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 20
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From this time until August 26th, the regiment was engaged in the siege of Atlanta, constantly at work and under fire. On the 26th of August it moved out of the works down the Sand- town road, marching all night, and the 27th and 28th struck the Montgomery railroad, and was engaged on the 29th in tearing up the track. On the 30th marched to the Macon railroad, and on September 2nd passed through Jonesboro and Lovejoy, and on the 8th went into camp at Eastpoint, Atlanta having been evacua- ted the 1st.
On the 28th of September the division was transferred to the 17th army corps. The 64th was now in 1st brigade, 1st division 17th army corps. Brig. Gen. J. W. Fuller, commanding the brigade, and Major Gen. J. A. Mower, the division, and Major Gen. F. B. Blair, the corps,
October 1st, the regiment went to Fairburn on a reconnoisance. Returned on the 3d, and on the 4th commenced the chase after Hood. Went to Atlanta, crossed the Chattahoochie at midnight, and marched all night in the rain. Camping in the works
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at Marietta. Thence on northward through Kingston, past Adairsville, arriving at Resacca the 15th.
This was a terrible march, the hardest yet experienced. Says a member of the regiment, "For two days and nights we did not stop to eat or sleep. Where we crossed the Chattahoochie, sev- eral men lay down completely used up, never to get up again. I saw many march in their sleep, one walked off a bridge, falling some ten feet, injuring himself considerably. By the time we ar- rived at the end of the march, the loss of mules and horses was fearful. We realized the fact more fully on our return some days after, as by that time they were about half decomposed, and the road being most of the way through the woods, our olfactories re- ceived the full benefit. Of some of the companies, neither officers nor men came in until the march was concluded. Co. F. started with forty-five men, but came in with only fifteen.
" All company officers were required to march in the rear of their companies, and in more than one instance were obliged to pick the men up and set them on their feet, and put their guns into their hands. Whenever the wagons got clogged, the men would drop in their tracks and be asleep by the time they touched the ground. Our Colonel Manning also rode in the rear of the regiment, to assist in keeping up the stragglers. One night after one of the temporary halts, he saw as the men commenced moving, something laying on the ground that looked like a man, called out to him, "Wake up sir, your company is moving." But there was no movement and he spoke again, louder and sharper, "Get up, sir, and move on." Still no response or movement. "Will you get up?" he says, accompanying the words with a slap with his sabre. But still he did not move or speak, when the Colonel got just a little out of humor, and said, " Now, sir, get up or I will prick you," and he did so pretty savagely. The boys standing around could hold in no longer, and burst into a roar, and the Colonel found that he had been talking to a dead mule on which the boys had just been sitting."
During the night of the 15th, Captain Conger, with Co. A, moved in advance as a reconnoitering party to Snake Creek Gap. Here they encountered the enemy who had got possession of the old works. A sharp skirmish was the result, in which Captain
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C. was mortally wounded. To the 1st division [was assigned the task of driving them out. The 64th maintained its well-earned reputation in this engagement, losing besides Captain Conger, nine men wounded. Captain Logan, who had a little before rejoined the regiment, although still weak, thus speaks of this engagement in a letter to the Republican, written at the time.
" Arriving near the works in the thick woods about 10 a. m., we were ordered to take them in the rear through the dense thicket by the left flank. On we march, past the entire division. Form- ing into line, off go the knapsacks, and we advance. Arriving at the edge of the woods, we emerge into a cornfield. Down goes a fourteen rail fence. Passing the field, we scramble on through briars, bushes, sloughs and creeks. The rebs open fire, and the splinters from the trees fly in our faces. Double quick is ordered, and with a yell we rush on. I soon fell exhausted in Snake Creek, the cold water of which saves me from sun stroke. On re- covering I perceive amid the shouts of ten thousand voices, our glorious ensign flying over the rebel works. Victory is again ours!
" The day after the fight we were out of rations, and all that our mess, consisting of seven, had for dinner, was two ears of corn between us. Two days after we were in Sugar Valley, the richest and most beautiful in the world. Here we got leave to forage, and in order to give you an idea of what foraging is, I must tell you how some of the Will county boys of my company looked on the 19th, about two hours before halting for the night. Although tired with a twenty mile march, here comes Sergeant Berow, my foraging captain, with half a sheep hung on his rifle ; Michael Keefe with a young hog on his back-Mike loves pork ; Pat. O'Connor is similarly loaded ; Ed. Lizur has a sack of sweet potatoes ; John Stone has a pail of honey-his face somewhat demoralized in getting it ; Sergeant Sanders has a pail of syrup ; Victor Henry and Frank Simpson are loaded down with potatoes and pork ; Barney Lynch, just out of hospital, has as much as he can travel under of pork, mutton and chickens, and little Pat. Har- rison, from Five Mile Grove, decently loaded with chickens and turkeys, and two great geese astride his neck, and looking half man and half goose, and swearing like a trooper for daylight, to the no small amusement of the boys.
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" Up to this time, the entire loss in Co. G is forty-four-twenty- five killed, seven prisoners, and the rest wounded and sick. I am proud to say that in all the terrible conflicts in which the 64th has been engaged, the Will county boys, with but one exception, have never faltered in the presence of the enemy, but have bravely done their duty, as has the rest of the regiment."
Marching by way of Lafayette and Summerville, the regiment arrived on the 21st of October at Gaylesville, Ala. On the 29th, marched via Cave Springs to Cedartown. Had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry. Moved to Smyrna camp ground on the 5th of November. On the 13th it returned to Atlanta, and on the 15th commenced the " march to the sea."
During this march, and the subsequent existence of the regi- ment, it was in command of Captain J. S. Reynolds, who had been promoted major. We shall not give a minute record of this march to the sea, which has been so often described. The experience of the 64th did not differ materially from that of other parts of the grand army. As it left Atlanta, and for the first day or two of the march, the sky was darkened by day with the smoke of burning buildings of Atlanta and the vicinity, and lit up by the lurid flames at night. Its position was in the left hand column of the right wing of Sherman's army of 60,000 infantry. Passing through McDonough, Jackson, Monticello, Hillsboro, to Gordon Station, it there engaged in the business of tearing up and destroying the Macon & Savannah railroad. The regiment had no encounter with the enemy until it reached Poole's Station, about twelve miles from Savannah, where it had a lively skirmish on the 9th of December. On the 10th it assisted in the investment of Savan- nah, skirmishing with the enemy during the day. On the 16th it marched to Kings Bridge, on the Ogeechee. On the 17th moved south, and on the 19th reached Doctortown on the Gulf rail- road and the Altahama river. After destroying the railroad at this point, it returned to Savannah on the 23d. Thus, after a leis- urely march of 300 miles in twenty-four days, it sat down with the rest of the grand army between the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers, waiting for the plum, now ripe, to fall into its mouth. In common with the rest of the army, it was in even better health 28
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and spirits than when it left Atlanta. It had lived on the fat of the land, finding chickens, honey, pork, mutton, sweet potatoes, and rice, in great abundance, and without having far to go to find enough for the wants of the army. And let it be remembered, that this was in the vicinity of Andersonville, where our poor boys-more than twenty-five of whom were from Will county -- were being starved into idiocy and death.
But while the boys were fat and saucy, they were also black and dirty, and could hardly be distinguished from the contrabands that accompanied them, being blackened with the smoke of the resinous pine knots with which they built their camp fires.
As every reader knows, the plum fell into Sherman's hands on the 22d, who sent it as a Christmas gift to FATHER ABRAHAM.
At Savannah, Lieut. Knickerbocker, whose time of enlistment had now expired, bade farewell to the regiment and to army life. Having served the country well and bravely for three years, and until the rebellion was evidently on its last legs, he came home and hung up his sword by the side of his grandfather's, who had held the same rank in the army of the revolution.
Jan. 3d, 1865, the regiment (with the 17th corps), embarked at Thunderbolt for Beaufort, S. C., and on the 13th left Beaufort and arrived at Pocotaligo. Here there was quite a brilliant little affair in getting possession of the place. The 64th, under com- mand of Major Reynolds, made a charge on the enemy's works and captured them. The boys gave the place a slight change of name, calling it " Poke-em-till-I-go."
Jan. 31st, on which day the movement of Sherman's army northward commenced, the 64th moved from Pocotaligo, having previously been engaged in making some demonstrations against the enemy at the Salkahatchie and Combabee ferry. Feb. 3d, they crossed the Salkahatchie at Rice's ferry, in the face of the enemy, crossing a swamp nearly three miles wide, in which the water was from knee to waist in depth, and very cold, as was the weather also. The enemy then fell back behind the Edisto, and the division was pushed on to Midway, where it was engaged with the rest of the corps in the destruction of the S. C. R. R., to the 10th of Feb. Then moved to Orangeburg, where the enemy was intrenched at the bridge, but it was soon routed, and the corps was across the
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North Edisto and destroying the railway. Marched thence to Columbia, and witnessed its burning by the rebel General Hamp- ton, who had with insane folly set fire to the cotton in the streets, to keep it from falling into the hands of the yankees. Thence it marched to Winesboro and Cheraw, to Fayetteville, N. C.
March 20th it arrived at Bentonville, and on the 21st the entire regiment was on the skirmish line. The division had been ordered to make a demonstration against the left flank of the enemy. It therefore moved to Mill Creek and formed in line of battle, with the 64th in front as skirmishers. After advancing a little way through a swamp, they encountered the enemy's cavalry, with four pieces of artillery, and at once charged them, capturing a caisson. Major J. S. Reynolds was in command, and was ordered to drive the enemy as far as he could with the skirmishers. He succeeded in driving the enemy's cavalry and artillery two miles, capturing Gen. Joseph E. Johnson's headquarters, with forty horses belong- ing to his staff and escort, and twelve prisoners. The regiment was now in the rear of Johnson's army and on the line of his retreat. Gen. Mower was moving to his support, when he was attacked with great fury on his left flank by Gen. Hardee's corps, and was being forced back toward the swamp.
The 64th was now in great danger of being surrounded and captured. But Major Reynolds here displayed that skill, courage and presence of mind which showed him worthy of the promotion which he afterwards received, and which would justify still higher honors. He changed his position so skilfully and quickly as to give him a great advantage. The moment he saw his supports were being driven back, he contracted his line, and directing Capt. Long, who was acting as major, to watch the enemy's cavalry, with companies A and F, he attacked the enemy with the rest of the regiment, with great vigor and intrepidity. The effect was everything that could be desired. General Hardee, supposing, no doubt, that he was being flanked by a large force, fell back with haste to re-form his lines, and did not discover the true state of affairs, until Gen. Mower had got his division safely across the swamp. The 64th then gave the enemy a parting souvenir, and also fell back across the swamp.
Sergeant Lamb, on the retreat, kept up a running fight, killing
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six rebs, loading as he ran ; but, being overtaken, while loading, he had to surrender, but he first broke his gun around a tree. The rebs parolled him, having first robbed him of his watch and pocket book.
The 64th lost thirteen men in this affair. Had it not been so skilfully handled, its losses must have been much greater. Its formidable sixteen-shooters were never handled to better effect. Both Generals Mower and Fuller highly complimented Major Reynolds, and the officers and men of the regiment generally, for their gallantry on this occasion. Major Reynolds was also recom- mended for promotion as brigadier general, which honor he received subsequently.
The march northward was resumed, and on the 24th of March the 64th camped at Goldsboro. Thence it proceeded on to Wash- ington, by way of Raleigh. It reached the capital of the Union it had so bravely aided in preserving, on the 19th of May. It then took part in the grand review. Being armed with the deadly Henry sixteen-shooters, (at their own expense), the men attracted special attention and received frequent cheers.
June 6th, it left for Louisville, Ky., and on July 11th was. mustered out of service. The regiment arrived at Chicago on the 14th, and received its final pay and discharge July 18th, 1865. Colonel John Morrill (breveted brigadier general), commanded the regiment until he was severely wounded, July 22, 1864. Lt. Col. Manning then commanded it until Nov. 22, 1864, when Capt. J. S. Reynolds, promoted major, took command and retained it until muster out, being promoted lieutenant colonel May 8th, and breveted brigadier general at muster out. Capt. Logan, of Co. G, was promoted major. A reference to the roster will show the other promotions of Will county men.
Before closing the record of the 64th, I want to make special. mention of two of its privates, no suitable opportunity having been presented in the body of the narrative.
By reference to the muster roll of the regiment, it will be seen that JOHN SMITH, whose military record I have given at some length elsewhere, was also a member of Co. E, in this regiment. It will also be seen that he is reported as "absent, in arrest, at muster out." Seeing this statement, and being naturally anxious
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to rescue the memory of my pet hero from this stain, I have been on the lookout for some favorable explanation of this matter. Most happily, I have found one which affords partial relief. In one of the letters written home from the regiment by a corporal of Co. E, (now dead, poor boy !) I find this statement : " Big John Smith shot two copperheads in Ottawa, and deserted. He got scared, and dare not come back to us ; but if he had come back, the colonel would not have done anything to him."
This is some explanation, and affords considerable satisfaction, inasmuch as it shows that it was not for cowardice or disloyalty that my hero was put in arrest. But just what his offense was, I have not been able to ascertain. I am at a loss to conjecture what the animal was that John Smith shot. It seems to me it could not have been the Trigonocephalus Contortex, the reptile to which the name of " copperhead" was usually given, for though a native of America, it has never, I believe been found so far north as Ottawa. I remember that in the early settlement of this county, the prai- ries were infested with a species of the Crotalus, which was famili- arly called " massasauger," but I have never known it to be called a "copperhead." And then, why should it have been an offense which could have made John Smith fear the authorities, civil or military, if he had shot either a Crotalus or a Trigonocephalus Contortex, or indeed any number of them ! Such reptiles being feræ naturæ, and venomous withal, are liable to be shot at will. The whole subject is involved in mystery, and I am compelled to leave it unsolved. There was also in this same company another representative of this renowned family, to-wit, Christian Smith. He is registered as being from Chicago, but this is of course a mis- take. Without any hesitation I have transferred his name to the Will county list. I have only one item of special interest to record of his military history. On the 4th of July, 1864, he was severely wounded in that part where the Spartan mother, in her pride, prayed her son might not be. Let it be charitably remem- bered that we fight now altogether differently from the style of her time, and now a man cannot select the spot where he shall be hit. The wound, happily was not mortal, but it was a long time very inconvenient. This was a hard way to keep the 4th of July, but that's the way they did it in Georgia, in the year 1864. Let this
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" ___ hair breadth 'scape 'i the imminent deadly breech,"
go into history as another blazon on the escutcheon of the Smith family !
In closing our record of the Yates Sharpshooters, we are deeply sensible that our imperfect narrative will convey but a feeble im- pression of the services rendered, and the sufferings and dangers endured by them, in common with most of our Illinois regiments. From New Madrid to Goldsboro, it fought its way through hard- ships and dangers which can never be fully told. Being one of the sharp shooting regiments-armed with the deadly Henry rifle, it was always kept in advance, and allowed the post of honor and of danger, and on many a hard fought field, its men displayed their skill and valor. At the battle of Corinth, it received the special commendation of Gen. Rosecrans. At Kenesaw after the terrific 27th of June, it was thanked by Gen. Dodge, for its bravery and success. In front of Atlanta it received the thanks of Gen. Fuller-and at Bentonville of Gens. Fuller and Mower.
It is impossible now to conceive how men could so cheerfully endure the constant hardships and exposure of the Atlanta cam- paign, when scarcely a day passed when some companion was not left behind, hastily buried in the inhospitable soil, or bleeding be- neath some tree, awaiting the tardy care of the surgeon ; while every day brought its reports of rebel barbarities practiced upon the wounded and dead. Most of the time too was passed in cramped trenches and rifle pits, under the fire of rebel batteries, and the keen watch of sharp shooters, when the slightest exposure was sure to be fatal,-all aggravated by hard, and ofttimes deficient rations, and insufficient clothing, and by the intense heat of a Georgia sun, alternated with terrific storms and rain-pours without shelter, On the route northward from Savannah, many of the regiment marched two hundred miles barefoot, much of the time skirmishing through swamps, and enduring all without a murmur.
Of the one thousand men and officers that left Ottawa after veteranizing and recruiting, in March 1864, only four hundred and fifty returned for muster out. Of company E-Captain Grover's company-only five of the original enlistment returned with Lieut. Feeley.
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Our county lost fifty-six men in this regiment. Two valued officers, Captain Grover and Sergeant Clark, were killed at Cor- inth, as has been related. Sergeant Wm. Paul, from whose letters I have several times quoted, and who died of Typhoid fever on the Atlanta campaign, was the son of our citizen, Wm. Paul, then a resident of Troy, and brother of Oliver Paul of the 100th. One man, Israel Parker, died in Andersonville.
Let us who reap the benefits of the sufferings of our brave boys, gratefully remember the dead, and honor the living, and re- solve to transmit in violate that Union and Freedom they helped to preserve.
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES.
CHAPTER V. .
HISTORY OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH; OR, WILL COUNTY REGIMENT.
PART FIRST.
JOLIET TO NASHVILLE. SEPTEMBER, 1862, to DECEMBER 26TH.
Departure-En route-Louisville-Reception-Regiment Armed-Put on Duty-Marches and Counter-Marches-Almost a Fight-Joins a Brigade -Capt. Elwood Detailed-How the Boys Prepared for Inspection-A Banner from Home-Moves Camp-Goes Scouting-An Immersion-Regiment Returns without Trophies-Hard March Through the City-Louisville in a Scare-Intrenchments-Two Visitors from Joliet-Movements-The Shoot- ing of Gen. Nelson-New Brigade-Starts out for Dixie-Incidents-Col. Buell tries "Mit's" Hospital Stores-Signs of the Enemy-A Kentucky Pig- What came of It-Consequences-Regiment Moves on-In Line of Battle- In the Front-Gen. Haskell's Fears-A and B as skirmishers-Springfield -Perryville-First Sight of a Battle Field-Chaplain Crews preaches his First Sermon-Walnut Grove-The Boys smell Powder -- First Blood-Crab Orchard-Wild Cat-Short Rations-First Death-A Hard March-Camps on Green River-The Chaplain smells Woolen-Another Death-Crosses into Dixie-Two Classes of Vertebrates-Capt. Munger's Boy-Something about Brevets-A Hard March-Some Boys Fall Out-They Fall In-Silver Springs-Sickness and Death-March Again-The Hermitage-Camps near Nashville-Deaths and Funerals-Sickness-Experiences-Storm Scene- Life in Camp.
E have given some account of the enlistment and organization of the 100th regiment in our Home Record, and of its depar- ture from Joliet. As PART FOUR of this work will give a full roster and muster roll of the entire regiment, no further detail is needed.
The regiment broke camp at twelve o'clock of Tuesday, Sept. 2d, 1862, with 39 commissioned officers and 868 enlisted men,
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and took up its line of march for the C., A. & St. L. R. R. depot, where a train of twenty cars was waiting to convey them to Spring- field. All the city, and thousands from the surrounding country, and from all parts of Will county, had assembled to witness their departure, as we have elsewhere recorded. The train left the depot at 3 p. m., and arrived at Springfield the next morning. Here their destination was changed from St. Louis to Louisville, and they proceeded on the G. W. R. R. eastward. At Lafayette, Ind., the citizens, having been apprized of their approach, had pre- pared to give the boys a warm reception. They met them at the depot, armed with baskets full of all kinds of eatables and drink- ables, with which they assailed the 100th in most gallant style. But the boys came off conquerors, devouring everything before them, and closing the engagement with three rousing cheers for the Hoosier lads and lasses, when the train rushed on for Indian- apolis.
At almost every station, the train was fired upon with apples, peaches, flowers, &c., a kind of warfare that pleased the boys hugely. They crossed the Ohio at Jeffersonville, and marched through Louisville, up Main street, past the Gault House, singing " We'll Hang Jeff. Davis on a Sour Apple Tree," and "John Brown's Soul," &c. They were warmly welcomed, especially in the German quarter of the city, with waving of flags and handker- chiefs, and cheers. At one corner a lady made a short speech by way of welcome. They passed out about two miles beyond the city, and went into camp.
Here the regiment received arms and accoutrements, and the balance of the day was spent in arraying themselves in the full rig of the soldier. They were also supplied with sixty rounds of ammunition. Louisville was then enjoying a big scare, martial law was declared, and some were crying " good Lord," and some " good devil," not knowing whether they should fall into the hands of Buell or Bragg, who were racing across the state-with Louisville for their goal. The men, having ridden 500 miles without rest, were very tired, and not having yet received regular rations, were also hungry. Some pie and cake peddlers made their appearance, to the great joy of the boys, and would have soon sold their entire stock, had not some wiseacre suggested that the secesh had heard of the terrible 100th, and that these peddlers might be
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rebel spies, and their pies and cakes were probably poisoned ! This suggestion put an embargo on the pie trade-it was so probable !
The 100th now found themselves placed on duty at once. They were to play war no more. At 9 p. m., instead of turning in for a good night's rest, they were drawn up in line of battle, pickets stationed, and the rest ordered to sleep on their arms. About half-past eleven, just as they were getting into a comfortable snooze, the call " fall in " was sounded, and they were formed in line again, and then marched through the silent city, and out on the Beardstown pike, through clouds of choking dust, about four miles, when they were ordered to halt, and fix bayonets. This looked like business ! Most had never seen a line of battle, or torn a cartridge, and if some bit at the wrong end, or put the ball down first, let them not be blamed ; they did the best they knew then, and they soon learned to do it right, as many a reb found to his sorrow.
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