USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 2
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HISTORY OF THE
of . Clayton, who had been the Presbyterian minister of that place for years, and he was cordially received by the men.
These first weeks in camp were not unattended with anx- iety and some fear that the enemy might make himself felt among them. While not yet in the hostile country. the encamp- ment was on the border, or what was regarded as secesh land- State of Missouri. The Mississippi river was all that separated these new and untried soldiers from what was supposed to be the enemy on the other side. Frequent were the rumors of an attack to be made on the camp by the enemy.
At the northwest corner of the camp was an old grave yard, or burying ground, and from this direction the enemy, it was generally conceded. would make his attack. Piekets posted in the vicinity of this old grave yard were duly charged with a grace responsibility, and it is safe to say there was no sleeping on post by the guards in that direction of the camp. In after times the boys were wont to laugh at the fear and trembling with which they had stood picket in, or about, that old burying ground, expecting an enemy that never came, or perhaps, had any intention of doing so.
As yet no arms had been furnished the troops at Camp Wood, but after an unusual scare one night, in which it was reported that the enemy were crossing the river in force to attack the camp, it was concluded by those in charge that the bushwhackers and rebel sympathisers on the other side might take a notion to give the Adams county troops some trouble, so they bestirred themselves and secured some old Harper's Ferry muskets, for camp duty and to defend the State of Illinois from the Missouri invaders.
It was at Camp Wood that the regiment passed through the changeable period in the mode of living in camp and at home, and the consequent results to the physical system. There was considerable sickness, camp diarrhea being the most pre- vailing ailment, caused largely by the loose manner of living, change of water and a tendency to eat any and everything that came into camp, from a half-ripe water melon to a stale green apple pie. The first death in the regiment was Private W. B.
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
Brown, of Company B, which occurred shortly after going into camp and before the regiment was mustered. How much of the sickness in camp may be due to over zealous friends. will probably never be known. The camp, it will be noticed. was only a few hours' travel from the homes of about all the boys. Those at home imagined if they did not come down to camp once or twice a week. and bring John, or Bill. or Tom something to eat the poor boy would starve. Hence there was a continued drove of Adams county people, every day. anxious to relieve an aching void in the stomaches of the young soldiers, but more often overloading them with delicacies that were harmful. in a large degree. to their health.
The boys of the Fiftieth will remember good farmer John Moore, who lived about one mile east of Quincy. In the great- ness of his patriotic heart. and a desire to do something for the soldier boys. who were preparing themselves for war, he drove * into camp one day with a heaped up wagon load of fine apples. and going from one company quarters to another, told the boys to help themselves. The Quincy Whig-Republican the next day contained an account of his visit to camp and a vote of thanks by the men for his generosity.
In after years there were times when the men could have stood some of the good things they had at Camp Wood with a great deal more relish and less injury to their systems, but they did not think så then, and if perchance the butter, eggs, pies. fried chicken, cake, jellies, etc .. were short for a meal or two. it was a great hardship.
Who of the old Fiftieth have forgotten their early train- ings as a soldier at Camp Wood. The squad drills and endeav- ors to acquire the company and battalion maneuvers; the man- ual of arms and the awkward manner in which they handled an army musket? In after times these things were simple and performed without an effort, but then it was the great consider- ation of the hour. Like the boy at school who would never be President, unless he mastered his A. B, C's, so the Adams county boys, and particularly the officers of the regiment. were satisfied that the south would not surrender as long as a fellow in that
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regiment could not make an "about-face" with the precision of a West Pointer. Captains and Lieutenants were imbued, no doubt, with the idea that Mr. Lincoln and the government at Washington. had their eye on their particular companies, and the way they did make the boys pound sand in drilling was a caution.
Over a quarter of a century has passed since then, and vet the old Fiftieth boys will not have forgotten Capt. John W. Smith, of company B, with his sword grasped firmly in his hand much as a butcher would grasp a knife in sousing it into a beef, and with a soldierly tread he would march in front of his company, with eye now and then along the line, in fear and anxiety that some awkward fellow would lose the step and make a break in the movement he was endeavoring to execute beautifully, and show off his company to the visitors that gen- erally thronged the camp.
And then who has forgotten good Capt. William M. Gooding. of company C. darting here and there to see that every man was in his right place, and that guns at a "right shoulder shift" had not assumed the easy position the fellows had been accustomed to in carrying their guns in hunting squirrels.
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And then Capt. Thomas W. Gaines, who afterwards be- came Major. as he drilled .company D. His sonorous voice is yet to be heard. keeping time with his "heft, heft, heft. keep back there a little Corporal Floyd, you are too far out of line, heft. heft." and so it went from day to day. An amusing inci- dent that happened to Capt. Gaines will be remembered :
One afternoon there was an unusual number of visitors in camp and Capt. Gaines bethought himself that now was a good time to show off the proficiency of company D in the tac- fies. It was warm, the boys had been out all forenoon drilling and were tired, and besides, drilling had become somewhat of a chestnut anyway, but with a good many smothered growls, not to say cuss words, they obeyed the order of the Orderly Sergeant to "fall in." With many admonitions from the Captain to do their best that afternoon and show the visitors how well they
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QUARTERMASTER WILLIAM KEAL.
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were getting on. they started in, and were getting along smooth- ly and would have come off swimmingly but for an unfortunate mishap to the Captain. He was in front of his company march- ing in plattoon movement. himself marching .backward. with his eye on the entire line, he keeping up the sonorous "heft, heft," when without warning his heels struck a stump and over he went. heels over head. on the opposite side. Without los- ing the cadence, he was on his feet in a moment, and continued his "heft. heft," as though nothing unusual had occurred. But it was too much for company D. There was a snicker here and there down the line, which finally broke out into a roar and was joined in by others, soldiers and visitors, who had been watching the drill. The Captain put on his most stern. soldier- ly countenance and commanded silence in the ranks, (with by Joe. Betsey, what you doing here), which was partially obeyed. but he saw that the incident had created a diversion that would destroy the efficiency of further movements, and realizing some- what the figure he must have cut in tumbling over the stump. the men were dismissed to go to their quarters and laugh all they pleased.
September 11th. 1861, the seven companies. already in camp, were mustered into the service by Capt. T. G. Pitcher. of the U. S. Regular Army, as the Fiftieth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. Subsequently the regiment was filled to the full com- plement of ten companies by the muster of companies H and I September 30. and company K November 1, 1861. Some effort had been made to induce Capt. Pitcher to take command of the regiment, but he declined all overtures in that direction and Dr. Moses M. Bane, who had been largely instrumental in raising the regiment and equipping it for service, was commissioned Colonel and took command. Wm. Swarthout, of Quincy, was elected Lieut. Colonel: George W. Randall, of Camp Point. Major: Thomas J. Brown. of Toledo, Ohio, who enlisted as a private in company C. was appointed Adjutant : William Keal, of Payson, was appointed Quartermaster: Dr. Henry W. Ken- dall. of Payson. Surgeon: Garner H. Bane, of Liberty. As-
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sistant Surgeon, and Rev. Matthew M. Bigger, of Clayton, Chaplain.
It was expected by the companies raised outside of Adams county, three of them, F, G and H, that Capt. G. W. Brown, of company G, who had been active in raising the three outside companies, would be elected Major of the regiment and they so voted, but the Adams county companies voted for Randall and he was elected.
On the 25th of September there was a proclamation by the Mayor of the city in accord with the Governor's proclama- tion, that the next Thursday should be a day of fasting and prayer to the God of battles for the success of the Union cause -the cause of freedom and religious liberty.
October 2d will always be remembered by the Fiftieth. Up to that time they had been soldiering in their citizen clothes and though becoming proficient in the tactics and accustomed to army life they were a motley looking body of men. Col. Bane and Quartermaster Keal had worked hard to equip the boys with uniforms, but had been unable before to accomplish this. But the soldier clothes arrived at last. Boxes were unload- ed at each company headquarters, and the men ordered to "fall in" for clothing. As each man's name was called by the orderly he stepped forward and took his complement of drawers, socks. shirts, trousers, jacket, grey hat and shoes, and then dived for his quarters to "shuck" off his old clothes and get himself in- side of that furnished by Uncle Sam. Before the last man had received his proportion of the "draw," those that had gotten theirs began to reappear from their quarters in their soldier clothes. No attention had been paid to the issue of clothing as to size of the men, but had been given out with the same exact- ness, as to amount, as coffee and beans had been issued thereto- fore. It was amusing to see, perhaps, the little fellow away down in the last set of fours, with the coat and trousers on that should have been given to the fellow away up at the head, and perhaps the next man was trying to wear the "sawed off" outfit that was intended for the "tail end" man of the company.
It is needless to say that the boys had a good deal of
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
sport that day-the day they first got into their war toggery. By dint of much swapping, sometimes attended with a little "boot." the fellows were at last pretty well fitted out and then the strutting about commenced. Proud? Of course they were. Heretofore they had felt like playing soldiers in their old citi- zens clothes, but now they were in uniform and where was the soldier that did not feel an inch or two taller in his uniform, and just a little bit more able, in his mind, that he could put down the rebellion, than he did before.
Immediately following the delivery of clothing occurred another event. that though somewhat disappointing in the main. put the Fiftieth in shape for the business they had started out upon, of putting down treason.
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There had been a few old army muskets in camp for guard duty and the like, but the general equipment had been delayed, owing, no doubt, to the great demand for arms every- where: the government, at the commencement of the war, being rich and powerful as to men but sadly deficient in guns and accoutrements.
But joy of joy, the word went through camp that the guns have come. The Fiftieth boys will remember with what eagerness they gathered around the boxes that contained their equipments. How eager they were to have the covers removed and get them out. And then! What disappointment? In- stead of bright and shiny guns their eyes beheld old rusty U. S. Harper's Ferry flint-lock muskets, changed to percussion, thin at the muzzle, barrel loose on the stock and generally dilapida- ted. Cartridge boxes, belts, haversacks, canteens and knapsack- were old and dilapidated. having been used before, perhaps in the Mexican, or War of 1812. The incarnations were loud and deep. that the government should think for a moment that the Fiftieth Illinois, those proud sons of Adams county, would go out to battle with such old, dilapidated. worn out traps as had been furnished them.
Col. Bane explained, however. that he had made every effort possible to get better equipments and had only failed be- cause the government was wholly unable to supply better at
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that time; that he had finally accepted the present equipment with the understanding that the regiment should be supplied with new and better arms at the earliest moment possible. It may be well to note that the Fiftieth carried those old muskets until they got into Forts Henry and Donelson.
The boys accepted the worn out accouterments with the best grace they could. They good humoredly named their muskets the "Bane Rifles."
Being now equipped for war the next thing was to do, as nearly every soldier did do at some time of his service. have their pictures taken in the full toggery of a soldier. with knapsack strapped on their backs. canteen and hav- ersack at their sides, with gun in band, bayonet fixed.
We here present a picture of "Our Charley" taken at Camp Wood, Oct. 1861. Age 18 years; weight 109 lbs.
Note the jacket. the grey hat with one side fastened up so as not to interfere with the handling of the musket. look OUR CHARLEY. at the baggy trousers and that old musket-only a part of which we show here.
Officers varied the picture only by leaving out the can- teen. haver-ack and gun and substituting therefor a huge sash. a la officer of the day, and stood with drawn sword, generally in
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
the attitude of "salute swords." It is safe to say that there was not a young soldier in the Fiftieth but sent one of these pic- tures to his sweet-heart, and many, very many of them are prized highly by mother. wife, or sister, as all the resemblance they have left of their soldier in the Fiftieth Illinois Infantry.
The day following the issue of uniforms. the Payson com- pany. (Co. C.,) was granted permission to go home and return to camp the next day. Soon a message arrived ordering the regiment to proceed to Hannibal, Mo., as soon as possible. A messenger was sent after the absent company to hurry their return. He reached Payson a short time after the company- and consternation in the ranks was great. But the citizens got out their wagons and buggies and returned them to camp.
A parade of the regiment through the city was pro- posed, and on the following day was carried out. Of that event the Quiney Whig and Republican of October 5th, said :
"The parade of the Adams county regiment came off yes- terday. We but echo the general opinion when we say that a finer appearing body of troops has not been seen in our streets since the war began. Their uniforms are in excellent taste and their marching was good. Having had their arms but a day and a half, their drill in the manual of arms is, of course, in- complete; bat that they will make good soldiers is truly evi- dont."
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CHAPTER III.
The Departure from Quincy .- Camp "Bane," at Hannibal .- First Regimental Orders issued .- Capture of Rebel Flag, &c.
T HERE is always a sadness surrounding a leave-taking. If for a day or a year, it is in some degree the same, and so when the final order came for the regiment to march, where? no one knew, or cared even, if it was to the front, our hearts were all heavy at the farewell even though rejoicing in the going away.
Quincy! The heart of every Illinoisan, no matter where he be. beats with higher impulse at mention of her name. En- throned among the hills, sun kissed and beautiful, whose base is swept by the mighty Mississippi, her people always generous and true, the very mention of her name recalls afresh how strong and loving she was to the Fiftieth in the early morning hours of its existence. And yet it is not strange that gentle hand and heart were ours. when once we stop to think of those who lived and moulded by their lives and action a com- munity, a civilization not to be excelled.
Of those the mind recalls John Wood, master spirit; O. HI. Browning. eloquent and mighty in his place; Archibald Williams, leader at the bar, whose strong and rugged face set the impress of its scal on every heart; Ben. Prentiss, there is no Adams county boy from 1850 to 1860 who does not remem- ber him, commander of the "Quincy Blues," and so the list might be continued into the hundreds.
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
Early on the morning of the 9th of October, 1861, after breaking camp the regiment marched for the levee landing where a steamer lay ready to transport it to Hannibal. Mo. As it moved along down Fifth street to the inspiring strains of "The Girl I left behind me," the people by thousands lined the way and with shoutings and waving of handkerchiefs cheered it on. When the old court house square was reached, it was halted, brought to a front and addressed, in a speech brim full of patriotic fire, by the eloquent and gallant General Ben. Prentiss. Under the inspiring touch of his voice the knap- sacks, that were so heavy, grew light upon the shoulders, and in cheer upon cheer the regiment gave evidence of its high approv- al. The speech concluded then came the good-byes, the tearful farewells, the kisses and prayers from loving to beloved, and then obedient to command, the line of march was resumed for the river and in a short time the regiment was safely landed upon the Black Hawk. What a hurry and bustle there was; each company [was allotted its place on the boat, officers rushing here and there, the hissing of the steam from the great boilers, the loud commands, the patriotic singing, more hand-shakings. and then at tap of bell the lines loosened and the steamer slowly moving out into the stream and lo and behold the Fifti- eth has taken its initial step in the march of events that is to happen, and in which it will bear so important a part. Many looked upon the bluffs, then crowded with people, for the last time. Theirs to do, and dare, and die, for unity and for the flag.
The Quincy Whig and Republican made mention of the leaving as follows :
"DEPARTURE OF THE FIFTIETH.
The Adams county boys are off at last, after being under . orders since Thursday.
They were a little slow about it but it was undoubtedly not the fault of the men.
It was reported yesterday that the regiment was to be di- vided up among the other incomplete regiments, and the state authorities through A. A. Gen. Loomis seemed to favor the plan but General Fremont would not have it that way."
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From the time of its organization soft bread had been furnished, but now a change came and the men were introduced into the mysteries of hard-tack, black coffee and fat bacon, and these made up the first real war dinner which was taken on board the steamer. The general verdict was favorable to the fare. Of course the various satisfying and truly hunger des- troying dishes out of which hard-tack, in after years, was capa- ble of being made, were unknown to the men who so few short days before had been following peaceful avocations. but all the same the dinner was enjoyed with a gusto which spoke well both for their patriotism as well as for their appetites.
It was three o'clock in the afternoon when the boat touched the landing at Hannibal, Missouri, and within the next hour the regiment was on the line of its march for camp.
The route lay through the town. and there was a general turnout of the people, who received the troops in comparative silence. A mile and a half out from the river and on the north side of Bear Creek the order was given to halt, the baggage was brought up, the companies again marched. and again halted in company formation, arms were stacked, and the work of pitch- ing tents begun.
The officers line of tents were near the street on the south side of the city, and facing south. The company tents were in rows running north and south with Bear Creek in the rear.
Lieut. Col. Swarthout superintended the establishing of the camp, and he gave his instructions in such a careful way that the lesson became invaluable for use in the coming years.
The camp was beautifully located and for comfort excel- led any other occupied by the regiment during the years of its service. A large parade ground stretched out from its front. water was plenty, and an abundance of timber near at hand. The new home of the regiment was all that could be asked for. and while the men were unused to such a life, vet their common sense, assisted by the few who had soon something of army ser- vice, soon brought order out of chaos. Col. Loomis, with the 26th Illinois and some home guards, was in command, and
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these with the Fiftieth, made up, for that day, a very respecta- ble force.
The 10th and 11th were spent in the perfection of num- +rous details, and for the first time, on the evening of the 11th, the regiment formed for dress parade-at which the following regimental order was read :
HEADQUARTERS 50th REGIMENT, ) CAMP BANE, HANNIBAL, Mo., Oct. 11, 1861. )
Hegeral Orders. ) No. 1.
One man will be detailed from each company as supernumerary, and marched to Headquarters with the guard. but take their places in rear of the guard.
At retreat all singing. loud talking. shouting, drumming and playing of fifes must cease. Immediately after retreat the countersign will be given, when challenging will commence.
After reveille challenging will cease.
By order
M. M. BANE. Colonel.
Every evening during the stay at Camp Bane, dress par- ade was a grand attraction to the citizens, and thousands from far and near would gather to witness a most interesting sight, part and pareel of military life.
On Sunday morning following. came the first inspection of arms and clothing. When the usual proceedings then so new, afterwards so well understood and prepared for. were over, Adju- tant T. Jeff. Brown read orders to the line and then a chapter from the Army Regulations, setting forth certain duties of the -dier with penalties for non-performance. It is easy to recall as he read: "The punishment for desertion shall be death, or each other punishment as a court neutral may inflict," what a chill ran down the spine of every mother's son as he stood in line. It was to all appearance that liberty of action had been surrendered to rules and articles foreign to the ways of peace.
Threats having been made for the destruction of the hos- pital buildings, as well as other property used by the troops.
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guards for the protection of the same, were put out and main- tained. To further secure the property and bring some of the more arrogant secessionists to a saving sense of their duty, a detachment of the Fiftieth was sent out and captured as pris- oners. four citizens, followed by a like capture of three more, with six head of horses, two mules and a wagon loaded with rifles and shot guns. In a raid upon a house a secesh apron and a rebel flag were found and seized. The flag being regarded with great interest was of course carefully guarded. The prisoners after having been detained for sometime, were released upon parole, but not until they had taken the oath of allegiance as well also as given bond not to give further aid and comfort to the enemy. This prompt action checked, for some time, the preparations which had been put in operation for bushwhack- ing Union soldiers and terrifying loyal citizens. Many rebel sympathizers were arrested : those who would take the oath of allegiance were admonished and discharged as upon parole, those who would not were sent to Alton, Illinois. It will be noted, later on, the effect produced by and through these arrests.
But little attention had been paid to ditching the tents and grounds, and so the troops were but illy prepared for a great storm of wind and rain which struck the camp shortly after its location. The fall of water was of innense volume, drenching the tents and bedding, and reducing the provisions to the consistency of pulp, and generally demoralizing things. Jim Jimison, of company D was inordinately fond of sugar; he would trade anything from a jack-knife to a hard-tack for it; gazing at the complete destruction of his favorite supply, which he had laid up with almost miserly care, he exclaimed, half tearfully, half humorously, "How in the h-l can a man fight without sweetenen," and this exclamation, like his sugar, sticks to him to this day.
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