USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
Gen. Buell in his "Shiloh Reviewed," says that the 1st -brigade of Nelson's division formed the extreme left of our line during the enemy's assault that evening, but I am certain this is a mistake, as there were no soldiers to the left of Stone's battery, except the Fiftieth, and a small detachment of men in Zouave uniforms, who took position on our left just as the fight began.
The regiment retained this position, south of Pittsburg Landing road, until near morning. The rain, which came down in torrents, together with the noise of the shells which the gun- boats fired up Dill's ravine at intervals of every fifteen minutes, rendered it impossible to secure either sleep or rest. Buell's troops having finally taken position in our front, thus relieving the regiment from immediate duty, it was marched back to camp reaching there about 3 o'clock in the morning. After remain- ing in their tents for several hours, drying clothes and getting a little rest and hot coffee, the men were again ordered to fall in, and marched back to the Pittsburg Landing road, and were placed in position with the right resting on the Corinth road. While the regiment was standing here waiting for orders, and Buell's troops in our front were driving the rebels before them, a sudden and unaccountable panic arose in our front. Soldiers on foot, officers on horseback, six mule army wagons, ambulan- ces filled with wounded, all in a confused mass, came rushing down the road towards the landing. Capt. Gaines realizing the gravity of the situation, moved the regiment a little to the right. so as to reach across the road, had the men fix bayonets and
-
MAP OF THE
TTLE-FIELD OF SHILOH, FROM SURVEYS MADE FOR
THE SHILOH PANORAMA CO., CHICAGO,
Corps of Surveyors under the direction of A. T. Andreas, April, 1884.
Hos
LEGEND
Lines at 7.30 A. M.
+
Cott
Battle commenced here at 5.14 A.M
MILES 2
AAAAAAA Regimental Camps.
Out
Field
Se
Cr
Low /Wallace arriving gt Sundoxos
- Field
Field
Roa
Fiel 1
PEEUDUrg
E .
Field
Caranual
Fiel!
DIVISION
A
2-Spring
" J. Arthur's Brigade Cump
Spring
Spring
Fieis
1
Field
Camp Sweeney's Baig
BRIGADE
Camp Tutte's Brizade
Field
Fiel 1
Fleil
1
Cretkl
Field
Bottom
Oli Log Hoise.
int .
Field
Nelou's Avelon arriving
6.30 P.M.
RIVER
lvell's anny arriving
Benedict & Co., Engr's Chicago.
CCLERNAROSSHERMAN'S
Hamburg
Field
Bark Road
Field
JHIGADE
A SOIMILLS
١
Field
Gen. W. H. L. Wallace
DIVISION
DIVISION
1
fortued at 3.30o'clock P.M . April oth.
,, Noon.
" Sundown,
Bark Do.
.
Land
MAP OF THE
BATTLE-FIELD OF SHILOH,
FROM SURVEYS MADE FOR
Field
THE SHILOH PANORAMA CO., CHICAGO,
ham
Fiel!
Field
By a Corps of Surveyors under the direction of A. T. Andreas,
Field
Hospital
Fiel1
Field
Cr
April, IS8.1.
MILES 21/2
Field
LEGEND
Ford
Gen. Mc Dowell
Debt
" Noon.
Battle duLimentet here
Field
===
AAAAAAA Regimental Camps.
Pittsburg
Landung
5
Corinth
BUCKLAND'S
Spring
MILES 2
Mark Boal
5tinh Chuma
Field
V
Sca Fiel!
Field
Waterhouse's Bitter
· Old Sowell Hollie
R.a Full A Applet's Camu
ORIGADE
e Camp
Field
1 1/2.
"Gei
T's
Field
Munch's Battery
Fiel 1
Oglesby's Brigado
Rerice
Misch's Battery
Field
trente
A
HERMAN
Hamburg
Fiel
A
E-Spring
Harry'sNest
Spring
FielJ
Field
Lerret's
dic'.
Coolp
Field
Gen. Burthat's
Fici
'T WEETS
Liading
11,f
Field
Fiel 1
Freid
1/11
Cicer
Timbered
tirote
Field
Bottoma
Land
Field Headquarters"
somits.
50.
Field
at 6 3%) P.M.
10
-
RIVER
Fleli
Field .
Orceli
Field
Duell's army arriving
Lich
Benedict & Co., Engr's Chicago,
-
----------
Prenses Phidon
Field
Gen. M . Arthur's Headquarters 1
Mintbur's Brigade Camp
Field
Qcaural Wallace \ MILE
Camp Ord low-1 1 A 1
,01
Manu's Battery SE
-
VYVY
Camp
Corials
NOISIAIO
Stuarts' Brig ele Camp
MACARTHUR'
BPICADE
STLANTE
BRIGADE
Tr
TENNESSEE-
MILES
Road
41 .1
1.
Field
Pittbur;
NOISIATO' . SSIINOYJ
Low/W'allace arrivi
SONVUNBOTH
Baitlo at d I. V. --
C'otti n Gia
+
VWV
" Sundown.
Howell Farm
MILES 3
Lines at 7.30 A. M.
MILES 312
DIVISION
Field
spring
Field
I: UAIGADE
95
FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
"tand at a charge, and permitted no one but the wounded and those attending them to pass through. This action effectually checked the stampede, and Gen. Grant, who it seems had been a witness of the entire affair, at once rode up and complimented Capt. Gaines for his good judgment and prompt action.
Soon after this the regiment was moved forward some distance, and after remaining near Dill's ravine for some time without the least attention being paid to it, Capt. Gaines direc- ted me, I having been detailed as Acting Adjutant, to try and find some general officer who would instruct us what to do. I rode back to the road leading to the landing and happened to meet General Grant on his way to the river. I reported the regiment to him, and he said to follow up and keep in support- ing distance of Gen. Buell's troops. They were a mile or so in avance of us by this time and evidently not needing support, and although I delivered the instructions we did not attempt to carry them out, but after waiting an hour or so longer, and the battle getting farther and farther away from us, we returned to our camp.
That evening with several other officers, I rode to our battle ground of the day previous, and about one hundred feet to the left and rear of the position that had been occupied by company C, we found the body of Sergeant Major Hughes. He was a large, fine looking young man, and had he lived through the battle, would without doubt, have been commissioned as Adjutant of the regiment, and filled the position with credit to himself and honor to the command.
When Colonel Swarthout and Sergeant Major Hughes reached the bottom of the ravine, the Colonel called Hughes' attention to the enemy's flag, which could be seen on the hill above. Just then a number of the enemy rose about fifty steps in their front, and told them to come on and they would not be hurt, but threatened to kill them if they tried to escape. Hughes paid no attention to their threats, but putting spurs to his horse, tried to return to our lines, but was fired on and killed. Col. Swarthout being on foot, drew his revolver and taking a position behind a tree attempted to defend himself, but while he was
4
1
96
HISTORY OF THE
exchanging shots with some soldiers on one side, he exposed himself on the other, and received a bullet in his right thigh. The Colonel then surrendered and was taken to the confederate field hospital, where he was left with nothing under him but Mother Earth, and nothing over him but the canopy of Heaven. He lay without care or food all that day, during the terrible rain storm that night, and until the next afternoon, about 5 p. m., when he was found by James Yost of an Ohio regiment, and taken with a number of confederate wounded, to Gen. Nelson's division, where he remained all night. Two of company G's Boys happened along that way during the evening, and he sent word by them to Surgeon Kendall, as to his condition and loca- tion. The next morning a regimental ambulance came and conveyed him to our camp.
On Wednesday Col. Bane, Lieut. Col. Swarthout and other wounded officers and soldiers, were placed on board the steamer Black Hawk, and were soon on their way to the north, to receive that care and nursing which it was impossible to give them at the front. Our losses were as follows :
Killed, -
- 13
Wounded and died from effects of same - 10
Wounded and recovered, - 43
Captured, 5
Total, -
- 71
As far as official records are concerned, there is but little to show that we had any part in this great battle. I am sure, however, that our operations, while crude in comparison with what we were capable of accomplishing a few months later, were quite equal to the work done by many regiments that received great praise for their fighting on this occasion, and I trust this « article, though it does not include many who were slightly wounded, wilf convey to the reader a correct idea of the bravery and fortitude displayed by the officers and men of the Fiftieth during this memorable battle.
The first day at Shiloh was a battle of men. not Generals. and the soldiers of the Fiftieth were as brave and intelligent as
97
FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
any there, and notwithstanding the disaster of the morning, the regiment retained its organization and discipline throughout the balance of the day, and at the time of the enemy's last charge, stood in line determined not only to hold its position, but anxious to press forward to victory.
Yours truly,
Chicago, Oct. 1st, 1803. 4 THEO. W. LETTON.
The following is believed a correct list, so far as obtain- able, of the killed and wounded :
FIELD AND STAFF.
M. M. Bane, Colonel ; wounded in right side; right arm ampu- tated.
Wm. Swarthout, Lieutenant Colonel; wounded in right leg.
Adam M. Hughes, Sergeant Major; killed.
COMPANY A.
Henry C. Cecil, private; wounded.
Francis Donahoe, private; wounded in ankle and died at Sa-
vannah, April 29, 1862.
Jacob Fisher, private; wounded in breast, died May 27. .
Christian Fausell, sergeant ; wounded right arm.
Peter I. Haiston, private; wounded in leg.
Bernard O'Donnelly, private; wounded in spine, died April 12. James Richardson, private; killed.
John Wilcox, private; wounded in spine, died as boat reached Quincy, April 24.
COMPANY B.
C. S. Anderson, private ; captured and escaped.
J. F. Carter, corporal ; wounded.
William Huddleston, private; wounded, taken prisoner and es- caped.
Preston Lathrop, private; wounded, left shoulder.
David Laughlin, private; wounded in left hand.
G. D. Milby, corporal ; wounded and died at Clayton, June 5.
Alexander J. Scott, corporal ; killed.
Lewis C. Slater, private; wounded in ankle.
Win. Thompson, private ; wounded.
E. O. Yeldell, corporal ; wounded in lett hand.
98
HISTORY OF THE
COMPANY C.
W. W. Burnbam, private ; wounded.
Charles Beard, private; killed.
Edward Jones, private ; captured.
M. L. Milledge, private ; wounded in left thigh, prisoner and pa- rolled.
E. D. Roe, private ; wounded.
James H. Stanfield, corporal ; killed.
\V. F. Taylor, private; killed.
COMPANY D.
Isaac J. Allen, private ; wounded left arm.
N. W. Allen, private ; wounded left arm.
G. W. Butler, private; buckshot in knee.
Robert Colwell, private; wounded five places, lay on the field until Tuesday ; died April 14, on steamer.
Reuben Grigsby, private; killed. shot twelve times.
John H. Gallaher. private; captured.
T. T. Hall, private; wounded left shoulder.
W. K. Haselwood, lieutenant ; wounded right arm.
Wm. Larrimore, private; wounded five places, breast, shoulder and leg ; lay on field until Tuesday ; died April 14.
J. M. Reed; private; wounded in breast.
George W. Stauffer, private; wounded in face, neck and thumb. Alexander Waller, private; killed. shot eight times.
COMPANY E.
George W. Acklam, private; captured.
Howard W. Cletter, pivate; killed.
M. B. Gleason, private ; wounded in knee and shoulder.
James A. Leshbaugh, private; wounded in wrist.
Jacob Long, corporal; killed.
John Sims, private ; captured.
W. D. Turner, private; wounded over left eye, ball lodged in skull.
Samuel F. Thomas, private; received five balls, and lay on the field until Tuesday, the 8th, when he died.
COMPANY F.
Thomas Deleplain, private; wounded in breast.
H. Hockenmock, private; wounded in head.
Henry Mensendike, private; wounded in forehead. ·
John Lancaster. private ; wounded in left lung. COMPANY G.
William E. Coquillette, private; received five balls and lay on the field until Tuesday the Sth, when he died.
99
FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
COMPANY H.
J. P. Amonett, private ; lost right arm, also wounded in calf and thigh of left leg. index finger of right hand and finger of left hand.
John Abbott, private ; wounded.
Samuel Chapman, private; wounded.
Jessie Gibson, private ; wounded.
Gale Martin, corporal : wounded.
John McDaniel, private; wounded.
W. J. Queen, private ; wounded.
R. R. Randall, private ; wounded. &COMPANY I.
Francis M. Bogg, private; killed.
Edwin M. Beatley, private; wounded.
John M. Sterritt, private; wounded and died April 25, 1862.
Thomas G. Stewart, sergeant; killed.
COMPANY K.
J. J. Childers, private : wounded and died July 19, 1862. Silas Ebersole, private ; wounded left ankle.
Patrick Hogan, private; missing. supposed to have been killed.
Samuel Hale, private ; wounded in thigh.
Merritt MeDonald. private ; wounded and taken prisoner.
Sylvester Waldruff, private ; wounded in head.
RECAPITULATION :
Billed. Died of Was. Wemadea,
Captured. Total. 3
Captured and Recovered,
Field & Staff Company A
1
2
1
1
1
8
..
B
1
1
1
10
3
C
3
3
1.
7
1
D
2
2
7
1
12
2
E
2
1
3
2
8
1
F
4
4 1
·1
H
S
8
I
1
1
4
66
K
1
5
6
1.
-
-
-
Totals,
13
10
43
5
71
9
6:
G
1
Col. Swarthout, Wm. Huddleston, company B, and M. L. Milledge, company C, were wounded, captured and then retaken. Quite a number more received wounds of which we have for- gotten.
100
HISTORY OF THE
E. D. Roe of company C, writes, "If the history of the regiment fails to show that instead of losing courage by the reverses of the day the regiment gained in courageous purpose to hold its place in line, then it will not correctly record the , fact. The truth is that when the "Blind Half" formed its last line on Sunday evening it was in better fighting humor than at any time during the day. It was worth several years of com- mon life to feel as we did then. I cannot explain my feelings, only I know that we all felt alike. I recall some of my com- rades. O. C. Hartshorn was right on my left ; he was but a boy, and I was surprised when he enlisted that he was accepted. Well I was satisfied that day that his acceptance was no mis- take. I remember Rube Gunn, "Thad." Hinckley, Ed. Tyler, and Lieut. Burnham, they were there for sure. There were sev- eral who by reason of sickness, could have remained in hospital camp, secure from danger, but they would none of it. Charles Bean, James HI. Stanfield, Adam M. Hughes and Wm. F. Taylor of company C, lay dead upon the field, but the thought of their sacrifice infused each one of their comrades with a fresh deter- mination to avenge their death. Will W. Burnham and Mort. Milledge were among the wounded. I wish I could recall all, for their names ought to remain, for all time to come, imper- ishable. Of one thing I have ever felt sure. If Buell had not reached us, we would have held the field, and in the end won the victory. Our lines, as astablished, could never have been broken."
Without the following, written by Lieut. Silas Ebersole of company K, this chapter would be lacking in some of its most interesting incidents. In a memorandum entitled "My recollections of the first day's battle of Shiloh." he says :
"We were in camp one half mile to the right of the Purdy or Corinth road, near Snake creek, and about one-and-a-half miles from the Tennessee river. Early on the morning of Sun- day, April 6th, 1862, we aroso as usual, the sky was clear and beautiful, the sun arose in all her splendor, the birds were sing- ing their sweet merry songs, the trees were putting on their beautiful coats of green, and everything indicated a bright and
101
FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
happy day. Breakfast over, the boys were out jumping, run- ning foot races, wrestling and having a good time generally ; when hark ! boom, boom, boom; what does that mean? Oh, its only our artillery out practicing, said some one. This remark seemed to be satisfactory for a time: we went to work cleaning up our guns and camp ground, ready for Sunday morning in- spection as usual, thinking everything was all right. But hark ! the cannon's boom is not hushed; listen, we hear the low dull roar of musketry. A battle is at hand and in full blast; there can be no doubt of this? Sce, there comes an orderly at full speed, his horse in a foam of sweat, he rides hastily to the Colonel's headquarters, hands him a slip of paper and after a moment's pause, rides away as rapidly as he came. All earsare now alert, and deathly stillness prevails over the entire camp. "Sound the long roll." "Fall in double quick," comes loud and clear the commands from the Colonel's lips. All is bustle and hurry for a few minutes, and then we form in line in front of the Colonel's quarters. "Right face, quick time, forward, march." We obey and march off in a southeasterly direction to the Purdy road; here we meet a jam of infantry. artillery, cavalry, ammunition wagons and ambulances in a conglomerate mass, all trying to go somewhere. but no one seemed to know where; we, however, marched along the side of the road south- ward toward the field of carnage and death, meeting many am- bulances loaded with the wounded and dying. Nearer and nearer comes the cannon's roar, nearer and nearer the musket's roll and rattle, until it seems that we must be marching into the enemy's ranks, when we are turned abruptly to the left, down a narrow ridge heavily timbered, down which we march to a point near the river. Here we are formed in line of battle, the skirmishers are ordered out to a position about one hund- red and fifty yards in advance of the main line, here awaited the onslaught which we knew must soon come.
It is about this time that Col. Bane is wounded, his right arm is shattered near the shoulder and the same ball goes crashing into his side. The enemy is moving in strong force to our attack. We have lost Bane, and now Swarthout, our Lieut.
102
HISTORY OF THE
Colonel, goes down, and the gallant Hughes, Sergeant Major and Acting Adjutant, lies dead upon the field. But there is no time to lament for the enemy is right on us, pouring volley after volley into our lines. We return the fire with deadly effect but are forced back inch by inch, leaving our dead and wounded upon the field. Every foot of ground is closely and stubbornly contested. Here it was that several of my company boys were killed and wounded." Continuing Lieut. Ebersole says: "I was wounded about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th and was taken to the landing, where I was placed on board a steam boat and taken to Savannah, ten miles below Pittsburg Land- ing, but finding no room in the hospitals there, I returned to the battle-field determined to try and find my regiment, but failing in this I returned to the landing. Here I saw a large number of dead and wounded men, and every minute was add -. ing to their number; many more were sufferers from want of proper care and attention, and to add still more to their suffer- ing that night, it rained hard. Without shelter and without blankets or anything to ward off the rain, these poor wounded men suffered beyond description : many prayed for death to take them out of their misery, while others, sorely wounded, tried to make cheerfulness take the place of suffering by sing- ing or whistling patriotic songs, or telling laughable stories; still others were trying to make their poor suffering comrades comfortable by spreading their own coats over them, or giving them their last piece of blanket. All this and more could truthfully be said, but I must close as this article is perhaps already too long."
An interesting sketch is furnished by S. E. Hewes, in which is given the story of the death of Acting Adjutant Hughes and the serious wounding and capture of Lieut. Col. Swarthout. He writes :
"Sunday morning April 6th, 1862, the regiment was or- dered into line and proceeded in a southwesterly direction un- til it reached one of the hills near where the battle was raging, when it took a position on the crest of the hill. About 9o'clock troops were seen moving on the brow of the hill in front. The
103
FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
Fiftieth got ready for an attack, when Sergeant Major Hughes said: "Don't fire on them; don't you see they are carrying our flag." The enemy had some of our flags they had just cap- tured which the Sergeant Major saw. Col. Bane requested Col. Swarthout, who was dismounted at the time, to walk towards the troops in front and see whether they were our men or the enemy. Capt. Gaines suggested that the Sergeant Major, who was on the Adjutant's horse, should go with him. They pro- ceeded down the hill, crossed the little ravine when, looking up they saw the rebel flag. The Colonel said to the Adjutant, "They are rebels; see their flag." There were a number of muskets pointed at them and they were ordered to surrender. with the promise they should not be hurt, but if they ran they would shoot them. The Sergeant Major turned his horse and put spurs to him to escape and as he was leaning over his horse to dodge some brush overhead, a bullet went through his body killing him instantly. His horse came dashing back and swept around to where Col. Bane was sitting on his horse, and fell dead at his side. In the meantime Col. Swarthout drew his re- volver and began retreating, firing as he went, and trying to get some protection from the trees. He had just fired his last shot when a bullet struck him in the leg, bringing him to the ground when he was captured by the rebels and taken to their field hospital. All the attention he received from the rebel surgeons wasa teaspoonful of alcohol given him by one of them. He lay there without shelter through that day and all of the night while the rain was falling, receiving no other care, and no food being offered him until the enemy having been driven from the field, he was found by two men of company G, who were look- ing for some missing comrades. He told the men to go for Dr. Kendall as quickly as possible. Soon Surgeon Kendall and Chaplain Bigger arrived, when he was immediately conveyed to the regimental hospital, where he was properly cared for.
"When Sergeant Major Hughes' body was found the next day, a paper was pinned to his clothing reading "This is Dr. Hughes, late of Texas." The Doctor had been in the south just previous to the breaking out of the war, and had incurred the
.
104
HISTORY OF THE
enmity of the southerners by his outspoken words against sla- very. He was rabbed of his horse and buggy, his books were burned and he was given notice to leave immediately. He was denounced as an abolitionist by them. Many of the Fiftieth will remember that while in Missouri, Dr. Hughes was always ready for a scout or anything that promised a chance to meet the rebels."
When Lieut. Col. Swarthout was struck he sank down behind a tree. His life was undoubtedly saved by the Chaplain of an Alabama regiment who ordered the skirmishers not to fire on the wounded officer, saying, "he is too brave a man to kill, let me wing him." Whereupon the Chaplain had him convey- ed to a hospital tent in the camp of the enemy where he gave directions for his comfort. The Colonel asked his captors who was in command of the regiment when it fell back, and was told by a "tall, bald-headed man with a red sash." By this he knew Captain Gaines of company D was in command and that Col. Bane was wounded. Shortly after Col. S. had reached the hospital the Chaplain, who had returned to the front, was brought back dead. having been shot in the forehead.
Recalling the steed Hannibal, presented to Col. Swarth- out by the loyal citizens of Hannibal, Mo., it is worthy of men- tion that he was severely wounded early in the battle, but was safely led from the field and, after some weeks of care, was as good as ever.
CHAPTER IX.
From Shiloh to Corinth -Grant and his Detractors -Arrival of Pope-Camp at Monterey-How the Fiftieth outflanked the Seventh-A Southern Neck- lace-"Gen. Danes"-Closing the line on Corinth-The Evacuation, Re- treat and Pursuit-Return to Corinth-Organizatiou of Camp-Loyalty versus Treason-The Chaplain's Visit Home-His Success-Lavish Sup- ply of Vegetables and Fruits-The Prayer Meetings -- Reflections.
T' 7 "HE period from the close of the battle of Shiloh, on the evening of April 7th, to the 1st of May was occupied with clearing the battle-field, burying the dead from both ar- inies, caring for and removing the wounded, and reorganizing and reinforcing the armies of Grant and Buell. Gen. Halleck immediately after the battle broke up his headquarters at St. Louis and assumed the immediate command of the army in the field. He came with much noise and parade, and brought with him the assurance that, at the earliest possible moment, the rebels under Beauregard would be met and annihilated. But days passed into weeks and no forward movement was initiated. Grant was virtually in disgrace, the victim of Halleck's jeal- ousy and as well of the venal and libellous assaults of a class of newspaper correspondents, whoso employment was evidently. based upon their ability to misinterpret and misrepresent. It was charged, and by many thousands believed, that he was not on the field on Sunday, but ten miles below drunk on a boat.'
(7)
1
106
HISTORY OF THE
And so the glory which had come to him at Donelson faded . away, under the blighting touch of envy and detraction. With a fortitude to a degree marvelous when considered in the light of subsequent events, Grant accepted the situation. Obeying the call of duty; sinking consideration of self in the general good. Guided by the thought that time, the great solvent. would correct the false and make bright the truth, he abided by unjust decrees and awaited the vindication which, in his very soul, he knew full well would come.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.