USA > Illinois > Historical sketch of the Forty-Fifth Illinois Regiment : with a complete list of the officers and privates and an individual record of each man in the regiment > Part 2
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ED. It rained down in torrents during the night, but we slept soundly through it all ; -- at least I did, and I suppose the rest of you did. The next morning almost as soon as it was light we were ordered for- ward, which surprised us a little, but we did'nt stop to enquire into particulars .- We had'nt gone far before the rebel artil- lery opened upon us from a distance, and we were ordered up to support a battery, just in the edge of the wood, where Co. "F" lost the brave Capt. Johnson. Then we moved across the open field in our front, to the woods beyond, where we waked up a hornet's nest of rebels, and where the 53d and 71st Ohio came very near getting us gobbled up by their cowardice, and did cause us to retreat, for some distance .- Then came that last grand decisive charge which broke the rebel lines and put them all to flight. It was sharp awful work, but magnificently done. There was'nt many of us to answer roll call, when we formed in line after the charge, you remember, there was a good many reported afterwards, but many very many of our noble band, never were with us again.
messmates, comrades and friends and our hearts wept bitterly. But I have not time to dwell longer. Your memories will serve you better than I can, and I will pass on. On the 24th of April the 45th left camp at Shiloh, and with the rest of the army began the tedious and almost endless seige of Corinth. It always make me sick
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Forty- Fifth Regiment.
to think of Halleck's mode of warfare, and : 125 men were attacked by something like I have not the patience to stop and tell twelve or fifteen hundred cavalry dismount- you, how many miles of breastworks we ed, who were just going to gobble up the boys in littte less than no time. A 45tl "boy" was'nt the easiest thing in the world to gobble at any time, and if constructed, or how many Tennessee farms we cleared off during the advance on Cor- inth, but with a sudden bound, clear them all, and land in our pleasant camp at Jack- there was such a thing as a cotton bale, attached to him he could'nt be swallowed no way. Well the boys under command of friend Capt. Palmer took to the cotton bales which happened to be lying around the station, and against such tremendous odds defied the rebel hordes for three hours when the 7th Mo. arriving from Jackson to and I under command of Capt. Palmer, reinforce them the rebs slunk away like whipped curs, without accomplishing their object. The brave and good Lieut. Green of Co. "I" and two of the boys who fought beside him yielded up their lives nobly fighting, besides 13 wounded and 43 of the regiment taken prisoners. The enemy los- ing in the same contest 8 killed and 40 wounded which were left on the ground besides others taken away. Last May it was my privilege to pass over this road again, and the train stopped long enough at Medon to enable me to look around upon this historic ground. The bullet holes in the old station house and the marks on the trees around are still plainly to be seen .-- These scars of the bitter contest, have a peculiar interest to one familiar with their history, and when I walked about the premises and thought of the times when I had been there before and looking at the holes made in the building by rebel bullets each shot fired with the hope of letting out the life blood of one of my comrades and friends, my spirit of forgiveness was not so strong as Peter's faith. Yet we are asked to forget these things and let bygones be by-gones. Perhaps it would be better but there are some things that are hard to forget.
son, Tenn., where we remained during the summer of sixty-two. Our camp life at Jackson was varied somewhat by details for Railroad guard duty. Aug. the 11th the Regt. was detailed to guard the Miss. Central from Jackson to Toons Station a distance of 22 miles. Companies A, D, F, were stationed at Medon, company "C" was ordered to guard the trestle work in the neighborhood of Treager's Station, and companies B, E, G, H and K, were at Toons. Thus stationed we enjoyed a quiet easy camp lite, with not much else to do but eat "peach cobblers" (you remember them don't you boys ?) chickens, geese. &c., which somehow or other would find their way into camp, although there were strict orders against foraging. You know at that time it was the custom for our army to guard rebel property, return to their mas-| ters runaway slaves, and all that kind of thing, a kind of a patent way the govern- ment had of "making war tender and mer- ciful." And the 29th of August informa- tion was received from below that Arm- strong's Cavalry were making their way north along the railroad and that we should "look out for him." We did look out for him and was not disappointed in his com- ing. A picket post at Toons was driven in about noon and one man captured. Lt. Dubs can tell you more about that than I can as he did some tall walking to get out of their way. About the same time "clev- er" Capt. Rouse with his company were attacked by some three or four hundred, and invited to accept rebel hospitality for a few days which was accepted. Enquire of Capt. Rouse or any of Co. "C" for par- ticulars. At three o'clock in the afternoon the force at Medon numbering in all about
But I must hasten on for the end is yet a long way off. The fall campaign of 1862 had been determined npon, and on the 2d day of Nov. we left Jackson, Tenn., for the south passing through Bolivar, and
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Historical Sketch.
then on to Lagrange where we spent some three weeks doing guard duty in that pleasant little town. On the 28th we start- ed with the rest of the army on the Mis- sissippi expedition which if successful was to put ns in the rear of Vicksburg. The march south through Holly Springs across the Tallehatchie, with old Pap Price "ske- daddling" with his army before us, and then on through Abbeville and Oxford to Spring Dale, is familiar to all of you. At the latter place an incident occurred which deserves a place in our history. It was the separation of Col. Smith from the Regt. in consequence of promotion to the rank of Brig. Gen .. an honor richly deserv- ed and worthily bestowed. Gen. Smith communicated the fact to the regiment in a very appropriately worded letter which I thought would be interesting to you to hear so I will give it to you in his own words, and also the reply on the part of the officers of the regiment.
Hd. Qrs. 1st Brig. 3d Div. Army Corps in the field, Dec. 16th 1862.
To the officers and soldiers of the Wash-
burne Lead Mine Regt. 45th Ill. Vol. Having been appointed to a position which will separate me from your imme- diate command, I desire to return my sin- cere thanks to you my friends, to whom I am indebted for my position. Having shared with you the dangers of Donelson and Shiloh, as well as the fatiguing march upon Corinth, and from there to this point I feel a just and honest pride in sharing with you the enviable reputation won by your valor, and trust you have had no cause to be ashamed of your commander. Suddenly called from the peaceful pursuits of civil life to encounter hardships, dang- ers and the privations of all social ties in defence of the constitution and the laws of our beloved country, without the practical experience of sokliers ; you have been tried and found true to your trust. "The 45th can be relied upon," is your reputa- tion throughout the victorious army of Tenn. Of myself I have but little to say,
other than that had I been perfect I should not have been human. I have endeavored to administer the affairs of the regiment with justice and impartiality; of this you must be the judges. If I have erred I trust you will attribute it to the head and not to the heart. Whatever may be our rela . tive positions in future I shall always be glad to be considered as belonging to the 45th and shall always feel the same inter- est in your welfare that I have hitherto done. Trusting that the day is not far distant, when the stars and stripes will wave over every state in our country, and we will be again united with our friends in our distant homes, I have the honor to be sincerely your friend.
JOHN E. SMITH.
The following is the response of the offi. cers of the regiment :
Sir :- It is with mingled feelings of pride, pleasure and regret that we the undersign - ed, commissioned officers of the 45th Regt. Ill. Vol. Infty. receive the announcement, that the military connection which has so pleasantly existed between yourself and the Lead Mine Regiment is severed. Pride and pleasure that the modest merit which your subordinate officers and men of the regiment, have long known, is ap- preciated by those in authority, and the gallant, manly, true, officer-like bearing, which led and sustained us on the ever to be historic fields of Donelson and Shiloh have been in part rewarded. Regret that the official and social relations which have existed between us since the first organiza- tion of the regiment; relations which your uniform kind,considerate bearing have made tender as family ties, must now cease. We shall watch with interest your future ca- reer and when by You glory is won on oth - er fields, its rays must brighter gild the stars on the banner of the 45th. If in the future of this painful struggle for the per- petuity of our union, we shall be under your command, remember no matter how dark or gloomy the hour, at your word, at your need, the Washburne Lead Mine Reg-
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Forty- Fifth Regiment.
fment will never ialter, never fail you .- 'ant camp we were in during the war, May your future be happy and glorious, as |where Jo. Vincent sang Lorena and "Sut- your past has been generous and just, is the sincere wish of ler" Davis entertained the officers with a grand supper; then the camp at "Vista" where we could hear the boom of the can- non at Vicksburg 75 miles away ; with nothing to do but play --- well, never mind-we led a life of luxurious ease a
(The Officers Signing this Letter.) The expedition failed of success, from causes well known to all of you, and on the 22d day of Dec. we took the back track over the same route we had proceeded by to this point. You remember, the rebel cavalry cut our haversack strings, as we used to say at Holly Springs. You have not forgotten the short rations at the Tal- lehatchie. How we feasted new years' day, sixty-three on three ears of corn in! the ear issued to each man in lien of ra- tions, which we had marched 31 miles the day before to gather. But it was a matter of necessity, and like good soldiers as you were, you murmured not but parched your corn and eat it. The early part of Jan. found us again at Lagrange, from which we were to make another start to gain the same point.
The preparations for the campaign of 1863, which was destined to be crowned with such grand success was now the or der of the day. The months which inter- vened between this time and the crossing of the Miss. below Grand Gulf, was taken up by that portion of the army of which the 45th formed a part in making easy stages toward that point, and does not con- tain sufficient special interest to claim our attention except to mention one or two in- cidents, which happened while on the route. A Tennessee winter in the latitude knew that the chances for death were ten of Memphis is not the most pleasant tin.e for campaigning, as we all have reason to remember. The snow which full av Col liersville, almost burying us in our tents, you still remember. The mud and slush which we trudged through from there to Memphis are easily recalled with unpleas ant recollections. The embarkation and trip down the Miss. river by steamboat to Lake Providence; the camp on the Spar- row Plantation, on the bank of the Lake, one of the pleasanest if not the most pleas-
couple of months or more, almost equal to that of our southern friends before the war. Time rolls on, however, and another stage is made in our journey. Milliken's Bend is our next stopping place, and here occurred one of the most memorable events of the war. Volunteers were called for to run past the rebel batteries at Vicks- burg. Do you remember the line being formed as for dress parade and the order from Div. Hd. Qrs. being read ? And then the Col. called first for all the officers who were willing to volunteer their service to step four paces to the front. At the com- mand every officer I believe, or nearly all, in the line stepped promptly to the front. And then when the command was given for all enlisted men who were willing to volunteer for this dangerous service to step two paces to the front, none were left. No, when the word was given the entire regi- ment stepped forward as one man. Here was a predicament. A few only were want- (d. All wanted to go. What was to be done? Lots were cast and the lucky fel- lows who drew the prizes, were envied by all the rest. What a grand spectacle !- There was not a man in the ranks, but against one for life, and yet for the glory of victory and the success of our cause there was no danger too great to be dared, or undertaking too vast to be attempted, but there were more volunteers for the ser- vice than could be accepted. The detail from the 45th consisted of the following, if my memory serves me right If I am mis- taken I hope some one will correct me : Capt. L. B. Fisk, Co. E. Sergt. A. J. Es- ping and private Wm. H. H. Swetland, Co. B. Charles Evans, Co. D. A. Snow
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Historical Sketch.
J. M. Primmer, Co. F. Charles Flint, | civilians as a general thing ; but we gave Wm. Tripp, Co G. Joshua Kendall, Co, K. They were assigned to different trans- ports as a portion of the crew, and although the boats on which they were, were bad- ly damaged, none of the detail received any serious hurt. Charly Evans who was at the "wheel" of the Anglo Saxon, Captain Fisk commander, was knocked, wheel and all on to the hurricane deck, but strange as it seems was uninjured beyond the shock of the fall. But of this little band of braves Fisk, Esping and Evans are known to be dead. Ofthe rest I know nothing.
The march from Milliken's Bend to Bruinsburg was a hard one, over bad roads and in bad weather; but Vicksburg, was somewhere beyond ; and to gain that point hardships were freely accepted. The morn- ing of May 1st found us on the cast bank of the Miss. again, and this time below Vicks- burg. You remember what a beautiful bright morning it was too. At sunrise we were on the march, and at noon we had reached Thomson's Hills 19 miles away .- We had hurried up to help McClernand out of a scrape. It took a couple of hours to decide which way it could be done the best; but when it was finally decided to send our brigade into the canebrake on the left of the line to dislodge those impudent rebels, who thought they had such a good thing of it, did'nt we do the thing up most handsomely ? It is seldom that a fight and a foot race go together. so they say ; but we had b th that day, and it would be pretty hard to tell which we enjoyed the most. The rebs out run us, however, we winning the fight and they the race. You remember how we cheered after the fight ris we cheered tor we did'nt exictly www wh t; then we cheered the 124 h Regt. this being their first fight, and dats > nobly ; then we cheered Logan and McPher son ; soon Grant came along, and we cheered Lim by brigade ; and behind him on a couple of sorry looking secesh nags rode noble "Dick" Yates and E. B. Wash- burne. It was'nt our custom to cheer for
Yates and Washburne three such cheers as they never got before or since, I'll bet a penny. On the 12th we met the enen y again at Raymond, and by a little too much curiosity we came very near being gobbled up. If it had'nt been for the 31st I am thinking we would have paid dear for our fun. But we had lots of fun, did'nt we boys ? It is true it was nt just so funny to Capt. Rouse and Lient. Dave Reed for they both got nipped with rebel lead, but they got well again in a short time, which made that all right. On the 14th we took another little round with them at Jackson and drove them beyond Pearle River. That was'nt much of a day for fighting either; but a splendid one for rain. But I guess that "bully" 24th South Carolina Regt. thought it was a good day for both, when the 17th Iowa caught their charge on the points of their bayonets and sent them back double quick over the pick- et fence. The honor of that repulse would have belonged to the 1st Brig. if the Iowa "boys" had'nt asked it as a favor to let them take theadvance. I certainly never saw anything more splendidly done, and they deserve the honor. The haughty South Carolinians said that a loud noise would scare the western troops. Give THEM a chance and THEY would show how it was done. They got the chance and did'nt scare anybody either. Nobody ever heard any more "blow" out of those fellows after their charge at Jackson. On the 16th We met Pemberton's army at Champion Hills where poor Sergeant Hammond and Ins brave comrades of the 45th were mis- tered into the great army in the spirit land, and many others lell wounded to suffer long pain and some of them perhaps to die aterwirds. It was sharp quick work that day, and we were soon following the de- fented and retreating rebels. The next day we built our own bridge over Black River and pushed on to Vicksburg, reaching the works defending that city with the rest of the army, on the 19th of May. You re-
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Forty-Fifth Regiment.
member it was our intention to go imme- diately into the city. But you know city life is very demoralizing to soldiers, and we concluded to camp a few miles out for awhile. We did'nt like the ground very well for camping permanently, so we made another attempt to move forward on the 22d of May. It was a serious day for many and as much so perhaps to the 45th as to any other regiment in the ariny. On that day the noble and brave Cowen fell a sac-
regiment plunged into the breach regard- less of the terrible fire of the enemy, which flashed in their faces like the wind driven rain. The gallant and brave Col. Melancthon Smith, and the young, noble, daring, good hearted Fisk, were the first to fall, the former with a mortal wound, the latter dead upon the spot. Esping, Sines and Brezier, brave fellows, also joined the spir- it band soon after. To the killed may be added three commissioned officers, eight rifice to the holy cause of liberty and an | sergeants, three corporals, and forty-one privates wounded, as the price at which the honor of leading this charge was bought. Comrades you will pardon me, if I digress for an instant, to claim your at- tention to a matter, almost entirely per- sonal to myself. When the bullet sped on its mission of death and pierced the brain of Major Fisk it took from me my tried, bosom friend. I loved him as a brother, and in his death I experienced that deep sorrow something akin to that felt, I imag- ine, by wives, fathers and mothers, broth- ers and sisters, when the news would come back from the battle field that their belov. ed ones had been killed. We had a com- pact between us, that if one should fall and the other live, the living would bury the other among friends if possible. Some of you will remember how persistently I la- bored until I accomplished my wish and purpose to bring his body home. I suc- ceeded, and now in the Cemetery at Mount Carroll. I have a charge which consists on- ly of a raised mound marked by a shaft of marble; but it is a dear spot and I love to visit it, for it is the resting place of the mor- tal remains of my friend. And when I go : there I cannot help but wish that all the poor boys who sleep in distant graves were buried at home so that their friends could visit them at their last resting places.
undivided country. Besides we lost many more good fellows killed and wounded in that terrific charge. The 22d of May, 1863 will be a sad day in the minds of all of us, while memory shall last. The loss had been great and nothing gained, but sorrow and disappointment. But it is not expected that a soldier will lose much time, in mourning the loss of comrades and friends,-and it is well that it is so, for it they did, they would'nt amount to much in war. So the next day and the next. and so on for weeks the bloody siege went on, and the 45th toiled on in their death work, day after day,and nightafter night, until the afternoon of the 25th of Jane the work of dea hindi.I ody battle assumed proportions that all other events in its history seems like mere boy's play in comparison. The mine under Fort Hilt was to be sprung, and the honor of occupying the breach as- signed to the 45th. The order was "to occupy the breach, and hold it, cost what it may." A terrible order to be executed ly men of such acknowledged bravery and determination as the 45th was composed .- For my part I have always considered the enterprise a mistake,-a fearful costly mis- take. Perhaps others with better judg- ment than myself, could see chances in the prospects of success which I was unable to discover. Perhaps the promised benefits of success may have been equal to the inev- itable loss ; but I never have been convinc- ed of it. Be that as it may it will not mend the matter to speculate upon it now. The mine was sprung and the glorions old
But to resume my sketch After the 25th of June the same routine of daily toil as before, went on until the 3d of July when the white flags fluttered on the ram- parts of Vicksburg, which had been so suc- cessfully defended against us for so long .~
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Historical Sketch.
The next day was Independence Day, a day dear to every American citizen already, but another interest was to be added in the surrender of Vicksburg to the victorious army of the west. At 12 o'clock, Logan's division passed the frowning battlements which still looked cross and surly, and marched into the city. At the head of the column was the heroic old 45th bravest of the brave, and her battle flag was the first to float over the Court House in Vicks- burg.
In recalling the events and incidents which transpired during the siege of Vicks- burg ; the suffering, the toil, the trials and inconveniences so indellibly impressed upon our memories, if there are any which brighten those long dreary days of danger and toil, and relieved us in those trying times we can refer to them with especial interest and pleasure. You will remember that one of the chief difficulties to be over come was the cooking of rations on the front line, on account of the camp fires drawing the enemy's shot with unerring aim, and with fatal effect. To add to the trouble, either from oversight or a lack of knowledge, on the part of the commissary department, as to the proper wants of the army at such a time, flour and fresh beef were issued, when "hard tack" and bacon were above all other things the all impor- tant commodities. To the 45th or rather to a single individual in the regiment be- longs the honor of solving the question .- "Commissary" Hard our old stand-by and friend of Rockford, was the first to con- ceive, and carry into practical effect, the idea of a "regimental mess," to be control- ed and superintended by one competent cook, assisted by negroes or convalescent soldiers unfit for duty. Commissary Hard obtained permission of the Col. to try the experiment, organized his "black brigade," and undertook the arduous duty of sup- plying the regiment with cooked rations. His plan was to form a camp for cooking purposes, far enough in the rear to be out of danger, and then draw the rations for
the regiment, cook them, and send them to the front to each company. The experi- ment proved a perfect success and the plan worked admirably. Hard had solved the question of using flour and fresh beef dur- ing the seige, and the boys after that, in- stead of having flour and fresh beef issued to them, which was next to nothing at all, were provided each day with good bread and coffee and cooked meat. Gen. Logan's attention being called to it, he was so well pleased with the working of the plan that he issued an order directing the adoption throughout the entire division. The "black brigade" was an institution, which in its place did as efficient service in capturing Vicksburg as did the "boys" at their more dangerous duty at the front, and its com- mander, Hard is entitled to a great deal more credit than will ever be recorded in history, for the part which he took in the seige or the service rendered by his genius and his labor; but the boys of the 45th will never withhold the praise and credit due to the originator of the idea which was to be of so much benefit to them.
The regiment was immediately detailed for provost guard duty in the city, and continued on such duty during the months of July, August, September, and until the 14th of October when it was relieved. The daily routine of guard duty during these months was varied by only one or two in- cidents of special interest which I will men- tion. On the 4th day of August, Col. J. A. Maltby was promoted to the rank of Brig. Genl. for meritorious services during the campaign which ended with the surrender of Vicksburg. His separation from the regiment was not attended by any public demonstration or correspondence of which I have any knowledge. The members of the regiment, officers and men tendered their hearty congratulations, and rejoiced that another of their number had been ex- alted one step higher than their partiality could avail. The regret that the connec. tion between Col. Maltby and his regiment was severed, was expressive and sincere,
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