USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 3
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One evening while the regiment was on dress parade, a committee of gentlemen representing the loyal citizens of Han- nibal, presented Lieut. Col. Swarthout with a fine horse, prop- erly caparisoned. He was indeed a noble looking animal. The
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
incident was humorously alluded to by the donors. in the Hannibal papers, at the expense of their Quincy neighbors, who had allowed Col. Swarthout to march from his old home in Illinois, to the field on foot.
The speech of the Lieut. Colonel in accepting the splen- did present, was very appropriate, and showed the patriotic citizens who contributed to the gift, (as well as all others. ) that their efforts were highly appreciated. Halting for a word which would more fully express his feelings, he suddenly turned to the regiment with "what do you say boys? I say bully." Instantly the word was caught up and from hundreds of throats came the reply "bully," and it was hard to tell who were the most pleas- ed, the donors, the Colonel, or the boys. In honor of the event the Colonel christened his war steed "Hannibal." Right well too, did he bear his gallant rider into and through danger. Right nobly did he wear his name, for at Shiloh. and later on at Corinth, he was wounded ; at the latter battle severely.
And now the routine of camp life went on : reveille. mor- ning roll call, company drill with and without arms. attallion drill, policing of camp, the mysteries of wash-day. cooking, tattoo and taps, all these swiftly changing the farmer boys, the clerks in stores, the students, the blacksmiths and the arti- sans, children of the Adams county hearts and homes, into material fit.for the great struggle so near at hand.
The utmost precautions for the health of the troops were taken, the camp was thoroughly policed and as completely as possible, sanitary conditions established, in pursuance of which the following order was issued :
General Orders, i No. 2.
HEADQUARTERS 50th REGIMENT. ) CAMP BANE. HANNIBAL, Mo., Oct. 15th. 1861. )
There will be daily, a sick call sounded from the front of headquarters at S o'clock A. M., when all sick will report themselves or go to the hospital, and none will be ex- cused from duty who do not report themselves.
There will be no promiscuous firing hereafter. There
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will be no cartridges allowed except to the guard. who will dis- charge their pieces each morning. All soldiers will be held personally responsible for the ammunition given them.
By order
M. M. BANE, Colonel.
Suddenly the camp life at Hannibal was broken up, and on the 18th of October orders came to strike tents and prepare to march. It is needless to say that these orders were obeved with alacrity.
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CHAPTER IV.
Trip to Chillicothe .- Camp Prentiss Established .- Detail made for a Scout .- The Expedition to Jimtown, -- Sergeant Stewart relates an Incident,
0 N the 18th of October the regiment received marching or- ders. It is needless to recall the joy which ran through the camp as the news foretelling active service in the field was promulgated. With alacrity the inen, sprang to the order to strike tents, and soon the regiment stood ready to march, which it did, to the steamboat warehouse, where it remained for the night.
During the time of the occupation of Camp Bane, the friends of the regiment, and those especially of companies C and D. living in Adams county in Illinois. across the river from Hannibal, were frequent visitors, bringing with them many del- icacies unknown to a soldier's life when in active service. All this was now to cease. Serious work was ahead, and tired vet happy at the prospect. the old Fiftieth laid down in the old warehouse to rest as well as possible.
When morning had come, and a breakfast of hard-tack, bacon and coffee had been finished, the march was taken up for the cars, which were soon loaded. Not palace cars, not even common smoking cars, but box cars, and cattle cars at that, but never transportation so acceptable as that furnished on that ever to be rememberedl October morning. The regiment was bound for the front, for the enemy's country, and there was nothing save blessings for the fact.
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There was not much time lost in waiting. Slowly the long train steamed away. And now the country began to open up, and every now and then there came to sight bridges guard- ed by Union soldiers, their camps near by. Such scenes were deeply interesting, furnishing the first insight into what con- stituted active service. Although not long in the field, the soldiers composing the various detachments took upon them- selves all the airs of veterans, and assumed a look of what was intended for high disdain at the raw recruits passing by.
Some bridges had been destroyed and by reason thereof, trains wrecked and pillaged, hence the necessity for guards.
One camp was made up of the 3d Iowa Infantry, and one of the 1st Kansas Infantry; the latter regiment took particular pains to let it be known that fresh pork and chicken formed a leading portion of their rations, a fact in the nature of an ob- ject lesson never to be forgotten by the Fiftieth on after march and in camp. *
When Macon City, Missouri was reached the Fiftieth found many friends in the 16th Illinois, then encamped there.
On the afternoon of the 19th the regiment arrived at Chillicothe and went into camp on the prairie about one half mile from, and southeast of, the depot, on the south side of the railroad.
There was a large farm-house on the right of the camp which our regimental surgeon. Major Kendall, at once took pos- session of for a hospital. When the regiment left Hannibal it was generally believed that it would be attacked somewhere along the way, and when the train drew up to the depot at Chillicothe without sight of rebel or shot of gun along the whole way, a general feeling of disappointment prevailed, for the men had been truly spoiling for a fight, and were really troubled over the thought that the war would be ended before they would be given a chance to be in it to the death; but soon they got over that feeling.
At Chillicothe was the 39th Ohio, commanded by Colonel Groesbeck, and also a company or two of Missouri State Militia under command of Capt. Humphrey.
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The 20th was Sunday and was spent in laying out the camp and getting ready for camp life. Living out on a prairie in the latter part of October was not without its share of expos- ure and privation. The wind blew strong and cold through and around the tents, and the transformation from comfortable homes to tent life was appreciably apparent. On the 22d de- tachments were sent out through the country for straw, but re- turned after a fruitless mission. To compensate for this fail- . ure the Quartermaster issued an extra blanket to each man and comfort was to some extent attained.
Not satisfied with the result of the first expedition after bedding, Col. Bane sent out detachments with orders to seize wagons and scour the country for this most necessary article. viz. straw feathers. The result was all that heart could desire and before night the camp was gladdened with the returning raiders well supplied, and from thence on warmth and comfort found habitation in every tent. 1755006
It is pleasant now to recall how careful the officers, from Colonel down, were of the health of the regiment. Soldiering was new business and many of the details which go to make up army life, were unknown and had to be learned by a relentless experience, but day and night the officers, mindful of their high charge, took advantage of every opportunity to enhance the comfort and guard the health of their command. The seed thus sown in these early days returned the years following, an abundant harvest.
The camp when completed was named "Prentiss," in honor of General B. M. Prentiss, then in command of all the troops in that part of Missouri.
In the midst of the duties incident to the life of a young regiment, the even tenor of its way was upset by orders for a detachment of at least one hundred men for scouting service ; the purpose being to break up a camp of bush-whackers, said to be near Jimtown, (now called James Port, ) distant from Chil- .. licothe about twenty miles. Among the men the greatest ex- citement prevailed. Here was an opportunity, so anxiously
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looked forward to, for active work, so the offer to go was as spontaneous as it was imperative.
Companies D, Lieut. Henry Cusick with sixty men, and F, Lieut. Chas. J. May, with fifty men, the whole under com- mand of Lieut. May, were selected to represent the Fiftieth in the expedition, and on the 25th, with three days rations and forty rounds of amunition they marched out of camp with drums beating and flags flying. During the day the command was reinforced by thirty cavalry, belonging to a regiment of M. S. M. 1
Crossing Grand River by ferry, the town of Spring Hill, eight miles from Chillicothe, was reached. and a halt for the night made; the infantry being quartered in a country church. As a result of the day, a rebel who had been in the battle of Lexington, Mo., was captured. The next day the line of march was resumed and dense woods and low undergrowth skirmished through without result, save the capture of two citizens, who were acting under suspicious circumstances. One of these was the owner of a fine farm and when night came on the weary men became his guests. and whether with or without consent. occupied his house and barns. When the Sunday morning sun had risen preparations were about completed for a return to Chillicothe, when news from the cavalry was received that about forty rebels had been surprised and after a running fight. three had been killed, several wounded, and ten prisoners taken. This changed the course of the infantry and it at once marched to the support of the cavalry. Matters began to assume an ex- citing look when scouts, having captured some citizens. learned that two hundred of the enemy were in the front about three miles away, and a squad of forty or more flanking the left. and worse and more of it, at least one hundred and fifty to the rear a few miles, making four hundred as against one hundred and forty; and with all this came the cheering information that the enemy had sworn to kill every one of the invading party.
In view of this information, which was deemed reliable, a council of war was held at which it was decided to send
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
to Edinburg for assistance, there being a detachment of M. S. M. encamped there, with directions to march to Jimtown, for which place the command of Lieut. May marched.
Lieut. Cusick was charged with the important duty of making his way to Edinburg. Disguising himself in a citizen's dross he set out for relief, and upon arriving at Edinburg and finding the force there too small to be of much help, he contin- ued his way to Chillicothe, where he learned that a relieving force was already on the way, the news of the perilous situation of the troops composing the detachment having preceded him.
At Spring Hill a squadron of cavalry in advance of the reHeving forces was fired upon and seven out of eighteen woun- ded. Availing themselves of the confusion incident to so vigor- ous and deadly an assault, the bush-whackers made good their escape. Without further halt or hindrance the expedition pushed on and by night had reached Jimtown where the troops under Lieut. May were found comfortably encamped.
The next day Lieut. Col. Swarthout with one hundred and fifty of the Fiftieth and two companies of the 39th Ohio. reached Jimtown. And now the force being so strengthened as to be devoid of danger, the whole country was skirmished, but" without result. All the rations started with were gone and the commands were compelled to live off the country. The bill of fare, consisting of fresh pork, beef, chickens, honey, milk and corn bread, helped to sustain in splendid form and shape, the stomachs of the invading force. Care was taken to protect the property of Union men and, women, but woe to the cattle, hogs. poultry, &c., which were so unfortunate as to be owned by a se- cessionist. whether in or out of the army of treason. Jimtown at that time was a place of considerable size, possessed of two fine hotels, five or six stores, and the usual number of other trades and callings belonging to a country town of its attain- ments and population. With the occupation of the town by the Union troops the citizens fled, and when Col. Swarthout arrived he found but one man and three women who had re- mained behind.
An eye witness expresses in a terse way, the scene pre-
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sented as the relief under the Lieut. Col. came marching into Jimtown. "It was," he says, "a fine sight indeed to see the de- tachment coming to our aid across the prairie on that fine Oc- tober morning, with the sun shining on the bright and. glisten- ing arms."
There was no regiment in the great war that did not hold men within its ranks of every trade and vocation. So it was with the Fiftieth, and as soon as the troops had reached Jim- town and before relief had come, the blacksmiths. under com- mand of Richard Deighton, afterwards regimental blacksmith, and Matthew Nelson of company D, showed their knowledge of what was right and proper, by taking possession of all the shops in town and shoeing the horses belonging to the command. The country having been thoroughly gone over and without prospect of further contact with the enemy, the troops marched back to Chillicothe, where they were received as veterans tried and true aro always received, with demonstrations of joy. "As we filed into and marched down one of the main streets of the town," says one of the participants, "we could well understand the words and feel the spirit of "See the conquering hero comes." Were we not conquering heroes? for we had between fifteen and twenty prisoners, had killed ten, captured thirty horses and saddles, confiscated several teams to haul our sore-footed com- rades, marched in five days seventy-five miles. the last day com- ing twenty miles without dinner. All this, later on, would have been deemed but a slight atfair, and so it was, but at that time it was serious business, especially to the dear ones at home."
As illustrative of many seenes and adventure which grew out of this expedition, space is given but for one as detailed by Sergeant T. S. Stewart, Co. F. Writing from Nevada, Mo., un- der date of Dec. 21. 1892. he asks and answers his own question : "Who was Charley Pervick, or what become of the old lady's gobler?"
"In the fall of '61. while our regiment was in camp at Chillicothe, Mo., there was a detachment sent out to a place called Jimtown for the purpose of breaking up a rebel camp
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
that was supposed to be some where in that neighborhood. The expedition, I think, was under the command of Lieut. Charley May, of Co. F, and consisted of details from several other Co.'s as well as Co F, and after a hard march, and a thorough scouring of the surrounding country, we were preparing to return to camp, minus any trophies of glory, except it might be a few old decrepit firearms, 'when it was suggested that in order that our trip should not be entirely fruitless, that we scatter out amongst the farm-houses and have a good square meal. It was against the rules you know, to forage, so we pre- pared to let Uncle Sam pay the bill. Well the proposition car- ried unanimously, and the command was divided into squads. and directed where to go, how to behave and where to meet, and we at once put our scheme into execution. Now it so happened that at the house visited by one of the squads, there was a fine lot of chickens, and one only. very stately turkey gobler, the pride of the household, and the prospective Xmas dinner, and in as much as the boys were somewhat surfeited on old cow and sow b-m, they concluded it would be quite a treat to have a change in the shape of stewed chicken, (soldiers always wanted their chicken stewed), and some even suggested, "mind only . suggested" that roast turkey wouldn't go bad. So after a short parley with the old lady of the house she consented to get the boys some dinner; but when the chicken heads began to fly she remonstrated very strongly, that they were not included in the bill of fare, but after some persuasion, perhaps more forcible than polite, consented that it should be so, provided that the Gobler was not to be molested ; so after the most profound as surance that his lordship's head should be spared, and the as- sertion of our brave and gallant commander, that the man who dared to molest or make him, (the goblet), afraid should be transfixed with his (un)-tried and trusty sword, peace was es- tablished and the preparations for dinner proceeded. But it seemed after counting noses and estimating the size of each man's stomach that there was a shortage of the supply of head- less chickens, and the boys went immediately to WORK to secure more. "Soldiers you know always like to work, (ie) chicken
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roosts." and so it happened that some one who either didn't know a chicken from a turkey, or from the miscarriage of a well directed shot at a chicken, or by some other occult means, the pride of the household fell, mortally wounded, by the wayside. Great was the lamentations of that household, and many were the profuso regrets of the soldiers, and fruitless was the endeav- ors of our gallant commander to find out who was the guilty party, until at last, in sheer despair, he exclaimed, "I shall pro- mote to eighth corporal any man who will divulge the name of the dastardly villain, that I may punish him," when with one - accord we all cried out, " 'twas Charley Pervick." Great was the rejoicing of our worthy commander at this information, and after the most solemn promise that he should be terribly pun- ished, and fed on hard-tack and sow-boosom for many, many days, our generous hostess, (long may she rave.) consented to include the Xmas turkey in our bill of fare; and thus did we return triumphantly to our camp, crowned with glory, full of turkey and all in line of promotion, all on account of our own and only Charley Pervick. T. S. S.
During the events just noted, the regiment in camp pur- sued an active routine, and rapidly progressed in the line of duty. €
At dress parade on the evening of the 24th, orders were read as follows :
HEADQUARTERS 50th REGIMENT. ) CHILLICOTHE, Mo., Oct. 24th, 1861. \
General Orders, No. 3. Captains will please hand in their morning reports to the Adjutant as early as So'clock, so they can be consolidated as early as 9 o'clock A. M., for headquarters.
It is hereby strictly enjoined upon all to discontinue their visits to the camp of the 39th Ohio, measles being at the present time, prevalent in their camp.
By order
WM. SWARTHOUT. Lieut. Col. Commanding.
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LIEUT. COL. WILLIAM SWARTHOUT.
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
From the foregoing order it will readily be seen that care was early taken to protect the regiment from the dread effects of a malady which, in the early part of the war, struck down many a gallant man. As the sequel will show, despite all pos- -Wie precaution, the camp was invaded by the measles. As woon as a soldier was afflicted he was taken to the hospital, and under the tender care and watchfulness of Surgeons Kendall and Bane the ravages of the disease were stayed, with but slight loss. George W. Stauffer of D, was stricken with it and, al- though he passed safely through, his health was badly shat- tered.
Corporal Andrew Robertson of A, who enlisted from Mendon, Adams county, Illinois, and Levi Woodbury, also of A. of Breckinridge, Mo., died at Chillicothe, the first November 26th, and the last December 5th. But with these exceptions the health of the regiment was all that could be desired.
Chillicothe was possessed of a bakery and, in the interest of the service, it was taken possession of and bakers detailed to operate it. On the Sth of November work was commenced, and from Sunday until Tuesday night 1323 loaves of bread were turned out. The bakers and their assistants were paid (in promises ) 40 cents a day, or night; they never received a cent. Nevertheless the bread was very acceptable, being first-class in all particulars.
Of course there were editors and printers in the regiment, so) a paper was started, first known as "The Fiftieth," but was . soon changed to "The Camp Prentiss Register." It was an ex- tremely loval as well as an ably conducted paper, and served to relieve the camp of much of the tedium incident to army life. Many copies are still in existence, scattered over the length and breadth of the land. During the stay at Chillicothe Major George W. Randall and Capt. Edgar Pickett were, by general orders, appointed a board of administration; this order was issued November 19th.
In the one short month which had transpired since leav- ing Quiney, a wonderful change could be noted in the address, discipline and morale of the regiment. On the 20th of Novem-
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ber, companies D, E and G, under command of Major Randall, were ordered to Cameron Junction, on arrival at which point, quarters were taken in the depot and several houses near by. The enemy raiding the country thereabouts, had destroyed the Platte river bridge, and laid the loyal inhabitants, wherever found, under tribute. To drive them away, and protect the lines of communication covered by the Hannibal & St. Joe Rail- road, was the object and purpose of the expedition. The result sought for was fully attained; the country was cleaned out of the bands of marauders who, wholly regardless of principles which govern humanity in war or peace, had maintained a reign of terror over the defenceless inhabitants; all of which having been accomplished tho detachment roturned to Chillicothe.
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While in camp at Chillicothe it was customary for the officers to pass ont at any part of the line, the officer saluting the guard who, upon observing him approach, would stand at attention and salute in return. The enlisted men were required to go to post No. 1 to have their passses examined; returning, they could pass through any part of the line in the day time, and by post one at night. Naturally there grew an abuse of this privilege, and officers and men were often out until a late hour at night, to correct which an order was issued that no one should pass through the lines after seven o'clock in the evening without the countersign, and then only by post one.
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Now it had been observed by the boys that Major Ran- dall was often out late, and they laid for him. One night pri- vate James Seybold was on duty about 10 o'clock on post No. 3; hearing some one approach he called out "Halt! who goes there?" The answer came, "I'm the Major." "Don't care a d -- n who you are," came the reply, "mark time, march." "Sol- dier, I'm the Major, let me pass." "Don't know anyone after dark," returned Seybold, "mark time, march, or I'll put a hole through you." Click, click, fell upon his ears with such per- suasive effect that the Major began to mark time. Hearing the call to halt, and the colloquy that followed, the boys quickly gathered, thoroughly though very quietly enjoying the fun ; the Major very mad, but attending strictly to business. In the
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mean time there rang out upon the night air, Seybold's voice, as in stentorian tones he called "Corporal of the guard, post No. 3." Upon the arrival of that officer the Major was halted and allowed to pass through the lines into camp. He never afterwards failed to have the countersign.
One night Lewis F. Collins, Co. F, while on duty, heard something creeping near his post. Alarmed at the threatened danger he challenged, and receiving no reply, fired, and all was still; result, a fine fat hog.
On another night one of Co. A shot a mule that, grazing 'near had failed to obey the ominous command "Halt!"
Adjutant T. Jeff. Brown, one night discovered a light as of a camp fire, away to the front of the camp. Quickly arriv- ing at the conclusion that it proceeded from the enemy, an alarm was sounded and volunteers called for. Many responded and under the Adjutant's command marched out to the point of danger, only to find, after a complete reconnoisance, that the cause of the alarm was the result of a burning brush heap. While there was often much mirth at the cost of the parties to these and like contretemps, yet it furnished positive evidence of the zeal and watchfulness of both officers and men, and was in the highest sense a training school for times when like zeal and like watchfulness would serve a high and lofty purpose, and upon which might depend the safety of an army as well as the unity of a country.
On the 27th of November the regiment was ordered from Chillicothe to St. Joseph, Mo .. there to report to Col. R. F. Smith, 16th Illinois, commanding the post. This order was promptly complied with, and on arrrival at St. Joe, the regi- ment was brigaded with the 16th.
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