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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
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 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
EXTRACTS 
 
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 BY 
 
 ALBERT 0. MARSHALL 
 
 PRESEKTED WITH THE :flUTHOWS COMPLIMENTS. 
 
ARMY LIFE 
 
 FROM A SOLDIER'S JOURNAL 
 
 (Copyrighted.) 
 
 BY 
 
 / 
 
 ALBERT O. MARSHALL, 
 
 incid?:nts, sketches and record of a union 
 soldier's army life in camp and field} 
 
 1861-64. ^„„^^^^ 
 
 SPECIAL EDITION. X^^WASHlS^'^ 
 
 TRIiNTED FOR THE AUTHOR. 
 
 / 
 
 JOLIET, ILL. 
 
El4>0l 
 
 t\ -^n 
 
 PEEFACE. 
 
 Books are merely word pictures. The true artist 
 makes the scene upon tlie canvas appear life-like and 
 'ictual. 
 
 It has been truly said, that if the biography of 
 any man, however humble his station, were written 
 so truthful and complete as to display his whole inner 
 and outer life, from the cradle to the grave, it would 
 be immortal. To write such a biography is impossi- 
 ble. The writer, like the painter, only produces a 
 likeness; neither creates the real. 
 
 Many histories of the late war have been written, a 
 perusal of which calls to mind my own soldier life; 
 and in reading of the brave deeds of many officers, as 
 recorded, the thought has often occurred to me, that 
 the simple story of the private soldier's actual army 
 life would not be devoid of interest. 
 
 Turning occasionally to my army journal, after 
 these many years, tlie sketches written from time to 
 time by the light of the evening camp fires, appear to 
 me, deeply interesting. They may, perhaps, be en- 
 tertaining to otl ei's. 
 
 The preservation of the little memorandum books 
 in whicli my army journal was written is al- 
 
 (7) 
 
8 PliEFACE. 
 
 most iriiraciiloiis. The knapsack in wLicli they were 
 carried, was often left behind on some forced march, 
 or just before a battle. Other kna}3sacks were lost. 
 Bnttln'ongli all the varied changes, dangers and vicis- 
 situdes of three 3^ears of a soldier's life at the front, 
 on the march, in bivouac and battle, this knapsack 
 was never so mislaid or lost as not to bring along its 
 little army journal. These memoranda are simply 
 jottings, made rather as a pastime than with any 
 thought of future use, or of their being of sufficient 
 value to send home for safe keeping; an army blanket 
 was then more highly prized and carefully guarded; 
 yet with all the neglect and hazard attending its jour- 
 ney, this journal always returned and was at the mus- 
 ter out, or these pages could not have been presented. 
 
 ^o published histories nor public records have been 
 consulted in compiling this volume. It contains only 
 such matters as were, at the time, deemed of sufHcient 
 interest to be noted in my army journaL 
 
 In reviewing this army journal, I discover that 
 many things written at the age of twenty appear crude 
 and incomplete, twenty years thereafter. A t this time 
 I have sometimes felt inclined to erase the words of 
 youthful enthusiasm, wild extravagance, or, perhaps, 
 boyish foolishness, found therein. Such correction 
 would, however, leave the picture less vivid, distinct 
 and real. Hence, with but little change, or even ver- 
 bal alterations, and omitting only such peculiar per- 
 sonal matters as no one need ask nor expect to see, 
 the pages are presented as they were written twenty 
 years ago. 
 
 When it is remembered that a majority of the pri- 
 
Pkeface. 9 
 
 vate soldiers were, at enlistment, between the ages of 
 sixteen and twenty-three, it will be realized that a 
 true picture of their soldier life must, of necessity, 
 portray a youthful and immature one. 
 
 If my comrades of the great Union army, when 
 reading these reminiscences are carried back, in mem- 
 ory, to the old camp fires and army scenes — if their 
 friends in reading the storj^ can, in imagination, see 
 what the soldiers endured and what they accomplished, 
 my object is attained. I have made no attempt to 
 write a war, nor even a regimental history; but this 
 little book is submitted for simply what it claims to 
 
 be A PICTUKE OF A PRIVATE SOLDIEr's ARMY LIFE. 
 
 A. O. M. 
 
 JoLiET, III., 1883. 
 
ARMY LIFE 
 
 FROM A SOLDIER'S JOURNAL. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 LEAVING HOME. 
 
 The eleventh day of September, dnrinir the event- 
 ful year of 1861, found me riding at railroad speed 
 down the Cliicago and Alton road, on my way from 
 my Will county home, to Camp Butler at Spring- 
 field, Illinois, where I was to join the ariny, shoulder 
 a musket, and go forth to the bloody fields of battle 
 to fight for the grand cause of Country and Liberty. 
 
 I will not attempt to portray the varied emotions I 
 felt upon this, to me, long to be remembered day. 
 Such emotions as any young man must feel when 
 leaving the dearest of home associations, the kindest 
 of friendly relations, the most cherished and valued 
 school privileges; leaving all of these for the first 
 time, and that, too, not as fond anticipation had often 
 promised, to mingle in the common contests of active 
 life, but for the uncertain, desperate battle field, by 
 and by to return, perhaps — perhaps not. Attempt- 
 ing to throw the veil of forgetfulness over these 
 memories I will let this journal recount other thought.s 
 and scenes. 
 
 (11) 
 
12 Army Life, 
 
 Tlie day was bright and beautiful; one of tlie fair- 
 est of early Autumn. Tlie journey passed swifily 
 and pleasantly. 
 
 FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE THIRTY-TIIIRD. 
 
 Iliad decided to join the Thirty- third Illinois (for- 
 mal) Eeo^iment. At Blooniington two intelliirent and 
 accomplished hidies joined the passengers for Spring- 
 field. I was mucli pleased to learn that tliey were 
 acquainted with the Normal Regiment, to which, in 
 fact, they were on tlie way to make a visit. One was 
 the wife of Colonel Plovey of the Thirty-third and the 
 other a sister of a young man, lately from the Nor- 
 mal school, and now orderly sergeant of the company 
 I intended to join. With one exception tliey were 
 the first n:iembers of the Normal Reo^iment — which 
 they were in spirit and interest, if not in fact — I had 
 ever met. 
 
 If the regiment sustains even a small part of the 
 good impression created in its favor by this first 
 meeting with any of its members, it will prove to be 
 one of the best regiments that Illinois or any State 
 can send to the field. 
 
 We arrived at Springfield at sundown. Jumping 
 into a carriage I was soon in Camp Butler and the 
 camp of the Thirty-third shown to me. I then found 
 Company A and was furnished with soldier quarters 
 for the night. 
 
 FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP — YOUNG SOLDIERS ON GUARD. 
 
 I lay down with the soldiers, but sleep was out of 
 
At Spkingfield, III., September, 1861. 13 
 
 the question. Of all the strange and queer racket and 
 sound ever heard, none could exceed the unearthly 
 clamor made by a large number of young volunteei-s 
 during the first few nights they are in camp. One 
 soldier near my tent kept up a continual yell, of, as I 
 thouglit, " corporal-of-the- guard- want -something- to- 
 eat." This early evidence of starvation in camp raised 
 rather dubious suggestions when I thoughtof ourfuture 
 prospects. As he continued to yell louder and louder, 
 instead of ceasing, at last I became vexed, as I sup- 
 posed he was only yelling for fun, and was about 
 ready to go out and try the virtue of throwing a brick 
 at his head, merely as a gentle hint for him to cease 
 such unreasonable midnight howling, when one of the 
 boys in our tent, Charley Huston, an old soldier — he 
 had been in the army three full weeks — informed me 
 tliat the soldier was on guard and was only trying to 
 utter the simple call of, ''corporal of the guard No. 
 17," which meant that he w^anted such officer to come 
 to his post for some reason or other. Thus it appeared 
 that the soldier was only doing his duty and not 
 merely yelling nonsense as I had supposed. How he 
 had been able to give such a plain call the sound I 
 first heard I am unable to understand. 
 
 Although the commotion appeared to subside a 
 little as night advanced, yet it seemed to be only so 
 that it could become more dismal and hideous. Thus 
 the night's confusion continued with all the wild and 
 weird variations possible until the early Teveille of 
 the next morning called up those thousands of enthu- 
 siastic young soldiers, who soon transformed the 
 hideous, fantastic scene of a dark, foggy night camp, 
 
14 Army Life, 
 
 into a grand and bewildering sea of life, action and 
 labor. Thus passed my first night in camp. 
 
 THE NORMAL REGIMENT. 
 
 The original idea of having the I^ormal Eegiment 
 contain onl_y\young men ol literary aspirations and hab- 
 its, had not been insisted upon as strictly as at first had 
 been intended. And yet, the regiment contained many 
 who had left schools and colleges to join the army; 
 many who well deserved the name of "Student sol- 
 diers of Illinois." Taken altogether, the regiment 
 appears to well deserve the honor of carrying through 
 the war the name, Normal Tiegiment, and being thus 
 identified with that favorite school of the Prairie 
 State, the ISTormal University. 
 
 My. first acquaintances were among Company A. 
 Of course, I. was more interested in them than in 
 others, as they were to be my immediate associates 
 and comrades for the next three years. Among them 
 w^ere quite a number of students from the Normal 
 University — and a noble class of young men they 
 were — some from* other colleges, others were school 
 teachers, and quite a large number had come from the 
 best class of farmer boys, who were, many of them, 
 equal, if not superior, in intelligence and all soldierly 
 qualities, to their college comrades. 
 
 Many good people w^ould regret to see so many 
 bright and promising young men rushing to meet 
 the deadly exposure of camp life and the battle field. 
 It is indeed, a sad, a terrible thought. Still if it 
 proves to be the will of Heaven that they should fall, 
 
At Camp Butler — Sworn In. 15 
 
 why should friends at home mourn? If they were 
 to h"ve for ages, when could they again have an op- 
 portunity to give their, lives to support and uphold a 
 nobler, a better cause? In these trying days how 
 often has the thought been repeated in thousands of 
 earnest hearts: If I have not my loved country to 
 live in, I have nothing to live for. If this is to be 
 its end, let it also be mine. Such a cause thus sup- 
 ported, thus maintained, must be right and in the end 
 must surely win. 
 
 SWOEN IN. 
 
 I was sworn into the service on the fourteenth day 
 of September. Only four others were sworn in at the 
 same time. The medical examination was skipped in 
 my case. The doctor simply bowed to me pleasantly 
 and said: "I guess you will make a good soldier." 
 The company had been mustered and fully organized 
 before I joined it. All the ofticers had been elected, 
 commissioned and appointed, and every thing was in 
 working order. 
 
 I was somewhat amused to see the reluctance with 
 which our officers, at my direction, inserted the word 
 *' farmer " instead of " student " in the column of the 
 muster-rolls headed " occupation." They were anx- 
 ious to have all who had left universities to join the 
 army entered on the rolls as "• students." But being 
 a farmer boy I preferred to enlist as one. 
 
 MY FIRST SABBATH IN CAMP. 
 
 Sunday, the fifteenth, was my first Sabbath in camp. 
 
16 Army Life, 
 
 There was not any religious services in our regiment, 
 so I sought relief from the long, dull hours by visiting, 
 reading and writing letters home. As if to remind 
 us of the holiness of the day, which seemed to have 
 been almost forgotten, one of our regiment was called 
 from anions: us to meet his Maker. This was the 
 second death in the regiment. 
 
 A FULL DKESSED SOLDIER. 
 
 On Monday I drew my uniform and soon was in full 
 soldier trim. Got a very good, well fitting suit of 
 clothes. Felt quite soldier-like. From what prouder 
 position could a young man of tliis noble country 
 desire to commence active life, than that of a free 
 American soldier? And should he die in this cause, 
 every good Christian will admit that he ought to go 
 right straight to Pleaven. 
 
 MARCHING ORDERS — HURRAH ! 
 
 On Tuesday, September seventeenth, in answer to the 
 sudden call, '' Fall in," our company was immediately 
 assembled together. We were then informed that we 
 were likely to soon move to the front, and ordered to 
 be ready to march at an hour's notice. " Hurrah ! Hur- 
 rah, boys ! ! Hu rrah ! ! !" What a yell rang and echoed 
 and re-echoed through the camp and woods, until the 
 staunch old oaks themselves seemed to have caught 
 the ii.spiration and vibrated with the wild enthusi- 
 asm. The boys threw their hats liigh in the air, ran, 
 jumped, tumbled, hallooed and yelled until they were 
 hoarse and exhausted. In fact I never saw boys or 
 
Learning to Use the KNArsACK, etc. 17 
 
 men so wild, so entluislastic, so delighted as tliose of 
 the Thirty-third were wlien the order came for them 
 to leave Camp Butler and start for the seat of war. 
 All the afternoon every thing and every one was in 
 the greatest commotion. Tiie strange excitement and 
 enthusiasm continued at the highest pitch. And such 
 excitement, such enthusiasm! It seemed in fact as 
 tliough each and everyone was a powerful electric bat- 
 tery charged to the full and overflowing wntli the 
 electricit}^, created by tlie wild enthusiasm of that 
 hour. It appeared as though they thought that the 
 greatest events of a thousand eventful years had been 
 combined and condensed into one brief moment of 
 time, and the victory of them all given to the boys of 
 tlie Thirty-third in those brief commands: "To the 
 front," "Prepare for active service." 
 
 LEARNIiXG TO USE THE KNAPSACK, ETC. 
 
 Our knapsacks, haversacks and canteens were is- 
 sued to us at once. Many funny scenes occurred as 
 the young soldier boys were trying to understand the 
 new, and to them, curious soldier trappings. Each 
 commenced trying to solve the unknown mystery at 
 once. Most of the soldiers could, at first sight, un- 
 derstand the use for which the different articles were 
 designed, but the more awkward ones made some 
 laughable blunders. The canteens being simply a 
 round tin water flask vvith flat sides and a strap at- 
 tached to carrj^ it by, so plainly showed for what it 
 was intended that all could understand its use at once, 
 except a few of those odd fellows who never under- 
 stand anything, and who were laughed at for the way 
 
18 Army Life, 
 
 in which they explained their supposed powder-horns. 
 This was the only mistake made with the canteens, 
 unless the enthusiastic indorsement of one soldier 
 could be called a mistake, who, when he received his 
 canteen, earnestly embraced it and spontaneously ex- 
 claimed, "What a neat and convenient thing to carry 
 a drop of whisky in to have in case of accident." 
 
 The knapsacKS with their different parts, pockets, 
 and straps, puzzled them more. The haversacks 
 being simply a canvas bag with a strap attached 
 long enough to go over the shoulders, were so plain 
 and simple that they could, as they erroneously sup- 
 posed, understand its use at once. By the time a single 
 blanket was crowded into it, the haversack, never in- 
 tended for such purpose, was full and running over, and 
 the perplexed and bewildered soldier would look with 
 blank astonishment and comical dismay at the large 
 pile of necessary blankets and clothing for which he 
 had no room. By this time the more dexterous ones 
 had solved the mystery of their knapsacks and with 
 them fully packed were trying them in position on 
 their backs. Upon looking at the more ingenious 
 ones, the unhappy and confused soldiers began to see 
 where they were wrong, and soon understood that the 
 haversacks they had been trying to use as a bag for 
 their blankets and clothing was only designed for a 
 dinner bag. "With the help of their more efficient 
 comrades the awkward soldiers learned how to pack 
 their knapsacks. In this way even the dullest volun- 
 teer was set right as to the different and proper uses 
 of the knapsack, haversack and canteen, and we were 
 soon pronounced to be all in marching order. 
 
We Leave Camp Butler. 19 
 
 GOING — BUT WHERE TO? STRIKING TENTS. 
 
 Althongli we have received orders to be ready to 
 march at an hour's notice, we do not know when we 
 will start nor whither we are to go. Some try to 
 guess, but it is no use. Ah-eady every place from 
 Washington to Texas has been mentioned. The only 
 thing we seem to be certain about is, that we are go- 
 ing: somewhere. 
 
 The next day we completed our arrangements for 
 leaving Camp Butler. Many of the soldiers had 
 clothing, books, etc., which they could not take with 
 them. Such things were disposed of in different ways; 
 some were given or thrown away; some, Yankee like, 
 traded off; and others sent to friends at home. Every 
 thing being ready we impatiently waited for marching 
 ordei's. 
 
 At five o'clock in the afternoon the welcome, 
 anxiously-waited- for order came: " Strike tents." No 
 sooner said than done. Even now the laugh went 
 round at the expense of two or three wildly enthusi- 
 astic, awkward ones who, this being the first time 
 they had heard this command, had taken the order 
 exactly as given and with the nearest clubs at hand 
 were hastening to vigorously perform their share of 
 " striking tents." Our zealous friends soon learned 
 that to '' strike tents" did not mean, like " whipping 
 carpets," to vigorously pound them with a stick, but 
 to take them down. A thousand willing hands seized 
 the tents, took them down, rolled them up and loaded 
 them on the wagons and we were really to start. 
 
 It was now generally understood that we had been 
 
20 Army Life, 
 
 ordered to "Wasliington. We marclied out to onr last 
 parade at Camp Butler. Colonel Hovej was absent 
 from camp. He was in the city of Springfield arrang- 
 ing for our departure. Major Koe on horseback 
 was in command of the regiment, lie made a few 
 happy remarks which were enthusiasticallj^ cheered 
 by the comm.and. We marched from the camp to the 
 public road, and supposed that we were now fairly on 
 the way; but just as we were starting for the railroad 
 depot we were ordered to stop a few minutes. The 
 few minutes ran into hours. It turned out that we 
 had to stay waiting on the roadside all night expect- 
 ing? every moment to start forward. Waiting for 
 what? Waiting, as we afterward learned, for Uncle 
 Sam to make up his mind where he wished to send us. 
 Colonel llovey and our other officers, so it was under- 
 stood, were anxious to cast their fortunes and the 
 future of the regiment with the Western army and 
 not with that of the East. Finally the order for us to 
 go to Washington, in response to much telegraphing, 
 was countermanded and \ve were sent to Missouri. 
 
 FIRST MARCH. 
 
 After lying upon the roadside all night we got 
 np at an early hour and returned to our old camp, 
 where we took an early breakfast and then mai-ched 
 to Jimtown, the nearest railroad station. 
 
 Our first march, although a short one, only two and 
 a half miles, was to us a hard one. Lying as we did 
 by the roadside.all night, expecting every moment to 
 be called into line to go to the supposed waiting rail- 
 
On the Way to Missouri. 21 
 
 road train, with little cliance to sleep or keep warm 
 during all the long hours of a chilly September night, 
 did not have a tendency to put us in an extra good 
 marching trim. Besides this, we were all heavily 
 overloaded. Eacli was carrying about as heavy a load 
 as he could lift. And tlien our knapsacks, the awk- 
 ward things, would not set right; or rather perhaps 
 we did not know how to make them do so; something 
 was wrong. Going in this condition, by the 'time our 
 little march was ended, many of the young and un- 
 seasoned soldiers were completely exhausted. This, 
 it must be confessed, was rather a poor beginning for 
 soldiers who liad such high expectations of the great 
 wanders they were to accomplish when opportunity 
 offered. 
 
 JIMTOAVN. 
 
 We took the cars at Jimtown; such at least was 
 given as the name of the place where we took the 
 cars when leaving Camp Butler. The city— if it is 
 ever to be one — at the time we were there consisted, 
 according to my recollection, of quite a number of 
 substantial, erect and well preserved white oak stumps, 
 one corn crib and a small house upon the side of one 
 of the hills. 
 
 ON THE ROAD FROM SPRINGFIELD TO ST. LOUIS. 
 
 The train was waiting for us. Embarking took 
 but a sliort time. The sight of the snorting railroad 
 enirine waiting to start us on our journey to some 
 more war-like lands, seemed to bring back the enthu- 
 
22 Army Life. 
 
 siasrii of the previous day. Every one was revived 
 as if by magic and at once forgot tiie weariness 
 caused by our lirst march. All were soon on the cars, 
 the tents and everything loaded, all readj^, and away 
 we went. 
 
 "We had a very pleasant ride over the grand prai- 
 ries of Illinois, down to Alton and thence along tlie 
 river to St. Louis. The sympathy and earnest good 
 will extended to us by the noble-hearted, loyal and 
 true people of Illinois, whose free and happy homes 
 we were so rapidly passing, was unbounded. At 
 every city, village and farm house the citizens and 
 inmates, men, women and children, all would come 
 out to cheer us on our way and bid us an earnest, 
 heartfelt " God bless you." From Springfield to St. 
 Louis our route was lined with flying flags and wav- 
 ing handkerchiefs. It seemed as though all the peo- 
 ple were our own, well known neighbors and friends. 
 
 The neatest, best part, was to see the pretty girls, 
 the blooming maidens, the farmer's daughters as they 
 came tripping across the fields to wish us — many of 
 us hoped that it might not prove to be the last — timid 
 yet earnest *'good-by." Perhaps there is more truth 
 than would at first appear in the spontaneous words 
 of one soldier, who could not help exclaiming: " If 
 every man in the United States was a farmer's daugh- 
 ter, there would not be any rebels for us to fight. '-' 
 Most certain it is that, if all hearts were as loyal and 
 true as those that beat within the breasts of the kind 
 and noble daughters of our Illinois farmers, there 
 would riot be any bloody, treason-stained hands in the 
 land. 
 
Loyal Daughters of the Prairie State. 23 
 
 At Alton we stopped a short time. This delay gave 
 the soldiers an opportunity to buy a fresh supply of 
 fruit, cakes, pies, etc. It was strongly suspected that 
 a few had something stronger than "cold coffee" in 
 their canteens, which they insisted was what tliey had 
 purchased. A peculiar kind of cold coffee no doubt. 
 One which, the colder it was, the hotter it became. 
 Its use was not general. One intoxicated man was all 
 I saw in our entire regiment. (This was, please re- 
 member, before we had learned to be old soldiers. At 
 that time it was thought to be very wrong for a sol- 
 dier to get drunk.) 
 
 When we first arrived at Alton we expected to take 
 a steamboat and sail down the river to St. Louis. As 
 the boat which was to take us would not be ready to 
 start for several hours, it having part of a cargo to un- 
 load, it was decided that w^e should continue by rail. 
 This was quite a disappointment to the soldiers, es- 
 ])ecially those, of whom there were many, who had 
 never had a steamboat ride. We were soon under way 
 again and arrived at Illinoistown on the Mississippi 
 river, opposite St. Louis, at night. As it was now too 
 late to cross over the river, we took up quarters in the 
 railroad station houses, where we passed the night 
 quite comfortably. 
 
 The next morning we went aboard the steamboat 
 Louisiana and crossed over to St. Louis. This little 
 trip somewhat reconciled the boys to the loss of yes- 
 terday's anticipated ride. Although it was a short 
 one, not quite two miles in length, still it will bear 
 the name of a steamboat ride, and by many of us will 
 long be remembered, not only as our first steamboat 
 
24: Army Life, 
 
 ride, but also as the first time we were ever upon the 
 waters of the grand old Mississippi river. 
 
 FROM ST. LOUIS TO PILOT KNOB. 
 
 We stopped in St. Lonis only long enough to unload 
 from the steamboat and re-load on the railroad cars. 
 As onr freight consisted onlj of camp equipage and a 
 small supply of rations, tlie work of transferring was 
 soon done and we were ready to start forward. The 
 sharp railroad whistles sounded, Colonel Ilovey acting 
 as railroad conductor for our traiUjCried, " All aboard," 
 and we were on our way for Pilot Knob. 
 
 Through that part of Missouri which we passed the 
 people seemed to be loyal at heart and cheered us with 
 nearly the same hearty enthusiasm as that which 
 greeted us in Illinois. If we liad not known the fact, 
 we would not, from what we saw, have believed that 
 we were travelino^ in a slave State. 
 
 CIIAPTEE 11. 
 
 AT PILOT KNOB. 
 
 It was late at night when we arrived at Pilot Knob, 
 too late to pitch tents, so we spread them on the 
 ground for a bed and slept upon them with nothing 
 over us except the starry sky during our first night 
 in Missouri. " Pitch tents," does not, like " pitching 
 quoits," mean to throw them as far as you can but, to 
 
At Pilot Knob, September, ISGl. 25 
 
 erect them. In the aniiy the order is, " pitch tents," 
 when tliey are to be put np, and " strike tents " when 
 they are to be taken down. 
 
 We found the Seventh Nebraska, the Twenty -first 
 Illinois Infantry and part of the Seventh Indiana 
 Cavalry at Pilot Knob. They talked mysteriously of 
 unknown bauds of rebels being in force at various 
 surrounding points and in threatening proximity. 
 They appeared anxious upon one point at least, that 
 it should- be understood that they were doing very im- 
 portant duty in a military point of view. 
 
 To iudo-e bv the talk of volunteers who have for the 
 first time found themselves within fifty miles of an 
 armed enemy, one would think that all the great 
 issues of the entire war depended upon their valor. 
 Of course we soon learned to do our part in this line. 
 But a few weeks had passed before every circle in 
 camp was nightly enlivened by the recital of the im- 
 portant and eventful exploits that some of our young 
 heroes had performed. Every scouting expedition of 
 es^en two miles distance multiplied the numbers of 
 wondrous deeds accomplished. He was a poor sol- 
 dier, indeed, who could not at least add his one little 
 story to the countless number nightly recounted. It 
 was estimated by the more prudent and wise ones, that 
 our regiment had, to say the least, already done enough 
 to make its name historic. 
 
 The Twenty-first Illinois put on airs because their 
 first colonel, an officer by the name of Grant, was acting 
 as a brigadier-general and in command of a small 
 force at Cairo. 
 
26 Army Life. 
 
 on pilot knob. 
 
 We arrived at Pilot Knob at a late hour on Friday, 
 September twentieth. As we were not to move on Sat- 
 urday, the noted mountain of iron, Pilot Knob, from 
 which the village received its name, claimed our first at- 
 tention. Every one was anxious to climb over its iron 
 sides and surmount its highest point. Permission 
 was granted and we started forward in high glee. In 
 a short time that gigantic mountain of iron was a 
 grand sight to behold. It was completely covered 
 with curious and impetuous soldiers. Upon every point 
 and crag they could be seen, clambering, laughing and 
 racing until they swarmed upon the topmost peaks. 
 As they gathered at the top they could be seen swing- 
 ing their hats high in the air as they gave cheer after 
 cheer for the Union, for the flag and for the country 
 we all love so well, until the stern old iron mountain 
 seemed itself to reply with redoubled echoes. To see 
 those earnest young men thus faithfully remember- 
 ing their country and their country's flag in the 
 midst of the enjoyment caused by their first visit to 
 a place they had so often read about in their school- 
 boy days, was enough to warm the coldest heart to the 
 highest enthusiasm. 
 
 OUR GUNS. 
 
 The time granted for us to visit the mountain ex- 
 pired, and we returned to our camp at the village. 
 Upon arriving there we were called into line and 
 marched to the quartermaster's quarters and he issued 
 our guns to '^s. Colonel Ilovey had procured them at 
 
Our Guns. 27 
 
 the arsenal in St. Louis when we came iihrough. There 
 was no time to issue them to us then, so they were 
 brought down on the cars in tlie same trains with us 
 in the boxes as received. It seems strange soldiering 
 this. A lot of green country boys, undrilled, undis- 
 ciplined and without a single weapon in their hands, 
 with no training as to how to use them if they had, going 
 as it were into the very face of an armed enemy in 
 such a destitute and helpless condition. Thus it was 
 our war commenced. 
 
 The guns we drew were muskets of a European 
 make, said tx^ be some of those purchased for our 
 Government by General Fremont. The boys were 
 very much disappointed. They had expected to get 
 some of the best rifles in use. They had enlisted with 
 the understanding that this regiment was to be armed 
 with the Enfield rifles, or better, if better were to be 
 had. It was to be the crack regiment of the State, you 
 know. Every regiment organized was formed upon 
 the idea that it was without fail to be number one, 
 the especial favorite and pride of the Union army. 
 
 Expecting to get the best rifles and then to get a 
 musket — and such a musket! Phew! A musket that 
 needed the services of a skillful engineer to run it suc- 
 cessfully. To load one of them: commence by taking 
 a cartridge out of the cartridge-box, tear off the end 
 of it and pour the powder down in the gun, then place 
 the ball in after the powder; now go for the long iron 
 ramrod, which must be pulled out of its pocket, in- 
 serted in the mouth of the gun, and with it drive 
 the ball down upon the powder; then take out the 
 ramrod and return it to its own pocket. At this stage 
 
28 Army Life, 
 
 of the proceeding, with a decent gun, a percussion cap 
 would be taken from its box, the hammer of the gun 
 raised, and the cap placed upon the gun tube, but 
 these guns do not go off with a simple little percussion 
 cap such as we are acquainted with. No, indeed. 
 First, the hammer must be raised and then a little 
 trap door mast be opened, then a funny little primer 
 about two thirds of an inch in length with a pretty 
 little wire string attached, must be taken from its box 
 and inserted "just so" in a cunning little pocket, and 
 then the amusing little trap door must be carefully 
 closed dow^n over it, and thus go through all of this 
 elaborate ceremony before the gun can be loaded. 
 These guns must be intended for soldiers who go out 
 and fire one shot and then return leisurely to camp and 
 go back the next day to fire the second volley. But they 
 are so cunning. Yes, just as cunning as a little red 
 wagon and probably about as dangerous. They are a 
 smooth bore gun and the charge contains one ball and 
 three buck shot. They are good for nothing except at 
 short rano^e, and even at that but little better than a 
 common shot gun and much more complicated and 
 unliand}^ In every respect except for use as a club, 
 w^here their weight would be available, a double bar- 
 relled shot gun would be far more desirable. These 
 guns were a poor apology for those the members of our 
 regiment had expected; the promised rifles with 
 which they could pick off a rebel with perfect ease at a 
 distance of nine hundred yards. 
 
 AN ACCIDENT. 
 
 This morning, Saturday, a serious accident occurred 
 
In 'Camp IIovey. 29 
 
 in the Seventli Nebraska. A lieutenant was carelessly 
 liandling his revolver when it went off and v/onnded 
 two men, one quite badly through the leg and the 
 other mortally. Thelatterdied during the dayand was 
 buried this evening. Such carelessness as this ought 
 to be severely punished. 
 
 CAMP HOVEY 
 
 Our chn])lain not having arrived, our first Sabbath 
 in Missouri was passed w^ithout any religious services 
 being held in our regiment. 
 
 On Monday we moved and established a permanent 
 camp. Oar new camp lay between Iron ton and Ar- 
 cadia, two little villages near Pilot Knob. It was 
 named Camp IIovey. It was upon dry ground, 
 shaded with some fine old oaks, and upon the whole a 
 very pleasant place. «Iust beyond our camp was a 
 commanding hill upon wdiich the trees were being cut 
 preparatory to building a fort. The boys went to work 
 earnestly, and soon had made a fine army camp. 
 
 It would surprise any one not acquainted with the 
 inexhaustible resources and utility of Yankee ingenu- 
 ity^, to see how soon apparently useless pieces of boards 
 and planks and even the broken remains of deserted 
 secesh buildings were transformed into articles of con- 
 venience and utility. Tent floors, bunks, tables, writ- 
 ing desks, seats, etc., were made with surprising ra- 
 pidity and skill. Three hours after our tents were 
 pitched our camp presented the appearance and con- 
 tained all of the conveniences of an old and well 
 arranged camp. The easy-going people of Missouri 
 
80 Aemy Life. 
 
 were surprised and astonished. "Why," they ex- 
 claimed, '* if these men stay here six months they couid 
 build a big city." They had never before seen men 
 work in earnest. 
 
 GOOD WATER. 
 
 One of the best things of this country is the qual- 
 ity and abundance of good water. Flowing springs 
 pour forth their streams of cool and clear water from 
 every mountain side. The springs are unnumbered 
 and their supply of good water is inexhaustible. Good 
 water is necessary to preserve the health of an army. 
 The bad water of Camp Butler no doubt did much 
 to impair the health of the soldiers camped there. 
 Unhealthy water frequently destroys more soldiers 
 than the enemy's bullets. A commander who would 
 allow his soldiers to use bad water when good can be 
 had without lighting too hard, ought to be drummed 
 out of the service. 
 
 A SUICIDE. 
 
 Shortly after we were established in our new quar- 
 ters at Camp Hovey, fourteen men came from Illi- 
 nois and joined our company. Some of them were 
 new members who had lately enlisted, and others those 
 who could not come with us when we left Camp But- 
 ler. They brought us the sad news that Henry John- 
 son, a fine, intelligent young man who had been left 
 in the hospital at Camp Butler, had committed sui- 
 cide by drowning himself in the small lake at that 
 place. This sad information seemed too incredible 
 
Building Fokt IIovey. 31 
 
 for belief. I saw and had a talk with him just before 
 we came away and lie appeared to be in good spirits. 
 He said that he was gaining nicely and would be with 
 us in a few days. When I expressed my regret that 
 lie could not go with ns he replied in a happy, ]*vely 
 manner and laughingly anticipated the pleasant vhne 
 he would have going down to Missouri in a nice, com- 
 fortable passenger coach, while we would have to 
 go in crowded freight cars. In these rushing times 
 passenger cars for the transportation of soldiers had 
 to be extemporized out of freight cars. Some new, 
 discoura2:ino: memories and tliouojhts must have oc- 
 curred to the young soldier after we came away or he 
 would never have sacrificed his life so vainly. With 
 a big war on hand and his command going to the 
 front, it would seem that a soldier would know that he 
 could have lots of good chances of being killed and 
 to die in an honorable and useful way, and that he 
 need not commit suicide. Young Johnson left a short 
 note bidding his friends good-bye and telling them 
 that he was " going to the happy land above." Poor 
 boy! Let us pity although we may not understand 
 him. 
 
 BUILDING A FORT. 
 
 The early building of a fort upon the hill near our 
 camp was deemed a pressing and important matter. 
 The work was placed in charge of Colonel IIovey, 
 who took hold of it in earnest. He examined the 
 plans and estimated the work to be done. He then 
 appealed to the members of his regiment; mentioned 
 the importance of the work, the desire and necessity 
 
32 Army Life 
 
 that it sliould be done immediately; explained tliat it 
 must be done either voluntarily or by regular detail. 
 He would prefer to work with us as volunteers rather 
 than otherwise; would the Thirty-third volunteer 
 to do the work and have the honor of building the 
 fort, instead of assisting others to build it as detailed 
 soldiers? The boys of the regiment most willingly 
 assented, and to work we went. An additional in- 
 ducement was given by a promise of twenty-five cents 
 per day in addition to our regular pay as soldiers. 
 Tliose who worked as mechanics to have forty cents per 
 day. All of us who could use an ax, saw or hammer, 
 were put down on the list as mechanics. Eight 
 hours to be credited a day's work. Every hour more 
 than that to be credited as double time. Thus twelve 
 hours' work in one day would be credited as two days' 
 work. We usually put in the full twelve hours. 
 Thus many of ns were earning eighty cents per day 
 extra. Trustworthy sergeants were appointed to keep 
 these iinportant time tables with strict impartiality 
 and military exactness. The boys jokingl}^ called this 
 promised extra pay " boat money," a name derived 
 from the case of the always insolvent man who was 
 continually bargaining for the purchase of a farm 
 which he would pay for "when his boat came in." 
 (Of course nothing was ever paid upon these carefully 
 kept accounts.) 
 
 The work was pushed forward with the utmost ra- 
 pidity. Officers and men all worked together. In 
 this work all rank is ignored. The best workmen 
 were our recognized leaders. The timber in the wooas 
 near at hand was freely used. Large trees were cut 
 
Colonel Hovey and the Woeks:a.n. 33 
 
 and tlie logs hauled to the fort and placed in tlie 
 walls. 
 
 By the time the week ended the walls of the fort 
 were so well established and the work in siicli a state 
 of progress, that the chaplain of our regiment w«io 
 had now arrived, thouglit that the fort ought to have 
 some sort of a dedication, so he obtained permission 
 and held religious services in it on Sunday. 
 
 As seemed proper and appropriate the fort was 
 named after the colonel of our regiment and called 
 Fort Hovey. 
 
 COLONEL HOVEY AND THE WORKMAN 
 
 One day while the work on the fort was being carried 
 on wnth its accustomed vigor, Colonel Ilovey, as was 
 usual with him, was around among the boys to see 
 ho w^ tlie work progressed, lending a helping hand 
 now and then as he saw occasion. Among others, he 
 came across a man who was working with consider- 
 able difficulty by reason of not having the proper tools 
 to use. The man did not recognize the Colonel, who 
 was dressed in a plain way, and looked, it must be 
 confessed, more like a common soldier than like 
 what we would expect to see in the person of the com- 
 mander of the famous Normal Regiment. Colonel 
 Hovey noticed this workman a moment and then 
 asked: " Could you not do that work better if you 
 had a good hand-saw to use?" "Why, yes," said the 
 man; " I believe that I could. Say, old chap, won't 
 you go over to the tool house and get one for me?" 
 The Colonel trudged off to the tool house, nearly a 
 quarter of a mile distant, and promptly returned with 
 3 
 
34 Army Life. 
 
 a hand-saw. The workman praised him for his 
 promptness and continued his work. The Colonel 
 s'Tod looking on and soon again suggested: "I should 
 think that you could do that better if you had a good 
 a>: to use." "Yes, I never thought of that; won't 
 you r^n over to the other side of the fort and see if 
 \\ u ^an find one for me?" Colonel Hovey went as 
 before and soon returned with the desired tool. His 
 apt suggestions and willingness had completely won 
 the workingman's good will. " Well, old boss," 
 said he, in his warmest, friendliest manner, "you are 
 a mighty handy chap, and if you will come around 
 and see me this evening I will go with you to head- 
 quarters and have you assigned to help me as a car- 
 penter, and you will then get better wages than you 
 do now as a common laborer.'' 
 
 At this time, seeing that some of those who knew 
 him were beginning to notice the interesting inter- 
 view. Colonel Hovey passed to some other part of the 
 work. The honest workman's astonishment, when in- 
 formed who his " handy chap" actually was, can be 
 well imagined. 
 
 SOLDIER DYEING. 
 
 One evening after our work for the day was done, 
 our jovial little comrade, Elisha Burrows, was seen 
 walking down toward the officers' quarters. His face, 
 always the picture of mirth and fun, was now 
 covered with sadness. He had just come from his 
 tent. Corporal Lewis was one of his tent mates. 
 Lewis, one of our best soldiers, was a general favor- 
 ite, and especially so with Lieutenant Burnham^ 
 
A Soldier and his Mustache. S-^ 
 
 one of the warmest hearted and most sympathetic 
 men in the army. 
 
 As Burrows came near Lieutenant Burnham his 
 face ffrew more sad and in mournful tones he asked: 
 "Lieutenant, did you hear about Corporal Lewis?" 
 In his quick, impulsive way the Lieutenant answered: 
 '' Xo, what is the matter with him? " With a voice 
 trembling with emotion Burrows slowly replied: 
 " He is now in his tent dyeing.'' With tears of heart- 
 felt sorrow and sympathy coursing down his cheeks, 
 Burnham rushed to the soldier's tent, exclaiming: 
 "Poor Lewis!" "Poor Lewis! " and found him— 
 sitting before a glass dyeing his new-grown mustache. 
 
 OLD SECESH AND HIS PIG. 
 
 Although we were quite well supplied with provis- 
 ions by the Government, some of the boys would per- 
 sist in having a relish for the many little nicknacks 
 which the farms and larders of Missouri furnished 
 and not included in the army rations. No doubt 
 they were in error in their belief, yet some of the 
 boys were actually foolish enough to affirm, and the 
 extreme ones even to go so far as to really believe, 
 that fat chickens and plump pigs were good to eat 
 even in the army. Whether or not any of them ever 
 attempted actual proof is another question. As a 
 general thing our soldiers were, in those early days 
 of the war, very generous and exact in respecting the 
 Union citizen's right of property, but woe to him who 
 was known to be a secesh sympathizer. Although 
 military rules and orders would not allow anything 
 
B6 Army Life. 
 
 to be disturbed unless proper!}^ and formally con- 
 fiscated, yet the soldiers' ingenuity enabled them in 
 many ways to show their respect to rebel sympa- 
 tliizers. 
 
 One of the wealthiest men living in the vicinity 
 of Arcadia was of this stripe. One day tins rebel 
 sympatliizer wlien passing through the woods near 
 camp saw one of his fattest shoats fall down not far 
 from him, it having met with a severe accident in the 
 shape of a ball from an unseen gun. The Missourians 
 allow their hogs to run at large in tlie woods, and he 
 was no doubt slipping slylj^ around to see that noth- 
 ing happened to his pigs. There being no hunter in 
 sight to claim the game, and being unable to find 
 from what part of the thick brush the shot was fired, 
 the owner picked up his pig, a good sized one, and 
 started home. 
 
 He was soon met by a soldier without any gun. 
 *' Goodness, "the soldier said, "are you foolish enough to 
 tire yourself out carrying that fat pig home when all 
 you have to do is to go to Colonel Ilovey who will not 
 only make the rascals who shot it carry it home and 
 dress it nicely for you, but also punish them severely 
 in the bargain?" "Yes," he replied, "but how will 
 he know who shot the pig?" "Oh, that is easy 
 enough. He keeps a list of all the boys out of camp. 
 He can spot the lads for "you." This plan tickled 
 old secesh hugely. The idea that he could go to 
 camp and then come back marching proudly at the 
 head of the despised Yankee soldiers, who would have 
 to do the drudgery of lugging the pig to his house 
 and perform the dirty work of scraping and cleaning 
 
Old Secesh and his Pig. 67 
 
 it, with liim in command to see the work well and 
 thoroui^hly done, and then to send them back to 
 camp to remain witli ball and chain in the guard- 
 honse, while he/old importance liimself, was at home 
 eating liis fresh meat, w^as too great a temptation for 
 him to withstand. He quickly assented to the plan. 
 The friendly soldier kindly helped him to place the 
 pig in a nice shady place where it would safely re- 
 main nntil the owner's anticipated, victorious return. 
 The old cove then went briskly into camp to find 
 Colonel Ilovey. 
 
 The sequel can be easily imagined when we add 
 that the pig was soon transferred and keeping com- 
 pany with an unloaded gun. which the kind soldier 
 had hid before volunteering his unselfish and valuable 
 advice. 
 
 Suffice it to say that Colonel Ilovey impatiently 
 listened to the complaint, more than half intimated 
 that he doubted its truth, and then sent some men to 
 investigate. 
 
 When the owner got to the place and looked for 
 the dead pig, to his great astonishment there was no 
 pig there, and the officers returned and reported old 
 secesh to Colonel Hovey as an old fraud. 
 
 That day at supper a fine piece of fresh pork steak 
 was furnished the Colonel. As he finished it with 
 much relish he said to his cook: "How did you get 
 this, Sam?" "Selled eggs and byedit,"said Sam. As 
 it was not dignified for a great man like the com- 
 mander of the Thirty-third to have an extended con- 
 fab with his cook the Colonel finished his supper in 
 peace. But it is said he shortly afterward sent to the 
 
38 Army Life. 
 
 owner of tlie lost pig and bouglit two of his best — the 
 value was not large — and forgot to ever send for one 
 of them; in this way paying for the confiscated pig. 
 
 WAKLIKE TIMES. 
 
 While the work on the fort was being piislied for- 
 ward with the utmost rapidity, many other things 
 claimed our attention. We were in many ways made 
 to appreciate tlie fact that armed forces of the enemy 
 were within threatening distance of us. Countless 
 wild and exaggerated rumors were circulated day and 
 night. Among them were some stubborn facts. 
 
 A squad of men went to Arcadia and took two pris- 
 oners and 22,000 secesh gun-caps. The men protested 
 that they were true Union men and that the rebel who 
 was trying to take the ammunition through our lines to 
 the enemy was another fellow who could not be found. 
 They were given the benefit of the doubt and discharged 
 and the gun-caps confiscated. 
 
 Two negroes were brought in by our picket guard. 
 They claimed to have been connected with the rebel 
 army as servants, from which they had escaped and 
 come to the Union army. They were taken to head- 
 quarters and freely gave all the information of the en- 
 emy they could. 
 
 Three companies of our regiment, E, B and K, 
 were, as soon as they had received their gnns, after 
 our arrival at Pilot Knob, sent back toward St. Louis 
 to guard the railroad bridges. They were the first 
 of our command to get into trouble. Quite a large 
 force of the enemy had been hovering around us. 
 Not being bold enough to attack the Union troops 
 
The First Engagement. 39 
 
 in the vicinity of Pilot Knob thej had passed up be- 
 tween lis and the Mississippi Kiver and then tlirown 
 a force around in our rear to destroy the bridges on 
 the raih'oad and thus cut us off from communication 
 with St. Louis. 
 
 Tliey were too strong for the small force we had at 
 those places and our soldiers were soon driven away 
 and the bridges burned. Those of our troops nearest 
 to us made their way back to Pilot Knob; those near- 
 est to St. Louis fell back tow^ard that city, and Cap- 
 tain Elliott and his company (E) were captured. 
 
 Captain Lippincott had command of those that fell 
 back to Pilot Knob. When he and the men of Com- 
 pany K came in and we were told of the fighting they 
 had seen, we began to appreciate what it was to be in a 
 warlike country. Captain Lippincott received much 
 credit for the able manner in which he saved his little 
 force from being captured by the large band of rebels 
 by which they were surrounded. 
 
 Two men of Company C went outside our lines to 
 hunt in the woods and were captured by some strag- 
 gling band of the enemy. 
 
 Our cavalry now began to get in their work in feel- 
 ing of the enemy. They were sent out in every direc- 
 tion and met roving bands of rebels almost every day. 
 These small forces when found were easily driven by 
 our men. When the neighborhood of the main rebel 
 army was reached, our cavalry would have to skip back. 
 Our cavalry scouts soon learned so that they could tell as 
 soon as they saw a rebel picket whether or not it was 
 supported by a large force. If it was, the rebels would 
 only fall back on their supporting guard and show 
 
40 Army Life. 
 
 tiglit. If it was only a part of a detached force tliey 
 would go pell-mell over the hills and out of reach, and 
 it would be as impossible to get a second sight of 
 them as it would be to get a second shot at a flock of 
 wild turkeys. 
 
 JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE. 
 
 It will be remembered that we did not get our guns 
 until the twenty-second of September. The next day 
 we moved and established a new camp, and then went 
 to work building the fort. Soon threatening move- 
 ments of the enemy near us admonished our officers 
 that the new soldiers needed some training in the use 
 of their guns. On the twenty-eighth we commenced 
 drilling in the manual of arms. From this time, 
 all of the leisure moments that could be taken from 
 other duties were spent in drilling. With building 
 forts, drilling and watcliing rebels, the last of Septem- 
 ber and first of October, 1861, were very busy times 
 with us. 
 
 Toward the last of October all of our available 
 force was called into line and we started out fully ex- 
 pecting to meet the enemy near at hand. After go- 
 ing a sliort distance a halt was called, and in a short 
 time a march back to camp ordered. Two or three 
 days afterward the same movements with the same 
 expectations of a battle were repeated. 
 
 On the fifteenth of October it seemed that the so 
 often expected engagement would certainly take place. 
 News from our cavalry told us that they were being 
 driven back toward camp. It was believed that the 
 enemy were moving upon us with their entire force. 
 
Marching and SkikmisiiinGj Oct., 1S61. 4i 
 
 At four o'clock we started out on the Fredericktowii 
 road to meet them. We did not expect to go more 
 than one or at most two miles before being obliged 
 to select a battle ground. Instead of this we went 
 seven miles without seeing any rebels, but we met 
 our returning cavalry. Tliej liad met some of Jeff 
 Thompson's forces with whom they had quite a severe 
 brush. Our men were repulsed but tliey succeeded 
 in bringing off their wounded. From the cavalry it 
 was learned that the enemy were in force at or near 
 Fredericktown. We now halted and a council of 
 w^ar was held by our commanding officers. After a 
 session of two or three hours it was decided that we 
 should return to our quarters at Pilot Knob and Iron- 
 ton and wait for future arrangements. So we turned 
 and marched back ao:aiu. 
 
 It was upon this march that Lieutenant Burnham, 
 who for a short time had command of our company, 
 gave the order which afforded considerable amusement 
 and came near making him famous. While we wxre 
 descending a steep hill, for some reason the front of 
 the column stopped which made it necessary for us to 
 halt. Burnham, like the rest of us, was new in 
 military life, and in the confusion of the moment the 
 proper command "Halt! "escaped his memory, and thus 
 in its place in thundering tones upon the night air 
 came the command : " Mark time! " The idea of stop- 
 ping upon a sharp march to a supposed battle field, 
 with the enemy perhaps within hearing distance, to 
 go through the idle ceremony of " marking time," 
 which is to take up one foot after the other in succes- 
 sion and replace it in the same place was so absurd tliat 
 
42 Army Life. 
 
 tlie entire company caiiglit the spirit of the joke and 
 obeyed the command. And there stood Company A, 
 in battle array, upon a steep hill in sight of their com- 
 rades and the enemy near, vigorously "marking time " 
 until one of his brother officers suggested the rigiit 
 word, when Burnham stopped the interesting cere- 
 mony by the command "Halt." 
 
 Other troops had followed us to Pilot Knob so that 
 we now had quite a respectable force at this point. 
 Among the new arrivals was the Thirty-eighth Illi- 
 nois, Colonel Carlin commanding. By some means 
 his commission had been 'issued so that it bore a prior 
 date to the one held by Colonel Hovey, which made 
 him the senior and commanding officer of the army 
 at this point. This led to considerable unpleasant 
 teeling, but nothing serious grew out of it. The 
 Thirty-third having been organized so as to take the 
 earliest number, it did not seem just right that it 
 should be outranked by the Thirty-eighth. Our 
 soldiers being volunteers took a deep interest in these 
 matters. For a time excitement ran high. At one 
 time Colonel Carlin for some trifling reason put 
 Colonel Hovey under arrest. That is he went so far 
 as to order Hovey to consider himself under arrest. 
 This continued for a few days. The lively times the 
 surrounding rebels were now giving us claimed our 
 undivided attention, and other reasons served to 
 smooth over the misunderstanding for the time being, 
 but it can be safely said that Carlin and Hovey never 
 became very loving to each other so long as they re- 
 mained in the same command. 
 
Battle of Fredericktown. 43 
 
 battle of fredericktown. 
 
 It now became known that JefF Thompson was fast 
 concentrating an army of considerable force in the 
 neighborhood of Fredericktown, and between us and 
 thelviississippi Eiver. This large force of the enemy 
 and its position made an attack upon lis more than 
 probable. It seemed certain. All military rules de- 
 manded it. The bridges between us and St. Louis 
 bad been burned. The enemy had successfully thrown 
 himself between us and the only Union troops within 
 supporting distance. The situation of affairs de- 
 manded that General Thompson should attack us, 
 and do it at once. We expected it. Orders were 
 given for us to keep our guns loaded and ready for 
 use. We " slept on arms " every night. We were 
 frequently called out expecting an immediate battle. 
 At last, however, it became certain that Tliompson 
 would not attack us in the strong position we held. 
 His movements were strange, indeed. To occupy the 
 position he did required great bravery, if not abso- 
 lute recklessness. To remain where he was inactive, 
 was at once both dangerous and silly. He should 
 have immediately come on and made an attack upon 
 the forces at Pilot Knob before reinforcement could 
 have reached them, or else have promptly retired to a 
 safe position. His delay gave time for communica- 
 tion to be made with the Union forces upon the Mis- 
 sissippi Eiver. A force large enough to compete with 
 Thompson, under command of Colonel Plummer, had 
 crossed the river from Illinois, and coming north- 
 west from Cape Giardue were within easy striking 
 distance of the rebels. Another force from Cairo had 
 
4:4: Akmy Life. 
 
 crossed to Bird's Point. It was easy to be seen tliat 
 Thompson's entire force coiild easily be captured. 
 The boys were now in high sph-its. Soldiers in tlie 
 ranks talk of and study military points almost as 
 much as the officers in command. By going to the 
 southeast from Pilot Knob and having the force from 
 Bird's Point move to the northeast and then let the 
 Union troops from Cape Giardue come up and sti'ike 
 him from the east, Jeff Thompson would not only 
 have been defeated but would also have been cut oti" 
 from all chance of escape. ^ 
 
 Such was the condition of affairs when the forces at 
 Pilot Knob, with Colonel Carlin in command, started 
 out to join in the attack upon the enemy under Gen- 
 eral Thompson, who had now concentrated his entire 
 force at Fredericktown. We were aware of the fact 
 that the Union troops under Colonel Plummer were on 
 the way and within striking distance of the rebel army. 
 On the twenty-first of October the troops came up 
 and a sharp brisk battle was fought in which Thomp- 
 son was quickly and severely defeated. Most of the 
 fighting on the Union side was done b\^ the soldiers 
 under Colonel Plummer. As he outranked Colonel 
 Carlin he was the ranking officer of the united com- 
 mand. Plummer's own soldiers did most of the 
 fighting. Most of the Pilot Knob forces, however, par- 
 ticipated in the battle; some of them in the thickest 
 of it. Company A was on the skirmish line. The 
 balance of the Thirty-third was held in reserve at 
 first, but they were so anxious to go in that they were 
 permitted to do so. The figlit was, however, so soon 
 over that they only came up in time to fire one volley 
 
Battle of Fbedericktown. 45 
 
 at the retreating rebels. It was a short, sharp and deci- 
 sive contest. As I was confined in the camp liospital 
 at Iron ton, during this time, with a severe attack of 
 typhoid fever, I will not attempt to give incidents of 
 the contest. 
 
 Instead of falling to the south of the enemy as they 
 could easily and safely have done, the troops from 
 Pilot Knob had kept to the north so as to form a junc- 
 tion with the troops under Colonel Plummer. This 
 left an open road for Thompson to the south, and with 
 his defeated army he retreated in hot haste toward the 
 Arkansas state line. In war if you are sure to defeat 
 the enemy strike so as to cut off his retreat and make 
 the victory complete. 
 
 Although the enemy's entire force was not captured 
 as it ought to have been, still the battle of Frederick- 
 town was in many respects a very important one. It 
 gave us undisputed possession of all of Southeastern 
 Missouri and was the first battle of the war that 
 could be claimed as a decided Union victory. 
 
 The loss upon the Union side was small. Tliat of 
 the rebels comparatively large. It is claimed that 
 our soldiers buried over 200 of the rebel dead, left 
 by them upon the field. The enemy's severest loss 
 was that of Colonel Lowe, who was second to General 
 Thompson in command of the rebel forces. He was 
 one of the most promising young officers in the rebel 
 army.' He was killed in the early part of the battle. 
 His death had a very depressing efiect upon the rebels 
 of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas, where 
 before the war, he was well known as a brilliant, 
 promising and popular young lawyer. 
 
114 Army Life. 
 
 plied with much the best artillery, and whenever we 
 can get two or three good batteries into play upon 
 them the rebels always skip out of reach. Kebels do 
 not like cannon balls. 
 
 CHAPTER yi. 
 
 BATTLE OF CACHE EIVER. 
 
 The early morn of a summer day, as the light began 
 to break in the eastern sky on Monday morning, July 
 T, 1862, found us camped on the west side of Cache 
 River. Work was commenced at an early hour and 
 our pontoon bridge was soon thrown over the river. 
 The army immediately commenced crossing. Our 
 guards had been thrown some little distance ahead, 
 but we were not troubled by the enemy. Our effect- 
 ive artillery work of the previous night had taught 
 them to keep at a safe distance. 
 
 At eleven o'clock four companies of the Thirty- 
 third Illinois and four of the Eleventh Wisconsin, 
 with one piece of light artillery, belonging to a cavalry 
 regiment, all under command of Colonel Hovey, went 
 forward to see what theenemy infrontof uswere doing. 
 
 With a skirmish line in advance, we went forward 
 on a rapid walk. Nothing occurred until we had 
 marched about seven miles. Here we came upon a 
 rebel picket so suddenly that they were obliged to take 
 to the woods, leaving their guns and other tra})S upon 
 
Eattle of Cache Eivek. 115 
 
 tlie ground. At the point where this picket guard 
 had been posted another road crossed the one we were 
 upon at right angles. This picket post was to our 
 left as we advanced or upon the north side of our 
 road. They disappeared in the woods in front of ns, 
 keeping to our left. Believing that they had gone to 
 join the command to which they belonged, we were 
 confident that tlie main force of the enemy was in the 
 woods directly in our front. 
 
 Upon the south side of our road and just beyond 
 the cross road was an old frame house. It was 
 unplastered and the side boards were so loose and 
 cracked that a person inside could easily look out 
 upon the road in front. Some of our men made a 
 hasty search of this house, but failed to find any 
 rebels. It afterward proved that a rebel oliicer was 
 at the time secreted in one of the rooms up 
 stairs. He had been aided by the good, honest 
 woman of the house who earnestly assured our men, 
 '' upon the word of a pious Christian woman," that 
 there had not been any rebels at her house and none 
 in sight. In reply to a question she asserted that the 
 men who had run into the woods, as we came up, 
 were only a small hunting party who had stopped by 
 the road to make some coffee. While no reliance was 
 placed upon her earnest statements it was not thought 
 worth while to leave any guard to watch the house or 
 her. As soon as our men withdrew, she of course 
 pro!nptly notified the rebel officer up stairs. 
 
 About three quarters of a mile in front of us were 
 very heavy woods, thick with underbrush. We 
 were sure the rebels were in these woods waitinof for 
 
116 Army Life. 
 
 us. We would go and see tbem. Without a mo- 
 ment's delay we pushed forward, our entire force 
 passing in front of the frame house. The rebel officer 
 in one of the upper rooms, with the woman below act- 
 ing as his sentinel, peeked through a convenient hole 
 and saw and counted our entire force. AVe had by act- 
 ual count three hundred and eighty-two men all told. 
 It is understood that the observing rebel's report to 
 his commanding officer was " not quite four hundred 
 men." This shows that he was reasonably accurate. 
 
 Passing rapidly by the house and the partly cleared 
 field we soon reached the heavy woods where we ex- 
 pected to find the rebels. We did not find them. 
 We did, however, find two negroes who had been hid- 
 ing in the thick brush. They were frightened almost 
 to death. As soon as we came near enough so that 
 they were sure we were Yankee soldiers, they ran 
 toward us exclaiming: "Lord a-golly, massy! Big 
 Lord bless you'uns ! We's mighty glad to see you'uns! 
 Don't shoot ! Oh! Lord a-massy; look out! I'se 
 afeared of dem big guns. Don't, don't let 'em big 
 mouths come dis way. Swallow up dis darkey sure." 
 They were quieted with the assurance that they should 
 not be harmed and their excited exclamations cut 
 short with the questions: "Are there any rebel 
 soldiers near here." " Oh, Lord-a-mighty, bless you, 
 lots of 'em. Woods chuck full of 'em. More dan 
 hundred thousand. Oh, d'ey eat you all up sure, sure 
 as you live d'ey w^ill, massy! All the woods full of 
 'em." "Are they in these woods?" — Jumping five 
 feet high in terror at the bare thought. — " In dese 
 woods 1 Lord a save you, no; dese darkies nebber 
 
Lattle of Cache IIivee. 117 
 
 bids in dese woods if do rebs be here — Dead darkey 
 sure — Woods full of 'ein, eatyou'iins all up sure, sure 
 as YOU live a minute, you'uns all dead men sure. Sure 
 as you live you is ! Dis darkey dead, too ! Oh, golly 
 save us; let dis darkey take to the woods! Dey be 
 here mortal minuts sure! Dis darkej^ must go !" Of 
 course all this took place in much less time than it 
 can be written. By a few questions we learned that 
 tlie rebel force, whatever it was, was not far ironi ns. 
 By looking in the direction their hands most elo- 
 quently pointed, we could easily see the deep woods 
 in which the rebels were undoubtedly covered. That 
 these poor frightened negroes, who all their lives had 
 been the slaves of their rebel masters, told us the 
 truth, we did not for a moment doubt. We can al- 
 ways depend upon the colored folks to tell us tlie 
 truth about the rebels. 
 
 It was now plain that if we wanted to find tlie en- 
 emy the place to go was to retrace our steps nearly a 
 mile to the frame house we had passed, then take the 
 cross-road leading into tlie woods lying off to the south 
 of the road by which we had come. 
 
 In the meantime the rebel officer secreted in tlie 
 house when we passed it had not been idle. Having 
 carefully noted our strength as w^e passed, he hastened 
 to rejoin the rebels massed in heavy force in the woods 
 near at hand. Here was a glorious opportunity — for 
 them. A force of Union troops of less than four 
 hundred men had gone past and left off to their right a 
 rebel force of more than as many thousand nicely hid 
 in the thick woods and not two miles distant from the 
 road the Union troops had taken. No more of the 
 
118 Aemy Life. 
 
 Union army was within hearing distance. A. cavalry 
 guard could easily be thrown in that direction to give 
 warning if danger arose. All they had to do was to 
 come up rapidly, turn in our rear, and slaughter our 
 little force. Of course they at once resolved to do it. 
 A band of rebel cavalry was sent through the woods 
 toward the road by which we had advanced to watch 
 and give warning if reinforcements should be coming 
 to us. Their main force was put in sliape to march up 
 and capture ns. 
 
 By this time unknown to them, we were rapidly 
 upon our way to meet them. The rebels had not cal- 
 culated upon our finding some negroes in the woods, 
 and thus becoming posted as to their position. They 
 expected to give us a complete surprise by coming up 
 in our rear. Tliey calculated, and with good reason, 
 tliat by coming up in our rear we would believe that 
 it was some of our own troops and that they could 
 fall upon and slaughter us with a single volley. "VYe 
 had been warned in time, but none too soon. With a 
 rapid march we had hastened bacli to the road cross- 
 ing. Here we left two companies of the Eleventh 
 Wisconsin as a reserve guard. The rest of our little 
 force started soutli to enter the woods where we knew 
 the rebels were. The two other companies of the Wis- 
 consin regiment were placed in front as skii'mishers. 
 The four little companies of the Thirty-third followed 
 in solid column. What an army column, hardly two 
 hundred strong! With this force we went into tlie 
 thick woods to meet an enemy of unknown strength. 
 Of course it was not for a moment supposed that 
 we would meet an enemy that would stand and make 
 
Battle of Cache Eiver. 11^ 
 
 a stubborn content. Our diiilj experience in tlie past 
 had been that when fannd, ''he enemy would fire onlr 
 one volley and then seek safety by rapid flight into 
 the depths of the wild woods. Culonel Ilovey, al- 
 ways ready and ever anxious for a fight, had so little 
 hopes of anything but a deserted rebel camp being 
 found that he started leisurely to ride back toward 
 the main army at Cache River to give the informa- 
 tion that the road was open. Ere he had gone far his 
 quick ear caught the first sonnd of clashing arms, 
 and dashing the spurs into his steed with headlong 
 speed he returned to his little command and joined 
 in the wild conflict that was then raging, as we shall 
 presently see. 
 
 Oar rapid march had brought us back so that we 
 turned toward them by the time the rebels had fairly 
 started for us. Discovering our approach they quick- 
 ly adopted another plan. Their strong advance in 
 solid line of battle was hid by lying close upon the 
 ground well covered by fallen logs and thick under- 
 brush. In this way they expected to lie concealed 
 until we were within reach when they would rise up 
 and sweep us off at the first fire. Back of them, fur- 
 ther out of sight, was a heavy body of mounted men 
 who were to rush in at the proper time and complete 
 the slaughter. That a slaughter was their design was 
 plainly shown. Had they simply wished to capture 
 us, able as they were to surround us with such an 
 overwhelming force, they could, and by all rules of 
 civilized war ought to at once have sent in a flao- of 
 truce, informed us of their large force, advised us of 
 our real condition and demanded our immediate sur- 
 
120" Army Lite. 
 
 re.Hler. Tlieir action showed v.lrat it v;;;s not a capt- 
 ure but a slaughter they desired. r>nt their last 
 well laid plan, like the first was doomed to fail. 
 
 We advanced in column and without any line of 
 battle, havingin front only aline of skirmishers. Our 
 keen-eyed skirmishers, many of whom had been suc- 
 cessful hunters in the wild woods of Wisconsin, were 
 too quick for the hiding rebels. Profiting by our re- 
 peated experience in the woods of Arkansas with the 
 rebels who at first sight would shoot and run away, 
 our established rule had become to fire at the enemy 
 as soon as we got near enough. Some of our skir- 
 mishers soon saw the heads of the prostrated and hid- 
 den rebels and commenced firing at them. Now the 
 wild music commenced. Seeing that they were dis- 
 covered the entire rebel line rose up and fired a ter- 
 rific volley at our skirmishers. The distance was so 
 great that their poor guns did no serious damage, while 
 the powerful rifles in the hands of our men told with 
 deadly effect upon the enemy. But it was only our 
 skirmish line of a few men engaged. They had no 
 time to re-load their guns and fire a second shot. 
 Many of the rebels had double-barreled shotguns 
 and thus each had a charge still in reserve. Their 
 heavy support on horseback had started rapidly for- 
 ward at the first shot. Now the entire rebel force, 
 cavalry and infantry, came forward upon a fierce run. 
 Wisconsin's little band of skirmishers had to skip 
 back at a lively rate. They were now out of the 
 fight. Our time had come. Company A was in the 
 advance. The ground upon which we stood was 
 some higher than that over which the rebels were 
 
Battle of Cache Eiver. 121 
 
 advancing. Standing at the brow of the hill our one 
 little steel gun had commenced a lively play npon 
 the advancing rebels. As our skirmishers came back 
 on the run we barely had time for part of the company 
 to turn into line in support of the cannon and face 
 the enemy when they were upon us. They came 
 upon a fearful charge and with but little attention 
 to military order. The heavy lines of the enemy's 
 infantry breaking up to let through a more dense 
 mass on horseback. In this way they w^ere right 
 upon us before they saw our line. Now a terrilic 
 clash of arms followed. Here we were but a few 
 yards apart. Into the dense throng our trusty rifles 
 were fired with fearful effect. They replied with a 
 volley that made the timber roar and the ground 
 tremble. Lead enouo^h went screech inoj over our 
 heads to have swept off an entire army. In front 
 of our few guns, horses, horsemen and footmen 
 were falling to the ground. In front of theirs our 
 men stood unharmed. Hardly a man upon our side 
 was hit by this first volley. We were standing 
 waiting for them. They were surprised to meet us 
 face to face when they supposed that our entire line 
 was upon the run to the rear. In the thick woods 
 numbers could not be accurately estimated, and our 
 little line of skirmishers had given the advancing 
 enemy such a warm reception that they believed 
 our entire force was in the advance line and had 
 been driven back, and the rebels rushed madly on, 
 never dreaming of the stubborn resistance they were 
 3^et to meet. In surprised confusion they fired 
 wildly. Standing as we did upon higher ground also 
 
122 Army Life. 
 
 helped to save us. In firing tliej aimed too liigli. 
 A few feet above our lieads the trees were ahr.ost 
 swept clean by the leaden balls fired above ns. 
 Leaves and twigs and limbs severed from the trees 
 by the leaden storm dropped upon ns like hail. Had 
 the rebel guns been aimed so as to have sent the bul- 
 lets five or ten feet lower none of us would have been 
 left alive to tell tlie tale of our defeat. Their lines 
 wavered and trembled at the fearful punishment they 
 received, but the force of the heavy mass coming so 
 swiftly impelled them on, on into our very midst. 
 Fortunately their guns, like ours, had been fired and 
 were now unloaded. But close at hand fast rushing 
 upon us, were still otlier heavy forces of the enemy 
 with lead in their guns. 
 
 Let no one suppose that Company A, a mere liand- 
 fulof men, stood there in formal army line, with these 
 hosts of fresh rebels coming up to shoot at us, while we 
 w^eut through all of the motions of reloading our empty 
 guns. N o, i ndeed ! Plenty of good trees to get behind 
 were too near at hand. But ere we fell back there 
 was a little work to do. As soon as it became certain 
 that we must fall back, the first thought was to save 
 the little steel cannon. The driver swung his team 
 into place, the gun was hooked on the caisson, the 
 gunners scampered back under cover of the woods, and 
 yet, oh, misery! there stood our little cannon. The 
 soldier heart always bleeds to see a flag or apiece of 
 artillery fall into the enemy's hands. At the first 
 jump of the team, the quick start had thrown the can- 
 non from its fastenings. The bold driver was wound- 
 ed and could not at once bring his horses to a stand. 
 In the midst of the fierce storm raging about us. Cap- 
 
Battle of Cache Rivek. . 123 
 
 tain Potter coolly said: "Steady, boys; save the gun." 
 Sergeant Ed Pike, of our company, ran up and 
 grabbed hold of the cannon with one hand, his own 
 rifle in the other, and with the strength of a giant and 
 the assistance of one comrade ran the cannon down tlie 
 road, hooked it on the caisson, and the team galloped 
 to the rear and saved the gun. The rebels were all 
 around. The nearest horseman was almost close 
 enough to have struclv Pike witli his saber. The rebels 
 were, however, completely dashed by the supreme 
 audacity of ^-Le movement. Half a dozen of us, the 
 tallest ireix^berF cf the company, and thus tln^own near 
 to Pike. >mr erdex-^ly sergeant, were all that were near 
 enough tc witnesc' the strange scene. A strange scene, 
 indeed t v"Jr.Ci. or ^- false step, or the loss of a single 
 second of time, it would have been a tragedy. With 
 our heavy guns in hand we were ready to aid our 
 brave comrade, if we could, had the rebels raised their 
 sabers to strike, but, it ma}^ be confessed, we liad no 
 desire to enter into a clubbino; lio^ht with unloaded oruns 
 unless compelled to do so. As soon as the cannon 
 was hitched to the caisson and saved by the galloping 
 team, we made lively time to join our comrades in find- 
 ing good places and friendly trees behind which we 
 could stop and reload our rifles. As I dodged under 
 a limb it caught my cap and it fell to the ground 
 behind me. Pike had saved a cannon. A pretty 
 story it would be if I could not save a little army 
 cap. Without scarcely any thought other than the 
 appearance of coming out of the fight bare-headed I 
 turned back for the cap. The faces of the rebels who 
 had witnessed our audacious actions in taking the steel 
 
124. , Akmy Life. 
 
 gun from their very teeth were covered with ainazo- 
 ment. They looked as though they were in douuc 
 whether we were really fighting or only engaged as 
 two parties in some hnge play. As I looked up with 
 the recovered cap in hand, and the real situation began 
 to appear to me, while overwhelmed with astonish- 
 ment, I could not help returning the surprised smiles 
 of tlie nearest rebels and then scampered back right 
 lively to find my tree. It was more thoughtlessness 
 than any thing else that caused me to save Diy cap from 
 such a pi ace. As I was reloading behind ? .'^'ood, stout 
 tree, and began to fully realize the situation. < thousand 
 miserable army caps could have lain i.):ero at their lei- 
 sure and I would have gone bare-heaaei fiV'^'inty years 
 before I would have run into the te^^tL of vjcat rebel 
 host to get one of them. 
 
 All of this had hardly taken more than is S;5Cond 
 of time. Upon occasions like this, actions and evsnts 
 are swifter than passing time. The terrific rebel vol- 
 ley had answered our fire; almost at a single jump 
 Pike had taken the gun to its place; and into the 
 woods we went hardly a pace behind the rest of our 
 company. At this point the woods were, fortunately, 
 so thick with underbrush that two rods distance com- 
 pletely hid us from our foes. 
 
 And still on came the crowding mass of anxious 
 rebels who had not yet fired a gun. We had not 
 been a moment too soon. Company A had barely time 
 to scamper into the thick woods to our left, when this 
 seething, rushing horde of fresh rebels came up, passed 
 the ground where we had stood, and fell upon the three 
 other companies of the Thirty-third. Each had turned 
 partly into line. There had been no time to change 
 
Eattle of Cache River. 125 
 
 from column, into line hy battalion. The scene our 
 v.:mpany me. a moment before was now re-enacted. 
 Steadily, coolly and with deadly aim the large rifle balls 
 were sent into the dense rebel ranks. The effect was 
 too terrib.'.D. Flesh and blood could not stand it. 
 Brave men though they were, the rebel lines wavered, 
 halted and then rushed back in wild dismay. 
 
 By the time this desperate charge was over we had 
 ceased to pay any great attention to mere company 
 lines. Officers and men all fought together. About 
 the only indication of rank was the fact that wher- 
 ever our lines were the thickest an officer w^ould gen- 
 erally be seen in the midst of them. Scattered 
 through the deep woods, only watching that we kept 
 in the general line of the Union soldiers, we sought 
 such shelter as we could, and rapidly loaded our rifles 
 and flied at the best mark we could see. Thus the 
 rebels withdrew, suffering at every step until they 
 were out of reach of our long range rifles. 
 
 Do not think that this retreat of the enemy was the 
 end of the battle of Cache River. We thought so for 
 a brief moment. Colonel Hovey, who had now reached 
 the front, said to his orderly : " Report to camp that one 
 officer and two men are severely wounded and that we 
 want a surgeon immediately." He was standing near 
 me when he said this and evidently had as little 
 thought of a renewal of the attack as any of us. 
 More from a soldierly spirit, than from any thought 
 of necessity, our lines had been somewhat re-formed 
 by the soldiers changing places and getting nearer to 
 their own officers and company comrades. But a brief 
 moment was, however, allowed for this. Before formal 
 
126 Army Life. , 
 
 lines could be planned, mucli less made, we were clearly 
 advised of our error in believing the battle ended. 
 So soon that it seemed but an echo of the departing 
 cry we had so lately and with so much satisfaction 
 heard, the returning rebel yell, rapidly coming nearer 
 and nearer, told us that all was not yet over. Their 
 cavalry guard had informed the rebels tliat no rein- 
 forcements were yet at hand to rescue the little band 
 of Union soldiers. For a large army^ thousands in 
 number, to be baffled by a few hundreo., ''nd that, too, 
 out in the open woods w^ith no protecting works, was 
 something the hot Southern blood could not endure. 
 Hushing among them, with information of how con- 
 temptible we were in numbers, appealing to the pride 
 of boasted Southern cliivalry, sneering in words of 
 contempt at tlie plow boys of the Xorth, the r.^/oel offi- 
 cers at once rallied their men for another sparge. 
 On they came more fierce than before, blowing :iion- 
 strous horns, pounding kettles, beating drums, screach- 
 ing the harsh, shrill rebel yell. What possessed them ? 
 Did they think to scare the soldiers by whom they had 
 been so severely punished a few minutes befor'^ by 
 mere noise? So it seemed. With the most dismal 
 racket that all of these things could make, added to by 
 the less weird but more dangerous flash of rebel guns, 
 the furious, overwhelming force was thrown upon us 
 w^ith all the insane zeal of maddened fury. This 
 second charge took a more deadly and continued 
 form than the first. As they came, in this headlong 
 career, our trusty rifles were emptied into the dense 
 mass with fearful results. Our deadly fire broke the 
 rebel charge but they could not themselves fully stay 
 
Battle of Cache Kiver. 127 
 
 tlie force c>f the onward rush. The fierce advance of 
 the enemy carried many of them far beyond where 
 our soi'-iers stood. 
 
 JSTow our guns as f\ist as loaded could be used upon 
 rebels in our rear as well as in front. Eebeis before 
 us, rebels behind us, rebels each side of us, rebels, reb- 
 els everywhere. The enormous mass of rebels was 
 strong enough to crnsli our ranks; to pass through and 
 trample them down and to have captured or slaugh- 
 tered us if they could have found our army lines — but 
 we had none. Wherever the enemy were too thick to 
 be driven back we would run in both directions and 
 thus open a way for them to pass through while we 
 looked for the protecting side of other trees. Kobie 
 trees they were. Many of them had firmly stood there 
 loyal and sound to the core, since Washington's day. 
 In a battle a good tree is often a soldier's bosom 
 friend. Perhaps instead of recording that over five 
 thousand Confederates fiercely fought less than four 
 hundred Yankee boys we should count five or ten thou- 
 sand trees as in line upon the Union side and thus in 
 numbers make the contest equal. True it is that 
 those staunch Arkansas trees right royally gave the 
 strength of their side to the cause of loyalty upon that 
 day, and in after years — far, far away — after this story 
 is all forgotten, when those trees become brown and 
 leafless with age and decay, and the woodman's ax 
 lays them low, in the hearts of those old oak trees 
 that stood for the grand old Union flag when mis- 
 jTuided sons of the South would tear it down, will be 
 found many a leaden ball which has rested there 
 since that eventful day, when they stood within the 
 fierce contest of July 7, 1862. 
 
128 Army Life. 
 
 The fierce, unequal contest was raging still. Each 
 of US was now virtually fighting upon his own hook. 
 Each selected the best protection he could while 'oad- 
 ing his rifle and then sought for the largest band of 
 rebels he could see to fire into. x\ll of our officers did 
 well their part, but all they could do was by example, 
 and each officer was fighting side by side with the 
 soldiers. Colonel Hovey went in on foot with the rest. 
 During the most desperate part of the contest, as 
 they were reloading their rifles, some of our soldiers 
 raised a shout and laugh on seeing Colonel Ilovey 
 popping away toward the enemy with a little pocket 
 revolver. A pop-gun would have been fully as dan- 
 gerous at the distance he was attempting to shoot. 
 "Boys,'' said he, "shooting is all that will do any 
 good in this fight, you are doing better w^ork than T." 
 Soon, however, he borrovv'cd a rifle from a wounded 
 soldier, who was crawling to the rear, and from that 
 time on he went right in with the soldiers wherever 
 the fight was thickest, now and then borrowing a 
 handful of cartridges from the cartridge box of the 
 nearest soldier, and thus continued until the last gun 
 was fired. All of our ofiicers did the same, and long 
 before the battle ended every officer in those woods, 
 who was not himself wounded, had the rifle of some 
 disabled soldier. 
 
 A charge of nearly spent small balls from a shot- 
 gun or musket struck Colonel Hovey in the breast. 
 He stopped a moment, examined the wounds, picked 
 out some of the balls that were buried in his flesh; 
 said: "This does not amount to much," and paid no 
 further attention to his wounds until the fight was 
 over. 
 
Battle of C'.giie Eiver. 129 
 
 A round bullet hole, as it was supposed, was no- 
 ticed in Colonel Lippincott's felt hat. "A pretty 
 close call, Colonel," some one remarked. *' Oh, no," 
 «aid Lippincott, with cool indifference, as the rebel bul- 
 lets were whistling past his head, ''I cut these holes 
 this morning for the purpose of ventilation i)i this 
 hot weather." He was too brave a man to be willing 
 to accept any undue credit. 
 
 This sef^ond charge was soon broken by our accu- 
 rate, telling fire. In a spasmodic form it continued. 
 The fight became continuous. Heavy forces of the 
 enemy were in front of ns; some upon our flank, and 
 often many were, by their fierce ride, carried through 
 to our rear. It was fighting all around. Every few 
 minutes a desperate band of rebel cavalry would rush 
 upon us. During one of these fierce charges a pow^er- 
 ful rebel, upon a superb horse, came dashing througli 
 our lines at the head of his band. The first man he 
 reached was Sergeant Dntton of our company. But- 
 ton had just fired and was reloading his rifle. Seeing 
 his advantage the athletic rebel drew his heavy saber 
 and with a cry of desperate rage went fiercely on to 
 strike and ride the Union soldier down. 'None of 
 our boys within reach had at that critical moment a 
 loaded gun so as to fire and save Dutton from his 
 threatened doom, and besides, just about this time 
 each of us had about a dozen rebels of his own to 
 attend to and was kept mighty busy dodging out of 
 reach of rebel balls while putting each fresh load in 
 our rifles. Being just then near a fence wdiich blocked 
 his retreat, with an open space of ground in front of 
 him, giving the rider an unobstructed way, no escape 
 9 
 
130 Army Life. 
 
 seemed possible and Dutton's doom seemed at hand. 
 Just as tlie fatal blow was about to fall, the little ser- 
 geant whi])ped a revolver from his belt, without moving 
 a single step, and fired. The uplifted hand fell help- 
 less, tlie bold rider dropped dead to the ground, and the 
 riderless horse passed on through our lines and out 
 of sight to our rear. Had Dutton's Vvonderful nerve 
 for a second wavered, had he even given a single 
 glance to look for a way of escape he would have been 
 a dead man, and perhaps the result of the battle 
 chaijf>'> 1. Like incidents could be told of each soldier 
 who Stood in those woods at that hour. With the 
 fearful odds against us the part of each was important, 
 and had one failed, disaster to all w^ould hav^e been 
 the result. Dismayed at the loss of their impetuous 
 leader and terrified by seeing so many of their num- 
 ber fall from their saddles by the certain aim of the 
 Union rifles, this band of rebel horsemen, like others, 
 disappeared, only to be followed by others as desperate 
 and reckless as those who had gone before. 
 . The only military command I heard during that 
 long contest after the battle was underway, was given 
 by Captain Potter. A number of us were near him. 
 He had been wounded, and with a handkerchief tied 
 around his bleeding leg to stop the rapid flow of blood, 
 as a little lull in the fierce storm occurred, he gave 
 what was probably the only command given during 
 those two desperate hours, in these w^ords: "'Boys, I 
 believe that we can get some good shots over there," 
 pointing to a clump of trees nearer to the rebels who 
 were firing upon us. We advanced, and with the rifle 
 he had been using for a cane, he come hobbling along 
 after us. • • 
 
Battle of Cx\ciie Eivee. 131 
 
 Thus for two long hours this fearful contest contin- 
 ued. And only four small companies of the Tliirtj- 
 third Regiment, with hardly fifty men each to meet 
 the desperate onslaught. True, a like number of the 
 Eleventli Wisconsin were with us, and right useful 
 they were. Two companies, it will be remembered, 
 were left at the road crossing. The other two compa- 
 nies upon the skirmish line, at the beginning of the 
 battle, had been so hotly pressed tliat each man had all 
 he could do to save himself. The companies upon the 
 road formed in line. As the skirmishers came back 
 they joined them. Our little cannon, after being saved 
 from the enemy, liad also gone back and taken place 
 in the line. There was not much opportunity to use 
 the cannon, but now and then, when our boys were 
 clear from the road, a solid shot or shell would be sent 
 through to greet the rebel hosts. Now and then some 
 of the Illinois boys being entirely cut off from their 
 comrades would run through the wood or field to the 
 rear and form in line with the Wisconsin boys. 
 Thus when the enemy came with such fierce force that 
 we could not stay their headlong course but were 
 compelled to fall to the right or left and let the heav- 
 iest columns through, as they passed by and looked 
 down the road and saw the solid line still in front, 
 raked as they were by the ceaseless side fire w^e were 
 pouring upon them, they would in dismay rapidly 
 pass oflf in tlie open woods to our right leaving us at 
 liberty to turn and give our undivided attention to 
 other rebels still advancing in our front. Standing 
 there without a wavering man in tlieir lines, that little 
 band of Wisconsin men was of untold help to us. If 
 
132 Aemy Life. 
 
 Colonel Ilovey left them there during all tliis time 
 bj design, it was a bvappy thought. If the fighting 
 was so hot that he had no chance to send an order for 
 them to advance, it was a most fortunate accident. 
 Had the many rebels who, at different times, passed 
 our lines in their mad career, been permitted nnmo- 
 lested to reform and reload and open fire in our rear, 
 no protecting trees could have caught all of the rebel 
 bullets, and we would have been swept oif in a few 
 brief moments. 
 
 A plan of the battle field would show the ad-.-ntnges 
 which aided us in this desperate contest. Supv.osing 
 that the main road we had advanced upon m the 
 morning, was running east, that upon which the bat- 
 tle was fought would be running south. At the cross- 
 ing of the two roads our reserve had been stationed. 
 On the left of the cross road going south toward the 
 enemy was a field connected with the frame farm 
 house referred to, and all enclosed by a strong rail 
 fence. This fence ran south along the road, about 
 three quarters of a mile. The fence then turned east 
 running in that direction until the heavy and almost 
 inpenetrablewoodseastof us were reached. The first 
 part of the field near the farm house was quite free 
 of trees, but the lower part ran into and included con- 
 siderable of the woods in which we found the enemy 
 On the right of the cross road, which would be look, 
 ino' in the direction of our main army on Cache Eiver, 
 was along stretch of ground thinly covered with large 
 trees but free of underbrush. This, of course, ran 
 back to and connected with the heavier woods where 
 the enemy had made his rendezvous. For a 
 
Battle of Cache Kiver. 133 
 
 short distance on the right side of the cross road 
 there had formerly been an enclosure, and about a 
 quarter of a mile from the main road the remains of 
 a rail fence, running sume little distance west, was 
 still standing. When we first met the enemy we had 
 passed beyond the farthest fence, but as the battle pro- 
 gressed we had fallen back to it, and many of our men 
 were in the woods of the enclosure. Thus it will be 
 seen that when the enemy's cavahy charged upon 
 us, with the highway for his center, his right wing 
 would strike the heavy fence and thus be thrown 
 into confusion with his center upon the road, 
 and this would natui-ally carry many of them into the 
 woods to his left, our right, and those still advancing 
 would soon strike the remains of the fence on that 
 side causing many more to turn off into the open 
 woods. Those who had kept in the open road would 
 now suddenly come in sight of our reserve line; if 
 near enough receive a leaden salute, and they, too, 
 would then turn into the woods and disappear. Re- 
 membering that these desperate charges were mainly 
 made by men on horseback in a mad headlong gallop; 
 that they were first thrown into confusion by a fence 
 on one side and then broken by the remains of one 
 on the other side; that at every step and from each 
 side they were severely suftering from the rifles of 
 our sharpshooters, it will readily be seen that great ad- 
 vantages were open to us and that we improved them 
 to the utmost. 
 
 The fight still goes on. The enemy became at last 
 most desperately enraged. Their unobstructed access 
 to the road between us and the rest of the Union 
 
134 Aemy Life. 
 
 army still gave them full knowledge that no aid had 
 _yet come to us. Why don't the}^ come? We have 
 been fighting on, on, expecting each moment to hear 
 the dash of the Union cavalry coming to our aid. 
 And then our own comrades of the Thirty-third and 
 the brothers of the Wisconsin boys, why do they not 
 come? Only four companies of each regiment are 
 here. Six of each are there. Why do they dally in 
 the woods? Are they playing by the wayside and 
 we struggling here? Why don't they come? If all 
 others become indifferent to our fate they can hot. 
 'No, indeed! Too oft have they and we divided our 
 scant rations with each other; suffered together; 
 mourned at the same graves; mingled in the same 
 joys arid shared the same trials. A faintly whispered, 
 dread suspicion passes among us. Can it be that the 
 heavy rebe armies have come from east of the Missis- 
 sippi or other fields in overwhelming force to destroy 
 the Union army in these Arkansas wilds? Let it be 
 remembered that we have long been cut off from com- 
 munication with the outside world. We have no 
 definite information from other fields. At the North 
 it is reported that Curtis' army is lost in Arkansas. 
 So little have we known of what has occurred in 
 Kentucky and Tennessee and in the far East during 
 the past months, that only wild imagination is our 
 guide. Are the heavy forces so hotly pressing us, 
 part of a monstrous, gigantic rebel army that has, 
 unknown to us, crossed the Mississippi and come up 
 the Arkansas and AVhite Eivers? Has a still heavier 
 force thrown itself between us and our army? Is the 
 Union armv we so latelv left even now cut off from 
 
Battle of Cache River. 135 
 
 aiding lis? With our eyes steadily fixed upon the 
 enemy in front, our ears are turned anxiously toward 
 our own army to hear if the murderous air sliall 
 bring to us the sound of their booming guns. But 
 it matters little to us what the fate of others may be. 
 It is now too late. Too well we know that the en- 
 raged rebels have already suffered too severely and that 
 now no terms will be asked or given. It is now a 
 fight to the death. The thought that lii'e can be saved 
 by a surrender is banished from every mind. To 
 steal our way through the dark woods and deep 
 swamps to our jSTorthern homes is impossible. We 
 begin to gather in more compact form. There is a 
 feeling that in a few moments our last cartridge will 
 be fired and then all that will be left is to fix bayonets 
 and with the cold steel do all we can as we rush to 
 our doom. 
 
 It is afterward learned that the Union troops have 
 been so busily engaged and created such a continual 
 racket in crossing Cache Eiver that they did not hear 
 anything of oiir fierce fight. It was supposed that we 
 would only advance some two or at most three miles 
 at which distance a stubborn contest could be easily 
 traced by the sound of the firing guns. Thus it was 
 supposed that we were quietly lying in the woods, 
 waitincr for the advance of the armv. Instead of that 
 we had gone some seven or eight miles and were so 
 far away that the guns they now and then heard were 
 thought to be only idle shots fired at random into the 
 woods to see if any strolling bands of rebels were try- 
 ing to creep upon us. The first information the 
 Union army had of our hot engagement was given by 
 
136 Army Life. 
 
 one of our soldiers who had become completely 
 demoralized at the first fire and ran back re])orting us 
 all killed. In quick time a force of Union cavalry 
 ^vas galloping to our rescue. Of this we were not 
 advised. 
 
 Thus no reinforcements had reached us and the 
 desperate rebels, chagrined, mortified, raving mad for 
 the third time, with a fully organized force, came 
 up on a desperate, sweeping, reckless cliargo. On 
 they come with unbridled fur^^ AVe break into little 
 bands among each thick cluster of trees and keep up 
 a continued fire into the dense mass of advancing iocs. 
 All of the former scenes are re-enacted now with re- 
 doubled force. AVe turn and fire at rebels in our rear 
 as often as we do at those in front. Upon each occa- 
 sion we had been obliged to fall further back. AVe 
 were now so near that the rebel charge through our 
 line carried some of them within ransre of the <runs of 
 the Wisconsin boys, who well and promptly improved 
 their opportunity. Pressed by fire in front together 
 with the shot we gave them in the rear those rebels 
 who had passed our line rushed with headlong speed 
 into the woods on our right as those who came before 
 had done. Grand confusion now reigns. The woods 
 are full of riderless horses, running here and there, 
 racing and tearing, hardly more reckless or aimless 
 than those yet guided by their rebel riders. Our 
 ammunition is now nearly exhausted. Those entirely 
 out borrow two or three cartridges of others, but none 
 have much. The store of our wounded has been 
 greedily taken by those who still can use their guns. 
 Straining every nerve, firing with the utmost care we 
 
Battle of Cache Eiver. 18 T 
 
 watch the result with vivid interest. Too well VvC 
 know the fatal result that threatens us. A few sec- 
 onds of this vital anxiety and then the rebel lines be- 
 r.in to tremble, waver and then break, and those alive 
 hasten away leaving the ground, even where we stand, 
 strewn with their dead. Thus for the third time, a 
 rebel charge in mass, has been repulsed and driven 
 back. "We now have to fire at lono^ ran ore, careful to 
 do so only wlien we h^e a good shot. If they come 
 on us again, in solid mass, we are helpless. Every 
 movement is quickly noticed. The rebels who have 
 crossed our lines in their headlong career and been 
 driven into the woods on our right, toward our main 
 iirmy, are now seen to increase their hot speed toward 
 the rear. Farther off, glimpses of the rebel cavalry, 
 who have been watching upon the road, can be seen 
 going fiercely toward their main command. Beyond 
 these, still farther off, a cloud of dust is seen swelling 
 u]) through and over the trees, and a moment more 
 the glorious music of the rattling sabers of the 
 Union cavalry is lieard and then we see their foaming 
 horses as they come to our aid. Closely following 
 the cav?.lry, as they come to our relief, we soon see 
 tlie gleaming guns and hear the glad hurrah of our 
 infantry boys. The soldiers of the Thirty-third Illi- 
 nois and Eleventh Wisconsin had run those seven long 
 miles on a hot Southern July day to relieve us, thcnr 
 own comrades, and the battle is over. 
 
CHAPTEE X^^II. 
 
 BATTLE OF BLACK PwIVER. 
 
 Sunday morning, May 17, 1S63, found ns ready to 
 move forward as soon as it was light enough to march. 
 AVe were now given the advance. A rapid march 
 brought US within sight of the rebel works at Black 
 River. The outside picket guards were driven in 
 without difficulty. 
 
 The conditions for a stubborn defense were ample. 
 The rebel position was a strong one. At this point 
 Black Biver is a stream of considerable size. The 
 wagon road to Yicksburg, as well as the railroad, here 
 crosses the river. On the west side of Black Biver 
 are some high bluffs. We were approaching from 
 the east. "Why the Confederates did not select these 
 biatfs on the west side of the river as the place for 
 their fortifications, it is hard to tell; they probably 
 thought the position cliosen preferable. It certainly 
 was a mistake. Still, the place selected for their forti- 
 fications was by no means a weak one. Had not the 
 west bank of Black Biver furnished stronger natural 
 positions, that selected by the rebels would have been 
 
216 Army Life. 
 
 considered a wise selection. Some little distance from 
 the east side of the main river was a channel of con- 
 siderable width and depth. This virtually created an 
 island, which lay between the main river and this 
 channel or bayou. Tlie island was the place selected 
 by the enemy for his fortitications. The island was of 
 sufficient size, and the ground being comparatively 
 level and unbroken, it was probably selected by tlie reb- 
 els as a better place for the movement of troops than 
 would liave been the uneven hills upon the west side 
 of the river. As^ain, east of the bayou was a smooth 
 valley varying from half a mile to a mile in width. 
 As the attacking force would have to pass over this 
 level ground, the rebels doubtless thought that they 
 could easily destroy all who attempted to approach, 
 before their works could be reached. 
 
 A range of forts well supplied with heavy artillery 
 liad been built along the east side of the bayou. 
 These had been connected with a complete chain of 
 breastworks for the enemy's infantry. Thus an at- 
 tacking force would have to lirst charge over a wide 
 space of level ground; then pass a deep and wide stream 
 of water, and then climb the rebel fortifications upon 
 the bank of the channel before they could reach the 
 well fortified rebels. What possessed the enemy to 
 waste so much valuable strength in fighting in the 
 open woods upon Champion Hills when Black River, 
 so near at hand, afi'orded them such superior positions 
 of defense, is, indeed, a marvel. 
 
 We were upon the skirmish line and consequently 
 the first troops in sight of the enemy that morning. 
 The position our company held was next to and upon 
 
Battle of Black Biver. 2517- 
 
 the south side of the road running west toward Yicks- 
 burg. This brought us in front of the center and 
 strongest part of the enemy's works. The valley be- 
 tween the rebel works and the small wood- covered 
 hills was at this point a little over half of a mile in 
 width. The valley at this point had been a culti- 
 vated corn or cane field. The previous year's furrows 
 ran parallel with the rebel works. The small hills 
 back of this field w^ere covered with a thick growth 
 of underbrush. Had the enemy been thoughtful and 
 industrious enough to have cut and burned all of the 
 small trees and brush upon these hills as far back as 
 heavy artillery could reach, it would have been of un- 
 told advantage to him. To our right the valley less- 
 ened in width so that the ground covered with trees 
 reached nearer to the rebel works. To our left it con- 
 tinued to widen so that the rebel works upon that 
 part of the line had at least a mile of level ground 
 over which to fire. 
 
 Our early morning call had evidently greatly sur- 
 prised the indolent enemy. As we, upon the skir- 
 mish line, came out of the woods and upon the level 
 field in front of their works, we beheld wild confusion 
 in the rebel lines. Evidently they had not yet all got 
 up and finished their breakfast, much less formed 
 into line ready to meet us. All were aroused and 
 called into line. If we had been supported by a solid 
 column, at that moment, we could no doubt have 
 rushed over and taken the works before the enemy 
 was prepared to defend them. But jnst then the Un- 
 ion troops at hand were only those of a small skirmish 
 line of barely sufticient strength to feel of the enemy. 
 
218 Akmy Life. 
 
 From the ground we were upon, all of the move- 
 ments of the enemy could be plainly noted. Officers 
 mounted in hot haste and rushed among the rebel sol- 
 diers to arouse and hurry them into position. Every 
 movement of the enemy was plainly seen by us. We 
 could note the strength of each rebel command and 
 see to which part of the line it was sent. Probably 
 no battle was ever before fought which was so com- 
 pletely seen from its commencement to its end as was 
 the battle of Black Kiver by those of us who were 
 upon the advance skirmish line. 
 
 To get as near to the rebel works as we did upon 
 such ground was wonderful. For any of us to live 
 through the fight that ensued, holding the position we 
 did, was a miracle. Our ability to advance so close to 
 them was no doubt largely owing to the confusion in 
 the enemy's ranks caused by our early approach. 
 The first firing of the rebels was fearfully wild. They 
 seemed only to put the muzzles of their guns over 
 their breastworks and fire into the air at random. 
 Such firing is more apt to hit those far in the rear as 
 the bullets fall to the ground, than to trouble those 
 who, like us, are near at hand. Now and then a gun 
 in the hands of a cool-headed rebel would be fired 
 with more judgment at our line. A few were hit. I 
 supposed that I was one of the unfortunate ones. A 
 rifle ball passed near enough to " burn " my face. I 
 then knew by experience how it was with so many 
 others who for a moment supposed they were hit, 
 when they were not. I plainly felt a hole cut 
 through my cheek. That the passing bullet had cut 
 a deep, long gash through the side of my face I did 
 
Battle of Black River. 219 
 
 not doubt. I imniediatelj put up my hand to see 
 how much of mj cheek was left, and to my glad sur- 
 prise found that the bullet had simply grazed and not 
 cut me. Those who have experienced both, insist 
 that at the first moment, a bullet that passes near 
 enough to "burn" by the " liot wind'' of a swift re- 
 volving bullet, produces a much sharper sting than 
 that caused by a direct shot. 
 
 Our skirmish line pressed well forward, much far- 
 ther than prudence would have peruiitted, and then 
 each selected the best place he could find and lay 
 upon the ground and commenced to load and fire as 
 opportunity ofi"ered. Amidst thickly flying bullets it 
 is surprising how small an elevation of ground a sol- 
 dier can make available as breastwork. The rough 
 plowing of the previous year's crop had left deep fur- 
 rows and corresponding ridges, the best of which 
 served us well during the hot fight in which we were 
 eno^aired. The success with which a soldier can, under 
 such circumstances, apparently sink into the ground 
 and out of sight while loading his gun, can not be 
 realized by those who have never seen it done. 
 
 Some of our artillery were soon in place on the 
 hills beliind us and commenced their work upon the 
 enemy. The artillery was supported by the infantry 
 columns. This heavy force on the higher ground in 
 our rear soon claimed the entire attention of the rebels 
 in our front. They no doubt also believed that all 
 who had advanced on the skirmish line liad been 
 killed. These things combined caused us to be neg- 
 lected by the enemy so that we were at liberty to load 
 and fire at pleasure and almost unmolested. While 
 
220 Army Life. . 
 
 it, no doubt, did far more harm in the rebel ranks, 
 still the few guns on the skirmish line attracted no 
 attention when mingled with theliercefiringof the two 
 contending armies. And then onr nearness to the rebel 
 line made it difficult for them to look ov^er their works 
 to take effective aim at us. Even when the condi- 
 tions of the ground are favorable, the experience of 
 war is that most of the firing done carries the balls 
 high above the effective point. Situated as we were 
 it was safe to calculate that the rebel bullets would 
 pass above us. There being so much vacant space in 
 the open air compared with the little space occupied 
 by one individual, is the reason why so few are killed 
 compared with the amount of lead shot in battle. 
 The space occupied by a man is but a mere speck 
 compared with all out doors, and there are a thousand 
 chances to miss, to one to hit him with the ball of a 
 random shot. 
 
 Our artillery had a capital position. The hills 
 upon which our cannon were placed were within 
 easy range of the rebel works. Our gunners were 
 much better marksmen than those handling the rebel 
 artillery. The thick underbrush completely covered 
 the movements of our men. An entire battery would 
 be run into position under cover of the thick young 
 trees, careful aim taken and then altogether com- 
 mence a rapid fire upon the rebel works. As soon as 
 the rebel artillery began to get their guns bearing on 
 the spot our men would run their guns to another 
 point and the first notice of the change the enemy- 
 would get was another well-aimed volley. With dif- 
 ferent batteries doing this and a fine range of favor- 
 
Battle of Black River. 221 
 
 able ground to stand upon our artillery did most ef- 
 fective work. With our sharp-shooters on the skir- 
 mish line so near at hand to annoy every one who 
 attempted to handle a rebel cannon, and our artillery- 
 men so well improving their opportunities, the result 
 of the artillery duel was favorable to the Union side. 
 All things combined produced the strange result, 
 that superior artillery protected by complete works 
 was worsted by smaller guns in the open field. Dur- 
 ing the fight many of the protected rebel guns were 
 dismounted, while our artillery out in the open field 
 escaped with but little harm. 
 
 Thus the battle raged with our cannon in our rear, 
 and the rebel guns in our front, both firing over us. 
 We were fortunately low enough so that both sides 
 fired their balls and shells above us. The smoke and 
 confusion of the heavy contest also served to withdraw 
 all attention from our skirmish line and left us free 
 to use our trusty rifles to the best advantage. After 
 the engagement had commenced in earnest, the great- 
 est danger we were in was from imperfect shells which 
 would burst on the way, and from faulty charges of 
 powder or misdirected guns which now and then 
 sent iron and lead to plow the ground where we lay. 
 
 It would be useless to attempt to describe the ter- 
 rific scenes of this fierce contest as viewed from the 
 position we held between the two contending forces. 
 The heavy battle smoke rapidly rising continually 
 opened the entire scene to our view. Even in the 
 hottest of the fight every move of the enemy could be 
 noted by us. One rebel ofiicer, mounted upon a pow- 
 erful white horse, attracted unusual attention. As he 
 
222 Army Life. 
 
 tirst started at the beginning of tlie fight he appeared 
 to be supported by a numerous staff. His daring was 
 so reckless that he often became the mark our rifle- 
 men aimed at. As time passed swiftly on, one by one 
 of his assistants were seen to be disabled. He rode 
 until the last of his staff had fallen or left the field, 
 and still the rider upon the white horse, within range 
 of our guns, continued to inspire the rebel soldiers. 
 At last, as it became plain that the day was soon to 
 be ours, a desire seemed to spring up to let the reck- 
 less rider live, and he was permitted to ride away at 
 the last unharmed. As the artillery battle reached 
 its height, all incidents and individual matters were 
 absorbed by the tierce grandeur of the terrific storm 
 rao^inff around and above us. For a time the cannon in 
 front of us, the cannon behind us, the cannon around 
 us, thundered and roared and poured forth their fierce 
 storm of fire and shot. Look to the front, look to the 
 rear, look everywhere and the red-mouthed artillery 
 seemed opened upon us. Above us was the black cloud 
 of battle smoke, through which crashed and burst and 
 screamed the murderous shell and ball. But few ever 
 looked upon what we saw during that hour, and lived 
 to tell the tale of the day's conflict. Imagination has 
 often suggested that the grandest place from which to 
 view a battle scene would be from a stationary balloon 
 anchored high above the field of battle, and from 
 thence to look down upon both contending forces. 
 Even this would not prove equal to the position we 
 held, because the rising smoke would then obscure the 
 view, while with us, the dense cloud continually rose 
 
Battle of Black Eiver. 223 
 
 so tliat we could look beneath it and see the entire 
 fury of the fierce conflict. 
 
 Altliongh the gigantic grandeur of tlie conflict was 
 created bj tlie heavy artillery and tlie solid ranks of 
 infantry in onr rear, still the most eflective work of 
 tlie entire battle was done by the line of skirmishers, 
 who, with their trusty rifles, had approached so near 
 the rebel works. We held ouro^round durino: the en- 
 tire battle. In fact it was better to do so than to 
 have attemped to go back while so plainly within 
 range of the rebel guns. I had a little experience in 
 this. JSTear to me was John Spradling of our com- 
 pany. A piece of bursting shell struck him in the 
 side or top part of his hip inflicting a fearful wound. 
 He supposed that it was fatal and told us that he 
 would soon die. His wound bled badly but his 
 strength remained so well that he soon thought that 
 if he could get medical aid there might still be a 
 chance for him to live. If death is inevitable a sol- 
 dier will die without a single word of complaint. 
 While there is hope of life he is anxious to improve 
 it. Spradling became wildly anxious to get back 
 where his wound could be attended to before he bled 
 to death. He desired me to help him. It was a dan- 
 gerous undertaking. The artillery on both sides was 
 still firing rapidly. Standing up incurred more dan- 
 ger from the balls and shells swiftly flying from both 
 front and rear over our heads. The worst, however, 
 was to slowly walk over so much exposed ground, and 
 that in plain sight and range of the solid line of rebel 
 riflemen. The hope was that they would not care to 
 waste any shotB at a crippled soldif>r and his assistant, 
 
224: Army Life. 
 
 going to the rear. 1 got oar wonnded comrade np and 
 started. AVitli my gun fastened upon one shoulder — 
 a soldier never abandons his gun — I lent my other 
 shoulder and arm to the wounded man. He was so 
 injured that practically he could use only one 
 foot to assist in the walk. Going back in this condi- 
 tion was slow and tedious. The hope of magnanimity 
 on the part of tlie rebels was misplaced. We had not 
 gone far before the screeching rifle ba,lls aimed at us 
 commenced hissing by our ears. Spraclling knew that 
 he would die if he stayed upon the field. Another 
 ball could do no more than kill him. lie begged to go 
 on. As a soldier who could yet be useful in front I 
 ought not to have taken the chances. But who 
 could withstand the pleading of a wounded soldier. 
 And then who could tell what the result would be? 
 The chances were even that he would be hit as soon 
 as I. Then my mission toward the rear would be 
 ended. A soldier's life makes all reckless of danger. 
 All places in the midst of a fierce battle are danger- 
 ous. "What great difference did it make, for us to go 
 or stay? I told Spradling to brace up and we would 
 continue until one or tlie other of us fell. It is not 
 wild to say that, during our tedious journey, at least 
 a thousand rifle balls aimed at us passed near, and, 
 strange to say, neither of us was touched. There 
 must have been some special Providence that protected 
 us. With much difficulty I managed to get back over 
 the open ground, reached the woods, dragged our 
 wounded comrade up over the hill and then back until 
 we met a squad with their white badges and a 
 stretcher in whose hands T placed the wounded sol- 
 
Battle of Black Kivek. 225 
 
 dier and who carried liim back to the field hospital 
 where liis wounds could be dressed. 
 
 Kelieved of our wounded soldier I turned and 
 immediately went forward to rejoin my comrades. It 
 is usual in such cases to remain with the main line 
 and not hazard the attempt to reach tne skirmish 
 line in front. Probably it would be more correct to 
 state the fact that it is always usual in all battles for 
 the entire skirmish line to fall back out of the way 
 when the actual engagement commences. It was 
 only owing to the peculiar condition of the ground 
 upon which it w^as fought that in this battle we upon 
 the skirmish line retained our advanced position and 
 allowed the heavy firing to be done over our heads. 
 
 Many indications told us that the battle would soon 
 be ended. Most of the rebel cannon had been silenced. 
 The rebel infantry began to exhibit evidences of 
 uneasiness. I was anxious to be in at the end. To' 
 go forward was of course far different from what 
 my retreat had been. Being alone I could skip along 
 lively. There was a chance to select the ground and 
 now and then dodge behind some protection. In 
 short, going back was not by any manner of means a 
 matter of recklessness. 
 
 My return had been none too soon. I had hardly 
 reached our skirmish line when the last move in the 
 battle of Black River was made. It was a brisk, sharp 
 and successful charge upon the rebel works. This is 
 how it happened: The woods to our right ran well 
 down toward the rebel w^orks. Colonel Bailey of the 
 Ninety-ninth Illinois — "old rough and ready num- 
 ber two,'- General Benton had called him after tho 
 15 
 
226 Army Life. 
 
 battle of Magnolia Ilills — was with the advance. In 
 their zeal the Union soldiers had pressed to the veroje 
 of the woods which brought thein near to the rebel 
 works. It became right hot for our boys so near to 
 the enemy's lines. They had no orders to go farther; 
 in fact, had already pushed on farther than orders had 
 been given for them to go. The proper thing to have 
 done was to have fallen back to a less exposed posi- 
 tion. Colonel Bailey was one of those awkward offi- 
 cers who could never learn military rules. His only 
 idea of war was to pitch in and whip the enemy 
 whenever and wherever he could be found. By his 
 impetuosity lie became the hero of the day's battle. 
 Had his unauthorized movement failed he would 
 probably have been at least dismissed from the army. 
 'No, he would not. Had it failed and he come out of 
 it alive, he might have been tried by a court-martial, 
 but that never would have happened. His rash act 
 was bound to succeed or Colonel Bailey w^ould have 
 been killed in the attempt. 
 
 Findino^ it disao^reeable to be so near the rebel 
 works and seeing the effective fire upon his soldiers, 
 Colonel Bailey became fighting mad and yelled out 
 in thundering tones that rang along the line: " Boys, 
 
 it is getting too d hot here. Let us go for the 
 
 the cussed rebels!" Before the last word was out of 
 his mouth, with a drawn sword flashing in the air, he 
 vras on a fierce run toward the rebel works. With a 
 wild hurrah his entire command joined him in the 
 wild race. Others to the right and left, without a 
 moment's delay or a single command, joined in the 
 mad career, and thus with wild cheers the entire 
 
Battle of Black Eiver. 227 
 
 Union line joined in a charge upon the rebel works. 
 
 Ti)e disheartened Confederates having already suf- 
 fered so severel}^ and vividly remembering the fearful 
 poundino; they had received the day before at Cham- 
 pion Hills, at once gave up all hope of further defense 
 and immediately abandoned their works, and were in 
 a hot race to the rear before the Union troops had 
 reached their lines. Crossing the bayou was no easy 
 m atter. In front of part of our line the water was only 
 breast deep; through this the soldiers easily waded, 
 holding their guns and cartridge boxes above the water. 
 In some places the stagnant water was covered with 
 drift-wood. Here some would jump from one log to 
 another like rabbits. In places where the water was 
 more open a soldier running up would jump on to a 
 floating log and the momentum of the fierce run would 
 carry both him and the log across so that he could 
 jump dry shod upon the other side, before the log he 
 thus used for a boat commenced to turn wrong side up. 
 In front of us the water was deeper and wider, but as 
 good fortune would have it, the rebels had only removed 
 the planks from the bridge, leaving the narrow string- 
 ers still running over. Our company immediately 
 jumped upon these stringers and ran across like squir- 
 rels. The rest of the skirmish line followed, and thus 
 the Thirty-third was soon all inside of the rebel works,' 
 being the first troops inside the main part of the fort. 
 Otlier troops came in hot haste. The rebels were gone. 
 And the battle of Black Eiver was ended. 
 
 A fine lot of rebel cannon was taken with the fort. 
 Our boys had learned a little war experience from tlie 
 figlit of the day before. As we drove the enemy from 
 
22 S Army Life, 
 
 some of liis cannon at Champion Hills, vre rnslied 
 forward witliout regard to the guns. When we after- 
 ward sent back for them we found that the troops who 
 had followed us had taken possession of the captured 
 cannon, and were thus entitled to the credit of tlieir 
 capture. The rule is, that if a command captures ar- 
 tillery it must retain possession of it, or else the next 
 command coming up will have the right to claim it. 
 Infantry troops can not always carry captured artil- 
 lery along with them, nor stop in the midst of a fight 
 to retain possession of it. To provide for these and 
 other difficulties that might arise, the established rule 
 has become for the troops who capture a cannon to 
 have one of their men " straddle" it, that is, sit upon 
 it as though on horseback. Then the command can 
 go to any other work at hand, and the one soldier 
 npon the gun will be recognized by the entire army 
 as in full possession of it. Thus one man for each 
 piece of artillery is all the regiment need leave to re- 
 tain possession of captured cannon. Of course, should 
 any of the enemy return, the "straddling" is ended, 
 and it is again a fight for possession of the guns. We 
 had profited by the Champion Hills lesson, and the 
 result was that the captured rebel forts were full of 
 Thirty-third boys "straddling" the captured cannon. 
 Tims we were credited with the capture of cannon 
 enough to supply a good sized arm}^, and were more 
 than made even for the loss of those we had neglected 
 to " straddle " at Champion Hills. The captured guns 
 came near being a burden to us, there were so many 
 of them that they could not be disposed of at once, so 
 an entire company of our regiment was detailed to 
 
YlCIvSBURG. 229 
 
 take care of the captured guns until they could be 
 properly disposed of. 
 
 The rebels retreated across the river and went toward 
 Yicksburg. One of their batteries took position upon 
 the high bluffs on the west side of the river and fired 
 a few rounds at us, but as soon as they saw one of our 
 batteries getting into position to reply to them, they 
 " limbered up" and scampered away. This was the last 
 we saw of the rebels at Black River. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 CHARGE UPON VICKSBURG. 
 
 The charge upon Yicksburg was described in an 
 address delivered in Lockport on July 4, 1866. As 
 the journal from which this record is taken was drawn 
 upon for part of that description, it can properly be 
 given here: 
 
 Some of iny friends have expressed a wish — per- 
 haps most of you desire — that upon this occasion I 
 should, as a soldier, give a brief picture of a battle 
 scene. Such request I can not well disregard, yet I 
 would prefer some more pleasant theme. 
 
 Standing here as I do to-day, and remembering that 
 this is not only the anniversary of our ISTational birth, 
 but also that of a later event, how can I forget that 
 three years ago I saw the surrender of Yicksburg. 
 
 Those of us who were there can r.ever forget the 
 time when v/e stood upon the immortal hills of Yicks- 
 bursr. We can never foro^et the trving hours, the 
 dreary days of that long, desperate, eventful and 
 bloody conflict. And the desperate charge of tlie 
 twenty-second of May! It can never be forgotten. 
 How can it be portrayed? Words would fail to de- 
 scribe the scene. One might as well try to paint on 
 
262 Ar^iy Life. 
 
 canvas the fearful sound of roaring tliunder, as to at- 
 tempt to fully describe a battle. 
 
 Opposing armies lay confronting each other. The 
 enemy was intrenched behind his seemingly invincible 
 works. Nature's strongest fortifications had been im- 
 proved, if improvement was possible, by the most elab- 
 orate engineering skill. The high and steep hills made 
 most directions of approach impossible. Through 
 deep and narrow deliles converging toward the city 
 were the only possible roads; and at the end of each 
 of these an absolute guard seemed to have been placed 
 in the shape of some stubborn hill from the hights of 
 which frowned the red-mouthed artillery of the rebel 
 battlements. Where can a comparison be found? 
 Could you, my friends, by soaring off on fairy wings 
 to other worlds, imagine a scene where the arch fiend 
 of evil having been defeated had retreated to the high 
 realms of his own domains, and there, with all the skill 
 of his destroying genius, had invented a castle, the 
 only approach to which was through long, deep and 
 narrow defiles, in which only a narrow column could 
 advance; the whole length of which was swept by the 
 most destroying machines that satanic ingenuity could 
 invent, you will then have some impression of what 
 we met on our attack upon Yicksburg. 
 
 Such as these were the conditions opposed to us 
 upon that eventful morn of the twenty-second of May, 
 when word was jjassed along the line that in one hour 
 we w^ould charge the enemy's w^orks. 
 
 The emotions caused by this announcement can 
 not be explained by any natural passion of the human 
 heart. No fear nor dread seemed to be coursing 
 
Charge upon Yicksburg. 2G3 
 
 tlirongli the soldier's veins. It was not false indiifer- 
 ence nor wild, consuming enthusiasm; all spoke 
 calmly or thought quietly of the desperate contest in 
 which they were soon to mingle, perhaps to die. 
 Love tokens and short messages were left with tlie 
 simple and seemingly almost indifferent request. " If 
 I do not come back, send them home." Perhaps some 
 of you, my friends, have some of those last tokens 
 of remembrance; and all, yes, upon every heart 
 throughout the land, there is, I know, impressed the 
 token of kindest remembrance for some noble soldier 
 who did not come back from the war. ]S"either could 
 vaulting ambition nor lofty patriotism, nor wild, con- 
 suming religious' zeal fully explain those strange 
 emotions. It was as though some all-powerful spirit, 
 like the ancient god of war, had come down and con- 
 suuied the human hearts of those who once were men, 
 'Not brutalized them — no! no, indeed! All were ten- 
 derly kind to each other. And yet the fiery god had 
 ch?jiged them so that all would march quietly on to 
 death as though it was a higher aim to contribute to 
 the jame of fiery Mars than to simply live a human 
 life. A clear and pretty stream, clothed by imagi- 
 nation with human life and thoughts courses sweetly, 
 quietly on its way; leaping down the rugged hills, 
 playing across the fertile valleys, laughing over the 
 blooming meadows and passing through the golden 
 fields; running on, on toward the grand and beautiful 
 lake, or boundless ocean, by which it will soon be 
 swallowed up and consumed. It approaches the end 
 with a quiet dread and solemn regret that its indi- 
 viduality is to be lost; yet it would not stay if it 
 
2Gtt Army Life. 
 
 could, because it will soon fonn part of tliat greater 
 and more mao^niiicent grandeur beyond. Is it some 
 strange, nndefined emotion like tliis. that actuates the 
 soldier when lie so willinglj marches on to death, and 
 wliich the world, that through ages past, carelessly 
 named the soldier's love of glory? Perhaps it is so; 
 yet to those who judge according to tlie dictates of 
 reason how r_!.range it is. Although I once, to s .'me 
 extent, felt this strange spirit of war, yet as I am here 
 to-day, in this pretty grove, surrounded by the cool, 
 peaceful and pleasant influences of this hour, it all 
 seems but as a dream, and 1 can understand it no mere 
 than those who never saw a battle Held. 
 
 The fated hour of ten arrived. Officers of higli 
 rank seemed to have forgotten the usual words of mili- 
 tary command. No formal commands of " Forward, 
 march" were given. With drawn swords they started 
 forth, simply saying, " Boys, come on, follow me." A 
 moment more, and the hurricane of ruin burst upon 
 ns, as with but one stroke of a sweeping, crusliing 
 tornado. Witnin, what a rapid, seething sea of dea ;a 
 were we now mingled. Even at this late day, Iharcdy 
 dare, even in thouglit, to review that gorj^ scene ; nor 
 could I do so if I would, for the terrible grandeur of 
 that terrific conflict so completely drowned us witli 
 its sweeping fury, that we were not able to appreciate 
 its destructive powers. The thunder roar of ponder- 
 ous artillery; the fiery flash of bursting shell and 
 powder blast; the singing, screeching rifle balls ; the 
 hoavy sulphurous clouds of battle smoke that envel- 
 oped those murderous hills and deep valleys of the 
 dead in one great, dark and mysterious sea of "firj^ 
 
Charge uroN Yickslukg 265 
 
 and death, and ruin — all tliis combl!ied was a sceneof 
 reality which could not be equaled except by trans- 
 forming the scene of the first great battle; refbught, 
 not beneath heaven's shining light, but amidst those 
 clouds of darkness — darkness so d(;nse that it could 
 be felt — that reigns throughout the realms of eternal 
 night; — combine these two most graphic of human im- 
 aginations; combine the fury of heaven's battle wiih 
 the darkness of eternal death, and you will then have 
 a picture of tlie realities of a battle scene. 
 
 Deep ravines were filled with the bodies of fallen 
 heroes, over which passed succeeding ranks. Still 
 on, on pressed rank after rank until the rebel works 
 were reached. Our comrades lay strewn upon the 
 field behind us. Those left had not strength to 
 surmount and hold the works upon which we were 
 now contending. Both friend and foe were now upon 
 the same range of hills, only separated by the narrow 
 breastworks: and there, through ail tlie hours of that 
 livelong day, the terrible conflict continued, in a bit- 
 ter hand-to-hand contest. Thus the fury raged until 
 nio;ht mercifully threw^ its mantle of darkness over 
 the gory scene and then each of the contending par- 
 ties returned to the lines from which they advanced 
 to commence that unparalleled conflict. 
 
 Such as these were the scenes through which we 
 passed during our desperate charge upon Yicks- 
 burg. Then during those long hours of night, as I 
 stood, watching upon the borders of that gory field 
 from which we had returned, and where so many 
 loved comrades lay; in those dark hours of night, as 
 the truth passed before me in thought, I could but ah 
 
266 Army Life. 
 
 most doubt the realities of our own existence. Do we 
 live in a world of truth, or within the dark realms of 
 despair? Is this earth, or is it the place of eternal 
 death? Were these beings before me men and l)roth- 
 ers, or were they demons? Does God reign and are 
 such things as these real? After many long and 
 tedious days the glorious anniv^ersary of ourl^ational 
 birth returned, bringing with it, as it ever does, the 
 glorious shont of victory. On the fourth of July, 
 Yicksburg fell. Then the feeling of joy in every 
 heart, could be equaled in depth only by the anguish 
 of those former days. Then throughout our lines 
 every soldier's heart rose up in praise to heaven in 
 thanks, that the cause of justice and right had tri- 
 umphed, and that we could once more believe in the 
 reign of a just God. 
 
 A FEW INCIDENTS. 
 
 During the siege of Yicksburg many amusing in- 
 cidents occurred. A few will be recounted: 
 
 One of our soldiers, an Irishman, was on guard 
 one night in the front trenches. These advanced 
 trenches ran so near to the enemy's line that the 
 picket guards could at night, when it was still, talk 
 across from their rifle pits. Discovering that Pat 
 was easily annoyed, the rebel guards commenced 
 blackguarding him. After plaguing him about 
 other matters they began to tease him about the 
 worthlessness of the shells fired from the Union mor- 
 tars on the gun-boats. As a rule it must be admit- 
 ted that these shells did no £:reat damage. Among 
 other thino^s the rebels told Pat that "the onlv harm 
 
YxcKSBURG Incidents. 2G7 
 
 the shells have yet done is to kill two mules and 
 lame one old woman." Just then through some 
 strange accident a shell happened to come from the 
 river dropping and bursting among Pat's tormentors, 
 injuring two or three and causing the balance to 
 scamper for dear life. Ere the sound of the bursting 
 shell had died away the shrill voice of Pat was heard 
 crying: " There, ye infernal cusses, put that in ye 
 haversack and chaw it, will ye, ye blathering black- 
 guards." 
 
 Another about the mortar shells is this: When 
 General Bowine, the Confederate officer, first came 
 out under a flag of truce, on the third of July, to treat 
 for terms of surrender, he suggested that hostilities 
 cease during the negotiations. The Union officers 
 readily acquiesced, but mentioned the difficulty of get- 
 ting orders to the gun-boats in time. "Oh, well," he 
 replied, " that is of no consequence; never mind the 
 gun-boats; they never harm us any." 
 
 One day toward the end of the siege, one of the 
 Confederates cried out to our soldiers, saying: " We 
 are going to have a new General." " Ah, indeed," 
 was the reply, " and who is he? " " General Starva- 
 tion," coolly replied the comical Confederate soldier. 
 To appreciate this it should be remembered that the 
 rebel soldier was at the time almost starved; with 
 him it was an empty stomach joke. 
 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 FEOM NEW ORLEANS TO NEW YORK AND THENCE TO 
 ILLINOIS. 
 
 Saturday, September seventeenth, we were surprised 
 by the sudden and unexpected orders to start at once 
 for the North. A special train at once took us to 
 Alo-iers. We immediately crossed the river to New 
 Orleans. The reason for this sudden haste was this: 
 a large number of Confederate prisoners were on 
 hand and it was desired that we should guard them on 
 the way to the North. We are to take the prisoners 
 to New York and then go to our own State to be dis- 
 charo-ed. There are over one hundred soldiers of the 
 Thirty-third whose time has now expired, who will go 
 with us. 
 
 On Sunday, September eighteenth, we embarked on 
 the steam propeller, Cassandra. We had some three 
 
From New Okleans to New Yokk. 401 
 
 hundred prisoners. They were part of those capt- 
 ured at Fort Morgan. They were very well clothed 
 and the best looking set of Confederate soldiers I have 
 yet seen. As we took thera through the streets from 
 the prison to the ship, the Southern women came out 
 to smile upon and wish the Confederate prisoners 
 good-bye. This pleased the prisoners. We took the 
 prisoners on board at three p. m. At five o'clock 
 every thing was ready and we steamed down the river. 
 At sunrise Monday morning w:?^ passed from the 
 river to the gulf through the Southwest Pass and 
 then turned southeast and sailed toward Key West. 
 We had a pleasant sail Moiiday and Tuesday. 
 Toward night on Tuesday the wind began to j-ise 
 and through the night and the next day we had a 
 rough sea. Manj^ of the boys became seasick. W-a 
 reached Key West after dark Wednesday. We liad 
 one passenger and some mail to land. Ac tlie yellov^^ 
 fever is raging in Key Y7es^' T7e did not witjh to rm 
 into port and laid outside until Thursday morni.vg. 
 A small boat then took oui pasfjengers and the mail 
 and we went on our way. At night we passed the 
 last light-house we will see oa t??.e southern c,02st of 
 Florida and turned to the nortk. The boys were 
 greatly pleased when the boat commenced running to 
 the north. It seems like going home when we can 
 see the north star in our front. During our three 
 years' sojourn in the south, with danger and death 
 for our daily companions, often, in the dark night 
 march, and still more frequently during tlie lonely 
 night guard, the only steadfast guide we could see 
 and know was the ever faithful north star, always 
 26 
 
402 Akmy Life. 
 
 sliining like a beacon li.^bt over our Northern nomes. 
 Tims the north star, always reminding us of Northern 
 liberty and the land of our birth, has become to us 
 soldiers of the North, a well-known friend and faith- 
 ful guide, and with glad hearts we follow in the patli 
 it marks, knowing that every step taken, with its light 
 in front, takes lis nearer home. Glorious star of the 
 north; glorious land of iibert3% gladly do your sons 
 follow the light of the one that guides them to the 
 bosom of the other. 
 
 Saturday and Sunday we had i. splendid sea with a 
 good brisk wind in our rear which aided us to sail 
 nicely. During part of the time enormous shoals of 
 fishes followed us. It wa? ^. wonderful sight. 
 Where could so many Ush come from ? Some of the 
 boys declared that all the fish in the sea had assembled 
 and come up to greet us on onr happy journey home. 
 We passed Cape Hatteras during Sunday night and 
 ran within sight of the Atlantic shore most of the day 
 Monday. As we began to near the busy cities of the 
 North we met with evidences of thei>. busy commerce 
 by seeing many sails upon the water. 
 
 On this trip I heard more politics than is usual 
 with us in the arm3^ The services were very short. It 
 consisted of this: Some of our soldiers had news- 
 papers, part of which were given to the rebel prisoners, 
 whom we kept guarded in their part of the boat. 
 Among the papers given to them was one tliat sup- 
 ported theDemocratic candidate for President, General 
 McClellan, and contained a positive prediction of his 
 election. This was read aloud by one of the Confed- 
 erate prisoners to the others, and thereupon they all 
 
Upon the Atlantic Oceak. 403 
 
 joined in loud cheers for General McCIellan. Upon 
 hearing the rebels cheer for McCIellan the few Union 
 soldiers who had intended to vote for him announced 
 that they should vote for Lincoln. It was the eliortest 
 and most effective political address I ever heard. A 
 speech without words — simply three rebel yells — 
 chano^ed all the McCIellan voters into Lincoln men. 
 
 The weather remained fine and we had a pleasant 
 run the rest of the way to New York. Reaching that 
 place the first thing to do was to turn our prisoners 
 over to the proper authorities. This done we landed 
 in l^ew York City. Wednesday afternoon and even- 
 ing we had a little time to run around the city, which 
 we improved. 
 
 Thursday, September twenty-ninth, we took the 
 cars for the west at Jersey City. Passed through 
 some fine towns and country. Faterson, as we saw it, 
 appears to be a very pretty place. Goshen is the 
 center of a splendid farming country. We passed 
 through Ehnira during the night r..nd ran on to Hor- 
 nellsville where we changed cars. We took the fore- 
 noon train Friday, from this place, and ran through 
 to Dunkirk. We arrived too late to make connection 
 with the west bound train, and had to lay over 
 and take the evening train for Cleveland. We rode 
 all night and reached Cleveland at a late hour Satur- 
 day morning. We were again too late to make con- 
 nection and had to lay over in Cleveland for the after- 
 noon train. Ran around and looked at the town a 
 little. Yisited the water-works and a few other places. 
 Cleveland is one of the prettiest cities I ever visited. 
 At half- past two we started again and passed through 
 
404: Army Life. 
 
 Oberlin and other thriving Ohio towns and reached 
 Toledo at a h\te hour at night. Our afternoon ride gave 
 us a tine view of some of the finest farming country 
 in tlie- world. We stopped at Toledo, sleeping in the 
 depot buildings over night. We remained in the 
 city over Sunday. As it was our first opportunity 
 for three h^ng years, a number of us attended church, 
 in a peaceful land, Sunday forenoon. At niglit we 
 got upon the cars and just before midnight started for 
 Illinois. We passed through Fort Wayne during the 
 night and reached Peru in time for breakfast. At the 
 State Line we found the train of the Great Western 
 waiting^ for us. Our cars were attached and we started 
 forward and reached Camp Butler shortly after dark, 
 Monday, October 3, 1864. 
 
 Thus after three years' absence once again our feet 
 are upon the soil of our own noble State. All hail 
 to Illinois! Proud and noble State, your sons are as 
 proud of you as you are justly proud of them. The 
 land of our birth; the home of our youth; the hope 
 of our future, gladly do we greet thee, our own prai- 
 rie State. If the returning soldier boys stood erect, 
 if they walked with a proud step, if their eyes 
 beamed with glad satisfaction as they returned the 
 cheers that greeted them on their return to Illinois, 
 who can blame them ? In every battle from Missouri 
 and Kentucky to tlie Southern gulf and even on to 
 the borders of Mexico the soldiers of Illinois have 
 been in the thickest of the fight. On every occasion 
 the Illinois soldiers have added to the proud fam,e of 
 the grand prairie State. JSTo matter how thickly came 
 the iron and leaden hail from the rebel guns, the vol- 
 
Hail to Illinois! 405 
 
 unteer soldiers from sister States never wavered when 
 by their side they could see the ref^imental banners 
 with Illinois written thereon. All knew that the Illi- 
 nois part of the line would be maintained. 
 
 With all of the long distance over which we have 
 iriaiclied and desperate fields upon which we have 
 fouglii, witb. the gallant Western army we have never 
 left our wounded nor our dead to be handled or bur- 
 ied by rebel hands. Upon all occasions we have 
 taken care off yur own. We have never left a con- 
 tested field e-;i;cept as victors. Fortune has been ex- 
 ceedingly kind to us, and we return to our own State 
 at her capital, to lay down unsullied the proud coin- 
 niissioTi she gave y.B to serve as part of her volunteer 
 soldiery. G^^and. -^^nd noble State of Illinois! May 
 her sons through r;.ll oime sustain the record made in 
 the years of 1861-62-63 and '64. All hail to the 
 State of Ii]ir,->3s; 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIIL 
 
 THE END OF MY SOLDIER LIFE — HOME AGAIN. 
 
 ir UlS- 
 
 There was some delay in the making out of oui 
 charge papers, which gave us an opportunity to visit 
 the city of Springfield and other points of interest in 
 the vicinity of Camp Butler. 
 
 On Wednesday, October fifth, some of us attended 
 a oTcat mass- meeting of those who favor the re-elec- 
 
406 Akmy Life. 
 
 tion of Lincoln. I saw Governor Yates, Judge Trum- 
 bnll,. Senator Doolittle, Generals Logan, Palmer and 
 Oglesbj, Deacon Bross, Colonel Ingersoll and other 
 speakers. Met Lieutenant Fyffe of Company A, and 
 M. J. '^JQ, a former member of our company. 
 
 Edward Pike, the orderly sergeant of Company A, 
 whose term expires and who came home with us, be- 
 came so unwell that he had to be taken to the camp 
 hospital. 
 
 Sunday, October ninth, the One Hundred and 
 Thirty-eighth Illinois came into Camp Butler, having 
 just returned from Western Missouri. My brother 
 Griffin was with them. This was the first time I had 
 scci- him, a' .:.n\ of my relatives, for over three years. 
 He had growTi «:en&iderable since I saw him last. 
 Then he was a little boy, now he is a young soldier. 
 
 Monday, Octobei eleventh, the mustering officer 
 cilled the roll of our detachment, and then in formal 
 manner pronounced the words: ^' You are now honor- 
 ably discharged from the service of the army of the 
 United States of America." 
 
 Tlie only th/o^c now to do was to wait for the pay- 
 master and 'Jien go home. Those who lived near 
 e)iouj>'h to Bprinp^fieid went to their homes immedi- 
 ately; those of us whose homes were too far away 
 remained. The paymaster was slow in coming, caus- 
 ing us to wait longer than we expected. 
 
 I spent moc-t of the day, the following Wednes- 
 day, in Springfield, and in the afternoon returned to 
 Camp Butler. I was ranch surprised to there meet 
 two more of ni)^ brothers in camp, Kalph and Webb. 
 The}^ had lately enlisted in a new company that was 
 
In Camp Butler, October, 1S»i4:. 407 
 
 organizing to join the old Twentietli Illinois. The 
 first had served for a time in the One Hundredth Illi- 
 nois and was now retnrning to the army. The latter, 
 who was jonnger, had grown up, so as to be large 
 enongh to be a soldier since I left home in 1861. 
 Both were buoyant and happy. 
 
 A few months afterward a sadder page wr,^ ]n^ro 
 inserted: Of us four brothers wn;. ^lad thus liap- 
 pened to meet as soldiers in Gamp Sutier, Webb, the 
 poor boy, was the only -one who was desr-ned to fill a 
 soldier's grave. He was stricken :lo\\n, while in 
 Camp Butler, with that fearful scourge oi the army, 
 typhoid fever. He was brought home sicii, but all 
 assistance was in vain. He died and was buried in the 
 little country grave-yard near our farm home. He 
 was the pride of the family. His strength of mind 
 was never excelled by one of his years. Knowing 
 him as I did, and fully appreciating how such men- 
 tal activity as he possessed, unfitted one of his tender 
 years for the physical hardships of soldier life, 1 
 had often written to dissuade him from joining the 
 army. He ought to have remained at school. But 
 the spirit of soldier ancestors was too strong, and he, 
 like the rest, was bound to be a soldier before the war 
 ended. He joined the army and was mustered out by 
 death, and all that is left of our briglitest hovci i? 0'.> 
 revere the memory of our young soldier broiner, Ed- 
 win Webb Marshall, who died on January 2'±, 13G5. 
 
 On Monda}^, October seventeenth, I went into the 
 city, and, at head-quarters, found that the Umted States 
 ])ayniaster would be on hand the next day. 1 isle- 
 graphed toBloomington and Carlinville, for the Thirty- 
 
408 Army Life. 
 
 tliird boys to return. This was my last cpportuDity 
 to serve my old comrades as soldiers. I went i;o Camp 
 Butler, packed up my personal traps and then went to 
 Spriui^deld and stayed at the hotel over night. This 
 was the first time I had slept in a bed, othe- than one 
 made out of my soldier blankets, since 1 left iiome in 
 1861. 
 
 On Tuesday we met at Camp Butler; the Govern- 
 ment paymaster paid us the balance our due, we bid 
 farewell to our comrades, and each started for his own 
 home. I took the night train on the Chicago & Alton 
 iioinff north and reached Joliet at an early hour the 
 next morning. Here I took the morning train on the 
 Chicago & Kock Island railroad, and ran up to Mo- 
 kena. From there I walked across the fields to tlie 
 township of New Lenox and was soon upon the old 
 home farm, upon which I was born; and thus I 
 reached home on Wednesday, October 19, 1864. 
 The first one I met was little sister Mary — how she 
 had grown while I was away. The little girl was 
 out in the field trying to do what she could, attending 
 to the farm stock, as her big brocnt^rs were all away 
 soldiering. It is not strange that it was difficult for 
 me to recognize her. I liad never xhoaghtof the lit- 
 tle puss only as for her brothers w tease and play 
 with — ^just big enough for us to throw up and catch, 
 as a ball, when playing with her. 
 
 The youngest of the family, little George, he, too, 
 had grown and now was quite a large boy, had his 
 team in the field, commencing to gather the fall crop 
 of corn. Having come on the first train, my early 
 arrival was taking those at home somewhat by sui-- 
 
^ Home Again. 409 
 
 prise. At the house, both busily engaged, I found 
 sister Sarah — our oldest sister, whose frequent home 
 letters had so often gladdened uie daring the past, 
 three long years — and our mother— a mother, who, 
 manv, many long years ago, had been left a widow, 
 with two little girls and live small boys to care for. 
 All of her boys who were old enough had taken a part 
 as soldiers, and now the prospect was fair that the 
 end would come and she not be called upon to make 
 her sacrifice. Upon this day a happy mother was she. 
 Her greeting, to me, will not be described. 
 
 Wednesday, the day of my arrival, was a home visit. 
 The next day the neighbors, hearing of my return, 
 dropped in, one after another, to talk with and ask a 
 thousand questions of army life. 1 was glad to meet 
 ind greet them all. And yet, sad greetings some of 
 them were. Now and then, when the Jionest old 
 farmer, his white-haired wife, or other kind neighbors 
 grasped my hand, I could see tears mingled with the 
 joyous words. Tlie tale the tears told did not need to 
 be explained in words. Too well I knew, that in the 
 neighbor's home there was a vacant chair that never 
 would again be filled. Many of the boys with whom 
 1 had joined in many a wild" play at the little old log 
 scliool Louse, in thj edge of the woods, with whom I 
 had worl;ed. ana rambled over the prairie land, with 
 whom I had passed manj^along, jolly night in the 
 wild woods, lunching upon roasted, green corn and 
 ripe appke gatntied by the way, while hunting vvdld 
 raccoons and other game; with whom I had robbed my 
 own melon patch as well as theirs in turn, many of 
 these boys had gone to the war never to return. 
 
410 Army Life. 
 
 Thus was sorrow mixed with joy. Cuuid I have 
 said to each honest old father, to each fond mother, to 
 each devoted wife, to each loving sister, brother, child 
 and s'.vx'ctlieart: "Your soldier has lived to return from 
 the war,'' these hours of my return home would have 
 been the l-appiest of my life. 
 
 But for the sorrow it brings, every young man 
 could well commence his worldly career by spending 
 three years in army life. 
 
ARMY LIFE. 
 
 Opinions of Statesmen and the Press, 
 
 Hon. E. B. Washbukne: You have occupied ground that has 
 never before been covered. 
 
 Hon. John Wentworth : It deserves, and I doubt not will 
 receive, a liberal patronage from the public. 
 
 Hon. S. M. Cullom, U. S. Senator: Your sketches possess an 
 interest that does not attach to many more pretentious histories of 
 the late war. 
 
 Gen. J. L. Beveridge, Ex-Gov. of 111.: Your book is to the 
 military what Pilgrim's Progress is to the Christian world. 
 
 Hon. T. S. Casey, Judge of Appellate Court: Honestly, it is 
 many a day since I read a book I really enjoyed as much. 
 
 Judge Josiah McRoberts : I am highly pleased with it. The 
 portrayal of the investment and final reduction of Vicksburg gives 
 the reader a clearer idea of that memorable conflict than anything 
 heretofore published. 
 
 Hon. Isaac N. Arnold: It is a really valuable contribution to 
 the history of the war. 
 
 Hon. James McCartney, Attorney General of Illinois: 1 am 
 glad that a private soldier has been found who can fairly give his 
 experiences and views of the war. I can commend your book. 
 
 Gen. Chas. E. Hoyey: Its perusal will set us all to fighting 
 our battles over again. 
 
 Col. E. R. Roe: Your description of the battle of the Cache is 
 perfect as a photograph. It is truthful, graphic and most thrilling. 
 
 Judge Benj. Olin: The book is replete with graphic descrip- 
 tions of camp life, army incidents, and battle scenes. 
 
 Gen. I. H. Elliott: I think it exceedinarly well written, and 
 a faithful portraiture of the experiences ol' the 33d. 
 
 (411) 
 
412 Army Life. 
 
 Capt. J. H. BuiiNHAvi: It seems to me that your work is a 
 success, from every point of view. 
 
 Capt. C A. Hill: It is the most vivid picture of the real life 
 of the vohmteer soldier — the best 1 have seen. 
 
 E. M. Pike: I prize the book far above a money considera- 
 tion. 
 
 Seth Turner: I believe the average boy will learn more of 
 the real history oi' the Rebellion by reading it, than by a six 
 months' term at the text books. 
 
 Hon. Henry Snapp: A copy ought to be found in every family 
 in the land. It will do good. 
 
 Hon. John Reid : I think the book will be very popular among 
 old soldiers and young men of military inclinations. 
 
 Hon. J. W. FiFER: My interest in the book did not abate 
 from first to last; I unhesitatingly pronounced it one of the most 
 interesting stories I ever read. 
 
 RoBT. Clow, Circuit Clerk, Will Co. : Any one commencing to 
 read in can scarcely lay it aside until the last page is read. 
 
 E. C. Hager: In language, it is plain and simple; in interest, 
 intense and absorbing. 
 
 Capt. Egbert Phelps: I have not yet seen a portfolio of 
 word pictures portraying the army life of a private soldier in 
 such vivid and life-like manner. 
 
 WHAT THE NEWSPAPERS SAY. 
 
 Joliet Daily News: It is like a panorama. 
 
 Ottawa Republican: It is well worth any person's perusal. 
 
 Braidwood Sif tings : The book is very interesting. 
 
 Chicago Evening Journal : The volume is full of incidents, an- 
 ecdotes and adventures. The general reader will find the work 
 quite interesting. 
 
 Joliet Republic-Sun: The book abounds in graphic descrip- 
 tions. 
 
 Joliet Press: It touches many tender chords, many times ex- 
 cites mirth, and many times brings the tears. 
 
Opiniois^s of TPiE Pkess. 413 
 
 Morris Herald: The book will be of interest to ail who took 
 part in the war, or had friends engaged therein. 
 
 Ottawa Journal : ''Army Life" is replete with graphic de- 
 scriptions of many battles, witnessed and experienced by the au- 
 thor. 
 
 Joliet Record; The book is well written, and will be read with 
 interest by all old soldiers, and bj' people generally. 
 
 Ottawa Daily Times : It is in many respects the strongest por- 
 trayal of the private soldier life yet written. It breathes patriot- 
 ism on every page, and every growing boy in the land should 
 read it. 
 
 The Globe: "Army Life " is receiving high praises from all 
 quarters. 
 
 Chicago Inter-Ocean : It is as good an epitome of every day 
 life in the army as we have at any time read. 
 
 Joliet News: Wlien the pages haunt us for days after perusal, 
 we consider it the best indication of an entertaining book. 
 
 Joliet Signal: It is replete with pleasing reminiscences, given 
 in an easy style, that does great credit to the author. 
 
 Chicago Daily News: It is a picture of a private soldier's army 
 life, and is told in a simple yet graphic style. The plain but feel- 
 ing manner in which Mr. Marshall narrates his story tells how 
 near his heart was to his pen when he wrote it. 
 
 Bloomington Bulletin: The book is a description of the life of 
 a private soldier, from 1861 to 1864, and is full of incidents. 
 
 Wilmington Advocate: It carried us right back twenty years. 
 
 Ottawa Free-Trader: The book is one of uncommon interest. 
 
 Lockport Phoenix: The scenes in "Army Life " are so well 
 painted that the reader can fully understand every feature. 
 
 Bloomington Leader: It contains many interesting anecdotes. 
 
 Peotone Advance: The book should be in every soldier's libra- 
 ry, as well as others. 
 
 Chicago Legal News: It is the story of an intelligent private 
 soldier, written by himself at the time, in an amusing and enter- 
 taining style. 
 
 Chicago Times: To the citizen, to the student of history, and, 
 indirectly, to the politician, it offers much reading of interest. It 
 is a volume that will hold the reader's interest closely. 
 
 Bloomington Pantagraph: It is a valuable addition to the his- 
 
414 Army Life. 
 
 tory of the war, because it tells the story of a soldier's life just as it 
 happened, in the language and thoughts of the private soldier. 
 
 Marseilles Register: Charming and thrilling from beginning 
 to end. 
 
 ISTaperville Clarion: Every family ought to have one. 
 
 Kankakee Gazette: More interesting than any novel ever 
 written. 
 
 Kendall County Record : One of the most truthful and enter- 
 taining war books yet published. 
 
 Morris Daily News: A practicable work, written in a practica- 
 ble and highly interesting manner by a practicable man of much 
 literary and intellectual breadth. 
 
 Marseilles Plaindealer: We have yet to see a more glowing 
 and graphic record. 
 
 Washington National Tribune: One of the most interesting 
 and valuable contributions that has yet been made to the litera- 
 ture of the war. 
 
 Chictigo Tribune : His description of the battles and sieges he 
 and his comrades fought are graphic and eloquent. 
 
 Marshalltown Times-Republican: There is not a more readable 
 book published. 
 
 Louisville Courier-Journal : A well told story, of what a sol- 
 dier saw and did. 
 
 JOLIET, 111., Oct. 1, 1886. 
 To the Beader: It has been said that one of the best ways of 
 becoming acquainted with a man is to read what he has written. 
 If, after reading these detached pages of "Army Life" you feel 
 free to speak a good word for me as a candidate for County Judge, 
 at the coming election, I will be mucn pleased. If you do not, I 
 still desire to extend the hand of friendship to one and all of my 
 Will County friends. If elected, I will be much pleased; if 
 defeated, I shall not waste any time in idle regrets. 
 Yours Respectfully, 
 
 Albert 0. Marshall.