USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 18
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The Major was in his glory. He had his officers just where he wanted them. "Attention," "shoulder arms." "order arms," and down went the butt of musket upon the unfortunate feet, the owners of which attested their disgust in ejaculations. not loud. but deep. Fun! Well, yes, and beyond measure. And vet, it is true, that under the patient and skillful direction of its drill master. order from chaos came, and when, after several hours of drilling. the squad marched off the grounds, it was no longer the awkward body of the morning, but in precision of movement and soldierly appearance, was worthily entitled to the applause so freely granted.
Such exhibitions of soldierly' desire to win and wear the honors vonched by soldierly action and attention to details. bring name and fame to the Fiftieth, and this evening a great crowd witnessed our dress parade, the companies being com- manded by non-commissioned officers, a not unattractive fea-
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ture of which was the appearance of Bolly Dick, the three year old boy of Captain King's colored cook.
Watching, as he had, the drilling of the command, he soon became proficient in the use of a small wooden gun, given him by some of the boys. It was his habit to take position in rear of commanding officer at dress parade, and go through the manual the same as the line, but this evening he not only broke the record for audacity but ended his career as a soldier. Just after the Major had taken his position, Bolly Diek marched out from the crowd fronting the line, and with much dignity, took position immediately to the rear of the Major, and, in exact time and imitation, executed the movements of the line. the manual of arms and all as ordered by the Major or his adjutant.
The sight was. in every respect, so winning and yet so lu- dierous, that the men in ranks, as well as the witnessing crowds, broke out into shouts and laughter, greatly to the surprise and somewhat to the chagrin of the Major who did not understand the cause, until, casting his eyes to the rear, he saw the little warrior in all his glory, who, suddenly falling from his dizzy height, moved back to his quarters.
This evening's dress parade, the companies, as before stated, being under command of non-commissioned officers, proved to be of the best results. It taught the officers of the line that they must keep up with the times if they wished to Keep their laurels as well as positions from capture by their subordinates. Here, the daily record of events for the time be- ing, ceases.
From the 17th of August. on through the month of Sep- tember, but little of note occurred, beyond the regular routine of camp and garrison. It was not uncommon for men to be shot while upon picket. The 7th Kansas loosing three in one day.
The religious exercises were kept up and were deeply in- teresting, the chaplains of the other regiments often assisting.
Colonel Bane and wife leaving for home on the 25th of August, the command of the brigade devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Hurlbut.
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Furloughs were daily granted and the camp was saddened by the departure of fortunate ones, or gladdened by the return of those who had been furloughed, and whose appearance was greeted with pleasure because of word and gifts from the dear ones at home.
Serenading was in order, and from camp to camp, move minstrel bands. Pay-rolls, for four months pay, were signed, and D. D. Bigger, succeeded Wm. Evatt as sutler. A notable event, on the 3rd of September, was the arrival and assumption of command by general Webster, of the left wing of the 16th Army Corps.
Desertion from Bragg and Johnston was a matter of daily occurrence. The deserters as a rule, presented a pitiable ap- pearance. Clothed in cheap gray, well worn and very dirty, they gave, as if by concert, the same reasons for deserting : "Tired of the Wah", and "You all's is too much for we uns".
General Webster holds but brief command, being, on the 6th of September, relieved by General E. A. Carr, and on Sep- tember Sth Major Hanna is relieved from the command of the post at Corinth, by Colonel Alexander, of the 1st Alabama col- ored infantry. Out of the regular course of events, was the in- spection and review of the brigade, by General E. A. Carr and Lieutenant Colonel Wilson, Inspector General of the Depart- ment of the Tennessee, who expressed themselves as delighted with the soldierly bearing of the brigade, the Fiftieth receiving a fair meed of praise.
On the 11th, Colonel Wilson , inspected barracks. The day was windy and dusty but everything was shown up in ship- shape order. The evening was gladdened by news from the Army of the Cumberland; General Carr issuing the following circular :
HEADQUARTERS LEFT WING, 16TH A. C., } CORINTH, MISS., Sept. 11th, 1863. ) The following dispatch has just been received at these Headquarters :
MEMPHIS, Sept. 11th, 1863. I have just received a dispatch, from Nashville, which
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states that General Crittenden's Corps occupied Chattanooga on the morning of the 9th. Rebels retreating south.
[Signed ]
W. G. FULLER,
Superintendent Military Telegraph. By order of Brig. Gen. E. A. CARR.
J. W. BARNES,
Lient. and A. A. A. G.
There were daily collisions with the enemy, along our picket lines. News of the surrender of Little Rock reached camp on the 15th. On the 17th Colonel Gaines returned from Illinois, where he had been on a sick leave. On the next" day, John H. Gallagher, company D, captured at Shiloh, having been duly exchanged, rejoined his company.
To relieve the monotony, as well as to improve in drill, the two colored regiments, 1st Alabama infantry and Ist Tenn- esseo infantry, participate in a sham battle, in which no one is killed, but, for the time being, several are knocked out. The contrabands, before they got through with the fight, grew terri- bly in earnest.
To show the military spirit, as well as unbounded pride for the regiment and its achievments, an extract is given from a letter written and dated at:
CORINTH, Miss., Sept. 20th, 1863. * *
"Tell father that the 'blind half hundred' is as good as any regiment in the service of Uncle Sam, has the cleanest guns and uniforms of any regiment in the second division, and nearly all are anxious to be mounted on mules."
Along about this time, the weather turned severely cold and on the 18th, 19th and 20th, there was much suffering, es- pecially among the colored troops. By the 24th, news of the defeat of Rosecrans at Chicamauga reached camp and was re- ceived with much excitement, as it brought a probability of a movement from Corinth, which was still further confirmed by subsequent events.
The proposition to mount the regiment on mules, daily took shape, and on the 26th Major Hanna quietly mounted 16 men, on the team mules, and put them through the evolutions of a cavalry drill, all of which was witnessed by the troops and
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to the especial amusement of the boys of the Fiftieth. It was, however, an object lesson, which, in due time, produced results.
There were now many indications of an early and an active movement. The 15th A. C. was concentrating at Corinth. A train load of 1,500 men was unloaded, and a large number of Springfield muskets, the finest arm in the world, were received. ready for delivery to the division. New shoes were issued as well as clothing, and this carried the idea of an early march. The experiences of the Town Creek march, heretofore recorded, satisfied the "high toners" that tight boots were not the thing. and they welcomed their "gunboats" with a pleasure as educated as it was zealous. Three more teams were allowed the regiment, and on the 20th, the tents and extra equippage was turned over to the post quartermaster.
During all this time the weather was wet and cold. Nec- essarily, there was in the delay of marching orders, a feeling of suspense. each day growing the more intense. The troops, so long at Corinth, are anxious for active service. They feel they must do something more than guard and patrol duty.
On the 30th, three trains of soldiers arrived and went . into camp, and on the Ist day of October, several thousand reached Corinth, by trains from Memphis. On this day Lieu- tenant Colonel Gaines was assigned to duty as provost marshal for the district of Corinth.
There was an increasing activity apparent among the enc- my, and hot skirmishing and ongagements occurred, with vary- ing result. but. as a rule, favorable to the Union. The 7th Ill- inois and 4th Kentucky cavalry returned on the evening of October 2nd, with 25 prisoners, including a major, with the loss of one man killed.
The 3rd and 4th were the anniversary days of the battle of Corinth. and the Fiftieth encamped upon the same ground upon which it thou fought, and finally held, on the 4th. All day, and far into the night, there were gatherings of men, who recalled the scenes of those two eventful days. First it would seem as though the year had brought but little progress to the
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Union cause, but a moment's reflection dissipated, as into thin air. the uneasy thoughts.
From the front came news of the capture of a part of the 18th Missouri, while guarding the bridge, at Chewalla, their officers being absent at the Tishimingo. More trains arrived from Memphis, with troops of the 15th A. C .. and on the 10th a brigade on its way by rail was delayed by obstructions placed upon the track, but the enemy was soon driven off, the cause of delay removed and the brigade marched from depot into camp with drums beating and flags flying.
There was a constant stream of troops arriving and de- parting along the line of the Memphis & Charleston railroad, composing the 15th and 17th Army Corps. Their destination Chattanooga and the relief of Rosecrans' beleagured army. The delay in the movement of the Fiftieth and the brigade and division so long at Corinth, produced great discontent, and one of the Fiftieth, thus notes in his diary, the general feeling of depression and disappointment :
"We have been expecting to go for some time, but it be- gins to look now as if our division is not to go, consequently. we will have to remain. Well, we will have to be contented. We cannot help ourselves anyway, is the way we feel about it" But sep. into what a joyous song the disgruntled soldier breaks, only a few hours later, when at 5 o'clock, p. m., he says: "Hur- rah! Hurrah! Marching orders." What is up ?- Three day's rations in haversacks, 40 rounds of amunition and be ready at a moment's notice, is the order. At dark we are off, joyous and happy, for La Grange, to reinforce General Sweeny, who has been attacked by Forrest. Roddy and Furgason, with a force reported to be from 5,000 to 8.000.
Before reaching Swoony, word comes that he repulsed the enemy who had then turned their attention to Colliersville, occupied by the 66th Indiana, under command of Colonel D. C. Anthony. Investing the place, a demand for immediate surrender had just been made when a train from Memphis ar- rived, bearing Major General Sherman and two brigadiers, with their staff's, and a battalion of the 13th U. S. regulars, as escort.
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As the train drew slowly up, to where the track had been destroyed, the enemy opened an artillery fire, disabling the engine and with marked injury to some of the cars. Rapidly forming, the regulars joined the 66th and charged the enemy with the bayonet, driving them away in a short time, but not without loss. Forrest evidently believed that a heavy force was within close call, and, therefore, withdrew, but in the sharp fight of but a few moments, the Union loss was 15 killed and 50 wounded.
Corinth. October 12th. The 13th regulars. with General Sherman. arrived to-day, and the General, temporarily, estab- lished his headquarters, a pleasant feature of which is a fine brass band. On the evening of the 15th, the boys of the Fiftieth who have remained in camp, visit the regular's camp for the purpose of witnessing their dress parade. An eye-witness thus records the interesting movements employed by the regiment :
"The companies form on their streets, the color guard march with the colors and take position on the parade line. Then the band, playing quick time, takes position, followed by the right and left guides, each bearing a beautiful guidon, who take their places on alignment. At a given signal, the band strikes up a quick march, and the companies, with arms at a right shoulder shift move on the double-quick, to their respect- ive positions on the line. They are proud of their movement and so, we think, they should be. In marching. halting and in case of allignments, their movements surpass anything I have ever seen, but they cannot match the Fiftieth in the man- ual of arms. We could beat them and not half try, and we would like to pit our regiment against them, even if it is but just returning from a heavy march."
On the 16th, General Dodge returned and again assumed command of the left wing of the 16th A. C. As to the move- ments of the brigade it is only necessary to note that it remain- ed at La Grange, as a reserve, until the 19th, when it returned to Corinth.
The general movements of the troops was in the direction of Chattanooga, and by the 20th the movement was in full
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swing for Iuka and beyond. It seemed to be settled that Gen, Dodge would issue orders necessary for the mounting of the Fiftieth. Colonel Bane having returned, assumed command of the brigade, and shortly after met Mrs. Bane at La Grange, her return to camp being hailed with joyful exhibitions, for she was indeed, the regiment's helpful and watchful friend.
From the 21st to the 27th, aside from the usual duties, came pay day at which two months pay was received, clothing drawn, the different regiments of the brigade on out-post duty returned to Corinth, and it was also a matter of interest that on Sunday the 25th, Chaplains Bigger and Collins held divine ser- vice in the church for the last time. Colonel Gaines being re- lieved from duty as provost marshal returned to the regiment and at once took command.
On the 27th marching orders with two days rations were received, and the next morning the Fiftieth, with most of the division, boarded the train for Burnsville. The wagon train, under the escort of the 18th Missouri, reached a point within three miles of Burnsville, when it was attacked, but after a smart skirmish the enemy was driven off, the 18th losing one horse killed and one man wounded.
The lines around Burnsville having been established. W'm. Northup of company D, brought in from the picket line. a prisoner, who claimed to be a deserter from Roddy's com- mand. The country around Burnsville was well supplied with forage. Supplies of grain and vegetables for feed and susten- ance had been lavishly furnished by the government to the cit- izens, who, under the plea of loyalty, obtained favors to which they were in no wise entitled.
In truth they were not loyal. but were most of the time a part and parcel of the guerrilla bands which constituted a continual pest to the country. The friendly acts of Union officers were returned, not in kind, but with the reverse, burn- ings and murder. None knew this condition better than the officers and men of the Fiftieth, and now being to some extent, compelled to live off of the country, they did not fail to
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sweep clean the well filled graneries, smoke houses, and the fields of cattle, sheep and hogs.
Thus was inaugurated that true policy of war which strikes at every element that can afford aid and comfort to the enemy. The mailed hand of the Fiftieth was gloveless. It was a question of business, and if the policy had been earlier en- forced the war would have been shortened by at least a year. Eat up, burn and destroy, until unfenced desolation alone could greet the sight, would have saved thousands of lives and untold suffering among the ranks of loyalty, the comfort and protec- tion of which were alone entitled to consideration.
The regiment having moved in light marching order and the weather being cold and stormy, with much rain, there was an immediate necessity for shelter. Buildings were therefore torn down and hastily constructed into something like barracks so as to make matters as comfortable as possible. There were a number of young ladies in the town, but as they were violent- ly secesh, but little attention was paid to them. Indeed they were not worthy of attention ; they all dipped snuff, and the greater portion "chawed" long green tobacco. They possessed no knowledge of what, in social lines, is termed the proprieties and, take them all in all, they were a hard lot. A mulatto woman having left on the train for Corinth, told Capt. McGil- lieuddy that her mistress. Lapson by name, had secreted one of her boys, refusing to give him up, the Captain sought the slave hider, and, while she admitted the truth of the charge she main- tained she had as much right to the boy as any one, as she had raised him.
The news indicated the evacuation of Corinth. Orders were received for the troops to draw another pair of shoes, thus indicating a long march ahead. It also disclosed determina- tion upon the part of General Dodge that his men should not again pass through the suffering experienced on the Tuscumbia campaign.
The road to Iuka having been repaired, orders were issu- ed to be ready to move at a moments notice with three days cooked rations. There was no time lost; foraging parties were
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went out and a supply of beef and sweet potatoes secured. Every spare moment was given to letter writing, and the mails were loaded with the home missives.
On the morning of the 6th of November the command marched from Burnsville en route to Iuka, which place was reached at noon, where a halt was made for dinner. The town was deserted when the regiment arrived, the advance troops having already gone.
Before the war Iuka had become a noted watering place Springs of strong medical properties being in plenty. The troops passing on, the Fiftieth took up its line of march as rear guard, its position being at a considerable distance from: the troops in advance. Hardly had it moved a mile from Iuka before its advance was fired into. A member of the 18th Mis- souri riding with the orderly being wounded in the foot. At once two companies of the regiment were deployed asskirmish- ers, and advancing rapidly to the front, encountered the enemy who, after a moments resistance, sought safety in flight.
It was afterwards learned that the enemy comprised a portion of Roddy's guerrillas under the command of Major Fontaine, who, supposing there was no enemy between him and Juka, was on his way to that place to take in the supplies of food and coffee said to have been left behind, when, to his sur- prise, he struck the Fiftieth. and it is hardly necessary to re- mark that he did not "take his coffee." And here occurred an incident that to be recalled to the mind of every member of the Fiftieth then present, has only to be mentioned. Captain Me- Gillicuddy, being unwell, was riding in the ambulance in the rear. The attack at the front was followed by some scattering shots along the line, and one ball went wicksdly singing through the top of the ambulance, and close, in fact uncomfor- tably so, to the Captain alarmed at the suddenness of the at- tack and anxious to reach his place in the line. Out tumbled the Captain, yelling as he rushed along the line, "Skin your eyes. Battery Company, skin your eyes." On many a march thereafter the good natured Captain heard "Skin your eyes" from many a man who would have died for him if necessary.
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Eastport, eighteen miles from Burnsville, was reached at dark and the preparations for camp begun, when at Q o'clock the regiment was ordered by Colonel Bane, command- ing brigade, to move forward to the river landing and cross over at the earliest moment. On the way the ghastly sight was presented of large numbers of half buried skeletons, mostly of the rebel dead, half buried at first, the rain had washed away the thin covering of earth which had enveloped them and on every side could be seen the fleshless arms and limbs, and the horridly grinning skulls, a protest as it were from the dead to the living, who with careless tread and step went by careless and indifferent to the unsightly scene.
The night was cold and frosty and it was not until near 3 o'clock in the morning that the regiment, with it train safely crossed, pushed out some distance to the front and bivouacked. Lieutenant Colonel Gaines falling sick, the command devolved on Major Hanna, the Colonel taking boat for Nashville. Dur- ing the day the regiment marched as rear guard and when six miles on the way, while passing through a gorge with a creek on one side and a bluff on the other the ambulance train was fired into. As a result there was a jam and a smash up, with a loss of six horses, twelve mules and one man wounded. In a few moments the bluff was cleared of the enemy, and the command moved forward a distance of two miles and went into camp. It was found at roll-call in the evening. that one man each were missing from companies F and I, presumably captu- red while straggling.
On the 8th, moved at daylight along the foot of the river bluff's, until noon when the line of march passed up into the level country. Owing to the length of the division train, there was but little progress made. Halts were frequent and delays occasioned thereby were annoying in the extreme. It was long after dark when the worn, weary regiment went into camp along the banks of a small stream. Chilled and hungry, foot-sore and weary, the night was passed not without suffering, so much so that the morning light was hailed as the beacon of a better day. At 5:30 the command took up the march, and as the roads were.
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in better shape, and the train divided into four sections, with a. brigade to each part, good progress was made, and after fifteen miles had been rolled off, camp was reached. During the day the Quartermaster of the Fiftieth, with the efficient aid of the Major's orderly, captured six head of cattle, and fresh beef for supper was plenty, with sufficient, taken with other rations, for a three days supply, ordered to be prepared during the night.
On the morning of the 10th revellie sounded at 4 o'clock. In was evident that Uncle Sam or his faithful agent General Dodge, intended that the officers and men of his command should earn their salary. At six o'clock the Fiftieth took posi- tion as brigade train guard, two companies to every ten wagons. Laudersdale was reached at noon. It was a cotton factory town on Shoal creek, employing one hundred women, young and old. The greater part of the command in advance crossed below the dam. As the Fiftieth came in sight of the creek quite an ex- panse of water spread itself to the view. The troops in front crossing in squads or in single file, with nothing visible but their heads and shoulders gave currency to the impression that they were wading, and it was not a strange illusion, for the water to their near left being in plain view. The sight was anything but pleasing, and the protest against breasting the icy current of the stream found voice in the general expression of "I'll be-darned. if I am going to wade." However the dread of such an experience was soon dispelled as, upon reach- ing the stream, a favorable place was found below the dam upon which to cross dry shod. As it first looked the illusion was perfect, the crossing being lower than the dam made it appear as if the men were wading through the water.
At four o'clock in the afternoon Lexington, Alabama, only one mile from the Tennessee Line, was reached and passed. Crossing the "Blue Water," a crystal stream of pure water, and reaching Sugar creek near the village of Pin Hook, camp was made for the night.
At day-break on the 11th, the march was resumed with Pulaski as the objective point, distant eighteen miles. The troops were growing weary and showed a disposition to fall
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out of line, so much so that Major Hanna determined to try the effect of music. He therefore ordered the band to play. And all at once down the line the air was filled with the melody of "The Girl I left Behind Me." Wonderful power of music, every man was in line again, every step full of an impetus, buoyantly exhilarant. The loud cheers of the men attested the experiment's delightful result. It may well be believed that the lesson of the day was never forgotten by Major Hanna, the men declaring they could march, with music, easily ten miles further in a day than without it. Pulaski was reached and passed, the command going into camp on Big Bear creek, east of the town, where it expected to remain for several days. The Nashville & Huntsville railroad runs through this town, and it became well understood that the division, under direction cf General Dodge, ( famed as a railroad builder and engineer be- fore the war) is to rebuild and put into operation the 102 miles of the road now sadly out of repair. The turnpike from Decatur to Nashville runs near by and parallel to the railroad
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