USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 21
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"At Crawfordsville, Indiana, they were entertained by
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the ladies, who furnished them with a splendid supper, and General Lew. Wallace, in whose division they once served, made a speech, complimenting them very highly for bravery and effi- ciency upon several occasions.
"They were shown many attentions by the ladies of Craw- fordsville, for which they were very grateful.
"The ladies of this city furnished them with a dinner at two o'clock this afternoon at Pinkham's Hall. and at four they gave a dress parade.
"They will receive their thirty days furlough and at the expiration of which they are required to report at. General Dodge's headquarters, unless counter orders are received from the war department. This, however, will be determined in a few days.
"Colonel Bane did not come with the regiment, as he could not be spared just at present ; as soon as he can he will be home on a brief furlough accompanied by his staff."
On the 24th Col. Bane arrived and at once assumed com- mand. Under his orders furloughs were issued to the enlisted men with instructions to report at headquarters in Quincy February 25th. Thus giving the brave men and patriots thirty days at home before once more entering upon the privations and dangers of a soldier's life.
Referring to the reception of the regiment, and its so- journ at Quincy, The Whig and Republican of the 26th had this to say :
"They were formally received at two o'clock, at Pink- ham's Hall. and as the regiment entered they were greeted with cheers, the waving of handkerchiefs, and songs by the gallant men and fair ladies assembled on the platform.
"The regiment stacked arms in the center of the hall and, upon being seated upon each side, that splendid song. "Home Again" was sung with fine effect. When the regiment was cordially welcomed by Rev. Mr. Gallagher, in a feeling and patriotic address, to which Lieut. Col. Gaines responded in a few well chosen and appropriate remarks, after which they were invited to partake of a bounteous repast furnished them by the
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Union-loving ladies of our Soldier's Aid Societies, each of whom seemed delighted with the opportunity presented, to show their honored guests all the attention in their power.
"At four o'clock, under the direction of Adjutant Letton, they gave our citizens a specimen of their drill on Main street. south of the square, performing the different evolutions in the manual of arms with a precision and regularity that we have never seen excelled by regular soldiers.
"The regiment has almost unanimously re-enlisted as veterans. Those who have been left behind could not re-enlist, uot having been in the service the length of time required by law.
"We hope every returned veteran will constitute himself a recruiting officer, and when they return to camp, each one will bring with him a volunteer, so that they may return to the field of strife with full ranks.
"The following resolutions were passed by the regiment, expressing their appreciation of the reception they received at the hands of our patriotic ladies :
"At a meeting of the commissioned officers of the Fifti- eth Illinois Infantry volunteers, held in the city of Quincy, Ill .. on the 24th day of January, 1864, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :
"'WHEREAS, In the return of our regiment to its home after an absence of two years, the truly loyal and patriotic ladies of Quincy, Ill., tendered a public reception worthy of a grateful and generous people ; and,
".WHEREAS, in our. passage through Indiana, the ladies of Crawfordsville turned out en masse to welcome us, and served us with a supper, and treated us with many other marks of dis- interested kindness known to none but the truly loyal. There- fore
"'Resolved, 1st, That for the many expressions of kind- ness confered upon our regiment, we return to the ladies of Quincy, our sincere thanks, and pledge to them our lives and sacred honor in defence of them and their country, from inva- sion and desolation by foreign or domestic foes.
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"'Resolved. 2nd, That for the disinterested kindness man- ifested towards our regiment, and the hospitable manner in which we were received by the ladies of Crawfordsville, Indiana. we also return our most sincere thanks. and that the passage of our regiment through their fair city, shall ever be a green spot upon the memory of every soldier of the Fiftieth Illinois in- fantry.
".Resolred, 3rd, That a copy of the resolutions be furn- ished the Needle Pickets. The Sisters of the Good Samaritan of Quiney, and the ladies of the Soldier's Aid Society at Craw- fordsville. Indiana, and also a copy to the Quincy Whig and Republican, and the Quincy Herald for, publication.
WM. HANNA, Major 50th Ills. Inf., Pres't. Lieut. 50th Ills. Inf., Sec'y."
J. W. RICKART,
On the 25th, under special orders No. 4, of date Quincy, Ill., January 25th, 1864, leaves of absence were granted for twenty-eight days to the officers of the line.
And now the regiment scattered, as it were, to the four winds. Every town. village, hamlet and neighborhood in Adams county was lighted up with a welcome, and the same was true in many places in Fulton, Hancock, Brown, MeDon- ough and Scuyler counties in Illinois. and Pike and other near counties in Missouri. If the story of the rejoicing that rose up from the humble abodes where loyalty, in its highest form, al- ways finds securest resting place, were to be told, this history would extend page on page into volumes.
With what a manly step returned the young hero, who, leaving the home place a boy, with mother's kiss upon cheek and agonizing prayer engraved within his heart, now came full grown and "bearded like a bard," with face bronzed by summer heat and battle's storm, to receive her blessing, and her mother welcome. How brightly shone the lamps. and with what gen- erous warmth glowed the fire. as once more the husband sat by his own fire-side and, with children upon his knees. looked into the face of his true and loving wife, whose eyes were full of tears at his strange recital of dangers met and overcome, and
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who loved him all the more because he was her hero .. Amid such scenes, the days came and went as if on wings. And while the duties of the home called into active use the minutes and the hours, there yet was time sufficient at command with which a lesson of loyalty might be taught to the men who, for- getful of all that makes and enobles lite, had, in their country's hour of peril. proved untrue to flag and native land. It is, be- vond question, true that the copperheads of the north and their active agents, the so-called Sons of Liberty, and Knights of the Golden Circle, prolonged the war for more than a year after the downfall of the rebellion had become assured.
That this was true, none better knew than the men who had breasted the waves of war, who had borne the battle nearly three years. The members of the Fiftieth could each one easily recall the cowardly appeals that had come to them from so- called friends not to re-enlist, or if re-enlisted to desert. And when. with indignant words, they had sent their reply, they knew how the dastard wretches had insulted those near and dear to them, unprotected, because their protectors were far away, struggling for the National supremacy and the glory of the flag, its.every stripe and star. So in all the years of their absence they had treasured up the memory of these wrongs, and with purpose as loyal as it was determined, had resolved to even up conditions when once again at home. They did not prove false to what was indeed a bounden duty. and to the performance of which they were impelled by march and camp and battle, by their comrades dead or sore- ly stricken, by war's frightful touch. So wherever they were, they brought their wrath to bear upon the miserable and cow- ardly wretches whose traitorous designs were more dark and damning than those of the south. Ah what a trimming up disloyalty received from loyal blow of fist and foot: what a fleeing to hiding places, there to remain until the bugle cali should summon their chastisers back into liberty's royal and loyal ranks.
As heretofore recorded, amidst the flame of battle on Shiloh's dreadful day. Sergeant Major Hughes went to his
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death. At home, and before his enlistment, he was an out-spo- ken Unionist, and, when opportunity came, enlisted. He was hounded upon every side by a white livered and disloyal gang, the leader of whom, occupying a prominent place in church and neighborhood affairs, had expressed, in the most fervent manner. the hope that when he next saw Hughes, he would be in a box, and that a like fate should come to every member of the Fiftieth. The February days of 1864, were to him and his friends indeed dark days. wrathful days, never to be forgotten days, and if ever disloyalty was sererely leached out of humanity it surely was in their case, and the same may be said of their followers.
Years after the war Col. Bane addressed, by letter, a re- union of his regiment at Quincy, in the course of which he portrayed the visitation of loyal wrath upon the home guards of disloyalty in Adams county. He recounted how they had prayed that the brave defenders of the country might die "as the fool dieth," "just as all abolitionists should die," and that like Sergeant Major Hughes, they all might come home in a box, the Colonel said :
"None of us have forgotten Sergeant Major Hughes. His death was a sore loss to the regiment. He was the only son in a large family, had studied medicine in my office in Payson, and honorably graduated in Rush Medical College.
"Many of you remember this talk and how some of you resolved that if you ever lived to get home again you would chastise these disloyal fellows for this insult; nor have you forgotten when the regiment veteranized and came home on furlough, during one of those royal banquets and loyal outpour- ings at the town of Liberty, after you put me up to speak to the great crowd of people, and had comfortably seated your sweethearts, you quietly slipped away and gave. those old cop- perheads a most unmerciful pounding. Some of them getting wind of coming retribution, escaped into the woods on horse- back, or skulked in fields and fence corners. One or two shin- ing lights in the old Calvinistic Baptist Church, got a most se- vere pounding, and had to be hanled home in wagons, with
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black eyes and broken noses, much to the chagrin of all who had the good character of the regiment at heart; but as the boys fought in groups, and would not tell on each other, no che could be found who blackened any body's eye, or broke any deacon's nose. One thing about this fight was peculiar. These old copperheads had come out in honor of the old veterans with wagon loads of sweet-meats, pies and good things, evidently in - tending to atone for their past shameful disloyalty, but it would not answer, they must have their reward."
CHAPTER XVI.
Assembling of the Regiment-Leave Taking -- Fall in Blind Half -- Arrival at Lyunville -- Sawing Railroad Timber - Off for the Front-Death of Mar- quis Booth -- Breaking in Recruits -- Heavy Snow-Dismounted-Off for Huntsville -- McClelland-Arrival at Rome. Ga.
T HE period was rapidly approaching when the regiment would return to the front. By the 25th of February the greater portion of the absentees had reported in pursu- suance of the terms of their furloughs. The officers back and at their posts, and as fast as the men returned they were order- ed to report to their company officer at the barracks on Alystine Prairie, east of the city.
The preparations for departure were far different than those of 1861. Then war was new in the land and the men of the Fiftieth, like those of all other regiments, were wholly un- instructed, both as to what to do, and how to do it. But years of experience had endued the officers and men of the Fiftieth with such an experience, that system took the place where disor- der had once prevailed. The incidents, sights and scenes which made up these last days at home were interesting and beyond description of tongue or pen. Often amusing they were, as a rule, deeply pathetic. There was the father upon whose arm leaned the wife and mother, both occupied in arranging for their dear boy's comfort. There was the wife and little chil- dren in sweet converse with husband and father. The wife! Ah, holy is thy love; how great is thy sacrifice for country;
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how strongly trusting is thy faith and hope on God as, pressing to your heart the noble man "on lofty mission bent," thy soul doth breathe this prayer :
"Oh God preserve my husband dear
While on the battle-field ;
Where cannons roar and muskets flash,
And death is hovering near. When like a reed the flag-staff shakes,
And human aid is vain,
Oh God restore my husband dear, To home, to me again."
And there the lovers met, and careless of laughing remark or chilling sneer, bent low their heads in love's sweet converse in which were vows of constancy, made up from speech half spo- ken, and tender look from eyes that voiced the message for
"Two souls with but a single thought."
And thus the days, like fleeting shadows, came and went. The 10th Illinois, at home on veteran furlough, are out in line and receive a flag from citizens of Quincy, an honor not vouch- safed to the Fiftieth, although the largest part of it is from Adams county. On every hand is heard the rapid notes of pre- paration. Many good byes have been uttered, many a farewell given, sealed with kiss and prayer, love's benediction. Sunday morning's light has driven away the night's shadow. In the early hours the companies march to 5th and Hampshire streets, followed by a great crowd of relatives and friends, intent on re- maining, reluctant to leave. Here it was halted, stacked arms and broke ranks.
Suddenly the command was given. "Fall in, Blind Half! Fall in!" received with cheers by the boys as they hear the old familiar call. There was no opportunity for drill, and so the regiment marched directly to the depot and boarded the train for Springfield. Everything and everybody was full. The knapsacks, of home tokens, useful and ornamental. The copperhead, in hiding or upon the outskirts, hissing, full of venom and hate, in their wretched and shriveled souls praying
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that the pestilence that walketh abroad, as well as the hot breath of battle, might sweep into destruction, the men now leaving. so that they might, like Sergeant Major Hughes, never return, save in a box; there were the loyal friends and citizens, full of sorrow, and there were fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, wives, sweethearts and little children, full of the agony of parting. And, let it be recorded, there were some of the Fiftieth whose loving embrace with Old John Barley Corn. had left them full indeed.
But the bell rung, the whistle sounded and the regiment was off, accompanied by an old patriot, Squire Ames, of Stone's Prarie, who, too old to enlist, sent word to his home that he was bound for the front, which he certainly was, for he did not re- turn until the regiment broke camp at Lynnville for active service in the field. His presence in camp was a source of real pleasure to his friends.
The record of the trip from Quincy to Lynnville contains nothing of a startling nature. The course was by Springfield, Lafayette, Indianapolis, Jeffersonville, Louisville, which last place was reached March 1st, where the regiment quartered in Barracks No. 1 and fed at the Soldier's home. The next morn- ing off for Nashville, but fifty-five miles out were compelled to transfer, owing to a wreck, arriving at Nashville on the morn- ing of the 3rd, and taking quarters in the Zollicoffer building. where the regiment was held under guard until the 5th, when the cars were loaded and Lynnville reached the same afternoon. Just before the depot at Lynnville was reached one of the cars jumped the track, one man being severely hurt. The reception at Lynnville was warm and hearty. Our old comrades the "stoten-bottles." were glad to see the veterans back. They had been transferred to the camp of the 57th Illinois, and from them it was learned that the railroad had been finished to. Pulaski. The duties incident to army life were at once re-as- sumed : the recruits were formed. into awkward squads and drilled without merey, while all over the camp there rung the ery throughout the day, of "Where's my mule?" and "Here's your mule."
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March 6th, Sunday, company B, under Captain Horn, left camp to take charge of and run a saw mill situated two miles from Lynnville, his orders being to manufacture railroad timbers; while companies A, C, and G, began the construction of barracks on the old camp ground,
On the Sth a supply of saddles was received, and on the 9th Quartermaster Harbison, upon his requisition, drew 265 mules, so that all who were mounted at first were once more in the saddle. The mules left by the regiment when it started home, had stood in the corrall through all kinds of weather, and with but one feed of corn a day, had become so poor as to be wholly unfit for service, but under better care their improve- ment was rapid, both in health and cussedness. From the di- ary of one of the Fiftieth, the life of the regiment is thus de- tailed :
March 10. To-day we have a cavalry drill on our mules and do finely. Captain James Henry, 3d Alabama infantry, A. D., formerly Sergeant Major of the Fiftieth, is a caller to-day. Two of the boys are down with what is suppesed to be small pox, and are kept isolated.
11th. Marching orders are received, and company B is called in from the mill, and in addition comes the sad news that we are to be dismounted.
12th. The sick are sent to Pulaski and we are ready to go.
13th. The mounted part of the regiment started at six a. m., and the infantry at eight, arriving at Pulaski at one p. m., and went into camp seven miles beyond, in Dr. S. H. Stout's or- chard. He was Medical Director of Bragg's army. Peach and plum trees were in bloom.
14th. Started at seven a. m., move through Prospect and crossed Elk river on a pontoon, and camped six miles from Athens. We had brought over 200 recruits with us, some of them are very rough, cursing and swearing a great deal. It really made the old soldiers ashamed of them. The prevailing idea with many of the recruits was. that in order to attract at- tention and keep their credit up, it was necessary for them to be
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rough in manner and speech. They got over it in a few days however, for the old boys got very tired of it. There were about forty-five on the sick list, mostly recruits.
15th. We started at seven oclock a. m. Had expected to turn our mules over at Pulaski on the 12th, but were ordered on to Athens, twenty miles. We let the recruits ride to-day to break them, and the mules, in. We reached Athens at ten a. m., and halted for dinner. As we fell in after dinner at one o'clock, Nathan Crystal accidentally shot Marquis Booth, mor- tally wounding him, He was conveyed to the hospital near town and left in charge of his friend, poor Nathan Crystal. This accident cast a gloom over the boys, and our march was made in silence. We camp at night six miles from Decatur Junction, Ala.
16th. We reached the Junction at noon and relieved the 111th Illinois, which moved at once to Huntsville. We be- gan to build log houses. Word came that Marquis Booth was dead. A good christian soldier is at rest.
17th. Booth was buried to-day at the Junction, one and a half miles from Decatur, Ala. A detachment from the regi- ment moved to Limestone creek on a scout.
19th. Hubert, the Colonel's Orderly, was dispatched to Lynnville for some stores left there. He stopped over night at Mrs. Montgomery's, the former headquarters of the regiment. Although the Montgomery's were secesh to the core, they had a strong liking for the Fiftieth, and in testimony the family baked up a lot of cake and "other fixins'," as they termed it, for some of the boys of company E. The orderly carried them back with him, and when the box was opened a note in it in- structed the favored recipients to divide with him.
Yesterday noon when we came into camp there was but one house, but the boys went to work, cut trees, made clap- boards for roofing, and, to-day, have good log houses for six hundred men.
The 66th Illinois came in on a train and bivouacked near our camp.
22nd. What a surprise awaited us this morning; the
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ground is covered with six inches of snow. See those little mounds like graves? Let us examine one. If it is a grave it holds a lively corpse, for, wrapped in a blanket, there is sleep- ing beneath the covering of white, one of Uncle Sam's boys, who when he awakes will arise from a comfortable sleep, being res- urrected-enjoy his repast of coffee, sow-belly and hard-tack.
Received orders for the mounted men to report at Deca- tur, and soon they were off. The river was running high and they had to be crossed on two flat-boats. One held 21 men and mules, the other 14, besides the boatmen. The mules were stowed in head and tail, like sardines, with each trooper stand- ing by the head of his charger. The boats were loaded down until the top. of the sides were within two inches of the water. Just below were the ruins of the iron bridge, through which the water rushed furiously. If an accident happened both boat and cargo would surely be lost. By dark the crossing had been completed. Measles now appeared in camp and, also. several cases of fever at the hospital. Weather cold.
Our mounted force was increased by the addition, on the 23rd, of 200 mules. Regimental headquarters were established at Mr. Rautler's, who were very stylish people and very hostile. The 9th Ills., Lieut. Col. Phillips commanding, had a sharp fight to-day, losing fifteen killed, wounded and missing.
24th. A rebel Captain with flag of truce came in to ef- fect an exchange of prisoners. Lient. MeNeal with companies A and H were off to Somerville on a scout ; returning next day crowned with success. Lieut. Weekly with company F, was or- dered out and returned the same day.
26th. Ordered to move at daylight on the 27th.
27th. Crossed the river on a pontoon bridge 1700 feet long, that had been laid yesterday, and rejoined the command at Decatur Junction.
29th. Surgeon Fitch, Medical Inspector 16th A. C .. ar- rived on train from Nashville.
30th. Marching orders were received to move in half an (17)
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hour which were shortly after countermanded and we remained in camp.
31st. Relieved this morning by some companies of the 43rd and 63rd Ohio and started at 10 o'clock. Moved north of Moorsville and bivouaced for the night. We were without tents and three miles from Decatur, east on the Memphis & Charles- ton railroad.
April 1st. Bad weather.
2nd. Moved over into camp of the 123rd Illinois. They having marched towards Huntsville. Desertions from the enemy are frequent. To-day twenty-five came in bringing their arms with them. Last week in one day twenty-two of Roddy's car- alry came in. Anticipating an attack on Decatur, the citizens were ordered out of town and departed in great numbers. We have built comfortable shelters out of lumber and clap-boards left by the 123rd.
6th. Expected all day to be ordered out on a reconnai- sance down the river. The sick and hospital force was moved over to our camp from the Junction. Two cases of small-pox. one a colored man, and the other a colored woman, appear in camp. Most unwelcome visitors. Strong and effective meas- ures were taken by Surgeon Kendall to check the dread malady.
7th. Dress parade and drill. daily. is in order.
Sth. Ordered to turn over miles and cavalry equip- ments, to which there is a grand kick, especially by the recruits. who claim they have been grossly wronged. The veterans re- gretted the order but were too well versed in military affairs to object, save in the presence of the recruits, who were kept in a lively state of agitation through the apparent indignation of the veterans.
9th. The 28th Wisconsin infantry and Ist Alabama cav- alry joined us, and on the following day we turned over a lot of mules and equipments to Col. Geo. A. Spencer of the cavalry.
11th. Under orders and broke camp at noon. Marched to within six miles af Athens and camped for the night.
12th. Reached Athens at noon and went into camp on the fair grounds, and turned over the rest of our mules and
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equipments to the brigade quartermaster. Inspection. We learn that Matthew Bates of company H, died in the hospital to-day. He was a good soldier and his loss will be mourned by his com- rades as well as by those at home.
. 15th. A brick oven was built to-day for the use of the regiment.
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