USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb County, Illinois > Part 18
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The army, now fast in Virginia mud, went into winter quarters; but our regiment did picket duty in King George 80
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
County, preferring this duty, where foraging was good, to living in camp on hard-tack and pork.
In January General Burnside moved the army up the Rappahannock, intending to cross at another point, and take Fredericksburg. But a terrible storm came on, the army was fast in the mud, and we were forced to return to the old camps.
Burnside was now relieved, and General Hooker appointed to command the army.
On the 16th of February the cavalry changed its base to Acquia Creek, to which point we marched in a severe snow storm, and, arriving late, lay down for sleep in the snow, eight inches deep. Awaking in the morning, we found ourselves covered by three inches more of the fleecy covering, which had fallen in the night.
The difficulty of obtaining supplies here was equally great as before. They were brought three miles on the backs of mules, through unfathomable mud, in which mule and load often sank out of sight together.
On the night of the 25th, in a furious rain storm, we were ordered to march and attack Stuart's raiders, who were oper- ating at Warrenton. We marched forty miles, but were a day too late. He had escaped with a supply of horses and prisoners from a Pennsylvania regiment, which he captured. He paroled some prisoners, and sent them, with his compli- ments, to General Hooker, requesting that he would keep his horses in better order, as he was depending on the Pennsyl- vania cavalry to supply his with horses. The regiment re- turned to its old quarters, and to its laborious picket duties.
With weary days and sleepless nights, hard work, and fre- quent attacks by guerrillas, the winter wore away. Many were permitted to absent themselves on furloughs of fifteen days.
On the 6th of April another of those grand reviews, so wearisome to the soldiers, was held at Falmouth, at which the whole cavalry force was present,-the largest body of cavalry ever assembled on this continent.
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On April 13th our regiment moved off under Stoneman, on the famous great raid around the rear of the rebel army. We moved to Warrenton, where Captain Farnsworth's company captured eight of the rebels; and pressing rapidly on, we camped at ten o'clock at night, too weary to prepare supper. Next day we crossed the Rappahannock, but while detached from the brigade came near being captured by a superior force, and re-crossed the river. Mosby and White's cavalry were out in force in the valley above, and we were detached from the raiding force to attend to them. Every portion of that country was thoroughly scouted over by our force, who often marched day and night, and fared sumptuously off of the rebels' supplies.
On the 29th we crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, and after a lively skirmish passed on through Culpepper, to the Rapidan river, where we woke up the rebel artillery, and rested for that night. A desultory fire was kept up all of the next day, and we expected to cross, drive off the small force opposing us, and join the main raid. But General Averill, our present leader, gave no such orders.
A rebel Colonel, with a squad of thirty men, captured Captain Waite, by killing his horse while he was at our ad- vanced picket post; but our picket reserves made a gallant charge and recovered their Captain.
On the 1st of May we passed down the river again, crossing at U. S. Ford, greatly disappointed at not being permitted to go on the great raid.
The raid was unsuccessful in its main purpose of cutting the railroad connection with Richmond, but destroyed millions of dollars' worth of rebel property.
On this day the great battle of Chancellorsville commenced, in which, after a three days' struggle, our great army was again defeated with tremendous slaughter, and driven across the river again. We did not return in time to take any active part in this engagement.
On the 7th and 8th of May detachments of our regiment
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
were employed in digging rifle-pits to defend Kelly's and Norman's fords; and at night Stoneman's force reached the ford opposite us, and we returned down the river, terribly jaded.
On the 11th we were paid off, and our boys sent home $25,000 from their wages,-$32 to each man.
Much to our delight we were ordered on the 17th to make a reconnoisance in King George County and the Northern Neck, a great refuge for smugglers. Marching in three bat- talions, under Colonel Clendenin, Major Beveridge and Major Medill, respectively, we scoured every nook and corner of that country, capturing and destroying immense quantities of rebel property, burning one hundred sloops, yawls and ferry-boats, with their valuable contents, consisting of whisky, salt, leather, stationery, boots, shoes, clothing, and almost every conceiva- ble article of supplies.
On returning, the negroes from the plantations joined the regiment, fifteen hundred strong, with women, children, horses, carts, and all the movables that they could carry. We also brought off five hundred fine horses and mules, and one hun- dred prisoners, returning on the 27th,-all in all the most ludicrous procession we had ever seen. At Belle Plain the negro men were retained and set to work, and the women and children transported to Washington. There was little or no smuggling across that neck after that raid of the 8th Illinois.
On the 5th of June Lee commenced his grand march to the north, and the grand invasion of Pennsylvania, which was de- feated and hurled back at Gettysburg.
The cavalry corps under Pleasanton was now pushed for- ward to ascertain his position, Captain Clark, who had just been appointed Major, being in command of our regiment. which was in Buford's division. We crossed Beverly Ford in the advance, the enemy being very near, and there we had one of the most severe fights we had ever engaged in, and one which was said to be, up to that time, the hardest-fought cavalry engagement in the war. But the cavalry were finally compelled to withdraw across the river.
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THE EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
In this engagement Captain Clark and J. G. Smith were mortally wounded, Captains Forsythe and Haynes severely wounded, and we lost thirty-six men by wounds, among them W. H. Shurtleff and George M. Perry, of Company B, and HIenry Aiken, William Snively and Thomas Bolter, of Com- pany L. It was a noteworthy fact that the lives of both George M. Perry and Harry Pearsons were saved at this en- gagement by Testaments which their mothers had given them, and which, carried in their breast-pockets, stopped the force of the bullets.
Most of the other regiments engaged suffered very severely, the enemy being defended by breastworks, behind which ar- tillery was strongly posted.
We moved to Catlett's Station on the 10th, and on the 17th started for Pennsylvania.
At Aldie we met the enemy, and the rash Kilpatrick or- dered a charge over a stone wall upon them with sabres. It was gallantly made, but we lost far more than the rebels.
Next day, skirmishing near Goose Creek, in which our regiment drew high compliments from Generals Buford and Kilpatrick, some officer, unnecessarily alarmed, foolishly burned the bridge in our rear, compelling us to swim the deep, cold stream on our return.
On the 21st we had a fight at Middlebury, driving the rebels, who rallied behind every stone wall until, near night, our little force had pressed them to the mountains. Here we suddenly came upon some six thousand of them, drawn up in line of battle, and defended by artillery. General Buford ordered a charge, and it was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Clen- denin and the 8th Illinois, through a storm of grape and can- ister. At the first fire Colonel Gamble and Lieutenant- Colonel Clendenin had their horses shot under them, and Major Medill took command.
Forward was the word, and the gallant 8th, that never quailed before the rebels, advanced to within a short distance, when, at the word, our seven hundred good carbines blazed
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
away at them, sending many a grayback to his last account. Then at them we went, with revolvers cracking away in all directions. They broke and fled, but were reinforced again ; and our regiment, with some of the 3d Indiana and 12th Illi- nois, formed a new line behind a stone wall. After receiving their fire, Major Medill ordered another charge, and we drove them again from the field. Three times more did the rebels attempt to drive us, and as often were they repulsed. We killed and wounded more than two hundred of the graybacks, and remained masters of the field, the rebels retreating through Ashby's Gap.
Innumerable instances of individual heroism upon this oc- casion are related.
Next day we returned to Aldie, and remained till the 26th, when we crossed the Potomac, and marched over the Katochin mountains to Middletown, where we learned that General Hooker had been removed, and General Meade appointed to command of the army; also, that Lee was already before us in Pennsylvania.
On the 29th we camped twelve miles from Gettysburg, and next day encountered the enemy in force at Fairfield. We had a sharp skirmish, and then went to Gettysburg.
Next day, July 1st, the enemy advanced in force, the great decisive battle of Gettysburg began, and our regiment, as in several other of the greatest battles of the war, received the first fire and shed the first blood. We alone resisted the onset of the enemy for several hours; and when the infantry came up we operated upon the flanks. Night found our army driven a mile out of the town.
Next day the battle raged still more fiercely, but we were ordered to protect the army supplies.
Our gallant Captain E. J. Farnsworth, who had just been made a Brigadier-General, was on this day ordered by Kil- patrick on a rash, useless, desperate charge. He said he could never come back alive, bid his comrades farewell, dashed at the head of a small force upon the enemy, and was at once riddled with bullets.
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Upon the defeat of Lee, next day, we were sent to intercept his retreat through Frederick City, and Boonsboro, and Wil- liamsport, where we had a very sharp fight, in which several of our men, among them our gallant Major Medill, were mor- tally wounded.
On the 8th the enemy drove one regiment of our cavalry, and the 8th was ordered to re-take the lost ground, which we did, with the highest compliments of Buford and Kilpatrick, the latter of whom bitterly cursed his men for not being able to do their duty in the same brave manner.
On the 9th and 10th more sharp fighting, and more of our men killed and wounded.
We constantly expected another advance and a consequent capture of Lee's army, but a council of war decided to rest awhile, during which rest we were actively employed till the 14th, when, advancing, we found that Lee's main army had escaped across the river. Our cavalry came upon two brig- ades of the rebels behind earthworks. two miles from Falling Waters, and at once attacked them. Our division, under Buford, went round to flank them on the left, but before we could arrive at our position the impetuous Kilpatrick ordered an unnecessary assault by his division, which was repulsed, his brave boys being slaughtered by scores. We were soon in on their flank, however, and after a desperate fight, in which we lost severely, we captured four hundred prisoners, Kilpatrick's division also taking over six hundred.
On the 18th we again crossed the Potomac, following over the same ground that we had passed over after the battle of Antietam. We attempted again to intercept the rebels before they reached Chester Gap, but were too late as before.
On the 22d we had quite a sharp fight at Lovetsville, in which we gained some laurels, and lost several good men.
On the 27th we marched to Rappahannock Station, the Rappahannock river being, as before, the dividing line between the hostile forces.
On the 1st of August we crossed the river for a reconnoi-
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
sance, and had a severe engagement near Culpepper, on the plantation of John Minor Botts. We gained the information needed, but our forces engaged lost twenty killed, one hundred wounded, and one hundred and forty-eight in missing.
From the 15th to the 31st of August we remained near Dumfries, doing picket duty.
On the 13th of September our regiment, dismounted, climbed up and captured Pony Mountain, a signal-station of the enemy, and on the 14th lost some of our men in a desul- tory fight near that point, which lasted all day.
On the 18th an infantry force relieved us from picket duty, and we marched to Stevensburg.
On the 22d occurred the fight at Jack's Shop, a little vil- lage near Madison. It commenced by some shots from rebel artillery, and a demand for our surrender, which we answered by a volley from our pistols that staggered the foe. We dis- mounted and went at them through the woods. After waiting some time for Kilpatrick to cut off their retreat, which he failed to do, our boys finally pitched into them, and drove them in the greatest confusion. It was one of the most hand- somely fought engagements in which we participated. We drove the graybacks across the Rapidan, and on the next day returned to Culpepper, and subsequently to Stevensburg.
This was the last of our severe engagements in the autumn of 1863.
We moved back through Culpepper to Hazel river, where we had a smart skirmish with the enemy, who resisted our passage. Several of our division were killed, but the enemy was driven back.
Mosby, the fearless and impetuous guerrilla, who kept that whole section of the country in constant alarm, was now scouring the hills and valleys of Virginia, and we were in pursuit of him. We proceeded to Fairfax Court House, and thence to Culpepper. There we remained a month in camp, and there the regiment re-enlisted as veterans.
The 8th Illinois Cavalry has the honor of originating the
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system of veteran re-enlistment. As early as July, 1863, a majority of the regiment had offered to re-enlist as a regiment ; but the Department, always behind the people in their de- mands for men, discouraged the offer. But after the regiment had lain at Culpepper in winter quarters, the permission was received, and the regiment went home on a veteran furlough of thirty days. About one hundred and fifty declined to re- enlist, and were sent on detached duty as body-guards, and in service of that character, till the expiration of their three years' service in September, 1864.
Headquarters were now at St. Charles, Illinois, and there, after their short furlough, the regiment re-enlisted in Febru- ary, and reached Washington again in March. We were en- camped at Giesborough Point, near Washington, for about two months, and then crossed to Washington, where we were employed on patrol duty in and about the city.
The grand army under Grant was now making its way on the great final campaign to Richmond, and a rebel force under Early again crossed the upper Potomac, through Maryland, and endeavored to effect the capture of Washington. A comparatively small force could only be spared from the grand army to resist this attack. It was placed under the command of General Lew Wallace, and the 8th Illinois acted as his cavalry support.
We fought the enemy in the engagements at Middletown and Monocacy, and at Urbana our regiment held in check two rebel brigades, resisting their approach till the bleeding and shattered forces of General Wallace could be rallied and saved from rout and destruction. It was a service whose value could hardly be over-estimated.
The Sixth Corps were summoned to the defence of the Capital, and drove Early back into Virginia.
We were now stationed at Washington, and employed in the comparatively light and easy duties of patrolling the city.
In August we crossed over into Virginia, and during the autumn, and, indeed, long after we had gone into winter 31
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
quarters at Fairfax, we were employed in scouting and scour- ing the country after the ubiquitous Mosby, whose forces, sometimes three hundred strong and sometimes not more than a dozen, were constantly committing depredations on the Union armies and the Union people, yet vanishing as a vapor when pursued. His depredations were usually committed at night, and on many of those cold, wintry nights we were roused from our slumbers to pursue him, but he always eluded pursuit, and was never captured.
When, in the following April, President Lincoln was assas- sinated by the actor Booth, our regiment was dispatched to the peninsula to assist in searching for the infamous assassin and his associates, who were supposed to be a formidable band.
The assassins captured, the regiment remained in King George and St. Mary's Counties, Maryland, engaged in the prevention of smuggling, and in making prisoners of all those of the inhabitants who declined to take the oath of allegiance. All of this class who refused the oath were sent to the Capital prison at Washington.
In June. of 1865, the regiment was again encamped at Fairfax Court House, and the great rebellion having finally been crushed, they were ordered to the West to operate against the Indians, who were then threatening serious trouble upon the Western plains.
They reached St. Louis in July, but on the passage met with a serious misfortune by the overloading of the boat on which they were transported. In the darkness of the night of June 28th the steamer ran aground, and careened upon her side. Eight members of Company L, roused from their slumbers by the alarm, threw themselves into the water, and five of them were drowned.
The order to move out upon the plains was very decidedly opposed to the wishes of the men of the regiment. For nearly five years they had been fighting the rebellion, and now that it was finally and gloriously ended, they thought they were entitled to return to their long-lost homes. A vigorous pro-
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THE EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY
test was made against the order, and, thanks to influential friends, it was successful.
After remaining a short time at St. Louis the regiment was ordered to Chicago, and there, on July 17, 1865, was finally mustered out.
The service of the 8th Illinois Cavalry had been long, ar- duous, dangerous, and brilliant, with many gallant and noble deeds. It had shed lustre upon our State, and its memory will ever be preserved as among the choicest, proudest trophies of the great State from which it sprang. Friends and foes alike have described it as the best cavalry regiment in the great army of the Potomac. The writer has heard this high compliment paid it from too many different members of the rebel cavalry, so long opposed to it, to doubt the candor or sincerity of their statement ..
The following is the roster of the officers and men in the companies that went from De Kalb County, as taken from the official reports :
The Eighth Cavalry Regiment.
COMPANY A.
Harvey A. Humphrey, Franklin, 1st Lieut. Promoted Capt. Co. D.
Shields Joseph, Franklin, re-enlisted as veteran.
Burmier John, Franklin, mustered out July 17, '65, as teamster.
Fisher Charles, Franklin, mustered out July 17, '65, as Corporal. IIoffman Valentine B., Franklin, mustered out July 17, '65, as Corporal.
Smith Leonard G., Cortland, promoted 2d Lieut.
Grashaber Franklin, Franklin, prisoner of war.
Phillips Joseph, Franklin, re-enlisted as veteran.
Stevens Isaac W., Franklin, mustered out July 17, '65. OFFICERS OF COMPANY B. CAPTAINS.
Lorenzo H. Whitney, Kingston, resigned July 15, '62.
John G. Smith, Sycamore, died of wounds June 16, 63.
John A. Kelley, Sycamore, term expired September 18, '64.
George W. Corbit, Afton, mustered out July 17, '65.
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
John G. Smith, Sycamore, promoted. John A. Kelley, Sycamore, promoted.
SECOND LIEUTENANTS. Jacob M. Siglin, Sycamore, resigned July 15, '62. S. Spencer Carr, Genoa, promoted.
George W. Corbitt, Afton, promoted.
FIRST SERGEANT.
John A. Kelley, Sycamore, promoted 2d Lieut. Q. M. SERGEANT. J. J. Woodruff, Clinton, discharged Oct. 14, '62; disability, and died. SERGEANTS.
E. B. Wright, Genoa, mustered out September 28, '64. J. William Moody, Burlington, discharged January 16, '62; disability. W. II. Whitney, Kingston, discharged April 17, '62; disability. CORPORALS.
Spencer S. Carr, Genoa, promoted 2d Lieut. Adin F. Cowles, Genoa, re-enlisted as veteran. George M. Roe, Shabbona, re-enlisted as veteran. George W. Corbitt, Afton, re-enlisted as veteran. E. H. Burdick, Sycamore, discharged December 28, '62; disability. PRIVATES. Allen Abner, Genoa, died at Alexandria, Va., February 9, '62. Blakesly James N., Sycamore, mustered out September 28, '64. Baxter Charles, De Kalb, mustered out September 27, '64. Bannister Charles F., Malta, died at Alexandria April 13, '62.
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THE EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
Bedee Joseph, Sycamore, discharged May 15, '63. Bailey William, Clinton, mustered out September 28, '64. Boon Shubble S., Sycamore, re-enlisted as veteran. Bell James M., Clinton, re-enlisted as veteran. Collins C. H., Sycamore, re-enlisted as veteran. Cook S. W. L., Genoa, transferred to V. R. C., March 14, '64. Caless John, Sycamore, re-enlisted as veteran. Close Robert, De Kalb, re-enlisted as veteran Campbell William L., De Kalb, re-enlisted as veteran.
Chambers A. B., De Kalb, killed at Mechanicsville June 26, '62. Cutshaw B. F., Burlington, re-enlisted as veteran. Doney Davis S., Genoa, transferred to Invalid Corps. Dennis Lyman, Mayfield, mustered out September 28, '64. Davis Samuel, Shabbona, re-enlisted as veteran.
Farrel Edward, Afton, died at Alexandria, Va., February 21, '62. Farnam Simon, Sycamore, mustered out September 28, '64. Fradenburg Garritt, Sycamore, discharged September 18, '64. Freeman Watson, Genoa, re enlisted as veteran.
Fancher Martin, Clinton, discharged April 6, '64; wounds. Fraser Thomas, Sycamore, re-enlisted as veteran.
Gillott Robert M., Genoa, Corporal. Died at Alexandria April 12, '62. Hall George, Sycamore.
Haskins Elmer, Sycamore, died at Alexandria February 15, '62. Holderness Elisha, Malta, discharged November 8, '62; disability. Hitt Wesley, Genoa, discharged April 17, '62; disability. Howe James M., Mayfield, re-enlisted as veteran.
Herrick William, Clinton, mustered out September 28, '64. Hill Henry, Clinton, mustered out September 28, '64.
Ingols Charles, Burlington, died on the road to N. Y. May 10, '62. Losee Rufus, De Kalb, discharged December 28, '62; disability.
Mace William, De Kalb, Corporal. Killed November 5, '62, at Barbers X Roads.
Miller Solomon, De Kalb, deserted August 30, '62. Maclan James, De Kalb, mustered out September 28, '64. Morse C. Wesley, Milan, re-enlisted as veteran. O'Connor Daniel, Genoa, re-enlisted as veteran.
Parkhurst A. M., Sycamore, mustered out September 28, '64. Porter George, Sycamore, re-enlisted as veteran.
Partlow James F., Burlington, discharged April 17. '62; disability. Perry George W., Burlington, mustered out September 28, '64. Pittenger Reuben S., Burlington, discharged May 2, '62; disability. Pierce Washington F., Afton, discharged May 8, '62 ; disability. Peavey Ira W., Genoa, re-enlisted as veteran. Reeves Robert L., Burlington, mustered out September 28, '64.
Shurtleff W. H., Genoa, re-enlisted as veteran. Thomas Julius O., Clinton, discharged May 15, '62. Weaver Isaac, Sycamore, died at Camp California January 21, '62. Wilcox Daniel, Genoa, re-enlisted as veteran.
VETERANS.
Bell George H., Sycamore, mustered out as Sergeant July 17, '65. Bell James M., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65. Boon Shubble S., Sycamore, Corporal. Absent at muster-out. Banner George P., Burlington, mustered out July 17, '65, as Corporal. Corbitt George W., Sycamore, promoted 2d Lieutenant. Collins Charles H., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65. Crouk Cyrus H., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65, as Sergeant. Cowles Adin F., Sycamore, transferred.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Close Robert J., Sycamore, died at Washington March 13, '64. Campbell W. L., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65, as bugler. Callies John, Sycamore, mustered out July 17, "65, as Corporal.
Dewitt Hiram S., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65, as Sergeant. Dunning Dyer D., Sycamore, promoted Sergeant, then 2dl Lieutenant. Dake Oliver S., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65. Davis Samuel, Sycamore, mustered out July 17. '65. Fraser Thomas, Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65. Fassett Ceylon A., Sycamore, hospital steward. Freeman Watson L., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65. Graves Martin, Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65.
Hokes Harrison, Sycamore, promoted Ist Sergeant, then Ist Lieutenant. Howe James M., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65, as Sergeant. Hollister Henry, De Kalb, mustered out July 17. '65, as Corporal. Maynard James M., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65, as Sergeant. Morse Charles W., Sycamore, mustered out July 17, '65, as blacksmith. McGregor George, Sycamore, killed at Monocacy July 9, '64.
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