USA > Illinois > History of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, Illinois volunteer Infantry, Vol. I > Part 3
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21
EVENTS FOLLOWING LINCOLN'S ELECTION.
1860 they not only permitted, but actually planned, a divi- sion of the Democratic party, going into the canvass with two candidates for the Presidency -- Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, and John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. The nomi- nee of the Republicans was Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. The contest was a most exciting one, and resulted in the elec- tion of the Republican candidate.
The Southern leaders, or a majority of them, made the election of Abraham Lincoln the pretext for rebellion, not even waiting for his inauguration or attempting to ascertain what his policy would be. Militia companies took forcible possession of arms and ammunition in the Government arsenals in several of the slave States. Cabinet officers and Congressmen vacated the seats to which they had been chosen, returning to their homes and making violent disunion speeches. Even before the close of the month in which the election occurred both of the United States Senators from South Caro- lina resigned. and a call was issued for a convention, at Charleston, to consider the question of seceding from the Union. The Virginia and Louisiana Legislatures were speedily con- vened to discuss the same question. The Georgia Legislature appropriated a million dollars to arm the militia of that State. In December, South Carolina passed the Ordinance of Seces- sion, and demanded the removal of the United States troops from the forts in Charleston harbor. This demand was not acceded to, but President Buchanan went so far as to send a formal message to the Secession Convention, promising that no reinforcements should be sent.
On the 26th of December Fort Moultrie was abandoned, Major Anderson taking the 111 men under his command to Fort Sumter, and two days later South Carolina troops took possession of the abandoned fortress. Early in January. 1861, numerous other forts on the southern and southeastern coast were taken possession of, and on the ninth of the month the steamer " Star of the West" was fired on by the South Carolina forces while approaching Fort Sumter with provisions for Major Anderson's little band, and forced to return without accomplishing its mission. Before the month closed JJefferson
22
HISTORY OF THE 26TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
Davis resigned his seat, as a United States Senator, and numerous other Senators, as well as Representatives in Congress and members of the Cabinet, did the same. Mis- sissippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas followed the example set by South Carolina, and they in turn were patterned after by other slave States.
February was fruitful of exciting events. In every South- ern State the militia was carefully organized and systematically drilled. From every Southern city came notice that debts due to Northern ereditors were being repudiated. Ships, forts. arsenals, navy yards. mints and custom houses were seized. and their contents turned over to the authorities of the so- called Confederacy, which had been formally organized at Montgomery. Ala., February 4, with Jefferson Davis as its recognized head. The South was terribly in earnest, and all through that memorable winter went forward with the most stupendous preparations for war.
At length Inauguration Day arrived, and Abraham Lincoln became President of the United States. But even the pacific utterances which his inaugural address contained had little effect in stilling the tempest rising all about him. There was treason in the Army and in the Navy, in the Departments and in Congress, at the Capital and throughout almost one-half of the States. The North, slow to believe that the extreme threats of Southern orators would be carried out, waited and wondered, hoping. almost confidently, that war would be averted.
But it was not so to be. The authorities at Charleston. South Carolina, claiming to act for the Confederate authorities. refused to allow the Federal troops stationed at Fort Sumter to be reinforced or provisioned, and demanded that they evacuate the works. The commander of the fort declined to leave his post, whereupon its bombardment was ordered by the Southerners, and begin on Friday, April 12, 1861. A gallant defense was made, but in vain, for in a few hours the position of the Federal troops became untenable, and on Sunday capitulation followed. This event aroused the nation. Public meeting- were bell in every city and village of the North, and
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23
EARLY ENGAGEMENTS OF THE WAR.
the patriotic sentiments uttered gave President Lincoln assur- ance that the people of the free States would stand by him in sustaining all attempts at enforcing the laws and preserv- ing the Union. A call was issued for 75,000 troops for three months' service. There was an immediate response. and within forty-eight hours many more had tendered their services than could be accepted. Neither the General Gor- ernment nor any of the Northern States had any considerable number of arms, and there was much difficulty in procuring a supply. It was speedily evident that additional troops would be needed, and as soon as they could be equipped 300,000 men were called into the field for three years, the quotas of the several States being filled with little difficulty or delay.
The early engagements of the war were rather disastrous than otherwise. Bull Run was a crushing defeat. the Union troops falling back upon the National Capital in sore discom- fiture. At Wilson's Creek, Mo .. the army was obliged to retreat, after the loss of their gallant leader, General Lyon, and many men. The advantages gained at points in Missouri and in West Virginia were not decisive. The battle of Bel- mont, Mo .. fought in November, 1861, served to give the Western troops confidence in themselves. although the results achieved were not of great magnitude. The late Winter and the carly Spring witnessed some striking victories in the West. and were greatly encouraging. At Mill Spring, Ky., the Union forces achieved a handsome victory, the rebels being driven sonthward with the loss of their commander, Gen. Zollicoffer, and many men. They were also driven from Missouri and defeated at Pea Ridge. Ark. Fort Donelson was captured with 15,000 prisoners and an immense number of cannon. Pittsburg Landing, fought in April, 1862, was a pronounced victory, though dearly won, and Corinth was occu- pied by the National forces in the early summer. Missouri. Kentucky and Tennessee were now reclaimed. New Orleans had been occupied by the National forces. On the Atlantic coast important points had been captured.
But with the Summer of 1862 came reverses. The Western armies, decimated by frequent and severe engagements, and
24
HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT. ILL. V. I.
weakened by the euervating influences of climatic and other diseases, and the severe strain in maintaining their long lines of communication, were barely holding their own. The Eastern armies, which had been expected to capture the Confederate Capital, had come to a halt. and were being rapidly thinned by disease in the Chickahominy swamps. Their gallantly fought battles had been but half victories at best, and it became apparent that retreat was possible, if not probable. Evidently a crisis had been reached, and it was a question whether the I'nion armies were not to be forced backward, the scenes of strife transferred to the States north of the Potomac and Ohio rivers, and free soil watered with the blood of the heroes who should fall in battle.
In this emergency, a letter, breathing the highest patriot- ism. and pledging the most earnest support to the Government in all efforts to suppress the rebellion and restore the Union. was drawn up and signed by the Governors of all the lovat States. This letter was dated July 1, 1862. Upon its receipt. President Lincoln issued a call for 300,000 additional troops, to be mostly infantry. The people seemed to appreciate the situation fully, but there was some delay in assigning quotas and providing quarters, so that but little recruiting was attempted until July had nearly closed. It should be remem- bered that because of the heavy enlistments which had occurred but a few months previously there was an actual scarcity of men to do the work in the large shops and manu- factories and upon the farms. The haying was not com- pleted, and a golden harvest was just maturing. How could the men be spared ? But by the time the recruiting machinery was in readiness volunteers were responding in large num- bers. The closing week of July and the early days of August witnessed large enlistments. On the 4th of August the Presi- dent issued another call for 300,000 men in addition to the 300.000 called out in July. and directed an immediate draft. The second call stimulated enlistments to such an extent that the draft was temporarily postponed. and in Illinois and some other States the quotas under both calls made up by volunteers. A bounty of one hundred dollars was offered by the General
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25.
THE RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR TROOPS.
Goverment to each recruit. but on the condition that only twenty-five dollars should be paid in advance and the remainder at the close of service of the soldier, providing the period of service should be not less than two years. In addition to this from forty to sixty dollars county bounty was given recruits from most of the counties in Illinois. These bounties, although meager as compared with the amounts subsequently given. enconraged some men with families to enlist, as they were thus assured of a small fund of ready money to leave with their dependent ones. However, a great majority of the vol- unteers of that year would have enlisted without one dollar of bounty.
The State authorities authorized recruiting officers to say that men enlisted in Northern Illinois would be allowed to remain at home until toward the close of the month, in order that the harvest might be secured. That month of August. 1862, was one that will be long remembered by those who. shared in its exciting events. Recruiting went forward with great rapidity. Meetings were held almost nightly, not alone in every city and village. but in every township and in almost every school district,-churches and school-houses as well as publie halls and court-rooms being used for these gatherings. Men of every profession and occupation took the stump, and plead with those of military age to respond to the call of their country in its hour of need. And the response was a wonderful one. recruits thronging from the shops and the farms, from the offices and from the business houses, all through the North. Business of every ordinary kind was almost wholly suspended, men and women gathering to wit- ness the drilling of the newly organized commands at their places of temporary rendezvous, and to bid good-bye to loved ones who had placed their names upon the muster-rolls, and were preparing to leave for the larger camps of instruction. To the casual observer the cities and villages might have been said to wear a pleasant aspeet. as the great throngs moved up and down the streets : but the firm, set lips of the younger men, the undertone in conversation, the dewy eyes of maids and matrons, the severe, determined look of men of maturer
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I. .
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years, and the great pain tugging away at the heart-strings of all. of either sex and every age, as the hour of parting drew near, told plainly that these were by no means holidays. The people of the North were fully resolved that the Nation should lack neither men nor means in its efforts to suppress the great Rebellion and uphold the National authority, and their young men, to the number of more than half a million, responded to the call of their country within the brief period of two months, and the closing weeks of August and the early days of Sep- tember, 1862. saw them hurrying forward to the aid of the Union army whose depleted ranks they were to reinforce.
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WHAT WAR MEANS.
CHAPTER II.
How and Why Lake and Jo Daviess Counties Joined Hands-In Camp at Rockford-A Lesson in Obedience to Orders - The Formal Muster-in- Other Regiments in Camp - Early Experiences - The Field and Staff -The Companies Lettered -- Drawing Arms and Uniforms - Battalion Drill and Dress Parade-On Escort Duty- Visits from Home Friends- Major Brown and the "Obstacle" Movement-The Sutlers Made Unhappy-Incidents of the Last Days at Camp Fuller.
AMID the stirring events to which the closing paragraphs of the preceding chapter allude THE NINETY-SIXTHI REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY had its birth. Recruited at a gloomy period of the war and when a high grade of patriotism was required to nerve men to enlist. composed of excellent material, carefully organized and admirably commanded, it was given opportunity to bear a conspicuous part in the great drama of war, and its record, forged in the white heat of con- fliet and under the heavy hammers of oft-recurring battles, is one to which its members have ever been able to refer with pride. To the recital of some of these events and to the nar- rative of the doings and whereabouts of the command from day to day during its three years in camp and field the follow- ing chapters are devoted.
Without instituting comparisons with "our brothers gone before." this much may at least be said : The novelty had passed away. The pomp and circumstance of glorious war had now but few attractions. All knew that war meant. not only wounds and death, but hunger and hardship and priva- tion ; that it meant a surrender of personal liberty. on the part of the enlisted men at least, that was a sacrifice to the son of America, in whom the spirit of independence was strong. and who was entirely unused to the restraints which military life imposed.
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
But the men who composed this organization had con- sidered all of these matters and resolved to make the sacrifice. Not in response to a passing impulse had they written their names upon the muster rolls, but deliberately and from a deep sense of personal duty. They would help their brothers at the front who had gone out to battle in the months gone by. They would aid in turning back the tide of treason and rebellion that was threatening to engulf their homes. They would be among those to stand as a living wall between the Nation and its enemies, and bear honorable part in bringing to a close the conflict that was to determine whether or not the Union of the States was a rope of sand, and. - as all knew, although at that period not all were free to admit as much, --- to determine whether, in a land of boasted freedom, there should be a race enslaved.
In subsequent chapters will be found somewhat detailed statements as to the enlistment and organization of the several companies which entered the service with the command. In making up the several regiments recruited in Northern Illinois many questions arose as to which companies should be put together. In nearly every county there were men ambitious to become field officers, and they were generally ready to form combinations or make alliances that would further their per- sonal interests. Neither the four Companies from Lake county nor the six Companies from Jo Daviess county were able to make up with Companies in counties immediately adjoining them without conceding to these other counties the major part of the Fieldl and Staff. It happened that Hon. E. B. Washburne, of Galena, then a Representative in Con- gress, and Hon. H. W. Blodgett, of Waukegan, then a State Senator. were warm personal and political friends, and through their interposition the Companies from the two counties in which they resided, and which. although one was the extreme northeast and the other the extreme northwest county in the State, were then in the same Congressional District, were brought together. As some one facetiously remarked : It was the marriage of Miss Isippi and L. Michigan. Esq., a union that proved congenial to those most directly interested. and. it
20
THE RENDEZVOUS AT CAMP FULLER.
may be truthfully said, fortunate for the cause in which they were engaged.
Before this result was brought about several conferences were had, prominent men in each county visiting the other to arrange the details of the organization and secure the consent of the State authorities to the proposed union.
On Wednesday, September 3. 1862, the six Companies from Jo Daviess county went by train to Rockford, Winne- bago county, Ill .. and marched out one and one-half miles to Camp Fuller, where quarters in barracks, which had been recently erected in a grove near the banks of Rock river. were assigned them. On Friday, September 5. at 2 o'clock P. M .. the four Companies from Lake county arrived by train. and joined them in this camp. Heavy rains had occurred during the week previous, and the entire camp ground was very muddy, water standing in many places. Indeed. the building assigned to what afterward became Company G was almost entirely surrounded by water, which even came into and partially covered the lower bunks. The members of the Company were entirely disgusted with the outlook, and their commander, on reporting to Headquarters the condition of affairs, was given a half dozen Sibley tents, and the barracks assigned to them were left unoccupied. Next day, however. drains were dng, and the condition of affairs considerably improved, although the grounds remained very muddy.
There were in Camp Fuller at this time three other regi- ments, -- the 74th. 92d and 95th Illinois, -all of whom were formally mustered in September 4, although the 74th and some companies of the other regiments had been in camp for a fort- night or more. The rendezvous had been named in honor of the Adjutant General of the State, whose home was at Belvidere in an adjoining county.
On their arrival in camp. the Lake county boys were given an immediate lesson in prompt obedience to orders, and made to know that an officer's wish outranked a soldier's appetite. It was long past the dinner hour, and they were thoroughly hungry, but as the aroma of boiling coffee and the odor of fry- ing meat were just giving evidence that the meal was nearly
30
HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
ready there came the noise of the rattling drum and the rather unwelcome order to fall in. And so. because the mastering officer wished to finish his day's work, the hungry men were marched out a half mile or so to join their Jo Daviess county comrades and be mustered in.
It was a memorable meeting as that body of nearly one thousand gallant men gathered for the first time and became a Regiment. With little delay a hollow square was formed and an inspection hell, a few men being rejected, in nearly every instance because of being under cighteen years of age. The inspection completed, the process of muster-in was pro- ceeded with.
As these stalwart men stood there, and, with hands upraised to Heaven, swore to serve their country for "three years unless sooner discharged." it was indeed an impressive ,spec- tacle, and one that will never be wholly forgotten by the participants who still survive. Hon. Allen C. Fuller, of Belvidere, then Adjutant General of the State, acted as chief mustering officer, and, as he put it, introduced the giants of Jo Daviess county to the sturdy farmer boys of Lake. Spec- tators and participants alike agreed that the "material" of the Regiment was admirable, that officers and men averaged high as regarded intelligence and avoirdupois, and that the organ- ization was one that gave promise of excellent work whenever opportunity offered. The unusual proportion of very tall men and of large men was the cause of considerable comment. Officers and men from the two counties eyed each other closely, but each seemed pleased, and from that moment it is doubtful if there was ever a regret expressed or felt that the combination of Lake with Jo Daviess had been formed.
The inspection and muster-in occupied considerable time, and it was nearly six o'clock when the men were marched to camp. the Lake county boys at least being exceedingly hungry, not having had any food since carly morning except a few nick-nacks purchased on the train. It was to them a foretaste of after fasts amid more stirring scenes.
After a hearty meal the boys began the work of preparing for the night. Their quarters were fairly comfortable. The
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31
SELECTION OF THE FIELD AND STAFF.
barracks were partitioned off so that each Company had one large room in which were about fifty bunks, and the line officers of each Company a smaller room designed to be used as an office and sleeping room. Nearly all of the men had provided themselves with blankets before leaving home, and with very little trouble the officers were able to find covering for those who had come without. The bunks were built in two tiers, and where men could not readily agree as to which should have the upper and which the lower berth "cuts " were drawn. Each bunk was designed for two persons, and it was necessary that the soldiers should pair off. There were a few who seemed to have no mates, and for a night or two -- there being a few absentees in each Company, so that there were extra bunks-these odd ones slept alone. As a rule, however, each soldier had some one companion nearer to him than any other, and the matings made those first nights in camp continued for months, and in many instances until the close of the war.
In the evening the officers met to complete the organiza- tion of the Regiment. It had been conceded from the first that to Jo Daviess county should be given the positions of Colonel and Major, and the men composing the Companies from that county had decided, by ballot, whom they would have. Thomas E. Champion, of Warren, who had recruited Company K. was chosen as Colonel : and John C. Smith, who had recruited Company I, as Major. No election was held by the members of the Lake county Companies, but to Isaac L. Clarke, who had recruited Company G, was conceded, by common consent, the position of Lieutenant Colonel. These selections were ratified at this evening meeting. Some progress was also made in the selection of Staff Officers, but the list was not completed for some days. The following is the list, as finally made up, of
THE FIELD AND STAFF :
Colonel : THOMAS E. CHAMPION, of Warren, Jo Daviess County. Lieutenant Colonel : ISAAC L. CLARKE, of Waukegan, Lake County.
Major : JOHN C. SMITH, of Galena, Jo Daviess County.
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
Adjutant : EDWARD A. BLODGETT, of Downer's Grove, Du Page County.
Quarter-Master : STEPHEN JEFFERS, of Hanover, Jo Daviess County.
Surgeon : CHARLES MARTIN, of Warren, Jo Daviess County.
First Assistant Surgeon : MOSES EVANS, of Waukegan, Lake County.
Second Assistant Surgeon : DANIEL A. SHEFFIELD. of Court- land. Jo Daviess County.
Chaploin : JONATHAN M. CLENDENNING. of Warren, Jo Daviess County.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Sergeant Major : FRANCIS P. QUINN, of Company I.
Quarter Master Sergeant : WILLIAM S. BEAN, of Company A.
Commissary Sergeant : MORRIS S. HILL, of Company B.
Hospital Streward : HARVILLAN COOLEY. of Company C.
Principal Musician : NILES CARVER. of Company H.
After some discussion, it was decided that the letters A. B. C. etc., should be written on slips of paper. these slips to be placed in a hat and each Captain be permitted to draw one of the slips from the hat, his Company to be assigned in accordance with the letter drawn by him. Before this plan was adopted. there was a suggestion that Captain Hicks' Com- pany, being the first recruited and organized and having pre- viously been in camp at Rockford for quite a period, was by right entitled to be considered Company A. The reasons given were deemed sufficient, and the suggestion was adopted without dissent. The letters of the other Companies were designated in the manner mentioned.
When the line was first formed the Company letters, run- ning from right to left, were as follows : A, F, D. I. C. H. E, K. G. B. Company A thus becoming the right Company. B the left Company. C the center Company. D the right center Company and E the left center Company, so that when column was formed by Division cach of the five ranking Captains had command of two Companies. This formation was eontinned throughout the service.
The first night in camp was a somewhat trying one. The
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ISAAC L. CLARKE, LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
33
EARLY EXPERIENCES IN THE CAMP.
boards upon which the soldiers slept, covered by a single blanket, were not as soft and comfortable as the mattresses and feather beds to which they had been accustomed. The surroundings were all new. The boards creaked as the sol- diers turned from one side to the other, and as they turned pretty often and there were somewhere near one hundred men in each room, this creaking was almost continuous. As a rule, each Company had one or two men who were persistent snorers, and between the creaking and the snoring, and the noises of the camp and the heavy rainfall which prevailed throughout the night, the sleep of all was more or less dis- turbed. Those first nights in camp were not always restful. although the men soon became accustomed to their surround- ings and slept comparatively well.
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