USA > Indiana > History of the One hundred and sixty-first regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry > Part 3
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GOVERNOR JAMES A. MOUNT.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
services and who have importuned earnestly that their serv- ice might be accepted. (Applause.) It has been your patriotism and the patriotism of the brave men of Indiana that enabled the state to take her proud position at the front of the states in furnishing her quota of soldiers. (Applause. ) It was this patriotism that enabled Indiana to report her quota ready first of all the states. It was this patriotism that enabled Indiana to have her soldiers first mustered into the service. It will not, soldiers, militate against your patriotism or your honor that you may not engage in battle. You have made per- sonal sacrifice-no one knows but a soldier and a soldier's family the personal sacrifice he makes when he enlists in his country's service. He goes forth to meet the dangers of battle and the disease of the camp. He goes forth
perhaps not to return to those who are dear to him. He enlists and is ready for whatever service the government may accept of him. He sacrifices his home, he leaves loved ones, and only a mother can tell what sacrifices she makes when she bids farewell to her darling boy, and only that boy knows the sacrifice of leaving home when he bids. farewell to his mother and his friends. Some of you have bade good-bye to a loving wife, some of you to a mother and a father, some to brothers and sisters, but you are all bidding good-bye to friends who are as dear to you as your own life. Not only this sacrifice, but many of you are sacrificing your business. You have allowed nothing to come between you and your country. I may truthfully say of Indiana that the five regiments that have gone forth from this state, and are now going, and the two independent companies, and the two batteries, are as grand men as ever enlisted in any cause. (Applause.) And they are all of them as brave men as ever entered an army for the defense of the country. (Renewed applause.) And if opportunity offers Indiana soldiers will reflect credit upon the govern- ment and upon this great commonwealth. (Applause.)
" It looks at this time as though the war might be near its termination, and in the dawn of peace we all rejoice. These brave men have been willing to give their lives, but God spare their lives and permit them to return,
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all of them, to this state. (Great applause. ) But, sol- diers of the One Hundred and Sixty-first, I am not a prophet, but I predict that you will tread on Cuban soil before you are welcomed back to the state of Indiana. (Tremendous applause.) I believe that the gallant Fitz- hugh Lee, if he does not go to Cuba as conqueror, will go there with an army of occupation (applause), and I believe this regiment, with General Lee, will be on Cuban soil next winter. And, comrade soldiers, there will be battles for you to fight, though they may not be against the enemy. The insidious temptations that follow camp life require courage to meet and maintain your honor and your dignity. I would counsel you, meet these temptations of camp life like heroes. There is no schooling, in my judgment, that is grander than the schooling a soldier receives in camp and in battle. The mask will be thrown aside. You will see men in their true character. In the army some men will do that which they would scorn to do in society. But the true soldier will maintain his dignity, his gentlemanly demeanor, in camp and in battle, as well as in society. (Applause.) And those soldiers that meet the dangers and temptations of camp and return with their characters unsullied, dignified, temperate, gentlemanly at the close of war will be men who have learned lessons that will be of incalculable benefit to them through life. So my parting words would be to these brave men, be diligent, be active, be brave, be temperate, be contented, maintain a cheerful disposition. We are told that a cheerful spirit doeth good as a medicine. The soldier that becomes disheartened and discouraged in camp is in danger of inviting disease and of meeting death. So, soldiers of the One Hundred and Sixty-first, acquit yourselves like men, so that when you return to your friends and to your state you will return bringing back that nobility of character and manhood as well as a brave record as a soldier. I have no fear the good name of Indiana will be vindicated in the camp or in the furnace of battle. (Applause.) Go forth, brave men of Indiana, and may God's blessing and God's protecting power go with you, and in his good providence may you be per- mitted to return and receive that welcome that patriotic
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
soldiers deserve from their friends and from their native state. " (Tremendous applause. )
Colonel Durbin made a few happy remarks and then, dismounting from his horse, shook hands with the gov- ernor. Colonel Backus followed Colonel Durbin's exam- ple. Cheer after cheer was given by the soldiers for the flag and officers. The march then continued to the North street depot, where cars were in readiness.
At 8:30 o'clock the first section, bearing the Third Battalion, left the depot; a few minutes intervened between the starting of the other two sections, the first of which carried the First Battalion and the second the Second Battalion. The arrangements were complete and were carried out with precision in every detail.
The One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry was on its way to join the army of Fitz Hugh Lee.
CHAPTER III.
EN ROUTE TO JACKSONVILLE.
The three trains left North street station a few mo- ments apart and passed in close succession through the Union depot at 9:10 P. M., and a few moments later the lights of Indianapolis were shining far behind us as the well- loaded coaches sped away to the south.
The entire train save the baggage and freight accom- modations was composed of sleeping cars and the troops were transported with every possible convenience and comfort. The brief run of each section is better described by one who was there.
THE FIRST SECTION.
While the big guns were belching at Santiago the One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment, just mustered into service, was listening with bated breath and wondering if ever it would be theirs " to do or die." The wiseacres knowingly shook their heads and said "you fellows will never leave Camp Mount until you are mustered out," so it was a great relief to all when the orders came to report at Jacksonville. The Third Battalion was designated as the first section, carrying besides its four companies, Colonel Durbin, with Major Smith and Adjutant Tichenor of the staff and Lieutenant-Colonel Crooker, commissary officer, and the usual amount of impedimenta including the regi- mental horses. It was 8:50 P. M. before we were loaded on Pullmans at the North street station and started on our
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
mission for humanity's sake over the Big Four by way of Louisville, Kentucky. Our first stop was at Shelbyville at II o'clock, where a large number of people were waiting with a farewell for the boys of Company C; but little time was given them, however, and we were soon speeding on our way, arriving at Louisville about 3 A. M., where we were transferred to the L. & N. Railroad; a few hours more and we were passing through some battle fields of old upon which there is a monument to the memory of the boys in blue who had fallen there long before the majority of us were born.
At Bowling Green trouble began with a native selling whisky to the men and who had no intention of respecting the order of Lieutenant Dority, who had been appointed provost marshal for the section, and when the bystanders interfered in behalf of their fellow townsman trouble of a very serious character began to brew, until Colonel Durbin and the adjutant came to the marshal's assistance; the liquor was confiscated, the soldiers ordered to the train, and the offending party allowed his freedom for lack of time to punish him. The train went flying away, making Nashville about noon, where coffee was served for the first time since leaving Camp Mount. We were soon on our way again, reaching Birmingham, Alabama, shortly before midnight, where we passed General Carpenter and staff of the Fourth Army Corps on their way to Huntsville, where that corps had been ordered from Tampa. At Birming- ham several colored men boarded the train and began to go through some of the clothing of the men whose fathers; had made them free. They were, however, soon promptly fired from the train, and, after a few shots fired in the air by the daring lieutenant appointed for that purpose, the train was ready to proceed. The next morning papers at Decatur told us that the protocol had been signed and that 4
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the war was virtually at an end; but on we went, arriving at 2:45 P. M. at Thomasville, known as the "garden city of the south," and one of its best known and most popular health resorts. Late in the afternoon we came to Way- cross; here we had an hour's stop. The colonel ordered the battalion off and instructed company commanders to give their men the setting-up exercise and some of the foot movements. A heavy rain interfered even before Com- pany G could complete its roll call, yet it was finished de- spite the fact that every man got soaked through; the other companies broke for shelter at the first sign and were soon scattered over town, some looking for a bite to eat, others for a drink, the former getting the best of the deal, for Waycross is a sure enough "dry town," despite the fact that the streets were flooded with water and the mud ankle deep. At Waycross an old darkey brother came to us with the query "is you all gwine down to jine Sherman?" Assuring him that we were, we again boarded the train and soon finished our journey, arriving at Jackson- ville at 9:30 P. M. of the 13th, where we were run into the yards and there awaited the coming of the other sections, which were said to be somewhere in our rear. The trip was devoid of any incident further than the excitement, to some of the favored ones riding on the engine while pass- ing through Georgia, caused by running over an occasional steer.
SECOND SECTION.
This section followed closely after the first. It car- ried the First Battalion with Lieutenant-Colonel Backus in command and with Lieutenant Gerrish and Chaplain Biederwolf of the staff.
The men were comfortably fixed, two in a lower berth and one in an upper and with every one in highest spirits
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
we chased away in hot pursuit of the section in advance. Captain Baird was made officer of the day and Lieutenant Fitch officer of the guard.
For every coach end there was a guard who stood with- out in the day and sat within at night. We knew the good example the first section would set us in sobriety and it was desirable to set the same example to the section following us and one of the works of chief importance was preventing liquor being passed to the men through the windows by those who were dwarfed in character enough to do it.
One son of darkness was caught in the act just before we started; he was brought into the presence of Lieutenant- colonel Backus who ordered him turned over to civil au- thorities; how he did beg and promise and finally when the Colonel asked him how quick he would get out if allowed to run he said "Now boss, foh God! if you give dis chile three seconds you can shoot at him. " The colonel gave it to him and he was out of sight in less time than he had bargained for. At every stop along the way guards were placed outside along the cars who did double duty of keeping the men in and every thing undesirable out. In this regard the section is indebted to Lieutenant Ger- rish for admirable service rendered. The train reached the smoky city of Louisville early on the morning of the 12th where it had the misfortune of starting up before some of the men got on board. Billy Woods, of Company A, and a few others had only met some friends but they turned up in Jacksonville as good as new a few minutes after the regiment was on the ground.
The boys didn't do a thing to the big juicy water- melons that were waiting all along the way to meet the train. They were dessert to the corn-beef and beans and hard-tack that fed the boys, and revenue to the sleepy old
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HISTORY OF THE
farmer who was fortunate enough to have his crop in the right market at the right time.
Everywhere we were greeted with characteristic south- ern cordiality, especially generous under circumstances fast obliterating the last bit of sectional feeling and calling us together in the common struggle then on. There were cheers and there were waving handkerchiefs, there were hand-shakings and expressive good-byes though they had met but for a moment. Beautiful bouquets, roses and loose flowers were laid in our hands at every stop and on every side expressions of universal good feeling and best wishes to cheer us as we went, made the run an interesting and delightful one.
From an occasional inquiry as to when the preceding section had passed we learned that either they were gain- ing time or we were losing it; our frequent stops to repair couplings suggested the latter; the platforms were pulling off and in order to arrive with the same number of cars with which we started it became necessary to stop at Decatur, Alabama, and throw three cars to the rear. The train then rolled on to Montgomery, Alabama's capital, and for a brief period capital of the Confederate States; here the men who cared to wake up got coffee at 2 A. M. The first section seemed to be uneasy about the tardiness and sent us the following telegram, received about one hundred and fifty miles out of Montgomery.
" Lieut. - Col. Backus:
" Why is second section so far behind; report condition of your command, including chaplain.
" COL. W. T. DURBIN."
The following reply was wired at once.
" Col. W. T. Durbin:
"Making best possible time, three couplings broke; all sober except chaplain." " V. M. BACKUS."
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA. 53
That was an ingenious stroke, but a few hours later when information was received that beer was substituted for coffee at Thomasville the chaplain had a fit of genuine sobriety. Could any one think that a hungry man would prefer beer to a quart of delicious hot coffee; were the men who did not drink beer to have nothing? No. A canvass was made. " Boys remember those who take beer get no coffee." Be it to their credit that three-fourths chose cof- fee, which they got; the guzzler gulped his beer and then begged for coffee which he didn't get and the train rolled on to Waycross. More than a century ago General Ogle- thorpe, then governor of the colony of Georgia, had his head- quarters in Waycross; it is to-day one of the most attract- ive places in the state, its temperature and its environs making it a rendezvous for many a winter visitor. After a short stay for supper the train pulled out for the last part of the long run to Jacksonville just as the third section came up at 9 P. M. Arriving at Jacksonville at 2:30 A. M., we found the first section a few hours in advance of us and after waiting until 6:30 A. M. the men had an opportunity for breakfast, and were ready to leave for the campsite, six miles out of the city.
THE THIRD SECTION.
After a long, weary wait on the transportation depart- ment there came a scramble for berths in the train which was to convey the third section to Jacksonville, Florida; then another one of those unexplained delays which seemed to be intended for those who had mothers, wives and sweet- hearts to bid goodbye, and we steamed slowly away from anxious friends and relatives, from our native state and from the scene of our regimental birth. . Our trip was to be a long one, uneventful in most part, but in fact made up of
0
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HISTORY OF THE
numerous modest incidents which become more interesting with retrospection.
Besides the battalion commander and his companies this section was accompanied by Quartermaster Brunt and Dr. Wilson of the staff. Officers of the day and guard were appointed, the train was carefully searched, all lock- ers and other places of possible concealment opened and every discovered drop of intoxicants thrown away and every precaution taken to bring the section through in an orderly and commendable way.
Sleep and sociability were scarce that night; in sub- dued wakefulness the boys lay quiet and thought of the past and the unknown future .. Of course the coffee did not turn up at the breakfast hour, but it came later. The first meeting with the preceding section occurred at Bow- ling Green, Kentucky, where, after a short breathing space, we separated for another run. At Nashville it was late coffee again. We were fast leaving our beloved North behind us as was plainly noticed by the increase of colored people and by the increase of R's in the speech of the whites. We stopped for a short time at the historic town of Pulaski, made historic by its association with the Army of Tennessee in the last great war. We stayed in Pulaski too long, all on account of a dog; just a shepherd dog, nameless so far as we knew, but he left Pulaski with our train, it is presumed, and soon the wires were hot with messages which were being continually poked at us in regard to that dog; the militia was not ordered out by Governor Taylor, nor was the military force of Alabama called upon to restore the much desired canine, but many a self-important marshal of many a sleepy southern town was forced to stop whittling his favorite store-box and inquire for the lost pet. In the meantime the dog's con- science troubled him for leaving home and we kindly put
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
him in a condition to return, and when we were next approached by a diplomatic representative of the Mont- gomery police force in reference to the dog he was given carte blanche to search the train, but in vain, for if the dog wasn't on his way home, who could be blamed? Surely not the policeman.
The short stops at the small stations, such as Ashford in Alabama, Bainbridge, Thomasville and Naylor in Geor- gia, gave us an opportunity to observe the strangers among whom fate had thrown us. At Bainbridge and Naylor our coaches were strewn with beautiful southern roses; at the former of these places a charming little southern beauty gave to Major Megrew a sweet smile, accompanied with a beautiful bouquet of roses, on the inside of which was a little note which read: "If you want to make the Spaniards run, just give the rebel yell," and signed "A Little Rebel." The extreme cordiality which was shown to us all through the south was too strong to be misunderstood; it was a feeling of friendship and good will. We reached Jackson- ville about 3:30 A. M., August 14, and in six hours with the rest of the regiment we were disembarked at Panama Park, and the pine and palm thickets were being razed in a most unceremonious manner, and palm trees that were sold for dollars in our own states were being chopped down like thistles, and in their stead arose the square white houses of the new comers-the tall hoosiers of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
First impressions are not always reliable, but the men were scarcely ever relieved of the unfavorable impression which Florida first made upon them. No doubt they were expecting too much; their imagination had been fired by
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HISTORY OF THE
glowing accounts and exaggerated pictures of her luxuriant vegetation and they were going
" Way down in the South where gulf breezes blow, Where tall, stately pines and the live oaks grow,
Where soft summer nights are cooled by the dew,
And a summer sun shines the winter months through."
They were bound for the "sunny South," where lux- urious fruits of untold variety would be theirs for the trouble of gathering them; they were expecting monkeys to threw cocoanuts at them out of the tops of beautiful palms. But it is true that the Seventh Army Corps did not locate in the best part of this reputed land of flowers and although recent winters have been too severe for much of its fruit- age yet there are many portions of the great peninsula that are veritable garden spots. But there was an abundance of some things; for instance, there were darkies enough; there were pine trees enough and there was sand enough; enough for a whole Sahara if you made up in depth what it lacked in breadth; there was also sun enough; the boys always had trouble about noon in finding their shadows and the direct and intense heat made one dull and stupid; and there was Florida moss enough dressing all those live oaks in mourning so prophetic with their drapery of the spirit that was so soon to take hold of the men.
When the several trains arrived at the camping site the regimental effects were at once unloaded and the men began to carry them to their proper places where the com- pany streets had been laid out. An elevated piece of ground already cleared for drilling purposes by the Third Nebraska, who were immediately on our right, had been reserved for us and immediately the busy scenes incident to arranging camp commenced; by late evening all tents were up and the camp in such shape as a day's work of a
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
regiment will usually put it, but all the men were tired; the tramping over sand and scorched by a hot August sun that cooked the vitality out of a fellow and the hard work after a hard ride went a good ways for the strongest man who was not accustomed to such depressing environment and when the evening came with its cool blessing the boys laid down to sleep and in a few moments might have been for all they knew back in the Hoosier state where so many soon wished they were ..
Immediately to our right was the Third Nebraska, beyond them the Second Mississippi and behind us a little to the left the Third Division Hospital. Upon our arrival Colonel Durbin was notified that his regiment had been assigned to the First Brigade, Third Division of the Seventh Army Corps. The Seventh Army Corps had at that time the following composition:
Major-General Fitzhugh Lee, Commanding.
FIRST DIVISION.
Major-General J. Warren Keifer, Commanding. .
FIRST BRIGADE.
Brigadier-General Lloyd Wheaton, Commanding.
First Texas Volunteer Infantry. First Louisiana Volunteer Infantry. First Alabama Volunteer Infantry. .
SECOND BRIGADE.
Brigadier General W. W. Gordon, Commanding: Second Texas Volunteer Infantry. Second Louisiana Volunteer Infantry. Second Alabama Volunteer Infantry.
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HISTORY OF THE
THIRD BRIGADE.
Colonel C. B. Hunt, First Ohio Vol. Inf., Commanding. Fourth United States Volunteer Infantry. First Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
SECOND DIVISION.
Brigadier-General Abraham K. Arnold, Commanding. FIRST BRIGADE.
Brigadier-General Andrew S. Burt, Commanding.
Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
First North Carolina Volunteer Infantry.
Second New Jersey Volunteer Infantry.
SECOND BRIGADE.
Colonel D. V. Jackson, Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Commanding.
Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. .
First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
THIRD BRIGADE.
Brigadier-General H. C. Hasbrouck, Commanding.
Second Virginia Volunteer Infantry.
Fourth Virginia Volunteer Infantry.
Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
THIRD DIVISION.
Brigadier-General Lucius F. Hubbard, Commanding. FIRST BRIGADE.
Brigadier-General Lucius F. Hubbard, Commanding. Second Mississippi Volunteer Infantry.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
Third Nebraska Volunteer Infantry.
One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana Volunteer In- fantry.
SECOND BRIGADE.
Brigadier-General James H. Barklay, Commanding.
Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. Sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry.
THE SECOND UNITED STATES VOLUNTEER CAVALRY. Colonel Jay L. Torrey, Commanding.
SIGNAL CORPS BATTALION. Captain H. C. Giddings, Commanding.
The Seventh Army Corps on September Ist consisted, therefore, of three infantry divisions, one cavalry regiment, one signal corps battalion, three hospital and four ambu- lance companies. A total of twelve hundred and fifty-two commissioned officers and thirty thousand one hundred and nineteen enlisted men.
CHAPTER IV.
CAMP CUBA LIBRE.
August 14, '98-September 30, '98.
The following day was like the first and with the com- ing of the next came also the news that on that day, Aug- ust 16, there would be held a brigade review in honor of the governor of Nebraska; Governor Holcomb had arrived in the city, Saturday evening, the 13th, and had come as a visitor of Colonel Bryan, of the Third Nebraska, to Camp Cuba Libre on Sunday, and after spending the night in camp witnessed the review on Monday. Being the first review with which the regiment was connected the officers had naturally a little solicitude about the part it was to play in the parade and did not return in the highest elatement over its deportment, but the fault lay elsewhere than in the regiment.
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