USA > Illinois > History of the 112th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in the great war of the rebellion, 1862-1865 > Part 27
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Johnston's army numbered, on the 19th of April, about for- ty-five thousand effective men ; but between that date and the 24th, he states that the apprehension of being made prisoners of war caused about eight thousand deserters, so that only about thirty-seven thousand men and officers were present to be paroled.
With the exception of the 23d Corps Sherman s army march- ed north, with flying colors, by the way of Richmond to Wash- ington, where they participated in a grand review and then returned to their homes.
Gen. Schofield being in command of the department, re- mained with his own corps, to bring order out of chaos, and protect the lives and property of citizens until civil govern-
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EDITORIAL COMMENT.
ment could be reestablished and the people prepared to take care of themselves.
The following editorial from the Raleigh Daily Progress of April 20, 1865, fairly represents the feelings of the loyal pop- ulation of North Carolina toward Jeff Davis and Governor Vance, and their former modes of government :
"We do not desire to dictate to Gen. Sherman, Gen. Grant or to the Government at Washington, but we do most solemnly protest against the State officers who have tyrannized over us for the past two years. Give us military government and pro- tection at the polls until we can elect new civil officers, and we shall be satisfied; but if those who have heretofore enslav- ed us be allowed to remain over us, all our devotion to a Con- stitutional Union, and all onr sacrifices are in vain. Give us entire freedom, through the constitutional mode of the ballot box, or give us abject slavery. No more of Jeff Davis, no more of Vance.
"We speak not for ourself, but for the people of North Car- olina ; and we appeal to the Union armies and the National authorities to save us."
On the 4th of May the 3d Division of the 23d Corps proceed- ed by rail to Greensboro, arriving there on the morning of the 5th, and went into camp on the Madison road, about two miles from town. Greensboro is the Guilford Court House of Revo- lutionary times, and is near the battle field of that name, where Gen. Greene fought Lord Cornwallis, on the 15th of March, 1781 ; and many of the officers and men of the 112th visited the old battle-ground.
But few changes occurred in the organization of the regi- ment after its arrival in North Carolina. Captain Gudgel, of Co. B, who was wounded at Utoy Creek, near Atlanta, on the 6th of August, 1864, had never returned to the regiment, and on the 27th of March, 1865, was honorably discharged from the service by reason of wounds. Lieut. B. F Thompson, Ad- jutant of the regiment, was promoted to Captain of the com- pany ; and First Sergt. Gilbert R. Woolsey of Co. D, then act- ing as Sergeant Major, was promoted to First Lieutenant and Adjutant-both to rank from April 25, 1865. Lieut. Griffin, who was captured at Knoxville on the 18th of November, 1863,
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
and Quartermaster Alden, who was captured in Georgia on the 24th of May, 1864, having visited their homes on leaves of absence since their exchange, rejoined the regiment at Greens- boro. S. M. Eldridge, the regimental postmaster, was detail- ed as brigade postmaster, and William K. Porter, of Co. A, was appointed postmaster of the regiment.
Since the resignation of Chaplain Henderson the regiment had been without a chaplain. Abram C. Frick, a recruit of Co. D, joined the regiment at Goldsboro, and brought with him a long list of names recommending him for chaplain. Neither Gen. Henderson nor Lieut. Col. Bond, commanding the regiment, would recommend him, but he was permitted to perform the duties of chaplain, and to be excused from other duties ; and he performed such duties very acceptably.
On the 11th of May Gen. Carter, then commanding the di- vision, directed Capt. McCartney, with Co. G, and Lieut. Brown, with part of Co. E, to proceed to Sandy Ridge, about seventy-five miles northwest of Greensboro, to restore and maintain order among the people of Stokes county. They camped at Sandy Ridge, and remained there until the 22nd of May. Capt. McCartney has furnished the author with the following account of their operations :
"We selected some of the best and most conscientious citi- zens of the county, in different sections, and made them jus- tices of the peace, and authorized them to take jurisdiction of and punish crime, until the civil authorities were fully estab- lished. We also organized a company of county police, who were authorized to find and arrest all persons committing any criminal offenses, after the date of Johnston's surrender. Similar courts had been organized in Virginia after Lee's sur- render.
"While at Sandy Ridge I went to Patrick Court House, the county seat of Patrick county, Virginia, and defended some men who were charged with criminal acts. Several of them were found guilty, and were punished by being taken out and whipped by the officers. There were no jails, and no way of punishing them except in some summary manner. The mag- istrates finally settled upon whipping, and every man found guilty was punished by so many stripes, according to the nat-
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EDITORIAL COMMENT.
ure of his offense. They were all white men who were tried at this court, and in most cases very bad men ; and the punish- ment inflicted upon them was very light, considering the of- fenses of which they were convicted, which were of great vio- lence and cruelty.
"I found all the people of both Stokes and Patrick counties very glad the war was over, and every one with whom I talked agreed that the result settled forever the question of States Rights. Most of them were glad that slavery was abolished, and hoped only to be permitted thereafter to live quietly and in peace. I found all whom I met as pleasant and hospitable as any people I have ever seen anywhere, and generally very intelligent. A majority of them had been discharged from the Confederate army only a few days, but I went everywhere without arms, in perfect safety. All their passions seemed to have cooled down, and we discussed the issues of the war and polities as calmly as if we had all lived in the North and were all of the same political faith.
"There was a certain class of people living in this portion of Virginia and North Carolina, however, who were very ignorant and depraved. They had lived mostly in the swamps and in- accessible places, so they should not be drafted into the rebel army, and during the whole war had lived by pillage and rob- berv. When the war ended they claimed to have been Union men and to have been persecuted by the enemy These were dangerous men, against whom the people had to be guarded, after the close of the war, and were much more to be feared than the recently freed negro. We found all the colored peo- ple very happy, but willing and anxious to remain with their old masters until they could provide homes for themselves ; and there was a very strong attachment between the former slaves and their masters."
Capt. Sroufe with his company (H.) and Capt. Dunn with his company (D,) were also sent into the country on similar errands, and were absent several weeks.
On the 18th of May, a Union meeting was held at Greens- boro, to which all the people were invited, which was address- ed by Gen. Cox, Ger. Carter and Gen. Henderson. The meet-
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS,
ing was well attended, and the people seemed at the time to be well satisfied with the progress of events.
Many of the men had been stricken with malarial fever en- gendered by the swamps in the eastern part of the State, and they had been left in hospitals along the line of march from Wilmington to Raleigh. Some were sent to Northern hospit- als, several were discharged and a few died, but the most of them recovered and rejoined the regiment at Greensboro.
Nothing more of special interest occurred while the division was at Greensboro. A court martial was convened in town, upon which some of the officers of the 112th Illinois were de- tailed, for the trial of military offenses, but this was of short duration. The officers worked hard every day in making out final reports and settling with the government, preparatory to muster out, and the most of them, if not all, succeeded in squaring their accounts.
CHAPTER XXVII.
MUSTERED OUT-GEN. HENDERSON'S FAREWELL ORDER-GEN. CARTER'S LETTER. EXTRACTS FROM GEN. COX'S LETTER-HOMEWARD BOUND. RECEPTION AT PITTSBURG-ARRIVAL AT CHICAGO. FINAL DISCHARGE-RETURN HOME. BANQUET AT GENESEO.
On the 2nd day of June, 1865, General Order No. 73 was promulgated from Department Headquarters directing the dis- charge of all the troops whose terms of service expired on or before the 30th of September, which was as follows :
"H'D QR'S DEPARTMENT OF N. C., ARMY OF THE OHIO, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, JUNE 2, 1865. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 73.
"I. In compliance with telegraphic orders from the War Department, all volunteer organizations of white soldiers whose terms of service expire on or before September 30th next, will be immediately mustered out of service. The mus- ter-out will be made with existing regimental and company or- ganizations, and under the regulations promulgated in Gen- eral Orders, No. 94, of May 15, from the War Department, published in General Orders, No. 62, of May 25, from these Headquarters.
"All men in the aforesaid organizations whose terms of ser- vice expire subsequently to September 30, 1865, will be trans- ferred to other organizations from the same State ; wlien practicable such men will be transferred to veteran regiments ;
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
where this is not practicable, they will be transferred to regi- ments having the longest time to serve.
"All men whose terms of service expire prior to October 1st. 1865, but whose regiments or companies are to remain in ser- vice after that date, will be mustered out of service at once. This order will be executed as follows :
"Ist. The three years regiments that were mustered into service under the call of July 2nd, 1862, and prior to October 1st of that year.
"2nd. The three year recruits who were mustered into ser- vice for the old regiments, prior to October 1st, 1862.
"3d. One year men for new or old organizations who enter- ed the service prior to Oct. 1st, 1864.
"In addition to the places of rendezvous for the troops to be mustered out designated in General Orders No. 94, current series, War Department, Adjutant General's office, Greens- boro is designated as the place of rendezvous for the troops of the 23 Army Corps, and Raleigh for those of the 10th Ar- my Corps.
"By command of MAJOR GENERAL SCHOFIELD.
"J A. CAMPBELL, Assistant Adjutant General."
There was considerable delay in obtaining muster-out rolls, which were required to be made in quadruplicate, but on the 15th a sufficient supply was received, and the work of prepar- ing them commenced.
Upon the muster-out of the regiment the recruits of the 112th Illinois, whose terms of service did not expire until af- ter the first of October, were transferred to the 65th Regiment Illinois Veteran Volunteers (consolidated). One whole com- pany was organized-Co. F of the 65th-and Lieut. T. E. Mil- christ of the 112th Illinois, was transferred and promoted to captain, and remained in command of the company. Lieut. Elmer E. Sage of Co. E, was also transferred to the same company. The 65th regiment was mustered out of the ser- vice at Greensboro, on the 13th of July, 1865.
Capt. Dunn was the senior captain of the regiment ; and on the 14th of June Gen. Henderson addressed the following communication to Gen. Schofield, commanding the depart- ment, recommending the captain for promotion, by brevet :
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MUSTERED OUT.
"H'D QR'S 3D BRIG., 3D DIV., 23D A. C., "GREENSBORO, N. C., JUNE 14, 1865.
"LIEUT. COL :
"I have the honor very respectfully to recommend for pro- motion by brevet, Capt. Augustus A. Dunn, of Co. D, 112th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
"Before coming into the army Capt. Dunn was a very intel- ligent and popular physician, enjoying a lucrative practice ; but, inspired purely by patriotic motives, he was one of the first officers of our regiment to commence raising a company, and, in fact, the first who organized his company, aud he has been in the field ever since. He has shown himself to be an able, energetic, brave and skillful officer. He has been four times wounded in battle; lost two fingers of his left hand in an engagement near Kelly's Ford, in East Tennessee, was slightly wounded in action at Knoxville and again at Resaca ; and was seriously wounded in the forehead by a shell at Frank- lin, Tenn., from which he has not yet recovered, although he has been on duty with his regiment for two months or more.
"For fidelity to duty, for bravery and resolute determina- tion, for lofty and earnest patriotism, I know no officer more meritorious : while his intelligence, his ability, his soldierly bearing qualify him for a much higher rank in the volunteer service than he has filled.
"I would make this communication to the War Department, but am led to believe that if the object which I most earnestly desire can be accomplished, it will be more readily done through the Major General commanding the Department of North Carolina ; and besides, my regiment is about to be mustered out of the service, and if the captain should be brevetted, I suppose it ought to be done before he is mustered out, and there seems to be but little time for a communication to go up through the proper channels to Washington. There has been no opportunity for promotion in the regiment, or he would have been promoted long ago.
"While he has intimated to me no desire to receive such promotion, if he could be brevetted Major or Lieut. Colonel it would be no more than a suitable acknowledgement for gal- lantry at Knoxville, at Resaca, and many other battles in
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
which he has been engaged, including, of course, those in which he was wounded, and a just tribute paid to superior merit.
"I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"THOMAS J. HENDERSON,
"Col. 112th Ills., and Bru't Brig. Gen., Comd'g 3d Brig. 3d Dir. "To Col. J. A. Campbell, A. A. G., Dept. of North Carolina."
Capt. Dunn deserved promotion ; but the recommendation came too late to secure it before muster-out, and he was dis- charged a captain. He was a brave, generous, honorable man and officer, and served his country faithfully and well until the last rebel had surrendered, and his services were no longer needed.
In several companies of the regiment the office of Second Lieutenant was vacant. No promotions had been made for the reason that the companies had been reduced below the re- quired minimum number. On the 15th of June the following named sergeants were commissioned Second Lieutenants ; but none were mustered as such, but were discharged as of their former rank : First Serg. Jesse Goble, of Co. A; First Serg. Henry B. Perry, of Co. F ; Serg. William J. Gillispie, of Co. C; First Serg. Henry Graves, of Co. E ; First Serg. Eli K. Mauck, of Co. G, and First Serg. Charles B. Foster, of Co. B.
On the 19th of June Gen. Henderson was relieved from the command of the 3d Brigade, in accordance with the following order from division headquarters, and on the 21st he resumed command of the regiment :
"HEAD QUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS, "GREENSBORO, N. C., JUNE 19TH, 1865.
"SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 101.
"14-Brevet Brig. Gen'l Thomas J. Henderson (Col. 112th Ill. Inft'y) is hereby relieved from the command of the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 23d Army Corps, and ordered to take charge of his own regiment to conduct it home, on being mus- tered out of the service.
"By command of BRIG. GEN'L CARTER.
"GEO. H. BELL, A. A. A. Gen'l."
"Brevet Brig. Gen'l Thomas J. Henderson."
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GEN. HENDERSON'S FAREWELL ORDER.
On the same day Gen. Henderson issued the following fare- well order to his brigade :
"HEAD QUARTERS 3D BRIG. 3D DIV. 23D A. C., "GREENSBORO, N. C., JUNE 19TH, 1865.
"GENERAL ORDERS No. 12.
"Having been relieved from the command of the 3d Brigade, I desire, before taking leave of those so long associated with me in arms, to express my sincere congratulations that many of you, after passing safely through so many trials and dangers, are about to return to your homes, your families and friends, while those who remain behind have only the more peaceful duties of the soldier to perform, and the pleasing prospects that they, too, will soon follow.
"While rejoicing with you that victory has crowned our arms with glorious success, that peace has again been established in the land, and that our country now stands so proudly before the world ; while sharing with you the happiness we so naturally feel in the promise of a speedy and blessed reunion with friends from whom we have so long and painfully been separ- ated, yet it is with sadness. I know, that associations of such long standing are now to be broken up, and ties which have so long bound us together are to be severed.
"It must ever be your pride and your glory that, in a time of great National peril, you contributed by your courage and your patriotism to the preservation of the Government of your country. The weary marches you have made, the deadly con- flicts in which you have been engaged, the trials and expos- ures you have suffered, with so much patience and courage, can never be forgotten by a grateful people; while the mem- ory of them and of your brave comrades who have fallen in battle must ever stimulate you to the faithful performance of the duties which, as good citizens, you owe to your country.
"Sincerely trusting that you may, each and all, long live to enjoy that National peace, prosperity and happiness which your courage and patriotism have contributed so much to win, I bid you an affectionate and cordial farewell.
"THOMAS J. HENDERSON, "Brevet Brig. Gen'l, Commanding."
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
On the 20thi day of June the regiment was mustered out of the service and every officer and enlisted man furnished with a duly certified discharge. On the same day the following or- der was issued, which explains itself :
"HEADQUARTERS 23D ARMY CORPS, "GREENSBORO, N. C., JUNE 20, 1865. "SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 60.
"I. The muster out of the 112th Regiment Illinois Infantry having been completed in accordance with General Orders No. 73, C. S., Department of North Carolina, so much of the regi- ment as are entitled to discharge will proceed without delay to Chicago, Ill., and there report to the Chief Mustering Offi- cer of the State for final discharge.
"The Quartermaster's Department will furnish transporta- tion for thirty-two commissioned officers, four hundred and six enlisted men, six servants and six horses.
"By command of
"BREVET MAJOR GENERAL RUGER.
"HENRY A. HALE, Capt., and A. A. G
"To Lieut. Col. E. S. Bond, Commanding Regiment."
Gen. Henderson, Major Dow, Capt. Dow, Dr. L. S. Milliken, Brigade Surgeon, Capt. Otman, and other officers on detached service, returned to the regiment, and all commence l active preparations for the journey homeward. All, except De. Mil- liken ; he remained in North Carolina, where he marriedl the widow of a Confederate officer, and has since lived happily and pleasantly. The lady's son also married the doctor's daughter, and thus the blue and the gray are doubly linked together with a golden chain of love, and all are blessed withi peace and happiness.
No regiment in the service was more fortunate than the 112th Illinois in the selection of its surgeons.' Dr. Spaulding was an old, experienced physician. He was succeeded by Dr. Milliken, equally competent, and, with less years, more active and energetic ; and he was ably assisted by Dr. Jones and Dr. Phillips, the Assistant Surgeons-all excellent physicians, and careful and attentive in the performance of their duties.
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QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT.
The surgeons received valuable aid in caring for the sick and wounded from Hospital Steward Joseph C. Jolison, and that prince of good nurses, "Parson" William Bowen. Dr. Jones and Johnson are dead. Dr. Phillips is still engaged in the practice of medicine, in White county, Illinois, where he is pleasantly situated, and the head of a happy family; and "Parson" Bowen is farming and dispensing justice upon the fertile plains of Nebraska.
The 112th was also fortunate in the selection of a quartermas- ter-the most difficult and least desirable position in the regi- ment. In most regiments the quartermaster is the scape-goat for all the commissioned officers, and is expected to take all the "cussings" for short rations, insufficient clothing, and oth- er deficiencies for which the officers are themselves responsi- ble. But this was not the case in the 112th. Lieut. Alden was a faithful, energetic and honest quartermaster. He perform- ed his duties with such great care and energy that no cause of complaint could lie against him. With Commissary Sergeant R. F Steele at the head of the commissary department ; and ably assisted by Quartermaster Sergeant George Bernard, and after his death by Quartermaster Sergeant Albert Walton ; and with Serg. George W Buck as Wagon Master, and command- er-in-chief of the "mule train," the quartermaster's depart- ment of the 112th was managed in an efficient and vigorous manner, that gave general satisfaction to the officers and men of the regiment. And there were none more industrious, more trust-worthy, more willing to perform faithfully and well every duty than the members of "Co. Q," from Lieut. Alden himself down to the humblest "mule-whacker."
Gen. S. P Carter, now commanding the 3d Division, had been acquainted with the I12th Illinois ever since the spring of 1863. The regiment had been under his immediate com- mand in Kentucky, and both had served in the same corps all the time since March, 1863. On the 20th of June he address- ed to Gen. Henderson the following communication, which ex- presses in no uncertain terms his estimate of the services of the 112th, and for the publication of which the author offers no apology :
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
"HEADQUARTERS 3D DIVISION, 23D A. C., } GREENSBORO, N. C., June 20th, 1865.
"BREVET BRIG. GEN'L HENDERSON,
(COL. 112TH REGT. ILLS. VOL. INFTY.)
"My Dear General :- While I most heartily congratulate the officers and men of your regiment on a speedy return to their homes, I cannot see the pleasant relations which have, with intervals, existed between us since March, 1863, now severed, without a feeling of sadness nearly akin to regret.
"There are few regiments in the service which have a more creditable record, or one of which they and their children may be more justly proud, than that of the 112th Illinois. The in- scriptions on your Regimental Colors tell the story of some of the battle fields on which the regiment has won its fame, and added new glory to the "starry banner" under which it march- ed and fought, and aided in wrenching from the bold and courageous enemies of the Republic victories which have led to the peace and quiet which now prevail from Maine to the Rio Grande.
"But your regiment gained its laurels not on the battle field alone. It has won a reputation for order, discipline and strict regard for law and the rights of non-combatants, which gives it an enviable reputation among the volunteer soldiers of the Union. Kentuckians, East Tennesseans, and even North Car- olinians have just cause for remembering the 112th Illinois with gratitude, and as presenting a striking contrast to the conduct of the troops where the morale was lower and soldierly pride less plainly exhibited. Knoxville, where sleep so many noble heroes who gave their lives for its protection, cannot but give to the 112th a special place among its honored defenders.
"While rejoicing, my dear General, at the successful termi- nation of the war and the restoration of peace, and that you and your gallant officers and men are soon to return to waiting friends and homes, I part with you with regret. Be assured that I shall ever think of you with pride of my having had the honor to command such soldiers.
"Wishing you a "God-speed" on your homeward journey, and that you may long live to enjoy the fruits of peace which you and yours have so nobly helped to restore, I am, my dear
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HOMEWARD BOUND.
General, with high considerations of personal esteem and re- spect, very truly, your friend,
"S. P CARTER, Brig. Gen'l Comdg."
The following extracts from a letter written by Gen. Cox, in November, 1867, to Gen. Henderson, in response to an invita- tion to attend the reunion of the 112th, althoughi written after the elose of the war, while General Cox was Governor of the State of Ohio, may not be out of place in this connection ; and the author feels sure that every member of the 112th recipro- cates the feelings of the General towards our regiment :
"STATE OF OHIO, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, COLUMBUS, 5 November, 1867
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