USA > Indiana > History of the One hundred and sixty-first regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry > Part 6
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The succeeding days brought with them the usual rou- tine of camp life, unbroken by any event of interest. On Sunday, 13th, the camp site was inspected by a surgical board; complaints of a sanitary nature had been made from the day the regiment first saw the grounds and were about to result in an exchange of position between the regiment, brigade and division headquarters which would have fur- nished excellent locations of sufficient size for all, but owing to the speedy departure for Cuba the inspecting board advised a retention of positions then held. Com- pany E was at this time on duty at the rifle range, having been detailed there the 9th of the month to superintend the target practice of the corps. On the 16th Companies A, K, M and L went to the range for practice, the other companies having been there the day before; five shots at two hundred yards and five at three hundred were allowed each man, and the time was spent shooting at black Span- iards on boards, with results showing remarkable improve- ments in the art of war since the previous like experience at Jacksonville.
On the 21st the quartermaster unloaded before his store-house twenty-four large boxes, and as the men lined up by companies each one received and was charged with a $11.49 navy blue brass-button caparisoned over-
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coat. They made every man look like Napoleon, but that wasn't what they were for; they were intended to shield the men from those cold blasts which the colonel told them next day at parade were sweeping over Hoosier- dom and which came whizzing over the cotton belt a few days later and sent the men shivering to their tents right glad the authority was wiser than they, many of whom only a few days before had vigorously protested against any such needless and extravagant expenditure. The greater part of the drill during the middle portion of November was battalion extended order.
Nothing of note occurred until the 24th, for which day the boys had been anxiously waiting and wondering what good thing it had in store for them. The day was ushered in with all the beauties of a typical autumn day in the south, and was given up wholly to pleasure. At IO o'clock in the assembly tent a most excellent sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Smith, of the city; this was followed at the noon hour by elaborate spreads in each of the twelve companies of the regiment. . The ladies of Savannah were in the dinner serving business out of most excellent motive, but on a plan hardly savor- ing of the generosity which could so easily have come from so large a populace so greatly benefited by the presence of so great a number of soldiers; we were to raise the money and they were to serve the turkey; but not out of any crit- icism, but simply with the feeling that the money once raised the serving would be a comparatively easy and pleasant task, while the good ladies were already over- burdened with an infinite amount of the same thing, the colonel made the preparation and the serving of the dinner a strictly regimental affair. The ladies were offended, but a due explanation once more bridged the chasm between the north and the south, and sweet harmony was restored .. 7
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The boys did not have the ladies but they had warm turkey instead and plenty of it. One thousand one hundred pounds of turkey were furnished by Armour & Co., to be accounted for in surplus meat. There were ninety gallons of oysters that day; there were cranberries and celery and mince pies and other delicacies which appeal to the inner man and which go hand in hand with the day thus observed. For once, hardtack, bacon and canned beef was but a memory which the very next day arose to haunt those who had partaken of the feast in the shape of a life-sized reality and to head off any tendencies to gout by reason of the gormandizing of the boys the day before. Only one kick was registered, and that of an enlisted man who having disposed of nine pounds of turkey, a quart of cranberries, two mince pies and other edibles in proportion kicked be- cause his capacity for consumption went back on him at time so inopportune, but who was reconciled to his fate on hearing of the Thanksgiving dinner which the boys in the hospital had: poor fellows who were given a bit of turkey to chew, on the express condition of spitting it out just when it was in the best condition to swallow, and the cruel part about it was that some one was there to see that they did spit it out. In some of the officers' messes dinner, during which service the table fairly groaned under its load of good things, was postponed until evening in order, as some of the officers asserted, that they might "eat with the boys " but which knowing ones assert they did by reason of the fact that visions of two good dinners were in sight. The afternoon was given over to a diversity of amusements upon which the boys were privileged to attend; many cheered the picked baseball nine of our regiment while it secured a victory over a similarly chosen nine from the First North Carolina on the parade ground of our regiment; others attended the shooting match between picked teams of the best shots from
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the Seventh Army Corps and the Savannah Gun Club at the rifle range of the latter east of the camp; still others wit- ness the football game in which an eleven from the Second Louisianas contested for supremacy with the First Texas Knights of the Gridiron at the City ball park; not a few at- tended the matinee at the Savannah Theater or saw the Rough Riders in their exhibition at Thunderbolt.
The day ended most auspiciously in the evening when some of the ladies of Savannah gave an elocutionary and musical entertainment in the assembly tent at which some of the best talent in the city appeared in the various num- bers, a favor highly commendable and thoroughly appre- ciated; and thus the entire day was one joyous occasion that will long be remembered by every man in the regi- ment.
The aforesaid festivities were followed on November 25th by a sham battle between the two brigades of the Sec- ond Division; the First Brigade was assigned to a position behind the huge earthworks thrown up east of Savannah for the protection of the city at the time of Sherman's famous march to the sea; the works in question remain intact although overgrown to a considerable extent by for- est trees and shrubbery and are a grim reminder of the fruits of war in the terrible strife of '61 to '65. To hold these works against the attack of the Second Brigade was the duty assigned to the First Brigade; previous to leaving camp both brigades were supplied liberally with blank cart- ridges; the Second Brigade was given one hour's start of the First in which to afford them ample time to reconnoiter and decide upon their mode of attack; the First Brigade, with band playing and banners unfurled to the breeze marched out and took possession of the earth works and awaited the report of the scouts sent out in all directions to locate, if possible, the enemy and their probable mode of attack; in
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the meantime the firing line was established and supports and reserves held in readiness, the One Hundred and Sixty- first Indiana being assigned to the firing line; in about one hour the sounds of occasional shots about one and one-half miles to our front indicated that our scouts had been dis- covered and were being driven in; shortly afterward they could be distinguished across the open country directly to our front through the undergrowth just beyond, hastily retreating, closely pressed by an under fire of the advance guard of the enemy; re-inforcements to cover their retreat were now sent out; the scouts having reached the edge of the open space between the enemy and the earthworks, took advantage of such protection as the country afforded firing as they came; having advanced to a sufficient distance to be no longer endangered by a fire from the earthworks, and a company of the enemy in close order formatoin having needlessly exposed itself about three-quarters of a mile directly to our front, Major Peterson, of the Third Battalion of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana, which occupied the center of the works, with the Second Illinois on our extreme right, and the Carolinas on our left, ordered the squads of his battalion on the firing line to fire by volley on the company thus exposed and which must necessarily have been riddled in actual engagement, which opinion the commander of the company in question evi- dently shared, for he immediately changed his formation from a close to an open order; re-inforcements quickly came up and the enemy continued to advance under heavy fire which now became general on both sides; they were prac- tically subdued even before the support was ordered to the firing line, and with the result that much of the reserve of the First Brigade did not fire a single shot, although the entire force of the enemy was hurled against the works; needless to assert that the enemy was called off the field
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by the judges of the occasion, competent officials of the regular army, and the battle awarded to the First Brigade as having thoroughly and effectively protected their entrenchments.
During the succeeding few days the overcoats which had been issued a week previous were very much in demand, the temperature having fallen very perceptively, together with cold, drizzling rains, accompanied by biting blasts, which heralded the coming of one of the severest winters known in the south and throughout the states; woe to the luckless soldier whose finance was such that he could not possess the luxury of an oil stove; during the day he borrowed a warm-up from his more fortunate comrade or huddled up in his overcoat, backed up against a tree on the windless side in order that the full energy of the sun's rays might be spent to the best possible advantage in heighten- ing the temperature of his anatomy; darkness overtaking him he huddled around a convenient camp fire in the com- pany street, and at taps crawled between blankets and piled upon him all the sundry articles in his possession, such as trowsers, old shoes, socks, collar buttons and neck- ties, without even the formality of removing his hat, much less any other article of his wearing apparel. The quarter- master's ability to supply the demand for blankets was. taxed to its utmost and he and his chief clerk were the most sought after individuals in camp.
The only instance of note to mar the monotony of the period thus intervening was the issuance of the new United States magazine rifle, which occurred on the 28th; the rifle in question includes all the meritorious points of the Krag- Jorgensen, together with the improvements adopted by the government; the men were highly pleased and they relin- quished with pleasure the old Springfields with which they had been armed.
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On the morning of the 30th occurred a regimental in- spection that was the first and last of its kind. The regi- ment was lined up in heavy marching order and with open ranks while the colonel and members of his staff with polished boots and white gloved hands marched before them, between them and behind them while the colonel re- minded them of neglected points of military toilet and attire and the officers made explanations of the same in writing after which the regiment passed in review and mus- ter for pay began.
On the same day the new recruits began to arrive. The One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana was the only regiment granted the privilege of recruiting at so late a date, which partially accounts for the unusually large com- panies that so pleased the visitors when this regiment passed before them in the parades and reviews down in Cnba. On November 5th Captain Stott was sent for this purpose to Indianapolis, the mustering-out place of the earlier regiments; he found only the One Hundred and Fifty- ninth, a very much discouraged lot of men and the work of recruiting went hard; all told one hundred and three men were secured, the larger number of whom left Indian- apolis on the 28th, the others starting a few days later and arriving during the first four days of December. Sixty- nine of those who arrived on the 30th were mustered for pay after they stood for a short time in line before the old headquarters building and listened to a few words of wel- come and advice from their new colonel; the others were mustered on arrival.
The officers of the regiment were thus kept busy dur- ing the remaining days of the month arming the troops and in the preparation of the pay rolls for the month of Novem- ber. On the morning of the 30th regimental review pre- ceded the muster for pay and in the evening at regimental
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parade Major M. R. Peterson, of the Third Battalion, sev- ered his official connection with the regiment, his resigna- tion having been accepted by the department at Washing- ton that he might resume his duties in the regular army. His battalion having taken the assigned place on the parade ground, Colonel Durbin requested the major to take the position of honor on the right of the commanding officer of the regiment, who then proceeded in a few well-chosen words to express the regret of the entire command at los- ing such an efficient and painstaking officer. Major Peter- son responded feelingly, expressing his regret at his enforced leavetaking and his best wishes for the future welfare of the regiment; the regiment having passed in review he assumed command of his battalion and in the battalion street formally took leave of the offices and men of his companies.
On the following evening at regimental parade Major Lee M. Olds, past captain of Company A, occupied the post of honor on the right of Colonel Durbin, who, in the presence of the regiment, formally presented the new major with his commission issued to him by the governor of Indiana after which he reviewed the regiment. It was the next day the information became current that the Second Divis- ion was to start in a few days for Cuba and Colonel Durbin was notified to have his regiment ready to move by the following Tuesday. During the forenoon of the 5th the regiment took a pleasant march to Savan- nah's noted " City of the dead." Bonaventure is said to be one of the most beautiful cemeteries in America and the history and romance connected with it make it doubly interesting; the estate, first owned in colonial times by an English nobleman, was sold to John Mulryn, whose only daughter was given in marriage to Josiah Tatnall and the union was typified by planting those now aged and hoary
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live-oaks in a monogram comprising the letters " M " and "T" still traceable in the shape of the sylvan aisles between the stately trees. Josiah Tatnall was a great soldier, serv-
ing in the wars of 1812 and of 1846 and was commander of the Merrimac in its battle with the Monitor. He became governor of Georgia and lies buried to-day in Bonaventure near the spot of his birth. The place is full of sacred asso- ciations and its gigantic trees, hung with their long hoary moss tresses, seem to speak of mourning and of weeping.
In view of the fact that the Second Division was to move so soon, an order for the last corps review on Amer- ican soil previous to our departure was issued by General Lee. December 6, the day designated, was a delightful one for the occasion; all business was practically suspended
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in the city during the review, and the residents of Savan- nah gathered by thousands at Forsythe, the park extension, to witness the imposing spectacle. On this occasion, as on November 12, the review was a complete success, in which the One Hundred and Sixty-first added to its already envi- able reputation, again securing special mention in the press . of Savannah.
Right in the center of this great field of flashing steel and union blue was the statue of a confederate soldier stand- ing erect on his handsome pedestal. He gave no sign of interest in the passing of so many thousands of soldiers; he saw the stars and stripes go by, but did not uncover; he watched General Lee ride past on his handsome gray charger, but did not bring his gun from parade rest; many a soldier wondered what he thought of it all, but we venture that he was glad to see the Yankees from the north and the sturdy western boys marching with proud step side by side with the men from Virginia and the Carolinas, and in it saw the evidence of a reunited nation, grand and great, and rejoiced with them in the mission they were going to accomplish.
Upon the return to camp the initial preparation for departure began, as the arrival of the transport was daily expected. The company tents were to be left, and all officers' tents were taken with one exception. Captain Guthrie was highly elated over an ingenious contrivance for heating his tent; he knew what destruction a lamp had caused before, but scorning experience he passed many a comfortable night while his less ingenious fellow officers were breathing hard to warm the space underneath the covers. The midnight hour of December 8 had passed when the explosion came which covered the captain and everything inside with burning oil. Unlike the men of another fire who came out unsinged, the commander of
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Company I came forth bearing the marks of his disaster, which disappeared in a day or so and left him as good as new, but the tent and most of its contents never went to Cuba. On th h 1 :1 Durbin assumed command of the brigade. The Mobile arrived late in the evening of the 9th, and all the day following all floors and building,
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PACKING UP-CAMP ONWARD.
the reduction of which to lumber form had occupied several days previous, were hauled to the wharf, and during the forenoon of the 12th the wagons of the Forty-ninth Iowa and Fourth Virginia, which were at the regiment's service, its own and its mules having been put aboard the Rou- mania, bound for Cuba on the 8th, hauled the regimental
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baggage to the docks, and shortly after the noon hour on December 12 the regiment broke camp, and at I P. M. the march to the docks began, arriving about 3 o'clock. Owing to the ample facilities for the lot of. "sh troops and baggage on the transport Mobile, now the Sherman, there was little delay in getting all on board. In addition to the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana there was aboard the vessel one battalion and the band of the Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, one or two companies of the signal corps, one company of the Fourth Virginia Volunteer Infantry, the Seventh Army Corps provost guard, General Williston with a portion of his staff and many other officers and men of various detachments, in all to the number of probably two thousand souls with baggage and supplies in endless quantities. Colonel Durbin being in command of the troops, and Colonel Backus being executive officer of the boat, Major Megrew was in command of the regiment. All men and officers being detained on board, the evening was spent in conversation, and at an early hour all were in their berths and bunks. The vessel lay alongside the dock until morning, and at 7 A. M. on the morning of the 13th the tug Marguerite started the great vessel down the river, cutting loose at 9:30; after fifteen minutes more the Estill took the pilot from us and we started on a calm sea toward the "Pearl of the Antilles."
The Mobile is an English-built vessel, and was for- merly a freighter and cattle vessel. She was purchased from the Atlantic Transport Company by the United States government and refitted for the purpose of carrying troops. She is a twin-screw steamer capable of making seventeen knots an hour. The dining-room and officers' quarters are roomy and well furnished, while the men were provided with comfortable beds of wire springs and cotton mattresses arranged in tiers three in height. The Georgia shores
PHOTO, SAMGA
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TRANSPORT PROMILE, DEC,WAS
VIVIONE #191
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having been lost to view, no land was sighted until the following morning. At II o'clock the first and each suc- ceeding day inspection of quarters was held; every man
" MOBILE "-OFF FOR CUBA.
was ordered below and proper inspection made as to clean- liness and ventilation.
Major Smith, of the First North Carolina, assisted by Major Longstreet, division commissary officer, and Lieu- tenant Welsh, of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana, was in charge of the distribution of rations; three times a day the men were served with warm meals. Details from each company went into the kitchen, the food when cooked was placed on tables and the men, two companies at a time, filed by and receiving their portion ate it wherever most
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agreeable within limits of their restriction, The two thou- sand men were fed in about forty-five minutes.
During the entire next day the vessel steamed along with the sandy beaches of Florida plainly in sight; at 10:45 A. M. we passed Palm Beach and as darkness again set in we were nearing the southern coast of the peninsular state; the last light-house on the Florida keys was sighted at 9 P. M .; the keys were passed during the night and at daybreak no land was visible until about 8 o'clock when the shores of the stricken island for which we were bound could be dimly discerned in the distance; arriving off Havana we cruised in the waters of the gulf to a point opposite what was afterward the site of our camp, waiting for a pilot to take us ashore when orders were received from General Green directing us to come in to the Havana harbor for the purpose of disembarkation; at about 10 o'clock the Mobile entered the mouth of Havana harbor directly under the guns of the famous Morro.
As we glided along through the narrow entrance to the harbor, the frowning guns of old Morro and the antiquated fortress, Punta, hovering over us, as it were, on either side, not unlike the vultures which soared in count- less hundreds, to our front, to our rear, above us and in all directions, the scene was absolutely indescribable and beggars description. Every nook and corner which afforded standing room on the walls of Moro Cubannas or the Punta was crowded with Spanish soldiers looking down on us, silent and sullen. Every house-top, balcony or win- dow, the shores, docks and vessels in the harbor, were thronged with multitudes of a strange looking people rep- resenting almost every nationality of the earth, a condition existing in all tropical countries. The cheers of the two thousand of Uncle Sam's boys on board the transport who thronged the upper decks or balanced themselves in the
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rigging of the vessel, when the two bands on the ship struck up "My Country 'Tis of Thee" was answered in a no un- certain manner by the foreigners on shore and ship.
MORRO CASTLE.
Steaming thus slowly down the harbor, the climax was reached when we hove in sight of the wreck of the Maine, the broken and twisted mass of iron, visible above the sur- face of the water, illustrating as nothing else can do how over two hundred of our brave boys met death and now lie at the bottom of the harbor, victims of the treachery of an unscrupulous foe. Every head was uncovered and not a sound was uttered as the band struck up the " Star Spangled Banner." The stillness was almost oppressive, as all eyes were upon what was once the pride of our navy, now a worse than useless mass lying deserted off a foreign coast, a
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monument, as it were, to the boys who lie in their watery graves beneath. The sublimity of the occasion and its attendant incidents are beyond description. Heads were bowed and eyes tear-stained and it was with effort that the boys on board controlled the emotions surging through their hearts, and many experienced a choking sensation that they suppressed with difficulty. As if to add to the impressiveness of the occasion, the U. S. Topeka began firing a salute of thirteen guns. Passing a little beyond the charred and blackened wreck, we cast anchor under direction of the harbor pilot; this we had scarcely done when the transport was boarded by Lieutenant Fitzhugh Lee, Jr., bearing messages as to the disposition of the troops aboard. A few minutes later our corps commander, Major-General Fitzhugh Lee, accompanied by members of his staff, in a steam launch of one of the American battle ships in the harbor, hove in sight. His appearance was the signal for a spontaneous outburst by the boys aboard, who made the ancient harbor sound and resound with their cheers for their beloved commander. Shortly after the noonday mess had been served we struck anchor and proceeded to the docks where we lay until the following Saturday morning, during which interval the immense cargo of supplies and baggage had been unloaded and the disembarkation of the troops began, much to the pleasure of the boys, who, having been five days and nights aboard, had grown tired of the transport, the strange sights and unfamiliar scenes about them and were anxious to go ashore.
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