USA > Illinois > History of the 112th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in the great war of the rebellion, 1862-1865 > Part 16
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The artillery mentioned by Col. Henderson in his report as having been captured, was commanded by a Lieut. Blake. He was a native of Putnam county, Illinois ; his father having at one time been surveyor of that county. He went south be- fore the war, and when hostilities commenced enlisted in the Confederate service as a private, and had won promotion by hard fighting. He said public sentiment had compelled him
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
to enlist, but he did not believe at the time there would be a war. But the war came, and his battery was ordered to the front, and having got started he concluded to make the best of his position and fight it out on that side. He was wounded by a sabre thrust on the spine and brought into our lines. He was immediately recognized by several men in Co. A, of the 112th Illinois, some of whom had been his schoolmates. He fought desperately, and refused to surrender until disabled. He gave as the reason for huis stubborn resistance that he ex- pected to be killed if captured and recognized as a northern man, and he preferred to die at his post. He was surprised and gratified, however, at being treated respectfully and cared for tenderly. But his wound proved fatal, and the next morn- ing he was a corpse. He was buried in a rebel's grave, un- honored, unpitied, unmourned, an unfaithful son of his state and country, with not even the lame excuse of a southern ed- ucation and an interest in its peculiar institutions for taking up arms against his government.
When our command fell back, on the 26th, it was found there was not a sufficient number of ambulances to carry the wounded. The chaplain of the 112th Illinois was the proud possessor of a team and carriage. He was requested to carry some of the wounded men in his carriage, but refused to do so, saying it was the duty of the government, and not his duty, to furnish transportation for the wounded. The wounded men were loaded upon wagons ; but during the march that night a heavy army wagon accidentally collided with the chaplain's carriage and it was completely demolished, and he himself narrowly escaped serious injury. He met Quartermaster Al- den, a few days after, and informed him of the accident. His conscience troubled him, and he exclaimed, "I am afraid the hand of Providence is against me for refusing to carry those wounded men.“
Alden admitted that the ways of Providence were myster- ious and past finding out, but suggested that perhaps it was the devil who had interfered in the matter.
The Quartermaster had hinted to the teamster that it would be unfortunate for the chaplain if one of the heavy wag- ons should happen to collide with his carriage, and he cau-
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VARIOUS CAMPING PLACES.
tioned the teamster to exercise great care to avoid such an ac- cident. The teamster took the hint ; and Alden's suggestion to the chaplain was not far from right.
Capt. Otman was talking to Lieut. Newman, when the latter was wounded at Kelly's Ford, on the 28tl. A musket ball struck Newman in the center of the forehead. He fell to the ground, but Otman caught and helped him to his feet. It was thoughit he was mortally wounded, and, at his request, Capt. Otman made a hurried memoranda and promised to write to his wife in New York City. It proved to be only a scalp wound, however, and in six weeks after the lieutenant was on duty again.
In the battle of Franklin, in November, 1864, Capt. Otman was again talking to Lieut. Newman, when the latter was again hit and severely wounded. He was sent to the hospital at Nashville, where Capt. Otman called on him a few weeks after. The lieutenant was glad to see him, of course; but lie cautioned the captain uever to speak to him again while they were engaged in battle.
After the engagement on the 28th, our command fell back and camped again at Dr. Hodgeden's place on Pigeon Creek. But while we had been fighting the rebel cavalry, a heavy in- fantry force of the enemy had obtained a position in our rear and occupied the country between our command and Knox- ville. In fact, our cavalry division was quite surrounded ; and accordingly the command was ordered to move by a circuitous route to Maryville-the county seat of Blount county-a little east of south of Knoxville.
The command moved at sunrise on the 29th; marched about sixteen miles, over the worst roads ever traveled, passed through "Devil's Gap" into "Weir's Cove," and there camped for the night. Marched at noon on the 30th, and camped in "Tuckaleeche Cove." Moved at 9 o'clock on the 31st, follow- ed down Little River, crossing and recrossing it a dozen or more times, marched sixteen miles, and arrived at Maryville at sunset.
These "Coves" were little valleys surrounded by mountains, the only ingress and egress being by a narrow gap at either end. They were inhabited by a peculiar class of people, as
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
ignorant as their animals, who knew and cared nothing about the outside world. Many of them had been born, and lived and died in these little basins, without ever having been out- side. That was their "world"-they knew of no other, and cared for no other-happy in their ignorance, contented in their poverty.
On the first day of February our wounded men were sent to Knoxville. Several of them obtained furloughis and went home by way of Chattanooga ; others were sent to the hospit- als.
The regiment remained at Maryville until February 4th ; the principal occupation of the members during that time be- ing to wash their clothing, rest and prepare for the next move. Many of the men were dismounted ; their horses had worn out and been abandoned. For several weeks it had been reported that the 112th was to be dismounted and sent to Kentucky to be refitted with new horses and now the order came. It had been found impossible to obtain a sufficient number of horses in Tennessee to supply all the mounted troops, and the 112th Illinois and two other regiments were ordered to proceed to Knoxville, turn over their horses, and march on foot to Ken- tucky for a new supply.
Accordingly, on the Itth, the regiment marched to Knox- ville, turned over horses, and loaded saddles and accoutre- ments upon wagons, and on the morning of the 6th, in the midst of a pouring rain-storm, started on the march over the mountains to Kentucky.
Col. Henderson, Major Dow, Capt. Dow, Lieuts. Petrie, Bush and Newman, and eight enlisted men, and Capt, Mc- Cartney, A. A. A. G. of the brigade, proceeded by rail to Lou- don, thence by steamer down the Tennessee to Chattanooga, thence by rail by way of Nasliville and Louisville, to Lexing- ton, and thence by stage to Mount Sterling.
The brigade, or detachment, consisted of the 112th Illinois, the 45th Ohio and the 8th Michigan cavalry, and was com- manded on the march to Mount Sterling by Lieut. Col. Bond, of the 112th Illinois. The regiment during this time was com- manded by Capt. S. F Otman, the senior officer present.
It was rumored that upon our arrival in Kentucky the whole
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AT MOUNT STERLING.
regiment would be furloughed for thirty days. It was a mere camp rumor, but many of the boys believed it and hoped it might prove true. It hastened their footsteps remarkably, and made them feel exceedingly happy ; and as they tramped along the mountain roads they made the forests ring with songs and cheers and laughter. The regiment reached Point Burnside, six miles below Somerset, at noon on the 12th of February, having marched one hundred and twelve miles, ov- er rough, mountainous roads in six and one-half days. Here the command halted, to rest the teams, until the 14th, and then proceeded by easy marches, by way of Danville, Camp Nelson, Lexington and Winchester to Mount Sterling, one hundred and twenty miles from Point Burnside, where we ar- rived on the 24th, having marched two hundred and thirty-two miles from Knoxville to Mount Sterling.
The boys soon learned that no applications for furloughs would be considered. A few of those who were disabled by reason of wounds or sickness were granted leaves of absence, but that was all. A recruiting party was sent home, to recruit the depleted ranks of the regiment, but regimental and brigade commanders were instructed not to forward any applications for leaves of absence or furloughs, as they would certainly be disapproved. Many of the officers and men sent for their wives, and those were permitted to board in town, but as a rule the same attention to duty was required and the same discipline imposed as while at the front.
While at Mount Sterling Lieut. B. F Thompson, of Co. B, was appointed Adjutant of the regiment, but on account of somne delay in the muster out of Adjutant Wells, he was not mustered as adjutant until the following September. Serg. William H. Doyle was promoted to First Lieutenant of the company, but was not commissioned nor mustered until Sep- tember.
At Mount Sterling, on the 5th of March, as the 2d Brigade, 1st Division. Cavalry Corps, the brigade was reorganized, to consist of the 112th Illinois, the 8th Michigan and the 6th In- diana Cavalry-Col. Henderson in command-and the follow- ing staff officers were appointed from the 112th Illinois : Ma- jor Luther S. Milliken, Chief Surgeon ; Capt. James McCart-
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
ney, A. A. A. G .; Lieut. James G. Armstrong, A. A. Q. M .; Lieut. Thomas F Davenport, A. A. C. S. ; Lieut. Jacob Bush, A. A. D. C.
And now officers and men applied themselves industriously in resting and recovering from the exposures and hardships of the East Tennessee campaign, and in making preparations for other campaigns in the near future.
CHAPTER XV
MARCH BACK TO KNOXVILLE-ORDERED TO GEORGIA. PREPARATIONS FOR THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. THE 112TH JOINS COL. REILLY'S BRIGADE.
The 112th Illinois remained at Mount Sterling, engaged in daily drill and dress parade, and resting from the arduous campaign in Tennessee, until the 6th of April, when the regi- ment and other troops at Mount Sterling moved to Lexington.
The service of the regiment as mounted infantry liad ended. The order to remount and refit the regiment had been coun- termanded, and it was ordered to equip itself for service in the field as "flat-footed" infantry and join the 23d Corps for a cam- paign in Northern Georgia. Saddles and all the equipments of mounted troops were turned over, and arms and accoutre- ments put in condition for active service at the front as regular infantry.
At Lexington, on the 8th of April, the brigade was disolved, and Col. Henderson issued the following order relieving the officers of his staff :
H'DQRS 2ND BRIGADE, IST DIV. CAV. CORPS, Lexington, Ky., April 8, 1864
GENERAL ORDERS No. 8-The following named officers, com posing the staff of the Colonel commanding, are hereby reliev- ed from duty at these Headquarters, and will report to their respective regiments without delay, viz: Major Luthier S. Milliken, 112th Ill. Vol. Infty, Chief Surgeon ; Capt. James McCartney, 112th Ill. Vol. Infty, A. A. A. G ; Lieut. James (i. Armstrong, 112th Ill. Vol. Infty, A. A. Q. M. ; Lieut. Thomas
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
F Davenport, 112th Ill. Vol. Infty, A. A. C. S. ; Lieut .. Jacob Bush, 112th Ill. Vol. Infty, A. A. D. C. ; Lieut. James G. Miles, 6th Ind. Vol. Cav., A. A. I. G.
By command of
COL. THOMAS J. HENDERSON. James McCartney, Capt. and A. A. A. G.
At Lexington the regiment joined the 11th and 16th Ken tucky regiments of infantry, and the 45th Ohio, making about two thousand men, and Col. Ben P Runkle, of the 45th Ohio, being the ranking Colonel, was ordered to take command of the detachment and conduct it to Knoxville.
From Lexington the command moved to Camp Nelson, where it arrived on the 10th, and remained there, refitting, procuring arms and accoutrements and the necessary supplies for a long march over the mountains, with daily drills and dress parades, and frequent inspections, until the 19th, when the detachment again moved to Point Burnside, ar- riving there on the 23d of April. Here the command was plac- ed in charge of seventeen hundred pack mules and a large wagon train, loaded with twenty thousand rations, to take to Knoxville.
At Camp Nelson, on the 14th, Lieut. Thomas F Davenport of the 112th Illinois was detailed, by order of Col. Runkle, as Acting Assistant Commissary of Subsistence of the detach- ment, and among other duties required of him, he was assign- ed to the immediate command of the "mule train."
The command left Point Burnside on the 26th of April, and after a tedious, weary march arrived at Knoxville at noon on the third of May, having marched five hundred miles since leaving there on the 6th of February.
The author is indebted to Lieut. Thomas F Davenport for the following interesting account of the march over the moun- tains, which he entitles :
"A MULE TRAIN OVER THE MOUNTAINS-FROM A LIEUTENANT'S DIARY.
"On the 8th of April, 1864, the staff officers of the 2nd Bri- gade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Col. Thomas J. Henderson, were relieved from duty, and the service of the 112th Illinois as a mounted regiment was ended.
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THE MULE TRAIN.
"The Kentucky campaign ; the brilliant Saunders raid ; the stirring events in and around Knoxville; the long weeks of confinement during the siege, with scanty rations of mouldy corn-bread, mixed with sweepings from tobacco warehouses, cut off entirely from the supply train, in the enemy's country ; the brilliant dashes of our chief of foragers, Eph. Smith, up- on the fat, grain-fed mountain steers ; the little, old-fashioned mills, in which Lincoln S. Baugh of Co. C, and John Hords of Co. A, both practical millers, ground the confiscated wheat ; the scouting, and raiding, and foraging expeditions by night and day ; all were ended.
"At one time our boys captured a little mill on a creek near Dandridge, Tennessee. It was a few days before the affair at Kelly's Ford. Lincoln S. Baugh was placed in charge, and the burrs were soon buzzing. This was in the afternoon. About a wagon load had been ground when the rebels attack- ed the mill, drove the boys out, put their own in, and they commenced grinding. This exasperated our boys, and they in turn drove the rebels out and again took possession of the mill. The rebels returned in the night with reinforcements, and again obtained possession of the mill, and this time held it ; but our boys saved every pound of flour fairly belonging to them, and before daylight it was distributed to the men. The next morning the boys had "Hapjacks" for breakfast.
"On the 14th of April the writer of this received the follow- ing order :
' CAMP NELSON, KY., APRIL 14, 1864.
'SPECIAL ORDER NO. 1. ** Extract I .- First Lieut. Thomas F Daven- port, 112th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, is hereby de- tailed as Acting Commissary of Subsistence of detachment of United States Forces commanded by Col. Ben. P Runkle, and will report to these Headquarters for orders, without delay
'By command of
'COL. BEN. P RUNKLE. ' L. E. ALLMAN, Lieut., &c."
"I reported to Col. Runkle, and was directed to proceed to -18
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
Crab Orchard and there receive and take charge of one hun- dred and fifty wagons and three hundred and fifty pack-mules, to be loaded and packed with rations.
"At Crab Orchard we found a motley crowd of mules, wag- ons and teamsters, all out in a pouring rain. We proceeded to Point Burnside, on the Cumberland River, in advance of the troops, to finish packing, where we arrived on the 21st, and found everything in confusion and excitement.
"On the 22nd, I went out of town a mile or two to find Capt. Ransom, Post Commissary, from whom we drew ten days full rations of "hard-tack" and other provisions for two hundred men. I found Capt. Ransom occupying a cozy little cottage high up on the mountain side, among the rocks, looking like an eagle's nest in the cliffs, where he was enjoying his 'honey- moon'-having recently married Miss Ella Bishop, the heroine of Lexington, after whom our camp at that place was named -'Camp Ella Bishop.' I found Mrs. Ransom to be a plain, intelligent lady, and as full of patriotism and zeal for the Un- ion as when she defied the rebel soldiers on the streets of Lex- ington.
"At Point Burnside three hundred wagons and several hun- dred pack mules were added to our train. Each mule was loaded with from two hundred to three hundred pounds of rice, beans, sugar, coffee, salt and bacon, carried in panniers or saddles strapped upon the mules and covered with oil-cloth. I was assisted by Corporal H. Q. Edwards and Uncle John Boyd of Co. C, Ephraim Smith of Co. F, James Waterman of Co. H, who was our butcher, and George Boyd, who had been discharged from the 9th Illinois cavalry and was on his way to Knoxville to reenlist. It was a novel sight. The long train of mules coupled together in files of four, with their pads, looking like miniature dromedaries, winding in and out among the trees, guards on each side watchful and on the alert against attack-for the rebels well knew the value of the convoy and would have gladly relieved us of it if opportunity had offered.
"The troops and train left Point Burnside on the 26th of April and ascended the mountains, avoiding the towns and settle- ments and, with few exceptions, making fifteen to twenty miles. a day, nearly all of the way through dense forests. An escort
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FUN WITH A MULE TRAIN.
of one or two regiments marched in front and rear of the train. At night the wagons were parked in a circle, the mules in tlie center, and guards outside. As we rounded the crest of the Cumberland Mountains on the 30th of April, the sun rose warm and bright, the spring foliage glistened with dew, and we looked down, sheer down, one thousand feet from the beet- ling cliffs upon the little town of Jacksboro nestled in the beau- tiful valley below. Arriving at Clinton, on the Clinch River, our train and stores were turned over to Capt. Chapin, thie Post Commissary of Knoxville, and we were relieved from fur- ther duty.
"Col. Runkle did not have an organized brigade, but he com- manded the four regiments on the march into Tennessee as a detachment, hoping and expecting that they would be organ- ized into a brigade of which he would have permanent com- mand. But higher authority decided otherwise ; he was order- ed on duty elsewhere, and I lost sight of him in the momentous events that followed.
"My relations with him had been exceedingly pleasant. He was a brave soldier and a courteous officer, but quick-tempered, and often reckless in the discharge of his duties."
Immediately upon the arrival of the regiment at Knoxville, an inspection of arms and accoutrements was held, and Col. Henderson was ordered to turn over everything unserviceable ; all the regimental teams except two, and all surplus tents and baggage, and to draw all the clothing the regiment needed, and be ready to march on the morning of the fourth.
The command was ordered to proceed to Cleveland by rail, and thence join Sherman's army in Northern Georgia ; but for want of sufficient transportation the 112th Illinois did not move until the 8th of May.
Many of the sick and slightly wounded had recovered and rejoined the regiment ; all the field officers were present ; the long march into Kentucky and return had hardened and toughened the men ; and drills and parades had restored the regiment to its old-time proficiency and discipline, which had become somewhat impaired during its mounted service. It was understood that we were about to enter upon an active and perilous campaign against one of the great armies of the
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
Confederacy, under the leadership of one of its ablest gener- als, and that we woul l be called upon to endure hardships, face dangers and make long, weary marches ; but no man wavered in the determination to push forward and conquer a peace by destroying the enemy. Every man was in earnest, and ready and willing to go to the front and end the war by hard blows ; to wipe out, annihilate, destroy the rebel armies, and then return home and enjoy a well-earned peace.
The mounted service in which the 112th had been engaged had been detrimental to the discipline and morale of the regi- ment. Attached to an inferior force of cavalry, it had been compelled to do double duty, scouting and skirmishing as cav- alry, and fighting, dismounted, as infantry : always at a dis- advantage, as compared with regular infantry, as it required every fifth man to hold the horses, while many men were left in the rear on account of disabled and broken down horses. While the mounted forces in East Tennessee, after the siege of Knoxville, had been kept constantly moving, scouting and foraging, almost daily engaged in a skirmish with the enemy, alert, watchful, ever ready to move at a moment's notice, ex- posed to driving storms of rain, sleet and snow, the infantry regiments were lying quietly in comfortable camps, undisturb- ed by rebels, protected from the inclement winter weather. But one important movement was made by the infantry. When Longstreet left his camps at Morristown and marched with his infantry to Dandridge, in January, 1864, Gen. Parke, with the 9th Corps, and Gen. Granger's 4th Corps, and the 23d Corps, in temporary command of Gen. Cox, marched out to meet him : but the return of heavy, cold storms rendered an extended campaign impossible ; and both Confederate and Union commanders withdrew their troops and returned to their permanent quarters. The mounted forces, however, were kept at the front, moving night and day ; and it was not until the 112th Illinois was dismounted that the men were permitted to rest, and then only after a long march over rugged moun- tains, in mid-winter, to Central Kentucky
Company and battalion drills and dress parades and re- views had been unknown during the East Tennessee campaign, and while waiting at Knoxville for transportation the time was
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OUR COLOR BEARERS.
well occupied in reviewing the early lessons of the regiment in army tactics, and it was soon restored to its old-time profi- ciency and discipline. No regiment in the corps could keep better step, carry itself steadier, or make a finer appearance on the march or on a review than the 112th Illinois, and its fighting qualities were equal to its "style."
Serg. John L. Jennings, of Co. H, who had been appointed Color Bearer of the regiment, upon its muster in at Peoria, was relieved at Lexington, on the 6th of April, at his own re- quest, and returned to duty in his company Serg. Eli C. Jones, of Co. B, one of the color guards, acted as Color Bearer on the march from Lexington to Knoxville. On the 6th of May, while at Knoxville, Corporal John D. Hill, of Co. C, who had served as color guard, was appointed Color Bearer of the regiment, and served as such from that time until the regi- ment was mustered out of the service. Many times during the Atlanta campaign, and in the terrible battle at Franklin, in the following November, the colors of the regiment were riddled by rebel bullets, while in his hands ; but never for an instant were they lowered beneath the shower ot Confederate lead. At all times the 112th colors floated proudly and defiantly in the southern breeze.
Gen. Grant having been promoted to Lieut. General-a grade created by congress especially for him -- and having been called East to take command of all the armies of the Union and personally direct the movements of the army in Virginia against the Confederate capital, Gen. Sherman was placed in command of the Military Division of the Mississippi, compris- ing the three great Departments of the Cumberland, the Tenn- essee and the Ohio, and early in May, 1864, concentrated his forces in Northern Georgia preparatory to opening the cam- paign against Atlanta.
The Army of the Cumberland as prepared to take the field, in command of Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, consisted of three divisions of the 4th Corps, three divisions of the 14th Corps and three divisions of the 20th Corps-numbering about fifty- four thousand infantry and about four thousand cavalry, and twenty-three hundred artillery, and one hundred and thirty guns. Large garrisons were stationed at Chattanooga and
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
Nashville, and other important points in Middle Tennessee, and a considerable force was also required to guard the lines of communication north.
The Army of the Tennessee, in command of Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, consisted of three divisions of the 15th (Logan's) Corps, the 2nd and 4th divisions of the 16th Corps, and the 3d and 4th divisions of the 17th Corps-numbering about twenty-two thousand infantry, fourteen hundred artille- ry and ninety-six guns.
The 1st and 3d divisions of the 16th, and the 1st and 2nd divisions of the 17th Corps were left in the Valley of the Miss- issippi for garrison and other duties. After the fall of Atlan- ta the 2nd Division of the 16th Corps was transferred to the 15th Corps, and the 4th Division to the 17th Corps.
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