USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 22
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16th. The brigade practiced target shooting, which was greatly enjoyed.
17th. Ordered to be ready to move at a moments notice. Heavy cannonading is heard in the direction of Decatur.
19th. More target practice. Brigade drill and barrack building is the order of the day.
25th. Brigade drill. The recruits have now been sol- diers two months, and have experienced tough times without a break in the shape of light service. Cold, wet, snowy and freezing weather the rule and not the exception. Hard march- ing and bivouacking, all put together, leads them to wonder when, and where the good time is to come about which they heard so much just before their enlistment.
28th. Brigade drill at five p. m. The rest of the 2nd division having arrived, we received orders to move on the 30th in light marching order. Two wagons allowed to each regi- ment. Men to carry three days rations.
29th. All surplus baggage is turned over to the division quartermaster for transportation to Huntsville. Heavy wind and rain.
30th. Ready at 6:30 a. m. Very wet and muddy. ! Started at 7 a. m., for Huntsville, amid a heavy down-pour of rain, that continued all the morning, raising the streams very high, several of which we crossed by wading ; at 1:30 p. m. went into camp on the Limestone, having marched 11 miles. Quite a number of the boys gave out and the cry, almost plaintive in its earnestness, falls from the weary marchers, "Where is, oh where is my mule." As we prepared our camp so as to be as comfortable as possible, the rain falling heavily, we again hear heavy cannonading in the direction of Decatur.
A short distance out from Athens, William Looney of
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company C, who enlisted at Athens, on the 18th of April, and claiming his residence at Leighton, Alabama, fell out of ranks, and not coming up, had evidently deserted with his gun and accoutrements.
May 1st. Started at 5:30 a. m. and at noon had reached the junction of Dry and Indian creeks, arriving at Huntsville at 4p. m., where we went into camp and received orders to march at daylight of the 2nd, to Stevenson. Drew three days rations and some clothing.
2nd. Broke camp at daylight. Crossed Flint river at 10 a. m., our brigade in the rear. At 4 p. m. overtook the 2nd brigade, and having marched two miles further went into camp. To-day L. W. McClelland of company D, having obtained per- mission to march out of ranks, and in rear of the regiment, on account of sore feet, was shot through the shoulder by Theodore McQueen of company G, of the rear guard, he having foolishly made a bet with a Lieutenant that he could "hit that man six hundred yards away," and fired with the foregoing result.
On the 3rd we left camp at 3 a. m., and about noon ar- rived at Paint Rock, where McClelland was left with the am- bulance corps. Having marched about eighteen miles we camped four miles from Larkinsville.
Leaving camp on the 4th at five o'clock a. m., we pro- ceeded to Larkinsville, where we found a train waiting for us. The Ist brigade was nearly loaded and soon started. The 2nd brigade got away about ten o'clock and our brigade at one, reaching Stephenson, Ala., at three p. m., Bridgeport, on the Tennessee river, at five p. m., and Chattanooga at seven.
The march to Larkinsville, of about fifty miles, after the first day, was very pleasant, and also the ride on the train, a distance of over fifty miles. The mountain scenery was mag- nificent. We passed through some fine country, but the most of it was over mountains, the railroad winding along their sides hundreds of feet above the wagon road where were thousands of soldiers marching to the front, and as we went whizzing past they would send up a shout that would echo and reverberate far down the valley. Sometimes passing from one mountain to
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another, crossed the ravine on high tressels, at each of which were stationed a small detachment of soldiers, sometimes we would wrap a hard-tack in the late papers and drop them to the boys on guard below. Then again we would rush right into the side of the mountain, where the rocks towered hundreds of feet above us, hanging far out over the track, then into and through tun- nels and deep cuts, and around sharp curves, passing cars that had jumped the track and rolled down the mountain side. We learned that thirty trains of troops had already passed along, one after another, the inside loaded with horses and mules and camp equippage-while the tops were covered with soldiers as thick as they could stick. While nearing the top of these mountains, and where the grade was steep, many of the boys got off the train to lighten the load, and assisted by pushing along the side. The decent was rapid, and far below could be seen long lines of white covered wagons, with a line of blue near it, all moving up the valley of the Tennessee. Nearing Chattanooga the train stopped and we bivouacked near the track at the foot of Lookout mountain.
5th. This morning some of the boys attempted to climb Lookout, and had nearly succeeded, when they were obliged to return, as the assembly called them to fall in. At 9 a. m. we started for the front passing over Missionary Ridge and the battlefield of Chicamanga, going into camp near Ive & Gordon's mill, on the west bank of Chicamauga creek, (in Indian lan- . guage meaning the River of Death). here could be seen the. work of death of nearly a year before, Sept. 19 and 20, 1863. Many graves, and often-skeletons of human beings with the flesh dried on them, a horrible and ghastly sight. Here was read to the regiment the following circular, which will show that we are now under the command of General J. B. Mc-Pher- son :
(Circular.)
HEADQUARTERS DEP'T and ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, CHATTANOOGA, TENN., May 5th, 1861.
Soldiers of the Army of the Tennessee:
We are about to enter upon one of the most important campaigns of the war, and to measure our strength on the battlefield against a
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large and well commanded force. To men, like yourselves, who have shown their valor and patriotism on many a hard fought field, no words of encourage- ment are necessary. Your past record is a glorious one, let not the future be sullied by a single act which will reflect discredit upon the character of an Amer- ican soldier. Better a thousand times to fall on the battle field, with our glori- ous old flag wrapped around you than to leave it and your comrades in the face of the enemy.
Stand firmly by your post! Let not the storm of battle nor the vigorous onsets of the enemy shake your faith in the righteousness of our cause, and the convictions of our ultimate success.
Falter not for one moment, keep cool, check the first advance of the ene- my should he move against you, with all the impetuosity of reckless daring, and the day will surely be ours.
Remember that notwithstanding the contest may be severe, strong arms and brave hearts are near by to support you, and that the successful issue of the battle may depend on your individual bravery, and the stubbornness with which you hold your position.
Be careful of your ammunition. Reserve your fire until the enemy is in sight, and within effective range, then deliver it with deadly force, taking care to keep cool, and aim low. It is not the rapid, continuous roll of musketry, de. livered in a hasty manner, which shakes an enemy, checks his advance and drives him from the field, but the accuracy with which it is given. Should the enemy advance against you in line of battle with charged bayonets, do not wait quietly and receive the charge, but fix bayonets and meet him half way.
If any of your comrades are wounded, do not leave the ranks to take them to the rear: an ample corps of men with stretchers and ambulances will follow close behind you to pick up the wounded, and the surest way of having them properly taken care of, is to press forward and gain the victory, then we will have time and means to give all necessary attention to them. Many a regi- ment, on the battle field, has been sadly reduced in numbers at the critical mo. ment, by men leaving the ranks to take wounded to the rear.
Obey cheerfully and promptly, the orders of your officers, and rely ini- · plicitly upon their judgment and discretion.
JAMES B. MCPHERSON, Major General. 6th. To-day the brigade was out on skirmish drill, and while there received orders to move to-morrow.
7th. We start at 7 a. m., and march 12 miles, to within four miles of Ship's Gap, which has been occupied by the Ohio brigade, without resistance. This is a pass through Taylor's Ridge, which we reach in the forenoon of the 8th, where we are detained by some of our cavalry firing into our scouts or flank-
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ing party. Twelve miles further brings us into Snake Creek Gap, where we bivouac for the night near the southern edge. Snake creek is an insignificant branch of the Oostanaula, run- ning southward between high and rugged ridges-those on the east side known as Chattooga mountains, those on the west side as Horn mountains.
The whole pass, some five or six miles long, is wild and dreary ; a wagon road passes along the gravelly bed of the stream or along the foot of the mountains, and near the south end of the gap which there widens out to a distance of several hundred yards, the road diverged, one, the right, passing along the foot of Horn mountain in a southerly direction to Calhoun and Rome, and one bore off to the left to Ressaca ; from Ressaca a road passed westerly, crossing the Calhoun and Rome roads about two miles south of the gap.
At 6:30 on the 9th, the head of the column, 9th Illinois, passed out of the gap and one mile beyond encountered a force of rebel cavalry approaching from Ressaca to take possession of the gap. Our advance was stopped. The enemy, charging, cap- tured several and wounded two or three, among whom was Col. Phillips, in the leg. Under the direction of Gen. MePherson, the division was formed in line, the Fiftieth on the right of the road, and, skirmishing, drove the enemy about six miles to Ressaca. The force in our front at first consisted of one brigade of rebel cavalry, being reinforced by four regiments of infantry -- the 66th Illinois, with their Henry rifles, and the SIst Ohio, were deploy- ed as skirmishers, driving them one mile as fast as they could go, our main line following. moved to within one-half mile of the fort, mounting seventeen guns, where we skirmished about five hours until dark when the troops were withdrawn. In this affair one man of our regiment, James Swan of company H, was wounded. We had run out of rations two days before, ex- cepting beef killed last night. and at dark wore ordered to the rear. We move back seven miles in the darkness, camping on the ground of our skirmish of the morning, at midnight. On our march back the boys relieved their hunger by shouting up and down the line. "buckle up your bolts boys, for one night
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more"-"plenty of grub to-morrow"-"oh, dear! my belly is rubbing my back bone"-succeeded by groans if our brigade officers happened to be within hearing.
10th. Got up at daylight, very hungry, drew three days rations of hard-tack, sugar, coffee and salt, to last five days. At ten a. m. rain began to fall. 100 men were detailed to build breastworks across the gap. 'At 11 a. m. received orders to send one company out as skirmishers on the road from Ressaca to Rome, and follow with the regiment immediately, as a reserve. Company B was sent, and advanced to the cross-roads. where 250 of the 4th Georgia cavalry were encamped. Here we stayed until ten p. m .. skirmishing, when we were ordered to move in- inside the fortifications at once.
It rained very hard, and the heavy thunder, reverberating among the mountains, with vivid lightning and strong wind together with marching in the mud until 12 o'clock p. m., made up a terrible night never to be forgotten. Inside the works we lay in the mud, and during the early hours of the morning of the 11th, before daylight, the 20th corps came up, and as they passed our camp, they were singing merrily, "We'll all drink stone blind, Johny fill up the bowl." This singing by the many voices as they passed by, at a quick step, keeping time to the melody, was responded to by the men who lined the road, with cheers of approval.
12th. A large force of infantry, artillery and cavalry, . are now advancing towards Ressaca. The 20th and 14th corps having arrived. To-day companies B and K are sent out to forage, and return with sheep, beef and hogs, corn, wheat, meal and flour. The last four articles being rebel stores from the headquarters of a rebel officer. Heavy fighting is on our left all day.
18th. At eight a. m. we march to the sound of battle, reaching the front of Ressaca at 11:30 and go into position on the right, and assisted in driving the rebels from their intrench- ments. Witnessed an artillery duel for an hour and a half. By 3 p. m. a large number of batteries are in position, and at sundown the brigade is' moved back one-half mile, bivouacking in an
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orchard. The 4th division of 15th A. C. did the most of the fighting to-day. The regiment has again been under fire for the past two days, and at times engaged in skirmishing as heavy as a battle.
On the 14th at daybreak the guns open at long range and are replied to by the enemy with but little effect on either side. The boys are hungry and some of company E boys, headed by Nate Crystal, make a raid on the division train, capturing a lot of bacon and hard-tack, and divide up, and though under fire from a rebel battery, we eat and are happy. A force of cavalry and artillery with our brigade, are ordered to Calhoun ferry, four miles down the river, and at nine a. m. start, but before reaching there are ordered to Lay's Ferry, two miles further below, where, going into position, the enemy en- gage our skirmish line with infantry and a battery.
Sunday, May 15. Heavy firing on both right and left, Companys B and I. and two companies of the 57th Illinois, un- der Major Forsee of the 57th were sent out on the skirmish line moving one and a half miles. to within 100 yards of the river, off to the left, they were halted by the enemy opening on them a cross-fire from eight pieces of artillery. By dropping down the boys crawled back. Battery B, 1st Michigan, with three guns, went into position and upon opening fire the reb's returned the compliment by a heavy fire of grape and canister, sweeping the ground about them, compelling the battery to retire with two men wounded. We then received orders to move to the lower, or Lay's, ferry; calling in our skirmishers they all re- ported but Nelson, Mark, McGee, Spencer and Taylor of com- pany I, who came in later. Having reached the ferry we drew three days rations from the division train, and while doing so a charge was made by a rebel brigade on the 7th Iowa, who had succeeded in getting across the river. Our artillery did good service, and the Fiftieth, with the rest of the brigade, was rush- ed across on a hastily constructed raft or bridge. The rebels had already been driven from their works and our forces, occu- pying them, worked through the night reversing and strength- ening them. During the night the enemy evacuated Ressaca.
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16th. Ordered forward at seven a. m., to go to the cross- roads. Moved in line of battle and three-fourths of a mile out we were halted. The 39th Iowa then deployed across the road and with the Fiftieth and 57th, marching right in front, in their rear, advanced a mile when we were met by a heavy skir- mish fire. The brigade was thrown into line of battle on the left of the road, with a battery of two guns of the 1st Michigan artillery in front of the 39th Iowa, and with a heavy skirmish line in our front, we hold the line until 4 p. m. Companies G and B were on the skirmish line. By this time the 1st and 2nd brigades were in position on our right and left.
The troops in front of us were Pat. Cleborne's division of two brigades and one battery, with a battery on our left on a hill. At four p. m. the attack was made on the 2nd brigade, and at the same time a heavy cross-fire from the artillery was poured into us. The 2nd brigade, 81st Ohio. 66th and 12th Ill- inois, were obliged to fall back, and at the same time we were ordered back, which we did, moving by companies to the rear. Here happened a good one on Colonel Bane. He had dismoun- ted and gone forward to view the line, and was in the rear of the Fiftieth as it became necessary to move back to hold the line intact. He exclaimed "my horse ! my horse ! where's Col- lins with my horse!" If ever one was willing to swap a king- dom for a horse. he was then. The battery in its effort to get to the rear broke out two caisson tongues. An ambu- lance was smashed by a shell. We retired a quarter of a mile and reformed our line of bat- tle. Our loss was Martin Christian, company B, killed and 7 wounded, Wm. Cope, of A, N. B. Armstrong, of F. Geo. Perky and J. J. Babbit of G. and one of HI being among the number.
On the 17th the 15th A. C. passed to the front, finding
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the enemy gone excepting a few cavalry as rear guard. Com- pany B marched over and buried Christian, and found five dead rebels lying near. A number had been buried, and a cit- izen informed them that a large number of dead and wounded had been conveyed to Calhoun, three quarters of a mile distant. At seven p. m. we started on and continued until two a. m. of the 18th, when we bivouacked on a hill until seven a. m., and then having marched ten miles, camped one and a half miles from Adairville, at two p. m. Starting again at six p. m., we went into camp at 12 p. m., and were ordered to draw two days rations, but none were to be had.
Orderly Sergeant James DeVaney of company G, who has been home on recruiting service since December last, re- turned this morning, May 19th, and by Special Order No. 21, from headquarters of the Fiftieth, is promoted to Sergeant Major.
Resumed our march and were moving slowly, when the whistle of an engine sounded, coming from the rear, and we learned that the bridge, which had been burned on the night of the 16th, at Ressaca, had been rebuilt and troops were being pushed to the front by rail. A prisoner with us remarked, "if that's the way you all's go there is no use for we un's to hold out longer." After a ten mile march we camped near Kingston, and on the 20th two trains came in from Dalton, loaded with soldiers, while we remained in camp, washing and cleaning up, and foraging. with the rebels in sight of us.
On the 21st orders were received to move at daylight on the 23rd, with twenty days rations, independent of the railroad. Company desks were sent back to Chattanooga in charge of Sergeant J. D. Adams of company D. and on the morning of the 22nd at daybreak, we were ordered to march and just as we formed in line we received a large mail. We arrived at the picket line three-fourths of a mile east of Rome at four p. m., with twenty head of cattle that we found on the road. We were welcomed by the 16th Illinois, who had been here several days, having come down from Snake Creek Gap.
On the 27th General Vandover arrived and assumed com-
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mand of the post, with Adjutant Letton of the Fiftieth, as his Assistant Adjutant General. Lieut. M. B. Converse company G, acting adjutant of the Fiftieth, is detailed as A. A. G. at brig- ade headquarters, and Lieut. C. H. Floyd of company D, to act as adjutant of the regiment.
On the 28th company F was detailed to work at the dry docks, on the river, building pontoons, and on the 29th con- pany B were ordered over the Etowah to garrison an outpost. Our mail to-day contained over 1000 letters for friends at home.
- On the 30th our flags were stretched over the sidewalks, an account of which will appear in our chapter on our flags. Many of the command visited the Rome prison, where Colonel Streight and his officers were confined as prisoners a year ago. The place of confinement was on the 2nd floor of a brick build- ing and consisted of three rooms, two about 8x12 feet, 7 feet. high, and one 14x18 feet, 7 feet high, with double doors four inches thick. The windows, twelve inches square, were protected on the inside by inch square bars of iron, and wagon tire iron on the outside. The rooms were lined with four inch plank. In the large one was a sink, yet filled with filth. The entrance to the rooms was through a hole cut in the lower part of the doors through which food was passed and the dirt and slops removed. How any one could live here is a mystery, especially when the rooms were so crowded that only a part could lie down at one time.
June Sth. Inspection, followed by an advance over the Etowah, and a sharp skirmish. We were out from 3 p. m to S o'clock during a heavy rain, and returned drenched to the skin. Company A was ordered to re-inforce company B for the night.
From June 8th to 11th we report "all quiet along the Etowah," when Captain Horn with a squad of four men went out to the plantation of the rebel General Black, two miles from camp, for vegetables. On their way out they noticed tracks of about thirty horses. Just as they reached the gate the General with another officer rode up on the opposite side. The slaves told who they were, just then they discovered the
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boys and, wheeling, fled. The Captain and his squad, satisfied there was a superior force near at hand, returned to camp and just as they entered the lines the rebs made a dash on the picket and a smart skirmish followed.
The 12th was rainy. Company D, Captain Rickart is detailed to go out over the Ostanaula with thirteen wagons and twenty-five men. Crossing a creek about six miles out on the Cedar Bluff road, the boys having got into the wagons to avoid wading, the drivers stopped in the creek to water their teams while Wagon Master John C. Lewis, and three other mounted men, passed on as an advance guard ; proceeding about 100 yards from the creek they saw five mounted rebels in the road in front. They at once sent back word to Captain Rickart to throw out flankers and charged. The rebs dashed off, while the boys dashed out of the wagons into the creek, and taking positions in the timber as skirmish flankers, advanced four miles farther, and turning to the left came to Dr. Deans. Here a slave was seen running into the timber and the commander was informed that he had gone to warn a squad of 300 who had crossed the Coosa yesterday. The Captain, deeming discretion the better part of valor, decided to work towards camp. Having gone on the home stretch about quarter of a mile a squadron of about forty rebs were seen crossing a field to their right to head them off. However by the exercise of strong military sense he brought his command safely into camp at two o'clock p. m. finding the river rising so fast as to endanger the pontoons over which we cross. The return of Captain Rickart having been reported, orders were received for the Fiftieth, twenty of which were mounted on poor stock, under Lieut. White of company K, one company of the 39th Iowa, two of the 9th Iilinois moun- ted infantry, one of the 5th Kentucky cavalry and battery B Ist Michigan artillery, mounted on horses and armed with sabres and revolvers, to go out to-morrow with fifteen wagons. Starting at eight o'clock a. m., two miles out three rebs were discovered and pursued three miles, escaping. Eleven miles out 150 bushels of wheat was found and loaded; on another road it was found that the wealthy farmers had fled, taking
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most of their stock, but leaving enough grain to load the fifteen wagons with corn and wheat, and the expedition returned bring- ing sixty head of cattle, a flock of sheep, twelve mules, and all the chickens, turkeys and hams it could carry. On the way in on the right flank, the 9th ran into a squad of twenty-two rebs for whom a citizen had just butchered a hog, which the boys at once confiscated. This was within two miles of Cave Springs. . Two brigades of rebel Cavalry are said to be stationed there.
16th. Company B is taking precaution against surprise by cutting down the underbrush about their camp.
17th. To-day the news in camp is that Colonel Bane has resigned. The arduous service of this year is too much for him.
19th. At 5 p. m. to-day the brigade was called into line and Colonel Bane, its commander, made his farewell address. He goes home with the good wishes of his regiment. A new stand - of colors were received by the regiment. They were greatly needed badly as we disliked to lay aside our old ones.
On the 20th Colonel Bane started for Illinois and shortly after Surgeon Kendall and Chaplain Bigger came into camp. on a visit from the front. They had been absent from the regi- ment and on duty at division headquarters since the battle of May 16th. At this time they, with the wardmaster, George C. Bartells, remained at Ressaca attending to the sick and wound- ded. Following the regiment up they reached Kingston the evening of the day it had moved to Rome. Applying to Gen. Dodge for an escort to go with them, he immediately detailed the surgeon and party on special duty at his headquarters, and off they had to go.
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