USA > Indiana > The Forty-third Regiment of Indiana Volunteers : an historic sketch of its career and services > Part 8
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ing" intelligence that "Sallie had a baby, and the baby's hair was red." This ending of Joe's love dream appealed to the sympathetic hearts of his hearers in such a way that the singer was applauded to the echo, and he would be compelled to respond to several encores. Indeed, such was the popularity of the song, that its name was given to Joe ; and he was known through all the neighboring camps as "Joe Bowers," and his own name was buried in oblivion.
I would give a day's rations to hear Joe sing "Joe Bowers," "God Bless the Brave," or any one of a dozen of his songs that I have often listened to with delight.
Joe was not the only vocalist in our camp. There were a number of them; and many a home-sick soldier has been cheered up and cured of the blues by the songs of his comrades.
CAMP AMUSEMENTS.
Athletic games were not so common among the soldiers as one would expect. Occasional bouts of wrestling, spar- ing, jumping and tumbling occured. Scrub horse racing was indulged in to some extent, but these were chiefly confined to Cavalry regiments, and were not popular with the Infantry. Chess and social games of cards for amuse- inent alone were common; but, to a great extent, camp amusements ran in the direction of games of chance with cards or dice; and some of these were exceedingly lively, as a soldier inclined to be "sporty" objected to a "limit," and would usually back his judgment on his choice of num- bers in a game of chuck-a-luck, or the value of his hand in a game of poker, to the extent of his "pile." Impromptu concerts, dances, minstrel shows, etc., were frequent; and once in a while, when every other source of amusement had been exhausted, some cheerful idiot would propose a "stag" dance. Every regiment had abundance of fiddling
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talent, and one or more of these artists would be drafted in- to service. It is a compliment to the intelligence of soldiers to say that a stag dance rarely lasted beyond one cotillion; for, of all the cold, cheerless, lifeless, senseless, insane ex- cuses for amusement, the stag dance stands in the front rank.
SALOMON AND METHUSALEI.
There are but few members of the 43d who do not re- member Col. James Slack, of the 47th Ind. The officers of our regiment were on particularly intimate terms with Col. Slack, who was a jolly, whole-souled fellow, exceedingly fond of pranks and practical jokes, which he was constantly playing on every one with whom he came in contact; and our officers were always on their guard when he was present.
Some time in 1863, General Salomon, of Wisconsin, came down the river and took command of the troops there, 111- cluding the 43d. There was a marked personal resemblance between Gen. Salomon and Col. Slack, calculated to deceive any one not familiarly acquainted with both.
The coming of the new commanding officer was unknown to our regiment; and on the Sunday evening following his arrival I was sitting in front of the regimental headquar- ters. It was a beautiful evening, and the officers and men were nearly all enjoying themselves on the river bank. Col. McLean was absent and Col. Major was inside his tent. It was growing dusk when I heard the clatter of hoofs and rattle of sabers; and up rode Gen. Salomon and his body- guard. I thought at first it was Col. Slack; but I couldn't account for so much style, and when he spoke and enquired for Col. McLean, I saw my mistake. By this time Col. Major had heard the racket and came out.
Salutes were exchanged as Col. Major appeared and ap- proached the General with outstretched hand.
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"My name is Salomon," said the General with a pro- nounced German accent.
Col. Major, assuming at once that Col. Slack was run- ning some joke on him, replied:
"Well, suppose it is. My name's Methusaleh".
He then saw his mistake. Explanations and apologies followed. The General had the good sense to see the joke and enjoy it; but no one got half as much fun out of the incident as did Col. Slack when he heard it.
AN ACROBATIC MULE.
I have spoken of the troops at Helena making various expeditions in different directions from there. On one of these we went to Clarendon, on White River. The troops were in light marching orders, and that means no transpor- tation except a few ambulances. Even surgeons had their medicines and supplies packed in paniers and strapped across a mule's back. One day I noticed a boy leading a mule upon which was a panier belonging to the surgeon of the regiment immediately in front of us. The mule was afflicted with sore shoulders, and the Chaplain of the regiment, in the kindness of his heart, was taking a great interest in seeing that the boy did not permit the paniers to slip forward on to the mule's sore shoulders.
"Look out there, Joseph!"' he would say, "don't let the straps slip forward to hurt the mule, look out."
This and similar warnings were repeated so often that it attracted the attention of the stragglers who had dropped from the ranks and were trudging along in the rear, who got to guying the boy.
"Look out there, Joseph!" they would call ont, "Don't let the saddle-bags slip over his fore legs."
Joseph was equal to the occasion, and gave the boys as good as they sent.
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
"Never mind, boys," Joe would say, "If they do get past his fore legs his ears will stop 'em."
This badgering by the Chaplain, who was in dead earn- est, and bantering of the men, who were only having their fun with Joe, who enjoyed it, was kept up for hours. Finally we came to an old mill race, over which there had been a rough bridge, which the pioneer corps had torn away and made a cut in the bank on either side of the race, to enable the artillery and ambulances to cross. Just be- low the cut a scantling about four inches square, from the old saw mill near by, had been placed across the race ; and the men, instead of walking down through the newly cut road, would keep up on the bank and walk over on the scantling. When Joseph and his mule reached this point he started the mule down through the cut; but he kept up on the bank and started to walk the scantling, not know- ing that the mule had climbed up the bank and was at his heels. The Chaplain saw him, and cried out in great ex- citement:
"Joseph, stop! Don't do that! That mule can't cross there. He will fall and smash the paniers. Stop! Joseph! Stop! That mule can't walk that scantling."
All this was said very rapidly ; but Joseph had walked across, and the mule without hesitation had followed him; and, just as the Chaplain finished his exclamatory speech, the mule stepped safely off on the other side. Joe looked back at the Chaplain with a countenance upon which was depicted scorn, disgust, mirth, and half a dozen other emotions, as he yelled out in exultation:
"The hell he can't".
This may not be funny to read, but it is indelibly stamp- ed upon my memory as one of the most ludicrous incidents of "the days when we went soldiering."
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RETALIATION.
When we arrived at Clarendon, on the expedition just referred to, it was a hot afternoon; and we had scarcely gone into camp on the bank of White river, until the river was full of nude soldiers enjoying its cool waters. From the woods on the other side of the stream several shots were fired, and the water was sprinkled with shot. Fortu- nately, so far as I remember, no one was seriously hurt; but there was a fearful scramble for the shore. Our how- itzers were unlimbered and the woods were shelled, with- out results so far as known; but the residents of Clarendon paid dearly for the acts of their bushwhacking friends who fired the shots.
It was the only time I ever saw the 43d engage in ran- sacking a town. Furniture of every description was brougt into camp. Mahogany bedsteads with canopy tops, lounges, sofas, rocking chairs, large plate glass mirrors, dining tables, dishes, and many other articles were there. These luxuries were enjoyed one night, and split up and used in cooking breakfasts next morning.
Whether these acts of so-called vandalism were justified, by the wantonly murderous firing upon a lot of unarmed, naked soldiers the evening before, is a question I leave to the reader to decide.
I have called it "Retaliation".
ARMY FEUDS.
It was very seldom that angry strifes arose among mem- bers of the 43d. As a rule the men were good natured and easily controlled; and when quarrels did occur, even if blows were exchanged, that was usually the end of it.
There was one exceptional case in the regiment. A man named Hall and another named Branson were sworn enemies. I never knew the origin of their trouble; but
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they were both desperate fellows, and a tragic ending of the feud was expected. Nothing serious occurred between them while at Helena; but I chanced to see the culmination of their misunderstanding at Little Rock. It will be re- membered that Col. McLean's Brigade Headquarters at Little Rock were located in a large yard near St. John's College, which we used as a hospital. Branson was taking care of Col. McLean's horses, and slept in a tent pitched in the yard. Hall was a visitor at the house of a man who lived with his family in the same yard.
One night Hall was giving a supper to some of his friends in this house; and while he was enjoying himself, Branson approached a window, through which he fired his revolver at Hall, who was sitting at the table. I heard the shot and went to the door of our quarters. Hall was rav- ing around among the trees hunting Branson, to whom he at once attributed the shot. Branson had gone into his tent, in which a light was burning, and his shadow was visible np- on the side of his tent. Hall, with an oath, called upon him to come out. Branson raised the tent flap, but instead of coming out, thrust his pistol arm through the opening and fired at Hall, again missing his aim. Hall then opened fire and several shots were exchanged ; and the light was extinguished. Hall thought he had killed Branson, and ran out through the yard gate and disappeared. We found Branson lying in his bunk with a bullet hole through his shoulder. He recovered, and was tried by Court Martial, I believe, and sent to prison, Hall escaped and never came back to the regiment to my knowledge, nor have I heard of him since.
BATTLE OF HELENA.
It is no part of my purpose to attempt any description of the battle at Helena, on July 4, 1863, brought on by an
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effort of the Confederates, under Holmes, Price and Mar- maduke, to capture the town. That battle is worthy of a full description, and will doubtless be given the attention it deserves in another part of this book, where the names of the heroes who lost their lives in that brilliant engagement will appear.
My recollection is that we had less than 4000 men at that time, and that the Confederates outnumbered us more than two to one; but again I refer to the historical part of the book for the facts.
ON TO LITTLE ROCK.
About September 1, 1863, the army at Helena, which had been largely reinforced, struck tents and moved west toward Little Rock, under General Steele. We had made Helena our headquarters for so long, that it seemed some- thing like home; and it was with feelings akin to regret we bid good bye to the town and surroundings, with which we had become so familiar.
The march to Little Rock was fraught with many inci- dents that go to make up the history of the 43d; but they were not such incidents as come within the scope of these brief sketches. Occasional skirmishes occurred, in some of which our regiment participated, but no serious obstacle blocked our way; and about September 10th, 1864, Gen. Steele took possession of the Capital of the State of Ar- kansas, and the "Star Spangled Banner" soon floated from the State-House cupola.
CAMP LIFE AT LITTLE ROCK.
The 43d went into camp near the U. S. Arsenal grounds, just in the edge of the town. From the time we arrived at Little Rock, I was on detached service nearly all the time; and spent but a small portion of my time with the regiment;
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though I was a frequent visitor in the camp. My recollec- tion is that Col. McLean was in command of a Brigade before we left Helena, and that Major Norris was in com- mand of the regiment at Little Rock, and on the Camden expedition. I cannot remember when or where Lieut, Col. Major left us, but I think it was at Helena. We remained in Little Rock from September, 1863, until April, 1864, when Gen. Steele, with his army, started on his expedition to the south west, of which a succinct account will be found elsewhere in the book.
I remember of but few incidents, in which members of the 43d would be interested, occurring during our stay in Little Rock, All the troops were employed pretty regular- ly in building fortifications, and the members of the 13d did their full share of that work.
LEVY CONTRIBUTIONS.
The building of fortifications reminds me of a scheme adopted by some impecunious soldiers for replenishing their empty pocket books.
There were numerous colored people in and around the town and the various camps, and many of them worked on the fortifications, but there were plenty of idlers among them. Some smart soldier got hold of an old pay roll; and armed with his badge of authority, he would approach the first colored fellow he would meet, and in an authoritative tone demand his name, which would be given. Then the soldier would run his finger down the list: "Ah! Here it is. Jack Smith," (whatever name he had given) "Thirty days on the fortifications, or ten days cash." He would then explain that there had been an order issued that each person whose name was on his list was assessed so many days labor or so much cash; and one failing to respond would be sent outside our picket lines. The poor darkey
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would give up his last penny, (and nearly all of them had some money), in order to have his name taken of the roll. Hundreds of dollars were collected before the rascals were caught. One fellow was too greedy. He tackled a darkey who had no money, but said Mr. - owed him and if the officer (?) would go with him he would get it and pay his tax. They went together to Mr. - , who after in- quiring what the money was for, suspected the scheme and reported the facts to headquarters. Some of the "grafters" were caught and punished, and that source of revenue was cut off.
A CLEVER TRICK.
Good whisky was scarce in the South. Even apple-jack would sell for $2.00 per quart; and when one swallowed it he would think a torch-light procession had gone down his throat. Commissary whisky was regarded as the best going, and it commanded fabulous prices; but of course no one could lawfully have it, except Government Commis- saries.
An Irish citizen of the city, willing to turn an honest penny, started a sort of "blind pig" in a log cabin near the camp of the 43d, where apple-jack and other villainous compounds were surreptitiously furnished to soldiers. The boys regarded Pat as legitimate prey, and set their heads together to beat him. Three soldiers went to Pat's shanty one evening apparently in great trouble. Pat noticed the fact and sympathetically enquired the cause. After a good deal of hesitation the trio admitted that they had stolen a barrel of commissary whisky from the Q. M's. store-house, and didn't know how to get rid of it. Pat became greatly interested, and finally proposed to buy it. After a good deal of higgling the deal was made. The boys were to de- liver the whisky to Pat's cabin at midnight; and if it proved
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all right they were to be paid $5.00 per gallon, in cashi. The Quarter-Master of our Brigade kept whisky to be issued to fatigue parties when ordered, and there were several empty whisky barrels about the store house. The boys got one of these, and also procured an order from their Cap- tain, for a canteen full of whisky. One of the boys, who was a cooper by trade, then went to work on the barrel. He took out the head, and fitted the neck of the canteen into the faucet hole, from the inside. He then screwed a brass faucet through the barrel head into the mouth of the canteen, and put the head back into the barrel, leaving no mark of his handiwork, and filled the barrel with water.
At the appointed hour they got a wheel barrow and rolled the barrel to the cabin, and inside, as soon as the door was opened; and demanded their money at once, so they could get away.
"Don't hurry," says Pat, "I want to taste the stuff." "Well, hurry up, get a cup and taste it."
Pat got his cup, turned the faucet, from which some whisky dribbled, and after tasting it, pronounced it all right. He then looked at the brand on the barrel marked: "40 Galls.," shook the barrel to find that it was full; and then counted out $200 to the boys for 39 gallons and 3 quarts of water and one quart of whisky. The boys knew Pat did not dare say a word, as he was violating orders by keeping his place, and was buying what he supposed to be stolen property; and they made no secret of what they re- garded as a good joke.
STEELE'S EXPEDITION.
In the spring of 1864 the troops at Little Rock, under command of General Steele, started on the ill fated expedi- tion to south-western Arkansas.
My understanding as to the purpose of this campaign was
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that Gen. Steele expected to join Gen. Banks, who was then on his expedition up Red River, and co-operate with him against the Confederate forces at Shreveport, Louisi- ana. After numerous skirmishes and engagements of more or less importance we reached Camden, on the Onchita River, where we went into camp. A few days afterward our brigade was detailed to escort a supply train sent to Pine Bluff for rations. In the meantime Gen. Banks had been driven back, which relieved the Confederates at Shreveport, and left Generals Price, Marmaduke and others free to devote their attention to us.
It is not for me to attempt a history of the capture of our supply train and its escort, including a large part of the 43d. A detailed account of the misfortune will be found else- where. Suffice it for me to say that the old 43d was prac- tically broken up, and never got together again as a full regiment.
I was ready to start with the brigade when I received an order to report for duty to Captain Pierce, who had been appointed Post Quartermaster at Camden; and I thus probably escaped capture at Marks' Mill, where the train was attacked. The retreat from Camden, the fight at Saline River, and the arrival of the remnant of the 43d at Little Rock, are not pleasant incidents to dwell upon, and I refer the reader to the historical part of the book for details.
Soon after our return the terms of enlistment of the 43d men began to expire; and, except a few who escaped, I be- lieve that those captured were sent to Indianapolis when exchanged.
Captain Eddington was left in command of a few men- bers of the regiment, who remained at Little Rock, camp- ing in the State House yard, until the fall of 1864, when we all returned to Indianapolis and were mustered ont of the service.
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CONCLUSION.
As I come to close these reminisences and incidents of a part of my life, which, though fraught with many pri- vations, was prolific of scenes and experiences that I could not, if I would, and would not if I could, blot from my memory, other incidents come crowding upon my mind that might be as interesting and as worthy of preservation as those recorded; but, as those I have written will occupy more than my share of the pages of this book, I close, while the faces of some of those with whom I was most intimately associated and in whose society the happiest hours of my enlistment were passed, but whose names do not appear in what I have written, flit before my mental vision, recalling many acts of kindness for which I have been and am still grateful. I personally knew every man in the regiment; and there was not an officer or man among them with whom I was not on friendly terms. I realize that it was through the friendly feeling and the many kindly acts of officers and men, that I owe the fact that my three years with the 43d were as free from the hardships and privations of army life, as it was possible for a soldier's life to be.
There were a few with whom I was brought in closer contact than with others; and between them and myself close associations ripened into stronger friendships and closer comradeship than existed between those less fre- quently thrown together. I refrain from attempting to speak at length of any of these; but will mention Captain W. E. Whitridge and his brother Henry. We were close friends before the war, enlisted together, messed together and were constantly together in the service. They were both captured at Mark's Mill and takeu to Tyler, Texas. Captain Whitridge escaped with Jonathan Fisk, and they came through to Little Rock. Both the Whitridges have since died. I mention also T. C. Grooms, of Greencastle,
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J. W. Cooper, of Indianapolis, and Moses Grooms, of Rich- mond, because I have kept up a closer acquaintance with them since the war than with any other of the comrades. Moses Grooms died a few years ago, the other two named are still living; and it has been through them that I have kept in touch with the old regiment. John A. Yager lives at Seven Mile, Ohio, and is the nearest neighbor I have from among the "old boys."
I close with best wishes for the prosperity of every sur- viving comrade; and with the hope that at our next re- union, I may have the pleasure of clasping many comrades by the hand once more.
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MAJOR CHARLES W. MOSS.
MILITARY LIFE OF MAJOR CHARLES W. MOSS, 43D REGIMENT, INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
C HARLES W. MOSS was born in Shelby Co., now Spencer Co., Kentucky, April 24th, 1820. Departed this life at his home, Centre Point, Ind., Aug. 23d, 1900.
In the National struggle with Mexico, his soul was fired with patriotism. June 15th, 1846, he enlisted in Capt. John Osborn's Co., Co. "C", 2d Regiment, Ind. Vols.
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Served three months as private and then was made Orderly. This Company was organized at Bowling Green. They marched to New Albany, Ind., remained there a week, then boarded the steamer, sailed to the Gulf and across to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. This trip was very severe on the boys, as a great many of them had never been from home before. The voyage was very rough as it stormed the whole time, eight days. Nearly everyone was sea sick, and upon landing, their tents were pitched on the hot sand bar, the measles broke out and many brave souls passed on to awake in the "Great Beyond." Home-sick- ness was a malady that claimed many a brave soldier at that time.
The Company remained here until late fall when they moved inward to Monterey, then on to Saltillo, where they camped for a few weeks. The next point was the moun- tain pass af Buena Vista. Here was fought a great battle, February 22d and 23d, in which our boys participated and were victorious. They remained here in possession of the Pass until May, when a march for home began. Upon ar- riving at New Orleans they were discharged, June 25th, 1847. Returned home July 4th, after an absence of thirteen months.
They were treated very kindly by citizens in different localities in their march home; two instances, at Orleans and Carlisle, Ind. The men were met with wagons and in the evening were given good meals, comfortable beds, etc.
There were skirmishes at Monterey, Saltillo, and other points we cannot name.
THE CIVAL WAR.
The fire on Fort Sumpter again aroused his patriotism. The next day, while working in the garden, the fife and drum were heard in the distance, althoughi not of an excit-
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able nature, lie jumped up from his bending position and said, "Mother that makes me feel like going." He had often said he would not leave his family and go to war again.
He worked with great zeal recruiting from then till Sept. 20th, 1861, he enlisted as Capt. of Co. G., 43d Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After this he followed the destinies of the regiment from Evansville to Spottsville, thence to Calhoun, Ky. When the army was ordered to leave for more important points he was left in charge of the sick and regimental property. Later lie joined his regi- ment at New Madrid, Mo., and moved on down the Mis- sissippi. Later he moved with the regiment to Helena, Ark., remaining there until after the battle, July 4th, 1863.
He was in the Yazoo campaign that ran the blockade. He was the commanding officer, and when told to select his men, he replied that he would rather have volunteers. There was a plenty of them too. They went on barges, using bales of cotton for protection. The night was dark and stormy-waters every where-but nevertheless they were victorious.
He was at Little Rock in 1863 and 1864 in charge of a saw mill crew, producing lumber in the interest of the Gov- ernment. He was in the wagon train, under command of Lieut. Col. Drake, that started from Camden to Pine Bluff for supplies. The train consisted of over 400 wagons, and about 1,200 men. They were entirely surrounded by the enemy and finally forced to surrender. This was known as the battle of Marks Mill. He was acting Major of the 77th Ohio, when taken prisoner. The boys asked him to surrender them and he replied: "I'll surrender no man but myself." He ordered them to take to the woods, every man get a tree. He followed in the rear. A small open field lay between them and the woods. He said it
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