LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, Shelf ,.S-4-? The Author: "On Wheels." ON WHEELS AND HOW I CAME THERE A REAL STORY FOR REAL BOYS AND GIRLS Giving the Personal Experiences and Observations of a Fifteen- year-old Yankee Boy as Soldier and Prisoner in the American Civil War BY ^ PRIVATE W. B. SMITH Of Company K^ IJ^th Illinois Volunteer Infantry EDITED BY Rev. JOSEPH GATCH BONNELL Of the St. John's River Conference^ Florida Neither shall they learn war any more,"— Bible. \ moi I NEW YORK: HUNT & EATON CINCINNATI: CRANSTON & CURTS 1893 ^^^ K Copyright, 1892, by HUNT & EATON New York. b^ Electrotyped, prirrted, and bound by HUNT & EATON, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York. TO IVtY AGED F»ARENXS, WHO TEARFULLY GAVE THEIR ONLY BOY AT FIFTEEN IN RESPONSE TO OUR NATION'S CALL DURING THE CIVIL WAR, AND WHO JOYFULLY WELCOMED HIS RETURN AT THE RETURN OF PEACE, THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. AUTHOR'S Preface, tK writing On Wheels : and How I Came There, I liave studiously avoided inserting anything concerning wliicli there was the least doubt. If even my comrades can detect any errors I am j)osi- tive they will be but slight matters of dates, which cannot affect the truth of my story. Of every injury to myself or assistance received from my comrades which I have mentioned there is a record on file in the Pension Department at "Wash- ington. No fictitious names appear anywhere in the book. The persons and places mentioned are real, and the experiences and events related actually oc- curred. I had no thought of writing a book until after the following occasion. One afternoon, while sitting in my chair in my Florida home, I thought of some beef heads which were issued to us at Andersonvillo Prison during the winter of 1864:. Being unoccupied at the time, I concluded to write a short description of the circumstances for my children. I gave the 8 PREFA CE. story this title : '* The Fate of a Beef Head at An- derson ville, as "Witnessed by a Boy Prisoner." It appears in this volume, substantially as I then wrote it, as Chapter XXX. The evening after I wrote it 1 received a call from a journalist, a personal friend, who, after listening to the story, urged me to have it published. This indorsement, together with the facts, in themselves interesting, that while a mere boy I was in the army, was captured and confined in different Confederate prisons, led me to believe that possibly I might write an account of my experience and observations as a boy soldier and prisoner that both young and old w^ould read. I did so, and here- with submit this humble vohime to the public. If its perusal shall in any way contribute to a genuine patriotic sentiment the author will be amply re- warded. Will B. Smith. Lawtey, Fla., Maij, 1S92. INTRODUCTION. jTO'EKE is a book that every boy and girl in all oi^-^ this nation ought to read. Its universal cir- culation would be a national blessing. Abraham Lincoln was fond of telling of his indebtedness to Weems's Life of Francis Marion^ in forming his character and kindling in his soul the fire of patriotism. If this republic has future struggles before it, and is to come out victorious in them all, we must see to it that the children of each generation know by heart the glorious history of their country. The boys of '63 were in the army by the ten thou- sands. How. they got there was a mystery. The legal age for enlistment was eighteen, and yet thou- sands of them were only seventeen, sixteen, fifteen years old. The beautiful poem, " Driving Home the Cows," is founded upon a true story of a mother who sent her boy to perform this duty years before. He obeyed at last, but in the meantime he had been to war and back again. That boy was in his teens. 1 INTR OD UCTIOK Lieutenant dishing was but twenty-one when lie blew up the Albemarle and sent her to the bottom of the river. The Albemarle was a powerful rebel cruiser w^liich was about to put to sea to prey upon our commerce, when this boy, at deadly peril to his life, ended her career before it w^as fairly begun. This book, On Wheels : and How I Came There, is a story of one of the boys of that period. He was only fifteen when he entered the service of his country, and the war was over before he was twenty. The story of his marches, battles, and prison life will hold the interest of the reader from the first page to the last. If you want to buy for any boy or girl a Christmas gift that will rival in interest the romance of Robinson Crusoe, select the true story told by the author of On Wheels : arid How I Came There. C. C. McCabe. 7/ CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Enlisted l'> CHAPTER n. Uniformed 24 CHAPTER m. Off for the War 32 CHAPTER lY. Joining My Regiment 39 CHAPTER V. Camp Life 48 CHAPTER YI. On to Camp Cocran 56 CHAPTER YH. Off for the Meridian Raid 64 CHAPTER YIH. On the March Through Jackson 73 CHAPTER IX. The Skirmish 82 CHAPTER X. The Battle 89 CHAPTER XI. After the Battle 100 1 2 Contents. CHAPTER XII. p^GE At Meridian 110 CHAPTER XIII. A Foraging Expedition 118 CHAPTER XIV. Our Return March 127 CHAPTER XV. Again at Vicksburg 136 CHAPTER XVI. Off for a New Field 147 CHAPTER XVII. Our March to Rome, Georgia 155 CHAPTER XVIII. Guarding Railroad in Sherman's Rear 165 CHAPTER XIX. Busy Behind Sherman 176 CHAPTER XX. Battle of Moon Station and Capture 186 CHAPTER XXI. Marching to Prison 198 CHAPTER XXII. Arrival at Andersonville 208 CHAPTER XXm. Entering Andersonville Prison 220 CHAPTER XXIV. Andersonville Experiences 333 Contents. 13 CHAPTER XXV. page RexMoved to Millen Prison 244 CHAPTER XXVI. Removed to Blackshear Prison 252 CHAPTER XXVII. Flying from Sherman 261 CHAPTER XXVIII. Again in Andersonville 270 CHAPTER XXIX. Diversions of Prison Life 279 CHAPTER XXX. The Fate of a Beefhead at Andersonville, as Witnessed by a Boy Prisoner 288 CHAPTER XXXI. Last Days in Prison 298 CHAPTER XXXII. Released from Prison 304 CHAPTER XXXIII. The Bliss of Freedom 314 CHAPTER XXXIV. Homeward Bound 323 CHAPTER XXXV. Home at Last 331 ON WHEELS: AND HOW I CAME THERE. CHAPTER I. Enlisted. f^HE first gun of the great American Civil War, 4, fired upon Fort Sumter in the spring of 1861, which thrilled our entire country with wild excitement, found me, a wiry lad of thirteen, attend- ing school in the little town of JN^aples, 111., which is situated on the eastern bank of the Illinois Kiver, some one hundred miles north of St. Louis, Mo. I had listened to one of the famous debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, which occurred in our town in the year 1858. Upon that occasion Mr. Lincoln took dinner with my uncle, Mr. John White, then one of the leading Republicans of the community, and being present I heard the con- versation between these two great men on the exciting political topics of the time, which I now recall with pleasure. In 1860, during the lively political campaign v/hich resulted in the election of Mr. Lincoln to tlie presi- dency of the United States, I was the youngest member 16 ON WHEELS. of the uniformed Lincoln Wide Awake Club of Naples. Many circumstances conspired to incite me to tlie life of a soldier. In my early life I had listened to the thrilling Indian stories of one of my grand- mothers, who, with her family, had lived ten years among the Pottawattamie Indians, and to the war stories of one of my grandfathers, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, and of other relatives w^ho served in the Mexican War. During the summer of 1861 I became familiar with the work of enlisting soldiers and raising companies and regiments for the Union army. During this year the then Colonel U. S. Grant, afterward the great Union general of the Civil War, and still later President of the United States for two terms, having been placed in command of the Twenty-first Illinois Infantry Regiment for purposes of discipline — the regiment being a difficult one to manage — marched it across the country from Springfield to Quincy, 111., and while en route held it in camp at Naples for some days. During their stay I witnessed the attractive drilling and maneuvering of the regiment by its gallant commander, who rode with grace and man- aged with ease his large, light-colored claybank horse, a color to which I was by no means partial, being an admirer of dark bays, jet blacks, and dapple grays. I was often about the colonel's tent, where I could see him at close quarters, and noticed his slouch hat, plain blue blouse, and quiet bearing, and, like many other boys of the town, I thought if I were the governor I could have selected a much better looking ENLISTED. 1 7 Jiorse, and, iiotwithstancling his good liorsemansliip, a iniicli better looking rider as commander of the regiment. While at Naples Colonel Grant liad his son Fred, since United States Minister to Austria, with him. Being abont the same age, Fred and I soon became acquainted, and were together much of the time during their stay, and greatly enjoyed such sports as bathing, boating, fishing, etc. In addition to these experiences, many of my com- rades and schoolmates were enlisting and going to the army, which had a decided tendency to keep me in a feverish state of excitement, and to beget an eagerness to trade my Lincoln Club torch for a mus- ket and march to Dixie. Bnt with all my stretching and measui"ing and marking I could not, during the earlier years of the war, reach the I'equired standard of height for sol- diers, and, although I was actually growing rapidly, it seemed to me as if by some means I had become stunted and that my growth was checked. In the meantime the soldier boys who came home sick, wounded, or on furlough had many thrilling experiences to relate, which were eagerly listened to, especially by the boys, and had a tendency to make me the more eager to quit school and join the fellows at the front. The exciting months sped by, and I made real progress in growth, though to me it seemed very slow. The year 1803 found me fifteen years of age, and barely measuring U]) to the required soldier stand- ard, five feet and six inches, with not a fraction to spare. 18 ON WHEELS. About tliis time Captain W. W. Strong, of Com- pany K, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, wliose regiment was lying in winter quarters at Camp Cowen, in the rear of Yicksbiirg, Miss., was at home in onr connty raising recruits for the army, and visited Naples. Frequent meetings were held in the little old church, where I had attended Sabbath school and chni'ch services from my early childhood, for enlisting re- cruits. Now, instead of the sweet, peaceful songs of Zion, lined by the venerable minister in clerical black with white cravat, and sung fervently by the devout worshipers, the rostrum was occupied by the stalwart Union officer in blue with shoulder straps of gold, patriotic war songs were heartily sung, and stirring speeches Avere made. Martial music of fife and drum filled the air and all was enthusiasm and excitement. A number of my schoolmates and other associates were enlisting, among them my chum and seatmate, Hardin Abrams, and the influence upon me was over- whelming. I decided to enlist if the recruiting officer would accept me and my parents would give their consent ; for, with all my eagerness to go, being the only son of a crippled father, I did not w^ant to leave him without his consent. On the evening of December 21, 1863, in the old church, its pulpit gracefully festooned with the stars and stripes, just after the singing of the patriotic song, "Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys, We'll rally once again," I stepped forward, and with pen in hand signed the enlistment roll as it lay on the communion table. The ENLISTED. 19 next morning our measnre was taken, and now the only thing to impede my onward march to tlie en- chanting tields of military glory was my age. But Captain Strong told me if I should not pass the required surgical examination he would take me as his private clerk. This was as music to my ears, and off I started for home in double-quick time, thrilled with emotions of joy at the prospect of realizing my long-cherished hopes on the one hand, and with grave misgivings on tlie other lest my parents should refuse their consent. However, after carefully and fully weighing the mat- ter, my parents gave their written consent," probably the more readily because my age might be the oc- casion of my rejection, and I might after all have to remain at home. At any rate, father gave me money with wdiich to return from Springfield in the event of ray faihire to pass. In giving his consent my father said : ''Will, you can go if they accept you to carry a gun in the ranks, but if you are to act in the capacity of a clerk or waiter you can come home and wait on us." The eventful day of our departure came, with the affecting scenes of the last farewell. Mother and sister gave the parting kiss, and a mother's Christian advice was tearfully given. The weather was very cold, but amid the excitement of the parting scenes I forgot my overcoat, and, rather than repeat those trying experiences, I was going to take the trip of fourteen miles across the country to Winchester, 111., where we were to join other recruits, without it; but one of my young friends having a horse close at hand, 20 ON WHEELS. sprang into tlie saddle, rode over to mj home, and brought it to me, and so off we started. On arriving at Winchester we met with a hearty reception by tlie hidies and citizens generally of the city, and found in waiting a royal supper for the re- cruits who were coming in from various directions. The bountiful supper and the kind and generous entertainment accorded us in their homes by these patriotic citizens were greatly appreciated by the boys, and indicated the general willingness and desire to help in every possible way those who volunteered in our country's cause. From Winchester we were taken to Jacksonville, 111., and there carefully examined. So many of us being quite young, the examination w^as made all the more rigid. Here we were required to hop around the long hall in which the examination occurred, first on the right foot and then on the left, as rapidly as we could, and then to run around it twice at the top of our speed — a gait, by the way, which was not so very slow. The minute examination of eyes, ears, teeth, and limbs made a deep impression on my mind, and had a tendency to create within me a feeling of uneasiness lest, after all, I should not be accepted. However, I was found to be of requisite height, and phj^sically sound in every way ; but now came the greatest barrier of all, my age. This emergency, though, I had clearly foreseen. I fully understood that while eighteen years was the legal age for ac- ceptance as a soldier, yet with the parents' written consent, which I had obtained, a boy seventeen years of age w^ould be accepted if otherwise admissible. ENLISTED. 21 Wlien tlie dii^iiitied, spectacled surgeon caiue to question ine as to my age I straightened myself np so as to look as tall as possible, and determined to confront this emergency. Althougli a great admirer of George Washington, for the time I seemed to iose sight of the little hatchet story, and I so represented my age that a discrepancy of two years is to-day found between my enlisting age, as shown by my discharge papers, and my actual age, as shown l)y the old family Bible at home. At this juncture the examining surgeon eyed me closely, and said : " You young rascal, you're sound enough," and then shakirig his head added, " but I don't know so well about your age, judging from your appearance ; " however, the point was not further pressed, and I was ordered to the side of the room with the boys who were accepted. But while my sudden and not altogether creditable leap in age cleared ni}^ way to the enticing fields of military glory, it also led me to sufferings and ex- posures most severe, and resulted in shattered health for all my subsequent life. Our next transfer was to Springfield, Bl., where, after another rigid examination, I fouiid myself, with many others, finall}^ accepted. Having now run the gauntlet of several rigid ti-ials, I was proud of the fact that I was at last a soldier, and should in reality exchange my Lincoln torch for one of " Uncle Sam's " glistening Enfield rifles. The question as to which branch of the service I should enter was decided befoi'e I left home, several considerations leading to the final conclusion. The 22 ON WHEELS. infantry, cavalry, and gunboat service eacli Lad special attractions for nie. The gunboat service was the most fascinating to me because of my familiarity with the water. I could swim like a duck, and was as mucli at home in a boat as on land. In the absence of a boat it was nothing unusual for me to swim a great distance carrying a line in my teeth when seining, or to perform similar feats. But I liked my freedom so w^ell that the con- iinement of tlie gunboat service decided me against it. There w^ere some very special attractions to me in the cavalry service. I was very fond of horseback riding, which I had often enjoyed on my Uncle White's horses and mules ; besides, my cousin, Sam White, was a member of the Second Illinois Cavalry, and nothing would have suited me better than to join him ; but my experiences with uncle's horses and nmles had impressed me quite unfavorably. When riding Joe, a little brown mule, at full speed he was almost sure to stumble, and often I would find myself suddenly thrown under him, and I would bo compelled to extricate myself as best I could ; Rube, an old raw-boned roan horse, Uncle John's buggy nag, not kept for beanty so much as for re- liability, had a fashion, when ridden into the river for water, of plunging Jiis head in np to his ears, and then, while vigorously shaking the water out of them, I found it difficult to stick on him with both hands clinging to his mane and my short legs tightly clutch- ing to his bony sides ; Pete, a little round bodied bay mule, was full of tricks, and threw every man or boy that ever mounted him. lie was my forlorn hope. ENLISTED. 23 I never wanted to ride liim unless it was my only chance, for after working a half hour to get on him I had no assurance of more than a few rods ride, to be followed, perhaps, by a half day's chase in catch- ing him. So these unfavorable exploits at horseman- ship decided me against joining my Cousin Sam in the cavalry service. Besides, my enjoyable hunting expeditions, the long tramps with gun that I could take, the heavy loads of game I could carry, and the great fatigue I was capable of enduring, led me to be- lieve I was better fitted for the marches and fatigues of the infantry service, and so I decided. CHAPTER II. Uniformed. FTER our second and final examination at ^3^ Springfield we were marched out and up the street two or three blocks to a laro-e o'overn- ment storeroom, where we drew our equipments. On entering tlie room, which I had noticed had no sign to indicate " Uncle Sam " was doing business there, we found there were no counters nor shelves, bnt in lieu of these was a row of long tables on each side loaded down with soldier uniforms, etc. Each table contained but one kind of article, excepting the one where we drew plate, cup, knife, fork, and spoon, where all these were handed out on the plate. Bc- liind each one of the tables stood a bhie-coated clerk, with book in hand, doing a general credit business, requiring no references, and asking only for our names. This was so very different from the manner onr home merchants conducted their business I was impressed that " Uncle Sam" was very reckless in the manage- ment of this store. After each of us received his knapsack, canteen, and haversack, and its belongings, we drew the follow- ing articles of clothing: two pairs of gray M'oolen socks, one pair of heavy sewed brogans, two pairs of UNIFORMED. 25 heavy drilling drawers, one pair of light bhie woolen pants, one each dark blue woolen blouse, dress coat, and cap, one light blue woolen overcoat with cape, two gray woolen shirts, and one pair of gray woolen blankets with the large letters U. S. woven in the center of each. All coats and caps were supplied with the regulation brass button, surmounted with the king of birds, which just suited my boyish vanity. As I liad already pi'ovided myself with a pair of high top boots with which to wade through the Confeder- acy, I drew no shoes. " Uncle Sam " wrapped no goods and furnished no paper nor twine. As we were hustled past the tables w^e were hastily sized up, and the articles pre- viously mentioned were handed or tossed to us. No time was given for folding, and before Ave had reached the overcoat table the avalanche of accouterments, blankets, and clothing had us completely overloaded. Although I had up to this time been very anxious to get my wardrobe of blue, I was now very glad there was no more of it, for I was about to lose a part of what I had received. But we waddled along as best we could with our enormous loads, and as we did so we presented a comical appearance indeed. Before being marched out of the room we were allowed time to pack, or try to pack, our knapsacks. Some of us had never so much as packed a valise, and now as this band of recruits was down on the floor, each trying to pack his cart load of government cloth- ing, together with his two large army blankets, in his knapsack, it made a very ludicrous scene. The fact is, we could get but a portion of our new 26 ON WHEELS. wardrobe in our knapsacks, and wlien the order to march was given we gatliered the rest up in our arms. By this time it was nearly dark, and we were marched out to Camp Yates, a distance of some two miles, througli a deep snow. Although it was very cold, yet our heavy, bunglesome loads and exercise in wading throngh the deep snow warmed us up to fever heat and cansed us to perspire freely. We arrived in camp just at dark, and were assigned quarters in wedge tents, which were supplied with a liberal amount of straw. After getting inside the tents we threw down our loads, nnslung our knap- sacks, and soon found ourselves chilled to the marrow, and with chattering teeth. Having no lights or fuel, w^e wrapped ourselves in our blankets, which were our only protection against freezing. We were soon notified that supper was ready for us in the barracks, distant about a hundred yards, but the weather having suddenly turned bitterly cold, the wind howling and shrieking furiously outside, we decided to spend our first night in camp supperless rather than face the terrible blizzard. We had just come from pleasant homes with their warm suppers and comfortable feather beds, and this seemed like a decidedly cool reception by "Uncle Sam ; " however, it did not chill our young ardor, but it did make us want to get South, away from the fierce clutch of the ice king. The ofiicers had not anticipated this sudden cold wave, or we should have been better provided for. The night was simply terrible. I was awake a good UNIFORMED. 27 portion of it rubbing n\j nose, ears, hands, and toes, trying to keep them from freezing. I had previously read Washingto7i mid Ills Generals^ and during my rubbing exercise, trying to keep warm, I reviewed Valley Forge and his freezing men, and it was a serious question in my mind if we were not going to have a duplicate of it at Camp Yates with frost-bitten boys. The first day of January, 1864, is memorable for the severity of its cold in that latitude. On that morning, when the time for roll call came, the mer- cury was twelve or fifteen degrees below zero. We w^ere all badly frost-bitten. My nose, ears, toes, fore- head, and finger ends were frozen. As soon as our situation was known by those in charge of us we w^ere moved into one of the large barracks ; but before those of us who had boots could go we were com- pelled to wait until the camp guards could thaw them out, for they w^ere frozen so hard we could not get them on. After getting thawed out, which was about 9 a. m., we were marched to the dining room barracks for breakfast, but, on arriving, we found the victuals so frozen we were compelled to take them to the stove in the other barracks and thaw them out. Our breakfast was served on long tables in tin dishes, and each ration consisted of a half loaf of baker's bread, one pint of cofiee, a plate of boiled beans, and about six ounces of meat, now known by the tame and modest name of bacon, all of which were frozen solid except the coifee, and the ice was an inch thick on that. Being of an observing turn of mind, I noted a few 28 ON WHEELS. peculiarities about this dining room, different from the one I was accustomed to at liome. In the first place they had neglected to spread the cloths on the table ; there was also a noticeable absence of chairs, so that guests were expected to eat standing ; and, although I had had no supper, and breakfast was quite late, and I was consequently as hungry as a bear with keen scent, yet I could smell no victuals, so I could but note the contrast between this breakfast and the savory meal which was presided over that morning by my little black-eyed mother at home, where, if I could have been present, I would have had a whiif of hot buckwheat cakes, smoked sausage, and. the delicious aroma of boiling coffee. This first night's lodging and breakfast at " Uncle Sam's" expense, amid these disagreeable conditions, put our patriotism to as severe a test as any Ave met until we entered Andersonville Prison. The large barracks we were in were of but one thickness of inch boards, and contained but one large stove, and that for some unaccountable reason, unless it was to prevent its being upset, was in one end instead of the center, so that but few could get near to it at a time, while the rest were compelled to resort to the most vigorous exercise, such as jumping, wrestling, etc., in order to keep from freezing when out from under their blankets. We were kept here but three days, when, the weather having sufficiently moderated, we were marched to Camp Butler, a distance of some six miles. At Camp Yates we had packed our citizen's clothes UNIFORMED. 29 and expressed them liome, and donned our suits of bine, which seemed to ligliten onr hearts as well as onr knapsacks, and, although our toes were frost- bitten and sore, yet we stood this tramp to Camp Butler quite well. Here the barracks were better and the weather had moderated, so that we were quite comfortable, except from the stinging and burning of our frost-bitten parts. These barracks were one hundred feet long, and contained a double row of bunks on each side. Here we indulged in our first letter writing. Tin plates resting upon our knees were our writing desks, and as we sat with our feet dangling over the edge of our bunks the room had the appearance of an immense bluebird house, with part of the birds on their perches and part on the floor, and all having a merry time. Here, drawn up in line outside the barracks, with uncovered heads and uplifted right hands, we were sworn into the service "for three years, or during: the war." Myself and comrades were assigned to Com- pany K, Fourteenth Regiment, Illinois Yolunteers, Infantry. We were then marched to the paymaster's quarters, where each man received three hundred dollars bounty in new crisp greenbacks. This looked like another piece of reckless business management on the part of " Uncle Sam," giving a lot of young fellows so much money in advance on a contract, befoi'e they had hardly commenced the job, which rather impressed me that it must be a ticklish piece of business, and that he was very anxious to have it finished. 30 ON WHEELS. Fifteen dollars was tlie most money I ever had of my own at any one time before, and this amount of bright new bills looked like an immense sum to me ; but as I knew my parents were in moderate circum- stances only, and, as I knew, keenly felt the absence of their only boy in more ways than one, before my bomity was given to me I had fully made up my mind what I would do with it. Twenty dollars went into my left trousers pocket, and the rest, a roll of two hundred and eighty dollars, into my right pocket ; and with my hand on this latter amount I went directly to the express ofhce, where for an hour in the great crowd I clutched my roll before I could exchange it for an express receipt, which I imme- diately inclosed in my first letter home. A number of the boys did the same, but many of them kept all they got. The twenty dollars I got changed, and, when 1 returned to the barracks, secreted the most of it in my underclothing for safe keeping. On my return to the barracks I found there a lively trading scene. The sharpers w^ere there in full force with trays and baskets full of knives, combs, pocket- books, revolvers, watches and chains, and all manner of pinch-back jewelry, and brass and silver-plated letters and numbers for soldier caps. Each trader was surrounded by a group of recruits, eager to ex- change their new greenbacks for the sharper's trash, and when the curtain dropped on the scene some of the young blue-coats were loaded down Avith one or two revolvers each, and supporting a watch and chain and other jewelry in proportion. As for myself, I purchased a silver-plated laurel UNIFORMED. 31 wreath, about two inches in diameter, and a silver- plated conipnny letter, K, and State letters, Illinois, and the number of my regiment, 1^, which were all placed on top of my cap, the letters and the numbers all going within the wreath, and all appearing very neat, and, as I thought at that time, giving a very im- portant finish to my uniform ; though, for reasons which w-ill appear later on, I did not keep them very long. CHAPTER III. Off fok the War. \y»^y E were kept at Camp Butler but a few days only, waiting until transports, whicli liad been much delayed by heavy ice in the Ohio and Mississippi Kivers, could arrive at Cairo, 111., to take us South. About January 9, 1864, we boarded a train, were phiced in good passenger coaches, went to De- catur, 111., and thence to Cairo. '' Uncle Sam " still indulged in his extravagance by furnishing free lunch and calling for no tickets; but he was heading us southward, and knew what he was about. After a jolly ride on the cars we arrived at Cairo in due time, and were immediately marched to the wharf on the Ohio River side of the city. There we found several transports in waiting. We embarked on the large government steamer City ff Alton. On looking around I could see no difference between this and the beautiful Illinois River side- wheel steamers with whicli I was familiar, ex- cepting the arrangements for the protection of the pilot. It looked as if a very large boiler had been cut in two crosswise and a piece seven or eight feet long set on end in the pilot house and then split OFF FOR THE WAR. 33 down on 0[)positG sides, po that the pilot and his wheel were inclosed within the two halves. This formed an excellent protection for the pilot in his ex- posed 2:>osition to the bnllets of bushwhackers and bands of guerillas, wdiicli infested the country along the Mississippi River south of Cairo. AYe embarked without display ; indeed, we simply walked in over the old-fashioned stage plank, and without even a colored porter to assist ns with our bao-ira£>:e, or to offer to check it when once aboard. The steamer's decks were packed with recruits and government stores ; indeed, she w^as loaded to the guards, and sometimes the waves would dash over them. My chum Hardin and I had quarters 'midship on the boiler deck. After we were assigned quarters, and were fairly settled, the captain waited until there -was a suitable opening in the heavy floating ice, which almost covered the surface of the river, so that he could back the steamer out and turn its prow Dixieward. Then the bell struck, the machinej-y stai'ted, the stage i)lanks were drawn in, the liawser turned loose, and soon the steamer glided out into the turbulent, ice- fettered waters of the Ohio, and as the vessel's prow swnmg around to the South our backs were turned on home and loved ones. From hundreds of young lips came the woi-ds, " Farewell, Illinois," " Farewell, old Sucker State!" We then began to realize that we had burned the bridges behind us. A little tinge of homesickness came stealing over us, and we could but w^onder if our feet would ever ao;ain press the soil of the 3 34 ON WHEELS. '' Prairie State," and our eyes ever behold again the dear ones left behind, or whether we should be sac- rificed to swell the numbers of unmarked graves be- neath the magnolia and the pine. Passing the Cairo point, and from the Ohio into the " Father of Waters," those serions reflections were soon banished by the novelty of seeing three States at once without knowing exactly wliich one we were in. By the time our steamer was under full lieadway the sun had set, and the already chilly air became more piercing, until it w^as freezing cold. Hardin and I looked in through the glass of the front cabin door, but " Uncle Sam " had begun to change his tactics a little, and now no soldiers, except officers and some old veterans, who w^ere the steamer's guards, were allowed inside the cabin. A guard was stationed at the cabin entrance, which was as good as saying, "' No recruits need apply." As Hardin and I peered through the glass door we could see a large red-hot coal stove surrounded by military otlicers and veterans, who were smoking, chat- ting, and having a comfortable, jolly time of it. We could also see a long stretch of tables being spread wntli white cloths, preparatory for the evening meal, all presenting a very inviting picture, as viewed from our chilly standpoint, and which made us eager to get inside. Hardin and I both had a good knowledge of steam- boats, how they were officered, and the duties of each, so we decided the steward was the man for us to see in order to obtain more comfortable quarters ; accord- ingly, we hunted him out and proposed our plan to OFF FOR THE WAR. 35 liim, wliich was to work in the cook lionse or cabin for board and lodging on our trip down the river. This, however, lie speedily rejected, as lie liad more help and applicants than he conld use ; however, lie informed us there was one empty stateroom which he thought we could get bj paying four dollars each to Memphis, wliich was as far as this transport was chartered to go. lie also offered to see the clerk and endeavor to procure the room for us if we de- sired. The amount mentioned did not include meals, but w^e told him to do the best he could for us. lie soon returned with the cheering word that he had succeeded. So, after securing our tickets, we got our traps and moved in, and were soon chatting with the comfortable group around the blazing fire. From this more genial point of view, as we looked out, we beheld quite a different scene from the one we had looked in upon. Peering through the same glass door througli wdiicli we liad made our attractive observations could be seen the grinning faces, blue noses, and cliattering teeth of our less fortunate com- rades. Altliough the dividing wall which separated the "ins" and tlie ''outs" was but a thin plate of glass, yet there was avast difference in their condition, which we were now fully prepared to appreciate. Our stateroom was near the center of the cabin, so that when the table was set we were brought into close proximity to the large silver urn of hot coffee. By little courtesies, in the shape of cigars, sandwiched now and then with ten cent pieces, we soon succeeded in getting into the good graces of the head waiter, who had an eye to business. In this way our ])lain empty 36 ON WHEELS. till pint Clips every meal, before the tables were cleared, found their way to the more noble polished silver urn, and returned to ns with its warm congrat- ulations and pressing invitation to call again, which, as if fearing to insult its gracious highness, thej never failed to do. Through the same subtle medium hot rolls, beef- steak, potatoes, and other delicacies found the avenue the tin cups traveled, and eacli meal marclied in and took position on our bright tin plates; indeed, we fared quite sumptuously in our private apartments. With the boys outside it was quite different. Government rations — coffee, sugar, bacon, and hard- tack — were issued to them. They liad no means for cooking except at the fires under the boilers, or by bribing the cook to boil their pails of coffee on his galley stove. Besides, they had the cold to contend with, the hard deck to sleep on, and, having no checks, their baggage to look after ; and, the bag- gage being so great in quantity, and all of the same pattern, it was no easy matter to distinguish that be- longing to one recruit from any of the rest. To i elieve the situation somewhat in this matter small squads w^ere formed, their baggage was thrown together, and they took turns in keeping guard over it. The tickets Hardin and I received answered as passes to let us out and in the cabin, and these we frequently loaned to the boys who were outside so that they could go in and get warm by the stove while we amused ourselves viewing the passing sights, towns, gunboats, etc. In passing gunboats we were invariably required to OFF FOR THE WAR. 37 slacken speed and report whence we were from and whitlier bound. I recall one very dark nig! it when it was thons^ht dano^erous to advance on account of the heavy ice. We landed and remahied all night under cover of a gunboat which was anchored out in the stream. Steam was kej)t up all night ; officers were at their posts, and to ]3i"event an attack on the land side of the steamer videttes were placed well out in the woods to give the alarm in case of approaching danger. The night passed quietly, however, and we were not molested. Reaching Mem])his, Tenn., we landed at a large wharf-boat at the foot of the levee, and disembarked. Of course, Hardin aud I had to give up our comforta- ble quarters on the elegant steamer. Before w^e did so, however, the old waiter, who seemed to take quite a fancy to us, gave us a supply of good things for our haversacks, and, all things considered, we felt we had received full value for the four dollars we had paid for our tickets and the little extras we had given the waitei'. From some of the old soldiers we met with inside the cabin we had learned some points about packing knapsacks and rolling up blankets army fashion. Had we not had an excess of woolen goods beyond what old soldiers ever thono^ht of carry ino^ we mio^lit have gone ashore at Memphis with trim knapsacks. This we were ambitious to do, for with cumbersome bundles, together with our smooth faces, we were certain to be recognized as raw i-ecruits, a distinction which we very much disliked. Yet the old soldiers seemed to take malicious deliii-ht in callino: us raw 38 ON WHEELS. lecrnits, and often, to exasperate ns the more, would add : " Do your mothers know you're out." After landing we bade adieu to some of the steamer's guards we had become acquainted with on tlie trip, walked over the stage plank and the wharf- boat to the shore, not to find free 'busses with drivers eager to take us to the best hotels, but for a plunge, under a heavy load, into Memphis mud, ankle deep, on a march to Fort Pickens, some two miles out on the river bluff, there to wait for transports to take us to Yicksburg, Miss. Here we were assigned quarters in tents, and had to wait only three days, and, on account of the deep mud, we were heartily glad w^e did not have to w^ait longer. While here we had our first sight of Confederate soldiers. Some twenty or more of them one day rode out on the opposite side of the river, a half mile or more distant. Wliile they were halted on the river bank watching us climb up and down the high, steep, and slippery bank after water, a gunboat anchored out in the river threw a shell which exploded about twenty-five feet immediately above their heads, and which sent them pell-mell back from the river out of sight ; nor did they ever appear again. Here the blue-coats from Camp Butler, edging their way southward, began to meet the spring blue- birds winging their way northward. They were on our direct line of travel, and we boys wondered if any of them wqyq the ones we had seen at home, and, if so, why we might not whisper to them a little mes- sage for the dear ones there. CHAPTER IV. Joining My Regiment. tHE evening of onr third day at Fort Pickens our down-river transport steamed into port. We at once received orders to pack np. This was a welcome order, for we were only too glad of the op- portunity to get away from the sticky mud of tlie Memphis region. Arriving at the wharf we found a very lai-ge stern- wdieel transport, provisioned for Yicksburg, awaiting us, and we were immediately marched aboard. Hardin and I again found ourselves with quarters on the boiler deck, and before we were fairly settled the cable was drawn in, the captain signaled the pilot, and out backed the steamer into tlie swift, muddy stream, and amid the gathering sliades of evening we were soon under full head of steam for Yicksburg, with Memphis lost to view. The last of the old w^aiter's good tilings had by this time disappeared, and, iinding that we could not get quarters inside the cabin without paying an exorbitant price, and the weather beinsr much wanner than when we left Cairo, and our pocket-books being somewhat depleted, with no pay-day close in view, my chum and I decided to accept the situation, draw our plain 40 ON WHEELS. rations, and take care of them in true soldier fasli- ion. It was about 9 p. m. before we could get a chance at the fire below so as to boil coffee and broil bacon, which, with hard-tack, made np our evening meal. Wliile partaking of this army rejDast I thought I could understand why the old examining surgeons scru- tinized our molars so very minutely. No unsound tooth would have been half a match for that hard-tack, while false ones would have been utterly useless. We afterward found out that it was a good thing that it was so hard, for, carried as it had to be in the large government wagons, often over rough corduroy roads, soda crackers and cream and butter wafers would soon have been ground to powder. So the absence of shortening in the " tack " kept it fresh much longer, and made it hard so that it would stand rough traveling. Supper over — the dishes not washed, but simply wnped out with paper and put away in our individual oil-cloth cupboards — we proceeded to prepare for the night's lodging. In the absence of a black walnut bedstead and woven wire springs we substituted the steamer's deck. Our first mattress was genuine wool, but only the thickness of a government blanket. Tlie second one, also, was wool in the shape of our dress- and overcoats, smoothly spread. Then came the first sheet, not of white muslin just from the laundiy, but another wool blanket. Our remaining two blaids:ets answered for top sheet and spread. Our knapsacks were laid together for bolster, and our blouses and pantaloons were folded and laid on top of these for pillows. JOINING MY REGIMENT. 41 When completed we found onrselves in possession of an average soldier's bed while on board a transport. But, notwithstanding our fine woolen double mattress, about an hour at a time was as long as we could quietly rest, when we found it necessary to "spoon" to the right or to the left, and thus change position to prevent the eagles on our brass buttons in our upper mattress from gouging holes in our youthful and tender anatomy. Our bed, however, liad several good features. No burglar could hide under it. In case we rolled out we did not have far to drop, and the floor being about as soft as our bed it would not wake us up. Then, when once awake in the morning we were decidedly glad of the opportunity of getting up with- out waiting for some one to pull us out. It was tlierefore strongly conducive to early rising — a very good feature for soldier boys and others. One morning, about 4 o'clock, when steaming around a bend in the river some fifty miles north of Helena, Ai-k., we were suddenly wakened from our peaceful slumbers by a terrible crash that made our stanch steamer tremble like a leaf from stem to stern. Our boat had collided with another large transport coming around the bend from the south. Both steamers were under full headway. Each had given the proper signal, but the stubborn pilots w^ere old enemies, as we afterward learned, and neither would give an inch to the right or left, so the two steamers madly plunged into each other like two infuriated beasts. The shock threw down everyone standing, and those who were not already up immedi- ately arose and began to })lan for their safety. 42 , ON WHEELS. If the worst sliould come, Ilardin and I decided to jerk off the headboard of our bed — the two outside cabin shutters just back of our bolster — and jump into tlie river with tliem and use tliem as life floats with whicli to reach the shore, and very glad I was that I knew how to swim. Day was just dawning in the east, and very fortunate indeed it was for our huge antagonist, whicli received decidedly the worst of the lierce encounter. It was also fortunate that the channel at this point ran close to the shore. With her bow badly stove in the unfortunate steamer slowly backed off in a sink- ing condition, and barely had time to reach the shore on the Arkansas side, when she sank. As the other boat did not blow up or catch Are, and there was a town from which aid could be obtained, after seeing all safely landed our transport steamed slowly and cautiously ahead, the proud champion of the duel, but with fifteen or twenty feet of her lower forward deck on the starboard side torn away, and a large hole stove in the hull within six inches of the water line. Tlie hole was temporarily patched by tlie boat carpenter. This enabled us to reach Helena, the nearest government post, which we did about 3 p. m. that same day. Here, our transport being considered unsafe, we were landed to await another. The post commander, not having anticipated our detention, had no preparations in the way of tents or other shelter for our accommodation, consequently some of us were quartered in a brick church. "We were requested not to injure or mar the building or any of its furnishings, LN JOINING MY REGIMENT. 43 and guards were placed to see that the order was obeyed — an unnecessary precaution, for, young and wild as we were, we had been brought up to respect the house of God. On entering tlte building Hardin and I, knowing there would be some open floor space within the altar, made a bee-line for that locality, and inmiediately staked out our claim by spreading a blanket on the floor. This gave us the best sleeping accommodations the building afforded. We remained there three or four days, did all our cooking outside of the building, and left it in quite as good condition as we had often seen churches in the North the morning after a festival or oyster supper. Marching back to the river, we embarked on our tliird and last transport on our voyage to Yicksburg. From here on we met gunboats much more frequently. The mariners seemed to take great delight in trying to torment us raw recruits by depicting some great calamity that w^as likely to befall us, telling us of torpedoes that wei*e ready to blow us into '' smither- eens " if there was not some skillful piloting done. They insisted that Yicksburg had been retaken by the Johnnies, and that on nearing that point we were very likely to be captured or blown up. Their favorite story, however, was to the effect that a large Confeder- ate force had been seen a day or two before a few" miles below with a l)atter3% which at that time, perha])s, was lying in ambush for us. But as we had as late and reli- able news from Yicksburg as it was possible for them to have, fully assuring us that our flag was still floating in triumph there, these marine yarns amused us. 44 ON WHEELS. "While en route from Helena to Yicksbnrg we could frequently see, especially on the west side of the river, where large plantation residences had been burned, the two tall chimneys of each standing with lower and upper fireplace intact, which seemed to serve the purpose of head and foot stones of the rest- ing-place of the ashes of the cremated mansions. Or, when seen, especially on the low, black bottom lands of Louisiana, they reminded us of the obelisks along the Nile, standing as silent monuments of great events. We learned that these buildings were not nearly all fired by Union soldiers, but tliat their proud owners often set the torch to tlieir own homes to prevent them from falling into Federal hands. Our trip from Cairo down was quite tedious, mak- ing us all glad to get on terra Jirma once more. Arriving at Yicksbnrg one bright, sunny morning the latter part of Januarj-, 1864, we soon disembarked and were marched up into the city, and halted near the famous courthouse, which, during the memora- ble siege, had been the target for a hundred Union guns. The many large, ragged holes in the court- house bore ample evidence of the good marksmanship of the Union cannoneers. But liio^h above these rough, cannon-pierced breaches, and still on above the apex of the cupola, we beheld an inspiring sight. There in the fresh morning breeze proudly and tri- umphantly waved the grand old starry banner. We were to accompany a provision train to our regimental camp, some twelve miles to the east of the city ; but learning we were not to start for an hour or JOINING MY REGIMENT. 45 two, we concluded we would take a hasty glance at some of the sights. Our ramble soon brought us into a large artillery park, where we hastily inspected over a hundred guns of different sizes and patterns, together with their deadly projectiles. Our attention was especially drawn to one piece of ordnance, a small brass two-pound cannon, mounted on a very light and graceful carriage, to be run by hand. The piece was highly polished and the carriage uewdy painted and freshly varnished, indicating that it was somebody's pet, and that we were not its only admirers. Boy- like, I could not keep my hands off it, and found it ran as lightly as an ordinary hand-cart. What a gun, thought I, for the Fourth of July ! Or what a battery four of them would make with six Shetland ponies to each, and with battery boys all m'cely uni- formed ! And what boy would not have been proud to be captain of such a batter}^ ? Passing on from the park, with its then silent and harmless implements of war, and taking a last look at its boy-bewitching beauty, we were soon diving in and darting out of the many bomb-proof tunnels that honeycombed the Yicksburg hills, and which had been used by the Confederate soldiers and beleagured citizens as places of safety. These hills have incor- porated in their composition enough clay to make them tenacious and cohesive, and thus to render them susceptible of being tunneled without caving in. So the Johnnies found these tunnels their safest places of retreat during the bond^ardment. Before quitting our rapid ramble ^ve visited the camp of the Eighth Illinois Infantry on the outskirts 46 ON WHEELS. of the city. There we found old friends and acquaint- ances from Naples, 111., who were occupying some of the deserted works the boys in gray liad so stubbornly defended and so reluctantly given up. There we spent bnt ?« few moments, delivered some messages from home to the boys, and on double- quick time went back to the courthouse. Arriving there almost out of breath, we found the boys had already received orders to move, and were preparing to start. We immediately got into our soldier harness, and were soon in the long moving column of heavily loaded wdiite-covered wagons and rollicsome recruits heading eastward out of the city. The road, much traveled and deep cut, up hill and down, through a rough country, led us through both the Confederate and Federal works which were used during the siege, and some of which were in close speaking distance to each other. We arrived at camp about dusk. Although a sliort march, yet, as it was my first at carrying accouter- ments, I found myself quite weary, and experienced much pain from my frost-bitten feet. I immediately joined my regiment, where I found, much to my sur- prise, Kic Fulks, a young man who at one time worked for my father, and Dan Haskell, a young farmer from near Naples, with whom I was well acquainted and who was one of the regimental color- bearers. As soon as they learned I was in the squad of recruits they hunted me up and escorted me to the log cabin their mess were occupying, where I was in- troduced in good shape to seven other old soldiers of JOINING MY REGIMENT. 47 the mess, and to Jack, the colored cook, an escaped Mississippi slave about seventeen years old. The mess were all grown men, and when Dave and Nic entered the cabin with me they said : " Boys, here is a youngster from our town in Illinois. His father and he are both friends of ours, and if there are no objections we want to take him into our mess." '^o one dissenting, I was at once adopted into their army home by these nine big bronzed brothers in arms who afterward shielded me in many ways as much as if I had been their own younger brother ; and I have always looked upon that evening's re- ception by that old mess as one of the most fortunate events and brightest spots in my checkered army ex- perience. Besides being congenial, and possessing sterling soldierly qualities, in this mess we had two nonconmiissioned officers. Sergeant William Close, and Dan Haskell, the regimental color-sergeant ; and in every respect it was equal to any in the com- pany. My chum, Hardin Abrams, was also fortunate in getting into Orderly Sergeant Henry Stall's mess. But, strange as it may seem, intimate friends as we were at home Hardin and I never messed together after reaching our regiment. Indeed, it was often the case with soldier boys that their warmest friends after reaching their regiments were those whom they never met before. However, Hardin and I made up for our separation by many pleasant visits to each other's mess. CHAPTER V. Camp Life. f^riERE not being cabins enough to shelter all, l^ some of the less fortunate recruits had to mess together in tents which were far less comfortable than the cabins, which had two rows of buidvs across one end and a capacious stick and clay fireplace at the other end. It was dark when I first entered our cabin, but a cheery ])ine-knot fire on the hearth, wliere Jack was preparing supper, illuminated the room so I could see every nook and cranny in it. This was an ideal place for winter quarters. The cracks between the pine logs of which the cabin was constructed were well chinked and daubed with clay. Along tlie sides of the cabin were numerous pegs, upon which we hung our muskets, acconterments, and our clotliiug. The floor was hard and clean swept. Our broom was made of a bundle of small cane stems with the leaves on. On one side of the cabin was a door swinging on wooden hinges, and having a wooden latch, while on the opposite side was a wooden win- dow or shntter. The clapboard roof, which was ex- posed inside, was held in place by heavy poles. The furniture consisted of a trood-sized mess table CAMP LIFE. 49 made of boards, a slab bencli fur each tide of it, and for exti-a seats there were several homemade stools. A few cracker-boxes resting on their sides, one on top of the other, with openings in front, made a very re- spectable looking and quite a convenient cupboard, which, with our broom, comj^leted onr cabin's fur- nishings. Tired and hungry as I was wdien I first entered, it struck me as being a very cosy nest. As soon as I got my heavy knapsack off, and the introduction w^as over, and I had taken a good wash. Jack had the supper ready and up, and we surrounded the table. For supper we had the regulation beans and bacon, desiccated potatoes, 'tack dry and 'tack fried, and, as I was company, some pickles wliich one of the boys had dodged out to the sutler's and bought, with some apple-butter for dessert. The coffee — the like of which, it seems to me, has never been imported since the sixties — cleared with cold water, and which I drank w^ithout " trimmings," was simply superb. The 1)rilliant pine knot illumination, together with the relisluible repast, w^as very enjoyable. It seemed to me as if the cabin, the cook, and these genial com- rades were all conspiring to make me feel w^elcome ; and, as I have before observed, that evening's I'ccep- tion by these old soldiers was one of the brightest ex- periences in all my army life. When taps sounded for lights to be put out I was a little curious to know where Jack was going to sleep. The cabin afforded no loft for his bed, and there appeared to be notliing but the bunks for the mess. Finally, I saw him down on his knees in front 50 OX WHEELS. of one of the lower bunks, wliicli were about two and a lialf feet from the floor, nnrolling a large bundle, which, to my great relief, proved to be his bed ; and before I had finished bathing my sore and swollen feet, and was ready to retire, Jack was snugly stowed away under the bunks, snoring a heavy sub-bass, utterly oblivious of mess pans and kettles and of all culinary cares. Before retiring, however, he, like all good domes- tics, made some preparations for the morning meal, which I watched quite closely, but did not fully un- derstand until breakfast time. He first took a large heavy sheet-iron mess pan and placed in it a lot of hard-tack, set it on the floor, and then took the butt end of a musket cleanly wiped oil with his dish-cloth, and, holding the pan securely be- tween his feet, gave the 'tack a vigorous pounding. When the crackers were sufficiently pulverized to suit him he poured some water in the pan, })laced a cover over it, and set it on the hearth to soak until morn- ing. When I lay down in our bunk for the night with Nick I found it was fllled up at least six inches deep with soft grass and leaves which were covered over with a blanket, the edges of which were tucked un- der to hold them in place. I needed no rocking in this luxurious army couch after my day's march to put me to sleep, and very soon, securing a guide book from old Morpheus, I silently went nuirching through the mysterious land of dreams, and when reveille sounded in the morning- it seemed as if I had but just gotten into bed, and had CAMP LIFE. 51 just begun my explorations through the enchanting country. On awaking one of the first things to meet my drowsy gaze in the firelighted room was Jack with a musket apparently trying to pound out what appeared to me to be the bottom of the mess pan which con- tained the crackers he had prepared the evening before. But my keen scent w^as not long in making the discovery that he was grinding coffee, and I ob- served that he had a tall sheet-iron mess kettle between his feet this time instead of the mess pan. When we went out to roll call it was barely light enough for the orderly sergeant to see to read the names of the soldier boys. Several, I noticed, were but half dressed. One big fellow was wrapped up in a blanket like an Indian chief. This, of course, would not answ^er so well for close inspection or dress parade, but the Fourteenth was an old regiment that liad seen much hard fighting and had passed its day of rigid discipline, so that the big soldier's Indian toilet only created a hearty laugh instead of eliciting a repri- mand. AYe new recruits now, for the first time, had our names placed on the company roll. This put us in a position for duty and for receiving our guns. As we had now been in the service over a month without either we had begun to feel somewhat like poor boys on the Fourth of July without any fireworks, and were very eager to obtain our pieces. At breakfast the reason for Jack's manipulations with the hard-tack the evening before v/ith musket and water was made plain. The operation had pro- 62 ON WHEELS. duced a hard-tack batter, and tliat morning I tried my first army slap-jacks, a pastry which we ate with melted sugar sirup, which Jack liad prepared with the surplus sugar not required for our coffee. Thus prepared and eaten they were quite palatable — about fourth cousins to buckwheat cakes, as they seemed to me, and a dish which I afterward found with mo- notonous frequeuce on our army bill of fare. Breakfast over, accompanied by Kic Fulks I took a survey of the camp. I found it to be quite large and pleasant, situated on rolling ground in a forest of stately pine, oak, and beech trees, through which threaded several small streams of clear water. !Nu- merous long, broad streets had been cut through, which were heavily flanked on either side by substantial log cabins. On the outskirts of this improvised Yankee city were many clusters of white tents and corrals of w^bite-covered army wagons, which formed a pretty fringe to the picturesque scene. The camp this bright January morning presented an animated picture. Over the different headquarters in the balmy breeze gracefully floated the starry banner. Here and there on the clean drill grounds, in bright blue garb, were regiments and battalions, with, their polished guns gleaming in the sunliglit, on dress parade and inspection. Handsomely mounted orderlies dashed hither and thither with their orders. The sharp reports of the rifles of the returning pick- ets could be heard on the outskirts of the camp as they came off dut}^ These were replaced by fresh details under sergeants and corporals with guns at right shoulder shift and carrying w^ell-filled canteens CAMP LIFE. 53 and haversacks, wlio gaylj tramped past us as they went out to their posts. Dozens of squads of awk- ward recruits, under corporals who seemed disposed to assume brigadier airs, were seen awkwardly taking their limbs through the difficult evolutions of the drill. The inspiring roll of fife and drum, the clear notes of the cornet in the brigade brass bands, render- ing martial airs, filled the clear morning air with thrilling music. Along the pretty moss-covered banks of the clear, pebbly, winding brooks, and everywhere under the stately giants of the forest, could be seen the bright camp fires with their blue smoke lazily curling heaven- ward, while around them were gathered hundreds of merry plantation Negroes busily engaged washing and hanging out clothes, singing their comic planta- tion songs, and chanting their w^eird melodies. In the cavalry camps and artillery parks could be heard the shrill bugle blasts and neighing of horses, and in the corrals the braying of mules, while tlie steady ring of the blacksmith's anvil in the busy camp that wnnter morning clearly portended an early move for a vigorous spring campaign. This whole scene made a lively military camp panorama which fully met my highest expectations of army camp life, and w^as well calculated to thrill the average boy with a spirit of purest patriotism, and with wild delight. As for myself, fresh from my home and the matter- of-fact experiences of everyday life, this fascinating scene filled me with electric enthusiasm. Shouting being out of order, the best I could do was to give 54 ON WHEELS. vent to my pent up emotions by some lively wliistling, which, as I thought, must have astonished the birds in the boughs above my head. During our stroll Nic introduced me to the offi- cers and men of our company. As Captain Strong, who enlisted us, never returned to the regiment, our company was under the command of its first lieuten- ant, John Kirkman, of Winchester, 111. The first colonel of our regiment was John M. Palmer, afterward major-general ; but at the time of which I write it was commanded by Colonel Hall. B. F. Stephenson, after whom the G. A. R. Post of Springfield, 111., is named, was our surgeon, and Rev. W. J. Rutledge, one of the pioneer ministers of the Illinois Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, was chaplain of our regiment at that time. Our regiment belonged to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, which was commanded by the highly esteemed Major-Gen- eral James H. McPherson. On the afternoon of this first day, after reaching our regiment, we recruits drew our much-coveted Enfield rifles and accouterments, and we were at once put at hard drilling under a competent drillmaster. Corporal John Platner, a medium-sized, swarthy-complexioned, heavy-muscled young man, with the agility of a cat. Sometimes, when touched off with a spark of im- patient, nervous energy occasioned by some recruit's awkward motions, this officer would call the squad's attention, and while we stood at parade rest would treat us to an exhibition of Hardee's Tactics with his scrupulously clean and highly polished rifle, which Armed and Accoutered. Fn.ni a War-tinic Phototirapli CAMP LIFE. 55 for skillful maneuvering was simply astonishing ; and at sncli times his rapid movements were performed with the admirable precision of machinery. During these diills we also had some target prac- tice, so that we miglit become familiar with our guns, and we soon learned how even a good-looking army rifle could kick. At this time our ammunition was buck and ball — a round ounce ball in a paper cartridge with three large buckshot secured to it. This made a heavy charge, and, if one did not hug his gun tightly to his shoulder when firing, the piece was liable to almost knock him down. Having to bite oflP the end of these tough paper cartridges before loading fully demonstrated to us the wisdom of the old examining surgeon's rigid refusal to accept any recruit who was minus a good set of incisors. Our life in this delightful camp with its com- fortable quarters, however, was soon to be brought to a close, and we were transferred to other scenes, for we had been enlisted for an important work, which must be done even though it should be at the sacrifice of allease and comfort. CHAPTER VI. On to Camp Cocran. E liad been kept busy at hard drilling but a few days when orders came for us to pack up and march over to Camp Cocran, which was situated some five or six miles distant on the blulfs near the crossino^ of the Biir Black River, where General Sherman was concentrating his army for his famous raid across the state to Meridian. Although we recruits had but fairly got settled with our regiment in its snug quarters, yet the order was not unwelcome, for we were all eager for adven- ture. When the order was received immediately the en- tire camp became a scene of lively commotion. Long stacks of arms soon appeared in the streets as if by magic in front of the different quarters. Suspended from their fixed bayonets were swung the soldiers' broad leather belts with well-filled cartridge and cap boxes attached. Beside these hung haversacks in whose depths our fingers so often fumbled among tin plates, knives and forks, and spoons for the stray crumb of cracker. Touching these in intimate re- lations swung friendly canteens fresldy filled from the bubbling brook. On the ground around and ON TO CAMP COCRAK 57 niiderneatli each stack of guns were great piles of knapsacks and rolls of armj blankets, the latter with their tw^o ends tied together forming a woolen sash to be swnng over their owners' shoulders. With tlieir personal effects packed and ont of the i\'ay, the dwellers in tents drew the stakes, when ropes Immediately slackened, the small white houses col- lapsed, fell to the ground, were quickly spread ont, and, with poles placed wdthin them, wxre soon rolled up, securely bound, and made ready to load. The loud crack of the teamster's long, limber blacksnake was now^ heard cutting the morning air, and soon appeared at the end of the streets six pairs of long, erect-eared mules to each white-covered army wao:on, shyino: and dodmno^ to rig^ht and left at the smoldering camp fires and the heaps of black camp kettles and pans. Halting every few rods along the streets, the tents were quickly loaded. In the spnce between these and the w^agon-bows at the top tlie colored cooks stow^ed away their cooking utensils, and when all w^ere in place, and draw-strings to the covers were fastened, drivers spoke cheerily to their teams, tugs straightened, and at once the heavily loaded wagons rolled out into the roads and took their places in the moving train. The command of company officers to " Fall in " is given ; the roll of drums and blasts of bugles are heard ; belts with cartridge-boxes are hurriedly buckled on ; strong arms hastily slip tlirough knap- sack, canteen, and haversack straps ; old and young heads bob through snug rolls of army blankets ; brown hands grasp burnished rifles ; color-bearers 58 ON WHEELS. slip the oilclotli cases from the bright standards and unfurl tliem to the breeze ; regimental officers gayly gallop to the head of their columns; companies double quick into line, and dress on the colors ; the colonel's stentorian voice calls, " Attention, battalion ! For- ward ! March ! " and we are off. The drum and fife corps, marching at the head of the first platoon just in rear of regimental mounted officers, strikes up tlie lively strains of the old but ever-inspiring '' Yankee Doodle ; " in even ranks and steady steps — tramp, tramp, tramp — resound the boys' heavy brogans, keep- ing time to the lively tune ; forty or fifty fun-loving colored cooks, old and young, bring up the rear of each regiment, and the camp is deserted, its beautiful white • fringed borders having vanished like mist before a brisk breeze. At home, when moving, we would take the house furniture and leave the house, but in the army we took the house and left the furniture. As we fell in line and cast a glance back over the lately tented field the eye rested on naught beneath the towering trees of the forest save a broad expanse and wilderness of uncanny soldier beds, benches, tables, and cupboards, white wreaths of smoke from the dying camp fires Avere curling heavenward, and groups of colored refu- gees were chasing through the abandoned quarters picking up anything of possible value to them that the- boys had overlooked or had thrown away. Up to this time I had not been in line with my compan}^ except at the morning roll call, and now, as I obeyed Lieutenant Kirkman's command to fall in hue, and sprang into position with the old regiment ON TO CAMP CO OBAN. 59 headed for the heart of the Confederacy, fully armed and equipped and instructed in tlie art of biting off a cartridge and rannning it home with my iron ramrod, I fully recognized my importance as a soldier ; and as I dressed on the glorious colors carried b}^ one of my own mess, and kept step to tlie music beside my bunk- mate, ISTic, my boyish pride soared to dizzy heights which it liad never reached before, and certainly has not since attained/^ Camp Cocran was reached about 11 a.m., and with but sh'ght fatigue. Tiie novelty of this my first march with my regi- ment, together with the stirring music which the numerous bands discoursed, so fascinated and ab- sorbed my thoughts that, although I marched under a very heavy load, I scarcely noticed the burden, and when ordered to halt and stack arms I felt almost as fresh as when I started, and also i-ealized that among music's many charms it possesses none more marked than in lessening a soldier's heavy burdens. We were ordered to halt and stack arms near a large brick mansion which was used as the general's headquarters, and which stood in the center of an old abandoned plantation, the rail fencing of which had done duty in boiling coffee for General Grant's men. The weather had changed during our march, and it *In Memorial Hall in the Stale House at Springfield, 111., may be seen the two identical flags under whose bright folds we boys slept, marched, fought, and saw our comrades die, and at the foot of these flag staffs, on the floor of the glass flag case, along with the photo- graplis of some of my comrades, you will find one of the author in his wheel chair. GO ON WHEELS. was now threatening rain, wliicli made ns eager to get up our shelters, and gather some bedding before the leaves should get wet. The different quarters were soon marked out and tents unloaded, we receiving two for our mess, and in almost as short a time as the white cottages had col- lapsed at Camp Cowen they were up, stiff and taut, at Camp Cocran. While some of our mess were employed putting up the tents and ditching around them, others started with blankets and axes on double quick time for the woods in search of bedding and furniture material, while Jack went in the same direction for wood and water with which to prepare dinner. Moss and leaves were found near the camp, also forks and poles for table and bed legs, and for crosspieces, but nothing suitable was found for bed bottoms or for table top. JN^ic, Sergeant Close, and myself, while following a good sized stream, about a half mile from camp, were suddenly halted by pickets stationed near the edge of a large cane brake, which w^as so dense that it was impenetrable except along paths which were worn through hj animals running at large. The cane was from fifteen to twenty feet high. This was what we were looking for, and, selecting the sizes suitable for our purposes, we cut it down and into proper lengths for oar beds and tables, and in suitable quantities, until it required several trips for ourselves and others of our mess to carry it to camp. After getting in we wove a sheet or mattress of the cane, single thickness, compactly, with a cross piece two feet from each end, and wide enough to cover the ON TO CAMP C OCR AN. 61 head and foot crosspieces of our bed, and to extend u{3 each side six inches. The sides were secured by fasteninpT them to the forks, which were left lono^ enough for that purpose. Our knapsacks held the bedding in at the head, while a chunk of wood served for that purpose at the foot. The tables were made in like manner, minus the sides. The canes used for the beds w^ere about one and a fourth inches in diameter, and those for the tables about three fourths of an inch in diameter, and we used such quantities as to seem rather extravagant on good fishing pole stock. 1 expect that John Chinaman and his funny little Japanese cousin would have shaken their heads, squinted their almond eyes, and considered " Melican solger man's" bamboo work rather crude, but it nevertheless made decidedly the best spring bed I ever slept on while in the army. Our small wedge tents, thanks to Yankee ingenuity, had a yard-wide piece of old tent cloth sewed all around the bottom, which converted them into quite roomy wall tents, so that we could have our beds well up from the ground. There not being sufhcient room inside our tents for the tables, this piece of dining room furniture had to be set up in the street just in front of our tents. Before we had completed our furniture the rain came down in torrents, and the weather turned so cool we very much missed our cheery fireplaces in the log cabins. But none of us missed them so much as did Jack, who while cooking at such times had to put on an oilcloth blanket and get out in the rain, which 62 ON WHEELS, persisted in putting out his green wood fire, and so tried liis patience tliat his ebony countenance became moi-e cloLided, often, than was the sky above us. Of course, in such weather we ate our meals in our tents. Camp Cocran was much larger than Camp Cowen. The weather soon cleared up, but remained cool, and the brief time we remained here was improved by us recruits in hard drilling. Here I found an uncle in the Seventy-sixth Illinois Regiment, Volunteer Infantry. They had been camped here for some time, and were quite com- fortably situated, having good stick and clay fire- place chinmeys, many of which were topped off with open-ended pork barrels ; but as we knew we were to remain but a few days we did not indulge in this luxury. The entire camp was subjected to a general inspection of men, arms, ammunition, and everything pertaining to a soldier's campaigning outfit. New clothing and shoes were issued, questionable cartridges were thrown away, and our boxes supplied with fresh ones. Men who were ailing attended the sick call, were examined by the surgeons, and, if not considered able to withstand the fatigue of a long march, were ordered to remain in camp and look after the tents and surplus clothino^ and basrsrasre that should be dispensed with in order to put our army in light marching trim. As to my own personal wardrobe, my heavy double blanket was cut in twain ; my overcoat, dresscoat, and one blanket were left in camp. I drew an oil- cloth blanket having a slit in the center, so that I could put my head through it when marching in the oil TO CAMP C OCR AN. 63 rain, in place of the one left. Tlie old mess advised me to tlirow away my heavy boots before starting, and draw a pair of sewed brogans instead. But I said, "1*^0, sir!" That was asking i5c>^ mnch. Hadn't I had those ten dollar boots made on purpose to wear to the war, and with which to marcli through tlie Confederacy? So, notwithstanding all their argu- ments and persuasions, to my sore grief in the future, as tlie reader will learn, I stuck to my high-top boots. I believe it was previously mentioned that I did not retain my company letter and regimental numbers on my cap very long. On reaching my regiment I soon noticed that the veterans had no dis- tinguishing marks on their hats, and Nic advised me not to put them on the new hat which 1 had drawn and was now wearing in place of my cap, telling me that they might ti'ap me, or reveal my identity if I sliould be discovered wliile engaged in some foraging expedition. So I concluded to dispense with them. But I could not dispose of my pretty ornaments to anyone. Even Jack refused to take them as a gift, saying: " Look hea, Massa Will, Jack's gwine on to dat ere raid, too, an' dis young nigger dun war no 'stinguishin' mark on his pusson, needer." CHAPTER VII. Off for the Mekidian Raid. N the first of February General Sherman ar- rived from Memphis. On tlie third, with light hearts, we broke camp and marched out under flying colors, leaving all tents and extra bag- gage behind. The day was bright. AVe headed east and crossed tlie Big Black Hiver in the forenoon en pontoon bridges just north of the burned Jackson and Vicksburg Raih-oad bridge. Here the army w^as halted for a few hours on an open plateau of bottom land for the purpose of issuing to the command three days' rations, and for the differ- ent organizations to be allotted tlieir respective posi- tions in the future line of march. Our regiment was among the first to cross, and halted well to the east and center of the plateau. Glancing back westward we could see crossing the pontoons and filing in right and left on the open ground acres and acres of the boys in blue, with their gun-barrels glistening in the sun ; well mounted cavalry troops, with their yellow-striped jackets and rattling sabers ; battalions of Parrott and howitzer guns drawn by superb horses, w'ith their gay riders in uniforms trimmed in red ; and an immense train of OFF FOR THE MERIDIAN RAID. 65 white-topped auibiiLiiice, medicine, aunuunition, and provision wagons di'awn by well-kept and newly shod mules. The view was entirely unobstructed by tent or tree, and was a typical army scene. Soon the entire command was busily engaged in drawing rations. Infantry, cavalry, and artillery sergeants with squads of men were seen crossing and recrossing each other's track, going in all directions from the provision wagons to their companies, with boxes of hai'd-tack on their shoulders, sides of bacon on their heads, and with large camp kettles filled with roasted coffee, sugar, salt, and hard soap. On arriving at their companies boxes and vessels containing rations were placed on the ground ; cracker- boxes were soon pried open by the orderlies with a bayonet, or their covers knocked off with borrowed wagon hammers, and their contents then issued in mess pans for the different messes. When in camp the rations were turned over to the mess cooks, but on tl'.e march they were subdivided and issued to the several members of the mess, each soldier taking care of his own. At once twenty thousand soldier boys w^ere seen on their knees on Mississippi soil, not, indeed, to pay hom- age to "King Cotton," but in devotion to some of "Uncle Sam's" swine brisket and hard-tack, coffee, etc., all busily occupied in packing them away in their haversacks. Before starting Nic had helped me make three small sacks out of oilcloth in which to put my coffee, sugar, and salt; and had provided me with apiece eight or ten inches square in which to wrap my bacon, 5 66 O.N WHEELS. and a small piece for my soap, which was carried in my knapsack. This oilcloth I found an excellent pro- tection for my rations. Kecruits who were not thus provided soon found they had a bad mix of provisions in their haversacks, for with their rations wrapped in paper they were soon softened by the bacon grease, and the swinging, jolting motion given the haversacks caused the flinty hard-tack to grind and thoroughly mix with their other contents. All such unfortunate recruits were soon easily distinguishable b}' a large grease-spot on the left hip of their blue breeches. The three days' rations I received were in excess of the room in my haversack. Nic, however, kindly aided me by suggesting that I put the surplus 'tack in my knapsack, and to be very particular in packing it so as not to leave any corners to protrude out in any way, or they would gouge or chafe me. He also in- structed me to secure and pack away twelve or iifteen pieces that others might leave, if I should And them. Some, even of the old veterans, would not undertake to carry so much, but depended on begging or foraging for a fresh supply if their rations ran short before another issue. After rations were packed we filled our canteens with fresli water, Nic cautioning me to keep mine well corked, informing me that if it should leak and soak its woolen cover and my trousers the two rnbbing together would chafe and scald me. This I found excellent advice, for afterward, when marching, I often saw soldier boys who had not taken this precau- tion with their right limbs rubbed raw from this can- teen friction. OFF FOR THE MERIDIAN RAID. 07 As none but loaded wagons were to accompany ns, the empty ones, from wliicli our first three days' ra- tions were supplied, returned to Vicksburg. This was our last opportunity, therefore, before moving on to get letters started on the way to the dear ones at home. Sucli occasions the boys never failed to im- prove. Accordingly, knapsacks were quickly opened, paper, envelopes, and the little round wooden-cased inkstands taken out and opened, and with the Avhite sheets of paper spread on cracker-boxes, drumheads, cartridge-boxes, artillery caissons, or anytliing we could substitute for a writing desk, brown soldier hands hastily jotted down a few lines something like the f ollowins: : " We have just crossed Black River. Are starting on a raid under General Sherman with twenty thou- sand troops ; have three days' rations in our haver- sacks, and Avill be accompanied by a large provision, and ammunition train. Expect to be gone some time. Do not be uneasy or worry if you should fail to hear from us often. " Uncle Billy " [the soldiers' pet name for General Sherman] will bring us through all right. We are well and in good spirits, and will write the first opportunity we have to mail a letter. " Yours affectionately. "P. S. — Have orders to move in ten minutes. Good-bye to all. God bless and keep j^ou." " N. B. — Direct to Yicksburg, and ])ut in some post- age stamps. Hurrah for the Union ! 68 ON WHEELS. I can voncli for the above being about the purport and tenor of thousands of letters the old wagons car- ried baclv to Yicksburs: that da v. There was one important item of interest, how- ever, to both sender and receiver that I can as cer- tainly vouch they did not contain, and that was our point of destination. It was very clear to ns where we had been when we got back, but at that time this desirable piece of information seemed to be lodged under the crown of " Uncle Billy's " hat, and he w\as not at all inclined to be communicative on the sub- ject. But the army seemed to have unlimited confi- dence in their general, as well as he in them, so there was no complaining. However, there were a great many conjectures and surmises concerning our objec- tive point. Many seemed to think w^e were going to Mobile, Ala., to operate with our fleet in the capture of that city. Others thought we w^ere going to the eastern part of the State to destroy railroads. But all was mere guesswork, and since reading General Sherman's memoirs I doubt if any beside himself knew our destination at the time, not even Generals McPherson and Ilurlbut, who cotnmanded the right and left columns of the expedition. When we received the order to be ready to march in ten minutes letters were cut short, and fixtures were hurriedly stow^ed in our knapsacks. One man for each mess, or perhaps for a whole company, took our letters to the wagons which were to carry the mail to Yicksburg. Before starting, I noticed Generals Sherman and McPherson seated on their horses, surrounded by a OFF FOR THE MERIDIAN RAID. 69 group of officers and orderlies, critically examining ^vitll their field glasses a heavy body of timber in onr front through which we were to pass. Soon an ordei-ly galloped from the group in the direction of a cavalry regiment, and that body at once dashed out in front of us. They, however, met but a small reconnoiter- ing cavalry force of the enemy, which fell back after a few shots were exchanged at long range. "We moved out without deployment in compact cob unms, so that the Confederate cavalry would have but slight chance to dash in on us and get away. General Sherman did not always burn all the bridges behind liim. When his command w^as safely across on the east side of the Big Black, and the wagon train that was to return to Yicksburg had recrossed to the west side, the canvas pontoons on which we crossed were taken out of the river, collapsed, folded up, and loaded on the wagons with their wooden frames, stringers, floors, etc., together with their rope tackle, the whole outfit making no small ti'ain of itself. The rear of our column had not advanced more than two or three miles from the river when the Con- federate cavalry appeared behind us, completely cut- ting us off from our base of supplies, and causing us to depend for food upon the region through which we passed. But while they soon surrounded us on all sides, their force was not sufficiently strong to retard our progress longer than to give us time to rebuild bridges and remove obstructions placed in our way, while those behind us served as a spur to assist our rear guard in urging our stragglers forward. Our cavalry was em])loyed the most of the time in 70 OK WHEELS. our front, carefull}^ feeling our way, but never getting very far beyond su}3porting distance of our infantry and artillery. Our cavalry force, but one thousand two hundred strong, was under Colonel E. F. Winslow. This was deemed sufficient for all practical purposes on our march. But a cavalry force of ten thousand men^ under General W. S. Smith, had been ordered by General Sherman to start from Memphis on the first of February and march directly to Meridian and join us there. For some reason, however, they failed to start until the eleventh, and were headed off and defeated by General Forest, and so never reached us. We had proceeded but four or five miles on our march when we were ordered to halt and stack arms, and were given some thirty minutes for dinner. Be- fore starting those who were not already supplied with quart buckets provided themselves w^ith such made out of fruit or oyster cans with wire bails. For some reason unknown to me these were called "blickers." While on tlie march their rattle made quite a din, yet their ntility and unquestioned riglit in a campaigner's outfit were fully demonstrated, for by their aid, with a supply of water and wood, tlie soldier could have a cup of boiling coffee in a few minutes' time, which soldiers always prized. If we halted a dozen times a day, that often could bo seen hundreds of men boiling coffee ; and if ordered to fall in line before it was drunk it was carried along and sipped out of the blickers or emptied into canteens and d'/unk out of them. 0:i halting We would break ranks, nnsling our OFF FOR THE MERIDIAN RAID. 71 knapsacks, secure wood for fire, and Avliile tliis was getting under way our roasted coffee was ground in our bllclvers with the butt ends of our bayonets and was soon in readiness for use. While our coffee was heating we would broil a slice of bacon by holding it over the fire on a forked stick, holding a cracker under- neatli to catch the dripping grease. Tliese three luxuries made up the common bill of fare for a marching column. But this was frequently enlarged from the poultry yards, smokehouses, potato patches, and sheep, cattle, and swine herds of tlie enemy through whose land we were marching ; and often did our boys regale themselves with choice milk and sirup and honey on this expedition. On tliis march all of the colored cooks did not go with us. Our Jack, who was along, only helped with l)reakfast and supper; the midday meal was pre- pared individually. As he was not sworn into the service of course he could draw no rations, clothing, or pay. These our mess provided for by dividing our rations into eleven portions instead of ten, giving him one of them. Besides giving him one dollar each per month to do our cooking and washing, we also provided him with clothing from our cast-off garments. In this way thousands of colored army cooks who were not sworn into the service were pro- vided for. When on the march these cooks were not required to keep in ranks, and having no guns or accouter- ments to carry, they could, and often did, lighten our burdens. Jack often kept several regiments in ad- vance of us when we were not oui'seh^es in the front. 72 ON WHEELS. and on making a discovery of some good water he would rush back after our canteens, and by tlie time we came up would have them ready for us freshly filled. Sometimes when our regiment was w^ell toward the rear of tlie marching colunm, or was acting as rear guard, our regimental wagons carrying our cooking utensils would get into camp an liour or so in advance of us. On such occasions Jack would go in with them, and by the time we reached camp, which w^as frequently after dark, we would find our faithful cook seated on a pile of rails or wood which he had gathered, with mess pan and camp kettle on the ground beside him, filled w^ith water, waiting for us, ready to prepare supper as soon as he could learn where we would bivouac. CHAPTER VIII, On the Maech Through Jacksojst. friE first day out our brigade marched near the ,,.^, head of the cohimn, so that Jack had no op- portunity of going in advance of us to make ]3 reparations. As it was dark wlien we reached camj) several of us assisted him in getting wood and w^ater. A number of regiments w^ere in advance of us, and already liad tlieir fires started and suppers under way. The black pine smoke from these camp fires was very dense and blinding, and, at times, made it difficult to see or step without stumbling over some object or running into some person. Dan, the tall color-sergeant, and I, while going in search of some water, had to pass through where several of these regiments were camped. In trying to keep up with Dan's long strides in the blinding smoke I had the misfortune to con:ie in contact with a pile of knapsacks, tumbled headlong over them with my camp kettles and canteens, and, losing my balance, caught my toe under the end of one of a pair of long rails that were occupied by a happy party of steaming coffee blickers and sputtering frying j^ans, wdiicli, judging from their savory smell, were about ready to be taken from the fire. These were sur- 74 ON WHEELS. rounded bj ten or a dozen liungrj, impatient Iowa soldiers. JMj unceremonious appearance on tlie scene at this junctnre tlirew one of the rails out of place and upset the kettle party into the fire, nearly putting it ont. The infuriated lovvans instantly sprang to their feet amid the stifling smoke, and wildly shrieked for vengeance. I gathered myself and tinware up as quickly as possible, and took to my heels, but got several more tumbles before I considered myself at a safe distance from the fierce low^a blizzard that was on my track. My safe escape was only made possible by the extra smoke I had caused by upsetting tlie cof- fee and the protection of the old sergeant in my rear. When we returned with the water, for which we had to go nearly a quarter of a mile, the rest of the mess had some rails collected for fuel and for side- boards to onr beds. The cheery fire w^as blazing, and on both sides of it, with foot ends next the fire, were our camping conches, all ready to receive those who should occupy them. These couches consisted of tv,'o good-sized i-ails laid parallel to each other on the ground, about the width of a blanket apart, with the space between filled up w^ith leaves and a kind of long grass that grew in that section. Over these were spread the oilcloth and woolen blankets, while knapsacks were used for pillows. Each member of the mess contributed his share of coffee and bacon for the evening meal, and Jack did the cooking. During the repast, as we reviewed the events of the day, the Johnnies came in for their share of praise for having cut and ricked uj) such a lot of fine dry wood for us. ON THE MARCH THROUGH JACKS OK 75 The early February air was crisp and frosty, and when I snna-iiied under our blankets beside Nic it was quite late, and he was sound asleep, as were most of the boys, except a few colored cooks, wdio were carrying water and making preparations for an early breakfast. The fires had all died out, and a slight breeze had swept aside the dark canopy of smoke by wdiicli the camp had been enveloped. The night was pefectly clear, and over head, through the branches of the tall tree-tops, peered the old man out of the silvery moon, as if to guard us in our slumbers. Around him shone myriads of bril- liant gems, as if so many angel-lighted lamps sw^ung in space from heaven's blue-vaulted dome. Their lio^lit revealed the forms of thousands of brave men stretched prone upon the ground, wrapped in their blankets, and dreaming, perchance, of their far-away homes and loved ones. This being my first night in camp on the open field, the novelty of the scene and the many thoughts which went flitting through my m.ind drove sleep from my eyes until near midnight. All was cpiiet, ex- cept the heavy breathing and snoring of sleeping soldiers, the deep hush only broken now and then by the loud braying of some hungry government mule and the " who-who-who, who, who, Avho ? " of some in- cpiisitive Mississippi owl, as if desiring to know what strange creature was disturbing the stillness of the night. These midnight confusions and new surroundings, together w^'th the fact that we were now in the enemy's country, cut off entirely from friends, led me in my 76 ON WHEELS. reflections back to the dear old liome-circle, and to tlie school I had left ; and I could but contrast u\j surroundings now with what they were before, when Hardin and I were seated behind a badly carved desk in tlie old sclioolhouse at Naples, and I thought how strangely " Uncle Sain " had let me down and out, first, from a snug cabin to a tent, and from the latter to open camp, with no protecting shelter. The next morrung we were up bright and early, and slipped ont of camp just at dawn. The day was most charming, just cool enough for comfortable marching, though the roads were very dusty on ac- count of the heavy travel. We had not proceeded more than two miles when we marched throusrh the camp the Johnnies had occupied the night previous. AVe marched fifteen miles that day. Before noon, however, my heavy boots, which were a little loose, were giving me intense pain. They had blistered my feet some the day before, but I had made no mention of it. I knew of several others with badly blistered feet who were in the ambulances, but my boyish pride would not submit to that, and when I reached camp that night I was suffering great agony, and knew I must have relief from some source, or not be able to march the next day, which would require a ride in an ambulance, or expose me to capture, to either of which I was strictly opposed. When we got into camp, therefore, and settled, I unburdened my ti-ouble to Wio, with many misgiv- ings. He looked at me with a kind of "I told you so " expression, which was rather humiliating to me, and said, " We will attend to them after supper." ON THE MARCH THROUGH JACKSON. 77 When Slipper was over, witli a piece of resin soap in hand, I accompanied liiin to a brook, where he helped me ])nll my boots off — no easy task, for after reaching caiiij) my feet had swollen badly. A thorough bathing, however, gave me great relief, bnt I found it necessary, wearing my cumbersome boots, to keep up this practice every few nights, which be- came rather monotonous during our three hundred miles' march. During this day's march wagon loads of new dress- conts, overcoats, and blaidcets were thrown away by recruits, who had thought they knew better what was needed on a march of this kind than did the com- manding officers or the old soldiers, and, in many in- stances, I saw the latter and the colored cooks ex- changing their old worn blankets for good new ones, and the colored brethren their badly worn coats for bright new ones. Jack, on this occasion, provided liimself with both a new coat and blanket. During the day we passed by a plantation which belonged to Jefferson Davis, the President of the Southern Confederacy. The fences were all gone, and I heard some one remark that " Old Jeff " would have to get "Uncle Abe" to come down and split liim some rails before he could put in his spring cro]"). "Uncle Abe" was the soldier's name for President Lincoln, the old-time " rail splitter." On the sixth we drove the Confederates through and beyond Jackson, crossed Pearl Piver on the pontoons, and camped some two miles to the east of the city for the night. As we passed through some of the principal busi- 78 ON WHEELS. iie^^s streets of the clt}^ I saw some of the "boys in bhie " coming out of stores with boxes of tobacco and cigars, neither of which had any attractions for me. But I tlioiight I should like to patronize a Southern shoe store, and broke ranks to do my shopping, but failed to find any. We had now reached the third day of our march, and, just as Nic had predicted, men were seen beg- ging i-ations. Our mess had plenty of rations for supper, but as the provision wagons were late getting in it was midnight before many others had anything to eat. Having now reached a point further east from Yicksburo: than any of the Union forces had ever penetrated to before the scenes were in marked con- trast to those of the region we had passed through. Thus far the territory traversed seemed to be almost deserted, both towns and country presenting many blackened ruins, houseless chimneys, and fenceless fields. ]^ow we were entering a rich cotton-growing district which had been hitherto unmolested by the Yankees. The planters had fine residences and large planta- tions well stocked with Negroes, horses, nniles, cattle, liogs, sheep, etc. We found full corn cribs, sweet potato banks, and large amounts of cotton which had not been shipped or disposed of on account of the blockades. But on our approach the whites appeared to become panic-stricken, and many deserted their homes, leaving them in possession of their former slaves. Unlike these whites, the freedmen were in great ON THE MARCH THROUGH JACKSON. 70 ccstacies of joy at this turning point in their liis- toiy, iind, hailing '' Massa Sherman " and his sokl- iers as their deliverers, they bade adieu to the old plantations, and, male and female, old and young, flocked to us by the thousands. They came from the liill-tops and from the plains in their flight for freedom. They could be seen hurrying toward us across the broad fields and along the highways some on foot, carrying huge bundles on their heads or ■shoulders; others riding, and hauling their pos- sessions in various kinds of vehicles, from an old single ox cart to a tine fanuly barouche. Indeed, I saw several joining the caravan with loaded wheel- barrows, nnd it was no uncommon thing to see an old " aunty " with a half-dozen little bareheaded, half- naked children driving along the road in the rear of the column in a tine carriage, she dressed up in some "ob de white folks' finery," wanting to make a '"specutable 'pearance" wdien she should meet "Massa Shernuxn," while just behind her would be the old uncle, walking, and leading an old plantation mule with its head stuck out of a huge mountain of clothing, bedding, pi-ovisions, etc. To one venerable-looking old black man, dressed in a indescribable suit of cotton patchwork, whose wliite wool was seen peeping out of the crown of an old straw hat, and whose toes were protruding from a pair of well-worn shoes, laced up with cotton strings, I said : "How do you do, uncle?" " O, l)ress de Lawd, Tse berry well, tank you!" " Where are you going ?" I asked. 80 ON WHEELS. " O, bress Massa Liiikuui, child, I'se gwine wluir Massa Slierinau an jous are all gwine." These crude plantation specimens in natnre's dusky nnifornis, so oddly dressed, now ecstatic with inex- pressible joy at their deli\^erance from a life of bond- age, and eagerly endeavoring by grotesque speech, song, grimace, and gestnre to set forth their great gratitude to the " Lawd '' and "Massa Linknm" for their gracious deliverance, presented a spectacle at times so touching and pathetic as to stir the tender emotions of the brawniest soldier in blue, and at others so truly comical as to cause our aching sides to test our broad belts while convnlsed with langliter. On our route as far as Jackson the battle-scan-ed and devastated country would not have kept one good healthy pilferer in chickens, and the old soldiers, who had marched and fought over this ground, seemed to know it, and made no effort to improve our plain bill of fare by foraging. But the night we crossed Penrl Tliver Dan and several of my mess de- clared their intention to have something to eat besides bacon and "'tack," if it was to be fonnd within five miles of the camp. Accordingly, after supper, as color-bearers cari-y no guns, Dan borrowed one of ours, and, with two others, fully equipped with car- tridge boxes, haversacks, and canteens, started, say- ing, " We do not expect to return before mid- night." When reveille broke the stillness of the following frosty morning the blue dome above us was still spangled with thousands of twinkling luminaries, and as we g.'ithcred around our camp fire, wrapped incur ON THE MARCH THROUGH JACKSON. 81 blankets, to dispatch our early breakfast, old Sol bad not yet dispelled the morning twilight. The foraging expedition of Dan and his comrades was a decided success, and, as the result, Jack gave us a breakfast of delicious boiled turkey and sweet potatoes and honey, in addition to our usual fare. This being the lirst fowl or fresh meat of any kind I had tasted since reaching my regiment, I can assure my readers it was decidedly toothsome, although it was simply boiled in clear water, seasoned with salt and pepper, destitute of any brown basting, and having no delicious oyster dressing. 6 CHAPTER IX. The S k I k m I s it. ^liu^T'E luid barely finished storing away the remains ^^r of our turkey in our haversacks when we were ordered to '' fall in, and take arms/' We passed along over the dusty road at a good pace without any notewortliy event until we reached Bran- don, then a good-sized village, which we entered just as the sun was gathering its fading rays beliind the tree-tops in our rear. Here we found the depot of tlie Jackson and Selma Railroad, several large ware- houses, and wharves stored with cotton hales, all in flames. As we entered one street the intense heat caused by the fiery wrath of the old white King, now being offered as a burnt sacrifice on the altar of the " Lost Cause," was unbearable, so that we were compelled to halt, about face, retreat, and take another street be- fore we could pass his fierj^ majesty. After going into camp in a piece of timber which skirted the town two of our mess, Jim Tlowel's " bunkie," and Nic, my '^ bunkie," were detailed for picket duty. This naturally threw Jim and I to- gether for the night. We at once took our blankets, and went in search of material for our beds. Comins: THE SK nun Sir. 83 across quite a large liole, filled witli leaves, at the foot of an uprooted tree, we proceeded to fill our blankets. During the operation the toe of Jiui's brotnm struck something on the bottom of the hole, which produced a metallic sound. Instantly w^e both dropped to our knees and began clawing vigorously among the leaves, and soon reached a tin box about six inches wide and deep, and some ten inches in Icno-th. As it was too dark to read, w^e struck a match and set fire to some leaves. By the aid of this light we opened the unlocked box, which had a lifnged lid witli clasp fastening, and found it full of deeds, Confederate bonds, and five thousand dollars in Confederate money. We kept the money, and aft- erward Jim realized five cents on the dollar for some of his at a bank in Yicksburg. I was not so fortunate wdth mine. We also kept several bonds as relics, one of which, on the State of Arkansas, I have yet, which I w^ould be pleased to cash at its face value, twenty dollai's. When through examining the contents we took a deed, and wdth pencil wrote these words on its back in bold hand: ''Small favors thaidvfully received, large ones in proportion," and signed it, ''Yankee Soldiers." We then carefully returned all to the box except what I have mentioned, placed the deed on top of the other articles with the inscription up ; then, in the gathering darkness, by the light of the leafy fire, we safely returned the little casket to its shallow grave at the foot of the old forest giant, covered it with a thick blanket of withered leaves, trampled out the fire, and started for camp. 84 ON WHEELS. As we stole away tlirougli the darkness of the iiiglit, with our blankets filled with soft bedding material, and with our bogus booty, Jim remarked that the man who hid that box must have been foolish or frightened, as he had left it exposed to three destructive agencies, namely, Yankees, fire, and water. He also stated that w^hile he would not care to be near enough to hear what the "Johnnie" would say when he should resurrect and open the box, believing it would not be complimentary either to ns or our Yankee govern- ment, yet he w^ould very much like to have a good photograph, picturing his position and physiognomy when he should first detect the loss of his Confederate scrip and read our Yankee inscription. Poor Jim was a brave soldier and one of the handsomest young men I ever saw. After his time in our regiment ex- pired he returned home, reenlisted in another regi- ment, and was killed before Mobile. After our evening meal was over I visited the town to take in the sights by the illumination of the still burninir cotton. Amono^ other scenes that interested me was a crowd of soldiers busily engaged with long sharp pointed poles punching up a large bed of coals. I noticed, as I approached nearer, that sometimes when they drew their poles out of the long mound of coals there were some dark objects sticking on the ends of them about the size of my two fists or even larger. Those engaged in this enterprise seemed much inter- ested in it. On reaching the place I found they were gathered around the smoldering ruins of a warehouse in which several hundred bushels of sweet potatoes had been stored, which were now well baked, but the THE SKIRMISH. 85 fire was yet burning so fiercely tliere was no possible way of obtaining the potatoes without tlie aid of these long potato forks, and the men in high glee were spear- ing for Mississippi yams, of which I soon obtained a haversack full myself. An old Jersey soldier, who loaned me his yam spear after getting all he could carry, said he had dug a great many clams in liis day and had been at many Kew England clambakes, but this Mississippi yam- bake, while it was very hot digging, beat the biggest clambake he was ever at, and he should have to write to his friends about it. The next morning it fell to the lot of our brigade to march at the head of our column, and as usual, when we had proceeded but a mile or so, we passed through the camp the Johnnies had occupied the night before. About 3 p. M., just as the head of the long blue column was surmounting the crest of a low range of wooded hills in om* front, sharp firing was heard in that direction, and soon a force of our cavalry appeared on the brow of the hill and came dashing down the road toward us to report the trouble. Immediately we were halted, and ordered to one side of the road to make room for a battery to pass to the front. Instantly four brass howitzers, each drawn by six strong horses, come flying by on the dead run, making the very ground to tremble benenlh their thundering tread. They swiftly ascended the wooded crest, deployed to the right, and, rapidly swing- ing around until the cannon faced the enemy, were at cnce unlimbered, and more quickly than it can be related were belching forth smoke, flame, and shell. 86 ON WHEELS. I had nev^r seen anything of this kuid before, and, judging by tlie way the Jolmnies had been retreating before lis, I began to fear I never would. Being so close to whei-e the battery was going into action, I got permission (at least I think I got it), and ran to the top of the hill, a little to the left of the battery, arriving there just in time to see them open fire on some dismounted Confederate cavalry who had taken position in the center of an open piece of ground be- hind two rail fences, and in a large cotton gin and other small buildings. The guns were fired by volley. The first four shells, flying and screaming through the air over their heads and over the roof of the gin, passed beyond and burst harmlessly. Two shells of the second round struck the ground and exploded a few rods in front of the fence. One hit the fence, burst, and sent the old rails flying in the air and a group of Confederates scampering to the rear. The fourth went crashinsc throuo^h the barricaded side of the gin house, and in an instant came a terrible roar and crash, the shingles and sheathing flew off of the roof, smoke ]30ured out, and the panic-stricken Johnnies rushed out of the building like bees from a disturbed beehive. Hastily they vaulted into their saddles and rode out of the range of the shells, which were now bursting at their heels, as rapidly as their four- footed friends could carry them. They were only some five or six hundred yards distant when the bat- tery opened fire, and a number of them must have been killed or wounded, especially from the shell which exploded in the crowded gin-house, but I never THE SKIRMISH. 87 learned tlie exact casualties. When our battery hoy^ had dislodged the Confederates from the position from which they expected to open fire upon our infantry we moved on past the position as if nothing had oc- curred. Tliat evening, onr brigade being iu the lead, w^e biv- ouacked early, about an hour before sundown, in a wooded ravine opposite a large deserted plantation, the residence of which was in flames. As soon as we had stacked arms and coukl misling our knapsacks we made a move tow^ard tlie premises for rails and to secure something for our mess kettles if possible. When I reached tliere, out of breath, I found I was too late for anything but rails, but glancing through the smoke I caught a glimpse of a large family Bible lying on a center table near the middle of the room. I had no desire to take the book for myself; but not wishing to see it and the family record it contained destroyed, my boyish impulse was to save it for its owner's sake. Acting upon this impulse, I instantly sprang into the room, secured it, and just escaped as the roof and timbers fell in. The Bible weighed ten or twelve pounds, and when I had caught my breath, collected my thoughts, and began to look around for some safe, dry place to leave it, I found the out-buildinii^s had cau<5:ht fire from the main one, so there seemed to be no hiding place for it. I then began to realize that I had a larger contract on hand than I had bargained for, and if it had been any other book I should have left it on the ground. But now that I had it in my possession I felt in a measure responsible for it, and finally decided io carry S8 ON WHEELS. it to camp and leave it at some house tlie next day, Avhere the owner would probably find it. Reaching camp w^ith it under one arm, Avith a rail on my opposite shoulder, I was eluded by ray com- rades for "stealing a Bible," and all were urgent to learn the text I had selected to preach from that night. My explanation of motiv^es for securing it only seemed to make matters worse. But notwithstanding these gibes I stuck to the Bible, and the next clay I left it at a house about three miles from the place where I ob- tained it. CHAPTER X. The Battle. BOUT 3 p. M., the 9tli of February, just as we entered some wooded lulls, the serenity of the sunny afternoon was suddenly broken by the loud roll and rattle of musketry, and the deep, heavy thunder of artillery in our immediate front. Our advance, which v/as but a few yards ahead of us, had encountered a line of Confederate infantry and artil- lery, which was posted on the crest of a range of hills that ran across our front. Instantly I observed the old soldiers scan each other's faces as if attempting to divine the meaning of this sudden demonstration. Nic, turning to me with a determined expression of countenance I had never seen him wear before, said, "Will, there is a battle on hand and we are in for it. Stick by me." I made no reply, but had already decided I would try to do that very thing. Keverhad I seen so serious an expres- sion on the faces of men as those old soldiers wore when that battle storm burst upon us. Its suddenness and fury were as the coming of a mighty cyclone unan- nounced except by a terrific roar and peal after peal of thunder from a clear sky. It was enough to terrify the bravest hearted, and the intense nervous 90 ON WHEELS. strain of the instant was enongli to age one by years. However, as I glanced np into those brave, rigid faces I could read in their firm expression, as clearly as if cut by sculptor's cliisel, a determination to " do or die," and this, naturally, strung my young nerves Tip as they would not have been had they betrayed the sliglitest trace of fear. Cut the intensity of the moment's strain was at once relieved by our being ordered double quick to the front. As we went in we met a yellow-striped cavalry regiment coming out pell mell through the timber, the steel-clad hoofs of their flying chargers cracking the brush beneath them as they leaped over logs, gullies, and brush heaps. These scampering cavalry appeared to nettle some of our old inflmtry men, and as they passed by I heard one remark that he had never seen a dead cavalry man yet, and another said, "My kingdom for a ' boss.' " We had proceeded but a short distance when we began to meet stragglers and I^egro cooks — chaff which the fierce tempest was driving to the rear. Then we came upon the dead and wounded. The first wounded man I saw was a Confederate sitting against a tree near the roadside, wdio was shot through the body. As we passed a rough recruit in our company rudely asked this man "how far it was a mile ahead." To which the wounded Confederate replied, " Three lengths of an infernal fool ; if you don't believe it lie down and measure it yourself." Upon this we gave the poor wretch a hearty cheer which mast have done him good, while at the same time it was a deserved rebuke to the unfeeling recruit. THE BATTLE. 01 As we emerged from the timber into an open field on tlie hilltop we were met bj a tornado of hot iron and Jeaden hail. The "ping," "whiz," " zi[)," and deadly thud of the minie balls were heard on every side. Solid shot and deadly shell went flying through the air, hatefully hissing and screeching as they burst over our heads or tore np the earth beneath our feet. As this terrific storm broke npon us, and we hurried through the smoke and dust to our position, I noticed in passing many dead and wounded. Indeed, it seemed strange that any could possibly escape un- hurt. One poor fellow in blue uniform lay in a pool of blood at the foot of a large gate-post with his head as completely severed as if it had been taken off with a cleaver. At this juncture a six-gun battery of brass howitzers dashed past, drawn by thirty-six powerful gray horses w^ith distended nostrils, flashing eyes, and flowing manes, causing the hilltop to tremble under their heavy tread ; and as their red-striped, blue-jacketed riders urged them to the top of their speed with whip and spur, every tug was pulled taut, and every nerve and muscle strained to its utmost. Their object was to gain a coveted position in our front, commanding a view of an opposite hilltop crowned by Confederate artillery which was now dealing death and destruction to our lines. Arriving and deploying, each six-horse team wheeled its chariot of fire into position with the motion and velocity of a wdiirlwind ; fearless riders sprang from the backs of their foam-flecked, fiery steeds ; guns were unlimbered, caissons thrown open, brave battery 92 ON WHEELS. bojs rushed with bomb and ball to cannon's month, and with rapid rammer strokes crowded the iron feed down their brazen throats ; pieces were quickly trained, lanyards drawn, and instantly their rigid lips of brass responded with the deadly language of the lightning flash and thunderbolt in mad defiance to the fierce tongues of fire, smoke, shell, and solid shot of the enemy's guns ; and as our regiment right- wheeled into position on the hillside below them for their support the deafening roar and terrible shock seemed to rock the whole mound beneath us. Here the missiles of death, like a fierce meteoric shower, screaming and bursting over our heads in rapid and crashing sounds, from the cross-fire of Union and Con- federate guns, appeared to rend the heavens and earth asunder. We received orders to halt instantly, followed by the command, " Load at will ; load ! " and as our men bit off the ends of paper cartridges and rammed them home, and adjusted percussion caps, the metallic ring and click of iron ramrods and heavy musket locks were barely heard above the din of battle. "While in this act two recruits near me were hit. Deb Deposter, just at my left, was struck in the hand by a minie-ball while capping his gun, but was too plucky to go to the rear. A cannon-ball caught the protruding corner of Pat Wood's knapsack, whirled him around about-face, double quick, leav- ing him with his back to the enemy. Somewhat puzzled at Pat's singular movement, I asked him what it meant ; and, as he faced about to the front, w^ith surprised look and blanched countenance, he THE BATTLE. 93 said, " That ugly thing stliruek me roit in the back." Our gallant old Colonel Hall at that time was in command of our brigade, and as we were loading lie rode along well in our rear on a large roan horse, speaking words of cheer to our men. He ordered Major McNolty, who was in command, to have four men from each company, who were the least able to go into the engagement, detailed as stretcher bearers. When Lieutenant Kirkman of our company called for men it seemed to me, on account of my age and size, that every eye in the company was turned toward me, while I had several boys in mind that I thought would be sure to avail themselves of this opportunity to escape the dangerous part of the fray. But, to my surprise, and to the credit and honor of these brave boys, not one of them deserted the ranks. The four men who did volunteer for this special work were about as large as any in the company, and ranged in age from twenty-four to forty years. The one aged twenty-four was a big-fisted, pugnacious recruit, who was constantly making trouble with some one smaller than himself, and who had made repeated boasts that he was eager to smell gunpowder. When, therefore, I saw this bully of a fellow slip out of the ranks and skip off with long strides to the rear for a stretcher I concluded he had had his smell of gunpowder and was satisfied. As soon as our guns were loaded we were ordered to lie down. Instantly every man in the long line of blue with glistening gunbarrels and flashing swords dropped to the ground as if the whole forest of mus- O-t ON WHEELS. kets and men liad been mowed down by a single vol- ley from the Confederate guns. Tliis being my first experience in battle, I was somewhat surprised to find that the handsomely dressed commissioned officers in this line of flattened infantry appeared no more conspicuous than others, nor did they seem any more afraid of soiling their fine uniforms than did the plainest private in his old blouse. What was still more strange to the uninitiated, it was verj" perceptible also that these officers did not manifest aiiy aversion to having a stump or a log to obstrnct their view of the front. No objects of all our long line of blue were left standing, except the flags with their staffs driven in the ground, and a few mounted officers in our rear. With heels uphill and head down, our position, while thus held in support of our battery, Avas any- thing but comfortable or composing, exposed, as we were, both to artillery and infantry Are which we could not return for the reason that our own men were in the midst of a fierce engagement but about seventy- five yards in advance of us. I am cpiite sure, how- ever, that I never seemed to be so large in all my life before, for, as closely as I could hug the hill and contract my frame, my extremities seemed entirely too long and my back to hump up entirely too high. But, though unfavorably situated, in accordance with my practice of making a daily record of my expe- riences, I decided that I would be no more exposed with my eyes open, taking observations of the tragic scenes in the midst of which I found myself for record, than if I were to keep them closed. THE BATTLE. 95 Some one hundred and fifty yards to the rear, and a little to the left of our battery, on another eminence, seated on his horse and surrounded by a ^-roup of mounted officers, I saw General McPherson, with lield-glass to his eyes, scanning the field in front. Just then a mounted orderly, as if on the wings of the wind, came dashing up to tlie group from the left. Immediately two others started, the one for the left and the other for the center where the battery was posted, and as they galloped away with orders their fleet-footed chargers appeared to spurn the very ground beneath them. Posted in our rear at regular intervals, and parallel to the line of battle, between it and the group of oth- ceis, Avas the mounted signal corps with their differ- ent colored flaij^s flutterino- in the breeze. The mound above us where our battery was \ osted was enveloped in smoke and flame ; and as the guns belched forth their showers of heated metal they re- minded me somewhat of a picture in my old school geography of a volcano in ern])tion. Midway between the top and base of the eastern hillside our line, like a broad band of blue ribbon, lay stretched on the brown grass to the right and left as far as the eye could ^^enetrate through the smoke. Below and between us and the opposite chain of hills ran a small creek, skirted on each side by heavy tim- ber. In these dark woods a stubborn iii!:ht was in progress. The Confederates were on the side of the creek next to us, and it Avas a question whether they would force our lines back to our position, or our forces drive them across the stream. As shadowy 96 ON WHEELS. forms quickly glided from tree to tree puffs of smoke were seen, and the sharp reports of rifles were Jieard, and the whole fronts of the long lines of the bine and the gray m the dark valley seemed ablaze with streams of fire from hot mnsket miizzles, and the roll and rattle of volley firing swept up and down the battling lines as if in loud tenor accompaniment to the heavy ■thundering bass of tlie artillery on the hilltops above us. Over and beyond the plume-crowned pines which stood in the vallej^, through the rifts in the sul- j^hurous clouds, the eye caught frequent glimpses on the opposite hillside of the long lines of Confederate gray gri piling tightly their polished steel, while massed in support of the smoke-curtained, cannon-crowned crest above, which in its wild grandeur of action ap- peared as a twin crater to ours. While lying here listening to the din of battle wdiich filled the air, and watching the grand spectacle before me, I took in several byplays of the battle. Our major, at the time of this battle, had two very fine horses, one a beautiful dark chestnut sorrel mare, and the other a large handsome dapple gray horse. The two were almost inseparable. His hostler was a large rawboned old German named Peter. The after- noon of this engagement the major rode the gray, leaving the chestnut behind the hill in charge of the hostler. This separation did not seem to please either of the horses, as was clearly shown by their frantic actions, and, when the balls were flying thickest and shells were bursting loudest, the brave four-footed lady, eager to be beside her handsome mate, took the bit in her teeth, and, despite old Pete's efforts to restrain THE BATTLE. 97 lier, brought liim on a flying charge over tlie liill to our position. It should be noted that the daj^ we started on this raid to Meridian Peter's three years' service lacked but three days of being out, and he seriously objected to starting. But the officers refused to excuse him, which made him very angry. That the mettlesome mare had unceremoniously taken him into the midst of danger after his term of service liad expired now seemed to make him still more wrath3^ Tlien, as if this were not enough, and to exaspe- rate Peter all the more, just as he appeared in sight a sliell exploded in the air immediately in front of the flying chestnut, which caused her to rear and walk off on her hind feet, pawing the airasif striking at the impudent shell, with Peter clinging to her neck. This little comic act, introducing itself on the stage where the serious ti-agedy of actual war was be- ing enacted, caused the spectators for a moment to lose sight of the dangers I)y which they were sur- rounded, and a loud ripple of mirth swept up and down the prostrate lines of blue, which finally gave vent to a roar of merriment as the men shouted, " Hold on, Pete, you only have three days more ! " These tantalizing words caused the old German's beer-mug of wrath to fairly froth over, and, be it said to Peter's discredit, that on that trying occasion he used some very discourteous, emphatic language in broken English about the officers, the men, the mare, and the ugly shell. About this time the major noticed the unnecessary danger the pair were placed in, and ordered Pete to 7 98 ON WHEELS. disniount and lead liis pet ont of range of the ene- my's guns. The hist I saw of this excited pair before the curtain dropped on this act Peter was down on all fours, spread out in front of the mare like a big frog, vainly endeavoring to drag her up over the hill, while the stubborn beauty had lier feet firmly planted, refusing to follow the old man's lead. In striking contrast to this comic scene, but an in- stant later, and quicker than a flash, I saw three men of the Twelfth Wisconsin Ilegiment, just a few yards in front of me, violently liurled to the ground and into eternity by a deadly solid shot. At the time their regiment was in line and engaged, and as the ill-fated trio stood in a row, one behind the other, and on a gradual elevation, the cruel ball tore off the first man's head, the right shoulder of the one behind liiin, while the third victim was stricken in the breast, the ball tearing an ugly hole through his body. Then the death-dealing demon, as if to wipe its bloody sides on the dress of mother earth, struck in the dead grass a few feet in front of where I lay, and went bound- ing over our regiment as if in quest of more human gore. Wliile lying here below and between the opposing batteries I plainly saw several solid shot from the Confederate guns before they reached us; also many shells coming and going in mid air. Soon after the three Wisconsin men mentioned were killed our right began to swing around the ene- my's left flank. The gray lines in the timber wavered, and we received the welcome order, " Up, and for- ward ! " Immediately the long lines of support THE BATTLE. 99 sprang to their feet and went rusliing, cheering, down the hill. We swept the Confederates througli the timber, across the shallow creek, and, like a blue tidal wave, our line surged up and over the crest beyond, and just as the sun sank amid liis amber glory the lona: lines of Confederate tj^rav, inferior in numbers and beaten, hastily retreated and left the iield to the victorious Union blue. CHAPTER XI. Aftek the Battle. tHAT night we went into camp in a body of tiin- ^ ber which skirted an old cotton field, about half a mile distant from where the battle took place. As Colonel Rogers, of the Fifteenth lUinois, our " twin regiment," known as such because it brigaded with us, was inspecting the picket line in our front, a Confederate sharpshooter posted in achirapof woods on the opposite side of the field, at least a quarter of a mile away, no doubt thinking the mounted officer a good target on which to try his skill, displayed his fine marksmansliip by landing a bullet plump against the large brass buckle on the colonel's sword-belt. Tlie shining eagle on the buckle impeded the flying missile, but the heavy thump it gave the colonel over the pit of his stomach caused liim to reel and fall from his horse as if dead, and compelled him to forfeit a part of his dinner ; otherwise he was uninjured. As far as Morton, near where this engagement oc- curred, our command had marched on two separate roads running parallel with each other east and west, and from seven to ten miles apart. Hurlburt's, the Sixteenth Corps, occupied the left, while our corps, McPherson's, the Seventeenth, occupied tlie right, AFTER THE BATTLE. \Q\ but at Morton the two formed a junction. On the 12th Hurlbnrt's Corps had tlie right of way, and at night bivouacked on a small stream three or four miles east of Decatnr, while McPherson's, bringing up the rear, camped for the night on the outskirts of the town. As usual, during the day there had been lively skirmishing at the front and on our flanks, with an occasional dash on our rear guard. Entering Decatur as tlie sliadows of the tall pines were lengthening to their eastern limits, we came upon evidences of a cavalry dash upon Hurlburt's wagon train, the dusty road being strewn with dead and wounded mules, abandoned white-covered w\agons riddled with bullets, besides a number of wounded soldiers and teamsters. On entering the town we found General Sherman and staff, and learned that our commander had just run a very narrow escape from being captured by some Confederate cavalry. Had these Johnnies but known of tlie prize so nearly within their grasp it is presumable, judging from the situation, they would, to the certain mortification of the general, consterna- tion of the command, and the great pleasure of the captors, have galloped off with '' Uncle Billy," a feat which forever after would have rendered them famous. It seems, as was his custom, that General Sherman that day rode along with the advance corps, and as the Sixteenth Corps passed through the town he de- cided to halt there, with his staff, for the night with the Seventeeth Corps, the head of whose column was some four miles behind the rear of the Sixteenth. To make this undertakino: safe he detached an in- 102 0^ WHEELS. fantry regiment from Horlburt's command to guard tlie crossroads of the town until the head of onr column should come in sight. He and staff then went to a large log house and made arrangements with the hostess for snpper, had their liorses unsaddled and tied to the fence, and w^ent inside to await the prepa- ration of the meal. Feeling fatigued, the general lay down on a bed and fell asleep. Presently the colonel of the regiment detailed as guard, esjDjing a cloud of dust down the road in the direction of our corps, and being very eager to get into camp, took it for gi-anted that it was occasioned by the liead of our column, called in his pickets, and started with his regiment in the direction his corps had taken. This left General Sherman and staff wdiolly unprotected. But the dust clond the colonel had seen was occasioned by some straggling wagons of the Sixteenth Corps, and a light infantry support. When these arrived wdthin pistol shot of the house where the general was, a body of Confederate cavalry that during the day had been hovering on the right flank of the Sixteenth Corps, discovering the exposed posi- tion of the wagons, struck them in the flank with the result mentioned on the previous page. In the encounter some of the balls struck the house in which the general and his staff were located. On being awakened by this disturbance General Sherman started an officer on the run for the infantry regi- ment that had left him, and he and the rest of his staff and orderlies prepared to take refuge in an old corn crib near the house, and defend themselves as best they could. Fortunately, however, the officer AFTER TEE BATTLE. 103 soon overtook the regiment, returned on the run with it, and, deploying as they came, soon cleared the premises of the troublesome Johnnies, which, no donbt,-saved the general and our nation from a great calamity. That night, after getting into camp, Frank Durant, a seventeen-year-old recruit from Naples, while out foraging, trying to shoot a hog, managed in some awkward manner to wound himself with his revolver. The ball went througli liis left thigh about ten inches above the knee, just grazed the bone, and lodged next the skin on the opposite side from where it entered, whence the surgeon cut it out. It made an ugly wound, and, from its inflamed and swollen condition, must have been quite painful. But Frank was a gritty boy, and, notwithstanding that we had to march one hundred and seventy -five miles before reaching \ncks!)urg on our return from the long raid, yet he refused to ride in an ambulance a single step of the wa}^, or to be excused from any duty. At Decatur we destroyed a large amount of cotton and other stores, and on the morning of the 13th we w^ere on our way bright and early, lieaded for Meridian. Our route lay through a rather low wooded country, interspersed with swamps and cotton plantations. Toward 10 a. m. the hitherto sunlit skies suddenly became overcast with dark, low-hanging clouds, and before noon the cold winter rain was coming down in torrents. Our leather cartridge boxes and oilcloth haversacks kept our annnunition and provisions dry, but as we trudged along the muddy roads with our heads poked through our 104 ON WHEELS. rubber blankets, carrying our muskets under them, the heavj gusts of wind would catch our oilcloth cover- ings, fore and aft, and whirl them up over our heads so much that we became thoroughly drenched, and our woolen blankets saturated. My high-topped boots only seemed to serve as cisterns in catching the copi- ous flow of cold rain-water from my oilcloth roof, and on becoming tilled seemed as if they would glue me fast in the Mississippi mire. As night approached we had a decided mix of men, horses, mules, and mud. The heavy ordnance train, provision wagons, artillery, and other heavy travel had cut the soil and mixed it up with the water on some poi'tions of the road at least two feet deep. This " loblolly," if not the color, was about the consistency of flour paste or sticky starch, and the road presented the appearance of a long mud canal doing a heavy business, but having its tow-paths flooded, and every few rods a team with its craft sunk and stuck fast out in the middle of the channel. "Wading around each of these government schooners thus stuck in the mud, in the pelting rain and knee deep in mud, were dozens of soldiers with long rails and poles trying to pry the wagons up and assist the faithful government mules with their heavy loads out of the almost fathomless mire. This soil in places was quite peculiar, being a crust of solid ground about a foot deep resting on a seemingly bottomless abyss of soft black quicksand, the depths of which we were unable to fiithom witli our longest rails. A man walking over it would shake it for some distance around him, niuch like the AFTER THE BATTLE. 105 sliakiii"^ of rotten ice as persons skate over it, and after it became water-soaked horses and mules would cut through at every step and sink to their bodies, and wagons w^ould sink to their hubs. When we reached this portion of the road our engineers were not long in finding out that we w^onld have to corduroy, and that in a hurry, or we would all be in danger of being swallowed up as Pharaoh and his hosts were in the Red Sea. So the pioneer corps was at once set to work witli axes felling small timber and cutting it into proper lengths, and the infantry were pnt to carrying and placing it in proper position on the road. In doing this we would iirst put down long stringers lengthwise wath the road on each side, to answer for mnd sills on which to lay the cross- pieces, or floor, which were some eight or ten feet in length and were placed close together. In some instances on passing over this corduroy road the heavy teams and w\agons would sink the first floor, and often we would be compelled to lay two or three on top of each other before they would bear up the heavy travel. This was very laborious work, but the boys did it cheerfully. Tall old Jinnnie Scott — ''Uncle Jimmie," as we all called him in honor of his whitening locks — known as the cupola of the company, being over six feet in height, as he stalked around in this ocean of mud looked much like a tall crane among a lot of little mud snipes. lie and I, from our first acquaintance, were always on the best of terms, and cracked many a good joke together. That day, as we were waddling through the mud toward the wagons, carrying a 106 ON WHEELS. length of heavy green sapling apiece, I thought I would have a little fun with " Uncle Jimraie," and so asked him if he did not think it a line large day. "Bedad," he replied, "everything is foine — the wither is foine, the country is foine, and it's a foine mud pie we're in ; hut, faith, had I thought ' Uncle Sam ' would have been af ther puttin' me to worruk buildin' a turnpoike for Jeff Davis, I'm bio wed if Fd a 'listed atall, atall." And " Uncle Jimniie" was not far out of the way, either, for while, of course, we were building the road for oui" own benefit for the time, I very much doubt if the Johnnies ever had so good a road through that country before, and it was certainly very much needed. That night after getting into camp, wet, cold, and hungry, if the command was not covered with mili- tary honor it certainly was with Mississippi mud ; and as soon as we were in and arms were stacked I was detailed for picket duty, and had to start off at once in the rain before we had time even to boil a cup of coffee or draw any rations. Our squad of six men, besides a corporal, tramped about a mile before we reached the picket line, and then, just as it was growing quite dark, we were posted in the edge of a dense shallow swamp, where the water was about a- foot deep. The i-eserve selected two large cypress logs on which to roost, and the vidette was posted about a hundi-ed yards further in the swamp on a very large cypress knee having the appearance of an oval-top stump about two feet high, with the bark grown over the top. The swamp itself was very dark, and by the time the vidette had gotten AFTER THE BATTLE. 107 fairly perched upon the knee, and the reserve was strung out on the logs, the night was of inky black- ness. So intense was the darkness that one of the boys at my side said to me, in a whisper, that a stack of black cats would make a shining light in compari- son with it. In changing post, with the corporal for a guide, we could only stumble and grope our way, as if blind, among the trees and over the tangle of logs and cypress knees, and many were the fierce encoun- ters we had with the great bunches of sharp-spiked palmetto standing as if posted as sturdy sentinels, with fixed bayonets, for the protection of their weird jun- gle home. No lights were allowed on the picket line, and hence a fire to warm our drenched and chilled bodies or to cook by was out of the question entirely. I was as hungry as a gaunt wolf, and my poverty- stricken haversack contained nothing digestible but a very small slice of raw pickled pork, one hard-tack, a few stray grains of coffee, and some cracker crumbs. But these, after being washed down with a few draughts of swamp water, seemed to improve my condition a little. When my turn came for vidette duty, and I was seated on the cypress knee, like a frog on a toadstool, with my feet hanging over in the water, from 10 p. m. until midnight, I was in constant dread that some old alligator would take me for a midnight lunch, and, being some one hundred yards away from the squad, I sat with fixed bayonet ready for his recei)tion, and made frequent probings around my watery throne to assure myself that lie was not there. 108 ON WHEELS. The season was too cold for tlie frogs to hold con- certs, and the swamp was perfectly quiet wnth the ex- ception of the rustling of leaves, the falling of rain, and the screeching and hooting of innumerable owls, which, from their impertinent and persistent inquiries, seemed bent on finding out who-who-who-who-who- who their Yankee callers were, even if it should take all night to do so. One inquisitive old fellow, with a heavy bass voice, perched in a tree not more than a hundred feet from where I sat on vidette, as if ap- prised of the fact that I could not talk back, put the question as to my identity so often and so loudly that it became very annoying, and made me fairly frantic for the privilege of breaking the monotony and re- sponding to the midnight calls of his royal highness by making the old swamp ring with the discharge of my musket. During the first part of the night I had only mastered the situation sufficiently to catch a few short naps, and put in the time, when not on vidette, try- ing various styles of riding the log, straddle, sidewise, and, finally, tailor fashion, with my knapsack on my lap for a pillow. "When relieved from vidette I found myself so very tired, uncomfortable, and drowsy I was determined I would get some sleep, even though I should run the risk of a tumble into the water in order to get it. So I finally entered the land of dreams by stretching myself out on the log length- wise on my stomach, lizard fashion, keeping all my accouterments on but my knapsack, which I placed under my head for a pillow, and my woolen and oil- cloth blankets, which I managed by skillful maneuvers AFTER THE BATTLE. 109 to get spread over me in a way so that they formed a good roof for shedding tlie cold and pelting rain. Be- tween my body and my hard, slippery bed I had noth- ing, except my knapsack, as mentioned, and my gun. The latter I kept dry by keeping it imder my oilcloth roof and clamped to the log with my right arm and knee. The rest of the boys managed in about the same way, and had anyone not posted on Yankee " nnul-sill " ingenioas maneuvers chanced to get a glimpse of our dark forms as we lay stretched out on those old swamp logs that cold, rainy night, they might have been led to believe that " Uncle Sara " had en- listed and armed a squad of Mississippi alligators to do duty in his service while in the low lands of that country. On being aroused in the early morning by the corporal to go into camp I found myself so stiff and unpliable from lying around and in the shape of the log that I could scarcely move a limb. The day and night's experience was enough to give the greenest old bullfrog in the swamp the ague and the toughest old alligator the rheumatism, and was twenty-four hours of the hardest service 1 experienced on the Meridian raid. CHAPTER XII. At Meridian. ^'N reacliiiig camp that damp, gloomy morning -ht, these beds caus^ht fire from some flying sparks, and tlie flames spread rapidly from bed to bed and quickly consumed the whole field of combustible couches. Being awakened by the commotion, and peeping out from under my old gray blanket, I beheld such a scene of excited Dutchmen and heard such cartridge explosions as I had never seen or heard before. The contents of the cartridge boxes were snapping and popping like bunches of cannon crackers, while the Germans were jabbering and jumping out of their fiery beds and away from the cartridge explosions in a most lively manner. CHAPTER XIII. A Foraging Expedition. ,NE cold, gloomy morning, while camped on the elevation mentioned, from which we had a good view of the snrronnding country for sev- eral miles, a boy belonging to another mess and my- self, considering onr camp life rather prosy, held a little conncil of war, and decided on a raid to a plantation which we could see some two miles away. Before starting on the expedition we mapped out our route, which hi}^ across fields and up several low wooded ravines. So, after slinging our canteens and haversacks, we strapped on our cartridge boxes, shoul- dered our guns, and descended from camp into the lower woodland. When about three fourths of a mile from camp we managed to run the guards where some of our boys were on picket by promising to return that way and divide if our raid should prove a success. About 11 A. M., emerging from a ravine in a pasture near the residence we had started for, w^e cautiously crawled to the top of a ridge to take observations and form a plan of approach. Here we entered a clump of bushes, and climbed up two small trees, from whose leafy boughs we had a good view of the premises. We discovered that the large, snow white residence of A FORAGING EXPEDITION. 119 the plantation stood on a beautiful elevation nestled among a clump of line old shade trees, handsome ever- greens, and neatly trimmed shrubbery; and surround- ing this residence were so many white barns, out- buildings, and Negro cabins that the premises pre- sented the appearance of a trim little country village. As we peered out from our observatories in the tree, tops a Sabbath quiet seemed to pervade the little hamlet. At first sight none of the villagers appeared to be astir, though this did not disturb us so much as the total absence of any stock or poultry on the prem- ises. We had come provided with a couple of sharp knives, and now it looked as if we should have no oc- casion to use them. We had been in the trees but a short time, discuss- ing the safest plan of approach and the way of escape in case trouble should occur, wdien, by a little closer scrutiny, through the trees surrounding the house we were rewarded with a glimpse of several blue coats and two white men dressed in citizen's clothes in a large garden which adjoined the door yard. This discovery assured us that the coast was clear, and we at once slid down to the ground, picked up our guns, emerged from the brush, and were soon in the garden with those whom we had discovered, surrounding one of a half dozen large potato banks that w^ere filled with choice sweet potatoes. At the opening in this bank, on his knees, handing out potatoes to the four soldiers, was one (»f the citizens, a man about thirty-five years of age, dressed in a neat and clean suit of homespun, whom I took to be a rather intelligent hired man, and whom the other man addressed as Ilenry, telling him 120 ON WHEELS. to give the gentlemen all they wanted. The four sol- diers were standing quietly by, tilling their haversacks and stuffing potatoes around inside of their blouses, until the quartet looked like as many puffy toads. As we climbed over the fence and approached tlie party the proprietor, a tall, well-built, elderly gentle- man, somewhat to our surprise, addressed us boys as gentlemen, and invited us to have some of his sweet potatoes, and as he lifted his broad-brimmed black hat to us we both saluted him in true military style and thanked him for his kind offer. This man had a clenn shaven face, pleasant features, long wliite hair, and was dressed in a suit of black broadcloth. As we ap- proached, and before I had secured any of the pota- toes, he beckoned me to where he was standing, a little apart from the group, and invited me to go to the house with him and get something to eat. This I consented to do, for there was a certain noble look abouthim that completely captivated me and disarmed my suspicions. When we started I had no idea of entering the house, but expected to stop at the kitchen or dining room door and take my victuals in my hand like a tramp. But as we came up to the back veranda he halted in front of the door of the large dining room, and gave orders to have a dinner served for a gentle- man and to send him word to the parlor when ready, lie then entered a long hall, and as he did so I halted outside. When he noticed I was not following he stopped and seemed a trifle embarrassed, and then asked me if I would not go inside and wait until the servant should prepare my dinner. To this I replied I thought .4 FORAGING EXPEDITION. 121 I was not dressed properly to be seen in a gentleman's parlor. He said that would make no difference, as in my vocation I could not control my dress. Tiien I was rather nonplussed, for I was not thinking so much about my dress as I w^as about my gun. The latter I did not propose to let get out of my hands, and it seemed it would be a rude thing to carry it into the old planter's parlor, especially when he seemed so very hospitable with me. At this juncture I made up my mind to return to my comrades and not to enter the house at all, and, turning on my heel to do so, he asked what the trouble was. I tiien frankly told him I did not want to carry my gun into his parlor or go in without it. This in- stead of displeasing only seemed to amuse him, and he said : " Come right in, young man, gun and all. It's the proper thing to do. I will take no exceptions to your riHe, and while the servant is j)reparing your dinner I wish to have a little conversation with you." I then followed him through the long hall into the fine large ]mrlor at the front of the house, where he seated me in an upholstered rocking-chair in front of a cheerful iire in an elegant open fireplace, the rich mantel of which was elaborately covered with bric-a- brac. A¥e had been seated in the comfortable room but about ten minutes when I heard rapidly approaching hoof-strokes, and turning to look out the window I noticed for the first time that the blinds were all closed, and that the light in the room was produced by the bright pine-knot fire on the hearth. I then began to fear I was entrapped, and asked my host 122 ON WHEELS. wlmt it all meant. He seemed somewhat agitated, and rej)lied that he did not know, but would go to the front door and see, expressing a hope that there would be no trouble. As he started I did also, and lie had but barely reached the door wdien I heard a loud knock, and voices outside both at tlie front and rear of the house. Seeing that we were hemmed in, I decided to return to the parlor and await develop- ments. In an instant the front door was thrown open, and I heard some one on the veranda ask the propri- etor if he was the man of the house, and if there were any more men inside. To this he replied in the affirm- ative, stating that there was one servant and a soldier witliin. The command was then given for the sergeant to take two men and go in and arrest the soldier, at the same time ordering the planter to point tlie soldier out. The planter entered the parlor door smilingly, which I could not quite understand. Hearing the sound of the rattling of sabers and the cocking of revolvers in the hall, my hair fairly stood on end, for I thouglit I should certainly be roughly handled if captured as a forager in a Confederate parlor. But my fears were soon quieted when I saw three Yankee dragoons enter, though with drawn revolvers, who on seeing my diminutive size and blue uniform lowered their revolvers and burst out in a roar of laughter. They had entered the room expecting to arrest a Confederate soldier, and found a Yankee boy recruit instead. This also explained the old planter's smile, which, while mystifying to me, was doubly sig- nificant. In the first place, having invited me in to enjoy his hospitality, I do not believe he wanted me A FOB AGING EXPEDITION. 123 captured in his lioiise bj the Confederates ; besides, having no love for the Yankees, by not making known the kind of a soldier he was entertaining, it gave him an excellent opportunity to get a good joke on a Yankee officer, wliicli he succeeded in doing admira- bly. When the three cavalrymen returned to the ve- randa without a captive, I heard the officer ask them where their prisoner was, to which they replied : " O, pshaw ! Cap., it's only one of our boys in there." In a moment the tln-ee soldiers retnrned, and a large cavalry captain with them. As they came in 1 stood up and saluted the officer, wdio, without return- ing my salute, demanded in an angry tone to know what I was doing out there two nn'les from camp by myself. To tliis I replied that I had been invited in to diimer, and was only waiting for it to be served, and tliat my comrades were out in the garden getting some sweet potatoes. This he did not seem to credit, and roared out that it was false, that there was not a Union soldier on tlie place when they came up, except myself, and that it w^as hardly likely that a Soutliern gentleman would invite such a specimen as I into his parlor to wait for dinner. This led me to surmise that my comrades, when they heard the approach of this cavalry scpiad, snspecting tliey were Confederates, had fled, and that really I was the only Union soldier left on the premises. As I stood there before the officer on the beautifnl soft carpet, and canght a life-size view of myself in a large mirror, I confess I conld not blame the officer for doubting my veracity, fur as I viewed myself 124 ON WHEELS. from head to foot, standing with my old musket at parade rest, my soiled blouse stuck inside my dirty pantaloons, the bottoms of which were tucked into the tops of my coarse boots, I, too, thought I was an unprepossessing looking specimen for a gentleman to invite into his parlor for any purpose, much less to await the preparation of a sumptuous dinner. But I told the captain I could prove the truth of my asser- tions. However, he would not listen to this, and had one of the men take my gun, placed me under arrest, and mai-ched me outside. As we went out, however, I saw the planter in the hall with several soldiers standing near the parlor door, where he had been lis- tening to our conversation. Presently he came out and called the officer to his side, and when the latter returned to the squad where he liad me under guard, he said : " As you are but a boy, and I have no extra horse for you to ride, I will release you." I told him I was much obliged to him, but to please let me get some of the potatoes. "Be in a hurry," lie said, "and get away from here, for we are going to start in a few minutes." Returning to the garden, I once more found Henry, •who, as he helped me load up, told me he was a slave, and that he was going to run off that night and come into our lines. I now for the first time detected a slight tinge of mulatto blood in him, and a few days afterward I saw him in the l^egro corral and learned from him that my comrades, on hearing the approach of horse- men, ran off before they knew wdio they were. He also informed me that the Kegroes and stock belong- ing to the plantation had been run off on the approach A FORAGING EXPEDITION. 125 of our arniy, tlie old "iiiassa" only remaining behind with a few servants because of the sickness and ina- bility of the old '' mistress " to be moved. After filling luy haversack with potatoes, and stuff- ing so many inside of my blouse that I could barely cHmb over the garden fence, I started, and as I bal- anced on its top whitewashed plank I caught a sight which fairly made my blood tingle in my veins. There on the back porcli was a Confederate cavalry captain being escorted into the dining room by the planter to devour my dinner. When about half way to camp, while in an open field, following a deep ravine looking for some good place at which to cross it, I noticed some cavalry in a lane where I thought they could see me. Not being certain wdiether they were Union or Confederate, I became much excited and eager to cross the ravine so that I could reach some timber wdiere I would be obscured. I presently came to a place about six feet wide and seven feet deep, the banks being per- pendicular. Throwing my haversack and canteen across the ravine, with a run and a jump I landed safely by them, but with such a sudden stop that my big load of potatoes jerked the short tail of my blouse from my trousers and dumped them all on the ground. This placed me in a more serious predicament than ever, for I was almost afraid to take time to readjust my blouse and pick up the potatoes ; bnt rather than lose them 1 decided to try it, keeping an eye on the cavalry while at work. To my great relief, however, the cavalry squad turned into a lane leading in an opposite direction and soon passed out of sight. 126 ON WHEELS. Entering the timber, I became confused as to di- rections, and twice I catiie out near the place where I liad entered. After a while I was halted by some one in a clump of small pines. From the peculiar tone of his voice I was nnable to tell to which army he belonged, and all I could see was about a foot of the muzzle end of a musket pointing toward me. This so stai'tled me than when the guard gave liis chal- lenge : '' Halt ! Who comes there? " I scarcely knew how to reply, but said, pi-esently, in a tremulous voice : " A friend with sweet potatoes." The guard then said: "Advance wdth your ' taters ! ' " Obeying the order, I was delighted to iind I had been halted by a big, good-natured Indiana volunteer, wdio as I came up said he had been listening to me crack brush for some time. Then, laughing, he added : " Well, youngster, you have got 'em bad, very bad. It's about the worst case of sweet pei'taters I ever saw. Looks like they're about ready to break out all over you.' When I told him they had back wdiere I had jumped the ravine the big Hoosier fairly roared wdth laugliter. As I started for camp I handed him two good-sized potatoes for passing me in, and as I left him he said : " Say, you young rooster, if you are out there after any more ' taters' 'twix' this and moruin', remember they are legal tender for the countei'sign at old Indiana's post." When I arrived in camp my mess were more pleased to see me than my potatoes, for the boy who w^ent wdth me had returned several hours before and reported me as captured by Confederate cavahy. CHAPTER XIV. Our E,i:turn March. "jrtl^T'E remained at Meridian and vicinity to Lear ^^Y from General Smitli until tlie morning of tlie 20tli of February, and during the time com- pletely destroyed the railroads around that junction. Getting no tidings concerning General Smith, our entire conmiand, the Sixteentli and Seventeenth Corps, started back, heading toward Canton, Miss., arriving there on the 26th. The second morning on our return trip, while in the skirmish line, as I passed through the front door yard of a large plantation, lying in the path, midway between the front gate and veranda, I saw two dead cavalry boys in blue, side by side, in pools of blood, their bodies yet quite warm. The reports of the shots by which they were killed we had heard but a few moments before as we were approaching the house. As I passed through the yard one of the Union generals and staff rode in, and as they did so a woman came running out of the front door wringing her hands, the and going uj) to where the general dead cavalrymen, she wildly cried : ^' O, I shall die ! I shall die ! '' To this the general replied : "No, madam, I don't 128 ON WHEELS. think you will die just yet. But here are two of our boys who have been killed by shots fired from that house," and added : "You had better go back into the house, and I will see that our men do you no harm." The killing of these boys in this j^ard seemed a very cruel thing, but, as they considered us invaders, I sup- pose those who did the shooting believed they were doing it in defense of this home. They midoubtedly looked upon us about as did the inmates of those un- fortunate Ohio homes which were along the line of Morgan's raid, or those of Pennsylvania who un- fortunately fell in the line of march of Lee's invading army. That night, just after dusk, we went into camp in a sheltering timber by the side of an old field which was inclosed by a rail fence. Early the next morning we noticed twelve or fifteen horses on the opposite side of the inclosure about a quarter of a mile distant. A dozen or more of our boys, suspecting no danger, started across to captui-e them, but j ust as two of them had caught and mounted a horse apiece hundreds of us who were watching saw the squad fired into by some dismounted Confederate cavalry. During the night they had evidently set and baited a nice little trap for the purpose of catching us by turning their horses loose in the field, securing two of them near the fence to keep the others from straying away, very cleverly secreting themselves in some brush just in the edge of the timber near by, and there waiting for the Yanks. As the pufi's of smoke arose from the Johnnies' carbines I heard an old soldier remark that he thought OUR RETURN MARCH. 129 all the time that the situation over there looked suspicious, and that he wasn't hankering after any horses that nioruing. Then as I jumped up from the fire to 2:et a better view a feelino; of faintness came over me, for two or three of our company hoys were in the squad, and I was afraid they would be left over there. Indeed, in the fusillade several of our men were wounded, but, luckily, all managed to escape, and came in on a lively run, most of them minus their hats, the two on the captured horses not much in advance of those on foot. To even up with the Johnnies for this sharp trick, while we v/ere finishing our morning meal a six-gun battery was brought up and masked in some tiinber and underbrush near the edge of the field. Then, after our brigade had breakfasted, we shouldered arms, fell in line, were marched to the rear of the battery, and there in easy supporting distance were ordered to lie down and keep perfectly quiet, while the bands were taken forward playing national airs as though leading a marching column. It was between 9 and 10 a, m. before the silence of our little " mum " party was broken, when a brigade of gray-coated cavalry came out of the timber on the opposite side of the field, and, after they had opened the fence, rode through, formed into line of battle, and then advanced across the field toward our position on a sharp gallop, their every move after entering the inclosure being in plain view. In the crisp morn- ing air their horses were quite frisky, and it \vas in- deed a pretty sight as the long line of prancing blacks and bays, sorrels and grays, dressing on the colors, 130 ON WHEELS. witli noses in line, their long manes gracefully flowing in the morning breeze, came gay Ij sweeping across the opening toward us, their riders meanwhile wholly oblivions of the terrible storm of destruction that awaited tliem. They were allowed to approach to within about one liundred and seventy-five yards of us, when the battery men quickly ran the six howitzers out from their ambush, and opened on tliem with grape and canister and shell. The rapidity of this Are seemed as a continuous roar of tliunder, and was most deadly in its effects, mowing down great gaps of both horses and men. The Johnnies were so completely surprised and panic-stricken that they never returned a shot, but Avheeled and flew back for the shelter of the timber on the dead run, not a few of them on foot, while a number of horses in the stampede were without riders, the flying stirrups of their empty saddles ap- parently acting as spurs to rush them on. Several of the riderless chargers, led by a large gray with the blood running down from his right shoulder, came galloping into our lines, and were captured. The ])rojected shells continued to explode at the heels and over the heads of the retreating Confeder- ates until their last man and horse, except the dead and wounded, were out of sight. The position of our infantry on this occasion would have enabled them to deliver a sweeping fire in connection with the batteiy, which would have almost annihilated that cavalry command, but we never fired a gun. Why the fire was withheld I never knew, but attribute it to the OUR RETURN MARCH. 131 liuiiianity of some officer, wlio thought we had fully squared accounts with the Jolmnies. That afternoon, as we were marching along on the dusty road, all tired and somewhat chafed in spirit from the extra effort required in overtaking our com- mand, the first man to the right, just in front of me, while dodging under a low limb which hung over the I'oad, struck me a hard blow on the top of my head with his gun barrel. While dodging under the same lind) myself my gun barrel gave a surly man be- hind me a heavy thump on liis pate, and while I was cogitating about the carelessness of the man whose gun had struck me this fellow administered to me a fearfully hard kick. This greatly enraged me, for, being attacked both in front and rear, my com- bative energy got the best of me, and, springing from the ranks, as the surly man, who had not only hurt me but had grossly insulted my boyish pride as well, came from under the limb I dealt him a blow with the butt end of my gun that fairly staggered him. There might have been an inglorious fight if my comrades had not interfered in time. The afternoon of the 26th, when within two or three miles of Canton, we passed a rail inclosure con- taining fifty or sixty dead mules, which the Con- federates had shot to prevent their falling into our hands. After entering Canton quite late in the evening, in company with Nic, my bunk nuite, Mose and George Langley, of our mess, and six other men of our company, I started out on a foraging expedition. Arriving at the picket line just a little after dusk, my 132 ON WHEELS, messmates induced me, niucli against my own wisli, to return to camp and assist the rest of the boys and Jack to prepare some good beds. So I returned, while they went on what proved to be, ahis, a fatal trip. All nine of them were captured that night, and seven out of the nine afterward perished in Anderson- ville prison, brave, generous-hearted Nic among them. He now sleeps beneath the moaning pines in the National Cemetery, where that frightful prison- pen once stood. To me it was like losing an older brother or a father, and henceforth my army life must be deprived of the wise counsel and the brotherly care of this noble soldier. Returning to camp, I made a good bed for Nic and myself out of straw from a stack near by. I sat up quite late waiting for his return, and during the night I was awake a number of times, and felt over on his side of the bed to see if he had not returned. But when reveille sounded it found me still alone. Jump- ing up, I hastily dressed myself, went to roll-call, and there found that all nine of the men I had staiied with tlie night before were missing. This cast a gloom of sadness over the entire company, for they were all good men, old and tried soldiers, and the loss was a heavy blow on all of us. On the 27th of February General Sherman left us and started for Yicksburg, escorted by Winslow's Cavalry, arriving there the following day. The re- mainder of the command was left under the senior major-general, Hnrlburt, with orders to remain at Canton and vicinity until the 3d of Marcli. While there we destroyed the railroad, which was also cut OUR RETURN MARCH. 133 below at Jackson, and both north and south of Canton. Here we captured a large quantity of rolling stock, among which was twenty-seven locomotives, which were all demolished and burned, excepting the bells. The second day while here, as I was passing a large residence on the outskirts of the town I lieard low, muftled brays that greatly puzzled me. A wagon train was passing at the time, and several of the donkeys belonging to it were braying. I soon made up my mind, however, that the subdued braying I heard did not come from them, and I appointed myself a com- mittee of one on investigation. Going to the barn attached to the premises, I made a careful search, not leaving until I had examined the loft and every bin. Finding no donkeys there, I then visited several other barns on the same alley, with like results. Then re- turning to tlie premises first visited, I found the house locked up and deserted. I carefully examined all the outbuildings, but no donkeys were to be found. I then tried the outside cellar door at the rear of the residence. This was also securely locked, but I suc- ceeded in getting it open, and as the light shone in through the dark hole I was greeted by the loud braying of a span of large bay mules, which stuck their big heads and long ears into the doorway, evidently pleased at tlie prospect of being liberated from their dungeon. The cellar doorway o])ening had been dug back some distance so as to let tlie mules in, and the ex- cavation then filled u]), and the windows had been carefully darkened. Within the cellar the donkeys had access to feed and water sufficient to keep them 134 ON WHEELS. during a siege of several days, and if we had camped in tlie town but one night, or the mnles had not answered the bray of the donkeys in the passing train, it is likely their owner would have had the pleasure of resurrecting them himself, and of chuckling over the way he had beaten tlie Yanks. As soon as I discovered them I called to some passing soldiers, who helped me get them out, and "Uncle Sam's" quartermaster was soon in possession of an extra span of fine large mules at the expense of the Confederacy. Such things were considered a part of onr work, and I mention it that the boys and girls of to-day may know of these veritable incidents of the great Civil War that the writers of history books never think of mentionino:. We remained at Canton until the morning of tlie 3d of March, when we all took np the line of march leisurel}^ toward Yicksburg, arriving at our old camp on the bluffs west of the Big Black Eiver on the afternoon of the Gth. As we crossed the quivering canvas pontoons that spanned the muddy stream we completed a successful raid of three hundred miles into the very heart of the Confederacy, during which we had been entirely cut off from our base of supplies for thirty -one days. Our generals had demonstrated by this time that in so far as our army subsisted on supplies obtained in the country through which we were passing our government was that much the gainer, and the enemy correspondingly crippled, which was considered a better method of bringing them to terms than the sacrifice of human lives. OUR RETURN MARCH. 135 Pen cannot describe the hilarity of the boys of our command upon that memorable occasion. On ap- proaching the river every flag was flung to the breeze ; every band in tlie victorious command, over twenty in number, was phiying lively national airs. At Canton our teamsters had taken the bells from the twenty- seven captured locomotives and brought them along, and these were all swung on their wagons and were ringing ; twenty thousand bronzed warriors, carrying their hats and caps aloft on the muzzle of their guns, were lustily singing, "John Brown's body lies a moldering in the ground," while thousands of " contrabands," following the marching column, now getting their first taste of freedom, joined heartily in the chorus, '* Glory, glory hallelujah," not a few of them audibly indulging in expressions of praise and prayer. Everything that lovely afternoon seemed to conspire to make a boy who had shared in the dangers and triumphs of the expedition join in the most enthusiastic demonstrations. Thus ended Sherman's famous Meridian raid, which, no doubt, was an influential precedent, and a potent source of inspiration in his grander " march to the sea." By it the Confederacy in that section was so crippled that our conunand was no longer needed in that region, and so could be transferred to the Army of the Tennessee, as it soon was. CHAPTER XV. Again at Yicksbuko. triAT evening, when we got back to our old quarters and took possession of our tents and belongings, wliicli we had left in charge of a few of our sick boys and some of the colored cooks, we found a large mail that had accumulated during our absence, and which was distributed to us. We also found newsboys in camp with the latest St. Louis, Chicago, and Cincinnati papers. We were all eager to get our letters so as to hear from home and the outside world once more, and were quite anxious to learn what the rest of the Union army had accomplished during our absence. While the orderly was distributing our mail to us one comrade read aloud from a kite paper for the benefit of the company. Among the important news thus read was an account of the passage of a bill by Congress by which the grade of lieutenant-general was restored, and that General Grant was to bo pro- moted to that office, and placed in command of all the Union forces. Instantly our hats were taken off and thrown into the air, and three cheers and a tiger for General Grant were heartily given. When quiet was restored, down the column a little the comrade read : AGAIN AT VICKSBURG. 137 " All is quiet on the Potomac." Then the Eastern army came in for a scoring, and more than a half dozen voices were heard to say : " You can bet your boots it won't be so quiet on the 'Pot-o-mack' wlien Grant gets over tliere." These were about my sentiments too, but I could not help reverting in my ow^n mind to the time before I enlisted, when I saw this quiet man busy in his un- pretentious way around his little wedge tent at Naples, 111., dressed in his plain blouse, with slouch luit, and looking almost as common as any man in his regiment, and how I then thought Governor Dick Yates had made a great mistake in placing such an unpretentious looking military man in connnand of a regiment. Mail day furnished a. scene by no means uncom- mon in army life. On receiving their mail almost all the soldiers would slip) off by themselves, as if afraid lest their letters would contain some family secret. This, however, was not the real object of their seclusion. They knew that the bravest heart is often most tender, and were suspicious that their emotions might be betrayed by a trickling tear-drop, started b}^ some loving word from home. Although I was feeling quite jubilant there were several things during the distribution of this mail that greatly stirred my emotions, and unbidden tears would ilow, as when my missing comrades' names were being called, and especially that of poor Nic, who had been my special friend and burdvinate. Two letters which I received, addressed in the familiar hand of my loving mother, warned me that I had better seek a secluded 138 ON WHEELS. place for tlieir perusal. Altliongh as full of mischief and fun as a boy could be, and never sick or home- sick while in the service until a prisoner, it was always wise forme thus to do if I did not wisli to re- veal my emotions when reading mother's letters. Often did I upbraid myself for giving way to my feel- ings at sucli times, foolishly, as I thought, for a soldier boy, and, although I would vow I would not be so foolish again, yet the very next tin.ic a letter would come from motlier, the moment I caught a glimpse of the " Dear Willie," her pet name for her boy, the blinding tears would start into my eyes. One of the saddest things I witnessed during the distribution of army mail was when a homesick comrade's name would not be called. Every feature of his saddened countenance would show his great disappointment, but he was sure to receive expressions of sympathy from his more favored comrades. During our long raid, although it was the first march of any consequence I bad taken, and I was a tender recruit fresh from home, and was encumbered with my heavy boots, which at Meridian I had so badly burned while drying them that the soles and uppers had to be " whanged " together with sti-ings, I never rode a step nor missed a duty on picket, or skirmish, or in battle. This so pleased the old mess that when we got back they gave me the title of " vet.," of which I was always as proud as the bravest brigadier of his brightest stars. This title, coming from these old soldiers, I felt fully repaid me for all my exposures and sufferings. And this new title made me all the more determined that my comrades AGAIN AT VICKSBURG. 139 sliould never catch me shirking or indulging in any weakness not becoming a veritable " vet." The morning after we got back to our old quarters was devoted to letter writing. Besides writing one to my parents I wrote a long one to my schoolmates to be read to the school. In it I gave them a description of our raid. I also referred to a song we boys and girls sang at school, the chorus of which was : " So let the cannon boom as they will, We will be gay and hai)py still." I remember telling them that that chorus was very well for boys and girls in the schoolroom, but on the battlefield I found I was not happy until the cannon ceased booming. After the letter writing the rest of the day was devoted to a general wash-up. It was fortunate for us that the weather was pleasant, for the most of the command had to boil their trousers, the only sure means of death to a troublesome enemy that would sometimes invade them. To the lookers-on it was quite amusing to see large numbers who had but one pair clad in drilling underwear over boiling kettles, anxiously watching until their garments conld be taken out and dried. The pantaloons I drew at Springfield, III, were much too large for me ; but after several trades I had a pair which fitted me around my waist, but they were about four inches too short for me. As long- as I wore them tucked in my boot-tops this made no difference ; but my boots having worn out, I was now wearing a pair of brogans I had picked up, and it did 140 ON WHEELS. make a big difference. After boiling my trousers I waited around in the sun two or three hours for them to dry, and when I got into tliem I found they had shrunk several inches, and the gap between them and my shoe-tops was greater than ever. Stooping over to take liold of the bottom of my trouser legs to draw them down so as to form a junction with the top of my socks, they crawled up my limbs still far- ther, and I failed to get them inside my sock legs so as to tie them down. However, I finally got out of the dilemma by sewing a piece of cloth on the bottom of each trouser leg. This was not very scientifically done, and w^hen completed looked as if I had been try- ing to ornament them with a couple of large flaring flounces, which the boys said made them look like a combination of petticoats and trousers. In a few days, however, I drew a new pair and threw this unsatis- factory combination away. These new ones were also much too large for me, but I soon got the regimental tailor to cut them down to fit me, and having drawn a new hat and pair of brogans, and had my blouse and other clothing washed up and my hair cut, I made quite a respectable looking soldier boy. We were but fairly settled in our old camp when we were ordered to march into Yicksburg, whence we were to be transferred to the Army of the Tennessee. Arriving in the city one very warm morning, we were at once marched down under the shadeless river bluffs to await the arrival of a transport that was ex- ])ected at any time. A strong camp guard was thrown around our regiment to prevent our straying off and being away when the boat should arrive. AGAIN AT VIOKSBURG. 141 After waiting sevenil hours in the broiling sun with no steamer in siglit, a number of us boys became rest- less and wanted to go up in the city, but we could get no passes. The most of the officers had already gone, and this made us all the more eager to go. So some twenty or thirty of us held a council and decided we would try it. Selecting a good place at which to pass the guards between the beats of two good-natured sol- dier boys who, we were quite sure, would not shoot or use their bayonets on us, we got into a rollicksome game of leapfrog, and when these two sentinels were walking in opposite directions our entire squad quickly leapfi-ogged out between them. They appeared to take no notice of us, and we were soon up in the city having a good time, although comp)elled to dodge the officers. While in the city I saw a newly enlisted regiment of colored soldiers drilling which was made up of the green plantation Negroes whom we had picked up on the raid. They all seemed fond of martial music and of their display. They put on all sorts of comical airs. Dressed in brand new suits of bright blue, with polished shoes, white gloves, burnished guns, shiny brass buttons and shoulder-guards, to- gether with large black-plumed hats trinnned with cord and tassels and pinned up at one side, and bearing their company and regimental letters and numbei'S, they made a sorireous si<»ht that was amusino^ to those who had learned that glitter and show doesn't amount to much in the hardships of real army expe- riences. Passing a building on one of the principal streets 142 ON WHEELS. of the citj in wliicli T noticed a number of soldiers seated around tables, I glanced np at the sign, and read, " U. S. Christian Commission Kooms." Never having been in one of these buildings, I thought 1 would enter and see what was going on, and did so. Most of the soldiers who were there were reading or writing. Behind the counters were several ladies who gave the boys paper and envelopes, on the left upper corner of which were the words, " From the U. S. Christian Commission." A number of other useful articles were on the shelves, such as rolls of white bandages, socks, underwear, sheets, pocket and needle books, jellies, pickles, jams, and other good things to eat. As I entered the room with my hands thrust into my penniless pockets, and my new hat cocked to one side, I noticed a mischievous looking young lady, some twenty or more years of age, I judge, behind one of the counters near the door, who seemed to eye me quite closely. As I walked by I also took a pretty good look at her, for I believed her rosy cheeks, black, sparkling eyes, and clean white apron wei-e those of a Yankee lass, and if so she was the first Northern girl I had seen since coming to "Dixie." After I had been in the room a few moments I leis- urely sauntered down to near the center of it, where there was an elderly lady, who at once engaged me in conversation. While thus engaged the young lady made it in her way to walk down to us to ask the other lady some question. Then turning to me, she said : " My soldier boy, you have a button off your blouse, can't I sew it on for you?" Supposing she AGAIN AT VICKSBURG. 143 meant for me to take my blouse off so that she could sew the button on, I felt rather awkwai'd, for I didn't see how I could very well do that, as I was wearing it belted inside my pantaloons as an overshirt. Hesita- ting a moment, I then blushingly said : " I — I — I thank you very much, but I — I guess not/' Both ladies must have surmised my thoughts, for they glanced at each other in a significant way and smiled, which rather plagued me, and, seeing my embarrassment, tliey tried to turn it off by asking me if there was not something else they could do for me. I had a fondness for red raspberry jam, of which I saw they had a supply, but knowing it was only intended for the sick I would not ask for any. Not seeing anything else I thought it would be proper to ask for except writing material, I said : " If you please, I will take a sheet of paper and an envelope." AVhile the elderly lady w^as getting these for me the younger one asked me if I had a housew^ife, which so puzzled me I could hardly believe my ears. Blush- ing again, I said : ^' A wli — a — t ? " "A housewife," she repeated. " Wouldn't you like a neat little house- wife to help you do your sewing and darning?" By this time the room seemed exceedingly warm to me, and the ladies were apparently almost dying with suppressed mirth. I thought myself rather young to be wanting a housewife, and that the girl was getting rather forward for a stranger. But remembering the hard time I had experienced piecing down my old pantaloon legs, and not wishing to be entirely " bluifed," I finally summoned courage sufficient to gasp out : " I — I — I believe I should like one," but was 144 ON WHEELS. rather confused in my own mind as to what kind of one she was going to offer me. She then laughingly said : " You shall have the very best looking one in the room." However, instead of making me an oifer of her own hand she handed out to me a very pretty needle-case well supplied with sewing and darning needles and pins, and having several pockets filled with yarn, skeins of black linen thread, and buttons. That neat little housewife I have to-day in a cabinet among other choice war relics. After thanking the ladies for these articles they had so kindly given me, I seated myself at a table near the door, where I could hear a boat if one should whistle, and proceeded to write a letter. The upper blouse button that the young lady wished to sew on for me was one that Jack had pounded off when washing my blouse by beating it over a log with a paddle, the way the colored people in the army had of washing. I had my letter but fairly begun when, glancing up, I saw standing by my side, equipped with a brass button, needle, and thread, the owner of the black eyes and white apron. The persistent girl then said, playfully : " Now I have you, and if you don't sit still like a good boy and let me sew this button on I will bayonet you with my big needle." Seeing I was cornered, I surrendered with as good a grace as possible, but all the time wondering if I had gotten my neck and ears clean when I washed in the muddy water of the river, just before starting up town. By the time she was ready to clip the thread with a pair of scissors which hung by her side we had be- AGAIN AT VICKSBURG. 145 come pretty well acquainted, and by way of apology in case I had failed in getting my neck and ears clean I ventured the remark that we had a very dusty march that morning coming in from Black River. She asked me if I had a mother, to which I replied in the affirmative. "I suppose," she said, "you are w^'iting her a nice letter, and will tell her all about the Christian Commission." ^'Ko," I said, *' I am writing a letter to a wndow." " Has she any boys in jour company who can't write ? " she incpiired. '' ]^o ma'am," I replied ; '' I have been correspond- ing with her ever since I enlisted, and the correspond- ence is getting verj^ interesting." ^' What ! You writing love letters to a widow lady?" ^' Yes, ma'am," I said, " but only for the fun of it." This seemed to disgust her, and she said : " I had a better opinion of you than that, and if your mother knew it she would be ashamed of vou, and I am for her." Seeing she was going to snap off the thread of our conversation about as suddeidyas she had clipped the sewing thread with her scissors, I said : " I don't see anything so very wicked or so much to be ashamed of in a boy writing love letters for a comrade who can't write, especially when I don't charsce liim anything for it." I now had the satisfaction of seeing somebody else embarrassed besides myself, and the 3'Oung lady made about as poor an " out " of apologizing for her severity on me as I had in refusing to have a button sewed on, 10 146 ON WHEELS. or in accepting a needle-case. But she wonnd up our conversation by saying : " Yon are a bad boy, anyhow, for leading me into a trap of that kind." About this time the whistles of several boats were heard, the advance of the fleet that was coming to transport our command up the river to Cairo, 111. This cut our conversation off. Quickly folding my partially written letter, I slipped it into the envelope, and both into my pocket, tipped my hat, and was off on a run for the wharf, arriving there just as my regi- ment was slinging knapsacks preparing to embark on one of the transports. As we boys all got in on time none of ns were punished further than a slight reprimand for being absent without leave. CHAPTER XVI. Off for a New Field. "J^J^rHEN fairly quartered on the steamer she was J^^r soon out into the river and under way headed for Cairo, III I improved this opportunity and finished the letter I had begun for my old com- rade while in the U. S. Christian Commission Eooms. This man was a widower of about forty-five, and enlisted at the same time I did. He belonged to another mess, and neither he nor the w^idow with whom he was corresponding could write. She was about his age, and the correspondence w^as occasioned by her presenting to him a white linen handkerchief just as he was starting for the army. As a mark of his appreciation of this gift and esteem for the giver he never used the handkerchief, but kept it unsoilcd by carrying it in his knapsack folded in several thick- nesses of paper inclosed within a piece of oilcloth w^rapping. After we joined our regiment he noticed that I wrote letters for several of the boys, and re- quested me to do the same for him. About this stage of affairs, as I remarked to the young lady in the Christian Commission Eooms at Yicksbnrg, the correspondence, as a result of the handkerchief episode, was getting very interesting. 148 02{ WHEELS. The widow had changed scribes, evidently, and I judged from the handwriting and the tone of the letters he was receiving that her present amanuensis must be some lively young girl about my age, and the way we two youngsters were warming up those two old hearts was indeed amusing. Having now become accustomed to roughing it, and the weather being milder, our trip up the majestic " Father of Waters " was much more pleasant tlian the down trip had been. We passed Memphis and Fort Pillow a few days after the merciless massacre at the latter place, and arrived at Cairo the 2Sth of April, this time to find it very rainy and the snow and ice displaced by oceans of mud and water, the city being partially inundated by the swollen riveis. Notwithstanding this disagreeable state of affairs it seemed very pleasant to touch toes with the old Sucker State once more, where we were nearer our friends and had a good chance for our lives if we were fortunate enough not to get drowned. After disembarking we were marched out to an elevation in the north part of the city alongside the track of the Illinois Central Kailroad. Here we were quartered in some tents having bunks raised above the ground about two feet. The second morning after taking possession of these quarters, on awaking, we found the water had flooded our tents and was .up to within three or four inches of our bunks and still rising. When this discovery was made we quickly jumped out into the muddy liquid, gathered up our effects, and waded out to still higher ground, leaving OFF FOR A NEW FIELD. 149 tlie flooded tents for the catfish and turtles, as they did not belong to us. In this movement for self-preservation every man acted for himself and without orders, and in it I ^ot separated from my old mess for several days. This was occasioned by myself and five other boys taking up quarters in a large hollow sycamore log, which was about fifty feet long, and which some former and higher flood had lodged against the railroad embank- ment, where it was held from rolling into the waters below by several limbs on its lower side. The railroad at that point served the purpose of a levee, and the water at that time on the side where the log lay was up to witliin a few feet of it. Our regiment w^as quartered on the opposite side of the track from the water, and w^as protected from it by the roadbed, and was shel- tered by some tents made out of oilcloth blankets. On reaching the log we found it to be notliing but a shell, having an opening about four and a half feet in diameter at the butt end. We explored the inte- rior of it with a candle to see that there were no snakes or other objectionable inhabitants in it, and discov- ered that twenty -five feet back from the mouth the opening was still some four feet across, and as the rain w^as pouring down in torrents we were not long in deciding tliut this tubular hotel w^ould suit us. We accordingly took up our abode in it, and, despite the continued rain, spent a very pleasant week under its friendly roof. We drove pegs into the inside walls, upon which we hung our guns and other accouter- ments. We also made some good beds out of hay that we foraged. These w^ere snfliciently roomy so that 150 ON WHEELS. we could sleep two iu a bed, thus requiring three beds for the six of us. One of the best things, however, about our novel house was the front porch, where we cooked with ourselves and fires well protected from the rain. This we made by chopping away five or six feet of the lower side of the shell at the entrance, leaving the upper half to project over for a roof. The end of the log extending in beyond our beds we used as a store- house and woodshed. At night we lighted our rooms with candles, using our bayonets stuck into the log for candlesticks. And here in our dry, cosy nest, as we " listened to the patter of the soft rain over- head," we had a fine place for army boys, where we could sleep soundly at night, and at other times open our knapsacks, take out our old letters and read them, look at the pictures of friends, examine our little trinkets, write letters, and darn our socks and mend our clothes, assisted by our "neat little housewife." There w^ere two contingencies, however, that some- what disturbed our otherwise complacent minds while occupying this log hotel, especially at night time. One was the possibility of the rising flood reaching our tenement, and the other was the possibility that the heavy jarring of the many passing trains might cause the limbs by wdiich it was supported to give way and let us roll down into the turbulent waters. But, escaping these tw^o calamities, I found it decided- ly more pleasant sleeping within this log on a dark stormy night than I liad found it on the top of that old log in the alligator sw^amp down in Mississippi. Just after the Meridian raid General McPherson OFF FOR A NEW FIELD. 151 assumed command of the Army of the Tennessee. This left one army corps without a commander. Gen- eral Frank P. Blair, then a member of Congress, by request of General Sherman, resigned his seat in that body, came West, and by apjwintment assumed com- mand of the Seventeenth Army Corps. Our division, Crocker's, and Leggett's of this corps rendezvoused at Cairo some two weeks, aw^aiting the return of the reenlisted men of the Second Division, wdio were at home on veteran furlough. We broke camp about the 15th of May, 1864, and marched down througli rain and mud and water to the fleet which was in waitinor for us on the Ohio Iliver side of the city. There we enibarked for Clifton, Tenn., which is situated on the Tennessee Riv^er in one of the southern counties of that State, a point on our route to the Army of the Tennessee, Avliich had now started on the famous Atlanta campaign and was in the field near Iluntsville, Ala. Our regiment boarded the side-wheel steamer Illi- nois, a large freight transport, the largest river craft I had ever seen. The most of us w^ere quartered on the boiler deck, which had but a small cabin in the center of it for the accommodation of the boat's offi- cers. The remainder of the floor space was left free for all kinds of freight. On this deck we found a small space fore and aft occupied by cannon. In the surrounding space, except that occupied by our guns, was a fringe of white-topped provision, ordnance, ambulance, and medicine wagons, which were standing jammed up against each other side by side, and with their hind wheels backed up against the outside rail 152 ON WHEELS. or criiard. The tonoues of these vehicles were all stuck lip ill the air as stiff, straight, and noncommuui- cative as an officer of the regular armj. As these silent tongues interposed no objections we were soon crowded into the wagons and under tliera out of the rain. We were to take a large drove of cattle to the front, and our boat had its full complement on the lower deck of bawling cattle, squealing horses, and brajing mules, wliich, together with their kicking and stamping, strongly suggested the ancient confusion of Babel, if not in kind, at least in degree. The hull of our transport was loaded with ammunition, provisions, etc., as was also the space not otherwise occupied on both decks. As we took up our quarters amid this mass of animate and inanimate freight, with tlie rain descending in torrents and the vast floods of angry waters suiging in maddened fury, as if bent on the destruction of all things unsheltered, to my young mind there were strong suggestions of the deluge, with its terrible destruction, and of Noah's ark, with its securely protected occupants. When the entire fleet was loaded bells were rung, hawsers were cast off, and soon we were on our way up the Ohio with an escort of two gunboats in our front and one in our rear, and as we passed by Cairo all the flags of our largo fleet were flying, whistles were blowing, bells ringing, bands playing their live- liest national airs, all cons[)iring to stir a boy's patri- otic spirit to the highest pitch, and make him feel proud that he was on board of one of those govern- ment transports headed for the front. I was not yet sixteen, was well and lieartj^, had seen just enough of OFF FOR A NEW FIELD. \ry,\ military life to make me eager fur more, and, being fond of the water and of adventure, this lively trip along with this large war fleet up the broad Ohio and the deep, clear, winding Tennessee was to me one of ravishing delight. We entered the mouth of the Tennessee, at Padu- cah, Ky., the evening of the first day, and tlie follow- ing day wx passed the historical Fort Henry, then dismantled and deserted. The second day burst upon us clear and bright. A lovely May morning it was, with all nature weai-ing her brightest charms, causing us all to feel gay and happy. The flowers were in bloom. In the graceful overhanging boughs the thrushes and mating mockers yfCYQ warbling their sweetest notes, while farther up the cedar-covered rocky cliffs could be heard the plaint- ive sound of cooing doves. Men sang of home and love while our bands played their softest, sweetest melodies ; and, as I gave ear that mild, rosy May morning to strains of " Home, Sweet Home," so ten- derly discoursed by military bands and sweetly sung by boys in blue, I could scarcely realize that I w^as being borne again to scenes of angry war ; and when the touching chorus of the song w^as reached my soul, echoing its tender sentiment, almost yearned for a glimpse of the old fireside and the loved ones gath- ered there. That morning w^e saw a company of Con- federates lying along a ravine near the river watching our passing fleet. They were in plain view and easy range from the upper decks, but, like ourselves, ap- peared peaceably inclined, as if enchanted by the day's dreamy sweetness and enamored by music's gentle 154 ON WHEELS. charms. So we simply exclianged a good look at each other, reserving our lire for some future fray. On this transport, as usual, thei'e was no chance for us to get any cooking done excej^t about the fires under the boilers, or by bribing the cook to set a kettle or a pan on his stove for us. While at dinner that day regaling ourselves on dry crackers, boiled bacon, and strong coffee, secretly wishing we had a good kettle of bean soup, the steamers cook, as if divin- ing our thoughts, helped us out of our difficulty by setting a very large pan of baked beans and bacon out to cool on the deck just outside of the cook room door. This cook room, unlike any other that I ever saw% was on the same deck and under the same roof that the officers' cabin w^as. This threw our company and the baked beans and bacon in close proximity ; nor was it long until our relations grew more intimate, for no sooner had the fat colored cook turned his back than the big square pan, containing not less than a peck of beans and eight or ten pounds of bacon, started on a lively sliding journey under the wagons, and nearly all of our company got a share of its contents, and baked fingers as well, along with the sport it gave us. When the cook reported his loss search was made for the missing pan and its contents, but before the searching party had reached our company the booty had been divided, safely hidden, and the big pan was resting on the bottom of the river. We kept an eye on that door for more beans, but none ever appeared again. We felt grateful, how^ever, to the cook for what we did get, though it never seemed quite con- venient for us to thank him. CHAPTER XVII. Ol'r March to Rome, Georgia. tEEIYING at Clifton, Tenn., about the 18tli of May, we disembarked, ascended the rocky, ce- dar-covered hills, and remained there two days waitiiio; for the fleet to discharge its freight and for the lading of the wagon trains. We then started east for Pulaski, Tenn., having in cliarge a large drove of cattle. Onr route lay through a sparsely settled country made picturesque by several clear streams meandering among its tree-clad hills. Our first day out from Clifton our animals, soldiers, and especially General Blair, being quite fresh, we made a long and hard march. It seemed to us that the general was especially bent on getting to the front as if to make up for lost time while he w\as in Wash- ington, and as if he w^as afraid the Johnnies would all be killed before we should reach the scene of battle, and his trip West thus prove a failure. During our first night on this march General Crocker's headquarters were in a large plantation res- idence on the outskirts of our camp, about half a mile distant fi'om where our reginient bivouacked. That night found us all much fatigued from our long march, but, notwithstanding this, after supper a boy wh.om we 156 ON WHEELS. liad iiickiianied " Pigeon " and 1, having noticed some iifteen or twenty head of cattle near General Crock- er's lieadquarters as we passed by, decided we would make a foraging tour and capture fresh meat if pos- sible. These cattle belonged to tlie plantation, had been driven into the yard, and were protected by a guard at the front gate. That night a curtain of white, billowy clouds was thrown over the blue sky, partially veiling the moon. The night, however, was sufficiently bright to enable one to outline good sized objects at quite a distance. Reconnoitering the premises under cover of a row of shade trees which stood in front of the house, we dis- covered a gate near one of the corners of the liouse that opened from the back door-yard into a large orchard. Waiting until all tlie lights about the prem- ises had disappeared, and until we thought all were asleep but the guard, we climbed over the fence and then crawled alons: in the shade of the trees and shrubbery to the orchard gate and propped it open. With both guns in charge I was stationed, flat on my stomach, near the gate, so as to head oif one or two of the cattle into the orchard when Pigeon should drive tliem up, for we were sure of getting caught if we should undertake to butcher one in the yard, and the guard would miss them if we should drive them all out. The cattle were a mixed lot, ranging from suck- ing calves to work oxen. Pigeon was to get himself up into as near the shape of one of the calves as pos- sible, and with his pockets full of pebbles (gathered from a gravel walk), which he WTtS to use in place of a whip, he was to crawl out among the herd, pick out OUR MARCH TO ROME, GEORGIA. 157 one or two, and drive them around toward the gate where 1 lay. After chasing around on all fours for nearly an liour, using up several pocketfuls of pebbles, he finally succeeded in separating from the rest of the herd an old crumpled-horned cow and her yearling heifer calf, and then drove tliem toward the gate, through which we soon succeeded in chasing them into the orchard, the old cow as she passed through throwing up her tail and heels into the niglit air as if trying to brush a mosquito off of the old man in the moon. Sliutting the gates, we shook hands, declaring the yearling was our meat, and tlien started in hot pursuit. Knowing if we should shoot we would arouse the camp, we de- cided that we would drive the cow and heifer to one of the remote corners of the inclosure and there slay the calf with our bayonets. So after fixing bayonets and removing the caps from our guns Ave were off for our prey. But the cattle took shelter in a wilderness of old peach trees and blackbci-ry bushes in the back part of the orchard, so that we found it impossible to corner the heifer and stab it with our bayonets. Fail- ing in this, we then left our guns in a secure place, and obtained a supply of brickbats from a pile of bricks we had disco vei-ed near the center of the orchard, and again took up our pursuit. Finding the cattle, we tried to knock the heifer down with our bats. About the third or fourth attempt, when I was some fifteen feet in front of the heifer, and Pigeon was just to the right and a little to the rear of her, he said : " No 'fc> w. ' Yet.,' you have a good chance, blaze away." Where- upon I blazed ; but instead of killing the calf the bat, 158 ON WHEELS. after striking lier riglit shoulder, glanced off and Lit Pigeon just below the belt, nearly collapsing him ; and when I got up to where he was lying, my only hopes of his recovery were based on the character of the pet names he was lavishing on me and his questionable praise of my marksmanship. This last effort was as near as we ever came to get- ting that fresh meat, for, after unbuckling Pigeon's belt and rubbing his stomach for half an hour, he was then but barely able to walk even with my assistance. However, while chasing around after the cattle we came across a sitting goose, and having failed to cap- ture the heifer I proposed that before we should start to camp, leaving the guns with Pigeon, I would go and get the goose, which was agreed to. She was sit- ting at the root of a dead peach tree in some blackberry bushes. On reaching the place, so as not to frighten her away from the nest, I thought I would reach my hand in gently and seize her by the neck. But in- stead of being frightened, when I got my hand to within about six inches of her head the saucy thing nabbed it and Avell-nigh took a piece out of it ; and as I jerked it back the briers gave it a fierce rake, so that in this first assault I had much the worst of the encounter. Seeing that the old goose was de- termined to " hold the fort," I decided to capture her panther fashion, by springing on top of the nest, briers and all, and grabbing her in the fall. But, O horrors ! I found she was sitting on a nest of explosives, and when I dropped there were loud reports. The pun- gent, penetrating odor from these bombs almost took my breath. Fortunately, however, for me, as I dropped OUR MARCH TO ROME, GEORGIA. 159. tlie old goose spread her wings, and thus protected my clothmg from the most of tliis paralyzing perfume, and I was not long in extricating myself from the unpleas- ant situation, this time carrying off my prize. I soon had her killed and her feathers washed in a small branch which ran through the orcliard. Returning to Pigeon, we prepared to move. I slipped his cartridge-box on my belt to carry it for him, as his diaphragm was too sore to bear its w^eight. Then, with both guns and the goose on my left shoulder, assist- ing Pigeon with my right arm as much as 1 could, we made our way to camp, arriving there about midnight in a rather demoralized condition. After getting Pigeon into bed I woke Jack up, and we built up a fire and put the goose on to boil, after which Jack retired while I remained up for about two hours poul- ticing Pigeon's stomach with socks wrung out in hot w^ater, and keeping up the fire under our goose kettle. Pigeon now being easier, and resting in the embrace of " nature's sweet restorer," I retired. On awaken- ing the next morning Jack informed me that our mess, who had risen some time before, had pronounced the goose worthless and ordered him to throw it away. Thus ended the most unsatisfactory and fruitless foraging expedition I was ever engaged in. Breaking camp that morning just a little after sun- rise, we made a march of twenty miles before we bivouacked for the night, which brought us to within thirty miles of Pulaski. During the niglit a report reached camp that Wheeler's Confederate cavahy were threatening the railroad at that point. So the next morning we were on the move before sun up, and 160 ON WHEELS. that day we tramped thirty miles, up hill and down over dusty roads, witli our heavy loads, reaching Pn- laski just at sunset almost fagged out. On our arrival at that point we found Wheeler was not there, but was expected to strike the road fifteen or twenty miles north. We were allowed but a few minutes to pre- pare and eat supper, when we were loaded in and on top of box cars, and there held until we sliould receive a dispatch that would inform us just where we would be wanted. Being very much crowded we could get no rest. Between ten and eleven o'clock, no word having been received, w^e were ordered out of the cars, and were soon under our blankets asleep. But we had not been in bed more than an hour when a telegram came, stating that Wheeler was heading for Elkhart Kiv^er Raih'oad Bridge, some fifteen miles south of us. We were soon up and on board the cars again to await orders. But again no orders were received, and toward morning we returned to camp and got, per- haps, two hours' sleep. Then came reveille, a hurried breakfast, and we were off for Elkton a short time after sunrise, and reached there about 3 p. m. the same day. Tliere we were given over a day's rest w^aiting for the balance of our command to come up w^ith the cattle we had left when we started on our chase after Wheeler. The loss of nearly tw^o nights' sleep, foraging and boarding and unboarding the cars, along with forced marches over hot and dusty roads, had me pretty well tuckered out when we reached Elkton ; so as soon as we had halted and stacked arms 1 sought shelter from the rays of the scorching sun under a big gourd OUR MARCH TO ROME, GEORGIA. IGl vine, like Jonah's, wliicli covered a fence corner, and tliere I lay with my head on my knapsack fighting flies and dozing until the cool of the evening. Then going down to the Elk Eiver I took a plunge in its cooling waters, and, after partaking of a supper of Jack's hot co-ffee, fried bacon, and some crackers, along with a delicious stew of ^vqqw gourds, I retired, and the next morning awoke feeling much refreshed and ready for any demands the day might bring. That afternoon the portion of our command having charge of the cattle overtook us. During the follow- ing night a heavy rain fell, which caused a sudden rise in the small river, making its current very swift. This made it very difficult to get our pontoons down so as to cross. During the next morning, after this was accomplished, and a part of the command was safely over, the quivering bridge, while it was filled from one end to the other with frightened cattle that were crowding and horning each other, broke in two near the center and instantly went to pieces. The boats, being secured by strong hawsers, swung around against either bank, but the cattle and other portions of the bridge, in a great tangle of heads, horns, string- ers, and planks, were all quickly swept down the swollen stream. Many of the cattle were drowned, and others had their legs broken, the steep clay banks, made slippeiy by the late rains, making it difficult for any of them to get out. It required several hours to gather up the bridge material and get the pontoon in condition to cross on. In the meantime we got a good supply of fresh beef by butchering the broken-legged steers, which was 11 102 ON WHEELS. the iirst we had out of the drove we brought out with us from Cairo. The reason of this was that at that staire of the war the railroads over which Sherman's supphes were carried were being constantly torn up by the enemy, so that it was often exceedingly diffi- cult for him to obtain needed provisions for his forces. Hence these four-footed, self-transporting supplies were not to be used until the very last moment, or in a case hke the one mentioned, where the cattle were disabled from traveling. After crossing to the south bank of the Elk Elver we headed for Athens, Ak., arriving there the next day about 10 a. m. The following morning reveille sounded early, and we were soon off trudging along in the red mire (the soil being red in that region) toward Iluntsville, Ala., arriving at that pretty town with its shaded streets and line large spring the next day about 11 A. M. There we remained several days re- organizing the command, for the time had now ex- pired for which the Fifteenth Illinois Infantry and our regiment, the Fourteenth, had enlisted. These regiments were so much reduced in numbers from long and hard service, and from the failure of many of the men to reeidist, that they were now consol- idated and were called the Veteran Battalion of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Yolunteers. My company letter was now changed from K to F, by which the new company, formed from the remnants of Companies I, C, and K, was known. These changes were not at all agreeable to me, for they took from me several of my particular chums, who returned to their homes, among them big Dan, OUR MARCH TO ROME, GEORGIA. 163 the color sergeant ; besides, it left me with but two of the old mess and Jack, oiir cook, and so we had to organize a new mess. Also, there being a surplus of officers, some changes were made among them, which was, to saj the least, unpleasant. The most prominent change among officials was that of Colonel Rodgers, of the Fifteenth. Being senior and ranking officer, lie was giv^en command of oar battalion, so we had to part wdth gallant Colonel Hall of our regiment. Our first lieutenant, John Kirkman, who commanded our company, w^ent home, and First Lieutenant Thomas A. Weisner, of Company D, w^as placed in charge of our new company. This change in our regimental and company officers we regretted simply because of the high esteem in wdiich we held those taken from us. But we soon formed a strong attach- ment for our new officers, who were brave, kind- hearted, and generous men. When our old comrades came to leave w^e found it hard to part with them, and my feelings were much wrought upon when I came to say " good-bye " to them, and especially so when I took big Dan's brawny hand in mine for the last time, and gave him a mes- sage to bear to the " dear ones at home." At Ilnntsville I met with another sore trial. My old school and seat mate, Hardin Abrams, was taken sick with a fever, and we had to leave him there in a hospital, and I was separated from him during the remainder of my army life. Thus my readers will see that the vicissitudes of army life brought many changes in companionship, often severing the strongest ties of friendships, wdiich 104 ON WHEELS. would naturally leave one, especially a boy so young as I, with feelings of lingering loneliness and sadness. We remained at Huntsville but two or three da)^s, when we broke camp and marched southwest to De- catur, Ala. Here we met a small force of Confeder- ates, which we soon dislodged. Crossing the Tennes- see River on pontoons, w^e started southeast thi-ough the mountains of northern Alabama toward Eome, Ga., a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles, which, considering the heavy rains that w^ere falling, and the condition of the roads, was accomplished in a remarkable short time. Several nights during this forced march w^e did not go into camp until after midnight. This caused the soldiers to enter strong complaints against General Blair. On these wearisome night marches we w^ere all too tired and jaded to talk much, and, excej)t these occasional outbursts of complaint, some of them in empliatic and inelegant language, nothing was heard save the steady slushing tramp and clattering sound of the marching column, and an occasional sharp command to close w\). But on we pressed until we reached our destination, the city of Bome, which we found in possession of the Union troops. CHAPTER XVIII. Guarding "Railroad IlY Sherman's Rear. fHE Confederates, who had evacuated Rome but a short time before we arrived there, had tlirown ~ quantities of their stores into the Coosa River, and w^e found the Union troops engaged in fishing them out. As soon as we had halted and stacked arms we joined them in the sport. Being fond of the w^ater, this was just to my hking, and in one of my dives I came np with a ten-pound caddy of good to- l)aceo, a trophy which was much prized by those of my company who w^ere users of the weed. AVe remained at Rome but one night, wlien we broke camp and continued our march southeast through Kingston and on to Etowali, Ga., situated on tlie nortli bank of the Etowah River. Arriving there June 6, 1864, we found both wagon and railroad bridge destroyed. "We were now in the immediate rear of the army of General Sherman, who was pressing his way onward to the siege and capture of Atlanta, the enemy sharply contesting every foot of ground. We remained at Etowah two days, when, crossing the river on canvas pontoons, we proceeded south- ward throudi the Altoona Mountains to loin Sliei'- 166 ON WHEELS. man's forces, whose cannon we could hear thundering around Ackwortli, twelve miles away to the south of us. While at Etowah we camped on the river bank in close proximity to a graveyard. The first night we were there we had a very lieavy thunderstorm, the rain coming down in perfect torrents. About mid- night, the ground being flooded to a deptli of five or six inches, I awoke to find the water running in one of my ears, whicli would have occurred sooner but for the fact that my knapsack pillow had kept my head above the rising tide. Assuming a sitting posi- tion, I took a survey of the situation by nature's own majestic electric light, which at times was so vivid as almost to blind me ; and having during the day noticed near the center of the cemetery a large tombstone, which, unlike its upright comrades, lay flat upon its six brick pillars some eighteen inches above the ground, I concluded this would make the dryest bed I could find. I gathered up my belongings, and by the aid of the fiashing lightning succeeded in nudving my way out through the briers to the tombstone, though not without several tumbles on the way. I soon folded my water-soaked woolen blanket double and spread it on the marble couch, placed my knap- sack at the head for a pillow, lay down and covered myself up head and ears with my rubber blanket, and, altliougli a perfect deluge of water was falling, I was soon oblivious to the flood, which by this time gave this city of the dead the appearance of a small lake dotted over with white sails. On awaking the next morning, not having changed my position after GUARDING RAILROAD IX SUERMAN'S REAR. 167 lying clown, I found upon my side which was next to the slab impressions of its name, dates, and poetry. It certainly proved the hardest bed I ever tried, and is the only one I slept on during the service which I am positive I could find now just whei-e I left it. On the 8th of June our command reached the little station of Altoona, which is situated at the foot of the Altoona Mountains at the southeast end of the fa- mous Altoona Pass. Our brigade, the Second of the Fourth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, number- ing fifteen hundred men, was detached and set to work fortifying the pass as a secondary base of sup- plies, and I suppose as a place to fall back to in case of the defeat of our main armv, the boomino^ of whose artillerv around Bis^ Shantv, some twelve miles south, we could now hear. Our camp was situated on the top of the mountain at the south side of the pass. Here we had an un- obstructed view across the broken country to Kemie- saw^ Mountain, eighteen miles southeast of us, where the Confederate forces under General Johnston were fortified. Our forces had crowded close up to the base of Kennesaw Mountain, and that night, when on picket duty, I could see their fuse shells in aerial flight, making their long and graceful curves from the base to the summit of old Kennesaw\ That day, the 11th of June, the first railroad train came thundering through the pass, the engineer and fireman making all the noise they possibly could with bell and whistle, and being greeted with such ringing shouts and cheers as only jubilant soldiers can give. This train was loaded with provisions, and, strange as 168 ON- WHEELS. it seemed to us, had crossed the Etowah River on a new bridge, where on the 8th, but three days previ- ous, we were compelled to cross on pontoons, and at which time there were no sio^ns of a brido:e but the old stone abutments. We were kept busy patrolling the railroad, guarding supplies, and building fortifications around Altoona during the last weeks of June and the early part of July. On the l^ih of June the Confederate General Polk was killed by a shell from one of the Union guns — the same bishop-general who had retreated before us as we entered Meridian, Miss., a few months previous. On the 27th of June the great assault on Kenne- saw was made. The wounded from this engagement were sent back for us to care for, and came by tlie train load. I was detailed anjong others, and worked three days and nights helping put up hospital tents, make beds, and remove the wounded from the cars to them. These poor wounded men were torn up in all conceivable shapes, and their sufferings were inde- scribable. Many of them iiad had their limbs ampu- tated at the field hospital before being placed on the cars, and as we carried them out some of them would cry with pain and bemoan the loss of their limbs, while others, more gi'itty, would laugh and joke as if they considered it a pleasure to lose a limb in de- fending the old flng. I remember one little fellow especially who was about my age. lie had been shot in the head, an ounce ball having struck him in the ]*ight eye and passed out back of his ear. The second day after he was shot he was up and around watching us work. GUARDING RAILROAD IN SHERMANS REAR. ]G9 The first day we were at this work a train load of wounded came in before we had the tents ready for them, and, as the train was in a luirry to return to the front for more, we carried the wounded off and phiced them on the ground, and made them as comfortable as possible in tlie gracious shade of the pine and chestnut trees. While we were getting the tents up and the wounded into them a violent tliunderstorm came up, and in some way one poor fellow was overlooked and left out in the storm. When taken out of the cars he was placed at the root of a tree on a soft cushion of leaves found in quite a large hole about six inches deep. He had been shot through the body, which left liis back quite weak, and when carried out he was left sitting up against the tree for support ; but in some way he fell over into the hole filled with water from the storm, and, being too weak to raise himself nj), was drowned in this shallow pool. We placed him in a suitable grave lined with pine boughs, liis body wrapped in his blanket, covered it with more of the evergreen boughs — fit emblems of immortality — and after filling up the grave penciled his name, com- pany, and regiment on a piece of cracker box, and ])laced it in proper position for a head-board. Such was the common method of burial in such cases. In- deed, during all the time 1 was in the service I never saw anyone buried in a coffin. I will not attempt to describe tlie work of the surgeons there, witli their merciless knives, saws, and probes, which I witnessed. The thought of it makes me shudder yet. But I saw two ministering angels moving around among the wounded tenderly, whom I remember with delight. 170 Oy WHEELS. Tlieso were two women in clean, bright calico dresses, quicklj passing from cot to cot with white bandages, cups of warm soup, and tins of lemonade ; who, with warm, loyal hearts full of good cheer and loving sym- pathy, did far more toward reviving the spirits and inspiring the courage of the wounded than the snr- geons with all their skill and professional imple- meiits. After we were relieved from this hospital work I was detailed with others at one time to make an ahattis down the mountain side in front of our rifle-pits. For this purpose acres and acres of timber were cut down as follows : Beginning at the lower line of the ahattis with hundreds of axes, we would cut the trees half off on the upper side, and thus work our way up the moun- tain side until we reached the long line of rifle-pits; there we would cut the trees entirely off, felling them against those just below them, which in turn would fall against others still below them, and so on until the whole body of timber, acres in extent, would go down with a perfect crash as suddenly as if struck by the swoop of a cyclone, making a perfect tangle. This done, we would then go down the mountain to the lower edge of the ahattis and work our way up again to the rifle-pits, this time sharpening all the branches of the trees. When completed this made a very formidable obstruction to an advancing foe. On the 3d of July the Confederates relinquished their grip on Kennesaw, evacuated that natural strong- hold, and also evacuated Marietta, and retreated to the south, taking a new position near the Chattahoo- cliee River. This weakening of the Johnnies made ns feel jubilant, and formed a very inspiriting topic of conversation for the Fourth of July. The morning of the 4tli, as I stood on the depot platform among a group of comrades, a train load of soldiers came in from the ^orth. These were men returning from veteran furlough, and among them was my cousin, John K. White, of the Forty-first Illinois Infantry. He came direct from E^aples, 111,, where my parents were living. He knew I was sta- tioned at Altoona Pass, but I did not know where he was. Although he was a man grown and I but a mere lad, yet we were always more like brothers than cousins, and when we met that day he gave me a hug that nearly broke my ribs. It is needless to say that we had a most delightful visit during the day. He brought me many pleasant messages from dear ones as well as all the home news, wdiile I gave him an ac- count of my experiences since we separated at Yicks- burg. The next day he went on to his regiment, which belonged to our division. On the Gth or Yth of July we broke camp at Al- toona, boarded a train, and went to Marietta. This pretty little town, nestled in the lap of old Kennesaw, with its shaded streets, brick stores, good churches, and neat dwellings, was one of the prettiest I saw any- where in the South. We arrived thei'e that afternoon, and theeveningwasemployed in putting upourslielters. The first thing I did the next morning after break- fast was to climb to the top of the mountain. It was a beautiful clear morning. As I ascended in company with several of my comrades we noticed that there was scarcely a square yard of ground but had been 172 ON' WHEELS. torn and plowed up with shells from the Union guns, thousands of fragments of which were scattered around over the ground, though some liad never ex- ploded. Trees were riddled and full of holes and dead boughs hung from every tree top. In some in- stances whole tree tops had been cut off by shot from our artillery. Behind nearly every log, stump, tree, and rock w^ere great piles of paper from cartridges the Johnnies had bitten off. Arriving at the summit, I climbed the very tallest tree I could find, and from its topmost branch cut a twig out of which to make a pen holder as a memento of the noted place. While on this lofty perch I en- joyed a beautiful view of the surrounding conntry, and off to the southeast, six or seven miles, I could make out the positions of the Union and Confederate forces by the smoke from their camp fires. On the 10th I was detailed, with some fifty others, to bury the dead on the right of Little Kennesaw, about four miles distant. These were the Confederate slain, and had lain there in the summer sun and rains but partially covered ever since the assault on the 2Tth of June. The weather was exceedingly hot, and the piece of ground over which the dead were scattered was but about four or five acres in extent. There we found some two hundred of the slain, while millions of green flies swarmed about and on the rank black- berry bushes, now loaded with ripe fruit, but which we dared not eat. The stifling heat and sickening odor rendered the place and work almost unendurable. Pen cannot describe the ghastly sights which there met our eyes — too ghastly and sickening to attempt a GUARDING RAILROAD IN SHERMAN'S REAR. 173 portrayal. It required the best part of two days in wliicli to accomplish this disagreeable task. Ko head- boards C(~>uld be placed at the graves to mark them, and no doubt many homes in the Sonth mourned the death of these dear ones, never knowing of their place of burial. Of the many I assisted in burying the case of one young man may claim special mention. His grave 1 might have marked if I had had the material with which to do it, for I obtained his name from a soiled letter which I took from his side pocket. It was a bright, cheery missive, full of expi-essions of love and words of encouragement from his betrothed, hi it she had inclosed a small piece of pretty linsey which she had woven with her own hands for a new dress for herself. As we buried this young man I said, '' Poor girl, poor boy ! " and the cruelties of war seemed more bitter than ever. The few days we were at Marietta we had rather an easy time of it. When off duty, in com- pany with my cousin. Royal Moore, of Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, I engaged in the jewelry business. Indeed, we did quite a thriving business, manufacturing and selling and trading rings to the native whites and to the col- ored people. These rings we made out of metal per- cussion caps which we picked up on the mountain. These metal tubes were about the size and shape of a number ten or twelve cartridge such as is now used in shotguns. They were thicker, however, and had a thread cut around the outside of them by which they could be screwed into the shell, and which held them 174 ON WHEELS. securely in place. These we contrived to unscrew with our bayonets. The metal of which they were made seemed to be a composition of copper and brass, and when rubbed up was about the color of Guinea gold. Out of these metal caps we would cut and make the rings with a broken saw and a file, and when made would brighten them up with a piece of blue woolen goods. When thus completed they were quite bright and attractive, and enabled us to get fancy war prices for them in cash, pies, milk, sweet potatoes, etc. But notwithstanding tlie business proved quite re- munerative, I should not want to engage in it again unless I could get the enemy to unscrew the danger- ous percussion caps from the unexploded shells. While at Maiietta we were ordered out earl}^ one morning to go to Resaca, Ga., by train to intercept Wheeler's cavalry, which was momentarily expected to strike the railroad at that point. We arrived about noon that day, and for two days scouted through the surrounding country, and finding no trace of them we returned to Marietta, arriving at camp about 10 p. m. We had left a few sick and -Negroes in charge of the camp. Jack among them, whom we soon awakened and asked if he had anything for us to eat, having eaten nothing since breakfast. Jack replied : " Ise got imffin 'ceptin' coffee an' bacon, but if sum ob de mess starts a tire I'll see if I can't tin' suffin'." This was agreed to, and off he started, and in about half an hour returned carrying in his arms two dozen loaves of steaming liot baker's bread, which with our coffee and bacon made us a relishable supper. But Jack would never tell us where he obtained the bread, GUARDING RAILROAD IN SHERMAN'S REAR. 175 always replying when asked about it: "Don' ax Jack dat question. Jes ax if dar is any nio' wliar dat come from." One day while encamped at Marietta General John M. Palmer, our first colonel, made us a visit, and the hour among his old comrades was very pleasantly spent in reminiscences of previous campaigns. This was the last time we saw him during the war. Also it was while we were encamped here that General McPher- son, our old corps commander, was killed, on July 22d, near Atlanta. The death of this gallant and greatly heloved officer cast a gloom over the whole army. How strange that our noble corps commander, who led us on the Meridian raid, and General Polk, who commanded the Confederate forces at the place at that time, had within a few days both fallen on Georgia soil and on battlefields but a few miles apart! -^l CHAPTER XIX. Busy Behind Sherman. BOUT August 1 we were ordered back to Ack- wortli to aunrd the nailroad over which S' ler- maii was getting his supphes. We went bj train, and when we arrived we took quarters in the depot and abandoned storehouses. Here we were kept on the go night and day, scouting and patrolling the railroad to prevent its being torn up or trains thrown off by the Johnnies. This work was both arduous and dangerous, for the enemy seemed determined to capture or ditch all trains possible. The road in this section runs through a rough, broken country, which was then covered with brush and timber close up to the track, so that we were in constant danger of being ambushed as we patrolled it in small squads. Our beat was two and a half miles north to Altoona Creek Block House, and two and a half miles south to the point where we struck the northern line of the beat of the guard at Moon Station. It was fortunate for us that the ene- my was more intent on injuring the railroad track and derailing trains than in firing at us. We were required to inspect the track carefully to see that the rails and everything were in place, and as we passed BUSY BEHIND SHERMAN. 177 along many bright iiioonliglit nights, especially when outside of onr picket lines, we were wholly at tlie mercj of any lurking foe that might be lying in am- bush. Several times while we were stationed at Ackworth, during the month of August, trains were thrown off the track near tlie town, train guards were captured, and wliat provisions were w^anted by the enemy were taken, the foe making good his escape before any force from town could reach the point of attack. Sometimes a guard would pass along entirely un- molested but a short time before a train would be wrecked, although the Johnnies must have been con- cealed in the thick brush beside the track as they passed. One of their methods of throwing trains from the track was by the use of an iron shoe and a wooden wedge. One squad, consisting of Sergeant Thomas Cunningham and Privates Frank Durant, Charles Paine, Charles Harper, William and Peter Gross, and niyself, all members of the samo company, once captured an outfit of this kind. That day we started out immediately after an early breakfast supplied wiili a full day's rations. We were to relieve a squad in patrolling the road south of us toward Moon Station, and expected to meet them near the picket lines coming in to be relieved. Failing in this, suspecting something miglit be wrong, we continued on down the track, keeping a sharp lookout for the guai-ds or a derailed train. Not seeing either, we did not halt un- til we reached the point where we should meet the guards from Moon Station. This was at the mouth 12 178 OX WHEELS. of a deep cut where tlie road ran tliroiigli a liill niid- waj between the latter station and Ackworth, At this point, the northern extremity of the cnt, the track comes ont on a high roadbed, on the west side some forty or fifty feet high and very steep, while on the opposite side it was only four or five feet down to the level of the woodland, which was covered with a heavy growth of timber and brnsh close np to the roadbed. Kear the north end of this cut there was quite a curve in the track, so that engineers on north- bound trains could not see the end of the cut until within a few yards of it. This made it a very danger- ous place, and one where we always expected trouble. Indeed, we sometimes kept a special squad of men there to watch and guard it. Not finding the squad we expected and had gone to relieve, and hearing no response to our calls, and see- ing nothing of the guard from Moon Station, after a brief consultation, no train being in hearing distance, Sergeant Cunningham decided we had better go to the south end of the cut and see if we could get any information from some natives who occupied a log hut which stood there, and then hasten back before any train should come along. From a woman at this house we learned that no guards had been seen there since the evening before, that some Confederates had been there during the night, and that near daylight she had heard some firing and supposed the guards had been driven off or had gone to Moon Station for assistance. We then returned to the north end of the cut to secrete our- selves in the brush to guard the track until we should Bi^Sr BEHIND SHERMAN. KQ be relieved. After returning we halted on tlie track a few moments while discussing the situation. The sergeant then ordered ns to take a position just east of the track in the brush, and as we proceeded to ex- ecute the order we heard a great rustling and crashing out in the thick brush not more than twenty feet from where we had been standing. This commotion was made by a squad of Johnnies w^ho were tliere await- ing an opportunity to wreck a train. There were seven or eight of them, and our squad immediately fired at them, but they all escaped. We chased them for about a quarter of a mile, exchanging shots as we went, but decided it would be useless, in view of the density of the forest, to pursue tliem farther, and re- turned and took a position near the railroad track, secluded in the thicket. From the position these Johnnies occupied it is evident that each one of them might have picked his man and shot us down. Soon after taking our position one of our boys found the iron shoe and the wooden wedge referred to secreted under some leaves. The iron shoe was made out of an old plowshare, having a groove in it so as to catch the flange of a car wheel and run it upon and over the rail. The wooden wedge was about eighteen inches long and four inches thick at the large end, and both had clamps with which to fasten them to the rails. The two were designed to be used on rails opposite each other, and could not have failed to accomplish their work. Soon after finding these a ti-ain of twenty-five box cars came through the cut. The train was loaded with soldiers. Every car, both inside and on top, was 180 ON WHEELS. full. Desiring to send some word into camp, we waved tliem down, and while halted we showed the trainmen these instruments of deatli. Their grati- tude was unbounded for this timely discovery, which, they felt, had in all probability saved them from a horrible death. The shoe and wedge were sent to General Sherman, and our squad was officially com- plimented for our prompt action and sound judg- ment in guarding the dangerous position until re- lieved. One dark night during the time we were encamped at Ackworth I was detailed, with some othei-s, to drive the Johnnies from a train they had captured about a mile below town. When we reached the train we found that the Johnnies, after ca])turing the train, which was loaded with arm)^ stores, not being able to carry prisoners with them, held our men captive only while they were loading their horses with provisions, and then released them and rode off in the darkness with their booty. At another time, while patrolling about a mile north of Ackworth, one day about noon we met a train going south which the Johnnies had tried to capture, but failed in the attempt. The train slowed up and the men told us of their encounter. On our way to the place we met a brakeman who had jumjK^d from the train when the Johnnies were on the track trying to signal it to stop. He had been captured and everj^ shred of clothing taken from him except- ing a pair of white cotton drawers, and when we met him, trudging along bareheaded and in his tender bare feet over the hot road, he was decidedly the BUST BEHIND SUEBMAX. 181 wrathiest railroader I ever saw. The Jolmnies Lad also relieved him of a good watch and all his money, and the languai^^e lie was using about them would l)e out of place h^ere. He said they were not satisHed with what they had taken from him, but cursed him for not having on more clothing, as tliey had not ob- tained enough to go around. While here we had flour issued to us instead of hard-tack. Tliis we at first used in biscuits baked in Dutch ovens, but we soon discovered that we had good bakers in our battalion, and further investigation re- vealed the fact that we also had masons and tinners. Ascertaining this, it was but a few days until a brick building was torn down and the brick used in the construction of bake ovens and its tin roof converted into large bread pans. Then such baker's bread as we had issued to us I have never seen excelled. During the first week in September Companies A and B of'' our battalion were ordered and marched to Big Shanty, ten miles south of Ackworth, to guard the railroad at that point ; and our company, F, at the same time was ordered and w^ent five miles south to Moon Station. At Moon Station it so happened that my company relieved the company of which my cousin, John White, was a member— the cousin who spent the Fourth of July with me at Altoona Pass. When we relieved them' my cousin's mess turned the shanty they occupied over to our mess together with its fur- niture. This was quite a favor to us, for we had a good deal of rainy weather while we were there. The shanty was a good one, having a board roof, good 182 ON WHEELS. beds, and dry bedding, and, with tlie sides inclosed Avith our rubber blankets, we could keep dry despite the hardest rains. Moon Station was a wood and water station mid- way between Altoona Pass and tlie Kennesaw Moun- tain, and was live miles south of Ackworth and live miles north of Big Shanty. It was guarded by a rail stockade having between forty and fifty loo])holes. The garrison at this time comprised our company, numbering, all told, eighty officers and men and four Negro cooks. During the month of September here, as previously at Ackworth, we were kept busy as beavers scouting and patrolling the railroad to prevent the enemy from ditching the trains and cutting the telegraph wires. On one occasion I was called out in the night to go with a squad to the relief of a train that had been ditched near Big Shanty. Arriving at the scene of disaster, we found the engine and five cars in the ditch, and that all the trainmen had been captured and taken off but the engineer, and he was under his engine with a broken leg. He told us that wdien ho saw the obstruction on the track, and knew his engine must go off, he threw his gold watch into the brush and jumped. While some dug him out others searched for his watch with torches, but failed to find it. On another occasion I was called out early one morning, before the sun was up, to go to the relief of a captured train. This one was within a half mile of the one just mentioned. When we reached the train we found it had not been thrown from the track, but had been held up by an obstruction on the road, and BUSY BEHIND SITE EM AN. 1S3 that after tlie Confederate cavalry had captured all on board, and loaded their horses down with provisions, they had set tlie long train of box cai's on tire. When we arrived there was nothing left of the train and its cargo but the iron, and along the middle of the track great piles of burning corn, oats, flour, beans, and coffee. Toward the last of Septenibei* the Johnnies grew bolder, at times riding np in squads and firing on our pickets, which, on account of our small nujnbers, were posted not more than two or three hundred yards from the stockade. One afternoon tw^elve of them, dressed in blue uniform, rode up and flred on an out- post south of the stockade, and made good their es- cape before our pickets knew who they were. Matters kept growing worse with us until the 2d of October. That day Orderly Sergeant Ben Burch and a small squad of men, when returning from Big Shanty with a wagon load of provisions, were captured by Confederate cavalrj^ General Thomas's wagon train, several miles in length and well guai'ded, was passing north at the time, and, be- ing between it and the railroad, this cavalry squad, evidently fearful lest they could not cut through the moving train encumbered with provisions, held their cai)tives but a short time and then released them, tell- ing them they would call for them the next day. Pat Woods, the Irish boy who was so suddenly turned around on the battlefleld in Mississi{)])i by a cannon ball, was in this captured squad, and was shot througli the right wrist for talking sharply to one of the guards, and when shot he seemed about as much surprised as he was when the cannon ball spun him 184 ON WHEELS. around, and said to the guard, ''And sure, what did ye go and do that for ? " Indeed, he kept np his im- pertinent renuirks until the guards would probably have killed him had not Sergeant Burch interfered and put a stop to his talk. Pat was a brave boy, and after the close of the Civil War served with credit in the regular army, and died wliile in that service in the West. That afternoon a squad of lifteen or sixteen of ns, while out reconnoitering in the direction of Big Shanty, where we had heard some firing, came across Sei'geant Burch and the men who had been captured with him. The sero^eant deemino^ it daui^^erous to proceed further, we returned to camp and made our report. On our way in I bound Pat's wrist with my large red silkliandkerchief which niymotlier presented to me the day I left home. The evening of that day I was detailed for picket duty. It was veiy dark and rained nearly all night. My post was east from the stockade. The reserve were posted in some brush and timber on the west side of a small field, wdiile I was near the center of the field behind a large stump. Crouched behind this stump under my rubber blanket from midnight until 2 A. M., by the aid of the frequent bright flashes of lightning I saw several squads of Confederates riding north on a road not over one hundred yards east of my position, but I deemed it unwise to fire at them. The next morning, after reaching camp, I found that others had seen some of the enemy during the night. This gave us no small degree of anxiety as to what the Johnnies had in view. At the time we sup- posed that Sherman's whole army was between ns and BUSY BEHIND SHERMAN. 135 tlie Confederate army, and tliat those whom we saw during the night were only some of Hood's cavalry sent out to damage the raih-oads and gather supplies. In reality, however. Hood had now started for Ten- nessee, and was running his whole army of thirty-five thousand men around north of Sherman to demolish the railroad track between Altoona Pass and Kenne- saw Mountain, and to capture Sherman's base of sup- plies at Altoona Pass, some ten miles north of us, where he had collected the stores for his march to the sea. Hood's move on the raih-oad at this time was un- doubtedly a complete surprise to General Sherman, for at the time there w^ere no Federal troops in the valley from Kennesaw to Altoona, a distance of some eighteen or nineteen miles, except our Veteran Bat- talion, six companies, numbering but between four and five hundred officers and men, wdiile Altoona Pass at the time was garrisoned by only eight hun- dred and ninety ofiicers and men. Companies A and B of our battalion, commanded by Captain Gillespie, wei-e stationed at Big Shanty, the first station north uf Kennesaw. Three other companies w^ere at Ack- worth, the first station south of Altoona, under com- mand of Captain Crinion, I think. Our own company, F, numbering eighty-four officers and men, com- manded by Captain Thonuis A. Weisner, w^as at Moon Station, about midway between Big Shanty and Ack- worth, near the center of the valley. Sucli was the situation on the memorable morning of October 3, when our captain received this remark- able order: " Hold on as long as possible, and then surrender yourself and men on the best terms possible." CHAPTER XX. Battle of Moon Station and Capture. S the morning advanced heavy nuishetrj firing was heard in the vicinity of Big Shanty. From this we were satisfied that tronble was brewing, but con Id not understand what it was. A train going soutli that morning with army stores was captured about two miles south of us, and our guards, who had skirted the timber along the track on their way to it, came near being captured as they approached. The same day, between 1 and 2 p. m., a train load of cattle, heavily guarded, went south. This was soon followed by a train of army supplies. This latter train, however, returned in a short time, and as it backed into Moon Station we were informed that the cattle train had been captured and that this one had barely escaped the same fate, and as it could not get through to Big Shanty it would be taken back to Al- toona Pass and there wait for orders. The cattle train had been captured less than a mile south of our post, and soon we heard the most terrible bellowing I ever listened to. The Johnnies had set fire to the train, which had on board not less than three hundred head of cattle, all of which were burned. At Moon Station the railroad ran north and south BATTLE OF MOON STATION AND CAPTURE. 187 between two gently sloping liills. The track was on an embankment some five feet high. Our rude stock- ade stood on the east side of the railroad about fifty yards up the slope from the track, and was made out of chestnut rails, stood on end, with loopholes notched in them abont four feet above the bottom of a ditcli that was two feet deep and which ran around just inside the stockade. About twenty-five yards farther up the hill was our shanty. At the station there were no buildings except a log house which stood a little to the north and front of the stockade and about half way between it and the railroad east of the track, and a long woodshed and a large water tank which stood across the track almost opposite it. Both hillsides had been pretty well cleared of timber, yet on the west of the railroad a few scattering trees, stumps, and small patches of brush still remained. Some two hundred yards south of the stockade the road ran throngli a deep cut in a hill which was covered with a dense gi'owtli of brush and timber. At the northern end of this cut began the high grade before mentioned, which continued past the station. After the train referred to backed in from the south, about 2 p. M., no more patrols were sent out, and those that were out were held in the quarters as fast as they came in. The pickets, under comnumd of Lieutenant Kieffer, wxre instructed when attacked to hold their posts as long as possible and then retreat to the stock- ade. Every preparation for battle was made. A heavy square wooden box containing one thousand rounds of cartridges was carried into and placed near the center ISS ON WHEELS. of the stockade, and opened so as to be of easy access to our men as supplies in our cartridge boxes should give out. Our Enfield rifles were carefully examined, put in order, loaded, and fresh caps put on. "We were now ex]-»ecting the enemy to attack us at any moment. Our orders were to run for the stockade as soon as the pickets were driven in, and as far as pos- sible to cover their retreat. As for myself, I was de- termined on getting into the stockade as quickly as anyone after we should learn the pickets were falling back. Knowing there were but a little over half enough loopholes for the company, I resolved, if pos- sible, to have one of them, and to have one on the side next to the raih'oad if I could get it. "With this in view I early strapped on my cartridge box, and held to my gun all the afternoon. Our pickets were first fired upon about 2 p. m., and later at different times during the afternoon ; but they held their ground until near dark. My mess, as did nearly all others that evening, took our guns with us when we went to supper. Our table, made of rough boards supported by stakes driven in the ground, stood in the alley back of our quarters. Between live and six o'clock in the evening, as wewere standing around a half tinished supper, with our guns leaning against the table by our sides, suddenly "whiz," "bang," "zip," rang the guns on the opj)osite hilltops, volley after volley. Our pickets, being attacked in force, were returning the fire and retreating down the hill toward the stock- ade at the top of their speed. Instantly knives, forks, cups, and spoons were dropped, and, seizing our guns, we made a wild rush for the stockade. I was among the BATTLE OF MOON STATION AND CAPTURE. 189 first to enter, and never halted until my gun was run tlirougli a loophole near tlje center of the side of tlie stockade next to the raih-oad. Tliose of ns who were in the quarters when the firing began had barely entered the stockade when the enemy opened on us from the opposite liilltop. Tlieir first fire went wild, the balls whistling and singing at least thirty feet above our heads. But their guns were soon depressed to the riglit range, and then " spat," " spat," " thud," " thud," •'thud," the leaden liail showered against the stockade and the clay embankment which w^as thrown up against it on the outside, causing the splinters to fly from the one and the mud from the other. I had barely gotten my rifle ran through the loophole when those to my right and left began to fire. Just then an old soldier, who was evidently vexed at not getting a loophole, gave my right arm a vigorous jerk and yelled out : " Shoot, you young rascal, or give me that hole." I was braced to receive the wicked kick of my gun and never turned, but hallooed back at the top of my voice : '' I'll not give up this hole nor fire my gun until I see somebody to shoot at." Just tlien a Johnnie broke cover from behind a tree, and, drawing a careful bead on him, I fired and quickly handed my gun back and received a loaded one in exchange. This kind of work was going on all around me, and our fire was so rapid and deadly that the enemy on the opposite hill where the attack first began soon retired behind the slope to devise some better way of approach on the stockade. After our foe had retired from in front of my side 190 ON WHEELS. of the stockade, upon whicli all the first attack was made, with almost breathless suspense, and with eyes kindled with the fire of battle, we watched tliroiiirh the loopholes for his next appearance. But four or live minutes, however, of extreme suspense prevailed, when the boys on the south side of the stockade sang out : " Here they come ! Give it to 'em ! " and began a rapid lire. Above the din I could hear John Coats, Bill Clark, Jim Corey, Jule Eldred, and others yelling: ''There goes one! There tumbles another ! Give it to 'em, boys! " All this time I was in a feverish state of excitement, standing with my loaded gun run out through the loophole ready to tire at the fii'st Johnnie that might come in sight, but I could see none to hre at, for they were now pouring thi-ough the railroad cut south of us, and filing off to the left or west of the embank- ment too far to one side for me to see. A bi-igade of gray coats, under command of Gen- ei-al Reynolds, of Arkansas, came through the cut on the dead run ; but while their speed was high it re- quired several minutes for them to turn the corner and get dowm behind the railroad bank out of the range of a destructive fire from the south side of the stock- ade, and while they were turning this deadly angle many a brave Confederate fell. As soon as they had all made their way tlirough the cut there was an ominous lull for a few minutes, with none of the enemy in view except their dead and wounded. During this time Captain Wiesner, our gallant young commander, told us the Johnnies were w^orking their way up to us behind the railroad BATTLE OF MOON STATION AND CAPTURE. 191 einbanknieiit, for ns to keep perfectly cool, and reserve our tire until they should show themselves, and then, taking good aim, to tire as rapidly as possible and make every shot count. At the time this command was given a brigade of fourteen or fifteen hundred deter- mined Confederates were strung out behind the rail- road embankment directly in front(»f us, Avhileournum- bers alltold were but eighty-four. Tliey were about fifty yards from the stockade — so close, indeed, that we could hear them talking and their officers giving orders. Our captain's orders were obeyed to the letter, and our fire, ranging from the fifty yards in our immediate front to two hundi-ed yards on either side of the stock- ade, with two loaded guns for each looj^hole, to start with, and two men to each to work them, told with most deadly effect. As rapidly as we fired and handed l)ack our empty guns our comrades behind us had loaded ones ready for us to grab, and so rapidly did we thus load and fire at times during the evening's engagement that sometimes our smoking guns were so hot we could scarcely hold them. During this time the Confederates poured a heavy fire on the stockade from behind the railroad embankment, while we re- turned it with such execution that w^e held them in bay for nearly three hours. Firing then ceased for a short time, during which we could hear the Confed- erate officers as they were forming a storming party and gave oi'ders preparatory to the charge. Hearing this we stood to our guns, hammers raised, and fingers to triggers. It was a moment of unspeakable sus- pense as we thus stood and peered through the h)op- holes over the long steel barrels of our trusty rifles, 192 ON WHEELS. breathlessly awaiting tlie desperate charge and the proper uioiueiit to press the death-dealing trigger. AVe had but a moment to wait when the enemy, mad- dened at their loss and onr stubborn resistance, surged over the roadbed and made a wild rnsh up the hill with their peculiar yell. In this fifty yards of open slope we mowed them down like grain before the sickle, bnt with our most rapid and der.dly lire we could not check them. On, on they swe])t np tlie hill- side in the face of our leaden hail, a mad, resistless tide of gray, whose right and left striking the stockade, swept entirely around it, completely engulfing us m a seetliiuix mass of yellini^: Confederates. Four Con- federate llags were soon waving over oui- stockade, and their smoking rifles thrust through our loopholes, and for a few moments our brave old company fouglitthe desperate Johmiics under their stars and bars, at times our mushets locking horns with theirs in the same loopholes in a hand to hand contest. About this time our captain was wounded in the right side; several others were slightly wounded, and two of our men were killed. The forty rounds of ammunition in our cartridge boxes were exhausted, and to my personal knowledge not over a handful of the thousand rounds in the large box ren:ained. And now, with ourannnunition exhausted, Con federate rifles blazing through the loopholes on all sides of the stock- ade, and surrounded by overwhelming numbers. Cap- tain Wiesner, considering the moi-ning's order to hold the position as long as possible had been fully obeyed, ordered us to ceaee flring, and throwing his black hat up in the air high above the stockade, siiouted : " We BATTLE OF MOON STATION AND CAPTURE. 193 surrender!" Tlie enemy still continuing their fire, we clutclieJ our guns, expecting an order to fix bay- onets, and were just ready to obey it wlien they ceased firing and the desperate battle of Moon Station was ended. At tlie time of the surrender Allen Crisp, one of the youngest boys in our company, was lying on the ground with a bullet hole through his body. Old Uncle Jimmie Scott, my tall Irish friend, the cupola of the compan}^, liad a shattered knee, from which he died. These, with our captain and several others but slightly wounded, were all of our men wdio were in- jured in the stockade, and I think none were wounded until the Johnnies got to our loopholes. We never knew the exact loss of the enemy in this engagement, but from what we could see around the stockade there must have been over one hundred killed and wounded. As soon as the Confederates ceased firing we were ordered to march out of the stockade; but before starting a number of our men broke the stocks of their guns, and several of the other boys, with myself, threw ours into the inside ditch, which had six or eight inches of water in it, and jumped in on them and stamped them into the nmd as deep as we could. As we marched out of the stockade that evening in the darkness, between 8 and 9 o'clock, we found our- selves prisoners of war surrounded by a howling mob of Confederates, who unceremoniously relieved us of our watches, etc., and made all kinds of one-sided trades for our clothing, hats, caps, boots, and shoes, and would not allow us to return to our quarters for 194 ON WHEELS. our knapsacks, haversacks, blankets, or other belong- ings. As soon as we were out some Confederate general rode up and called for our commanding officer. When Captain Wiesner stepped out he severely criti- cised him for not surrendering before so many lives were lost. But the captain informed him he had simply obeyed his orders to hold the post as long as he could, and that with the commanding Confederate officer rested the responsibility of the loss of life. At the time the Johnnies were robbing us of our ejffects they found me rather poorly clad, for I had not drawn any clothing since leaving Yicksburg, over six months before, and my pantaloons and blouse were quite threadbare, besides being considerably soiled. These they did not appear to want, but 1 had on a very good black felt army hat which seemed at- tractive to them, and I had not taken more than one step out of the opening leading from the stockade when a Johnnie about six feet tall, with long sandy hair, said : " Say, you young Yank, you have got a purty good hat," and with that jerked it from my head and handed me his old quilted cloth one instead. I had no more than got this old quilted rag placed on my head when another Johnnie stepped up to me and said : " Yank, let's trade hats," and jerked mine oS and handed me his old broken-billed gray cap ; and before I had gone ten steps farther into the crowd another Johnnie said : " Yank, you have no business with a Confederate cap," and, snatching it off my head, handed me his hat, saying : " Hayre, take one of yere un culler," BATTLE OF MOON' STATION AND CAPTURE. 195 When I examined the old black and bhie limp thing he handed nie I found the crown was a piece of an old blue army overcoat which he had " whanged •' on with cotton cord, and the limp black rim was looped up to this on all sides with the same kind ot cord to hold it from falling down over his face. As no other Confederate seemed inclined to trade hats with me after this exchange. I concluded my youthful brow was now graced with the poorest makeshift of a hat Hood's army could produce. Yet while that was my candid opinion, and T felt insulted and highly indignant at every Johnnie who so uncere- moniously jerked my succession of hats from ni}^ head, to-day I would give more for that old Confed- erate hat than I would for the best hat that can be pro- duced in America ; and I never think of this episode without a hearty laugh. Furthermore, as time ob- literates the bitterness engendered by war, and the mollifying influences of a quarter of a century have subdued its heated passions and strife, we can throw the mantle of charity over many things which then seemed harsh and cruel. As we were being relieved of our clothing and other possessions, ruthlessly, as we thought, many hot words were exchanged, and in some instances it seemed as if they would terminate in blows. AVe had not been out of the stockade over five min- utes when a long mysterious line of battle, like a phantom column, stretdiing to right and left as far as we could see, made its sudden appearance amid the evening's shadows, coming in on the double-quick. Their colors or uniforms I could nut make out, but 196 ON- WHEELS. from the first glimpse I canglit of the long line in the protecting gloom it seemed to me I could discern the Union bkie. New and buoyant hopes at once sprang up within my breast, for all through that eventful afternoon and evening, not knowing of the orders the captain had received nor that Hood's whole army was in the valley between us and onr main forces, I had momentarily expected the appearance of a relief column from Marietta. Was not this our line of boys in blue I saw swinging over the crest of the hill? and were they not coming in on a charge to relieve us ? It seemed to me it must be so, for they were coming from the right direction, and my young heart fairly leaped within me at the thought ; and my powder- stained linger tips pressed my brow beneath the old Confederate hat to assist my straining eyes in piercing the evening's gloom to discover, if possible, whether the advancing column was the blue or the gray. As I thus stood, with trembling frame and henving breast, what a Yankee shout of joy would have burst from my young throat had I caught a fair glimpse of the stars and stripes held aloft by a boy in blue. But in this cherished hope I met a bitter dis- appointment, for, alas ! the colors were the stars and bars borne by a boy in gray. At this bitter revelation a heart twinge nearly took my breath, for not until then did I fully realize the terrible weight of my situation. Having confidently and momentarily expected relief during all the after- noon and evening, it was not until this advancing col- umn of gray drew their lines closer and tighter around us that I fully abandoned all hope, that I allowed BATTLE OF MOON STATION AND CAPTURE. 197 myself to believe and admit that we were prisoners. When at last the sad, sad fact fully broke upon me my wrought-up nerves were completely unstrung, and thoughts of home and dear ones from whom I felt I was going, perhaps forever, came in rapid succession. I gave way to boyish grief, and a heavy gloom, deeper tlian that of the night, settled down upon me. I how- ever gave way to this despair but for a moment when hope and determination came to my relief, and, brush- ing the streaming tears from my smoke-begrimed face, I lirmly resolved to make the best of my sad situation and not again give way to emotions of despondency and grief. CHAPTER XXI. Marching to Pmsoisr. FEW moments after tlie new line of battle at the railroad below us had halted, the prisoners were ordered to fall in line, double file, and were surrounded by a cordon of gray-coated guards. Then this blue and gray procession at the order, " Forward ! March !" crossed the railroad and headed for Big Shanty, and as in the gloom of the night we bade adieu to our dead and wounded comrades, some of them in a dying condition, I am sure I never saw a more sad and sullen set of blue and gray. I think, however, we respected each other's courage, and each had but one grim satisfaction — the Johnnies, that they had captured us and had possession of Moon Station, and we, that they had paid dear for their Yankee prey. r>y this time we prisoners were dressed in all manner of old ragged Confederate coats, hats, and caps, and now, as we left our dead and wounded com- rades, and were starting for prison, disarmed of our guns, having but three or four blankets all told, wdiich happened to be carried into the stockade, compelled to leave behind all of our haversacks and knapsacks in which were kept our letters, pictures of friends, and little keepsakes from home, we marched MARCHING TO PRISON. 199 out of Moon Station a saddened set of captives, with gloomy forebodings. Every man in our company had been killed or captured, excepting Uncle Billie Ward, an Irishman, who did not enter the stockade when our pickets were Hred upon, and who made his way into our lines at Marietta. The poor colored men. Jack, Toney, Oliver, and one other cook, who were captured with the rest of us, the Johnnies nearly frightened to death, but otherwise did not injure. As our road to Big Shanty lay through heavy timber and brush, and the night was dark, our guards, before starting, provided themselves with a number of pitch pine torches, with which to light the column on its way, and as a precaution against any of us making our escape. After these torches were lighted we were afforded a better view of our new uniforms, and a more comical, woe-begone looking set of Yankee soldiers, or queerer torchlight procession, I never saw or inarched with. We could barely recognize each other ten steps apart, and when there was a recognition, notwithstanding our dismal plight, we could not suppress a laugh or a joke over each other's comical appearance. We reached Big Shanty near midnight, where we found a number of dead and wounded comrades of Companies A and B in the depot, where we werelield until morning. One of the living, an Irishman, whose name I have forgotten, who deserted from the Confederate army at Yicksburg, and who joined our regiment while there, during the morning's engage- ment had an arm broken. A. short time after we arrived his old Confederate captain came in the depot, 200 ON WHEELS. and, recognizing his former subordinate, had the poor fellow taken out and shot. Companies A and B were not all captured, a part of them under Captain Gillespie escaping to Marietta. At daylight, along with our comrades of Companies A and B who were able to march, we were started southwest under a heavy guard. About 8 a. m. on this the 4th day of October we heard heavy musketry firing northeast of us, and were satisfied Ackworth was attacked, as was the case; and the three companies of our battalion stationed there held the post until 2 p. M., when, greatly outnumbered and overpowered, they were forced to surrender. All during that day on our march we were passing Confederate troops, principally infantry and artillery, with long trains of ambulance and provision wagons of QYGYy conceivable shape, from light spring and old farm wagons to an occasional good United States army wagon which had been captured from some of our trains. The mules and horses were as poor and motley-looking as were the vehicles. The most of them had on chain harness, cotton cloth back-bands, and cornhusk collars. The troops were poorly clad in brown and gray cotton suits, and but for the flags they carried looked as if they might have been a section of the old Continental army. Hood's troops seemed to be in good spirits, and as we passed regiment after regiment they would sing out, " Well, Yanks, old Sherman has got you flanked this time ; " and we would retort, " Yes, and you will catch it up at Altoona." But, notwithstanding their seeming good spirits, from their general appearance, MARCHING TO PRISON. 201 as compared with the Union army, we took considera- ble comfort in believing the Confederacy was on its last pegs. That evening just at sundown we went into camp in the vicinity of Lost Mountain, where we found a number of Confederates encamped in advance of us. As we passed these troops, camped along both sides of the road under the tall pines, we noticed long piles of corn dodgers ricked up on the wire grass ready to be issued to tlie troops. Dozens and dozens of Kegroes were engaged in baking this bread in Dutch ovens. The dodgers were about the size of a brick, though a little different in shape, were nicely browned, and, being hot, gave out a savory flavor to a tired and lumgry soldier boy. We were corraled in a cow pen that night on the same plantation where these Con- federate troops were encamped. Just outside the bars stood an old empty white-topped Avagon, the rear end gate of which was out — a Confederate portable secre- tary. On the floor of the bed, at the rear end, were pen and ink and a large blank book, one of old Jeff's autograph albums. In this book each Yankee prisoner was invited by a crusty Con federate sergeant to inscribe his name, company, and regiment, and, this done, he passed on into the pen, around which was stationed a strong guard. In recording his name in that book many a brave comrade signed his death-warrant. Surrounded as we were by Confederates, General Hood at the time seated on his horse within a few feet of us, the Confederate stars and bars in sight, I could but contrast the scene and occasion with the one when, in the old church at home, surrounded by 202 ON WHEELS. warm patriotic friends, I had gone forward with Hardin and other associates and signed tlie enlistment papers as they hiy on the connnunion table o'erspread with tlie stars and stripes. There we were heartily cheered, and called brave boys ; here we were called Yanks derisively, with qnalifying adjectives that we considered quite inappropriate, and on we were hur- ried like cattle into the pen. Once inside that high rail inclosure, we began to speculate as to what kind of rations they were going to give their new herd. As for myself, I had my mouth fixed for one of the toothsome corn dodgers. But none of them came, and in their stead Confederate hard-tack was issued to ns, three pieces to each man, designed as a day's rations. These were unlike any Yankee hard-tack we had ever tackled. They were made out of ground rice and water without any slun-tening or salt. There were no molars in our squad of prisoners that could grind them, and the only way we could manage them was by pulverizing them between two stones, of which there were a good many in the pen. I ground mine in that way and ate but a part of them that night, putting what was left in my blouse pocket for the next day. During the night one of our boys was awakened by a Johnnie taking his shoes from under his head. The alarm was at once given, and the entire squad, over one hundred in all, awoke. Then, although our feet needed the rest, we sat up on the ground where we had been lying with nothing under us but our shoes for pillows, and put them on, and tied them in hard knots, so that we lost no more that night. MARCHING TO PRISON. 203 Once awake 1 found it difficult to get to sleep again, and as I lay there in the old cow pen on my back, gazing at the stars through the tops of the gently swaying pines, I thought of many things. What would the dear ones at home think when i\\Qy should hear that their only boy was a prisoner ? How would father and mother take it? And my sisters — Nellie, May, and Georgia — then quite small, and all younger than myself ? How I washed for their pictures, which I had received but a short time before my caj)ture — a splendid photograph it w^as of the three in a smiling group. I wondei-ed if some Johnnie would send it to his home as a memento of the fight. Then I tried to imagine what kind of a prison we were going to, sup- posing it would be some large building like a barrack, surrounded by a strong guard. I finally dropped to sleep, however, thinking that for a boy only a little over sixteen years old I had made a record I need not be ashamed of, though I was a prisoner. I had been at my post of dnt}^ and filled my place ever since my enlistment, and, since signing tlie prison record the evening before, my name was inscribed in both Federal and Confederate war records, in the latter of which signatures, liowever, there was not much comfort. The morning of the 5th dawned bright and clear. Some time during the night previous the other three companies of our battalion, which had been captured at Ackworth, joined us, Dr. Chaffee, our regimental surgeon, being w^ith them. As surgeons were not held as prisoners of war he was released, but before leaving us he took a list of all our names, companies. 204 ON WHEELS. and regiments for publication in the Northern papers for the information of onr friends. At an early hour the bars of the pen were let down, and we were turned out into the road and took up our line of march toward a point on the Chattahoocliee River, to the southwest of Atlanta. As we started we passed a Confederate regiment that was just taking np its line of march in the opposite direction. In passing this gray column I noticed one of the men with a frolicsome pet tiiat wore a uniform which was in pleasing harmony with that of its owner, and which, from its sprightly maneuvers as it skipped about from shoulder to shoulder along the wliole line of the regiment, at last hiding itself snugly away in its owner's pocket, seemed imbued with the spirit of that most glorious October morning. This nimble little creature was a sprightly gray squirrel, and I venture to say, while he has not the national reputa- tion of " Old Abe," the proud eagle of the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment, that he is by no means forgotten by this old Confederate regiment. About 8 A. M. that 5th day of October, as we were swinging along at a good gait over a rolling country covered with stately pines whose lofty evergreen crowns were gently swaying in the clear morning air, our ears caught the faint reverberations of the boom- ing of a cannon, undoubtedly the opening gun at Altoona Pass ; then came another and another, and as the rumble of distant thunder is the presage of the coming storm, tliis, to our keen ears, was the premo- nition of the fearful tempest which was breaking upon Altoona Pass. We knew every inch of the MARCHING TO PRISON. 205 ground there, rifle-pits, barricades, and redoubts, for we had helped make them. If prayer is the sincere, earnest desire of the heart, " uttered or unexpressed," everyone in our captured company must have prayed effectually for the success of our boys there that day as we were marching away to prison under the sound of those guns. It will be remembered that on the 4:tli of October, the day previous, the stirring revival song, '' Hold the fort ! " had its birth, or rather the event which in- spired it occurred. That was the day on which Gen- eral Sherman signaled from Yining Station, below Marietta, to the top of Kennesaw Mountain, the message which was signaled from there to Altoona, that he was sending reinforcements to Altoona, and for them to hold the post without fail. At the very time this signal was given we were in the valley between the two mountains, and the message was sent over our heads and over Hood's army, although all unknown to them and us. I desire here to record my belief, which I think no one who is informed about tlie matter will question, that Altoona Pass would not have been saved by the brave General Corse and his gallant men but for the desperate fighting of the Veteran Battalion of the Fourteenth and Fifteentli Illinois Infantry on the 3d and 4:th of October in the valley below Altoona. By their stubborn resistance the Confederates were held in check at least thirty-five hours, and twenty hours of this time engaged them in actual fighting. This, with the time required in taking care of their dead and wounded, gave General Corse time to get down 206 ON WHEELS. from Rome to Altooiia with his forces, which he did just as the outposts at the latter place were being at- tacked by Hood's troops at 1 a. m. the morning of the 5th. Hood attacked this place Avith three brigades, num- bering between four and five thousand men. Altoona, previous to Corse's arrival, had but eight hundred and ninety men, under command of Colonel Tourte- lotte, who could not have held the place eighteen hours without assistance. Hood sent but one division to strike and destroy the railroad in the valley where we were stationed, and bore off to the left or west with his main army. This division took our stations one at a time, commencing at Big Shanty between 9 and 10 A. M. the 3d of October, and striking us at Moon Station the same day at 2 p. m. We held our position until 9 p. M. Ackwoi'th was attacked at 8 a. m. the morning of the 4th, and was held until 2 p. m. the same day, the troops at these three stations all being portions of our Yeteran Battalion. After taking tliese points Hood's troops could not, and did not, reach Altoona until 1 A. m. the 5th of October, as previously stated, just as General Corse arrived with his troops from Rome. Thus, it will be seen, it took Hood's forces forty hours to make fifteen miles. Now, sup- pose our little battalion had surrendered post after post as we were attacked by that division of determined Confederates. Had such been the case it can be readily seen that Hood's forces could have reached and taken Altoona Pass, where Sherman's provisions for his march to the sea were stored, at least twenty-four hours before General Corse arrived there. MARCHING TO PRISON. 207 This being" the fact, and no mention of the inapor- tant work of our Veteran Battah on having been made in any war history, must be my only apology for making this record here. I feel that this much is justly due our brave boys who fought so stubbornly and held their posts so persistently against great odds in de- fense of this line of railroad leading to Slierman's base of supplies, and who indirectly saved Altoona Pass. General Corse and his men were a band of brave and gallant heroes, and this statement is not intended to, nor can it, detract in the least from their glory. I dare say the general would readily grant all that is here claimed, and would accord due merit and praise to our brave battalion. It is not surprising that members of our battalion should liave felt somewhat disappointed when General Sherman's Memoirs came out to find that no mention was made of our services. But we attributed this to his lack of information re- specting the work done, for it must be borne in mind that the three garrisons at Big Shanty, Moon Station, and A ck worth were all captured, and none remained excepting our surgeon to give any information, and there could be no official reports of the work done. This record, therefore, of the gallant defense of im- portant posts by our brave old Veteran Battalion is the first that has ever appeared, so far as the writer's knowledge extends. CHAPTER XXII. Arrival at Andersonville. UST as the san was settino: on the evenins: of the 5th of October, 1864, we went into camp for tlie night on the south bank of the Chatta- hoochee River, some twenty-five miles distant from the cow pen near Lost Mountain where we spent the previous night, and twenty odd miles southwest from Atlanta. Our camp was just a few yards to the right of the pontoon bridge on which we crossed. As we were going into camp General Beauregard and staff crossed to the north baidv of the river, aud, when over, Hood's entire army, excepting our guards, was on the north side of the Chattahoochee. The bridge was then taken np. After being marched to our camp on the bank of the river a guard line was formed around ns in the shape of a crescent with each horn touching the edge of the water. In our front in the river was quite a growth of buck brush ex- tending about twenty yards out into the stream. The ground on which we were camped was open, sloping gently to the river's brink. After the turn of the night I w\as awakened and noticed a dozen or so ob- jects, about six feet long and somewhat the shape and color of logs, cpiietly rolling down the slope over the ARRIVAL AT ANDERSONVJLLE. i>09 sandy beach into the river and disappearing in the Ijuck brush. Across the river, on the opposite bank from where we were, Confederate forces were encamped, while just beyond the skirting of buck brusli I could see guards as they were paddling up and down the stream with lighted torches as though afraid some of us might be somnambuhsts, and that w^alking in our sleep we might get drowned. But while the brush formed a pretty good hiding place, which some of our boys were disposed to avail themselves of in an at- tempt to escape, 1 concluded, when by the light of his torch I caught a gliuipso of one of the John- nies in a skiff with fixed bnyonet, that I would prefer my chances on land. In the evening when we went into cauip we were carefully counted, and on the morning of the 6tli as we started out tlie counting was repeated, which dis- closed the fact that they were sliort some thirty odd prisoners. We were then halted and marched back into camp. The officers in charge questioned the guards as to whether they had seen any of the Yanks escape or not. Finding that none had been dis- covered the Confederate officer felt sure they were either in the ground or in the water, and instituted a careful search for Yankee graves. Being unable to resurrect any from the sandy beach, he stepped down to the river's edge and called aloud for them to come up out of the watery deep, but not a ri])ple or a sound came from the placid stream, and the waters of the beautiful Chattahoochee continued their onward How all unmindful of the excited Confederates. 14 210 ON WHEELS. This nnrufHed serenity of the stream seemed very exasperating to the officer, who was now fairly froth- ing at tlie mouth, and indulging in the use of inelegant descriptive adjectives concerning us Yankees which we did not particularly enjoy. However, after he cooled down enougli to use his brains with some de- gree of intelligence, he ordered some of his guards to get into the boats and institute a vigorous spearing campaign with bayonets in search of the missing pris- oners. It was not long until they started their game, and as one after another came bounding to the shore from their hiding places, dripping from head to foot, they were greeted with hearty cheers and shouts as though they w(3re proud conquerors instead of skulk- ing prisoners. When the officer found his full com- plement of prisoners we took up our line of march again and started south at a lively gait in the direction of AVest Point. About noon we halted for dinner near a large log v/arehouse that stood alone in the pine woods, several miles from any other building, so far as we could see. One end of this building was stored to the depth of some three feet with bacon packed in charcoal. In the other end was a great quantity of meal in sacks. That noon we had issued to us about a pint of good meal to each man and a half pound of bacon. The bacon had but tlie slightest trace of salt, but was preserved by the charcoal, and tasted quite delicious when broiled. The meal we found some- what difficult to manage. Some took theirs in hats, others, who were fortunate enough to have any left, took theirs in their handkerchiefs, and still others in their pockets or on pieces of bark. We used the meal ARRIVAL AT ANDERSONVILLE. 211 by mixing it with water, and then put the saltless dough oil pieces of bark or chips, which we propped lip ill front of tlie fire until baked. About 4 p. M. that daj we passed a fine-looking spring which was some twenty feet from the road. Being quite tired and thirsty, I asked one of the guards, a kind-looking old man, if he would not go with me to the spring and let me get a drink. This he con- sented to, and, dropping out of ranks, he told me to go on in advance of him. Reaching the spring, I satiated my thirst w^ith its dehcions cooling waters. On the opposite side oi the road from the spring was a canefield, and while lying on the grass beneath the large bushy-topped chestnut tree which shaded the crystal fountain, I wondered if the clever old guard, who was standing a few feet back of me leaning on his rifle, would allow me to climb over the fence into the field and get lis a stalk of sugar cane apiece. When we got back into the road alongside the field, without lialti:ig I glanced back over my shoulder, and said : " Guard, let's have some of that cane. If you will let me I will go over and get us each a good stalk." All Southerners are fond of cane, and, being in an accommodating mood, the old gentleman consented to my proposition. Being unencumbered, I quickly bounded over into the field. The freedom thus given seemed to beget within me a keen desire for more, and as I stepped out into the canefield T determined, if possible, to have it. But I thought it would be best to work my way out several rows before undertaking it. With the view of throwimr the old man oil his 212 ON WHEELS. guard, wliilc I was going out I carefully exaiuined the diUereiit hills as I passed them as if in search of the best. When I reached the fourth row, some twenty- five or thirty feet from the fence, I decided that that was the time for making the break for liberty. How- ever, before doing so I conchided I had better cut a stalk of cane, and while doing so to look back and see what the old guard, whom I left standing in the mid- dle of the road, was doing. I soon discovered that the accommodating old man had shifted position, and was then near the fence, and at that instant had his rifle run through the top crack of the fence, hammer cocked, with a carefully drawn bead on me, ready to fire at my first attempt to escape. At this uninspiring siglit the two niml)le members which I had expected to carry me off so rapidly in my flight for freedom l)ecame so demoralized and untrustworthy that I abandoned the project, and at the same time it occurred to me that after all the cane near the fence might be the sweetest ; so, leaving the stalk I had been hacking at with my dull knife as unconcerned as possible, I walked back to the outside row near where the guard was standing and cut olf two good stalks. While doing this the guard let down the hammer of his gun, withdi*ew it from the fence, and quietly waited for me to return with the cane. Climbing the fence, I handed him the better stalk of the two, and then we hastened on to catch up with the prisoners and guards in advance. But neither of us made any mention of what we thought the other's intentions were when I was getting the cane. Had I succeeded in escaping from the guard I would have ARRIVAL AT ANBERSONVILLE. 213 ]iad a fair chance to reacli our lines near Atlanta, fur, as I have before mentioned, at that time all of Hood's forces were north of the Chattahoochee except our guards, a fact which the boys who tried to make their escape the niglit before well understood. After a long, hard march v/e reached West Point the evenino; of the Gth, about sundown. Marchino; into town, we were halted on a street in front of the large brick courthouse. While halted here for a few moments until it should be determined what to do with us for the niglit several of the boys wlio had a little money secreted about their persons obtained permission, and, under guard, went to some of the stores and purchased some bread, crackers, and cheese. These guards were old soldiers from Hood's iirmy direct from the front, and I trust the reader of tliese lines will take special note of the fact that I do not enter one word of complaint against their treatment while we were guarded by them. Indeed, if the old guard had shot me had I attempted to escape he would have done his simple duty. I mention this here be- cause this was our last day with these soldierly guaixls. While in the street before the courthouse, the even- ing being a pleasant one, a large crowd of citizens, prin- cipally women and children, gathered on the sidewalks to seethe live Yankee 2:)risoners. From the comments of some of the ladies, both old and young, I am afraid the ragged and dirty appearance of our old battalion made an unfavorable impression upon their minds. Our woe-begone appearance seemed conclusive to tlieir minds that the Union was about ready to collapse, and that " old Sherman " would soon be compelled to sue- 214 ON WHEELS. Climb. One elderly matron, pointing lier finger to- ward us, as she was talking to another excited woman, said, " Nobody needn't tell me old Lincoln's soldiers are clotlied and fed better than onr brave boys are. I've seen thousands of our soldiers, and I have never seen as ragged and dirty a looking set as these Yankees are. You jist mark what I say, our boys will drive 'em out of Georgia yit." We had been halted but about twenty-five min- utes Avlien we were marched into the courthouse and held in the large court room over night. On the morning of the 7tli our guards were changed, some mounted Georgia militia relieving the old soldiers who had brought us to West Point. We very much regretted this change, for we soon discovered that the militia, composed of young upstarts who knew noth- ing of the hardships of military life, were going to give us trouble. The commander of the new guards kept his revolver in his hands continually, all the while threatening to shoot the first Yank that didn't hop when he spoke to him, or who would attempt to retort to his gruff commands; and he ordered all his subor- dinates to treat us in like manner. It was just a little after sunrise when we started that clear morning for Columbus surrounded by those mounted boy militia. We had not proceeded very far when we learned from some of the guards that the captain, a young fellow about twenty-two or twenty three, had a sweetheart living near Columbus, and that he was going to drive us through to her father's plan- tation before camping for the night, which would re- quire a twenty-eight or twenty-nine mile march under ARRIVAL AT AXDERSONVILLE. 215 a hot sun over dusty roads for men ali-eady much fatigued from hard lighting, poor rations, and severe inarches. We were started off on a trot, an unnatural gait, which both worried us and stirred up the dust as our long swinging gait to which we were accustomed did not. By 10 a. m. the sun was beaming dow^n upon us very liot and some of the older men began to fag. For their sakes the commander was courteously re- quested to slacken our gait by a sergeant of our com- pany, but for this respectful and modest request he received a terrible cursing and came near being sliot. Several times during the day, when we were almost famishing and choking with the dust, we crossed streams, but this inhuman officer would not allow a halt so that we could get a drink, and galloped his horse around from one side of the column to another, urging his men to crowd us on, and all the while flourishing his revolver. This rush was continued from early morning until sundown, when we w^ent into camp on some open ground belonging to the plantation referred to, and witliin a mile or so of Co- lumbus. It was the most trying day's march I ever experienced while in an able-bodied condition. When we halted some of our men fell down from sheer ex- haustion, apparently more dead than alive. In jus- tice to some of the young men who helped to drive us that day I wish to say that I do not Ijelieve they were in sympathy with their inhuman officer, but were afraid to object lest they should bring upon themselves his cowardly malignity. We broke camp the following morning and marched 21G ON WHEELS. into Columbus, entering the town about 9 o'clock, where we were the sensation of the day, and were viewed and interviewed by hundreds of citizens, who seemed, however, more respectful than those at West Point. We were held in Columbus until about 5 a. m. the following day, October 9, wlien, under heavy infantry guard, we were placed on board a train of flat cars and at once started thumpety-bump over an old rotten railn^ad for Fort Valley, sonie ninety miles east, arriving there about 1 r. m. the same day. There we were at once transferred to a train of box cars on the Macon and Albany Hail road and headed south for Anderson ville, distant about forty-five miles. At Columbus there was put on the train with us one of the scrawniest, raggedest, and most filthy Union soldiers I had ever seen. We all tried to shun him for fear of becoming stocked with vermin and of catching some disease. On our way from Fort Yal- Jjy to Andersonville, as we thumped along in the old box cars over the loose joints of another dilapidated road, this filthy skeleton of a fellow, listening to our erroneous surmisings about Andersonville, said, " Com- rades, you will not believe my storj^, but I escaped from that place two weeks ago, and I tell you now you are all going to hell." Then he proceeded to give us, as we afterward found to our great sorrow, a true picture of Ander- sonville Prison, with its unspeakable horrors; and his description was a better picture of this prison than any I have ever seen penned or penciled on paper. Although he was one of our comrades in blue, yet I ARRIVAL AT ANDERSONVILLE. 217 think there was not a man in the car who believed his storj. As for myself, I entirely discredited it, and tliought he was either a great liar or a deranged per- son who had been wandering aroniid among the swamps and pine forests until he had become nearly starved and naked. To foi'tify this thought his long matted hair and Ulthy look gave him a decidedly ma- niacal appearance, and made him repulsive to every- one. About 4 o'clock that bright afternoon, October 9, 1864, a day on which the harmonies of nature would banish all thoughts of gloom and horror, our train stopped in an opening in the pine forest, where could be seen nine or ten log houses whose roof boards were held in place by long poles. To the east of the railroad track, about a quarter of a mile from this point, over some gently rolling chiy hills which were partially cleared of timber, we could see a large log stockade. This station, in the heart of this great Southern forest, our emaciated companion informed us, was Andersonville, so named before tlie war, as I have since learned upon reliable authority, for our noble Major Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame, by a friend of his who surveyed the railroad. To me, having listened to my grandmother's In- dian stories, and read books on frontier life among the Indians, as I landed here, and listened to the distant baying of hounds in the forest, and saw the prison ])en, the place appeared like a new settlement in the wilds of the Far West, with a stockade for the pro- tection of settlers in case of an attack by the redskins. When our train came to a stop we were ordered out 218 ON WHEELS. of tlie cars, and were at once turned over to the pris- on guards, who marched us a short distance east to an open space, where we were halted and, taken sepa- rately, were caref ulh^ searched by several Confederate sergeants. They took every valuable they could find from our mouths, buttons, shoes, and the various places where we had them secreted in the lining of our clothing. While this search was in progress a small, wry- faced Confederate captain with a foreign countenance walked over to where we were from one of the log huts, over which a Confederate flag floated from the top of a pole planted in front of it. This individual, whose frame was somewhat stooped, hair shaggy, beaj'd a grizzly gray, wearing a very common suit of Confederate gray and crowned with a small gray cap whose large, black bill was all out of proportion, his mouth tilled with uncommonly long tobacco-stained snags of teeth, and with an enormous revolver in hand, was the old Swiss captain, Henry Wirz, of Anderson- ville notoriety — to my mind a very poor representa- tive of the land of William Tell. When he came to where we were he said, " I vill shows you Yankees 'pout ' Uncle Sam.' You shust vait I keeps you six months, you no more tights for ' Uncle Sam.' • ' Uncle Sam ! ' " These words are in his exact language, except that he filled the blanks with curses, and they were burned into my young mind so deeply at the time that they seem to ring in my ears to this day. This narrow-minded, shallow-souled, malicious man was commander of the interior of the prison, and ABEIVAL AT ANDERS ONVILLE. 219 directed our treatment and how we should be fed, watered, clothed, and sheltered. It is but fair to spcj that he was detested by some of his own guards as well as hated by all the prisoners. Neither the Con- federate soldiers in the front nor the masses of the people of the South knew any more about what was done in Anderson ville and other Southern prisons, and the inhuman treatment we were receiving, than we know of what is going on in the prisons of Rus- sia, and were in no way responsible for such treat- ment, and such is the universal belief of those who were incarcerated in these prison dens. The record of the coming chapters will simply give some of the actual experiences and observations of a boy prisonei", as nearly as language can convey a correct idea of them. CHAPTER XXIII. M Entering Andeesonville Prison. HEN tlie searcli for valuables was over, inas- much as commissioned officers were not con- fined in Andersonville, tliose belonging to our battalion were ordered out of tlie ranks to be sent to some prison kept especially for such officers. Our acting lieutenants, Ivieft'er and Bostwick, not having received their commissions at the time, had to enter the prison with the rest of us. Here w^e bade adieu to our gallant captain, Tom Wiesner, and other com. missioned officers, and, although Captain Wiesner is still living, and now resides at Rock Bridge, Bl., I have never seen hiui since. After the officers were separated from us our old battalion, three hundred strong, was taken east toward the stockade, surrounded by a strong guard of old men and boys belonging to a Georgia militia regi- ment. At the time of our entrance the prison consisted of a strong stockade twenty feet in height, inclosing twenty-seven acres of ground. This stockade was formed of large pine logs firmly planted in the ground some five feet deep. The main stockade was surrounded by two other similar rows of pine logs. ENTERIN,G ANDERSONVILLE PRISOX. 221 the luiddle stockade being sixteen feet liigli and tlic outer one twelve feet liigli. These were designed for both offensive and defensive operations. If the inner stockade should be forced by the prisoners the middle one would form another line of defense. In case of an attempt to deliver the prisoners by a force oper- ating from the outside the outer stockade formed an excellent protection for Confederate troops, and a most formidable obstacle to tlie approach of Union cavalry or infantry. The four angles of the outer line were strengthened by earth forts on commanding eminences from which the cannon, in case of an up- rising among the prisoners, might sweep the entire inclosure. The ground inclosed by the innermost stockade lay in the form of a parallelogram, extend- ing lengthwise almost due north and south. This space included the northern and southern slopes of two liills, between wdiich a stream of water five or six inches deep and four or five feet wide ran from w^est to east. The surface soil of these two hills was composed chiefly of sand with varying admixtures of cla)^, wdiicli was sufficiently tenacious to give a good degree of consistency to the soil. On the west side of tlie stock- ade, the side next to the railroad, there were tw^o en- trances, one on each side of the small creek midway between it and the corners of the inclosure on the same side. These were known as the north and south gates, and were the only entrances into the prison. Ai-ound these two gates on the outside were small stockades with other sets of gates. Around the inner stockade and just outside of it at regular inter- vals were forty-four sentry posts, or little perches, 222 ON WHEELS, which were reached bj ladders and were covered with board roofs. On these the guards stood, the greater portions of their bodies rising above the stockade, which gave them a full view of the inside of the prison. Twenty feet inside the inner stockade, entirely around the inclosure, was the dead line, which consisted of a strip one inch thick by four inches wide nailed on the top of stakes driven into the ground, and which were about three and a half feet high. To attempt to pass or reach over or un- der this line was certain death. A portion of this description of Anderson ville Prison, which accords with my knowledge of tlie place, I have copied from a report of a Confederate surgeon given at the Wirz trial after the close of the war. The illustration on the opposite page is a fair representation of it, so far as it can be pictured. On our way to this pen, a little to the right of the southwest corner of the stockade, we saw four ragged, skeleton-looking Union prisoners confined in stocks, with bands, feet, and neck securely fastened. As they lay there motionless, their blackened faces up- turned toward the clear sky, they were in appearance much like the poor fellow we picked up at Colum- bus, and looked as if they might be dead. As we went through the second or middle stockade a little to the right of the south gate we passed a brush shelter made with poles resting on stakes, which were covered with pine boughs, having open sides and no floor. Lying on the ground under this shade we counted over twenty emaciated, blackened human forms. The most of them were covered from head (23) ENTERING ANDERS ONVILLE PRISON 223 to foot with angry looking sores. Tiiey were lying side by side and were entirely destitute of clothing. This w^as the Andersonville dead-house, through which, during twelve months, between twelve and thirteen thousand Union soldiers were carried, whose graves in the national cemetery at that place are all marked by small white marble slabs, all provided and kept in order by the United States government. Many moi-e who were confined in Andersonville, in attempting to escape, perished in the surrounding for- ests and swamps, and so were not buried in the ceme- tery, and a record of whose death was never made. Tliis shi'oudless squad of emaciated bodies was the last sight that met our wondering gaze before the heav}^ iron bolt was drawn and the massive wooden doors swung open to admit us into the small stockade by v/hicli the south gate was inclosed. When these were opened the head of our column, pei"liaps one half of it — the section in which I was marching — was taken inside this ante-chamber of the main stockade. It w\as about twenty-five feet square, inclosed by a w^all of logs which were from a foot and a half to two feet in diameter, and about twenty feet high. These had been sawed on the sides which came together so that they fitted so closely that those within could not see out without placing their eyes close up to the smtdl crack between them. The logs forming the main stockade were scored and fitted in like manner. When the small pen was crowded as full as it could hold of prisoners a tall Confederate sergeant, by the name of Johnston, entered with us while the rest of the guards remained in heavy lines around the prisoners 224 ON WHEELS. who were left outside. The gates were then closed and fastened secui'ely behind us. If a portion of a drove of cattle hemmed in on the scales, just before entering the slaughter pen, could think and feel as we do, I believe the emotions of the dumb brutes, ready to go to the shambles, would be akin to ours as we were crowded into that small pen, wn'th the words of old Captain "Wirz ringing in our ears, with added emphasis from the ghastly sights we had but a moment before witnessed. At the time we could see nothing outside save the blue sky above us and the gray-coated sentinels on their perches, and as we looked into each other's blanched and troubled faces we felt indeed that we were in the very jaws of death and gates of hell with no one to deliver us. When the gates behind us had been closed and made secure the Confederate sergeant who had entered wdth us unlocked the massive wooden gates of the inner stockade, threw back the heavy iron bar that secured tliem, and shoved the heavy doors inward on their creaking hinges, and we were marched in. As we entered through the open door Johnston ordered us to keep in line. To the left of the gate were to be seen twelve or fifteen more shroudless dead, covered w^ith filth and vermin, lying in a row near and with their heads against the stockade. Once inside, wdiat an immense volume of suffering was opened before us ! The horrible sights which met our view seemed to daze us completely, and men ex- claimed : "Is tliis hell?" Yerily, the great mass of gaunt, unnatural-looking beings, soot-begrimed, and ENTERING ANDERSONVILLE PRISON 225 clad ill filthy tatters, tluit we saw stalking about inside this pen looked, indeed, as if they might belong to a world of lost spirits. Our battalion was marched east from the gates on a street to a point near the center of the stockade, east and west, and there we were allotted a piece of ground ndjoining and just to the south of the creek. As we marched to the center of this literal valley of destruction and halted we were engulfed in an ocean of black, grimy, emaciated beings, covered with sores, vermin, mgs, and filth, who, with their smoke-black- ened faces, matted hair, and w^eak, strange-sounding voices, crowded around us inquiring about Grant and Sherman, about news of exchange, and w^anting to know if w^e had any hard-tack or coffee to trade for corn bread. Could it be possible, we thought, that these gaunt, filthy creatures, with half-naked, bony limbs, lusterless eyes, and feeble voices, some of them in their starving condition having lost their minds, were ever able-bodied Union soldiers? If so, alas ! for our fate. In this great throng I could see some who were hatless and naked, except for old ragged shirts, two with nothing on but an old tattered pair of drawers each. One man was wutli the whole top of his head raw, and in an unspeakably horrible condition. The man had no coat, was clad in filthy tatters, and, as I stood within four or fiwe, feet of liim, the sight almost fastened me to the spot. Dozens of men were there with their lower limbs burst open from drops}^ and others wnth their teeth and gums falling out from scurvy. In another crowd 15 226 ON WHEELS. that evening I saw three men wliose feet and liands were gangrened to snch a degree that the bones and sinews were in full view, and the joints were separating. In any direction we might go south of the creek, wliere the most of the prisoners were con- gregated at the time we entered tlie prison, these poor creatures could be seen lying on the ground unable to get up. The swamp near wliere we were camped, embracing two or three acres, was covered to the depth of several feet with iilth in a fomenting condition, which prevented the growth of any vegetation in it, and was literally alive with millions of wriggling maggots. It emitted a sichening odor, and the old prisoners told us to keep away from it as far as possil)le for fear of gangrene. This representation of Anderson ville Prison is as we found it, and is in no way overdrawn. Indeed, it is a milder representation of it than any I have ever seen as written either by other Union men who were confined therein, or by Confederate surgeons who visited the place and in official reports gave descrip- tions of it and recommended changes for the im- provement of the condition of the prisoners, which changes, however, were never made. Some of the commonest prison sights could not be described here. Before we entered the prison we had been separated into companies of ninety each, according to one of the prison regulations, with one of our own sergeants placed over each squad, whose duty it was to draw rations for his company and account for his men. Tliat evening was the last time our old Yeteran Battalion ever stood ENTERING ANDERSONVILLE PRISON 227 together in ranks, and before we scattered, as we stood there beside the shallow creek, which was used for prison sinks, and into which the washings from the cook house and the Confederate camps above flowed, often covering it with a greasy slime, I believe that every man in tlie battalion felt as if w^e had entered the valley of despair, and were camped on the river of death. As for myself, I never felt so utterly depressed, crushed, and God-forsaken in all my life before. All my former experiences in battles, on marches, and at my capture were not a drop in the bucket as com- pared with this. I w^as utterly appalled at the sight of the misery and death I saw on every hand, and the very logs of the stockade appeared as if ready to march in over the frail dead lines and crush us between their high walls. By this time we all felt that the skeleton- looking companion on the train had not pictured the horrors of the prison nearly so terribly as we found them, and that Wirz meant every word he uttered when he told us that if he kept us six months we would never fight for " Uncle Sam " again. That evening I was sixteen years four months and Ave days old, and all that I had with which to meet the horrors of that prison and to battle against grim death, outside of my physical force and resolute will, was my old Confederate hat, my blue woolen blouse and pantaloons, my gray woolen sliirt, one pair of cotton drawers, one pair of woolen socks, and one pair of army brogans ; and every piece of this outfit was at least half worn. In my pockets I had an old jack- knife, a [)iccc of coarse comb, and the silk handker- 228 ON WHEELS. chief previously mentioned. The latter, from frequent washings, was almost colorless, and was rent in several places. As soon as we broke ranks that evening we formed messes. My old mess, wliicli was composed of Charles Paine and his cousin, Charles Harper, William and Peter Gross (brothers), Frank Durant, and my- self, hung together. These messmates were all as destitute as myself, excepting Charles Paine, who at the time of our capture had his blanket with him in the stockade, and still retained it. Having but the one blanket among this mess of six, we persuaded Will Clark, who also had a blanket, to join our mess, which gave us two for the mess. When we broke ranks that evening it was about half past four o'clock. Soon after this I heard some one over near the gate we had entered sing out, " Limber Jim at the gate !" This refrain was at once taken up by every old prisoner that could pipe above a whisper, and '* Limber Jim at the gate ! Limber Jim at the gate !" was heard all over the pen. See- ing a crowd start for the gate, and having nothing to look after, I started in the same direction to see what *' Limber Jim at the gate" meant. On my way np the street along which we were marched in I was passed by the cleanest and best looking old prisoner I had seen. Everybody seemed to be trying to get out of the way\)f this man, whose tall, lithe, sinewy form, as he strode by me, caused me to think he was the limberest old prisoner I had met, whether it was Jim or not. Arriving at the gate, I found that this man really was " Limber Jim," ENTERING ANDERSONVILLE PRISON. 229 one of the old regulators, who at the time was chief of the prison police, and that he was wanted at the gate to clear the way for the ration wagon, which was standing just outside. As soon as he had made an opening through the famine-pinched crowd the inner gates were thrown open, which revealed in tlie small stockade a mule team hitched to an old wagon, in which were some greasy looking barrels. This wagon was driven in- side and started east on the street which led across the pen, and as it moved along it was followed by crowds of eager, hungry prisoners. At each narrow cross- street along the way it halted, and the sergeants in charge of the groups of nineties received the rations of corn bread and pea soup for their respective companies. The bread was in cakes, or loaves, about two feet square and four inches thick. The soup was received in buckets which the prisoners had made out of wood, using strips of leather cut from their belts for hoops. Some carried their soup away in boots, otliers in boot- leg buckets, others in drawer and pantaloon legs, made secure at the bottoms, and which had become so coated inside from the sediment adhering to them that they leaked but very little. As each sergeant received the rations for his company he was followed off to his quarters by the men belonging thereto. There he divided the rations into four parts, and gave them to four other sergeants for distribution among as many different squads. Tliese squad sergeants cut the corn bread up into as many pieces as they had men in tlieir squads, and as 230 ON WHEELS. the names or numbers of the men were called the final distribution was made. Meat, w^lien wehadanj, was distributed in the same waj'. Beans and mush were divided in many different ways. This ration wagon, Wirz's portable cupboard, was also Andersonville's hearse, used to haul the dead from the gates to the place of burial, as I was informed. On evenings when we drew meat, which was gener- ally poor boiled beef, al)out two or three ounces to each man, lively trading scenes would follow. Dozens of unsightly specimens of humanity in all manner of tattered garments could be seen, with the different kinds of rations they had drawn, making exchanges as best suited the traders. The men who had lost their teeth from scurvy wanted soup, mush, or meal in exchange for their hard corn bread. Those with dysentery wanted a soup bone or soup in place of their corn bread, and thus tlie trading was carried on until each man had done the best he could for him- self. AYhen our mess of seven drew rations that evening, not having any vessel but a two-pound peach or oyster can bucket, we liardly knew how to manage. But Charlie Paine came to our rescue with a piece of old red and brown colored damask, about twenty inches square, which he had used as a handkerchief. This we soon converted into a soup tureen, in which we drew our cow-pea soup. It required four pairs of hands to hold up the corners and sides of this flexible tureen the lirst evening while we were getting our soup. After that we lapped the corners and secured them with wooden pins, and it was not long until our ENTERING ANDERS ONVILLE PRISON. 231 improvised dish could stand alone, and thus we used it all the time of our prison life for our soup and mush, and during all that time the only cleansing it received was an occasional scraping. I w^as very hungry that evening, but from the amount of bugs in the soup, hundreds of which I saw while helping hold the tureen, my rather particular stomach became as much demoralized as had my lower limbs on a former occasion. So I decided I would not eat any pea soup while a boarder at the " Wirz Hotel." But that evening I fished the peas out of my soup, took them in my hands and my corn- bread in my pockets, and went to the creek. There I washed my peas, losing a number of tliem in the process, and, when through, could hold all I had left in one liand. I then crushed every pea in a skirmish for bugs, in which I wns quite successful, for every pea but a dozen or so was full of them. I ate the good ones, but threw the rest away, and as fast as I threw them away they were picked up and eaten by an old prisoner, wdio, I thought, must be crazy. It takes some people quite a while to learn to eat oysters or some other articles of diet, but it only re- quired about three days for us new prisoners to change our minds about eating pea soup, and our daily increasing appetites, made keen by short rations, soon prepared us for all we could get, with craving for more. While at the creek that evening washing my peas, lying on the sand, I saw a prisoner dying just across the narrow stream from where I was. Near by him Averc two skeleton ]irisoners almost naked, wlio were 232 ON WHEELS. quarreling about who should have the dying man's clothes, and, indeed, fought over it. Wiiich of the two obtained the clothes I never knew, for when they came to blows it was more than I could endure, and I left. It was amid such scenes and horrible ex- periences that the curtains of our first night in Andersonville closed around us, but far deeper than the shades of the night was the gloom that settled down upon us. CHAPTER XXIV. Andeksonville Expeeiences. fHE evening was warm and pleasant, and, as tlie stars came out one by one, all of us being wearj^, we lay down with the bare sand for onr conch and onr two blankets for a covering, a sad, hungry, and thirsty mess of boys. We had not yet learned of the wonderful Providence Spring, and, rather than drink the water from the filthy little creek, we had scooped out some shallow holes back from the stream a little ways and tried to drink the tepid, boggy -tast- ing water which oozed into them, bnt it gagged ns quite as badly as the soup. We had not been lying down long when, in addi- tion to the wicked mosquitoes, which came in vast nnm- bers from the adjoining swamps, we were attacked in force by the fleas and graybacks, which were in the sand by the millions — I mean by the millions ! They seemed to relish the "fresh fish," as new prisoners were called, and, while they had pestered us greatly before retiring, now that w^e were down on a connnon level with them their crawling and gnawing nearly set us Avild. It now seemed to me that all of my five senses, sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch, were so shocked 234 ON WHEELS. and outraged that I could not possibly exist in that horrible place. Nor do I believe I could had not those senses in a great measure become blunted and so less susceptible to the many terribly obnoxious things that we came in contact with. Indeed, it w\^s not long until we became so accustomed to our poor quality and scanty quantity of rations that, our empty stomachs craved anything eatable ; and fo accustomed to scenes of suffering and death did we become that they made less impression upon us than does the suffer- ing and death of dumb brutes now. About eight o'clock, as we lay there on the sand de- ploring our condition and trying to beat off" the fierce and persistent attacks of insects, our minds wei-e divert- ed from the skirmish for a few moments by the an- nouncement of the sentinels from their posts. First we heard: " Post numbah one, eight o'clock, and a-l-l-'s w^-e-1-1 ! " A similar announcement was made from post number two, and so from all tlie others until the en- tire circle of forty-four had reported. This indicated to the officers in charge of the guards that none of them were asleep or neglecting tlieir duty. I shall never forget my feelings when I lieard the voice of that first guard ringing out, "Post numbah one, eight o'clock, and a-l-l-'s w-e-1-1 ! " To me it seemed a hollow mockery, and that everything was all wrong instead of well; and so it ever seemed to me through all the months of my confinement there, which dragged so wearily by. Occasionally this cry would be varied a little, and to me it was a great relief when a guard would cry out : " Post numbah foah, nine o'clock, and h-y-a-r-'s ANDERSONVILLE EXPERIENCES. 235 y-e-r m-u-l-e ! " and the next one follow it up with, ^' Post nnni1)ah five, nine o'clock, and h-y-a-r-'s y-e-r r-i-d-a-h ! When tluit lirst call of the night had gone the rounds of the sentinels, and its sound had died away from the lips of the hist guard, tlie most of the pris- oners were lying down and tlie prison was compara- tively quiet. Then as we lay and gazed up into the clear, starlit sk}^ away from the misery by which we were surrounded, and were comparatively free from the sights and sounds which had so horrified us by the light of day, our nerves began to reassert them- selves, and we seven boys, none of us of age, began coolly and resolutely to look our situation in the face ; and there on the sand we talked the matter all over. But one opinion seeming to prevail among us, namely, that no man could live to get out of that prison who should becouie broken spirited, abandon hope, or lose his grit, then and there I believe our nerves be- came as rigid as those of the most stolid Indian. Then we pledged to keep our persons as clean as possible, and to stand by each other in all that might befall us — a vow tliat was never broken. The sun was shining brightly the following morn- ing when we awoke fi'om a night of restless dreamy slumbers. For boys unaccustomed to such sights it was well we had set our wills to firmly endure all while the shades of night curtained fi-om our view the acres of misery by which we were surrounded. With no breakfast, the vermin constantly pestei'ing us, and the sight of filthy, ragged prisoners, with old weatherbeaten boards about fourteen inches wide and 236 OliT WHEELS. eight feet long, going in all directions over tlie pen, j^icking up and carrying out the stripped and almost lleshless forms of those who had died daring the night, required the strongest nerves. Not less than thirty-five bodies were thus carried to the gate that morning, and before night sixty stiffened forms liad been placed there side by side on the sand. From tliere they were carried to the pinebougli dead-house, previously mentioned. Then tliey were placed in a wagon and piled up as long as they would lay on, and hauled away to the trenches, about half a mile distant, and placed in their coffinless graves. This was a daily occurrence. During that month of October, 1864, was recorded the heaviest death rate, in proportion to the numbers in confinement, of any month in the history of An- dersonville. Tliis was occasioned by the fact that, becoming alarmed lest Sherman should release the prisoners, the authorities removed the bulk of the in- mates to other prisons, leaving the sick and more feeble ones at Andersonville. During tlie month there were 4,208 confined in the prison, and out of this number 1,595 perished, an average of 51 a day. I have now given but a glimpse of the horrors w^hich I witnessed during that month, and have only described a few cases that I saw the evening I entered the prison. Having: nothino: to cat that first mornino^ in An- dersonville, and nothing to do but answer at roll call, fight insects, and take care of our small stock of pos- sessions, our quart cup, soup dish, and two blankets, and having heard of the Providence Spring, we left ANDERSONVILLE EXPERIENCES. 237 0110 comrade to guard our position and possessions, while tiie rest of us made our way to where it was located, on the west side of the stockade, half way up the hill toward the north gate, between the dead line and the inner wall. The waters of this spring were conducted through a trough under the dead line into a larger trough but a few feet within the dead line. When we reached the spi'ing we found hundreds of the prisoners there, each very particular about drink- ing out of his own bucket, cup, cowhorn, boot, or bootleg, for fear of catching the scurv}', which was generally considered by the prisoners to be conta- gious. In order to reach the spring from the south side of the creek we had to pick our way to the small log foot-bridge which spanned the stream near the dead line on the w^est side, passing through a wilderness of low mud huts and tattered tents. The huts were made out of clay balls, and the tents of old army blankets, fragments of old clothing, oilcloths, etc., and seemed to be arranged in no particular order. On the north side of the creek hundreds of these huts and tents were vacant, a few only being occupied. There were no buildings of any kind w^ithin the entire inclosure excepting six long sheds with open ends and sides. These were located along the north end of the stockade within a few feet of the dead line, (Mch having double rows of bunks. These were known as the hospital sheds. There were, however, but few of the sick in them, and this for several rea- sons ; the bunks having no bedding, not even a straw, were harder than the sand ; having no sides, and the 238 ON WHEELS. roofs being liigli, the rains would drive through them ; then they were too far from the water, and from where the rations were issued, and from roll call, which all were required to answer every morning. The two great events of Andersonville's history — the apjDearance of Providence Spring and the hanging of the r.otorious six raiders — had occurred before our battalion entered. If you will now refer to the plan of the prison you can readily locate the spring. The cook house, you w^ill notice, stands just outside the stockade, on the north side of the creek, between the two gates. The spring was directly opposite the cook house, inside the pen, between the stockade and the dead line. At that time I was not a professed Christain, but, like thousands of the prisoners, I then believed, as I now believe, that Divine Providence placed that spring there in answer to prayer. The reader can but faintly imagine the condition of things wdien, in tlie month of August, 1864, accord- ing to the report of a Confederate surgeon wdio was there and examined the prison, there were 32,890 prisoners confined on 1,176,120 square feet, a little less than six square yards to each. "With the excep- tion of a few wells wdiich the prisoners had managed to dig with old cans, half canteens, etc., and which afforded but little water, and a very poor article at that, the creek was the only source of supply for water to drink. All over the grounds holes as deep as an arm's length had been dug and were used for sinks, as was the creek also. Fi'om these and the sewao-e from the cook house and the Confederate ANDERS ON VILLE EXPERIENCES. 239 camps above the water in the creek could not be otherwise than foul and poisonous, and most terribly so after a big rain. Is it any wonder that the lu'isoners, compelled to drink this filthy water during the hot summer months, were dying by the hundreds ? or that they should pray for a sujiply of pure water ? It was when the situation was at its worst, in that montli of August, that this magnificent spring appeared and sent forth its fiow of the pure, life-sustaining beverage, not in scanty measui'e, bat most copiously, supplying the needs of the entire thirty-two thousand prisoners. Its location was providential, being at a point where its w^aters could not become foul, where it was easy of access to all, where it occupied the least possible space of the limited grounds, and where it w\as near the only thoroughfare which led across the creek north and south. Had it appeared on the op- posite or east side of the pen it would have been be- low the swamp, and hence w^liere the impurities of the prison would have been carried toward it, and where it w^ould have been most difhcult of access. Every circumstance indicates it as sent of God as certainly as were the waters from the smitten rock in the Avilderness to the famishing Israelites, and rightly has it been named " Providence Spring." To us ])risoners it was a great boon, and you can imagine how much we relished and enjoyed its pure waters that fii'st morning in prison ; and after fully satisfying our thirst we carried a bucketful to our sentinel comrade whom we left in charge of our mea- ger possessions. Many hundreds of times did our 240 ON WHEELS. little can-bucket do similar service wliile we were guests at the " Wirz Hotel." That morning some of our mess got hold of three small tent stakes in some way, and four pegs for the corners. We then whittled out some little wooden pins, with which we pinned our two blankets together, and tlien set up our little tent, so that the lower edge of our blankets came within six or eight iuclies of the ground. Once np, we crawled under our shelter, and thus our blankets gave us protection from the hot sun during the day, while at night, still pinned together (it was the only way tliey could be made to cover all seven of ns), they gave us protection from the damp dews and chilly air. You can readily see that with seven of ns under the two blankets it was necessary for us to lie on our sides spoon fashion, and that when one got tired and turned over all the rest would have to turn with him, and lyiug on the hard ground made this movement necessary about every half hour. This constant shift- ing process was by no means easy on our scanty gar- ments, and every week brought them nearer to the point of becoming threadbare. That first day I thought 1 would go to the creek and wash my shirt. Arriving, I found a number of old prisoners there indulging in the luxury of a bath, who advised me not to wash my shirt, for the reason that it would wear out fast enough without it. I ac- cordingly took their advice, and did no laundrying all the time I was a prisoner. The same morning, up on the street which led in from the south gate, I saw six old prisoners bucked AKDERSONVILLE EXPERIENCES, 241 and gagged, as a punishment by onr prison police for violating the prison rules. It is a sad comment on humanity that even in this prison community of comrades in blue there were found i-aiders — prisoners who would steal from their unfortunate mates if they could. These men w^ere some of these despicable raiders, and they were punished by having sticks tied in their mouths so they could not talk. Their wrists were tied together securely and slipped down over the front of their knees, and, being phiced in a squatting condition side by side, a small pole was run through between their knees and elbows, and thus they were all strung out together. Such punishments, I am sorry to record, were not infrequently made necessary. The first night of our prison life one of tlie raiders stole a pair of shoes from one of our battalion. When the alarm was given several men started after the flee- ing thief, who, after crossing the creek to the north side, fell into one of the open wells there, which was about twenty feet deep. lie was left there until the next afternoon, when he was taken out by means of a rope made of blankets tied together. He was not hurt much, and when taken out was given his turn on the pole, wdiich had been worn smooth in such service. The second day we were in the prison was sunshiny and hot, and drao^ii^ed wearily awav. Durino; the day we made several tri[xs to the spring, and, besides, quite thoroughly explored and inspected the pen. We could not see out of it except when standing on the upper hillsides at the north or south ends, and then only over the stockade at or near where the creek entered and left it. Over these places we could IG 242 OK WHEELS. get a glimpse of the outside world to the extent, per- haps, of one hundred acres. And, O ! how attractive it was to see the carpet of green grass, the tall pines, and men walking about in freedom ! The very birds which winged their flight over the prison pen caused us almost to envy tliem of their freedom, and to wisli for wings, that we, too, might soar away. When rations came that evenins: we felt more in- terest in them than we had the evening before, and threw nothing away except the bugs, and we all kept back a little for breakfast. This, however, we ate dur- ing the niglit, and we were not long in finding out that our rations did us much more good when we ate them all for our evening meal, rather than try to make several meals out of what was not more tlian a third of one good one. Reserving any to eat the fol- lowing day left our dissatisfied stomachs craving what was left, and these gnawings greatly interfered witli our sleep and rest ; whereas, with the cravings of our stomachs more nearly satisfied, we could sleep more soundly, and our rest, consequently, was much more beneficial, and we had need to conserve every par- ticle of vital energy we had while besieged by disease and death. So our mess, as did the majority of the prisoners, ate our rations soon after drawing them, and during the rest of the time made out on water as best we could, tightening up our belts as we grew more and more gaunt. My belt, being the breast strap from my knapsack, which I happened to have on the day I was captured, is the only article I have left that I wore while in Anderson ville. After we had been in the prison a few days one of ANDERSONVILLE EXP^IENCES. 243 our coiripiiny, thougli not of our mess, was taken out to work in the cook house, and was placed on parole for that purpose. Bj this arrangement he went out of the pen each morning and came back at night, and when returning he would carry in pieces of wood, boards, etc. He gave me a piece of a board an inch thick and about six inches s(piare, out of which, after several days' work, I succeeded in scooping a plate. I also made me a wooden spoon, and these, with my old jackknife, comprised my entire culinary outfit, which I zealously guarded all through my prison life. We had been in confinement but a few days when we settled down into the common humdrum, every- day life of prisoners, which, in addition to drawing and eating our rations, consisted in many tramps to the spring each day and one lively skirmish in search of vermin, during which each garment was turned in- side out, and every seam was carefully fingered over and every insect found exterminated. These occasions were sometimes playfully and quite appropriately called "knitting parties," and sometimes "skirmish- ing parties." The rest of the time, with nothing to read and nothing to do, we devoted to lounging and talking over and over our old stories of army experi- ences, until repetition wore them as threadbare as our clothing was worn by the sand on which we slept. When talking over probabilities it was the prevail- ing opinion of our battalion that, on learning how we had fought to save his base of supplies. General Sher- man would arrange some special exchange for us and we would soon be given our freedom. But, alas ! " the wish was father to the thought." CHAPTER XXV. Removed to Millen Prison. N the evening of Kovember 8 a Confederate ^^^^_^^ sergeant came into the prison and announced the welcome news that we were to be exchanged, and tliat Union ships were at Savannali awaiting our arrival. On the announcement of this new^s I made a spectacle of myself and gave a shout that was enough to alarm a Comanche chief. Old prisoners with pain- racked hodies, some of whom had been scheming, hoping, and praying for this ha])pj event in that and other prisons for over a jear, were wild with excite- ment, and wept and shouted for joy. Never before had I witnessed such a scene or passed through such an experience. Everybody seemed frantic over the joyous information. Men prayed, shouted, sang, wept, and hugged each other in their joyous frenzy. "Now for God's country," could be heard from many lips which had well-nigh become sealed in death. Indeed, the news seemed to electrify the whole prison, even those whose lives had almost ebbed away, and if you had seen some who were in the procession the following day as they made their way out of the pen to the railroad, hobbling along on their old tent stakes, and supported by their stronger nEMOVED TO MILLEN PPdSON. 245 conii-ades, you Avoiild have thought it was ahnost like raising ^he dead. The 9th of November, about 11 a. m., when it came our division's time to march out, all our mess had to do, as we had not put up our tent that morning, was to unpin our blankets and roll them up and pick up our sonp tureen, quart bncket, and wooden plates — a task only too simple for seven. As we marched out those old gates that morning we considered we were a lucky set of boys thus to get out of old Wirz's clutches so easy, for, although our month's confinement had very nnich reduced us in flesh, and we were considerably w^eakened as compared with what we were when we entered, yet none of us were down sick, like hundreds of others, too weak to walk to the train. On our way from the prison to the railroad we passed a group of some seven or eight ladies, who treated us with respect and gave some of the worst cases a few little sugar cakes. But I and my mess were too hale and hearty looking prisoners to draw any of the cookies. When we arrived at the railroad we were at once taken into box cars which were in waiting for us, and soon we were off, headed toward Macon. We were packed into these cars as tightly as we could be jannned be- tween each other's knees, and sat in rows across the cars, facing the door from each end. This was \qvj uncomfortable and had a tendency to make hungry men cross, and some brutal fights were witnessed in our car that day. We had not been running along over the rough road a great distance when some of tlie old })risoners i:i the car began to w^eaken in their faith about the 24G ON WHEELS. exchange news. This was decidedly dampening to onr liopes, for they said they liad been told tliey were going to be exchanged when they were taken to Andersonville. We reached Macon that afternoon about live o'clock, where for some purpose nnknown to us we were switched onto a side track. While there Tou}^ and Oliver, two of our colored cooks, fi'om whom we had gotten separated at Columbus, found us and gave their old mess something to eat. They told us they thought Jack had been sent back to his old master. Just before tlie train pulled out that evening, a little after sundown, I was sitting near the car door hj Henry Cowan, of Company A. He liad on an old Confederate suit of gray, and, his faith in the exchange matter being on the wane, lie very slyly dropped out of the car onto the ground among the guards, and I soon lost sight of him in the fading twilight. Twenty- live years afterward, in July, 1889, in SpringHeld, 111., while returning with n\y family to our hotel from the State House, where we had visited Memorial Hall, we stepped into a drug store to refresh ourselves with soda water, the heat being oppressive. As I wheeled up to the counter in my chair and received my glass from the hands of the clerk, I thought I could detect some- thing familiar in his countenance, and while 1 was drinking the soda water I located him. It was Henry Cowan, of whom I had heard nothing since the day he jumped out of the car at Macon, Ga. You can imagine our hearty greeting and hand-shaking on this revelation. He then informed me that he succeeded in eluding the guards at Macon, and made his way to our lines near Atlanta in safety. REMOVED TO MILLEN PRISON. 247 But a few minutes after Cowan left lis the whistle blew and our train headed eastward. I was awake nearly all night, getting only an occasional doze, and could see that we were running through a poor, sparsel y settled pine region, and also tliat we were making veiy poor time. Just as the sun was making iiis appearance above the eastern horizon our train came to a stop in the midst of an immense pinery, and where, I had not the remotest idea. Here we were ordered out of the cars. I hoped it was for the purpose of issuing to us some rations, and that we would have an opportunity to get a driidi and stretch our cramped limbs, which we had had no opportunitj^ of doing since we left Ander- sonville. When we did get out we found our lower limbs so stiff that we had great difficulty in getting them straightened out. As soon as we were all out of the cars, except a few who had died en route^ and others who were too feeble to alight, we were ordered to fall in line and were started into the woods. We had marched but a short distance, perhaps one luindred yards, when, to our dismay, right before us there loomed up another horrible stockade, which was known as Millen Prison. Just before entering this prison we noticed on the right side of the road near the gate three emaciated forms in the stocks. We passed within ten feet of them, and could see that they were fast- ened the same as those we had seen at Andersonville, neck, hands, and feet. They were all dead and were covered with a white frost. This sight as we were entering another miserable log pen called a prison, 248 ON WHEELS. coupled with our knowledge of Anderson ville horrors, sent onr declining spirits down to the lowest degree. On entering the pen we found it very similar to the one we had just left, Avith the exception that it was comparatively new, and hence cleaner, and the creek which ran throu2:h it was several times as larcre as the one at Anderson ville. Here we found some seven or eight thonsand old prisoners who had previonsly been m<)\ed from Andersonville. Among them was John McElroy, aftei-ward author of Andersonville ^ 07\ A Si'ory of Reh I Prisons. Our sufferings here were greater than they were in Andersonville, for now frosty weather and cold rains liad set in, and, our flesh, blood, and clothing all being thinner, our two old blankets afforded us but little protection as we lay on the bare ground, much of the time soaked to the skin and having very little fuel for fires. The rations here were but very little better than those at Andersonville. I do not know what the death rate was here, but it was fearful among the old prisoners, who, by the hundreds, almost naked and with no pro- tection, were compelled to lie on the ground in the November storms. I do not mean to say that none had protection, for some who eiitered the pen when it was new, when such things could be picked up in- side, had little shanties made out of pine boughs and slabs. But when we entered there was not so much rs a splinter to be had without stealing or buying it, so that we and hundreds of others had to lie on the bare ground as at Andersonville. I was near the gate our first day there when rations, consisting of meal and fresh beef, were brought in. REMOVED TO MILL EN PRISON. 249 Instead of driving around througli the pen with them as they did at Andersonville, the meat was issued that day at the gate to division sergeants, who called for men to carry the meat to the different quarters. Being close to the wagon, I took a small hind quarter that would weigli, perhaps, seventy-iivo or eighty pounds to carry to our division. It was quite a distance to where we W'ere located, and I hardly ex])ccted to carry the meat so far, but I thought that while it was in my possession I could secure a good chunk of tallow. Failing to get any w^hile I had it on my shoulder, after I had gone a little distance I fell down, managing to fall with the meat under me ; and, while struggling to get up with it, succeeded in pulling off a full half pound of tallow, which I stuck in be- tween my blouse and shirt, having left the former open for that purpose before starting. After secui'ing the tallow and making an unsuccessful attempt or two to get up with the meat, I finally got up w^ithout it, and told our division sergeant I was too weak to carry it. lie let me off with a reprimand for attempting to carry the meat and dropping it in the dirt, which I thought a very reasonable price for a good half pound of tallow. I did not say anything to my mess about my ex- ploit until they w^ere cooking their mush, wdiich was done by each taking his turn cooking it in the quart bucket. As this was being done I gave each one a piece of tallow about the size of a quail vgg, with which to season his mush. My mess lauded my achievement as much as if I had been some c^reat general who had gained an important victory. 250 ON WHEELS. "Wliile we were in Millen Prison there was an ex- change of the sick and disabled, and I suddenly be- came so lame it required two sticks for me to walk with, and I know I never tried so hard in all my life to appear sick. But my attempt failed, and I was ordered out of the ranks twice and told tliere was nothing the matter with me, wdiich, in comparison with many others, was true. On one of these exchange occasions I saw in the ranks a huge bony giant. I believe if he had been straightened up he would liave stood at least six feet and four inches in his bare feet. He had no clothing on him but an old ragged pair of drawers, which reached but a little below his knees. Between two other large soldiers, w^itli his arms around their necks, resting his weight on then' shoulders, he was being slowly walked out to the gate. He was nothing but skin and bones. On his great bony hips a hat might have been hung, and I am sure I could have compassed his wasplike waist with my two hands. How the man, in bis condition, could live in that place at all was a mystery to me. One day while in Millen I was near the gate, just inside of which there were several guards watching a pile of meal bags. It was just a few days after Mr. Lincoln was elected to the presidency of the United States the second time — a fact which at that time we were not apprised of, though, I think, the Confeder- ates were, and felt crusty over it. Politics had been running high among the prisoners, and elections held had given Mr. Lincoln large majorities. This boy, as if endeavoring to raise his drooping spirits, and REMOVED TO MILLEN PRISOy. 2b\ dampen mine, as I tliouglit, broke out on that occa- sion witli this jingle: "Davis on a white horse, Lincoln on a mule; Davis is the President, And Lincoln is a fool." Not knowing wlietlier Lincohi had been reelected or not this sentimental poetry rather nonplused me for the instant, and the only retort I c- /i''i:^ i¥-; m^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 763 185 4