USA > Illinois > Yates phalanx : the history of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Veteran Infantry in the war of the rebellion, 1861-1865 > Part 24
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and Lee at McLean's house down in the town. We finally fully comprehended what this scene meant, all this quiet. It meant that the war was practically to an end; it meant that millions at our homes away in the northland were filled with joy and thanksgiving. There was as yet no cheering or manifestations of feelings, as the terms of the surrender were still being considered. It was about four p.m. when the capitulation was announced. Even then there was no outbreak among the victorious soldiers, flushed as they were with the greatest triumph of the war. Soldier grasped the hand of soldier in honest pride, and to his honor be it said, he was not wanting in a God-like charity and sympathy for the remnant of that misguided, fallen and half-starved army over there on the slope beyond.
McLEAN'S HOUSE -- PLACE OF LEE'S SURRENDER.
The writer rode over into Lee's camp, and mingled somewhat with the poorly-clad and emaciated rebels who had proved on many occasions foemen worthy of our steel. We outnumbered Lee's army three to one, and such sorrowful-looking men and beasts we had seldom seen. Many of the officers wished to sell their horses, or any other valuables they possessed, in order to get the means to return home. One officer came riding up to the writer, mounted on a splendid thoroughbred horse, who sent him to General Osborn, who had no horse, "Old Mack" having been killed while bearing the General gallantry forward to intercept Lee. "Old Mack" was so well thought of, having been with us throughout the war, that almost martial funeral ceremonies were paid him. The General purchased him, horse of the rebel staff officer, and brought it home with him. On our return to our own camp, there was noticed a large crowd of officers and soldiers surrounding a small apple tree near the borders of a small stream, and they were all busy in securing trophies, for they stated that the tree marked the spot where the terms of surrender had been decided upon by General Grant and Lee; and the hundreds securing pieces of the bark and limbs believed it too, and before night-fall that tree was
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"End Of This Wicked Rebellion"
gone-a victim to the relic-hunters. That Sunday Eve, April 9 at Appomattox Court-House, at the vesper hour, the Federals, in the true spirit of charity, divided their "hardtack" bread with their late bitter, uncompromising and deadly foes.
General Lee and many of his officers departed for their homes that evening, and the following is the General's last order to his Army of Northern Virginia.
GENERAL LEE'S LAST ORDER.
"Headquarters Army Northern Virginia. 10th April, 1865.
General Order No. 9
"After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia had been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. I need not tell the brave survivors of so many hard-fought battles who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of them.
"But feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that would compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifices of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.
"By the terms of the agreement officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you His blessing and protection.
"With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country and a grateful remembrance of your kind and general consideration of myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.
(Signed) R. E. Lee, General.
After the surrender the First Division of the Twenty-Fourth Corps was ordered to guard, collect, and send back the war material that had been surrendered by the enemy. This duty occupied the attention of officers and men until April 17.
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CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
"On to Richmond"
At five o'clock, April 17, we commenced the march to Richmond. Before leaving, however, the news came of the President's assassination. We could not at first credit the report; but the telegraph soon confirmed it, and when we reached Burkeville we received news of his death. It would be impossible to give expression to or present a word-picture of the feelings each and all shared alike. A great sorrow possessed our minds as we thought of Lincoln dead! He whom we had so lately seen in health, and so apparently satisfied that his armies had at least reached the "beginning of the end." And to think that the hand of an assassin should strike him down just as the great "sunburst" of victory was dispelling the gloom that had hung like a pall over the Nation for nearly four years! All of our gladness was gone. Tears and mutterings of Revenge were seen and heard on all sides. It seemed that all hope had departed. A few days ago were the happiest of our lives, but now the most sorrowful; each felt as though the loss was a personal one. The gaily swinging "route step" of our march on to the late rebel capital changed to the mournful cadence of a funeral pace. The men of the First Division were burdened with woe. The President's death called to mind some stanzas of his favorite poem.
"Oh! Why should the spirit of mortal be proud? Like a swift fleeting meteor, a fast flying cloud, A flash of the lighting, a break of the wave, He passes from life to his rest in the grave.
"The hand of the king that the scepter hath borne, The brow of the priest that the miter hath worn, The eye of the sage, and the heart of the brave, Are hidden and lost in the depths of the grave.
"Tis the wink of an eye, "Tis the draught of a breath, From the blossom of health to the pallor of death; From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud; Oh! Why should the spirit of mortal be proud? THAT "Heroic soul, in homely garb half hid, Sincere, sagacious, melancholy, quaint,
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What he endured, no less that what he did, Has reared his monument and crowned him saint."
We reached Farmville April 19, where the Division went into camp for a few days. The surgeons took possession of a large building where there were some 140 sick and wounded of the late Confederate army, as well as some of our own.
April 20, late in the afternoon, some twenty-two young ladies, escorted by Confederate officers, who were on their way to Richmond, came to us, seeking accommodations for the night, having been sent by General Meade. They were provided for and entertained as well as possible under the circumstances, and on taking their departure the following morning confessed to having a pretty fair opinion of the "Yankees." The string band of the Engineer Corps came over and gave them a serenade in the evening.
April 22, at four a.m. orders came to move forward to Richmond, which at last was to be our destination. The after noon of April 24 we reached Manchester, opposite Richmond, and went into camp, and where preparations were made for our triumphal entry into the capital of the exploded Confederacy. At nine a.m. the following morning we crossed the James River on the pontoon bridge and were received by the Third Division of our Corps, which had been the first of our troops to enter the city with General Weitzel. It was a grand and imposing sight to see the old war-worn veterans of the First and Second Divisions of the Twenty-Fourth Army Corps moving up Main Street with tattered banners flying, bayonets gleaming in the warm sunlight, and the troops marching and displaying as became them when entering the capital of the conquered, and especially after we had been so long a time in getting there.
The uniforms of officers and men were weather and travel stained, but this made little difference at such a time; all was happy within, and, to the music of the Union, the "boys" marched proudly and firmly over the pavements of the long-sought for, long-fought-for, and at last won! - the late throne of "Rebeldom," Richmond.
We passed through the city, between two lines of the Third Division, who "presented arms" and lustily cheered the heroes who had followed the army of Lee to the extremity of surrender.
The great victory that had been achieved was mainly due to the Twenty-Fourth Army Corps [of the Army of the James], and the First Brigade of the First Division of that Corps was entitled to the credit of being the first infantry to intercept the army of Lee which was pushing on toward Lynchburg as fast as possible. There were no war correspondents for the press with our Division at the time, which accounts, probably, for the little notice we received. From the tenor of the dispatches to the New York papers at that date it would appear that the Fifth, Sixth and Ninth Corps of the Army of the Potomac had done all the fighting and deserving of all the honors.
Since leaving our encampment at Chaffin's Farm on March 27, the Thirty-Ninth had marched over 250 miles; had fought or participated in eight engagements with Lee's army, one of which (the assault on Fort Gregg) had carried the key-point of the defense of Richmond, and which rendered both Petersburg and Richmond untenable; and besides, it had outflanked the advanced portion of the rebel army, compelled its surrender, and afterwards assisted in the disposal of the captured property.
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"On To Richmond"
The Regiment went into camp about two miles from the city, together with the balance of the Division, where a pleasant encampment was made.
General Osborn received his commission as Brigadier-General here, and planted a "star" on his shoulder. Captain Plimpton also secured his commission as Major, and was in command of the Regiment.
After we were established in quarters we rode to the city to look over the burnt district. It was sad to behold such a wanton destruction of property in the business district, and to know that it had been caused by rabid and lawless ruffians who, in the absence of the military and under no restraint, had fired the city for the purpose of plunder. There must have been a fearful state of affairs in the city of Richmond in the interval between the departure of Jeff Davis and his minions and the arrival of the Federal force under General Weitzel.
The city of Richmond, like ancient Rome, sat upon seven hills; and (to carry the parallel a little further) like Rome, it has fallen. "Pompey" Davis, after having exhausted all his resources and means for defense, had been overcome by the rapidly moving columns of "Caesar" Grant, who had passed the "Rubicon" (James) and created such alarm that the Senate and "Pompey" Davis party abandoned the city, leaving all the treasure (that he could not carry away) behind. The great King of the South was politically dead and buried, and we had assisted at the funeral with as joyous feelings as would well comport with such a disaster.
The people of the city seemed disposed to accept the situation as graciously as possible, and extended to us, in many ways, a cordial greeting. How honest it was at that time was not questioned.
May 5, the Army of the Potomac passed through the city on its way to Washington for the Grand Review, and to be mustered out of the United States service. The Twenty-Fourth Corps did the honors of receiving them. On May 10 General Sherman and his army of veterans reached Richmond and passed through on the way to Washington, and were also heartily received by the Twenty-Fourth Corps. All the inhabitants of the city had turned out to see them, and were amazed at their strength and equipment, and the fine soldierly appearance of officers and men. They often remarked that "they did not see how their army had held out so long as it did," having to antagonize such well-equipped, well-fed and disciplined soldiers as they had seen pass through Richmond. Some hours were occupied in their passage through the city. It was a grand and imposing spectacle to witness these bronzed and hardy veterans, some 60,000 strong, fresh from the "March to the Sea," passing on homewards for "muster out."
Our old commander, now Brevet Major-General Alfred H. Terry, the "Hero of Fort Fisher," was in command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina with headquarters at Richmond, and Brigadier-General Joseph R. Hawley was his chief-of-staff. General Terry had been with us since July 1863, with the exception of the interval when he took command of the land forces in the expedition against Fort Fisher and the subsequent reinforcing of General Sherman at Raleigh, North Carolina. Our "boys" had confidence in Terry, and he was entitled to it; and besides, he had won their respect by his uniform kindness and courtesy of manner. He was a firm disciplinarian but never exacted anything from his command that he was not willing to share in. He was the friend of orderly and willing soldiers but despised shabbiness in either dress or action. His figure was commanding, tall,
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and straight as an arrow; manner dignified, but nothing approaching austerity; and one could seek his presence without the fear of being incontinently snubbed in so doing.
Major-General John Gibbons commanded the Twenty-Fourth Army Corps and Brigadier-General Robert S. Foster the First Division, while Brigadier-General Thomas O. Osborn was in command of our Brigade.
Soon after reaching Richmond a grand review of the Corps was held, and was made the occasion for the presentation of a new flag to the Thirty-Ninth by General Gibbons. On the standard was perched a magnificent bronze eagle which had been especially ordered by him and suitably engraved, to commemorate the gallant conduct of the Thirty-Ninth at the assault on Fort Gregg, Virginia, April 2, 1865.
One of the Ohio regiments of the brigade was likewise honored in the same manner.
This was the last general review before the disbanding of the old Corps, and it passed off in the most satisfactory manner to all concerned, and especially so to the officers and men of the Thirty- Ninth, who were proud as well as grateful to be honored in such a complimentary way and in so public a manner.
The duties of the men at Richmond were not excessive or burdensome, only such as the exigencies of the situation required. It was principally camp and provost-guard duty in and around the city.
The Corps Hospital was located at Camp Lee, formerly a camp of conscription and instruction for the Confederate army. The buildings upon the ground had been built before the war by the State Agricultural Society and were well adapted for hospital purposes. Soon after getting established, Miss Dix, Chief of the Nurse Department of the Army, made us a visit of inspection, and expressed herself as well pleased with our surrounding and accommodations for sick and wounded.
Surgeon Simonds, U. S. A., was our Medical Director, and is gratefully remembered for the interest he manifested in the welfare of our sick and disabled men.
In the early part of June the following General Order was promulgated, which was congratulatory and promissory, and we looked forward to a speedy muster out of service; but we were destined to remain yet longer in Virginia before that much-desired event.
"War Department,
Adjutant General's Office,
Washington, D.C., June 2, 1865.
GENERAL ORDER NO. 108
"Soldiers of the Armies of the United States: By your patriotic devotion to your country in the hour of danger and alarm-your magnificent fighting, bravery, and endurance-you have maintained the supremacy of the Union and the Constitution, overthrown all armed opposition to the enforcement of the laws, and of the Proclamation forever abolishing SLAVERY-the cause and pretext of the Rebellion-and opened the way to the rightful
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"On To Richmond"
authorities to restore order and inaugurate peace on a permanent and enduring basis on every foot of American soil.
"Your marches, sieges, and battles, in distance, duration, resolution and brilliancy of result, dim the luster of the world's past military achievements, and will be the Patriot's precedent, in defense of Liberty and Right, in all time to come.
"In obedience to your country's call, you left your homes and families and volunteered in its defense. Victory has crowned your valor and secured the purpose of your patriot hearts; and with the gratitude of your countrymen, and the highest honors a great and free nation can accord, you will soon be permitted to return to your homes and families, conscious of having discharged the highest duty of American citizens.
"To achieve these glorious triumphs, and secure to yourselves, your fellow-countrymen, and posterity the blessings of free institutions, tens of thousands of your gallant comrades have fallen, and sealed the priceless legacy with their lives. The graves of these a grateful nation bedews with tears, honors their memories, and will ever cherish and support their stricken families.
U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General."
War correspondents for the New York and other papers were still numerous around headquarters, and for the most part were jovial and interesting associates. We still bear in memory William H. Merriam, reporter for the New York Herald, a genial old soul done up in a wrapper of adiposity, and who was as broad as tall, and rolled and trundled about in a sea of humor. We had first met him in May 1864, at General Butler's headquarters, when he had a great appetite for news items of all kinds. He was full of "wise saws and modern instances," and when he would relax from his sphinx-like dignity of manner and expression, would entertain his friends with his store of anecdote and adventure, containing so much dry humor that it was necessary to wash them down with a bottle of his imported (?) champagne that he kept for these special occasions. He had his quarters in the State House, and seemed to be the custodian of the Confederate archives, or what was left of them, and was constantly circulating "Senate Journal Documents" among his friends.
The Richmond ladies, in course of time, having doubtless become convinced that the "Yankees" did not "wear horns," only drank them, began to show themselves more freely; and here it may be of interest to mention that Sam Greenbaum, of the band, was fortunate enough to secure a wife, who he says has been a blessing to him ever since. Sam was always on the lookout for chances.
Some of the Thirty-Ninth will remember Dr. Mayo and his brother, the mayor of Richmond, the former of whom gave the writer a lock of hair from the head of "Stonewall" Jackson, who died at Dr. Mayo's house. And some will recall with pleasant memories Governor Pierpont and the members of his staff, also Drs. Cabell, Hancock, and others who paid us friendly attention.
Some of you will remember old George Fitzhugh, a most bitter and uncompromising rebel, who had written several books in defense of Southern institutions-"Sociology for the South," "Cannibals All," and others of like stamp, but who now accepted the situation and the favors of the "boys in blue." You will recall pleasant memories of the Richmond Theater and its manager, R. D'Orsay Ogden, and Staples, his executive, and the actors-Frank Drew, Brink, William. H. Leake; and the
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Misses Annie Waite, Revell and Tillinghast; and there will be some remembrance of the banquet that DeNormandie spread for them one night at Camp Lee when Generals Foster and Osborn and Colonel Dandy honored the occasion with their presence. And then there was the grand "blowout" at Division headquarters, given by Surgeon A. C. Barlow of the Sixty-Second Ohio, acting Division Surgeon, to the medical profession of Richmond as a return for like civilities, and where the extra, double B commissary whiskey so astonished the nerves of the invited guests that they were soon paralyzed and laid out-another "victory!" establishing the superiority of Yankee whiskey over that of the F. F. V.'s.
On or about the July 10 the Thirty-Ninth were ordered to City Point, Virginia, where they remained for a period of three week's guard duty. While there they were called upon to suppress a riot between some cavalry soldiers and the Negroes, but happily they were not forced to use their guns. From City Point they proceeded to Norfolk, Virginia, and reported to Brevet Briga- dier-General O. L. Mann, who was in command of the South eastern District of Virginia. General Mann, after recovering from the wound received at Ware Bottom Church, had been assigned to duty as provost-marshal at Norfolk and afterwards succeeded to the command of the district.
August 1 the Twenty-Fourth Army Corps ceased to be an organization, but a sufficient number of troops were retained at Richmond to maintain order and await the time when control of the State could be turned over to the civil authorities, the election for State officers having taken place on July 25, which passed off very quietly. The Corps hospital, also was soon closed out, and after the settlement of its affairs the writer reported to the Medical Director for orders, and was soon sent with orders to report to Surgeon J. J. Craven at Fort Monroe, who assigned him to duty at Norfolk, as Chief Medical Officer of the District and to take charge of the post hospital, reaching Norfolk with hospital steward DeNormandie about September 6, where he was once again among the members of his old regiment. Affairs at Norfolk were in the control of the Thirty-Ninth. The Regiment was pleasantly encamped in the open square of the city, fronting on Church Street.
The district was now under the command of Brevet Major General A.T.A. Torbert, who had succeeded General Mann, September 4. Captain Myers, Company K, had command of the hard-labor prison; Captain Samuel Gilmore was acting as provost-marshal, and afterwards was appointed on the staff of General Torbert, as Assistant General Inspector; and Lieutenant Leroy Doud was acting Assistant Adjutant-General on Torbert's staff.
The post hospital, called DeLamater Hospital, was under charge of acting Assistant Surgeon W. F. Litch, and was located in the court-house; and when the writer took possession was in bad shape and overcrowded. On representing the matter to General Torbert, the hospital was transferred to the old Marine Hospital situated on Ferry Point, midway between Portsmouth and Norfolk, after the premises had been inspected by Generals Torbert and Mann. It was then in possession of the Freedmen's Bureau, and was occupied as a school; but it was soon scrubbed out and whitewashed, and made most admirable quarters for the sick of the Thirty-Ninth and the Ninth Vermont Infantry, stationed at Portsmouth. Many of the Thirty-Ninth remember the hospital and the cry of "Ferry Point in a minit!" of the Negroes who conducted the little ferryboat that ran hourly between the hospital and Norfolk.
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"On To Richmond"
The duties at Norfolk were rather pleasant then otherwise, but we were not contented or satisfied. The war was finished and we wanted to go home, having filled our contract with the Government to the very utmost, and we were in daily expectancy of being "mustered out."
General Mann we remember as being very pleasantly and comfortably situated in fine quarters on one of the desirable residence streets near the bay, and had his wife with him. General Pennypacker, who had been seriously wounded at Fort Fisher, was still an invalid, and was located nearby, and under the care of Surgeon D. R. Brower. The writer remembers both gentlemen with much satisfaction. Dr. Brower, prior to our leaving Norfolk, went to Richmond and accepted some position under the new State Government.
The District of Southeastern Virginia embraced the counties of Princess Anne, Norfolk, Nansemond, Southampton and Isle of Wight, and there was a large Negro element to be cared for and kept at work. The Negroes had become possessed of the idea in some manner that on Christmas Day they were each to receive from the United States Government large quantities of land, and in consequence of this impression many of them refused to make any contracts to labor after Christmas. In order to correct this impression General Terry issued an order for the detail of proper officers to be sent into every county, and as far as possible in to each neighborhood, to explain that the Government had no intention, even if it had the power, to do anything of the kind. This entailed a great deal of labor, but ultimately saved a great deal of trouble.
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CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
"School is out!"
On December 1, orders were received for the "muster out" of the Ninth Vermont Volunteers. Prior to their departure the officers of that regiment gave a grand military ball, and cordial invitations were extended to the Thirty-Ninth, who gladly responded. The affair passed off with much satisfaction and enjoyment.
On December 3, 1865, orders came for the Thirty-Ninth to prepare for "muster out." It is quite unnecessary to add that the tidings were received with great rejoicing. This formality took place on the afternoon of December 6, and at nightfall we were safely on board a steamer for Springfield, Illinois, via Baltimore and Chicago.
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