at Vinings to guard the railroad bridge, and I think to move all the rest to the right. The army has just moved its length by the right flank. Looks easy and simple enough, but it took three days and nights of the hardest work of the campaign. The whole line lay in sight, and musket range of the enemy, not only our skirmishers, but our main line, and half a dozen men could, at any point, by showing themselves above the works, have drawn the enemy's fire. A gun, a caisson, or a wagon could hardly move without being shelled. On the night of the 25th, the 20th Corps moved back to the river to guard the railroad bridge seven miles from Atlanta ; and the 4th moved toward the right. Night of the 26th the 15th, 16th and 17th moved back on different roads toward the right. The wheels of the artillery were muffled and most of them moved off very quietly. One gun in our division was not muffled, and its rattling brought on a sharp fire, but I only heard of two men being hurt. Our regiment was deployed on the line our brigade occupied, and remained four hours after everything else had left. At 2 130 a. m. we were ordered to withdraw very quietly. We had fired very little for two hours, and moved out so quietly that, though our lines were only 25 yards apart in one place, the Rebels did not suspect our exit. We moved back three-quarters of a mile and waited an hour, I think, for some 17th Corps skirmishers. We could hear the Johnnies popping away at our old position, and occasionally they would open quite sharply as though an- gry at not receiving their regular replies. When we were fully two miles away they threw two shells into our deserted works. We did not lose a man, but I give you my word, this covering an evacuation is a delicate, dangerous, and far-from-pleasant ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 293 duty. There was a Johnnie in the "pit" nearest us that got off a good thing the other day. A newsboy came along in the ditch, crying, "Heer's your Cincinnati, Louisville and Nash- ville papers." Crack ! Crack ! ! went two Rebel guns, and a Johnnie holloed 'There is your Atlanta "Appeal!" We caught up with the brigade just at daylight, it was raining, but our watch, the hard march, the wear and tear of such duty, made some sleep a necessity, so we tumbled down in the rank smelling weeds, and I was sleeping equal to Rip Van Winkle in half a minute. In half an hour we were awakened, took breakfast and marched a couple of miles to where the train was. Here somebody got Rebel on the brain, and we were run out a mile to investigate. We stopped in a nice, fine grove, and I didn't want to hear any more about the Rebels, but went to sleep instanter. That sleep did me a world of good. I woke about 4 p. m., and found the whole regiment with scarce a half-dozen exceptions, sound asleep. Finally the rear of the train started and we followed. At just midnight we came up to the train corral and laid down for the remnant of the night. At 6 a. m., we left the train and rejoined the division. At dark we camped on the Montgomery and Atlanta railroad, where the mile post says 15 miles to Atlanta. The march has been through a miserable rough country. We have now been more than half-way around Atlanta, and I have not yet seen a country house that would more than compare favorably with the Coleman Mansion, or a farm that would in any respect vie with the stumpiest of Squire Shipley's stump quarter, or the most barren and scraggiest of Copperas creek barren or brakes. At 12 p. m. they aroused our regiment to tear up railroad track. In one and one-quar- ter hours we utterly destroyed rails and ties for twice the length of our regiment. We, by main strength with our hands, turned the track up- side down, pried the ties off, stacked them, piled the rails across and fired the piles. Used no tools whatever. On the 29th the 1 6th Corps moved down and destroyed the railroad to Fairburn. On the 30th the army started for Macon railroad, 294 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Kilpatrick's cavalry in advance. He did splendidly. Had hard skirmishing all the day. Took at least a dozen barricades, and went about as fast as we wanted to. He saved the Flint river bridge, and our corps crossed it, and by 12 p. m., were in good position with works within one-half mile of Jones- boro and the railroad. Darkness kept us from taking the road that night. The enemy had a strong line of pickets all around us and we built our works under their fire. At daylight the 31st, we found the Rebels in plain sight in front of our regiment. I never saw them so thick. Our regiment is on the extreme right of the division. Near Jonesboro, August 31, 1864. We were afraid we would have no battle this month, but our fears were disappointed in a very summary manner this p. m. Hardee, in command of his own and Hood's old corps, attacked the Army of the Tennessee again, the weight of the assault being on our corps. The second division, M. L. Smith's, had the hardest of the fighting. The position our regiment held was unluckily too strong. They did not dare attack us. But we had a splendid view of the fight, both on our right and left. Six Johnnie lines of battle debouched from the woods on our left, and swept right across our front on open ground, within long musket range, say 600 or 700 yards. This was 2 130 p. m. They were coming over to attack the 16th Corps. A five-gun battery on the right of our regiment and two guns on our left opened on them with spherical case, and threw some canister. They had hardly fired two shots when a Rebel 10-pound Parrott opened on them in front, and a Napoleon battery on our left flank. The Rebels shot admirably and you may imagine our regiment was in a pretty warm position, though our works and traverses made the danger but little. In ten minutes from the time we first saw the Rebels they struck the 16th Corps, and after a right heavy fight of near an hour they came back flying. Our boys, though not near ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 2Q5 enough to do much effective shooting, put in 40 or 50 rounds apiece, just to keep our hands in. About the same time they struck Morgan L. they struck our first brigade and the left of our brigade. Our division repulsed them easily and Mor- gan L. slaughtered them awfully, but he had a hard fight. They charged up close to the left of our regiment, but owing to the direction of our lines not where we could fight them. Our brigade took one colonel, one major, three captains, one lieu- tenant and 30 men prisoners. The 2d division took several hundred. I can't guess what their loss is, though it is not as heavy as on the 22d or 28th of July, for they did not fight nearly as well. Besides losing a host of men in this campaign, the Rebel Army has lost a large meaure of vim, which counts a good deal in soldiering. Our loss in this fight is compara- tively nothing. Say 30 men in our brigade ; we have four or five scratched in our regiment, but only one much hurt. A spent 12-pound solid shot rolled on him. Kilpatrick started for the railroad south this morning. He has had a big fight with Cleyburn's division, but don't know much about it. During our fight to-day Schofield and Stanley, 23d and 4th, took the railroad and are destroying it. Hood, with Polk's old corps, are above him and cut off from Hardee. September 1st, '64. A real autumn morning. We were aroused at 3 a. m. and the air was then almost crisp. A breath of cold air is a luxury we can appreciate. A fresh, cool breeze is now stirring and I can almost hear the leaves falling. It is a real yellow fall and does me more good than aught else could, except a letter from home. Haven't had one from you for ten days. A prisoner says that yesterday's fight was rougher on them than the 28th of July fight. He said their brigade came up in front of our men, and though they did not stay more than long enough to take one look, when they got back under cover they were 500 men short. They afterwards charged again, and he said he doubted whether any of them got off alive and sound. 296 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. This is the 124th day of the campaign, exactly 90 of which we have been under fire. Have also moved 340 miles, though the direct road would be much less. The boys say we just finished the summer campaign in time to commence the fall ditto. I guess the movement surprised Hood. Prisoners all say they understood it to be a raiding party. 'Tis a rather mighty one. The country between these two railroads is rather better than any we have seen before in' Georgia, but I never saw any in Illinois half as poor. Hardly any of the land has been under cultivation since the war commenced. A little sickly corn and a few patches of sorghum and millet are about all the farming evidence I have seen. Northern Alabama and a few counties in Mississippi are the only passable parts of the Confederacy that I have seen. Mrs. Lee Henty's grand plantations, with their "hos- pitable mansions, whose broad verandas, supported by graceful pillars," etc., are principally "bosh," at least as far as northern Georgia is concerned. The health of the regiment is excellent, the men being, if anything, healthier than the officers. The lieutenant colonel and major, though both with us, are not yet reported for duty. Cap- tain Boyd, Lieutenants Fox, A. & J. Smith are quite unwell. Captains Post, Vorhees, Smith and myself have at dif- ferent times been all the officers fit for duty. I believe I am the only one who has never been off duty during the campaign, though Post, Smith, Vorhees and Dorrance have lost but a few days each, Smith, I believe only one. I don't believe these Rebels can be in very good spirits. I am afraid I'd be a little blue if we'd been whipped as often as they have this campaign. Most of the prisoners are great "peace" men, but they all say that their leaders will never give up as long as they can raise a brigade to fight. Every pup of them has hopes that the Chicago Convention will do something for them, they hardly know what. I heard one of the boys say he wished that the Convention could be induced to charge us in these works. There's talk of our going home to vote. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 297 About 2 p. m. a signal officer in a tree reported that he could see our troops moving in line down the railroad toward us. It was the 23d and 4th Corps. The 14th which held the left of our line, about the same time com- menced to swing its left around, and by 4 p. m. a battle opened. The 14th broke the enemy's line before the 23d got up, and alone rolled the Rebels up in fine style. By dark the 14th had captured from 12 to 20 pieces of artillery and a large number of prisoners. Three hours more of daylight and Hardee would have had no corps left, for the 4th and 23d were swinging further to the left, and would have been in his rear in less than two hours, when our whole line would have closed in on them. Six miles south of Jonesboro, September 2, 1864. At daylight our skirmish line moved forward and found the Rebels gone. When our boys reached the railroad a train of cars was just loading some wounded; the boys made for it, but it outran them. They left a number of their wounded, and when the 14th broke them on the 1st, we captured several hospitals, in one of which were several officers. I saw in a hole by a hospital two legs and three arms. One can't help pitying these Rebel soldiers. They have been whipped here until they have lost all spirit. They don't fight with any spirit when they are attacked and it's more like a butchery than a battle. Our brigade in advance we started after them. The 100th Indiana. and 6th Iowa were deployed as skirmishers, and met the Rebel line almost as soon as they started forward. They drove them finely for four miles, when our skirmishers reported that they had run the Rebel army into fortifications. The country here is quite open, the fields being from half to a mile or more wide, bordered by a narrow strip of wood. The 46th Ohio and our regiment were now de- ployed to relieve the skirmishers, and take a close look at the enemy's position. They were shooting at us from some rail fences within range, and a mile away, over the 298 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. fields, we could see them digging; seemed to be construct- ing a line of pits. We pushed forward under a heavy skirmish fire, and took from a S. C. Brigade the line of pits we saw them making, and went on a little way until we drew a fire from their main works, when we retired to the pits we had taken and prepared to hold them. Found tools in them. This was 3 p. m. About dark the Rebels made three little sorties, but only in light force. We easily repulsed them. Captain Post was wounded in the right breast. Loss in the regiment is seven wounded, raising the loss in the regiment to 178. The 103d and 46th Ohio captured 19 prisoners and killed and wounded at least 25. September 3, 1864. Rebels still here. Congratulatory order from Sherman commences, "Slocum occupied Atlanta yesterday at 11 a. m." We can see nothing of our position here. I don't know where the 23d and 14th are. Our line here is very crooked, but generally faces southeast. Commencing at our right our line runs 17th, 15th, 16th and 4th. Kilpatrick is on our right or in the enemy's rear. Can't hear a word of Hood's or Polk's old corps or the militia. Hardee is in our front, and they are the only Rebel troops I know aught of. Cheatham's Division faces us, and a S. C. Bri- gade is opposite our brigade. Captain Wilkinson was wounded in the arm to-day. September 4, 1864. Received a half official notification to-day that the cam- paign and fighting are over. Orders to clean up arms came also, and the boys, showing their contempt of the enemy's power to do harm, took their guns all to pieces and set to polishing the should-be bright parts, right in view of the enemy's pickets. September 5, 1864. News of the capture of Fort Morgan. Orders to march at 8 p. m. I was detailed to bring off the pickets, which was accomplished without trouble. Rebels did not know ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 2Q9 when we left, as we heard them shooting after we got back in our old works at Jonesboro. The whole army moved into the works we built the 30th. I, with my pickets, got back just before day. September 6, 1864. Lay quiet all day. Some Rebel cavalry followed us up and fired a few shots into our regiment's works from the old Rebel fort, but Osterhaus swung his pickets around and gobbled 25 of them, and the rest troubled us no more. September 7, 1864. At 7 a. m. moved out on our return, and camped for the night on the left bank of Flint river, six miles south of East- point. The Rebels had fortified to this place, and I don't know how much farther south. As soon as Hood found out that Sherman was attempting to turn his left, he commenced ex- tending his lines down the railroad. He had built six miles of new works when we reached Jonesboro the night of the 30th of August. His line was too long for his troops, so he sent two corps to oppose us, and the 23d and 4th moved into the vacant space in his line right over his works. Near Eastpoint, September 8, 1864. We are again in camp for a rest ; don't know for how long. What do you think now of the confidence I have so often ex- pressed to you in Sherman and his army? I have every hour of the campaign felt that a failure in it was impossible. The following complimentary orders were issued, as dated immediately after our going into camp at Eastpoint: Headquarters Dep't. and Army of the Tennessee, Eastpoint, Ga., September 9, 1864. General Field Orders, No. 16 It is with pride, gratification, and a sense of Divine favor that I congratulate this noble army upon the successful termi- nation of the campaign. Your officers claim for you a wonderful record — for exam- ple, a march of four hundred (400) miles, thirteen (13) dis- 300 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. tinct engagements, four thousand (4,000) prisoners, and twenty (20) stands of colors captured, and three thousand (3,000) of the enemy's dead buried in your front. Your movements upon the enemy's flank have been bold and successful ; first upon Resaca, second upon Dallas, third upon Kenesaw, fourth upon Nickajack, fifth via Rosewell, upon the Augusta railroad, sixth upon "Ezra Church" to the south- west of Atlanta, and seventh upon Jonesboro and the Macon railroad. Atlanta was evacuated while you were fighting at Jonesboro. The country may never know with what patience, labor and exposure, you have tugged away at every natural and artificial obstacle that an enterprising and confident enemy could interpose. The terrific battles you have fought may never be realized or credited, still a glad acclaim is already greeting you from the government and people, in view of the results you have helped to gain, and I believe a sense of the magnitude of the achievements of the last hundred days will not abate but in- crease with time and history. Our rejoicing is tempered, as it always must be, by the sol- dier's sorrow at the loss of his companions-in-arms. On every hillside, in every valley throughout your long and circuitous route, from Dalton to Jonesboro, you have buried them. Your trusted and beloved commander fell in your midst ; his name, the name of McPherson, carries with it a peculiar feel- ing of sorrow. I trust the impress of his character is upon you all to incite you to generous actions and noble deeds. To mourning friends, and to all the disabled in battle, you extend a soldier's sympathy. My first intimate acquaintance with you dates from the 28th of July. I never beheld fiercer assaults than the enemy then made, and I never saw troops more steady and self-possessed in action than your divisions which were then engaged. I have learned that for cheerfulness, obedience, rapidity of movement, and confidence in battle, the Army of the Tennes- see is not to be surpassed, and it shall be my study that your fair record shall continue, and my purpose to assist you to move steadily forward and float the old Flag in every proud city of the rebellion. (Signed) O. O. Howard, Major General. (official) Sam'l L. Taggart, Ass't. Ad ft. Gen' I. army life of an illinois soldier. 30i Headquarters Fifteenth Army Corps, Eastpoint, Ga., September n, 1864. Officers and Soldiers of the Fifteenth Army Corps: You have borne your part in the accomplishment of the object of this campaign, a part well and faithfully done. On the 1st day of May, 1864, from Huntsville, Ala., and its vicinity, you commenced the march. The marches and labors performed by you during this campaign will hardly find a parallel in the history of war. The proud name heretofore acquired by the 15th Corps for soldierly bearing and daring deeds remains untarnished — its lustre undimmed. During the campaign you constituted the main portion of the flanking column of the whole army. Your first move against the enemy was around the right of the army at Resaca, where, by your gallantry, the enemy were driven from the hills and his works on the main road from Vilanaw to Resaca. On the retreat of the enemy, you moved on the right flank of the army by a circuitous route to Adairsville, in the same manner from there to Kingston and Dallas, where, on the 28th day of May, you met the veteran corps of Hardee, and in a severe and bloody contest you hurled him back, killing and wounding over two thousand, besides capturing a large number of prisoners. You then moved around to the left of the army, by way of Acworth, to Kenesaw Mountain, where again you met the enemy, driv- ing him from three lines of works, capturing over three hun- dred prisoners. During your stay in front of Kenesaw Moun- tain, on the 27th of June, you made one of the most daring, bold and heroic charges of the war, against the almost impreg- nable position of the enemy on Little Kenesaw. You were then moved, by way of Marietta, to Nickajack Creek, on the right of the army, thence back to the extreme left by way of Mari- etta and Roswell, to the Augusta railroad, near Stone Moun- tain, a distance of fifty miles, and after effectually destroying the railroad at this point, you moved by way of Decatur to the immediate front of the Rebel stronghold, Atlanta. Here, on the 22d day of July, you again performed your duty nobly, "as patriots and soldiers" in one of the most severe and sanguinary conflicts of the campaign. With hardly time to recover your almost exhausted energies, you were moved again around to the right of the army, only to encounter the same troops against whom you had so recently contended, and the battle of the 28th of July, at Ezra Chapel, will long be remembered by the officers and soldiers of this command. On that day it was that the 15th Corps almost unaided and alone, for four hours con- 302 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. tested the field against the Corps of Hardee and Lee. . You drove them discomfited from the field causing them to leave their dead and many of their wounded in your hands. The many noble and gallant deeds performed by you on that day will be remembered among the proudest acts of our nation's history. After pressing the enemy closely for several days, you again moved to the right of the army, to the West Point railroad, near Fairburn — after completely destroying the road for some distance, you marched to Jonesboro, driving the enemy before you from Pond creek, a distance of ten miles. At this point you again met the enemy, composed of Lee's and Hardee's Corps, on the 31st of August, and punished them severely, driving them in confusion from the field, with their dead and many wounded and prisoners left in your hands. Here again by your skill and true courage you kept sacred the reputation you have so long maintained, viz.: "The 15th Corps never meets the enemy but to strike and defeat him." On the 1st of September, the 14th Corps attacked Hardee, you at once opened fire on him, and by your co-operation his defeat became a rout. Hood, hearing the news, blew up his ammunition trains, retreated, and Atlanta was ours. You have marched during the campaign, in your windings, the distance of four hundred miles, have put "hors-du-combat" more of the enemy than your corps numbers, have captured twelve stands of colors, 2,450 prisoners and 210 deserters. The course of your march is marked by the graves of patri- otic heroes who have fallen by your side ; but at the same time it is more plainly marked by the blood of traitors who have defied the constitution and laws, insulted and trampled under foot the glorious flag of our country. We deeply sympathize with the friends of those of our com- rades-in-arms who have fallen ; our sorrows are only appeased by the knowledge that they fell as brave men, battling for the preservation and perpetuation of one of the best governments of earth. "Peace be to their ashes." You now rest for a short time from your labors ; during the respite prepare for future action. Let your country see at all times by your conduct that you love the cause you have es- poused ; that you have no sympathy with any who would by word or deed assist vile traitors in dismembering our mighty Republic or trailing in the dust the emblem of our national greatness and glory. You are the defenders of a government that has blessed you heretofore with peace, happiness and pros- perity. Its perpetuity depends upon your heroism, faithfulness and devotion. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. * 303 When the time shall come to go forward again, let us go with the determination to save our nation from threatened wreck and hopeless ruin, not forgetting the appeal from widows and orphans that is borne to us upon every breeze to avenge the loss of their loved ones who have fallen in de- fense of their country. Be patient, obedient and earnest, and the day is not far distant when you can return to your homes with the proud consolation that you have assisted in causing the old banner to again wave from every mountain's top and over every town and hamlet of our once happy land, and hear the shouts of triumph ascend from a grateful people, proclaim- ing that once more we have one flag and one country. John A. Logan, Major General Commanding. Headquarters 4th Division, 15TH A. C. Eastpoint, Ga., September 13, 1864. Officers and Soldiers: The commander-in-chief, the department commander, and corps officer have each expressed to you their approbation of your conduct during the campaign just closed. They have spoken in general terms to the army, the department and corps. It is my privilege to address your immediate organization. Your department commander announces the capture of four thousand (4,000) prisoners by the Army of the Tennessee. You have taken one-third of that number. This army has taken from the enemy twenty (20) battleflags; eight of these were wrested from him by your prowess. Your lists of killed and wounded in battle are larger by one-half than any other division in the Army of the Tennessee. You have destroyed as many of the enemy as any similar organization in the entire army. You have never been defeated in this or any other campaign. Your record is therefore spotless, and you should be and doubtless are proud of it. Your friends at home and the corn- try at large will some day understand and appreciate your conduct. Had your lamented department commander been spared, his familiarity with your history, and identification with your- selves, would have commanded for you more complete justice. Your corps commander is not now, nor has he ever been, slow to acknowledge your merits, but he is powerless to do more. 304 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Your organization will probably soon be changed, and the stranger to you will reap the reward of your devotion and self- sacrifice. The just reward, always so highly prized by the true soldier, may not be yours, but the consciousness of duty well performed will remain with you forever. You will sus- tain your high reputation by doing battle, as heretofore, for your country, and not for men. Do so cheerfully. My con- nection with you as your division commander may possibly soon be severed. Support any future officer as you have sup- ported me, and success must attend your efforts. I ask from you the same kind of remembrance I shall ever give to each true soldier of this command. (Signed) William Harrow, Brigadier General U. S. Vols. Explanatory Note. [The Army of the Tennessee remained at, or near, East Point, until October 4th. When General Sherman decided to destroy Atlanta, he gave the inhabitants their choice as to where they would go, either north, south, or remain, and take their chances in the ruined city. Prisoners captured during the campaign were also exchanged, and a detail of some 70 or 80 men from the regiment, commanded by Captain Wills, and a like command from the 100th Indiana, was given the duty of guard- ing the "neutral ground" at a place called Rough and Ready, some eight or ten miles south of Atlanta. This duty being performed, the detail rejoined the regiment, having been so occupied about ten days. The 4th Division was here broken up, and the "old 2d Brigade" was trans- ferred to the 1st Division, commanded by Gen. C. R. Wood.] The diary is now resumed. October 4, 1864. We have been expecting to move for several days. The Rebels have crossed the Chattanooga and are moving on our rear, a la Jonesboro. If half the force they took over ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 305 get back I'll be much disappointed. We yesterday sent our extra baggage to Atlanta to store, and at n last night orders came to march at 5 a. m. to-day. We will be off in a few minutes now. Marietta is in our route direction. Six miles south of Marietta, October 5, 1864. Had an awful day's march yesterday, full 20 miles and the road very muddy and slippery. County peculiarly Georgian, the like of which, I hope, is to be found nowhere else in Uncle Sam's domain. When we started the "spring or grapevine" dispatch said that Hardee's headquarters were in Marietta, and that he was living very high on sanitary stores, of which there is enough to feed an army for a time. We crossed the river on pontoons near the railroad bridge, a very fine work, considering it was built inside of a week. We then heard that Marietta was not in Hardee's posses- sion, but that lively skirmishing was going on along the lines, and that Hardee's army was before the place. About three miles from the river we met a wagon train just from Marietta; part of the guards had not heard that any Rebels were near the town. Others said that Hood's army was just the other side of Kenesaw, about two miles north of Marietta. Finally a cavalry man said part of our (guard's) cavalry occupied Kenesaw, from the top of which he had seen the Rebel army occupying an old line of works of ours just this side of Big Shanty. I just thought I would give you a sample of the "grape cuttings" that accompany a march. A body of Rebels is evidently above Marietta, on the railroad ; how strong I don't know, and it is none of my business. "Pap" knows all about it. He never tells us anything. He has not issued a "battle order" during the whole campaign and hardly a congratulatory. If the Rebels are there in force, there will be a battle. It can have but one result, and cannot fail to be a disastrous one for them. We have at least 50 days' full rations and I think 90, so the breaking of the railroad cannot affect us. Six p. m. — We took all kinds of roundabout roads to-day, 306 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. and marched eight miles to make not over four. I have been really sick all day, but hope it will be over by morning. The Johnnies have left Big Shanty, moving north on the railroad, tearing it up as they travel. Go it, Rebels ! October 6, 1864, 12 m. Rained all last night, and has just suspended for a few minutes, I expect. Kept dry, thanks to our rubber blan- kets. Drew five days' rations this morning, full of every- thing except beans ; plenty of beef, though. We only drew one-quarter of a pound per man for the whole five days. Part of our railroad bridge across the Chattahoochie washed away a few days ago. It will be finished again to- day. There was some fighting up near Allatoona Pass yes- terday, in which, rumor says, our folks were worsted. The Rebels are moving up the road in that direction. They will have to leave there or wait and fight us. I hear that Kil- patrick burned 200 or 300 of their wagons yesterday. We'll warm those fellows if they will only wait for us somewhere. We are under orders to start at a moment's notice. Mud is not over a foot deep and everything else is lovely in proportion. I was confoundedly sick all day yesterday, could not eat any supper, but about 9 p. m. the boys brought some beans about half cooked, and the notion taking me I ate a couple of quarts thereof. Have felt splen- didly ever since. Our pickets that we left at Eastpoint have just got in. The division field officer of the day who had charge of them misunderstood his instructions and marched to the river at Sandtown, 15 miles below where we crossed. The Rebels fired into them and I suppose captured half a dozen stragglers. October 7, 1864. The Rebels have left the railroad after being whipped by General Corse at Allatoona Pass. The 14th Corps drove them out to Lost Mountain yesterday. No hard fighting. They tore up not more than eight miles of rail- road, which will be rebuilt in a very few days. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 307 Deserters report the whole Rebel Army here, but that the ten days' rations they started with have run out. Other de- serters say that their army has started for Nashville, Hunts- ville, or hell ; that they are satisfied they can't make either of the first named places, and would rather go to Sherman than the last named. It is wonderful what confidence this army has in Sherman. Every man seems to think the idea of these Rebels being able to do us any permanent harm is perfectly preposterous, and all are in the best of spirits. I can't help thinking that the Rebels must have all cleared out of this vicinity, or else we'd be going for them. Our stock is in too bad condition to follow them far over the, at present, horrible roads. A man rode along on a poor old bone-rack of a horse a while ago. Some wag commenced, "caw," "caw," "caw." The whole camp took it up and for five minutes you would have thought that 10,000 crows were holding a jubilee. Let some one start a squirrel or rabbit and 500 men will be after it in a minute. Old soldiers are just a lot of men with school-boy spirits. Officers don't draw meat like the men. I have just had two meals of beef (and no other meat) in the last ten days. All our officers are the same way. It is mostly our own fault. On picket four miles south of Marietta, October 8th. We occupy the old Johnny skirmish pits. It was outrage- ously cold last night. I elected myself fireman and did not neglect my duties. I have men from every regiment in the brigade (seven). There are an abundance of chestnuts here, and at every post the boys have worked pretty steadily all day roasting and eating. All sit on their knapsacks before the fire, every fellow with a stick to take out the nuts. It is right in- teresting to hear the men talk. Nearly all have been in the service three years or over, and almost every battlefield in the West has been seen by some of the brigade. We move. The Rebels have crossed the Etawah. 20 308 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Two miles north of Kenesaw Mountain, October 9, 1864. About 5 o'clock last night, just when we should have been relieved, we heard the "General" sounded through the camp, and in half an hour more the "Assembly." The corps started toward Marietta, and in another half hour we assembled, and in charge of the division officer of the day followed as rear guard of the train. At 12 p. m., after a cold, tiresome march, the train corraled, and we built fires and turned in beside them for the balance of the night, right at the northeast base of Kenesaw Mountain. This a. m. found the brigade two miles further north. The Rebel Army was here three days ago and tore up the railroad all along here. They are now near Van Wirt. If they go north across the Etawah, we will probably follow. Their pres- ent position menances the whole line of road from Rome to the Chattahoochie crossing. Near Kenesaw Mountain, October 10, 1864. Was on the ground we charged on the 27th of June, and also on top of Kenesaw to-day. Very fine view, but nothing like equal to that from Lookout. The signal station here com- municates direct with Atlanta, Allatoona and Roswell. I picked up some black oak acorns to-day from a tree that shades the graves of 12 or 15 of our soldiers, mostly from our regiment, who fell on the 27th. They were buried where they fell. That charge was the maddest folly of the campaign. Allatoona Pass, October 11, 1864. Our corps moved at the setting of the sun, and continued moving until we were all confoundedly tired. I never saw the men so noisy, funny, or in any way or every way feeling half so good. After we had marched about eight miles, one of Howard's staff came back along the line and informed us that Sherman had just notified Howard that Richmond is ours. Everybody believed it, but nobody cheered. They were saving the yells for the confirmation. We camped at 1 a. m. with or- ders for reveille at 4 and march at 5 a. m. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 309 Three miles south of Kingston, October 12, 1864. Started at daylight this morning. The Rebels were then at Rome. Stopped here at 5 p. m. It is understood that the Rebel Army has moved southwest into Alabama. Passed through the best country to-day that we have seen in Georgia. We are camped on what has been a splendid plantation (equal to anything on Copperas creek), and on the only clover field, I think, in Georgia. This is about the only ground on which I have seen the Jamestown weed, plantain, or clover. We are very scare of forage, and the officers turned their horses out on the clover to graze. The Northern stock enjoyed it exceedingly, but the Southern horses did not know enough to eat it. They nosed around among the rich bundles of clover to pick out the weeds and hard wild grass, the latter not near as good as our poorest prairie grass. Three miles from Rome, Ga., October 13, 1864. Started at 8 this morning and landed here at dark. Heard 40 or 50 cannon shots in vicinity of Rome during the day's march. The country to-day is fair for Georgia, but not equal to that between Cartersville and Kingston. While we were rest- ing to-day, Osterhaus (at present commanding our corps) rode by our regiment and a few scamps hollowed "sowbelly, sow- belly.' You know the men have been living on army beef for a month, and it is not desirable fare ; still they were only in fun, and I noticed the general smile, but some puppy finally cried out "kraut," and another echoed it with "kraut by the barrel." The general wheeled his horse and rode up to us, his face white with passion. "Vat regiment ish dis?" No one an- swered. He rode up near me and again asked, "Vat regiment ish dis?" I told him. "Vy don't you kit up?" I arose and again answered him respectfully, "The 103d Illinois, sir." "Vare ish your colonel?" "At the right of the regiment, sir." He rode up to Wright and gave him the devil. I have not been so mortified for a long time. We all think a great deal of Osterhaus, and just coming into his division were all desirous that his first impressions of our regiment should be favorable. 3IO ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. As it is, two or three insulting puppies have given us a name with him that I have no doubt will cause us trouble for a long time. Yelping "sauer kraut" at a German is a poor way to gain his favor. (A duplicate of dates.) October 12, 1864. Last night while our train was passing through Cass- ville, a town four miles south of Kingston, an ambulance gave out and the driver unhitched and concluded to stay- all night. That was some three miles from where we stayed. Nine stragglers also laid down beside the ambu- lance for the night. The 17th Corps came through there to-day and found the driver dead, with a bayonet thrust through him, and the traps of the nine men laying around. The horses and nine men are missing. I heard to-night that the bodies of the nine men had been found altogether. Our men burned the town. I expect we will lie here to- morrow, and if Hood's army is in this vicinity go for it next day. Nobody thinks he will dare to fight us. We have parts of five corps here. (Duplicated also.) October 13, 1864. The men drew full rations of bacon to-day. There has been some fighting nine miles down the north side of the Coosa river to-day. Our corps moves back on the Kings- ton road at "retreat." Don't know where to. Received two letters from you to-day, also papers, for which am very thankful. Have had a good rest to-day. Everybody is in glorious spirits. Kilpatrick started west to- day with 50 days' rations of salt. I wish I was with him. Three miles southwest of Adairsville, October 14th. We marched at sunset last evening and halted not until 3 this a. m. Marched miserably slow the first five miles through a deep gorge, but about I o'clock got straightened out on the Rome and Calhoun road, a good one, and then got along nicely. In the fighting at Rome yesterday, our ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 311 folks whipped them and took some artillery. We got to bed at 3:15, and reveille sounded at 5 and we marched at 6:30. Not much sleep after marching 20 miles, was it. We had no crackers this morning, and before I got up my imagination was reveling in the prospect of a breakfast on parched corn, but at the festive board the cook surprised us with a mess of pancakes. They looked like plates cut out of a rubber blanket, and tasted accordingly. One mem- ber of the mess said they just came up to his ideal of a poet's dream. Another, that they only lacked one thing, and that was the stamp, "Goodyear's Patent." The Sur- geon advised us to use them sparingly, for, said he, "If they mass against any part of your interior lines the con- sequences will be dire." But we were hard up for bread- stuffs, and closed with the dreadful stuff manfully. Twelve m. — Have stopped for dinner. The Rebel army was, or part of it, at Resaca yesterday, about nine miles from here. Calhoun, Ga., October 15, 1864. Stayed here last night. Reveille at 3 a. m., but our bri- gade brings up the rear of the corps to-day, and we won't get off until after daylight. Resaca, October 15, 1864, 10 a. m. We are waiting here for rations. The 4th and 14th Corps are ahead, and for the last half hour we have heard very heavy skirmishing toward "Snake Creek Gap," just about where we heard the first fighting of the campaign, a little over five months ago. There is enough to interest me in the prospect for the next three days. Snake Creek Gap, 10 p. m. We have the whole gap. North end Snake Creek Gap, October 16, 1864. After a tedious march got here at 11 p. m. The Rebels about six hours ahead of us had blockaded the road in good style. They did some half a day's work, with hun- dreds of men, and delayed us about — ten minutes. 312 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. On summit of Taylor's Ridge, Shipp's Gap, p. m. Our division has the advance to-day. The Rebels drove very well, until we got here, when, having a very good position, they resisted us with some vim. A few men of the ist brigade, finally climbed the hill, flanked and routed them. Our loss, seven wounded. We got 35 prisoners and killed and wounded a dozen or so. October 17, 1864. I incline to think that the raid and pursuit are both over, though we wish that Sherman would follow them until they get the punishment they deserve for their impudence. They tore up some 20 miles of railroad, killed and wounded not over 750 for us, and captured about 1,100. Their loss in wounded and killed, whom we have buried, is 1,900; pris- oners, that I know of, 600; besides a lot of deserters who have come in. Eight hundred of the prisoners captured by them were negroes, who could not have been taken but for the cowardice of their Colonel, Johnson. The tearing up of the railroad amounts to nothing. We have not had our rations cut down an ounce in anything. The man that run that raid ought to be ashamed of him- self, and I'll venture he is. In Snake Creek Gap, but for General Stanley's laziness, we would have got enough prisoners to make Hood howl. He rested his corps three hours, just as he did when en- trusted with a critical piece of work at Jonesboro. We have been having a gay time this morning. It is cold enough to make us sit close to the fire, and the ne- groes keep us in chestnuts. La Fayette, October 18, 1864. Our brigade was marching through Cane Creek Valley yes- terday until 4 p. m., when we struck out for this place five miles, which we made in one and one-half hours. Nice little town almost surrounded with half-mountains. There has been ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 313 a pair of cavalry rights here, the fruits whereof can be seen in an addition to the cemetery, near which we are bivouacked, some 25 Rebel graves, and half as many Yankees. Divers fair creatures can be seen here, chiefly Rebels; I have thought though, to-day, much Union. We are now bound for Rome. Near Summerville, October 19, 1864. Reached this place yesterday. The cavalry advance had some sharp skirmishing, and brought back some two or three prisoners. We are drawing full rations, besides preying off the country, all kinds of meat, apples, potatoes, and I believe the men find a little of everything known to be eatable. En- tering houses is prohibited under penalty of death, but some scoundrels manage to pillage many houses. Foraging is also half prohibited, but I am satisfied that our general officers do not object to our taking meat, etc., if houses are not entered. Ten p. m. — Have stopped here to draw rations. The 23d and 4th Corps have already moved forward on the old Ala- bama road. That looks as though we were intending to follow the Rebels. We "liners" have no idea where they are. One rumor is that they are moving northwest, intending to cross the Tennessee river, south or southwest of Huntsville. An- other that they are moving to their new base at or near Blue Mountain, on the road from here to Talladega, Ala. If we are going to follow them, I look for a long campaign. But for one thing, we would rather go into a campaign immediately than into camp. That is, the men have not been paid off for ten months, and many families are undoubtedly suffering in consequence. Our money is waiting for us, and we will get it whenever the Johnnies will let us stop long enough for the paymasters to catch up. Don't you people ever think of us as being without rations. We sometimes wish the Rebels would cut our communications entirely, so that we could live wholly off the country. The Rebels only take corn and meat, and we fatten on what they are not allowed to touch. 314 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Alpine, Chatuga Valley, October 20, 1864. Got here at dark last night, eight miles from Summerville. We seemed to be headed southwest. I have the sorest feet I have enjoyed for two years. Do you notice how accurately I miss it in every prediction I venture? I am a fair sample of the ignorance "Pap" keeps this army of his movements. He has shown his ability to keep us from divining his purposes, but he or any other general cannot keep us from guessing. Fine country here, for Georgia. An officer and 20 men are de- tailed daily for foragers. They start ahead in the morning, and shoot hogs, sheep, gather sweet potatoes, apples, etc., and bring all out to the roadside. The hogs and sheep are cut into pieces of about 20 or 25 pounds. When the regiment comes along every man makes a grab as he passes at the pile, throws his chunk over his shoulder, and all without breaking ranks. You can im- agine the appearance a battalion would make at nightfall. Gaylesville, Ala., October 21, 1864. Marched about 18 miles yesterday down a very fine valley, between Lookout Mountain and Taylor's Ridge, crossed the latter after dark through a pass that beat all for blackness and stones, to tumble over, that I ever saw. Got a very large mail yesterday, but only one letter from you. We move again this morning, but don't know when. Can send a letter back from here, first chance we have had this month. I guess we have halted here to wait the building of a bridge over the Coosa. The Rebels burned it yesterday. What we are going for nobody knows. I saw Sherman yesterday as we passed through Gaylesville. He was talking with Jeff. C. Davis. He always has a cigar hanging from the corner of his mouth. It is always about half -gone, but I never saw it lighted. He is certainly the most peculiar-looking man I ever saw. At one house we passed this morning we saw three of the ugliest-looking women imaginable. They sat on the porch step, side by side, hoopless, unkempt and unwashed. I'll swear that man never before witnessed three such frights ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 315 together. All three were singing a Rebel song. I knew they were trying to sing, but although close to them, could not distinguish a word. Some of the men recognized the tune as belonging to a tune called the "Rebel Soldier." The men were so completely surprised and thunderstruck by the show that they had not a word to say. It tickles us to see that you home folks are uneasy about us because Hood has got into our rear. I tell you that I have not seen a man uneasy for a minute, on that subject, and that Hood has to run like a hound to get away from us. If Hood's army was to-day, twice as strong as it is, we would be too many for him. October 22, 1864. I was foraging to-day for the regiment with about 20 men. Got plenty of hogs and potatoes. Sweet potatoes are about the size of ordinary pumpkins and most delicious. October 23, 1864. A day of rest and washing. The cavalry was out some dozen miles southwest, and report the enemy intrenched and in force. Eight miles southeast of last night's camp, October 24, 1864. With five brigades of our corps started at 3 130 p. m. to look after Rebels reported. Came through a little hamlet called Blue Pond from a little lake in the neighborhood of a dirty mud color. Plenty of milk and honey. Nine miles northwest of Gadsden, Ala.. October 25. 1864. Found the Rebels about noon to-day in position behind a rail work, running across from Lookout Mountain to Coosa river. It was only Wheeler's cavalry, and we blew them out easily. We formed to charge them, but they wouldn't wait. We followed until we were satisfied there was no infantry be- 3l6 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. hind them, and then settled for the night, and sent out foragers. There was some miserable artillery firing by both sides. Not a dozen men were hurt; only one in our brigade, iooth Indi- ana. At Little River again, October 26, 1864. Got back on the 25 th, and have been laying quiet. Our foragers have been skirmishing a good deal with the enemies' scouts, but few casualties however. Cedar Bluff, Ala., October 27, 1864. Waiting here for the 17th Army Corps to get across the Coosa. It is a beautiful little river, not as wide as the Illinois, but has a deeper channel. We are starting on the road to Talladega ; don't even know whether we are starting on a campaign or not. Hood is reported across the Tennessee. We understand that Sherman has men enough to attend to him, and that Sherman intends to use us to Christianize this country. Many think we are now on the way to Montgomery or Selma. River here about 120 yards wide. About a thousand head of our cattle swam across, some of them swam over and back two or three times, and many of the thin ones drowned, for which we were grateful to the drovers as it saved us some very hard chewing. Camp in piney woods, five miles South of Cedar Bluffs, October 29, 1864. Such a march over pine ridges and through swamps ; Egyptian darkness would take a back seat in comparison with this night. It just happened to strike the men as funny, and they kept up a roar of cheering the whole distance. Near Cave Springs, Ga., 26 miles south of Rome, October 31, 1864, 1 a. m. We think we are going to Rome. Had an extremely dis- agreeable march yesterday of only 12 miles, over pine and scrub oak ridges. A swamp in every valley. Camped before ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 317 dark for almost the first time of the trip. This is the 27th day since we broke camp at Eastpoint. Everybody is all right. Compliments to Colonel Wright, if he is at home, and tell him immense rumors are afloat of a Montgomery campaign. Had an immense supper of fresh pork and sweet potatoes. Cedar Town, Ga., November 1, 1864. Abomination of abominations, train guard to-day. It is the most disagreeable duty we are subject to on the march. I escaped the afternoon duty by being sent out foraging. Got all the men would carry, and disgusted a rich citizen consid- erably, also saw a nice, rosy-faced girl, whose teeth and fiinger- nails would spoil a meal for any one of ordinary constitution. One man in our brigade wounded, 40th Illinois, in a little skirmish to-day. Van Wirt, Ga., November 2, 1864. It has rained steadily all day. Moved 12 miles. I have an excellent pair of shoes. A good deal of water got into them to-day, but it all ran out. Camp to-night on a high pine ridge. Pine knot fires come in first rate. That 40th boy that was wounded last night was captured with three more of our men by 30 Rebels and taken eight or ten miles, then formed in line and ordered to about face and fired upon ; two fell dead and the other two ran away. Five miles northwest of Villa Rica, Ga., Novembebr 3, 1864, 6 p. m. Forty-eight hours' rain without a stop and a good prospect for as much more. We left Van Wirt and Dallas to the left, and by 16 miles hard marching have got near enough over this barren ridge, I think, to find a few marks of civilization. Rumor says we are going to Atlanta to relieve the 20th Corps, and will then be paid. Passed to-day a one-horse wagon, a large ox in the shafts and four women in the wagon dressed for a party. 318 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Powder Springs, November 4, 1864, 6 p. m. Cold rain to-day. Made 15 miles. Country only fit for (?) Come through a long line of fine works the Rebels put up after they took up our railroad at Acworth. This about the last day of pork and potatoes ; to-morrow will bring us to a •country we have worn out. Vinings Station, November 5, 1864. Our brigade rear guard all day. Foragers could not find a thing. Traveled through a perfect labyrinth of breastworks. Rebel or Yankee grave every 100 yards. One month ago we passed here confident of overtaking Hood, but he was too swift for us, and after 300 miles travel we are back at the starting point. Altogether it has been the most pleasant cam- paign of my soldiering. The officers of the regiment have all messed together, and we have had all the good living and fun we wanted. I was under the civilizing influence of a white woman's society to-day for five minutes, and in consequence feel duly amiable. November 6, 1864. Rain all day. We are preparing for a huge campaign, and are all right glad of it; 50 days' rations is the word. Don't know when we start. Montgomery or Augusta are probably the points. We are going to shake up the bones of the re- bellion. I would not miss this campaign for anything. November 12, 1864. The Rubicon is passed, the die is cast, and all that sort of thing. We to-day severed our own cracker line. At 11 a. m. ours and the 17th Corps were let loose on the railroad, the men worked with a will and before dark the 12 miles of track between here and Marietta were destroyed. The ties were piled and burned and the rails, after being heated red hot in the middle were looped around trees or telegraph poles. Old •destruction himself could not have done the work better. The ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 319 way the Rebels destroyed our road on their raid was nrt even a fair parody on our style. The 20th Corps is at it between Atlanta and the river, and the 14th and 23d north of Marietta. We have orders to-night to move at 7 a. m. White Hall, two miles west of Atlanta, November 13, 1864. We made 15 miles to-day very easily. Coming through Atlanta the smoke almost blinded us. I believe everything of any importance there is on fire. Understand that all the large buildings are to be burned. Tremendous smoke also rising over the site of Marietta. It is said that we will lie here two or three days. We are only one-half mile from where we did our hard righting "before Atlanta." November 14, 1864. Troops are coming in to-day on all the roads. 'Tis said that we will be ready to move to-morrow. So be it. The cracker line is cut now and we don't want to lie still eating up our precious rations. I was again over the old position we occupied before Atlanta. I would like to be your guide over that ground some day. Tremendous fires in Atlanta to-day. Near Jonesboro, November 15, 1864. The grand expeditionary force has commenced moving. Our regiment has the honor of leading our corps in the first day's march. Made about 18 miles to-day, the first ten of which the two or three companies of cavalry who led us had quite lively skirmishing. At one point the Rebels took advantage of an old line of works and made quite a stubborn resistance, but our regiment, though we were deployed and advanced as skirmishers, did not get a shot the whole day. Just as we turned off the road to bivouac the Rebels opened a piece of artillery on us, but fired only a few shots and hurt no one. Item : Saw a lovely girl to- 320 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. day. Item: Had on the Union to-day. Item: Had my first drink of milk since the 26th of December, '63. Item: Have an oppossum which "Rueben" is to cook for my breakfast. Heavy cannonading west of us. McDonough, November 16, 1864, 11 p. m. Made 14 miles to-day through a really fine country. Only saw one house though, that looked like living. Forage is no name for the good things our foragers find here. I notify you that I had eggs for supper. There was some lively cannonad- ing toward Love joy this morning, but it has been quiet ever since. Think the "Militia" has discovered that this party "sizes their pile," and have "fled to the mountain." Our whole corps are on the road to-day. The advance got into camp five miles ahead, at noon. We got here one hour ago, and our division camps six miles back. The roads are excellent and we travel right along. We all voted this morning that opossum meat was good enough for white folks. I liked it very much. Near Jackson, Ga., November 17, 1864, 12 a. m. Have just had our coffee. Marched some 17 miles to-day. Begin to see where the "rich planters" come in. This is prob- ably the most gigantic pleasure excursion ever planned. It already beats everything I ever saw soldiering, and promises to prove much richer yet. I wish Sherman would burn the commissary trains, we have no use for what they carry, and the train only bothers us. It is most ludicrous to see the ac- tions of the negro women as we pass. They seem to be half crazy with joy, and when a band strikes up they go stark mad. Our men are clear discouraged with foraging, they can't carry half the hogs and potatoes they find right along the road. The men detailed for that purpose are finding lots of horses and mules. The 6th Iowa are plumb crazy on the horse question. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 32 1 Springs, 40 miles from Macon, November 18, 1864. We got here at noon but will wait until to-morrow, I under- stand, for the 3d and 4th Divisions to lay a pontoon bridge across the Ocmulgee river. This has been a summer resort of some note. From 800 to 1,000 people congregate here. The spring is a little stream of water not larger than your finger, which runs from the rock at the rate of a gallon a minute. It is sulphur water with some other ingredient that gives it a very disagreeable ordor. This is quite a romantic place. For- aged some peach brandy, which was destroyed. Near Hillsboro, November 19, 1864. Have been foraging to-day. Crossed the Ocmulgee at Oc- mulgee Mills, on pontoons. This river is much like the Chat- tahoochie, but not so broad. I am lost from the division to- night and camped near the 2d Division. By the kindness of Mrs. Elizabeth Celia Pye, I occupy a feather bed to-night. It is the first house I have been in for the last three months. She understood from the Rebels that we burned all houses and she took all her things out and hid them in the woods. The foragers found them and brought them in to her. Had an excellent supper with the boys. This is a level, fine country, and has been well cultivated. Near Clinton, November 20, 1864. Struck out foraging before daylight this morning. Al- most any house on the road to-day would furnish pork and potatoes enough for a brigade. I got to the regiment about 8 p. m. last night. They say our brigade marched until 3 a. m., and the reveille sounded before the men got through supper. We passed over the scene of Stoneman's fighting and surrender last August. Some of our men found two of our dead soldiers unburied, which don't speak well for the Rebels, and is charged against them. I think there is less pillaging this trip than I ever saw before. 322 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Near Macon, Ga., November 21, 1864. This makes seven days from Atlanta, 114 miles by the roads we have marched. I think that time for an army like ours, over bad roads, too, for at least four days, is unprece- dented. Our cavalry had a little skirmish at Macon last evening and were driven back. I heard some cannonading, but don't think it amounted to much. There was a little skir- mish about the rear of our division at 4 this p. m., but beside racing and maybe capturing some half-dozen of our fora- gers, it amounted to nothing. Our left occupied Milledge- ville. Governor Brown is here at Macon, also Beaure- gard, and they have scraped together some ten or a dozen things to defend the town with. I don't think from looks at present, that "Pap" is going to try the town, but can't tell. We have thrown up a little rail barricade this even- ing, which looks as if we were intending to destroy the Macon and Savannah railroad, on which rests the right of our brigade. We are afraid at this writing that Sheaff Herr was captured to-day. He was foraging where that little skirmish took place this p. m., and Rebels were seen after, and within 75 yards of him. It has rained steadily all day and for the last 60 hours, but has turned cold and is now clear. Near Griswoldville, November 22, 1864. Has been a gay day for our brigade. The other two brigades of our division went to work on the railroad this morning, and we on a reconnoisance toward Macon. Found Rebel cavalry at once. My Companies A and B, were thrown out as skirmishers. Forty of us drove at least 400 Rebel cavalry at least four miles, and kept them a mile ahead of the brigade. I think we killed and wounded at least 20 of them. We finally charged them out of a rail barricade and thoroughly stampeded them. It was the richest thing I ever saw. We got highly complimented on the way we drove them. Griswoldville was the point ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 323 we started for, and having reached it we lay there an hour or so, and were then ordered back to the brigade. We found it in line along an open field, building a rail barricade along the front. We had a nice open field without even a fence on it, full 600 yards wide in our front. We were get- ting dinner, not dreaming of a fight, when lively musketry opened on the picket line, and in a minute more our pickets came in flying. A fine line of Johnnies pushed out of the woods after them, and then started for us. We com- menced throwing up logs in our front and did not fire a shot until they were within 250 yards of us, by which time our works would protect us from musketry. We all felt that we had a sure thing, and had there been but one line of Rebels, we would have let them come up close to us. But, by the time the first line had got within 250 yards of us, three other lines had emerged from the woods, and they had run two batteries out on the field further to our right which opened on us. Our artillery returned the fire, but was silenced almost immediately. We then let loose on them with our muskets, and if we did not interest them, it is queer. One after another their lines crumbled to pieces, and they took the run to save themselves. There was a ravine 50 yards in front of us, and as the Rebels did not dare to run back over that field, they broke for the ravine. It was awful the way we slaughtered those men. Once in the ravine most of them escaped by following it up, the willows and canes screening them. We let a skirmish line into the ravine, which gobbled some 50 prisoners, a num- ber of Africans among them. It was a most complete repulse, and when the numbers alone are considered, a glorious thing for us. Only our little brigade of say 1,100 muskets were engaged on our side and no support was nearer than four miles (and then but one brigade), while the Rebels had four brigades and two regiments, about 6,000 men. But the four brigades were "Militia." We estimate their loss at 1,000, and I do not think it an over- estimate. Ours is 14 killed and 42 wounded in the whole 2\ 324 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. brigade; four killed and seven wounded in the regiment; two in my company; 25 out of 30 Rebel bullets went 20 feet over our heads. Not one of ours went higher than their heads. Gen. C. C. Wolcutt was wounded much as Colonel Wright was, but more severely. No officers in our regiment were wounded. Two Rebel generals were either killed or wounded — General George, who formerly com- manded in north Mississippi, and General Hall or Call. I was never so affected at the sight of wounded and dead before. Old grey-haired and weakly-looking men and little boys, not over 15 years old, lay dead or writhing in pain. I did pity those boys, they almost all who could talk, said the Rebel cavalry gathered them up and forced them in. We took all inside our skirmish line that could bear mov- ing, to our hospital, and covered the rest with the blankets of the dead. I hope we will never have to shoot at such men again. They knew nothing at all about fighting, and I think their officers knew as little, or else, certainly knew nothing about our being there. About dark we moved back to this place, two miles from the battle field. The Johnnies drew off before we did, I think. Near Gordon, November 23, 1864. Came here to-day, about eight miles, find the Army of the Tennessee all here. Have heard nothing of the Rebels to-day ; saw ice one and one-half inches thick that formed last night. Wore my overcoat all day. The left wing is either at Milledge- ville or gone on east. A branch road runs up to the Capitol from the Macon and Savannah railroad, leaving it at Gordon. It is now all destroyed. This road is very easily destroyed. The iron is laid on stringers, which are only fastened to the ties with wooden pins. We have yet done nothing at it, but boys who have, say they pry up one stringer with the iron on it, roll it over to the other half of the track, lay some rails on, and fire it. The iron being firmly fastened to the strin- ger, expanding under the heat destroys it completely. The ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 325 country here is quite rolling, not quite as rich as the Indian Spring country, but there is yet plenty of forage. The woods are mostly pine, and we are all most anxious to get where we will have some other fuel. The smoke of pine wood is so disagreeable. Irwinton, November 24, 1864. Made 12 miles to-day over a rolling but well settled country. This is a nice little 700 county town. I hear that the troops that were at Macon are passing us on our right. Suppose they want to get in our front to annoy us again. They had better keep out of our way. Had another roman- tic meeting to-day with a Miss Howell. Spent the evening at her house. A charming girl, very accomplished. Ad- mire her very much. Understand to-day that "Pap's" headquarters are at Howell Cobb's house in Milledgville. Some of the men saw a Macon paper of the 21st inst. It gave the proceedings of a citizen's meeting. In resolu- tions they declared that Sherman's army must be stopped in its mad career and pledged themselves to turn out en masse and harrass us all day and night. In fact, to give us no rest at all. The operations of the next day show how they commenced their good work. Have not heard any- thing of them since. Near Ball's Ferry, Oconee River, November 25, 1864. Got off at daylight ; made some eight miles, formed in a line in a field. "Halt!" "Cover!" "Front!" "Stack arms!" Now men get rails and fix for the night. So we think we have plenty of time and make our motions accordingly. We had just got our things fairly unpacked when the "Gen- eral" sounded. Fifteen minutes afterward the assembly, and we were again on the march. All right. This miser- able pine smoke again to-night. Saw the 17th Corps to-day for the first time on the trip. They tried to cross 326 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. the river at the railroad bridge, but the Johnnies would not let them, and they had to come down to our road. I think we are to-night half way on our journey. The boys had a great time last night in Irwinton. The citizens had buried a great many things to keep them from the "van- dals" and the boys soon found it out. Hundreds of them were armed with sharpened sticks probing the earth, "prospecting." They found a little of everything, and I guess they took it all to the owners, eatables and drinka- bles. We fell in at retreat, and had general order No 26 read to us for I guess the 20th time. It declares that "any soldier or army follower who shall be convicted of the crime of arson or robbery, or who shall be caught pillag- ing, shall be shot, and gives officers and non-commissioned ditto the right to shoot pillagers in the act." There have been 20 to 30 booms of artillery at the ferry this evening. Think it was the 2d Division. They'll be smart Rebels who keep that division from laying their pontoons. Eight miles east of Oconee River, three miles south of M. & S. R. R. November 26, 1864, 12 p. m. Howard wrote Osterhaus a letter congratulating him on the success in the Griswoldville fight, and had it published to us to-day. Headquarters Dept. and Army of the Tennessee., Gordon, Ga., November 23d, 1864. Mayor General Osterhaus, Com'dg. 15th Corps: General : I take sincere pleasure in congratulating the Brigade of General Walcutt, of General Wood's Division of the 15th Corps, on its complete sucess in the action of yesterday. Officers from other commands who were looking on say that there never was a better brigade of soldiers. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 327 I am exceedingly sorry that any of our brave men should fall, and for the suffering of the wounded, the thanks of the army are doubly due to them. I tender my sympathy through you to the brave and excel- lent commander of the brigade, Brigadier General Walcutt. It is hoped that his wound will not disable him. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed) O. O. Howard, Major General. P. S. The loss of the enemy is estimated from 1,500 to 2,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners. O. O. H., M. G. We lay in camp until 4 p. m., when we started, and after three miles of miserable pine swamp we crossed the Oco- nee on pontoons. It was dark, but I noticed that the current was rapid and the water looked deep. I counted 80 steps on the bridge and ten boats under it. I am sure that I to-day saw palm-leaf fan material growing. It is a most singular looking plant. The country this side of the river to our camp is quite level and four-fifths culti- vated. All the woods pine, and soil all sand. Riddlesville, November 27, 1864. Was foraging this morning and supplied the regiment with staples within a mile of camp. Took the road as train guard at 1 a. m. Have had a tedious march over sandy roads and through pine woods for 11 miles. It is too dark to see the town. Have heard no "music" to-day. We crossed the head waters of the Ohoopee river to-day. Saw a magnolia tree by the road. The first I have seen in Georgia. Old Indian Battle Ground, near Drummond, November 28, 1864. Made a dozen miles to-day through the thickest pine woods I ever saw. There is no white or yellow pine here ; 328 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. it is all pitch. I think the division has been lost nearly all day. We have followed old Indian trails four-fifths of the time. The foragers have found a large number of horses and mules in the swamps to-day. Plenty of forage. Sergeant Penney, of my company, died in the ambulance to-day. He was taken sick in the ranks at 8 p. m., 26th, of lung fever. He has never been right healthy, but when well was always an excellent soldier. Lieutenant Dorrance swal- lowed his false teeth a few nights ago, and complains that they don't agree with him. I hear that Wheeler jumped the 20th Corps yesterday and that they salivated him considerably. We caught a couple of his men to-day, on our road, stragglers. We pick up a good many stray Rebels along the road, but they are not half guarded and I think get away nearly as fast as captured. Ten miles south of Sevastopol, November 29, 1864. All day in an awful pine forest, hardly broken by fence or clearing. I never saw such a lonesome place. Not a bird, not a sign of animal life, but the shrill notes of the tree frog. Not a twig of undergrowth, and no vegetable life but just grass and pitch pine. The country is very level and a sand bed. The pine trees are so thick on the ground that in some places we passed to-day the sight was walled in by pine trunks within 600 yards for nearly the whole circle. Just at dusk we passed a small farm, where I saw growing, for the first time, the West India sugar cane. One of the boys killed the prettiest snake I ever saw. It was red, yellow and black. Our hospital steward put it in liquor. We made about 11 miles to-day. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 329 Eight miles east of Summerville, November 30, 1864. Passed through the above named town this morning. All pine woods again to-day. Stopped at the first house I came to this morning and asked the resident, an ash- colored negress, something about the country. She said she'd had the chills and fever so long she didn't know any- thing, but "over dar was a house whar de folks had some sense." Captain Smith and I walked over to the house she pointed to and found a fine old German, very anxious . to know if we intended to burn his house. After he cooled down a little he grew much Union. He said he had been ordered to join the army one, two, three, twenty times, but had told them he would rather be shot than take up arms against the United States. The 12th Indiana band struck up as we passed his house, and the music touched the old fellow's heart. The tears rolled down his face and he blubbered out, "That is the first music I have heard for four years; it makes me think of home. D — n this Georgia pine wood." He said that sugar is the staple here in peace times. The foragers brought in loads of it this evening. Cushingville Station, east bank of Ogeechee river, December 1, 1864. Ten miles to-day. Had just finished the last line when (the officers are talking over the rumors of the day) I heard Captain Smith say, "Our folks captured one Rebel ram." I asked him where, and he pointed out an old he sheep, one of the men had just brought in. Our regiment is the only part of our corps this side of the river. We are guarding the prisoners who are repairing the bridge. The Rebels had destroyed one section of it. The 17th Corps crossed near the railroad bridge, but are ten miles behind us to-night. This river is about 60 yards wide here, and we 330 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. have sounded it in several places and found it from 12 to 15 feet deep. It has no abrupt baiiKs here, but runs river, lake, swamp, to dry land. I find here again what I thought was palm-leaf fan material, on the Oconee river. It turns out to be swamp palmetto. The palmetto tree also grows near here. Twelve p. m. — Have been out with 25 men burn- ing railroad. I did not do much of it, for it is the 17th Corps' work. Two of Howard's scouts came to us while we were at work. Said they had just left Millen, and left 150 Rebels there. Millen is four miles from here and is the junction of the Savannah and Augusta railroad. One of our men cap- tured eight mules and two horses to-day. The trees along the river are covered with Spanish moss, like we saw so much of at Black River, Miss. The men shake their heads when they see it and say, "Here's your ager." We are only guarding this bridge until the 17th Corps gets here. Our corps are going down the other side of the river. An im- mense number of "contrabands" now follow us, most of them able-bodied men, who intend going into the army. We have not heard a Rebel gun since the 22d of last month. They don't trouble our march a particle. West bank of Ogeechee River, eight miles south of Millen, December 2, 1864. Recrossed the river this morning and, joining the bri- gade, made some eight miles to-day. We are ahead of the rest of the army or could have made more. Pine country, almost uninhabited. Saw to-day my favorite tree — the magnolia. Have seen but few of them in Georgia. In a swamp we passed through to-day a darkey pointed out to us some lemon trees. Saw in the same swamp some yel- low pine. Nearly all the pine this side of the Oconee has been the "pitch" variety. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 33 1 South bank of Scull Creek, December 3, 1864. We have laid here all day, being our first rest since leav- ing Atlanta. Had to wait for the 17th Corps and "left wing" to catch up. We laid a pontoon across the river this morning, and two of our brigade went over to tear up railroad The 17th Corps came up and relieved them about 2 p. m. Colonel Catterson (our brigade commander) told me to- day that a dispatch from Bragg to had been inter- cepted yesterday, that stated that he was moving on us from Savannah, with 10,000 infantry and Dick Taylor's Cavalry. See if he don't "come to grief." Two of our divi- sions are moving 12 miles to our right — the 2d and 3d — the 4th is with us. Kilpatrick has gone for the Millen and Augusta railroad. If he hurts it much he'll do more than cavalry usually do. December 4, 1864. Got on the road before day-light and made 16 miles easily by 3 130 p. m. Good road, many fine places, and excellent forage, from 75 to 500 bushels of sweet potatoes on a farm. Heard cannonading for two hours this morn- ing. Think it must have been in the vicinity of the 20th Corps. Quite a variety of forest trees to-day among the pines, but all of a stunted growth. Saw a very curious cactus by the roadside. Almost all of the people from this section have sloped. I think I have not seen more than 12 white male citizens since we left Atlanta, at their homes. Am fully persuaded that Grant's "cradle and grave" idea is correct. Thirty-six miles from Savannah, December 5, 1864. Corse had the road to-day, but Wood side-tracked, took "catch roads" and got into camp, making 16 miles as soon -as Corse. Rather poor country, farms small, and much 3$2 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. pine. Negroes swarmed to us to-day. I saw one squad of 30 or 40 turned back. Sherman's order is not to let any- more go with us than we can use and feed. A nice yellow girl came to our regiment about an hour after dark. She is the property of Milly Drake, who lives 30 miles back. The girl showed our men where Milly hid her horses and mules, in return for which, after the column passed, gentle Milly took half a rail and like to wore the wench out. Broke her arm and bruised her shamefully. That was all the reason that the girl had for running away. Eden Ferry, Ogeechee river, December 6, 1864. We lay in camp until 1 p. m. when we suddenly pulled out and made this point, and had works up by daik. There was a good wagon bridge over the river at this point, which the Rebels partially destroyed. But a portion of our 3d Brigade, which had the advance, got across on the remains and stirred up a little skirmish. Killed four Rebels without any loss to us. Our 2d Division got across three miles below. The 3d, I guess is with them. Hear nothing of the other corps. In the swamps to-day I saw more of the "barren lemon tree." We were talking over last night what this army had cost the Confederacy since the 4th of October last, when we started from Eastpoint after Hood. We all agree that the following estimate is not too high in any particu- lar: 100,000 hogs, 20,000 head of cattle, 15,000 horses and mules, 500,000 bushels of corn, 100,000 of sweet potatoes. We are driving with us many thousand of the cattle. The destruction of railroad property has been complete when- ever within our reach. I can learn nothing of the prospect of a fight at Savannah, or whether we are going there. All think, though, that we will see tide-water this week. Peo- ple here say they often hear the firing both at Savannah and Charleston. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 333 Wright's Bridge, Ogeechee River, December 7, 1864. We have not moved to-day. Sergt. N. Breed, of my company, who was shot through the right lung in the bat- tle of November 22d, died to-day. He has been hauled in an ambulance ever since and improved all the time until the last two days. We were all sure that he would get well. There was no better soldier in the army. Every one liked him. Hear a little cannonading this p. m. a few miles down the river. Lieutenant Dorrance's servant cap- tured a beautiful coal black squirrel, with white nose and white ear tips. He is larger than any fox squirrel I ever saw. Five miles from James' Point, Canoochie River, December 8, 1864. Another "Shermanism." Our 3d and 4th Divisions crossed the Ogeechee river yesterday at Eden. We all supposed that we would follow, this morning, but here we are after 18 miles hard marching. The 2d Division is ahead of us and part of it at the river. Heard a few cannon shots there a few minutes ago. We are after the railroad that runs from Savannah to Thomasville. Kilpatrick crossed the Savannah river yesterday, into South Carolina. Miserable country to-day. The last ten days have been quite warm. One perspires freely lying in the shade during some of the warmest hours. Same place, December 9, 1864. The division lay in camp all day. Our regiment marched 12 miles on a reconnoisance, toward the Canoo- chie river, southwest.. Found nothing, but some good foraging. Cannonading at four or five different points, on our left and front. Citizens say the most distant is at Charleston, Savannah and Fort McAlister. It is said that Corse's Division (4th), of our corps, had a fight east of the 334 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Ogeechee to-day and were victorious, taking 50 prisoners and one gun. Part of our 2d Division crossed at James' Point to-day, and burned the Gulf railroad bridge and four miles of trestle-work west of the Ogeechee. They found very large rice plantations, which are flooded with tide-water. I guess Fort McAlister cannot be reached by infantry on account of the country around it overflowing. The men say that Kilpatrick has gone around Savannah and "cut the coast." Big raid ! Before Savannah, December 10, 1864. Crossed the Ogeechee near the mouth of the Canoochie, then a canal, and then up the tow path toward the city. All the other divisions of our corps are ahead of us. An awful country to get through, all lakes and swamps. We are now five miles from Savannah. Have just got our works up and got our suppers. Hear some skirmishing on our right, should think a mile from us. Commenced rain- ing at dark and continued. Made 20 miles to-day. Before Savannah, December 11, 1864, 8 a. m. Corse's Division is just on our right. He woke me up this morning by firing a volley of eight 12-pounders, in real old Atlanta fashion. He was answered by three Rebel guns planted on the defenses of Savannah, across a field and swamp from us. We are in good range of them. Nine p. m. — Found this morning that the Rebels have a big swamp and lake between their position and ours. It is im- possible to get at them there. Our corps was ordered to swing to the right. The Rebel battery had fair view and close range on any road we could take, so we had to wait until night, when ours and the 3d Division passed them without any trouble. We are now on a main road, straight and wide enough for three wagons, which we think leads to Pu- laski. This is a country of awful swamps, with level flats, between which are rice fields, and most of them have three feet of water on them. Many think we are not going to ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 335 make an effort for Savannah at present, but will open com- munication with the coast. It is as much as we can do to find dry land enough to camp on. We are not caring a cent what "Pap" does. It is quite cold again ; to-night promises to be the coldest night of the winter. Before Savannah, December 15, 1864. First mail goes in 15 minutes. Our 2d Division charged and took Fort McAlister, at sunset, the 13th — 19 guns and 300 prisoners ; lost 92 men killed and wounded. We will have Savannah, sure. Before Savannah, December 19, 1864. We have only been here a couple of days, but to-night we are to make and occupy a line within 700 yards of the Rebels. Green Square, Savannah, Camp 103d Illinois "Provost Guards." December 22, 1864. We have just by a hair's breadth missed what would have been a most unpleasant fight. We lay on the west side of the Ogeechee, with the enemy on the opposite shore, strongly fortified. We had crawled through the mud and established a line of rifle pits within 125 yards of them; 150 portable bridges had been built in our divi- sion and I believe everything was in readiness for hot work the next day, the 20th. The morning of the 21st finds the enemy gone across the river into South Carolina. The next day we moved into town and our regiment and the 40th from our brigade are put on provost duty. Green Square, Savannah, Ga. January 9, 1865. Thinking we for once in the service had a chance to enjoy quiet life, two of our number were sent to Hilton Head for a full supply of men's apparel for the outer man, and of refreshments substantial and fancy for the inner. 2,2,6 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. They returned to-day just in time to receive marching orders. The men's clothing was packed in valises, and all the eatables sold to parties who remain here, save one bar- rel of Irish potatoes. We leave to-morrow morning. Major Willison's resignation was accepted to-day, and this evening the officers unanimously agreed to recommend me to fill the vacancy. There was not a hint towards any one else. I take it as a high compliment. I am the youngest captain in the regiment, and this recommendation made by men whom I have campaigned with for two and a half years, and not one of whom has been accused of failing to do his duty in the service, makes me feel a little proud. I will value the recommendation more than the commission, if I get it. Thunderbolt, Ga., January 10, '65. We joined the brigade in the suburbs of the city, and took the shell road to this place, only four miles by land, but 18 by water. There are some fine works here, erected by the Rebels to guard the water approach to the city. I send you a little chip of a palmetto log in a Rebel work here. On board the steamer Crescent, Atlantic Ocean, January 12, 1865. We are steaming on that rolling deep we've heard so much of, and which I have already seen and felt enough of. There is but little air stirring and the water is quite smooth, but so near the shore there is always a ground swell, which is to me somewhat demoralizing. We are out of sight of land and just before dark we saw a school of porpoise which looked just like a drove of hogs in the water. Some of the men wanted to go foraging when they saw them. This makes me quite dizzy, but I would not miss it on any account. I saw the full moon rise from the water about 6:30 p. m. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 337 Beaufort, S. C, January 13, 1865. Retired about 11 p. m. and woke up here this morning. A very handsome, small town, about the size of Canton, but more fine dwellings. All have been confiscated and sold to the negroes and white. Union men. Find the 17th A. C. here, but about ready to move out to drive the Rebels away from the ferry, where we will lay our pon- toons to the main land. The 14th and 20th will move by land and join us on the main land somewhere. I can hardly imagine what our next move will be, but mostly think we will tear up the railroads through the Carolinas and take Charleston and Wilmington during the spring campaign. The health of the command is perfect, and all are in most soldierly spirits. Thinking nothing impossible if Sherman goes with us, and go he will. Near Beaufort, S. C, January 26, 1865. We have had heavy rains and now very cold weather without being in the least prepared for it. We move to- morrow at 7 a. m. for the main land and forage. All tents are to be left behind "until they can be for- warded by water." That seems to point to a short and sharp campaign, and we all think Charleston is the ob- jective point. Near Pocataligo, S. C, January 27, 1865. Moved out at 7 a. m. this morning, crossed Broad river on pontoons, and are about four miles on the main land towards Charleston. Can't tell our position, but here the Rebels hold all the crossings on the opposite side of the river six miles ahead and so far as reconnoitered, with fortifications and artillery. The 17th Corps lay to our left extending across the C. & S. R. R. We made about 13 miles to-day. Saw some fine plantations on the road, nothing but chimneys in them, though. It feels good and homelike once more to be out loose. The boys all feel it and they act more like school- 33& ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. boys, having a holiday, than the veterans they are. Wouldn't it be a joke if we were to get badly whipped over this river? I believe it would do us good. We are too conceited. The river ahead is the Combahee, and we are 43 miles from Charleston on the C. & Beaufort road. Six miles south of Combahee River, January 28, 1865, 6 p. m. The campaign commences Monday. It is yet cold ; about an inch of ice forms every night, and sleeping out without tents is not a fair sample of paradise. I am in excellent health and we are all anxious to be en route. Combahee River, Charleston and Beaufort road, January 29, 1865. We have had some rich sport to-day. Our regiment and the 40th are out here on a little reconnoisance, and making a demonstration pretending to be building a bridge on the river, etc. A party of Rebels saluted our skirmishers when they got to the river bank with a volley, but the boys soon drove them off, with no loss to us (or the Rebels either). We lay around a couple of hours shooting at marks, etc., when a party of the Rebels attempted to reoccupy their pits. We saw them coming for a full mile and they had hardly got within the very longest range before the 40th sent them back flying. Later in the p. m. half a dozen Johnnies arose from the mud and weeds and though they were across the river, surrendered to us. They are really de- serters, though they say not. Had a great time getting them over the river. Four board and log rafts were made, "launched, and put off after them. Two of them were wrecked against the bridge benches, and the other two succeeded in bringing over three Johnnies ; we left the other three there. I certainly would not have risked my- self on one of those rafts for 500 prisoners or 5,000 de- serters. General Hazen of our corps has been made a ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 339 full major general. The other division commanders only by brevet, and they feel a little sore over it. To-day one of General Wood's aids saw a turkey buzzard, and pointed it out to the general, saying, "there is a turkey." Old Woods iooked at it and answered, "I think that is a turkey by brevet." McPhersonsville, S. C, January 30, 1865. We returned from Combahee river last night and at 10 p. m. received orders to move at 6 a. m. Came through Pocataligo and have made 14 miles to-day. Quite a place, but there is not even a clearing. Say 50 ordinary dwell- ings dropped down in the pine woods, and you have it. Not a citizen, white or black, here. January 31, 1865. Lay still all day. This place was a country summer resort. I was in a house to-day; the walls were rough boards white-washed, the floors were very rough, and I think had never been carpeted, yet the room was filled with mahogany furniture of the best quality, had a fine piano, splendid plate mirror, and a fine library. About 20 sets of buck horns were nailed to the walls in lines. Hear that the 17th Corps has crossed the Combahee. We hear that strict orders against burning and all foraging is to be done even more regularly than before. Hickory Hill, S. C, February 1, 1865. Fifteen miles to-day and had an excellent supper of South Carolina ham, honey and sweet potatoes. Found a good deal of road blockaded to-day, but the pioneers re- moved the obstructions so rapidly that the train did not have to halt once. The Rebels disputed our advance a little, killed a cavalryman and wounded another for us, but did not stop the column a moment. Sherman rode at the rear of our regiment all day and was quite sociable with some of the men. Don't think any of the officers noticed him. Miserable pine land country, but some quite large plantations. 22 34° ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. February 2, 1865. The advance started at daylight, but we are the rear guard of the corps and will not get off before 4 p. m. We have no idea of our destination, but are now traveling the Augusta road. The country is very level, but every mile or so there is a little swale or depression of but a few feet, and before a hundred wagons pass over it thorough corduroying is necessary. The foragers had sharp fighting for what they got to-day. We had two captured, Billy Haller and a 40th boy. Our boys captured several and killed three. Only made six miles. Baren's Mills, S. C, February 3, 1865. Fifteen miles to-day. The 17th is having some pretty lively firing on our right. At a house I stopped at to-day a "cit" told me we were 95 miles from Charleston, 65 from Augusta, and 33 from Branchville. That is as near as I can tell you where we are. We expect to reach Bu- ford's bridge on the Salkehatchie, to-morrow. The Rebels have fortified there, I hear. Our brigade has the advance, and fun to-morrow, if there is any. It has rained since 12 last night. Buford's Bridge, north side Salkehatchie River, February 4, 1865. Most unaccountably, to me, the Rebels evacuated an impregnable position (if there is such a thing), and our brigade was saved thereby from making some more his- tory, for which I am grateful. A straight pike or cause- way three quarters of a mile long and in which there are 24 bridges, was our only chance of crossing. They had strong embrasured works, but left an hour before our ad- ance reached their fortifications. We got a lot of good horses and more good forage than I ever before saw brought in. I am sure that we have either a nice ham or shoulder for every two men in the regiment, and I think, more. A ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 34I Company B boy got a good strong horse which he let me have. People here say that the Rebels have all gone to Branchville. Colonel Catterson told Sherman (he was in our camp some time to-night) that a negro reported that the Rebels had all gone to Branchville. "Pap" replied, "They can go to Branchville and be d d." We infer from that, that we don't go there. He also said to Catter- son, who was superintending the bridge building, "Build them strong, Catterson, build them strong ; the whole army may have to pass over them, and the 'Army of the Cumberland' is a very heavy army, sir." Besides the little slur on the 14th and 20th, that gave us an idea of the whereabouts of the left wing. I just now heard what made the Rebels evacuate this. Mowers' Division of the 17th formed line and marched across this stream and swamp eight miles below at River Bridge. They waded through three miles of water and then took the Rebel works with a loss to us of only 12 killed and 72 wounded. I think that beats anything I ever heard of in the show line. There was a town of 20 or 25 houses here, but we have used it up in building bridges. Twelve miles south of Johnston's Summit, Augusta and Branchville Railroad, February 5, 1865. They call the stations on this road "turnouts." Negroes are swarming into our camps. I never heard a negro use the word "buckra" until last night. One of the 97th Indi- ana was killed this morning while foraging close to camp. Our men killed two and captured four Johnnies, all dressed in our clothing. Only moved four miles to-day, and will probably lay here a few days as Sherman told Wood we were four days ahead of time, he having counted it would take that long to effect a crossing at Buford's bridge. 34 2 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Little Salkehatchie River, February 6, 1865, 2 p. m. Yesterday was quite warm, but my overcoat is useful again to-day. General Kilpatrick caught up with us last night, also General Williams with five brigades of the 20th A. C. So instead of waiting several days Sherman said he'd chance them for the railroad with what troops there are up. We took the road this morning. Stopped here for the 3d Division to clear the swamp of some Johnnies, which I think they have about effected. Five p. m. — Miserable swamp, but the 3d Division only lost two men in crossing. There must have been a division of Wheeler's here by the signs. Bamber's Station, A. & C. R. R. February 7, 1865. Our regiment led the corps to-day. The 17th Corps strikes the railroad at Midway, three miles to our right, and the 20th to the left five miles. We are 14 miles north- west of Branchville. The enemy are on the opposite bank of the Edisto, two miles from us. There is a great "peace" excitement among the citizens here. This day's work cuts off all railroad communication between Georgia and the eastern part of the Confederacy. I saw another new thing (to me) in the destruction of railroads. After the iron has been heated by the burning ties, by a simple contrivance, four men twist each rail twice around. They put a clamp on each end of the rail, and put a lever in the clamp per- pendicularly, and two men at each end of the lever, will put the neatest twist imaginable in the heated part of the rail. I never saw so much destruction of property before. Orders are as strict as ever, but our men understand they are in South Carolina and are making good their old threats. Very few houses escape burning, as almost every- body has run away from before us, you may imagine there is not much left in our track. Where a family remains at ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 343 home they save their house, but lose their stock, and eata- bles. Wheeler's Cavalry is about all we have yet found in our front and they keep afar off. The citizens fear them fully as much as they do us. A lady said to-day that she would as lief have us come as Wheeler's men ; she could see no difference. Wheeler's men say, "Go in, South Caro- lina!" and the Yankees say the same thing. We got 50 bales of cotton here, which I suppose will be burned. Struck the railroad at 9 :30 a. m. Bamberg, S. C, February 9, 1865. We were to go to Cannon's bridge on the Edisto four miles, but heard the bridge was burned, so we did not go. I think we will go up the river towards Augusta. Late Confederate papers say that Thomas has started south to- wards Montgomery, leaving Hood behind him. Many of the officers have strong hopes of something resulting from the peace movement. Can't say that I have. Near Grahams. C. & A. R. R. February 9, 1865. Rear guard on our road to-day. Made about a dozen miles, very disagreeable march. Snowed a little in the morning and terribly cold all day. Got into camp at 7:30 p. m. This is a pine, sand country, with some very good plantations, but all look neglected. The people who re- main at home seem an ignorant, forlorn set who don't care for their "rights" or anything else. I think the militia they have brought out to oppose us must suffer, this weather, being unused to the business and unprovided with rubbers, etc. Poor devils ! February 10, 1865. Had no "general" this morning (our signal for getting up), so when the "assembly" sounded we climbed from our blankets to our saddles and went off on a railroad burn- 344 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. ing expedition. Our brigade by noon had completely de- stroyed two and one-half miles. The 17th and our 3d Division crossed the South Edisto to-day, four miles from here. We will cross to-morrow, I hear. Also hear that S. D. Lee's Corps of Hood's Army is at Augusta. We whipped them July 28, '64, and can do it again. I think the whole army is here now. We have 15-day half rations yet. Wonder where it will take us. Seven miles west of Orangeburg, S. C, February 11, 1865. Made 18 miles to-day. Crossed South Edisto river in rear of the corps. The river here is about 40 yards wide, with a swift current, water very clear. First 10 miles to-day was through pretty good country, the last eight miles mostly pine forest with more rolling ground than I have seen since we left the Oconee river in Georgia. Re- ceived my commission as major to-day, also two letters from you dated November 3d and January 4th. I ask pardon for thinking that you did not write regularly. The fault must be in the mails. All kinds of rumors afloat to-night of peace, war, and I don't know what all. We came near being burned up last night, the fire crept along through the pine leaves and burned my vest, partly, and ruined my jacket, and almost spoiled my overcoat, all of which were under my head. Also burned the colonel's pillow. The flames bursting up woke us, and I expect our first motion would have amused a very solemn man. Shilling's Bridge, left bank North Edisto River, February 12, 1865. Started at 7 a. m., moved one-half mile and laid still two hours waiting for Hazen and Smith to straighten out ahead of us. I thought I'd tell you how we had been bored to- day, fooling along the road from 7 a. m. until 3 o'clock in the night, making five miles, but it disgusts me to think of ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 345 it. Crossing the river is what delayed us. The Rebels held Hazen there four or five hours and shot a few men for him, but he run the 48th Illinois through some swamps on their flank, crossed and got some prisoners. They are from Hood's army and just got here yesterday. This North Edisto is about like the other branch. The 17th Corps crossed below our right, and the 20th on our left. Can't hear anything of the 14th or Kilpatrick. It is freezing now and has been very cold all day, yet to get clear water for dinner hundreds of the men waded out to the middle of the pond (muddy on the border) over their knees in water. They think nothing of it. It was the 2d Brigade 2d Divi- sion that waded the swamp and the river to flank the Rebels from the crossing. A large number of foragers waded with them just for devilment. It was from middle to arm-pit deep and I suppose they waded at least a mile. They got 54 prisoners, and the rest threw down guns, knapsacks and everything that impeded their flight. The flanking party did not lose a man. The men of this army surprise me every day with their endurance, spirit and recklessness. Twenty-four miles southeast of Columbia, S. C, February 13, 1865. Made 18 miles to-day. Rear guard for the corps in the morning, but the 2d and 3d Divisions took a right hand road and in the p. m. the 4th Division also went to the right. We followed a cow path to camp. Passed through two large turpentine camps. The boys fired most all the trees and nearly burned us up. The smoke made the road very disagreeable. There is not much destruction of property since Logan's last order. Hear of no skirmishing. The chivalry give us very little trouble, never stop but at rivers. Foragers get a good many animals. Provisions plenty. Hear nothing of the left wing, or Kilpatrick. 346 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. VII. February 14, 1865 to May 19, 1865. Adopting a badge for the 15th Army Corps. Its origin. Fighting Wheeler's Kentucky Brigade. Shelled in bivouac. Crossing the river on pontoons. Mayor of Columbia surrenders the city. Marching through Main street to the Capitol, greeted by citizens and negroes wild with joy. Troops get drunk. Two-thirds of the city burned. Restoring order. On provost duty stopping progress of the flames. Last to leave the city, followed by fifty white families and innumerable negroes. Straggling fights. Shooting prisoners in retaliation for murdering foragers. Resume of miles marched. More foragers murdered. Sherman issues retaliatory orders. Sacrilegious stealing. Hungry for the first time. The country denuded for 15 miles around. Cheraw captured and burned. Exploding concealed ammunition magazines. Foraging stopped and army rations resumed. Crossing into North Carolina. Forager fights and outrages at Fayetteville. Corduroy roads covering quicksand. Fighting near Goldsboro, N. C. On picket duty. North Carolina clay eaters. Lee's sur- render disbelieved. Reviewed by Sherman in Raleigh, N. C. Truce between Sherman and Johnston. News of Lincoln's assassination. Army crazy for vengence. Johnston's surrender. Shocked at Sherman's terms. Out of Carolina into Virginia. Graphic scenes and incidents. Meets army of Potomac. Reviewed by Howard, Logan and Hartsuff in Petersburg. In view of Richmond but frobidden to enter. In camp at Alexandria, Va. Participates in the Grand Review, in Washington, D. C, May 24, 1865. Finale. Explanatory Note. Until this time the 15th Army Corps had never had a Corps Badge, though the other corps commanders had long tried to induce General Logan to adopt one. Yielding at last to their solicitations he issued the following order : army life of an illinois soldier. 347 Headquarters Fifteenth Army Corps, Baker's Plantation, S. C, February 14, 1865. general orders, No. 10. I.... The following is announced as the badge of this Corps : A miniature Cartridge-box, black, one-eighth of an inch thick, fifteen-sixteenths of an inch wide, and thirteen-sixteenths of an inch deep, set transversely on a field of cloth or metal, one and five-eights of an inch square ; above the cartridge-box plate will be stamped or worked in a curve the motto : "Forty Rounds." The field on which the cartridge-box is set will be Red for the 1st Division, White for the 2d Division, Blue for the 3d Divi- sion, and Yellozv for the 4th Division. For the Head- quarters of the Corps the field will be parti-colored of Red, White, Blue and Yellow. II. . . .The badge will invariably be won upon the hat or cap. III. . . .It is expected that this badge will be worn con- stantly by every officer and soldier in the corps. If any Corps in the army has a right to take pride in its badge, surely that has which looks back through the long and glorious line of Wilson's Creek, Henry, Donelson, Shiloh, Russel House, Corinth, Iuka, Town Creek, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Champion Hills, Big Black, Sny- der's Bluff, Vicksburg, Jackson, Cherokee Station, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringold, Knoxville, Resaca, Kingston, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickojack, Decatur, the 226. and 28th of July, before Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy, Altoona Pass, Gris- woldville, Fort Mcx\lister, and scores of minor struggles ; the Corps which had its birth under Grant and Sherman in the darker days of our struggle ; the Corps which will keep on struggling until the death of rebellion. By command of Major General John A. Logan : Max Woodhull, Assistant Adjutant' General. 34§ ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. The adoption of the cartridge box as the distinguishing badge of the 15th Corps is said to have originated in this way: Before the battle of Missionary Ridge a soldier in the nth Army Corps asked an Irish soldier of the 15th Corps what the badge of his corps was. "And phwat is that badge thing?" he asked. Being told and having no badge to show in reply, he answered, slapping his cartridge box : "It's that, wid 40 rounds !" Diary Continued. Nearing Columbia, S. C, February 14, 1865. Good road to-day. Fine rolling country. Sand with pine wood and scrub oak. Saw the wagoners use their locks to-day for the first time since we crossed the Oconee, in Georgia. Logan's escort got after some Johnnie fora- gers to-day and captured four wagons and 50 or 60 horses and mules. The Rebels are shootfng from the other side of the river and there was a lot in front of us when we stopped here. Lee is said to be in front with 40,000 men. It seems to be the opinion that we will have a fight. Can probably tell better to-morrow night. Rain all p. m., and still quite cold. Wear overcoats all the time. Three miles from Columbia, February 15th. A rather lively day. We started the Johnnies right by our camp. Our brigade in advance of the corps and army. The 40th Illinois was deployed as skirmishers, and drove them four miles rapidly, losing only five men. Our regi- ment then relieved them. They opened artillery on us and fought stubbornly. It was the Kentucky brigade of Wheeler's "Critter Co." We drove them from a splendid position and heavy line of works with the assistance of three companies of our 3d brigade, 4th Iowa and — th Ohio. They killed F. M. Cary, of my company and took ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 349 my orderly Sergt. T. S. Brown's right arm off. Wounded three other men in the regiment, Henry H. Orendorff, Joe Parkinson and Stewart, of company F. It is said we go for the city to-morrow. February 16, 1865, 7 a. m. The Johnnies shelled our bivouac all night, but hurt no one, but induced us to extinguish our fires, and killed one of the 48th Illinois. We could hear their cars whistling all night. They had large fires near town. We can see the steeples of the city plainly this morning. Many think the Rebels have left. If not I look for a hard battle to-day. There is no firing this morning yet, and our skirmish line is advancing. I can see it a mile ahead of us. Can see the State House now, and a large portion of the city. We can shell it from here. Nine a. m. — The enemy opened the three guns on us again that he used last night, but the skirmish line deployed along the river silenced them. Ten a. m. — The sun has shown himself, dispelled the fog, and we find we have an excellent view of the city. From our position it looks much like Peoria from the left bank of the river. The Congaree here is larger than the Illinois. Our batteries have got in position well down on the river bank, and some of them are bursting shell over the city. Our division moves down to take a closer view ir a few minutes. The skirmishers are shooting quite livel) across the river. You know our muskets carry up well at 800 yards. 'Tis a beautiful morning and view. Twelve m. — The 2d Division leading, we pushed for the Rebel works at 9. Johnnies had mostly retired across the river. Our pontoon train running by a Rebel battery made some fun. They were furiously shelled and stood quite a heavy fire of musketry. Casualties, one mule killed, and the seat torn out of a small darkey's pants. We now lay on the river side opposite the town. A number of our guns are 35° ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. practicing on the State House and other prominent build- ings, and the Rebels are not answering a shot, though we can see a number of cavalry riding through the town. Hazen is laying the pontoons above the junction of the Saluda and Broad rivers where we will cross. Yesterday when the 40th Illinois charged the Rebels out of one of their numerous barricades a "Forty" boy and a Johnnie had a real scuffling fight . Forty downed the Rebel and choked him until he surrendered. Some 26th boys captured a Rebel colonel after we crossed the Congaree creek. He was quite drunk and rode up to the boys who were straggling ahead of the skirmish line, and asked them what they were waiting for, and why they did not come along. 8 p. m. — Crossed the Saluda, since dark, and stay here for the night on the bank of Broad river. Columbia, S. C, February 17th. The 3d brigade of our division marched all night and worked all night before they could get a cable across the river to string the pontoons, and the bridge was not com- pleted until 10 a. m. There was lively skirmishing all the time. Our division crossed first. The 3d brigade cap- tured 30 Rebels near the crossing. The Mayor came out and surrendered the town to Colonel Stone, commanding our 3d brigade. The division marched through Main street to the Capitol. We were never so well received by citizens before, and the negroes seemed crazy with joy. We halted in the street a few minutes, and the boys loaded themselves with what they wanted. Whiskey and wine flowed like water, and the whole division is now drunk. This gobbling of things so, disgusts me much. I think the city should be burned, but would like to see it done decently. February 18, 1865. Two-thirds of the city burned last night. The colonel and I got up last night and rode through the streets until 3.. At 4 this morning the 40th Illinois cleared the streets ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 35 1 with bayonets and order again reigned. Our regiment is on Provost duty, and I have just been through the streets (8:30 p. m.) and it is as quiet as Sunday night in Canton. February 19, 1865. Another block of the city burned to-day. Our regiment was out and stopped the fire from spreading further. Have seen the men work better on other occasions. In de- stroying some captured ammunition to-day the 63d Illi- nois, by an explosion, lost three killed and 20 wounded. We captured about 20 cannon here. I noticed one complete battery of fine Blakely guns. Sixteen miles northeast of Columbia, February 20, 1865. The Provost Guards were the last to leave town. Fifty families of Columbians accompany us ; have no idea how many negroes. Hard day's march. Pleasant Hill, S. C, February 21, 1865. Fifteen miles to-day. Yesterday we traveled the Cam- den road. To-day we turned northwest. Poor country, quite rolling. Pine, scrub oak and sand. Page's Ferry, Wateree River, February 22, 1865. It seems to be certain that We have Charleston. Made about ten miles to-day. Our regiment and the 6th Iowa were sent down to an old ferry to make a demonstration. Found no enemy. The 2d and 3d are already across and we cross in the morning and take the advance. We now have eight days' rations which are to last 30 — wish they'd burn them all to get rid of the wagons. Flat Rock P. O., February 23, 1865. Fifteen miles. Traveled east or northeast. Very rough, hilly country, hills rock topped. No enemy. Passed through a village called "Liberty Hill," some elegant houses. Forage plenty. No news and don't know any- thing. 352 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. West's Cross Roads, 13 miles northeast of Camden, S. C, February 24, 1865. Made 14 miles a little south of east. We passed about a mile south of Gates' old battle ground. A dozen foragers of the 99th Indiana were captured to-day, but our foragers caught more Rebels than that, besides 50 wagons and 200 horses and mules belonging to refugees. Stringent orders from Howard, Logan and Wood about stealing. It has rained for 24 hours. No enemy in front to-day. Got out of the clay hills again on sand — pine flats. February 25, 1865. Have not moved to-day. Rebels captured 15 men of the 29 Missouri to-day. Our foragers have been straggling for seven or eight miles in every direction ; three of our regiment captured a refugee camp of seven men, ten guns, two revolvers, some pistols and 25 mules. Ordered to keep men well in hand this p. m., as Rebel cavalry is demon- strating on our front and flanks. I think it must be at a re- spectful distance. Rumor says Longstreet is somewhere around. Think we are waiting for the left of the army to get up with us. Our foragers have been to Camden, 13 miles; pretty tall straggling. Others have been out southeast 11 miles, and saw our 2d and 4th divisions moving on a big road, side by side, going east. Nobody can yet decide what our destination is. It is reported to-day that 13 of our 2d division foragers were found by the roadside dead, with a card marked "Fate of foragers;" also four of the 3d division killed. Gen. J. E. Smith, commanding, shot four of his prisoners in retaliation. Colonel Catterson says as we were marching to this camp to-day he had pointed out to him the tree under which Baron DeKalb died at the battle of Camden. Have had 48 hours of rain with a prospect of continuance. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 353 Fullersville, S. C, Sunday, February 26, 1865. Sixty hours of rain terminated at daylight this morning, but it has not hurt the sandy roads a particle. We made 11 miles in four and one quarter hours, and are now waiting for a bridge to be completed over this creek, "Lynch's." We think now we are on the road to Wilmington. The map shows a good deal of railroad to be destroyed on the way, but I think we will get through by the 15th of March. Expect "you uns" are getting anxious about "we uns" again. This is, I think, a much longer thing than the Savannah campaign. Our 4th division took 103 prisoners here last night and our 2d took 200 more to-day. They are State Line Troops and muchly de- moralized. It is a fact about that murdering yesterday. Sher- man is out in a big retaliation order to-day. Wilmington is reported ours. Thunder and lightning last evening. Hear that the rain has raised the creek until it is three-quarters of a mile wide, and we won't get across to-morrow. I think I'll put down our principal campaigns : 1st. Dec, 1862, The Tallahatchie River Cam- paign 120 miles. 2nd. April, 1863, The Panola, Miss., 9 day's march 180 miles. 3rd. July, 1863, Jackson, Miss., Campaign... 100 miles. 4th. Oct. & Nov., '63, Memphis to Chatta- nooga, and in 5th. Dec. to Maryville, Tenn., and back to Scottsboro, Ala 800 miles. 6th. Jan., '64, Wills Valley Campaign 100 miles. >"th. Feb. & March, '64, Dalton, Ga., Cam- paign 300 miles. 8th. May until Sept., Atlanta Campaign 400 miles. 9th. Oct., 1864, Atlanta to Gadsden, Ala., and return 300 miles. loth. Nov. & Dec, Atlanta to Savannah.... 300 miles. Jan., Feb. & March, '65, The Carolina Cam- paign 400 miles. Total 3,000 miles. 354 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. A captain and seven men who went foraging yesterday are still missing, supposed to be captured or killed. And 20 men of the 97th Indiana who went out this morning are reported all killed by a 46th Ohio man, who was wounded and left for dead by the Rebels. He says the 97th boys paid for themselves in dead Rebels before they were overpowered. Our corps has now 500 prisoners, three times as many as we have lost. Tillersville, February 27, 1865. We have half a mile of bridging to build before we can get across this Lynch's creek, the rains have swollen it so much. Our 6th Iowa foragers we thought captured are all right. They got across this creek before the freshet and it cut them off. The 97th Indiana men are gone up. All of the 20 killed or captured but 3 ; 1 1 dead Rebels were found on their little bat- tle field, so the report comes from General Corse, I understand. The Rebels are losing, I should think, about 3 or 4 men to our one, but they are showing more manhood than those who opposed our march in Georgia. It isn't the "militia," for the 360 prisoners our corps have taken within four days surren- dered without firing a shot. They were S. C. chivalry, proper. The men who are most active on their side, I think, belong to Butler's or Hampton's command from the Potomac. They are cavalry and don't amount to anything as far as infantry is concerned, but only think they venture a little closer than Wheeler does. (You are expected to emit a sarcastic ha! ha!! and remark: "They don't know Sherman's army as well as Wheeler does.") They say we can't cross here until the water falls, and as there is an excellent prospect for more rain, we are thinking of building cabins in which to pass the rainy season. All our wounded are doing excellently. The sur- geons say that the wounded do much better being transported in ambulances than in stationary hospitals. They escape the foul air is the main reason. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 355 February 28, 1865. High water still keeps us here. We will probably get off to-morrow. It is thought we will cross the Great Peedee at Cheraw ; there is so much swamp lower down that might trouble vis. A thousand rumors afloat to-day. The citizens have it that Grant has whipped Lee since the Hatcher Run affair. It rained some last night and is now — 8 p. m. — sprinkling again. If it rains hard to-night we will have to give up crossing here and go higher up. The 17th is across. The left wing is reported near Charlotte, N. C., but don't know that it is so. We have heard that Davis' commissioners have returned to' Washington. We are having a time sure. They say now that we will not get across to-morrow. I heard some outrageous jokes to-day about a Golden Christ which was stolen by some of our thieves in Columbia, and in an inspection on the 26th it was found in a department headquarter's wagon. They are too wicked to tell. This army has done some awful stealing. Inspectors pounce down on the trains every day or two now and search them. Everything imaginable is found in the wagons. The stuff is given to citizens or destroyed. Our last winter cam- paign ends to-day. Only five and one-half months more to serve. Left Bank Lynch's Creek, March 1, 1865. We have finally got across this deuced creek. It has de- layed us fully four days, more than any three rivers did before. Our division train is yet to cross and may not get over in 24 hours. We are getting hungry for the first time, having for- aged the country out for 15 miles around. The 4th division started to-day on the Cheraw road. Prisoners taken to-day report that Wilmington was being evacuated when Schofiekl with the 23d Corps, dropped in and took the town and a brigade of prisoners. I wish he'd organize an expedition and bring us some late papers. Everybody is speculating on a big time with the enemy crossing the Great Pedee, but I don't believe they will trouble us as much as this confounded creek has. 23 356 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. New Market, S. C, March 2, 1865. A disagreeable, half drizzle, half sprinkle, all last night and to-day. Our brigade in advance and made 10 miles. Poor country, but pretty well settled. Many of the men have had no breadstuffs for three days. They drew two days of hard- bread February 18th, and have foraged everything else we have had since. Don't know when we draw again. Still have our 8 days of "tack" in the wagons. We will get plenty of for- age again to-morrow. Can hear nothing of the enemy. We left Darlington 20 miles on our right to-day and will prob- ably strike the Peedee near Society Hill. Five miles south of Cheraw, S. C, March 3, 1865. General Wood says we have made 24 miles to-day. Our whole corps on one road and hardly a check all day. This is Thompson's Creek, and the Rebels under Hardee thoroughly fortified it. Logan's orders are to carry the works to-morrow, but as usual the Rebels have left. The 17th A. C. took Cheraw this p. m. without a fight, getting 27 pieces of field artillery, 3,000 stands of small arms, besides a great deal of forage. There were only two or three small farms on the road to- day. Poorest country I have seen yet. An intelligent pris- oner captured to-day says that Kilpatrick has taken Char- lotte, N. C, and that Lee is evacuating Richmond. Saw the sun to-day ; had almost forgotten there was such a luminary. Cheraw, S. C, March 4, 1865. We were from 8 a. m. until 4 p. m. on this little five miles. The 17th have their pontoons down and have a division across. Hear that the enemy is fortified a short distance back from the river. Can hear no firing. Our foragers took Society Hill last night. This is a very pretty place, about the size of Canton. The river, Great Peedee, is navigable for boats drawing five feet. The left wing is at Chesterfield 12 miles above. There is an immense amount of cotton here. Noticed guards on it, and some think it is to be sent down the river. A thousand ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 357 mounted men are to start from here to-morrow (from our corps, and it is said the same number from each corps) for — somewhere — rumor says, to release 8,000 of our prisoners at Florence. Our wounded men are all doing splendidly. March 5, 1865. The 17th and all our corps, except our division, have crossed the river. We follow in the morning. The enemy did not attempt to oppose us. The boys say that an intercepted dispatch from Hampton to General Butler reads: "Do not attempt to delay Sherman's march by destroying bridges, or any other means. For God's sake let him get out of the coun- try as quickly as possible." Were I one of the S. C. chivalry I'd be in favor of turning out en masse and building up roads for him. We will get out of S. C. to-morrow. I have not been in a house in the State occupied by a citizen. Everything in Cheraw of any value to the enemy, including cotton and busi- ness houses, is going up in smoke. Hear to-day that Schofield is in Goldsboro or Fayetteville, N. C. General Wood says we have 120 miles yet to make. You may give the credit of Wilmington, Charleston and Georgetown to whom you please, we know Sherman deserves it. We hear that that miserable Foster is claiming the glory over his cap- ture of Charleston. We are yet pretty short of breadstuffs, but have plenty of meat. Sherman has been heard to say that this army can live on fresh meat alone for 30 days. I'd like to see it tried on him. We think to-day that Goldsboro is our resting place. You must understand that we don't know any- thing at all about anything. Our foragers all went across the river this morning and got plenty of flour, meal and meat. They were out 11 miles and saw a few Rebels. The Rebels left seven cannon on the other side of the river, and burned a very large amount of commissary and ordnance stores. 358 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Five miles northeast of Cheraw, S. C, March 6, 1865. Crossed the Peedee this morning. Just after we passed through the town a 12th Indiana boy seeing some powder scattered on the ground threw a coal on it. It communicated with a concealed ammunition magazine and made a fine ex- plosion, killed and wounded 20 or 30 men in our division, stampeded a lot of horses and burned some citizens. There have been half a dozen of such explosions. Good country here, for- agers get plenty, and also pick up many Rebel deserters and stragglers. Our foragers yesterday found two of Kilpatrick's men and five Rebel lieutenants all drunk and put them under guard. Goodwin's Mills, 16 miles northwest of Cheraw, March 7, 1865. About 11 miles to-day and in camp at noon. The 14th and 20th had come down and cross at Cheraw. "We are waiting on them. That expedition to Florence was a failure. Our men got the town but were driven out before they destroyed a thing. I am inclined to think the officers did not do their whole duty. They should have succeeded or lost more blood. Our loss amounted to nothing. One of the best foraging days of the whole trip. Our foragers to-day captured some negroes and horses. The negroes say they were running them over here to get away from General "Schofield's company." We are about on the State line now, and will leave S. C. to-morrow. I think she has her "rights" now. I don't hate her any more. Five miles north of Laurenburg, N. C, Laurel Hill, March 8, 1865. One hundred and twelve miles of steady rain, and the best country since we left Central Georgia. Looks real Northern like. Small farms and nice white, tidy dwellings. Wheat fields look very well. In ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 359 the cornfields rows are five feet apart, and one stalk the size of a candle, in a hill. But at every house there were from 200 to 1,000 bushels of corn and an abundance of fodder. Sherman said yesterday that our campaign is over, and to-day Howard issued an order that all foraging for provisions shall cease, there being enough rations in the wagons to last us through. I dreamed last night of being at home on leave and seeing you all, and starting back to the army again. Only 90 miles yet to mail. Four miles south of Montpelier, N. C, March 9, 1865. Rained nearly all last night and poured down all day. Our regiment had the advance of the division, but we followed J. E. Smith. He is the poorest traveler in the army. We had to corduroy all the road after him. Only made four miles. I never saw such a country. There seems to be a thin crust over a vast bed of quicksand. I saw wagons yesterday and to-day moving along not cutting more than two inches, all at once go down to the hub, and some to the wagon boxes. I was riding to-night on apparently high ground in the woods and three times the ground gave way just like rotten ice, and let my horse in belly deep. We have worked hard to-day. f Randallsville, N. C, March 10, 1865, 12 p. m. Ten miles to-day, most of which we had to corduroy. Our regiment in rear of the division and corps. Crossed the Lum- ber river about 4 p. m. Fine country. We had reveille at 3 this morning, and the rear of train with our 1st brigade did not get in until an hour later. They had a hard time. Hope we'll get the advance to-morrow. This Lumber river is a spoon river, with a third of a mile of swamp on each side thereof. Hear to-night that Grant has taken Petersburg, and believe it to be — bosh. Blair, with the 17th A. C, is close to Fayetteville, but it is said he has orders to lie still and let the left wing- enter the town. 360 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Davis Bridge, Rockfish Creek, March 11, 1865. Ten miles to-day, full seven of which had to be corduroyed. The worst road I ever saw. The 17th corps occupied Fayette- ville to-day. The foragers took the place. It is as large as Columbia and has a large arsenal. Heard of two or three men being captured by the Rebels yesterday and a couple to- day. They also made a little dash on our rear to-day on the 3d division without accomplishing anything. I do wish you could see the crowd of negroes following us. Some say 2,000 with our division. I think fully 1,000. Fayetteville, N. C, March 12, 1865. We are camped a couple of miles from town. Marched about 13 miles to-day. Had to put down pontoons at both branches of Rockfish creek. At the town of Rock- fish, the 17th A. C. burned a factory, throwing about 150 women out of employment. One of our gunboats came up to this place to-day with dispatches for Sherman. It went back before our division got in and took a lot of mail. The 14th A. C. is garrisoning this place, but the 17th got in first. The 97th Indiana boys, who were captured back at Lynch's Creek, all got away from the enemy and back to us to-day, five of them. Sherman said yesterday that the campaign ends only with the war. Hear that Hampton whipped Kilpatrick splendidly. Don't think that is any credit to him. Also hear that Bragg whipped Schofield at Kingston, that Thomas has Lynchburg, and 30,000 other rumors. In the last 23 days the commissary has issued only two and one half days' of bread. I lost my sword to-day. Left it where we stopped for dinner. We have lost so much sleep of late that at every halt half the command is asleep in a minute. I lay down and told them not to wake me for dinner nor until the regi- ment moved. The regiment had started when Frank woke me, and I got on my horse too stupid to think of anything. Did not miss my sword for five miles, when I went back for it, but no use. Foragers for the last week have been ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 36 1 counting on rich spoils in the town, and many of them have not reported to their regiments within six or eight days, camping every night with the extreme advance. The day before the place was taken, five men who were 15 miles ahead of the column ventured into town. They were gob- bled and one of them killed. Next morning 100 foragers hovered around town until the column was within about six miles, when the foragers deployed as skirmishers, and went for the town. There were about 1,000 Rebel cavalry herein who fell back before our boys skirmishing lively, clear through the town, when they suddenly charged our fellows and scooped them. Our loss in killed, wounded and captured is 25 or 30. They killed several after they captured them, and one they hung up by the heels and cut his throat. Our boys retreated about a mile from town, and went in again in more solid order. They were too scattered the first time. They were successful and routed Johnny, who left six dead in the streets. March 14, 1865. It is supposed we will be here two or three days, to get some shoes up the river. Left bank, Cape Fear River, Opposite Fayetteville, March 15, 1865. Everything valuable to the Rebels has been destroyed, and we are about ready to push on to Goldsboro. Fayette- ville is about a 3,000 town, nearly all on one street. There was a very fine United States Arsenal burned here, some 20 good buildings, all of which are "gone up." The rest of the town is old as the hills. We lay on the river bank expect- ing to cross all last night, and finally reached the bivouac three quarters of a mile from the river just as the troops on this side were sounding the reveille. This is the 21st river we have pontooned since leaving Scottsboro, May 362 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 1st, '64. It is more like the Tennessee than any other stream we have crossed. We send from here all the negroes and white refugees who have been following us, also a large train to Wilmington for supplies. The number of negroes is estimated at 15,000. Nearly all the population of this town will go inside our lines. It has rained all day and seems abominably gloomy. Makes me wish for letters from home. Last night while we were standing around fires by the river, some scoundrel went up to a negro not 75 yards from us, and with one whack of a bowie knife, cut the contraband's head one third off, killing him. At Goldsboro, we are promised a short rest. If it were not that the wagons are so nearly worn out that they must be thoroughly repaired, I don't believe we would get it. Well, time passes more swiftly in campaigning than in camp. Most of the army are moved out. Two miles from left bank of Black River, N. C, March 16, 1865. About 14 miles to-day. About a dozen swamps, as many showers, three hard rains, and an awfully rough march. The men waded, I should think altogether, one-half mile of water from ankle to waist deep. They went through every swamp yelling like Indians. Rained all yesterday and last night. I saw peach and thorn blossoms, some wintergreen and arbor vitae growing wild. Two days like this would demoralize a citizen much. We drew three days' hard bread to-day to last five. In the 26 preceding our division drew besides sugar and coffee, only two and one-half days' of hard bread. Very poor country to-day. The boats brought us some late papers. The latest account of Sheridan capturing Early. Don't believe it. Saw Herald's account of the inauguration. The writer should be shot. Of half a dozen boats that come to Fayetteville, only two brought cargoes, and both of them oats. Ridiculous, 40,000 pair of shoes would have been sensible. Many of the men are barefoot. Sherman and Hampton are ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 3°3 having a spicy correspondence on murdering foragers. Think Hampton I a litt.e ahead at this date Have on y seen tie first letter on each side. There is talk of a fight at Go ds- boro I do hope this army will get two weeks m camp before it battles It is a little too loose now for heavy, steady work. General Wood says that Sheridan with four div,s IO ns of cav- alry is coming through to join us. Seaman's Cross Roads. March 17. 1865. A.bout 12 miles, more than half of which had to be cordu- royed. Roads awful. If a wagon pulls off the corduroy, it drops to the hub. There are two or three .riches of bla k sand on the surface covering quicksand unfathomable No one need tell me that bad roads will stop an army The 20th corps had sharp little affair yesterday. Hear their loss ,, over 400. Everyone is expecting a fight before we reac Goldsooro. The whole corps is camped together to-mght Our division has been in rear of the corps two days and ha not had a fight in the advance since we left Columbia I believe I have not heard a hostile shot for 27 days. Howard is here to-night. Whole corps is on this road. Four miles north from Smitbfield's, N. C., March 18, 1865. Fifteen miles, good roads, men only waded in swamps Wnole co rps in camp before dark. Well settled country and lans of forage. Our foragers and the 7 th Ilhnois "mounted thieves" had a nice little fight to-day Came near scaring Wade Hampton's chivalry out of their boots ; four dead Yanks and 1. Rebels is said to be the result. Our fellows run them off to the left of our road into the 14th and 2C, 1 hurried their march a little. We arc 27 mtles fro™ Goldsboro and 18 from Faisons on the rariroad, which point we will probably make to-morrow and possibly ge our mail If I don't get at least six letters from you I wril be mu h disappointed. We are much amused over the Rebel 364 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. papers we get. All seem to take "gobs" of comfort from Lee's declaration that "Tecumseh" can and must be whipped. Several of them assert that our treatment of citizens is good. Don't believe a word of it, though I wish it were so. Twelve miles from Goldsboro, and six from railroad, March 19, 1865. Made 15 miles. Only two bad swamps. Very heavy artil- lery and musketry on our left (14th and 20th Corps) all day. Hear this evening that our men suffered heavily. General Lee is said to be here. Opinion is divided as to our having a battle to-morrow. First rate country to-day and a good abundance of forage. The farmers here have not many negroes. Rebel cavalry demonstrated on our left to-day, quite lively and cap- tured several foragers. Five foragers from our regiment who had been out five days and whom we had about given up, re- turned to-night. They have been with the 17th A. C. All quiet on our right. One and one-half miles from Neuse River, March 20, 1865. We moved about a mile north and then west for five miles. Pushed some Rebel cavalry before us all the time. Our brigade was in advance and lost about 25 men. We are about two miles east of where the battle was fought yester- day by the 14th and 20th corps, and right where the Rebel hospital was. The Rebels are now due west of us, our line running north and south, and I think there can be no difficulty in communicating with Schofield. Goldsboro is undoubtedly evacuated. In the fight yesterday one divi- sion of the 14th was worsted at first and driven some distance, but rallied, repulsed the enemy, and the corps getting into line, charged four to six times, and slaughtered the Rebels awfully. Their loss was far greater than ours. Ten p. m. — A Pennsylvania man, who was wounded in the fight yesterday, and carried in by the Rebels who took off ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 365 his leg above the ankle, came in to us a few minutes ago. He crawled nearly half a mile, part of the way through a swamp. It seems that the Rebels had a hospital there they evacuated and left him and a half dozen other wounded, two of whom the man saw killed by the skirmish firing. We are on the skirmish line to-night. I suppose it is 400 yards to the Rebel skirmishers, and not a very dangerous line. March 21, 1865. We moved out this morning just before daylight and got within 50 yards of the Rebel skirmish line, but nothing going forward on our right or left, we returned to our original position. Had one man in Company H slightly wounded. We could have held our advanced line just as well as not. I think our right must rest on the river. Some 35,000 or 40,000 Rebels are reported here under John- ston.. Some prisoners report Lee. I would like to see them whaled, but would like to wait until we refit. You see that too much of a good thing gets old, and one don't enjoy even campaigning after 50 or 60 days of it together. I believe I am surfeited with oven bread — ("death balls" our cook calls them), biscuit, and pork. I feel finely; wet from head to foot, has rained since noon hard most of the time. About 1 p. m. the main line moved out on our skirmish line, and as quick as they get their works up (about one-half hour), our regiment deployed as skirm- ishers on our brigade front, and our whole corps skirmish line moved forward. I think the 17th drove the enemy on our right at the same time. We took their skirmish pits along the whole front of our division, but they were very close to their main line and we did have a very in- teresting time holding them, I assure you. I don't think it was more than 75 yards to the main line of the Rebel works, and they in plain sight, only a straggling scrub oak undergrowth and a few large pines intervening. The Rebels came out of their works twice to retake their pits. ^66 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. The first time the left of our regiment had to fall back, the brigade on our left giving way and exposing our flank, but we all rallied in a minute and made the Johnnies fairly fly back. The next time our brigade again broke, but our men held their pits, and the 26th Illinois, which was just coming out to relieve our regiment, faced its left wing for the pits occupied by the enemy, and went for them with a first-class yell. You should have seen the Rebels run. It did me a power of good. The other brigade then came back to their position, the 26th relieved me, and we are now ready for bed. We have been wonderfully fortunate to-day, only 10 wounded and none killed. The pride of the regiment, Frank Lermond, had his arm broken by a ball, but a resection operation will leave him a tolerably good arm. I think this has been as exciting and lively a p. m. as ever I saw. Terry's 24th Army Corps has come up, and lays about six miles back of us to-night. Bentonville, N. C, March 22, 1865. The enemy left about 2 a. m. Our brigade was ordered to follow them to Mill creek, about three miles, which we 'did almost on the double quick, the 26th Illinois in ad- vance pushing their rear guard. The brigade went to Mill creek, but our skirmishers went a mile further, to Hannah's creek. The 26th had seven wounded. I saw in one place a dead Rebel and one of our men burned horribly. The woods have all been burned over here. In another place a dead Rebel and one of our men with his foot cut half off, one of his toes cut off, several more cuts on his body, and a bullet hole in his temple. Some of the boys saw one of our men with leg cut off in five places. Some surgeon had probably been practicing on the last two men. They were 14th Corps men. Sherman again says the campaign is over, that he only came out here to show Johnston that he is ready to fight all the time. We start back for Goldsboro (24 miles), to-morrow. Hurrah for ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 367 mail and clean clothes. Colonel and I occupy the outside of a house to-night, in the inside of which is a Chinese-eyed girl with a Creole mouth. She is as intelligent as a door post. You don't know how anxious I am to hear from you. I have had a reply to but one letter that I have written since last November (15th). Our little supper is now ready. Don't see how we will get along without Frank. Goldsboro, N. C, March 25, 1865. We were two days coming back from Bentonville. Have a nice camp ground and will enjoy ourselves, I think. Town don't amount to anything. On picket, Raleigh road, three miles from Nahanta Station, on Weldon and Goldsboro railroad, April 10, 1865. Our division moved north to-day along the Weldon rail- road to Nahanta, where we crossed and took a main Raleigh road. Our ist brigade had the advance and had light skirm- ishing all day. Wheeler's cavalry is opposing us. Our regi- ment is on picket to-night, and the enemy shot a little at us before dark, but all is quiet just now. Passed through a very fine country to-day. It has rained all day. Some cannonad- ing on our left. I think the whole army moved to-day. The 20th corps passed us near town this morning in exactly op- posite direction to ours. The whole army, mules, wagons, bum- mers and generals have come out new from Goldsboro. The whole machine looks as nicely as an army can look. Our ist brigade took a swamp crossing from the enemy to-day, that our brigade could hold against a corps. A bullet passed mis- erably near to me as I was arranging our picket line this evening. Beulah, N. C, April n, 1865, 12 m. Our division is alone on this road I find, and the extreme right of the army. Our brigade ahead to-day. Dibbrell's di vision of Wheeler's men is ahead of us. We pushed them so 368 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. closely that we saved all the bridges to this place. They de- stroyed the bridge here some way without burning it. Country to-day nearly all under cultivation, but no large farms. I reckon that the larger a farm a man has of this kind of land or sand the poorer he is. Our eyes were rested by seeing a little clay hill and a stony field, signs that we are again getting out of the coast flats. There was a house on our picket line last night with six women in it who were sights. They were the regular "clay-eaters." This Rebel cavalry ahead don't amount to a cent. They have not yet hurt a man on our road, and we don't know that more than two of them have been hit. They keep shooting all the time, but are afraid to wait until we get within range of them. They have not hind- ered our march a minute. Got me a new servant (a free boy) to-day. Both his grandmas were white women. He says the Rebel cavalry have been impressing all the able-bodied ne- groes for the army until within a few days. He understands they quit it because they found out in Richmond that they couldn't make "Cuffie" come up to the work. Eight miles North of Smithfield, 4:30 p. m. Crossed the river as quick as the bridge could be built and moved out three miles. The rest of our corps crossed two and one-half miles below. Country is quite rolling here. I hear that Johnston has left Smithfield, going towards Raleigh. Miserable set of citizens through here. April 12, 1865, 10 a. m. We hear this a. m. that Lee has surrendered to Grant the army of northern Virginia. It created a great deal of enthu- siasm among us. It is hard to make our men believe any- thing, but Logan told us half an hour ago as he passed it is true as gospel. We have passed a large infantry camp that the Rebels left yesterday. Johnston is moving towards Raleigh. Our division has the advance to-day. We consolidated the regiment for the campaign into five companies. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 369 Left bank of Neuse River, 20 miles East of Raleigh, April 12, 1865, 4 p. m. Twelve miles to-day. Our cavalry pushed ahead and drove the Rebels past here at 8 a. m. Saw a barn and cotton press in flames to-day. There has been no burning this trip worth mentioning. This to-day was all I have seen and it was to destroy the cotton. Poor country to-day, but one very nice country place ; the house 4th rate, but the grounds and shrub- bery finer than any in our part of Illinois. This is an army of skeptics, they won't believe in Lee's sur- render. I do, and I tell you it makes this one of my brightest days. His surrender makes sure beyond any chance that what we have been fighting for for four years is sure. Look for me July 4th, 1865. [This promise was kept. Ed.] Four miles from Raleigh, April 13, 1865, 4 p. m. The fourth anniversary of the fall of Fort Sumter. How are you, chivalry? Made a nice little march of 16 miles and could go on to town as well as not before dark if it was ne- cessary. Our left wing occupied Raleigh this morning with Kilpatrick and the 14th A. C. No fighting worth mentioning. We crossed the Neuse six miles from Raleigh on the paper mill bridge. This is the prettiest campaign we ever made. No night marching, 60 miles in four days, and just what rations we started with from Goldsboro in haversacks. Beautiful country to-day, high and rolling. The bummers found whisky to-day and I saw a number dead drunk by the roadside. They found an ice house and to-night we have ice water. Picked up a number of Rebel deserters to-day. The woods are full of them. Raleigh, N. C, April 14, 1865, 1 p. m. We passed through town and were reviewed by Sherman, who stood at the south gate of the State Capitol grounds. Just as Colonel Wright saluted, his horse turned his heels to- wards Sherman and did some of the finest kicking that ever 370 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. was seen. It was most amusing. Raleigh is a fine old town. Many beautiful residences, and the gardens filled with the choicest shrubbery. The 14th A. C. guards the place. Wheeler's men sacked it. Division hearquarters received orders to save their rations. What we have is to last 30 days and maybe 40 days. That means a long march, though it is hinted that we do not follow Johnston. Some think we are going into East Tennessee. The citizens of Raleigh generally come to their gates to look at us, but make no demonstrations that I have heard of. The 14th A. C. is protecting them in all their rights. Not a thing disturbed. High rolling country and large farms. The town is fortified all around, but works were old. I never saw so few negroes in a Southern city. Our headquarter's foragers brought in five Rebel deserters to-night, and five dozen eggs which I think were the most valuable. Raleigh, April 15, 1865. To-day makes four years soldiering for me. It is a terrible waste of time for me who have to make a start in life yet, and I expect unfits me for civil life. I have almost a dread of being a citizen, of trying to be sharp, and trying to make money. I don't think I dread the work. I don't remember of shirking any work I ever attempted, but I am sure that civil life will go sorely against the grain for a time. Citizens are not like soldiers, and I like soldier ways much the best. We were to have moved out this morning but did not. Logan went out with our 4th division, report says, to confer with Johnston. Big rumors going that our campaign is over, and that Johnston's men are going home. We have been having heavy showers during the day, but the boys feel so good over the prospect ahead that they raise the most tremendous cheers right in the midst of the hardest rains. We think Johnston is in as tight a place as Lee was, and if he don't surrender we will go for him in a way that will astonish him. We con- sider our cause gained and are searching each other's records ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 37 1 to see who was ever doubtful of success. I don't remember at any time of being despondent over the war or being doubt- ful of the issue. Was I ? I did think the war might last for years yet, but take that back. I have not been in town since we came through, and think no one from the brigade has. Curiosity over captured cities is "old." Raleigh, April 16, 1865. Flags of truce are still flying between Sherman and John- ston. The latter is, I believe, some 30 miles west of Hillsboro. Some of Sherman's staff went out last night to offer the same terms that were offered to Lee, and are expected every hour with Johnston's answer. Everybody thinks Johnston will ac- cept and many are offering to bet their all that we will be mustered out by July 4th, 1865. I am trying to take the matter coolly and determined not to be very much disappointed if the result is different from what we all hope. We will be either ready to march to-morrow morning or to hang our swords on the wall. Hundreds of Johnston's men are coming into our lines. If he don't surren- der his men will all desert. A lovely day. Disposes one to peace wonderfully. It is most difficult to realize that our war is over. I do from my heart thank God that I have lived to see the rebellion put down. Anyone who has been with us the last year and is alive should be thankful. The whole four years seems to me more like a dream than reality. How anxious I am to shake hands with you all once more. "How are you peace?" Raleigh, April 17, 1865. We have a brief dispatch this morning informing us of the assassination of President Lincoln, Secretary Seward and son. I have not the heart to write a word about it. The army is crazy for vengenance. If we make another campaign it will be an awful one. Sherman meets Johnston to-day. The delay in the negotiations was caused by some dispatches being missed. We hope Johnston will not surrender. God pity this country if he retreats or fights us. 24 $J2 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Raleigh, April 18, 1865. Sherman has gone out again to see Johnston. Johnston asked for another day in order to see Davis and get his per- mission to surrender the whole force in arms this side of the Mississippi. I was through the town to-day. Some very fine residences and asylums, but the town is no larger than Canton, and not as pretty except in shrubbery and shade trees. I visited the Deaf and Dumb and Blind Asylums and the superintendent put a class in each through some exercises. It was very interesting. A Herald of the 10th gives us the par- ticulars of Lee's surrender. Grant is the hero of the war. The papers all talk about Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, noth- ing said about Thomas. This whole army thinks that Thomas is slighted by the North. We have as much con- fidence in him as in Grant or Sherman, and then he never writes any letters or accepts valuable presents, or figures in any way for citizen approbation, or that of his army. The only objection that I ever heard against him is the size of his headquarters or "Thomasville" as it is called by the army. That comes from his West-Pointism. Raleigh, April 19, 1865. Joe Johnston surrendered the whole thing yesterday to Sherman. Our 4th division and a division of the 17th Corps receive the arms, etc. We go into a regular camp to- morrow to await developments. If any more Confederacy crops out, we, I suppose, will go for it, otherwise in a couple of months we'll muster out. That's all. Good bye, war. Our last march. Near Rolesville, N. C, April 29, 1865. Left Raleigh at 7 this morning on my way 1 home, via Richmond and Washington. Made about 11 miles. Rather too warm for such fast marching as we always do. If we would just make 15 miles a day, say 10 of it between ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 373 sunrise and 10 a. m., and the remainder after 2 p. m., it would not hurt a man or an animal, but we move when we do move at three or three and a half miles an hour, and not all even Sherman's men can stand it in as warm weather as this. I saw a number laid out this morning by the road- side looking as if they had been boiled. The 50 pounds of equipments is what uses them up. Well settled country, and it looks beautiful. The leaves are all out nearly full size ; fine oak, elm and pine strips of woodland between farms is such an addition of comfort to citizens and cattle, and of beauty to scenery. The undergrowth is mostly dog- wood and holly. We are on our good behavior this trip. No foraging, no bumming rails, or houses, and nothing naughty whatever. We have the best set of men in the world. When it is in order to raise h they have no equals in destructiveness and ability to hate and worry, or su- periors as to righting Rebels, but now they have none, and they are perfect lambs. Not a hand laid on a rail this evening with intent to burn, not a motion toward a chicken or smoke-house, not a thing in their actions that even a Havelock would object to. They don't pretend to love our "erring brethren" yet, but no conquered foe could ask kinder treatment than all our men seem disposed to give these Rebels. We camped about 3 p. m. in a pretty piece of woods. Artillery has been booming all day at Raleigh. Sunday, April 30, 1865. Howardism (and it is a very good kind of ism), allows us to lay still to-day. It is a real Canton 1st of June Sab- bath. It rained all night, but the effect is to improve these sandy roads. It will take a good deal more than a week to realize fully that the war is over. No more preparation for a coming campaign, dreaded at first, but soon looked for with feverish eagerness (human nature). No more finding the enemy driving in his skirmishers, developing his line, getting into position, and retiring every night, 374 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. maybe for a month, after days spent in continuous skirm- ishing, expecting to be ordered to charge at daybreak. It is all over, thank God, but it seems impossible. A Philadelphia paper of the 25th (first we have seen since the 21st) astonished us all. It gives us our first inti- mation of the hue and cry against Sherman, for the terms he offered Johnston, Breckenridge & Co. We did not before know anything he had done, only he told us in orders that he had, "subject to the approval of the powers at Washington, made peace from the Rio Grande to the Potomac, by an agreement with Johnston and other high officials." We have only known that much, talked over the matter and were afraid that "Tecumseh" had made an attempt to do too much, and had compromised himself by having anything at all to do with other than military Rebels. I am very sorry for him, but we have thought for a year, and it has been common talk in the army, that he was ambitious for political honors, etc. I have often heard it said that he was figuring for popu- larity in the South. He has written some very pretty let- ters to our erring Southerners. Instance, the one to the Mayor and citizens of Atlanta and one to Mrs. Bowen of Baltimore, and several more while at Savannah. He also promised Governor Vance some kind of pro- tection if he would return to Raleigh. "Pap" must be care- ful. We all think the world of him. I'd rather fight under him than Grant, and in fact if Sherman was Mahomet we'd be as devoted Musselmen as ever followed the former prophet, and if he has blundered here, as they say he has, we will feel it more at heart than we ever did the fall of our leaders before. I won't believe he has made a mis- take until I know all about it. It can't be. Near Davis' Cross Roads, five miles north of Tar river. May 1, 1865, 4:30 p. m. We are 35 miles from Raleigh to-night, which makes 24 miles to-day over Tar river, which is here about 50 yards wide and runs through a fine rolling, high country. The ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 375 march was splendidly conducted, no straggling, and the peace orders were faithfully lived up to. It seems like the early days of my soldiering to see the citizens all at home, their horses and mules in the stables, and gardens full of vegetables passed untouched. When a man can pass an onion bed with- out going for them, and they did a number of them to-day, no one need talk to me of total depravity. The soldier goes more on onions than any other luxury. The citizens have all "war's over" news, and seem to feel good over it. At three different places there were groups of very healthy looking young ladies, well dressed, by the roadside, waving their hand- kerchiefs at us, and one told the boys she wished them to come back after they were mustered out, for "you have killed all our young men off." The virtuous indignation welled up in my bosom like a new strike of oil. I'll venture that these same women coaxed their beaux off to the war, and now that "Yank" is ahead, they shake their handkerchiefs at us and cry, "bully Yanks." The devil take them and he'll be sure to do it. You have heard of woodticks? The man who don't catch his pint a day is in awful luck. They have a tick pick- ing twice a day in this country, regularly as eating. Saw a wild turnip in bloom to-day. Two miles north of Shady Grove, N. C, May 2, 1865. Twenty-six miles to-day, and everything in camp at sun- set. That is No. I work with 300 sets of wheels to the divi- sion. We have reveille at 3 a. m. and start at 4 now. We seem to have got pretty well out of the pine country. Hardly saw one the last three miles this p. m. Have also about left cotton behind us. Tobacco and wheat are the staples here. I saw as many as five large tobacco houses on one farm, built 25 logs high. Notice also some very fine wheat growing, now 12 inches high. Very large peach and apple orchards on almost every farm. The trees look thrifty, but show neglect. All kinds of fruit promises to be abundant this year. 37^ ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. The last five miles to-day was through beautiful country, fine houses, too. The people were all out to see us, but I am glad that I have no demonstration a la white handkerchief to chronicle. The men are full of the de'il to-day. Scaring negroes almost out of their wits. Our division is the right of the army. We have been side tracking so far, but to-morrow we get the main road and Corse takes the cow paths. I think that not more than one-fifth of the cleared land so far in this State is under cultivation this year, and that fully one-fourth of all has been turned over to nature for refertilization from four to forty years. On some of this turned out land the new growth is more than a foot in diameter. I saw a sassafras tree to-day that was 15 inches in diameter. Right Bank Roanoke river, Robbin's Ferry, N. C. May 3, 1865. About 20 miles to-day and the latter fourth quite dusty. We did not get the main road, and have depended mainly on hog paths. The Roanoke is the largest stream we have crossed since leaving the Tennessee river, and is quite swift. The water is also colder than any we have found this march. We have not pontoons enough to reach across and will have to press ferryboats and skiffs, etc., to use as pontoons. Presume it will take all night to get up a bridge. We pontooned the Neuse when we crossed it the last time in one and one-half hours. As we crossed the Raleigh and Gorton Railroad to- day, saw a train of cars coming kiting along. Expect corn- munication is open to Raleigh by this time. We are march- ing too hard. It is using up lots of men. Good country to- day. Many fine houses and every indication of wealth. Thirteen miles south of Laurenceville, Va., May 4, 1865. Our regiment in advance of the division crossed the Ro- anoke at 3 130 p. m. and went into camp here at sunset, mak- ing 13 miles. We crossed the N. C. and Va. line about three miles this side of the river. Good country, and people all out gazing. ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 377 Near Nottaway River, May 5, 1865. Crossed the Meherrin river (a Copperas creek affair) this morning and pass through Laurenceburg, a 100-year old town, just as large as the top of a very small hill would hold. Such oceans of negroes; never saw half as many before in the same distance in Virginia. Sheridan was through this country ten days ago, but hearing that Johnston had surrendered he turned back. Kautz and Wilson were also raiding last sum- mer, but there are no signs that war is known to the people by experience. We see Lee's and Johnston's men all along the road, taking a look at Sherman's army. All the soldiers and citizens we see seem to submit to the Government, and the war feeling is dead among them, but there is no love for us or ours, and they regard us only as subjugators. That is as warm a sentiment as I ask from them. I believe every family has lost a member by the war. I saw a member of Pickett's Rebel division this evening. He said that when his division surrendered to Grant, they stacked but 45 muskets. It was nearly 10,000 strong on the 24th of March, 1865. This boy put in one of the 45 muskets. They all give Sheridan's cavalry the credit for doing the best fighting they ever knew "Yanks" to do. They all speak highly of our 6th (Wright's) corps. The good conduct of our men continues even to the astonishment of the men themselves. I have heard of but one indiscretion, and that was only the carrying off of the table cutlery after dining with a citizen. We are traveling too fast, but our corps commanders are racing to see who will make Petersburg first. Heard of Booth being killed to-day. Also got a Herald of the 24th with Sherman and Johnston's peace propositions. We are very much shocked at Sherman's course. I have not heard an officer or soldier who had read them, sustain our general. It is hard on us and we regret his action as much as any calamity of the war, excepting the Washington horror. There isn't an element of man worship in this army, but we all had such confidence in Sherman, and thought it almost im- 378 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. possible for him to make a mistake. The army is very sore over the affair. We can't bear to have anybody say a word against Sherman, but he did act very strangely in this thing. Left bank of Stony Creek, Va., 20 miles from Pittsburg, May 6, 1865. About 20 good miles to-day. No sign of war yet. Have not had a very good road to-day. Crossed the Nottaway river this morning. Small affair. During Kautz and Wilson's disastrous raid last summer they threw their last piece of artillery into the Nottaway from the bridge on which we crossed. One of the officers says he noticed bullet marks on trees that indicated a pretty sharp skirmish having taken place where we stopped for dinner. We are fairly on classic ground. I hear that the 17th A. C. lost a number of men yesterday by a bridge falling. Petersburg, Va., May 7, 1865. Twenty miles to-day, and the longest kind of miles. Had some bad road in the morning. We struck the Weldon rail- road two or three miles below Ream's Station, where the 6th Corps was whipped last June, and came right up to the city. Saw hardly any signs of fighting the whole way. Ours and the Rebel works where we came through are fully two and one half miles apart, and the skirmish line further from each other than we ever had ours when we pretended to be near the enemy. I think the whole army is up. Part of it got here last night. We lie here to- morrow. The 17th A. C. goes on to Richmond. Petersburg, Va., May 8, 1865. I'll take back all I ever said against the Potomac Army. I have been down to Fort Steadman to-day and troops who will work up to an enemy as they did there, will do any- ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 379 thing if handled right. There were some sad sights along that part of the line. Right in front of Steadman 40 or 50 of our men are lying with only a few shovelfuls of dirt thrown over them, their heads and feet exposed. I passed through the Rebel burying ground, quite a large and thickly settled village. Poor fellows. I wish the leaders who led or rather pushed them into these little clay hills were all beside them. This is a nice town, not very pretty though. Good deal of business done. Hundreds of Rebel officers, Lieutenant General Gordon among them, walk the streets in full uniform. Drury's Bluff, Va., May 9, 1865. We were reviewed by Howard, Logan and Hartsuff this morning as we passed through Petersburg. We lie to- night along the outer line of Drury's Bluff defenses which Butler took a year ago this month. Signs of a good deal of fighting; good many roads, etc. The James river is about one mile to our right. I have been to some very fine forts. Fort Wagner and Fort Stevens (or Stephens) are the best, on the second and main line of Rebel works, which Butler was working against when the Rebels came out and whipped him. From one fort I saw the spires of Richmond, James river and Shipping, Fort Darling and Fort Harrison. Coming back toward camp we found one of our soldiers unburied in the bushes. His skull was brought in by our hospital steward. Manchester, Va., May 10. 1865. The rain yesterday made the road, which is a splendid one fifty yards wide, just right for traveling. We passed through three lines of Drury's Bluff and Fort Darling defenses, and are now at the second and inside line of works for the defense of Richmond. Hostile Yankees never saw either of these two lines at this point, or any other, I guess, this side of the James River. It is about 380 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 22 miles from Richmond to Petersburg. "Old Brains" (Halleck) issued his proclamation that no soldier or officer of this army should enter Richmond only when we pass through. Howard and Logan say they will pass around if they can. I hope they will. We have a fine view of Richmond from here. It is situated much like Peoria and Columbia, S. C. The burned district shows very plainly from here and makes the resemblance to Columbia very striking. Several thousand men and officers of the corps made a raid on Logan last night and got a little talk from him. He was very careful not to say too much, all small talk. This got up a real elephant hunting mania, and I guess every regi- ment commanded in the corps was called out. Colonel Wright had to make a little talk. The 14th and 20th move out to- morrow. May 11, 1865. The 14th and 20th crossed the river and went as far as Han- over to-day. May 12, 1865. The 17th Corps has the road to-day. Heavy thunder storm last night with a great deal of rain. Four men of our division were killed by lightning about 200 yards from our tent. One of them, William Hall, belonged to Company D of our regi- ment. Two men were killed in a tent in which were 15, and of the four lying side by side, two were killed. Can't hear yet for certain when we will be mustered out. We move towards Alexandria to-morrow. North Bank of Chickahominy River, May 13, 1865. We crossed the James river this a. m. Our division, the rear of the corps, paraded a little around Richmond, saw Libby Prison, Castle Thunder, the bronze statue of Washington, ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 381 Lee's and Davis' residence, and a number of women. Some handkerchiefs flying. Two women told us they were Yankees and looked so sweet that I (in theory) lifted my hat to them. It always puts me out of humor to see Southern women cheer Yanks in public. We passed through the Rebel works where Kilpatrick made his bold dash in March, '64. We are six or seven miles above Mechanicsville, and McClellan's old battle ground. Near Hanover, C. H., Va., May 14, 1865. Only made nine miles to-day on account of the Pamunky river here being bad. We camp to-night in the Hanover "slashes," one mile east of the birthplace of Henry Clay, and about two miles from the residence of Patrick Henry. The court house is where the latter delivered his famous speech against the clergy. Henry's house is built of brick, imported, and was built in 1776. We passed the place where McClellan's famous seven days' fight commenced. The whole country is waste. I hear a country legend here that Clay was the ille- gitimate son of Patrick Henry. The court house was built in 1735- South of Bowling Green, Va., May 15, 1865. Crossed the Pamunky river this morning and the Mattapony this p. m. Beautiful country, but most desolate looking. Stopped at a house for the "cute and original" purpose of ask- ing for a drink of water. While a servant went to the spring had a very interesting chat with the ladies, the first of the sex I have spoken to in Virginia. One of them was quite pleasant. She inquired if we Yankees were really all going to Mexico. Told her "such was the case," when she remarked, "Well, all our men are killed off, and if all you Northerners go to Mex- ico, we women will have our rights sure." Heard of Davis' capture. Did not excite an emotion. 382 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. Five miles south of Fredericksburg, May 16, 1865. Our division and brigade in advance of corps to-day. Made 24 miles by 2 p. m. Fences all gone on the road, but houses all standing. From a bluff three miles back had a beautiful view of about 15 miles of the Rappahannock valley and in all that did not see a fence or a cultivated field, or a specimen of either the kine, sheep, or swine families. This certainly does not largely rank the Sahara. Passed through a melancholy look- ing line of rifle pits, and mentally thanked Heaven for my poor prospect of ever using the like again. Passed through Bowl- ing Green this a. m., only 11 miles from where Booth was killed. Aquia Creek, Va., May 17, 1865. We passed over the whole line of Burnside's battle ground this morning. (It was no fight, only a Yankee slaughter.) Through Fredericksburg, the most shelled town I ever saw; ■crossed the Rappahannock on a miserable shaky pontoon, and have been traveling ever since in the camps of the Potomac Army. Desolation reigns equal to the Sodom and Gomorrah country. Country much more broken than I supposed ; very hot part of the day. One man of the 48th Illinois fell dead while marching, and eight or ten in our regiment badly affected by heat. Occoquan Creek, May 18, 1865. Another day's march. Heavy rain and thunder storm com- menced ten minutes before our wagons got in, and then the wind blew so hard that we could not get our tent up for an hour, and everybody got thoroughly soaked. Near Alexandria. Va., May 19, 1865. Rained all night. Reveille at 2 p. m., and started off before daylight. Men waded two or three creeks to their middles. March miserably conducted. Passed the church that Wash- W 86 ARMY LIFE OF AN ILLINOIS SOLDIER. 383 ington attended, built in 1783. It has nearly all, except roof and walls, been carried away by relic maniacs. Our division marched through Mt. Vernon by the vault and residence. Thus closes this diary of one of the most memorable year's campaigns in the history of modern times. We remained in camp between Alexandria and Arlington until the 23d, when we crossed the Potomac river, of which we had heard so much, and the next day (the 24th), parti- cipated in the Grand Review of the Grandest Army that ever was created. 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