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 25
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For their skirmishers we had driven Before us half the day. And knew, of course, they were in force Not very far away.
Next morning very early (Our breakfast scarce being o'er),
We heard the rebel cannon, In or front, begin to roar ; Our skirmishers were driven in,
One gallant Captain was slain, While a cavalry detachment Dashed down upon our train. 'Twas plain to see their object was To get our meat and bread, But in the line of these, our commissary Issued to them lead. It was rather heavy diet, So they thought best to retire, For the 76th ( Illinois) detachment Should upon them open fire .- Meanwhile our own artillery To the front was ordered round To shell the rebel battery And drive them from their ground, For they were strongly posted In front upon the hill,
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And we found that to dislodge them
Would require all our skill. They had range of our position
And their shots began to tell, So we moved upon their left flank To avoid being shelled.
A good position here secured We opened up our fire,
With four pieces of artillery Which caused them to retire. They left us masters of the field
And betook themselves to flight,
So we moved into Jackson And haulted for the night. Here our wearied columns rested
Until 4 o'clock next day,
When with faces towards Vicksburg,
We once more marched away. But we found our wily enemy Upon the self-same field
Which he the day preceding So reluctantly did yield.
Jan. 1st, 1865, we leave Memphis on our way to New Orleans. We camped at Kennerville, where we got four months' pay. Left Kennerville on Feb. 4th. and marched to Lake Point, on Lake Ponchartrain, 5 miles from New Orleans. Here we were put on board a gulf steamer and got to Fort Gaines, at Mobile on the 9th, we lived high, as oysters could be picked up on the shore, by the hundreds.
After a ten days' march from Fort Morgan, we arrived at Spanish Fort and our troops immediately began to throw up breastworks. March 26th, our light artillery began to bombard the Fort. On the 28th, our navy got within range of the Fort. also breastworks for heavy artillery were prepared. We were detailed a little more to the right on the 31st. On April 4th. the heavy artillery began its bombarding; and on the 5th we were ordered to the front to perform picket duty, whereby Company B lost one man. Part of Spanish Fort was taken on the 8th, by the 16th Army Corps. The next day, April 9th, we were ordered to the front. at T a. m .; here we laid about half an hour, while our artillery opened a fearful can- nonading and finally we advanced and took the entire works of the rebels by storm. We lost but a small number of men in this engagement. The 46th Ill. Regiment hoisted the first stars and stripes, under a most glorious and terrific "Hurrah!" About 20,000 prisoners, with all their equipments, cannons and provisions, fell into our hands. At 7 p. m., April 11th, we broke camp and marched to Alabama City. Orders were to go to Mobile in a round about way, but we were literally chased or ordered around in all directions. At 5 a. m., the following day, we were put on board a
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steamer and landed on the west side and at 6 o'clock p. m. marched into Mobile; it rained fearfully all night. On the 12th we put up camp and now belong to the 1st Div., 2nd Brig. Mobile Military Defense. I had a swol- len face and was relieved from duty.
From May 13th to 22nd, our Regiment was split up considerably, some of our Company were at Gainesville, Ala., some at the R. R. Junction, and the rest, including myself, at Columbus, Miss. We had been detailed to take the government property, which Rich. Taylor had surrendered. For one week we had a jolly good time here, because the yankees had not got down this far before, and we could have wine, milk, eggs, butter, etc., for almost nothing. We traded in some of our coffee, beans and meat. I get a quart of milk and white bread for breakfast and supper and eggs for dinner. We got back to Mobile on May 22nd. Sept. 2nd, 1865, I was at Salubrity Springs, La. Oct. 5th, 1865, in camp near Natchitoches, La. Arrived at Baton Rouge, La., Jan. 12, 1866, safe and sound and will surely be home before many days, as our officers are working hard, or as the yankees say "slow but sure." Yesterday I was on guard at the Pene- tentiary of Louisiana.
THE SOLDIER AS A SAILOR.
It was in the Spring of '65 that the incident we are about to relate took place. On February 10, the 8th, 11th and 46th Regiments, Illinois Infantry, went into camp at Ft. Gaines, Dauphin Island, in Mobile bay, preparatory to the advance upon Mobile.
It was proposed to construct a military telegraph line from Dauphin Island over a chain of islands through Lake Ponchartrain to New Or- leans, part of which was submarine.
An old stern wheeled river boat, "The Red Chief," was pressed into service. After the line was built across Dauphin Island, the boat was loaded with green pine telegraph poles and a party consisting of Lieut. G. S. Roush, Co. B, 46th Ill. Reg., in command, a Lieutenant of the 8th Ill. Regi- ment, whose name we cannot recall, a citizen supt. of telegraph, and 120 enlisted men, started with them. about 2 P. M., March 7, for Boyce Island.
After proceeding a short distance, a heavy fog settled down upon the waters; we could not discern objects at any distance, and as we were with- out a compass, were in a sorry plight.
We missed the island altogether and ran out into the gulf, knowing nothing of our whereabouts.
About five o'clock a storm came up, which increased in force until midnight. To add to the discomforts and dangers of the situation, the
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waves which rolled mountain high and threatened every moment to engulf us, put out the fire under the boilers, steam was soon exhausted and we were completely at the mercy of the elements, drifting we knew not where. The violent tossing of the boat caused some of the bottles of liquor in racks and on the bar to be thrown on the floor and in some manner this became ignited, adding to the situation the horrors of fire. Notwithstand- ing all this there were some amusing incidents.
The negro chambermaid started a prayermeeting in the cabin on her own hook but was interrupted by the captain. The old tar, who had par- taken liberally of the contents of the bottles before their destruction, ordered her to desist, enforcing his command by the toe of his boot.
During this time some of the soldiers made a valient fight to save the fluid, by beating out the flames with mattresses and bedding, but were ob- liged to see the liquor on the floor licked up by the flames, while others of the boys were partaking of the contents of the bottles that had retained their equilibrium. The crew, with the exception of the captain, were almost incapacitated through fear.
The soldiers behaved in an admirable manner. The flames were ex- tinguished by them, and the steam pipes, some of which had become in- jured and disconnected by the wrenching of the boat, repaired. The framework that held up the cabin was badly wrecked and it was kept in place only by iron braces. These were strengthened by use of telegraph poles and the fire was rekindled in the engine.
In the morning the sun came out bright and shining and we found our bearings. The boat was not in condition to continue to her destination, so we retraced our way to Dauphin Island, which we reached that evening, having gone through an experience we would not care to repeat. The boat was partially repaired and, a few days later, sent out on the same errand, convoyed by a gunboat. After proceeding six or eight miles, it commenced to sink and those on board were transferred to the convoy. It sank never to rise again and that was the end of the "Red Chief."
AS TOLD BY CAPT. MARSH, COMPANY E.
At the battle of Pittsburg Landing, when Capt. Marble was wounded, he called to me to go to the right of the company and help the boys keep in line. In loading and firing. (having the old Harper's Ferry muskets) I did not take the time to return my ramrod to the bore every time I fired, but let it rest against my legs. When the Colonel gave the order to fall back, I found I had left my ramrod where we had been fighting. I started to run back after it, for the rebels were coming fast and were
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then very close to us. Just then I saw big Gus. Johnson, the Swede. He said to me, "Fred, where you go," I told him, after my ramrod; he showed me his hand which had been wounded and was bleeding and he was fight- ing hard (his words I can hear quite plain to-day). He said, "God d ----- , you loads and I shoots." His hand was wounded, so could not load and I was minus, my ramrod and we did not know enough to get, but stood, I loading and he firing, and how we got out I don't know, any way it got too warm. I saw the regiment was just back, under cover of a small rise in the ground, reforming. I told Gus. Johnson to try and make his way to the river and have his hand tied up. Just as I turned around, a spent ball struck me in the back of the neck and somewhat accelerated my running. I was running pretty lively when I heard some one call me. I stopped and there was Lieut. Billie Howell. He said, "Fred, for God's sake do not leave me, take me with you, don't let the rebels get me." I took Billie and carried him a short distance and laid that brave little soldier down by a big tree, where he breathed his last; he was shot I believe in the stomach. How I carried hint I don't know as the rebel fire was very hot. He shook my hand and bade me good-by, and then I rejoined the regiment, which was reforming to try and check the next onslaught. The rebels finally got Billie's body, but when we drove the enemy back Monday, I understand his body was recovered and buried. As to this I don't know only from hearing, but I think Billie Lindsey helped to bury him.
REMINISCENSES. COMPANY F.
REPORTED BY LIEUTENANT SHAW.
t was rough on the boys of the regiment at the battle of the Hatchie, for they had but little water, till that well fought field was won. Some of our men were illy prepared for such a rough battle field. Several were barefooted and had only a pair of drawers, which had to do duty for pants. Fred Shuler was fully dressed as above described when during some of our rushes through the brush, his drawers were caught by some obstacle and one leg of his drawers torn completely off, leaving the waistband and a band around the ankle. Fred kept on with the com- pany and just as we were charging over the bridge he was a little in the rear, and attracted the attention of Maj. Gen'l Hurlbut, who was at the road side, just at the west end of the bridge. General Hurlbut said to him, "Hurry up 46, the boys need you to help them finish up this fight." Fred halted, faced around, saluted, and answered, "Well, Shineral, you give me some pants and shoes and I be mit der boys in der fight." "All
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right my man," answered Gen'l Hurlbut, "You go ahead and finish up this job and then you come to me and I will furnish you all the shoes and pants you want." Fred hustled up to the line and after the battle he told me what had passed between him and the General, and asked if he had better go. I told him a soldier's duty was to obey orders and that he had better go. Fred went off with his one leg naked, the other clothed, and barefooted. He returned with pants and shoes. Being asked how he was received at the General's quarters, he said: "When I went into his tent General Hurlbut recognized me at once and said, 'Well Forty-Sixth, you've come for those shoes?' I said, 'Yes, I like to git 'em.' 'Well,' said the General, 'You go over that hill and in the ravine on the other side there are a lot of men who have more clothes than they need. You take what you want.'" He went and found the rebel dead, and helped himself and returned to the company.
AS TOLD BY F. M. LOLLAR.
In July of the year 1865, I was detailed by special order of Gen. Dornblaser, for duty as "Provo-Marshal of Freedmen" in the Parish of Wynne, La., with headquarters at Winfield, the county seat. Sergeant A. J. Shore, Corporal W. A. Wood and Privates Stewart, Rominger, Slaughter and Wright accompanied me. I received orders from, and made reports to the "Freedmen's Bureau." Was to see that white and black men entered into written labor contracts, gather up Confederate property, and keep the peace, etc. We were on duty fifty miles from the regiment and were absent five months. The regiment left Grand Ecore from Shreve- port, and Gen'l A. J. Smith at Alexandria was to have ordered our detachment back to the regiment, but he forgot to issue the order. Rations were running short, and not wishing to leave without permission, I de- cided to make the ride of a hundred miles, and ask to be relieved. Obtain- ing the order, we left Winfield and soon were with the company.
Sergeant Charles Boyd and Privates John and George H. Standiford and John Stewart were detached June 25, 1865, for guard duty on trans- port Red River, La.
Lieutenant John L. Carter was detailed by order of General Dornbla- ser on "Court Martial" duties at Natchitoches, La., Sept. 29 to Oct. 26, 1865.
Sergeant Milton Wakefield detached with "Pioneer Corps" Mar. 10 to July 24, 1805.
Sergeant Eli Crows, J. W. Brant, F. C. Babbit, Silas and B. F. Chris- man detached "Hospital Guard" July 14, 1864, at Vicksburg, Miss.
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While Grant's army was encamped near Grand Junction, 1862, Isaac
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Reeves came over on a visit from the 11th Mo. The distance was seven or eight miles. John C. Stanley and F. M. Lollar accompanied him on his return. They took a wrong road and finally decided that they were going in the direction of the enemy located at Holly Springs. They saw what they were sure was the enemy's pickets. Leaving the road and in a stoop- ing posture, were crossing a field, through tall weeds when suddenly a hog raised his head and said "Boo-Hoo." Stanley threw up his hands and said, "Don't shoot; we'll surrender." Passing along they came to a negro cabin, close by the R. R. The darky said, "The Johnnies were just a little way down the road, and you had better get out of here quick." The boys took the darky at his word, and following the railroad, reached the 11th Mo. next morning at sunrise.
J. C. STANLEY WRITES :
When the civil war broke out in the year of 1861, I did not hold back any to fight for my country, I was in my first battle at Shiloh April 6, 1862. On the day following the battle, I went to look over the scene and in many places I saw dead men lying so thick that I could have walked on them for some distance without touching the ground; and in a few places the dead were so thick they appeared to be in heaps. There were dead bodies lying across each other, five in a heap. In about a month after the battle I was sent back on detail, and on passing through the battle ground, the timber appeared to be dead, and cut down, as if a tornado had swept through the forest. Nothing appeared to be growing, only some corn and oats, which had been scattered over the ground. Everything was silent as the mouldering dead, nothing to be seen or heard, not even the singing of a bird.
The field of carnage lowly lies On Tennessee's west verdant shore; It points us back, with tearful eyes, To scenes of strife, of blood and gore; Tells us where our striving brothers Of our own blessed country met- O, the grief the heart now smothers ; Just think! The earth with blood was wet.
I visited the Shiloh battle grounds about twelve years ago, and the first place I visited was inside the walls of the beautiful cemetery, situated on the bluffs of the Tennessee. Those who fell in defense of the Union lie here properly honored; but how is it with those who fell on the opposite side? Out yonder beneath the forest shade lie the mouldering bodies of two thousand brave men without a tombstone to mark their last resting place. Their graves, like the cause they fought to sustain, are lost, lost.
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Tread softly o'er those sacred streets, Pausing once to place as flower O'er one whose life and all its sweets, Yielded to battle's power. Sweetly reposing here lies one, And beside him rests another ; This a fond mother's only son, That .a tender sister's brother.
I was at the battle of Hatchie river, where we charged across an open field to take the bridge. I saw Colonel Davis fall from his horse when he was shot, and mortally wounded. I saw Lieut. Col. Jones draw his sword. and heard him say, "Come on, boys, I'll stay with you till hell freezes over."
I was with Grant's army when they started through by land, by the way of Jackson, Mississippi. to Vicksburg. When Holly Springs was burned we were about two days march south. We got marching orders late in the evening, after dark. We marched back that night, over the same ground, that we came down on and camped on "Starvation Hill" which was well known by Grant's army. We laid there one week on one day's provision, (hence called Starvation Hill.)
I was also with Grant's fleet down the Mississippi, on the way to Vicksburg; camped at the mouth of Grant's canal, where he started to turn the Mississippi river. There we were ordered around to the extreme left of Vicksburg, and closed up the last gap around the city. We were thrown out on picket that night in the dark. F. M. Lollar, myself, Nick Carter, Lieut. Shaw, A. J. Byrne and a few others were thrown in a squad over next to the river. That night the rebels came out and captured many of the regiment. Our squad escaped, and was put on picket on another part of the line, where we could see the rebels load and use their guns all day.
I went through the siege at Vicksburg, which lasted forty-eight days, and started to Jackson, Miss., the next day after the surrender with the company, but was barefooted. I marched till the bottoms of my feet were bleeding, then Park Carter, myself, and quite a number of the boys were sent back to Vicksburg for want of shoes, and laid there till the return of the regiment.
I was at the battle of Cross Roads July 7, 1864, near Jackson, Missis- sippi. I was with the regiment when it left New Orleans for Dauphin Island. Was in the storm on Lake Pontchartrain when the 76th regiment was shipwrecked and threw overboard everything but the men.
I was with the company when we crossed Mobile Bay and marched to Spanish Fort, Ala., and shared in forming the first line in driving in the enemy's picket at Spanish Fort. We were then ordered to Blakeley, only a few miles farther up the bay, where we dug rife pits until the fall
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of Spanish Fort, then we were ordered to charge the fortification around Blakeley. We were not long in taking the fort, although we found wire. stretched around, sharpened limbs and a great many other obstructions to hold us back. I was also in many other skirmishes, but of these I will not speak. I will here close my history of that war, whose horrors were so great that no tongue can tell, no pen describe them as they were. ---
These reminiscences have been told after the lapse of more than forty years and doubtless are not true in every detail. They are, however, substantially true.
Lieut. Shaw distinctly remembers that he was at "sick call," 7 to 8 a. m., when the first firing was begun at Shiloh, while Sergt. Wakefield re- members he was at breakfast.
Lieut. Shaw also remembers that the night when many of our regi- ment were captured was a bright moonlight night, while we remember it as being a dark night. But we well know that during those days things happened with wonderful and fearful rapidity.
It was beyond our power to make personal mention of everyone of our 207 members. We have done the best we could under the circumstances. Our task ends here. CAPT. F. M. LOLLAR.
AS TOLD BY SERGEANT WAKEFIELD.
At the battle of Shiloh, Sunday morning, the enemy was pressing for- ward several columns deep. A Confederate officer sprang upon a log, waved his sword, urging his men forward. I had just loaded my gun and was putting on a cap when Lieutenant Ingraham said, "Wakefield, give me your gun ; I want to stop that man on the log." I handed him my gun, he fired and handed my gun back and instantly a ball struck him in the hand and hip. I do not know the effect of his shot but I do know the enemy pressed steadily on.
Wm. H. Bryan was shot through the breast at Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and died April 23. A few days after the battle Musician Lollar, who was wounded on Monday, was sent to the same hospital and given a cot a few feet from Bryan. Some women came in one day and were talking with Bryan, trying to cheer him up. He said, "No, I must die. I can't possibly get well. I have given my life for my country, but the only regret I have in giving up my life is the leaving of my family alone in the world." Bryan was borne from the battlefield by J. C. Stanley and A. T. Byrne. After the war was over and Lollar had married and located on a farm, he took one of Bryan's boys into his home and kept him until he was twenty- one.
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The regiment was sent in close up to the enemy's works on our ex- treme left at Vicksburg. We went in after dark and were told that we could not be relieved until after dark next night. James F. Brotherton had a presentiment of impending calamity. He said, "We'll all be captured or killed if we don't get out of here." He continued in this restless strain, making much of his fears. As we could not see what was before us and not knowing what influence his strange conduct might have on others, Captain Wakefield threatened to place him under guard if he did not keep quiet. About the time the Captain had him quieted down the enemy was upon them and the Captain, Lieutenant Barr and eighteen men were marched into Vicksburg as prisoners of war.
AS TOLD BY F. M. LOLLAR:
When we reached the west bluffs of the Hatchie river early in the morning of Oct. 5, 1862, we found the enemy held the bridge with a bat- tery in the road between us and the bridge. The infantry lay in line of battle on either side of the road, while Captain Bolton's and the enemy's battery engaged in a sharp artillery duel. The guns of the enemy were finally silenced, and then came the order to rush for the bridge. We had gone half or more of the distance to the river, when Colonel Davis was mortally wounded and fell from his horse. Lieutenant Colonel Jones at once took the command of the regiment. The bridge was won, we crossed over and formed in line of battle and just then Captain Fox, General Veatch's Adjutant General rode in front of the regiment, presented General Veatch's compliments and said: "The General asks the 46th to charge up that hill and silence the enemy's guns." Captain Fox, waving his sword, exclaimed, "Forty-six, follow me," and through shot and shell we dashed across an open field, through a skirt of timber, up the hill and the enemy fled. The company lost in this battle, A. R. Barker severely wounded in the thigh, Frank Harlow in the ankle, Jesse B. Shadle bruised on foot by cannister ball and David Reeves wounded in foot.
The army had been marching all day and as night was fast approaching we grew anxious about getting into camp. Meeting a man with a load of "canteens" going for water, he asked the distance to camp. He an- swered, "'Bout a mile."
The second man said, "'Bout two miles."
A company A man said, "What do you guess the next man will say?" One guessed three miles, another half a mile, etc. But Park Carter 'lowed he'd say, "Right down dah, suh." We traveled on and finally met a darkey cook going for water and he was asked, "How far to camp, Sambo?" (Sambo,-name generally given to all black men). "Right down dah, suh." Then the boys had a hearty laugh but the darkey did not catch on.
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AS TOLD BY SERGEANT WAKEFIELD.
One night while the 46th was encamped at the mouth of White river, Arkansas, a very heavy storm swept the country, blowing down tents, and some of them into the river and scattering things generally. The boats and barges broke their cables and the wildest confusion prevailed.
I, with a squad of men, was on duty on one of these barges guarding commissary stores, when the cable broke and we drifted down the Missis- sippi. We drifted down stream for three hours, when the current brought the barge near the shore.
We ran the gang plank out and Mike Roach, of Co. H, and myself seized the cable, sprang into the river, reached the shore, tied the cable to a tree and all was secure. We were now miles from camp, surrounded by bellowing alligators, wild animals and darkness of night. Mike and myself reached camp next day after sunrise and reported the whereabouts of the barge and men. Our experience that night will not soon be forgotten.
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