USA > Illinois > History of the Thirty-fourth regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry. September 7 1861. July 12, 1965 > Part 17
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"wound up," a "leetle" the quickest, probably, of any other on record. In this country, the boys go on the principle, "To the victor belongs the spoils," and, it seems, banks were no excep- tion. Mr. McDowell, the president, and Mr. Anderson, the cashier, were two seedy-looking individuals (for bankers), wear- ing butternut clothes and "shocking bad hats." They asked our protection for the night, seeing they could not move, the aforesaid "bummers" having gobbled their two wagons and eight fine mules. For the sake of the "profession," I extended them a cordial invitation to tarry with us for the night, and they received their rations (foraged, may be, off their own farms) with a profusion of thanks. They thought our "commissary" smacked of old times. The next morning we left them alone in. the woods. They were very grateful for our protection, but we afterwards learned the "bummers" managed to find $400 more in coin among their effects, thus leaving them, for the redemp- tion of an extensive circulation, a lot of broken office furniture and an old safe without any funds. My opinion is, that bank will have to quit business.
March 2 .- Marched to and camped on Big Lynch creek, and on the 3d, camped at Thompson's creek. Found the bridge destroyed, and our brigade went to work to rebuild it. Detail worked nearly all night.
March 4 .- Marched on Cheraw road, an old, worn-out plank road. Camped at 3 p. m. in a beautiful place near the Great Pedee river. The pontoons were pushed forward and got ready to lay across the river.
On the 5th and 6th, we laid in camp and rested, of which the men were very much in need. About the time of our arrival at this place, the right wing, under Gen. Howard, had a fight at Cheraw, of which we never have received the particulars, only that some prisoners were taken, and twenty-four pieces of artil- lery. This artillery had been removed from Charleston on its evacuation by the enemy. Among them was the piece that fired the first shot on Fort Sumpter. On it was an inscription to that effect, and also a presentation of it to the State of South Caro- lina. It has been attached to one of our batteries, and here-
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THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
after, instead of throwing shot at the defenders of the Govern- ment that made it, will play on the rebels to the tune of "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail, Columbia!" The brass plate on which was the inscription was sent to Washington, D. C., as a trophy. I am told that a larger amount of ammunition was captured and destroyed at Cheraw than at any other one place during the war.
March 7 .- Crossed the Great Pedee river and camped on its bank. Wheeler's cavalry is reported to be crossing about fifteen miles above, at Haley's Ferry.
March 8 .-- Our brigade, in charge of Division trains, arrived at camp at 11:30 at night, after marching twenty-five miles. Raining, and roads very bad. Foragers got a large amount of supplies at Rockingham, the county seat of Anson county, N. C.
March 9 .- Marched twenty-two miles. Raining, and roads in bad condition.
March 10. --- Soon after starting this morning, a staff officer from Gen. Kilpatrick came to Gen. Morgan with word that the cavalry (one brigade) had been surprised at daylight by the whole of Wade Hampton's cavalry force, and asked for assist- ance from the infantry. Gen. Mitchell's brigade was sent to his relief, and, guided by the sound of artillery, we hastened across the country through the woods and fields. The distance was about four miles, and as the officer represented the enemy at- tacked in overwhelming force, and the artillery fire having ceased before our arrival, we felt great apprehension for the result of the affair. By a rapid march, the brigade arrived at the scene of the fight in less than an hour, and though at first Kilpatrick's men were completely routed, by desperate fighting had driven the rebels from the field, regaining all the lost ground, their camps and artillery. Everything was in confusion, making it very hard to gather the facts correctly. As nearly as I could make out, the case was something like this: Kilpatrick pushed forward the day before with one brigade of his Division, to this point, taking with him two pieces of artillery, leaving two brigades some ten miles in rear with his wagon train. They
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went into camp at 9 p. m., very tired, and posted but a light picket. Hampton, knowing our cavalry was divided, determined upon an attack. Accordingly, at daybreak next morning, he formed his lines, and, charging directly upon the pickets, cap- tured a portion of them, driving the balance pell-mell into camp, the men receiving the first alarm by a volley among their horses and tents. They were, of course, completely surprised, most of them running into the swamp in rear, without clothing or arms. A few who secured their arms made a stand in the swamp, through which the rebels could not charge, thus making a rally- ing point for others, and keeping up a brisk fire. Gen. Kilpat- rick himself barely escaped capture, and without boots, hat or pants, mounted on a mule with no saddle, succeeded in rallying his men for a fight. The lieutenant in charge of the artillery served his guns with effect, and helped materially in checking the rebels. Meantime the "Johnnies," thinking themselves secure in a complete victory, quarreled among themselves as to the division of the spoils. While this was going on, about forty scouts arrived on the ground, and, leading a vigorous charge, calling out that reinforcements had come, drove the enemy from their camp and saved the day. On our arrival, nothing was to be seen of the rebels, so we had nothing more to do than to eat a fine dinner with old Kil and staff, then return to the main column. The rebels were at one time complete masters of the field, but in the end gained nothing, by stopping to plunder. Thus many a field in this war has been lost. About dark, the brigade joined the Division at a point on the main road, four- teen miles from Fayetteville, where the army was bound.
On Saturday, March 1th, the army entered Fayetteville, N. C., and went into camp-with the expectation of having a few days' rest. Fayetteville is a very old town, situated on the river Cape Fear, is at the head of navigation, about 120 miles from the coast.
March 12 .-- A picket boat arrived from the fleet below with dispatches from Schofield and Porter. During the day the pontoon bridge was laid, and just before dark we received orders to cross, which was effected before midnight.
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On the 13th, camp was moved forward to Lock's creek, about five miles from town. In Fayetteville was located an old U. S. arsenal, one of the most extensive in the country, and of late run by the rebels, turning out large quantities of guns and ammunition. It was leveled to the ground, and numbered among the things that were.
March 14 .- We lay in camp, but the cavalry was doing a little business on our left flank. They succeeded in capturing Col. Rhett, of secession notoriety. Since the beginning of the war, he has commanded artillery in defense of Charleston, this being his first campaign in the field. His command consisted of a brigade of heavy artillery, acting as light infantry, which means, I suppose in their case, marching without shoes or hav- ersacks. While in rear of his skirmish lines, some of Kilpat- rick's scouts rode to the rear of his skirmishers, and coolly took his horse by the bridle and led the gallant colonel into our lines. He says he thought some of his own men were either drunk or playing a trick on him, and proposed to arrest them for disor- derly conduct, but finally realized he was a prisoner, concluding it was not only a Yankee trick, but mighty well done. He is a bitter rebel, but thinks the cause of the South gloomy enough. Says when they are subjugated he cannot live under a Yankee government, and will emigrate to a foreign land.
March 15. - Followed the Twentieth Corps on Raleigh road. Marched about twelve miles; raining very hard. Camped in the vicinity of Black river.
March 16 .- Kilpatrick's cavalry had the advance to-day, and found the rebel cavalry and infantry in pretty strong force behind works, and charged them and received a repulse. A Division of the Twentieth Corps, in advance of us, formed a line and went for them, and, though the loss was pretty severe, car- ried two lines of earthworks and captured three pieces of artil- lery. Our Division was pushed forward, and formed in two lines on the left of the Twentieth Corps, and moving forward, skirmished pretty heavily and soon developed the enemy in a new line of strong earthworks, with artillery, which they opened upon us. Our lines were extended to the right and left, skir-
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IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
mishing briskly, but failed to flank them out of their position. It was soon found their works extended across a neck of land, with flanks resting on the river Cape Fear and the Black. Artillery was placed in position and an old-fashioned artillery duel ensued. The rebels must be got out of the way, so prepa- rations were made to charge their works early next morning, but, to our infinite relief, they evacuated. The loss in our Div- ision in this fight was about one hundred and ten; that of the Twentieth Corps much larger.
March 17. - The Division crossed Black river. Roads very bad. Arrived at camp on Mingo creek at 9:30 p. m. Foragers went to Avarasboro, on our left, and captured five prisoners and saw a large number of rebel wounded, abandoned by their friends in their hurry to get away, thinking we were advancing on that road.
March IS .- The foragers this morning started out in ad- vance, stirring up the rebel cavalry, driving them several miles, when they were suddenly opened upon by two pieces of artillery, which checked them, and they very wisely concluded to wait for the infantry to come up. As soon as the Division arrived the First brigade was deployed to the right and the Second brigade to the left of the road. The Tenth Michigan and Thir- ty-Fourth Illinois, thrown out as skirmishers on the right and left, respectively, pushed rapidly forward, when the rebels with- drew with their artillery. Nobody hurt in the Thirty-Fourth. The Tenth Michigan had one man killed.
SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 1865.
"And now comes the tug of war." The battle of "Harper's Farm" (or Bentonville):
The morning was bright and clear. At an early hour, the First Division of the Fourteenth Corps, commanded by Brig. Gen. Carlin, filed by our camp with colors flying and bands playing the national airs. It was a splendid scene. All felt gay and joyous under the influence of the mild spring weather, with the prospect of very soon being at the end of our journey. Little did any think that, before the going down of the sun, a terrible bat-
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THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
tle would be fought and human blood flow like water. The for- agers, as usual, had taken the advance, expecting to find a rich harvest of supplies in the unexplored country beyond, but their ardor was soon checked by the enemy's cavalry, which appeared in front in considerable force. A battery of artillery also opened, when it was thought necessary to send forward an infantry force to clear the road. Sherman's army is bound for Goldsboro, and they must get out of the way! A brigade from the First Div- ision was placed in position, with orders to go forward and clear the way. They reported back that the enemy was behind his works in force, when another brigade was deployed into line, and still another. The skirmishing and artillery firing now be- came warm on both sides. Next the Second Division, Fourteenth Corps was ordered forward. Gen. Mitchell's (Second) brigade being in advance, was placed on the right of Carlin's Division. The Seventy-Eighth Illinois, Lieut. Col. M. R. Vernon, was thrown out as skirmishers, and drove the rebel pickets back to their works. Meantime the First brigade, Brig. Gen. Vandever, took position to our right, the Third brigade, commanded by Brevet Brig. Gen. Fearing, in reserve, while on Carlin's left was being formed a Division of the Twentieth Corps. These disposi- tions required several hours for their accomplishment. Mean- while the firing grew hotter along the whole line, as the boys pushed the rebels back to their works. The skirmishers reported the rebels moving a heavy column of troops on our right flank, and great vigilance was observed in that direction to prevent a surprise. Our men, having a ripe experience, took the precau- tion to throw up a breastwork of logs.
At 2:30 p. m., one brigade of the Twentieth Corps formed on Carlin's left, and another was going into position when the enemy burst upon them in one of those terrific charges for which they are famous, carrying everything before them like an ava- lanche. The enemy had massed a strong force on our left flank, the movement towards our right proving to be a mere feint. After an hour's fighting, it became evident that the left was giving way, being confirmed by an occasional straggler, working his way towards the right, and painfully so when companies,
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then whole regiments, came rolling back upon us in dismay and confusion, telling us we were flanked and would soon be sur- rounded did we stay there.
Under such circumstances, it is useless to pay any attention to that portion of the army that is struck by a panic. Only quick. decisive action will save the day, and, thank heaven, we had the man for the occasion on the spot. Our brigade was formed in two lines, the One Hundred and Twenty-First Ohio and Thirty-Fourth Illinois in rear. Gen. Mitchell immediately ordered the Thirty-Fourth to change front forward on tenth company, which, under direction of Capt. P. F. Walker, was promptly done, while a perfect mass of stragglers was crowding through to the rear. A portion of three regiments belonging to the First Division was here rallied and placed on the left of the Thirty-Fourth, the One Hundred and Twenty-First Ohio being placed still farther to the left of them, and the battle growing more furious and fearfully close every moment. The Third brigade was about this time thrown forward in support of the extreme left, which was fast giving away, but, being without works, they could not long stand the storm of bullets and fierce charges of the so-far victorious rebels.
The new line formed by Gen. Mitchell had ten minutes, during a lull in the battle-what an awful quietness that is-and never did men work more eagerly to place between themselves and rebel bullets a work for protection. The word is passed along from left to right, "They are coming! " and from the Gen- eral, "Every man in his place, and do your duty, boys." In another instant the battle had opened. Here the rebels received their first check, but coming on again with tremendous yells, the support on the left of the Thirty-Fourth gave way, leaving that flank entirely open. The rebels, seeing their advantage, moved into the gap on double-quick, and here was the crisis of the whole battle, and the most trying position in which the Thirty- Fourth or any portion of the brigade was ever in.
Simultaneously with the attack on the left, the enemy charged in front, but from there were handsomely repulsed, at which time it became necessary for the men to jump to the
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THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
opposite side of the works for protection from a severe fire now coming from both flank and rear. This operation of "bouncing" the works occurred three times during the continuance of the battle, but luckily for us its fury was broken when the charges on the front were checked. .
The enemy had moved upon us in two lines, coming so close that very many were killed or wounded within forty paces of our lines, while many, finding there was no escape from our fire and that of their friends in rear, threw down their guns and surren- dered. The great fear was that the ammunition would become exhausted, and every captured rebel was made to shell out that remaining in his box, to be fired at his own friends. The ord- nance train barely escaped capture, and was removed so far to the rear that it was impossible to procure a supply from that source. A detail sent during the battle, for cartridges, never returned-supposed to have gone into the rebel lines and been captured. About twenty of the enemy were hauled over the works by the Thirty-Fourth, and it was a ludicrous sight to see them performing gymnastics across the works alongside of our boys. Nearly a regiment of those who succeeded in turning our flank were captured.
It is conceded by all that Gen. J. D. Morgan's Second Division of the Fourteenth Corps saved the day, and it will not be doing injustice to any regiment, where all did so well, to say that the Thirty-Fourth Illinois Vets not only on this day sus- tained the proud reputation which it has the honor to enjoy in this Division and army, but that it held the key to the whole position, and, by unwavering firmness, held that position. A single straggler or particle of confusion might have cost us a bloody defeat.
As night drew on, the battle began to show a more cheer- ing prospect. The troops on the left began to hold their ground, and finally, step by step, the enemy was driven back, our artil- lery, which had been massed in a favorable position, assisting . very materially. . Gen. Hoke, in leading a charge on our front, was supposed to be captured by the First brigade, so other pris-
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oners said, but, if so, he managed to escape, along with about twenty-five others who got away in the confusion of battle.
With the coming of darkness, the fury of the battle ceased, with an occasional outbreak of musketry on different portions of the lines, when the disappointed enemy made a last desperate · effort to break them, or, in the confusion of their retreat, ran against the many angles of works held by our men. One or two little incidents I will relate to show the close proximity of the opposing forces. A rebel sergeant came to Capt. Jones, com- manding the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio, with instruc- tions from his major to be very careful about firing, as his left would join on to the. supposed rebel right of this regiment. About that time "Johnny" discovered his mistake, but the cap- tain had him by the collar and drew him over the works, fol- lowed by about twenty others, laboring under the same mistake. A rebel lieutenant also came up to the Thirty-Fourth and inquired, "What regiment ?" saying he heard us talking and supposed us to be friends. Before he got over his scare, he told us the exact position of his regiment, the Twenty-Seventh Georgia. It seems they had been moved into position after dark, their left flank resting not more than twenty paces from the front of the Thirty-Fourth. Capt. Walker immediately, by direction of Gen. Mitchell, sent two companies in advance of the works to demand their surrender, which was refused, and fire was opened on them. It is perhaps needless to say they got out of that as fast as possible.
From what we could learn from prisoners, it seems Gens. Joe Johnston and Bragg were in command; that Johnston told his troops there was but one Corps of Sherman's army on the ground, the balance being encumbered with large trains in rear, and that they could now annihilate the Yankees in detail, by first crushing this Corps, then the rest on the day following. They agree in saying that Johnston had all the rebel forces south of Lee's army, numbering probably thirty or thirty-five thousand men. Some prisoners were taken by our brigade who had just arrived from Mobile. It will be a mortifying fact for them to learn that they were opposed by less than two Divisions of
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THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
infantry during the entire battle, that their gains were only a few prisoners, counterbalanced by those taken by us, and only two pieces of artillery.
March 20 .-- Our pickets discovered early this morning that the enemy had evacuated their works occupied by them before and after the battle of yesterday. The lines were immediately advanced and the old rebel works occupied, but the skirmishers soon discovered a new line, full of "Johnnies," covering and parallel with the Goldsboro road, the enemy having retired their left for this purpose. Their artillery was so placed as to rake the works they left, which made a pretty warm place. Gen. Baird's Third Division formed on the left, and, getting some artillery in position, soon had the rebel battery engaged, while our lines were being advanced, which was immediately done and works erected in front of and parallel with those of the enemy. A brisk skirmish was kept up, but no general engagement occurred.
While Gen. Mitchell and staff were inspecting the skirmish line, a rebel sharpshooter, whom we could see occasionally, paid his compliments by firing at us, the fourth shot taking effect on Lieut. O. M. Scott, One Hundred and. Twenty-First Ohio, ord- nance officer. His wound is a severe one, through the thigh, but not dangerous.
March 21. - During the time the left wing, under command of Gen. Slocum, has been engaged with the enemy, Gen. How- ard, with the right wing, has not been idle, having marched to our rear and right some fifteen miles, taking possession of Cox's bridge, across the Neuse river, and opening communication with Gen. Schofield, through Terry's troops. This being done, and our base secure, Howard retraced his steps, falling on the rebel left and serving them as they did us two days before. This occasioned a still farther falling back of the enemy, though in our front they were little affected by it, keeping up a bold front, using their artillery savagely. A large house, situated half way between the picket lines, was secured by a few of our boys, who, from the second story windows, annoyed the rebels by shooting down in their works, killing many artillery horses. This, it
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seems, they could not bear, so they advanced a line of battle, driving in our skirmishers, and burnt the house. -
March 22 .- At daylight this morning we found the enemy's works evacuated, they having retreated in the direction of Raleigh. Marched six miles and camped on Flood creek, in sight of Gen. Terry's Corps, from Wilmington. He has two Divisions of colored troops, the first our boys have seen. They lined the road as we marched by with bands playing and colors flying, and seemed delighted at the sight of Sherman's army, and I don't see but our boys looked upon the colored soldier as they would on any other man-good friends in a fight.
March 23 .- Marched through Goldsboro, reviewed by Gen. Sherman, with his wing and Corps commanders. Our present camp is situated about two miles north of the town, and the boys are engaged in fitting up tents, drawing clothing, and are ready to receive a few greenbacks. The wounded are comforta- bly cared for in hospitals, hastily fitted up in the seminary, churches, etc., and are generally doing well. Those slightly wounded have been sent to Newbern. The cars have come in, greeted with cheers by the whole army. We have settled down quietly in camp to enjoy a good rest, which we think at least has been earned.
I enclose a list of casualties in the Thirty-Fourth Illinois since January 20th to the ending of the campaign.
Your brother,
W. C. ROBINSON. Capt. and A. A. Ins. G.
George M. Robinson, Sterling, Illinois.
.
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THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
REPORT OF KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING IN THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, ILLINOIS VET. VOLS., SINCE JAN. 20, 1865, (TO MARCH 23, 1865).
NAMES.
R'NK
CO.
DATE.
REMARKS.
KILLED-
Irvin W. Palmer
Mus.
A
Mar. 16
Mortally wounded ; died same night.
Newton M. Wright
Sergt
F
19
John H. Gull (2d)
Prvt
16
16
David Merrick ..
16
George P. Ehrman.
Corpl
D
19
James H. Deaver
Pryt
19
Diedrich Kruger
..
=
19
John C. Forbes
1st sgt
C
19
First Lieutenant Comp'y C.
George W. Conard.
Pryt
66
19
WOUNDED --
Samuel T. Miller
Corpl
A
16
Very serious, in jaw : imp'g.
Tobias Kaufman.
Prvt
16
Slight: on duty in Co.
David Henry.
19
face: on duty in Co.
Sylvester Kramer
19
. . sh'ldr
John W. Savers.
19
.. face
Joseph B. Blanchard
F
16
Right arm amputated.
Charles M. Taylor
16 Arm, slight.
Isaac Fish ..
Corpl
James B. Taylor
19
|Leg, slight.
John L. Henrie.
..
D
19 Mortal; died March 20th.
Lewis Gleichman.
19
22d.
James Henrie.
19 Side. severe.
Michael N. Gaffney
Pryt
19 Right hand.
Truman H. Kidney.
19
severe.
Henry E. Fuller.
..
19 Right arm.
Jacob Senneff
19 Both arms: one amputated.
Thomas Twoey
..
19 Head, serious.
Hiram Cooper.
Hand, slight. 19
Oliver P. Barber
Corpl
19
Josiah J. Deck.
Prvt
19 Neck,
Charles L. Dyer
I
19
Arm.
Alfred A. Ward.
19 Shoulder, slight.
William H. Misner
..
=
19 Leg amputated.
James A. Wills.
Ist sgt
66
19 |Knee, severe.
Henry A. Nichols
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