USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb County, Illinois > Part 15
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Strub Peter, Pampas, absent, sick, at M. O. of Regiment.
Thomas Samuel K., South Grove, discharged Feb. 19, '63 ; disability.
Taplin Orville H., Flora, mustered out June 7, '65; wounded.
Thomas David E., Franklin, mustered out June 7, '65.
Wylde Thomas W., Franklin, discharged March 17, '63 ; disability. Williams Charles W., Squaw Grove, M. O. June 7, '65, Corp'l. Wounded Wylke Herman, Franklin, mustered out June 7. '65.
Williamson Thomas E., Flora, M. O. June 7, '65, as Serg't; wounded.
Young Martin, Burlington, died at South Tunnell, T .. July 11, '63.
RECRUITS.
Hapgood Julian W., - mustered out June 7, '65.
Haller Gabriel, Flora, mustered out June 7, '65.
Strawn Joseph H., Sycamore, killed at Peach T. Creek, July 20, '64.
Witler Oliver P., - M. O. June 7, '65; wounded twice.
UNDER COOKS OF A. D.
Battie Bird, - mustered out June 7, '65.
Battie Mat, - - absent, sick, at M. O. of Regiment. ENLISTED MEN OF COMPANY "H." FIRST SERGEANT.
Walter B. Walker, Sandwich, discharged Sept. 30, '62; disability.
SERGEANTS.
Harvey Potter, Somonauk, promoted 2d Lient., then 1st Lient.
Com.
George Dean, Asbury, mustered out June 7, '65, as 1st Sergeant. 2d Lieut., but not mustered.
Wallace W. Moore, Freeland, discharged May 5, '65; wounds.
Frank H. Cole, Somonauk, promoted 1st Serg't, then 1st Lieut.
CORPORALS.
4. G. White, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65, as Sergeant. Allen Edgerly, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65, as Sergeant. Isaac Scoggin, Asbury, mustered out June 7, '65, as Sergeant. Joseph P. Fulton, Freeland, appointed Hospital Steward U. S. A. Israel S. Clark, Somonauk, mustered out June 7, '65, as Private. Jesse L. Gage, Sandwich, died Aug. 12, '64; wounds.
Andrew A. Beveridge, Sandwich, discharged Dec. 18, '62; disability. Thomas Mason, Sandwich, discharged Sept. 28, for promotion.
197
THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTII.
PRIVATES.
Baker Thornton, Sandwich, discharged Jan. 4, '63; disability.
Black wood Robert C., Victor, died at Gallatin, Tenn., Feb. 22, '63. Brown Robert, Freeland, mustered out June 7, '65.
Bishop Warren F., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65; wounded. Bullock Rutson J., Victor, discharged Jan. 10, '63 ; disability.
Blackwood William, Sandwich, transferred to Eng. Corps. Aug. 14. '64.
Breegher Jacob, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal.
Coon H J., Freeland, discharged Jan. 13, '63 ; disability.
Corke James, Asbury, mustered out, June 7, '65.
Corke Jesse, Asbury, discharged Feb. - , '63; disability.
Carpenter IIenry, Squaw Grove, absent, sick, at M. O. of Regiment.
Carr, H. H., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Davis David, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Devine Michael, Freeland, mustered out June 7, '65.
Eames Mott V., Sandwich, Corporal. Trans. to V. R. C., Jan. 2, '65. Eckhart Lewis, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65.
Fish W. J. M., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Forsyth Andrew G., Somonauk, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal. Ferguson Robert, Freeland, transferred to Eng. Corps, Aug. 15, '64. Freeland E. K., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Gurnsey Samuel, Sandwich, died at South Tunnel, Tenn., Dec. 27, '62. Graves William H., Sandwich, died at South Tunnel, Tenn., Dec. 29, '62. Grear A. L., Asbury, killed at Peach T. Creek, July 20, '64. Graham, Andrew H., Freeland, mustered out June 7, '65, as Sergeant.
Husted Peter, Sandwich, mustered out July 3, '65.
Howard James A., Somonauk, mustered out Oct. 9, '65.
Henry John V., Somonauk, discharged March 28, '64, for promotion R. Q. M., 17th Ill. Cav.
Hamlin Almon, Sandwich, Sergeant. Transferred to V. R. C., May 15. '64, on account of wounds.
Hall Zera W., Sandwich, died at Gallatin, Tenn., March 28, '63.
Hall Harlow, Sandwich, mustered out May 19, '65, as Corporal.
Hall William T., Sandwich, discharged Dec. 4, '62 ; disability.
Harrington George, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Kirkpatrick R. D., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal. Kirkpatrick M. C., Sandwich, discharged April 16, '63; disability.
Kirtland Jerome, Sandwich, absent, wounded, at M. O. of Regiment. King Michael, Sandwich, died at Louisville, Ky., Nov. 15, '63. Kedder H. E., Sandwich, died at Louisville, Ky., July 8, '63. Lamb Stillman C., Sandwich, discharged May 21, '63; disability. Mills Benjamin, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Morgan E. H., Sandwich, discharged May 20, '64; disability. McCauley M., Sandwich, discharged Nov. 4, '64 ; wounds.
McBride Samuel, Sandwich, discharged April 24, '63; disability.
Martin David, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65. Mitten Samuel, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65. Miles Joseph, Sandwich, discharged March 5, '63, disability. Mead Jonathan, Sandwich, mnstered out June 7, '65.
Merwin George B., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal. Mc Allister William J., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Miller William, Sandwich, transferred to V. R. C., Jan. 2, '65. Nichols George, Sandwich, mustered ont June 21, '65.
Poplin Jesse F., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65 : wounded. Platt David, Sandwich, mustered ont June 7, '65.
Rogers Stephen, Sandwich, discharged June 15, '64; wounds. Riddle C. B., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
198
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Rumsey Robert, Sandwich, discharged May 9, '65; wounds. Samples Nelson, Sandwich, deserted Sept. 8, '62. Enlisted in Cavalry ; deserted. Was arrested and shot.
Springer Thomas, Sandwich. mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal.
Smith Stephen, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Skinner Eldridge, Sandwich, M. O. June 7, '65, as Corporal: wounded.
Schroder William, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Stall J. W., Sandwich, discharged Feb. 3, '63 ; disability. Smith Isaac, Sandwich, mustered out June 1, '65; pris. war.
Stevens A. V., Sandwich, died at Bowling Green, Ky., Dec. 18, '62.
Tomlin George, Sandwich, discharged Oct. 13, '64, as Corp'l; disability. Tracy Charles, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
Wells Leonard B., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65. Woodward R., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal. Whitmore Charles W., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65. Wagner Homer A., Sandwich, discharged Feb. 6, '63; disability. White William C., Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65. Wilcox O. A., Sandwich, discharged April 17, '63 ; disability.
Wright Carter E., Sandwich, mustered out May 20, '65.
RECRUITS.
Burgin Jesse, Victor, mustered out June 7, '65. Taylor Samuel, Gallatin, Tenn., transferred to Co. C, 16th Ill. Inf. UNDER COOK OF A. D. Polk Peter, Nashville, Tenn., mustered out June 7, '65. ENLISTED MEN OF COMPANY "K." FIRST SERGEANT. John Ellis, Clinton, promoted 2d Lieut., then 1st Lieut. SERGEANTS.
Emerson T. Knights, De Kalb, 1st Serg't. Died at Gallatin, Feb. 28, '63. George G. Congdon, Clinton, discharged March 25, '63; disability.
Charles H. Salisbury, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65, as 1st Sergeant. Com. 2d Lieut., but not mustered.
Joel A. Gleason, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65.
CORPORALS.
Truman Pritchard, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65, as Sergeant. Jerome Perry Clinton, M. O. June 7, '65, as Sergeant ; wounded. Albert H. Rolph, De Kalb, discharged Dec. 2, '63, as 1st Sergeant. Byron S. Barnes, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65, as Private. Fordys A. Gates, Pierce, died at Gallatin, Tenn., Feb. 13, '63. Almon M. Ingalls, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65, as Sergeant. Wilbur Earl, Afton, mustered out June 7, '65, as Private.
Delano M. Williams, Clinton, discharged Jan. 3, '63; disability.
. MUSICIANS.
Elijah Fields, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65. Thomas Green, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65.
WAGONER.
William B. Aldrich, De Kalb, discharged Dec. 21, '62; disability. PRIVATES.
Almberg Andrew, De Kalb, absent, sick, at M. O. of Regiment. Akerman August, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65. Alford Buell G., Clinton, absent, sick, at. M. O. of Regiment. Albert Henry, Afton, mustered out June 7. '65.
199
THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH.
Allen Ira, Clinton, transferred to Eng. Corps, July 2, '64. Bathriek Byron, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65. Bowerman Freeman, Milan, mustered out June 7, '65. Belfrage John B., De Kalb, promoted Hospital Steward. Chandler David D., De Kalb, promoted Sergeant Major. Cariton Ezra D., De Kalb, discharged Jan. 30, 62 ; disability. Carlton David II., De Kalb, mustered out June 14, '65. Cardell John, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65. Campbell James W., De Kalb, mustered ont June 7, '65. Duffy Christopher, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal. Dunbar Eugene W., De Kalb, discharged April 24, '63; disability. Denison Eugene R., Afton, mustered out .June 7, '65, as Corporal. Duffy Joseph, Afton, mustered out June 7, '65. Dunbar Solomon T., De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65 : wounded. Elliott Charles. Afton, killed at Kenesaw Mt., June 22, '04.
Eaton Joseph R., De Kalb, died at Bowling Green, Ky., Nov. 16, '62. Foote Ebenezer, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65. Flanders Charles M., Clinton, discharged April 11, '63; disability. Fullerton C. Taylor, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65.
Gamble Alexander, De Kalb, died at South Tunnel, Tenn., Feb. 3, '63. Gardner Horace. Clinton, M. O. June 7, '65; wounded twice. Garlock Joseph W., Afton, transferred to Miss. Mar. Brig., Jan. 19, '63. Green John A., Victor, discharged June 3, '65 ; wounds. Gibson James, Clinton, died at Kingston, June 1, '64 ; wounds. Hayman Alexander, Atton, munstered out June 7, '65. Houghton Joseph, De Kalb, mustered out Jnne 7, '65. Hawley Matthew S., De Kalb, discharged Jan. 11, '63 ; disability. Hughes Elias, Clinton, mustered out June 7, 765.
Hall John, Milan, deserted Sept. 10, '62. Huffman John, De Kalb, killed at Averysboro, N. C., March 16, 65. Handy Jerome, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65; wounded. .Johans John P., Afton, killed at Resaca, May 15, '64.
Johnson John, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65. Kellogg Henry, Clinton, died at Gallatin, Tenn., Dec. 12, '62. Kruetsfield Peter T., Afton, mustered out June 7, '65.
Kimball Joseph A., Clinton, transferred to V. R. C., March 13, '61.
Lindsay Jeremiah B., Malta, deserted Sept. 30, '62. Lamb John E., Victor, absent, wounded, at M. O. of Regiment. Low James, Clinton. died at Gallatin, Tenn., March 3, '03.
MeCollum Joseph W., De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal. Milton George, Milan, killed at Pine IIill, Ga., June 15, '64. Martin J. Wesley, Milan, deserted Sept. 15, '62. McCabe James. De Kalb, discharged March 11, 63 ; disability.
Morrill Jonathan M., Clinton, died at South Tunnel, Tenn., Jan. 26, 63.
Manning Luke, Clinton, M. O. June 7, '65; wounded three times.
Martin Thomas H., Atton, Corporal. Transferred to Eng. Corps, March 13, '64.
Mennis William W .. Clinton, absent, sick, at muster-out of Regiment. Nichols Edwin, De Kalb, accidentally killed, June 5, '64. Newton George, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65. Olverson Lewis, Afton, died March 25, '65; wounds. Parr Edwin, Clinton, discharged Dec. 26, '62; disability. Pearson Edward, Clinton, mustered out June 22, '65; wounded.
Peterson Lewen, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65. Palquert Liven, Mayfield, mustered out June 7, '65. Purcell Ehomas, De Kalb, died at Gallatin, Tenn., April 17, '63. Phillips William H., De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65.
200
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Preston Stephen F., De Kalb, deserted Oct. 29, '62. Smith Andrus, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65; wounded. Seeley Anson, Clinton, discharged May 15. '68; cisability. Schroeder Charles N., Clinton, transferred to Eng. Corps, July 2, '61. Safford Charles B., Malta, detached at M. O. of Regiment. Scott George H., Afton, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal. St. Leger Richard V., Afton, discharged May 15, '63; disability. Sullivan John, De Kalb, mustered out. June 7, '65. Telford Robert, Clinton, discharged Jan. 12, '63; disability. Thompson Robert, De Kalb, discharged March 7, '65 ; disability.
Townsend Robert, Milan, mustered out June 7, '65; wounded. Unwin Emanuel, Victor, mustered out June 7, '65.
Wheeler Dempster, De Kalb, killed near Marietta, Ga., July 3, '6-4. Woodruff Felix, Victor, discharged June 3, '65. Wakefield George W., Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal. Wakefield Horace, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65; wounded. Walker Robert, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal Whitmore Thomas C., De Kalb, discharged April 24, '63; disability. Wheeler William, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65 ; wounded. Wiltberger William H., Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65, as Corporal. Whitmore Silas A., De Kalb, died at Gallatin, Tenn., Feb. 10, '63.
RECRUITS.
Lamb Curtis A., Victor, tranferred to Co. A, 16th III. Int. Pearsons Judson M., Shabbona, mustered out June 7, '65. UNDER COOK OF A. D. Fisher Wyatt, - killed at Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 16, '64.
ROSTER OF OFFICERS.
Colonel.
Daniel Dustin, Sycamore, promoted Brevet Brigadier General, March 16, '65. Mustered out June 7, '65.
Lieutenant Colonels.
Henry F. Vallette, Naperville, resigned June 18, '61. Everell F. Dutton, Sycamore, promoted Brevet Brigadier General, March 16, '65. Mustered out June 7, '65. Majors.
Everell F. Dutton, Sycamore, promoted. Henry D. Brown, Sycamore, mustered out June 7, '65. Adjutants. William N. Phillips, Wayne, resigned Dec. 2, '62. David D. Chandler, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65. Quartermaster. Timothy Wells, Sycamore, mustered out June 7, '65. Surgeons, Horace S. Potter, Chicago, killed in battle, June 2, 61. Alfred Waterman. Warrenville, mustered out June 7, 65. First Assistant Surgeons.
Alfred Waterman, Warrenville, promoted. George W. Beggs, Naperville, mustered out June 7, '65. Second Assistant Surgeon. George W. Beggs, Naperville, promoted.
201
THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH.
Chaplains. Levi P. Crawford, Sandwich, resigned December 24, '62. Daniel Chapman, - resigned January 8, '65. COMPANY "A."-Cuptains.
Henry D. Brown, Sycamore, promoted Major. George B. Heath, Syeamore, mustered out June 7, '65). First Lieutenants.
George B. Ileath, Sycamore, promoted. Henry H. Slater, Genoa, mustered out June 7, '65. Second Lieutenants.
Robert D. Lord, Genoa, resigned December 17, '62. W. Robert Thomas, Sycamore, promoted, by Pres., A. A. G., July 15, '61.
Chauncey E. Sixbury, Sycamore, mustered out as Sergeant June 7, '65. COMPANY "C."-Captains.
Alexander L. Warner, Sycamore, resigned February 17, '63. George W. Field, Sycamore, resigned July 11, '63.
Charles G. Culver, Sandwich, mustered out June 7, '65.
First Lieutenants.
George W. Field, Sycamore, promoted. Henry B. Mason, Syeamore, resigned September 6, '63.
John W. Burst, Franklin, honorably discharged October 19, 64.
Isaac S. Brundage, Cortland, mustered out June 7, '65. Second Lieutenants.
Henry B. Mason, Syeamore, promoted. John W. Burst, Franklin, promoted.
Charles D. Jackman, Syeamore, mustered out as Sergeant June 7, '65.
COMPANY "E."-Captains.
Thomas S. Terry, Shabbona, resigned March 16, 63.
Marvin V. Allen, Shabbona, honorably discharged January 20, '65. First Lieutenants.
Marvin V. Allen, Shabbona, promoted. Albert C. Overton, Shabbona, honorably discharged August 13, 64. Jonathan D. Marryott, Shabbona, mustered out June 7, '65. Second Lieutenants.
Albert C. Overton, Shabbona, promoted. John H. Swift, Paw Paw, resigned March 16, '64.
Jacob Ostrander, Paw Paw, mustered out as Sergeant June 7, '65. COMPANY "G."-Captains.
John B. Nash, Franklin, resigned July 17, '64. John M. Smith, Burlington, honorably discharged as 1st Lieutenant De- cember 24. '64.
Samuel H. Williamson, Flora, commission returned. Canceled. First Lieutenants.
Richard R. Woodruff, Sycamore, resigned December 24, '62. John M. Smith, Burlington, promoted.
Samuel H. Williamson, Flora, mustered out June 7, '65.
John T. Becker, South Grove, mustered out as 1st Sergeant May 26, '65. Second Lieutenants.
John M. Smith, Burlington, promoted. Hiram S. Harrington, Franklin, resigned August 2, '63. James S. Hasburgh, Burlington, mustercd out as Sergeant June 7, '65. 26
202
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY .
COMPANY "H."-Captains. Eli L. Hunt, Sandwich, resigned December 17, '62. James S. Forsythe, Somonauk, mustered out June 7, '65. First Lieutenants.
James S. Forsythe, Somonauk, promoted.
Charles G. Culver, Sandwich, promoted Captain Company C.
Harvey Potter, Ashbury, resigned August 17, '64.
Frank H. Cole, Somonauk, mustered out June 7, '65. Second Lieutenants.
Charles G. Culver, Sandwich, promoted. Harvey Potter, Ashbury, promoted.
George W. Dean, Freeland, mustered out as Sergeant June 7, '65, COMPANY " K."-Captains.
Horace Austin, De Kalb, resigned November 26, '62.
Nathan S. Greenwood. Clinton, resigned December 2, '62.
Almon F. Parke, De Kalb, mustered out June 7, '65. First Lieutenants.
Nathan S. Greenwood, Clinton, promoted.
Almon F. Parke, De Kalb, promoted.
John Ellis, Clinton, mustered out June 7, '65. Second Lieutenants.
Almon F. Parke, De Kalb, promoted.
John Ellis, Clinton, promoted.
Charles H. Saulsbury, De Kalb, mustered out as Sergeant June 7, '65.
Eighth Illinois Cavalry.
EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
When the defeat of the Union armies, at the first battle of Bull Run, in July, 1861, had shown the loyal men of the north that the rebellion was far more stupendous in its power than had at first been supposed, and the first soldiers enlisted for three months, and whose time was expiring, were preparing to return home, the country became roused to the necessity of renewed exertions, and prepared to recruit an army of greater magnitude and more thorough organization. The Hon. John F. Farnsworth repaired to Washington, and ob- tained permission to recruit a cavalry regiment of 1200 men for the three years' service.
The military authorities heretofore had discouraged the raising of cavalry, but the successes of the Rebel Black Horse Cavalry had shown their necessity, and a few regiments were rather reluctantly authorized. No sooner had Col. Farns- worth received this permission than the young men of this section of the country hastened to join it. Applications for commissions to raise companies poured in, and Col. Farnsworth remarked that, if permitted, he could raise a brigade in a month. Capt. Lorenzo H. Whitney, of Kingston, in De Kalb County, first had a company at the rendezvous, where they took quarters, at the Howard House, St. Charles.
The limits of this work do not admit of a detailed account of the experience of the regiment at Camp Kane, St. Charles, its first rendezvous,-of the kind attention to our needs of
206
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
the ladies of the place, of the meetings and the speeches, of the destruction of rum shops, the drills and the discipline.
On the 18th of September, 1861, the regiment was mus- tered into the United States service, after a very insufficient surgical examination. Nearly all were received, but if a rigid examination had been made, according to army regulations, a great deal of suffering would have been avoided, and the Government would have been saved a great expense. They were a very intelligent class of men, capable of performing any labor; could build railroads, run mills, build wagons, carriages, bridges, "run " newspapers, or labor in the depart- ments of any of the professions, and in the fine arts. Most of their accomplishments proved useful in the course of their career; but many of them were too old, many too feeble, and many too young, to endure the hardships incident to the sol- dier's life.
On the 14th of October, 1861, the regiment marched to Geneva, and took cars for the seat of war about Washington : the horses had been sent on a few days previously, in charge of Maj. Beveridge. On all the long journey to Washington our passing train was greeted with shouts and cheers, and waving handkerchiefs, until we arrived in Maryland; there. all was sullenness and gloom. We had an especially warm welcome at Pittsburg, and a bountiful collation given us, in a spirit of kindness that will long be remembered. Arriving at Washington, on the morning of the 18th of October, we found the whole country about, covered with camps; and at the Soldiers' Rest we were furnished with refreshments, as were all other newly arrived regiments. As we marched up Pennsylvania Avenue, past the White House, President Lin- coln, who stood upon its piazza, remarked: "There goes Farnsworth's big Abolition Regiment,"-a name by which we were always after known.
We went into camp on Meridian Hill, two miles north of the White House, after having lost our way and marched till almost exhausted, and there awaited for many weeks a supply
207
THE EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY
of arms. There was a good deal of sickness, owing to the marked change in our mode of life and the unfavorable season of the year.
Around Washington Gen. MeClellan had now collected the largest army that had ever been brought together upon this continent, and the country became clamorous because it lay inactive, while the rebels were almost surrounding Washington.
On the 21st of October we heard the cannon and even the musketry of the battle of Ball's Bluff, in which a portion of our army suffered a disastrous defeat; and we wondered much that this should have been permitted while an hundred thou- sand troops lay idle within hearing distance.
Grand reviews of tens of thousands of troops were of con- stant occurrence, but still there was no advance upon the enemy. Large numbers of our troops fell sick, or were found too infirm from age to endure the hardships of life in camp, and many were discharged and sent home.
We were brigaded with the 1st Michigan and 4th Pennsyl- vania cavalry, forming the First Brigade of Cavalry in the U. S. A., and we were finally assigned to duty under the noble and much-loved old Gen. Sumner, who had just arrived from California, and been given a command in Virginia, in front of Alexandria; but, not having received arms, we did not move to our newly selected camp until the 13th of Decem- ber. We had then eighty-five sick, but few of them were willing to go to the general hospital, and all who could sit on a horse went with the regiment.
Thousands of spectators crowded the streets of Washington as we passed through, for such a body of mounted men had never before marched through Washington. Our new equip- ments and our well-fed and well-groomed Western horses made a fine appearance. We had eighty-one army wagons to carry what we then thought were the mere necessaries of life; but before the close of the war we found that twelve were really sufficient,-so little did we then know of the real life of the soldier.
208
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Established in camp, our regiment was almost daily called on for detachments to do escort duty, and. during the fine weather our life was very pleasant; but after the festivities of Christmas the rain fell in torrents, the red clay soil became knec-deep with half-frozen mud, the tents, some of which had unwisely been dug below the surface to give a greater height within, became saturated with water; sickness began to in- crease, and our discomforts seemed unendurable. During January more than five hundred of our boys were on the sick list, mostly from typho-malarial fever, and the two comfortless hospital tents being over-crowded, many were sent to the General Hospital at Alexandria, where several died.
About a mile from camp was a handsome mansion, owned by a rebel, but occupied by another family. This we finally took forcible possession of, and it made us an excellent hospital.
On the 24th of January permission was obtained to move the regiment to Alexandria, and shelter it in the vacant houses abandoned by the "secesh," while our horses could be quar- tered in deserted foundries. This was a great improvement, both for our own safety and for our horses, who, left shelter- less upon the open country, had suffered more than we, and it was really necessary to prevent our destruction by disease.
We now began to live in greater comfort, but our regiment was far from popular among the secesh of Alexandria, or with Gen. Montgomery, a superannuated old army officer, who was Military Governor of the city, and a great favorite with the rebels of the city, especially the ladies. But there were many good, earnest Union men and women in the city, who were warmly our friends, although not popular at Montgomery's headquarters.
On Sunday, February 9th, Capt. Elon G. Farnsworth, of our regiment,-a member of the Episcopal Church, -was at- tending worship with some of our men, when he discovered that the secessionist clergyman, Stewart, omitted the prayers for the President. He arose and demanded that they be read as usual, and, on refusal, he arrested the clergyman in
209
THE EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
pulpit, and took him to headquarters. Gen. Montgomery, of course, released him.
Petty difficulties were constantly arising between our regi- ment and the Military Governor, who was trying the concilia- tory policy with the rebels, and he endeavored to have us, who had come to fight rebels, removed from the city. The Union people of the city, however, were anxious that we should remain, and in token of their good will they formally presented us with a beautiful silken banner, the presentation being made the occasion for numerous friendly speeches.
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