USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of companies I and E, Sixth Regt., Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Whiteside County > Part 21
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or child petitioning us to "gimme a bullet." This con- tinned until our cartridge belts were empty and we had nothing more to give. The name of one man was in the mouth of nearly every person we met in passing through the state of New York, Theodore Roosevelt. "Roosevelt is all right, isn't he?" "What do you think of Roose- velt ?" and "Roosevelt will be our next Governor." Such remarks were heard on every side at each stopping place and it was readily seen that the citizens of the state of New York were extremely proud of the gallant officer and intended to honor him by placing him in the high- est office within their gift.
Leaving Weehawken in the night, we covered many miles before the dawn of the following day and we were given an opportunity to witness the beauties of the Key- stone State. Our train arrived at Kingston at one thirty a. m. and although it was in the dead of the night the whole town seemed to be astir and waiting for us. The people could not do enough for us and everything was as free as air. Cana Joharie was reached at six a. m. It is a nice looking town with an old ivy covered stone church which was very picturesque. For several miles after leaving this town the road ran beside the Erie canal.
Ilion was reached at six-fifty. A little farther up the road a half dozen hobos had a fire built and were getting their breakfast. Some of the boys began to sing "Comrades." We pulled into Syracuse at nine a. m. and found the citizens much excited over a suicide. The train came to a standstill in Buffalo at three p. m. Here we saw the Ninth New York boys who had just come from Chickamauga. The Thirteenth Infantry, regulars. whose barracks are here, had also arrived but a few hours in advance of us. We were switched to the Nickle Plate
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CAMP LINCOLN.
road and at four-thirty we were off once more.
At five twenty-five we sighted Lake Erie and, a short time later ran through Silver Creek. one of the prettiest little towns on our route. Vineyards were seen on every hand and the fruit gave the air a peculiarly fragrant odor. We entered Pennsylvania at seven p. m. and rolled into Erie a half hour later. A large crowd was waiting to welcome us. The railroad passes directly down a busy street and at every crossing a crowd cheered and waved handkerchiefs. Here as at every other stopping place. the cry was. "Mister, please give me a bullet."
We struck Cleveland about midnight where coffee, milk, and sandwiches were served. We remained in the town about thirty minutes. New Haven was reached at eight o'clock in the morning, where we overtook the second section of our train. Several boxes of canned peaches were sent to us by the merchants of the city. After a short delay our train was switched to the Wabash and we were soon in the Hoosier State where "The frost was on the pumpkin and the fodder in the shock."
Peru was reached about noon. At Lafayette we were treated to more sandwiches, bread. jelly, pickles, grapes and peaches. It is not surprising that numbers of the boys were ill for weeks, after eating everything in sight from New York to Illinois. In the middle of the afternoon we stopped a few moments at a little station which hore the name of State Line, and we were once more in Illinois. We made a short stop at Danville and the train remained for some time at Decatur. It was af- ter ten o'clock on the night of September sixteenth when we arrived at Springfield. Marching out to camp we found sandwiches and coffee prepared for us by the citi- zens and the following morning they served breakfast
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
for us.
When our train left New York, there were a num- ber from the regiment who were too much taken up with the sights of the metropolitan city to return to the wharf in time to board the train. We left them to return as best they could, not expecting to see them for some time. Imagine our surprise when we de- barked at the passenger depot at Springfield to find them there in advance of us. They had secured trans- portation through one of the many officers in New York and had gone around the northern route, through Can- ada, and fortunately for them. made quick time to Springfield.
Immediately on our arrival at camp Lincoln we began the work of preparing muster and pay-rolls. and we were informed we would be granted a sixty day furlough on full pay. after the expiration of which we would probably be returned to Springfield and mustered out of the service. Ordnance supplies were turned in and checked up and everything made ready as rapid- ly as possible for our departure for home.
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Company I as it appeared five days after returning from Porto Rico.
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STERLING BOYS AT THE LELAND.
CHAPTER XXV.
Many friends and relatives of the returning vol- unteers came to Springfield to welcome them home. Between the work of making ready for an early depart- ure for home and visiting with friends the days passed quickly but none too much so for the boys who were all anxious to get away. A committee from Morrison and another from Sterling. assisted by many others from in and about our home towns, took the soldiers under their especial charge and saw to it that nothing was wanting which money could purchase. Every setting of the table was a banquet and the boys were not slow to take advan- tage of the opportunity and they stowed the good things away with a relish and scant ceremony.
The Sunday following our arrival at Camp Lincoln, the members of Company E were pleasantly surprised by the citizens committee from Sterling and Rock Falls, who extended them an invitation to attend a banquet to be given at the Leland hotel in their honor. At seven fif- teen in the evening they asembled, and marching to the entrance of the grounds. found street cars awaiting to convey them to the city. Arriving at the hotel at eight, the supper was served soon afterwards. The steaks were done to a turn. the omelets were perfection, the cold meats were better than usual and the coffee was the best
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
money could purchase. The cakes and jellies were all that mortal man could desire and the boys were unani- mous in proclaiming it the most enjoyable meal they had partaken of for months.
The colored waiters stood ready to replenish the supply at a moment's notice and appeared eager to assist in every way possible to make the occasion a pleasant one. One of the amusing incidents of the evening was the unanimous refusal of the pork and beans. The dish was passed to everyone present and in nearly every instance it was untouched. The boys absolutely refused to have anything to do with them. The colored waiters saw the joke and enjoyed it fully as much as did the guests at the banquet.
The boys ate long and heartily, and did but little talking, and no time was wasted. At the conclusion of the repast. cigars were passed around and while the sold- iers sat at their places, quietly and peacefully puffing away at the rich Havanas, a number of good speeches were made. C. L. Sheldon, the chairman of the commit- tee, was the toastmaster. In as few words as possible he congratulated the boys on their safe return home. "You have succeeded," said he "in writing another page of American history which will take place along with the civil war. You have assisted in emancipating a race and giving it liberty. We are here to congratulate you this evening in the name of the people of Sterling, because, while you have suffered great privations and hardships. you have done a great good to humanity in the name of humanity." Continuing in this strain for a few moments Mr. Sheldon closed his remarks by calling upon Colonel Foster, who was present as a guest, to respond to the toast. "The Sixth Regiment," which was drank by all
327
FURLOUGHED.
standing.
The colonel replied briefly, and in the course of his remarks said that company E had done everything to the best of its ability. It had done everything it had been asked to do, and did it without complaining. Chaplain Ferris, and Captain Colebaugh of Company I. each spoke briefly, expressing their pleasure at being present. When Major Anthony was called upon he was compelled to wait some minutes before the applause died down suf- ficiently to make himself heard. His remarks were brief but he expressed his satisfaction in the boys getting back to Springfield in as good condition as they were.
Mayor Miller then addressed the boys, telling them he was proud to be present and proud to be there in the name of the city of Sterling to welcome company E. He told the boys that the people at home were all proud of them. that they regretted to see them leave home, par- ticularly because of the serious errand. and that they were doubly glad at their return. and when they arrived home the town would be theirs. His sincere words were greet- ed with prolonged applause. Ex-Mayor Street gave a short talk and was followed by Robert McNeil. represent- ing the people of Rock Falls. Lieutenants Dillon and Wahl each spoke briefly and the affair was over.
The boys of company E appreciated the welcome ex- tended them and knew that this was only a forerunner of what they might expect when they finally reached their homes. The members of company I were royally treat- ed by the citizens committee, headed by Sheriff Fuller, which was sent to Springfield to represent the people of Morrison and surrounding towns.
Monday we received two months pay and the re- mainder of the stay at Camp Lincoln was spent by
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
the boys in getting rid of their hard earned money. Orders were issued granting the men of the Sixth Regiment, sixty days furlough to take effect the twen- ty-first. A number of boys from both companies were taken to the military hospital in Springfield. Malari- al fever was the general complaint. In their weak- ened condition the disease was severe on them and a number were unable to return home with the com- panies. These men were left to the care of the medi- cal corps at the hospital where they received the best of care and although some of them were seriously ill for a time, they all came home later.
At one o'clock on the morning of the twenty-first of September the train bearing the returning soldiers pulled away from Camp Lincoln. Our route was over the Burlington as far as Sterling, where we arrived about ten o'clock a. m. After company E had debarked, the remaining coaches occupied by company I were hurried to Morrison. At every town along the route we were greeted by large and enthusiastic crowds. and when we left the cars in our home towns, the re- ception extended us baffles description. Company E was marched to its armory which had been placed at the disposal of the many relatives of the boys and those dear to them. There the first tender greetings were exchanged. Company I was taken direct to the court house hill where they were welcomed home by what appeared to them, the inhabitants of the whole of the western half of Whiteside county.
Home again, home again, From a foreign shore, And oh! it fills our hearts with joy To meet our friends once more.
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RECEPTION HOME.
Ilere we dropped the parting tear, To cross the ocean's foam, But now we're once again with those, Who kindly greet us home.
Fathers. mothers. brothers, sisters and sweethearts were there to extend a first welcome. From the train the boys were escorted by G. A. R. Posts. bands. organiza- tions and school children. The line of march was black with people and all cheered and aided in making the wel- come a royalone. Arrangements had been made where- by the citizens were to receive news of our coming by the ringing of bells and blowing of whistles. Business was suspended for the time and the returning soldiers were given the first place in the thoughts of nearly every man, woman and child. The crowds were more dense and enthusiastic, if such could be. than those present when the good-byes were said five months before.
Such a welcome home! The boys, surrounded by relatives and friends, each vying with the other in an attempt to make the welcome home complete. thought of the discomforts, trials, and the many trying days which they had experienced since leaving home; their minds worked with the rapidity of lightning and they went over the whole campaign like a flash and they felt after all that in this welcome home. this reuniting with loved ones and kind friends, the hospitality extended them on every hand and the sincerity with which each was greeted: they were being paid in full for every hour of the privations they had endured. They felt that such a greeting was of more value than all they had done to receive it. and in those first hours of ecstasy they wondered if they deserved such homage.
In more than one respect they were gratified be- yond expression. If the welcome home was any indica-
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
tion of the feelings of the people, and no stronger proof was necessary, the boys felt that they had performed their duties in a manner satisfactory to their friends. This meant much to them. To be sure they might have done more if the opportunity had arisen, but it did not and for every duty they were called upon to per- form there was one man or more ready to respond to the call. In every manner possible they had bent their efforts toward fulfilling their duties to the best of their abilities, and to know that their efforts in this direction had given satisfaction to their relatives and friends at home was very pleasing to them.
The Sixth Regiment band escorted company E to its armory and boarded the train to be on hand at the welcome of company I. The band arranged to make a tour of each of the twelve towns which was the home of a company of the Sixth, giving a concert in each town. This they did later on and met with pleasant re- ceptions and gratifying success at each place.
After the public reception was over, the volunteers sought their homes and there enjoyed to the fullest that peace and rest that comes to the weary wanderer on his return to the family fold. The hour that had been looked forward to for so long was at last at hand and they gave themselves up to the full enjoyment of it. Invitations to dinners were showered upon them and had they accepted of all of them and ate one half of the good things which was prepared for them, they must have foundered themselves and suffered with the gout the remainder of their days. As it was, many of them were taken ill shortly after their arrival home and hovered between life and death for weeks and months. Their fever infested systems were over taxed and they
331
SICK REMAIN IN PONCE.
were compelled to give in to it. No doubt many of those who were taken ill so soon after reaching home would have given up before had not the thought of re- turning buoyed them up and gave them courage to fight down the disease. The reaction of the pleasure of the home coming left them weak and resulted in their taking to their beds, there to remain for weeks battling with that grim monster, death, which appeared deter- mined to claim them for its own.
When the regiment left Ponce for New York, we left a number of the sick soldiers who were too weak to withstand the sea voyage home at that time and they remained to return later on hospital ships. At the time of our departure it was expected that these boats would arrive in the harbor at any moment and might possibly land the sick boys in New York in advance of us. This did not prove to be the case and a number of days elapsed before the boys got away from the island and then they were placed on board of several different ves- sels and in this way became widely scattered.
They were placed in the hospital. of the Nine- teenth regulars to await the arrival of the hospital ships. Later the Nineteenth removed from that location and the sick were taken to the general hospital. Of those remaining on the island there were four from company E: privates Fred Sneed, Ernest Kahl, Leo Bushnell and George Rounds. Corporal Luther Allpress also of company E, was taken ill before the regiment left Ponce for the States and was placed on board a hos- pital ship and taken to Philadelphia where he remained for a short time, returning to Sterling as soon as he had recovered sufficiently to make the journey.
Of the sick members of company I who were left
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
on the island there were fourteen. Q. M. Serg't Andrew Mathews; Serg'ts Andrew Osborne Jr .. and Harry Rockey; Corp'l Harry Berry; privates Fred Brearton, Schuyler Sweeney. Clarence Sears, James Andrews. Charles Freek, Verne Smith. Edward Lepper, William Lueck, Ross Wilkins and Henry Patterson. Ralph Humphrey of the hospital corps was detained in the mountains and did not rejoin the regiment.
The condition of the sick boys varied somewhat as a few of them had been ill for weeks and were in a dangerous condition. while others were more fortunate and able to move about. The boys who were strong enough to be up and around rather enjoyed the situa- tion, but those that were bed ridden were very much depressed when the regiment left the island. and were slow to recover sufficiently to brighten their drooping spirits. It certainly was not a pleasant state of affairs for them.
On the twenty-seventh of September, nearly all of the forty-three members of the Sixth Ills., who were in the hospital at Ponce marched or were carried to the wharf at Port Ponce and boarded the hospital ship Obdam, which sailed at noon the following day for Santiago by the way of the Windward Passage. The first night out occurred the death of private Schuyler Sweeney, the first volunteer from company I to answer the final summons. He was found dead near an open hatchway and it was supposed he fell to the deck below breaking his neck. With but a few days between him- self and home, he had suddenly passed, over the great divide to the world beyond where the general and the private are adjudged alike and and the epaulettes and gilded cords which adorn the commander, shine no brighter than the worn and faded blouse of the volun-
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PRIV. ROSS WILKINS.
PRIV. RALPH HUMPHREY.
PRIV. THOS. PHILLIPS.
PRIV. SCHUYLER SWEENEY.
Four members of Co. I who died in the service.
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DEATH UNDER THE OLD FLAG.
teer in the ranks. The morning following his death he was buried at sea.
The Obdam arrived at Santiago the following Fri- day night, entering the harbor in the morning. The crew was engaged in unloading supplies for the army in Cuba until midnight Sunday when it sailed for New York. At about ten o'clock the next morning, after rounding the eastern point of Cuba the slack in the bunkers was discovered to be on fire and the boat turned back towards Santiago where it arrived the same night. The fire was not of much consequence and at noon Thursday the boat again set sail for New York. On the way out of the harbor the boys had an excellent view of the fortifications and Morro Castle. The boat reached New York on the eleventh and on the morning of the twelfth all were transferred to the city and taken to Miss Helen Gould's place for soldiers.
Among the number who returned on this vessel were the four boys from company E and the following members from company I: Q. M. Serg't Andrew Math- ews. Serg't Andrew Osborne and privates Verne Smith, Fred Brearton and Edward Lepper. Serg't Harry Rockey and Corp'l Harry Berry of company I. both of whom were more dead than alive, left Ponce on the hospital ship Missouri on September twenty-eighth, arriving at Fortress Monroe, Newport News, October first. They were taken to the hospital where they re- mained for some time gradually regaining health and strength until able to continue the journey home.
Privates Ross Wilkins, Charles Freek and Henry Patterson of company I, were among the number who returned to Newport News on the Missouri. James Andrews, William Lueck and Clarence Sears arrived
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
later and all of the boys from both companies E and I eventually reached their homes with the exception of private Wilkins, who died at Fortress Monroe on the ninth of November. The circumstances surrounding the death of private Wilkins were peculiar and excep- tionally sad. About the first of November he wrote to his parents stating that he was able to return home if 'someone would go there to accompany him on the journey. Later a telegram was received which stated that he thought he was hardly able to withstand the long trip at that time, and two days later he died, No notice of his death was sent his parents, although he had their address on his person. His brother went after him intending to remain with him until he had recov- ered sufficient to be brought home. On arriving at the hospital he found that the soldier brother had been dead and buried some ten days. The shock was a severe one to his relatives and friends. The remains were later brought to Lyndon for burial.
On October nineteenth occurred the death of pri- vate Thomas Phillips of Company I. He was one of the number who joined the company at Springfield, his home was at Buda Ill. When the regiment was fur- loughed he came to Morrison with the company and was taken ill with typhoid fever a short time afterward. He sank gradually, the end coming quite suddenly. Relatives came and took the remains to Buda where they were interred.
The fourth member of company I to close his eyes to all things earthly while in the service of the govern- ment was Ralph Humphrey. When the regiment left Porto Rico, with Ralph in the mountains, none suspect- ed that they had looked upon his face for the last time
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RALPH HUMPHREY DIES AT UTUADO.
in life. His parents heard from him at intervals and he was apparently in good health and the first intimation received that he had been ill was in the return of a let- ter which was mailed to him on the fourteenth of Octo- ber. It was received at Utuado November third and returned to Morrison arriving on the thirteenth. Across its face the burning words were written "Deceased,- Returned." The heart stricken parents could hardly realize that their son was not among the living until his death was confirmed officially a few days later.
Following the first notice of his death letters were received from his comrades who were at his bedside. when the end came. giving> the details in connection with his illness and death. He had been on duty at the hospital up to the time he was admitted as a patient, October fifteenth. and developed typhoid fever. He appeared to be gaining up to the twenty-ninth when he suffered a relapse from which he never rallied and cn the thirtieth he died. He was buried with military honors in the pretty little cemetery at Utuado by the side of a number of his unfortunate comrades. He was the first and only one of the boys from Whiteside coun- ty to suffer death in the beautiful little island of Porto Rico. His remains were disinterred and brought to Morrison where they were buried in Grove Hill ceme- tery April thirtieth, 1899.
One of the most sad incidents occurring in the history of the Sixth regiment was the death of Major William E. Baldwin of Dixon. Shortly after the arrival of the regiment in Porto Rico he was affected. with dysentery. His health failed gradually and when the return to Ponce was made he was so weakened that he decided to take a berth on the hospital ship Relief. He
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
was taken to Philadelphia and placed in a hospital where he remained until the time of his death which oc- curred on September fifteenth. In a letter written his wife under date of the fourteenth of September, he stated he was receiving the best possible treatment and attention, that he was getting along nicely and there was no cause for her to worry as he would be home shortly.
His perdiction of the early arrival at home proved true, but little did anyone surmise the conditions that would surround the return of the soldier. The an- nouncement of his death following so closely upon the receipt of the cheering letter completely overcame the waiting wife, a bride of a year, and the anxious father and mother were grief stricken. While in the hospital apparently on the road to ultimate recovery, he suffered a relapse and passed away very suddenly. The re- mains were brought to Dixon for interment. Guarded by a squad of G. A. R. veterans, the body lay in state in the corridor of the Lee county court house, where it was viewed by hundreds of sorrowing friends. The funeral occurred on the Sunday following his death. It was one of the largest and most impressive ever held in this section of the state. He was buried with mili- tary honors befitting his rank.
Major Baldwin had been connected with the Illinois National Guard for ten years, having enlisted as an original member of company G of Dixon, July second 1888. He served as a non-commissioned officer for a time and was commissioned second lieutenant in 1890; promoted to captain in 1891, commanding the company during its service in Chicago where it participated in the campaign arising from the railroad strike. In the fall
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