USA > Illinois > History of the Thirty-fourth regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry. September 7 1861. July 12, 1965 > Part 16
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A kind wish to you all, officers and men, with my fondest hope that this year it may be the will of Him who disposes, to bring this war to a close; and may the God of Battles, who hath protected us in the past, protect us through the one upon which we are now entering, is the humble prayer of
Your Regimental Commander,
PETER EGE.
Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Regiment.
On the 4th of January, 1865, the regiment, with the brigade, went out about seven miles on the main road leading along the Savannah and Charleston railroad, to relieve a brigade of the First Division in guarding a pass where the cattle were corralled. One diary of this date states that speculators and traders in the city are deriving enormous profits on sales to the soldiers, and quotes apples at $50 per barrel, in greenbacks, and that one cheese retailed netted the seller $300.
Dr. Hostetter's diary of January 5th records that on Christ- mas Eve the men of the Fourteenth Corps kept up such an in- cessant firing, in honor of the occasion, that other troops were aroused and called out under arms. On New Year's Eve, the regimental commanders in the Corps called out their commands under arms, in front of the field officers' tents, and arms were stacked and guards placed on beats, and the men sent to quar- ters. Inquiry developed the fact that the proceeding was for the purpose of preventing a repetition of the previous scene, but the men loaded canteens with powder, bored holes in stumps and logs and loaded them, and about ten o'clock a terrific series of explosions followed.
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"Jan. S .- Sunday. [Dr. Hostetter. ] Many in the regiment went to church to-day, but this writer remained in camp, where he is usually found. Savannah is gained, and the seven days' wonder about Sherinan's great raid is over. Let us, then, jot .down, while it is fresh in everybody's memory, something about the military merits of this bold strike. There never was a more glaring instance of success being acquired by good luck than this. It will be conceded by all who accompanied Sherman's army that a protracted, steady rain of one week would have rendered the roads impassable, to say nothing of the utter ina- bility, under such circumstances, to have crossed the swamps, which, in wet weather, are evidently miles in width, so that all pontoon trains together would have been insufficient to span them."
"When the army arrived in front of Savannah, there were but a few days' rations on the wagons. Now, considering that crackers had been issued but twice on the march, there was no estimate made for supplies to meet the contingency of being cut off from the fleet for some time. This contingency was only obviated again by good luck. The taking of Fort McAllister was a sine qua non to the opening of communication. Had this fort been properly strengthened and manned (and no military man had a right to suppose it was not, in the absence of all informa- tion), it could have successfully resisted a siege, and a few days would have exhausted our supplies, for want of which our army would have been compelled to leave Savannah for fields where forage could be obtained."
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"This accident being overcome, Savannah was by no means taken. Artillery firing on both sides, with little damage to either, was kept up from the-13th of December (the time when communication was first opened with Osabaw Sound) until the night of the 20th, when the city was evacuated. When we entered their works, they were found strong, their artillery in fine order and plenty of it, the city accessible by three straight roads, the Savannah and Charleston railroad and the Georgia Central railroad, and skirted on each side by swamps that did not admit of deploying a force, but only an approach by march-
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ing by the right flank, in the face of artillery fully commanding all these entrance-ways. The intervening portions of the coun- try were not only covered with abatis, but overflowed with water. The canal, too, afforded a moat, independent of water in the swamps, the abatis, and the formidable forts and rifle- pits, which , crossed the above-named roads. What, then, induced the enemy to evacuate? Hero worship will ascribe it to some strategy of the General commanding. It was not want of provisions, for the city was full of rice when we gained it. What, then ? Good luck! By evacuating, the private and pub- lic property might be saved, and perhaps the rebel soldiery, being raw Georgia levies, mostly, would not fight. Then it was good luck, for what right has a military commander to expect that an invulnerable position will be abandoned to save private property or citizens' purse-strings ? Or what right has he to predicate success on the non-combatant qualities of his foe ? Neither of these are good military reasons upon which to stake such a venture as the capture of Savannah. It was luck."
The good, loyal Dr. Hostetter does not say that Gen. Sher- man, as the originator and prime-mover of the scheme, as well as the one absolutely in command of the expedition, was not an all-important factor in the accomplishment of one of the boldest and most unique military campaigns mentioned in history. He knew that the season of the year covering the time necessary to accomplish the march, was not usually an exceedingly rainy season. He also knew that Georgia was full of that kind of supplies needed by his army, and that no force of the enemy could be detached from any other locality to oppose his march. He was reasonably well informed as to the number and charac- ter of the troops to be encountered at the end of the journey. He further knew, as did his army, that the men behind the guns, who marched with him, were not to be refused anything that their General wanted, and the result was that they got Savan- nah for him to tender as a Christmas present to their "Father. Abraham." .
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"Jan. 9, 1865 .- [Dr. Hostetter. ] My birthday. I well remember that last year I spent this anniversary among the rocks on the hillside near Whiteside station, between Chatta- nooga and Bridgeport, waiting for a train, on our way home on veteran furlough. It was cold, cheerless and disagreeable. How little idea could then be formed of the vicissitudes through which I have since passed. We made the trip home, spent some happy hours there, and returned the last day of February and reached Rossville, Ga., March 7, 1864. From that time the army was re-organized, and on the 2d of May we started on the arduous Atlanta campaign, and encountered the enemy at Buz- zards' Roost, and Rocky Face; . Resaca, which we approached by Snake Creek Gap, in the night; Rome, where we whipped the enemy; Dallas, where we lost men whenever they put their heads above our works; at Kenesaw, where the dreadful charge was made by our men on the 27th of June; at the Chattahoo- chie river and Peach Tree Creek; at Atlanta, where Capt. Amos W. Hostetter was wounded, July 23d, at 10 o'clock, and died July 26th, at 10 o'clock; at Jonesboro, September Ist, which ended that campaign."
"Then the campaign to Florence, via Chattanooga, Hunts- ยท ville, Athens, etc., returning to Atlanta via Chattanooga, Lafay- ette and Rome, Ga., and thence over the old battle-grounds to Atlanta. This campaign commenced at Atlanta, September 28, 1864. and terminated there November 15th, and on Novem- 16th commenced the last campaign, and we got into position before Savannah, December 1Ith, and took the city on the 2Ist, having marched during the year not less than 1,400 miles."
The remaining days until January 20, 1865, spent by the army under Gen. Sherman's command in the city of Savannah, were uneventful. The ordinary duties of camp life, occasion- ally varied by picket duty and some work on fortifications. The regiment went on picket on the 19th, and the following day received orders to march, and returned to camp, packed up and marched at II o'clock a. m., up the Georgia Central railroad
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towards Millen, and camped for the first night of the new cam- paign. A pioneer corps was organized, consisting of one man from each company in the brigade and one sergeant from each regiment. The first day of the campaign was a forerunner of many others of similar kind before the army made a halt at Goldsboro, N. C. It rained almost the entire day, and roads became swamps. The brigade and Division remained until the 25th at the place where the first day's march ended. A portion of the army was on the east side of the Savannah river, but una- ble to move owing to high water.
"Jan. 25 .-- [Gaylord's diary. ] Our Division started at 7 a. m., and took the Savannah and ' Louisville main road for a few miles, then turned off to the right towards the Savannah river. Roads were bad and swampy in the afternoon. Marched rapidly and halted often to rest, the Second brigade in the advance; encountered no opposition. Saw a few houses, mostly vacant. Camped early, and the left wing of the regiment went on picket. Marched sixteen miles."
"Jan. 26 .- The Second brigade marched in rear of the Division. The roads are bad, and we were obliged to halt often for the supply train. Weather cool and disagreeable, with north winds. Marched about ten miles and camped early, near Springfield. Found the Third Division, Fourteenth Corps, in camp there. The First Division close in our rear. . A brigade of the enemy left the town precipitately as our advance came in sight. We drew three days' full rations this evening. Ice froze one-fourth inch thick the last two nights, which we think is cold weather for this Southern climate. The pioneers find plenty to do repairing roads."
"Jan. 27 .- Marched at 7:30 a. m. . Roads were good until we reached Ebenezer creek, which was overflowing its banks. The troops had to wade through the water, which was two and one-half to three feet deep and about three hundred feet wide, with ice along the shores. Quite a good many men fell down while crossing. It was exceedingly uncomfortable, muddy and .
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difficult. Marched about six miles and camped for the day at I p. m. Forage was found quite abundantly."
"Jan. 28 .- Marched at S a. m., over good roads, and soon struck the main river road, and proceeded up the river about three and one-half iniles and camped at "Sister's Ferry" at II . a. m. Cattle, hogs, poultry and sheep were found in abundance." [The brigade remained in the last-mentioned camp until the 5th of February, and then crossed the Savannah river, leaving the Thirty-Fourth on the west side. Company F, which had been headquarters guard at Corps headquarters for several months, returned to the regiment January 31st. On February Ist, a detail from the regiment crossed the river to work on corduroy roads. ]
On February 3d, the One Hundred and Twenty-First Ohio went on picket. On the 4th, troops and trains crossed the river into South Carolina, by means of the pontoon bridge. On the 5th, Company D went out on picket at noon, and at 3 o'clock p. m., Company H went out to reinforce Company D, which was threatened by cavalry. The remainder of the regiment moved down near the landing, and Companies A and F went down the Savannah road on picket. The pontoon bridge gave way in the afternoon, which delayed the crossing of troops, but all were over during the night except the Thirty-Fourth and five companies of the Fifty-Eighth Indiana, all being on picket, without any support, the other troops being three or four miles out from the river, on the Carolina side.
On the 6th of February, there was rain and cold, disagree- able weather, the regiment being on picket, without any sup- port on the same side of the river, except the five companies of the Fifty-Eighth Indiana, which left during the day.
"Feb. 7 .- {Gaylord's diary. ] The pontoons were taken up last night, leaving the Thirty-Fourth alone on the Georgia side of the river. Drew two days' rations this forenoon. Very heavy rains last night and this forenoon. All of the Fourteenth Corps has moved on into South Carolina except the Second Division,
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which is loading trains and getting ready to move. A detail was sent out with a wagon to take rations to Companies D, H, C and I, on picket one and one-half miles out. Companies B, G, K and E are at the river in reserve, and A and F are still down the Savannah road on picket. Boats continue to run to this point, bringing. some supplies and keeping up communication. The regiment was withdrawn at It p. m., and took a boat up the river to the upper landing, on the South Carolina side, and landed at 12 o'clock and drew clothing and rations."
It is a "long cry" back to 1865, and the living comrades are scarcely recognizable to-day as the seasoned veterans who had marched thousands of miles, and had withstood the fierce conflicts of many a botly-contested battlefield; who had hun- gered and thirsted, sweltered and shivered, and whose blood had been shed upon the soil of a half-dozen Southern states; who had marched with Sherman to the sea, and were now enter- ing upon a new campaign which should require genuine all- around endurance, to a greater extent than any yet experienced covering the same period of time. Many of those who survived to the end of the war have since then "passed through that tent whose curtain never outward swings." Amongst the best known and most highly regarded of the comrades of the regiment, who is one of the latter class, was Capt. William C. Robinson, of Company A. He was the original second duty-sergeant of that company, and was promoted by regular gradations to be its last captain. He was an inmate of Southern prisons about eight months from the latter part of October, 1863, and shortly after his return to the company was detached as an aid upon the staff of Brigade Commander Gen. John G. Mitchell, and so continued until the close of the war. His opportunities for observation were good, and he used them to the best advantage. After the arrival of the army at Goldsboro, he wrote an extended letter to his brother, George M. Robinson, then and now a resident of of Sterling, Ill. It has been the privilege of this writer to make a copy of that letter, which is strictly an account of the cam- paign from Savannah to Goldsboro. It is so complete and com-
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prehensive that it will be inserted here as his contribution to the regimental history. Those who knew him best will recall the kindly gleam of his eye and the sympathetic, friendly greeting, and that courtesy of intercourse, that must refresh the memory of the days long past, and move the heart with genuine sorrow at the death of one who was always proud to say that he was a comrade of the Thirty-Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
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CHAPTER IX.
COPY OF A LETTER FROM W. C. ROBINSON TO HIS BROTHER, GEORGE M. ROBINSON.
HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., SECOND DIV., FOURTEENTH A. C.
GOLDSBORO, N. C., March 25, 1865.
DEAR MACK :- When Sherman's army left Savannah on the 20th of January, we were, like the people in the North as well as the rebels, very much in the dark as to where we would come out, having but little idea that the campaign would continue two months. We thought our little trip from Atlanta to the coast a big thing, and though it stood unrivalled in the annals of war, yet, in comparison to the campaign just ended, was only a picnic excursion. * We left Sister's Ferry, on the Savannah river, February 8th, and marched eight miles to Brighton Cross-Roads, where we camped for the night, being a short day's march, but only a beginning for longer ones. You will find all the names I give on the maps, and by them can trace the line of march.
Feb. 9. - The coldest day of the season. Marched twenty miles. On the roth, made same distance; also the 11th, passing through Barnwell.
Feb. 12 .- Marched about sixteen miles. Weather mild; roads good. Crossed Augusta and Charleston railroad at Wil- liston station, ninety-six miles from .Charleston, and camped on bank of South Edisto river. During our march to this point, the right wing, commanded by Gen. Howard, was moving on Branchville, which was captured by him and compelled the rebels to evacuate Charleston. Gen. Kilpatrick, with his Div- ision of cavalry, was covering our left flank, and on this day had a spirited fight at Aiken, a station on the railroad about eight miles from Williston. I believe he occupied the place with one brigade, but was attacked by a superior force and was compelled
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to retire, the General himself being nearly captured. Gen. Wade Hampton had been placed in command of all the rebel cav- alry, and had a force too strong for Kilpatrick, and, besides, being a very different man from Wheeler, gave our cavalry to understand that he would fight.
Feb. 13. Crossed South Edisto river. Marched only five miles, on Columbia road; in charge of Corps trains, and had a. rough time getting over the terribly muddy roads. Camped at Jordan's Mills, or Dean's Swamp. Very cold.
Feb. 14 .- At II o'clock, arrived at north branch of Edisto river; found the bridge burnt. The First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics repaired the bridge in an hour, so we could cross and resume the march. The weather to-day is very bad, rain- ing and freezing, but made eighteen miles, and camped on "First creek," within eighteen miles of Columbia, the capital of the State of South Carolina. So far have found but little sign of the enemy, though our foragers had frequent encounters with small bodies of cavalry. A foraging party for each regiment had been organized. consisting of two men from each company, all under charge of a commissioned officer, their business being to bring in supplies from the country. They soon mounted them- selves on captured horses and mules, and were quite an effective cavalry force, thoroughly scouring the country and keeping the main column posted as to the movements of the enemy. Though a very useful branch of the service, very often whipping the rebel cavalry, and keeping the men well supplied with the best the country afforded to eat, yet they soon acquired the title of "bum- mers." When our army entered South Carolina, it was the settled determination of each individual to let. the people know there was war in the land, and then commenced indiscriminate pillage and burning. The poor were made fearfully poor, and the rich were in every case reduced to the same level of poverty and suffering. They are looked upon as the cause and begin- ning of the war, and fearfully has the State paid for it. Chief among the "executioners" were the "bummers," who, being mounted, had better facilities for visiting the "condemned."
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Feb. 15. -- Soon after starting this morning, we found a very large cavalry force moving on the same road, and about dinner time, while some of them were chasing a few of our for- agers, they ran against our column and fired into us, wounding two men. One of our orderlies was captured only a few rods from the road. . I took out a small company as skirmishers, and got within seventy-five yards of about two hundred rebels, but the boys failed to fire upon them, thinking they were our own men, as many of them had on blue overcoats. We captured one horse. After dinner, I took three companies and went ahead of the column as an advance guard. We soon caught sight of some "Johnnies," and fired. upon them, capturing two of them, with their horses and equipments, though none were hurt. Soon after, our advance came running back, saying the rebels would charge on us in less than a minute. We formed line across the road, with fixed bayonets; at the same time we heard what we supposed wasa regiment of cavalry, coming down on us like an avalanche. There was no retreat, with the col- umn a mile in the rear, and every man prepared to fight or die. like a hero. I then thought my revolver and a swift horse my only salvation. But, after all, it only amounted to a scare, as what we thought was rebel cavalry proved to be a squad of "bummers." The rebs had chased them about a half mile, cap- turing their lieutenant. We moved forward and found his horse, very badly wounded. The rebs had run away, but we were as badly scared as if they had made a genuine charge. Crossed Red Bank creek, marching on Two-Notch road. Camped near Twelve-Mile creek, two and one-half miles from Lexington.
Feb, 16 .- About noon to-day, arrived within three miles of Columbia, and at the same time the advance of Fifteenth, Sev- enteenth and Twentieth Corps arrived at same point, Columbia being the place appointed for the concentration of the army. The campaign was well planned when four Corps arrived at a given point almost at the same moment, as in this case they did. Gen. Mitchell and I rode forward to the two-mile post, and had . a fine view of the city through a glass. The city was afterward
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occupied by the right wing, and destroyed by them, while our Corps, with the Twentieth, moved up the river four miles and crossed on the pontoon bridge laid at Lippard's Ferry.
Feb. 17 .- After crossing the Saluda, we came into a much finer country, with large plantations and plenty of supplies. The pine timber, which was about the only kind we had seen from Savannah up, gave way to a tolerable growth of oak, which was a sign of improvement. We marched about twenty-two miles, at dark arriving at "Fieschley's Mills," on Broad river, and immediately commenced laying the pontoon bridge. The Seventy-Eighth Illinois was sent across in small boats, and about daylight the bridge was finished. We had a night of hard work.
Feb. 18 .- Early in the morning, our brigade crossed in advance and took a position across the Columbia and Greenville railroad, stopping further shipments by that line. During the day word was received that the rebel General Cheatham's Corps had crossed the river on the railroad bridge, eight miles above, and would probably attack our Division, so we took the precau- tion to fortify, but they failed to appear. Our foragers found a rich harvest, bringing in any amount of flour, meal and meat, besides horses and mules. They found the rebel cavalry rather plenty, and brought in some prisoners, though some of our boys were captured, among them Jonathan S. Crow and Harvey Con- away, of Company A. The rebels were in the habit of kill- ing foragers, and we are fearful about the fate of these two boys.
Feb. 19 .-- As our Corps and the Twentieth were making good headway crossing the river, it was determined to push our Division out on the railroad for the purpose of destroying a por- tion of it. We accordingly marched five miles to Thompson's P. O., and, after dinner, deployed the whole Division along the road back to the bridge, and in less than three hours tore up. five miles of track, burnt the ties, heated and bent and twisted the rails beyond repair. So there was another link in the chain of railroads thoroughly destroyed.
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Feb. 20-The Second Division again took charge of Corps trains. The Divisions did this alternately, generally keeping the trains four or five days, leaving two Divisions of the Corps unincumbered, in light marching and fighting order. About noon this day we went into camp at Ebenezer Meeting House, near Little river.
Feb. 21 .- Marched at 10 a. m. Made about fourteen miles and camped about six miles to the left of Winnsboro, on the road to White Oak station.
Feb. 22 .- Washington's birthday. Big militia training in South Carolina. Marched at 6 a. m., crossing the Charlotte railroad at White Oak station. Camped at I p. m., near Wat- eree Meeting House.
Feb. 23. - To-day our brigade was in rear, assisting the trains over the worst roads I ever saw, and the last regiment did not get into camp until three o'clock next morning.
Feb. 24. - The pontoon bridge was thrown across the Catawba river at Rocky Mount Ferry. The Catawba is a very deep and swift stream, nearly one thousand feet wide, and the pontonniers had great difficulty in getting the anchors to hold. Some of the canvas boats were swept away. It took all day to get our Division across, and we camped in a terribly muddy place, where we staid until the 28th, meantime using every pos- sible effort to get the trains across the river, being obliged to corduroy nearly three miles of road, all the time raining in torrents.
Feb. 28 .- Raining very hard. Moved five or six miles. Corduroyed on the road all day, and at dark camped at War- renton's farm.
March 1 .- Made about eighteen miles over very bad roads. Camped at Clyburn's plantation. The Twentieth Corps moved in advance of us on this road. Their "bummers" found the Bank of Camden and a branch of State Bank of South Carolina, in charge of the president and cashier, secreted in the woods. They made the banker unlock and shell out, getting about $800 in gold and silver, and a million and a half of Confederate bonds and money. That bank went into liquidation, or rather was
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