USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 19
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On the 12th. at ten o'clock in the forenoon, the regiment took up its march for Lynnville, twelve miles north on the pike. The town had been partially destroyed in 1862 by General Mc- Cook, and the people were bitterly hostile to the Union and its defenders. As the regiment was marching along the street a number of women were seen looking from a window one of whom spat upon some of the men near by. The filthy act was regarded with complaisance, and even evoked laughter from her companions. The incident. however, being not with- out a full reparation, for the regiment camped in a field in the immediate rear of the house, and the front parlors and rooms were at once occupied as headquarters, the so-called ladies be- ing relegated to the back rooms, and company E occupying the out-buildings in rear of the house. This high toned family was made up of two women, one white and one black, each having two children, nearly grown, by the same father, who was away at that time battling for the south and the sacred institution of slavery.
The country was rich in produce of every kind and char-
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actor, and foraging met with an abundant return. Under orders from Colonel Bane, brigade commander. a number of hogs were returned to their owner, who claimed to be loyal, although the chances were strongly in favor of the proposition that he was not only disloyal but a bush-whacking murderer. The truth is that loyalty was as scarce in that locality as are the devil's vows of righteousness.
On the 14th company H, while out on a foraging expedi- tion for brigade headquarters, was fired upon by a band of "loyal" bush-whackers, who cowardly took to the hills as soon as they saw the brave boys making for them. The company returned without loss, and loaded with provisions.
On the 16th companies B and G received orders to secure mules on which to be mounted, and in pursuance thereof start- ed out on a mule hunting expedition.
The next day General Dodge arrived in camp for the pur- pose of consulting with Colonel Bane, who returned with him to Pulaski. Before returning he ordered Major Hanna to mount his regiment. and in furtherance of the purpose directed the Major to proceed to Nashville and procure saddles and the necessary equipments. Lieut. Colonel Gaines returned to the regiment and Major Hanna, on the 19th, left for Nashville. The days were spent in active work. Companies B and G, after a successful march, returned mounted, with three prison- ers, a captain, lieutenant and private. Jesse Burns of company G, was reported captured, but escaped and within a few hours after their return arrived in camp.
Commissions received for Henry King of company G, as Regimental Quartermaster and Second Lieutenant Bissell as First Lieutenant company A, vice Sergeant Moody, resigned. The camp learned with high pleasure that Mrs. Bane, accom- panied by Mrs. General Dodge, would soon reach the command.
Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving day, was observed as well as circumstances would allow. Many a letter was writ- ten and heart messages sent to the beloved at home. Well might the Nation raise its voice in praise and adoration to the God of Battles, through whose protecting care and direction
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victories have come to lighten and assuage the pains of battle and to whisper peace to souls oppressed by war's dread sacrifice.
With the 28th information was received that the regi- ment would soon start on a scout. Major Hanna returned from Pulaski with one hundred and seventy-two mules, and with him came prospects of active service.
CHAPTER XIV.
Out on a Raid to Shoal Creek under Major Hanna-A Cross Trail-The Death of Corporal McGee-Rapid Mounting of the Regiment-Order No. 11 --- Expedition under Cols. Miller and Gaines-"Hoe Cakes"-Reach Law- renceburg-Camp on Blue Water -- A Valuable Rooster-An Important Discovery- An Exciting Pursuit-Gallant Action of Col. Gaines and his Troopers-A Notable Capture -- The Return to Lynnville.
On the 30th day of November. 1863, six companies of the Fiftieth under Major Hanna, one company of the 39th Iowa. and the 18th Missouri, all mounted and under command of Colonel Miller of the 18th Missouri, rode out from their camps at Lynuville, and at dark had marched thirty-five miles. The details of this expedition are so well given by a participant that they are adopted as a correct statement of movements incident to and connected with the raid. Taking up the story from: the second morning he says :
"To-day we moved three miles, reaching Shoal Creek, where we went into camp. The country through which we had marched. abounded in richly furnished farms with an abun- dance of feed for our troops and animals. They were well stocked with horses and mules, and as the purpose of the expe- dition was largely to provide the regiment with cavalry equip- ment, these animals were right to our hand. The next day the command moved up the creek and at night had made ten miles toward our camp at Lynnville. We had swept the country clean of good horses and mules. While the duty was in some
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respects a disagrecable one, yet the end to be accomplished by the mounting of the regiment, was of such high import that we swallowed all seruples.
"On the third, while passing along a road on a ridge, a number of horse tracks were discovered, indicating that they had crossed our road going in a northerly direction. It was plainly to be seen that the crossing had been made after our advance guard had passed the point, as near as could be deter- mined, at least twenty-five horses having passed over the way. At once our command was halted and scouts thrown forward in the direction taken by the horses. Whether they were mounted or not could not be determined. but as the scouts returned and reported nothing found, it was the conclusion that the tracks had been made by a loose herd. The return to camp was again taken up, and on the 6th of December the command arrived safely with thirty prisoners, mostly deserters, and a large num- ber of horses and mules.
"On the Sth of December companies F, I and K, under command of Major Hanna, made a detour through the country returning on the 10th with a number of prisoners and horses.
While this service was being performed with signal abil- ity and ardor, those in camp were saddened by the death of Corporal Thomas C. MeGee, who enlisted from Mercer county, as a member of company I. Asa mark of respect he was buried with the honors of war. As the procession followed his remains it moved past a house near headquarters, at the door of which were standing several rebel ladies. The sight, impo- sing as it was solemn, the slow and measured tread of march- ing men with arms reversed, the muffled beat of drums and the sad music from fifes, did not fail to have their effect upon the lookers on in the doorway, and one of them was seen to enter the house weeping. Inquiry brought the information that her husband was a rebel prisoner in Ohio, and for one she could realize the horrors of war, how those near and dear might be sick and dying far from the comforting attendance and love of home and friends.
As fast as possible the men of the regiment were being
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mounted. Each man was furnished with four shoes, either for horse or mule. These shoes were just as they came from the forge of the factory, without nail-holes. Being, many of them, large sized there was great difficulty in outfitting the mules. Of course nails were not furnished and there was slow progress in shoeing. Although the farriers, John Hoffman of E and Behy- mer and Foster of D, and their assistants worked early and late, and, under the circumstances, did remarkably well.
From tramping on foot to riding on mule-back was a transition so complete, from drudgery to ease, that the boys were often inclined to test the relative speed and style of their steeds. The orders required great care and attention on the part of each man for his horse or mule, and fast riding was verbally forbidden. Notwithstanding which, the rule was daily violated, and in order to effectively correct the violation, as well as to establish a course of proceedure for the feeding and care of their animals, the following orders were issued :
HEADQUARTERS 50TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, ? LYNNVILLE, TENN., Dec. 7, 1863. 1
General Order, ? No. 11 1
. I. While in camp the men of this command will not be allowed to feed their mules more than four bundles of corn fod- der per day.
JI. Any enlisted man detected in riding his horse or mule faster than a trot, (six) miles per hour, without permis- sion from his commanding officer will be immediately and sum- marily punished.
III. No one belonging to this command will be permit- ted to pass outside the lines for the purpose of foraging, with- out reporting to these headquarters first, and being placed un- der a commissioned officer, who will, immediately upon his re- turn to camp, report to the Regimental Quartermaster the amount and kind of forage taken.
By order Lieut. Col. T. W. GAINES.
Signed : MERVIN CONVERSE,
Lieut. and Act. Adjutant. (15)
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Referring to the service and its exactions, one of the reg- iment says :
"Shod, or unshod, when a company or detachment is ordered out it must go. Often the shoes would be taken along in our saddle-bags, in obedience to orders, and the nails left in camp, thus presenting a splendid object lesson of how not to do a thing rightly. Where the responsibility for such negligence belongs it is not in our province to say."
On the 12th of December the 18th Missouri, Colonel Mil- ler, and four companies of the Fiftieth Illinois, A, Lieutenant Bissell ; B, Captain Horn; D, Captain Rickart and E, Captain Cyrus, under the command of Lieut. Col. Gaines, attended by Assistant Surgeon A. G. Pickett, Commissary Sergeant George Walker, Regimental Wagonmaster, John C. Lewis, and Orderly C. F. Hubert, moved out of camp under command of Colonel Miller, the object being to pursue and break up certain bands of guerrillas under the rebel Roddy, that were operating along the Tennessee river with rendezvous near Lawrenceburgh, twen- ty-seven miles west from Lymville.
The history of this march and scout, is thus graphically detailed by one of the participants. He writes :
"On the first day out we marched seven miles to Camels- ville, and stopped at an old reb's place at dark, fed his corn and fodder and issued from his smoke house as much pork as the boys were in need of. With an eye single to demands of the next day, the old aunties were set at work baking "hoo cakes" on a board set before the fire, and under the inspiring sight of some Yankee shiuplasters, and the poetic story of the freedom in store for them, the black cooks worked with a will through the night, until a supply sufficient for the command the next day had been prepared. How the old Dinah's did work for "Massa Linkum's sogers" that night, they fully expecting to move on with them toward "de lan' of freedom." At two o'clock on the morning of the 13th, we were quietly awakened had breakfast and at three started on our march, reaching Law_ renceburgh, distant 20 miles, by eight o'clock a. m. Here rest- ing for a short time we resumed our march and beyond Law-
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renceburgh between seven and eight miles, we halted on what is known as "Hall's plantation," for dinner. The proprietor of the plantation was a rich old rebel. At one o'clock p. m. the command resumed its march toward Lexington, Alabama, dis- tant thirteen miles, and only one mile beyond the line separa- ting Tennessee from Alabama.
At Lexington it was expected we would meet a part of the 7th Illinois, which had left Pulaski on the 11th, with orders to join our command at this point, but before reaching Lexing- ton orders were given to stop on the "Blue Water," four miles away, where we went into camp with plenty of forage for our horses and mules and an abundance of good things for the men. During the march of this day, forty-five miles, we had a num- ber of collisions with the rebel bush-whackers, who hung on our flanks and rear, but drove them off without much trouble and no loss. While the horses stood the racket in good shape, not so with the mules, many of them having become so foot- sore as to move only with great pain and difficulty. The greater part of them never having had on saddle or bridle until mus- ered into Uncle Sam's service on the 12th, and while they were at first unruly, the experience of a two days march has made them extremely docile, so much so that the most of them would rather lie down than march. Realizing the necessity as devel- oped by the situation, their riders are taking the very best care of their long eared companions.
In all our marching and camping during our service and . up to this time this camp is the best supplied with every article conducive to comfort. The old man and his family have felt the mailed hand of war. His two sons and a son-in-law are in the rebel army, and his fine plantation has been run over and devastated by troops from both sides. He is at heart a Union man, and gives of his best, willingly, to our troops. The men are not slow to help themselves and as they are chasing the chickens, one of the young ladies pathetically exclaims, "I do hope they will not take that rooster, he always crows when I am to get a letter from my Henry," Whereupon orders are
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given to save that rooster, and so far as is known to the world, this order was obeyed.
The next morning, the 14th, we break camp at daybreak, and moved three miles up the creek to the military road. Our way up the creek led us so that we had to cross and re-cross several times. At one of these crossings Lewis Slater's (com- pany B) mule stumbled, and falling, threw him forward several feet into a deep hole. As he went down he gave a yell, which was suddenly cut short as he went under. In a moment he was in sight, blowing water and struggling for the shore, when his mule came tumbling upon him and forced him into still deeper water, under the roots of a large tree. It looked for the mo- ment as though the incident would end in a tragedy, and the shouts of the boys were hushed, when all at once Slater crawled up the bank and, with bridle in hand, yanked his war steed out, remounted him, shook the water out of his ears and both marched on rejoicing.
When the command struck the military road, (so called because laid out from Nashville to New Orleans by General Jackson ), and also known as the telegraph road, company B of the Fiftieth, with the 18th Missouri, under Colonel Miller, sep- arated from us and marched toward Florence, Alabama. When within four miles of that place they encountered and drove in the rebel pickets. Taking the military road, Colonel Gaines moved towards Hall's plantation, where we arrived about four o'clock p. m.
The old man, Hall, did not feel complimented by our stay. Remembering having passed a crib full of corn and a new wagon at a place two miles below Hall's, on the road pre- viously taken, Colonel Gaines and Ass't Surgeon Pickett, with a sergeant and nine men, went down to load the wagon, stay all night, intending to return in the morning and take the corn into camp. Arriving at the place and questioning the owner, (Mr. Blue), who gave evidence of loyalty, the Colonel found that a body of about 85 confederates, mostly conscripts, had passed in the afternoon, and were encamped three miles below his house. Blue gave the geography of the vicinity and offered to guide him
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to the camp. The sergeant and squad were directed to remain, be alert, and allow no one to leave the place, while the Colonel and Surgeon hastened back to the camp at Hall's to make ar- rangements to move at an early hour in the morning, and, if possible, surprise and fall upon the enemy at dawn. At three o'clock on the morning of the 15th, the men having breakfasted, Colonel Gaines moved at early dawn quietly from camp, with a force of forty of the best mounted. During the morning we had learned that the enemy had changed camp, but were still in our vicinity, so it was decided to leave as a reserve, the men whose mules were foot-sore, with instructions to arrest every citizen who should appear, and if they heard firing in front in- dicating that we were engaged, to move to our assistance as rap- idly as possible. As before stated, the command moved at day- light and, as it proceeded, left a guard of one or two at every house reached and passed, with instructions to allow no one to leave the premises until our return. Moving cautiously for eight miles, at about ten o'clock we came to the spot where the enemy had camped the night before. From the evidence at . hand we judged they had broken camp about an hour before.
By reason of details, as before stated, our force had now become reduced to twenty-five men, and we learned that there were about thirty-five in the band, but as we believed them to be guerrillas, we did not fear them. Pushing on rapidly the trail soon became a hot one, and within a mile from their camp of the night, we found where they had stopped to feed. Every indication now attested that they were not more than fifteen minutes in advance. There was no difficulty in following the trail made by the column, and we were rapidly approaching an expected overtaking, when all at once we struck the track of a hurricane of the March before. Its course through the timber was marked with great havoc. Its path was half a mile wide, within which there was scarcely a tree left standing, some had been twisted off, some torn up by the roots leaving great holes, the roots, covered with dirt, standing ten feet or more high. Neither man nor beast could go through this debris of the
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storm save in a zig zag way. As it was we followed the trail made by the enemy în single file.
In the middle of this rack and ruin of the storm, stood a small farm house, which we did not discover until within a couple of hundred yards of it, and when we did we halted to look around, and this is what we saw, beyond the house a small field, between us and the house passed a narrow road and a lane used as a farm yard, in which were a number of horses and men dismounted, extended from the road towards the house. The horses were eating, and from the rising smoke and actions of the men, it was evident preparations were going on for a noon- day meal. Col. Gaines immediately ordered all but five men, who were to remain with the mules, to dismount. Then direc- ted Captain Rickart to take the dismounted men and cautious- ly move around to the left so as to take them in flank and rear, and as soon as in position to open fire, which would be the signal for the attack by the small force in front, consisting of himself and the five attendants. This force was but poorly armed. The commissary sergeant being a non-combattant, had no weapon, either for attack or defense. Orderly Hu- bert had a small 22 Smith & Wesson revolver, Sergeant La- throp had his musket, while the others were armed with re- volvers. This force had taken cover behind the up-turned roots of a large oak. The guard with the mules had positive orders to keep them from braving the notes of alarm. Fifteen minutes, each one of which seemed as long as an hour, came and went, and no sound from Rickart, who was bravely strug- gling with adverse circumstances, to reach his appointed place. And now a new cause for anxiety sprung up. Four of the ene- . my were observed to mount their horses and ride out of the farm yard into the road. It was plain the road constituted an outlet by which the enemy, if not at once assaulted. could effect an escape to our right. There was not a moment to lose ; at every risk the lane must be blockaded. Placing himself at the head of his force of five men, the Colonel gave the order "Forward," and away we started. It was truly hazardous for six men, poorly armed, to attempt such a movement, but there are times
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when success hangs on the very casting of the die, and when to hesitate is to lose everything. The ground in our front was a little more open than where we had entered the track of tho hurricane. In the lead was the Colonel and Surgeon, and as, for the second time, the command "Forward" rang out loud and clear, followed by a cheer, the four johnnies drew rein and hal- ted, and discovering our approach, whirled their horses and started back to the house shouting, "the Yankies are coming." One of them, as he started back, fired, the ball passing between the Colonel and Orderly Hubert, barely missing the surgeon, and passing on uncomfortably close to the head of the horse upon which Sergeant Lathrop was riding. . The horse, greatly frightened, swerved to one side, thus bringing the sergeant's musket into collision with a stump, knocking it from his hand to the ground, but coolly, and without dismounting, the ser- geant whirled his horse around and reaching down lifted his musket from the ground, taking position in rear of Commissary Sergeant Walker.
With a ringing cheer our charging column of six men dashed forward, while in our roar the five holding the mules, set up a cheer ; the mules, catching the spirit and excitement raised their tails and brayed like heroes. On dashed the squad; the road being now reached, and crossed, and charging, six against 37, into the face of a volley fired by the enemy, but with such haste and so poorly aimed as to prove of no hurt. In the meantime we poured in what fire we had at our command, and, shouting, as if to those behind us, "come on boys, here they are, here they are ;" while Lathrop in loud tone commanded, "bring up the regiment, Major, here they are; we'll whip h-l out of them." From Rickart's command, now advancing as rapidly as possible, came the , answering reply; "we're coming." While the enemy, greatly frightened, were scattering in every direction ; but their commanding officer, evidently a brave man, seeing only six men in sight, cried out to his men, "halt ! halt, you d-d fools, there are only six of them," This brought the most of his command to a halt, and some show of resist- ance, but just then the force sent to the left under Captain
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Rickart opened fire and away went the johnnies for good. leaving behind to be captured, their commanding officer. Major Fontaine. and four men, with twenty-five horses, thirty stands of arms and the dinner in course of preparation. The rout and capture was attended with many interesting incidents. One reb. fired his carbine within a few feet of the Colonel and. missing, threw up his hands in token of surrender; he was kindly treated but he should have been shot on the spot.
When the enemy broke for the timber the Colonel, with Hubert and Lathrop, followed them. Shot after shot was ex- changed between the Colonel and a rebel Captain Brown, and strange to say, without effect. The rebel Brown took cover be- hind a tree and every time he protruded his head to fire Colonel Gaines, who was standing on a log, fully exposed, would take a crack at him, and so the duel continued until called to an end by Lathrop and his musket. On return to the house we found that Major Fontaine, Adjutant upon the staff of the rebel bush-whacker and guerrilla Roddy, had been captured. In- stead of eighty-five conscripts Fontaine had thirty-seven picked men from Roddy's command, for the special duty upon which he had been engaged. Nearly every horse captured was loaded down with boots, shoes and supplies which the prisoners said had been purchased from our sutlers. From their declar- ations, supported by facts gathered elsewhere, these reckless men had been in and through some of our camps and impor- tant fortifications. They had returned to within their own lines and felt completely safe from attack. That the capture of the Major was an important one is evidenced by the fact that on his person were found plans of the fortifications within our lines, including those at Franklin, Tennessee. The Major said he had no idea that six men would have made such a charge, and that nobody but a d-d fool would have followed him there. "If I had known that you were coming I would have placed my men behind the trees and not one of you would have got away." "But," remarked Colonel Gaines, who was nettled by the remank; "by Joe Betsy, you didn't know it, sah." Hearing Colonel Gaines address one of the party as
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"Surgeon," Major Fontaine asked if that was his surgeon : receiving an affirmative reply he asked if all our d-d doc- tors fight like that. "If they do," he said, "they fight like the devil." He seemed to be a little facetious, and pointing to Charlie Hubert said. "I saw that little devil last week. When we were going north we passed across the road between the advance guard and the main body of a scouting party un- der command of Major Hanna, he was with the Major and no- ticed our tracks."
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