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 13
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" We remained here and around here three days, and on the 17th, the 20th alone went out foraging. Gen. Sherman told Col. Bradley that he sent him out because he knew the 20th could get back if anyone could. The 18th, I remained in camp, while the regiment went along the railroad, tearing up and destroying the track. A lady had sent in a request that an officer might be sent for her protection, to save her from the insults of the soldiery, and her house from the flames. So I had the pleasant duty of passing two days and nights at the house of a very pretty and well-informed southern lady, whose husband was absent in the rebel army.
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" The regiment went seven miles, and captured two hogsheads of sugar, one yoke of oxen, and wagons loaded with meat and sweet potatoes. Part of the boys, mounted on captured horses, went out on their own hook foraging, and before they had got out of sight, they met a squad of rebels mounted. Both parties fired, and then turned and ran as fast as they could. It was amusing to see each party fleeing from the other.
" Friday, 19th, the regiment went two miles from Meridian to guard a mill and grind up a lot of corn for our own use. After doing what grinding we wanted, we let on a full head of water, applied the torch, and left her grinding and burning.
" Saturday, 20th, we marched at daylight back to town, and found that all had left at five o'clock, on the return march, except the details left to finish up the work of destruction. We had to march around the burning town. as the heat was too great to pass through it. The sun was just rising as we came in from the west, and as it came up through the smoke and flames of the burning city, the whole scene had a weird and strange appearance, while the guns, many of which were loaded, and the shot and shell exploding-the crackling and roar of the flames-the crash of fall- ing walls-altogether made a scene grand, but terrible and sad. May I never have to look upon another.
" After looking upon the scene awhile, we took up our return march to the tune 'Get out of the wilderness,' and after a few hours overtook our brigade, and went on our way. While at Meridian we captured and burned five locomotives and 35 cars, and while we lay there our cavalry went down the Mobile & Ohio railroad, and burned Enterprise and Quitman, destroying every- thing as we went. We marched twenty miles and encamped in pine woods, tired, foot-sore, and short of rations.
"Sunday, 21st, started at seven, marched thirteen miles to Deca- tur, and encamped before night, sending out foraging parties, which returned heavily loaded with all kinds of plunder, gathered from the pastures, smoke houses, poultry yards, and potato patches. We were once more in clover, while many a family, I fear, was short of rations.
" Monday, 22d, started from Decatur at 7 a. m., and made eight miles, camping on the Radcliff plantation, three miles from
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Pearl river, waiting for the laying of pontoons. While lying here, our foraging parties brought in large quantities of all kinds of produce which had been hid away in the swamps by the old planters. The negroes would reveal the secret hiding places, and the foragers would go for the spoils without scruple. The 16th corps commenced crossing at dark, and we had orders to be ready at midnight, but the bridge broke, and we lay till 11 o'clock next day.
" Friday, 26th, we marched three miles and crossed the river. We now struck high lands, with beautiful plantations, the finest country through which we had passed. We made fourteen miles, and camped within one mile of Canton, on the west. This has been one of the most rabid of rebel cities, and one of the most beautiful places in the south. A heavy rebel force has been kept here since the capture of Vicksburg. The city is made up of planters' residences, elegant and costly, and the surrounding coun- try is one of splendid plantations, rich in cotton-at least such was the town and country before the advent of the Union army.
" Saturday, the 27th, we lay in Canton. Five companies of the 20th remained in camp, near Gen. Force's headquarters, while the other five were out foraging. About noon some scamp set fire to a cotton shed, which so enraged General Force that he ordered Major Kennard to take his regiment out into a plowed field and put a guard around them, where we were kept (companies A, C, E, F, and K,) in corral for six hours. When the rest of the regi- ment came in, we moved camp two miles south of town, on account of water.
" Sunday, 28th, marched back to town and encamped in line of battle around the place, on account of reports that there was a heavy force of rebels in the vicinity. The 31st, 45th and 124th regiments occupied the day in tearing up the railroad. We cap- tured here twenty-one locomotives in one lot, and then moved up the road a few miles and burned the whole lot, with ninety cars. We put a 24-pound shell in the fire box of each engine, which exploded and tore the boiler wide open.
"Monday, 29th, the day came in cold and blustering, with a cold, north wind, and drizzing rain. At 10 a. m., it held up, and we went out and destroyed the railroad on thenorth side of the town,
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while the cavalry was having a heavy fight within a mile of town, on the south, with the cavalry of Jackson, Lee, and Wirt Adams. We destroyed a mile of railroad track and returned to camp, to find that a provision train of forty wagons had just come in to meet us, from Vicksburg, bringing also a heavy mail, the first news we had had from the civilized world for twenty-nine days. You may be assured the sight was a welcome one.
" March 1st, we left at twelve, after a rain all night, with three days' rations in our haversacks, and accomplished but five miles in nine hours, on account of the mud, and camped at night in the mud-wet, cold, hungry, and fagged out. We had to break the ice half an inch thick to fill our canteens.
" March 2d, marched at 7 a. m., the 16th corps in advance. Cavalry skirmishing commenced before we had fairly got out of sight of the camp, and continued, with little intermission, all day, accompanied with heavy artillery firing. The rebel cavalry and artillery followed closely on our rear, and kept our cavalry busy all day. We encamped on an old plantation.
" March 3d, at 8 a. m., the first brigade was marched to the rear to cover the retreat of the whole army. We formed in line of battle on the edge of the woods, and let our entire train pass us. The position was one of great peril. An open field two miles long had to be crossed, and on the opposite side was a poor bridge and a swamp, requiring a long time to cross, while a high hill in the rear afforded a grand position for the enemy to place a battery and shell us. But for some reason or other they did not trouble us.
" After our forces had passed we marched across the planta- tion, and resumed our place in the division on the homeward stretch. We made eighteen miles and went into camp without any further trouble from the rebels. Gen. Leggett said that the reason he took the 1st brigade out of its place to cover the retreat, was that he knew he could depend upon it in a tight place.
March 4th, left camp at 7 a. m., and after a march of 15 miles arrived at our camp on the Big Black, at 4 p. m., well fagged out ; but in half an hour had to go on picket duty !
Thus, from Feb. 3d to March 4th, we had marched 375 miles, captured and burned the towns of Clinton, Jackson, Brandon, De- catur, Hillsboro, Chunkey Station, Meridian, Enterprise, Forest,
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Quitman, Canton and Brownsville ; captured and burned 35 lo- comotives and 125 cars; and killed about 400 rebs, wounded 800 more, and took 800 prisoners. We had captured 2,000 horses and mules, and brought in with us 10,000 contrabands of all ages, sizes, colors, sexes and shapes ; in all kinds of conveyances from the great plantation wagon, crammed full of woolly heads, down to the smallest jackass, loaded down with a big wench on her pack of movables. Our contraband train was a sight to behold, worth more than any street show that Barnum ever organized. We had destroyed more than 150 miles of R. R., burned every R. R. build- ing on the route, and every cotton gin, mill and public house- and some private ones. Long, long will the people remember the visit of Sherman's army, and its marks will not soon be oblit- erated from the region. When we marched out we were told that the march would be a short and rapid one, and we took no extra clothing, and consequently we went thirty-three days without a change. How we looked on our return, you can conjecture. I will not attempt to describe it. Even the "ragged 20th" never looked so ragged before."
The regiment as has been seen returned from the Meridian raid early in March, 1864. The term of their enlistment would expire in May, (14th). What remained of the regiment had (mostly) agreed to re-enlist. The regiment was therefore granted what it had so richly earned, a veteran furlough. Only 197 of the original enlisted men remained. The two Will county companies had a public reception on their return to Joliet, at the court house, where they were welcomed with appropriate honors, and addressed among others by their old captain and major, Bartleson, who was just home from Libby.
A supper at the Auburn House, and a reception at the house of Otis Hardy, Esq., was also given them.
The regiment veteranized, and recruited its thinned ranks, re- joined Sherman's army, which had now entered upon its Atlanta campaign, at " Big Shanty." It then took part in that memorable campaign. It lost heavily at Kenesaw, being in the first assault, and also in that of June 27th. It was also in the fiercest of the fights before Atlanta, on 21st and 22nd of July. On the 21st the regiment was on the left flank of the army, and with the divis-
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ion took a strong work of the enemy situated on a high hill, and maintained its position against repeated attempts to dislodge it. It had six killed and forty-eight wounded. Among the killed was Sergeant Macherly who had carried the flag of the regiment since Shiloh, and had been distinguished for his bravery in every en- gagement, having received the gold medal of merit at the siege of Vicksburg.
On the 22nd, the enemy charged the division with great force, and the fighting was severe until dark, when the enemy with- drew severely punished. It was estimated that the division killed more rebels in this engagement than its own number. Lt. Col. Bradley commanded the 20th in this engagement. Its losses were heavy. It had the misfortune to get flanked, and nearly all were captured.
CASUALTIES.
Commissioned officers-killed, 1; wounded, 5; missing, 4; Enlisted men-killed, 8; wounded 47; missing, 66; Total- killed, 9; wounded, 52; missing, 70. Total loss, 131.
Only 13 men of the number engaged on the 22nd escaped cap- ture. The prisoners were taken to Macon, Ga., whence the privates were sent to Andersonville, the officers to Savannah. Among the officers taken were Jeremiah B. Bailey, 1st Lt. Co. F, and David Wadsworth, Captain of Co. F, and Gideon Bernier, Lieut. of Co. B. These were taken to Savannah, and subsequently to Charleston, where they were placed under the fire of our forces, then bombarding the city. They were finally exchanged under a special cartel between Sherman and Hood.
For a daring act of Captain Bernier, of Co. B, in this engage- ment, and for some other details, the reader is referred to the his- tory of McAllister's Battery. The remnants of the regiment, (about 20 men and officers) together with some others that had been on detached duty-the whole numbering 35, were placed in command of Captain Harry King, mounted and put on a scouting service in the memorable march to the sea and northward.
At Goldsboro, they received 250 recruits, and at Alexandria the captured men that had been exchanged, rejoined them, and the regimental organization was resumed. It took part in the grand review at Washington after this " cruel war was over." Surely
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they were entitled to partake in the triumph after having done and suffered so much to achieve it.
The regiment then returned by way of Louisville to Chicago, where they arrived and were discharged, July 19th, 1865.
It came home with 21 officers and 322 men, of whom only about 70 were in the original muster roll of 924 men.
At the grand review in Washington, the regiment attracted much attention as one that had participated in more regular bat- tles than any other. It had been in twenty-nine battles and nu- merous skirmishes, and was in service four years and two months.
Co. B was noted for its promotions. Its captain had been promoted major, and then Col. of the 100th. Henry King who enlisted as private came out Colonel. Bernier who enlisted as pri- vate at the age of eighteen, returned Captain, having won his first promotion on the field of Donaldson for his bravery and soldierly conduct. A public reception was given the 20th, with other soldiers of the 8th Cavalry and Battery D, (McAllister's) on the 25th of July, and a supper at the National. The military record of each member of the regiment from Will county, so far as I have been able to obtain it, will be found in part four of this work.
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES.
CHAPTER III.
HISTORY OF THE THIRTY-NINTH REGT., OR YATES PHALANX.
FROM ORGANIZATION TO MUSTER OUT.
Organization-Will County Companies-Leaves for the Front-En route -Surprised and Captured-Arrives at Williamsport-Sickness-First Death and Funeral-Another Bereavement-Leaves Camp-Crosses into Dixie- Distributed-Affairs at Great Cacapon-Alpine Station-Bath-Present to Gov. Yates-Captain Munn Tested-Movements-Promotions-Sickness- Movements-Winchester-Strasburg-Battle-Gen. Shields-Battle of Win- chester- Incidents-Advance-Woodstock-Foraging -Advance- Brilliant Charge-Movements-Columbia Bridge-An Astonished Reb-Temperance Story-Advance to Fredericksburg-Grand Review-Takes the Back Track -Movements-Manassas-Review-Goes to Alexandria-Harrison's Land- ing-Closing Scenes of Mcclellan's Fizzle-Malvern Hill-Change of Base- Fortress Monroe-Suffolk-Resignation-Breaks Camp-Chowan River- Embarks-Folly Island-A Flag from Yates-Attack on Samter-Night Exploit-Morris Island-Fort Wagner-Casualties-Hilton Head-Veter- anizes-Comes Home-Receptions-Recruits-Goes Back-Washington- Yorktown-A Historic Region-City Point-Wiers Bottom-Drury's Bluffs -Fight-Casualties -- Another Fight-Losses-Other Movements-Assaults Deep Run-Losses-Incidents-Casualties to Will County Men -- In the Trenches at Petersburg-Another Fight-Incidents- Another Fight-Win- ter Quarters-A March-Charge on Fort Gregg-Casualties-Incidents- Last Battle-Casualties-In at the Death of the Confederacy-Comes Home.
HE organization of this regiment was begun immediately upon the receipt of the news of the attack upon Fort Sumter. T. O. Osborn, who subsequently became its colonel, (and after- wards a general), was active in its organization. At that early stage of the rebellion, the government had not become fully awake to the magnitude of its proportions and of the work before them. Considerable delay was therefore experienced before the regiment could get accepted. Indeed, such were the difficulties it encoun- tered, that at one time an effort was made to get it into the service
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as a Missouri regiment. And all this trouble and delay was encountered, notwithstanding earnest efforts made in its behalf by Gov. Yates, by whom the organization was regarded with especial favor, it having assumed his name. Bull Run, however, secured its acceptance on the day following that disaster.
In this regiment, Will county was represented by 20 commis- sioned officers and over 200 enlisted men, perhaps a greater number than could be claimed by any other one county. At any rate, we were so largely, and, I may add, so ably and honorably, repre- sented, that a brief history of its eventful and noble career is demanded at our hands.
With the exception of about 100 men in the 8th cavalry, and 10 men in the 12th cavalry, the 39th was the only regiment in which our county was represented, to any extent, in the east. Its history will therefore take us to different scenes and localities from those elsewhere traversed.
Recruiting for this regiment was early commenced in this county, principally in the city of Wilmington, and the towns of Florence, Wesley, Channahon, and Homer. Co. A was raised in Wilming- ton, largely through the efforts of S. W. Munn, Esq., who became its captain, and was afterwards promoted major of the regiment. He was assisted by Lt. L. A. Baker, aftewards captain, and Lt. Richardson, and others.
Co. E was also raised mostly in Wilmington, Wesley, and Florence, and was originally known as the " Florence Rifles," Jas. H. Hooker, of the last named town, being its first captain.
Hon. Amos Savage, of Homer, one of the oldest and best known residents of that town, was also actively engaged in raising Co. G, in his town and vicinity, and he became its 2d lieutenant, and sub- sequently its captain. The first captain of this company was the ·Rev. Wm. B. Slaughter, well known to many of our citizens as once pastor in charge of the Methodist Episcopal church of Joliet. At the organization of the regiment he was stationed at Blue Island, where he recruited a portion of the company. For the other offi- cers of the regiment, as well as the privates, from our county, the reader is referred to the roster and muster roll of Will county names in Part Fourth.
The organization of this regiment was completed at Camp
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THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT:
Mather, Chicago, with Austin Light as its colonel, and left camp at Chicago, 950 strong, Oct. 13th, 1861, for Camp Benton, Mo., where it reported to Gen. Curtiss.
But the west was not to be the scene of its exploits. On the 29th, it was ordered to the east. The statement has been made that this change in its destination was not in consequence of orders from the war department, but by the direction of Marshall Lamon -a general in expectancy-who wished to have it in his division. However this may be, it left Benton barracks at 6 p. m of the 29th, by the Terre Haute, A. & St. Louis R. R., arriving at Indianapo- lis in the afternoon of the same day, where it was treated, after the manner of that patriotic city, to a substantial dinner in the market house, by the loyal ladies of the city, who had come together for that purpose.
During the night they arrived at the smoky, but no less hos- pitable city of Pittsburg, where they found a fine supper awaiting them. The hearts of the boys-which were perhaps a little down- cast, thinking of the homes and the girls they had left behind them-were greatly cheered by such hospitalities, and made to feel that their self-denial in behalf of an imperiled country was not unappreciated. The ride had also been a delightful one. It was the beautiful Indian summer; all the groves and woods were dressed in crimson and gold; the air was soft and balmy ; the orchards were loaded with golden fruits ; and at all the towns and hamlets they were greeted with cheers, waving of handkerchiefs, and offerings of pies, cakes, fruits, and flowers.
But the regiment had the best reception of all at the town of Carlysle, Pa. The memory of it is still sweet and precious. This place lies below Harrisburg, about 50 miles from the border, and in the track of threatened rebel invasion, of which the inhabitants were living in constant fear. The appearance, therefore, of troops going on to the front, to place themselves between them and the rebel army, was hailed with joy. Indeed, they had good reason for their fears, for subsequently these were realized in the partial destruction of the place, during the invasion of Lee's army in 1863.
The railroad at Carlysle runs through the main street of the town, where the train was halted, and, all unconscious of what was in store for them, the boys at once got out to stretch their legs, and 19
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see what was to be seen. Although it was late at night, the streets were full of citizens, and no sooner had they got upon the side- walks on either side, than they found themselves attacked in front, flank and rear, by a crowd of well-dressed and beautiful women and girls, who at once began to hug and kiss them, with a gush and heartiness seldom equalled. Taken thus entirely by surprise, the boys were-just for a moment-at a loss what to do. But although they had not yet received their muskets, they had the right kind of arms with which to meet such an encounter, and no doubt returned the attack-sudden and unexpected as it was- with compound interest. Indeed, I suspect they rather liked it ! Whether this attack upon them would have been as hearty if the regiment had not been composed of good-looking men, is a ques- tion I leave for the reader's consideration.
But hugs and kisses was not all that the boys got. The ladies then took the men round to their houses and fed them-giving them something more substantial, if not so sweet.
Friday evening, at ten o'clock, the regiment arrived at Hagers- town, Md., where it debarked from the cars and passed the night, and on the next day marched six miles to Williamsport, on the Potomac, and encamped one mile from the town. At this place the regiment remained for some time, learning meanwhile the details of the new business in which it had embarked.
While at this place, the measles-the seeds of which had been brought from Benton barracks-broke out in a severe epidemic form, and many were sick, and some died. Here, also, Lieutenant Joseph W. Richardson died of typhoid fever-the first death in the regiment.
The death of Lieut. Richardson, universally beloved, both as a man and as an officer ; a young man of great promise as a soldier, and with brilliant prospects in his chosen profession of the law, threw a great gloom over the regiment. But he was dead, cut off by disease, without having an opportunity to fight for the Union and the country he loved, and all that they could now do was to pay him the last honors. These would consist in part of a salute fired over the grave. But the regiment as yet had not a musket, and could not render this service. A request was therefore made upon the colonel of the 13th Mass., which was in camp near, that
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he would send a company of his regiment to render it. In response, the entire regiment turned out and attended the funeral. Both regiments stood with heads bowed and bared around the grave, while Chaplain McReading read the solemn burial service of the Masonic order, to which the deceased belonged. And there they buried him-on the banks of the Potomac, in sight of two hostile armies-the friends and foes of the Union; and the hills of Penn- sylvania, Maryland and Virginia, echoed the salute which Massa- chusetts fired over the grave of the patriot son of Illinois!
At this place the regiment received its arms and equipments. Before leaving Chicago, it had been presented with a handsome stand of colors by Miss Helen Arion, and had also won a hand- some flag at a prize drill. The regiment had lain here, in sight of the enemy's pickets, six weeks without arms.
While at Williamsport, the regiment also experienced a second bereavement. This was no less than the loss of its colonel, by dis- missal from the service. This took them with painful surprise. The regiment had become much attached to him; and he was an able and efficient officer, and had brought the regiment to a high state of discipline and drill. He had formerly been in the U. S. service. As to the cause of his dismissal we have nothing to say. It was greatly regretted by the regiment at the time. The men marched in a body to headquarters to bid him good-bye, and the colonel addressed them in these words :
" Fellow Soldiers, Officers and Gentlemen of the Thirty-Ninth :
" It has pleased the war department, through the influence of some political intrigue, I know not how else, to deprive your colonel of his command. As I leave you, I must say that I have found you soldiers such as command my respect, and such as I should be proud to lead against the rebels now in arms. I must now bid you all farewell."
As he passed down through the ranks, every head was bared, and there were few dry eyes. There was the deepest and most intense feeling in the regiment. All mourned the loss of a friend, as well as an able officer.
On the 14th, the regiment received new arms, which, greatly to their delight, were the Springfield rifled musket.
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. On the morning of the 17th, the regiment left Camp Lamon (as it had been called), and marched eleven miles to a little village called Clear Springs, and had just got settled down to sleep, when a dispatch came, to the effect that the canal boats, on which the baggage of the regiment was placed, were about to be attacked by the enemy. This looked like business. The long roll was sounded, and the boys " fell in," and were quickly on their way to defend their property. But on reaching the spot, a distance of two or three miles, no enemy, or signs of an enemy, were visible, and they returned. Next morning they marched to another point known as Dam No. 5, and here they found no enemy. Then they marched to Hancock, fifteen miles, and the third day crossed over into " Dixie's land."
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