USA > Illinois > History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment > Part 41
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[From the Caralier, May 23, 1862.]
" TO OUR READERS :- We suppose that like all editors we must make an excuse for issuing this little sheet. A respectable apology for begging respectable people to become its patrons, and pay exorbitant rates for gas that burns only to make peoples' noses assume the pug order; or what editors generally do, make & bow to the dear people, try to say some elegant things, tell them the innumerable benefits that are to accrue to them from the publication of a paper ouly intended to amuse those who 'get it up,' and furnish food for gossip to those who have nothing else to do but talk, and have run out of topics for conversation."
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" This little sheet is intended in some measure to take the place of letter writ- ing to the United States troops now stationed here, to put in running order a valu able office that should be employed by its owner in carrying out their high and honorable purpose which its material was intended to serve, to do justice to those who may haply be regarded as invaders, and as well and fully to those in whose midst we are temporarily thrown. We have stated the motto of the paper-' The Union as it was and ever shall be.'
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With these brief statements of principle and heart yearning, we extend the hand of friendship and brotherly love to all who lift up their hands and subscribe to our motto.
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NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.
PERSONAL,
We are glad to see with us once more Captain William Chidister, of Company I, Ninth Illinois Cavalry. He still bears the marks of a severe illness. His presence among us, when he is still too weak for severe duties, affords a striking contrast to those officers whose knees become weak at the first sound of a rumor that we might some day smell powder.
We are glad to announce the anticipated arrival of General Jackson and his foreign attaché, G. Erastus. In thought we see him on his fiery black, now foaming and gnashing at the bit, plunging into one after another of the roaring torrents which lie between him and us, his head (the General's) rising far above the surrounding heads, fire flashing from the wiry covering that adorns his caput, and his voice rising above the din of waters as he orders " Vollensack to the rear" and the column forward.
Captain Barnard F. Stampoffski, of Company F, and Lieutenant Walter B. Anderson, of Company HI, have resigned.
PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE. } JACKSONPORT, ARK., May 18, 1862. 5
The undersigned wishes to call the attention of all concerned to the following extracts from Major-General Hallock's General Orders:
GENERAL ORDERS NO. 3. "NOVEMBER 20, 1861.
"It has been represented that important information respecting the numbers and conditions of our forces is conveyed to the enemy by means of fugitive slaves, who are admitted within our lines. In order to remedy this evil, it is directed that no such persons be hercafter permitted to enter the lines of any camp or of any forces on the march, and that any now within such lines be immediately excluded therefrom."
"Also" General Orders No. 25, December 14, 1861, which forbids the bringing in or selling to United States soldiers intoxicating or spiritvous liquors.
" These orders will be strictly adhered to and carried out, and all persons within the military district violating either of them will be punished with the severest penalties of the law."
[Signed]
LINUS D. BISHOP, Provost -Marshal.
[ From "The Caralier" of June 14, 1862.]
"" Skirmish between United States troops and the Hooker Bandits near Jack- sonport, Ark. Brilliant charge of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry. C. S. A. Copper- heads take to the woods."
" Yesterday an engagement took place between a portion of the United States forces stationed near this place, and the Confederates, known in this vicinity as 'Hooker's Company,' about three hundred strong."
In the morning a train of thirty-six wagons was sent out by Colonel Brackett for the purpose of getting corn and bacon at the Waddell farm, near Village Creek, with an escort of parts of four companies Os, M, D and C) of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, under Major Humphrey. The farm is about five miles from
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Jacksonport, and when the trains were within about one-half mile from it the advance guard (Company K, Captain Cameron) were suddenly attacked by a large force of the enemy. This attack on the part of the enemy was gallantly resisted by Captain Cameron and his company, who made, in their retreat before greatly superior numbers, several stands, firing upon and wounding and killing several of the enemy, until he had fallen back to the main body, when there seemed by common consent to be a cessation of fighting for some considerable time. Major Humphrey, deeming his command insufficient to charge upon the enemy successfully without sacrificing the lives of his men, which could easily be avoided by waiting a little while for reinforcements from " Camp Tucker," sent for at the first volley of the enemy. Two hours after the attack upon the advance guard, Colonel Bracket was at the Waddell farm, having crossed Black River by ferry, with two companies of Bowen's Battalion, Missouri Volunteers, and two small howitzers. He found the forage train halted in the road and the enemy in force in front, shouting and jeering at our men with that profuseness of obscenity and blasphemous profanity for which the chivalrous, high-toned Confederate troops are distinguished. The rest of the fight outside of their braggadocia was of very few moments' duration. Two shots from the howitzers and a brilliant charge of four companies, A, M, K, C, of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, upon the enemy, and he was seen plying whip and spur to his fleet animals, seeking a safe refuge from the glittering sabers and determined hearts and beads and strong ans that were in hot pursuit.
The result of the skirmishes throughout was, to the enemy, in killed, wounded and prisoners in our hands, twenty-eight, so far as we can learn, though Captain Cameron's men think the figure too low. On our side we have a loss of one taken prisoner by the enemy and twelve wounded, two of them severely.
The following is a list of those wounded and missing on our side:
Wounded: Corporal J. O. H. Spinney, Corporal J. H. Waldo, Private Will- iam Luce. Private Thomas A. Foster, Private James Sherlock, Private O. D. Herrick, Private John R. Wildler, Private II. D. Sturmis, Private W. Farnsworth, Private J. Kelley. Private Frauk Doyle, all of Company K.
Missing: Private Harry Strong, Company K, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, a pris- oner in the hands of the enemy.
Thirty-six wagons went out, thirty-eight returned, laden with corn, bacon, flour, vinegar, etc.
Colonel Brackett speaks in the highest tones of the conduct of Major Hum- phrey, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, Captain Williams and Lieutenants Madison and Ballwe, and First Sergeant Miller, of Bowen's Missouri Cavalry Battalion, as also of Captains Burgh, Knight, Cowen, Blakemore and Perkins, and Lieuten- ants Benton, Hillier, Shear, Conn, Butler and Smith, Battalion Adjutant Black- burn and Sergeant-Major George A. Price, and especially of First Sergeant Clark, Company K, Ninth Illinois Cavalry.
Dr. James W. Brackett, Surgeon of the Ninth, was promptly on the ground with all the proper appliances for the comfort of the wounded, and Quartermas- ter Price of the same regiment (always ready for duty) was " on hand " looking after the material interests of Uncle Sam.
Company D, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, Captain Cowen, was placed in charge of
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the train during the fight, and is entitled to great credit for the faithful per- formance of that kind of dury, when all were eager and anxious to be in the fray.
The following good story comes to me from Comrade Edward D. Ayres, Elizaville, Ind:
" Soon after our arrival at Helena, Ark., I had been sick in the hospital (in that long wood building used for that purpose). After a partial recovery, I was detailed by Surgeon Brackett to give medicine and wait on the sick. There was an old fellow, a native of the State of Arkansas, came into camp claiming pro- tection on account of his Union sentiments. After a day or two he put in an ap- pearauce at the hospital claiming to be sick, but he was never too sick to eat a hearty meal. About this time the whisky that was furnished for medicinal pur- poses began to mysteriously disappear, and in compliance with instructions from Dr. Charles. Brackett, to whom I had reported the matter, an empty bottle was partially filled with a combination of whisky and croton cil, and set in the place of one that was being used out of. By keeping a sharp lookout I had the satis- faction of seeing that same identical old fellow gulp down a large part of the contents of that bottle. Well, in a short time there was a great connotion in the room to which our Arkansan had retired; such groans and sounds as one in such desperate straits would be likely to utter. The sounds were simply ter- rific, we all thought the old fellow would die, but the skill of Dr. Charles Brack- ett brought him through. As soon as he was able to travel he disappeared, and after his departure the whisky was undistin bed.
FROM REEVES STATION TO PONDER'S MILLS-SLEEPING UNDER DIFFICULTIES -- MY FIRST AND ONLY ARREST-BUGLING 1 MOONSHINER OUT OF CAMP.
The 8th of April dawned bright and clear, when, in answer to the bugle's ringing call, the Ninth Illinois Cavalry struck their tents and were soon in line ready for the march. We took the Donovan road to the south, and every trooper's heart beat high in expectation of coming adventure. The day's march was uneventful, and so we went into camp in the evening. The clouds that had been gathering began to pour down rain, and our tents and our provisions were in the wagons stuck in the mud miles behind. We were obliged to go supperless and shelterless to bed, though the most of the boys preferred to sit around the camp fire or seck shelter from the driving rain under the protection of the trees, sleep being out of the question.
Our first practical experience as troopers began that night. The mess to which I belonged, consisting of S. D. Cleland, W. G. Marts, Joseph Littlefield and my- self, set about improvising a shelter of poles and brush over which we placed on " ponchos. Under this frail structure we spread our blankets and stowed ourselves away for the night. We had to lie " spoon fashion," and owing to our hampered position, when one turned all had to turn.
About 2 o'clock in the morning Littlefield felt something cold touching him, and raising suddenly, displaced the ponchos above him and let several bucketsful
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of water in on uis. This sudden and unexpected baptism brought us all to our feet, scattering our shelter in every direction. There had been considerable friction: between Cleland and Littlefield for some days, and this unlucky accident brought on a war of words that culminated in Littlefield challenging Cleland to fight a duel, which polite request was most emphatically declined. The balance of the time till day dawned we shivered over the smoldering embers of our camp fire. About this time our stomachs began to demand attention, and from a farmyard close by Marts secured an old hen (which was, so far as known, never settled for). and in less time than it takes to write we had her skinned and ready for the fire. A leg and thigh fell to my share, and putting a pinch of salt with it I soon had my quart cup full of a most delicious stew which was most appetizing and satisfying.
At an early hour " boots and saddles" sounded, and we resumed our march as far as "Ponder's Mills" on Little Black River, three miles away, when we went into camp to await the arrival of our " wagon train." The idea of looking out for number one was rapidly developing in us, so Cleland, Littlefield and myself started up the river in search of provisions. About a mile from camp we came to a house and the women at our solliciation cooked a dinner for us, which we were in shape to enjoy innensely. It consisted of the traditional " hog and hominy" (a dish a hungry trooper was never known to refuse), with "Johnny cake " and molasses, washed down with rye coffee.
The temptation to have some of that molasses in camp was too great to resist, so taking my tin cup I filled it from the barrel and started to return. Before we had gone far we met a Lieutenant in charge of a squad of men looking for strag- glers, who arrested us and took us to the Colonel's tent. Here we received a sharp reprimand for being outside the lines without orders. The tin cup, which I had been trying to keep out of sight as much as possible, attracted his attention, and upon ascertaining that it had been confiscated, he gave us a short lecture ou the sin of stealing, turned the molasses over to the headquarters' cook, I suppose on the theory from bis standpoint of view, that the best thing to do with it was to put it where it would do the most good, and ordered us to our company, assuring us if we were ever caught in such a serape again we would be punished severely.
Soon after the wagons came up with our tents and provisions, and in a short time we were comfortably situated, but I always regretted the loss of the molasses. About 3 o'clock the afternoon of the 19th, while in the same camp, an order came for the Buglers to report at headquarters, which we did. Here we found one of the natives, who had been arrested for selling whisky to the boys from an impro- vised bar in an old one-horse wagon, and the orders were to bugle him out of comp.
He was placed in the middle of the road, the twenty-four regimental Buglers formed in column of fours behind him, and the procession started. As the mind was hub deep in the road, the situation can be imagined. We soon found we were in for a mud bath ourselves, and we took our revenge on the old man, splattering him with mud until, when we finally halted on the outskirts of camp, and bid bim good-bye, it was impossible to tell what the original color of his clothing had been. I spent the most of the next day drying and cleaning the mud from my clothing, and it has never been clear to my mind which was punished the most. the old reprobate who sold the whisky, or the busters of the Ninth Minet O. alry. GEORGE M. KELLER,
Company A. Ninth Illinois Cavalry.
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CHAPTER XXVIL
LETTERS FROM GENERAL HATCH-THE SHOAL CREEK CAMPAIGN, BY LYMAN B. PIERCE, COLOR BEARER -- SECOND IOWA CAVALRY-LETTER FROM E. DUEN- DORF-LETTER FROM GENERAL D. E. COON.
FORT ROBINSON, NEB., June 18, 18SS. E. A. Davenport, 643 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, Il.
DEAR SIR :- It pleases me greatly to learn you are interesting yourself in preserving the history of a regiment as remarkable as the Ninth Ilinois Cavalry. I can recall many instances of its wonderful courage, none over excelled it in daring dash and fighting qualities. To me one of its most conspicuous actions occurring under my own eye, was at the pass to Lawrenceville from the action at Campbellville, when we were falling back before Hood's army, when the troops were being withdrawn, and the Ninth flinois, with one regiment compos- ing the rear guard and the battery, were hard pressed by two divisions of For- rest's cavalry. There seemed little chance of their joining the command, when out of the crash of musketry and artillery they came out of the melee as cools as when on drill, not losing a prisoner. On that day an aid of General Thomas joined us, who had joined me, who had served then three years of the war in many hard battles, who remarked for cool desperate fighting he had never seen its equal.
To have been prominent among the regiments assaulting the works at Nash- ville is enough to establish the reputation of the regiment forever. The corps commander's report of Nashville, where he states he had known good infantry repulved from less difficult positions than was carried by the brigade of which the Ninth Illinois Cavalry was one of the five, and couspcious for the bravery displayed in the charges referred to, will live forever in the annals of the Nation. That the Ninth Illinois will be remembered as a remarkable regiment you can rest assured. So many actions in which it was conspicuous will never be for- gotten.
I shall be glad to see the history. Please add me to your list of subscribers. Yours very truly, EDWARD HATCH, Breret Major General.
SHOAL CREEK CAMPAIGN.
The following accounts are so well written, and show so well the movements of the cavalry division of which the Ninth Ilinois Cavalry formned a part on that memorable sixty-four days' expedition from Memphis to Nashville, Tenn., from September 30th to December 2, 1864, that I have deemed it best to embody them in full in this history. They are taken from the " History of the Second
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lowa Cavalry," written by Sergeant Lyman B. Pierce, regimental color bearer, and published in 1865:
"The Confederate Government, conscious of their inability to check the advance of Sherman, had already commenced the execution of their long talked of scheme of invading Tennessee, capturing Nashville, and planting their victori- ous armies on the banks of the Ohio. This movement they claimed would compel Sherman to abandon his campaign, and thus prove the turning point of the war. But they had counted without their host. Sherman took no notice of Hood, but having turned him over to General Thomas, he leisurely pursued his plans for the final blow at the Rebellion.
Genera! Hood, Jeff. Davis' chosen leader for this invasion, had been given command of the finest army the Confederate government boasted, out of Rich- mond, one corps of which he had already crossed to the north side of the Ten- nessee, at Florence, Ala.
Brigadier-General Croxton was stationed on Shoal Creek, ten miles northeast of Florence, with a poorly armed brigade of cavalry to watch Hood's movements, but his force was entirely too small to confront so large an army. Hatch was therefore ordered to proceed to Shoal Creek with his division, now known as the Fifth Division Cavalry Corps, M. D. M., and having united his forces with those of General Croxton, to take command of all. Croxton's command had suffered severely from the assaults of Hood's troops, and General Hatch found great dili- gence requisite for guarding against this wily and powerful foe. But in selecting him for this work, General Thomas had placed the right man in the right place, as was attested by the fact that while he remained there, the enemy, who out- numbered his force five to one, did not succeed, in any instance, in gaining advantage over him. General Hatch reached Shoal Creek November 6th, and that night made a reconnoissance of the rebel piekets, the result of which was a sharp skirmish between the two forces across the creek.
No advantage, save a knowledge of the rebel position, was gained. Our loss was none. Hatch attacked the enemy's pickets on the 8th. The Second Iowa were the advance and attacking party. Captain Foster moved forward upon the rebel right until he gained the creek, when Company D, Lieutenant Griffith com- manding, plunged into the stream, swollen by the rains. The current, however, was too strong to be resisted successfully, and as the horses reached the swiftest part of the water, they were rolled down the stream with resistless fury. This necessitated the abandonment of the attempt at crossing. While this was passing on the left, Company I, Lieutenant Watson commanding, pressed to the creek on the right, and attempted to reach and burn a mill near the opposite side of the stream, used by the rebels to grind corn for their army. But this mill was strongly guarded, besides being protected by the same resistless flood that bad turned Company D back on the left. Under cover of this attack Major Moore, with the Third Battalion, moved off to the right and crossed the creek at a forp some distance above. Thus over the creek, Moore moved southwest, by a rapid march, passing entirely around Hood's army, from one to three miles from his lines, and at daylight on the morning of the 9th be struck the Tennessee River, fourteen miles below Flererce. The object of this hazardous dash was to sid cight soldiers sent down the river a few days previous to attempt the destruction
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of Hood's pontoons at Florence. As soon as Moore struck the point designated, he caused a large bonfire, built as a guide to these fellows, who Hatch hoped might have reached that neighborhood in need of help. Moore waited here for them to report as long as it was prudent, when, hearing nothing from them, he turned his face campward, which he reached after again swimming Shoal Creek on the night of the 10th. The boys with Moore were hungry, wet and weary, having been out thirty-eight hours in a continual rain storm. Twenty-nine hours of this time were spent in the saddle, either fighting or on the rapid march. Major Moore pressed citizens to guide him on the 9th, palming himsel off upon them as a Confederate officer. The men, after whom Moore went, did not suc- ceed in their pontoon-destroying enterprise, and were most of them captured.
As General Hatch was determined to keep posted as to the doings and posi- tions of the enemy he was watching, he made a third attack upon their lines on the 11th. Major Schmitzer, with the Second Battalion of the Second Towa, forced a crossing. fording the creek and driving in the pickets on the other side. At the same time of this move, Captain Harper, with the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, crossed the creek above, and coming around in the rebel rear be charged then pickets, striking a panic in their camp, under cover of which he recrossed below and rejoined the command.
On the 18th of November, Colonel Coou again crossed Shoal Creek with the Second Brigade, and moved several miles around the enemy's camp. When some five miles from the creek, we struck the rebel pickets, just as they were being . posted after a foraging tour; Company D, Lieutenant Griffith commanding, was in advance. Asthe videttes, four in number, discovered the pickets, they imme- diately charged them with such fury that the rebels fled without firing a shot, or even halting to see the strength of their pursucrs. Those videttes pursued them to the main column, capturing two prisoners, two revolvers and sixteen guns. Colonel Coon continued the reconnaissance for a few miles further, and then returned to the neighborhood of Cowpen Fard, where he camped for a few days.
On the 18th Major Horton made a reconnoissance across the ereck with the Second Iowa and Ninth Illinois Cavalry. He crossed at Cowpen Ford and moved around Hood's lines, within from three-fourths of a mile to a mile of the rebel pickets, penetrating the country as far as the Waynesboro road. When about midway between Shoal Creek and this road, he had to pass a main thor- oughfare leading direct to the rebel camp, not more than three miles distant. At. this road he left the Ninth Illinois to keep back any force the enemy should send in that direction, until, with the Second Iowa, he could complete the reconnois- sanre, and return to that place. We had not moved far, however, before the report of the Ninth Illinois rifles told us that Harper could not hold his post in peace. Soon an orderly came from Harper informing Horton that the enemy were concenrtating such a force at that point, that he should be forced to yield the road to them. Upon the reception of this news, Horton ordered Harper to fall back by the most practicable route and re-cross the creek, leaving him to get out as best he conld after completing his march to the Waynesboro road. We now pressed rapidly forward until the desired point was reached and the requisite information obtained. This done, Major Horton directed his guide to take hin
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to some ford farther up the creek than the one at which Harper was expected to cross. As we had no train, the guide took us to an old disused ford, where, having to cross a very rough country and a very muddy field, we succeeded in crossing the creek in safety. The knowledge obtained by Horton of the exist- ence of this ford subsequently proved of great importance to our brigade.
On the morning of the 19th of November General Hatch ordered Colonel Coop to cross the creek with the second brigade, and establish a camp on Butler Creek. From information gained by former reconnoissances, Colonel Coon regarded this as a very dangerous experiment, but, nevertheless, promptly obeyed the order, and by 10 o'clock A. M., the brigade with train and baggage had crossed the creek and moved towards the spot designated as our camp. Colonel Coon crossed at Cowpen Ford, which is below where Butler Creek empties into Shoal Creek. No sooner had Coon moved out towards. Butler Creck than General Forrest, who from the frequency of our reconnoissances was anticipating this move, moved upon our rear, cutting us off from Cowpen Ford. Forrest bad also sent General Buford's division of mounted infantry, consisting of ten regi- ments, to the ford above Butler Creek.
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