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 36
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Among the severely wounded was Capt. DAN. O'CONNOR, of Joliet, as brave, reckless, and jovial a soul as ever wore a shoulder strap. He was terribly wounded, and the following incident which is given by an eye witness, illustrates his character aud pluck.
" Dan. was left upon the field of battle until its close, when he was discovered by some of the stretcher-bearers, and slowly and gently conveyed to the field hospital, in an apparently hopeless condition. The attention of the nearest surgeon was called to
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him. He happened to be a young assistant of little experience, and immature judgment. Now Dan, it must be admitted, was a discouraging object to such a disciple of Esculapeus at that moment. He had a bullet in his body, another in his head, and one arm was broken in two places by balls. Besides he had laid upon the field for hours, and was faint from want of food as well as loss of blood. The situation was certainly sufficiently discouraging. The young surgeon glanced at him, and gave him up at once, and said, " Take him away, he will be dead in an hour."
" Dan. heard the summary verdict of the surgeon, but was by no means disposed to acquiesce. Working his head painfully around until his eye took in the flippant and dolorous prophet, he faintly but emphatically groaned out,-" You're a d-liar !" And he was, as any one may see, who will go to Wilmington, N. C., and interview the gallant major. They will find him as plucky and jovial as ever, and still worth a brigade of dead men. May his shadow never grow less."
In this battle also, John O'Brien, still a resident of Joliet, lost an arm.
Thomas E. Lonergan, the sergeant major of the regiment, was also put hors du combat during the fight, being disabled by the loss of part of his right hand, which led to his honorable discharge.
" Bragg commenced retreating before daylight on the morning of the 26th. The 90th was ordered in pursuit. Marched at six o'clock a. m., in the direction of Grayville.
" Now commenced that dreary march to the relief of General Burnside, at Knoxville, Tenn. The 90th moved along the Atlan- tic and Chattanooga railroad, tearing up and burning several miles of it, and then returned again to Grayville. Nov. 29th was a very cold day. The boys suffered, and were nearly famished from cold and rapid marching. Marched 30 miles and camped for the night at Cleveland, Tenn. Had to carry rails one and a half miles to keep from freezing. Resumed the march on the 30th via Charleston, Athens, Philadelphia and Morgantown. At Morgan- town crossed the Little Tennessee river, and marched to Marys- ville within 15 miles of Knoxville. Reached Marysville, leading
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Gen. Sherman's column, on the night of December 25th, and camped. Longstreet reported retreating, his troops in a demoral- ized condition, the seige raised, and Burnside relieved.
" On the 7th of December commenced the return movement across the country to Scotsborough, in Northern Ala. The weather was very cold and rainy. The roads muddy and bad. The creeks and rivers swollen and difficult to cross. The regi- ment was obliged to depend upon the country for subsistence ; the men forced to sleep on the ground without shelter and very little covering, their blankets and clothing being nearly worn out. The consequence was, the men suffered severely during this whole campaign-many of them being barefoot and others sick, and all suffering more or less for the want of proper care and food. On this march the regiment passed the following points, Tilico Val- ley, Madisonville, Athens, Charleston, battle ground at Mission Ridge, Bridgeport Ala., Stephenson, reaching Scottsboro, Ala., December 26th, and camped. At Mission Ridge the 90th camped for the night. The next morning before moving, the boys looked over the ground where they had fought, and all wondered how any escaped the terrible slaughter of that battle.
" The 90th while at Scottsboro, were four days without shelter, waiting for the baggage train to bring up tents, provisions, knap- sacks, axes, picks, shovels, etc. During all this time it rained in- cessantly night and day, and so heavy, it was with difficulty the fires could be kept burning, whereby the half famished boys could warm themselves. The 90th remained at Scottsboro only a short time, when ordered to Fackler's station on the railroad, seven miles distant from Stephenson, Ala. Here they went into winter quarters, and were assigned the duty of guarding a portion of the railroad, and also the bridges and trestle work over Mud Creek. Here the rebels were just across the Tennessee river in strong force, and gave considerable annoyance by their constant raids on the railroad, and their many attempts to burn the bridges. Fack- ler's station is situated in a low swampy locality, and was quite un- healthy.
" The 90th reinained at this point until the following spring, when they broke camp and moved forward to take part in the Atlanta campaign.
1
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NINETIETH REGIMENT.
"On the march from Knoxville to their winter quarters, many a singular incident occurred. One, I will relate, happened at Athens, Tenn. I simply mention this occurrence to show the dreadful hardships and privations our soldiers were forced to en- dure during this most extraordinary campaign. On the 10th of December, the brigade of which the ninetieth formed a part, halted to rest. The halt took place in a beautiful pine grove. The day was fine, the sun shining splendidly, the first fine day in a long time. The brigade was ordered to rest in place, and was formed in " echelon " (a French word meaning like the steps of a ladder). The brigade consisted of four regiments. They had no sooner halted than a scene was enacted, the like of which was never seen before, and it is to be hoped will never be witnessed again. Im- agine four regiments in line, one formed behind the other, and every man on his knees, or sitting, with his coat and shirt off ; and many with their pants down, and all busy, taking advantage of the time allowed to rest, in destroying the vermin greybacks, with which they were literally covered, the torture of which they could no longer endure. This was one of the periods in soldier life when the sensitive feeling of delicacy was forced to give away to the more pressing demand of tortured and suffering nature.
"On this day the boys captured a fine lot of Linchburg to- bacco. This was a God-send. Something they had not seen or used for a long time. Each man that used the weed was given his share, indulged his appetite, forgot . his suffering, and all moved on, expecting soon to reach the place where they were to go into winter quarters, then rest, clean up, and prepare for coming events."
" It was also on this return march from Knoxville, that the incident occurred which gave the badge to the 15th army corps. This has been frequently related with considerable variation, but we will tell it once more in what we believe to be the authentic form.
On the march, the Loomis brigade passed through a bivouac of the 11th army corps. It will be remembered that this corps with the 12th, had come out from the Potomac army with Gen. Hooker. It will also be remembered that the record of the 11th 50
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army corps in the Chancellorsville fight, had been an unfortunate one. Perhaps no stronger contrast could have been found in the army, than that presented by the Potomac boys, and the ragged, dirty, hungry 90th.
A soldier of the 90th-McGuffy, of Co. G-came straggling along by the headquarters of Gen. Butterfield. He was thinly and poorly clad; one foot was partly covered by an old army shoe, the other with an old blanket, tied on with strings, both feet cut and bleeding. He was plodding on, intent only upon overtaking his regiment, when he was halted by a sentinel in a clean uniform, paper collar and trim rig, who said :-
" Halt! what regiment is that ?"
McG .- The 90th Ill .- "Irish Legion."
Sentinel -" What corps do you belong to ?"
McG .- " Fifteenth."
Sentinel-" What's the badge of your corps ?"
McG .- " Badge ! what the blazes is that ?"
Sentinel-" What do you wear to distinguish you from other troops ? Our corps, the 11th, wears a crescent-a half moon,-the 12th corps wears a star ! what do you wear?"
McG. had halted, rested his chin upon the muzzle of his gun, and was taking a leisurely and contemptuous survey of the sleek and well dressed soldiers that were gathering around. Looking up at his interlocutor he says :
" Yes, I know what ye mane now ; moon and stars ! be jab- bers ! ye needed them both to show ye the way back from Chan- cellorsville ; "badge is it !" and then executing a 'round about,' and giving his cartridge box a slap, " That's the badge of the 15th corps, forty rounds of cartridge !"
The story reached the ears of Gen. Logan, the corps com- mander, who thinking it too good to be lost, adopted the "car- tridge box with forty rounds," as the badge of the corps.
On the opening of the Atlanta campaign, the 90th was called into active service. As we have passed through this campaign several times in detail with other organizations, we shall be con-, tent with saying that the 90th took its full share in the labors and exposures of the campaign. It was in the engagements at Resacca on the 13th and 14th of May-Dallas, 28th-Kenesaw, June
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NINETIETH REGIMENT:
27th-Atlanta, July 19th, 22d, and 28th, and August 3d and 17th-Jonesboro, August 31st-Lovejoy, Sept. 2d-Rome and Gadsden, Ala., Oct. 25th.
In the fight of August 28th, before Atlanta, we lost Sergeant Austin Needham, of Joliet, one of the bravest, as he was also one of the brightest and cheeriest lads that ever wore the army blue, and a most efficient and reliable officer.
After a brief rest at Atlanta, it joined in the march to the sea, and took a heroic part in the engagements at Jennison's bridge on the Ogeechee river, and at Fort McAllister, and Savannah, and at Charleston and Columbia, S. C., and at Bentonville, N. C., on the northward march.
At Fort McAllister it especially distinguished itself. The col- ors of the 90th were the first planted on the works.
Our county sustained a loss of nineteen men in this regiment during its service-three of whom, John Crosby, of Co. C, and Austin Joyce and John Casper, of Co. D, died martyrs to the hor- rors of Andersonville. Mathew Haley, also of Co. D, of Man- hattan, died in Belle Isle prison, Richmond, a victim to the cruelties of that place of torment. These were all taken prisoners at Mission Ridge, as related in the preceding pages. The aggregate loss of the entire regiment was 300. It returned home with only 221 men, of which number 41 were crippled beyond carrying a musket. .
Before the Atlanta campaign, Captain O'Marah found it neces- sary from failing health, (which he has never fully recovered) to resign. He had from the first step taken toward raising the regi- ment, been one of its most active and efficient officers. The com- mander of the brigade addressed him the following letter on his leaving on sick furlough.
" HEADQUARTERS IST BRIGADE, 4TH DIVISION, 15TH A. C., } SCOTSBORO, ALA., March 5, 1864.
CAPT. P. O'MARAH, 90TH ILL .:
DEAR SIR :- I cannot permit you to leave my command without an ex- pression of my feelings concerning your conduct while serving with me. Your fidelity and zeal in the discharge of your duties, and patient endur- ance of suffering and fatigue, have often been noticed and highly com- mended. But more especially would I refer to your well-known bravery- the spirit and force with which you repulsed and drove the enemy attacking
.
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our army when advancing upon Jackson, Miss .; and the heroic courage and endurance exhibited by you in the late sanguinary battle of Mission Ridge. I am not only deeply indebted to you for your courage in action there, but also for your persevering efforts in behalf of the wounded, whereby your disabled and suffering Colonel was rescued and relieved.
I have the honor to be, Captain,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN MASON LOOMIS, Col. 26th Ill., Commanding Brigade."
Captain O'Marah had a very narrow escape from drowning while in the army. He was returning to Vicksburg from a short furlough in September, 1863, on the steamer Robert Campbell, when the boat took fire near Milliken's Bend and was burned, and fifty out of 100 souls were lost. Capt. O'Marah saved his life by swimming ashore, but lost his personal property.
Captain Dan. O'Connor, who was so fearfully wounded as we have described, was promoted major of the regiment.
A full list of officers and privates from Will county will be found in PART FOUR, of this work, and to that the reader is referred for further particulars.
Imperfect as is our sketch of the Irish Legion, enough has been recorded to show that its members nobly vindicated the name of Catholic Irishmen, and established for the 90th regiment a rep- utation for bravery and loyalty, second to none. And while, as we have stated, the regiment was mainly composed of Catholic Irishmen, we have seen there were both among its officers and privates, a few of another faith, and of different nationality,- showing in this, as in other regiments, that
" Although ten thousand altars bear,
On each, for Heaven, a different prayer ; By light of morn, by setting sun,
At Freedom's shrine, we must be one!"
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES.
CHAPTER X. HISTORY OF BATTERY D, FIRST ARTILLERY-MCAL- LISTER'S BATTERY.
Its Ante-War History-Call of Gov. Yates-Reorganizes for the War- Goes to Cairo-Its Record in the Three Months' Service-Re-organizes for Three Years-Goes to Fort Holt-Armament-Attached to Gen. Wallace's Brigade-In Fort Henry-An Interesting Relic-Goes to Donaldson-Battle -Casualties-Reports-Press Comments -New Guns-Goes to Pittsburg Landing-Battle of Shiloh-Incidents - Casualties - Resignations-Goes to Corinth-Movements - Jackson, Tenn .- Bolivar - Memphis- Lake Provi- dence-Vista Plantation-Milliken's Bend-Down the River-Crosses-Port Gibson-Big Black-Rocky Springs-Gen. Sherman Thanks the Boys-Battle of Raymond-Jackson, Miss .- Champion Hills-Vicksburg-Capt. Rogers Killed-Fort Hill-Lieut. Hill Wounded-Incidents of the Seige-Lt. Cooper Promoted-Fort Hill Blown Up-Daring Exploit-Surrender-Afterwards- Veteranizes - Re-organizes with McPherson's Corps-Atlanta Campaign- Kingston, Ga .- Big Shanty -Capt. Cooper Wounded -Chattahoochie-The Rebels in Bathing-Battle of the 22d of July-Incidents -- Gallantry Dis- played-Lieut. Bernier, of the 20th-Seige of Atlanta-Jonesboro-Returns to Chattanooga-Battle of Nashville -- Mustered Out-362 Days of Fighting.
HIS famous battery has an ante-war history. It was organ- ized originally under the militia laws of the State as early as 1855, under command of Capt. John Collins, who was com- missioned by Joel A. Matteson, then Governor ; Frank Flagg, and a Mr. Hoag being his lieutenants. A requisition was made upon the Governor for four guns, two of which were sent, but for reasons which we will not specify here, failed to reach the company.
In 1856, the company through the active personal efforts of Ed. McAllister, got possession of one gun. The company was then re-organized with Ed. McAllister as captain, and had its regular drills. This was the year of the active political campaign in which
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HISTORY OF THE
Gen. Fremont was the candidate of the Republican party. The Plainfield artillery was often called into requisition to speak Re- publican thunder at the large mass meetings which were held during the campaign.
During the great senatorial campaign of Douglas and Lincoln. in 1858, the services of the battery were given to the Republican cause. During a meeting in Joliet, while the piece was being fired from the brow of the bluff on the west side, two men were seriously wounded by the premature discharge of the gun, one- Wellington Wood, losing an arm, and Newton A. Hill losing part of his hand.
After this, the battery held occasional drills and kept up its organization, probably without any expectation that it would ever be called upon to play an important part in real, earnest war. And no doubt, to many lookers on, it seemed a useless waste of time- and money.
When the call for the three months' volunteers was made by the President, Capt. McAllister received a dispatch from Governor Yates, asking for the services of the " Plainfield Battery." Capt. McAllister responded at once, and re-organized and recruited his company for actual service. On the morning of April 19th, 1861, he made his appearance at daybreak on the bluff at Joliet, with a full compliment of men, and during the day left for Springfield. Here they were mustered into the tenth infantry regiment as Co. K, and part of Co. I. The roster of officers and, muster roll of men of this battery, during the three months' service will there- fore be found in the 10th three months' infantry regiment. The battery was immediately sent to Cairo, (stopping at the railroad bridge over the Big Muddy for a few days) where it remained during the three months' service, aiding in the garrison of that important point, and in the blockade of the rivers. As the bat- tery had but one 6-pound gun, with which they left Joliet, a por- tion of the men were armed with muskets. Here it also kept up. drill exercise, in which it became so proficient as to carry off the palm, at a review of Gen. Prentiss' brigade.
At the expiration of the three months' service the company was practically disbanded, many going home, and some going into. other organizations.
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NINETIETH REGIMENT.
Capt. McAllister immediately commenced reorganizing the bat- tery for the three years' service, recruiting it from men discharged from other organizations, and from various places. The full roster of the officers and men from Will county will be found in its proper place. It became Battery D, 1st Ill. Artillery, but was always better known as McAllister's Battery. This organization dates from Sept. 2d, 1861. On the 18th it moved across the river and was stationed at Fort Holt, on the Kentucky side, with its little 6-pound gun, which it had brought from Joliet. There was however, other guns in the fort.
Just before the battle of Belmont, (Nov. 7th, 1861,) Captain McAllister was notified that there was six 12-pound bronze guns awaiting him at Cairo, with equipments, and was ordered to be in readiness to move at any time. But the battery was not called upon to participate in the expedition to Belmont. About January 19th, the battery was outfitted with three 24-pound iron howitzers, and February 3d, started with Grant's forces for Fort Henry. It was placed in Gen. Wallace's brigade of McClernand's division. They were not permitted to try their mettle or their metal at Fort Henry, as the work was done by the gun-boats under Commodore Foote, but they had the pleasure of camping in the Fort.
Lieut. Borland sent home to the True Democrat an interesting relic from Fort Henry. It was an "Arkansas tooth-pick," being a knife about one foot long, made from an old rasp, and enclosed in a leather sheath, on which was rudely printed the words- " deth to all ablishners." I judge from the spelling that the schoolmasters had already been killed off in Arkansas.
The battery left Fort Henry February 11th, and after a tedious two days' march through mud and snow, and over a rough and hilly country, they came in sight of Fort Donaldson, and at dusk on the 13th, went into position on a large hill, in the center of the investing army, in plain sight of the camp-fires of the enemy. After a plain but substantial supper of hard tack and salt pork, they lay down to a soldier's rest in the wet leaves. The night was quiet, and at daylight of Thursday, our forces were drawn up in line of battle. And soon it commenced in stern but magnificent display, all along the lines. One gun in charge of Lieut. Borland, was placed a little to one side on the brow of the
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HISTORY OF THE
hill, and gave the enemy a morning salute, which was responded to, and then the whole battery opened upon them. The battery was engaged, and did its full share of work during the three days" fighting which ended in the surrender of the fort, suffering almost as much from the elements as from the enemy. The Captain him- self took charge of No. 1, commanding and sighting it until it was disabled. Lieut. Borland commanded and pointed No. 3, replacing a shattered wheel, and fighting with great gallantry to. the close.
One man was mortally wounded on Saturday, and died the day after, and one other man was wounded. The captain in his report mentions the loss of one gun, eleven horses, five sets of harness, two mules, ten tents, forty knapsacks, sixty five blankets, four saddles, twenty canteens and seventy rations ; even a victory is expensive !
Lieut. Borland was made deaf, and permanently disabled from the concussion. He has never entirely recovered from the deafness. In fact he is so deaf now that he can't hear anything he does not want to !
Gen. Wallace commanding the 2d brigade, 1st division, (in which was the 20th regiment, and McAllister's battery,) says in his official report :
" McAllister's guns did good service . They were three 24 pound how- itzers without caissons, and with a limited supply of ammunition, and without its full compliment of men. One of them lost a wheel shot away on the 13th, but supplied from their limber. On the 15th, the trail of an- other gun was broken, and it was rendered useless. They fired all their ammunition, fifty rounds a piece."
The New York Times correspondent says :
"Friday morning McAllister's battery took position on an emi- nence, and for four hours their heavy 24 pounders were not silent for a single instant. During all this time they were exposed to a heavy fire from the rebels, who had erected batteries so as to com- mand it from three points, two directly in front, and one on the right. At one time the attack was made in such overwhelming numbers that our line was broken through, and it seemed likely to end in the rout of the national forces. It was at this gap that
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McAllister's battery was stationed, and where for a time it fell into the hands of the rebels. The battery had only 150 rounds of ammunition ; at 10 o'clock these were exhausted, not a single shot left. Capt. McAllister in vain endeavored to get a supply from the rear-a shot from the enemy passed through three of his horses ; another tore off the trail of one gun ; a third smashed the wheel of another. Just at this time, a heavy force of the enemy obtained a cover near him, and opened a fire with musketry at two hundred yards. Hitching six horses to the only undamaged gun, he endeavored to haul it off, but the weight was so great, and the road so bad that it was impossible to get along with it, and it be- came hopelessly mired, and was left. The horses were driven off with the limbers, and the guns left to their fate. In the course of the day a successful charge on our side, reoccupied the ground, and recovered the pieces."
The Joliet Signal says :
" This battery performed wonders at Donaldson, and officers and men acquitted themselves as true heroes, and skillful artiller- ists. Capt. McAllister has proved himself a brave and able officer, and is entitled to great credit for the imperishable honors won by the Plainfield Light Artillery."
The " Signal" I believe, always made a pet of this battery !
On the 6th of March, the battery moved by river to Paducah and drew four 24 pound bronze howitzers, which continued to be its armament during the service.
On the 14th, the battery moved by steamboat up the Ten- nessee, and arrived at the town of Savannah, where it debarked and went into camp. On the 24th it moved again by steamer nine miles further up the river to an obscure point known as Pitts- burg landing, debarked and moved out about three miles from the landing, taking position on the right center of the army. In this vicinity it remained until the battle of Shiloh.
On the morning of April 6th, the battery was ordered to harness up, and before the order could be executed, and while the officers' mess were just setting down to breakfast, the shot and shell 51
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HISTORY OF
commenced flying through the camp. A solid shot swept the table clean, to their no small astonishment and disgust. They soon discovered that their meant something more than " the top of the morning to ye," and that serious work was on hand. In less time than I have taken to write it, they had their men, guns, horses and everything in position, and were sending forth their reply in 24-pound shot and shell. They were engaged in a duel with the enemy's battery about one and a half mile distant, which lasted from one and a half to two hours, when the rebel battery was silenced.
But in the meantime the rebel infantry were flanking their po- sition, and Captain McAllister turned his guns to bear upon the flanking column. Our infantry now began to fall back, and Cap- tain McAllister was obliged to order the battery to limber to the rear. So many horses had been disabled that one gun had to be left, and also two caissons, which fell into the hands of the enemy. The battery took up a new position, but was compelled soon to fall back again, as the infantry were still being driven. About half a mile back a new line was formed, and the battery was placed in the reserve. After a few hours' fighting, our lines again fell back, and the battery was placed in position to check the ene- my's advance. After firing a few rounds it was once more com- pelled to fall back, leaving another gun for the enemy. This brought them within a half mile of the river. Here all the artil- lery was placed in one line, supported also by a line of infantry. It was now late in the afternoon. The enemy again advanced upon this line, and were received with the most terrific fire of shot and shell, and musketry, that was ever witnessed. This time the enemy was thoroughly repulsed, and night closed the first day's battle of Shiloh.
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