USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of companies I and E, Sixth Regt., Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Whiteside County > Part 8
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Monday May ninth. the final physical examination was given Company E. The boys marched down town
122
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
to the State Capitol building in the morning, and after a long wait on the outside they were taken to the Senate Chamber and there, twenty men at a time were stripped of all clothing and taken before the examining board. This board consisted of Colonel Senn. Ass't Surgeon General of the U. S. A., Captain Birmingham also of the regular army, Major Anthony. Surgeon. and Captain Cole. Assistant Surgeon of the Sixth regi- ment. The Sterling boys came through the or- deal with flying colors, losing only two men. Cor- poral William Deem and private Lovier Feigley. Both were sorely dissapointed, but the regulations could not be ignored and the only course open to them was to re- turn home. Captain Lawrie recruited two volunteers from Chicago to fill the vacancy.
The following day, May tenth Company I was ex- amined. Its members were taken to the quarters of the Fifth, and the examination was given them by the board of that regiment. It was composed of Major Milton R. Keeley, Surgeon of the Fifth, and one of the Ass't Snr- geons of the same regiment. It was quite evident from the beginning that they were to receive a searching ex- amination and when the last man had donned his cloth- ing the list of rejected ones contained the names of twenty-four of the Morrison boys: among them were some of the oldest members of the company of State troops and this ripping up the back so weakened the company in point of numbers as to bring the matter of disbanding and reorganizing it, to serious consideration.
Captain Colebaugh, feeling that an injustice had been done the men who were rejected. brought the matter to the attention of Colonel Foster, commanding the Sixth regiment. After considering the problem the Colonel
123
Co. I. LOSES HEAVILY
authorized Major Anthony to give the rejected men a re- examination. Six of the twenty-four accepted the op- portunity and every man went through. This appeared to be substantial evidence that they were given an ex- tremely thorough going over at the hands of Major Keeley, either intentional or otherwise. With seven men rejected at the preliminary, and twenty-four at the final examination. left the company with but fifty-four of the original eighty-five. Another of the company. Brice MeCune. thinking he would sooner get to the front, went over to the Third regiment and entered their ranks. Fifty-three men were all that could be mustered. The return of the six men who were accepted at the re- examination brought the number up to fifty-nine. There were plenty of extra men about camp awaiting just such an opportunity as this to enter the ranks and in a short time twenty-one recruits were selected and com- pany I had a full complement of men.
Those of company I who were rejected at the pre- liminary examination were: Corporal Charles Weeks. privates William Morse. Firman Mc Whitemore, Timothy Bly. Frank Davis. Frank Judd and Orville Mitchell. Those rejected at the final were: Sergeant Ed Curtis, Corporal Orville Kaler. privates Henry Clark. Harry Morse. William Almanrode. George Hubbard. William Hubbard, Charles Magee. Theo Magee. Emerson Fel- lows. Otto Harrison. Alvin Burch. Walter Weeks. Wil- liam Yarbrough. Henry Vandyke. George Colehour, Arthur Stinton and Harry Fisher. These men, with the rejected ones of company E. were furnished transporta- tion and regretfully. they turned their faces homeward. Fortunately, the men who were recruited to fill the va- cancies caused by the loss of these men were all fine
124
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
fellows and had the opportunity and time been given to investigate each individual, it is doubtful if a more de- sireable selection could have been made.
The weather continued wet and nasty. The camp grounds had become a sea of mud and the buildings were kept clean with difficulty. A day of sunshine was exceptional and the men were beginning to tire of their quarters. Many rumors floated about camp and we were constantly expecting something to occur which would result in our being mustered in and hurried to the front. We were rapidly being equipped with cloth- ing but were short of arms, having only the few rifles which the companies had taken to camp from home, and a goodly portion of them had been condemned and taken up, as unfit for service.
There was very little sickness in camp. It was sur- prising too; the unfavorable condition of the weather and the inexperience of many of the men in taking proper care of themselves in such surroundings may well have been cause for much sickness. The examining sur- geons evidently did their work thoroughly and the ac- cepted men possessed excellent constitutions; otherwise the conditions would have been vastly different from those existing at the time.
The Fifth and Third regiments of infantry were mus- tered into United States service in the order named on the seventh day of May, and we anxiously awaited orders. hoping to follow them closely. The officers and men of the Fifth and Third were highly elated at their success in being the first of the Illinois troops to be mus- tered in, and delighted in calling the attention of the men of the remaining regiments to the fact, and they in- formed us that they would be at the front in a few days
ILL.
E. J. WEAVER, 2nd Lieut. Co. I, Vol.
125
SIXTH INFANTRY MUSTERED IN.
while in all probability we would not leave the State. In all events the most we could hope for would be gar- rison duty in some out of the way army post. The events which followed in the succeeding months proved the un- reliability of these statements and the uncertainty sur- rounding a soldiers life.
The Sixth regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. was mustered into the United States service. Wednes- day, May eleventh. by Captain Cyrus S. Roberts, 17th U. S, Infantry, mustering officer. The regimental officers and non-commissioned staff were the first to take the oath and sign the muster roll. Company E of Sterling was the first and Company I of Morrison. the last to be sworn in. of the twelve companies which com- posed the Sixth regiment. Captain Roberts. accom- panied by Colonel Foster and the commanding officer of the company took his position in front of the awaiting soldiers. As the name of each man was read from the muster in roll, he stepped forward a few paces, forming a new line. After this had been repeated until every man in the company had answered "here", Captain Roberts requested the men to take their caps in the left hand and raise the right while he administered the fol- lowing oath :
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of Ameri- ca; that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the rules and articles of war.
We were soldiers in fact as well as practice. This was the hour of the disbanding of the Illinois National
126
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
Guard, as company after company took the oath of allegiance to serve the government for two years unless sooner discharged. Colonel Foster spoke words of en- couragement to the men and informed us that we were the first regiment of volunteers ever mustered into the government service from Illinois with twelve full com- panies.
The die was cast and come what would we were bound to the flag of our Union for two years or until the Spaniards were driven from the Island of Cuba and peace declared.
1:27
ROSTER OF COMPANY E.
CHAPTER VI.
The following is a complete roster of companies E and I as they were mustered into the volunteer service: giving the residence of each man at the time of enlist- ment :
COMPANY E.
Captain, William F. Lawrie,
1st Lieutenant, Goodicil B. Dillon,
2nd Lieutenant, Frank Wahl,
ist Sergeant,
Samuel H. Feigley,
Q. M. Sergeant, Sergeant,
Edward A. Nellen, John W. Cushman,
Joshua H. Wildasin,
Fred E. Wagley,
Rock Falls.
Corporal,
Charles F. Hoobler, Romeo, W. Baker,
Sterling.
Herbert R. Grimes,
Leslie C. Sheldon,
Martin [ .. Allpress,
Harry L. Hankerson,
Rock Falls. Sterling.
Musician,
F. Roy Eshelman, Lee D. Meyers,
66
Private,
Anderson, Charles Alderfer, Philip
Aument, Frank H.
Byers, Wilson
Bailey, Frank C.
Bassett, Bert
6. Rock Falls. Sterling,
Sterling. 66
128
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
Private
Bassett, Marcus P.
Bassett, Ed.
66
Bassett, Milton B.
Rock Falls.
Bushnell, Leo H.
Sterling.
66
Book, Enos
Emerson.
Bensinger, John E.
Sterling.
Burr, James S.
Berlin, Clark
66
Buckley, Bernhard J.
¥
Blair, Frank
Burkhart, Will L.
Chicago.
Cary, John G.
Sterling.
Cary, Elroy R.
Coryell, Frank H.
Rock Falls.
Cunningham, Claire
Sterling.
66
Compton, Clare
"
66
Deem, Arthur E.
Deyoe, Devillo B.
Rock Falls.
Dillon, Reese J.
Sterling.
6.
Eisele, William
66
Flock, William F.
Sterling.
Goodman, Harry C.
Hess, Fred R.
Higby, Leonard C.
Heathcoate, William
66
Hansen, Gus
Rock Falls. .6
66
Havens, George F.
Sterling.
.6
- Johnson, Charles A.
"
66
Johnson, Bert
Kahl, Ernest
Lingel, William J.
Lund, William C.
Lineberry, John
Lindsley, Calvin
Little, Harry
Moore, Louis E.
Morrison, Alfred G.
66
McNeil, Robert B.
Mackey, Fred W.
Sterling,
66
Clark, Lyman P.
Eager, Wallace L.
Rock Fa'ls.
Hall, Guy G.
Johnson, Charles S.
66 Rock Falls. Sterling.
Rock Falls. Sterling. Rock Falls.
66
¢
7
Co. E lined up, preparatory to taking the oath, Major Anthony on extreme left, Capt. Lawrie in foreground.
129
ROSTER OF COMPANY I.
Private
Merricks, Edward
Rock Falls. Sterling.
Pigg, Frank
Round, George
Reifsnyder, William
Ranger, Charles E.
Rhodemyer, Herman
Rock Falls.
Rodgers, Guy Alden Chicago.
Smith, Frank W.
Sterling.
Sheldon, John
Struckman, William C.
Street, Albert L. 6.
Sneed, Fred W.
Slade, George ..
.€
Strock, John Franklin
Triggs, Alpheus W.
Wright, Fred W.
Rock Falls.
Winters, Carl
Wahl, Albert A.
Sterling.
Wilkinson, Lee D.
Date of enrollment. April twenty sixth, for those who joined the company for duty previous to its de- parture from Sterling. Privates Burkhart and Rodgers were recruited at Springfield and enrolled May four- teenth. Hospital Steward Kline secured an excellent photograph of company E as the boys lined up awaiting to be mustered in.
COMPANY I.
Captain, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant, Ernest J. Weaver,
Wm. F. Colebaugh, Edward C. Lawton,
Morrison.
1st Sergeant, Q. M. Sergeant, Sergeant,
David E. Crouch, Andrew F. Mathews, Harry A. Weaver, Jacob L. Rockey,
Prairieville. Morrison. 66
Corporal,
Harry H. Rockey,
Andrew J. Osborne, Jr., Erie.
Musician,
Ora M. Colebaugh, Robert E. Davis,
Morrison. 66
130
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
Private, Adams, Henry W. Andrews, James
Prophetstown. Erie.
Morrison.
יל
Boyer, William C.
Baird, John W.
Brubaker, John S.
Brearton, Fred W.
66
Birley, Charles H.
66
Burr, Amos A.
Thompson.
Morrison.
Black, Evan
Baker, John
Springfield.
Prophetstown.
Carlton, Frank E.
Corbin, John
Cullum, Paul
Neoga.
Dahlstrom, William
Prophetstown.
Donavan, David A.
Everhart, George
Morrison.
Fenton, William
Erie.
Humphrey, Ralph D.
Morrison.
Hyatt, Charles E.
Hawse, George B.
Heath, Lafayette S.
Hartless, Ernest T.
Johnson, Fred O.
Morrison.
Judd, Charles
Jenks, Edwin
Fenton.
Mendota.
66
Kellett, Charles T.
Prophetstown.
Koepke, Bernhard
Amboy.
Kirk, Alonzo L
Decatur.
Leatherwood, Scott
Spring Hill.
Prophetstown.
Clyde. .
Quincy.
Lueck, William H.
Lepper, Edward
Morrison, John
Morrison.
Middleton, Leonard C. Prophetstown.
Miller, Frank
Erie.
66
Mckenzie, Richmond
Prophetstown.
Berry, Charles
Berry, Harrison S.
Lyndon.
Bunzey, Rufus S
Colp, George W.
Morrison.
Decatur.
Prophetstown. Aurora.
Kingrey, Frank
Littell, John C.
Lay, Roy
Lee, Edward Saxon
131
ROSTER OF COMPANY I.
Private
May, Chester N.
Marold Charles M.
Philleo, Arthur
Peters, George
l'ense, Clayton A.
Prophetstown.
Polson, August
Geneseo.
Patterson, Ilenry
Fowler.
Phillips, Thomas
Quincy.
"
Reynolds, John
Lyndon.
..
Roderich, John
Aurora.
Sherwood, Asa
Morrison.
Scanlan, Oliver
Fenton.
66
Stanley, Neal
Propbetstown.
Seaton, T. Lyle
Round Grove
Savage, Orin J.
Lyndon.
.€
Smith, Verne M.
Albany.
Shear, Thomas R.
Morrison.
Stakelbeck, Otto
Quincy.
Schanz, William
Quincy. ..
66
Thompson, Robert C. { Morrison.
Turner, Lewis C.
Neoga.
Thomas, Harry
Geneseo.
Whitemore, William
Fenton.
Wilcox, Albert
Erie.
6
Willcox, Hilton
Wilkins, Ross C.
Lyndon.
Wood, Mark
Moline.
66
Yopst, Birt ().
Albany.
Date of enrollment, April twenty-sixth. for those who joined the company previous to its departure from Morrison. Privates Baker. Cullum, Donavan. Hartless, Koepke. Kirk. Lee. Lueck. Lepper. May. Marold. Patterson, Polson. Phillips, Roderich. Stakelbeck. Schanz. Schachtsiek, Turner, Thomas and Wood were recruited at Springfield, and enrolled May eleventh.
Very soon after company I was mustered in, Er- nest Weaver, for private reasons, tendered his resigna- tion as 2nd Lieutenant. Had this occurred before the
Decatur. Quincy. Erie.
.
Schachtsiek, Fred
132
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
muster in, and while the troops were yet in the service of the State. the vacancy would have been filled by the election of a member of this company; but as they were sworn in and governed by the regulations of he U. S. Army, his successor came through appointment. Cap- tain Ben Eick. of Sterling. Inspector of Rifle Practice. of the Sixth Ill. N. G. for several years, received the ap- pointment. In the organization of the volunteer regi- ments there were no Inspectors of Rifle Practice on the staff, and as Captain Eick was anxious to remain with the regiment he accepted the commission. Colonel Foster immediately appointed him Regimental Ordnance Officer and he was on detached duty throughout our volunteer service. Company I was practically without a 2nd Lieutenant during its entire service, as the duties connected with the office of Ordnance Officer kept Lieutenant Eick away from the company.
As the position of Battalion Quartermaster Ser- geant also became void in the volunteer organizations, Walter Burritt of Morrison, who held this rank in the first battalion, accompanied Lieutenant Weaver home.
Whiteside county was well represented in the Field, Staff and Non-commissioned Staff of the Sixth regi- ment, as will be observed in the roster which follows:
Colonel,
D. Jack Foster, Chicago.
Lieut. Colonel,
Edward Kittilsen, Moline.
Major,
Will T. Channon, Rock Island.
David E. Clark,
Monmouth.
66 Reg. Adjutant,
William E. Baldwin, Dixon. John J. Cairns, Chicago.
Surgeon Major,
Frank Anthony, Sterling.
Ass't Surgeon,
Lorenzo S. Cole, Monmouth.
Charles A. Robbins, Dixon.
Chapiin,
Alanson R. Morgan Cuba, Ill.
-
1
Capt Roberts, Mustering Officer, administering the oath to the Field and Staff Officers of the Sixth I11 Col Foster on the left.
FIELD AND STAFF OF THE SIXTH.
133
Reg. Q. Master, Frank Barber, 1st. I.t. Bat. Adjt.,
L. R. Gaylord,
James W. Clendenin,
Joseph H. Showalter,
Sergeant Major, Edwin S. Johnson, Q. M. Sergeant, Rudolphus Hicks,
Chief Musician, John C. Prestine,
Prin.
66
Fred W. Forbes, Thomas HI. Flynn,
Hosp Steward, John L. Kline,
66
Howard N. Geyer, Fred N. Brown,
Chicago.
Moline. Monmouth. La Moille.
Sterling. Galena. Sterling.
Rock Island, Milledgeville. Rock Falls. Sterling.
134
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
CHAPTER VII.
The members of company I were pleasantly sur- prised on the Friday succeeding our muster in, to see Judge Ramsay, Sheriff Fuller, L. T. Stocking and J. N. Baird put in an appearance. They were kept very busy until mess call at noon answering questions relat- ing to friends at home. Getting news of home from such a source had a pleasing effect on us all, and as we formed for mess we were all feeling very light-hearted. Our visitors took dinner with us in regular army style. eating hard-tack and beef from tin plates and apparently enjoyed their first meal in camp. Judge Ramsay took a snap shot at us as we were eating and another after dinner when we had a better opportunity to form. After dinner the practice march had to be gone over again, this left our visitors to their own amusement un- til the time when the company returned.
It was soon discovered there was something out of the ordinary going on about us. and Capt. Colebaugh informed us we would be expected to be in our quarters ready to fall in line at 6:30 p. m.
All were relieved from duty of any sort, by ar- rangements made with Colonel Foster. At last the secret leaked out, and we began to realize the mission of those from home. At 6:30 all were in line and we
135
COMPANY I BANQUETED.
were marched to the entrance gate and there found three street cars in readiness and waiting for us, which had been chartered for the occasion. We were taken up town and ordered out of the cars in front of the .Leland." the leading hotel in the city. and were given twenty minutes in which to stroll around and prepare for the feast awaiting us.
At 7:30 we were again formed in line and marched direct to the spacious dining hall and seated. Here we also found Major Channon. Major Anthony. Chaplain Morgan. Capt. Lawrie of Co. E, and Lieut. Eick. all of the 6th. Col. Foster being unable to attend on account of very pressing business.
After blessings had been asked by Chaplain Morgan the feast began. course after course being served. We ate and ate. and yet it came: we had colored waiters standing about us ready to "jump" at the first signal. Wor dwas sent down the line to "take your time." "eat all you like." and "enjoy yourselves." And maybe we did not. It was the first time in the experience of many of us where every time a knife. fork or spoon was taken from our months it was taken away to be replaced by another: but bear in mind we were dining at one of the finest hotels in this part of the State: remember, we were guests of a people who knew how to entertain. and every- thing served us was the best. Cigars were passed around by a big black fellow: they were lighted. windows and transoms were opened. and we settled down to enjoy a good smoke.
L. T. Stocking, speaking in behalf of the committee, then explained to us the circumstances. He told us how the citizens had been planning to send something to the boys, but they finally hit upon this plan of selecting
136
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
a committee to represent them, send them down and give us a banquet. He stated the people at home had not for- gotten us, that they were with us from first to last. that every man was remembered, and they had taken this niethod to express their appreciation. After a few appro- priate remarks he called on Major Channon, Major An- thony. Chaplain Morgan and Captains Colebaugh, Lawrie and Lieut. Eick, each one of whom responded and ex- pressed his satisfaction and pleasure at being with us on this occasion. Chaplain Morgan gave us a very im- pressive talk. He told us that in our hands (referring to Illinois volunteers ) rested the honor of a State which had given us such men as Grant, and Logan, whose pres- ence on the battlefield was worth more than ten thousand troops: Oglesby. and last but not least that soldier-states- man who gave up his life for his flag and his country, that martyred patriot. Abraham Lincoln. He cautioned us to bear in mind the fact that we represented the grand- est State in the union; he cautioned us to remember we had friends and loved ones at home who followed our every movement, therefore we should watch ourselves and return to our friends and homes as pure as when we left them. He continued at some length and made a very warm place for himself in the hearts of us all. Judge Ramsay then responded in behalf of the people whom the committee represented, and as is his custom he more than pleased us. Every one who reads these lines know only too well how able a speaker the Judge is. and it is sufficient to say that he spoke with his usual eloquence. This was followed by breaking up of the party, and when we were in line on the outside three rousing cheers were given with a will for the representa- tives and the represented. Our visitors bade us all good-
Col. "Jack" Foster and his field headquarters in Porto Rico.
137
THE BOYS MADE HAPPY.
by, and we gave each a parting hand-shake.
We found. as before, cars awaiting to take us back to camp, and we were soon resting in our quarters. Did we think we had been forgotten? Hardly so. The boys received new encouragement from this generous and thoughtful act of our friends at home. and we then and there decided that should it occur that we should serve our full enlistment term of two years. and the opportu- nity came and we were called upon to face the enemy in battle, we would strain every nerve. make every effort possible, to prove to the friends at home that they had not misplaced their confidence: that in placing in our hands the integrity of a portion of Old Whiteside and Old Glory. which has been so nobly protected in trials of this same nature before by our fathers and forefathers. they had made no mistake: that "in camp, on the march. or in conflict," we would do with all our might that which should be required or asked of us.
Looking backward and recalling the many incidents in our short service, this occasion will be remembered as one of the most pleasant in the soldier life of company I.
Company E was often remembered by the people of Sterling and Rock Falls. Hardly a day passed that did not bring something from home. and it was always of the best and plenty of it. The effect of this treatment was to inspire the boys with a determination to so govern themselves as to be a credit to their people and to Illinois.
The following non-commissioned officers for company I were appointed by Captain Colebaugh: Corporals Rockey and Osborne to be Sergeants: Privates Harrison Berry. Seaton. Pense. Black. Adams and Leatherwood to be Corporals.
The whole of the Sixth regiment was vaccinated the
138
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
day following its muster in. The boys nursed sore arms for a few days and protected the tender spots by pinning placards on their sleeves bearing inscriptions such as "touch not," "keep off the grass." "beware" and "vacci- nated."
The Erie people remembered their boys with several large boxes of good things. Sunday as we formed for mess at the noon hour. down the line came one after an- other of the Erie boys with chicken. cake, jelly and fruit. They fed us until we could eat no more. Every one was remembered, all ate until satisfied. and then a box of cigars was fished out of the box and sent around.
This dinner made a warm spot in our hearts for the good people of Erie. The shortest and surest route to a soldiers heart is by way of his stomach. Allow him to exist on army rations for a week and then place a good. old fashioned dinner before him and you have sealed an everlasting friendship with him.
One evening. just before dusk, the story was circu- lated through camp to the effect that a sergeant of one of our neighboring companies. who had been accepted by the surgeons. absolutely refused to enlist. A crowd com- posed of the men of the regiment congregated and proposed to drum the man who had showed the "yellow" out of camp. The threat was carried out and he was roughly handled by his infuriated comrades. The timely arrival of a guard from post headquarters scattered the men, but for this the fellow would have suffered severely. For a time the unsoldierly actions of the men created consider. able excitement in camp.
Comrades Prestine and Forbes were untiring in their efforts to organize a band. It was a difficult mat- ter to secure men who were good musicians to enter the
139
SIXTH REGIMENT VOLUNTEER BAND.
service and accept the pay of a private. There were a number of excellent band men in the regiment but more were needed and they had no instruments. Chief Musi- cian Prestine suggested that each of the twelve towns represented by a company in the regiment. start the work of raising a fund for the purpose of maintaining a first class band. This suggestion was acted on by the people at home and a considerable sum realized. This was the foundation of the Sixth Regiment Volunteer Band and it was built up and improved as rapidly as circumstances . would permit, and eventually proved to be one of the best and strongest bands in the volunteer service. The men detailed to the band from company I were: John Corbin. John Morrison and John Baird, commonly re- ferred to as "The Three Johns."
On May twelfth. the Sixth regiment marched out to Lincolns monument and also paid a visit to the familiar grounds of Camp Lincoln. They held dress parade and passed in review before returning to quarters. Major Channon was in command of the regiment. Captain Law- rie acting Major of the first battalion. Lieut. Wahl acting as battalion adjutant. Company E was placed under command of Lieut. Dillon, and Sergeant Cushman was acting regimental sergeant-major.
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