USA > Illinois > Will County > Fifteen years ago; or, The patriotism of Will County, designed to preserve the names and memory of Will County soldiers, both officers and privates - both living and dead: to tell something of what they did, and of what they suffered, in the great struggle to preserve our nationality > Part 10
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TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
charge, but as the day was so far spent, it was deferred until morn- ing, when the rebels surrendered. After the details of the sur- render were gone through with and witnessed, then came the hardest part of all. Twenty-one brave boys-our comrades-had to be buried in one common grave, with their blankets their only shroud and coffin, and 104 poor wounded men cared for in the hospital."
After the surrender of Donaldson, the little village of Dover, just above the fort, presented a novel sight. The river was full of steamboats, but not for the peaceful purposes of trade and com- merce. Many were there to transport the rebel prisoners who had been taken in the surrender, and the little town was suddenly a populous one. Long files of the prisoners filled its streets, march- ing down to the boats for transportation north, more than 15,000 men, looking somewhat the worse for the wear and tear of the stay in Donaldson.
The camps of the conquerors, also, were not very inviting places. All the tents of the 20th were riddled with balls, some of them being mere rags, and the weather was wet and cold, and the ground muddy. Besides the wounded to be cared for by our sur- geons, sickness began to thin the ranks, and many had to be sent to hospitals, which had been established in the village.
Most fortunately, the sanitary stores from the northi began to arrive, and, with these, the sick and wounded were made as com- fortable as possible.
But the regiment could have but a brief rest here. It was ordered to the Tennessee river, and camped at the "iron works" after a ten miles' march, as advance guard.
The regiment bivouacked at night in the vicinity of a farm house, at which the staff officers took up their quarters. They also determined to have a good square meal, and gave their orders accordingly. But the rebel army had been so long in the vicinity that coffee and hoe-cake was about all that the family could fur- nish. But coffee and hoe-cake, when brewed and baked by a skillful darkey cook, are not to be despised at any time, much less in the present circumstances. The hoe-cake, let it be premised, is not ordinarily baked in the crude, original way-i. e., on a hoe-
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HISTORY OF THE
1
but in that utensil called a bake kettle, found in every southern kitchen, consisting of a broad, flat-bottomed, iron kettle, which is placed over a bed of coals, and which has a cover so constructed as to hold a good bed of coals on top, thus securing the baking of the bread or cake on both sides, at the same time, and very quickly. It is another peculiarity of southern life, that the kitchen is a building by itself, at a little distance from the house, where the cook reigns undisturbed and supreme.
Well, in obedience to the wishes of the officers, very soon the " coffee was in de pot and de hoe-cake bakin'," and they congratu- lated themselves with the prospect of something of a variation from the regular rations. But alas! it is still true that there is " many a slip betwixt the cup and lip."
When the old " mammy " cook had completed her arrange- ments for supper, and "allowed dat de hoe-cake was 'bout done," she carried the smoking coffee pot from her domain to the house, where she was welcomed with cheers from the impatient officers, and orders to hurry up her hoe-cake. .
Now, it happened that a hungry soldier had been prospecting around for something to fill his own private stomach withal, and had seen, with covetous eyes, through the window of the kitchen, the cook's preparations for the officers' supper; and when she stepped out with the coffee, he saw that his opportunity had come, and stepping quickly into the kitchen, he removed the cover of the kettle, fished out the steaming, fragrant hoe-cake, wrapped it in his blanket, carefully replaced the cover, and quickly disap- peared from the scene, leaving no traces of his visit. The old mammy, on her return, took the kettle off the fire, and removed the cover. Imagine her astonishment at finding that the hoe-cake, on which she had lavished her utmost skill, was not there. For a moment she was speechless. But words soon came to her relief : " Oh, gor-a-mity, de debbil has been here, shore! de hoe-cake done gone ! Oh, Lordy ! Lordy ! dis chile spoke for, shore ! Oh, Lordy ! Lordy !" Her outcries brought the family and the offi- cers upon the scene, and they found her with uplifted hands, horror- struck, gazing with distended orbs upon the empty bake kettle. And if the sight had not caused her to turn pale, and made her
" Knotted and combined locks to part, And each particular hair to stand on end, Like quills upon the fretful porcupine,"
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TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
it was owing to a physical impossibility, and not because she was not sufficiently scared. It was a scene worthy the pencil of a Hogarth. But the officers, as may be imagined, were more mad than scared ; and I fear, in their vexation, they were even more profane than the old darkey ; for they quickly concluded that if this was the work of the devil, he had employed as his agent some hungry soldier, who had not a proper respect for the rights of staff officers.
March 6th, the regiment embarked on board the Belle Memphis, (once a floating palace, but now retaining only a shadow of its former splendor), with such sick and wounded as could be moved. They were on the boat until the 15th, when they landed at Savan- nah, a small town on the east bank of the Tennessee river, nine miles below Pittsburg Landing, both obscure points hitherto, but destined to become memorable. Here the regiment found a good camping ground, and a hospital was established. The weather had now grown warmer, and there was less suffering.
Although the boats were crowded, it was a pleasant and beauti- ful voyage up the Tennessee. They were eight days in going up, as the woods and bluffs along the river had to be shelled by the gun-boats in advance.
The regiment remained here, doing picket duty, until the 25th of March, when it again went aboard transports, and went to Pitts- burg Landing, ten miles farther, on the opposite side of the river. This point was a mere landing, having no buildings, except an old cotton shed. The bank was covered with woods, a lonesome looking place, but it soon became populous. The brigade marched back two miles, and encamped on Owl Creek. Col. Marsh was in command of the brigade, and here the regiment remained until the great battle of Shiloh.
April 6th and 7th, it took part in the memorable engagements known as the battle of Shiloh-so called from a little church in the vicinity. I do not propose to give a general description of these battles. The general histories of the time have done this.
The fight, as is well known, commenced on the morning of April 6th, by the enemy attacking our lines, and resulted in driving back our forces to the river, and the shelter of the gun-boats. Being reinforced during the night by Gen. Wallace's division, and the
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HISTORY OF THE
3d division of Gen. Buell's army, the battle was renewed on the 7th, and the enemy was driven back, and our force re-occupied the ground from which they had been driven on the 6th, thus remain- ing masters of the field, though at a fearful loss of life.
In the two days, the 20th regiment lost in killed one officer (Adjutant John E. Thompson), and twenty-one men, seven of whom were from Will county. There were wounded in the regi- ment, six officers and ninety-eight men, and ten missing, two of the officers, and seventeen of the enlisted men, being from this county. Among the wounded was Col. Bartleson, then major of the regiment, who had just returned from his melancholy errand to Joliet and Ottawa, in charge of the body of Col. Erwin. He had been promoted major at Donaldson. He was wounded in the left arm so severely as to necessitate amputation. Lieut. John F. Cleghorn, of Co. B, who had been promoted captain, was also severely wounded in one arm.
The boys were gratified with a visit from several of our citi- zens immediately after the battle, who came to look after their wants. These citizens were B. F. Russell, J. T. McDougall, Wm. Tonner, O. Hardy, A. Leach, and Dr. McArthur, and perhaps others. They went over the field of battle, and although the dead had been buried and the wounded removed, yet the scene showed traces of a terrible conflict, trees, logs and underbrush cut and torn by the missiles ; and huge mounds, having posted by them such inscriptions as these-"142 rebels," "70 Union," "50 rebels," " 25 Union," &c., were frequent.
LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED AT SHILOH, IN THE 20TH REGI- MENT, FROM WILL COUNTY.
KILLED:
Adjutant J. Edward Thompson.
Private Francis Danser, Co. B.
Corp. Isaac B. Reynolds, Co. B. 66 Rudolph Troove, Co. B.
Private Philip Bentz, Co. B.
66 John Delancey, Co. F.
WOUNDED:
Major F. A. Bartleson.
Capt. J. F. Cleghorn, Co. B., severe.
Sergt. Wm. S. Vail, Co. B.
Sergt. Benj. F. Coates, Co. F.
Corp. Rudolph Bush, Co. F.
Corp. Josiah Wright, Co. K.
Private Reuben Atkins Co. B.
66 George Bentz,
Joshua Dykeman, 66
James Gallagher,
Private George Lee, Co. B.
Jacob B. Worthingham, “
66 Samuel S. Myers,
60 E. D. Conner,
Henry A. Sperry,
66 Otto Lopman, Co. F.
64 Charles Tege, 66
Joseph Myrick,
George Connolly, Co. K.
.
.
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TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
The 20th had but (about) 394 men in the fight, and almost one- third . were killed or wounded, and after the fight had only 264 fit for duty, out of the 1,000 men with which they left Joliet less than a year before.
Jacob B. Worthingham, a son of one of our oldest citizens, (who himself fell afterwards at Stone River), was wounded early Sun- day morning, the first day of the battle, and lay among the heaps of the dead and dying until Monday evening, before he was cared for, passing two days and a night on the bloody ground, suffering from pain, thirst and hunger, while the desperate conflict was going on over and around him. During the fight, while the rebels had possession of the ground, a rebel soldier kindly placed a blanket under him, to make him more comfortable. When our forces took the field he was found, nearly exhausted, from loss of blood, and exposure.
It was for some time feared that Captain Cleghorn would lose his arm, but it was ultimately saved in a damaged condition.
The regiment also lost, from sickness, Albert S. Randall, of Co. F, on the 30th of April, who was acting at the time as brigade postmaster.
About the 1st of May commenced the advance on Corinth. It was slow, our army, (having been taught a severe lesson at Shiloh,) fortified their positions as they advanced, having occasion- al skirmishes with the enemy. Corinth was evacuated by the ene- my May 29th, 1862, without a fight.
On the 3d of June, the 20th left their position near Corinth, and moved to Jackson.
The regiment remained at Jackson until about the middle of August. During its stay here the chronic trouble between Col. Marsh, and some of his subordinates again broke out. Captain Hildebrant was again placed under arrest by order of Col. Marsh. No charges were preferred at the time, and after a few days the captain reported to the general commanding the department, and was assigned to staff duty with General Lawler, commanding the post. Charges were not preferred until some time in October, when a copy was served upon him. The charge was disobedience of orders in not attending morning drill, from which he had been
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HISTORY OF THE
excused by the assistant surgeon. He was tried by a court mar- tial consisting of a major, two lieutenants, and Captain Pullen, of the same regiment.
On the trial clear proof was presented of his having been ex- cused by the surgeon, and also to refute another charge of dishon- esty which had been added to the original charges. The captain left the court without arguing the case, and came north in charge of prisoners to Alton. On his return he learned that he had been dismissed the service by sentence of the court, and that the finding had been approved by the general in command. The find- ing caused great indignation on the part not only of many in the regiment, but also in the brigade, and certificates from both offi- cers and men in the regiment, were forwarded, and are now on file in Springfield, sustaining the captain's cause. In the roster in the Adjutant General's report, is the entry, " cashiered Oct. 1st, 1862." Such an entry, of course, compelled me, who knew the captain well, to make an inquiry into the history of the case.
Captain Hildebrant appealed to the war department, who finally reversed the action of the court. But, as meantime his place in the 20th had been filled, he took an honorable dis- missal from the service, as now appears on the records of the office in Springfield and also at Washington. Captain Hilde- brant afterwards joined the army at the east, and served under Sheridan in his chase after Early up the Shenandoah, and remained in the service until near the close of the war. There were other troubles in the regiment, but as they did not affect Will county men, I pass them by very gladly.
While staying at Jackson, the regiment was often annoyed by the application of negro owners for the return of their slaves who took the opportunity to escape whenever near any of our forces. The negroes could not get it through their woolly heads, that our forces being at war with the rebs, should not take the advantage of depriving their enemies of their main-stay, and the object for which they at least were confessedly fighting. It seems astonishing to some whose heads are not wolly, how tender the administration was of the rights of the rebels to their slaves. But the boys in the army early got disgusted with the business of catching negroes for rebels in arms, and held the work in great contempt-even the most democratic of them !
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TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
Well, some darkeys had got into the camp of the 20th, and presently two of the Tennessee gentry made their appearance on the hunt for them. They applied to Gen. Logan for the privi- lege of searching the camp of the 20th for their lost property. Gen. Logan wrote an order as follows: "Officer of the day will please pass these men through the camp of the 20th."
Capt. Hildebrant was the officer of the day. He looked at the pass and said, " all right," and calling an orderly and giving him a wink, told him to get a guard, and pass the men through. And he did-straight through, from one side of the camp to the other, with a brace of yankee bayonets at their rear, not allowing them to turn right or left, until they were helped over the fence at the rear of the camp. When they got round to the place where they had left their horses, they could not find them, but looking down the road saw them on a bee line for home. The indignant representatives of the aristocracy of color, found their way again to Gen. Logan, and made their complaints, as proudly and indig- nantly as if the business of the Union army was to help them to catch their runaway property.
The General sent for the officer of the day, and inquired what the d-l he meant by such conduct. This was done in a voice, and with a manner which was plainly forced. Indeed, the officer saw by the twinkle of his black eye, that he was enjoying the scene. In reply, the officer produced the order and assured the General that his commands had been carried out to the strict letter. The General looked over the order-saw the point-commended the captain for his prompt obedience, and dismissed him and the indignant complainants together.
.
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES.
CHAPTER II.
HISTORY OF THE TWENTIETH REGT., CONTINUED.
JACKSON, TENN., TO JOLIET. AUGUST, 1862, TO MUSTER OUT.
Ordered from Jackson-A Narrow Escape-Goes Back-Sent to Esten- aula-An Alarm-Ordered Back-What They Met-Battle of Britton's Lane -Glorious Victory-Casualties-Dr. Bailey's Account-Returns to Jackson -Resignations-Movements up to January, 1863-Movements to Memphis- Down the River-Lake Providence-Milliken's Bend-Down to Grand Gulf -'Crosses-Thompson's Hill- Incidents-Results-Port Gibson- Bayou Pierre-Big Black-Battle of Raymond-Casualties-Jackson-Champion Hill-Big Black Bridge-Vicksburg-Siege-Incidents-A Visitor says His Prayers-Assault of Fort Hill-Casualties-An Exploit-The Surrender- Summary-Incidents after Surrender-Lieutenant Branch as a Detec- tive-Moves Out to Big Black-A Dog Story-Meridian Raid-Inci- dents-Results-Re-enlistment-Goes Home-Receptions-Recruits-Goes to the Front at Big Shanty-Kenesaw-Atlanta-21st and 22d July-Casual- ties-Remnant Mounted as Scouts-Joins March to the Sea and northward- Receives Recruits at Goldsboro-Resumes Regimental Organization-Takes part in Grand Review-Comes Home-Summary-Muster Out-Reception .
HILE the 20th was at Jackson, it, with other forces at that place, had a very narrow escape. On the first of July, they were ordered to move with their impedimenta, and accord- ingly took up their march, destination unknown, and proceeded until two o'clock p. m., when a counter order was received, and the forces, after a short rest, took the back track, and in twenty- four hours from the time they left Jackson, were back in their old quarters. All this was a mystery at the time, but afterwards it was ascertained that the force had been ordered east, but the order was changed, for some reason, and they had narrowly escaped being gobbled up by Washington and the Potomac army. Truly, a merciful deliverance !
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TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
. Early in August, the 20th and 40th regiments were ordered to Estenaula, a crossing on the Hatchie river, about twenty-five mil ; from Jackson, where there was a rope ferry for the accommodation of ordinary travel. Here the regiments remained, guarding the ferry, through the month, with but little of incident, except the visits of the contrabands, who wanted to cast in their lot with the yankees. As a squad were coming in one night, they were the innocent occasion of quite an excitement. The picke" called a " halt" on hearing them, but the darkies had not yet learned what " halt " meant, and kept approaching, whereupon the pickets fired off their guns and fell back, and the whole camp was at once aroused, and "fell in " in line of battle, awaiting the approach of the enemy. When daylight revealed a score or so of darkeys straggling into camp, as unconscious of the stir they had made as the mules they rode, the affair assumed the aspect of the ridiculous pretty largely, which, however, was changed again to the pathetic when their masters made their appearance and compelled them to return-our government not having yet gotten sufficient manliness to protect them.
On the 31st, the force had orders to fall back to Jackson. The order was one that demanded haste, and they burned their stores, tents and baggage. Besides the 20th regiment under command of Capt. Frisbie, and the 30th Ill. under Major Shedd, there were also two pieces of Swartz's battery, and two companies of Foster's cav- alry, all in command of Col. Dennis, of the 30th. While on the march they received orders to go to Medan station on the Miss. C. R. R. They camped the night of 31st, near Denmark, and at day-light Sept. 1st, resumed the march. Soon after starting they received orders to go to Clover Creek and intercept a force of rebel cavalry which had been annoying our forces at Medan Station that morning and were now retreating. The guide of our force, either by mistake, as one account says, or to shorten the distance, as is stated in another account, took a road which led through some woods to a cross road known as " Britton's Lane." A de- tachment of Foster's cavalry were in advance, and entering the lane about ten o'clock, came suddenly upon the enemy's pickets. These being driven back, the enemy was discovered posted in a cornfield. The cavalry engaged the enemy's skirmishers until the
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HISTORY OF THE
20th came up and took position on a ridge, supporting the battery., which was posted in the road. The artillery opened and the cavalry advanced, but had gone but a short distance when they met the enemy coming on in force, four deep, and, as it was after- wards ascertained, 3,000 strong. It is supposed that they had been preparing a surprise for our force, as they had thrown down the in- tervening fence, enabling them to charge in force.
Capt. Frisbie had placed companies B. and G. on the left, and the balance of the regiment on the right of the artillery. In front, and on the right and left were cornfields full of rebs. On they came, the ground fairly trembling beneath their tread, ex- pecting no doubt, as from their superior numbers they reasonably might, to ride rough shod over our little force. The enemy had also sent out strong detachments both to right and left to flank, surround and bag the entire Union force.
On they came, tearing up the road and through the fields, firing volley after volley. Our men stood firm, reserving their fire until the enemy had got near enough for them to deliver it to some purpose. They then gave them such a deadly salute as not only checked the advance, but made them fall back with a hun- dred empty saddles. They soon rallied and made a second charge, and were again repulsed. They tried to outflank us, but Cap- tain Frisbie did not allow it. A desperate hand to hand encoun- ter ensued, the rebs riding in among our boys in superior num- bers and taking some prisoners, for a little while; but the boys would not stay captured worth a cent. Their comrades came to their rescue. One Capt. of the 20th being completely surrounded with his little force was ordered by a rebel captain to surrender, but our captain got the start, and, firing his pistol first, the reb. bit the dust. They succeeded however in capturing one cannon and most of the transportation train, and so greatly did they out- number us that the issue must have been against our brave boys but for the opportune arrival of the 30th regiment, which was one and a half miles in the rear at the commencement of the fight. On they came with a yell, led on by Capt. Shedd on the double quick. The two regiments had been to gether in previous encounters, and now they fought for and with each other with such mad desperation. that the enemy was compelled once more to withdraw.
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TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
They had however, learned the exact position of our forces, and their strength, and with fresh troops they prepared for an- other onslaught, which they expected would surely be final and successful.
But Col. Dennis having ridden out in advance, and discov- ered them dismounting and preparing for a charge on foot, took advantage of the lull in the fight, and of a concealing cloud of dust, to change the position of his little force, without the knowledge of the rebs, so that when the next charge was made, it was made upon empty space, while our force poured in upon them such a deadly cross-fire as threw them again into confusion and made them retire defeated. They gained a little knoll, and made a stand upon a little point which promised them some advantage. Capt. Fris- bie seeing the importance of this position, called for volunteer's to take it, and the entire 20th followed him in a charge, which drove them from it; meanwhile the 30th had repelled another charge on the left.
Three other attempts were vainly made by the enemy, and after four hours of severe fighting, a Union force which could not have been more than 800, all told, defeated a rebel force of 3 or 4 thousand. The rebs. left 179 (by actual count) dead on the field. The entire loss on our side was 5 killed, 51 wounded, and 52 prisoners.
CASUALTIES AT "BRITTON'S LANE" OF MEN FROM WILL COUNTY.
KILLED :
Sergeant Wm. Vail, Co. B. C. Houstine, Co. F.
WOUNDED :
Serg't Michael L. Fannegan, Co. B. August Abram, Co. B.
Francis Rook, Co. B.
Henry A. Sperry, Co. B. prisoner.
H. A. Sheffer, Co. F.
August Shierer, Co. F.
Henry W. Bartlett, Co. F. (died)
· Martin F. Bissell, Co. K.
August Abrams, named in the above list, was from Wilming- ton, and was one of our adopted citizens. His wound was such as to disable him for life, and make him a pensioner on our govern- ment, and most dearly did he earn the pittance we pay him. The ball passed through his body, cutting away a small piece of the . spine. The same ball passing out killed a sergeant behind him. He was a powerful fighter ; he kept six men at bay when a cavalry
15
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HISTORY OF THE
company charged upon them, spiking and pitching them off, as if they had been men of straw. He had been a soldier in Europe, and cheerfully took up the musket in behalf of his adopted coun- try. On his return to Wilmington, the people appreciating his services and condition, got up a donation sociable in his behalf.
The rebs. took Assistant Surgeon Bailey, and Chaplain Button, prisoners with some others, but after getting across the Hatchie, having no use for a chaplain, and thinking perhaps that the Dr. would do them the most good at home, they released them, not however until they had made a trade with the doctor. The doc- tor had a fine spirited young horse of which he felt very proud. The rebs. thought it was not a safe animal for a doctor, so they kept it, giving in exchange, an old broken down secesh mule, as a much safer and more appropriate animal for a non-combatant. I don't think the doctor appreciated at the time, or even to this day has fully appreciated their kindness. But if you had heard the shout with which he was received when he rode that old mule back into camp, you would have thought the boys appreciated it. I believe that the rebs. thought they had done so well by the doc- tor in the trade, that they could not afford him a saddle, or even a blanket.
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