USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of companies I and E, Sixth Regt., Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Whiteside County > Part 11
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Shortly after this a vaudeville show erected a tent near our quarters. It received liberal patronage from the soldiers and in return the manager tendered the use of the tent to the Sixth Ill .. in which to hold church services.
The camp was favored by a call from Dr. Mary Wal- ker. She was selling pamphlets and -poems of her own composition. She was dressed in man's costume, wearing a suit of black, prince Albert coat, black straw hat, white shirt and standing collar, and carried an umbrella. She was the source of a great deal of amusement among the boys and a great many of them doubted its being a woman at all.
Chaplain I. N. Keefer of the Eighth Ohio, died of heart trouble June twenty second. Military funeral ser- vices were held the following day and the corpse was es- corted from camp by the regimental band and one com- pany of infantry, his riderless horse following the funeral car. This was the man who, a few weeks previous, offici- ated at the funeral of the volunteer from Rock Island.
The weather continued hot and dry; there had been but little rain, and the wagon road which was in constant
NED JOHNSON, Reg. Sergt .- Major Sixth Inf. Vol.
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APPOINTMENTS IN COMPANIES E AND I.
use was ground into a bed of very fine sand. With every gust of wind came a flurry of dust and dirt: the clothing and quarters of our men were with difficulty kept present- able. We had sweltered in the sun and battled with the dirt until every man in camp was anxiously awaiting a thundershower to break the drought and cool the atmos- phere.
One sultry evening late in June it came: the rain came down in torrents, and the wind blew a hurricane. Everyone whose duties would allow it sought shelter in his tent. When the rain had ceased the boys crawled out of their tents and cheered themselves hoarse. And such a sight as the sky presented-every one in camp was out drinking in its beauty. In the east. a beautiful rainbow shone forth. It was perfect: stretching from north to south until lost in the horizon. clouds of a mellow gold drifted rapidly by into a background of a most delicate blue. The foliage of the neighboring trees glistened like wreaths of silver. while the rain drops trembling on the leaves sparkled like diamond settings as the slanting rays of the disappearing sun reflected o'er the scene. It was grand. and it was remarked on every hand that it was the most sublime spectacle ever witnessed.
With the companies increased to one hundred and six enlisted men. came new appointments of non-commis- sioned officers. June twenty-third Capt. Lawrie made the following promotions: Privates Deyoe, Reese Dillon, Triggs, Burkhart, Bert Johnson and Lineberry to be Corporals; private Clark was appointed musician, to fill the vacancy caused by the loss of bugler Eshelman, dis- charged. Private Hess was appointed company Artificer and private Smith detailed to duty at the regimental hos- pital. Sergeant Cushman was detailed to assist Ord-
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
nance Officer Eick as Ordnance Sergeant. Corporal Dil- lon was detailed to duty in the quartermaster's depart- ment.
The appointments in company I were: privates Burr, Hyatt, Charles Berry, Everhart, Sherwood and Sny- der to be Corporals, and Hilton Willcox. Lance Corporal. Private Jenks was detailed to special duty at post head- quarters, and private Kingery was appointed acting Vet- erinary Surgeon of the Sixth regiment and placed in charge of the officers horses.
The post commander had, for some time, contempla- ted giving the troops a long practice march to the Poto- mac river, and an opportunity to bathe in its waters. On June twenty-sixth, the Second brigade was instructed to prepare for a two days absence from camp. The follow- ing morning, each man was issued two days rations and fifty rounds of blank cartridges. We formed in heavy marching order and at six o'clock we marched out of camp with ten Virginia miles before us.
It was quite cool on the start and the rain a couple of days previous had put the roads in good condition, but as the sun rose higher in the heavens, it grew warm and we found plenty of dust before reaching our temporary camp, christened Camp Starvation. We arrived at ten o'clock a. m. and had our tents up in a very few moments. We were then given our liberty for a time and found we were not far from the Potomac river. We were cautioned about getting into the water until a suitable bathing place could be selected.
The Potomac is very picturesque at this place, wind- ing its way through great cliffs; the stream itself is full of rocks and extremely treacherous. The current is swift and the rocks rising out of the water shelve off into the
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MARCH TO THE POTOMAC.
stream where many of them sheer off abruptly. forming numerous holes many feet in depth. The banks were soon lined with men for nearly a mile and in a few mom- ents the water was alive with shouting. laughing boys. They romped in the stream for some time and thoroughly enjoyed the sport. Private Dearth, of company B, from Geneseo, was drowned in attempting to swim the river. He was within a few feet of the bank when he suddenly. sank out of sight. Every effort was made by expert divers to rescue him but without success. Grappling hooks were lowered and the river dragged but no trace of the body could be found for some time. The water was found to be nearly eighty feet in depth at the point where he went down.
This had no effect on the venturesome bathers and they continued to take the same risk which had proven so disasterous to one of their number until ordered out of the water by Major Anthony. In the afternoon, a party of the boys took a stroll about three miles from eamp in search of a country store. as our rations consisted of coffee. hardtack and sowbelly, and our ten mile march had given us ravenous appetites.
After trudging along for some time we were about to retrace our steps. when, making a turn in the road we espied a cluster of buildings a short distance in advance; among them we saw the object of our search. a country store. We approached the miniature village, and on en- tering the store we found a large room with shelves near- ly bare. The proprietor was busily engaged weighing up ten cents worth of "cohn-meal" for a colored custo- mer. and looking about the vacant room we found this mans stock in trade to consist of a limited amount of the bare necessities of life; a few canned goods on the shelves, a box or two of crackers, a little sugar, a quantity of corn.
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
meal and a small supply of cigars, tobacco and pipes, in all about ten dollars worth of goods was in sight. We counted out our few nickles and dimes, and after an ar- gument over the value of the articles we wished to pur- chase, we left him happy in the possession of nearly thirty cents.
Opposite the store, and back from the road a number of rods, nestled a low, rambling, southern farm house. On the veranda sat a young woman and romping on the lawn, a little boy and girl, aged about six and seven years, respectively. Filling our canteens at the town? pump near by, we crossed the street? and resting on the sloping lawn, opened the can of peaches, unwrapped the pound of cookies, which reminded us of the hardtack we had left at camp, and prepared to appease our gnawing hunger.
The housewife stopped her sewing and the children ceased their play; together they watched us at "mess" for a few moments, then the little ones timidly approached. We tendered them a portion of our supper which was rap- idly disappearing, but they shook their heads and hung back. They soon overcame their timidity and sitting down plied us with questions, asking if we were still hun- gry? We replied in the affirmative. whereupon the little boy ran to the house, disappearing for a few moments he returned with a handful of vegetables fresh from the gar- den. Then both the little tots scampered back up the lawn and held a brief conversation with the lady. evident- ly their mother. the trio entered the house, reappearing directly, the children came towards us bearing between them a large pitcher of cold milk and a big cake. They sat the food before us and with eyes sparkling with de- light, watched us as we stored it away.
We were just completing the rather sumptuous meal
REESE DILLON, Q) .- M. Serg. Sixth Inf., Vol.
177
THE SHAM BATTLE.
when the father drove up. Hle had been to Washington and on the return had learned of the presence of the troops in that vicinity. He took the situation in at a glance and sitting by our side, related stories of the civil war. He was a native Virginian. The house was his. also the broad acres surrounding it. It was the property of his father in the sixties. General McCall's and Han- cock's troops were encamped here during the fall of six- ty one and spring of sixty two and had used his fathers farm for a drill and parade ground. General McCall had used the dwelling as his headquarters.
We were so occupied by the entertainment of our new found friends that night was upon us before we re- alized it. Hastily bidding the hospitable father and little ones goodbye we hurried toward camp. As we walked swiftly along whistling and singing, feeling contented and at peace with the world in general. congratulating our- selves on the success of our venture. and while yet nearly a mile from camp. we were brought to a standstill as we heard the warning notes of the bugle as it sounded "tat- too." We increased our pace to a run. As we tore over the brow of the hill which lay between us and our goal, we heard the final notes as they rose and fell on the night air. Before us lay the city of tents. the flickering flames of the tallow candles shining dimly through the canvas shelters: we heard the voice of the .. Top Ser- geant" as he ordered the men to "fall in for roll call" and we knew we could never cover the distance and would "miss check." We hurried along and ran plump into a sentinel. and were again brought to a stop by the com- mand "Halt! Who comes there?" We had forgotten that our regiment was expecting an attack from the Mass- achusetts boys and had a double guard out with instruc- tions to be wide awake and not caught napping. We
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
formulated a flimsy yarn about being guards just relieved from duty and came in to get something to eat, and after a little parley, we were allowed to pass. We crawled under our shelter tent and the next morning at roll call were informed that they thought we had been drowned as we were last seen at the river the day before.
Extra precautions had been taken throughout the night to prevent our being surprised by the "enemy," the men sleeping with cartridge belts and rifles by their side. Nothing occurred and we slept soundly until daylight. After a light breakfast we broke camp and began the return march. Advance, rear and flank guards were put out and the line of march was guarded in every way in the same manner as it would have been had we been in the heart of the Spanish country.
It was very hot, the boys began to drop out of the line and the ambulances were soon filled. When about half way to Camp Alger we were attacked by the Sixth Massachusetts and a troop of New York Cavalry. The conflict was warm for a couple of hours; during the bat- tle we captured a number of prisoners, held our wagon train and repulsed the enemy. A short distance from camp the Massachusetts boys intrenched themselves be- hind the railroad embankment and made a final stand, but a spirited charge on the part of our boys drove them from their position and the battle was over. We arrived in camp at eleven o'clock a. m., tired and dirty yet all appeared to have enjoyed the march. This was the first of a series of sham battles that occurred in the timber near camp, in which the troops showed a surprising a. mount of tact on the skirmish line,
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CLOSING DAYS AT CAMP ALGER.
CHAPTER XII.
As the weeks passed, the volunteers at Camp Alger became more proficient as a result of the severe training which they had undergone since their muster in, and they felt they were capable of duty at the front. 3 The closing days of June found them only partially equipped for field service. Ordnance Officer Eick and Quarter- master Barber of our regiment. were doing their utmost to secure the necessary supplies to put the men on a war footing.
The many rumors that floated about camp, kept the men continually on the qui vive. hourly expecting the order to come calling them into active service.
Major W. T. Channon, commanding the first bat- talion of our regiment, was attached to the general staff of Gen'l Graham, from June seventeenth until June twenty-fifth, acting as provost-marshal-general. Second Lieut. George W. Flood of company A, First battalion, was also attached to the general staff, acting as assistant- provost-marshal from June seventh to June twenty- fourth. Capt. Lawrie of Campany E commanded the First battalion during the absence of Major Channon.
Corporal Dillon of company E received the intelli- gence of a death in his family and was granted a seven days furlough. He immediately boarded the cars en- route for Sterling. Corporal Leatherwood of company
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
I also received a furlough of several days and was ab- sent for a time.
During the two months we had been in the service, the home people had never lost sight of us for an in- stant. We were constantly receiving boxes and pack- ages put up by loving hands, containing good things to eat and supplies for the hospital. Now and then a package would be received, the miscellaneous contents of which told the story of the thoughtfulness of the mothers. wives, sisters and sweethearts of the absent soldier boys. The Womans Relief Corps, of the differ- ent towns were prominent factors in the distribution of these generous gifts to the soldiers.
From Sterling, Rock Falls. Morrison. Erie, Proph- etstown. Lyndon and Albany the precious parcels came and their arrival was always hailed with delight.
The pleasure evinced by the 'soldiers on receiving these articles was caused not more by the possession of them, than by the silent messages which they betok- ened. Although twelve hundred and fifty miles of mountain and prairie land separated us from home, we felt secure in the knowledge that the moral and material support of our friends would ever be forthcoming.
With many indications of our regiments early de- parture for the front, the letters from relatives and friends grew more grave and tender, breathing words of praise and encouragement, causing the first feeling of homesickness to enter the hearts of many of the boys as they eagerly devoured the contents, word by word, and pictured to themselves the family group as it gathered in the far away home, anxiously watching the progress of the war and calculating on the prospects of their own boy being safely returned to the family fold. Distance
Chief Musician John Prestin.
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CHEERING MESSAGES FROM FRIENDS.
lends enchantment, and the homes, always precious, but doubly so under the circumstances. filled the thoughts of the soldiers and a feeling of depression would steal o'er them as they allowed their minds to wander back to Ilinois. They were given but little time for such re- flections and the activity all about them quickly turned their thoughts to other channels.
Among other letters received from home was one fron Emeline Lodge. No. S. Degree of Rebekah. I. (). O. F .. of Morrison. This letter expressed the feeling of interest taken in the volunteers from Illinois by the patriotic citizens of the State. and in view of this fact. permission to publish the letter in full. was sought and granted. The communication was addressed to Capt. Colebaugh of company I but referred to the volunteers in general. a complete copy of which follows.
MORRISON, ILL., JUNE 24. 1898. Capt. W. F. Colebaugh. Co. I. 6th Regiment. Camp Alger Va. TO OUR SOLDIER BOYS:
The Emeline Lodge No. S, D. of R. has requested me to write. Although not surprised by the command. I know that I can not do justice as my heart is too full of the great and glorious cause that has brought you together but I cannot disobey the order of those who have commanded me to write. You. soldiers. have about ended your career as mere holiday troops, I be- lieve. and are now about to buckle on the armor and to unsheathe the swords of gallant knights enrolled to maintain. uphold and defend that Constitution and that Union which were hammered out amidst the fires of the Revolution. and cemented by the blood of the fathers and heroes of the war of our independence. That tem- ple in which the exiles of despotism from all parts of the
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
world have always sought an asylum; while the even- ing tattoo will bid you to sleep on your burnished arms, ready, at any moment, to rally at the bugle call to the rescue of that flag which has already floated in triumph over every sea and in every clime. The hour that you left us was in some respects painful, for you leave your wives, your kinsfolk. and your cheerful happy homes. And yet. our greatest regret is, that we, too, cannot join your ranks. enroll our names upon your muster and rally with you under those dear old Stripes and Stars. You are, indeed. to be envied that you can go, and the buttons you wear. the swords that gird your thighs. the epaulettes that mark and designate your rank. are all badges of honor. of shivalry. of duty in the field, which we can only covet. not enjoy. You, and such as you. are the honored children of this glorious republic. of whom, in after times. when peace has been restored, the children shall say. as they point at you with pride. and their eyes sparkle with delight. as you shall pass along the pathway of life: "There goes one of our soldier boys." Honors shall cluster thick around you. and garlands of myrtle shall be woven by fairy fingers to entwine around your brows and when finally you shall be gathered to another and brighter world on the slab that marks your resting place shall be engraven these words: "Sacred to the Memory of a Soldier of the U. S." Go. then. soldiers of the U. S .. to a proud and glorious victory, or to a soldier's honored grave. Our prayer at morning and evening shall be-God bless. protect and save our country and its noble sons.
As I have said before. we regret we must stay at home, yet if we must stay we shall try to help you in every way we can. If at any time or any place we can send you articles of any kind to make you more com- fortable we will do so if you will only let us know what is needed.
The young girls of our Lodge are a little shy. yet they send their love but wanted to send angel food cake.
Hoping you may allow us to aid you, in behalf of
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CHEERING MESSAGES FROM FRIENDS.
the Lodge I will wish you health and success in all you undertake.
Your Prairie State Friends. DAISY D. POND. Secretary.
Many letters of like character were received but during the packing and unpacking of our effects which occurred many times in the following months. they were lost. A pathetic little incident occurred in camp on the first day of June when Lieut. Colonel Kittilsen read a letter from a little girl, six years of age. of Moline. She was the daughter of an old comrade who was taken ill and died a few years ago at one of the National Guard encampments. The letter read as fol- lows:
Dear Mr. Kittilsen: I heard my mamma reading in the paper that some of the boys that went in com .- pany F were sick and needed some things. and I send you some money that I have saved. and I want you to buy some things for some of the sick boys.
Moline. Ill., May 28th. IS98.
From your little friend. ALTA WALKER.
Inclosed with the letter was a check for fifty-three cents and a letter from the little girls grandfather. in- closing a larger contribution: and one from a lady in Molme apprising the lieut. colonel that a quantity of supplies made by some of her friends and herself were on their way to camp.
The boys of company E. wishing to show their gratitude and appreciation of the many kind acts of Mrs. Smith. raised a fund in the company and pur- chased a neat silver card receiver. had it suitably en- graved and presented it to her. In acknowledging the
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
gift Mrs. Smith addressed the following letter to the boys:
Treasury Department. Office of Auditor of Postoffice Department, Washington, D. C ..
To Members of Company E, Sixth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry; My Dear Friends: It is with sincere grati ude that I acknowledge the lovely gift you so generously granted, and it shall be treasured beyond the expression of words. and my future life will be happier for, the memories it will always awak- en. My prayers will follow the brave hearts of Com- pany E, Illinois Volunteers, as they eagerly hasten to defend the cause of a greater humanity and for higher civilization. I know you will proudly maintain "Old Glory" and may God bless and protect you and bring you home safely is the earnest wish of your sincere friend. ELECTA E. SMITH.
These and many other cheering messages were received and read to the men. The source from which they came gave the men renewed courage and they determined on giving their friends no cause to think they were undeserving.
The members of company I, desiring to promote a feeling of close comradeship between themselves and their company officers, presented Captain Colebaugh and Lieutenant Lawton each a handsome, gold mounted sword. The recipients of the gifts prized them highly and expressed their gratitude to the donors. They were by far the neatest blades carried by line officers which came under our notice throughout the campaign. This incident occurred on the fourth day of July, IS98.
On the second of July one of Uucle Sams repre- sentatives again visited our camp and left a slight re- minder that we had served him faithfully for another
CAPT. F. J. CLENDENIN, Co. F, Sixth Int., Vol. Present rank, Lieut .- Col. Asst. Adj .. Gen. 3d Brigade, IlI. N. G.
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ORDERED TO CUBA.
month. About thirty-one hundred dollars was distribut- ed among the men of the regiment, a goodly portion of this soon disappeared. some sending theirs home and not a few spending their portion freely until it was near- ly gone. Fortunately for the boys in general a number of them foresaw that an emergency might arise. where a little ready money would prove invaluable to the men, and they preserved a sum which, although not large. was the means of relieving the pangs of hunger and furnished clothing for many during the dark days which followed and which none could foresee. In truth more than one man who is enjoying good health today owes his preservation to the kind and ready friends who had fortified themselves with a few dollars which they gen- erously divided among their needy comrades who in their enfeebled condition could not have existed on the rations issued them.
Thursday, June twenty-third we were instructed to pack our accoutrements and be prepared to leave camp the next day. The Eighth Ohio and seventy-five men from each company of the First battalion of our regi- ment were to be sent to Cuba to re-enforce the Fifth Army Corps, under command of General Shafter. The order came late at night and bright and early next morning the boys were hard at work getting their few belongings into portable shape. but at noon the order was countermanded and we suffered our first real dis- appointment.
The boys took their medicine like men and sor- rowfully began to unroll their blankets and begin another siege of waiting. We were instructed to unpack such articles as absolutely necessary as we might be ordered out at any moment. General Duffield, in command of the Separate brigade, consisting of the Thirty-third and
ยท
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
Thirty-fourth Michigan and Ninth Massachusetts regi- ments of Infantry received the preference and taking the Thirty-third and one battalion of the Thirty- fourth Mich. he moved out of camp enroute for Cuba; the remainder of the brigade followed a few days later. This brigade arrived in Cuba in time to reach the scene of battle and partcipate in the glorious victory of General Shafter's troops, General Duffield himself nearly succumbing to an attack of "yellow jack" and a number of officers and enlisted men were killed and wounded in the several engagements in which they par- ticipated. This was the fate of the troops who fore- stalled us in getting to the front. From the time of re -. ceiving the first order to be in readiness to march out of camp, until we did get out. we were held in readiness constantly to move on short notice.
The volunteers at Camp Alger represented four- teen states with from one to three regiments from each state. In July the total strength of the troops at this camp. comprising the Second Army Corps, was twenty two thousand one hundred seventy-five officers and enlisted men. The general health of the men continued good up to the time of the removal of our brigade, although a few cases of typhoid and ma- larial fever developed in June.
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