USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 30
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Tuesday, 14th. Clear and pleasant. A large number of buildings, covering nearly fifty acres of ground, in use as an arsenal, have been destroyed. We kept our old mill running all night, grinding two bushels of meal. At daylight received or- ders to move, and fell in at sunrise, marched down to the lower ferry, two miles below the city, and halted at the bridge over the river until noon, when Gen. Corse leads the division across, marching out two miles from the river, where we went into camp in a swamp; quite a number of details are sent out, re- turning well supplied with meal, flour, hams, bacon, fresh pork and chickens.
Wednesday, March 15th. Clear and pleasant. The 4th division take the advance. The 39th Iowa are left with the di- vision train. The brigade train and twelve wagons from the ordinance train, are with us in charge of company F, the rest of the train, as soon as loaded from the fleet, are to follow. We . start at 7:30 for Goldsborough, sixty miles away. The 15th, 17th and 20th corps each moving on parallel roads. Skirmishing continually with cavalry in our front, the column moves stead- ily on, and having marched ten miles, camp near South river. This river was full and about one-half mile wide. After start- ing it continued to rain all day.
March 16th. Still raining. At 7:30 we start, wading the river up to our waists to the channel, over which a rude bridge has been constructed. We cross the stream, and then another wade, and to our surprise, reach the opposite shore without opposition, the enemy having withdrawn during the
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night. Skirmishing considerably with Hampton and Buttler's cavalry, who were in our front to-day. Marching eight miles, we camp in the rain, near another large swamp, having made connection with the 20th corps. We have heard that Bragg has been defeated by Schofield and the 23rd corps.
March 17th. We are still in the advance, that is, the 4th division, with a clear day, we start off at 6:30, finding the road very muddy, reaching Adairsville cross-roads at 11 o'clock. Our division now being on the left, we are ordered into camp and to build in- trenchments. We had hardly begun when this order was counterman- ded. We antici- pated a battle and would like to have had it out here, as our position is an exceedingly fine one; our left and front is protected by a long swamp; very muddy. We have made but five miles to-day. FORAGERS SKIRMISHING. With our foragers out skirmishing all the time, some of them brought in fod- der and beans. We have had to re-build nearly all the road to-day with corduroy.
March 18th. Clear. Ordered to remain in camp. At 8 o'clock we receive orders to move and at 9 are off. This time we take the road to Goldsborough, the 4th division in the rear. The people are very much frightened-the rebel cavalry as they pass along our front. in retreat, pretend to be Yankees, as they rob the people, making no distinction between rich and poor. Many of the rebel soldiers are dressed in blue, and the people
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are inclined to believe it is so, but say they cannot understand why "they alls should be Yankees and shoot back at you alls." Having marched eight miles we go into camp at Newton's Grove. where we build a barricade of rails and logs from some negro huts. Soon after we are ordered back one-fourth of a mile and camp in an old muddy field, twenty-six miles from Goldsbor- ough. Company D boys secure another old iron corn mill which, with the other is run all night, the ono previously found at Cheraw being discarded.
Sunday, March 19th. Clear. By steady work with both mills, the boys ground four hundred pounds of meal during the night. At 8 o'clock a. m. the command moved out on the Goldsborough road. The country has been stripped of nearly everything by the enemy, who are in our front. Over to the loft, the 14th and 20th corps have been fighting hard all day. The roads are very muddy and rough, the train considerably scattered; a body of rebels charged our wagon train and drove in our flankers. At dark we cross a very rough and muddy swamp, leaving the 1st brigade to watch a division of rebel cav- alry that have passed our rear and left flank. Marched five miles more and went into camp on the right of the 1st division, one-half mile from the enemy's pickets, having made twelve miles. The wagon train is now left in our rear.
March 20th. We are in line of battle at day light wait- ing for an expected attack of the johnnies, but they did not come. By this time the brigade train had gotten up, having been on the road all night. At 6:30 we started, with the 1st division in advance, the 4th in the rear as support. Two miles on we met the enemy, and, skirmishing, drove them six miles, when suddenly they burst out of the woods and bore down upon the 2nd brigade of the 1st division, with a loud yell that sound- ed far above the din and crack of a thousand muskets; for nearly a mile along the front came this heavy line of grey backs down upon. us, but it was repulsed and driven back without our line being disturbed, our loss being two men killed and several wounded. While this attack was being made the 4th division was getting into position on the right of the 1st, and right of
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the road. Almost in the twinkling of an eye, some rail fences were transferred, and transformed into a barricade; no sooner was this completed than the line was advanced 300 yards taking the rails with them. One company of the 7th and 57th were sent out on the skirinish line and were engaged steadily all day. Twice in the afternoon the enemy charged our lines with- out driving in our skirmishers. While marching forward in the morning Daniel Thompson of company B, who was detailed as a division headquarters forager; was wounded in the wrist and head while out on the left flank. We marched nine miles to-day, and are lying to-night in line of battle, face to face with the rebel army. "Tis well we do not know the future, but come what may, we are ready for any sacrifice called by duty.
Tuesday, March 21st. Cloudy to-day. A steady skir- mish fire was kept up all night in our front. Notwithstanding the continuous crack of the muskets in our front and the many minnie bullets zipping by us and striking around us in the brush, the boys slept soundly, and after a good night's rest were up and ready for business at daylight. At 7 o'clock Co. C, Lieut. Starrett, was ordered ont to relieve the company of the 57th Ill., and at 10 o'clock the line of battle was ordered for- ward 200 yards to build breastworks. The sergeant major was then ordered to take twenty men and go to the division train as quickly as possible and get what axes and spades he could get. Going at a double quick they soon returned with. thirty-six spades and ten new axes. During this time the line was located, and, the tools being given to one company at a time, they were allowed ten minutes use of them until they had been used along the line. Others of the boys were busy with their hatchets and heavy knives in hacking down the un- der brush in front and bringing it into the pile of rubbish, which was soon covered with dirt, forming a fair line of works, which were strengthened by the boys during the day. A steady and heavy fire was kept up from both sides, until noon, when the skirmish line was advanced fifty yards, across a deep and miry swamp in our front. The enemy on the opposite side, at
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a
once charged the line and were repulsed, retiring to their line of rifle pits. Then the 66th Ill., was deployed in front of our line of battle as support to the skirmish line, and sent forward with company C of the Fiftieth in advance they charged the works and drove the enemy out of their rifle pits, but the 66th falling back to the swamp, company C was obliged to follow to avoid capture by a brigade of the enemy swarming down upon them. They brought away with them several canteens and knapsacks as trophies. Soon after this companies A, H and K, under Lieut. J. S. Gayer of D, commanding K, were sent out to relieve Co. C. These companies were ordered to report to Major Johnson of the 7th Illinois, in command of the skirmish line-the 7th being out as support-and were ordered by him to charge the enemy at once. As they moved into the swamp, company C having expended its ammunition and being relieved were re- tiring to the rear, when Captain Barber, A. D. C. to General Corse, seeing them returning, and probably not understanding that they were being relieved, ordered them to return and charge with the three companies, and in addition called them cowards. Bent on obeying orders at all times, into the swamp . they went, many of them without a cartridge, and with a rush in connection with the other companies again took posession of the rifle pits. But the main works of the enemy were too near, not over seventy-five yards distant, and heavily manned, and out over the works came a brigade and drove the lino back with a loss of one killed and thirteen wounded. Corporal Anderson Tout of company A, killed and Private Mat. Leach, of C, woun- ded, losing a leg.
Heavy firing was now heard to our front and left, suppos- ed to be by the 14th and 20th corps coming in on their rear, while a continuous heavy firing was kept up on our left all day and night. After dark two heavy attacks were made on our lines, in one of which Sergeant J. B. Hawkes, commanding company H, was killed, a ball coming over the works and striking him in the forehead. He died without a struggle, a faithful soldier for the flag. Corporal Lambert, of company H and Private John B. Degroot, of B, were wounded in the leg. Anticipating
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ACTION AT BENTONVILLE.
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still furthor attacks all fires were extinguished and a dark, drizzily, rainy night set in, fortified by a cold, chilly, March wind. The fire from the enemy was kept up a greater part of the night, being replied to by our skirmishers as they saw the flash of the muskets, until 3 o'clock in the morning of the 22nd, when it ceased.
As soon as the first stream of day appeared Major John- son advanced his skirmish line and found the works evacuated. The Fiftieth was ordered forward as skirmishers, and, leaving their blankets, dog tents, and camp utensils behind, they ad- vanced to the opposite side of the swamp. Along the road was a large pile of amputated limbs, showing where the rebel sur- geons had been at work on the 20th, after the desperate charge made by the enemy. Tramping through the woods we aroused and captured a rebel picket post, the men having gone to sleep and failed to be relieved. From these prisoners we learned they had suffered heavily the day before. We found on the way the bodies of two rebels burned to a crisp, and the body of a Union soldier with his head split open by an ax; also a church used as a hospital, and among the wounded, some of our troops. Having pushed forward two and one-half miles, near Benton- ville we came to Mill creek, a small stream with steep banks; over this was a rude bridge of logs, on which had been emptied a quantity of rosin, and, having been fired by the enemy, was burning. The Colonel said, "Boys, this must be put out," and, jumping onto a sunken log, immersed to his knees, began to throw water on with his hat. His example being followed by his men, the fire was soon extinguished. The troops follow- ing us passed on, and while waiting here for orders, a patrol to the left at Bentonville, discovered the body of a Union soldier who had been hung; his body cut in pieces and his head cut open ; his fingers and toes cut off. This was done, we under- stand, to compel his comrade, who was captured with him, to disclose the number and location of our troops in front. Or- ders being received we returned for our effects and camped for the night.
Thursday, March 23rd. Clear and pleasant. We took
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the Twenty mile road for Goldsborough, and following up our victorious army went into camp at 3 p. m., nine miles from the city, having marched eleven miles.
On Friday, the 24th, we started at 7 a. m .; and at 11 we halted near the city, and having stopped here three hours, marched in, and passed in review before Major General Sherman, then marched out three miles and went into camp near the Newbern R. R., having marched twelve miles.
Evidently our warfare in the field is over: victory is near at hand, and the grand old Ship of State is nearing the harbor of peace.
Saturday, March 25th. Pleasant. Laid out our camp to-day. It has been our rule, as a general thing when we go into camp, to arrange it as if our stop was permanent. So to- day we move a short distance and settle down to housekeeping. A detachment or consignment of eighty-five recruits arrived and are assigned to companies F, G and K.
Sunday, March 26th. Pleasant. Fixed up our camp to-day, and received from the north a very large mail. The mail numbered near 400 sacks; sixteen for the division and two for the regiment. We have been out fifty-eight days from Savannah, our regiment's loss being one man captured, two killed and fourteen wounded.
HEADQUARTERS 50TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, Goldsborough, N. C., April 2nd, 1865.
Special Order No. 13.
Sergeant John P. Randolph, Company A, 50th Ills. Infantry, is hereby detailed as Drill Sergeant of the regiment, and will be obeyed and res - pected as such. He will report to the headquarters immediately for instruc- tions.
WILLIAM HANNA, Lieut. Col. Commanding 50th Ills. Infantry.
Monday, March 27th. Clear and pleasant. Those of our comrades whose time has expired start home to-day. While the rest of the boys bid them good-bye we are satisfied that before long some of us will follow them. The work of
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drilling the recruits in squads goes gaily on. Details are at work policing camp and other needed duties. Passes are granted the boys to visit the city when off duty, so that the time is occupied. To-day the Q. M. draws us some clothing, of which we are very much in need. Our camp is in fine condition.
Tuesday, 28th. Pleasant. Usual routine of duty, and also an order to prepare for division inspection to-morrow at 10 a. m.
Wednesday, March 29th. Clear. At 9 a. m. we are un- der arms and march out to the inspection grounds. The divis- ion passes in review before Gen. Corse, our commander. We march in columns by companies right in front. The division headed by the pioneer corps is followed by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd brigades. « Commenced raining in the afternoon, which made the camp inspection a duty as disagreeable as it was muddy.
Thursday, March 30th. Cloudy and cool. We received a heavy mail. Reports from the inspection of yesterday pro- nounce our camp to be the best in the division. (That means that it pays to be a little more than particular, boys.)
Friday, March 31st. Clear to-day. Fixing up camp and putting things in good order. Several commissions re- ceived for promotion in our regiment.
Saturday, April 1st. All fools day. We have dress par- ade for the first time since leaving Sister's Ferry, near Savan- nah, Ga., January 27th.
Sunday, April 2nd. Pleasant. Sunday morning inspec- tion by companies, Col. Hanna, the inspecting officer. The sol- diers making the best soldierly appearance are to be compli- mented in General Orders.
April 3rd. Clear. Col. Hulburt commanding 3rd brig- ade having received a leave of absence, Col. Hanna assumes command of the brigado and Capt. J. W. Rickart of the regi- ment, and at dress parade the following order was read :
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5
MAJOR HORACE L. BURNHAM.
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
HEADQUARTERS 50TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, Goldsborough, N. C., April 2nd, 1865.
Special Order No. 12.
The commanding officer of the 50th Illinois Infantry tenders his thanks to the following named enlisted men of said regiment for their neat and soldierly appearance, and the fine condition of their arms and accoutrements at vaispection this a. m.
John Clark, Company A C. C. Krabiel, Company F.
James H. Fowler, Company B. John M. Morgan, Company F.
Enoch Smith Company C.
Thos. B. Stewart, Company F.
Jaas. Kelly, Company C. . Corporal W. R. Knock, Company G.
1 .. S. Foster, Company D.
Joseph Graham, Company G.
James Metts, Company D.
J. S. Lawson, Company G.
Corporal Geo. H. Baine, Company D. Alfred Burnett, Company H.
Ebenezer Foreman, Company E.
William Groom, Company E.
Thomas Aforce, Company E.
Sergeant A. J. Thompson, Company I. Edwin W. Beatty, Company I.
The above soldiers are hereby excused from all duty, excepting dress par- ade, for seven days.
WILLIAM HANNA, Lieut. Col. 50th Ills., Commanding Reg't.
April 4th. Pleasant. Licut. M. B. Converse, who resign- "das Adjutant of the regiment in 1864, returned to-day as Q. M. Our wagons and all surplus teams are turned over to the :Brd corps, under General Schofield, one wagon to each regi- ment being reserved. Of course Blie Buck and his sorrels are retained. Dress parade; also great expectations of moving out to-morrow. An amusing incident occurred about this time illustrative of the tone of morals existing in the regiment.
One morning Lieut. William R. Keyte, recently muster- ed as Ist Lieutenant of company E, got up minus his pants and boots. Soon a private, one of the conscripts recently arrived, was observed walking, with a nonchalant air, down a company street, dressed in a pair of officer's pants, and new boots. Hav- ing been brought before his company officer, he was requested to tell where he got the articles, which, after proper question- ing, he did, stating, however, that he was of the opinion, from what he had learned of the soldiers, that unless a soldier could steal, he did not amount to much, and that it was necessary for (24)
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a new-comer to demonstrate his ability in this line in order to establish his reputation. He said this so innocently that be- yond being placed on extra duty, nothing more was done.
Wednesday, April 5th. Pleasant. A review of the di- vision is ordered for to-morrow. The 2nd division of the 20th A. C., on review to-day. Capt. Rickart is ordered to drill his regiment one hour this afternoon.
Thursday, April 6th. This is the anniversary of Shiloh. The regiment in line at 8 a. m. and marches out one and a half miles on the Kinston R. R., where was had a brigade re- view by Col. Hanna, and division drill, (in review) by General Corse. On coming into camp, we heard the news that "Rich- mond had fallen, with 25,000 prisoners and 500 guns." The news was gladly received.
On the 7th of April we were in line at 9 a. m. and march- ed out to the review field, where we were reviewed by Generals Logan and Corse, returning at 1 p. m.
Saturday, April 8th. Pleasant. The Quartermaster has been drawing a great deal of clothing, preparatory to the com- ing campaign. A detachment of recruits received to-day from Hilton Head, S. C. Some being assigned to company D.
Sunday, 9th. While holding regular Sunday morning inspection, orders received to be ready to move to-morrow at 9 a. m. We have preaching in camp by Chaplain Bigger. The wayfaring of camp life, such as we have had during the past six months, knits close together the members of any organization. and so it is with the Fiftieth. The older we grow, the closer the bonds of comradeship, regardless of rank, so the spirit of true manhood prevails,
As our recruits were an important adjunct to our organi- zation, it is well to insert here the adventures that some of them had in the service of their country, particularly in trying to reach the organization to which they had been assigned. The experience of Private C. W. Sturtevant of D, who was one of the arrivals on the Sth, which is a counterpart of what many others endured in seeking their regiment. With few alterations given as related by him as follows:
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
"I enlisted in the above company and regiment, March Ist. 1865, therefore rank as a recruit. Now I want to say a word in behalf of the recruits. I find as we grow older, that there seems to be a tendency of some of the old vets. to lock on us as rather inferior. Now I, speaking of myself, don't want to retract one iota of the glory due the old boys, but it must be borne in mind, that had there been no recruits, that the ranks of some of our veteran regiments would hardly have made a shad- ow in 1865. Although a recruit to the Fiftieth Illinois, that was not my first service; having enlisted in company F, 118 III. in 1862, when that regiment was organized, being at that time in my sixteenth year. I was discharged from the 118th at Holmes' plantation, La., in 1863, broken down with chronic diarrhea and it was nearly a year before I regained my health. So you see, it would have been hardly probable that I could have went with the veteran Fiftieth in 1861. My experience with the veteran Fiftieth was not quiet by any means, although after I reached the regiment at Goldsborough, the regiment had no fighting, but that wasn't my fault. I have the Irish- man's consolation : "Bedads I killed as many of the enemy as they did of me." I suppose all will be written concerning moves, scouts, fights and foraging that well can be, by the old boys, but I doubt if there are any that traveled over more of Uncle Sam's territory in four and one-half months than I did; enlisting on the 1st of March, 1865, at Quincy, Ill., going from there to the general rendezvous, Camp Butler, to await orders and transportation, we were freighted by rail to Indianapolis, thence to Louisville, from there to the old Zolli- coffer House, at Nashville, Tenn., and while there some one tried to cremate a few thousand of us by fireing the building in several places, but no serious damage was done. Of course we were safe, being in the fifth story. I think we only stayed at that hotel one night, and, as there was no communication with Sherman's army through the south, they sent us to New York City. Our route was back by Louisville, Indianapolis, Pittsburg, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, to Battery Barracks, N. Y., where we were assorted and Sherman's men were put on Bed-
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loe's Island for safe keeping. We stayed there about one week when we were taken on board a transport and started down the coast, our destination being Hilton Head, S. C. This being the first sea voyage for many of us, we had an enjoyable time. I soon picked up a partner, and as the officers had the cabin, and we did not like the hold for quarters, we located on the cabin deck, just back of the wheel-house, there being less motion there than forward or aft. Everything went well the first day and night; on the second night it was rough, the space between the bulwarks and cabin was about four feet and when it came time to turn in we spread our blankets in the space and went to sleep. Along sometime in the night we woke up soon, with a big S. A wave had pitched about forty barrels of water into the space, we were lying in, and it started for the grating, near the wheel for an outlet, and took us along with it. I tell you that for once we got up without being told the second time, from then till morning we sat around and tried to squeeze our- selves dry. When morning came it was quite pleasant, and as some of the sailors were washing down the decks from a force- pump at the stern, we took hold of the levers to help, for a lit- tle exercise. We got it! The stern of that old transport was raising and falling about thirty feet at a dip as we crossed the waves; the pump levers raised and fell about three feet, and in about three minutes we commenced to raise, and we kept it up, I think that I threw up everything I ever ate and lots more, for the next three days my entire occupation was throwing up, or at least trying to. We had a very rough passage, and I was so empty that I am certain if I had fallen overboard and kept my mouth shut, I would have floated like an empty bottle. About the fourth day we passed the burning hull of a vessel that, we learned afterwards, had been loaded with troops on their way home. We finally landed at Hilton Head, S. C., and took what they told us was a ninety mile tramp, to Goldsboro, where we found the "Blind Half." I got there on Saturday, the boys said they had been waiting for me. So they had Sunday morn- ing inspection and on Monday we started out to catch John- son's army. As you are all aware we did catch it finally at Raleigh, but I was not as tall as I was when I enlisted, at least I did not feel as tall."
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CHAPTER XXI.
Again on the March -- "Lee has Surrendered" --- Passing through Raleigh-Sad News from Washington -Surrender of Johnson-Off for Home -- Arrival at Petersburg. Va .- Richmond-The Foot Race-The Grand Review- Steamboat Race-Louisville, Ky .- The Prize Drill.
M ONDAY, April 10th, 1865. Cloudy. Ready at 9 a. m. and at 12 m. we start; our brigade as rear guard. March- ing two miles out on the Pikeville road, the 57th are detached and ordered back as rear guard to the 1st division Company E is detailed as rear guard of the brigade. The roads continue to be very muddy, detaining us very much. At dark we had marched but five miles, after that time we marched four miles and went into camp at Pikeville, at 2: 10 a. m. of the 11th very tired and hungry. It was indeed a very hard days march, and many of the boys gave out by the way, and bivouacked by the roadside. Ordered to move at 7 a. m.
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