THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
IN MEMORY OF
James J. McBride
PRESENTED BY
Margaret McBride
HISTORY
NINETY-FIFTH REGIMENT
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
FROM ITS ORGANIZATION IN THE FALL OF 1862, UNTIL ITS FINAL DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED STATES SERVICE, IN 1865.
BY WALES W. WOOD, ESQ.,
(Former Adjutant of Regiment.)
CHICAGO :
TEIBUNE COMPANY'S BOOK AND JOB FEINTING OFFICE. 1865.
T
Entered according to Act of Congress In the year 1865, by
WALES W. WOOD,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Northern District of Illinois.
J. L. BATOHELDER, BINDER, MeCormiok'i Block, 8. E. cor. Randolph & Dearborn.
E
SO5.5
wash
TO THE
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN
NINETY-FIFTH REGIMENT
ILLINOIS INFANTEY VOLUNTEERS,
I'his volume is respectfully dedicated, by
THE AUTHOR.
Q
PEEFAOE.
DURING the past summer, while the 16th Army Corps lay in camp at Montgomery, Alabama, the author commenced writing a historical report of the Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, from its organization, with the view merely of having the same entered upon the regimental books, and become a part of the regimental records, for future reference and information.
The commissioned officers and enlisted men having urgently requested its publication, that each member of the command and others interested might be sup- plied with a copy, it has been deemed advisable to issue the history in the form of the present volume.
In submitting the work to the public, the author is aware that it contains nothing of particular interest to any, except the survivors of the regiment, the friends of its deceased members, and the people of the coun-
yi PREFACE.
ties in which it was raised ; and it is more especially for their benefit that the present publication appears.
It is believed, however, that works of this nature will prove of great assistance to the general historian, in writing up his record of the Rebellion. If each regiment present its history from the beginning, pre- pared accurately by one of its own members, the gen- eral writer may then be able to cull therefrom much of the material necessary to a complete and reliable history of the late war against the Union.
The author is indebted to Lieut Amos J. Boyington, of Company "A," Corporal Robert Horan and Private Samuel Pepper, of Company " G," for the use of their diaries kept on the Red River, Guntown and Arkansas expeditions, and also to other officers and enlisted men of the regiment, for valuable information from time to time imparted.
CHICAGO, ILL., Nov. 15, 1865.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Organization of Regiment at Camp Fuller — Drills and Parades — Discipline — Military abatement of a Whisky Shop — Orders to proceed to Louisville, Ky., countermanded — Incidents on return of Regiment to Camp Fuller — Regiment afterward ordered to Columbus, Ky 13 — 25
CHAPTER II.
Journey of the Regiment to Cairo, 111., and Columbus, Ky. — Re- port to General Davis, at Columbus — The Iron Cable — The trip to Jackson, Tenn. — Camp Life at Jackson — How a Ninety-fifth Man supposed himself captured by a Rebei Cavalryman, and how he was mistaken — Ordered to Grand Junction, Tenn. — Report to Brig. General Hamilton — Assigned to General McArthur's Division, 13th Army Corps — Incidents of Camp Life at Grand Junction — Preparations for a forward movement 26 — 38
CHAPTER III.
The Movement from Grand Junction — A tedious Day's March — Fatigue of the Men — Iron Accessions to Knapsacks — Crossing the Tallahatchie — Halt at Abbeville — Advance to Tockena — News of Van Dorn's Raid into Holly Springs — Return of the Army — Expedition to Salem, Miss. — Anecdote of a Jug — March of the Regiment to Memphis 39 — 62
viii CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
Expedition from Memphis down the River against Vicksburg — Arrival at.Milliken's Bend — The Canal near Young's Point — Colonel Deitzler's Brigade ordered to Lake Providence — Impor- tant order affecting the Ninety-fifth — The Canal at Lake Provi- dence— Sickness and Death in the Regiment — Raising of Col- ored Regiments — Policy of the Government concerning Slavery during the Rebellion, reviewed — Resignation of Colonel Church
— March of the Army from Milliken's Bend to " Hard Times" Landing — Ninety-fifth transferred to General Ransom's Brigade
— Crossing to Grand Gulf — March to rear of Vicksburg — Charges of 19th and 22nd of May — The Siege — Surrender of the City — General Ransom' s Brigade sent to Natchez — Its operati ons while there — Its return to Vicksburg 53 — 91
CHAPTER V.
Expeditions from Vicksburg in Spring of 1864 — Sherman's March to Meridian — Colonel Coates' defense of Yazoo City — The Red River Expedition — Taking of Fort DeRussey — Ninety-fifth de- tailed to destroy the works — Arrival at Alexandria — March to Grand Ecore — Ascending the River on Transports — Battle of Pleasant Hill — Retreat ordered by General Banks — Return of the Fleet — Running Batteries at Vandares — Ninety-fifth as Rear Guard of Banks' Army — Two Days' Fight at Clouterville — Re- treat to Alexandria — Battle of Yellow Bayou — Evacuation of the Red River Country — Return of the Ninety-fifth to Vicks- t>urg 92 — 108
CHAPTER VI.
Arrival of the Regiment at Memphis — Assigned to General Sturgia' Expedition — March from Memphis — Battle of Guntown, Miss.
— Colonel Humphrey killed — Captain Stewart takes command, and is severely wounded — Death of Captain Bush — Command taken by Captain Schellenger — The Regiment fight with despe- ration—Ammunition giving out — Absence of Commanding Offi-
CONTENTS. IX
cers — Ninety- fifth fall back, after a long conflict against superior odds — Form second line of battle — Final Retreat on Memphis
— Hardships — Arrival of the Regiment back to Memphis in de- plorable condition — Comments on the Ghmtown affair. .109 — 116
CHAPTER VII.
The Regiment relieved from duty for a time after the Guntown Battle, and allowed to recruit — The Command soon regains a prosperous condition, and prepares for the Arkansas Expedition, under General Mower — Arrival at St. Charles, Ark. — Company 1 ' K " detached and left at the mouth of White River as Garrison
— Regiment ascends White River to Duvall's Bluff, and goes by Railroad to Brownsville — The lengthy March through Arkansas to Missouri in search of Price — Arrival at Camp Girardeau — " Colonel Pap," and why he was so named — Regiment embarks for St. Louis, and goes to Jefferson City — Ordered forward to Sedalia — Assigned to Garrison Duty — Remain there until the Campaign against Price closes — General A. J. Smith's troops sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis Ill — 124
CHAPTER VIII.
Operations of Hood in Tennessee — His Advance on Nashville — Battles at Columbia, Spring Hill, and Franklin — General Smith's Command ordered to Ree'nforce General Thomas at Nashville — Leaves St. Louis on Transports, and proceeds to Cairo — Voyage up the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers — Safe arrival at Nashville
— Detachments of the Ninety-fifth rejoin the Regiment — Account of the Georgia Detachment during General Sherman's Campaign
— Active preparations made around Nashville to receive Hood — His Army in sight — 'The Ninety-fifth holds an important Position in the Defenses of the City — Work on the Fortifications — Thomas moves his Army out to attack Hood — Great Battles of December 15th and 16th, 1864 — Hood's Army defeated and driven back in confusion — Part taken by the Ninety-fifth — The Pursuit to the Tennessee River — General Smith's Troops ascend the river and go into Winter Quarters, at Eastport, Miss. — Expedition to Corinth
X CONTENTS.
— The Hard- tack Famine atEastport — Corn issued to the Troops — The Boys desire to draw Halters — Arrival of Rations — Preparations for another active Campaign — Transports arriv* to convey the Troops to New Orleans 125 — 156
CHAPTER IX.
The Ninety- fifth embarks on the ' ' Adam Jacobs ' ' for New Orleans — Fleet proceeds down the Tennessee River — Arrival at Cairo — Depredations committed thereby the Troops — Voyage down the Mississippi — General Smith' s forces disembark at Vicksburg — Afterward proceed to New Orleans — Disagreeable Camp below the City on the old Battle-fields — Regiment goes to Dauphine Island by way of Lake Pontchartrain — Arrival at the Island — Expedition of Colonel Moore's Brigade to Cedar Point, and up the west side of the Bay toward Mobile — Oysters and Musqui- toes at Cedar Point — Advance up the Country — How the Music was used to deceive the Enemy — The 44th Missouri Band — Re- turn of the Brigade to Cedar Point — Crosses the Bay, and rejoins 16th Army Corps at Dauley's Landing, on Fish River — General Canby's Army advances on Spanish Fort and Blakely — Invest- ment of both Places — The part performed by the Ninety- fifth in the Reduction of Spanish Fort — Both Strongholds taken by Assault — Fall of Mobile 157—176
CHAPTER X.
The 16th Army Corps ordered to Montgomery, Alabama — Rumors received before leaving Blakely, of General Grant' s victories in the East — The suspicion with which the Ninety-fifth received flying reports, since they were deceived at ' ' Big Sandy' ' — Gen- eral Grant's success confirmed — Enthusiasm with which the Intelligence was received by the Regiments — The Ninety-fifth cheer lustily — The March through the Pine Forests — Guide- boards — A Rattlesnake Affair — Arrival at Greenville — The Ninety-fifth garrison the Town — Feelings of the Inhabitants — A Paper published by the Soldiers — March continued to Mont- gomery— Arrival there — General Wilson's Raid through this
CONTENTS. XI
Section — Tooops camp around the City — Eebel paroled Soldiers from the Eastern Armies pass through — Beauregard, Bragg, Pillow, Semmes — Dick Taylor and Kirby Smith surrender — The Rebellion at an end — Drills resumed by the Ninety-fifth — What General A. J. Smith thought of their Dress Parade — Anecdote of the " Pointer Dog," and how Colonel Blanden came by it — Order from the War Department to Muster out Troops — The Men anxious to get Home — The 16th Corps retained for Garrison Duty in Northern Alabama 177 — 193
CHAPTER XI.
A portion of the 16th Army Corps sent to North-eastern Alabama
— Col. Moore's Brigade garrison Tuskegee, Opelika, and Union Springs — The Ninety-fifth occupy Opelika — Feelings of the Citizens — Stringent Whisky Orders enforced by Col. Blanden — Management of the Negro Question — Paroled Rebel Soldiers — The Fourth of July, and how the Soldiers Celebrated it at Ope- lika— Officers and Men anxious to be Mustered Out — The Regi- ment relieved, and returns to Montgomery to be sent home — Proceeds to Vicksburg via Selma, Meridian, and Jackson — Arrival at Vicksburg — Takes Steamer up the River to St. Louis
— Goes thence to Springfield, 111. , for final Payment and Discharge
— Mustered out of the Service at ' ' Camp Butler ' ' — Return home to McHenry and Boone Counties — The Receptions there given the various Companies — Conclusion 194 — 210
APPENDIX.
Roster of Commissioned Officers and Non-commissioned Staff, shoeing Muster in, Resignations, Deaths and Promotions during Service 211
List showing Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Men mustered out with Regiment, Transferred, Discharged, Died and Deserted. .216
List of Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Men wounded while in Service 232
List of Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Men killed in Action. . 237
List of Campaigns and Battles in which the Regiment took part. .239
xii CONTENTS.
Tabular Statement, showing number of Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Men Mustered out, Transferred, Discharged, Died, De- serted, and aggregate Number belonging to the Regiment during Service. . 240
HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
Organization of Regiment at Camp Fuller — Drills and Parades — Discipline — Military abatement of a Whisky Shop — Orders to proceed to Louisville, Ky., countermanded — Incidents on return of Regiment to Camp Fuller — Regiment afterward ordered to
Columbus, Ky.
UNDER the call for six hundred thousand more vol- unteers, made by President Lincoln in the summer of 1862, to aid in putting down the rebellion, the or- ganization of the Ninety-fifth Eegiment Illinois In- fantry Volunteers was formed, and composed of seven companies from McHenry county, and three com- panies from Boone.
Enlistments in these companies commenced briskly in both counties, in the latter part of July of that year, and the volunteering progressed with such en- thusiasm and rapidity, that on the first of August following several of the companies had obtained the 3
14 HISTOEY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
minimum number of recruits required by law, and by the fifteenth of the same month all were filled to near the maximum standard, and were ready to be assigned to regiments, or to be consolidated into one regimental organization. The officers and men of the companies thus raised, coming as they did from neighboring counties, early expressed a desire to go into the United States service as a regiment, and to effect such object a convention was held at Marengo, Illinois, on the 16th day of August, 1862, when the future field, staff and line officers of the command for the first time assem- bled, became acquainted with each other, and decided upon the military organization. At this meeting the Hon. Daniel Whitney, a citizen and pioneer of Boone county, was called to^the chair, who stated the objects of the convention, and addressed the officers who were about going forth to the defense of the country, elo- quently and with patriotism. The main business before the meeting was the selection of field officers for the new regiment, and Hon. Lawrence S. Church, of Woodstock, McHenry county, was unanimously chosen as its Colonel; Thomas W. Humphrey, of DeKalb county, Lieutenant Colonel ; and Leander Blanden, of Harvard, McHenry county, as Major. The proceedings of the convention were conducted in the best spirit and harmony, and it adjourned with the
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 15
satisfaction of having given shape and consolidation to the ten companies anxiously awaiting its action.
Soon afterward, Governor Yates accepted the regi- ment, designated its number, and directed the compa- nies to rendezvous at " Camp Fuller," Eockford, Illi- nois, for the purpose of completing the regimental organization and muster into the United States service. Accordingly, on the third day of September, 1862, the different companies arrived at the rendezvous indi- cated, taking quarters in barracks erected by Govern- ment for the new troops. On the fourth day of the same month the regiment was .mustered into the ser- vice of the United States by Lieut. J. W. Tibbatts, of the regular army, and at that time the Eoster of Com- missioned Officers thus mustered was as follows :
FIELD AND STAFF.
COLONEL LAWRENCE S. CHURCH. ,
LIEUT. COLONEL THOMAS W. HUMPHREY.
MAJOR LEANDER BLANDEN.
ADJUTANT WALES W. WOOD.
SURGEON . GEORGE N. WOODWARD.
ASST. SURGEON WALTER F. SUITER.
41 " A. D. MERRITT.
QUARTERMASTER HENRY D. BATES.
CHAPLAIN THOS. R. SATTERFIELD.
COMPANY "A."
CAPTAIN. WILLIAM AYERY.
1ST LIEUTENANT ALEXANDER S. STEWART.
2*D LIEUTENANT. . . ..JAMES E. SPONABLE.
16 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
COMPANY "B."
CAPTAIN CHARLES B. LOOP.
1ST LIEUTENANT MILTON E. KEELER.
2ND LIEUTENANT AARON F. RANDALL.
COMPANY " C."
CAPTAIN JASON B. MANZER.
IST LIEUTENANT WM. W. WEDGEWOOD.
2ND LIEUTENANT OTIS H. SMITH.
COMPANY "D."
CAPTAIN EDWARD J. COOK.
IST LIEUTENANT JOHN E. BECKLEY.
2ND LIEUTENANT WM. H. HUFFMAN.
COMPANY "E."
CAPTAIN JOHN EDDY.
1ST LIEUTENANT ASA FARNUM.
2ND LIEUTENANT OSCAR E. DOWE.
COMPANY "F."
CAPTAIN WM. H. STEWART,
V1ST LIEUTENANT SABINE VAN CUREN.
2ND LIEUTENANT PHINEAS H. KERR.
COMPANY "G."
CAPTAIN ELLIOTT N. BUSH.
1ST LIEUTENANT HENRY M. BUSH.
2ND LIEUTENANT JOSEPH M. COLLYER.
COMPANY "H."
CAPTAIN CHARLES H. TRYON.
IST LIEUTENANT JAMES H. WETMORE.
2ND LIEUTENANT . . . .WM. B. WALKER.
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 17
COMPANY "I."
CAPTAIN JAMES NISH.
1ST LIEUTENANT GARDNER S. SOUTHWORTE.
2ND LIEUTENANT CONVERSE PIERCE.
COMPANY "K."
CAPTAIN GABRIEL E. CORNWELL.
IST LIEUTENANT ALMON SCHELLENGER.
2ND LIEUTENANT ALONZO BROOKS.
On the same day, September 4th, 1862, the Colonel commanding the regiment, by Regimental Order No. one, made appointments of non-commissioned officers for the several companies, and on the 9th, the non- commissioned staff was ordered as follows :
SERGEANT MAJOR BENNETT T. W AKEMAN.
QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT WM. H. EARLET.
COMMISSARY SERGEANT JOHN B. HURLBUT.
HOSPITAL STEWARD WILBUR P. BUCK.
DRUM MAJOR JUSTUS M. SHEFFIELD.
FIFE MAJOR THEODORE INGHAM.
Soon after the muster in and completion of the regi- mental organization, the regiment began inquiring studiously into the "Revised Army Regulations" and "Tactics," and preparing for the real and active service before them in the field. It was known that the regiment would remain at Camp Fuller a few weeks before leaving the State, and meanwhile the commissioned officers and enlisted men, heretofore un-
18 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
accustomed to the conditions of military life, had a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with some of its mysteries and requirements, of studying into the theoretical part of war, and of informing themselves generally in reference to the duties appertaining to their respective offices. Squad drills, company and battalion drills, dress parades,, and commissioned and non-commissioned officers' schools at night, were at once instituted, and the whole camp, from morning till evening, now became busy with the hum and tramp of military preparation. .
During the same fall, three other regiments — the Seventy-fourth, Ninety-second, and Ninety-sixth Illi- nois Infantry — raised in Northern Illinois, were in ren- dezvous camp at Rockford at the same time with the Ninety -fifth, and among them all arose a friendly inter- course of brothers in arms. A spirit of rivalry sprang up, commendable to the officers and soldiers of the different organizations, and beneficial to the service they were about entering upon.
After the departure of the Seventy-fourth Illinois for the field, Colonel Church, being senior in rank, was placed in command of the Post, and while admin- istering in this capacity, won the praise of all, and gave entire satisfaction to the other regiments, as well as his own. Most of the time, however, during the
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 19
encampment at Camp Fuller, Colonel Church's health was very feeble. The sick bed seemed a much more appropriate place for him than the camp, yet his ar- dent patriotism, and an overruling desire to be with his men all the time, determined him to remain with them, though already prostrated with sickness. The duties of commanding and disciplining the regiment therefore devolved much of the time upon Lieut. Col. Humphrey, who exerted himself energetically and constantly to promote the welfare and efficiency of the command, and give it as thorough preparation as pos- sible for the field. Under his rigid but beneficial dis- cipline, and assisted by instructions from Lieut. Sellers, of the 36th Illinois Infantry, who was employed as drill-master, the regiment made rapid progress, and in a few weeks could perform dress-parade, guard-mount- ing, and the various maneuvres and evolutions pre- scribed in the Tactics, with much credit and a good de- gree of proficiency, as was judged by those who had seen active military service.
The regiment at this encampment was within a few hours ride of home, and day after day, during their stay there, the friends and acquaintances of the soldiers came flocking in from all parts of Boone and McHenry counties, attracted thither by the great interest taken in the welfare of the regiment, and bringing with them
20 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
large and benevolent supplies of eatables and luxuries palatable to the taste, and conducive to the comfort and contentment of the " boys in blue." To such an extent was the generosity of the good and loyal peo- ple of those counties carried in this respect, that pro- visions of all kinds — not known in the commissary department of the army — appeared in great abun- dance and superfluity upon the mess tables of com- missioned officers and private soldiers alike. Amid such liberal niceties of the season the ordinary rations of "hardtack," — coffee, sugar, meat, and-so-forth, — provided for the soldier by the Government, were somewhat at discount, and his appetite did not crave while these profuse gifts were continually pouring in from the hands of a generous and warm-hearted pub- lic. It might be thought, as a sanitary consideration, that the light and sweetened food thus freely furnished to the inmates of the camp would not fit them prop- erly for the hard knocks of military life, and since sooner or later they were to come to it, that hard- cracker without butter, coffee without milk, potatoes desiccated, and pork and beans, were the substantiate on which soldiers should be prepared for the field. The boys of the Ninety-fifth, however, did not thus consider the matter, and during their sojourn at Camp Fuller, the varieties of eatables sent in to overflowing
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 21
failed not to find in them thankful and happy recipi- ents and greedy consumers.
Notwithstanding the excitement consequent upon the arrival in camp, daily, of such multitudes of visit- ors, the drills, parades and disciplining of the regi- ment progressed in a favorable and highly satisfactory manner.
The orders, while here, were quite strict, not allow- ing officers or enlisted men to visit their homes, ex- cept in few instances, and then only on proper author- ity. Some of the men, not then fully comprehending the necessity of that severe discipline which thus early in the service bound them down to strict regulations, and desirous of enjoying home associations as much as possible before taking final leave for the war, carried into effect their mischievous inclinations, and, unbe- known to the Colonel commanding, took the benefit of what is termed in the army " French furlough." Such did not stand upon the order of their going, but went without orders. Only a few cases of this kind occurred, however, and the general conduct of the command while at Eockford was good and soldierly throughout
While in camp at this point, a certain Irishman located and opened an establishment, in close proxim- ity to the regimental camp, for the purpose of retailing
22 HISTORY OP THE NINETY-FIFTH
intoxicating beverages to soldiers. This matter was brought to the notice of the Lt. Colonel commanding rather strikingly one day, as certain parties were observed to be returning from that locality, not walk- ing in the strictest line possible, nor seemingly over ground of the most level character. Other indications were manifested in their bearing going plainly to show that these few men of the Ninety-fifth had imbibed somewhat in excess of moderation at the Irishman's shop, and that they were not living strictly up to the temperance pledge, if indeed they ever took it. Colo- nel Humphrey therefore notified the proprietor of the alcoholic establishment that his trade in spirituous liquors so near to the camp was having a deleterious effect upon the command, producing conduct prejudi- cial to good order and military discipline, and warned him to move his whisky concern from that vicinity immediately.
The proprietor thereof, however, supposing the United States of America to be a free country, where every one could do as he pleased, and not being accustomed to the practical promulgation and enforce- ment of military orders, could not see the matter in the same light in which the Lt Colonel viewed it, and concluded to keep open his doors and continue the practice of dealing out strong drinks to whoever
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 23
thirsted in that locality, without reference to the mili- tary commander and in disregard of his opinions or orders on the subject. Colonel Humphrey now deter- mined that the nuisance should be at once abated by military force, and that the evil which could not be suppressed by persuasion should be eradicated and banished by means of coercion. He accordingly ordered a detachment of his command, in charge of a commissioned officer, to proceed to the liquor shop, arrest the proprietor, seize the whisky, load the same into a wagon provided for the purpose, and report to. regimental head-quarters without delay. The party detailed, promptly obeyed and literally carried into effect the order for arrest and confiscation. The whisky dealer was brought in, surrounded with bristling bayo- nets, and the vinous contents of the alcoholic institution were soon safely deposited at regimental hedal-quarters, and stowed away for safe keeping, to await further action and orders. The result of the whole matter was, that the keeper of the shop, being released, went to the city of Eockford and made complaint to the civil authorities of his grievances. A certain judge afterward came to regimental head-quarters and arranged with the com- manding officer as follows : that the owner of the property confiscated be allowed to resume possession thereof, but that he remove both himself and his
24 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
rummery away from the vicinity of that encampment forthwith.
On the 29th day of September, 1862, orders were received from Governor Yates for the regiment to leave the State immediately, after receiving pay and bounty,- proceed to Louisville, Kentucky, and report for duty to Major General H. G. Wright, commanding the De- partment of the Ohio. The camp was astir early on the morning of the day set for departing from Camp Ful- ler, and the soldiers, little supposing that they were to return thither so soon as they afterward did, made bonfires of almost everything combustible about camp in the shape of old barrels, boxes, mess-tables and benches. The barracks were left standing, but certain compartments of those even had been rendered so unpleasant, that, to say the least, their condition would not be of an inviting character to returning occupants, and would require some police duty before their use could be again tolerated. At an early hour of the same day, the regiment took up its line of march through the city of Eockford to the railroad depot, and rilled the cars provided for conveying the com- mand to Chicago. Scarcely, however, was the embar- kation finished when Colonel Church received a tele- gram from Governor Yates which rescinded the former order of march, and directed him to return to Camp
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 25
Fuller with his command and remain there until fur- ther orders. In compliance, the regiment marched back to the old camp — all tired and disappointed in not getting off for the war.
And now the men began to wish they possessed the benches and mess-tables, and various articles of mili- tary household furniture, which a short time previous they had consigned to the flames, under supposition that such conveniences would never be again needed. Certain ones well remembered, too, in what plight their quarters at the barracks had been left, and the mis- chievous circumstance which had furnished the boys with much fun and merriment at the outset, was now, in a practical application to themselves, not so much of a laughing matter after all.
The regiment now resumed drilling, and employed the time usefully until October 30th, when new orders were received from Adjutant General Fuller, at Spring- field, to move the command immediately to Columbus, Kentucky, and report for duty to Major General U. S. Grant, commanding the Department and Army of the Tennessee.
26 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
CHAPTER II.
Journey of the Regiment to Cairo, HI., and Columbus, Ky. — Re- port to General Davis, at Columbus — The Iron Cable — The trip to Jackson, Tenn. — Camp Life at Jackson — How a Ninety-fifth Man supposed himself captured by a Rebel Cavalryman, and how he was mistaken — Ordered to Grand Junction, Tenn. — Report to Brig. General Hamilton — Assigned to General Me Arthur's Division, 13th Army Corps — Incidents of Camp Life at Grand Junction — Preparations for a forward movement.
ON the fourth day of November, 1862, in accordance with orders from head-quarters of the State, the regiment took the cars at Rockford, passing over the North- Western road to Chicago, and proceeded thence to Cairo, HI., by the Illinois Central. At the time of leaving " Camp Fuller " for the seat of war, it num- bered as follows :
Commissioned Officers 39
Enlisted Men 944
Aggregate 983
most o£ whom accompanied the regiment, and only a very few sick soldiers were left behind. The com-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 27
mand arrived at Cairo on the morning of November 6th, after a long and tedious ride over the Illinois Central Eailroad, and immediately embarked on the steamer " Dacotah " for Columbus, Ky. ; landed at that place in the afternoon of the same day, and reported for orders to Brigadier General Davis, commanding the district. He instructed the Colonel to keep his regiment on the boat until evening, when railroad transportation would be furnished to Jackson, Tenn. It was here that Col- onel L. S. Church, who, though in feeble health, had attended the regiment hither, having been wearied and broken down still more by the long journey, was obliged to leave the command and return to his home. He did this with much reluctance on his part, and to the deep regret of the entire regiment, but under the most urgent advice and solicitation of medical officers. All saw that his health was rapidly failing, that his speedy return North was necessary for his recovery ; and it was with many a sorrowful feeling that his officers and men bade him farewell, still hoping, how- ever, that, with health restored, he would come again to command them and take part in those busy mili- tary scenes upon which the regiment was now entering. At Columbus the curiosity of all was excited at the sight of the bluffy stronghold which a few months previous had been in rebel possession, and which for
28 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
some time served as a formidable barrier to Federal navigation of the Mississippi river. The important military movements from Cairo and other points in the spring of '62 had necessitated its evacuation. While occupying the place, the rebels had sunk a huge iron chain or cable in the river above the town, fastened to either shore, to prevent the downward passage of Union boats, and a portion of it could still be seen hanging in broken condition over the bluffs, showing exactly the location of the obstruction in the times of its use- fulness to the Confederacy. At the wharf another piece of this chain, which had been fished out of the river, was lying coiled up, and attracted crowds of the men, who were curious to examine the monster cable about which so much had been said and written. The desire to collect relics of the war already mani- fested itself, and one soldier expressed an ardent wish to secure a portion of the chain and preserve the same as a curiosity. It was wisely concluded, however, that the men had quite enough traps on hand already, 'quite enough baggage and sufficiently full knapsacks without being encumbered by such ponderous mate- rial as superfluous iron.
Toward evening of the same day, November 6th, orders came for the regiment to debark from the steamer and proceed by railroad to Jackson, Tennessee, report-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 29
ing there to Major General S. A. Hurlbut, command- ing that district. The cars provided for the trip were filled to overflowing, the loading was finished during the evening, and at a late hour the train moved out for its destination. Freight cars were employed on this road for transporting troops, and it was the first time in the lives of the passengers that they had had the pleasure of an excursion in that particular kind of vehicles. Yet there was no murmuring on this account among the soldiers, for they were traveling upon a military railroad, from which rebels had run off or destroyed a great share of the rolling stock, and they cheerfully accepted such regulations and accom- modations as the circumstances of war afforded. The regiment arrived safely at Jackson at about one o'clock on the morning of November 7th, and was immedi- ately reported to Major General Hurlbut as ordered. He directed Lt Col. Humphrey to keep his command upon or near the cars until morning, when a camp would be assigned. Meanwhile the Colonel caused guards to be thrown out around the regiment, lest some depredations might be committed in the town for which he would be censured and held responsible. 1 In the morning General Hurlbut visited the regi- ment, and jokingly inquired of the Colonel what regi- ment of prisoners he was guarding ? At an early hour 4
30 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
the regiment moved into the camp designated, near the city, and thereafter reported to Colonel M. K. Lawler, then commanding the Post of Jackson. The time at this station was spent by the regiment in drill- ing, performing post and picket duty and learning certain things concerning military life not inculcated in the schooling at Camp Fuller. Severe orders were received here from superior head-quarters, prohibiting soldiers from committing depredations of any kind, entering the yards and premises of citizens, and being absent from the encampment without proper authority. One day a member of the Ninety-fifth, unmindful of the strict regulations in force, happened to wander rome distance from camp, for the purpose of procur- ing certain articles of nourishment not usually issued by the army commissaries — articles which did not really belong to him, but which he thought might be collected without injury to any loyal individual, and with gratification to his own appetite and that of his companions in carnp. While out on this expedition he suddenly found himself surprised by an individual claiming to be one of " Jackson's Confederate cavalry," and who at once demanded the immediate and uncon- ditional surrender of the astonished Union soldier. Seeing himself overpowered he complyingly delivered himself up. The captor, however, informed the pris-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 81
oner that if he would reveal his name, company and regiment, and give information as to the number and disposition of the Federal forces then encamped at Jackson, also the name of the commanding general, he could be released and allowed to return to camp. Little suspecting the real military character of the captor, and not having enlisted in the service for the purpose of conveying important intelligence or render- ing aid and comfort to the enemy, the steadfast devotee of Uncle Samuel gave a most cunning and glowing account of the number and disposition of the Union army at Jackson, which information was characterized more for intended exaggeration than entire truthfulness. It turned out that the supposed Confederate cavalryman was none other than a disguised Federal, whom the commanding general had sent out for the purpose of looking after stragglers, and soon afterward an order was received at regimental head-quarters from Major General Hurlbut, directing that " the soldier of the Ninety-fifth who strayed away from camp on Sunday, and met, as he says, one of Jackson's Confederate cavalry, be kept on bread and water three (3) days, and perform three (3) days hard labor, for the offense of leaving camp lines without proper permission or orders:" which punishment the commanding officer of the regiment caused to be carried into effect
82 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
The command was to remain in camp at Jackson only a few days, when it would be hurried forward to the front, where preparations were already going on in the army under General Grant for an active campaign in the field. The regiment had as yet experienced little of the fatigues and onerous duties incident to war ; had made no marches of any length loaded down with knapsacks, blankets, haversacks, guns and accoutre- ments, and as it was soon to be called upon to perform such tasks, the commanding officer thought best to practice in that kind of drill preparatory to leaving Jackson. Accordingly, one day the regiment was ordered out for a march, fully armed and accoutred, which, in the army, is well understood to include all the military appendages and implements carried by a soldier. The direction taken was on one of the main roads leading from the city, and the day chosen was of the sultriest kind, though in the month of Novem- ber. The men, with their well-filled, heavy knapsacks strapped upon their backs, moved along the route for a short distance with ease and without a murmur, but as the advance continued, the burdens upon their per- sons grew weightier and weightier, and they now began to fully realize the irksomeness produced by being obliged to carry knapsacks several hours and miles in succession. The commanding officer continued the
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 33
march, a few miles into the country, and having pro- ceeded a distance sufficiently satisfactory to all con- cerned, countermarched to camp, the regiment being greatly fatigued, and the men not being very favora- bly disposed to a repetition of " Colonel Tom's knap- sack drill."
On the twenty -first day of November, 1862, the regiment proceeded by railroad to Grand Junction, Tennessee, in accordance with orders from General Hurlbut, with instructions to report to Brigadier Gene- ral Hamilton, then commanding the left wing 13th Army Corps, Army and Department of the Tennessee. On arriving there, it was immediately assigned to Brigadier General John McArthur's Division of this corps, and was conducted into camp by one of his staff officers, who met the regiment at the depot for that purpose. The Ninety-fifth was the first new regi- ment under the President's last call for troops to enter this division of the old array, and was now called upon to associate, drill, march, fight and compete with those veteran regiments, which, entering the service at the beginning of the war, had fought nobly and won lau- rels in the hotly contested battles of Belmont, Wilson's Creek, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, luka and Hatchie. The division of General McArthur at this time was composed of some of the oldest and best
34 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
troops sent to the field from the States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Kansas. The Eleventh, Twelfth and Seventeenth Illinois, the Fourteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Wisconsin, the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fif- teenth and Sixteenth Iowa, and the First Kansas regi- ments belonged to it, and had already made their mark in the war against secession and rebellion. Their ranks had been thinned by the casualties of battle and the service, and their regimental organizations had thereby become reduced far below the minimum standard.
The advent of a new, full regiment among them was therefore a matter of curiosity with these battle- scarred and war-experienced veterans. They were anxious to see how the raw recruits, just down from the North, would conduct themselves in camp life ; anxious to scrutinize their movements on dress- parade and drill, supposing the regiment had as yet obtained little knowledge of such matters. On the evening of Nov. 21st, as the Ninety-fifth passed from the cars at Grand Junction, and wended their way through the various encampments to its own, the old soldiers gathered along its route to witness the big regiment. So long had it been since they had seen a full one, that many of them wanted to know what brigade was passing ? Late in the evening the regi-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 35
ment reached its camping-grounds, and was welcomed by the excellent brass band of Colonel Deitzler's Brig- ade, who cheered up the boys with patriotic music. On the following day, the regiment was assigned to the 1st Brigade of General McArthur's Division, com- manded by Colonel George W. Deitzler of the 1st Kansas Infantry — afterward Brigadier General of Volunteers. Thus was completed its incorporation into the grand Army of the Tennessee, then preparing for a general forward movement, under the direction of Major General Grant, against the enemy in North- ern Mississippi.
Attached now to one of the best fighting divisions in the army, the task before it was to establish and build up a good military character, of which the di- vision might be proud, and which would make the organization an ornament and honor to the service and country. Soon after getting settled in this camp, the regiment resumed its dress-parades, and the ap- pearance of the new command in such an act attracted a crowd of military observers and critics, who were curious to know how these inexperienced troops would perform. The general commanding the division was also present, and desired to learn of what material the regiment consisted. He and all others in attendance were highly satisfied and astonished to see with what
36 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
precision and uniformity the new levies executed the different movements. A few days afterward the whole division was ordered out on drill, where a dozen regi- ments, several batteries of artillery and a battalion of cavalry were tomaneuvre together at the commands of the general. On this occasion the Ninety-fifth, for the first time in its military existence, took part in an exercise of this character, and acquitted itself with credit, obtaining particular praise from the general commanding. During this same drill, the. regiments were all sweeping up over the wide field and passing the general in line of battle. As the Ninety -fifth ap- proached with steady step and unbroken line, he glanced along the well-guided ranks with admiration } and remarked that the Ninety-fifth need n't be called a new regiment any longer, it was old enough for the service. Thus at the outset the regiment won golden opinions from old officers and soldiers. The drilling and constant preparation for such scenes while in camp at Kockford and Jackson, now produced the good results of such training, and the organization, in its efficient and well:disciplined condition, was con- sidered a valuable acquisition to the brigade and division.
The regiment, at the time of leaving the State, was unprovided with tents of any kind, and after arriving
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 87
at Jackson was unable to procure any except the small shelter, or as the soldiers were wont to call them, " dog or pup tents." These were deemed a great nuisance, as they had to be pitched close upon the ground, and none but the very shortest men could sleep beneath them unexposed to the weather. On reaching Grand Junction it was observed that other regiments were well supplied, and made comfortable with the large wall-tents, and Colonel Humphrey, always solicitous for the welfare of his men, determined that this matter should be remedied in his own command, if possible. He accordingly invited General McArthur to visit his camp one day, for the purpose of witnessing the prac- tical workings of the shelter-tent Preparatory to the general's inspection, the colonel, employing a little strategy, caused one of the tents to be pitched in front of his head-quarters, and arranged with a man over six feet high, the tallest soldier in the regiment, that he should be lying in it, stretched to his fullest length, at the general's approach. It was utterly impossible for a man of such proportions as the soldier selected, to occupy the tent without constantly having the head and feet exposed. The general, on witnessing this ludicrous scene, expressed his displeasure at such con- tracted provision for the men of his command, and assured the colonel that larger accommodations should 5
38 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
be at once provided. Soon afterward, the condemned shelter-tents were all turned over, and the regiment supplied with the same kind as the other troops.
The stay at Camp No. Three, Grand Junction, was short, and soon General Grant ordered forward the whole Army of the Tennessee, then collected at this point, at LaGrange, and near Memphis, against the enemy, reported to be in force near the Tallahatchie river, in the State of Mississippi. It was expected the rebels would offer battle, and contest the passage at that point
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 39
CHAPTER III.
The Movement from Grand Junction — A tedious Day's March — Fatigue of the Men — Iron Accessions to Knapsacks — Crossing the Tallahatchie — Halt at Abbeville — Advance to Yockena — News of Van Dora's Raid into Holly Springs — Return of the Army — Expedition to Salem, Miss. — Anecdote of a Jug — March of the Regiment to Memphis.
AT an early hour on the morning of November 26th, 1862, the camps were aroused at Grand Junction by the familiar reveille, tents struck, knap- sacks packed, coffee and hard-cracker partaken of, and everything made ready for a seasonable departura Following the practice instituted at Camp Fuller, the Ninety -fifth made bonfires of boxes, barrels, mess tables and other camp furniture for which there was no transportation, and which were of no further mili- tary importance. There were no barracks at this point for the troops, and no occasion was, therefore, offered for the happening of mischievousness similar to that which has already been related in connection with the return of the regiment to camp from the
40 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
dSpot at Kockford, Illinois. The custom of disposing by fire of all articles and rubbish of old camps pre- vails universally in the army, and whatever the soldier has used in camp for his own comfort, if it cannot be transported at the time of moving, must suffer uncere- monious consignment to the devouring flames, or be otherwise destroyed. In other words, nothing useful to a human being in rebeldom must at such times be left behind to fall into the enemy's hands for his aid and comfort The route taken by this portion of Gen- eral Grant's army was through the northern part of the State of Mississippi, moving on the road leading to Holly Springs, Abbeville and Oxford. After the decisive battles of Shiloh and the seige of Corinth, the Confederates had retreated to their new line of operations and thrown up strong fortifications on the south side of the Tallahatchie river, a short distance north of Abbevilla The main traveled road and the Mississippi Central Eailroad crossed the river at this point, and here General Pemberton was stationed in force, to resist the passage of the large Federal army which was now sweeping forward, with the rebel stronghold on the Tallahatchie as the objective point The first day's march out from Grand Junction was long and tedious, continuing far into the night before bivouacking. The distance traveled must have been
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 41
full twenty-five miles. Some of the men, overcome with fatigue and troubled with sore feet, were obliged to fall out of the ranks and come up afterward as best they could. This was the first real march the regi- ment had ever undertaken, and it was not expected that they would perform it with the same endurance as those who were enured to such duty by long ser- vice in the field. Yet a small number only was found absent from roll-call after arriving in camp that night, though all were tired, sorefooted and hungry, and well prepared for relishing the contents of their haversacks and for the enjoyment of sleep.
The men, before starting from camp that morning, had filled their knapsacks to their fullest capacity, putting in articles and material more weighty than old soldiers would have deemed advisable under the cir- cumstances. For a few miles these burdens seemed light, the march progressed lively, and the boys were cheerful and talkative, even to witticism. Now and then along the road horse-shoes were discovered which had been relieved from further duty on the hoof, and a few of the men, disliking to pass by and abandon such articles, undertook to transport a number of them, thinking they would be productive of good luck, and be useful, perhaps, to some one in the future. The knapsacks, increased in weight by such metallic acces-
42 HISTORY OP THE NINETY-FIFTH
sions, grew heavier and more irksome, until finally the horse-shoes were willingly cast away, and the question began to be seriously agitated whether the regulation bulk of the knapsack itself should not be overhauled, lightened and materially decreased, retaining little else therein except what was actually needful on the march.
On the following day the march was resumed, and the column moved on through Holly Springs and seven miles beyond, to near Lumpkin's Mills, where the whole army halted for the night There were now indications that we were nearing the enemy, as there had been lively skirmishing by our cavalry in front, and the occasional booming of artillery suggested that active work might be at hand. We were only a -few miles from the Tallahatchie, where the main force of the enemy was supposed to be, and the Federal column rested in camp, November 28th, with orders to regimental commanders to keep their men well in hand, while the First Kansas and the Eleventh Illi- nois, of Colonel Deitzler's brigade, made a reconnoi- sance in the direction of the crossing at the river, felt of the enemy and ascertained his position, preparatory to a general engagement On the 29th, information was received that the enemy was evacuating his forti- fications at the Tallahatchie, and General Grant ordered
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 43
his army forward immediately. General McArthur's was the advance division, and Colonel Deitzler's the advance brigade. The column moved in the after- noon of that day, and the advance arrived at the recently evacuated fort on the north side of the river after dark, the Ninety-fifth being the second regiment of infantry to occupy it The bridge at this point had been burned by the retreating rebels, and only the Eleventh Illinois Infantry, and companies " A " and " F," of the Ninety-fifth, succeeded in crossing on the remaining stringers. The cavalry had already forded the stream and passed on in pursuit of the enemy. The bridge had to be repaired before the artillery and army wagons could pass over, and the army was delayed here for that purpose until the fol- lowing day. That night, therefore, the Ninety-fifth bivouacked around the fort, on the north side of the river, except the two companies mentioned, which crossed the river and occupied the works there. Officers and men lay down to sleep behind the large trees which had been felled by the Confederates to give their artillery range, and during the night heavy details from the regiment were busy at work on the bridge. The work was continued all night long, and early on the following day (30th,) it was in readiness for the army to cross.
44 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
It was here ascertained from deserters and prisoners that Pembertou had evacuated only a few hours pre- vious to the arrival of the Federal advance, taking with him a force of twenty or twenty -five thousand men. The smoking cinders of the bridge and the appearance of the fortifications indicated that he had not been long absent.
The rebel position here was well selected and strong- ly fortified naturally and artificially. Had the .enemy accepted an engagement there, the slaughter of an attacking column must necessarily have been terrible, as its course would have been through swamps to an opening near the river bank, upon which the enemy could have concentrated a most deadly fire.
But there were other important movements progress- ing at the same time on the enemy's left flank, under direction of the quick-moving Sherman, which un- doubtedly decided the evacuation by the rebels of their defenses on the Tallahatchie. This flank move- ment was being executed by General Sherman simul- taneously with the arrival of General McArthur's division at the bridge. He threw his command across the river at a fordable point some miles below the fort, and was in condition to move around and attack the enemy's position from the rear. Pemberton discovered the trap being set to " gobble " his entire force, and
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 45
before the strategical movement could be consum- mated, withdrew his army and retreated hastily in the direction of and beyond Grenada.
On the 30th of November, the Federal forces, de- layed by the repairing of the bridge over the Talla- hatchie, moved forward, the Ninety -fifth being in advance of all the infantry. The regiment arrived at Abbeville, four miles distant, at noon, drenched in a terrible rain storm. Here most of the command took shelter in the deserted houses and sheds which that secession village afforded. The rebel army having retreated precipitately beyond Grenada, and in the direction of Jackson, Miss., pursued closely by our cavalry, gave no further signs of standing and offer- ing battle to the advancing Union columns. The chase on the part of our infantry was, therefore, slack- ened at Abbeville, and the Ninety-fifth went into camp two miles south-east of the town. The regi- ment here furnished large details of men to repair the Mississippi Central Railroad bridge over the Talla- hatchie, which was partially destroyed by the rebels in their hasty evacuation and flight. In a few days the new work was completed, and trains came through regularly from Holly Springs. The regiment remained in camp at Abbeville until the 18th day of December, 1862, performing various kinds of post duty.
46 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
The men had now seen something of active service in the field, and learned from experience some of the ways and customs of the army. At the time of starting out from Grand Junction, they were looked upon by older soldiers as raw, inexperienced recruits, though it was confessed they had exhibited on drill and parade a good degree of military discipline and knowledge. In camp they had shown themselves superb soldiers, as universally admitted, and it remained to see how the new organization would conduct itself, and hold out in the trying time of a long and rapid march. The regiment had therefore entered upon the present campaign, with the idea prominent among some of the old troops that they only were completely adequate for the lengthy march before them, and the regiment, on the other hand, entertained the belief that it could march as fast and as far in a day as any other regi- ment, old or new. The veteran soldiers, during this campaign, took occasion to confer upon the new levies the appellation of "forty-dollar men," suggestive of the forty-dollar bounty which each recruit had received from his county, in consideration of his enlistment. But after a few days' marching, in which it was noticed that the Ninety -fifth always kept well closed up in the column, and came into camp at night with but few stragglers behind, the men of the old regiments were
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 47
compelled to alter their opinions materially, and the clamor about " forty-dollar men" finally subsided.
After remaining at Abbeville a number of days, the army moved on through Oxford, and the Ninety- fifth arrived at Yockena Station on the 18th of De- cember, 1862. Here news came that the rebel General Van Dorn had made a dash with his cavalry into Holly Springs, surprised and mostly captured the Federal garrison, and destroyed large quantities of quartermaster and commissary stores belonging to the Federal Government. Holly Springs was then a depot of supplies for General Grant's army, and was therefore an important point in his line of communi- cation. This bold and unexpected dash of Van Dorn had much to do with changing the character and des- tination of the campaign. It may be inferred that the sudden appearance of Van Dorn was unexpected. General Grant, however, was fully advised of that rebel leader's whereabouts, — knew that he was hov- ering around Holly Springs, awaiting a favorable op- portunity to attack the place, and, to prevent the oc- currence of this threatening disaster, in due time tele- graphed this information to the commandant of that Post, warning him to be on his guard, and keep sharp lookout for Van Dorn. The Post commander failed to provide for the emergency, and one morning. at an
48 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
early hour found himself and the most of his garrison in the hands of the cunning Confederate Chief As soon as this intelligence reached the main Federal army, near Yockena, it was immediately ordered to return to Holly Springs. The countermarch from Yockena commenced December 19th, and the same day the Ninety- fifth marched back to its former camp, near Abbeville. On the 20th the march was resumed at an early hour, and the regiment arrived in Holly Springs at ten o'clock, p. M., of that day, having made one of the longest and most tedious forced marches which it ever experienced in the service.
The army halted at this place for several days, and on the day following our arrival, Colonel Deitzler's Brigade, composed of the First Kansas, Sixteenth Wisconsin, and Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, and a battery, was ordered on an expedition to Salem, Miss., fifteen miles east of Holly Springs, for the purpose of intei'cepting Van Dorn, who was still reported in that vicinity. The regiments took three days' rations, started early and arrived at Salem in the afternoon of the same day. The command halted here one day, awaiting the approach of the enemy, and Colonel Deitzler, after advancing a few miles beyond Salem, learning that Yan Dorn had passed south a short time previous to our coming, and was now well out of
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 49
reach, and pursuit of cavalry by infantry being useless, moved his brigade back to Salem, and returned with it to Holly Springs on the 23rd of December. There were very severe orders on this short expedition, in reference to the soldiers entering dwelling-houses and yards by the roadside, forbidding the taking of chickens and vegetables, and against jay-hawking generally. Nevertheless, the boys could not see the propriety of passing through an enemy's country without, in a measure, collecting supplies, and as they had been provided with short rations for the trip, the orders were somewhat evaded, and many a soldier marched into Salem with a fowl of some description slung over his shoulder.
The First Kansas Infantry was one of the best fighting regiments in the service, and had acquired something of a reputation also for appropriating things to their own use, in which, really, they could not be said to have had a clear and unencumbered ownership. It may be asserted with safety that when there was any- thing good to eat which could be seized near the route of march, the First Kansas was in no fear of star- vation. On this expedition, as usual, it did not suffer for want of fowl and other meat, and the Ninety-fifth, though not so bold because not so experienced in this peculiar branch of the service as their compeers of
50 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
the First Kansas, yet were making rapid progress in learning the skillful modus operandi of bringing eata- bles into camp, and were well provided with the various luxuries afforded by the country. At Salem, corn- meal, sugar and syrup were found in considerable abundance, and, notwithstanding the prohibitory or- ders on the subject, those soldiers of jay-hawking pro- pensities (of which there are some in every regiment,) laid in a good store of these necessities.
One day two men belonging to the Ninety-fifth, were noticed by the brigade commander to be ap- proaching camp, conveying a large jug suspended on a pole, which gave rise to the suspicion that the con- tents thereof was contraband — such as milk, honey, or syrup, and had been surreptitiously obtained, against the orders in such case provided. The suspicious parties were therefore at once arrested and brought under guard to Colonel Deitzler's head-quarters for examination and punishment. On arriving there the colonel ascertained with surprise, but to the great merri- ment of the parties implicated, and other soldiers who stood around, that the earthen vessel in question con- tained nothing but pure, unadulterated water, which the soldiers had obtained at a neighboring spring. The colonel acknowledged himself sold, and the boys proceeded on their way to camp, rejoicing.
ILLINOIS INFANTBY VOLUNTEERS. 51
A few days after the return of this expedition to Holly Springs, General Grant's army took up its line of march for Memphis, starting soon after Christmas, 1862. The Ninety-fifth arrived at Moscow, Tenn., — a small town between LaGrange and Memphis, — De- cember 30th, and on the following day mustered for pay at that place. On the first day of January, 1863, it resumed the march, and on the 2nd, arrived at Col- lierville. Colonel Deitzler's brigade was ordered to halt here a few days prior to advancing to Memphis, during which time the regiments were mainly occu- pied in repairing and guarding the railroad, doing picket and other duties. While remaining at this place, the regiments were required to be up and in line of battle at three o'clock, A. M., for several mornings in succession, watching for the enemy until daylight. This precaution was taken to prevent surprise by the enemy, who was known to be hovering on the rear and flanks of the withdrawing Union army. The disaster which had occurred at Holly Springs made all commanders more watchful thereafter, and the troops were kept on the alert, and well in hand, day and night, for any emergency. On the 13th of Janu- ary the brigade moved forward toward Memphis, ar- rived there in the afternoon, and went into camp three miles out from the city.
52 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
The campaign thus closed in Northern Mississippi, though successful in driving the enemy from his base on the Tallahatchie river, yet had not effected all the objects originally planned. Pemberton with his army had been compelled to evacuate his strong position, and beat a hasty retreat far into the interior, but he was still unconquered. Whether the grand march from Grand Junction and LaGrange, southward, was instituted with a view of eventually attacking and taking Vicksburg from the rear, via Grenada and Jackson, Mississippi, and was discontinued on account of impracticability, or for other reasons, was best un- derstood by the great military man who then stood at the head of the Western Army, planned its campaigns, and altered at discretion its sweeping course of march. It was soon evident, however, that there was a grand expedition on foot for the Army of the Tennessee, that the campaign was to be continued, and that it would be prosecuted with renewed vigor down the Mississippi Valley, against Vicksburg, though in midwinter.
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 53
CHAPTEE IV.
Expedition from Memphis down the River against Vicksburg — Arrival at Milliken's Bend — The Canal near Young's Point — Colonel Deitzler'g Brigade ordered to Lake Providence — Impor- tant order affecting the Ninety-fifth — The Canal at Lake Provi- dence — Sickness and Death in the Regiment — Raising of Col- ored Regiments — Policy of the Government concerning Slavery during the Rebellion, reviewed — Resignation of Colonel Church
— March of the Army from Milliken's Bend to " Hard Times" Landing — Ninety-fifth transferred to General Ransom's Brigade
— Crossing to Grand Gulf — March to rear of Vicksbnrg — Charges of 19th and 22nd of May — The Siege — Surrender of the City — General Ransom' s Brigade sent to Natchez — Its operations while there — Its return to Vicksburg.
SIMULTANEOUSLY with the presence of General Grant's army at Memphis, a large fleet of trans- ports was also collecting at that point for the purpose of conveying the troops down the river to operate against Vicksburg. These were ready by the 19th of January for the reception of General McArthur's division, which was now designated as the 6th Division of the 17th Army Corps, commanded by Major General James B. McPherson, changes in, corps organizations having 6
54 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
occurred at Memphis. On that day the Ninety-fifth embarked upon the steamer " Maria Denning," a very capacious but aged craft, which had grown old in a long service on the Mississippi waters.
The Eleventh Regiment Iowa Infantry, Eighteenth Wisconsin, and a company of the Second Illinois Ar- tillery also embarked on this boat at the same time, and ever}r nook and corner of the yet staunch old tub was filled above with soldiers, and crammed full below decks with horses, mules, army wagons and artillery. All who have soldiered it are well acquainted with the delay and tediousness attendant upon the embarkation of an army upon steamboats, and all members of the Ninety-fifth well remember, that this at Memphis was one of that nature, the regiment having remained at the levee, standing in the mud from morning until afternoon before getting aboard. No one complained, however, every inconvenience being considered a mili- tary necessity. Finally the troops were loaded, one long whistle sounded from General Me Arthur's flag- boat, " Platte Valley," as signal for starting, the splen- did fleet of fifteen steamers swung out into the stream, and were soon steaming down the river, and wending their course toward the subsequent scene of busy military operations around the "Hill City" of the South. The fleet landed each day before dark, lying
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 55
by nights, and arrived at Milliken's Bend, fifteen miles above Vicksburg, on the 26th of January. The troops disembarked on the following day, going into camp near the levee. It was a few miles below this encamp- ment where the celebrated canal was being dug, which was intended to turn the channel of the Mississippi sufficiently to admit transports and gunboats, and thus gain river communication below the city of Vicks- burg.
Major General Sherman, a few weeks previous, had ascended the Yazoo river with a large force, effected a landing near Chickasaw Bluffs, and stormed the strong line of the enemy's works at that point, with the object of gaining a base near the river communi- cation on the north side of Vicksburg. This expedi- tion failed in accomplishing its purpose, though not without great gallantry displayed on the part of the attacking Union columns. The canal at Young's Point was next resorted to as a practicable means of flanking Vicksburg, and the numerous batteries lining its bluffs, and of obtaining a base of operations at some point on the river below that stronghold. The river makes a short bend near Young's Point, and just below, on the east side, sat the haughty city of Vicksburg, bidding defiance from her bluffy heights to the near approach and passage of Federal trans-
56 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
ports and gunboats. The Ninety -fifth, soon after arriving near Young's Point, aided in the construction of the canal, furnishing details of men day and night for that purposa Colonel Deitzler's brigade, however, remained here but a short time, and was soon ordered up the river to initiate the digging of another canal at Lake Providence. Before starting on this trip, an important order, affecting the standing of the Ninety- fifth, was issued by the brigade commander, and I take the liberty of introducing the same here, deeming it will be read with interest by all surviving members of the organization. It is as follows, and explains itself :
HEAD-QUARTERS IST BRIG., GTH Div., 17-TH ARMY CORPS, i Camp near Young's Point, La., Jan. 30th, 1863. \
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 6.
Paragraph IV, Special Orders Number Five, from these Head- quarters, imposing a fine of ten dollars each on certain men of the Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, having accomplished the end for which it was issued, is hereby revoked.
The colonel commanding takes this occasion to compliment the officers and men of the Ninety-fifth regiment for their excellent dis- cipline. The soldierly bearing and conduct of a very large majority of the men of said regiment, have always been above reproach, but it must be confessed that there were a few reckless and refrac- tory spirits, whose unmilitary and ungentlemanly practices, in defi- ance of regulations and orders, had a very demoralizing tendency, and would, if not checked, result in giving to the whole regiment an unenviable reputation. The stringent orders issued and enforced
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 57
to remedy such irregularities, have had their desired effect; the Ninety-fifth stands at the head of the list in the brigade, if not in the division, in point of good order and discipline, and ' ' a patient continuance in well-doing," which is certain to bring its reward in any position of life, will ensure the regiment a bright record, to which they can point with pride. By order of
GEORGE W. DEITZLER,
S. T. SMITH, Col. Com' ng \st Brigade.
Capt. and A. A. A. Gen1 1.
The regiment came up the river, and landed at Lake Providence, La., on the second day of February, 1863. Colonel Deitzler's brigade went into camp there, being the first troops, and for some days the only ones, sent to that place. The work to be performed here was the cutting of a canal from the Mississippi river to the small and beautiful lake, a half mile distant, whose level was much below that of the river at a high stage of water. At this season of the year the banks of the Mississippi were full. The lake was made by waters from the great stream which swept so near to it, and had certain outlets or bayous running in the direction of, and almost connecting with the Washita river, which empties into the Red river some miles above the mouth of the latter. It was supposed that on letting the waters of the Mississippi into Lake Providence by a canal, the principal of these bayous receiving the
58 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
flood would be widened and deepened to such an extent as to allow gunboats and river transports to pass through, and convey the army under General Grant to some available point on the Mississippi, below the city of Vicksburg. The great question of the campaign seemed to be, how was the defiant fortress of the rebellion in the Southwest to be got at or around, since it could not be attacked and carried from the river front without immense loss of life. The ques- tion was solved only by the persevering genius and moving spirit of the campaign, in those attempts and experiments which were carried on under his direct supervision, and which finally resulted in such glorious success to the national arms.
On the day after the arrival of the Ninety-fifth at Lake Providence, the work on the canal was com- menced, and large details were made daily on the regi- ment for that duty. Most of the labor performed on this work was done by Colonel Deitzler's brigade, though the whole of the Seventeenth Army Corps subsequently came up from Young's Point, and camped at and near the lake.
About the middle of the month of February the canal was completed and ready for conducting a large volume of the Mississippi, then in a high stage, into the calm and beautiful lake near by. Nothing re-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 59
mained but to cut the levee, and then the irresistible waters rushed through, deepening and widening the channel as the}' foamed onward, seeking their level in the sleeping lake, in the bayous beyond, and in the low lands for miles around. In a few days the high banks of the lake were filled to overflowing, numer- ous plantations were flooded, the village of Lake Providence itself was submerged, and the different encampments of troops endangered by the rising waters. The father of waters, loosened from its bar- riers, was on a rampage through Lake Providence. The experiment was now tried of entering steamboats into the lake through the canal. None, however, attempted the feat except a small screw-steamer of light draught, by the name of " Rawlins," and the chan- nel never became of sufficient depth to admit the larger transports. The " Eawlins," therefore, had a fine time of it, scudding from point to point in the lake, and doing business between the camps which dotted either shore. The bayou through which communication was intended from the lake did not widen and deepen suf- ficiently for the reception of large-sized steamboats, though the different pioneer corps of the army had been busily employed clearing it of old logs and rub- bish prior to the introduction of the waters. This attempt, therefore, to open a new communication to
60 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
the Mississippi below Vicksburg was abandoned as impracticable, though it was not without its good effects in hurting the rebellion and advancing the cause of the Union in the campaign then progressing. The whole country back from Lake Providence for hun- dreds of miles into the interior of Louisiana — a sec- tion prolific of rebels and abounding in all the various supplies which that genial clime and fertile soil pro- duced — had been overflown and desolated by the flood which the canal had brought in from the Mississippi river. It was a portion of country whence the Con- federacy east of the Mississippi obtained large quan- tities of subsistence for its army, and if the canal turned out to be of no other importance, it at least struck a heavy blow at the rebellion by drowning out and despoiling many of these means of supply. Meanwhile the canal at Young's Point met with similar ill success ; both were abandoned, and imme- diately other plans were projected to accomplish the object they had failed to effect.
The encampment of the Ninety-fifth, while at Lake Providence, was located upon low grounds near the levee and the canal. It occupied the same camp from the time of landing there, on the 2nd of February, 1863, until the commencement of the grand move- ment of General Grant's army from Milliken's Bend,
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 61
La., in the latter part of the following April. During this period much sickness prevailed in the regiment, and its hospital building in the village was crowded with the sick soldiers, who, worn down by the fatigues of the active duties performed since entering the ser- vice, were passing through acclimation, and were now overtaken by the afflictive hand of prostrating disease. The cases of sickness increased for a time with fright- ful rapidity, though every precaution was taken, and means employed to prevent its alarming prevalence. Deaths became of frequent occurrence ; the muffled drum, with its mournful roll, beating time to the famil- iar dead-march, gave notice almost daily that the corpse of some Union soldier was being consigned to the burial ground near by — to an early grave in the low, wet soil at Lake Providence. Yet disease, sickness and death were not confined to the Ninety -fifth alone. Other troops who entered the service at about the same time, experienced their full share of these inconven- iences, while the old soldiers, having become fully acclimated to the Southern climate, fared much better. All regiments, at a certain period after entering the service, are required to pass through such an ordeal of sickness. There are certain diseases which the ma- jority of a regiment are bound to experience. Some are carried away by them, or rendered unfit for fur- 7
62 HISTORY OP THE NINETY-FIFTH
ther duty in the army, while many, possessing those strong constitutions bestowed by nature, adapted for encountering the rough trials of military life, come forth with renewed and rugged health, and seem better prepared than ever to execute the tasks set before them.
While the Seventeenth Army Corps was encamped at Providence, the new policy of the Government in organizing and arming negroes for military duty was carried into effect Soon after the arrival of Colonel Deitzler's brigade at this place, large numbers of col- ored people flocked in from the surrounding country responsive to President Lincoln's Proclamation, issued on the 22nd day of September, 1862, which, on the failure of the States in rebellion to comply with its conditions, namely, to lay down their arms and re- turn to their allegiance, was to be carried into effect on and after January 1st, 1863. As is well known, the proclamation was not accepted or complied with on the part of the rebels except in few localities in the Confederacy, and accordingly the population of Afri- can descent embraced the opportunity whenever it was possible, of fleeing from their old masters and swarming into- the Union lines for protection. It was claimed by some people, and there are probably those who still adhere to the opinion, that the war against
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 63
secession was carried on by the Government from the beginning with the prominent idea on the part of the Administration of abolishing slavery in the States where it existed, and that the incipient plan of eman- cipating the slaves was fully illustrated and carried into practice by the Proclamation of President Lincoln which freed and authorized the arming of the negroes. To show the fallacy of this misconceived notion, the military action and policy of the Government rela- tive to the subject of slavery, as announced in the acts of Congress, in different orders from the War Depart- ment, and from various commanding generals in the field, may be referred to as a recorded and complete refutation of the accusation, and an unanswerable ar- gument that the final edict of emancipation was issued only after a series of attempts on the part of the Fed- eral Government to avoid it by constant appeals to rebels in arms to return to their allegiance, and was proclaimed only as a war measure to hurt traitors and kill rebellion.
When General Fremont, in the very beginning of the war, assumed to receive negro fugitives fleeing to his army from the plantations of Missouri, and de- creed their freedom, an order from Washington imme- diately informed him that his action was disapproved, and that all such fugitives coming into the Union lines
64 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
should be returned to their owners, or at least be prohibited from seeking refuge and remaining within the Federal encampments. The same line of policy was marked out plainly for commanding officers to pursue in dealing with slavery in other portions of the United States, showing conclusively that it was not the desire or intention of the Government to molest or interfere with the domestic institutions of any State. The States in rebellion did not appreciate or profit by this forbearing, lenient and coaxing treatment of the General Government, and long afterward, in 1862, the policy of the Federal Administration was necessarily changed to more vigorous measures against the rebel- lion and its handmaid, slavery, as demanded by the stern necessities of the times. The following extracts from an order issued by General Grant, while at Cor- inth, Miss., in August, 1862, show plainly that even at that stage of the contest the object of the war was not the general emancipation of negroes in the South, nor to meddle with the peculiar institution, except to receive and employ those fugitives who came into the camps as laborers, in the capacity of teamsters, cooks and servants. It was as follows :
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 65
HEAD-QUARTERS DISTRICT OP WEST TENNESSEE,
Corinth, Miss., August llth, 1862. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 72.
Recent acts of Congress prohibit the array from returning fugitives from labor to their claimants, and authorize the employment of such persons in the service of the Government. The following orders are, therefore, published for the guidance of the army in the mili- itary district in this matter :
I. All fugitives thus employed must be registered, the names of the fugitives and claimants given, and must be borne upon the morn- ing reports of the command in which they are kept, showing how they are employed.
II. Fugitive slaves may be employed as laborers in the Quarter- master's, Subsistence or Engineer departments, and whenever by such employment a soldier may be saved to the ranks. They may be employed as teamsters, as company cooks — not exceeding four to a company — or as hospital attendants and nurses. Officers may employ them as private servants, in which latter case the fugitives will not be paid or rationed by the Government. Negroes not thus employed will be deemed unauthorized persons, and must be ex- cluded from camp.
III. Officers and soldiers are positively prohibited from enticing slaves to leave their masters. When it becomes necessary to em- ploy this kind of labor, commanding officers of posts or troops must send details — always under the charge of a suitable commissioned officer — to press into the service the slaves of disloyal persons, to
the number required.
*********
By command of
MAJOR GENERAL U. S. GRANT. JOHN A. RAWLINS,
Assistant Adjutant General.
66 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
This rule of military action in reference to slavery was rigidly adhered to and carried out in General Grant's campaign through Northern Mississippi, in December, 1862, and up to February of the following year, the time when his troops were encamped at Lake Providence. President Lincoln's proclamation of Sep- tember, 1862, stated :
" That hereafter, as heretofore, the war will be prose- cuted for the object of practically restoring the con- stitutional relation between the United States and each of the States and the people thereof, in which States that relation is or may be suspended or disturbed. That it was his purpose, upon the next meeting of Congress, to again recommend the adoption of a prac- tical measure tendering pecuniary aid to the free acceptance or rejection of all slave States so called, the people whereof may not then be in rebellion against the United States, and which States may then have voluntarily adopted, or thereafter may volunta- rily adopt immediate or gradual abolishment of slavery within their respective limits ; and that the effort to colonize persons of African descent, with their con- sent, upon this continent, or elsewhere, with the pre- viously obtained consent of the government existing there, will be continued. That on the 1st day of Jan- uary, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 67
dred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be thenceforward and forever free ; and the executive government of the United States, in- cluding the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act to repress such persons, or any of them, in any effort they may make for their actual freedom. That the Executive will, on the first day of January, aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof respectively shall then be in rebellion against the United States ; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be in good faith rep- resented in the Congress of the United States, by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a major- ity of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong counter- vailing testimony be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and the people thereof are not then in rebel- lion against the United States."
Meanwhile the seceded States spurned this offer of remuneration and guaranty of property in case of their return to loyalty, and up to the first day of January, 1863, no proposition was ever heard of from
68 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
any of them, no action was ever taken on their part indicating a desire to resume their relations to the Union, upon the liberal terms proposed. The rebel- lion continued. The war was prosecuted in all its rigor, and on the first day of January, 1863, the chief executive of the nation, in fulfillment of what he had previously declared, and from which the South had had long opportunity to escape, sent forth the cele- brated fiat of emancipation, carrying freedom to millions of human beings theretofore employed in the interests of the Confederacy, and striking a death- blow at the head and front of the rebellion itself. After reciting the substance of his September procla- mation, he declared as follows :
" Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively are this day in rebellion against the United States, the fol- lowing, to wit : * * And
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 69
by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States and parts of States, are and henceforward shall be free ; and that the Execu- tive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons. And I further declare and make known, that such persons, of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States, to garrison forts, posi- tions, stations and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service. And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Con- stitution upon military necessity, I invoke the consid- erate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God."
In the early part of the year 1863, the third year of the rebellion, the organization of negro troops began at Lake Providence, in accordance with the policy of the Government thus declared. Adjutant General Thomas came on a mission from Washington to inau- gurate the new movement, and arrived at Lake Provi- dence at an early day for the purpose of commissioning and mustering the new colored regiments organizing there into the United States service. Several regiments were raised in a short space of time, and officered by
70 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
men taken from the white troops. The Ninety-fifth furnished a number of commissioned and non-commis- sioned officers for this purpose, and these colored regi- ments thus formed were prepared in a few weeks to do important service in the operations which were then going on against Vicksburg.
While the regiment was at Lake Providence the resignation of Colonel L. S. Church was received, and subsequently Lt. CoL Thomas W. Humphrey was advanced to that rank. Since the time Colonel Church was obliged to leave the regiment at Columbus, Ken- tucky, his health had improved but little, and the prospect of his ever being permitted to rejoin his com- mand became more and more discouraging. Much against his own wishes, and to the universal regret of his officers and men, he resigned his commission in the army. Attended with good health, he must have proven a leading man in the war against the rebellion. Character, talents and influence would have won for him high estimation and rank among military men.
In the month of April, 1863, General Grant assem- bled his whole army at and near Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, for a grand forward movement across the State, with the intention of striking the Mississippi river at " Hard Times Landing," crossing it near Grand Gulf, and thence around to the rear of Vicksburg.
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 71
This was the final experiment originated by him for accomplishing the grand object of the campaign. The attempts to gain a foothold and base of operations up the Yazoo river, and to make the canals at Young's Point and Lake Providence feasible lines of commu- cation, had been tried and given up, but this last one was destined to be crowned with complete success, and to result in all those glorious consequences which followed in the campaign.
Prior to moving his army by land at this time, the trial of running a number of river transports and gun- boats by the numerous batteries which were planted on the bluffs at Yicksburg, was daringly and success- fully performed. These steamers were manned by men from different infantry regiments, who volun- teered to accompany the boats through the fiery, per- ilous gauntlet, and who afterward received honorable rewards for their courage and daring, from General Grant and from the Government. The Federal army, which had so long encamped at Lake Providence, commenced embarking on steamers and moving down the river to Milliken's Bend, sixty miles distant, in the latter part of April, 1863, and Colonel Deitzler's brigade, of General McArthur's division, was left at the former place to garrison that post. The Ninety- fifth was subsequently ordered by the division com-
72 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
mander from Lake Providence, to take part in the active campaign now opening from Milliken's Bend. It arrived there about the first of May, and the army having moved forward, it immediately pushed on through Eichmond, Louisiana, to Smith's Planta- tion, where General Me' Arthur's division was then halting. It was here assigned to Brigadier General T. E. G. Ransom's brigade, 6th Division, 17th Army Corps. This brigade was now one of the strongest and best in the whole army, being composed of the Eleventh, Seventy-second and Ninety-fifth Illinois, the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Wisconsin Infantry, and Battery " F," 2nd Illinois Artillery, commanded by Captain J. W. Powell. On the 10th of May the brigade resumed the march, by the way of Perkins' Plantation and Lake St Joseph, and arrived at " Hard Times Landing " on the 12th. The transports which had successfully passed the batteries at Yicksburg were in readiness at this point to convey the troops across the river to Grand Gulf, and on the same day the regiments of General Ransom's brigade embarked and crossed over to Grand Gulf, which strong rebel position had been recently taken by the advance of General Grant's army. Thus in a few days the whole army of the Tennessee was transferred, by the great military genius directing affairs, to the east side of the
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 73
Mississippi, sixty miles below Yicksburg, and was now ready to march rapidly to the rear and to the very gates of that fortress. The line of march from Grand Gulf was by way of Bowl's Creek, Big Sandy and Eaymond, where the Ninety-fifth arrived on the 16th of May, the day the great and decisive battle was being fought at Champion Hills and Baker's Creek. Gene- ral Eansom's brigade pushed forward to take part in the terrible contest there being waged, and arrived on the field just as the Federal army had carried the day and swept everj^thing before it to the Big Black. The regiment took part in the general pursuit which en- sued, crossed the Big Black river on the 18th of May, and hurrying on twelve miles farther, camped the same night three-quarters of a mile from the enemy's earth-works in the rear of Vicksburg. The various army corps moved forward with enthusiasm, on differ- ent roads, and by sunset of that day the rebel lines around the place were thoroughly invested and all avenues of escape effectually closed. These rapid events necessitated the speedy evacuation by the rebels of Haines' Bluff. The Federal gunboats and transports simultaneously moved up the Yazoo, and here secured a permanent base of supplies, and conve- nient to the army investing the city.
The following day, May 19th, was to be a busy,
74 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
fierce and bloody one for the Army of the Ten- nessee. A charge was ordered along our whole lines upon the enemy's works, to take place at two o'clock in the afternoon, and at the appointed hour the furious onset commenced. General Sherman's 15th Army Corps occupied the right of the Federal line, resting on the river above Vicksburg ; General McPherson's 17th Army Corps held the centre, and the 13th Corps, under General McClernand, held the left, extending nearly to the river on the south side of the city. The ground in front of General Ransom's brigade, and over which it charged at this time, was located near the Jackson road, on the right of the celebrated " White House," and near to the notorious "Fort Hill." Cut, as it was, into deep ravines, and covered with fallen timber, and each ravine being en- filaded by the enemy's fire, it was ground of the very worst character to expose and impede an advancing column. There were intervening ridges to be passed over, which brought the charging regiments into open and close range of a murderous fire of musketry and artillery from the enemy's line.
The Ninety-fifth held an important position in the brigade during this memorable charge, and, led forward by its gallant colonel, advanced under a galling fire to a ridge within one hundred yards of the rebel works,
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 75
and held the position during the remainder of the day. While maintaining this position Colonel Humphrey received the following dispatch from General Hansom :
"Cot,.—
You have done well, nobly. I desire that you hold your position. Do not expose your men or waste ammunition. I occupy the rear of the ridge back of you. Will move forward as soon as we are supported on the right and left. I expect to hear from General
McPherson.
T. E. G. RANSOM,
Brig. Gen1 1."
Colonel Humphrey, early in the action, received a wound in the foot, but remained with his command, cheering on his men, until he received orders to with- draw his regiment under cover of darkness that night Thus the attempt to carry the enemy's works on the 19th, failed at this as well as at all other points on the Federal line, but not without the exhibition of undaunted courage, reckless daring, and the perform- ance of great deeds on the part of our troops. The Ninety -fifth was largely represented in the list of cas- ualties this day, having had seven men killed and fifty-four wounded.
General Grant, with his characteristic perseverance, ordered the assault to be renewed on the 22nd of May, with the intention, if possible, of breaking through the enemy's line at certain points, then of heavily
76 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
reenforcing the successful assaulting column, with the hope and prospect of thus carrying the day. At ten o'clock A. M., on the 22nd, the charge began again fu- riously. The Ninety -fifth, on this occasion, also gained an advanced position on the crest of a ridge near the enemy's works, encountering one of the most sweeping and destructive fires to which troops were ever exposed. Colonel Humphrey, in advance of and leading his regiment, exthusiastic with the desire to storm the forti- fications in his immediate front, determined to accom- plish it, if among human possibilities, and with that natural daring which characterized the man, pressed onward over that ridge, then being swept by rebel musketry, and plowed up by rebel shot and shell. The regiment attempted to follow their leader, and bravely rallied to the charge, but to advance was to meet certain death, and it was plain that a farther prosecution of the undertaking would annihilate the regiment It had gone into the charge with three hundred and sixty-seven officers and enlisted men in line of battle, and upwards of one hundred of the same had already been rendered hors du combat Captain Manzer, of Company " C," and Captain Corn- well, of "K," were killed; Major William Avery, Captain Cook, of " D," Lieutenant Smith, of " C," Sponable, of " A," and Pierce, of " I " companies,
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 77
were severely wounded, while a large percentage of the enlisted men had been killed and wounded. The heroic colonel had gone on in advance, and was given up as killed. Orders came during the afternoon for the murderous and unequal conflict to cease on our part, and the regiment was gradually withdrawn to a neighboring ravine for better protection. Toward night, with thinned ranks, and having left many a gallant soldier killed and wounded on the field, the little band of Ninety-fifth men, exhausted by the ef- forts of the day, wended its course among the ravines back a short distance to the brigade encampment. The colonel, as has been stated, was supposed to hav e been killed during the charge, as nothing had been seen or heard of him since he crossed the ridge. Gene- ral Kansoni had ordered a coffin for the reception of the corpse, so certain was he of Colonel Humphrey's death. The latter, however, turned out to be safe, and during the same evening appeared, to the great delight and astonishment of all, at General Ransom's head- quarters, where the coffin was then in readiness ! After passing over the ridge mentioned, Colonel Hum- phre^y lay down closely upon the ground, as it was impossible for a human being then to be visible above it and live. In this condition, with the mad cannon balls screaming over him, and plowing around his 8
78 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
body, covering him with dirt, and benumbing his limbs, he remained until evening, when he noiselessly crept from his precarious position, and appeared so suddenly and unexpectedly in camp, as already re- lated.
Brigadier General Kansom, in his report of these charges, makes the following allusions to the Ninety- fifth :
" On the 19th, the Ninety-fifth Illinois, Colonel Humphrey, commanding, reached a ridge within one hundred yards of the enemy's works, and, though ex- posed to an enfilading fire of artillery, maintained their position until night, when I withdrew them to a safer position. Early in the action Colonel Humphrey was severely wounded in the foot, but would not leave the field. His loss was much heavier than that
of any other regiment in my command.
******
" On the 22nd inst, in compliance with the order for a simultaneous assault, at 10 o'clock A. M., I moved my command under cover of my sharp shooters, through a net-work of ravines, filled with fallen timber and cane brake, to a point within sixty yards of the enemy's works, and massed my troops as well as the nature of the ground would admit. Colonel Giles Smith's brigade, of General Sherman's corps, took
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 79
position at the same time on my right, and the two brigades moved together to the charge. The enemy had, in the meantime, massed troops behind his works in our front, and poured into my ranks one continuous blaze of musketry, while the artillery on my left threw enfilading shot and shell into my columns with deadly effect. Almost at the first fire, two of my leading colonels fell, Colonel Nevins, of the llth Illinois, killed, and Colonel Humphrey, of the 95th Illinois Infantry, stunned by the concussion of a shell."
The charge of the 22nd of May was, therefore, another failure to accomplish the object desired, and similar results were experienced all along the Federal lines. No portion of the enemy's works had been taken and held, and no point in them was even pos- sessed by our forces at any time during the assault. Great bravery, daring and determination had been everywhere exhibited by the charging columns. They had met with repulse, still they were neither dis- couraged nor whipped.
Nor was the invincible Grant downcast, or fearful of the consequences. It was only a part of the series of his great attempts by which he finally wrung victory from a stubborn foe. If he failed in one undertaking, he immediately resorted to another ; if in that, to a
80 HISTOEY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
third, and so on, until lie accomplished his object. The word failure has never been written in his mili- tary vocabulary, and the motto, " Perseverantia vincit omnia" has carried him wonderfully and steadily for- ward to the accomplishment of great deeds, and won for him a renown unequaled in history.
After the unsuccessful charges on the 19th and 22nd of May, satisfied that the rebel works could not be carried by assault without great slaughter, General Grant set his whole army at work digging and en- trenching, determined to reduce the city by seige. The experience of the past few days had proved it to be in much stronger condition of defense than was an- ticipated. The necessary delay of the Federal army in crossing the Big Black river, after the battle of Champion Hills, had allowed the enemy, under Pem- berton, to collect his forces at Vicksburg, recover par- tially from recent disaster, and make important prepa- rations on the natural fortifications surrounding the city to receive the advancing Union columns.
The great seige now began, and was prosecuted vigo- rously ; all through the sultry days of May and June, 1863, our lines were gradually advanced toward the enemy's works. Each morning presented some new parallel and newly made forts, from which our artillery could play with nearer and deadlier effect than before.
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 81
The regiments of General Kansom's-brigade and Cap- tain Powell's artillery, all performed their full share of this long, tedious, but well-rewarded labor, taking im- portant part in constructing the forts, and digging ap- proaches to the enemy's fortifications. By the 3rd of July, the day on which the Confederate garrison sur- rendered, this- brigade had carried its trenches under one of the main forts on the rebel line, and had a mine located there, ready for explosion, when news of the capitulation was announced, arid hostilities at once ceased.
On the 4th day of July, 1863, the Ninety-fifth was among the first regiments to enter and take possession of the city. With the victorious stars and stripes un- furled, and with music playing the national airs, these dusty, scarred and war-worn battalions, keeping step to the music of the Union, marched through the streets of Yicksburg, and thence to camps assigned around the city. Soon after the fall o'f Vicksburg, Port Hud- son was surrendered to General Banks, and thus the Mississippi was cleared of rebel obstructions and blockades from Cairo to the Gulf.
On the 12th day of July, General Eansom's brigade was ordered to embark at Yicksburg and proceed to Natchez, for the purpose of occupying that point. It arrived there on the following day, and effected a
82 HISTORY OP THE NINETY -FIFTH
landing without opposition. The citizens were sur- prised at this sudden appearance of Federal troops among them, and in a short time after arriving, the place was strengly occupied, and all avenues leading into the city well picketed. Twenty rebel officers and soldiers were captured while attempting to escape. A large Confederate force, under the rebel Colonel Logan, was then stationed in that vicinity to watch the move- ments of our forces, and to guard the large droves of cattle which were being shipped from Texas' through this post, to Johnston's army in the East It was soon ascertained by General Ransom that a large number of these cattle were then pasturing a few miles east of the city. An expedition was immediately organized of mounted infantry, and started in quest of them. Having advanced about four miles, an immense herd of five thousand Texas cattle was found, and a small rebel guard over them having been put to flight, they were captured, driven back to Natchez, and subse- quently shipped to Vicksburg. Information was also received that within a few days one hundred and fifty wagons loaded with ordnance stores for Kirby Smith, had been ferried across at Natchez to the Lou- isiana shore. Another force of mounted infantry ac- cordingly was sent in pursuit, overtook the train fif- teen miles out, captured the rear-guard, consisting of
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a lieutenant and a few men, and brought back three hundred and twelve new Austrian muskets, two hun- dred and three thousand rounds of cartridges, eleven boxes of artillery ammunition, and destroyed a large quantity of ammunition which could not be moved. This force of mounted infantry was made up from the several regiments of the brigade, using such spare horses as were found in the vicinity, and all placed under command of Major Asa Worden, of the 14th Wisconsin Infantry. That portion of it which repre- sented the Ninety-fifth was in charge of Captain Charles B. Loop. There being no regular cavalry furnished General Hansom at this place, he was obliged to or- ganize a band of this kind for scouting and other pur- poses around Natchez, and on many occasions it ren- dered the Government very efficient service. On the 22nd of July, Major Worden's mounted command (two hundred strong,) started from Natchez on a two days' scout in the country east of the city, making a circuit through Washington, Woodville and Kingston. During this scout the party destroyed two hundred and seven thousand rounds of infantry ammunition, found concealed in a ravine, and fifty-six boxes of ar- tillery ammunition. They also found large quantities of " C. S. A." cotton.
On the 26th, it was again sent out in the direction
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of the Mississippi Central Eailroad, with orders to reconnoitre the country, seize and destroy or secure any ammunition or other supplies for the rebel army, mount and remount his men from horses picked up in the country, and to destroy the railroad and telegraph communication with Mobile as fully as practicable. The expedition on this trip consisted of three hundred and fifty mounted men and one piece of artillery, and made a march of about one hundred and thirty miles, passing through Kingston, Liberty and Woodville. At Liberty seventeen hogsheads of sugar, one hun- dred and fifty saddles, one artillery carriage, one gov- ernment wagon and fifty stands of small arms were destroyed. At Woodville Major Worden struck the railroad, consigned to the flames a large cotton factory containing forty looms, used in the manufacturing of cloth for the rebel army, fourteen freight and two pas- senger cars, destroyed two railroad locomotives, two hundred and fifty barrels of C. S. A. molasses, a large amount of army clothing, and captured and brought back to Natchez one rebel lieutenant and nine enlisted men ; also a six-pounder gun of French manu- facture, said to have been used by General Jackson at New Orleans.
On the 30th of July information was received by General Eansom, through scouts and negroes and
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 85
others, that the rebel Logan, with a mounted force of about fifteen hundred strong, was moving on Natchez, and would strike at that point the following morning. Every preparation was, therefore, made to receive them. At about sunrise on the 31st the rebels were discovered approaching in force on the Wash- ington road. General Hansom's pickets had been strengthened sufficiently to check their advance ; Ma- jor Worden was immediately dispatched with his mounted men to reconnoitre the enemy's flanks, par- ties of videttes were sent out on all the roads, and a regiment of infantry and a section of artillery were ordered to the support of the cavalry. Skirmishing now commenced briskly, and the rebels fell back at our approach. Major Worden and his mounted men continued to drive them slowly, keeping up a desul- tory fight until noon, when the enemy made a stand and formed a line of battle on a rise of ground about eleven miles out from the city. The Major's force, which had left the infantry near Natchez, being two small to attack the enemy in his position, and discov- ering an attempt being made to turn his flank, he fell back half a mile, where he met and attacked a party of one hundred men who had been sent to his rear. These he routed, and took one lieutenant and sixteen men prisoners. He then fell back three miles farther, 9
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took good position, and waited several hours for an attack. No farther demonstrations being made by the enemy, the mounted infantry was withdrawn, and soon afterward returned to the city. In this affair Logan lost his chief of cavalry, Colonel Powers, fif- teen men wounded, and forty-five prisoners. The Federals did not lose a man, and had only two slightly wounded.
General Eansom, during his administration at Natchez, greatly felt the need of more cavalry with which he might pursue and fight Logan. The tempo- rary mounted force organized from the infantry, was inadequate to meet the larger force of Logan, though it always rendered a good account of itself The general applied repeatedly to the head-quarters at Vicksburg for a reenforcement of cavalry, but for some reason it was never furnished him. To use his own words, in a report to Lieut Col. Wm. T. Clark, Asst Adjt. General of the 17th Army Corps, " It is a terrible annoyance to have this vagabond (Logan) so near me, and not be able to fight him."
The brigade remained at Natchez until the middle of October following, busily employed in attending to the rebel bands infesting that vicinity, collecting the large quantities of Confederate States cotton found in the neighborhood, and preserving good order and re-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 87
storing confidence among the people. Large numbers of negroes, on the arrival and during the stay of the brigade here, flocked into the camps to receive pro- tection and their freedom under the emancipation proclamation. So great was the rush made by this released element of population, that the general com- manding was obliged to establish a corral for them outside the city, and furnish them with rations pro- vided by the Government The citizens of the place became alarmed at the consequences which might follow from the sudden liberation of the race which had hitherto been held in subjection by them, and ap- pealed to General Ransom for protection against antici- pated but groundless dangers from this source. Nu- merous planters sent in applications for the negroes to be set at work again with their former masters, and gather the crops then maturing. The general replied to such, that the design of the army was solely to crush out of existence an armed rebellion, and rees- tablish the supremacy of the government of the United States ; that except in so far as it was necessary for this purpose, private property would not be molested, unless a disposition was manifested to use it for the benefit of the armies we were fighting ; that it was his wish to encourage, by all the means in his power, the peaceful avocations of the people, to have the laboring
88 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
classes remain on the plantations, and cultivate and harvest the growing crops ; and that while he was in duty bound to recognize and encourage the freedom of the negroes, every inducement would be held out for them to remain where they were and work for reasonable wages. The negro question at all times during the progress of the war, was an annoying sub- ject to military commanders, in endeavoring to carry out the policy of the Government in reference to this matter. General Ransom found it so in his manage- ment of affairs at Natchez. The line of duty and right was plainly marked out, however. The freedom of the negro had been plainly and firmly decreed months since by the President, backed up by the Congress and the loyal people of the United States. It was too late for the importunities of rebels now professing devotion to the Union, to avail anything toward reclaiming to bondage those unfortunate beings, in whom they had forfeited every right, title and interest, and who, ac- cording to all the rights of war, as well as of humanity, were as free as those who sought to reenslave them. Gradually the planters around Natchez became recon- ciled to the altered condition of labor in their midst, employed the negroes as freedmen toiling for compen- sation, and accepted the new policy inaugurated by the commanding officer, as a consequence of that rebellion
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 89
which, until quite recently, they had ardently sup- ported.
Large numbers of negroes were here furnished for the various regiments of colored troops which at this time were being raised at Vicksburg and other points. In this manner their acciimulation on the hands of the military commander was in a measure avoided, and the freedmen were made of important use to the Government
While the Ninety -fifth was in camp at Natchez, General McArthur, commanding the division, paid a visit to his troops at this post, and, on invitation from Colonel Humphrey, attended a dress parade of this regiment. The colonel had duly prepared his men for such exhibition, and by constant drill had trained them to proficiency in this beautiful military exercise. He caused the colors to be escorted to and from the parade ground strictly in accordance with the tactics, a part which other regiments seldom performed, but which always adds interest to the parade, and shows a due respect and protection for the flag of the Union — ever to be defended and never surrendered. The general expressed himself greatly pleased with the appearance of the regiment, and he and his staff joined in the opinion that they had never witnessed a more perfect dress parade during the service.
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A Natchez many of the officers and enlisted men obtained leave of absence and furloughs, and im- proved the opportunity of visiting their homes in the North. After the surrender of Vicksburg, General Grant decided, with great liberality and kindness, that these favors should be extensively granted to the troops who had followed him through the recent campaigns which they had helped him crown with success. As there was to be no farther general campaign in the Southwest during the fall, most of the soldiers could enjoy these privileges of visiting home without detri- ment to the service.
About the middle of October, 1863, the brigade, (now commanded by Brigadier General Thomas K. Smith.) was ordered from Natchez to Vicksburg. The regiment remained at the latter place during the fall and winter, assisting in constructing the Federal forti- fications around the city, and performing garrison, picket and other duties. It had now been in the ser- vice a little over one year, and had become greatly reduced in numbers by deaths in battle and from disease, discharges, and transfers to other commands. The President, during the same fall, called for three hundred thousand more men to fill up the depleted ranks in the field, and recruiting parties were sent North by the different regiments for this purpose.
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 91
Early in November, 1863, Captain C. B. Loop, of Company " B," Captain James Nish, of Company "I," and Captain A. S. Stewart, of Company " A," accom- panied by several non-commissioned officers, were detailed to proceed North and obtain recruits for the Ninety -fifth. They forwarded a large number to the regiment during the same winter, filling it to more than a minimum number.
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CHAPTER V.
Expeditions from Vicksburg in Spring of 1 864 — Sherman's March to Meridian — Colonel Coates' defense of Yazoo City — The Red River Expedition — Taking of Fort DeRussey — Ninety-fifth de- tailed to destroy the works — Arrival at Alexandria — March to Grand Ecore — Ascending the River on Transports — Battle of Pleasant Hill — Retreat ordered by General Banks — Return of the Fleet — Running Batteries at Vandares — Ninety-fifth as Rear G-uard of Banks' Array — Two Days' Fight at Clouterville — Re- treat to Alexandria — Battle of Yellow Bayou — Evacuation of the Red River Country — 'Return of the Ninety-fifth to Vicks- burg.
EARLY in the spring of 1864, several expeditions were organized at Vicksburg for the purpose of visiting certain interior sections of the Confederacy, where the Federal arms had not yet penetrated, where rebellion was yet defiant, and from whence it continued to receive important means of support The first of these was organized by General Sherman, and set out from Vicksburg in the fore part of February, in the direction of Montgomery, Alabama. It consisted of the 16th Army Corps, under Major General Hurlbut, and
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 93
the 17th, commanded by Major General McPherson. Crossing the Big Black river at the bridge, this force swept on toward Jackson, the two corps taking differ- ent roads. The enemy were found in position three miles out from Jackson, and were attacked and routed by the advancing Federal columns. The army crossed Pearl river upon pontoons, and advanced rapidly as far east as Meridian, Mississippi, where important rail- road communications, arsenals and Confederate stores were successfully destroyed.
This expedition was absent about twenty days, and having accomplished its objects, returned to Yicksburg in the latter part of February.
General Sherman, prior to leaving Yicksburg on the Meridian " raid," sent Colonel James H. Coates with the Eleventh Illinois, a colored regiment, and a small force of cavalry, up the Yazoo valley, with or- ders to proceed cautiously and attract the attention of a force of rebel cavalry known to be in that vicinity watching the movements going on at Vicksburg. This cavalry was under Eoss and Eichardson, and they in- tended to make a dash upon the lengthy wagon train of General Sherman's army. It was Colonel Coates' mission to divert their attention, and prevent the consummation of their object. Ascending the Yazoo with his small command, to Sartatia, he here encoun-
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tered the enemy in force, immediately landed his troops and gave battle. Aided by the gunboat which accom- panied the expedition, the enemy was quickly driven back and put to flight.
The troops then reembarked upon the transports and proceeded up the river to Yazoo City without farther molestation. Colonel Coates had orders to continue his expedition as far as Greenville, some miles above on the river, in case the enemy did not appear in too strong force. He arrived there without serious interruption, and afterward completely de- stroyed the works of Fort Pemberton, a strong posi- tion at the confluence of the Tallahatchie and Yazoo rivers. He subsequently returned down the river to Yazoo City, collected a large quantity of Confederate cotton in this vicinity, and forwarded the same to the proper authorities at Vicksburg. On the 6th day of March, while at this post, he was attacked by the mounted forces under Generals Eoss and Eichardson, consisting of seven regiments, and numbering three or four thousand strong. The rebels dashed in suddenly on the Ben ton road, and attempted to take the place by surprise. Colonel Coates having disposed his small force to receive them warmly, determined to hold the place at all hazards. A portion of the Eleventh Illinois, commanded by Major McKee, occupied the fort
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 95
on the hill near the Benton road, upon which the enemy charged repeatedly, but each time were repulsed with great slaughter. The fighting became general all around and in the city, and raged furiously through the principal streets. For a time it seemed as if the superior forces of the enemy, as they swarmed in from all points, would capture the entire garrison, and, indeed, a report of that nature was carried to Major General McPherson, at Yicksburg. But it turned out otherwise. General Ross forwarded, under flag of truce, a note to Colonel Coates, stating that the latter could not expect to hold out against such superior odds, and asked him to surrender, and spare farther effusion of blood. Coates sent word back that he had no idea of capitulating, and that he intended to hold the place till the last. One of the rebel commanders sent a dispatch to Major McKee, in command at the fort, asking him to surrender, and that in case he refused, no quarter would be granted him. McKee, fired to anger by the insulting request, made the following characteristic reply : " I don't scare worth a damn. We are ready for you."
The fight was continued with desperation on both sides all day long, until finally the Confederates gave up the contest, and leaving behind a large number of killed and wounded, retreated on the road toward
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Benton. The Federal loss was quite light, considering the forces engaged. Of course, in the exhausted condi- tion of his troops, Colonel Coates was unable to pursue the enemy, and contented himself with what had been accomplished during the day. He soon afterward received orders to return to Vicksburg with his com- mand, and arrived there about the time trie Eed river expedition was setting out.
I have been thus particular in giving an account of this successful expedition, because it was principally performed by the Eleventh Illinois, with which the Ninety-fifth was then brigaded, and had been inti- mately and pleasantly associated since entering the service. As auxiliary to the main operations of Gene- ral Sherman at that time, it may be said to have been really the only brilliant affair that occurred during the whole movement. In its management, Colonel Coates had proven himself a brave and efficient officer, and every way worthy to command in times of emergency. By his gallant conduct and meritorious service at Y azoo City, he was well entitled to a star from the hands of the Government. Through a sensitive modesty, however, which prevented him from pushing his claims, this was not accorded him until long afterward, near the close of the rebellion, when he was brevetted a brigadier general. The Ninety-fifth did not accom-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 97
pany these expeditions, as the brigade to which it was attached, with the exception of the Eleventh Illinois, received orders to remain and garrison Vicksburg during the absence of the main army. At this time the brigade was commanded by Colonel Malloy, of the 17th Wisconsin. Shortly after these events, an expe- dition in aid of a similar one, preparing under General Banks, at New Orleans, for the purpose of ascending the Red river, was organized at Vicksburg. Forces were selected for this object from the 16th and 17th Army Corps, two divisions being detached from the former, and one, under command of Brigadier Thomas Kilby Smith, from the latter. The whole force, from both corps, had for its commander then Brigadier General A. J. Smith.
The Ninety-fifth was temporarily detached from the 2nd Brigade, 17th Army Corps, and assigned to a brigade made up for the Red River expedition, con- sisting of the 14th Wisconsin, 81st and 95th Illinois, and commanded by Colonel L. M. Ward. These troops, thus organized, embarked at Vicksburg on the 9th day of March, 1865. The Ninety-fifth went aboard the steamer " John Raines," and on the tenth the whole command moved down the river, arriving at the mouth of Red river on the llth. The army under General Banks had not yet arrived from New
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Orleans, and General Smith, on the 12th, proceeded up Red river with his own force.
Having ascended twenty miles, a landing was made at Simsport, near Atchfalaya Pass, and the Ninety- fifth took part in the skirmish which ensued at that place, driving back the enemy. The march was com- menced from this place at 9 o'clock P. M., on the evening of the 13th, and continued until 3 A. JL, the following morning, in the direction of Fort DeRussey, where General Smith's force arrived on the 14th, attacked and captured the stronghold, and took three hundred prisoners. On the 16th, the Ninety-fifth was assigned the task of destroying the well-constructed fortifications at this place, and under the especial superintendence of Colonel Humphrey the work was rapidly and effectually performed. The following is an extract from Colonel Humphrey's report in refer- ence to the same :
" The works were very formidable, being by far the most scientifically and permanently constructed works of the enemy I have seen, and with our limited appli- ances, very difficult of destruction. The interior slope of the main redoubt, covering an area of about ten thousand five hundred square yards, was wholly revetted with heavy (fourteen inch) square timber, firmly pinned upon each other, morticed and tenanted
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at the angles. These, with great labor, were wedged off one by one, pulled down with ropes, and piled for burning. All this was accomplished at 5 o'clock p. M., (16th inst), and as my orders were to burn nothing until farther orders, I complimented my com- mand for the zeal with which they had worked, and the success of their labor, and marched them back to the brigade camp, distant only about one hundred and fifty yards from the fort
" At seven o'clock p. M., I was notified that the magazines, (three of them within the main redoubt), one of them containing about fifty kegs and barrels of powder, would be exploded at eight o'clock. I was ordered to embark my transportation, and immediately after the explosion, to burn the timber I had pre- viously prepared for that purpose, and be ready to embark my men at an early hour. I received no orders to move my command to a place of greater safety, and did not feel at liberty to leave my position in the brigade without farther orders. My company com- manders were notified of the danger, and the men fell back from one to two hundred yards, availing them- selves of such protection as they could find. One and two hours passed beyond the appointed time, and the explosion did not take place.- The night was cold, and the men weary from their day's work ; one by
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one, many of them resought their bunks and bivouac fires, when, at about half past ten o'clock, the magazines blew up with a terrific explosion, sinking the earth beneath one's feet, and filling the air, for hundreds of yards, with timbers, huge lumps of hard, red clay, and other dangerous missiles. Samuel Snyder, of Company " A," had his left leg broken by a lump of clay, so as to require amputation above the knee, and is not expected to live. Lieutenant John D. Abbe, Company " K," was slightly wounded in the face, — also several others, while many narrowly escaped death. Soon after the explosion of the magazine, an iron field-piece, situated in the west part of the fort, bursted, scattering fragments of the gun through the brigade camp, killing, among others in the brigade, private Samuel Jackson, Company "C," of my regiment
" About twelve o'clock P. M., I proceeded to burn the piled timbers, which left the fortifications in ruins, and as thoroughly destroyed as possible within such a limited time."
On the 17th day of March the regiment reembarked at Gordon's Landing, near the fort, and proceeded up the river, sixty miles, arriving at Alexandria the same evening. On the 18th, it disembarked at Pineville, on the right hand side of the river, and marched out
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 101
twelve miles on a foraging expedition, returning the same day. On the 25th, Companies "G"and"D," of the Ninety-fifth, were detailed as guard over pris- oners, and started with them the same day for New Orleans, on the steamer "Meteor." The Thirteenth Army Corps, commanded by General Franklin, having now arrived at Alexandria, from below, the whole army, provided with three days' rations, moved for- ward on the 26th, along Bayou Kupee, and on the following day arrived at Bayou Cotille, where the regi- ment remained until April 1st Companies "G" and "D " having delivered their prisoners to the authori- ties at New Orleans, returned to this place and rejoined the regiment
On the 4th of April the army reached Grand Ecore, and from here the 13th and 19th corps, and a large portion of General A. J. Smith's command, immedi- ately marched up the river in the direction of Shreves- port, to meet the enemy, while the division of the 17th Army Corps, under General Kilby Smith, ascended the river on transports, loaded with supplies for General Banks' army.
Prior to the general movement of the boats, at this time, the Ninety -fifth was sent on a scouting expedition a few miles up the river, a small force of rebels hold- ing position on the shore being reported in the vicinit}-. 10
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Embarking on the steamer " Universe," it moved up to a small town by the name of Campte, arriving about noon, April 5th. The regiment here disembarked, and, provided with one day's rations in haversacks, marched into the country. After advancing two or three miles, information was received that the enemy had retreated, and the troops then countermarched to the steamer, and soon rejoined the fleet lying near Grand Ecore. On the 8th of April, the whole fleet of transports commenced moving up the river from Grand Ecore, to cooperate with the land forces. The Ninety-fifth was arranged on the various steamers as follows : Companies " B," " E," " G," " H," " I " and " K," occupied the " Sioux City," and Companies " B " and " G," were detailed as sharpshooters. Company "A" was placed as guard on the "Black Hawk," General Banks' head-quarters boat ; " F " on the "Hastings," General Kilby Smith's head-quarters; " C " on the " Meteor," and " D " on the " Shreveport" The fleet had ascended some seventy miles above Grand Ecore without much hindrance, except occa- sional firing from the river banks, when, on the 10th, intelligence was brought through by an orderly that General Banks' army had been defeated at " Pleasant Hill," and was then retreating on Grand Ecore. A speedy return of the fleet down the river was ordered,
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and was necessary for its salvation. Already the rebels had erected batteries below, with the design of entrapping the returning transports, and on the 12th and 13th of April, the Ninety-fifth took active part in successively passing them, under a heavy fire of artil- lery and musketry. Colonel Humphrey, in his report of that portion of the expedition, says : " On April thirteenth, at one o'clock p. M., I ran a gauntlet of a four-gun battery (12 pounders,) well posted, and mus- ketry. The shots were fired at the pilot-house ' Sioux City,' with great precision, the first grazing the hurri- cane deck j ust forward of the pilot-house, demolishing at that point my breastworks of hard bread, wounding slightly First Sergeant William Andrews, of Company ' E,' and another soldier. The balance of the shells missed the pilot-house but a few feet, and exploded with great precision. I had taken the precaution to fortify my decks as much as possible with hay, hard bread, and every available article, so that my men were quite well protected from musketry, to which precaution, and the admirable coolness with which my sharpshooters played upon the enemy, I attribute, in a great measure, my escape with so little loss."
The regiment reached Grand Ecore on the 14th and 15th of April, having had one killed and eleven wounded on the passage down. It remained here
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in camp until the 20th, when the retreat was resumed by the army, the Ninety-fifth forming the rear- guard, and expecting an attack at any moment by the pursuing enemy, now flushed and emboldened by his recent successes. The line of retreat was on the Nachitoches road. On the 22nd, a few hours after leaving the city of Nachitoches, three thousand rebels attacked the rear of General Banks' army, then guarded by Colonel Ward's brigade. The Ninety-fifth being the rear regiment, was the first to form in line of battle aud receive the attack. An hour's fight ensued, in which the enemy was driven back in confusion. In this engagement, Sergeant Caleb Cornwell, of Com- pany " K," was killed by a ball passing through his head, and he was buried on the following day at Clouterville. Near this place, on the 23rd, while the Ninety -fifth still held the rear, the rebels again came up and opened with three pieces of artillery. Colonel Ward's entire brigade immediately formed in line of battle, and engaged in a furious conflict which lasted two hours. Here, too, the rebels were handsomely repulsed. On the same day the Federal army was attacked in front, resulting in complete defeat to the enemy. At night the regiment bivouacked, after a short march, and at an early hour on the following morning the Union camps were aroused by the enemy's
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shells from the rear. In this action the Ninety -fifth took an important part, and the attacking force was driven back with heavy loss. The army arrived at Alexandria on the 28th of April, having been con- stantly harassed by the enemy.
At this place a halt was made for several days, while the gunboats and transports could be passed below the falls. Since the army had been absent on the expedition, the river had fallen so much that it became necessary to build a dam and float the boats over this difficult place in the river. Meanwhile the enemy was active, and threatening attack on every side, but our land forces were so disposed as to hold them in check until the safety of the steamers could be secured. The Ninety-fifth, with other troops, was sent out to Governor More's plantation, and remained there several days, watching the movements of the enemy, and preventing his advance.
By the 14th day of May the gunboats and trans- ports had successfully passed over the falls. Alexan- dria was evacuated, a large quantity of cotton, which cotton speculators had gathered in there, was burned, including a portion of the city itself, and the whole army again resumed the retreat. On the 15th, at dark, the Ninety -fifth arrived at Fort DeKussey, and passed on fifteen miles farther. Sharp skirmishing took place
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at Marksville, and an important artillery duel occurred at Mansouri, in which the rebels were badly worsted. On the 16th, the enemy offered battle in front, and as usual, was repulsed, and on the 17th he was again de- feated in an attack on the rear of the Federal army, then held by General Mower's division, of the 16th Army Corps. On the 18th, occurred the hard-fought battle of Yellow Bayou, in which the rebels fought desperately, but were everywhere overwhelmed with defeat, losing three hundred prisoners and many killed and wounded. The 16th corps was hotly engaged, and the Ninety -fifth fought during a portion of the time under one of the severest fires of artillery it ever experienced in a field fight Fortunately, however, the regiment was so near to the enemy's batteries that most of their shot and shell passed over the men without injuring them. The Federal loss was heavy, and several of the regiments (among them the 58th Illinois,) were badly cut to pieces. After this severe contest, in which the enemy was well punished, the forces under General Banks met with no farther hin- drance of importance, in evacuating the country, and reached the mouth of Eed river on the 21st day of May, 1864
Thus ended, ingloriously, the great, expensive and fruitless attempt to penetrate to the head- waters of the
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Red river. Not inglorious for the troops composing the expedition, for they at all times performed their whole duty, and even after the battle of Pleasant Hill, stood ready to fight their way to Shreveport, and would certainly have done so, had they been com- manded to that effect, and led in that direction. General A. J. Smith, the brave leader of the 16th Army Corps, confident of whipping the enemy and reaching Shreveport, desired not to give up the con- test in that manner ; but the disheartened commanding officer of the army, supposing his forces had met with great defeat, and fearing they would be annihilated by a farther prosecution of his undertaking, decided to abandon the expedition, and ordered the long and tedious retreat to the Mississippi. It is a well-known fact that both armies, supposing themselves defeated, retreated about the same time, and equal distances from the battle field of Pleasant Hill, and on the fol- lowing day, each party sent in flags of truce for the purpose of burying their dead — each expecting to find the other occupying and holding the ground where the battle had raged. It was in truth no more a defeat for the Federals than the rebels, and it was a general belief in the army that a few more days of persever- ance would have placed the great object of the expe- dition in possession of the Union troops. The order
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to retreat was imperative, however, but was obeyed with, feelings of reluctance and disappointment
On the 22nd of April, the Ninety-fifth embarked at the mouth of the Red river upon the steamer " Gol- den Era," sailed up the Mississippi, and reached Yicksburg on the 23rd. When the regiment left this place, in March previous, it was well understood and so expressed in the orders, that it was only temporarily detached from the 17th Army Corps, then encamped there, and after the completion of the Red River expe- dition, which was originally intended to take twenty days, it was expected to rejoin the command at Yicks- burg, where it properly belonged. The most of that corps had, meanwhile, been ordered up the river to Cairo, and had moved forward to take part in the Georgia campaign, then about opening. The detach- ment, camp and garrison equipage and baggage of the Ninety-fifth, which had been left at Vicksburg, was also taken in the same direction, though it was known that the regiment was to return soon to that place. The brigade to which it legitimately belonged was still at Vicksburg on its arrival, but it was no longer considered as belonging to the command from which it had been loaned for the time being, and for some reason, through orders never explained, it was sent to Memphis, Tenn.
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 109
CHAPTEE VI.
Arrival of the Regiment at Memphis — Assigned to General Sturgis' Expedition — March from Memphis — Battle of G-untown, Miss.
— Colonel Humphrey killed — Captain Stewart takes command , and is severely wounded — Death of Captain Bush — Command taken by Captain Schellenger — The Regiment fight with despe- ration — Ammunition giving out — Absence of Commanding Offi • cers — Ninety- fifth fall back, after a long conflict against superior odds — Form second Hue of battle — Final Retreat on Memphis
— Hardships — Arrival of the Regiment back to Memphis in de- plorable condition — Comments on the G-untown affair.
THE regiment arrived at Memphis in the latter part of May, 1864, just in time to be assigned to the ill- fated and disastrous expedition under General Sturgis, which, early in June, set out from that point to meet the rebel General Forrest, who was then operating ex- tensively in Northern Mississippi. The Ninety-fifth was placed in a brigade with the 81st and 113th Illi- nois Infantry, and the troops left Memphis June 1st, taking the cars on the Memphis and Charleston rail- road, to the twenty-sixth mile post, where they camped the same night The line of march was afterward 11
110 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
through Lafayette, Lamar Station, on the Mississippi Central Railroad, Salem, Miss., and Ripley, where the expedition arrived on the 9th. The weather was ex- cessively hot, and rapid marching beneath such a sun
111 prepared the men for a sudden fight On the 10th, Sturgis' cavalry had advanced several miles ahead of his infantry column, and brought on an engagement before they could be easily supported. Word soon came back to the infantry, then five or six miles dis- tant, to advance on the double-quick and support the cavalry. Colonel Humphrey, knowing that his men were already greatly fatigued, and desiring to bring them into action in as good and efficient condition as possible, would not double-quick his command, but pressed forward on a quick march. The regiment hastened on to the scene of conflict, now raging furi- ously at the front ; numbers of the men, overcome by heat and fatigue, fell out by the roadside, while the large majority of them, though well nigh exhausted, and unfit to perform what, under better circumstances they would have accomplished, even in the unequal contest before them, still held their position in the ranks, and came up bravely to form their first line of battle.
The battle occurred near Guntown, Mississippi, and the position of the Ninety-fifth in the line formed was
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. Ill
an important one, and was held obstinately for a long time by the regiment In the early part of the action, Colonel Humphrey, while leading on his men, fell, mor- tally wounded, and the command devolved upon Cap- tain Wm. H. Stewart, Company " F," next in rank present He had charge but a short time before receiving a severe wound through both thighs, and was carried helpless from the field. Captain E. N. Bush, of Company " G," then assumed command, and shortly he, too, was stricken down and counted among the fallen and killed. Then Captain Schellenger, of Company " K," was called to the command of the gallant band, and though their brave colonel and other commanders had fallen, one after another, yet the fight was con- tinued with indescribable desperation. Meanwhile the enlisted men, as well as officers, were falling thick and fast from right to left of the regimental line ; the ammunition was fast giving out, and none arrived from the rear to replete the empty cartridge-boxes. Neither the commanding officer of the troops, nor staff officers, appeared at the front, directing movements or bringing reinforcements to assist and strengthen the faltering Federal lines. They were not there to encourage or to share in the terrible fatalities of that eventful day. The enemy was, meanwhile, being reenforced, and with deadly volleys sorely pressed and harassed the
112 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
unsupported and now trembling Union ranks, which for hours had stood boldly facing the leaden shower and fierce artillery. Finally, both flanks of the regi- ment were turned by overpowering numbers of the enemy, and it was obliged to fall back, or suffer entire capture. Determined, however, not to give up the contest until the last moment, it took position again near some artillery a short distance in the rear, here formed its second line of battle, and withstood for a time the vigorous assaults of the rebels, now advancing rapidly, and flushed with the certainty of victory. Soon afterward a general and hasty retreat was ordered by Sturgis, and his whole army, infantry, cavalry and artillery, fled precipitately in the direction of Mem- phis ; he and a large portion of his cavalry being far in advance of all, leaving the scattered organizations of infantry and artillery to effect their escape in the best way they could.
The enemy, victorious at all points, lost no time in pursuit of the routed and demoralized Union troops, pressing them vigorously on all sides, capturing a large amount of our artillery, and taking many of the dis- organized army prisoners. The remnant of the Ninety- fifth was led back to Memphis by Captain Schellenger, but amid the excitement and confusion which pre- vailed, a return as a regimental organization was im-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 113
possible, and each man looked out particularly for himsel£ Great credit is due to Captain Schellenger for the able manner in which he conducted the retreat. On the llth, 12th and 13th days of June, and the nights of those days, the surviving and uncaptured men of the regiment made lengthy and rapid strides toward the city of Memphis, and evaded successfully the vigilance and grasp of the pursuers. When the knapsack became too onerous, the men unslung and abandoned it, and around many a tree did they bend and break their faithful guns, to prevent capture both of themselves and fire arms by the enemy. Finally, on the 13th, the fragment of the regiment, under Captain Schellenger, worn out and nearly famished, succeeded in reaching Memphis. For days afterward, however, a few kept straggling in, all in most de- plorable condition.
Colonel Humphrey's body was brought off from the field while the fight was progressing, and Surgeon Green succeeded in bringing it through to Memphis in a buggy obtained at Salem. That of Captain B. N. Bush was not found, and remained on the field, to- gether with the most of those who fell during the engagement. The regiment had never before expe- rienced such disaster as had recently overwhelmed it Their gallant leader had been taken away, many valu-
114 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
able officers and men had been killed, wounded and taken prisoners, and the consequent demoralization was necessarily so great that the organization became for a time well nigh annihilated.
The battle of Guntown, and the defeat, rout and sub- sequent flight of the Federal army, will stand forth in the history of the rebellion as one of the most shameful exhibitions of generalship on record. Bravery on the part of our troops was not wanting, nor were they in any manner to blame for the failure. They were veterans who had participated in the memorable charges on the 19th and 22nd of May, 1862, at Vicks- burg, in the long seige which ensued, and in the various battles fought during the Red River expedition. They had never before known defeat, under some of the most trying circumstances experienced during the whole war. The true cause of the great misfortune was plainly incompetency and lack of courage on the part of one who should have been the leading spirit of the occasion. When the important crisis of battle came, which demanded his counsel, presence and action, he was nowhere to be found near the front, where the fierce contest raged, and for a time fluctu- ated with doubtful signs of success to either side. Without orders, and without the means of prosecuting the fight, the valiant troops held out until the last
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 115
moment, and fell back only when impending ruin was about to overwhelm the Union army. They performed their whole duty, and could not accomplish impos - sibilities.
After the return of the regiment to Memphis, the remains of Colonel Humphrey were taken North to his family, where appropriate funeral services were held, under the direction of the Masonic Order. A very large concourse of people assembled from the surrounding country, and attended the corpse to the burial place selected for its reception, near his prairie home. Beneath the green sod of his own beautiful homestead, under the cool shades of the tall walnut trees he so much admired, and near to the wife and children of his heart, they laid away in peaceful re- pose the remains of the gallant, noble and beloved colonel. Those who associated with him in camp, on the march, and in battle, and in all the various and arduous duties of soldier-life, are best acquainted with the military ability, the unremitting zeal, the integrity of character, the urbanity of manners, and the nobility of soul, which ever characterized the man. Yet his immediate associates are not the only ones who know this, for among the numerous officers, both of superior and inferior rank, belonging to the various commands with which his regiment was identified in the field, he
116 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
was held in the highest respect and estimation, his bravery universally acknowledged and lauded, and everywhere throughout the army, where he was known, he was mentioned as one of the most brave, indus- trious, persevering and promising military men which the country had afforded. By the survivors of that regiment which he so long, so faithfully, and so honor- ably commanded, his valor, his virtues, his overflowing kindness of heart, and his constant solicitude for their comfort and welfare, under some of the most disadvan- tageous circumstances, will always be deeply cherished in memory, and the prairie burial spot which contains his sacred ashes, will ever be approached with rever- ence, and regarded as the resting place of a brave soldier, a true patriot, and an estimable citizen,
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 117
CHAPTER VII.
The Regiment relieved from duty for a time after the Guntown Battle, and allowed to recruit — The Command soon regains a prosperous condition, and prepares for the Arkansas Expedition, under General Mower — Arrival at St. Charles, Ark. — Company 1 ' K " detached and left at the mouth of White River as Garrison — Regiment ascends "White River to Duvall1 s Bluff, and goes by Railroad to Brownsville — The lengthy March through Arkansas to Missouri in search of Price — Arrival at Camp Girardeau — " Colonel Pap," and why he was so named — Regiment embarks for St. Louis, and goes to Jefferson City — Ordered forward to Sedalia — Assigned to Garrison Duty — Remain there until the Campaign against Price closes — General A. J. Smith's troops sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis.
ON the return of the regiment from Guntown to Memphis, its organization had been so much shattered by recent misfortunes that it was relieved for a time from the performance of other than light duties, and was allowed a few weeks to recover from the severe shock it had received, before taking part in an expe- dition which was soon to set out from Memphis for Arkansas, under command of General Mower.
118 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
On the 20th of July, Major "William A very, who had been absent on recruiting service in Illinois, and had been serving on court martial at Springfield, 111., for a long time, returned to the regiment and assumed command, and on the 26th of the same month, Lieut. Colonel L. Blanden, who, soon after the Red River expedition, was ordered North on business, rejoined the regiment at Memphis. The regiment now under- went a thorough course of reparation and discipline. New arms and clothing replaced the old ones lost and destroyed during the Guntown expedition, and soon the command, by constant drilling and unremitting efforts on the part of the officers and men, regained its former condition of prosperity and efficiency, and was pronounced well prepared in every way to reenter upon active duties in the field.
Preparations were now being made for the movement of troops down the Mississippi and up the White river, for the purpose of operating in Arkansas. On the 3rd of August, 1864, the Ninety-fifth embarked on the steamer " White Cloud," at Memphis, and arrived at St. Charles, Arkansas, on the 5th. Company " K " was detached from the regiment at the mouth of White river, and assigned to garrison that post. The division of the 17th Army Corps commanded by Colonel J. B. Moore, to which the Ninety-fifth belonged, remained
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 119
at St. Charles until September 1st, building fortifica- tions and performing picket duty. For several morn- ings in succession the regiments lay in line of battle, expecting an attack from the enemy, but none occurred. Little Rock was at this time threatened by the enemy under the rebel General Price, and yet it was uncertain exactly where that cunning Confederate leader intend- ed to strike, whether he would attempt to seize Little Eock, where Major General Steele then commanded, or make one of his annual raids into the State of Missouri. A portion of the troops belonging to the 16th Army Corps, under Major General A. J. Smith, had gone up the river from Memphis, and landed in Missouri, to operate against Price if he should come that way, while another portion of his command, in charge of General Mower, was concentrating at Brownsville, on the railroad between Duvall's Bluff and Little Rock, and within easy supporting distance of the latter place. The Ninety-fifth left the post of St. Charles, September 1st, and proceeded with Colonel Moore's division up White river to Duvall's Bluffs. From here these troops were ordered farther up the river, to meet a rebel force reported in that vicinity. A sharp skirmish took place near Augusta, in which the enemy met with severe loss. There was but a small force of rebels found, however, and they, after slight resistance, fled at the approach of our troops.
120 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
The regiment returned down the river Sept 6th, to Duvall's Bluff, and on the following day was ordered to proceed by railroad from that place to Brownsville, where it arrived the same night, and bivouacked by the cars. It was about this time that the real intentions of Price were made known, and it became certain that he was invading the State of Missouri with a large forca As soon as this was ascertained, General Mower imme- diately prepared his command of nearly ten thousand men, then collected at Brownsville, for an active cam- paign ; put them in light marching order, and on the 17th of September pushed forward his column from that point, for the purpose of either overtaking the invading rebel army, of intercepting it on its home- ward retreat, or of arriving on the borders of Missouri in time to participate in the lively war scenes whi«h were soon to visit that section.
The Ninety-fifth, during this expedition, was com- manded by Lieut. Colonel William Avery, Colonel Blanden having been ordered North on recruiting service, while the regiment was at St. Charles. The line of march was northward from Brownsville, through north-eastern Arkansas, passing through Austin, Sircy and Pocahontas, and crossing the White, Little Bed, and Black rivers, and the movement throughout was conducted by General Mower with all the energy and
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 121
celerity for which that dashing officer was characterized. The regiment were required to sound the reveille at an early hour each morning, dispose seasonably of their hard-tack and coffee, and start on the march long before daylight. The army moved forward each day promptly at the time mentioned in the orders, and all soon un- derstood that the hour set for marching by the general commanding was to be literally observed and carried out with precision, and that if they desired to follow him as leader, they must hold themselves ready to move when he moved, which was invariably at the moment he had previously appointed.
After a long and tedious journey, day and night, through this section of country, in quest of Price, the troops, worn out by constant marching, and many of them barefooted, arrived at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on the Mississippi river, above Cairo, October 4th, 1864.
Price, in his advance to Missouri, had taken a different route, and this column of Union troops under Mower, met with no serious opposition from the enemy during its march through to the Cape. There was occasional skirmishing by our cavalry at the front
It was on this march that the officers and men of the Ninety-fifth conferred upon their worthy and good- natured commander, Colonel Avery, the honorable and
122 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
fatherly appellation of "Colonel Pap." On starting out from Brownsville the usual stringent orders were in force in reference to foraging and pillaging. Regi- mental commanders were held strictly responsible that these orders were executed. On this trip, many of the Ninety -fifth men broke over the rigid rules and regulations, and as the regiment filed into camp at night, they often appeared, in common with the men of other regiments, well loaded with articles which would go far toward satisfying hunger, and in con- nection with the monotonous hard bread and coffee, make a desirable, if not a sumptuous evening meal. The division commander having noticed these things, one day mentioned the matter to Colonel Avery, and requested that he prevent his men from foraging by the roadside, as it was against orders and could not be allowed. Colonel Avery, however, contended that his men had foraged nothing since leaving Brownsville, that the boys supplied themselves at that point with the very articles which now excited the suspicion and dis- pleasure of the division commander, and had simply brought them along for their comfort during the expe- dition. ^Whenever the colonel was spoken to by his superior officer in reference to this matter, his unan- swerable argument was that his men transported their forage from Brownsville, and had seized
ILLINOIS INFANTKY VOLUNTEERS. 123
nothing en route. For this cunning manner in which the colonel shielded his men from accusations of foraging which, if traced up, would, in many instances have been found true, and for many other kind traits which he exhibited during the expedition, they re- solved that henceforth he should receive the sobriquet, " Colonel Pap," and ever afterward he was known among them by that title.
The troops halted but a few days at Cape Girardeau, as Price had already entered the State and penetrated to a point far north, of them, evidently intending to strike Jefferson City. Their services were, therefore, needed at once in that direction. On the 7th day of October, the Ninety-fifth embarked on the steamer " Omaha " for St. Louis, arrived there on the 10th, and was here transferred to the transport " Yellow Stone," for a trip up the Missouri river to Jefferson City. After much delay in ascending this muddy stream, on account of numerous sand-bars in the river, the regi- ment reached that point October 16th, and on the 20th moved forward by railroad to Sedalia. It was here assigned to garrison duty, Colonel Blanden being in command of the post, and remained at Sedalia until the campaign against Price ended in the complete defeat and rout of that invader's army. While here, it was actively employed in receiving and forwarding
124: HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
the large numbers of prisoners continually coming in, under guard, from the front, among whom were the notorious rebel leaders, Marmaduke, Cabal, and many other officers of inferior rank The whole Union army, after these successful operations, commenced moving back to St Louis by easy marches, and the Ninety-fifth returned with Major General A. J. Smith's command, to that place, by way of Jefferson City and Hermann, arriving there November llth. On the following day, General Smith's troops were assigned quarters at Benton Barracks, five miles out from the city. These were not to be their winter quarters, however, for the grand military movements then pro- gressing in Tennessee demanded the immediate pres- ence of General Smith's command in that State.
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 125
CHAPTER VIII.
Operations of Hood in Tennessee — His Advance on Nashville — Battles at Columbia, Spring Hill, and Franklin - — General Smith's Command ordered to Ree'nforce General Thomas at Nashville — Leaves St. Louis on Transports, and proceeds to Cairo — Voyage up the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers — Safe arrival at Nashville
— Detachments of the Ninety-fifth rejoin the Regiment — Account of the Georgia Detachment during General Sherman's Campaign
— Active preparations made around Nashville to receive Hood — His Army in sight — The Ninety-fifth holds an important Position in the Defenses of the City — Work on the Fortifications — Thomas moves his Army out to attack Hood — Great Battles of December 15th and 16th, 1864 — Hood's Army defeated and driven back in confusion — Part taken by the Ninety-fifth — The Pursuit to the Tennessee River — General Smith's Troops ascend the river and go into Winter Quarters, at Eastport, Miss. — Expedition to Corinth — The Hard-tack Famine at Eastport — Corn issued to the Troops
— The Boys desire to draw Halters — Arrival of Rations — Preparations for another active Campaign — Transports arrive to convey the Troops to New Orleans.
THE rebel General Hood, at the head of a large arm}r, liberated as he supposed from General Sherman's grasp, who, leaving him to be looked after by General 12
126 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
Thomas, had commenced his great march to the sea- coast, was now concentrating near the southern boun- dary of the State of Tennessee, and initiating a cam- paign northward, with the view of capturing Nashville, and sweeping forward successfully to the banks of the Ohio river. Major General Thomas, commanding the army and department of the Cumberland, with head- quarters at Nashville, was assigned by General Sher- man to watch Hood's movements and defeat his designs. He had under him the 4th and 23rd Army Corps, together with a cavalry force, and about the middle of November, 1864, these Federal troops, then occupying position on the Tennessee river, near Hunts- ville, Alabama, watching the approach of the rebel army of invasion, commenced withdrawing gradually before Hood's advancing columns, now superior in point of numbers, in the direction of Pulaski, Colum- bia, Franklin and Nashville.
Hood, emboldened by this giving way, and appa- rent weakness of Thomas' retreating army, followed rapidly in pursuit, and promised his soldiers that he would soon lead them victoriously into the city of Nashville. At Columbia, on the Duck river, thirty miles below Nashville, the Federal army, under the immediate control of General Schofield, made a stand and gave the enemy battle to retard his movements.
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 127
Shortly afterward, at Spring Hill, another engagement took place, in which there was heavy loss on both sides. The Union forces resumed their line of retreat on Nashville, and Hood, flushed with what seemed to him important successes, hurried forward his army, and recklessly hurled it upon the Federals, now strongly fortified at Franklin. Both armies here fought with indescribable desperation, and each suf- fered terrible loss. It was one of the bloodiest and greatest battles of the war. The regiments of Hood's army were frightfully mown down, as they charged and recharged the works held by our troops, who would not surrender them.
The victory at Franklin was with the troops of General Schofield, but in accordance with orders from General Thomas, who planned all the movements, the former subsequently retreated to Nashville with both the 4th and 23rd corps.
It was the desire and plan of the veteran Thomas to draw the impulsive rebel leader as far north and as near to Nashville as possible, even to its very gates, before dealing him a decisive blow. Thus he had em- ployed the forces under General Schofield in enticing Hood a long distance from his base of supplies, in retarding, worrying, and severely punishing his ad- vancing rebel hosts, until heavy and important reen-
128 HISTORY OP THE NINETY-FIFTH
forcements could arrive at Nashville, whence he then intended to hurl forth his combined force upon the rebel army.
It was to participate in these stirring scenes, and to reenforce General Thomas' army at Nashville, that the regiments under General A. J. Smith were sent for- ward soon after rendezvousing at Benton Barracks. They were allowed to rest there but a few days, for the men to receive pay and obtain clothing, when the order was received to prepare immediately for an active campaign in the field, which indicated that our desti- nation would be Nashville. Every preparation was accordingly made to leave for the scene of military operations now culminating near that place. On the 23rd day of November, 1864, Colonel Moore's division of General Smith's command, embarked on transports at St Louis, the Ninety -fifth being assigned to the steamer " Isabella," The river to Cairo was filled with floating ice, making navigation somewhat difficult and dangerous. After coaling at Cairo, the fleet ascended the Ohio river, passing Paducah, Kentucky, and arrived at Smithland, near the mouth of the Cumber- land, on Sunday, the 27th of November. To this point the boats conveying the troops of Colonel J. B. Moore?s division had the advance, and a halt was here made until the remainder of the fleet, containing the
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 129
divisions of General McArthur and General Garrard could close up, prior to ascending the Cumberland river. Necessary precautions were also here taken to ensure safety, and guard against surprise by the enemy while passing up this narrow stream. A regular signal code of steam whistles was issued to the commanding officer of each boat, by which the approach of the enemy, the presence of his batteries, or any other danger, might be made known, and which was to indi- cate the landing and disposition of the troops in case of attack. It was expected that the expedition would meet with trouble before reaching Nashville, as Hood was rapidly advancing on the place, and -would en- deavor to cut off the various lines of communication centering there.
On the 28th day of November, the whole fleet, con- taining the three divisions of troops, left Smithland and steamed up the Cumberland, escorted by a gun- boat, General Smith's head-quarters boat leading the way. According to the orders, the transports were to keep within three or four hundred yards of each other and observe that distance except when notified differ- ently by the established signals. Occasionally the screaming whistle of General Smith's flag-ship, re- sponded to promptly by the various boats, would bring the whole fleet into "close order," which indicated
180 HISTOKY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
there might be danger of some kind ahead. No trouble or misfortune, however, attended this expedition during the entire voyage. The transports ran day and night, passed Clarksville on the 29th, and arrived safely at Nashville early on the morning of November 30th. They arrived none too soon, for on the day following, the great battle was fought at Franklin, twelve miles distant, and soon afterward Hood advanced his lines to within a short distance of Nashville, and effected a blockade of the river above and below the city. Early on the morning of arrival, the Ninety-fifth de- barked from the steamer " Isabella," marched through the city, and out two or three miles to the camp as- signed. Here were found several of its detachments which had long been absent, and of which some account must be given before proceeding farther.
The regiment, before leaving Brownsville, Arkansas, on the long march to Missouri, sent its sick men and those who would be unable to endure an active cam- paign, together with all surplus baggage, camp and garrison equipage, back to Memphis, to which place it was expected the regiment would return. A conva- lescent camp was formed here, in charge of Lieutenant Gilkerson, of Company " E," and afterward the de- tachment was increased by the arrival of recruits from the North, who came down, supposing they would find the regiment at Memphis.
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNEEERS. 181
After the close of the campaign against Price,! in Missouri, Lieutenant Gilkerson was ordered to proceed with his detachment of convalescents and recruits to Nashville, where he arrived a few days in advance of the regiment, bringing with him all its camp and garrison equipage.
Another, known as the Georgia detachment, was also at Nashville, waiting for the regiment to arrive. It had been separated from the command for a long time, and consisted of the convalescents who were left at Vicksburg at the time the Red River expedition set out,_and were soon afterward ordered up the river to Cairo, and of recruits obtained by the recruiting party which, in charge of Captains Loop and Nish, was sent North from Yicksburg, in the winter of 1863. On their return with these {{recruits, in May, 1864, they received orders at Cairo, 111., to accompany the 17th Army Corps, then assembled at that point, and on its way to reenforce the Federal army under General Sherman, operating in Georgia. They were assured that their regiment, as soon as it could return from the Red River expedition, would be ordered to Georgia also, but, as has been seen, its destination was in quite another direction.
This detachment, numbering between one and two hundred men, under command of Captain (since
132 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
Major) Loop, and Captain Nish, embarked at Cairo, with the 17th Army Corps, May 12th, 1864, and pro- ceeded up the Ohio and Tennessee rivers to Clifton. Here the corps disembarked and took up its line of march across the country for General Sherman's army, passing through Huntsville and Decatur, Alabama. Ten miles below the latter place, Ehoddy's Confederate cavalry appeared, and after a sharp skirmish, in which the detachment took part, were put to flight. After- ward, on this march, lively skirmishes occurred with the enemy near Warrenton and at a pass through the Blue mountains, known as "Buzzard's Roost Gap," when he was again routed. On the 8th of June the detachment arrived at Ackworth, Georgia, where the great movements under Sherman were then pro- gressing, and the 17th Corps immediately took position in the Federal line of operations. On the 14th of June, Captain Loop was detailed as engineer officer for the 3rd Division 17th Army Corps, and Captain Nish subsequently commanded the detach- ment. It was attached to " Worden's Battalion," and took active part in all the advances, flank move- ments, skirmishes and actions which characterized this celebrated campaign. It was warmly engaged in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee river, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy Station, and in
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 133
common with the whole army labored arduously and incessantly until the campaign closed with the final evacuation and surrender of the "Gate City" of the South. Its casualties, during these movements, were, one man killed in action, eleven wounded, and two taken prisoners.
After resting a few days from the active duties of the summer's campaign, General Sherman's army started on its celebrated march through Georgia to the seacoast, and there was now no prospect that the Ninety -fifth would be sent to Georgia. The men of the detachment serving there having been long without pay and cloth- ing, and suffered many inconveniences from their lengthy absence, were all anxious to return to the regiment. Major Loop, Captain Nish, Captain A. S. Stewart, and a few of the men, were relieved, and re- joined the regiment while at St. Louis. Afterward, the whole detachment, except those who were on detached service at various head-quarters in General Sherman's army, and who accompanied him to Savannah, was ordered to report to and rejoin its command at Nash- ville. It had been there a number of days on the arrival of the regiment, and had been serving at the front, aiding in retarding Hood's movements toward the city.
By Dec. 1st, 1864, Hood, following up the Federal 13
134 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
array on its retreat from Franklin, approached with his forces to within a short distance of Nashville, and extended his lines from the river above the city, around to a point below, where he planted a battery and effected a blockade of the Cumberland. From the reckless manner in which he had hurled forward his troops at Franklin, and in the battles below that place, it was expected he would at once lead a general attack, and attempt to storm the works around Nashville. Immediately on the arrival of General A. J. Smith's command, it was assigned an important position in the Union lines of defense, and held the right of General Thomas' army, resting on the river below the city. Digging and intrenching were now instituted along the whole Federal line, and each regiment was required to throw up works in its own front The Ninety-fifth occupied a position on one of the Pike roads, leading south from the city, and in one night built fortifications which covered the regimental line of battle. Day and night the work was prosecuted vigorously, and promptly each morning at five o'clock the regiments were in line of battle, near their fortifications, where they remained until daylight, awaiting an assault by the enemy. In a few days General Thomas' army had constructed a continuous line of works around the city, and was fully prepared for any attack by the confronting rebel forces.
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The Union line of defense was provided also with powerful batteries, located at proper intervals on those natural bluffs which surround Nashville, and which were now used advantageously for the defense of the city, and to conceal the numbers and real intentions of the Federal army. During these hasty but efficient preparations by General Thomas, he caused many of the citizens to be pressed into service, for the time being, and obliged them to go out to the lines and help build the fortifications. To see the clerks and city dandies, and other non-combatants, provided with haversacks well filled with hard bread, and marched out to the front where an opportunity was afforded of developing their soft muscles by work upon the forts and other defenses, was the cause of much merriment among the boys in blue, and they were thankful for such temporary assistance. There was some dissatis- faction on the part of those thus summarily hurried from their peaceful business pursuits, but it availed nothing against stern military necessity. If they were unwilling to shoulder a musket and march forth to the defense of the country, they were at least obliged, in this emergency, to shoulder a pick-axe or spade, and lend a helping hand in constructing works which might rescue Nashville from the grasp of Hood.
Between the 1st and 15th days of December, fre-
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quent skirmishes took place between different portions of the two armies, whose lines were in plain view of each other, without bringing on any general engage- ment During this time there was every indication that Hood intended to make an attack, but having failed to do so, General Thomas, having everything prepared, determined to move out with his whole army from the works at Nashville, fight Hood, and drive him from his strong positions around the city. The Federal army consisted of the 4th and 23rd Army Corps, General A. J. Smith's command designated as " Detachment of the Army of the Tennessee," a large force of cavalry, and some colored troops. The Ninety-fifth was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 3rd divi- sion of General Smith's force, Colonel J. B. Moore commanding the division, Colonel Blanden the brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel A very the regiment
On the evening of December 14th, orders were re- ceived for the troops to have reveille at five, and to be ready to move at 5^- o'clock A. M.; on the following morning. All understood that this order meant business on the morrow, for our march could not extend far before coming upon the watchful foe. At an early hour, on the 15th, the camps were astir, preparatory to marching at the hour indicated. It was a reveille, how- ever, without music, for no beating of drums or playing
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 137
of fifes was allowed, lest the enemy might distrust the designs of the Union army. The morning was very foggy, and continued so long after General Thomas' army was under motion, serving as a complete de- ception to the enemy, who was little suspecting an attack on that day.
Thomas moved his main army out on the Hardin Pike, with a large body of cavalry in advance and on the flanks, and immediately deployed it for action. The detachment of the Army of the Tennessee occu- pied the right, the 23rd Army Corps the centre, and the 4th Corps and colored troops the left of the Union lines of battle. It was a magnificent sight to witness this vast army of infantry, cavalry and artillery move forward steadily and gallantly to the work in hand, confident that no opposing force could withstand its onward sweep. Hood's main works were but a few miles distant, and soon after the troops were formed in ' line, the battle opened lively between the skirmishers of both armies. By 11 A. M., the contest raged furi- ously along the whole lines, and the rebel batteries commenced playing upon the advancing columns. The batteries on the enemy's left were charged and carried by storm during the afternoon, by a portion of the cavalry, and by General McArthur's division of infantry. On every part of the line General Thomas'
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army was successful throughout the day, driving the enemy steadily back, taking battery after battery, ^many prisoners, and killing and wounding a large number of his men.
In the charge made by Colonel Blanden's brigade, during the first day's battle, across an open field, the Ninety-fifth became exposed to a raking fire from one of the enemy's batteries, which it supposed had been taken by our troops on the left, and for a short time was in imminent danger of being severely cut up by the solid shot thrown from this unexpected source. This battery was soon in our possession, the regiment advanced rapidly over the field and escaped with the loss of only one man, Corporal John Kennedy, of Company " A," whose left limb was taken off near the knee by a solid shot In this charge, Colonel Moore's division captured two or three hundred prisoners, who had taken position behind a stone fence, as sharp- shooters. Darkness only put an end to the struggle on this day, but when the curtain of night fell upon the contending hosts, hushing them to silence, it was plain that General Thomas, thus far, had been everywhere successful, and remained master of the situation. Yet the events of this day's battle had not decided the fate of either army ; there was yet disputed ground in front of the Federal lines, and during the night of the 15th
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every preparation was made, on both sides, to resume the contest early on the following day. Entrenching parties were busy all night long, with the axe, pick and spade, and at early dawn, on the 16th, the battle opened again in all its fury. Hood having been driven back on the day previous, had withdrawn a short dis- tance to an advantageous position, and the key-point of his whole line, on the second day's battle, was located upon and near the Brentwood Hills. On the morning of the 16th, General A. J. Smith's command occupied position directly in front of these works of the enemy, and now held the centre of General Thomas' army, the 23rd Army Corps having been transferred to the right. Heavy cauonading and mus- ketry were kept up from morning until 3 o'clock p. M., without material advantage to either aide. General Thomas had ordered a general charge at that hour upon the enemy's works, and at the appointed time it commenced vigorously along his whole line. General McArthur's division of General Smith's command covered itself with glory on this occasion, and well earned the honor of carrying the enemy's key-point \)j storm. Responding to the order for a charge with deafening yells, they swept up the steep heights under a murderous fire, regiment following and supporting regiment, and after a sharp and decisive assault, gained
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possession of the Brentwood Hills. As soon as these strong fortifications were thus gallantly carried, Hood's army, defeated now at all points, broke and fled in confusion toward Franklin. At the close of the sec- ond day's battle nearly all of his artillery had been captured, a large proportion of his men taken prison- ers, and his killed and wounded left strewn over the various battle-fields. It was a great day for the army under the brave and strategic Thomas, but a terrible one for the ambitious and fiery Hood and his forces, which he had supposed were invincible. After his defeat and flight, our cavalry moved forward in immediate pursuit, the same evening. The infantry bivouacked for the night near Brentwood Hills, and on the morning of December 17th, advanced on the " Granny White Pike," toward Franklin. The demor- alized rebel army was now in full and rapid retreat beyond that place, and our pursuing cavalry were con- tinually sending back prisoners, and occasionally a heavy gun, which the enemy had endeavored to take off.
On Sunday, the 18th of December, the Ninety-fifth arrived at Franklin, and camped on the south side of the town, near the place where the great battle had been fought a few weeks previous. On the 19th, the regiment resumed the pursuit from Franklin, passing
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 141
through Spring Hill, the scene of a great battle during Hood's advance, and marched the same day to within eight miles of Columbia, situated on the south side of Duck river. On the 22nd it moved forward to Duck river, and encamped on the north side of it General Smith's troops were delayed here until the 24th, waiting for the 4th Army Corps, which, in the pursuit of Hood's retreating army, held the advance of the Federal forces, to cross upon the pontoon bridges. After the battles around Nashville, the different divi- sions and corps pushed forward vigorously, each desi- rous of being foremost in the pursuit. Such was the enthusiasm and zeal throughout the Union army over the recent victories, that its march from the Nashville battle-fields to Duck river was turned into an eager strife between the corps to precede each other. The 23rd Army Corps had fought along this same route on its retreat a short time previous, and now appeared to claim the road in preference to the detachment of the Army of the Tennessee, which had been ordered to follow immediately after the 4th Corps. On several occasions it endeavored to pass the troops of General Smith's command, thereby somewhat confusing the order of march. This was not permitted, however, on the part of General Smith and his men, who, at all times, maintained their position in the column, and
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gave their friends of the 23rd to understand that " Smith's Guerrillas " had performed trips of this nature before, were well posted as to their rights and duties, and were not to be jostled out of the designated order of moving. The 23rd were, therefore, obliged to march in rear of the detachment of the Army of the Tennessee, to Duck river, and all attempts to precede it were made in vain. There was considerable strife, also, at this stream, between these two commands as to which should first cross. The 4th Corps was already over, and General Smith was ordered to follow next He commenced doing so, when a portion of the 23rd Corps desired to occupy the pontoon at the same time. The fiery old general seeing this, posted himself at one end of the bridge, and with drawn sword, swore that not a man of the other command should pass until his own force had crossed. On the 24th day of December, the Ninety-fifth passed over, marched through Colum- bia, and went into camp three miles beyond the town, where a halt was made until the wagon train, which was delayed at the bridge, could come up.
The weather was now becoming very cold, snow had fallen, the ground was frozen, and many of the men, having worn their shoes through, marching on the hard Pike road, were in suffering condition.
The regiment spent Christmas, December 25th, a
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 143
cold and disagreeable day, as cheerfully as possible in their camp near Columbia, waiting anxiously for the train to arrive with the blankets and rations. Though the rebel army had been through this section twice within a short time, and nearly drained the country of supplies, yet the Union soldiers, by the exercise of their characteristic inquisitiveness, succeeded in se- curing from the neighboring plantations plenty of fowls and roasters, which, in connection with hard-tack and coffee, furnished the officers and privates with respectable Christmas dinners. On the 26th, the regi- ment broke camp and resumed the march on the Pike, leading to Pulaski. All along the route were strewn the numerous evidences of the hasty and panic-stricken manner in which the demoralized rebel army retreated. Broken fire-arms, knapsacks and burdensome clothing had been abandoned by the foe in his precipitous flight, and were the sure indications of his terrible discom- fiture. The infantry reached Pulaski, December 27th, where the solid Pike on which the troops had marched from near Nashville, terminated, and thence to the Tennessee river their course was to be over a dirt road, muddy, snowy, badly cut up, and difficult to travel at this inclement season of the year. In the pursuit thus far, the infantry had not been required to support the cavalry, which was far in advance pressing closely the
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fleeing and scattered rebels. Every day large numbers of prisoners were sent back from the front, and the cavalry needed no assistance in the prosecution of their good work.
The history of the war will not present an army worse beaten, cut up and disorganized than was Hood's at this time. The active campaign may be said to have now ended, though much severe marching was afterward performed before reaching the Tennessee river. The cavalry and the 4th Army Corps continued the pursuit in the direction of Florence, Alabama, where remnants of the rebel army succeeded in cross- ing the river and effecting an escape. The detachment of the Army of the Tennessee was ordered from Pulaski across the south-western portion of the State, to strike the Tennessee river at Clifton, and the 23rd Army Corps subsequently followed to that point On the 28th day of December, the Ninety-fifth started from Pulaski and marched ten miles. Owing to the bad condition of the roads the troops were obliged to move slowly, and much difficulty was experienced in bringing up the wagon trains. The portion of country through which the army was now passing was the poorest section of Tennessee, had long been desolated by the ravages of war, and was now deserted mostly of inhabitants. Being in close proximity to the
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Alabama border, it had felt the effects of the war much more severely than other localities of the State, and had been overrun frequently by both the Union and Eebel armies. Withal, it was the most loyal por- tion of Tennessee, and had sent forth* from its poor white communities important aid to assist in putting down the rebellion, a cavalry regiment having been raised in this section for that purpose. On the 30th of December, the Ninety-fifth moved on through Law- renceburg, formerly of some importance as a manu- facturing town, but now deserted and inactive. The following day was the severest which the regiment ever experienced in the service. During the night of the 30th a rain set in, which, by morning, turned into a cold snow storm. The troops suffered bitterly that night, and were ordered to proceed, at 7 o'clock the next morning, over the frozen roads. Many of the soldiers had worn their shoes completely through, be- fore leaving the Pike at Pulaski, and a new supply could not be obtained until the army should arrive at Clifton. In this pitiable condition, many a soldier could be seen tramping along during that bitter cold day, while the very blood reddened his footprints on the snowy ground, as he passed along ! I remember seeing, on that frosty day's march, a number of men belonging to the 44th Missouri Infantry, plodding
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along barefooted over the frozen roads, and there were similar instances in every regiment.
The 44th had been in the service but a short time, was hotly engaged at the battle of Franklin, where it was badly cut 4o pieces, and after the retreat to Nash- ville was immediately assigned to Colonel Blanden's brigade. It had started out on the present campaign without having time to obtain a sufficient supply of shoes and clothing. Its condition was, therefore, now deplorable, and it suffered extremely during this cold and tedious march in midwinter. The other regiments were better prepared at the outset, but all were obliged at this time to undergo much privation and suffering.
On the 2nd day of January, 1865, the Ninety -fifth started early from camp, near Waynesboro, and after a lengthy and fatiguing day's march, arrived late in the evening at Clifton, the present destination of General Smith's command. Thus finally ended the severest campaign in which the Ninety-fifth was ever engaged. When the suffering which prevailed in consequence of the extreme cold weather, and all the other circum- stances are considered, it is believed there is no expe- dition in which the regiment participated during the service, which can compare with this one in point of suffering and fatigue.
After leaving Pulaski, nothing was seen of the re-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.
treating rebel army, on the route taken by General Smith's troops. What remained of it after crossing Duck river at Columbia, fled on another road in the direction of Florence, Alabama, closely pursued, as already stated, by our cavalry and the 4th Army Corps. The regiments rested at Clifton for a few days, and meanwhile transports arrived from Nashville, bringing plenty of shoes, clothes and rations for the troops. The weather continued cold while here, and the men had hard work to keep warm around their camp fires and beneath the thin-roofed " dog tents." In a few days General Smith's whole command were on their way up the Tennessee river to Eastport, where they were or- dered to go into winter quarters. The second division (General Garrard's,) and a part of the first, commanded by General McArthur, had arrived at that point by the 8th of January, and on the same day Colonel Moore's division embarked on transports at Clifton for that place. The Ninety -fifth broke camp at Clifton late in the afternoon of January 8th, and proceeded to the river for the purpose of embarking. The different boats assigned to the two brigades of Colonel Moore's division were lying there, but were already heavily loaded with the transportation of the 2nd division, and a portion of the troops of the 1st. It seemed impossible to crowd another command of six regiments
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on the same transports. General Smith, in his charac- teristic manner, insisted that it could, and swore that it should be done. If any inferior officer attempted to argue with him the impossibility of carrying so large a force upon so few steamboats, at one trip, he would reply in his effective, though profane phrase- ology, that " These boats, sir, by G — d, sir, can carry these troops; sir, and five thousand more, by G — d, sir." Whether the brave old campaigner was worked up to this pitch of determination by a premeditated, sober intention and desire to debark his entire com- mand that night, or whether he was laboring under certain other exciting influences on that occasion, it is unnecessary to consider here ; but suffice it to say, that in accordance with his emphatic commands, the regiments went aboard the transports in a lively man- ner, crowding every nook and corner of the heavily freighted crafts. The place of embarkation was dis- advantageous, being by a very steep bank, where the steamboats could be reached only along a narrow road- way leading down to the river's edge. A large quan- tity of the transportation belonging to another division, occupied this avenue of approach to the steamers, and had to be loaded before anything from Colonel Moore's command could gain admission.
Long after dark the Ninety-fifth, much delayed by
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 149
the confusion in which all things seemed to move, finally succeeded in getting aboard the steamer " Leni Leoti." To realize the scene on this occasion, one needs to have been present and witnessed it Such an operation by daylight ia generally attended with much wearisomeness and clamor, but when performed in a dark night, as at Clifton, presents one of the roughest scenes in army life, and is characterized by nothing particularly pleasant and attractive. It seemed to matter little, how much inconvenience one party caused another, in the general disposition of everybody to look out for number one. Different commanders wrangled and claimed the same boats exclusively for their own commands ; those persons versed and ex- pert in the profane tongue, found it an admirable occa- sion for exercising their versatility in that respect with great force and profusion. Soldiers were crammed into places where they perhaps had room to stand, but not to lie down ; mules were knocked around and se- verely beaten, when, in fact, they knew more than those who were beating them ; everything was in up- roar, everybody wai mad, and somebody must have been drunk Spurred on by General " A. J.'s " stem orders, the troops completed their rough and tumble embarkation late in the evening of January 8th, and 14
150 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
thus was verified his forcible assertion, that " it could and should be done to-night, sir."
The fleet moved up the river about midnight, pass- ing Pittsburg Landing the 9th. Near this place guerrillas showed themselves, and delivered a few shots at the passing transports. The Ninety-fifth re- plied with volleys from the " Leni Leoti," and the infestors of the river bank suddenly disappeared under cover of the neighboring thicket. January 10th, the transports arrived safely at Eastport, and Colonel Moore's division commenced debarking early on the same day. The weather was stormy and cold, and the ground at the landing deep with mud. The regiments moved from the boats and remained near the river, on the wet and disagreeable low lands, until permanent camping-grounds could be selected, on the hills near by. In the afternoon camps were assigned, and the various regiments marched away to their respective encampments. The position occupied by General Smith's troops on the Eastport heights, was important and commanding, and a strong line of fortifications was thrown up immediately on the arrival of his divi- sions at that place, each division being required to fortify its own front
Orders were now received for the regiments to build winter quarters, and all were soon busily employed in
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felling the thick timber and constructing the rude but substantial and warm log huts. In a few days the camp of the Ninety-fifth was changed into a miniature village, and the men were thus well protected from the cold, raw winds which, at that season of the year, continually sweep over those bleak hills.
On the 17th of January, the quiet and monotony of life in winter quarters was disturbed by an order for Colonel Moore's division to make a reconnoisance in the direction of Corinth, which was reported to be still occupied by a brigade of rebel cavalry, commanded by Ross. The object of the present expedition was to feel of the enemy, and, avoiding a' general engage- ment, to ascertain whether or not he intended to hold his position at Corinth. Accompanied by a brigade of Federal cavalry, under General Croxton, the in- fantry moved from camp atEastport, at 6 o'clock A. M., on the 18th, provided with three days' rations in haver- sacks and three in wagons, passed through the village of luka, and marched sixteen miles, camping fourteen from Corinth that night Our cavalry during the day had some skirmishing with the enemy, who was easily driven back. The march was resumed early on the following day, and the head of the infantry column, then held by the Ninety-fifth, arrived in Corinth at icon, meeting with no resistance. The enemy, learn-
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ing of our approach, had evacuated the place a few hours previous to our arrival, and had set fire to the "Tishiningo House," which was filled with rebel com- missary stores. The building was still burning as we entered the town, and could not be saved. The troops halted in Corinth an hour or two for the men to make their coffee, and the object of the reconnoisance having been accomplished, the expedition turned back the same day in the direction of Eastport, marching out nine miles. January 20th it reached luka, and on the following day the regiment came back and resumed their winter quarters at Eastport This expedition took place during delightful though chilly weather. The roads were hard and in good condition, except when they led through intervening swamps. The men of the different regiments who had been lying in camp for some days without much exercise, were greatly benefited by this march. The troops now experienced severe winter weather at Eastport, but the glowing camp-fires within the soldiers' snug log cabins, made everything comfortable and cheerful, and kept the men from freezing.
About this time, also, the rations for General Smith's entire command commenced growing short Boats containing corflmissary stores were daily expected up the river, but failed to arrive, and soon it became neces-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 153
sary to provide measures against impending suffering and starvation. It was severe to oblige the troops to encamp upon those cold, bleak hills in midwinter, but when the prospect of being pinched for food was added to this, they considered the condition of affairs unneces- sary and outrageous. Still the boys did not grumble much at their lot, but were rather disposed to make sport of their straightened and half-famished cir- cumstances.
Several days passed, and the transports still failed to report with rations. There was something wrong somewhere down the river. Somebody was to blame, yet no one could tell where the responsibility for the delay rested. Finally the scant rations of the troops were all consumed, and immediately something had to be furnished the men for food. It happened that a large quantity of forage had been brought up the river for the horses and mules of the army. This was now used to prevent starvation among the troops, and as a dernier resort, shelled corn was issued to them by the bag full, in lieu of their regular rations. Some of the commissioned officers, whose messes had not been well supplied beforehand, were reduced to the same predic- ament with enlisted men, and were provided with the same article of subsistence as the soldiers. Forja few days the troops had scarcely any other food to live
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upon, and corn-cake and popped corn were the only dishes afforded at the mess tables. Various jokes and hits were perpetrated by the boys upon those in au- thority, and they often wanted to know " when ' Old A. J.' was going to issue rations of hay, and draw halters for them." It is but just to state here, how- ever, that neither General Smith, nor any one else at Eastport, was blamable for the scarcity of provisions, though there must have been a great fault somewhere in the commissary department of the army. There was no excuse for the uncomfortable condition of affairs, as ever since the arrival of troops at this point the line of communication had been constantly open to Nashville, the depot of supplies for the Army and Department of the Cumberland
There is nothing about which a soldier is more sensi- tive than his appetite, and he very much dislikes to have it restrained or interfered with, unless under some great and pressing military necessity. He will go months without receiving a dime of pay, without a murmur, but place him upon short rations for a day even, and you will hear from him immediately. If you expect him to march, fight, or perform well in any manner, you must keep his haversack well supplied with at least hard cracker and coffee, or give a good explanation why it cannot be done. He never expects
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 155
luxuries to be dealt out to him, but always insists that his regular rations, under ordinary circumstances, shall be, and if they are not forthcoming, he is liable to indulge in some of the most emphatic, caustic and often irreverent remarks concerning those in authority, which can be found in the soldier's vocabulary.
Finally, boats reached Eastport bringing large sup- plies of commissary stores, removing all fears on the subject of starvation, and thereafter the men had plenty to eat It may be remarked here, that the story which appeared about this time in a Northern paper, repre- senting that a transport having arrived at Eastport heavily laden with corn, the half-starved soldiers rushed violently on board and devoured the entire cargo, was wholly fictitious, having no foundation in fact.
While the Ninety-fifth was in camp at Eastport, Company " K," which, for a long time had been per- forming garrison duty at the mouth of White river, Arkansas, having been left there in the fall previous, rejoined its command. It had endeavored to report to the regiment at Nashville, but on its passage up the Cumberland river, had been obliged to disembark at Clarksvil^e on account of the blockade, and was unable to meet the regiment in time to participate in the battles around Nashville, and the subsequent pursuit of Hood's army to the Tennessee river.
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The troops remained in winter quarters at Eastport until the fore part of February, 1865, when a large fleet of transports came up the river for the purpose of conveying General Smith's command thence to New Orleans, where an expedition was then collecting and preparing, under General Canby, for a general move- ment against Mobile city.
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CHAPTBE IX.
The Ninety-fifth embarks on the " Adam Jacobs " for New Orleans — Fleet proceeds down the Tennessee Eiver — Arrival at Cairo — Depredations committed there by the Troops — Voyage down the Mississippi — General Smith' s forces disembark at Vicksburg — Afterward proceed to New Orleans — Disagreeable Camp below the City on the old Battle-fields — Regiment goes to Dauphine Island by way of Lake Pontchartrain — Arrival at the Island — Expedition of Colonel Moore's Brigade to Cedar Point, and up the west side of the Bay toward Mobile — Oysters and Musqui- toes at Cedar Point — Advance up the Country — How the Music was used to deceive the Enemy — The 44th Missouri Band — Re- turn of the Brigade to Cedar Point — Crosses the Bay, and rejoins 16th Army Corps at Dauley's Landing, on Fish River — General Canby's Army advances on Spanish Fort and Blakely — Invest- ment of both Places — The part performed by the Ninety- fifth in the Reduction of Spanish Fort — Both Strongholds taken by Assault — Fall of Mobile.
ON the 6th day of February, 1865, the Ninety-fifth embarked at Eastport on the steamer "Adam Jacobs," for the long journey to New Orleans. All the troops were aboard their respective transports by evening, and 6 o'clock the following morning was the hour set for 15
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departing. Promptly at the time ordered, the long whistle sounded from the general's flag boat, the boats swung out into the stream, and following each other in the order assigned, steamed down the Tennessee for their place of destination. The fleet arrived safely at Paducah, Ky., on the morning of the 8th, and pro- ceeded down the Ohio to Cairo, where the transports remained until the 10th, taking on coal. The first division, under General McArthur, and the third, under Colonel Moore, arrived here nearly at the same time.
Eegimental, brigade and division commanders now experienced much difficulty in keeping their commands on the boats, and were unable to prevent the commis- sion of depredations on the private property of citi- zens, by a few mischievous and unruly soldiers. It is believed, however, that the Ninety-fifth had nothing to do with these troubles, and that its men conducted themselves while at Cairo as good soldiers. The same may be said of the 81st Illinois, and the 44th Missouri infantry, the other regiments of Colonel Blanden's brigade, whose men were likewise free from partici- pation in the misconduct which may have occurred while the boats were stopping at that point
At five o'clock A. M., February 10th, the fleet was again under way, and moved down the Mississippi,
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which was now full of large cakes of ice. After getting below Columbus the ice disappeared, the weather became mild, and the voyage was pleasant The regiment arrived at Memphis, Feb. llth, and on the following day resumed the journey. The fleet reached Yicksburg on the 13th, and landed below the city, by the flats. Instead of proceeding directly to New Orleans, orders came to disembark at this place, and General Smith, leaving his command at Yicksburg, proceeded to New Orleans, ascertained that an error had been made in transmitting the telegram, and that it was intended his troops should come directly to New Orleans.
Meanwhile, the regiments remained on the trans- ports at Vicksburg until the 16th, when they moved off the boats, marched out in the rear of Vicksburg, and went into camp near the " four mile bridge," be- tween the city and the Big Black river. Here they remained until the 19th, when orders came from Gen- eral Smith to strike tents, move to the landing at Vicksburg, and reembark upon the same transports, which had been retained until General Smith could return from New Orleans. By the 20th everything was ready for a continuation of the voyage. The 2nd division, under command of General Garrard, which was left at Eastport, had now arrived, and at 4 o'clock
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A. M., of that day, the whole fleet of twenty-four transports, conveying General Smith's entire com- mand, proceeded down the river. The steamer " Adam Jacobs " arrived at New Orleans, with the Ninety-fifth, .February 21st, and landed just below the city. The regiment remained on the steamer until the following day, when it disembarked and went into camp several miles below the city, on the old battle-fields of Jackson and Packenham. The grounds assigned here for camping purposes were of the worst character, being low, wet and muddy. The rainy season had com- menced, and it was almost impossible for teams or men to move over the miry ground. It was the most disa- greeable encampment the regiment ever had in the service, and all were glad when the order came to leave it
While at New Orleans, General Smith's command underwent some changes in its name and organization. During its operations in the Department of the Cum- berland, at Nashville, and throughout the subsequent campaign, it was designated as the Detachment of the Army of the Tennessee. On its arrival within the Department of the Gulf, it was formed into the 16th Army Corps, Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith commanding, and was known as such in the campaign against Mobile, and until the close of the war. The Ninety -fifth re-
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mained attached to the 2nd brigade of Colonel Moore's division, and other regiments were assigned to the corps at New Orleans, making it a very large and effi- cient command.
The regiments soon received orders to prepare for another active campaign, and early in the month of March, the troops began moving, some by the river and gulf, and others by way of Lake Pontchartrain, to Dauphine island, where the army, under General Canby, was assembling, preparatory to the general movement up the bay against Mobile. The Ninety- fifth was ordered to proceed to that point of rendezvous by the lake, and on the morning of March llth, it cheerfully struck tents at the camp below New Orleans, and moved over to the old race course between the city and Lake Pontchartrain, where it was directed to obtain transportation and proceed directly to Dauphine island. The regiment bivouacked upon the track of the race course, which was perfectly dry and clean, and during the short delay here, the men enjoyed much more real comfort than they had experienced in the mud pastures below the city. Four companies of the Ninety-fifth, F, G, H, and K, were here detailed to remain and accompany the transportation of the divi- sion, and reported to Lieut. Nichols, A. A. Q. M., for that duty. On the 13th day of March, the remainder
162 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
of the regiment, six companies, embarked at the Pont- chartrain landing, on the steamer " Warrior," and in the evening of the same day started on the voyage. Passing through lake Borgne, and along the coast, the steamer arrived safely at Grant's Pass on the evening of the 14th, where she anchored for the night, it being a difficult place to navigate in the darkness. On the following morning she passed safely through, and landed at Fort Gaines, Dauphine island. The regi- ment disembarked and marched down the beach on the south side of the island, to the camp assigned. This was the healthiest locality which could have been selected for the encampment of troops. The men pitched their tents upon the clean sand, which was much preferable to New Orleans mud, were invigorated by the sea breezes, which came constantly from the gulf, and fared sumptuously on the oysters and fish, in which the island abounded.
At Dauphine island changes occurred in the brigade and division organizations. Brigadier General E. A. Carr assumed command of Colonel Moore's divi- sion, and the latter took command of the first brigade . The Ninety-fifth was transferred to it, and Colonel Blanden was relieved as commander of the second brigade by Colonel L. M. Ward, of the 14th Wis- consin infantry. Colonel Blanden had been com-
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 163
manding officer of the brigade ever since its formation at Nashville, had led it through the great campaign against Hood, and. through all its subsequent wander- ings, with much credit to himself as a military com- mander. Circumstances of rank, such as frequently occur in the army, now placed him once more in com- mand of his regiment, which, for a long time, had been ably governed by Lieut. Colonel Avery.
The encampment of the troops on this healthy and favorable spot was to be short. There was work at hand, and active operations in that vicinity were soon to commence. Away up the bay, hid among her strongholds, and protected by fortifications, forts and torpedoes, which guarded all avenues of approach, lay the defiant rebel city, which, thus far in the war, had eluded the visitation and grasp of the Union armies. Silently she awaited the bursting of the storm gather- ing at her doors, and in the stupendous preparations culminating around her, was conscious of a fate similar to that which had befallen her rebellious sister cities, one by one, all along the Atlantic coast.
On the 18th day of March, Colonel Moore's brigade was ordered to cross over to Cedar Point, located oppo- site the island on the west side of the bay, and execute the first movement in the plan for capturing the city of Mobile. The Ninety-fifth and Seventy-second nii-
164 HISTORY OF THE NINETY-FIFTH
nois, 44th Missouri, and 33rd Wisconsin regiments, now composed the brigade, and embarking on steamers near the Fort Gaines Landing, proceeded to Cedar Point, accompanied by one section of artillery and two gunboats. Colonel Moore had instructions to effect a landing, advance in the direction of Mobile, and make such noise and demonstration as would con- vey the idea that the whole Union army was approach- ing by that route.
General Canby intended this as a feint merely, and during its execution he suddenly transferred the 13th and 16th Army Corps (except Colonel Moore's brigade) to a different point, and assembled them near Dauley's Landing, on the Fish river, on the east side of the bay. From this place the real and important advance was to be made against Forts Spanish and Blakely, the formidable outposts to Mobile, and the keys to the possession of the city itsel£ At the same time a strong column of white and colored troops, under General Steele, was moving from Pensacola, and sweeping around toward the same points.
The force sent over to Cedar Point landed without opposition, though on our approach mounted men were seen hastening away in the direction of Mobile. They belonged to a