USA > Illinois > History of the 112th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in the great war of the rebellion, 1862-1865 > Part 7
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
pleased to call us, yet we are nevertheless men and human beings. We do not come here to oppress you, to apply the torch to your dwellings and otherwise destroy your property. But we come to establish law and order to put down a false and pernicious government which the rebels have sought to force upon you.
Our commanding generals-Gen. Burnside, Gen. Hartsuff and others-have issued stringent orders against allowing the soldiers to trespass upon or molest the property of citizens, whether they are loyal or disloyal. The severest punishment will be given to those who disobey.
In regard to stealing negroes-a crime which the Union ar- my has been accused of time and again-I would say that we did not come here for any such purpose. Not a citizen along the route has been robbed of his negroes, nor do we propose that they shall be.
Gen. Jackson, that good old patriot, had he been a prophet, could not have prophesied more truly, when he said, at the time South Carolina attempted to secede from the Union, that the next pretext for secession would be the slavery question.
I can remember when we, of the South, looked upon slavery as an evil, and talked and discussed the matter as such among ourselves, regretting that it existed. But scheming politicians saw that the institution might be used for political purposes. The agitation of it brought about a sectional feeling, and from that we of the South were soon led to believe that the institu- tion was right-that it was of Divine origin and should be per- petuated. Thus we were taught to believe in the divinity of an institution we in former times looked upon as pernicious.
I want my friends to understand that I am for the Union, nigger or no nigger. We will have our government first, and examine the negro question afterward. If we can save it with the nigger, I am willing. If we must lose the nigger to pre- serve the Union, I will not object. The Union is paramount to all other questions.
We do not propose to take anything from the people, unless we give them value received. If the country people have any produce, grain or hay, to sell, we will take it and pay them fair prices. The soldiers and the stock have got to live, and
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ADDRESSES AT ATHENS.
We must get our subsistence here among you. We do not pro- pose to take it from those who cannot spare it. We will leave them enough to live upon.
The Colonel concluded, after a few happy remarks, which were frequently applauded by the audience.
Lieut. Col. Wormer was then introduced. He said he was a Michigan man, from the extreme North-was not in the habit of public speaking, and could not say what he wanted to say in short order. He was surprised at the Union demonstra- tions he had seen since he came into East Tennessee. He was proud of the East Tennesseans, and the Michigan boys were ready to assist them in driving from the country their enemies. He said his boys had a dose to give those who would not lay down their arms. It was called the Spencer Pills ; seven were taken (if necessary) for a dose.' They were easy to take, but tearful effects followed suddenly afterwards. He hoped the war would soon close, and if possible without any further bloodshed.
He was glad to see that the people had got over their fright -that they had found the "Yankees" without horns. The peo- ple here had been led to believe that we were monsters, with horns, and that we were coming to destroy them all. He be- lieved it would be but a short time before the war would cease, and we would once more join hands, North and South. Law and order would prevail, and we northern men could return home, conscious that the old government was reestablished, and peace and harmony existed, North and South, East and West.
Col. Henderson was then called upon, and after being intro- duced to the audience as an Illinoisan, said :
He was happy to be permitted to address the people of his native State on this occasion. He was born in Tennessee but was a citizen of Illinois by adoption. He had always taken a great interest in his native state, and had been pained to see what ruin and anarchy prevailed in Tennessee, and regretted the course she had taken.
He said Illinois had sent one hundred and thirty odd thous- and men into the field to restore the Union, and if it was nec- essary she could send as many more. The North was united
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
and determined. He spoke of the Emancipation Proclama- tion. It was a necessary measure to weaken our enemies --- that the slaves were used against us, in the fortifications as well as in the fields. Had the South remained with us it would have had greater protection thrown around the institu- tion of slavery, under the present administration, than it ever had before. In fact there was greater danger of the North be- coming all pro-slavery than all abolitionists. People all over the country had, through political influences, worked them- selves into the belief that it was a good institution, and the North must not interfere with it, but the war, that the political demagogues of the South had inaugurated, had entirely chang- ed the whole order of things.
He spoke of the humane policy of President Lincoln, that he did not want to oppress the people of the South or deprive them of life, liberty or their property, if they would only re- turn to their allegiance to the government. But this Union must be restored, and this government maintained, cost what it may.
It is impossible to give a correct report of the Colonel's speech from memory. It was an able speech, and was received with bursts of applause. We would have been glad to have printed it entire if a correct report could have been obtained. We be- lieve it would have done much toward enlightening the public mind in regard to the policy of our government.
The meeting dispersed while the band played, everyone ap- pearing well pleased with what they had heard."
CHAPTER IX.
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CLIPPINGS FROM THE "ATHENS UNION POST"
The author also clips the following articles from the first number of the Athens Union Post (the only one he can obtain) believing they cannot fail to be of interest to every 112th Illi- nois man, and as illustrating some peculiar phases of army life. The first article, "Army Correspondence," was originally written by Lieut. Boynton for a Michigan newspaper, but hav- ing no opportunity to send it, he published it in the Post :
"ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
HEAD-QUARTERS IST BRIG. CAV. DIV 23D ARMY CORPS, Kingston, East Tennessee, Sept. 2nd, 1863.
Aug. 17th. After having everything in readiness to march, we started at 6:30 a. m. on the road to Crab Orchard. The advance of the brigade arrived at 1:30. The commanding of- ficers found after marching that distance, that they had not entirely restored order out of the chaos, and had not therefore completed their preparations for so great an undertaking. Here Gen. White, commanding this brigade, was ordered to take command of the 4th Division, and Col. Byrd of the 1st Tenn., Mounted Infantry, was ordered to take command of this brigade. A sufficient number of horses had not been drawn, and many of the men were compelled to go on foot to Crab Or chard. It was a sultry, hot day, and scores of them gave out, and lay along the side of the road under the shade trees.
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
We remained at Crab Orchard three days, during which time preparations were completed for the expedition. While we were in camp at Crab Orchard, the 2nd Division (infantry,) in which was the 23d and 25th Michigan regiments, passed on the road leading to Somerset. All the roads leading over the mountains, in this direction, were completely filled with troops. Trains of wagons loaded with torage and supplies followed the different brigades and divisions, covering over mile after mile of road; and it seemed that the rear would never pass. It is impossible for one not connected with the army to take into contemplation the resources of our government.
Aug. 20th. At 2 o'clock we were again under motion, fol- lowed by a train of wagons belonging to the brigade. Gen. Burnside, staff and body guard soon after took up their line of march, followed by his train of sixty wagons, in which was the baggage and camp equipage of himself and staff. We moved slowly on over a rough, rocky road to Mt. Vernon-the advance of the brigade arriving at 5 o'clock, but the train hay- ing been too heavily loaded for the roads, some of it did not reach there till the following morning. Here we halted one day to rearrange the loads, as they were altogether too heavy to eross the mountains. Before reaching Mt. Vernon we had made up our minds-as the town had been named after the birthplace of the father of our country -to find quite a nice, romantic place ; but in this we were greatly disappointed.
On the road we found that romance had nothing to do with driving mules before army wagons, over rocky hills-in other words over nature's rough paved pathways.
It was indeed musical-so much so that I forgot to pay as much attention as I intended to, to the romantic part-to hear the shouts of the mule drivers, the braving of the mules, the curses and blows bestowed so lavishly on the poor unfortunate brutes. It was particularly interesting on the part of the Michigan boys who knew little about mules, rocks or hills. Had the mules been fortunate enough, when they were usher- ed into this state of existence, to possess souls, not one of them would have passed on to that better land if the Michi- gan boys had anything to say about it. If they were sent to perdition once on the route, they were times innumerable. It
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ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
was night when I arrived in town. Morning dawned upon Mt. Vernon. I arose from my rocky bed, with a rock for a pillow, expecting to gaze upon some beautiful village surrounded by luxuriant verdure, shade trees, with little cottages here and there, rich gardens with abundance of vegetables good to the taste. But alas, a squalid, dirty. uninviting village, so called, met my anxious looks. I dreamed of better things but I was led to believe, as the Paddy says : "Drames go by contrairies." The inhabitants partook of the same characteristics as the vil- lage, dull, sleepy, inanimate, dirty and lazy. I could not blame them much, for the surrounding country was enough to give even a Michigan man the "don't care if school keeps or not" spirit. But little vegetation met the eye. Here and there a scrubbed oak tree was visible, while old moss-covered rocks protruded their ugly looking heals through the thin layer of poor soil. It was an uninviting place for a soldier with an empty stomach.
At this place, dealers in liquors were prohibited from selling their stock to soldiers, but one impudent individual who had a very good article overstepped the order ; Capt. Wells, of the 8th Mich. Cavalry, who was acting on Col. Byrd's staff as Provost Marshal, getting wind of his maneuvers, took posses- sion of his institution and confiscated the liquor. He brought it to Col. Byrd, who, after mature deliberation, concluded to retain it at head-quarters, for purely medical purposes-thought it would be necessary to cure rattlesnake bites, as the moun- tains over which we were to pass abounded with the reptiles. But fortune favored the brave, and no one was bitten by snakes. The medicine disappeared in a remarkably mysterious manner. It probably might have been taken in anticipation of what might occur, and the staff undoubtedly thought it best to use it as a preventive, believing in the doctrine that an "ounce of preventive is worth a pound of cure."
At 6 o'clock, the next morning, Aug. 22d, the bugle sounded "boots and saddles," and we were soon on the road again tow- ards Wild Cat Mountains. We were indeed glad enough to leave so dismal a looking town, but could we have looked for- ward over the roads we subsequently traveled we would have been perfectly contented to remain in Mount Vernon, though
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
so lifeless and dead. Away we went, up hill, the wagons bounding over rocks in the road, and it seemed at times that the wheels would crusli, as they jumped from one rock to an- other. But it appeared that Uncle Sam had, for once, dealt witli an honest contractor who got up good, substantial, wag- ons. Slowly, but surely, the long eared animals tugged away (some of them not larger than rats) at their loads. The col- umn would occasionally halt, in order that the teams might close up. A little after 12 o'clock, noon, we were ascending the Wild Cat Mountains. How the name originated I could not learn, but it is not inappropriate, for a wilder, more deso- late looking place could not well be imagined. It was a fit abode for wild cats, provided they depended for subsistence on snakes and bats.
Reaching the top of the mountain, we found where Buell and Bragg had a set to, when Bragg was retreating from Ken- tucky. Earth works were thrown up on the top of the moun- tain to the left, where Bragg had planted his batteries to re- tard the movements of Buell. Trees had been felled, in order to get better range, and the narrow road leading down the mountain had been obstructed by fallen timber. The obstruc- tions had long been cleared out, but there lay the evidences of the conflict.
After passing down on the opposite side of the mountain, we found for a few miles very good roads. Towards sundown we reached Rock Castle River. On the opposite side another large hill made its appearance, up which we had to climb with our loaded teams. The column moved on without much diffi- culty, but when the nearly worn out mules came along with their heavy loads, it did look decidedly discouraging. The poor brutes must have certainly realized it.
It was 10 o'clock the following morning before the whole train reached the top of the hill. We would have made much better progress were it not that both horses and mules had been kept for over ten days on half rations, and only hay at that. This was a necessary measure. Grain was very scarce, and all that could be obtained was retained in the wagons, to be fed when we got on the mountains, where it was impossible to get forage. This eventually proved to be a wise measure.
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CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS.
The column moved on, the same night, six miles beyond London, but the wagons did not all get np till about 8 o'clock in the morning of the next day Some of the mules gave en- tirely out, and the teamsters were obliged to feed them on green corn stalks before they had strength enough to go further.
At London, the 8th Mich. Cavalry was detached from the brigade, and was ordered to take the left hand road and join the brigade again at Williamsburg, but as they had got in the rear of the division train, Gen. Carter ordered them to act as rear guard, and assist the wagons in going over the Cumber- land Mountains ; consequently they did not join the command until three days after, at a place called Chitwood. after we had crossed the line into East Tennessee.
The brigade left its camping ground this side of London about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and marched nearly all night over a very rough road and wild country. About midnight we encamped within six miles of Williamsburg. Early the next morning we took up our line of march to Williamsburg, arriving there between 8 and 9 o clock. There we found the 3rd Brigade, which went by another route. Gen. Burnside and Gen. Carter were also there. It was at that place we cross- ed the Cumberland River. Had we been traveling for pleas- ure, with all the comforts of life along with us, we might have noted it down as a romantic and picturesque place. But emp- ty stomachs, tired and worn out bodies and sleepy noddles could not appreciate the beauties of nature. Our longing eyes and gnawing stomachs were contemplating the condition of a corn field not far distant from camp, and some fall tracks were made to procure roasting ears for the inner man, and the stocks for our hungry horses and mules. But a short time elapsed before nothing but the stumps were visible on the field. All along the route fields of corn disappeared like vap- or before the morning sun. But our kind and beneficent Father Abraham, who is conducting Uncle Sam's business ar- rangements, would not allow the loyal people to suffer by los- ing what little provender the poor soil of this country gave them ; therefore, he, with unusual liberality, sent his agents, laden with the ever welcome "green-backs," to pay them well for what the boys and stock consumed. In many instances
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
they were doubly paid for what the army had taken. Many a man woke up in the morning, and looked out upon his small field of corn, and a stack or two of hay, or grain, and at night sat down and counted his "green-backs." His fields were well harveste.l, as a general thing. A great amount of forage was consumed on this expedition. Large droves of cattle were fol - lowing the army. to provide the men with meat ; an l hundre.ls of pack mules were led along, laden with commissary stores. All there had to be fed, and it was impossible to transport for- age sufficient to feed them ; consequently it was necessary to take what forage we could find along the route. But the own- ers, on proving their loyalty, were amply paid.
After feeding our traveling stock, and partially filling our bread baskets with a few roasting ears, we received orders to march at 1 o clock in the afternoon, in the advance of the whole force. We marched some six miles, to a place called Jones, where we encamped for the night, intending, the next morning, to go through into Tennessee by the way of Big Creek Gap. But that night we learned that the rebs had blockaded the road, and the next morning we had to change our course. The First Tenn. regiment was here detached to take another route across the mountains to Jacksboro, Tenn.
This movement was made in order to attract the attention of the enemy from our real object, as a very small force could hold us in check a long time. This proved to be a wise move- ment, and we passed over the mountains unmolested.
The next morning we took another route over the mountains, which from the appearance of things, had seen but little trav- el. For three or four miles we did not find very bad roads ; they were rough but not hilly Being unacquainted with the country, I had consoled my mind with the idea that we had passed over at least as bad roads as we would find. But poor, frail, human nature, how often art thou deceived! Coming out of the woods into an open space, I discovered ahead of me a long range of mountains. I turned around and accosted a Tennessean in this wise : "Friend, what mountains are those ahead ?" "The Jellico Mountains, sir," he replied. "Does the road run over the mountains, or is there a gap through which we pass ?" "The road runs directly over the top of yon-
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CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS-
der mountain," and his finger pointed towards the highest mountain in the range. "Are the roads very bad ?" I inquired. "Bad" he exclaimed, "Good God, that's no name for it. I tell you, friend, it we succeed in getting over that mountain before dark to-night, I shall think we have done exceedingly well."
There was the mountain ahead of us, and here stood the battery and train behind us. What was to be done ? No sign of human habitation or civilization greeted our anxious looks. The tall trees waved defiantly af us, and the gray rocks, tliat peered their ugly looking heads from out the side of the moun- tains, seemed to say, "Now, boys, we've got you in a figlit place." But the trees, rocks, nor the lonely wilderness could intimidate us. Over the mountains we were bound to go, if we had to carry the battery, wagons and loads by piece-meal. The battery, (15th Ind.) was ahead of the train. After a few moments rest and reflection, the word "Forward" was given, and away they went up the mountain. They had not gone more than fifty rods before we saw that it was impossible for the horses alone to draw the battery up. Col. Byrd dismount- ed a part of the 45th Ohio, and the 112th Illinois, to assist. and with their aid we got along remarkably well. The top of the mountain was reached, wheels were locked, and we imme- diately commenced the descent. This was indeed much easier to accomplish ; although it was necessary to have ropes at- tached to the wagons to keep them from going down too fast, as well as to prevent them from turning over.
Between three and four o'clock, in the afternoon, we had succeeded in getting the train all over the ever to be remem- bered Jellico Mountains. It was a great relief. Officers and men had worked hard to accomplish it in as expeditious a manner as possible. The Third Brigade, which had passed over a better road, liere got in our advance. We went some eight miles further that night, and encamped af a place called "The Well," so called from the fact that there is a well at this place some four hundred and fifty feet deep. The water is not- ed for its medical qualities.
Here the cornfields had to suffer again, as the division sup- ply train had not reached us, and man and beast must have something to subsist on. At six o'clock the next morning we
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
were again on the move, in advance of the 3rd Brigade. About 10 o'clock we passed through Camp Chitwood, wliere Gen. Haskell's division was encamped. We halted six miles beyond and went into camp. Here we remained until 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the next day The 8tli Michigan and Ist East Tennessee joined us at this place.
By this time short rations and corn stalks began to tell heav- ily on our horses and mules. Occasionally a horse would drop down in the road, and a mule give out and have to be aband- oned, but we had passed over the worst part of the road and felt more encouraged.
The supply train had overtaken us, but yet there was but little forage to feed so much stock. It was soon gone and we had to depend solely on the cornfields on the route, and what little hay we could find. We moved on as fast as our weak, half-starved horses and mules could carry us, in order the sooner to get beyond the Cumberland Mountains into the val- leys where forage was more abundant.
We were now in Scott county, Tenn. It was a very inhos- pitable looking region of country, and it required all the moral fortitude imaginable to keep up good spirits. We would trav- el for hours without coming in sight of a human habitation, and then it would be some little hut, scarcely fit for human beings to live in, and secluded among tall trees and rocks. Occasionally small patches of corn and a hill or two of pota- toes were discovered near these dismal huts. These would disappear like magic. Horses were constantly dropping down in the road, mules were constantly exhausted, neither whips nor spurs would pluck up their courage, and before we passed the boundary line of Scott and Morgan counties we had lost a large number of horses, and the train became scattered for miles, but we pushed on. It would not do to stop the column in a destitute country for a few horses and a few wagons. A few miles further, we found more forage. This was fed to the stock economically, yet it seemed to revive them up in a great degree.
The people in this part of the country were truly loyal. They have suffered from the effects of this war beyond all cal- culation, and they have borne up under all the persecutions
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OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS.
the rebels have heaped upon them, manfully and patriotically, without a murmur ; the majority of the East Tennessee moun- taineers are truly loyal.
We passed on, after being in Scott county three days and nights, to Montgomery, the county seat of Morgan county Here we found the rebels had left the town the day before, and there was a likelihood that we might have a little opportunity to skirmish before we reached this place. We moved cau- tiously along the road. Abont dusk a bushwhacker shot the horse from under one of the pioneers, who was in the advance clearing the road of obstructions. As we expected they would try to obstruct the road and retard our movements, Col. Byrd sent forward the 1st Tennessee as an advance guard, and in- structed Major Ellis, who was in command to throw out pick- ets and feel his way cautiously They had not moved far be- fore they came upon some trees which the rebs had felle d across the road. They were soon removed and we moved slow- ly on. We had not proceeded far before we heard the sharp firing of the pickets ahead, and knew that there was some fun going on. The pickets ascertained that they had obstructed the road and that they had thrown up breastworks of stone and timber on the left of the road, on the hill, behind which they had stationed a force to contest our advance. It was now between ten and eleven o'clock, the moon shone dimly, and as it was a place so situated that a few men could cut a whole regiment to pieces, Col. Byrd concluded it not advisable to advance further, and went into camp until morning ; throw- ing out strong picket guards on all the roads. Morning came, but not a rebel was to be found. They had taken leg bail to this place, Kingston, and from here to Loudon. We were not molested in any way. We came on here and took peaceable possession of the place. Col. Byrd now occupies the same building for headquarters that Gen. Forrest, the noted rebel, did, the day before our arrival.
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