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 7
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This wholesale attempt at murder, by the destruction of
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
an entire railroad train, loaded with troops, called loudly for stringent measures, and accordingly, on the next day, August 30th, General Fremont
DECLARED MARTIAL LAW
throughout the State of Missouri.
Ten days before this, on August 20th, our troops had been paid ten dollars in gold, each, from the forced loan, as it was called, and one can easily imagine that General Fremont looked with grim satisfaction that this gold had been drawn from the pockets of these railroad wreckers, and was changed into the trowsers of loyal men.
An expedition, with flag of truce, to Springfield, to bring back some of our men, wounded at Wilson's Creek, and now in the rebel hospital there, was planned by Colonel Wyman, and passes for the officer in charge, had been received from General McCulloch, for safe passage through places occupied by rebel forces.
Colonel Wyman had first contemplated putting Captain Blanchard, of Company K, in charge, but, at the last moment, substituted Lieutenant I. H. Williams, of Company I, for Captain Blanchard.
September roth .- The truce train, consisting of three am- bulances, started from Rolla, with many fears for the safe return of the lieutenant, the drivers, and twenty wounded men.
Lieutenant Williams was successful, not only in getting the men specified, but secretly made arrangements with two others of our men, to meet him two miles from town, on his return trip, and he would try and take all through together ; which he actually accomplished, but at great risk and trouble.
When well along, on his return road, the train fell into the hands of a guerrilla force, the leader of which refused to respect the flag of truce, roughly handled the train drivers and wounded men, and even went so far as to make prepara- tions to hang Lieutenant Williams ; which was averted only by
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
the timely arrival on the scene of Colonel Tom Price, com- manding the regiment to which the detached party belonged. Some Masonic signs, on the part of Lieutenant Williams, were acknowledged by the rebel colonel and ample apologies made, . and the train, at last, came safely within our lines on the 22d of September, having been gone twelve days.
Colonel Price, himself, afterwards fell into our hands, as a prisoner, and Lieutenant Williams had an opportunity of re- turning the courtesies he himself had received.
Tuesday, the 17th-
GENERAL HUNTER REVIEWED THE TROOPS
at Rolla, which was taken as an indication that a forward movement was about to be made ; and this time it was be- lieved, the Thirteenth certainly would not be left behind.
October 3d .- In reporting to General Asboth, from Sedalia, General Sigel says: "If the movement of Price retreating from. Warrensburg to effect a junction with Ben McCulloch, in Bates county, is confirmed among the proper movements, I would propose that, Third, the troops at Rolla should advance to Linn Creek."
October 6th .- Camp Lillie near Jefferson City, Adjutant- General Eaton to General D. Hunter, says :
" To-day Colonel Wyman has been ordered to proceed with a full and complete train of wagons from Rolla to Versailles to join you. The General regrets the suffering of the troops, and he can not understand how, with reports." * * * *
October 6th .- Near Jefferson City, same to Colonel Wyman. "SIR : The enemy having evacuated Lexington, and the cir- cumstances of the service having made it unnecessary for you to come to this place, the Major-General commanding the department, directs that you march immediately from Rolla direct to Versailles, with full transportation complete. You will direct your line of march to cross the Osage at Linn Creek, or if you deem it more convenient and expedient, to march upon Versailles and cross the Osage by whatever route
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
you think best. Versailles is to be occupied by the division of General Hunter, to which you belong, but should you find that he has left that place (which is not likely to be the case), scouts sent about the country to learn his position will enable you to vary your march to join him accordingly."
October roth, 1861 .- The total of the force, now at Rolla, was quoted from the Department Abstract as being two thou- sand sixty-nine.
October 1Ith .- From circular letter from General Fremont : "General Pope with his force will march by way of Otterville to Sedalia, and to Leesville ; Gen. Jeff. C. Davis on October 13th, from Georgetown via Sedalia to Leesville, arriving on the 15th ; Sigel on the 13th, from Sedalia via Spring Rock and Cole Camp to Warsaw, and cross on the 16th at all haz- ards ; Mckinstry will start on the 13th and proceed in four marches by Florence, Haw Creek, and Cole Camp to Warsaw, where he will co-operate with Sigel; Hunter will start also on the 13th, four marches via Versailles and Hibernia to Durock Ferry ; Sturgis and Lane are expected to be at the same time in Clinton on our extreme right."
. ,October 14th .- From Rolla, Colonel Dodge says to McKee- ver : " A messenger from Colonel Wyman, commanding Thir- teenth Illinois, and Major Wright's command, arrived last night bringing this dispatch :
"'The rebs have left Iberia, and, as near as we can learn, the main body have gone to Lebanon,-say not over twelve hundred in all at that point. We took five prisoners last night, one of whom was armed with an English Tower gun and United States equipments. Some of their scouts have just fired on our pickets. The companies of rebels south and east of this post are ordered to the west of this place, but to what point I can not yet ascertain. They are all moving in that direction.' "'
Why Colonel Dodge failed to speak of Colonel Wyman as Acting Brigadier-General, in the above dispatch, instead of Colonel Commanding Thirteenth Illinois and Major Wright's command, is not clear.
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
October 15th 1861 .- From Linn Creek, Missouri, Wyman to Hunter :
GENERAL : I have the honor to report to you that immediately upon the departure of my messenger to you yesterday morning, I put my command ou the march at 7 o'clock in the following order: Major Bowen, commanding battalion attached to the Thirteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, in the advance, with his own transportation. Then the Thirteenth Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Gorgas commanding, ini- mediately followed by his own transportation, and that of the commis- sary department, the rear being brought up by Major Clark Wright, com- manding Fremont Battalion. After seeing the entire column in motion, I started for the head of it and had proceeded about six miles to the point where the road turns off from the route to Lebanon for this point and had reached the right of the Thirteenth Regiment, when I was in- formed that Major Bowen liad discovered a party of rebels, seventy in number, and had gone in search of them, towards Lebanon, feeling con- fident of his ability to cope with them successfully. I turned the column toward this point and had proceeded about two miles, when a rapid volley of musketry fell on my ear. I immediately turned toward the left of my command,
ORDERING THE TRAIN CORRALED AT ONCE,
and, at the same time met a courier from Major Bowen, informing me that he had engaged the enemy, and that they were from eight hundred to one thousand strong; that he had been obliged to fall back, and asked for reinforcements. This same messenger had been sent to Major Wright, who, with his usual promptness took two of his companies, himself taking the advance. At the same moment I sent an order to Lieutenant-Colonel Gorgas, to send to the support of the Cavalry, the five left companies of the Thirteenth Regiment, reserving the other five companies, under Major Partridge, as reserve, and guard to the train.
The order was promptly delivered to Colonel Gorgas, and as promptly executed.
The line of march was at once broken up, headed by Lieutenant- Colonel Gorgas himself. Company K, Captain Blanchard ; Company I, Captain Samuel Wadsworth ; Company H, Captain Gardiner ; Company G, Captain Cole ; and Company F, Captain Dutton, all at double-quick ; and to show you the rapidity of their movements, I beg to assure you that they made a march of nearly five miles in forty-five minutes.
After issuing the order, I immediately started for the scene of action.
In the meantime, Major Wright had formed a junction with Major Bowen, and they had made arrangements for another attack, for partic-
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
ulars of which, I beg leave to refer you to their respective reports. Approving of them, I relieved Major Wright of the center command, and ordered him to join the line of flankers thrown out by him, and my- self made a forward movement from the center. The enemy had by this time become satisfied he could not cope with us (or, for some other reasons known only to themselves), commenced a rapid retreat, so fast indeed, that it was impossible for even the Thirteenth to keep up with them. I therefore ordered a halt of the Infantry, and ordered the Cavalry forward, with orders to drive them as far as possible, and reach camp at sunset. They did so and drove them twelve miles toward Lebanon.
For the list of killed, wounded, and prisoners, I beg to refer you to the reports of my different officers in command. I also take occasion to say that proper and respectable arrangements were made for the burial of the enemy's dead, which they had left upon the field to be devoured by swine, beasts of prey, or the vulture.
I reached camp, on the return, at 4 p. m., and the entire command were all, with one exception, safely in at 6 p. m. Total enemy killed, thirty-nine ; prisoners, fifty-one; wounded, twenty-nine; horses cap- tured, eighteen; guns captured or destroyed, ninety-three ; with only a loss, on our side, of one man killed, and two horses. Among the pris- oners are one Colonel (Summers) one Lieutenant (Langlin), non-com- missioned officers, six, and forty-three privates.
TRUSTING THAT THIS LITTLE DIVERSION
from my line of march to join you as ordered, will meet your approba- tion, I have the honor to subscribe myself,
Respectfully and obediently yours,
J. B. WYMAN, Act. Brig. Gen. Ist Brid. Ist Div. W. D.
[Major-General Hunter, W. D.]
Colonel Wyman also reports from Linn Creek, to General Hunter, concerning this day's march previous to arriving at the place, and of taking possession of the place. He says in his report :
We broke camp twenty-four, southeast of this place, at 6 : 30 a. m. and moved the column. Before moving, I had ordered Major Clark Wright, who was to take the advance, to prevent any and all parties from preceding him and to enter the place at a charge and secure all who might be found in it.
HOW WELL HE EXECUTED MY ORDERS,
I leave you to judge by inclosing a copy of his own graphic account of - the affair.
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Major Clarke Wright in giving his report to Colonel Wyman, of the taking of the place, says :
At 7 o'clock of the morning of the 14th, my command left Camp Gorgas in advance of the column. Having arranged my men to the best advantage against surprise, we moved forward feeling our way, without any incident worthy of note, until 11 : 30 a. m. On our arrival at Alexander Berry's, five miles southeast of this place, I there learned that there was no doubt but that Linn Creek was occupied with rebel forces, and rumor said two hundred, who had arrived the day before.
I AT ONCE DECIDED TO STRIKE THEM
with all the available force I had, leaving out the skirmishers and suffi - cient force to cover the front of the Thirteenth Illinois Regiment, then in my immediate rear. I sent forward two scouts in citizens' dress to go into the town, take observations and report to me one mile out, before I arrived. Then called out Captain Crockett's company, myself taking the right and ordering a descent upon the town in double-quick. Arriv -: ing at a point to meet the scouts I called a halt. As the scouts did not return, I was led to conclude they had been detained. I soon learned, however, that there was a company of rebels then in town commanded by the notorious " Bill Roberts." I ordered a double-quick descent on the town. We arrived at I o'clock, surrounded it and demanded an un- conditional surrender. The captain, a few of his followers, and his wife broke from the buildings, fired on my troops, and tried to make their escape. We fired on them. Some fifty random shots were fired but owing to the fences, buildings, and other means of cover none were killed, and but one wounded on the rebel side. The Cavalry arresting citizens, and the rebels running to and fro. The screams of the women and children, the firing from both sides echoing back from the sur- rounding bluffs, made the whole scene look somewhat frantic. At the end of thirty minutes we had quiet restored and the rebels under guard.
The result was as follows: Prisoners, thirty-seven ; horses, five ; mules, two; guns, thirty-six ; one keg of powder, and one half bushel of bullets, and peaceable possession of the town.
MAJOR CLARK WRIGHT.
[To Acting Brigadier-General, J. B. Wyman. ]
At this fight of Linn Creek, one of our boys turned over the body of a dead rebel, which was lying face downward, and, on examining his features, exclaimed to his companions, why, this is our old pie man ! This man had been selling pies in our camp at Rolla, every day, for months ; a spy, under the guise of a peddler of pies. .
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CHAPTER VII.
FREMONT'S ARMY IN LINE OF BATTLE BY COLUMN SWEEP- ING SOUTHWARD, RIGHT ON KANSAS, LEFT ON ROLLA, AND WELL-GUARDED FLANK.
T HE time was now fast approaching when we were to more fully realize that we were some- thing more than a mere handful of unattached soldiers, fit for nothing more than guard duty and foraging expeditions, but were about to be incorporated into the heart of a great army which was well calculated to inspire us with the belief that it was the symbol of splendid force and gigantic possibilities for victory.
We remained in Linn Creek seven days ; during which time, the boys managed to extract a good deal of pleasure and comfort from nearly all of their surroundings. Nature had done far more for its inhabitants than they deserved, Hill and valley, a noble river, forest and woodland, ought to have nourished a loyal and thrifty people ; but such was not the case. Colonel McClurg, a loyal merchant, had been driven out, but while we were there, he returned at the head of a regiment of loyal men, and he proposed to hold the place, after we should be gone.
Some rebel merchants in Linn Creek refused to sell the boys anything, and so the boys opened the stores on their own account ; and they declared that they realized quite handsome profits. Of course, our sutler discouraged any expansion of mercantile business, but the boys repeatedly proved to him that they were at home behind the counter.
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The boys fished in the Osage, hunted in the forest, and foraged through the neighboring plantations, to their heart's content, during our encampment at Linn Creek, and were loth to leave so pleasant a place, but great events had been on the march, while we had been in camp ; and victories never hang around camps.
October 18th .- Colonel Dodge at Rolla, to Mckeever, says: "A scout returned here last night and reports that the rebel forces at Vienna have dispersed, some joining Johnston, and balance scattered. Freeman is about forty miles south, with a force of seven hundred men. Price has halted south of the Osage, and called the legislature together at Carthage on the 4th of November. Taylor has issued a proclamation prohibit- ing any Missourian carrying property out of the State. , Re- port from Springfield to-day that Johnston is ordered to take command in Missouri."
October 22d, Tuesday .- Broke camp at Linn Creek, at 6 a. m., and marched out on the Bolivar road. The weather was rough, it being cloudy and chilly ; but the scenery was wildly beautiful, and the finest ever seen by many of the boys from the prairies of Illinois, and it had the effect to divert the attention from the rough condition of the roads and the chilly air.
About 9 a. m. we crossed Spoon river, which graced a saw-mill on its banks which in its turn honored the river. Made eighteen miles and encamped in a stubble-field, in itself a strong reminder of peace ; but whose owner, presumably, had straightened out his sickle into a spear and gone off to the wars.
October 23d .- We left camp, and at sunrise we stretched out towards sundown and passed through some extremely picturesque scenery in which pleasantly figured the pretty Meango River, over which the infantry crossed on some logs.
After following the course of this little gem of a river for a considerable distance, both bluffs and river bade us a modest farewell and gave us a God-speed on our way to Mack's Creek, where we camped after a twelve-mile march.
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.
An incident of to-day's march is worth relating.
Every soldier has observed the fact that a thousand men will sometimes march for miles with a quiet pervading the entire regiment as if by common consent ; or as though a part of a system of military discipline; and yet neither of the above has anything whatever to do with it. It may not be very good philosophy to say that quiet, like enthusiasm, is contagious, but it is the only solution which offers itself at the present moment, and the philosophical part can be settled some other time, and allow us to go on with our story.
It was a delightful morning, and the calm and beauty of . nature may have been the influence which stilled the usu- ally boisterous spirits of the men as they tramped quietly along. All at once we came out into a small clearing contain- ing but one building, and that a log schoolhouse. No signs of life were visible about the house at first, and quiet still per- vaded our ranks until the head of the column got a little past the front of the building, when an urchin discovered us and raised the school-boy's war-whoop, when the entire hive poured out of the door, except about a dozen of the back-seat boys who shot through the windows as if propelled by a catapult. The school-marm was not the last one to come to the front, by any means. This was enough to raise such a shout as only a regiment of soldiers can give; and the fact that the young lady teacher was comely to look upon, did not seem to lessen the enthusiasm.
We had no means of ascertaining whether the, teacher re- garded us as friends or foes ; but she could boast among her lady associates of having received the undisguised admiration of a thousand men at one time, and given in a most emphatic manner.
October 14th, Thursday, 1861 .- The march, for the last two or three days, had been tedious and very fatiguing as, in one place, where the road had been along the Meango, the river crowded so close to a high bluff, that those on foot must either wade the river or find a passage over the bluff; the boys chose the latter way out of the difficulty, but to do so,
السوحدة £
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
had to pull themselves up the almost perpendicular rock. This was very fatiguing work, but they thought it better than cold water on a cold day.
At this camp on Mack's Creek the regiment remained all day (for rest, it was said ) but in the light of after events, it is more than probable that the regiment was ahead of schedule time, and had one day to spare ; and Colonel Wyman would not want to be ahead of time, any more than to be tardy-and the latter would have been considered an unpardonable sin.
The boys had a good growl here over the fact that there were in this camp no rations of sugar or coffee.
October 25th .- The regiment marched twelve miles, over fine roads and reached Grand Prairie, which strongly re- minded the boys of Illinois. On the west of the prairie, was a fine little village called Lewisburg, where several loyal people welcomed us, and a young lady was so strongly loyal that she appeared on the gallery with the Stars and Stripes worn draped as an apron. Under the circumstances, it seemed an extremely rash thing to do, as spies from the woods close by would be pretty sure to see it and lay up a store of ven- geance for future use.
October 26th .- Marched thirty-four miles and reached Bolivar at 4 p. m. Here, the Linn Creek and Springfield, and Jefferson City and Springfield roads connect, and here we witnessed the passing of a great army. This, then, was
"THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE OF GLORIOUS WAR."
It is true, that this great army "marched up the hill and then marched down again," but this is very often the case in military life.
Our regiment was camped just south of the town, which has been a nice town, but is now shabby enough. The trundling of artillery wagons, and tramp of regiments, was going on all night, and still they continued to come on and press forward.
October 27th .- Sunday our regiment remained in camp all
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HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
day, and our chaplain preached. Steady stream of troops passed all day long. Here to-day, many of us had our first sight of General Fremont, who passed through on his way to Springfield.
October 28th .- We made but a patchwork of a march, owing to so many regiments in advance of us, and the old Thirteenth could not let itself out as it had been in the habit of doing.
October 29th, Tuesday .- Arrived at Springfield, after a march of fifteen miles, and camped a mile from town, where there was plenty of good water. Comrade Wilson E. Chapel, of Company F, records that "we marched through town in grand style and received from General Fremont the name of his 'flying Infantry,' on account of our fast marching."
It was no more than natural that we should desire to visit the now historic battle-field of Wilson's Creek ; and for sev- eral days, we understood that General Price, with his army, was on that same ground, ready to give us battle; and, on November 3d, it was ordered that the army march out and attack Price ; and the advance was on the road, and our regiment formed, when the order was countermanded, on learning of the retreat southward of Price's army. Even after this, very few were permitted to go out to the battle- field only nine miles away.
And now, rumor said that General Fremont was removed from his command, and succeeded by General Hunter. And, as this subject is to occupy our attention long enough to allow the side-lights of later developed liistory to shed all possible light on a (then) much misunderstood matter, and in that misunderstanding lay wrapt up enough dangerously de- structive dynamite to threaten the very existence of the army then at Springfield, we must approach the subject from both our own (as then understood ) point of view, and next, from that of the Government, after a thorough official investiga- tion ; and we are fortunate in not approaching this delicate matter too soon for the whole truth to be transmitted to those who may read this history after we shall be gone.
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ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
To open the subject, I quote from the diary of comrade Wilson E. Chapel, of Company F :
"On the 9th of November, we learned that General Fre- mont had been removed from his command. This caused a general feeling of indignation among the troops, for he is be- lieved by all of us to be just the man for the place and for us.
SOME OF THE REGIMENTS THREATENED TO STACK THEIR ARMS
and never take them till he was restored to his command ; - and I believe that if one regiment had set the example, all the rest would have followed suit."
This admiration for Fremont was general, not only throughout the army, but throughout the country as well. Even the school books had set Fremont before the children, as a kind of hero of romance. He had saved California to the United States, was the " Pathfinder of the Rocky Mount- ains," and had encountered, in his route of explorations, mountain canyons filled with snow seventy feet deep. Being in Europe when the war broke out, and knowing that the arms were in the hands of the rebels, he purchased all the small arms he could, and forwarded them to this country, and himself hastened home and offered his services to the Gov- ernment.
Many of us supposed that he almost created the fleet of gun-boats on the Mississippi. And now, at Springfield, we supposed that we saw the best equipped army then in the country, created and mobilized by the genius of Fremont.
Let us see if any sacrilegious iconoclast dare strike a blow at this, our idol !
Adjutant-General Lorenzo Thomas, United States Army, was ordered, by Secretary of War, Cameron, to investigate the charges against General Fremont, and, in part, says, on October 11th, 1861.
"SIR : I have the honor to submit the report requested in your letter of the 19th instant General
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