USA > Illinois > History of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, Illinois volunteer Infantry, Vol. I > Part 12
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Thus the cool morning hours were idled away, and the command compelled to make its march in the heat of the day. Whether for the purpose of deceiving the enemy or because the guide made a mistake in the road is not quite certair, but the colmnu was led out of its way several miles. The weather was sulfry, and the roads extremely minddy, so that the march was one of great severity, and many were the stranglers from the ranks as the day wore on. As already stated. the men had previously packed up and sent away all of the clothing that they deemed superfluous. Long before noon, however, many of them concluded that they still had clothing to spare, and as the column halted for a brief rest knapsacks were thrown open. and om came extra shirts, letters, books and many other articles, to lighten the Heavy loads. A few had undertaken to carry two blankets, but it is doubtful if there was a man in the Regiment who had more than one when he reached camp at night, while many had thrown away the only
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, TIL. V. I.
woolen blanket with which they started. The distance tra. eled was nogrly twenty miles, and the final heilt made only a short distance from Triune at about five o'clock in the after- noon. One of the other Brigades, which started about the same time as the Second Brigade, and took the dircet road, reached Triune at noon, having traveled but about twelve miles. The country passed was rather pleasant, the trees being in full leaf, the crops thriving and the occasional fields of wheat nicely headed out. All day there was some firing in the rear, and it afterward transpired that the enemy had made a reconnaissance of the position upon the moving out of Gen. Granger's command. for the evident purpose of ascertaining how large a force was left at Franklin.
On the third all was quiet, the men taking a much needed rest, and discussing the rumor which spread through camp to the effect that the command was to move to the front the fol- lowing day. The commonly accepted theory was that Gen. Bragg, commanding the chemy in their immediate front, had been weakening his army for the purpose of refuforcing Gen. Pemberton, then at Vicksburg, and that Gen. Rosecrans was about to assume the offensive.
Ilere there was a partial reorganization of the Corps, the Brigade of which the NINETY-SIXTH was a part becoming the First Briga.le of the First Division of the Reserve Corps, but still retaining the same Commander -.
There was a large foree at Trinne, but just how large few except the commander knew arkil Thanday, June 1, when there having been a critical inspection of cartridge boxes and knapsacks in the forenoon, the entire command was called out for a grand review. by Gen. Granger, in the afternoon. In this review, between twenty and thirty Regiments of infantry and a half dozen or more batteries of artillery participated. It was much the largest and most imposing review in which the Regiment bad taken part, but quite as tedious as it was interesting.
The same afternoon the Rebels made a very vigorous reconnoissance in the neighborhood of Franklin, attacking time force there with the evident intention of capturing Fort
1
,
JOSEPH L. PIERCE. CAPTAIN, COMPANY H.
HOLAGOL
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A Fno. NEar CAM .
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Granger and giving the army serious trouble on its right. The cavalry at Trinne was hurried of across the country in the direction of the heavy firing, but their services were not needed, as the force at Franklin proved sufficient to hold the place and severely punish their unwelcome visitors. The firing continued into the night and was renewed next morn- ing. being kept up until nearly noon, when the enemy retired.
Friday, June b, the Regiment moved a short distance and went into camp in a field on the left of the Shelbyville pike. The spot chosen was very pleasant. with an abundance of good water in the near vicinity. It seemed as if there was a fatality hanging over the Regiment, for here, as on most previous occasions, the changing of the camp ground war attended by a severe rain storm, which prevailed a greater part of the night following.
Saturday, June 6. battalion drill was resumed, and every- thing indicated that the command would remain in camp for some time. Rifle pits were thrown up in the neighborhood. and a force of cavalry was sent out to recommbiter the front. In the evening a large barn connected with the beautiful rest dence in front of the camp, and which was the property of a noted secessionist, was discovered to be on fire. The house near by was said to have cost 850.000, and the barn corre sponded well with the residence. There was no fire apparatus handy, and, strange as it may seem, the mon, knowing the character of the owner of the property, manifested but little sorrow while the fames were lighting up the camp. Whether true or not. it was believed at the time that a few nights befor . the owner of this property had shot and killed a Union picket on duty in the garden adjoining the buildings. The day the army moved forward the residence was destroyed by fire.
Sunday, June 7. there was more or less skirmishing on the part of the cavalry a short distance in the front, but no infantry firing. There were some very nice gardens in the neighbor- hood of the little village of Triums, and some of the soldiers discovered that new potatoes were large enough to cook. Un- fortunately, however, there were not enough to go around.
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and those who could not secure new potatoes had to content themselves with digging up and cooking some seed potatoe- that had just been planted and had not yet sprouted.
Monday was passed quietly with the usual drill. Tuesday. June 9, just as the Regiment was preparing for battalion drill, there was a sound of skirmishing in the front, and order- were given to remain in camp, prepared to move at a moment's notice. There was no serious fighting. however, and that afternoon and the next day all was qniet.
Thursday, June 11, Maj. Temill began the work of paying off the Regiment. Companies A and B had already received their money, and Captain Pollock, of Company C. had called his men in line and had just got his pay, but before any of his men had been called to the Paymaster's rable brisk skir- mishing again began, and the Regiment was ordered into line. Musketry firing was quite brisk, and distant only about half a mile. The Paymaster left rather abruptly, and the Regiment fell in almost instantly. Company A being sent to the front als skirmishers. The line had but just been formed when shells from the enemy's batteries came whistling overhead. The men were directed to strike tents, and their knapsacks were sent to the rear of a line of breastworks a short distance from cap. A section of Miller's Chicago Battery took posi- tion at the front and right of the Reghaent, on a little emi- Hence just in the edge of a grove. There was an open field about a quarter of a mile wide at the front, on the opposite side of which was another stretch of fin.ber. The Rebels planted two guns on the pike, just at the edge of this timber. and a brisk artillery duel began. The first shots from the front seemed to be directed at Col. Atkins and staff, who were in plain view upon their horses. The Brigade commander and his escort very wisely retired a short distance, where they could not be so distinctly seen. The Third Brigade of the First Division occupied a position just to the right of the pike. A rebel shell passed over the tent of the regimental sutler. Mr. E: II. Mason, so frightening the clerks in charge that they left for safer quarters, whereupon some of the sol- diers concluded to invoice the goods. Mr. Mason was absent
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Ti. SKIRMISH AT THIUNE.
at the time, having gone North for supplies. Whatever the stock on hand was in the morning, that evening the amount was very trifling, most of it having been appropriated by the soldiers. As the clerks ran to the rear they kept directly in range of the battery, and the shells struck very close to them more than once. Indeed, they were in much greater danger than they would have been had they remained at their posts. Both of them were thoroughly ashamed of their conduet, and shortly afterward left for Illinois, concluding that if non-com- batante were to be the targets for rebel batteries they would leave the front. The money drawer of the sufler was undis- turbed. but the extables were disposed of in very short order. One of the rebel shells struck a loaded wagon immediately in the rear of the line, and another tore up the ground just. in front of the infantry, on the right of the pike, but without inflicting any casualties. This firing became so annoying that another scetion of Miller's battery was brought up and soon succeeded in silencing the enemy's guus. Meanwhile the skirmishers were making a stubborn fight, and the sound of their fring became almost continuons. At one time there were indications that the enemy was intending to make a general charge, but whatever the plans of Gen. Forrest may have been. he wisely concluded to withdraw without an assault. Had he charged across the open field he would have encoun- tered a deep gully. impassable for horses, and his losses would certainly have been heavy. After several hours of vigorous skirmishing the enny retired. Although the NINETY-SIXTH was in line for six hours and under fire a con- siderable part of the time, it sustained no loss. Those who had been on the skirmish line, and so fortunate as to have the opportunity to exchange shots with the enemy, were looked upon by their less exposed comrades with a feeling almost approaching envy. The shells passed close to the line, and the position through the long hours had been anything but a pleasant one. With rare exceptions the men were cool, and acted in a becoming manner. One man foolishly ran to the rear a short distance and clambered into a sink that had been howly dng, and commeneed to pray in a loud tone; but the
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HISTORY of THE 96TH REGIMENT. ILL. V. I.
taunts of his companions soon brought him to the front again. The newspapers reported the loss of the Rebels at about one hundred, while the Union loss was one Lieutenant and two or three men killed and a few slightly wounded. About one hundred head of horses and mules. grazing in an open field near the skirmish line, wore stam- pered, and most of their deserted to the enemy. The Union . cavalry moved out to the front and engaged the enemy, fol lowing them as they retreated southward for a distance of five miles, returning in the evening with a few prisoners. This was even nearer to a battle than the Franklin experience, and the boys began to feel quite like veterans.
Friday, June 12. the Paymaster "resumed operations at the old stand." and the boys were each givea two months pay. On Saturday a Brigade of infantry and quite a heavy force of cavalry under Gen. Steadman marched southard toward Shelbyville. The same afternoon, while Col. Atkins command was out for Brigade drill in a large clover field in front of the line, brisk firing was heard at the front, and the troops were madered to the support of Gen. Stedman. marching very rapidly for nearly four miles, when the recon- noitering party was found retiring Jeisurely, the Rebels skir- mishing with its rear guard. The column then moved back to camp. reaching there at dusk. At about eleven o'clock the sune evening they were again called ont, with the order to put two days' rations in their haversacks, fill their canteens. roll up their benkets. and be really to march at a moment's notice. it being reported that the Rebels had followed the troops back to camp and were preparing for a night attack. There was no further disturbance. although the men were kept in waiting until daylight next morning. The night was cool, and the unprotected troops had little or no sleep.
Sunday, June 14, there was morning inspection, and in the frenoou religious services were held, three Regiments joining and having an interesting time. In the afternoon there was a large prayer meeting. The troops were ordered to keep constantly on land two days' cooked rations, and every soldier was required to have twenty rounds of ammu-
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CHAPLAIN WOODWORTH RESSIONS.
nition in his pockets besides the forty rounds in his cartridge box. Cooked rations meant cold rations, and not unfrequently spoiled rations, for the weather was bot and the meat would not keep. The men were at considerable inconvenience in this regard for a week or two. There was a very heavy rain storm in the evening.
Monday, June 15, the Regiment made a general business of putting up nice shades, or awnings, over their shelter teuts, occupying most of the fine when not on drill. U'p to this time nearly all had worn the heavy dress coats first provided, but the weather being very warm, light blouses, made from dark blue fanuel, were issued. The dress conts were retained, however, and used on dress parade for a few days ; but when the first march occurred most of them were leit in camp, to be gathered up and worn by the negroes of the neighborhood. or were thrown ont beside the road after carrying them a few miles, and until the shoulders of the soldiers began to be tired and demanded the lighteuing of their loads. A rebel lieutenant and private came to the lines one day and gave themselves up, being tired of the war. They represented the Confederates as so discouraged that they were about ready to give up the contest, and claimed that the majority of the members of the companies to which they belonged desired to desert. About this time Chaplain Woodworth resigned his commission and remmed home. much to the regret of the majority of the command, for he had always been quite popular among the men. He was sub- Frequently recommissioned, at the earnest request of many of the connnand. but did not again come to the Regiment. The remainder of the week was without notable incident. The weather was excessively hot much of the time during every day, and occasional showers and an exceptionally heavy rain storm visited the camp in the afternoon of the eighteenth. Col. Atkins had his command out for Brigade drill quite fre- quently, and the various movements were admirably m.de. There was more or less trouble in some of the Regiments about men being found asleep upon their posts, and in one of the Regiments of the Brigade several of the meu were tried
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and sentenced. In some instances their pay was declared forfeited and they were sent to military prison to be continued at hard labor; in other cases they were compelled to stand upon a barrel for two hours in the forenoon and the same length of time cach afternoon for ten days : while still other- were compelled to drag a ball and chain or a heavy fence rail up and down in front of the tent of their commander for a couple of hours daily. Be it said to the credit of the men and officers, there was never any trouble in the NINETy-SixTH about sleeping on post. Undoubtedly it sometimes happened that some soldier, fatigued with an unusual march, the great amount of night servier demanded, or the arduons duties required of him in camp. may have dozed upon the pida! post ; but such cases were rave, and when discovered the offer in clauige usually deemed his own reprimand and warning a suficient punishment, and never reported the facts to higher authority.
Tnoslay, June 23. the Regiment had been called out ai the usual very early hour, and was standing in line, when an. Aide rode up and notified the Colonet to have his command ready to march at seven o'clock. Everything was in readi ness at the hour named, but the wagon trains were in the way and the column made but little progress until the fore- noon was well advanced. The direction taken was toward Murfreesboro, and the camp, which was made about ton o'clock at night. was within five miles of that city, near a sinall place called Salem. The distance traveled was about fourteen miles, and the march a very tedious one. a portion of the route being through a dense cedar forest. A dozen or more of the wagons broke down, and a small gnard of men was left to watch them. Next morning & body of rebel cav. alry discovered the wayous and made a dash. as if intending to take them, but as soon as they saw the infantry, wheeled their horses abont and " skededdled, " followed by a few bul- lets fired at long range.
Gen. Rosecrans' plans were now complete, and his arm was well consolidated. Murfreesboro and Salem being near together and the main body of troops being at and between
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Tus TULLAHOMA CAMPARIN.
these points. Knowing how strong were the entrenchments of the enemy he determined to attempt to flank Shelbyville on the east and force the enemy to the alternative of a battle away from his earthworks or a retreat from his established lines. To the Reserve Corps and Mitchell's Division of cavalry was assigned the work of making a vigorous push toward Shelbyville, and deceiving the enemy into the belief that the main army was on that road, intending to attempt to take the place by direct assault. The movement was success- ful, the forces keeping up a vigorous and noisy demonstration as far to the right as Unionville, and concealing the real plan, until the main body of the infantry. under Gen. Rosecrans' personal supervision, had made considerable advance toward Manchester. It was the intention to foree a battle, if possible, north of the Cumberland Mountains, but the terrible rain- storms which prevailed almost continuously from the very inception of the campaign prevented rapid movements, and allowed Gen. Bragg to make his choice between a fight and a retreat. and he withdrew to the Tennessee River.
The general movement of the Union army began on the morning of Wednesday, June 24. The camps wore aroused at an early hour, and the men stood to arms until their hasty breakfasts were prepared, and partook of the meal with arcontrements strapped abont them. In the camp of the NINIEO -SExIL, as soon as breakfast was over, the tents were taken down, and the men set about the camp ground on their knapsacks or on old logs awaiting orders. At seven o'clock it began to rain. It was not one of your gentle semi-pleasant showers, that is rather enjoyable than otherwise, but a fierce and prolonged delige. The very flood gates of heaven seemed to be opened, and the torrents poured down upon the devoted heads of the thousands of soldiers in the Anny of the Cum- berland who had just started upon their active campaign. It was nearly noor when the column on the right finally moved. The direction taken was not toward Murfreesboro, but at first directly sonth along the pike leading to Middleton, and thence easterly. across the fells, to the Murfreesboro and Shelbyville joke. All through that dreary afternoon the men plodded
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slowly onward through the mad, the sound of cannon at the front, in the vicinity of Middleton, giving them the idea that they would shortly be engaged with the enemy, although the firing receded as they advanced. Stone River was forded, but the water was not so deep as to give serious trouble. although all got their feet wet. It was one o'clock at night when the Regiment bivouacked near Walnut Church, on the Shelbyville pike. There it was learned that Willich's Brigade had taken Liberty Gap, and that Wilder's Brigade had taken Hoover's trap. The distance traveled by the Regi- ment was only about seven miles, although the column bwl been on the road for fully twelve bours. The skirmishing at the front, and the delay consed by the miring or breaking down of the heavy army wagons made the trip a very tedions one. The rain had ceased falling during the evening, an ! most of the men lay down without putting up their tents. Before daylight it was again raining, but a large part of them were so tired as to sleep soundly, and when they woke in the morning many found themselves laying in an inch or two of water.
Thursday, June 25, the column started out carly, but only marched a mile or two. taking a position near the pike, and waiting the result of the contest at the front. The roar of artillery was continuous a greater part of the day. Orders came that all Fnapsacks should be loaded into such of the wagons as had been previously emptied by the distribution of rations, and sent Trick to Murfreesboro. Most of the men retained their woolen blankets, but a few kept only their ponchos. It was thought that there would be a battle right. away, and the soldiers were generally glad to avail themselves of the opportunity to lighten their loads. The NINETY-SixTH stood in line for an hour or two on the pike, and then relieve ! the 115th Illinois on the picket line, but did not have any skirmishing with the enemy. as the Union cavalry, still fur- ther at the front. kept them at a safe distance. Picket duty was continued all the next day, the other Regiments of the Brigade moving to the front. The headquarters of the Regi- ment was at the very house where Vallandigham, the notori-
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A CHURCH FOR A KITCHEN.
os southern sympathizer from Ohio, had been. by order of the President and the Wer Department. turned over to the tender mercies of his Southern brothers, only a few days, before. The occupant of the house said that Vallandigham declared his belief that he would be elected as the next Gor- ernor of his State. notwithstanding his enforced absence ; a prediction that did not come true, as he was beaten by more than one hundred thousand majority. There were in the neighborhood a large mnuber of long, lank, loan hogs rimming about the woods, and, being out of pork, the boys made sad havoc among them. One sentinel said thet fifty dead hogs passed the post where he was standing in a single day. Black- berries were quite plenty in the neighborhood. so that the living of the inen was quite good. It may have seemed like sacrilege, but the church was turned into a grand cooking house, and the incense of frying pork tilled the atmosphere.
On Friday the right of the army kept substantially the same position, the Regiment still doing picket duty. and listening to the reports of cannon and small arms a few miles southward.
Saturday, June 27, there was a forward movement toward Shelbyville, but the NiverY-SixTH, together with the 5th lowa cavalry, was left to guard a wagon train. A very heavy column of troops passed the position occupied by the Regi- ment, requiring between theve and four hours to file by. It was said that there were seventeen regiments of cavalry, seven of infantry and two batteries of artillery. After they had filed past. the Regiment moved back a mile to a point where the wagon train was in park. Companies B, G and K. were on picket that night. At about ten o'clock in the even- ing a courier brought word that Gen. Wheeler, with a large force of Rebel cavalry, was hovering in the near vicinity and contemplating a night attack upon the supply train. The Regi- ment was called out and remained in line for about two hours and a half. There was a little firing on the skirmish line, but nothing serious occurred. It was afterward learned that the position of the Regiment was critical at that time, as the enemy were about to attempt the capture of the train when
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT. HA. V. I.
they were called off to assume defensive operations at another point.
Saturday, June 25, the train remained in the same position. and the Regiment was held in readiness to march at any moment. bat it was not until three o'clock in the afternoon that any movement occurred. At that hour the other Regi- ments of the Brigade came marching back from Shelbyville, distant some eight miles, having in charge 480 prisoners. taken at that place the day before by the Union cavalry. They represented a half dozen different regiments. The charge upon the Confederate force had been led by the 24 Tennessee cavalry, many of whom bad their homes in the neighborhood. Much of the fighting took place right in the village. Shelbyville was quite a strong Cuion centre, and the citizens, who still loved the old flag, and who had suffered through the long months the persecutions of their enemie, and the enemies of their country. came out to greet the Federal troopers as they dashed through the town, often bringing flags with them that they had kept securely through the months when the Rebel forces were among them. The charge was a most gallant one, and sabres were freely used. Perhaps at no other tine during the war did the Regiment see so many men who had been out with sabres in a cavalry charge as ou this occasion. Besides the prisoners taken. a large number of the Quemy were killed in the charge or drowned in attempting to swim Duck River. the number thus losing their lives approximating two Indred. Quite an amount of artillery was also captured.
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