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 38
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
We are no longer considered as a confederation of sovereign states, independent of each other by constitutional right, and submissive to na- tional authority only by voluntary consent during the pleasure of that state soverignty. "We are no longer an aggregation of distinct and separate parts, but an integral and organic whole-not only a Union, but a Unity." A Nation where the parts are equal to the whole; and no one part dare act in defiance of the whole. We are now a Republic in which State Sov- ereignty bows obediently to National Supremacy. A Nation in which the head. arms, feet, and heart, all act in harmony for the good of the entire body ; and not a single member says boastingly or jokingly, "I am inde- pendent, and have no need of thec." For weal or for woe, for better or for worse, we are now and hereafter must be one people. This is the great political stone of our government, of which it may be candidly said,"Who- soever shall fall upon it. shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder."
No army of men ever bivouacked under the starry sky or responded to the drum beat. who possessed such generous sentiments and who were so magnanimous in their treatment of their conquered foes as were the Union army.
After the battle of Bull Run, when the Union troops were depressed, and the confederate forces unduly elated, the president of the bogus Con- federacy made a most exultant speech in Richmond, Virginia, in which he gave the multitudes who heard him this advice: "Never be haughty to the humble."
Had that advice been practiced throughout the confederacy, and en- forced and practiced by Jefferson Davis himself, then such places as Ander- sonville, Libby Prison, Belle Isle, Fort Pillow, and others equally as ghastly and foul, would not to-day be such plague spots in their history. And the awful crimes, dark as treason could make them. would never have risen up in judgment to condemn their guilty leaders. We are free to say, and think you will agree with us in saying. that if Robert E. Lee had been at the head of the Confederacy instead of Jefferson Davis, the Union prisoners would have received better treatment, and the Confederacy would have collapsed sooner than it did.
But such a sentiment did prevail in the Union Army. It has also prevalent in our National Congress; and it burned with a white heat in the bosom of Abraham Lincoln, the best of the list of our honored and great Presidents.
"Never be haughty to the humble." was the spirit manifested by Gen. U. S. Grant, at Donelson, when he allowed the confederate officers to re- tain their side-arms after they had surrendered! And why did he do this? Certainly not for any personal regard for these officers, or sympathy with their cause. But it was done by this mighty chief in hope that such treat- ment would convince those who were in rebellion, that the United States government entertained no spirit of revenge nor desire to unnecessar- ily humiliate those who in their madness or deception were attempting to disrupt the union.
This same remarkable man at the surrender of Vicksburg, by Gen. Pemberton, cared for 30,000 half starved confederate soldiers, and then turned them loose on their parole of honor. to go to their southern homes.
And the most generous offer ever made by a military conqueror to a prostrate and helpless foe. was made by this same superlatively great and brave General at Appomattox Court House, at the surrender and breaking up of the rebel army. General Lee inquired what terms of surrender would
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be demanded. The Union chief replied. "Surrender of all arms and mu- nitions of war." To this Gen. Lee agreed. General Grant sat down and with his own hand drew up that famous and ever to be historic article of capitulation stipulating that the Confederate officers could retain their side arms, their horses and their private property.
When Gen. Lee read this very generous proposition, he was deeply . moved; and impressively said, "Such magnanimity upon the South will be excellent." It was indeed excellent, and while some of the disappointed leaders failed to appreciate its motive, the rank and file of their army felt the force if its concilatory spirit, and so expressed themselves by return- ing at once to the peaceful industries of civil life.
This conduct and spirit of Gen. Grant, also had its effect upon Con- gress and President Johnson, on Dec. 25, 1868, issued a proclamation of unconditional amnesty which reinstated all persons "without reserva- tion," 'who directly or indirectly participated in the late insurrection or re- bellion." He granted "full pardon and amnesty for the offense of treason against the United States."
It is true that Congress a little later passed a law which counteracted in a measure some of that proclamation ; yet it is nevertheless true that in a few years after the war closed, the leading Generals of the rebel army were sitting side by side with the Union Generals in the legislative halls of the United States Congress. Such a thing has never been known before, and never could have taken place in any other country, or in any other government on the face of the earth, but in the government of the United States. And this spirit of forgiveness began with the Union army.
While the hostile armies were encamped one on either side of the Rap- pahannock, the Union bands would go down in the cool of the evening to the river's bank, and play such airs as "The Red, White and Blue," and "The Star Spangled Banner." The Confederate bands would re- spond with "Bonnie Blue Flag" and "Away down South in Dixie."
After this patriotic challenge had been protracted for some time, the Federal Bands would strike up "Home Sweet Home," in which the Con- federate bands would immediately join. No challenge in that; no room for discord here: no warfare in such music. Again both armies were one ; all disputes end in "Home, Sweet Home."
That scene on the Rappahannock was but a prophecy of the future. That prophecy is now being fulfilled, and will be more perfectly fulfilled in the on coming years.
Edmund Ruffin, the old man to whom Beauregard gave permission to fire the first shot from Morris Island at Fort Sumpter, four years after- wards took his own life. And in the death of that suicide we may read the fate of any man or party of men, who at any time may be bold or bad enough to attempt again the dishonoring of our flag, or the destruction of the American Republic.
And as sure as there is a God in heaven, if the Anarchists, and So- cialists, and Communists make an attempt to degrade or insult the Stars and Stripes with their red flag. and seek to overthrow this government. under which they have sought a refuge, they will discover to their shame and sorrow that the spirit of the old Union army is still living in this country, and it will dig for their red flag and all it represents a grave that will be bottomless.
My comrades, there are men and women here today who are fathers and mothers of beautiful children. who themselves were unborn when you and I were in the Union army. To them the civil war is a matter of his-
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tory only. The untold waves of sorrow that rolled over this nation after each battle they have never experienced. And I pray God it may nev- er fall to their lot to pass through such experiences as we have. But these younger men and women should be posted, as some of you older people are posted, of what kind of men the soldiers of our republic were made. It may seem egotistical in us who were in the service to speak thus. But we only repeat what the historian has already recorded, and what the future historian will write in still more brilliant colors.
Never in modern history in so brief a period of time was so large an army assembled and composed of such fine material as was our armies, and that too without previous drill or knowledge of military life.
Nations accustomed to professional soldiers and standing armies, looked upon our citizen soldiery as a vast mob, unwieldy and of no practical utility. The London Times, speaking of them said: "It is evident that the whole volunteer army of the northern states is worthless as a mili- tary organization, a screaming crowd of New York rowdies and Boston abolitionists devastating the villages of Virginia."
Never was a great journal worse misled and positively mistaken. Our soldiery were not recruited and mustered from the slums of society. They were not an army of paupers. And if many of them are poor today. which we will not deny, let the present generation remember that these soldiers served their country at $13 per month. And during the years that they were in the service they were unable to lay up anything or to make money. Meanwhile their neighbors were at home, raising large crops, doing a large business, getting big prices, and had plenty of money; and with this inflated currency were paying off mortgages, buying homes and lands and getting a good start in the world. But when the soldier boys came home they had nothing to begin with; and had to commence where they left off three or four years before; and of course were far behind their neighbors in prosperity. And I consider it an outrage and a burning shame for any one to belittle the stand or poverty of any of these old veterans. This great and prosperous country can never repay her "boys in blue," what they suffered and spent in time, health, strength and blood to make this country rich and prosperous. And it is not a commendable thing for a public officer or a private citizen at this late date to call the soldiers and sailors who saved the union from destruction, a set of "dead beats and cof- fee coolers." It is hard enough to be injured in defense of others; but to be insulted for so doing, is a cause for resentment.
When we have simply asked for that which every civilized nation grants to their soldiers, we have been looked upon and even called mer- cenary.
Let me show to these friends how much of the mercenary spirit there was in our union soldiers. In the month of August. 1864, there were con- fined in the prison pen at Andersonville 33,000 of our boys. They were suffering indescribable torture every minute of their lives. Many of them were naked, sick and slowly starving to death. They longed for release and home and food, enduring agonies which no pen has ever yet been able to describe. They were dying at the rate of ten per cent., and thousands of them were too feeble to stand on their feet.
In this dreadful state of things the rebel government sent its agents into that prison among our mien, and offering them their liberty and plenty to eat. if they would take the oath of allegiance to the southern confeder- acy. In addition to this, they offered a money bounty to all who would enlist in the confederate army. And now what was the result? During
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all that month of August out of 33,000 starving prisoners, they could only induce seventy men to desert the old flag! Rather than swear allegianceto the confederacy they remained in prison and died at the rate of one hundred per day. And those who lived to be released from that mouth of hell, are almost to a man physical wrecks. Now I ask you, my friends, were these men mere "mercenaries, hirelings, and coffee coolers"? I think not; and God pity the man who says they were!
I am not ashamed of our record. Read the names of our fallen com- rades. Look at the men who still live and who stood shoulder to shoulder with those who fell. Look at the homes of refinement and culture from which they came. Look at the places of responsibility and trust those who survived the shock of battle have filled or are now filling. Five of them have been elected by the suffrages of the people to the office of chief magis- trate; and six of Illinois' brave soldiers have presided over our state as governors. And from that exalted position down to the more humble one of path-master, our soldiers have filled. Read the names of our profes- sional and business men ; our farmers and mechanics ; and see how many of them shouldered a musket, drew the sabre, or pulled a lanyard.
Read the muster rolls, and see from whence these men came, the pulpit. the bench, the bar, the desk, the counting house, the shop, the farm, from all occupations of thrift and industry, standing on one common footing of soldiery equality. Cooking their rations in the, same camp-kettle ; sleeping side by side sharing the same blanket; marchng together over hills and through swamps aiding each other as friends and brothers.
"We were comrades together when the boys marched away.
In hard times we were faithful, and in good times we were gay; And sometimes we were longing for the dear ones afar --
We were comrades together in the days of the war.
"We have marched along together in the sun and in the rain ; We've faced the fight together, and together borne the pain ; And each one tells his story of the wound or the scar- We were comrades together in the days of the war."
It is now conceded by unprejudiced and intelligent military men that the Union army contained the best material that was ever gathered for conflict." Mr. Lincoln is reported to have said that any average northern regiment contained enough intelligent men from which a president and an entire congress could be chosen.
There were good reasons why our army was composed of such fine ma- terial. They were men, many of whom came from the family altar, the public schools and from our churches. In some places entire colleges emp- tied themselves into the rank and file of some outgoing regiment. In other places nearly all the men who belonged to our churches who were of proper years, with their preachers in the lead, enlisted for the war. Such men fought for principle and could berelied upon in every emergency. Look at that band of Union officers in Libby prison. Every night they sing the long meter doxology before they go to sleep on the bare floor. The Fourth of July comes and these loyal men prepare to celebrate this In- dependence day. But they have no flag, and there could be no celebration without the old flag. As they could neither buy or beg one, they resolved to make one. So the red flannel and the blue flannel and white cotton shirts were torn up and put together in proper shape. and the stars pinned on the blue field ; and when finished it was fastened to the raftersoverhead. Then the entire number saluted the National emblem with three rousing cheers, and the battle hymn of the Republic-
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"My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord ;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored : He has loosed the fatal lightnings of His terrible swift sword, His truth is marching on."
The rumbling of this patriotic music alarmed the commander of the prison. as the jailor was alarmed at Phillipi, who rushed up stairs to see what had happened. On seeing the home-made flag he at once knew the cause of their rejoicing. He ordered the flag to be taken down forthwith. But not a man moved at his order: and growing weary of commanding, with no one to obey him. he was compelled by his own treason to climb up the rafters and remove the flag! Not a man of all those hundreds would have taken down that flag; they would rather have died in their tracks !
Let me give you an instance of how our old veterans appeared in the eyes of some of the dignitaries of the old world at the close of the war. During the grand review which occurred in Washington, as our boys were homeward bound, some of the representative men of all nations were pre- sent to witness that most impressive scene of thousands of soldiers who were to be mustered out of military service, and at once return to civil life.
A German baron and Bishop Ames, of the Methodist Episcopal church, occupied the same carriage. As the later regiments in their new uniforms and with their handsome banners went marching by, the baron would ex- claim : "Splendid army. Bishop! Splendid army.'
After a while the old veteran regiments began to appear on the line. Their uniforms were old. faded, soiled and dirty. , Their knapsacks were well worn and dingy. Their haversacks looked like a piece of greasy bacon. Their flags were old, and some of them mere shreds, tattered. torn and blood-stained; with their staffs tied up with leather thongs after they had been splintered by shot and shell. As these gallant heroes went tramping by. regiment after regiment, reduced only to remnants of their former strength, the old Baron's enthusiasm waxed warm, and catching the good bishop around the neck with his strong arms, cried out: "Mein Gott. Bishop, dot army vonld vip de devil !"
And what was true of the grandeur and greatness of our army. can equally be said of our navy. See the crew of the frigate Cumberland. as she is struck by the Merrimac in Hampton Roads. . Not a man turns his eyes towards the life boats for escape. One brave cry goes up from all over the decks. which are strewn with dead and dying. "We will never surrender.'
Rapidly the ship settled in the waves. The water began to wash over the upper deck. and still every unsubmerged gun was hurling defiance at the foe. The ship careened on one side. The last gunner knee deep in water, pulled the lanyard of the last gun, and the majestic frigate went down beneath the billows with the stars and stripes still floating at her masthead.
Neither have we forgotten how the little Monitor, like the stripling David, came, in the province of God. and met this mailed Goliath, and gave the victory to the Union flag. There upon the floor of the pilot house lies her brave commander, Lieutenant Worden, blinded by the fragments of iron and powder driven into his eyes. The Merrimac is in full retreat with her death wound, Lieutenant Worden recovers con- sciousness, and his first question is. "Have I saved the Minnesota?" "Yes," replies Lieutenant Green, "and whipped the Merrimac." And the
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glorious service rendered by Commodore Foote and his western Flotilla on the Mississippi are matters of national pride. Running the rebel bat- teries at Vicksburg by this wild and wonderous Flotilla was a most bril- liant achievement. And what shall we say of Admiral Farragut, the "Old Salamander," and his invincible squadron. Rescuing New Orleans from the grasp of the rebels, and opening the lower Mississippi for communi- cation with our forces; and then lashing himself to the mast of his old flagship Hartford, sails his ships through a cyclone of powder and iron over a sea of fire in the bay of Mobile, capturing Fort Gaines and the rebel ram Tennessee, and put Mobile again under the dominion of the stars and stripes.
And the praise of Captain Winslow and the crew of the Kearsarge, was in every loyal mouth, when, singlehanded and alone, she closed for the death struggle with her antagonist, the Alabama, and after a desperate battle of two hours duration so shattered the Alabama that she sank for- ever out of sight, beneath the waves of the briny deep, and at once cleared the seas of this scourge of American shipping, which had caused the de- struction of sixty-six vessels, and a loss of ten million dollars to the merchant service of the United States.
And now, my comrades, it is time for me to "cease firing," the crisis is passed, and to stack my guns. The union soldiers and sailors who are now living will soon be numbered among the silent heroes. The cemeteries are fast filling up with the graves of our comrades. Every year new flags are required to mark the resting place of those who have been mustered out. The great generals have nearly all passed away. Theillustriousnaval com- manders are about gone. Twenty-five years more and only "a corporal's guard" will be left of those who are here to-day. Many are disabled and broken in health. Long marches, wet blankets, guard duty when sleep would have been medicine; breathing miasma poison from southern swamps; drinking water too dirty in which to bathe our feet; wounds. bruises, fever and rheumatism, have left their death grip upon our systems. And while many of us appear robust and strong and can do average hard work, yet there is scarcely a day but what we feel the injurious effect of those years of military life. And we will continue to feel it more and more as age creeps upon us, until some day the "long roll" will be sounded, and we will respond to meet our last enemy, and we shall ourselves be com- pelled to surrender to death. Well, be it so. if we are only ready for our transfer to the higher department, and for promotion at headquarters. Then our change will be ten thousand times more blessed, than was our change from smoke of battle and tented field, for home and friends and loving hearts.
Captain W. J. Reitzell. of Rock Grove, was called out, and instead of a speech read the following poem :
THEY PUT OUR FLAG IN HEAVEN
'Tis said the path to heaven's gate
Is very narrow and perfectly straight,
And every pilgrimi who enters in
Must divest himself of every sin.
Now, this may be true, but suppose the one
Who judges the deeds each one has done,
Takes in the surroundngs that our nature bent,
And o'erlooks some of the deeds to get at the intent :
For many boys who helped to put our flag in heaven
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Died without having their sins forgiven. Now, what I want to know, from friend or from foe- And you'll say the question is fair -- Shall the one who fought three of four years In putting our old banner up there, Though not perfect himself, be laid on the shelf, While one who done nothing gets there?
There was one in a charge, shot through the head;
His comrades rush on-they leave him for dead, But after the fight as they bear him away,
As his eyes close in death, this they hear him say, As his arms fall palsied down by his side, "Say, boys, did you lick them?" and died. Now, the deacon, his neighbor, stayed at home and did well, For he doubled his money on all he did sell;
He prayed that our country with peace might be blessed --
Still he charged the war widow the same as the rest. Now, what I want to know, from friend or from foe --
And you'll say the question is fair- Is, shall the old soldier who fought three or four years In putting our banner up there.
Be laid on the shelf and the deacon get there?
And in this self-boasting land of the brave,
This land which all you old boys helped to save,
When the days were the darkest with a love most intent;
Politicians paid you monthly five dollars and sixty-five cent. Now, when this was, perhaps you have wondered,
'Twas when greenbacks were worth some thirty cents on the hundred. With same money bondholders bought bonds at their face, And were repaid in coin at the Nation's disgrace. Now, what I want to know, from friend or from foe -- And you'll say the question is fair --
Shall the old soldier who fought without fear,
And placed our banner up there,
Though a pauper himself, be laid on the shelf, And the bondholder get there?
There are many crumbs falling from Uncle Sam's table,
Every last man gets all he is able.
Now, this is all right, but here is the thing -- Shall these crumbs be passed 'round by a political ring ? Politicians think most old soldiers fools,
So the best of crumbs are given to tools.
Now, what I want to know, from friend or from foe- And you'll say the question is fair-
Shall the old soldier who fought three or four years In putting our banner up there,
Though no politician himself, be laid on the shelf, While the gang and their tools get there?
But there is one thought which makes amends,
'Tis the thought that the ladies are ever our friends, And they'll be our friends till the last of us die, And they love with a love no bondholder can buy. To every last woman I have this to say :
If you are loved by an old soldier don't turn him away ;
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But accept of his offer and don't treat him rude
Or cast him aside just to capture a dude. Now, what I want to know, from friend or from foe- And you'll say the question is fair- Shall the old soldier who placed our banner up there, Though not young himself, be laid on the shelf
And the dude in tight breeches get there ?
TRIBUTE TO THE SOLDIERS UNDER TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES,
AND WHILE BATTLING IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Their loyalty after war. holding positions of highest trust in hands of the Government, etc.
SOLDIERS AND MONEY-LENDERS
There were several acute crisis in the course of the war, when the fate of the Nation hung trembling in the balance, but perhaps the su- premest of all of them occurred in the latter part of the Summer of 1864.
For some weeks then it seemed as if the obstinate resistance of the rebels had exhausted the utmost power of the Government to crush them.
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