USA > Illinois > History of the 17th Illinois Cavalry Volunteers > Part 10
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P S. I wish to state before elmine that the Rebs were not all alike, ther- Was some kind hearted men as ove. drew the free breath of Heaven and auning them one man who said to ne- om: dy: "Here prisuger take this bisecit. 5 is the lost I have in the world, tnt you need it worse than 1 do. " "That was a man to the core. But Yours, ROBERT SIMMONS.
1792690
INSIEBER
NOW TER XXXIV.
12. 95 1265. Orders came to
halo wars. so crowded that we e and dowe, and like shop in the jules we spinta tedious time and any glad to be released atss horts . Here 're arrived the 11th and were wawhel to Sehr field Barracks. where weigh a good nights rest, you let. and new day were allowed passer, and toty of us saw city life that day for the first time.
Arrived at the Kuab, severed about 1 maile to Irunton, our Us. wes quattcied ta a large livery barn, keeping the horses below, while the men took up their quarters on the hay up stairs, and the officers taking the front ofice. I was helping Liout. Kelly make out pay rolls at a private house. The boys were out of rations for two days.
Jon. 17th. We commenced to take mais at private houses, we would Craw our rations, take them to the is use and the lady would cook them . : 25 rents a week. Major Matlack wird to stop our, eating at private u .s. but didn't. Sundays many of the bars went to church. I often star- od to Sunday school.
J:n. B1st. Capt. Kelly returned to us from a trip home on a furlough
Feb. 2nd. Albert Rosenhra'is cama back from be'ng home on a sick leave. Feb. 34 The regiment com a une. ' :> build barracks, the boys wotlk go into the woods and out crees abert . foc through and twenty feet hing, rbese put up square and covered with bear.1; made room for a squad of 20 then. It was a nice sight to go up on topo! Pilot Knob-which was a tmn- tain of iron-and look away off of Files and see vessles passing up and down the Mississippi River. I tak a walk to the battle-field where Price fourht Gen'l. Ewing, and the dead keinle still lay all around. (this battle we fought in Sept. Gt; base of their heads were cut off and hanging on poles, some setting oh stumps when you stir them the hair would deep off, one had brea shot through the skall and it being bare and shaky. I took ont a loose piece and have it now.
The town contained many families from the south, without homes, or even food !; nad the boys would divide their retiors with them.
Cit T. D. Kelly resigned and bid
thought .....
Stort i home on a for- Lunch and at pod there March Ist. I returned to to Co .. March Lith.
As Ig ed through Chicago I Lad inserted in the Tribune the following notice: Ail h gal ladies who wish to Lelp a union soldier pass away bis time will phase address Willle C. Bennett, (5. 4. 170: In. Cav. Troutom. Mo.," This midir things lively and pleasant, for soon the letters or answers began to arrive, as many as seven coming at one mail. What I dil not wish to an- swer. other boys would so we all had loyal lady correspondents, and would here thank any who may see this, for their kindness to us in helping us pass away the time so pleasantly.
March 10th. M McConkey (Co G) fell down through a hole in the barn where Co. f was quartered. and frae- tured his right ankle. It was in a liv- ery stable, the boys horses being below and the buy- sleeping in the loft on the hay.
Lieut. C. C. Kelly resigned here,and the boys of company G felt as though they had lost their best friend, they all liked Chris. the. what made them fe ..! Aoi>> Ine ut. Cyrus Hutchinson.of another ti, > < promoted to the Cap- trine rif. G. This was an outrage; fur Hut huevo toale all the boys his eneming. Sept. Wo: Justin was put over other Sergeants and made second Lieutenant.
Here 're were re-supplied with horses and arts and fully equipped again. The non commissioned office:s drew Shene'r ''ari ines and the privates got Burnstd ..
While Company E was at Arcadia vre ni_lt Smut. Hamilton and two men wird mit on a ticket post, the Seret told the boys there that he was going to give a false alarm that night, and make believe the rebels were at- tacking the post. The boys told him not to do yo, and tried to persuade him to abandon his plan, but he was look- ing for promotion by so doing, and about 10 o'clock that night he sentone of his post to camp to inform them that the enemy were upon him. Co.G were sent out on the double quick through a heavy stotis, and when they got there no rebel. were found. Capt. Chas, Parker was officer of the day.and he got to the post with the "Grand , Rounds" just before Co. G. did.
Hamilton told him his post had been fired upon, when the Capt. said :- ".Co .E. can whip therebs with tooth-picks." (The above was courmunicate.l.)
(Continued next week.)
Rev. @ 1 6.08. P
Last week Site may ers the Post una fer. surprised Her and Mir- " ... na There were 23 of ot bowen . 1. ple, in bating Mr. & Mrs. V. E. .... of Crystal Lake. After the surpri -. was over, the Quartermaster. Www. St. Clair, arose and cold. "I don't want to disturb you in your conversation, Mld .. Cessna, we concluded to postprie tl's call this evening. on account of (1 .. sadness in so many homies near by, thea we decided to make it only a short ca.l. On behalf of the Post I'have the hon or to present you with this when it purse of solids) as a small token of oar appreciation." Rev. Cessna repliedi. "Brother St. Clair and muteber .. of the: Post and Corps, I can assure you the : nothing could be a greater surprise than you have just given me. I want to say in behalf of Mrs. Cessna and myself that we appreciate your kind ness. These indications of regard an 1 sympathy are the most pleasant of all things in this life. Tonight there are four places of sadness in our met lat: life is full of sorrows; but these are bright oeeasions, our stay is short, hint: we feel our lines have fallen in pleas- ant place-, and again I thank you. Wy heart is with you in your organizations, it is only with gladness that I do f. r yon, and I feel this Relief Corps a:" doing a good work, count me in any. thing I can do for you. We will only be too glad to welcome you any right to our home to spend an evening ::: social enjoyment." It was then the pounding came in, and by the ladies too, we did not count the number, but the table was covered with pounds. The company then departed. Feeling that they had done . duty that was pleasant and appreciated. We wait names, as some sent articha who did not go.
A LITTLE GOOD ADVICE, Dont go to Law.
But go to Colby's and see the i ?. ,- mente stock of new Shoes at iever prices than ever.
FOR RENT. Farm of 80 acres, 25 plowland. 55 meadow, balance pasture and :haber. Goed house and stable. Will reu! cheap and on favorable terms Posses. sion given at once, if desired. more land is wanted, 40 art.sadjoining. mostly plowland. good buildings dr. can be had. Enquire of A. I .. BOMTti ..
ALMOND Cosmetique LODICES. An external application for all protist e.ti. tions of the skin "pel. - Pimples, Murdes, Eczema, Etc. And all roughness of the skin or fer. Prepared hy - THE PROF. MAYNARD CO,, N Y. City. LIBRIE VERMILYAR AGENT.
: 3: 05 the Regi-
a Paarde of Fal-
devolve nos Major Milliard, who retail- ed it afterward . mitt the regiment aus mestered out of service, Con Baser. idet cating been placed on tapard Court Marchel duty as Hangon March 14th, ledo. Starsi for the city of Cape Giarlean, at when within two alleset the roy . w . ordered to encamp, which we at et al nice piece of timber, the : at . -. 1 10 doulie rows, with a spate thr itis wide between each company street. The homes we .. then mach morning and evening down through the city to the river to wat r them, tio boys improved this opportiany to "flirt"and if reports be true many were the "unishes" made.
April 4th. An estort was cart mit south, they arrived at Birsafie.i !! " 6th, next day we startedlow ??.. ..... back crossing the Castor and White rivers, and resebed camp the ath.
April 8th and 9th it ramos constanly.
Apili 11th. deff Thomp ou having surrendered to a detachment of the 17th -- which had been sent to seek him -- they returned.
April 15th. Broke eamp and em- barked on steamers for Kansas City, it took seven Mississippi River steam- ers to transport the 17th. Our Ce. G was on the "Silver Wave."
April 13th. Arrived at St. Louis, here we got our mail and many hearts were made glad by le.ters from Lomme, mine with the number.
Aquel 18. On our way up the mud. dy Missouri,-way Of this is a Very clear stream above the House of Missouri but below that it is very truly mixed. Passed St. Charles and ..... ed 5 miles above. Every toget the boats were tied up. the gang-pionk run out on the bank, and all the horse- led off for the night.
April Buth. Passed Jefferson City April 21st. Camped at Boot.alle, next day our Pilot gut too bear shore and with seripe on the ground and a snort of steam we were stuck. The long spars in front were let down and the vessel lif ed and backed off a rock. Hearing much whistling down the Riv- er we looked buek, and about a half mile away was one of the seven steam- ers, she had struck a snag and sunk in about 9 feet of water, the men had
the page det many perisiet. Stopped at 1994 w. sowar of the ince were allowed : . :
Arrived at Kins City . 1 anI marchel up y no Lauren about :
il resten ground hora.
Jane Ist Bruke camp ani .. whole regiment stirted suath int. Kinsis. sie companies going to C. town and some to another, Isball here follow the meanderings of To. G which passed through West Port that Gay.
Je :. 2nd. Passed the village of spring Hill and camped au Peola July Brd. We stopped at Meup C. mes night
June 4th. We came to Fort Sett tid the 5th we drew our rations front Government supply flere.
Jaue 6th. Went to Dry Wood 12 miles south of Fort Scott, and vamped in Fort MeKran
L'art MON an was large enough to hold one to of cavalry with siahde- for their I'm horses, it was situated on the bank of a treatu whose chonne! was about 30 Feet wide and 12 dern with sleep Inn -. when we got there it was dry and I guess that is why they call it ley Wiel. On our side it was premio as far away as the ere could reach, on the offer, the timber ski.ted the tro for miles.
The Camm- I dont know why they called it a Fort; without the eigho fone high fence which surrounded it on ah sides, excepting where the strean war. made it one-was the best one wr ever i.vi. The ground was high avai dry, the barracks ver fun and very conturialle, with plenty of You. the men and our horses The par4c pround was a nice one, so nice that Cap. Hutel need to make the boys curry honig sticks of wood, Hled on tur shoulders, around the grounds to fer. nish hin ammusemeet; the Cap. not the boys.
SP Lev ridge was placed in commend .. Distdet, L. at. Pol. Hynes i m. , the right', suc. . ded by M.cck. chr post tring under wind of Meje flilhard. The Want toother with the 7th Kan- Gafas were here stadioned at the time w!le'ssitrend rand the isvosisation of President Lincoln. Soon after that welaxety event, Gin. Beveridge was :fered to take command of the south- eustere distri tof Missouri, with head- quarters at Cape Giardeiu. Soon after he returned to Pilot Knob. and in May 1865. the 17th Ill .. Regt. accompanied him too thit station. From this point The regiment was kept on activo ser- theo until ordered to Arkansas for the purpose of bringing abont peace and freonstruction. The column was com- paed of the 17th Ill. Cavalry under Major Hilliard, a detachment of the oth Missouri Cavalry, and a battery of The 2nd Missouri Artillery, all under command of Lieut. Col. Hynes of the 15th. Aniving at Chalk Bluff, Ark .. the column was halted ind encamped, and Co. E. Capt Chas. Parker, with a white flag was sent forward to Jones- L ... ro, Ark., where be met Gen. Jeff. Thompson and stail. aud un escort who acecmienied Cupt. Parker back to Chalk Bluff. where articles of surrend- or rete agreed to and signed by the Retel General, who stipulated that bis entire brigade should be assembled st Witt-berg, Ark., within a brief peri- od. when they would deliver up their arvisto : he agents of the United States. This was The last Rchel force to sui- rander, cheapt Gen. Kirby Smiith in Leul.fans. The troops then returned u. Cape Giardena, from which point ther Mite soon ordered to St. Louis, wi. from chence under command of Lieut. Col. Hyaus co Kansas City. Af- vor remaining there in calup for a few usge we were again ordered to south- western Missouri. il adquamers were eg-ablished at Papinsville, Mo., for a short time and the command distribu- and and stationed at various points. Ma- in Metlick way detailed as Provost Mar-hail, District of St. Louis, Mo., Major Butts, of the 3d battalion, com- mended at Butler. Mo., while Lient. C.i Hynes and' Major Hilliard remain- R nt PopinssDie. Io the last days of
CHAPTER VARDI
Why Wood I had a .. . a im Bir simed. Mary & a elig & take one or two men and h. Mitt- Har horses we went went there :. N''s to a blackberry patch, wh ve each de filed a large pail full of the largest :enies I ever saw them back to camp we went. I dont sippen. the bys :. v mentioned about out ruaning our horses, but we did try sometimes when re pit ont of sight of camp to see who suriget to the patch the quickest. Manv a shortcake did I make for our squad. (as I learned that trick before leaving home ) I would take part of our ratious of coffee, tea and sugar, go Lo noielboring form-houses and trade for cho" 'ning, four, and butter. One Ily would exchange with me, she ti- ing berney and giving me pies. The Hugo B. . ver went back on the exchange Justher squad boys used to wonder how we got so many pies. This you sec was after the war, while we were wait og for orders to be mustered out, Fu were feeling well and having a fine title, the expectation of soon going to our homes, was in pleasant anticipation.
July 4th. Having an invitation to attend en Indian war dance, at . Fort Sentt, 12 miles from Dry Wood. we ae- cepted, and taking a number of our biy's, we made an early start and got There in good season. The Indians took the center of the town square and were surrounded by the soldiers and citizens, then bedlam let loose- 00 the Indians- and with drumming and velling, made a big 4th of July noise. Of course we got back to camp safe, if it was late.
July 6th. It rained very hard and the creek, (Dry Wood) which was gen- trally a dry one, came near over flow- ing its high banks. The weather had been bot and sultry, so the boys went ju for a wash and swim, and although it was very riley, they had lots of fun. The currant was swift and there were many trers and logs passing down the streamu. The boys would dive under there, ride them, turn them over with many boys on them and thereby duek- ing them. It was lots of fan, more so ihan getting back, for they were 80 taken up with their fun that they got. carried a long ways down the crooked stream before they were aware of it. While here several of the men went
topp back tobe uter poi. . home, and re have heard that some day 26 Was sid that that ; Luce would be a large el'y, in time.
Jul: 25th. Broke vamp and went t Boundary. Jh .: 28th. Arrivingat Sugar Creek and finding the bridge gone, we waited !!!!! th. Mapinvers built a new one. July 28th. Marched all day and camped at Middle Creek.
July 30th. Crossed the Pottowatto- tua river and North Creek and weut into camp on the banks of the Mary- Juzeen river. Here the Indians were living as farmers, and at one house where I went. (foraging of ecurse. )was us handsome an Indian maiden as ever lived, she was pounding corn in a hole cut in the top of a stump; she very politely told me to step in the garden and help myself Her kair was jet black and hung down below her waist. Se- lecting tiro fine muskmelons I came back, and when I asked her "how wuchee?" she shook her head and re- fused to take any pay. I thanked her and proceeded to camp, where we had desert of a-la melon for our supper.
July 31st. Marched 25 miles and arrived at Lawrence, Kansas.
August 2nd. As Captain Hutchin- son Was put in Capt. of our Co. (from another Co.) and was so cranky and in- tolerable to the boys, I too had a little talk with him, the result of which was that I tore off the 1st duty Sergeant's stripes from my cont sleeves and Ling- ing them at his feet, said: "Take them and do as you please, I will not serve Bader you another minute as a Sergt."
August 4th. Went to Fort Leaven- worth after horses to supply the Regt.
Aug. 7th. Was pay day. As G. Ford was coming to camp from town, he was met by some Negro's, in a skir- mich which they had Ford hit one of them on the head with his fist, break- ing a bone in the back of his hand.
Aug. 21st. Ou duty at the prison in town. The Regt, was eampel out a half mile from town on the prairie. the boys had little dog tents, and the of- ficers large square tenis.
While here orders came for the Regiment to be mustered out, peace had been declared and the boys wish- ed to go home, but it is said that the officers reported to Washington that the "men" were young and wished to go on the plains, so the order for us to be mustered out was not given, and we were re-equipped again.
The Regiment left Lawrence, Kan.,
.: 1. i. Fire this the Ffiers .: Co ti or dated the to, to Lat! in. they did so. Capt Dateninson then said :- "Boys. there of you who wish to go out ." the plains. step to the front." Ouly one (Win Crane.) stempel out, and a man standing next to him was so pro- woked to think one of the boys wanted to go, when he was anxious to see joy- ed ones at home, that he knocked Wm. dowa. We were then ordered to our tente, we were never ordered wat on the plains. (the faithful 98.) if we bid have been we would have went. Both's: "faithful 93" were left behind. Capt. Parker said, "My Company cannot go, because they have no orders, the war is over and 'orders have been received" for the 17th to be mustered out.
John Rippberger says :- There were about 15 officers and mien that went, we marched over the Smokey Hill Route, through the eventry to Sade. here we stopped 13 days, about the tenth we entered the Plains, we saw plenty of Buffalo, Wild-geese. Antelope, Wolves and Indians, we killed two Baffalor and captured one Indian, when chasing the first Buffalo, Jimmy Davey's horse fell into a wolf hole and broke Jim's les above the knee, they put him in the ambulance and took him to Fort Larn- ed Hospital. We were having a taszle with a B. falo, shot after shut bad tien fired at him and he would put fall. when Thomas Kelliek, the butcher. get off his horse and resting his carbine oo the saddle said, "d -- -. I'll love you sure, for I havn't had a bidie beef- steak or any 'ard-tack in me 'arversark for the last threc days passed and gon by, hardly, hardly." Tom shot and laid him low, part of the hind quarters way cut out, thrown on the fire, and when cooked, atc with a reli-h.
Next day we marched on seeing a number of herds of Buffalo, and often Indians chasing them.
(The next chapter of history tells why the 17th were ordered on the Plains. News that many of the boy- have waited longto hear.) Ed.
CHAPTER NAXVI. It. 21 me capture Use Ardian and at &t larned then a Military Pust, "o whites there but che Jadian _Agent. We were very tired and glad to remain ho for a while.
Had good times here: we would go ost bunting and > witime, nearly every .... we killed lots of wolves, tanned cir Lives and sold them.
W. P. Speaker sewed about twelve Lider together, making a nice robe, he then sont it bonne.
I was here taken with bloody dyson- tery, gut very low, they said I was go- ing to die, but after two weeks linger- ing I recovered.
As a party of Co. II, were going up to Furt Fletcher they got into a skir- wish with the Indian. Geo. Baker was hit in the thigh with an arrow, (he was laid up and is now getting a pension.)
About the 5th of Dec. 1863 we left Fort Larned for Fort Leavenworth. Kansas. On this march we met with many hardships, and it was the great- est wonder to ve why the government should send us out here to do no good. but to suffer ( two boys froze to death .; The prairie fres are generally raging this time of the year. The snowstorms here were just blizzards, "and dout you remember it."
One day we met a large company of Indians crossing the "trail" in front of vy, the officers stopped them, when we had a chance to see and examine their equipments, such as bows, scalping knives, arrows, tomahawks, lassos &c.
I remember Lieut. E. Armitt bad an arrow in his hand, and tried to make the Indian understand that he would like to take it home with him, bat no. they ma-t have it back, and atting spurs to their ponies they left in a hurry.
We would see buffaloes, wolves and antelopes on either side of the road, ont as the weather grew colder every day we Lastened on without interfer- ing with them.
The third day out from Leaven- worth we were overtaken by a severe show-storma and severe cold weather, the boys will remember that night, we camped in the woods, and rolling logs trgnther we built huge tires, by which we were saved from freezing, some of the boys spread down blankets, built stall tires at their bend and feet and
ing and standing in. w mt of
sosten the ner night [ wall have: . i. got me andered terribly. one ( etter. . fonte one les and one are so bad t'il they were both amont abd. Heis now at the Home in Chk . o. It was repet thebais freze to death. in our li. z.
Next day v ; res hel font boivin. woth in the evening, affer bach: our horses all day, it being too cold to rine in the saidh.
We were Lere sent to fondquarter- after turning over our hq. -- and thawed ont. By the the gnumeters there, it had been 20 Liber zero for two days. We missed several of the boys in different companies, who hal fer- ished in the cold. Our col rel cak was also lost. I froze my feet so bad that they have bothered me ever since, this winter [1882-3] I have suffered more then ever.
After a week we were mastered out of service and sent to Springfield to receive our discharge papers and pay. Here in Camp Butler we bid each other good by.
I and six others stunted for home, while in the depot en-route for Chica- go Thon as Griffith, "New York Bum- mer," better known, came in with a large book offering it for sale saying he was hard up. out of money, (he al- ways was) it was the history of the Rebellion and cost him $2 75, he sold it for G5c and out he dashed, has any one heard of him since?
We arrived in Chicago at 7 p. in. and put up at a hotel, next day we made a raid on a clothing store and exchanged our army blue for black. feeling glad to be citizens ouer more.
Then we hastened home. wh. ze I ar- rived on the 25th day of D . '65. I found my folks well and vis noch pleased to see me again piter an ab. sence of over two years, and you but i was glad, too.
Very Respectfully. WHY WE WENT ON THE PLAINS.
At the close of the war the govern- ment expected to send troops into Mexico to Gght Maximillian, so they began concentrating troops on the platus(it was mail to fight Indians, but the truth was that they were for Mex- ico ) They expected to have 60,000 ready and when war was declared with Mexico, that one half of chese troops would reenlist and thereby bave 20.000 well armed and disciplined men ready
t :.
the the power they are :. The liding sent i; request of Cul Uvres, and the art. at the huge who were In zen to ..... w. that trip can be laid at his de ". LA NGAN. SHERIDAN'S LIFE. THE Wir che great disappointwest in Eb.r- idag& bfo that is not . nerally ki.en We have all som me cry in our pri- that still stuks there en ' willet w ... We dreim of what we might have af. hud we ouly the power ... ifh .: P ... Sheridan's? Well, I will tell y .... Wie. Lee had surrendered bis breve latte. worn-out army at Appointtox, sud tu: war was declared over, Masinallinn. supported by the French, was still at ..- peror of Mexico. With his tosar u and warscarred battalions in serries. man's firing the Rio Grande, Sherid ... av Chd but the worl of his Pre-ilest to kid forward to Mexico and plant the Haes of the two republics cu the batelements of Chepulteres in place .? Le standard of the French emrice. Tit word did not enme. The Freret .. support of the unfortunate Baupero. was withdrawn. This was the gre .: dixappointment of Sheridan's life.
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ACESSO'S Cavalry Volunteers. Adjutant to metais Bouquin'. CHAPTER I. DiS. genteenth Cavalry Regiment TIP:, Volantesrs was organized un- ยท special authority from the War Parent issued September 11. -53, to Run. John F. Farnsworth. The reginu ous was established at St. Cherker Kane Co. III. By the ap- game of the Governor of the State, i " Coloneley of the Regiment was of- for d'to John L. Beveridge, then Ma- "r vr the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, who sopa's the work of recruitment and prawie tion, and opened the redezvons Spactuber 15, 1505. Eight companies Were umer red in, January 22, 1864. Four other companies were mustered and the organization of the Regi- rent completed, February 12, 1864.
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