USA > Illinois > Complete history of the 46th regiment, Illinois volunteer infantry, a full and authentic account of the participation of the regiment in the battles, sieges, skirmishes and expeditions in which it was engaged > Part 24
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HISTORY OF FORTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
The fine barracks, built by the regiment, had to be given up, as orders were received on the 27th of November to embark on transports for Mem- phis, Tenn. Left Duvall's Bluff at 1 o'clock P. M. of the 28th, and ar- rived at the mouth of White River at 3 o'clock P. M., of the 29th, and Memphis on the 1st of December at 6 o'clock P. M.
While coming down White river, Arkansas, on the 28th, a party of guerillas fired on the boat and wounded three men, none severely. The fire was quickly returned by the regiment. On the same night, Thomas Wal- bridge, a Private of Company K, fell overboard and was drowned. His body could not be recovered.
At Memphis, the regiment went into camp on the Pigeon Roost road, just east of the city. While at this camp, all the non-veteran soldiers of H, E, I, K and F, were mustered out of the service, together with Major McCracken, Captain Hughes, Stewart, Wakefield, Reitzell, and Lieutenants Terry, Shaw and Mckibben.
The command suffered here from cold by reason of shelter, tents and scarcity of timber and fuel. The tents were no protection against cold, and the want of timber or lumber prevented the men from building comfortable huts or barracks.
On the 12th of December orders from General Canby were received re-organizing the troops of the 19th army corps into the Reserve Corps, Military Division of West Mississippi. The 2d Brigade, which was com- posed of the 8th, 11th, 46th and 76th Regiments of Illinois Infantry, and the 23d Wisconsin and 30th Missouri Regiments Infantry, was commanded by Brig. Gen. E. S. Dennis.
Early on the morning of the 21st of December, an expedition started out, commanded by Brig. Gen. Lawler, going in the direction of La Grange, Tenn. The 8th, 11th and 46th Illinois Infantry, commanded by Colonel Dornblaser, of the 46th, was accompanied by two other small brigades and marched the first day to Germantown, second to Moscow, and third to Wolf river, near Moscow, Tenn., where we remained until early on the morning of the 26th of December, when the return march to Mem- phis was commenced. Col. Kent's Brigade marched to Colliersville and en- camped. Col. Dornblaser's Brigade encamped three miles west of Colliers- ville on the Bailey plantation, and Col. Green's Brigade at Germantown and White's Station. This disposition of troops was made with a view to guard the railroad, which had been repaired from Memphis to Colliersville, against the numerous bands of guerilla parties prowling through this section of the country.
On the 31st of December, the troops were all brought to Memphis by rail and ordered to be ready to embark without delay.
The 46th, with the exception of four companies that were put aboard the "Autocrat," embarked on the steamer "Marble City," on the morning of the 2d of January, 1865, and proceeded to Kennerville, La., twenty-five
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miles from New Orleans by water, and disembarked. The camp at this place was protected from overflow by the levee, but the rainy season made. it exceedingly muddy. It was a complete "stick-in-the-mud" camp.
The regiment marched to Lakeport on Lake Pontchartrain on the 4th of February, and embarked on the steamers "Planter" and "Alabama," on the 7th and 8th of February, and proceeded to Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, Ala., at which place we arrived and went into camp on the 9th and 10th of February. While the camp at Kennerville, La., was pure mud, at this place it was pure white sand. However, the discomforts of the camp were fully neutralized by the pleasure and profit afforded catching and eating oysters, which were found in great abundance in the bay close by.
Col. Dornblaser, having been home on a leave of absence, returned to the regiment on the first of March, bringing with him one hundred and sixty recruits, filling up the regiment to nine hundred and twenty-two men, aggregate strength. This made the 46th one of the largest regiments in the command.
While here the Reserve Corps was re-organized and called the 13th Army Corps, to be commanded by Major General Gordon Granger. The 8th, 11th and 46th Illinois Infantry, comprised the 2d Brigade of the 1st Division, and Gen. E. S. Dennis, assigned to the command of the same. Brig. Gen. James C. Veatch commanded the division.
On the 17th of March, all the surplus baggage, camp and garrison equipage was turned in to the Post Quartermaster and the troops fitted for an active land campaign. The brigade was transferred to the opposite side of Mobile Bay the same evening, and commenced its march on Mobile early on the morning of the 18th. On the 20th, we reached Oyster Bay, where Gen. Benton's Division of the 13th Army Corps was constructing corduroy causeways through the swamps. Our Division was detailed until the morning of the 22d of March to enable Benton's Division to get ahead. On the night of the 20th a tremendous rainstorm caused the temporary bridges built to be washed away, making it necessary to reconstruct them. The work was arduous and disagreeable, but was accomplished without un- necessary grumbling. In consequence of the great difficulty of getting the train through the deep sand and mud and over the rough corduroys, the column did not reach the vicinity of Spanish Fort, the first rebel stronghold on our line of march-until the evening of the 21st of March. Early on the morning of the 22d, the Fort was invested, much to the surprise of the rebels, as they did not deem it possible for us to advance so rapidly over the obstacles we had to encounter.
After the Fort was invested, the 46th was ordered to guard the ap- proaches from the rear, as it was reported that the enemy had a large: force of cavalry in that direction threatening an attack.
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On the 31st of March, the 1st Division, 13th Army Corps, took charge of a supply train to Gen. Steele's command near Blakely, Ala. The 40th w ., fe !: in charge of the baggage train of the division until the 4th of April, when it moved with the train and joined the division near Sibley's Milly, east of Blakely.
During the siege of . Blakely, the 1st Division, 13th Army Corps, occu- sund a. front line of about three-fourths of a mile in extent between An- drews' Division of the 13th Army Corps and Garrard's Division of the With Army Corps, which required but from two to three regiments to fill "the space, consequently the troops in front would be daily relieved by others. On the evening of the 5th of April, the 46th Illinois Infantry was ordered to relieve the 8th Illinois Infantry in the trenches, and advance the line during the night and construct a new line of works. Companies G and B were deployed as skirmishers and sent forward early in the evening to establish a line twenty-five yards in advance on the right, and one hundred on the left. The position was gained with but little opposition and the work of throwing up earthworks vigorously commenced. The rebel sharp- shooters constantly kept stimulating our working parties to renewed efforts by sending minnie balls whistling over every portion of the line at intervals uncomfortably short. At about 2 o'clock A. M .. of the 6th of April, the enemy made a vigorous attack upon our lines with a view to dis- lodre cur working parties, but were handsomely repulsed. In this action Private Andrew Hess, of Company B. was mortally wounded by a fragment of a shell. This was our only casualty, owing to the completeness of our defenses.
On the 8th of April. Spanish Fort was captured, and on the evening of the 9th, Fort Blakely was charged and taken also. In this action the sch Illinois as skirmishers, followed by the 11th and 46th Illinois as sup- ports. were among the first to reach the Fort, but were prevented from following up and capturing their share of prisoners by reason of an order ti withdraw to the outside of the works as soon as they had entered and formed inside of the same, thus enabling Garrard's Division to sweep down to the Bay in front of our brigade and capture the prisoners. After securing these, and the arms, cannon and trophies, the brigade marched to its camp.
April 10th the division marched four miles in the direction of the Alabama river and made preparations for a march into the interior, but on the 11th of April news of the probable evacuation of Mobile was received, in consequence of which the troops were marched back to Stark's Landing during the night, and embarked at daylight on the morning of the 12th of April At 9 o'clock A. M., the fleet sailed from the landing in the direction of Mobile. and at 11 o'clock A. M .. arrived at the Shell Road Landing, five mile- below the city. The city authorities surrendered the place and
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its defenses to the Army and Navy of the United States on the 12th of April, and the city was occupied by the troops on the same day.
The regiment went into camp in the western limits of the city, where a comfortable camp was soon fitted up.
On the 16th of April the glorious tidings of Lee's surrender to General Grant was confirmed and greeted with shouts of joy as the forerunner of the speedy overthrow of the entire rebellion. But the echoing sounds of exultation had not yet died away, when, on the 20th, the horrible news of the assassination of President Lincoln burst upon us like a clap of thunder from a clear sky, causing our rejoicing to be turned to bitter grief.
April 21st, the 11th and 46th Regiments Illinois Infantry marched to Whistler, seven miles out, and returned, in consequence of a report that a rebel force was threatening the place, which proved untrue.
The time of the regiment was principally taken up with drill and in- spections while in this camp, and never did it present a more formidable and soldierly appearance since its first appearance, and as such received many compliments.
On the Sth of May, Gen. Dick Taylor surrendered his army to Gen. Canby, who, at once, sent commissioners to Meridian, Columbus, Jackson and other prominent points to parole the men and receive the public property.
Major Chase, Paymaster U. S. A., paid the regiment on the 11th and 12th of May, up to February 28, 1865. On the morning of the 13th, the Regiment left Mobile on the cars for Meridian, Miss .. where it arrived on the 14th. Part of the regiment was at once sent to Columbus, Macon, Gaines- ville, Gainesville Junction and Lauderdale Springs, Miss., to take charge of public property. The regiment was relieved by troops from the 16th A. C., and Gen. Grierson's command, and ordered to Mobile, where it arrived in detachments from the 18th until the 21st of May, and occupied its old camp. Col. Dornblaser, of the 40th, was again assigned to the command of the 2d Brigade on the 24th of May, and on the 27th the Ist and 2d Brigades of the Division embarked on steamers for New Orleans. The 46th went aboard the "J. H. Groesbeck." and arrived without accident to Hickox Landing at the lake end and of the New Orleans Shell Road on the 28th of May, and at once disembarked and marched to the race track near the "Halfway House," where it went into camp. On the 30th of May the troops embarked at New Orleans to proceed to Alexandria, Natchitoches and Shreveport on Red river to receive the surrender of Kirby Smith's Trans-Missisippi Rebel army. Landed at Shreveport, La., on the Sth of June, after one of the most tedious and disagreeable voyages imaginable. The crowded condition of the boats and extreme heat of the weather, caused much discomfort and sickness.
June 19th, the regiment embarked on steamer "Peerless" and pro- ceeded to Grand Ecore, La., to relieve the 21st Iowa Infantry on duty at
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Natchitoches, Salubrity Springs and Grand Ecore. Gen. Taylor's army was encamped at Salubrity Springs, prior to his march to the Rio Grande in 1846. The regiment performed garrison duty here until November 20th, when it marched via Pleasant Hill and Mansfield, La., to Shreveport. Major Clingman, with Companies E and G, of the 46th Illinois, and Co. A, of the 19th Pa. Cavalry, went to Marshall, Texas, to relieve the 8th Illi- nois Infantry on duty there.
The garrison of Shreveport consisted of eight companies of the 46th Illinois, the 80th U. S. Colored Infantry and Company C, 19th Pa. Cavalry. On the 27th of December, Gen. Canby's special order No. 140 was received, ordering the regiment to proceed to Baton Rouge, La., and Springfield, Illinois, for muster out and final discharge. The low stage of water in Red river made it impossible for the whole regiment to embark on one. boat, hence it left Shreveport on various steamers from the 1st to the 4th of January, 1866, and arrived at Baton Rouge on the 10th of January. As soon as the regiment was comfortably situated in camp the whole available clerical force of the same was put to work making up muster out rolls. On the 20th of January, the regiment was mustered out and at once em- barked on steamer "Lady Gay" for Cairo, arriving at that place on the 25th, thence proceeded by railroad to Camp Butler, Illinois, where it ar- rived on the evening of the 27th. Through the usual energy of the officers of the regiment, and the extreme kindness and courtesy of Major Cleg- horn. A. A. G., Col. Bridgman and Major Grover, Paymasters, the regiment received its final pay and discharge on the 1st of February, after a stay in camp of only five days. An extra train was in readiness to convey the men to Decatur, Illinois, in time for the train North on the Central road, of which they eagerly took advantage in order to reach their several homes with the least delay.
Thus closes the record of the 46th Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Its organization was kept up nearly four and a half years. Nearly two thousand men were members of it, and its line of march and travel extended over ten thousand miles.
While with thankful hearts we acknowledge the preservation of our health and lives to enable us to return to and enjoy our homes and friends, let us ever hold in kind remembrance those of our companions who lost their lives in the great contest, and whose graves can be found from the Ohio to the Gulf.
As our record as a regiment has been bright and honorable, let each and all resolve to perpetuate that record by individual virtue and honesty as citizens, that none may descend to the grave "unhonored and unsung."
To our friends at home, whose loving eyes were ever following us, s hose prayers constantly ascended to the throne of God for our welfare, and who stood ready with outstretched arms to welcome us to our homes, let us ever be grateful.
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INCIDENTS AS TOLD BY THE BOYS.
GATHERING OYSTERS.
While the regiment was encamped on Dauphin Island, which is lo- cated at the entrance of Mobile Bay, and on which Fort Gaines is located, access was had to the fine oyster beds in the inlets on the north side of the Island. When the tide was flowing out the water was quite shallow and the nice big oysters were easily picked out by the boys who marked the time of the flowing of the tide. Others came for oysters when the tide was flowing in, which raised the water to four or five feet deep. This did not stop the young fellows from getting all they needed. With a large gunny sack two soldiers would wade in and locate the oyster bed, taking the sack between them and a hand each in the mouth of the sack, would alternate in making a dive and each time bring out some of the fine bi- valves. It made no difference if tide was in or out, the oysters were taken care of and many a fine meal was furnished to the soldiers.
TOLD BY T. B. JONES, COMPANY B.
VEATCH'S BRIGADE-FEAST ON MULE MEAT.
During the campaign of the Winter of 1862 and '63, when Gen. Grant attempted to advance on Vicksburg through the country south of Corinth, the army had reached Yokena, Miss., when the Rebel Generals Price and Van Dorn, with a large force, came in the rear of the army and captured Holly Springs, where a very large store of commissary stores were gathered. What stores of rations they could not carry away, were burned. The whole army depended upon these stores for subsistence. The food supply being destroyed, the army was compelled to subsist on the country and to ration out what few crackers and meal were on hand, till they again received a new supply. During this time the army had gathered in the vicinity for miles around. Calls were made loud and strong for food. R. V. Ankeny, then Acting Division Quartermaster, was ordered to butcher Gen. Veatch's headquarter mules. Six fine fat ones were taken out and the butchers killed and dressed them in fine style; loaded the meat on wa- gons and issued it to the brigade as cotton seed fed beef. Complaint was made that the meat was rank and tough, but the cooks flavored and boiled
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it to a finish and soon it was all consumed. Thus the faithful mule served to appease the hunger and added nourishment for the destitute army, as well as serving as the means of transportation.
AS TOLD BY A MEMBER OF COMPANY B.
While encamped at Vicksburg, Miss., in the Fall of 1863, a detail of twenty men of the 46th, under command of Capt. Wike, of Company. C, was sent up the river on a steamer to escort about sixty deserters from different regiments to Gen. A. J. Smith's command at Memphis, Tenn. When some distance up the river, the boat was fired into by the enemy from the Arkansas shore, and were exposed for nearly half an hour. There were no casualties of a serious nature. On the boat were over one hundred ref- ugees from Louisiana, seeking to better their condition by going North; these were exposed to the fire of the enemy as well as the soldiers. Their condition was pitiable, poor and destitute, with scanty clothing, they were classed by one the negro women on the boat as "de poor white trash of the South." On the boat was a young man who was sent South from Freeport under the direction of the sanitary aid during the war to give comfort and encouragement to those in the hospitals, afterward Professor and Reverend C. C. Snyder, who was also exposed to the fire of the enemy ; although he was not enlisted as a soldier, yet he was under fire. He after- wards became distinguished as one of the noted educators of Northern Illinois, and for seven years was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Riverside, South Chicago, where he died a few years ago, beloved by his congregation.
AS TOLD BY ONE OF COMPANY B.
While at the siege of Blakely, north of Mobile, Ala., the 46th was ordered to advance their line 15 rods about midnight, under cover of dark- ness. The line established, earthworks or rifle pits were dug to protect us from the enemy; they discovered our position, while using the spade to in- trench us from the enemy's fire. One man of the company was mortally wounded and was carried to the rear. About 3 A. M., the fire of the enemy ceased. James From of the company became so exhausted that he fell asleep on top of the earthworks. Soon after we were ordered back to our original line and several of the boys tried to awaken the tired and sleepy young soldier, without success. Some made the remark that, per- haps, he was dead and were fearful that a ball from the enemy had hit
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him. One of the wags, who gave him a vigorous shake and rolled him over, came to the rescue and said. "Jim, if you are dead, why don't you say so?" He was only fast asleep.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS WRITTEN BY H. L. WAGNER TO HIS PARENTS DURING HIS SERVICE FROM 1864-1866.
Left Freeport on the 2nd of March, 1864, and proceeded to Cairo, thence to Vicksburg; left Vicksburg at 2 o'clock, Friday previous to Aug. 1st, 1864, on the steamer "B. I. Adams," and arrived at Morganza at 11 a. m. Saturday, passing "Natchez" and a fleet of gun boats, among them "The Monitor," "Mosquito" and four Turtle Shells. The following troops were transported with us on the Marine boats "Diana." "B. I. Adams" and "E. H. Fairchild": the 11th Ill. Inft., 46th Ill. Inft .. 76th Ill. Inft., Bolton's Battery and a part of the 5th Ill. Cav., under Brig. Gen. Dornblaser, and the 8th Ill Inft., 30th Mo. Inft., 1st Kansas Mounted Inft., and one Bat- talion of Negro Cav., under Brig. Gen. Dennis. In all there were about 10,000 men here in Morganza, including two regiments of Indians, so- called Texas Rangers. The camp is over 10 miles long, and along the landing a breast work had been naturally formed by the Mississippi river, where four heavy cannons were placed. The weather is fine here, not as sultry as at Vicksburg. The only thing missing now is a good oven, as all the crackers we receive are wormy and will have to be ground and baked over; but our bakers, Max Wiggenhausen and Chas. Lathur, will soon have one fitted out.
We left Morganza on Monday, Aug. 22nd, on the steamer "Ne- braska," arriving at Port Hudson at 8 a. m. the next morning. Left again the same afternoon under command of Maj. Gen. Herin. We marched all right and at sunrise met with a band of 100 to 150 Guerillas ; they took to their heels and if we had had a better cavalry with us, we would have taken them all as prisoners, but we only had "New Yorkers" with us. At 5 o'clock we arrived at Clinton. Here we stayed until Thursday, Ang. 25th. This place was inhabited mostly by Germans, but is almost destitute, save for a few women. A printing outfit was also found here, which Gen. Herin took along to Baton Rouge.
On Monday, Aug. 23rd, we left Port Hudson at daybreak, on the steamer U. S. transport "Ohio Belle" and got back to Morganza at 8 p. m., where we are taking it easy now.
On the 20th of Nov., Lieut. Olnhausen and twenty men (including myself) were ordered up the Arkansas river to act as guards. We left on the steamer "Tempest" from Devalls Bluff, at 11 a. m., and landed at the
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mouth of White river on the 21st. Here our steamer took up coal and wood. Together with five other steamers we entered the Arkansas river on the 22nd, the river being very high at this time. On the 23rd we passed Arkansas Fort, which had been entirely destroyed by Gen. Steel, and ar- rived at Pine Bluffs on the 27th, where we stayed four days. On Dec. 1st we left Pine Bluffs on our return, but only made 30 miles the first two days, the river having fallen about three feet, and one boat after another got stuck on sand banks. By the 4th of Dec. we got to White river, where our detachment was placed on the steamer "Emma 2," arriving at Mem- phis on the 6th. Here we are having Company Drill from 10-12 o'clock every day, Battalion Drill from 1-3 p. m., and Dress Parade and In- spection at 5.
Another expedition from Memphis to Moscow, Tenn., left Memphis, Dec. 21st, at 5 a. m. and arrived at Germantown by sunset, where we camped for the night. It was pretty cold. On the 22nd we marched to La Fayette and on the 23rd to Wolff river, where we camped for three days, cutting down trees for some unknown purpose. Moscow lies on the opposite bank of the river. On Christmas Eve we left, and a beautiful sight is was, so clear and starlight, with camp fires scattered here and there; reminding one of the loved ones at home and the camp fires like so many candles on the old time Christmas tree. At noon the next day we arrived at La Fayette and passed Collierville that afternoon, camping about five miles above Germantown, where we stayed two days, and on the 30th left by railroad for Memphis.
THE DENNIS EXPEDITION TO JACKSON, FROM VICKSBURG MISSISSIPPI.
On the first day of July This expedition started out
The rebels' strength to try For news in camp had just arrived That they in heavy force Were at Mississippi Capitol ;
So there we bent our course.
We first marched to Black river,
But were compelled to stop, Until our trains with pontoons And provisions could come up,
For its dark and turbid waters
Hand been swelled by recent rain; Two thousand and five hundred men Were all that we could boast; While 'twas said that we had to fight against A numerous rebel host,
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But we were nothing daunted Though our numbers were but few; For most of us were veterans And knew what we could do, Besides this, our commanders Were men that had been tried On many a field of battle, And. in them we could confide. On the third, all being ready, We left Black River Camp, And in search of Jeff'ries soldiers Set out upon a tramp. At Champion Hill we halted, And camped upon the field, Where Grant's advancing columns Caused the rebel force to yield, Where brave McPherson's charges Crushed whole battalions down, And left their mangled bodies In heaps upon the ground, Their bodies still lie unburied, Exposed to wind and sun, Mementos to their folly Showing what their treason done. We next advanced to Clinton And camped there for the night,
Expecting that next morning The rebels would show us fight,
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