USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 27
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Wednesday, 14th. Weather still pleasant and still in camp. Our victory was complete yesterday ; 16 pieces of artil- lery, 200 prisoners and a way for our fleet to reach our right ; up the Ogheechee river, which the gunboats are now searching for obstructions. Torpedos were planted in many unlooked for spots by the rebs, and navigation is dangerous as well as travel by land. We are now on short rations of meal and fresh beef and have been for three days.
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Thursday, 15th .. Warm and pleasant. Received orders at 9 o'clock to report for forage duty, to Capt. Benjamin, with two days rations. This order was obeyed without delay except so far as concerned the rations, which we were not burdened with. Reporting to the forage train, five men were assigned to each wagon and the march was begun, going south to the Ogeo- chee river. Here, at King's bridge, we were detained three hours by the trains of the 1st and Bnd division of the 17th corps coming in, they having been out on that side of the river. The approach to the river on the south side was over a causeway about five miles long and very muddy, the country on either side being marshy and overflowed twice every twenty-four hours by tide-water, making it impossible to move troops, either way, except over the road, and all incoming troops have right of way. At two p. m. we crossed the river, and after a hard march through mud and water, of ten miles, we halted for the night at an old rebel camping ground situated on a plantation six miles from Midway Church. The brick of this church is said to have been brought from England in the early settlement of the country. North and west of it is a very old cemetery, en- closed by a stone wall about six feet high. In its front is a beautiful sloping field ; where it is said "Mad Anthony Wayne was encamped during the revolutionary war," and here also had many rebel soldiers encamped during the present war, as shown by refuse matter, the incident of old encampments. We were entirely out of rations, and were not yet far enough from our lines to obtain any forage. It was evident that an- other night of hunger would be passed; however some of the boys found, in the abandoned camp, some corn left by the horses and mules, which was parched and divided as far as it would go. This night witnessed the greatest dearth of provis- ions during our term of service. Ten dollars was offered by one of company B, for one hard-tack, the despised hard-tack, and no takers found. About ten o'clock at night a brigade, or large body of Kilpatrick's cavalry passed in, and reported that they had left a large quantity of forage. corn and beef at Midway Church. The roads being occupied by troops passing in it was.
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impossible for us to move past them, and we remained in camp. Blue Buck of company E, driver of our only team, being very anxious for some feed for his mules, and our acting sergeant major desiring to reconnoiter, started about ten o'clock to go to the place, hoping to secure some feed for the animals and beef for their mess. They passed along the narrow road with diffi- culty on account of meeting so many of the cavalry, then the rear guard as they supposed, passed them. Increasing their speed they suddenly ran upon what proved to be the advance of another brigade. The Colonel in command enquired where they were going, and told them to march in rear of his body guard, and return with them. Accustomed to obey orders they did so. and remained long enough to learn that the brigade had been out on a foraging trip, and had brought in a quantity of forage. halting at Midway Church for the night, but no sooner had gone into camp until they had received orders to move towards Sa- vannah, being compelled to abandon a large amount of forage for want of transportatien. It was further learned that there was a small force of johnnie's out in front that should be watch- ed. By this time the command had reached a dark place in the timber and Blue Buck and his companion quietly withdrew to one side of the road and dismounting as if to adjust their horse equiments, awaited the passing of the rear guard, and then pro- ceeded to the church, where they filled a sack each of corn and having placed them on their mules, were preparing to take up some beef, when a squad of five johnnies appeared slipping into the camp on the other side of the fires, left burning by its former occupants. Without making any more noise than could be helped, the two men mounted their mules and quietly rode away, reaching camp at a little after midnight. Here the mules and horses were fed and the rest of the corn given to the men. Blue Buck watching his mules while eating, so as to keep the boys from robbing them of their corn.
Friday, 16th. Pleasant. Started at 4:30 a. m., march- ing five miles we turned to the right, and six miles farther came to a plantation where was quite a lot of fodder, sweet potatoes and pea nuts. Some of the 7th Illinois, who had proceeded us,
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were guarding it. Ten wagons and fifty men of the 7th, moun- ted were sent to Hainesville, six miles away, for corn. Just as they had loaded the wagons they were attacked by a regiment of rebel cavalry. The train, however, was brought in safe, and we started on return to our camp of the night before, reaching it at & p. m.
Thursday, 17th. Clear and cool. We started early this morning, at 5 o'clock. to hold the road ; marched steadily until daylight, when the teams began to stall in the mud. Four miles out from the river, the 17th corps, or part of them passed us going out. We arrived at the river at two p. m., where we saw several steamers coming slowly up the stream with rations. We got into camp at 4 p. m., where we found the brigade pre- paring to build quarters out of pine logs.
Sunday, 18th. We move our camp again a short dis- tance to the left, and began to build. Captain Horn of compa- ny B, commanding the regiment, was mustered out of service by reason of expiration of term, and Captain J. W. Rickart of company D, assumes command.
Monday, 19th, Pleasant and warm. Considerable artil- lery firing and musketry in our front; skirmishers, in advanc- ing, exercise great caution as well as ingenuity. Each one has a wooden paddle or half of a canteen, with which to cover him- self in the sand, when on the skirmish line. The line was gen- erally advanced after dark. The skirmisher having obtained . an empty cracker box or grain sack, is ready for the undertak- ing : having surveyed the ground in advance and decided how far in advance of the old line he should proceed; and passing out between the skirmishers on the old line he places his box in front and gently pushes it forward to the point selected, then begins his excavating, filling his box or sack with the earth throw nout, he quickly settles himself in the excavation-that is his habitation until relieved, possibly in twenty-four hours and possibly the last on earth-which soon becomes a very conven- ient protection ; during this time the enemy are firing in the direction from which they hear any noise. At this time the two lines are so near each other that about midday, by some
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pre-arranged signal, hostilies cease and the pickets, some of them, meet between the lines, where a barter is at once started for tobacco, generally, for coffee or northern papers; at the sound of the bugle the truce is broken and all scamper for their holes, the last one in generally being hastened by the singing of "a rebel bullet. This state of affairs however, lasted but a few days, the practice being discontinued. The artillery firing was kept up daily, the range of the enemy being remarkably good ; their ammunition, however, was somewhat defective.
On Tuesday, Dec. 20th, the weather was warm and pleas- ant. Heavy firing was kept up along our front, and the prog- ress of our skirmish line, though slight, was encouraging. The lake in our front was kept full by means of flood gates, which had now come into our possession ; this, at low tide, would give us the desired opportunity of advancing at the proper time. The shelling we received daily had become so familiar that it caused but little anxiety. On one occasion a piece of bursting shell passed through General Corse's headquarters tent without injuring any one. So regular had the heavy part of the artillery fire become, that about 3 o'clock p. m. every day it was expected. One day an incident occurred which raised great laughter in the camp. In rear of our camp was parked the division ammunition train, in rear of this was headquarters, noted for its hospitality and, as well for the fine brands of its liquors. It was customary for a young officer adicted to drinking "sometimes too much," to call at these headquarters .. On this day it happened he was invited to call at 3 p. m. A few moments before the time, attended by an orderly, he rode up. Handing the reins to the orderly he dismounted and was soon engaged in conversation with others. At 3 o'clock the ball opened as usual. With a screaming sound a twelve-pound shell came richochetting along the ground, alighting on the Adjutant General's desk, who promptly took it up and threw it out. The young officer, badly frightened, called for his horse and was soon speeding away, amid the cheers of those who witnessed his lively retreat.
Wednesday, 21st. Rainy again. A detail with one wag-
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on was sent to the rice mill for straw, and while there found quite alot of sweet potatoes buried near by. Bill. Colwell of D. also found a porker that had escaped conscription, and soou the pork and yams were frying, when suddenly a piece of shell struck his pan, upsetting its contents into the fire. To say that Bill was mad hardly expresses it. The other wagon with a de- tail was sent six miles to the supply train for rations. On the way it back was learned the enemy had evacuated the works in our front. This accounted to us for the heavy explosions we had heard during the night and early in the morning, which led us to believe that the enemy were then evacuating. The fact that the works were empty was discovered by our pickets at daylight and immediately troops were moved forward to occu- py them, and a few hours later the division was moved into the city, General Sherman having received its surrender from the municipal authorities. The Fiftieth marched to the south edge of town, camping near the river. The capture included 8,000 prisoners, some of them pickets left to cover the retreat; 150 large cannon, 13 locomotives in good order, 190 cars, 4 steam- boats, a large amount of ammunition, and 33,000 bales of cot- ton. Besides this General Hardee destroyed several transports, blew up two gunboats, likewise destroyed two torpedo boats to prevent them from falling into our hands. Thus ended the March to the Sea.
On the 22nd the weather became colder, and the boys be- gan to build shelters from the boards and debris found lying around. Having but just succeeded in providing good shelter from the cold east wind off the ocean, we are ordered to be ready to move at 3 p. m., and fall in and march one and a half miles southeast down the river, to the outer line of works that surround the city, camping under the shelter of one of the forts No. 24. These forts were huge embankments with a bomb-proof or magazine in each, for storing the ammunition. . They con- stituted a chain of forts entirely surrounding the city, and con- nected with each other by a line of works for infantry, the tim- ber for a mile in front having been cut down and cleared away to leave an unobstructed view. The work of building these, we
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were informed, was done by large details of slaves from every county in the state, who were obliged to work in gangsøfor about six weeks then being relieved by others.
On this day General Sherman wrote to President Lincoln as follows :
"I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton."
Lincoln replied thanking him for the gift. Halleck and Grant also wrote letters of congratulation to the victorious General.
"I never," wrote Grant, "had a doubt of the result. When apprehensions for your safety were expressed by the President, I assured him that with such an army as you had, and with you in command of it, there was no danger but that you would reach salt water in some place. But I should not have felt the same security-in fact I would not have entrusted the expedi- tion to any other living commander."
CHAPTER XIX.
Sight Seeing in Savannah -- The Sanitary Commission-Capture of a Blockade Runner-Comparing Life with the Sailor-Return of Colonel Hanna- Invasion of South Carolina - Crossing Salkahatchie Swamp - Foragers- The Burning of Columbia
RIDAY, December 2Brd. Very cold and clear. Received orders for a general review to-morrow, by General Sher- man. We expect to remain in camp here a month. Cap- taid T. D. McGillicuddy with company K, who have been on detached service with the division train since leaving Rome, is relieved and return to the regiment, and the Captain assumes command. We received a large mail to-day, the first since leav- ing Atlanta. The letters are of an early date, but are news to us. The blockade having been removed some ships pass up the Savannah river to the city for the first time since we have been in possession. They are to many of the western boys, a new object, and regarded with interest. The boys also take great interest viewing the surroundings, strolling everywhere. This being a seaport and an old city, has many sights new and strange to us. It is. without doubt, a beautiful city, with its wide streets lined with magnolia trees; Count Pulaski's monu- ment, erected by a grateful people in memory of that noble Pole. who gave his life to the cause of Liberty and Independence, in the revolutionary war; and also some of the old defences of that time were among the objects of particular interest to us. We could not help thinking how foolish it was that a people
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with such beautiful surroundings should desire a change, in government, and seek to destroy what has cost so much to build up. Among the sights we came to a sacred spot of ground. About an acre, enclosed by a high and strong palisade. constructed under the direction of Col. C. F. Wiles, 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer infantry, commanding 2nd brigade, 3rd di- vision, 17th army corps. Why is this spot of ground so care- fully enclosed? It contains the bodies of over three hundred of our comrades, buried by the rebels, in trenches, like dogs. Un-coffined, un-wept and unknown, they have laid down their lives upon their country's altar; not on the field of battle, not on the skirmish line, not in the field hospital amid their com- rades where they could have their last wants attended to, but in the vile prison pens of THIS CITY, they gave up their lives that this Union might be preserved, and that we who survive, and all who may come after us, may enjoy one country and one flag, America and the Stripes and Stars forever.
But amid all these transposing scenes, the cold fact stands up before us, that our rations are short. For the last week we have lived principally upon rice, which is obtained from a mill near by. It is still in the straw, and is, hulled out by the soldiers. The plantations are supplied with mortars made of a log hollowed out at one end, into which the rice is placed and boaten with a pestle, to clean it from hull or chaff. In addition to this we can get oysters from the river when the tide is low, that serves to help out our meals. The ships that came up to King's bridge on the 17th brought rations, but not enough to last an army of 70,000 men very. many days.
Saturday, Dec. 24th. Cold and clear; the regiment ready for review at 8 o'clock a. m., marched up to the city. Our line is formed on South Broad street. General Sherman and staff pass down our front, inspecting us, and then we pass in review, and march back to camp.
In the homes of the north, the sweet and gentle influence of the Lowly Nazarine are felt and His life example in behalf of the suffering and stricken in sorrow, are as closely imitated as possible by the earthly born. As He taught loyalty and love
Schine
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for country, and obedience to law, so His followers, guided by the influence of His Holy Spirit, in the early moments of this dreadful war, brought into being that grand organization for the relief of pain and suffering, known as the Christian Sani- tary Commission. The story of what it has already accom- plished can never be told. In hospital, on battle-field, in pris- on. and on the highways and by-ways of life, its messengers are found in loving ministration to body and soul, The world will never know how great the good accomplished by this wonderful agent of loyalty and love. In the great Book of Life only can the record be kept. Not alone does it devote its ministering work and labor to the afflicted, but to the hearty and strong de- fenders of the Union it brings a welcome relief to whom many articles are furnished, such as stationery, pens, needles and thread, pins, little articles of apparel for comfort, and as re- minders from home. All these accompanied with words of ad- vice. manifesting the deep felt love and interest which perme- ates the hearts of the beloved at home.
A soldier writing from Savannah on the 22nd of Decem- ber, 1864, sends this little memorandum :
"Keeping up with the army at all points, may be found the agents of the Sanitary Commission, who minister to the needs of the soldier wherever found; showing no differences in their ministrations to soldiers from other states. Among the articles furnished is writing paper, and all the aid necessary to assist the soldier in communicating with friends at home."
On a sheet of note paper written home January 22nd. 1865, is the following beautiful memento of the times :
"This sheet of paper and envelope is furnished by the Indiana Sanitary Commission, being purchased with funds con- tributed by the Soldier's Friends at home.
Fly, little missive, to my cherished home,
And cheer the loving hearts to me so dear ;
I'll follow when in honor I can come
And leave "Our Flag" in TRIUMPH floating here !
THE SOLDIER." The above is on the upper left hand corner, and as the
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boys had had no opportunity of obtaining stationery, this wa- very gratefully received.
Sunday, Christmas day. Clear and cool. We have dress parade at 4 p. m., the first time since leaving Rome. Captain McGillicuddy is in command and our acting sergeant major as acting adjutant ; Adjutant W. S. Woods being unwell.
On the 27th we again have dress parade, which is to be observed daily at 1 p. m.
On the 28th Capt. H. L. Burnham of company C, on de- tached duty as provost marshall of 4th division, 15th army corps, requested to be relieved, and on the 29th is in camp're- adjusting it to his notion ; he will succeed Capt. McGillicuddy. who has sent in his resignation, owing to expiration of term of service. This morning before day, a blockade runner passed into the mouth of the Savannah river, not knowing that the city was captured, and became a prize of the fleet. She was a long, low, three masted schooner, painted a dull grey color, her long. slender masts and otherwise trim appearance, indicated speed. Cannon upon her deck gave her a warlike appearance, and as she passed up the river in custody of Uncle Sam's navy. reminded us of a culprit arrested for some crime.
Friday, 30th. A detail went after lumber to fort Thun- derbolt, four miles down the river. This old fort was built by the government ; the barracks have been destroyed by our troops to get material for shelter. Captain Burnham has charge of the dress parade, after which we received a mail, and the next day, which was cold and windy, we fixed up the camp.
1865. January 1st. First day of the week, month and year, is cold. Have a detail of camp guard, one sergeant, two corporals and fifteen men, to keep the men together. Captain Burnham takes command and Captain McGillicuddy is mus- . tered out.
January 2nd. Still cold. The east wind from the ocean is very severe. Several steamers passed up to the city.
January 3rd. Warmer. Have regimental guard mount- ing, also battallion drill. Companies F and G, who have been on duty as division train guards, are relieved and return to the
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regiment. The 17th A. C. move out to Pccataligo, and several „pamers and schooners pass up the river. It had been often talked among the boys, of the pleasant life the sailors had- compared with that of marching in wet and cold, and dust and ind. To-day as we see the vessels gliding slowly by, some of thom covered with ice, so much of it upon the rigging and spars as to cause them to list-or lean to one side,-and the sailors climbing up among the mass, working hard to free the ice-we are constrained to rest content with our lot, and bear our share in this great drama of American history without complaint.
January 4th. Cleaning up camp and battallion drill is the order, followed by same routine on the 5th, when a heavy detail for guard and fatigue duty for to-morrow, with guard mounting at division headquarters is ordered. On account of so much extra duty to attend, the guard mounting at camp on the 6th, was dispensed with and for the first time in the history of the "Blind Half Hundred" do we have to record that they are slow in responding to the word of command. In what way? why the fatigue party are stragling badly-forty-five of the boys shirking duty-they feel that they have been crowded with drill, drill, work, work, work, review, inspection, policing camp and many things that seemed unnecessary to have been done when they should have been allowed to rest. So the cry started "sol- dier will you work?" and the response came quickly, "no, I'll sell my shirt first." This inclination to shirk duty is of short dura- tion, bo it said to the credit of the boys. And now a report is . sprung in camp "Hanna has come," -- "Old Billy is here"- "hurra, hurra"-and how eagerly the boys gathered in knots anx- iously waiting his coming to the camp. But they were doomed to disappointment. only modified by the fact that instead of Col. Hanna, it was Gen. John A. Logan, who had disembarked from the steamer and was mistaken for the Colonel. Orders received for review again to-morrow.
Saturday, 7th. Cold and disagreeable. The regiment in line by 9 o'clock, and at 9:30, marching left in front, we move to the city and take our position on Liberty street, right resting east. After forming several different lines the final or-
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der is received "prepare for review," we open ranks and stand waiting. Between 1 and 2 o'clock p. m. Generals Sherman, Howard, Logan and Corse, our commanders, ride by, after which we marched in review, passing the Custom House, where, on the balcony, stood the reviewing officers. Every man tried to do his best, and succeeded. We then marched to our camp, tired and hungry, without a word of discontent, and received another mail.
NOTE .- The comrades in reading this record of our expe- rience at Savannah, will not think it complete unless we remind them of our sleeping quarters. They were built on level ground out of boards, or anything to break the wind, which blew very cold, and were.made very comfortable; five or six of the boys would have their shelter tents buttoned together, also their over- coats, using them as blankets, then packing down spoon fashion would lie, resting as best they could, in their little houses, when some tired one would call out "spoon over here, spoon over," and over the boys would turn to the other side. "Spoon over" was a sentence heard at all times in the night. Our meal pan- cakes were seasoned with sand, blown into the cooking vessels by the strong wind. A good thing for us to eat baring the grit- ting between the teeth, but good as an aid to digestion. We would eat nothing on windy days unless seasoned with sand.
Sunday, Sth. Passed as usual, and on Monday, Jan. 9th. it was rainy. General Logan rode through our camp on a tour of inspection, and found it in good condition. A detail, besides guards, of one hundred and eighty men for fatigue to-morrow is ordered, and another day passes by,
Tuesday, Jan. 10th. Rain, rain, rain all day. The regi- ment on duty building fortifications. The health of the men is remarkable for the hardships they have passed through dur- ing the past eight or ten weeks.
Jan. 11th. Came in pleasant. Lt. Col. Hanna, Lieut. Starrett of company C, and Major A. L. Williams, our new sur- geon, who takes the place of Surgeon H. W. Kendall, mustered out Oct. 26th, 1864, arrived to-day from home, being twenty- three days on the road. They were warmly welcomed.
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