USA > Indiana > The Eighty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry : a narrative of its services in the civil war of 1861-1865 > Part 6
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
the Bardstown pike, and going at a good round pace with knapsacks about as large as "the hump" on an ordinary camel's back. They were not, however, so well adjusted as a camel's hump. Their enormous size and poor adjustment made trouble for many a poor fellow. But notwithstanding the men were raw, awkward, and heavily burdened the hot pace was kept up. The old soldiers guyed the tenderfoots unmercifully and this aroused their ire. They struggled manfully to maintain the high rate of speed, but it was at a fearful cost. Many could not keep the pace and fell behind. Every few minutes some one of the thousand men would be- come painfully conscious of the faulty adjustment of his enormous load and would drop out of ranks, halt by the roadside, unsling his knapsack and begin to rearrange his "pack." That the pace was too rapid and the harness was too galling was soon quite apparent from the muttered cursos and the rapid thinning of theregiment by the men fall- ing out. Some fell out, unslung knapsacks and threw out such articles as they thought they could best dispense with, repacked, and tramped on after the rapidly disappearing col- umn, hoping to be able to maintain their place in ranks after this sacrifice. Others still more determined not to fall be- hind the regiment on the first half day's march, even if it required a greater sacrifice at their hands, unslung their huge knapsacks and flung them with curses, but without other cer- emony, to the side of the road, and trudged hurriedly on after the regiment. Many old soldiers badgered the boys over the loads they were carrying. It was a hard march even for the veterans who had raced with Bragg and his legions. For the members of the Eighty-sixth and of all new reg- iments it was a killing march. Nor was the question of baggage the only one which gave the boys trouble. They knew nothing of the manner in which they should take care of their rations while marching, and their great and prolonged exertion gave them ravenous appetites, and when out a day or two they ate most voraciously, and greatly to their own detriment. But another effect soon manifested itself-they soon found themselves destitute of
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
anything to eat, consequently they were in a short time suffering from the other extreme.
When they halted to bivouac the first evening out from Louisville they were terribly tired one and all. Naturally enough most of the men sat down to rest before gathering their supplies of fuel and water. They were not long in discovering that this waiting was a great mistake for more reasons than one. Wood for fuel soon became a scarce article in their immediate neighborhood on account of the great con- sumption of fence rails by the old soldiers. Here was a forc- ible illustration of the principle of supply and demand. In this vicinity there was a moderate supply of rails, but there was an exorbitant demand for immediate use. The hardy veterans pushed their demands vigorously. They had plenty, the raw recruits had none. Water would be the same if the supply was not abundant. A scaracity of the latter article often causes intense suffering and it was to be greatly dreaded. Then, too, if they waited to rest after a long, hard march be- fore laying in the necessary supplies, they found themselves so stiff and sore and drawn, that it seemed impossible to pro- ceed in search for the needed articles. Every joint, tendon, and muscle was inflexible, and the slightest movement sent the cold chills alternately up and down their spines and caused such excruciating pains it was almost impossible to restrain outcries. Most of the men felt like it would be im- possible for them to march on the following day. All speed- ily learned this lesson: To lay in all needed supplies with the utmost alacrity immediately upon arrival in camp. Many would get over anxious to be ahead, and thus frequently got themselves laughed at and guyed. On occasions of halts made toward evening these over-zealous fellows would drop on to a fence corner, pile the rails and guard them while the column went tramping on to pastures new to the great dis- gust of the rail-guarding comrade. Thus were the wits of the raw recruit sharpened daily. Time, circumstances, and the old soldiers proved to be good teachers and they taught many lessons in rapid succession, and what made the lessons
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
more effective was the dear price paid for most of the in- struction.
So the days passed. On the night of the 4th of October, Crittenden's corps arrived in the vicinity of Bardstown, Van- Cleve's division bivouacking in sight of the town. Early on the morning of the 5th it was again on the road, passing through Bardstown, and pressing on after Bragg's army. The day's duties were a mere repetition of those of the preceding day- tramp, tramp, tramp, over hills and across hollows, and on what seemed an endless stretch of road, a smooth white lime- stone pike, from which arose a suffocating dust. . The regi- ment and brigade went into bivouac after midnight that night on the banks of a branch of Salt River. Here was an abundance of water, and the boys were exceedingly glad to get the much despised "river water," but they were scarce of rations. Some messes in the regiment had nothing but parched corn and coffee for breakfast on the morning of the 6th. The men of the Eighty-sixth had not yet become thoroughly broken to the harness nor fully alive to the necessity of husbanding their allowance of rations, and they now began to realize the exertion and toil, the hunger and thirst and actual hardships of marching. Some in the ranks were grumbling at our lack of rations, but it is pre- sumed it was more their fault than that of the Commissary Department.
On the evening of the 6th the brigade bivouacked near Springfield. The men of the Eighty-sixth were hungry, tired, leg weary and foot-sore, shoulder tired and tender with knapsack, gun, and cartridge-box, and not in the best of spirits or humor. Just across the road from the bivouac was a splendid looking patch of Irish potatoes, a most tempting bait for hungry men. The clash and clatter of bayonets caused in stacking arms had hardly ceased before the men were seen climbing the fence into that patch; for although not in very good spirits or in the humor for cheerful and en- livening conversation, most of them had sufficient life and energy to dig potatoes. They went to digging as though their lives depended upon getting the task done before the
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
next regiment came along. They were making fine headway when Captain Francis B. Mattler, of Company B, took it upon himself to cross over to the patch and order the diggers out. His august presence was not appreciated at this particular time and his officiousness came near involving him in a ser- ious difficulty. A very tired and hungry man is not usually the best natured under the most favorable circumstances. There was in this case special reasons for irritation. Many of the men had already learned to detest the Captain for his extreme officiousness and petty, tyrannical conduct on nu- merous occasions, and they were therefore ready to settle this matter, and with it the old accounts, and pay spot cash for all they owed him on the margins of previous deals. So when he climbed the fence and ordered them to stop digging the potatoes and get out it did not take them long to be ready for business, and some of them "proposed to move immediately upon his works" if he did not get out himself in a greater hurry than he had entered. It seemed probable that the doughty Captain would have to take ignominously to flight to save himself. But further trouble was averted by the Colonel ordering a Captain of another company to quell the disturbance, which was done on the part of the detailed Captain in a quiet and judicious manner without difficulty, although some of the boys, to use camp slang, "cussed a streak." But they were too hungry and determined to yield the potatoes they had already secured and so brought them safely to camp. The Eighty-sixth was a hungry body of men that evening and everybody was on the lookout for something to eat. One man tired, sick, and very hungry had the good fortune to come into possession of a piece of raw goose about half picked, but it was not raw very long. It was soon both thoroughly "picked" and well done. Placing it on the end of his ram-rod he held it over a camp fire and thus broiled it slightly and proceeded to devour it. It was a tough piece of goose and he did not attempt to cut it, but tore it with his teeth as a dog tears the meat from a bone. The blood was dripping from it and ran down from the cor- ners of his mouth and dropped off his chin. In the extremes
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
of hunger man becomes a mere animal. This description of hunger may seem to the uninitiated and delicate stomach a rather "tough case," yet this piece of more than half raw goose was to him a most delicious morsel. No delicacy now done in the best style of the most skillful chef could compare with it in savoriness. Doubtless, however, it was not so much the quality of the goose as the man's vigorous appe- tite that gave it its seeming richness of flavor. A slight breakfast consisting of coffee, parched corn and in some cases a little government bacon, no dinner, and a day's hard march- ing is a combination not conducive to amusement, good humor, or pleasant memories of the newly enlisted soldier, but it is a most wonderful appetizer for all those who have sufficient stamina to take the full course. This was the sit- nation of the Eighty-sixth on the evening of October 6 at Springfield, Kentucky.
Rations were issued to the regiment at this bivouac and they came most opportunely. The members of the Eighty- sixth were now making rapid progress in the lessons which experience alone could teach regarding the life of a soldier, and consequently were, in racing parlance, rapidly rounding into form. The camping grounds at Springfield were in a meadow, and the men thus secured a good rest for their weary limbs and sore feet, many of the latter being blistered from heel to toe, and greatly needed the time on the soft, springy turf instead of the hard limestone pike to render them again fit for duty. The most of the regiment were greatly refreshed and strengthened by the next day when it resumed its line of march, which was about 11 o'clock. It was well that the men had had a good rest, and they felt somewhat recuperated in feet, limbs, and strength of body, for this day's march, the 7th, proved to be one of the hard- est of all in pursuit of Bragg.
Buell's command was now advancing upon Bragg at Perryville on three different roads. McCook on the left was approaching the place on the old Maxville road. Gilbert in the center, traveling on the direct road from Springfield to Perryville, had the shortest route and of course arrived in
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the immediate vicinity of the enemy first. Crittenden's corps moved on the right flank and somewhat apart from the cen- ter. This corps was accompanied by General George H. Thomas, Buell's second in command, and in fact, the corps was practically commanded by Thomas while absent from the presence of the commanding general. The column marched briskly forward, the men feeling much refreshed. But a hardship confronted them of a graver nature than any they had yet met-the extreme scarcity of water. The col- umn proceeded at a good telling pace, while stragglers ranged the country along the roadside hunting for water. When the place designated as a camp for Crittenden's com- mand was reached there was still no water to be found. Here The men were already tired and suffering was a dilemma.
The army was concentrating in the face with great thirst.
of the enemy. One corps, a very important grand division of the forces at hand, being ordered to march on a certain route and bivouac at a designated place in order that it might be able to reach the enemy's front at a specified time, was unable to obey orders for the reason of a lack of water. Military law is said to be absolute. The concentration of an army in the face of an enemy is a military duty which re- quires the greatest skill and caution. It also requires care- ful and exact obedience of the commanding general by his subordinates. It is a military maxim that in the presence of an enemy all troops should be kept well in hand, while on the march and in easy supporting distance at all times, thus en- abling each part of the army to support and sustain the other as the exigencies of the occasion may demand. The commanding general should know the route of each column, its hour of marching, its rate of speed, its bivouac, when reached, condition of troops, and should as near as possible see the end from the beginning. But here the subordinate commander was met by a condition more imperative than military law itself. It was a demand on the physical nature of the men which could not be denied. Water they must have. To obey the order to the letter would be to defeat its object. By seeming disobedience alone could the spirit of
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THE EIGHITY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
the order be carried out. There was but one right thing to do-a wide detour for water must be made which would ne- cessitate a forced night march under the most trying circum- stances, and detach the command from the rest of the army varying wide from its intended line of march. The men had already marched hard. The sun blazed down with fervent heat, and the white hot pike shone back in their faces and almost blistered them. It felt like a furnace under their feet. The tread of many thousand feet raised from the heated and powdered limestone of the pike a fine dust that settled upon all exposed surfaces of the person and pene- trated the clothing, the nose, ears and mouth and seemed to absorb every particle of moisture of the body. The heat and the great exertion made the men extremely thirsty, but this heated limestone dust trebled and quadrupled the suf- fering in this particular. However there was but one solu- tion of the problem. General Thomas was equal to the oc- casion and ordered the column forward. Night came but the men toiled on and on, sleepy, tired, footsore and hungry. Far into the night the steady regular tread of the column was heard on the pike winding over the hills. Silently for a long time they proceeded, bearing up bravely with unabated vigor. Then came mutterings and questioning of the need of such marching, then lagging, irregular, tottering foot- falls. All were tired and some were sleeping. No water had been seen since leaving Springfield. Men ranged the hills and hollows along the roadside in search of it. They ques- tioned the natives where a drink could be procured, only to receive an equivocal answer. But the questioning and quest were alike, vain. Water was not to be had. The men were well-nigh famished, in fact they became almost frantic. They could scarcely articulate. The topic of conversation was without exception of the one thing on all minds water, water, water. When and where can water be procured? There was but one sufficient reason now to carry the column forward. The men had become convinced that the object of their de- sires could only be reached by going forward-that some- where ahead was water, and that this was the reason for
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this terrible and determined onward push. The march was continued until between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning of October 8, when the head of the column reached the bed of what had been a running stream of water, but which now only held here and there pools of the precious stuff. This was known as Rolling Fork of Salt River. A mad rush was at once made for the pools and men drank their fill. After filling their own canteens they emptied them at one draught, refilled them and partially emptied a second time. The army canteen held three pints. This is given as a simple illustra- tion of the great thirst suffered by the men of Crittenden's corps on their forced march on the night of the 7th of Octo- ber, 1862.
The brigade bivouacked on the bluff of the river. It was exceedingly rocky and rough, and on this rugged hill they made their beds. Not half the regiment came to the bivouac with the marching column. Some came in soon after the regiment halted, and they kept coming singly, and in squads, until after sunrise, when the regiment was again pretty well reformed. This night's march and the following day was perhaps the Eighty-sixth's greatest trials for the want of water during its entire term of service. Gilbert's corps also suffered for the same cause, but succeeded in securing pos- session of some filthy pools in the bed of a stream near Perry- ville on the evening of the 7th, and held them, although the enemy made an attempt to drive them off. But bad water was greatly to be preferred to no water. The hard march and the deprivation of water or its excessive ingestion caused a large number of the regiment to be reported on the sick list on the morning before the march was resumed.
CHAPTER VIII.
PERRYVILLE.
The Battle-The Field and the Dead-" The Gilded Puddle Which Beasts Would Cough At"-The Onward March- Bivouac in Fodder Houses-On the Skir- mish Line All Day -- A Reconnoisance-Danville-Stanford-Thundering at the Rebel Rear-Crab Orchard-Mt. Vernon-A Broken Country-" Hungry lollow."
The morning of the 8th opened up delightfully pleasant so far as the weather was concerned. It was as bright as an October morning could be. Yet it was not a cheerful pros- pect. The rocky hill glistened in the golden sunlight, bare and barren, without a spot of green to enliven and brighten its gray slopes and crest. The extreme drought had dried up the grasses and all that was to be seen was the gray glistening rocks. The men lounged about the place of their bivouac for sometime before the bugles and drums began to sound the warning notes that they must proceed at once on their way. The regiment filed out of camp, crossed the river-bed and went forward at a rapid pace.' Everything in- dicated an emergency at hand and the greatest haste. Cer- tainly trouble was expected ahead. Dusty and hot the men soon became greatly heated and very thirsty. Scrambling and quarrels occurred at every place where there was the least indication of finding water. Even "the gilded puddle " was fought for with the same vehemence as would have been for the finest spring. Wherever there was a little mud pud- dle there was a jostling, contentious throng seeking to fill canteens and to slake their thirst. The suffering for water was almost as great as the previous night. After covering some eight miles the command was halted and ordered to
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
pile knapsacks. With the knapsacks of each company a guard was left and the regiment hurried forward to take a position upon the field. The command pressed on until near where the line was forming. Then it was halted and formed, and ordered to " forward into line." Soon Hawkins' brigade, VanCleve's division, had completed its part of the general allignment with Gilbert's and McCook's corps, the corps taking position as it had advanced, that is McCook upon the left, Gilbert in the center, and Crittenden on the right. Having completed the allignment the command awaited the attack of the enemy. But it waited in vain. This was just what General Bragg desired. The delay caused by closing up the column of General Buell's army and form it in battle array and then waiting to be attacked served his purpose and gave him another twenty-four hours, the time needed, to withdraw his wagon train and clear the roads and yet have sufficient time to draw off his troops from Buell's front without being forced to fight a general battle which might have proved disastrous. His attempt to sur- prise and crush McCook was a partial success as to the sur- prise, but wholly a failure as to the annihilation. Bragg had no intention or desire to meet the whole army which was now in his immediate front, ready and anxious for battle. The long lines of blue coats could be seen far to the left and some distance to the right. The lines extended from the Lebanon pike on the right to and across the Maxville pike on the left. This line was distant on the right from Perry- ville some two or three miles, the left and center being nearer the town. The center, Gilbert's corps, was lying across the Springfield pike, while McCook's extended from Gilbert's left some distance across the old Maxville road, ap- proaching but not reaching the Chaplin River. This was the day on which the battle of Perryville or Chaplin Hills was fought by the left and center of Buell's army, the brunt of the battle falling upon the division of Rousseau of McCook's corps.
McCook held his position well, considering the great numbers against him. The battle was hotly contested until
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
night. The Eighty-sixth was in line ready for battle about 1 o'clock p. m., and confidently expected to be ordered for- ward. But it simply waited in line for the enemy to make the attack. The regiment lay thus in line all day except while engaged in throwing down a fence in its immediate front. Batteries came galloping up to the line and wheeled into position. Hither and you staff officers might be seen galloping in hot haste with orders for the different parts of the line. "The rumble and roar" of battle on the left could be distinctly heard. As the various batteries rushed into line here and there a man would be injured. What mattered it? This was war. What was the cracked head or broken thigh of one man in comparison to the lives of hundreds per- haps that might be saved by the battery being in position on time. The business in war is to injure, disable, maim, crip- ple, kill. The regiment was now getting a glimpse of the dreadful, ernshing power of war and how it ground individ- uals to nothing under its iron wheels. That some such thoughts were entering the minds of the men could be plainly seen by looking down the line. The firm set jaw, the de- termined look of the eye and face of the courageous, and the wild, startled look on the face of the more timid, revealed their thoughts and full appreciation of the situation as they lay there listening to the thunders of the battle and watch- ing for a long line of " graybacks" to come charging upon them. But the regiment only waited, that was all. Had Crittenden's and Gilbert's corps been hurled forward upon Bragg's forces with the impetuosity that the enemy had at- tacked MeCook, much might have been accomplished, if not practically destroying Bragg's army as Thomas afterward destroyed Hood's at Nashville. Such a movement might, at least, have saved our army's losses at Stone's River, for a erushing defeat here would have so weakened Bragg that he could not and would not have dared to make a stand at Mur- freesboro.
Being the rawest kind of campaigners and hearing the boom of the guns till nightfall on the left the men remained in line and laid upon their arms at night. The Eighty-sixth
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
having left their knapsacks, they had no blankets and slept upon the field with mother earth for their couch, wrapped in darkness and sheltered by the heavens. The night grew cool and they were pretty thoroughly chilled by morning's dawn. After a hasty breakfast of coffee, fat pork and "hard . tack" they felt warmed and much better. About 6 o'clock a. m. they moved out in line of battle, marching in this way through brush, briars, weed patches, over fences, through door-yards, gardens and almost everything else. Holding the even tenor of their way they swept on trampling under foot everything that came in their path, but no armed foe appeared. The regiment covered what seemed about four miles, but it was probably two, and came to a fine pasture where the command was halted. Here dinner was had and the men secured a much needed rest. Their hardships in the last few days and nights had been very severe, still they were true blue and were ready for any duty. Shortly after dinner the command was again set in motion, and marched in column through the now historic town of Perryville, Ken- tucky.
A short distance from town the regiment bivouacked in a nice pasture near a spring of fine water, the spring being in a cave. All enjoyed this good pure water. The men soon supplied themselves with rails and straw to add to the comfort of their bivouac. Here the members of the regi- ment visited almost in a body the battle-field and looked for the first time on the shattered and mangled remains of the dead. Some few in the regiment had seen service in the Mexican war, and a few had seen service in other regiments during the present war. To all others the dreadful, shocking sights of the battle-field were a new, and to most, a sad ex- perience.
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