USA > Illinois > History of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, Illinois volunteer Infantry, Vol. I > Part 9
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INCIDENTS OF THE TRIP UP THE CUMBERLAND.
in large force, was in the vicinity of Fort Donelson. Only meager particulars could be learned, for the wires were cut almost as soon as they had begun their report, and refused to give up the story of the unequal contest. All through the long night the fleet kept on its way up the river. The firing had ceased, but there was considerable apprehension as to the fate of the Union troops. At the first dawning of the morning there were many on deck, watching the precipitous bluffs that formed the river bank. The wind was still cold and bleak. but at many points these bluff's were so high and the river so narrow that there was some protection from the chilling blasts. Those so fortunate as to have money treated themselves to a good " square" meal in the cabin at occasional intervals on the trip, but the great majority were obliged to content them- selves with cold boiled meat, hard bread and coffee. On the morning of the third, James Shay, of Company E, was mis- sing. As there had been a number of desertions. he was supposed to have left the boat voluntarily, but those who knew hin best felt certain that he was not a man who would desert. and there can be little doubt that, unobserved. he fell overboard during the night and met death by drowning.
Wednesday, February 4, as the boats steamed up the river many bales of hay were noticed floating about. A mule jumped overboard from one of the boats and swam to the shore, his struggles in the water being watched with keen interest. The soldiers concluded that he must be a " deserter." The men were kept ready for a fight, standing at arms all day. It was expected that the boats would be fired on from the shore, as it was known that Wheeler's Cavalry had started ont with the intention of cutting off the fleet and preventing its passage to Nashville, if possible. The landing at Dover, a little above Fort Donelson, was made at about four o'clock in the afternoon. Before this point was reached there was considerable anxiety as to the outcome of the engagement of the day before. The cannon had been heard plainly at Smith- lind. and as it was known that Wheeler had a heavy force. while there was but a single regiment at Fort Donelson, it was feared that this point might be found in possession of the
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
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enemy. Proper caution was observed, however, a portion of the 92d Illinois being landed from one of the advance boats. and moved forward until a house was reached and reliable information obtained to the effect that Gen. Wheeler had been badly defeated, and that Fort Donelson was still in possession of the Federals. This fact ascertained, the fleet moved on. and tied up at the landing near which, just a year before, the first substantial victory of the war had been achieved by the Union forces. The soldiers scrambled from the boats as soon as the gang planks were lowered, to learn the news and ascer- tain how the troops had fared in the battle of Tuesday. The particulars of that second battle of Fort Donelson are matters of history. Nine Companies of the S3d Illinois, numbering about 650 men, under the admirable leadership of Col. Harding, and assisted by a single battery of artillery and a 32-pound rifled siege gun. successfully held in check 8,000 cavalry and mounted infantry under Gens. Wheeler and Forrest. Going out for quite a distance they harrassed them with a deadly skirmish fire all the afternoon and until half-past eight o'clock in the evening, falling back from time to time as necessity compelled. The ground all about Dover was strewn with the dead, and all of the houses were filled with the wounded. It is a fact that the Federals killed and wounded more of the enemy than it carried muskets, about 200 dead being buried by them, and several hundred wounded falling into their hands. The loss of the 83d Illinois was 13 killed and 51 wounded. The 13th Wisconsin, which had been stationed at Fort Henry, twelve miles distant, had marched over to Fort Donelson, and many of them were gathered near the landing to watch the boats as they arrived. Of a sudden there was a glad cry of joy from one of the boats, and Franc Milheiser, of Company C, was seen rushing to the shore. where he seized a sturdy soldier from the 13th, hugging him and manifesting every feeling of delight. Nor did the soldier seem averse to this unusual treatment, for, while less demon- strative, he was none the less pleased, and when Franc began the work of introducing him to the officers and his particular friends as "mein boy," all felt to rejoice with them at the
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THE SECOND BATTLE AT FORT DONELSON.
pleasure afforded by this entirely unexpected meeting of father and son.
Large details were at work gathering up the dead and wounded, or digging long trenches in which to bury the brave but misguided men who yielded up their lives in the hard- fought battle. During the night following the engagement the air was bitter cold, and snow fell to quite a depth, so that the wounded left upon the field suffered greatly. Many of the dead were found frozen to the ground. Dead or disabled horses, in large munbers, were found all through the woods. and it was evident that the enemy had been severely punished. Especially brilliant does this feat of the Union arms appear when it is remembered how great was the disparity in num- bers. the attacking force outnumbering those assailed at least ten to one, and the battle being fought almost wholly outside the intrenchments. Just at the last, one or more gunboats came up and aided the defenders, but even before their arri- val the enemy had been well whipped and were in retreat.
The last of the fleet did not arrive at the Fort until Friday. This gave those curiously disposed an opportunity to visit the scene of Grant's memorable battle of February, 1862; it being announced that the enemy had retreated, so that it was entirely safe to do so, many took long walks over the entire field. bringing back to the boats numerous mementoes of the battle. There were still many marks of the terrible contest, arms, accontrements, haversacks and other articles, rendered useless in the conflict or thrown off by wounded men, lying here and there all about the large area over which the waves of battle had swept, with fragments of tents and blankets. and an occasional bit of faded blue, where some desperately wounded Union soldier had torn off a portion of his clothing that the blood might be staunched.
Friday, February 6, at a little before noon, the boats sounded the call for all to come on board, and by the middle of the afternoon all were steaming up the river in the direc- tion of Nashville: The boats were lashed, two and two, those on which were the two wings of the NINETY-SIXTH being side by side. There were seven gunboats and more than thirty
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
transports in the fleet. The gunboats were distributed through the fleet. two being in the lead, two in the rear, and the others near the center. Occasionally they shelled the timber along the shore to drive out any force that might attempt to inter- cept them ; but there was no response to their noisy saluta- tions, and the long line passed on in safety and in triumph.
There were a few exciting episodes, as when the " Hamil- ton." crowded suddenly forward by her consort, struck the flagship .. Prioress," on which was Gen. Baird and staff. with such force as to cause some damage to either craft. Not all of these captains had volunteered their services or the use of their vessels for this trip, and not all were loyal to the Gor- ernment. Among those known to be positively disloyal was the Captain of the " Nashville, " and it was believed that this collision was not only intentional on his part, but far less seri- ons than he had meant to have it. On the early part of the trip it came to the knowledge of Colonel Clarke that there was serious discontent on the part of the men of his com- mand. and an effort making to induce a large number of them to desert when the boat should touch some point on the Illi- nois shore. Satisfied that the captain of the boat was aiding in the work of fomenting the discord, he quietly stationed some armed men near the pilot house, giving them positive orders to shoot the pilot and the captain should they see any- thing to indicate an attempt to land the boat except where others in the fleet were stopping. or should they fail to follow closely the lead of the vessel in its front. After this collision with the .. Prioress " the guard was renewed, and the captain given to understand that his life was not held in high estima- tion by the military authorities. It would seem that he should have been held to an account for his actions, but it is doubtful if a case could have been made against him.
It was a splendid sight as that magnificent fleet of steam- ers, like some triumphal procession. moved steadily forward np the winding Cumberland. Regimental colors were un- furled. and when the weather was not too cold the decks were fairly blue with officers and soldiers. All through the night of the sixth, and until five o'clock on the afternoon of the
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THE ARRIVAL AT NASHVILLE.
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seventh, the stately, floating column proceeded of its way, finally reaching Nashville at the hour named, the troops hav- ing traveled nearly 550 miles upon the steamers.
The forenoon of Sunday, February S, was occupied in unloading the boats and putting the wagons together. In the afternoon the NINETY-SIXTH marched out past Fort Negley, and went into camp near what was called Fort Jackson, some three or four miles from Nashville, at the left of the railroad and the Franklin Pike, but a short distance from where, almost two years later, they were to make one of the most brilliant and successful charges of the war.
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
CHAPTER VII.
The Irrepressible Conflict with Greybacks -- A Half Dozen Promotions- Policing the Camp Grounds -- A Brigade Dress Parade-Resolutions Adopted by the Regiment-The Sound of Cannon-The Movement to Franklin-Disaster to Coburn's Brigade -- The Duck River Cam- paign-Frequent Alarms, and Fighting Near at Hand-Ten Days at Brentwood-Heavy Fatigue und Guard Duty-A Man in Company F Killed on the Picket Line-The Paymaster in Camp-Shelter Tents Received-How the Month of May Passed-The Nine Months' Fever.
AT Nashville began the fight with that pestiferons little insect known among military men as the " greyback." True, a few had made his acquaintance before, but his presence had not been general until the Regiment left the boats and reached the old camp grounds near the city. From that time forward, whatever else the command may have been short of, there was seldom a time when it was not abundantly supplied with this very numerous and exceedingly industrious camp fol- lower. It was one of the serions annoyances of army life, and no amount of care on the part of the soldier could long rid him of the pest. The very ground seemed to be alive with them, particularly if it was a region that had been previously occupied by either army, and the boiling of the clothing and the most diligent and unwearied "skirmishing " on the part of the soldier served at best only to keep them in check, without exterminating them ; for two or three nights and days of active service, in which the clothing could not be removed, gave ample assurance that the pest was still there. Nor were the officers exempt from the attentions of this unwearied worker. for they, too, shared the annoyance of the bite and the pleas- ure that came from scratching, and were also subjected to the necessity of an occasional "skirmish," as the work of hunt- ing through the seams of the soldier's nether garments was called.
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ANSWERING THE SICK CALL.
The long trip upon the river had served to cause more or les sickness, cases of jaundice being especially frequent. Not a few were compelled to go to the hospitals direct from the boats, and others within a few days after the march to camp. The cold, disagreeable weather which had prevailed throughont the trip gave way to a few warm, pleasant days, not unlike what might have been expected two months later. Advantage was taken of this to put the camp in prime condi- tion, a large area being policed. It was interesting to watch the process of cleaning up a camp ground. The men were want to the woods for brush with which to make their brooms, these being constructed by tying bushes together. Then a
lang line of soldiers would sweep off the ground in their front, ·'earing up the entire camp from the line of the cooks' fires to the color-line, and often for a considerable distance beyond. The NINETY-SIXTH had by this time learned to take pride in having its grounds neat. and although a few always grumbled, most of the men did their work cheerfully and well.
Drilling was at once resumed, and the camp presented an animated scene whenever the weather would permit of the maneuvering of troops with comfort to officers and men. About this time occurred several changes among the officers. Surgeon Charles Martin and Second Assistant Surgeon Daniel 1. Sheffield, who had been absent from the Regiment for a Www weeks because of ill health, both resigned, leaving the service February 6. Their places were not filled for some time, the work of caring for the sick falling ahnost wholly spor First Assistant Surgeon Moses Evans. His duties for wome weeks were very arduons, for the daily sick call was responded to by a large number of men, variously afflicted. It was a pitiable sight to see a half dozen or more from each Company dragging themselves up to the Surgeon's tent each tooming, many of themn thin and haggard, some suffering fwwon dysentery, others coughing violently, and still others yel- w from malaria. Perhaps at no other time in the history of !we command, excepting at the time of or immediately follow- og a battle, was there so much required of the Surgeon.
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. J.
The changes among the line officers in February were three. Second Lieutenant Reuben L. Root, of Company H. resigned on the sixth, and was succeeded by First Sergeant Joseph L. Pierce. First Lieutenant Addison B. Partridge. of Company O, resigned on the sixteenth, and was succeeded by Second Lieutenant William M. Loughlin, First Sergeant Chas. W. Earle being promoted to Second Lieutenant. Captain David Salisbury, of Company B. resigned on the seventeenth. First Lieutenant ABen B. Whitney was made Captain, Second Lientenant Evangelist J. Gilmore was promoted to First Lieutenant, and First Sergeant George HI. Burnett to Second Lieutenant. All of these newly promoted officers entered upon their duties at once, although none of them were mus- toved until April 4.
The 14th Kentucky having been left in Louisville, the Shih Indiana and the 40th Ohio were assigned to the Brigade, Col. Atkins still remaining the senior Colonel and retaining com- mand. On the seventeenth the Brigade was ordered to move to Franklin, but before the hour of starting the order was countermanded. A few days later Col. Coburn's Brigade made the march. February 25 the camp was moved about a half mile toward Nashville, and three days later it was again mnoved a short distance, to a beautiful piece of ground owned by Mrs. Governor Auron V. Brown. A mass meeting was held in Nashville on the twowythird, speeches of the most enthusiastically loyal character being made by Parson Brown-
low and others. Many from the Regiment attended, and returned greatly pleased with the stirring addresses to which they had listened. This meeting was intended as a celebra- tion of Washington's Birthday, having been postponed for a day because of the fact that the twenty-second came on Sun- day. The artillery about Nashville did not wait for Monday, but fred a salute on Sunday in honor of " The Father of his Country."
Sunday, March 1, there was a grand dress parade, the five Regiments composing the Brigade participating. and Col. Atkins, the Brigade conunander, receiving the salutes and
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PATRIOTIC RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
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afterward making a patriotic speech. The NINETY-SIXTH OCCU- pied the left of the line.
Monday, March 2. was in some respects a memorable day. As before stated. the Emancipation Proclamation, issued two months before, had been the cause of munch discussion among the officers and men. In many of the Regiments, and parti- enlarly in those from the State of Kentucky, there had been great dissatisfaction, and desertions were quite frequent. Those who were opposed to the Proclamation were often lond in their demunciation of the President. and active in theis attempts to produce and extend dissatisfaction among such of their comrades as they could influence. There was danger that this continuous agitation and these expressions of dis. content would, in time, have an unfavorable influence upon the men, and that, even though they did not induce still further desertions, they would at all events discourage and dis- hearten those who had not well-founded opinions upon the question of slavery. To meet this growing discontent a incet ing of the Field, Staff and Line Officers of the Brigade was held at Brigade Headquarters at nine o'clock A. r., Col. Smith D. Atkins, of the 92d Illinois, being called to the chair, and Adjt. I. C. Lawver acting as Secretary. After some discussion a committee was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments of those present. The committee retired, and, after considering the subject carefully, presented the follow. ing preamble and resolutions :
WHEREAS. We, the officers and soldiers of this command, have, in common with our connades in arms, cheerfully peilled ou. lives and every earthly interest, to save to ourselves and to our posterity a country and a government, the same which, in historie tines, were bought with blood. and established by that quality of wisdom which, though human, seems divine : and,
WHEREAS. A number of intriguing demagogues at home have recently, by word and act, sought to create disaffection among us, block the wheels of wise legislation, excite discontent in the public mind, and, in every way, to baffle all earnest efforts to conquer the rebels ; therefore.
Resolved. That we hold in utter delestation that clique of miscreants in the loyal States, who, under the garh of assumed loyalty, use the stolen revenne of arch treason to excite petty treason in their own com- munities : who have no censures save for the officers of our government ; no complaints, save that energetic measures are employed to crush the
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
rebellion : no aspirations, save to embarrass our Executive and Legisla- tive Department, an l engender mutinies in our armies ; and no hopes. save for an ignoble peace and the substantial triumphs of the rebels ; that we regard them as enemies of our country and mankind, who, to accomplish their bellick purposes, would not hesitate to blot fort ver from the hopes of man the cherished thought of self- government ; and that they merit the scorn of all loyal citizens and true-hearted soldiers, com- bining, as they do. the deep guilt of the traitor with the essential mean- ness of the coward.
Resolved, That, despite the frenzied (forts of our fors before us, and the despicable intrigues of our other foes behind us, we will abate not one jot of faith or hope ; but, believing the maintenance of our govern- ment is worth all the cost expended in its establishment. we emphatically assure all traitors at home, that not until we have undergone a seven years strung (it need bey will we crane this contest. and not until we have experienced such sufferings as were bravely endured at Valle Jorge will we begin to musmut. By all the sacrifices already made and hardships endured by us ; by all the sufferings of our comrades in hospi- tal and camp ; by all the precious blood whieb bas cucrimsoned out east- er nad west. th waters ; by all the hearths made desolate, and heart-strings sont asunder, because of this wicked rebellion, we do solemnly pledge our honor as Americans and soldiers to see this contest through to a suc- cessful issue, o yield up our lives a willing sacrifice to our country's weal. Josoleed. That we are utterly opposed to any armistice or cessation of hostilities until our glorious flag of thirty-four stars waves triumph- antly from the dome of every capitol in our land.
Resolcol, That we fully and nuequivocally indorse the policy of our civil rulers, in using all necessary means to strike decisive blows at the unholy rebellion, and to bring the war to a speedy, sure and glorious ter- min tion, so that traitor: in the S aith may mest with deserved punish- nent, and demnabde tractors in the North may be brought to a terrible justice, " that help be not created in vain."
R.wprot. That to the loyal milions who encourage us in our efforts, vin gutpathize with me ha war bandel ips, and who rejoice with is in the success of war armies, we tender such heartfelt gratitude as soldiers. facing a hostile for raly can feel.
Needed, That to Governor Todd, of Ohio ; Governor Morton, of Indiane : and Goweiner Yates, of Illinois, we extend our hearty thanks for their crestles. labors in behalf of the soldiers from their respective
That evening, at dress parade, the NINETY-SIXTH was formed in a le How square, and the resolutions were presented by Captain Hicks, of Company A. The captain was a good elo- entionist. and read them admirably, awakening intense enthu- siasm in the rank . As soon as the reading was concluded, Colonel Champdo : delivered a brief but earnest address, and
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THE SOUND OF CANNON.
then called ont: "As many of the soldiers of the NINETy- SINTE ILLINOIS as indore the resolutions just read, will mani- fest it by saying ' aye.'" The aves were numerous and enthu- siastic, but, strange to say, not universal. In an instant the Colonel commanded : " Sergeants, take your Companies to quarters." The officers were kept together for a few moments and then went to their tents. That night, in every tent, there was a long discussion of the resolutions. In the light of after events it is difficult to comprehend how it was that any Union soldier should think for a moment of opposing them, but the faet remains that there was most strennous objections on the part of a few, quite a percentage, even of the members of the Illinois Regiment-, not favoring the absolute omancipation of the slaves. Colonel Champion caused to be forwarded to the Chicago papers, and also to the papers in Lake and Jo Daviess Counties. copies of the resolutions, and stated that they were adopted by the NINETY-SIXTH Regiment " without a dissenting voice." This was literally true, but the Colonel afterward declared that he dared not put the negative for fear the nays would be so numerous as not to look well for a Regiment from the State which was President Lincoln's home. All of the Regiments in the Brigade adopted the resolutions, but not all "without a dissenting voice."
Tuesday, March 3. the command was notified to be ready to march at a moment's notice, as the Brigade under Col. Cobarn had moved ont from Franklin, and was likely to have a fight. There was Company and Battalion drill, but the mon were kept close at hand and ready to move if called upon.
Next day there was a wild report in camp to the effect that Gen. Grant and Gen. Sherman had just been terribly beaten in the vicinity of Vicksburg, with a loss of 20,000 men. Fortunately this report proved entirely untrue.
Thursday, March 5, the south wind wafted to the camp, the sound of distant cannon. The troops were busy at their drill, but the ominons sounds sent them back to camp, where they awaited orders. Their conversation was in a little lower tones than usual, and there was somewhat less of levity in the camp than was the custom. About two o'clock in the
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGRIENT, ILL. V. I.
afternoon Col. Atkins galloped over to the camp, exchanged a few words with Colonel Champion, and then rode away. Soon after his brief call orders were given to prepare to move to Franklin immediately. Tenis were struck and loaded upon the wagons, the sick sent to the city, and the column marched to the railroad in front of the camp.
In a little while a train arrived and took on board the 84th Indiana, and the 922 and 113th Ilinois Regiments. The Nivers-SixTir remained in bivouac until about ten o'clock in the evening, and then, together with the 40th Ohio, clambered into the freight cars. The men were crowded as thickly together as possible. all being obliged to cland. As a conse- quence they could get little rest during the four or five hours required to make the eighteen miles. A few took "deck passage." riding on top of the cars. The road was none of the best, the train was heavily loaded and the locomotive was so worn-ont that it was frequently stalled, hardly mak- ing a single grule in the run without stopping, backing down and having a long wait for steam. A heavy rain-storm set in carly in the night, and when, between two and three o'clock in the morning, a final stop was made, and the tired troops alighted from the cars in a cornfield, the ground was thoroughly soaked, although the storm had abated somewhat. The tents and all of the camp equipage had been left at Nash- ville, so that the run had no protection. Some threw then- selves upon the groand, wrapping their blankets about them, and getting such sleep as was induced by sheer exhaustion. Others stood around the camp fires, waiting for the morning and wondering what it would bring. All agreed that the probabilities pointed to an early engagement. Up to this time there had been only surmises as to how the battle of the day before had gone, but in the morning the worst fears of all were realized, for it was learned from the men remaining at Franklin that nearly the entire Brigade sent out on the recon- nois ance toward Spring Hill had been made prisoners by the enemy. The advance made by this Brigade had been ordered by Gen. Rosecrans, through Gen. Gilbert-the latter being in command at Franklin, -- the intention being that they should
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