USA > Illinois > History of the Thirty-fourth regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry. September 7 1861. July 12, 1965 > Part 18
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Prvt
C
19
Right arm, slight.
MISSING-
Jonathan S. Crow Corpl
Feb. IS
These men were supposed to be
Harvey Conaway Prvt
IS
captured by the enemy while
Morris Johnson
19
away from the main column, foraging. Some foragers, it is known. were killed after hav-
William L. Harrison
Mus.
A
Nathan Isenhour
Corpl
K
18
Elias Davis.
Prvt
G
19
. R. H. Steele
19
John E. N. Welsh
B
19
0
Lewis S. Ellis.
66
19
Head: died March 27th.
19 Scalp wound, slight.
66
19
J. Lindsey Black.
William E. Kennedy
4: 0X C H
5
5 ing surrendered, but it is hoped, as these men were out with authority, that they were treated as prisoners of war.
CHAPTER X.
The diary of Dr. Hostetter gives some interesting details of the fighting of March 16th and 19th, which, being written from the standpoint of the regimental surgeon, has a somewhat dif- ferent flavor from the ordinary descriptions of such affairs:
"March 16, 1865 .- On the road to Goldsboro. The enemy to-day made obstinate resistance to our advance. Two com- panies of the regiment were on the skirmish line, and we lost three men killed-Irvin W. Palmer, of Company A; David Merrick, of Company F, and John H. Gull, Company F. The wounded are: Samuel T. Miller, Company A, fracture of lower jaw; Joseph B. Blanchard, Company F, right arm amputated; J. B. Taylor, right arm, slight.
March 18 .- We marched ten miles and encountered the enemy. The skirmishers drove them two miles, and the Div- ision went into camp.
March 19 .- A hard and desperate battle was fought to-day. The First and Second Divisions of the Fourteenth Corps had proceeded but two miles this morning when it was discovered that the enemy was in our front in great force. The Second Division was formed on the right of the First, and skirmishing commenced about ten o'clock. The First and Second Divisions of the Twentieth Corps came up about noon, the First being ordered to join on the left of the Fourteenth Corps. They had got but one brigade on the left in position when the enemy massed his right on our left, and drove back the unformed Div- ision and captured two pieces of artillery. The Second Division of the Fourteenth Corps now changed front so as to face the direction where our left had rested. During the afternoon the enemy made repeated charges upon the Second Division of . the
208
IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
Fourteenth Corps, but it stood firm, and the foe was success- fully repulsed, suffering great slaughter. Towards evening, the noise of battle was terrific. I was at Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw, Jonesboro and many other engagements, but such incessant firing for three successive hours I never heard. As night closed in, the rebel lines were much disordered, and many of the lost "rebs" strag- gled into our lines. The battle-ground was a tremendous swamp, with low brush, in many places almost impassable for footmen. Our hospital had to be removed a mile further to the rear from where it was at first established, to be out of the reach of shells."
"Hardesty, a private of Company F, was taken prisoner, as he thought, by five of the enemy. They strolled along with him a little distance, when they were halted by two soldiers of the One Hundred and Twenty-First Ohio, of our brigade. The five sent Hardesty over to see how many there were of our men, and agreed if ours outnumbered them they would surrender, but if not, our men should surrender to them. Hardesty returned and reported twelve or fifteen Federal soldiers, whereupon they handed over their guns and cartridge boxes to Hardesty and came in. On learning that they were sold (there being but two of the One Hundred and Twenty-First) they exclaimed, "There's a ----- Yankee trick for you! " I was at headquarters when Hardesty came in, and heard him narrate the circum- stances here related."
"March 20. -- I was up at four o'clock, and, as soon as it was light, moved out to the front and dressed wounds all day, and sent the wounded off in ambulances. In the afternoon, our Division lines were advanced, and in doing so the Sixteenth Illi- nois and Fourteenth Michigan suffered severely. A very large number of the wounded of the enemy were sent to the rear, after having their wounds dressed."
"March 21 .-- The battle-ground is a vast swamp, of un- known dimensions, and it is barely possible to get a horse through it. Our Division covered itself with glory, and in the Division, foremost was the Second brigade, and amongst the
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209
IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
most gallant regiments in the brigade were the Seventy-Eighth Illinois, commanded by Lieut. Col. Vernon, and the old veteran Thirty-Fourth Illinois, each of these breasting the repeated charges of vastly greater numbers."
"March 22. -- The morning is cool and clear. The enemy has fled, and our Division is out of the swamp, on the main road. Everybody has something to say about the battle; hair- breadth escapes, bullet-holes through hats and clothes are exhib- ited, and charges and changes of line discussed. Every soldier looks as though the fact of his being yet alive was a subject for everlasting congratulations. Joy is depicted on every face. In addition to the bright morning, the bloom of the peach trees lends additional beauty to the day."
At Avarasboro, on the 16th of March, the Fourteenth Corps lost 116, the Twentieth Corps 485, and the cavalry SI; total losses, 682.
At Bentonville, on the 19th, the Twentieth Corps lost 258. The losses in the Fourteenth Corps were as follows:
First Division 389 killed and wounded, 64 missing.
Second Division . 369
41
Third Division 8 ,,
I
The losses in the Second Division, by brigades, were as follows:
First Brigade 120 killed and wounded, 29 missing.
Second Brigade 152
8 -
Third Brigade 90
9
The regiments of the Second brigade lost as follows:
34th Illinois. 29 killed and wounded, 4 missing.
78th Illinois 46 . .
98th Ohio. 31
4
108th Ohio 6
11 3th Ohio 5
،،
121st Ohio 35
. 6
-
The army under Gen. Sherman's command remained in camp at Goldsboro until April 10th, securing a much-needed
1
210
THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
rest and supplies of clothing. A great many recruits and con- valescents joined the various commands, and commissary and quartermaster's supplies and ammunition were brought forward and the army was put in first-class condition for a long cam- paign. On the evening before departure, the men of the First and Second brigades of our Division engaged in a sham battle, in which the Second fell back to the vicinity of the brigade sut- ler's tent, and then, at a given signal, both brigades charged, and declared a dividend on sutler's stock (in trade) in less time than it takes to relate the transaction. The sutler fought bravely, but after having one of his own cheeses bursted over his head and his eyes filled with sand, yielded to the inevitable and con- soled himself with such philosophy as he could command. The brigade led the Fourteenth Corps out of Goldsboro, with the One Hundred and Eighth Ohio as skirmishers. The cavalry of the enemy was encountered soon after passing the outposts, and skirmishing ensued nearly all day, two men in the brigade being killed, one mortally and two severely wounded. The day's march covered fourteen miles, most of the time in the rain, end- ing at Moccasin creek. The regiment received about one hun- dred men while at Goldsboro.
On the HIth, the line of march led to Smithfield, on the Neuse river, at which place the bridge had been burned by the retreating cavalry. The whole left wing of the army arrived at this point and crossed the river on a pontoon bridge.
April reth was the fourth anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumpter, the "sound of which was heard around the world," but on this day of 1865 the joyful news of Gen. Lee's surrender at Appomattox was made known to Sherman's army. The Second Division remained at Smithfield until noon, but the Twentieth Corps and the First and Third Divisions of the Four- teenth Corps went on towards the front, but separating onto different roads later in the day.
On the 13th, the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps marched in review through the streets of the City of Raleigh, while the Stars and Stripes floated from the dome of the State House. The Second Division halted for the day at 4:30 p. m., one mile
211
IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
west of the city, after a sixteen mile march. The paroled men of Lee's army passed through the lines of our troops by hun- dreds, on their wey to their homes.
The course pursued on the 14th was alongside the railroad leading from Raleigh to Hillsboro and Saulsbury, until about noon, when a road was taken in the direction of Haywood, on the Deep river. Foraging under orders was resumed, and con- siderable supplies were found. Seventeen miles covered the movements of the day.
The following day was ushered in with repeated thunder showers, making the roads heavy and difficult. Several streams had to be waded. Camp was pitched at Aiken's Ferry, on Cape Fear, or Deep river. Lieut. Harner, of Company H, was killed, and George E. Barr, of Company E, wounded in the thigh and shoulder, while foraging for the brigade. Those with the lieutenant were driven away, and his body was not buried until the next day. These were the last casualties in the regi- ment. The day's record was eighteen miles. The last camp was occupied until the 21st.
On the 18th, the news of the assassination of President Lincoln was made known to the army, causing such grief and resentment as cannot be described in words. The love for the President was such as never before pervaded a great army of nearly two million men. The sad event is best passed by with- out comment.
During the time occupied by the lengthy halt at Aiken's Ferry, negotiations for the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. John- ston's army, and all troops of the Confederacy east of the Mis- sissippi, were pending, and the terms finally agreed upon on the 27th were put into execution. On April 21st, the Fourteenth Corps reached Holly Springs, after a fifteen mile march during the forenoon, and remained there until the 28th, when the First and Third Divisions marched, leaving the Second Division until the following day, when it moved out at 5:30 a. ni., en route to Richmond, 150 miles away.
On the 23d, Companies A and B went on picket for the last time. Gen. Sherman issued orders to the Corps command-
9
212
THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
ers to march slowly and easily, which would mean from fifteen to eighteen miles each day, according to the weather and roads. The General returned to the coast, and went to Richmond by steamer, leaving the Corps commanders to take their respective commands to their destination without his super- vision. The desire to be first in the late Confederate capital sunk orders out of sight, and the men were put to their utmost ability to win the wagers which were made on the race for first entrance into the streets of Richmond.
Sergt. Enderton's diary gives the record of each day's march as follows:
"May 1 .- Reveille at 3 a. m. March at 5; the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps to the left of the Weldon railroad, the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps to the right of it, to remain so throughout the trip. Marched twenty-two miles and crossed the Neuse river."
"May 2 .- The Thirty-Fourth was left on provost guard duty at Oxford until the entire army passed. Marched eighteen miles and crossed Tar river."
"May 3 .- Marched twenty-two miles. `Camped in the State of Virginia, near Roanoke river. The Thirty-Fourth was train guard. The troops are much fatigued. Weather hot."
"May 4 .- Reveille at 2 a. m. ; marched at 4 a. m. Crossed the Roanoke at sunrise on a pontoon bridge. Marched twenty- five miles, passing through Boydstowr, a county seat."
"May 5 .- Started an hour before daylight, and passed through Lewiston, a county seat. Marched twenty-six miles. It is an outrage to march us over sixteen miles a day, but it appears that Jeff C. Davis, our Corps commander, and the com- mander of the Twentieth Corps are running a race to Richmond. It will kill many men to march us in this manner a few days more."
"May 6 .- Passed through the county seat of Nottaway county, and crossed the South Side railroad. Marched thirty- two miles. We heard that six men in one Division dropped dead in the road. Many of the men gave out-could not keep
213
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up. Many bleed at the nose. I never saw such outrageous marching. Weather very hot."
"Sunday, May 7 .-- We crossed the Appomattox river early. Marched twenty-two miles, and camped a few miles from Rich- mond. Two of the Zouaves (Seventeenth New York, First brigade, Second Division) died last night. Poor fellows! After fighting through the war and starting for home, were actually marched to death. It is reported now that the Fourteenth Corps beat the Twentieth by five hours in getting into Rich- mond; that the Fourteenth lost eight men and the Twentieth twenty. The army is very indignant about it. It was not right to march us to Richmond in seven days, when it was Gen. Sher- man's orders that ten or twelve days should be occupied in making the distance." The following three days were spent in camp, where the day's march of the 7th ended. The men were in bad condition from their excessive marches, and were not properly recovered when, on the 11th, reveille brought them out at five o'clock, and the line of march led through Manchester, in the forenoon, where a part of the Twenty-Fourth Corps turned out to do honor to Gen. Sherman's veterans. The Thirty- Fourth led the Division in platoons through the streets of Rich- mond and across the James river, on a pontoon bridge. Marched twenty-two miles and camped three miles from Hanover Court House, after crossing the Chickahominy river. Rained all night.
"May 12 .- Marched at 12 m. Companies A, B, E, G and K were sent in advance as provost guards at all houses along the road, the balance of the regiment in rear of the Division and train. Marched twelve miles and crossed the Paumunkey river on a pontoon bridge."
[Gaylord's diary. ] "May 13 .- Started at 7 a. m., and passed to the left nearly all day, and crossed the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad at a crossing called Polecat Station. Marched seventeen or eighteen miles, and camped early near Bowling Green. Passed by Gen, Sherman's and Gen. Slocum's headquarters, just before going into camp."
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THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
On the 14th, Spottsylvania Court House and Bowling Green were left to the right. Good Hope church was one of the places made historic by the war, which was on the line of march for the day. On the following day the Rapidan was crossed, by wading, at Raccoon Ford, and Lee's fortifications, thrown up for the protection of the ford, were still in good condition.
May 16 .- The town of Stevensburg was on the line of march, and the mountains, far distant to the left, were visible, while in the foreground were the fields and valleys, from which fences and trees were all missing, burned by the armies alter- nately occupying the country.
On the 17th, the Thirty-Fourth led the Division, reaching Acquia creek, on the O. & A. R. R., and from there inarching parallel with the railroad, halting at Broad Run for dinner. In the afternoon, the noted battle-ground of Manassas, and Bull Run, were passed over, where many relics and evidences of the bloody contests were visible. After crossing the "Run," the Division went into camp early, having marched twenty miles. Washington papers were brought to camp, from which the capture of Jefferson Davis was first learned by Gen. Sherman's army.
On the 18th, the regiment followed the Division and Div- ision supply train, passing through Fairfax Court House to with- in eight miles of Alexandria, and on the following day moved on to within four miles of Alexandria, and remained until the 25th.
On the 23d, the Army of the Potomac marched in review through the streets of Washington, and, on the 24th, Gen. Sherman's army, just off from a long and weary march from North Carolina, formed in platoons, and, with the long, swing- ing, steady step of the veteran, acquired from practice by thous- ands of miles of marching, over mountain and vale of a dozen states, moved through the vast throngs that lined the streets of the Capital City. Only those who saw it will be capable of realizing the grandeur and significance of the spectacle. At this late day, we say in a perfunctory manner, "These are the men who brought the war to a successful termination, and established
215
IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
the Union on a firm basis." None but the soldiers themselves, both North and South, know at what a cost that object was accomplished.
It is worth while to quote here from Gen. Sherman's Memoirs, vol: 2, page 377:
"I then took my post on the left of the President, and for six hours and a half stood while the army passed, in the order of the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Twentieth and Fourteenth Corps. It was, in my judgment, the most magnificent army in existence -sixty-five thousand men, in splendid physique, who had just completed a march of nearly two thousand miles in a hostile country, in good drill, and who realized that they were being closely scrutinized by thousands of their fellow countrymen and by foreigners. Division after Division passed, each commander of an Army Corps or Division coming on the stand during the passage of his command, to be presented to the President, cabi- net and spectators. The steadiness and firmness of the tread, the careful dress on the guides, the uniform intervals between the companies, all eyes directly to the front, and the tattered and bullet-riven flags, festooned with flowers, all attracted uni- versal notice. Many good people, up to that time, had looked upon our Western army as a sort of mob, but the world then saw. and recognized the fact, that it was an army in the proper sense, well organized, well commanded and disciplined, and there was no wonder that it swept through the South like a tor- nado. For six hours and a half that strong tread of the Army of the West resounded along Pennsylvania avenue. Not a soul of that vast crowd of spectators left his place, and when the rear of the column had passed by, thousands of spectators still lingered to express their sense of confidence in the strength of a government which could claim such an army."
By the 26th of May, the greater portion of Gen. Sherman's army, and all of Gen. Grant's, had moved across to the north side of the Potomac river, and made camp north and east of the city. The Second brigade was located about four miles east, in a position requiring considerable labor in clearing up and mak-
+
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THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
ing a reasonably comfortable camp, which was occupied until the regiment started for the west, on the 12th of June. The men were allowed to visit the city and places of public interest, a privilege of which they took advantage, and from which they derived much pleasure and satisfaction. Various disturbing rumors were put in circulation as to the final muster-out of the troops. It was reported that those who had seen the longest terms of service were to be retained to see what would be the issue of French occupation of Mexico, and that provost guards would be needed in the South, and various other things were thought of as possible causes for delay in muster-out.
To the men of the Thirty-Fourth there began to appear some degree of plausibility when the other regiments in the brigade, which had seen a year less service, were mustered out and started home, with no indications of release for our regi- ment. On the 3ist of May, the regiment was outfitted with new stands of colors, drums for the drum corps and chevrons for the non-commissioned officers. On the same day, the Ninety- Eighth Ohio was mustered out. On the 2d day of June, Col. Ege received notice of the transfer to his command of a number of men from the Seventy-Eighth Illinois, and, on the 3d, similar notice from the Eighty-Sixth Illinois. On the 6th, 5 1 men were received from the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois, being from outside of our brigade. On the 7th, 50 men from the Seventy- Eighth and 36 from the Eighty-Sixth Illinois were received and assigned to companies as follows:
78TH ILL. S6TH ILL. 104TH ILL.
Company C.
5 8 16
E
13. 2 II
F
5. 6
G
6.
6.
H
18.
I K 3. 7 . 13
7 . II Total, 137.
After the arrival of the army at Washington, there was assigned to the different companies, drafted and substitute
217
IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
recruits, as follows: Company B, 32; C, II; E, 22; F, 26; G, 27; H, 23; I, 14: K, 32; total, 187.
In addition, there were sent to the regiment, too late to be assigned to any company, 15 recruits, enlisted for the regiment. There were also sent to the regiment 33 drafted and substitute recruits who were not assigned to companies.
There were recruits enlisted after March 1, 1865, for the various companies as follows: A, 12; B, 6; C, 7; D, 6; E, 5; F, 17; G, 21; I, 5; total, 79.
These late enlistments, assignments and transfers numbered 451, all told, being 100 more men than were in the ranks at the battle of Stone River. The regiment never had so many names on its rolls previously, and all of the indications pointed to a continuance in the service, which caused a very considera- ble feeling of unrest and injustice amongst the men. Several desertions occurred amongst the newly-enlisted, drafted and substitute recruits, but not one amongst the veterans.
By the 4th of June, the larger portion of the Fifteenth Corps had left for Louisville, Ky. On the Sth of June, the One Hundred and Twenty-First and One Hundred and Eighth Ohio, of our brigade, were mustered out, and a sifting process was inaugurated, by which men of the regiment who were unfit for duty were mustered out, and finally, at 4 o'clock p. m. on the 12th, the regiment broke camp and marched to Washington, and at sundown departed by train for the west. The route was over the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, through Harper's Ferry, Cumberland City, Altamont and Grafton, and, on the 15th, the regiment arrived at Parkersburg and went on board of steam- boats. The brigade at this time consisted of the Thirty-Fourth Illinois, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio, Twenty-Second and Thirty-Third Indiana, under command of Col. Burton. It required eight boats to transport the four regiments. The flotilla consisted of the Wananeta, Minerva, Lady Pike, Fanny Bran- dies, J. R. Best, Leonidas, Melnotte and one other. The Thir- ty-Fourth was assigned to the two first named, but a portion of the regiment was transferred to the Leonidas the following day. Louisville was reached in the morning of the 18th, and the
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THE 34TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
brigade marched out to a camp three or four miles east of Louis- ville, between the Frankfort and Beardstown pikes.
Numerous vacancies occurred by the resignation of commis- sioned officers, and it was not an easy matter to find those amongst the old sergeants who cared for the honors of a com- mission. There was not the patriotic incentive to accept pro- motion that existed prior to the close of the war, when there appeared to be the possibility of additional years of needed ser- vice by those who had become adepts in the art of war. Three old veteran sergeants in one company declined a second lieuten- ant's commission, preferring to close their nearly four years' ser- vice with the rank they had so faithfully borne.
The apprehension of being retained in the service was not abated by indications pointing in that direction. On the 20th, camp was moved about one mile, into an open blue-grass field, and shades were erected and everything made as snug and com- fortable as possible, all of which increased rather than allayed the fears of not being granted a speedy discharge. Discipline, and a good record in the past, were restraining elements, but an expression of the sentiments of the men was couched in a set of resolutions, drafted by a committee consisting of a sergeant from each company, which were sent for publication in Illinois newspapers. Col. Van Tassell visited the regiment on the last above date. If there was any appearance of a lack of cordiality in the greetings of the officers and men, it could only be attrib- uted to their keen disappointment at his having left the regi- ment before its final muster-out. He was in command of the regiment for a longer period than any other commander, and it is no reflection on others to say that he was the favorite and. best beloved of them all. Although a young man, he was the typical "Father of the Regiment."
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