USA > Illinois > Military history and reminiscences of the Thirteenth regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry in the civil war in the United States,1861-65, pt 1 > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
: AFTER BEING HUNG UP THREE TIMES,
was forced to agree to remain neutral, with the remainder of the tribe.
....
T
II2
HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
One of Price's spies came into his camp Tuesday morning. Ha: been to Fort Scott ; reports Lane there with five thousand men. Price will attempt to get into Kansas north of him. He says he does no: intend to attack the troops in Missouri. They had already sent back into Arkansas four hundred stolen horses.
I am, General, respectfully, J. B. WYMAN, Acting Brigadier-General. Commanding Post.
December 2d, 1861 .- President Lincoln declares Martial law in Missouri.
HEADQUARTERS, SALEM, MISSOURI,
December 3d, 1861.
Gen. J. B. WYMAN.
GENERAL : I was attacked this morning at 4 o'clock by three hun- dred rebels, under command of Colonels Freeman and Turner. They dismounted some two miles from town, and by coming through the woods they got inside, of my outer pickets., They first commenced firing on Company A's quarters, killing one and wounding others. Companies B and C, being quartered some five hundred yards from: them, rallied on foot to the rescue of Company A. After a hard fight of twenty minutes, Company D came up mounted. I ordered Captain Williams to charge on the rebels, who were then retreating, which was promptly done, dispersing them in every direction.
My officers and men proved themselves to be soldiers ; and I feel I have just reason to be proud of them. My force consisted of thirty from: each company, one hundred and twenty in all.
Our loss is two men killed, two mortally wounded (one since dead ;. and eight slightly wounded. The rebel loss was six killed, ten mortally wounded, twenty slightly wounded. We also took several guns.
I am, General, respectfully and truly yours, WV. D. BOWEN,
Maj. First Bat'l Cav. attached to Thirteenth I11. Vol. [Act. Brig .- Gen. Wyman. ]
HEADQUARTERS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,
December 3d, IS61.
Major-Gen. MCCLELLAN.
GENERAL : * * * * McCulloch near Springfield falling back towards Arkansas. Perhaps his retreat is a miere ruse to draw our forces from Rolla in the direction of Osceola.
I13
ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Same to same :
December 3d, 1861.
GENERAL : Insurrections were to be organized in various counties north of the Missouri, so as to draw off our troops in various directions. In the meantime Price was to threaten Sedalia, not supposed to be strong, and make a dash at Jefferson City, the insurgents at different points also moving in that direction. If the troops at Rolla moved in Price's rear, McCulloch was to cut them off from St. Louis. Finding our forces at Sedalia much stronger than was supposed, Price halted near Osceola, not venturing to advance any farther.
I am, General, very respectfully, H. W. HALLECK, Com'd'g Dept.
HEADQUARTERS, ROLLA, MISSOURI, December 4th, IS61.
Major-General HALLECK.
GENERAL : I have the honor to inform you that on Thursday last, Colonel Dodge requested me to send a small party to Salem and vicin- ity, to bring in some witnesses in the case of some prisoners he has now in the Fort. I made the arrangement for forty men to go the next morning. In the meantime one of my scouts came in from Salem and below there, and reported that Freeman, with eighty or one hundred men was in the vicinity. I, therefore, increased the detachment to one hundred and twenty men with proper officers, all under command of Major Bowen. He left Friday at 9 a. m. and reached Salem same afternoon (twenty-five miles). Saturday and Sunday he devoted to scouring the country. Did not find Freeman,
BUT TOOK EIGHT PRISONERS,
all of whom have been in the rebel army. On Monday morning at 4 o'clock, Freeman approached Salem and made his way through the brush and woods (thus avoiding the pickets), and got to the inside picket-line before any one was aware of his approach. Driving in their pickets, they proceeded to the quarters of Company A and commenced their attack. How bravely and gloriously they were repulsed, I leave you to judge from reading the report of the Major, which I have this moment received.
I beg also to inform you that upon the receipt of the news yester- diy at 12 o'clock I ordered a reinforcement sent Major Bowen, and #: I p. m. one hundred and thirty chosen men left this post, and at + p. m. had joined the Major at Salem, who was at that hour in ¡ raceable possession of the town, although anticipating another attack
id ce Đt
k
1
114
HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
last night ; but feeling fully confident he could cope with them success. fully if they dared to do so.
I should be glad to receive orders from you to take or send such a force as would either exterminate or drive them out of the State.
I am informed by reliable parties that Freeman and Turner both intend to winter in Dent county, and have laid in stores and forage fo: that purpose. In fact, the prisoners inform me they swear they " will do so or die."
Awaiting your orders, I am, General,
Respectfully and obediently yours,
J. B. WYMAN, Col. and Acting Brigadier-General.
[Major-General Halleck,
Commanding Department of Missouri. ]
Same to same :
Dec. 6th, 1861.
GENERAL : Our forces at Sedalia and Rolla are held in readiness to move, but their efficiency is greatly reduced by disorganization and sickness. * * * * The camp measles is prevailing and daily increase our sick list. ** * *
(This can have no reference to the Thirteenth, as Dr. Plummer never allowed any of his patients to have more than one measle at a time. )
HEADQUARTERS, PILOT KNOB, MISSOURI,
December 6th, IS61.
Major-General H. W. HALLECK.
GENERAL : I have sent out scouts from Potosi and this post towards Salem, Steelville, and Centerville. The Potosi scouts report no rebel troops at, or east of Salem or Steelville ; that Freeman's band, four hundred, had been to both places, but were driven away by Colone: Wyman.
I am, General, respectfully, WM. P. CARLIN, Thirty-eighth Illinois.
HEADQUARTERS, SEDALIA, MISSOURI, December 6th, IS61.
- Major-General HALLECK.
GENERAL : It is reported that Price crossed the Osage on the 4:1: instant.
I am, General, respectfully, FRED'K STEELE, Brig .- Gen. Com'd'g.
----
115
ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
ROLLA, MISSOURI, December 7th, 1861. 1
Major-General HALLECK.
GENERAL : Captain Waldemar, of the Benton Hussars *
* was yesterday within eight miles of Lebanon and reports McBride there with three thousand strong. * * *
I am, General, respectfully, P. J. OSTENHAUS, Col.
HEADQUARTERS, ROLLA, MISSOURI, December 9th, 1861.
Major-General HALLECK.
GENERAL : A dispatch from Salem has just reached me. Bowen was in full chase of Freeman in Texas county, five miles in his rear ; intends giving him battle if he can overtake him. A rumor had reached Salem that McBride was moving from Huntsville with sixteen hundred men and two pieces of artillery to reinforce Freeman. If such proves to be the fact, I wish permission to reinforce Bowen with one battery of artillery.
I am, General, respectfully, J. B. WYMAN, Com'd'g Post.
HEADQUARTERS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, December 9th, 1861.
Colonel J. B. WYMAN,
Commanding Post at Rolla.
COLONEL : You are authorized to reinforce Major Bowen if you deem it advisable. Do not let him advance so far in pursuit as to be cut off by McBride. Look out for that. H. W. HALLECK, Maj .- Gen. Com'd'g Dep't.
HEADQUARTERS, ROLLA, MISSOURI, December 10th, 1861.
Capt. J. C. KELTON, A. A .- G.
CAPTAIN : I inclose copies of dispatches received from Major Bowen at I o'clock this morning. By them you will see that the major has fallen back to Salem, which place he will hold until further orders. My opinion is that a force sufficient to hold that place should be placed there permanently ; say four companies of cavalry, and one battery of artillery. I feel confident it would have the effect to keep McBride and Freeman at a proper distance. I submit this for the consideration of our general and await orders.
Very truly yours, J. B. WYMAN, Acting Brigadier-General.
-
116
HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
HEADQUARTERS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, December 13th, IS61.
LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. A.
GENERAL : The Engineer Corps proper, as it is called, has no troops, but probably about fifty officers. The names of forty-three have already been ascertained, but some one turns up every few days holding a commission or appointinent from General Fremont. Some of these are already discharged ; but it is impossible to discharge them all a: present, their services being absolutely indispensable in the construction of the works which are now being built at Paducah, Cairo, Fort Holt. Girardeau, Rolla, Jefferson City, La Mine Cantonment near Sedalia.
[Was it the fort at Rolla?]
H. W. HALLECK, Major-General Com'd'g Dep't.
HEADQUARTERS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,
December 14th, 1861.
Maj .- Gen. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN :
GENERAL : Salem, south of Rolla, threatened by a large force. I: has been reinforced. * * * * I am, General, yours respectfully,
H. W. HALLECK, Major-General Com'd'g Dep't.
Same to same about same :
December 16th, 1861.
GENERAL : Major Bowen wrote from Salem on the 9th that he had driven the enemy through the Current Hills, taking twenty prisoner and some twenty-five horses. I have since learned that about fiftee: hundred of the enemy turned on him. He has been reinforced with: infantry and artillery from Rolla. * * *
* General Sigel is stil: sick ; and I feel greatly embarrassed about a commander for the troops. mostly Germans, at Rolla. If General Asboth has not been appointed. or if there be any objections to him, please let me have P. J. Osterhau- made Brigadier-General of Volunteers. Perhaps, all things considered. he is the better man of the two.
I am, General, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Major-General Com'd'g Dep't.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI.
December 20th, 1861.
Gen. G. B, MCCLELLAN :
GENERAL : Captain Wood's scouting party has returned to Rolls It pursued the enemy south of Houston, killed one captain and brought
II7
ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
in one major prisoner of war. About one hundred of Price's men were captured and released on parole, not being able to bring them in.
Very respectfully,
H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Com'd'g Dep't of Missouri.
HEADQUARTERS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. December 24th, 1861.
Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, Rolla, Missouri.
GENERAL : You will assume command of all the troops at Rolla and vicinity, including the Fourth Division.
Respectfully,
H. W. HALLECK, Major-General Com'd'g Dep't.
But the time had come when the irksomeness of guarding a post so far back from the front as never to be approached by large hostile forces, was getting to be unbearable. The repu- tation of being the finest regiment in the Western Department, was as gall and wormwood to the boys and officers of our regiment, who, for nearly a year, had chafed and fretted to be allowed on the battle-field to show what stuff they were made of.
What availed it that General Lyon, on the same day of the arrival of our regiment at Rolla, had said : "As this line (S. W. branch of the Pacific railroad) has become the most important in the whole State, and as it is threatened by hos- tile bands under General McBride and others, it has been deemed best to place it under the command of Colonel Wyman, Thir- teenth Illinois Volunteers" ?
What availed it that fourteen days further along, Adjutant- General Harding said to General Lyon " Wyman's is a splen- did regiment ; and I am trying to get other troops to supply his place, and send him forward" ?
What would it avail, that by the time our campaigning had reached Helena, Arkansas, and only five days after General E. A. Carr had assumed command of the "Army of the Southwest, " he should tell General Curtis that " he desired " give Wyman a division " ?
1
4
-
I18
HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
In all other regiments, seemingly, Chevrons, double Cher- rons, and diamond Chevrons, were being ripped off and transferred to subordinate shoulder-sleeves. Bars suddenly appeared on unaccustomed shoulders, and seemed to act as a fertilizer to hasten the growth of silver, and golden foliage: and this attracted the Eagles, who in turn, were scared off to lower perches by the flash and glare of falling Stars, double Stars, and clusters and constellations of Stars, which seemed to hang suspended over battle-fields, and which the thunder cf artillery condensed and precipitated on the worthy shoulders of the great captains of battle.
But battle-fields avoided the Thirteenth as though the contac: were dangerous contagion, and only loomed up to our view like the mirage of the desert, to follow which brought no fruition of tangible reality. In fact, it began to seem as i! any lieutenant of any other regiment than ours, who could get fairly across the Gasconade river, to the southwest of Rolla headed toward the front, in a few weeks was almost sure t return through Rolla as a Brigadier-General on a leave c absence.
Our boys of the rank and file, were being taunted as the "fighting regiment which never fought"; and, on several occasions, were compelled to turn in and soundly thrash some indiscreet recruits who made the mistake of shooting off thei: mouths to the implied disparagement of the Thirteenth.
The Thirteenth seemed to be chained to Rolla, and Rolla to ti :. rear. In our regiment, no Chevrons came in contact with: scissors. Bars seemed made only to prevent our advance Gold and silver foliage had less life than the fodder of an army mule ; and as for Stars, none were to be seen ; and not ever the belligerant planet Mars, could have been discovered b; even the great Lick telescope.
When the Thirteenth arrived at Rolla, Missouri, on July 7th, 1861, Wyman, as Colonel, ranked Grant, Sheridan, Hur. but, Palmer, and McClernand.
He ranked Grant by twenty-four days.
He ranked Sheridan by one year and one day.
الــ
ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 119
He ranked Palmer by one day.
He ranked Hurlbut and McClernand by several months.
He had been a Colonel one hundred and seven days when Logan was commissioned. And Sherman ranked Wyman by only twelve days, but, to be sure, he was in the regulars.
There is nothing to show why Wyman was not the peer of any one of those named above, -certainly, of any one of them below Grant, Sherman and Sheridan ; and could he have gone to the front in time to reinforce Lyon, it is altogether proba- ble that at Wilson's Creek, he would have found his first Star ; and could he have reached Pea Ridge before the battle, his chance for promotion would have been good.
But with Wyman still wearing the Eagle of the Thirteenth, the subordinates from the Silver leaf, down to the most meager Chevron could hope for promotion only through accident or resignation ; and so, that fatal reputation of being a good rail- road man, long blasted, not only his own chances for promotion, but of a thousand other good men as well.
Guided now by the light of after events, the following order was fateful of glorious possibilities for the Thirteenth.
HEADQUARTERS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, August 6th, 1861.
Brigadier-General JOHN POPE.
GENERAL : The General directs that you send to this city immedi- ately, the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Twenty-first Illinois Regiments. * You are directed to use the utmost possible dispatch in car- * rying out the above orders. * * * *
I am, General, with great respect, KELTON, Adj't-Gen.
The hurried ordering of these regiments was evidently to fit an emergency ; and the Fourteenth and Fifteenth, on reaching St. Louis, were hurried on to Rolla, while the Twenty-first, Colonel U. S. Grant, was sent down the river.
Why the Twenty-first was not selected as one of the two regiments to go to Rolla, we shall probably never know. It does not seem probable that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth should be sent to us because of their numbers following ours
1
.
I20
HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
in regular order ; and it would seem reasonable that the Twenty-first, as well as the other two, should have been sent to Rolla, because all four, including the Thirteenth, were raised in northern Illinois ; and brigades, frequently, were made up of regiments from the same neighborhoods. Had Fate's wheel of fortune made a half turn the opposite way, what chains of friendship and mutual respect might not have been forged which would have resulted in Wyman's advance- ment by the future greatest general of the age, who never kept back a competent subordinate.
Already, about the middle of December, 1861, the old gray uniform had been exchanged for nice blue, and the boys were very proud of the change. Company F was now furnished with new rifled Minnie muskets, in place of the old Spring- fields, and a like change was to come also to the other companies soon after. On the last day of the old year, the regiment had been mustered for pay.
Several ladies visited us at different times, while in camp at Rolla : among whom were Mrs. Colonel Wyman and her sister, Miss Bradley, Mrs. Captain Messenger, Mrs. Captain Wadsworth and her sister, Miss Nina T. Pratt, Mrs. Sergeant Hinman, Mrs. Captain Noble.
But the youngest lady who came there to see us, was Miss Mary Hinman, who was just seventeen months and five days old the day she arrived in our camp. Her advent caused a com- motion ; and while she held the reins of social power, she held them very gently ; but, unconsciously, she reigned right royally among the thousand men who wore the uniform of the Union while she remained with us; and their loyalty and admiration followed her home from the "tented field," tac- itly acknowledging her as the " daughter of the regiment" ; and her love for the regiment seemed to have been born in our camp, and has grown and strengthened with maturing years. No door of any home will open wider and more cordially swing back to any worthy survivor of the Thirteenth Regi- ment, than that of the comfortable home of Mrs. Mary Hinman . Van Lanningham, of Blue Island, Illinois.
E
CHAPTER X.
OUR INTENSE ANXIETY TO BE RELIEVED FROM HOLDING THE POST AT ROLLA, AND TO GO FORWARD WITH OTHER TROOPS TO THE FRONT. :
W HEN asked to assist in writing our regi- mental history, your historian was utterly at a loss to know how to begin, as all regi- mental records, and papers of all kinds, it was understood had been captured by the rebels and burned, at Madison Station, Alabama, when the regiment was about to be mustered out of the service. And the only scrap of anything resembling a regimental paper so far furnished for the history, is the original, and one other of which the following is a copy, of the first which was sent to Comrade Colonel Henry T. Noble at Dixon, Illinois, which letter is given entire as of special interest to the boys.
STERLING, ILLINOIS, February 25th, IS91.
"COMRADE NOBLE : Find inclosed paper. You probably will recog- nize it. They (there were other papers) were found in an old bureau here that had been left for repairs ; and most of the companies were represented. I found one that I made out for feed in 1862, for Company G. It pleased me to see the bill of fare after thirty years. So I send you yours. Yours truly, C. H. DRAKE.
Comrade Drake merits our thanks and congratulations for sending on this old scrap of paper ; for it comes back on the memory like a long-forgotten strain of music ; and its very
I2I
---.
I22
HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
lonesomeness pleads for its preservation in this history. The following is a reproduction of it :
Provision Return For Capt. H. T. Noble's Comp'y A 13th Reg't. Ills. Vols. for Ten days commencing Jan'y IIth, 1862, and ending Jan'y 20th, 1862.
Camp LaFayette.
1
88 No. of Men
IO No. of Days
8So No. of Rations
440 Bacon
440 Fresh Beef
6 bbls. 880 Flour
8So Sugar
880 Coffee
8So Rice
880 Candles
8So Soap
SSo Salt
920) Vinegar
330 550
132
70 88 60 32
16
32
HENRY T. NOBLE Comdg. Co.
The A. C. S. will issue agreeably to above return. Comdg. Regt.
On January 15th the troops began to leave Rolla, for the Southwest, and we expect to go soon.
The weather lately, has been bad and stormy, and roads bad. Orders to be ready to move. January ISth our orders countermanded.
January 21st the Ninth Iowa, and a six-gun battery of artillery came on from St. Louis, and went right on towards the front. This made us nervous.
On February 3d we moved back from Camp Lafayette, to Camp Rolla, our first camp after coming to Missouri. This was so far from going to the front, that it looked like a perma- nent settlement for an indefinite time; and an apathetic sullennes pervaded the regiment, which could be seen in the faces, but not given voice or action. The camp duties were promptly and scrupulously performed, while the cleaning up and policing of the grounds was as thoroughly done as if for a year's longer stay.
مـ
C
123
ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
This was characteristic of the Thirteenth, and was a glo- rious trait, and one that helped not a little to preserve for us the proud reputation, among both friends and enemies, of being desired as a reinforcement, or dreaded as a foe, as much as many whole brigades.
In the meantime, those tempestuous elemental storm- centers, Confederate General Raines, and General Frost, with gusty South-windiness of both speech and proclamation, were richocheting up and down the State, trying to induce the people to revolt against the Union, and flock to the standard of secession. These were supplanted by inflammatory ap- peals for men and means from General Sterling Price, who poetically urged the men to " come to the tented field." Tented field was particularly good, in the light of Confederate General Jeff Thompson's experience of what General Price's tented field, consisted of, as he found it. He says :
SIKESTOWN, MISSOURI, August 16, 1861.
Major-General GIDEON J. PILLOW :
GENERAL : * * * I herewith send you a requisition for a tent for myself. I have been sleeping about more like a stray dog, than a general. * * I do not care about a regular marquee. * * * Anything will answer the purpose.
I am, General, respectfully yours,
M. JEFF. THOMPSON, Commanding Post.
General Jeff Thompson sleeping about like a stray dog, was scarcely more vagabondish than was the rebel Missouri Legislature; which, with its rebel governor, had been chased and worried by Abraham Lincoln, and his renegade Yanks, so sharply and continually that they had never found the opportunity to get together long enough to adopt an ordi- nance of secession. They were making another effort in that direction on February 26, 1861, according to a letter to Con- federate General Earl Van Dorn, from Confederate General Jeff Thompson at New Madrid, who therein says : * * "The Legislature is to meet here on Monday, if we are not driven away before then."
-
.1
1
LÍ
124
HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
The last clause of the preceding paragraph must have been prophetic ; for, on March 3d, General Thompson issued a circular which reads :
WHEREAS : The forces of Abraham Lincoln are making such dem- onstrations this day, that it is deemed unsafe and inexpedient for the Legislature of Missouri to assemble and transact business in this town. M. JEFF. THOMPSON,
Brigadier-General Commanding Post.
(Abraham Lincoln ought to have been ashamed of himself.)
This picture of the wandering Legislature of Missouri, is so vividly drawn by both General Jeff Thompson, and Gov- ernor Claib. Jackson, that it leaves little to the imagination to conceive, of the poor old governor being so pestered by Abraham Lincoln, as to be compelled to make his State jour- neys on the back of a mule, his great Seal of State in his saddle-bags, and wherever he could find one member of the legislature, he would convene that man, open the session, appoint that man as a committee on credentials, the committee would seat that man, and declare no opposition. At about this stage of the session, an alarm would come by some mounted scout, that a force of Yanks was near by, when Governor Jackson would hastily prorogue that man, declare the legislature adjourned without day, stuff the great Seal of State into the saddle-bags, throw the saddle-bags across the saddle, straddle the mule, and disappear down some cart- track through the woods ; and when arrived at a safe dis- tance, he would dismount, hitch the mule, sit down on some rebel stump and make a frugal meal from a corn pone which had been the companion of the great Seal ; and when suffi- ciently refreshed, he would take the brown paper wrapper of the pone, and with his pencil, draft the Declaration of Inde- peudence which was issued on August 5th, 1861.
It appeared that the Thirteenth were destined
NEVER TO SEE THE COMPLETION OF FORT WYMAN,
which, although commenced as far back as the latter part of
125
ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
August, 1861, and the four siege-guns had arrived as long ago as August 18th, and had been hauled to the site of the Fort by a ten-mule team to each gun, no use of the Fort ap- pears to have been made, except for keeping prisoners, which we learn through Colonel Wyman in a letter to General Halleck, under date of December 4th, 1861, where he says :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.