fLLINOiS HISTORICAL SURVEY
Collection of .
r
CIVIL WAR LETTERS
Written by
MERCER COUNTY SOLDIERS
fomfdluL by. *IWSL
In the pages of this booklet you will f im c P ie *
"
it is The Tinas Record, Aledo.
in
of several prisoners there,
Letters are copied tere just as they were written and
rj^s.
this booklet is a repcrt on the cature of Jeff 'r son Davis,
Lincoln to the Springfield Convention in
There were 150 copies of this booklet prepared. We hope you will
retain ur copy after reading it. We also hope you enjoy readong it.
^
^ Gene Kelly
X
^
.
FROM THE 841K REGIMENT.
POST HOSPITAL, MANCHESTER, TJSNN., August 17,
1863.
DEAR EDITOR: As you are seldom troubled with communications
from the 84th, you may not (consider it intrusion if I offer a few
lines for publication in your paper.
On Saturday, the 15th inst., I was requested to come to this
place to assist in taking care of the sick for a few days, till they
could be all sent back to the hospitals.
On Sunday morning, about 7 o'clock, our corps (Grittenden's) was
put in forward motion, the rear of the train passing through town
about 3 p nu The men that go forward are in splendid health and
spirits. Their destination is East Tennessee.
The whole number of sick sent to this post from Palmer's and
Wood's Divisions, since our late movement, is two hundred and twen-
ty-fire; about fifty of this number, still remaining here, will be
sent, back by the firs': 'opportunity, which will probably be on to-
morrow, when I shall proceed to my regiment, via McliLnnville .
This may serve to show your readers the whereabouts of this
wing of the army, and give them an idea of the condition of their
health.
In this connection it might be interesting to the friends of
Co. H, 84th Regiment, to learn something of the condition of that
company. Of the ninety-eight men with which we organized, there:
remain seventy, the rest being dead or discharged. Of these seventy,
forty-five are present with the regiment, fifteen are back at the
hospitals, and the rest are. on detached duty. Of the fifteen that
are back, quite a number are in good health, but are detained on
hospital duty without being regularly detailed.
This may serve to give an idea of the effective strength of
army, Co. H being above an average in our regiment, may be safely
put as a full average of the companies mustered into the service
last year. Of course we do not pretend that our regiment or com-
pany will compare in numbers with some that I could name, that
have been back all the time on garrison duty, that have seen no
hardships.
The smallest regiment that I have any knowledge of, that was
brought into the service last year, numbers two hundred men.
This regiment was reduced to its present size chiefly by discharges
an., desertions, and is now, after being purged of ita dross, one of
thy be si; ia the service. A similar process would be attended with
equally gcr/d effects in some other regiments.
If ouv f orcea now, as in the last movement, move all together,
and act in concert, as they did on that memorable occasion, we have
reason to hope that similar success will be the result. In such ati
event there would remain but little foot room for the rebellion. It
is not best, as we have learned, to anticipate events too flattering.
But late achievements have been so cheering that we all feel like in-
dulging a little. I am, therefore, willing to risk my reputation as-
a prophet in predicting that if the present movement succeeds as well
as the last, those of us who are then living will be at home with
our friends wvchp.n six months from this time. This is truly en-
courog.lrg. and I verily believe no less true.
I'D era- friends at home I have but to say be encouroged, and
do v.'ha:, you can to encourage us and forward the good work. This
is no tim.3 to give way for a moment to despondency. But it is
emphatically the time for united, energetic action. Then quit your
firing in our rear, and blowing the dust and smoke of political
strife and discord into each others eyes; and sustain our arms by
removing every obstacle to true Union sentiment out of the way
whilst we thrust in our united force, by which, under the blessing
of Providence, we hope to hunt this hideous monster Rebellion
into the deep, dark gulf of eternal infamy and shame. Then shall
we with ease raise the stars that his foul coil has dragged in the
dust and filth of secession, and place them again in their former
proud position on the fair escutcheon of American liberty. And
you, butternuts, break the fetters that bind you to your party
idols, and come and worship with us at the shrine of the Goddess
of Freedom, in the Temple of Liberty. For the doom of despots,
rebels and traitors begins to appear in the hand writing on the
wall. I will just give a rough sketch of it below, for their
benefit. In six months we propose to present the head of this grim
visager monster Rebellion not to the Royal Princess, (the daughter
of Heridotas, ) in a charger, but to the Virgin Queen of Liberty, on
the broad chaplet of peacej and whilst we cast his putrid carcass
to the vulture and the dogs, his pale ghost, mantled in its wind-
ing sheet the Palmetto standing on the Stygean shore, will read
its doom "by the red light of hell." Then shall the Davis drynasty
strike sail on the Stigean sea, whilst the hordes of Northern trait-
ors and agitators fond the river Styx, and proceed by land to the
same port of destination. Then, when the Red Sea of blood and carnage
shall be submerged in the ocean of freedom and peace, shall the
nations of the earth send up their aspirations of praise in one long,
loud anthem to the Goddess of Liberty. So mote it be.
Very respectfully yours,
E. DETWILER.
FROM THE 9TH REGIMENT.
POCAHONTAS, TENN., Aug. 21, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: The time of the "sere and yellow leaf" seems nigh
upon us, but through the whole summer, I have it to say, the cavalry
and all other mounted forces in this District of Western Tennessee
have been constantly active, chasing, routing and punishing the
enemy in every direction. We have to meet with the first repulse
of any moment, in engagements, that have been numerous in these
parts, guarded by the 16 th Army corps.
To-day we hear of the success of our Lieut. Col. Phillips,
who, with our regiment and detachments of cavalry regiments and
brigades from Lagrange, Term. , numbering in all 1500 men, has
driven the enemy from Grenada, Miss., and destroyed public pro-
perty there, as the following dispatch through couriers will explain:
Aug. 20,
"Major General Hurlbut, Memphis: The cavalry sent from here on
the 15th inst., under command of Lieut. Col. Phillips, reached Grenada
on the l?th; drove Slemmer, with 2,000 men and three pieces of artill-
ery, from the place; destroyed fifty-seven engines, upward of four
hundred cars, the depot buildings, machine shops, and several black-
smith shops, besides a quantity of ordnance and commissary stores;
capturing about fifty railroad men and a number of prisoners. After
Col. Phillips, with his command, had accomplished his work Col.
Winder, of the 4th Iowa cavalry, arrived from below, " (Vicksburg.)
Our regiment is expected in camp on the 23d or 24th inst. We
learn that only one man in it was wounded; he is of Company I.
Mercer county people, having friends in the regiment, need not be
uneasy about them on account of their long silence per letters.
Five track men, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, were
captured yesterday, and immediately paroled, by a band of four guer-
rillas c They destroyed a hand-car.
The notorious guerrilla chief, Sol. Street, attacked one of our
foraging trains a few days since, when a few miles from carap, but
was repulsed with a loss to him of three killed, and a few horses
and mules captured. Street's horse was among them, fieing hard press-
ed, the rider dismounted and "took to the brush." Such notorious
guerrillas do not get the benefit of a "trial by jury i: when caught
here. As a glorious result they becoming few in West Tennessee,
and citizens breathe easier. "So mote it be."
G. M. G.
THE EXPEDITION TO GRENADA.
On the outside of this week's issue we publish a brief account
of the expedition to Grenada, Miss c The author of that letter did
not accompany the expedition, and, of course, knew nothing about its
details. Next week we hope to be able to give a full account of the
affair, written by a correspondent who participated in it who was
one of it; in the meairoime, we are permitted to insert the following
interesting details from a private letter from a soldier in the 9th
regiment to his parents in Mercer county:
PCCAKONTAS, TENN., Aug. 24, 1863.
MI DEAR PARENTS: We are again safely in camp, after a very
tedious march of eleven days (and nights) and a half, We arrived in
camp this morrlng at Sig o'clock, very tired, hungry and dirty. We
had a very infers sting trip, for all it v;as very tedious. I will
try and gi/e you a vc-ry imperfect detail. We left camp on the even-
ing of ;.> 12th. at ?? o'clock, taking the Ripley road; marched all
night, mr.rching only twelve miles; stopped to feed and get breakfast;
took the Salem road, which place we reached about 4 o'clock p. m. ,
and where we expected to meet the force of cavalry from Lagrange,
but found they had passed; took the Oxford road (following their
trail) and camped about five miles from Tippah Creek, about 11 p. m.
L ; !.th, Moved at daybreak, moving very fast, and reached Rocky-
ford abimb 9 PJ m. ; crossed in ferry and went into camp,
15th a Started very early (at Rockyford were within five miles
of the place we had the fight, where Fleming was wounded, ) pushing
on, caught up with the cavalry at Oxford, Lt. Col. Phillips taking
command of the brigade, consisting of parts of the 2d Iowa, 3d
Michigan, llth Illinois, and our regiment; did not stop at Oxford
but a short time; took the Coffeeville road, which place was thirty
miles distant. The weather was very hot. Moved slow; went about
nine or ten miles and camped; had a very heavy storm at dark, very
heavy thundering.
Sunday, 16th Bugle sounded at 3 a. nuj got breakfast, saddled
and moved at sunrise. The 3d, 4th and 9th Illinois cavalry came up
to us this morning. Crossed the Yockena river by ferry about 12 o'clock*
Col. Phillips still in command. The rebs were cutting the ferry just
as the advance came up. There had been a rebel train of wagons crossed
in the morning; 2d Iowa crossed and pushed on to catch them if possible,
which they did at Water Valley, distance about five miles from the-
river; train consisted of seven six-mule teams, loaded with corn,
which came in very good time, as we wanted feed; got a few prisoners
and some horses. This station is on the Mississippi Central Railroad,
between Oxford and Coffeeville. Moved at 6 p. m. Soon after leaving
a rain storm came up; got very dark, but still we moved on; so dark
we could not see the animals we were on only by the flashes of
lightning; some of the boys lost their guns. It was very dangerous,
as there were deep gullies on each side of the road. There were a
good many horses and mules fell in, but I believe no one. was hurt.
I was riding an old horse; he fell with me once, but did not hurt
me much* Camped at 12 p, m. about four miles from Coffeeville.
l?th. Started at 6, and moved on to town where we stopped
and fed. We were about thirteen miles from Grenada, at which place
it was supposed there were a large number of cars and engines. A
train was expected in town that morning. After resting a short time
moved on, and about five miles from town met the train; endeavored
to capture it, but it took the back track. There was one engine on
the track, out of repair. On passing the next station we say four
engines and a large number of cars; had drove the; rebs pickets for
some time; moved to within about three miles of Grenada, when the
rebs thought they would make a stand. The greater portion of our
brigade was moved forward in line of skirmish, (on foot;) our boys
made a steady advance, when they found the rebs on the opposite side
of the Yellow Basha River, just in the edge of town. Our boys ad-
vanced steadily, (firing,) and drove them from behind their rifle
pits, while they were in the open ground. We only had three men
wounded in the engagement, one in our regiment. Before we reached
town the rebels burned two very large railroad bridges. Shortly after
the cavalry crossed and found the enemy all gone; went into camp with-
in half a mile of town. Heavy foraging was going on in town to-day.
18th. The force of cavalry from Vicksburg came in this morning-
the 3d and 4th Iowa and 5th Illinois. The Colonel of the 4th Iowa took
command. Stopped all foraging in town. Lay in camp all day.
We have just had worship, and as it is getting late and I feel
very tired I will have to close until morning.
TUESDAY, August 25.
Got up very late; the weather is very cool this morning.
19th. Bugle call at 3 o'clock, a. KB.; got ready and moved at
daylight, on the Panola road, toward home, Col. Winders in command.
Had heavy foraging parties out every day on the road home. At Panola
had a little skirmish; no one hurt; but in crossing the swamp this
side they bushwhacked, stragglers, and killed one white man and one
negro and wounded another neg-.'o, There was but very little happened!
on the road hone,, The VU-uk/suU-'e Sorrsy left us within about thirty
miles O.T? Memphis, C<ime thi-oiigh Holly Springs, which has been a very
pretty play .3,. We left the Lagvange .force about ten miles north of
that place; had forty prisoners a!3_ soldiers; most of them are tired
of soldiering and are Killing to play quits.
There were more negroes this time than I ever saw before in my
life, The recruiting oJM'ie-ers from Lagrange got about five hundred
able bodied negroes, besides what the other brigades took with them,
and the women and children. There: seemed to be no end. to them, lef ore
the other brigades left ua, there: must ha~jre been near two thousand' in
all, aid and oi'-:.ppled : Soros followed us for five, or six days, keeping
up with the JIM vj.es. 1 pi i, Led them. Very near naked; you could see the
marks of the lash on n-:uiy of thajir backs. I saw two or three girls
that were as whi^a as eny of us, that had been slaves. One beautiful
girl said her master was her nearest relative., and she; wished to get
away; was. brought along,, Who can uphold such an institution? I ant f OF
cleaning it out while we ara engaged*
(irenada is a beautiful place. The citizens said they were glad to
see us; could not see what the rebs were fighting for. I hav^. given
you a very imperfect account of the trip, but J. G. C. will writa to
the record, and give a more minute detail. I am too tired and sore to
write very much more, besides, I must get my clothes and accoutrements
cleaning up to-day. It is so cool I am chilly. "Sou must be having frost
up there^.
I forgot to tell you what we found in Grenada; there was about
sixty locomotives and between three and four hundred cars; destroyed
part of them. What we got to see paid us for the hardship, we under-
went. I would not have missed it for
Your ever affectionate son, J. A. G.
FROM THE 9TH REGIMENT.
CAMP 9TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLS. ,
POCAHONTAS, TENN., Sept. 26, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: At the request of several Mercer county boys, I
send you below a correct roll of men from your county, who are, or
have been, in Company E, 9th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, which
you may publish, if you see fit:
1st Lieut. Wnu D. Craig, Aledo; promoted to Assistant Surgeon of the
Regiment, June 8, 1862.
2d Serg't. Augustus T. Waterbury, Aledo; died at Paducah, Ky.,
February 2, 1862, of pneumonia.
3d Serg't. Thomas F. McClintock, Millersburg.
4th Serg't. Charles E. Fleming, Keithsburg; wounded at Rocky Ford,
Miss., June 20, 1863.
1st Corp'l. John A. Gilmore, Millersburgj wuutxled at Fort Doiiolson,
February 1$, 1862.
2d Corp'l. James G. Carnahan, Millersburg; wounded at Shiloh,
April 6, 1862.
3d Corp'l, Joseph R. Cox, Rivolij wounded at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
5th Corp'l. Charles C, Wordin, Keithsburg.
Wagoner William Minor, Sunbeam; deserted from Parole Camp in July last.
Private John Beat by, Miliersburgj died at Jackson, TEenno, of wounds
received at Corinth, Oct. 3> 1862.
" William Boyer, Ohio Grove,
George W. Bruner, Monmouth; discharged.
" Russell W. Cool, Aledo; discharged for wounds received at
Fort Dcnelson, February 15, 1862.
Augustus B. Cox, Rivoli.
" Aaron S. Dilley, Ohio Grove.
11 Chas,. Dryden, Keithsburg; wounded at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
" Abisha Dodsun, Abington.
" Wm. Evans, Keithsburg; wounded at Fort Donelson, February
15, 1862.
11 Dennis C. Frothingham, Ohio Grove; wounded at Fort Donelson,
February 15, 3362.
" Jas. B. Gilmore, Sunbeam; wounded at Fort Donelson, February
15, 1862,
11 George M Gilmore, Millersburg; wounded at Fort Donelson,
February 15, 1362.
" Elisha P, Graham, Sunbeam.,
11 John W. Hoy, Sunbeam; discharged for wounds received at
Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
" Daniel Hubbard, Millersburg; wounded at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
11 Edwin Hughes., Keithsburg.
" James Haverfield, Millersburg; died at home, May 8, 1862,
11 William J. Johnson, Millersburg; promoted to Quartermaster
Sergeant, July 1, 1862.
" Joseph B. Jones, Aledo; died at Keokuk, Iowa, of wounds, re-
ceived at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
" William P. Kelley, Keithsburg; wounded at Fort Donelson,
Feb. 15, 1862; wounded and missing at Corinth,
October 4, 1862.
" George F, Lee, Aledo.
John H. Livington, Monmouth; discharged.
" Calvin Martin, Millersburg; promoted Corporal for bravery
at Shiloh, died at Quincy, Hist May 29, 1862.
" James Miller, Abington.
" William Mock, Sunbeam; wounded Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
11 Jesse Mock, Sunbeam; severely wounded at Shiloh, April 6,
1862, and missing since.
" John Moorehead, Aledo.
11 Frank M. Moore, Aledo; wounded at Fort Donelson, Feb. 15,
1862; died at louisville, Ky. , of wounds
received at Shiloh April 6, 1862.
" Win. D. Nevius, Sunbeam; wounded and missing at Shiloh,
April 6, 1862.
11 Wm. F. Primley, Sunbeam; wounded at Corinth, Miss,,
October 3, 1862.
" Wm. H. H. Reily. Aledo.
11 Samuel Selley, Keithsburg; taken prisoner at Fort Doiielson,
February 15, 1862, and exchanged.
Private Samuel M. Smith, Sunbeam; discharged.
Wa. H. H. Smith, Sunbeam:.
John N. Shoemaker, Rivoli; died at St. Louis, Mo., of wounds
received at Shiloh., April 6, 1862.
George N, Sheldon, Monmouth; discharged.
Thos. Stalkal, Miller sburgj wounded at Shiloh, April 6, 1862,
George Snyder, Aledo; wounded at Fort Donelson, February 15,
1862 and discharged.
James Shoyer, Keithsburg.
Ephraim J. Tyler, Ohio Grove; wounded at Rocky Ford, Miss.,
June 20, 1863.
Neal Vestel, Aledo; wounded at Shiloh, April 6, 1862; taken
prisoner at Corinth, Oct. 4* 1862, and exchanged,
Jacob White, Aledo.
James F Williams, Aledo; discharged for wounds received at
Corinth, October 4, 1862.
The Company was organized at Cairo, with 101 men, to which were
added 3 recruits before the regiment went into the field. At Fort
Donelson there were 2 killed, 23 wounded and 2 taken prisoners from
this company,. At Shiloh, 6 killed, 26 wounded and 3 missing. At
Corinth, 9 wounded and 2 missing. At Rocky Ford, Miss., 3 wounded j
making an aggreguate of 8 killed, 61 wounded, 7 died. Sickness caused
9 death S; making the number of deaths 24. There were discharged, 11
on account of wounds, and 10 for other causes, making 21 discharged
from the company, Three deserted. The present strength of the com-
pany is 56 *
TROT.
FROM THE 126TH REGIMENT.
CAMP NEAR LITTLE ROCK, ARK., September 21, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: Thinking I might drop you a few lines that would
be interesting to the readers of your paper, who are anxious to hear
from the soldiers in the field, I send you some hasty thoughts. It
has been some time since I last wrote you, and we have been on the
move about all the time, first in one place and then in another.
But it is common for soldiers to be stirring round, to see what is
going on inside of the enemy's lines, or about them.
My last was written at Medon, Term. Our stay was short there.
We returned to Jackson and stayed a few days, when we received orders
to be ready to march at short notice. Where we were going was yet a
mystery to us, and while we were discussing the question of our
destination the order came to pull up tents and get abroard the cars.
This being done, we were soon on our journey southward. We arrived
in the city of Memphis. Then it was no longer a mystery to us, for
our baggage was re-loaded on to a steamer, and 'then we steamed down
the great river which had been so long blockaded at Vicksburg by the
rebels. All passed off well until we were fired into by the bush-
whackers from the shore. Fortunately the boys were nearly all asleep,
and it not yet being daylight, on one was hurt much. But they were
roused up in a hurry and returned the fire, when the rebels took
to the woods, and we passed on for the great city that they believed
impregnable. We arrived at Young's Point on the 2d of June, and could
hear the guns thundering in and around the city,, We run down within
four miles of the city and reported to some General, and then run
back to the mouth of the Yazoo river; went up that river to Raines 1
Bluff. Here we landed and camped for the night. Then came a series
of marching and countermarching that I shall not try to relate, Here
we lay and waited and fortified for old Johnston, but he did not
conclude to try to come in; and while we were here at work the siege
was progressing finely, and all were confident the city would fall
soon; and thus we waited until the 4th of July, when the great vic-
tory was achieved which will add another laurel to the memorable
day of our independence
We left Haines* Bluff on the 24th of July and came to Helena,
Ark. Here we stayed three weeks. We came out there after Price and
his army. Wo left there on the 13th of August, with about 12,000
men and several batteries of artillery. We left a good many of our
boys sick at Helena, and three have since died. Three took sick at
Ball's Bluff and died. This makes our company smaller in numbers
and men. We have lost eighteen by death, and among them our Captain,
H. D. Cline.
We left the Bluff on the 1st of September and marched twenty-
four miles across Grand Prairie, this being the first that we have
seen since we left the Old Prairie State. The morning of the 2d we
were on the tramp early and came into Brownsville, and camped a
day or two. Then we started out for the capital of the State. Again
we marched all day, and camped within three miles of the Arkansas
River; lay there two days and then started for the river, with the
determination of crossing about twelve miles below the city. Laid
the pontoon bridge, and when it was about finished the rebels
opened on us with shell from the other side of the river. They fired
several shots before our batteries replied, but when they did open
the rebels soon left, and then our forces began to cross over, the
2d Minnesota Regiment in the advance, then Gen. Davidson's cavalry
forded, and the artillery crossed the bridge. AS soon as the cavalry
had got across, the infantry came back, and we advanced on both sides
of the river, the cavalry fighting them as they ran. The infantry had
nothing to do but march ahead, for the attack on this side of the
river and when we got within about two miles of the breastworks, the
word came that Price had left and was retreating toward Arkadelphia,
Ark. We came inside of their works and camped for the night, and sent
a force on the other side to take possession of the city. The cavalry
did about all the fighting. They followed the rebels about thirty
miles, and have taken a good many prisoners; but they have come
back now, and we hold the capital of the State, with all Government
property, safe and in order.
H. G. L.
NO. OF MERCER HEN IN SERVICE.
SUNBEAM, MERCER CO., ILL., August 5, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: If the following statement of the representation
of the Militia of Mercer Co. , 111. , would be of interest to your
readers, you can publish it.
In transcribing the enrollment lists of the Militia of Mercer
County, for the year 1862, I find 1522 men have left for the army,
and are scattered through the following Brigades and Regiment, viz:
1st, 6th, 8th., 9th, llth, 13th and 47th Cavalry;
7th Missouri Cavalry;
7th and 8th Kansas Cavalry;
1st Pennsylvania "
2d Iowa
*Capt. Jones' "
SfrCap-o. Dodge's "
Mississippi Flotilla;
Berge's Sharp-Shoot ers;
1st Iowa Artillery;
Capt, Waoerhouse's Artillery;
lot Pennsylvania "
9th. J.Oi-,-!, 12th, 17th, 19th. 27th, 29th, 30th, 36th, 37th, 38th,
43d, 45t,h, 50th, 56th, 65th, 69 oh, 7+th, 83d, 84 bh, 88th, 102d, 10?th,
112th, and 124th Illinois Reg'ts. Infantry;
3d, 4th, 7th, 8th. and 32d Iowa Reg'ts. Infantry;
14th Indiana Reg't Infantry;
18th Missouri " "
84th and 100th Perm. "
Irish Brigade, Virginia;
and perhaps in some other Reg'ts, as five of the Enrolling Officers,
enrolled the men in their Townships as absent in the U, S. service,
not giving the Regiments.
WM. I. NEVIUS.
Kacon, Gfi., May 13
Hon. E. M Stanton:
Lient. Col, Hardin, commanding the 1st Wisconsin, has just
arrived from Irwinsville. He struck the train of Davis at Dublin,
Lawrence County, on the evening of the 7th, and followed him closely
day and night through the pine wilderness of Alligator Creek and
Green Swamp via Cumberlandville, to Irwinsville,, At Cumberlandsvile
Col, Hardin met Col. Pritchard with 150 picked men and horses of the
4th Michigan* Hardin followed the trail direct to the south, while
Pritchard, having fresh horses, pushed down the Oemulgee towards
HopewelJ.j and thence by Horse Creek to Irwinsville, arriving there
at midnight ,
On the 9th Jeff, Davis had not arrived* From a citizen Pritchard
learned that his party were encamped two miles out of the town* He
made disposition of his men and surrounded the camp before day,
Hardin had encamped at 9 pnu within two mil3S_, as he afterwards
learned, from Davis., the trail being too indistinct to follow-, He
pushed on at 3 a- m, and had gone but a little more than a mile when
his advance was fired upon by men of the 4th Michigan* A fight ensued,
in which both parties exhibited the greatest determination. Fifteen
minutes elapsed before the mistake was discovered,.
The firing in this skirmish was the first warning Davis received.
The captors report that he hastily put on one of his wife's dresses
and started for the woods, closely followed by our men, who at first
thought him a woman, but seeing his boots while he was running, they
suspected his sex at once The race was a short one, and the rebel
President was soon brought to bay, He brandished a bowie knife and
showed signs of battle, but yielded promptly to the persuasion of
Colt's revolvers without compelling the men to fire
He expressed great indignation at the energy with which he was
pursued, saying that he had believed our government too magnanimous
to hunt down women and children
Mrs. Davis remarked to Col Hardin, after the excitement was over,
that the men had better not provoke the President, or he might hurt
some of them.
Regan behaved himself with dignity and resignation. The party
evidently were making for the coasto
(signed) J. H. Wilson,
Brevet Maj. Gen.
CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
War Department.
Washington, May 13, 1865.
To Major Gen. Dix:
The following dispatch haa just been received from Geru Wilson
announcing the surprise and capture of Jef Daris and staff by Col.
Pritchard and the 4th Michigan cavalry on the morning of the 10th
inst., at Irwlnville, Irwin county, Ga.
(Signed) E. M, Stanton.
Sec. of War.
Macon, Ga. , May 12th.
To Hon. E. M Stanton:
The following dispatch announcing the capture of Jeff. Davis,
has just been handed to me by Col. Mentz,, commanding the 2d district:
HEADQUARTERS, 4TH MICHIGAN CAVALRT,
CUMBERLAND, GA, May llth.
SIR: I have the honor to report that at daylight yesterday at
Irwinsville I surprised and captured Jeff Davis and family, to-
gether with his wife, and sisters and mother, his Postmaster
Gen,, Regan, his private secretary Col. Harrison, Col. Johnson,
aide-de camp on Davis 1 staff, Col Morris, and Lieut. Anthony.
Also, several important names and a train of five wagons and
three ambulances, making a most perfect success had not a most
unfortunate mistake occurred, by which the 4th Mich, and 1st
Wisconsin came in conflict we should have done better. The
mistake cost us two killed, and Lt Bowles wounded in the arm, of
the 4th Michigan, and one wounded of the 1st Wisconsin. They were
mistaken for the rebels. I returned to this point last night, and
shall move right on to Macon without further order from you,
feeling that the whole object of the expedition is accomplished.
It will take me at least three days to reach Macon, and we
are 75 miles out, and our stock is much exhausted. I hope to
reach Hawkinsville. tonight,
I have the honor to be,
S D PRITCHARD.
Lient. Col. 4th Michigan Cav.
The first Wisconsin belongs to Logan's brigade of McCook's
division, and had been sent due east by Gen. Groxton Col. Minby
had dismounted his command all along the south bank of the
Oemnlgee and Alta-maha. This accounts for the collision betiveen
parts of the 1st and 2d divisions, and shows the zeal of the
command in pursuit. I have directed measures of vigilance on the
part of the command, in the hope of catching the other assassins.
Cur disposistion of men is good, and so far none of the rebel
chiefs have been able to get through- Breekinridge's son was
captured night before last eleven miles south of here.
I will send further details as soon as received. (Signed)
J. H. V/ilson,
Brevet Maj Gen.
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
FROM THE 58TH REGIMENT.
PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE;
HOUND CITY, ILL., AUG. 1,1863.
DEAR EDITOR: Our regiment received marching orders and left
Gamp Butler on the 19th of June, and arrived at Cairo on the 20th.
Our company was immediately detached from the remainder of the
Regiment, on Provost duty at this place, and the remainder of the
regiment en duty at Cairo.
And as we have but one commissioned officer with the company,
I consequently have command of all the troops here, except those in
the United States Hospital, and the Lieutenant is Provost Marshal
of the city.
This is now one of the most important places in the West, as.
there is a very large United States General Hospital here, which has
about eight hundred of the sick soldiers from Vicksburg., A large
arsenal, filled with powder, ball, shells, besides the great : 'wa3rs"
where gunboats are built, and all kinds of steamboats are repaired,
which is very essential for the good of the navy.
This city is very beautiful situated on the bluff of the Ohio,
six miles above Cairo.- The inhabitants are generally Union people,
although wu find many secesh and copperheads, the society here is
generally of the best class, and of course we feel perfectly at
home, and why should we not, after an acquaintance of six weeks with
the fair girls of Southern Egypt, and having the pleasure of attend-
ing all the pic-nics, parties, &c., which are so numerous here.
I attended a pic-nic day before yesterday, which proved a
grand affair. We had a large swing, which was principally repre-
sented by that class that do not altogether approve of dancing and
other frivolous plays. Even playing and dancing (which are the
principal amusements in this section) was the leading feautures of
the programme of the day, and, in short, everything passed off
lovely.
We are under the command of Gen. Buford, who we are proud to
say, is a gentleman and a solder's friend, and shows great respect
to all under his command.
We are still rejoicing over the many successive victories that
has recently crowned our gallant army, and things now look much
brighter to us all; and we look forward with hopes soon to see a
speedy close of this inhuman ciril war, and again have the pleasure
of greeting our old friends in a land of "LIBaJlRTY," and when all
the citizens of the United States will be obliged, as our late and
great Douglas has said, to "Obey the laws and constitution of his
country."
"Sagely" yours, EUGENE,
Orderly Surg't Co. E, 56th Ills. Vols.
FROh THE L&TH REGIKSNT.
We are permitted to make the following extract from a letter
written by a member of the l?th Regiment to a friend in Mercer county:
VICK3BURG, JULY 26,1863
The health of the troops is tolerable good at present, but not
so good now as a month ago.. The weather is very hot and the water is
poor. I arrived here (or rather outside of the fortifications, where
our regiment was camped) on the 26th of June, just one month ago to
day. Was very unwell ever since till the last week. Everything around
here looks naked and deserted, and shows very plainly the effect that
starving soldiers will produce. There is no doubt but what they lived
on mule meat the Isst day or two. The citizens had nothing to live on
at all, but had to draw rations from the government as soon we got
possession and regulated so we could issue them. The soldiers were
getting tired of fighting 5 at least one-half of them said that they
would never fight again if they could help it. According to the
surrender Grant- had to parole them and send them all out of the lines.
Many are deserting and returning to take the oath and go home; and
many of them, live inside of our lines, in Missouri, Kentucky,
Tennessee, and parts of all, or nearly all the States that those
troops were from. I hardly know what to write to you to interest you,
because everything is going on here in the usual way. Government is
granting furloughs at the rate of five per cent, on all enlisted men.
B. J. D.
LETTER FROM EDMAN SPANGLER - HE ASSERTS HIS ENTIRE INNOCENCE
(Taken from the Oct. 25, 1865, edition of The Weekly Record, Aledo, 111.
Fort Jefferson, Tortugas
Island, Sept. 15, 1865
My dear friend:
I take my pen in hand to rite to you these feu lines to let
you know that I am well and hope you are the same this is a purty
hard place to live the sun is very hot and whe have hard grub, salt
horse and one piece of bread whe some times gets soup there is some
small fish in the break water that we can catch from our cell window
but we have no fish hooks small enough here and have no money to
send for thim there is a sutlers store here you can get any thing
you want if you have the money there is about 500 Prisoners here,
who have the privleige of going over the whole island it is about
13 actes of sand and some feu trees I am at work at my trade.
You have no doubt been acquainted with the facts and circumstances
connected with my trial and sentence and imprisonment. Nothing that
I can say or do can alter the opinion of the world of the Public.
Before God and all that is sacred I am perfectly innocent of all
the charges and specifications brought against me by the prosecution.
I had no knowledge or idea of enything nor did I aid or assist the
villian or the assassin of the President eiter before or after the
assanation you know that I was not more intimate than others that
around him not as much as some of them. He asked me to see to his
horses wich I did he said that he would make me a hansomid presen.
wich he did, six years on the Hand of Dry Tortugas I never enjoyed
his confidence or his faver except occasionally when we met at a
restaurant he would ask me to have something to drink, I had no-
thing to do with him on the evening of the assasination more than
any other man similary situated could have. He came to the theater,
called me and asked if I could hold his horse, wich I declined for
the reason I had my work to attend to on the stage. I called Peanut
John to hold his horse, who held him until he came out after murder-
ing the President. I did not know what had taken place until the
deed had bin committed and Booth made his escape from the theater.
I never shut the door after his escape nor did I know what had taken
place until the deed had bin committed and Booth made his escape
from the theater. I never shut the door after his escape nor did I
know nor had any thing to do with the mortice in the wall or boring
the whole or the fixing of the bar of the door, or loosing the screws
all this I was charged with as being guilty or suspicioned of having
done but before God who I know will find me accountable if I knieu
nothing or herd nothing about the existenc of any such a thing until
after the assassionation when I was asked concerning it all the
evidence in my case is known I leave it to all honest and unprejudical
people to judge of my innocense or guilt Grate injustice has been
done me by some false witnesses from whom expreses prior to my trial
acted by gain or reward. I wish you would see and see whether
he ever received my statement that I sent him with a young man by
the name of welch, and if he has to let me know what he is going
to do with it please and send me some small fish hooks some 2 or
three fly hooks in a letter and money to buy some postage stamps
and some paper there is a regiment here to guard the place Give my
love to all my enquring Friends and let me know what they think of
me I am here suffering here which I am innocently yours Most
Respectfully
Edman Spangler
# -;<- * ?;- -5;-
The above letter, which was discovered in the Aledo Weekly
Record, and was re-printed in a nationally-syndicated column not long
ago (Tuesday, March 2k t 1970) tells how one man felt after being
confined for his alleged part in the assassination of President
Abraham Lincoln. Mr, Spangler, whose first name was Edman, was
called "Ned" at the Ford's Theater where he worked as a scene
When John Wilkes Booth rode a mare down the alley behind Ford's
Theater, John Miles, who worked high in the theater, was able to look
down and out and see Booth, Miles heard Booth call for Spangler,
Miles saw Spangler leave his post from behind the scenes .and
go out the back door. Miles assumed Booth wanted Spangler to hold
his horse, Spangler kept pointing in toward the theater, and then
he went inside and sent a boy named Johnny Peanuts to hold Booth's
mare,
For this, a military court sent Spangler to the Dry Tortugas,
a strip of sand west of Key West, from where the above letter was
written. Others accused of being involved in the plot were sent there,
too those who weren't hanged,
In August of 1867, Yellow Fever broke out at Dry Tortugas.
Spangler was freed in February of 1869, dying of tuberculosis,
Another prisoner there, also accused in the Lincoln assassination,
a Dr. Mudd (who was accused of putting a splint on Booth's broken
leg) was paroled the same year, Dr, Mudd took Spangler to his home
in Maryland and took care of the patient until he died,
Not long ago, another letter was discovered in old, dusty files
from the newspapers of the same period. It is not known who wrote
this letter, which gives more information on the prisoners at Dry
Tortugas Island, The letter follows.
It should be noted that both letters are re-printed here just
as they were written inci .riing punctuation and misspelled words,
(From the Weekly Record, Aledo, 111., Wednesday, April 18, 1866)
DHY TORTUGAS PRISONERS
Fortress Monroe, April 5
By conversing with several discharged prisoners from the Dry
Tortugas, I have obtained full particulars touching the present con-
dition, health, and varied employments of the assassination conspir-
ators against President Lincoln, now undergoing imprisonment there.
Dr. hudd, since his attempt to escape by concealing himself
in the coal bunker of a steamer, has not been able to revive the
confidence reposed in him previous to that time. He is still kept
under close guard, and compelled to clean out bastions in the case-
mates of the fort, and do some of the most meniel and degrading
work required to be done. Instead of becoming reconciled to his lot,
he grows more discontented and querulous. Never very robust, he is
now but little better than a mere skeleton, and his growing emacia-
tion shows how bitterly his spirit chafes under his imprisonment,
and how deeply the iron pierces his soul His constant prayer is
for death, which alone can set him free. It is natural he should
suffer more than his colleagues in crime. The most intelligent of
them all, and in the associations and habits of his former life
greatly lifted above them, he is so much the more the kiinest
sufferer now. But there is none to pitty him. All keep alooft from
him.
Arnold is employed as clerk of Capt. Van Reade, Post Adjutant.
An uncommonly fine penman and accurate accountant his profession
will be remembered as that of a bookkeeper and well behaved and
modest, and yielding in his demeanor, he grows in usefulness and
popularity each day. A guard attends him to his meals, which are
the same as the other prisoners, and at night he is in close custody.
His behavior shows that he appreciates his position, and that he
does not, like Dr, Kudd, and intend to abuse the confidence placed
in his and lose it. His health is good.
Spangler is at work in the Quartermaster ' s carpenter shop,
already he begins to count the years, months, and days remaining to
complete his term of imprisonment. He is robust and jolly a physi-
cal condition he attributes, however, soley to his being innocent
of any participancy in the dreadful crime charged against him.
In striking contrast to the persons I have referred to is
Col. Harmaduke, found guilty of the noted conspiracy to free the
prisoners at Camp Douglas and burn Chicago. He has charge of the
post garden. In respect to manual labor, no royal gardner has an
easier time. Like the lilies of the field, he toils not. His only
business is to see that those under him work. He has the privilege
of going outside the fort at any time betiveen reveille and sunset.
He does not evidently allow his prison life to interfere seriously
with his health or spirits, both are excellent. In the extent of
freedom allowed him, he is very much given to putting on the airs
of a fine gentleman and walks and struts about like one on the very
best terms with himself and the world,
(there is no indication as to
who wrote the above letter)
:"']'
FROM THE 2?TH REGIMENT.
CAliP ROBERTS, ERIDGPORT, ALA.
August 11, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: About three weeks ago I wrote you a few lines con-
cerning the race we have been having after Bragg, and closed with the
promise of resuming the subject again, whenever a favorable opportun-
ity should occur. When I last wrote we were encamped on the top on
the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee, at a place, known as the Un-
iversity of the South. The place contained a few rough wooden build-
ings and ruins of one or two others that had been used for a theolog-
ical institution. It was the design of the chivalry to build some
extensive buildings at this place. The corner stone of the college
was laid in I860. Right Reverend Bishop Polk, since Major General
in the rebel army, was master of the ceremony. But the rebellion
interfered with their designs and the building has progressed but
little beyond the laying of the corner stone. This stone was a
large block of Tennessee marble, beautifully polished; but the
genius of Yankee soldiers has materially changed its future.- Our
boys broke it to pieces and worked it up into thousands of little
trinkets in the shape of books, breast-pin sets, finger rings, &c.-
some lucky fellow appropriating about $92 00 American coin and some
other relics which had been sealed up inside the stone.- The true
soldier is never idle, and when nothing else if furnished for him to
do you will always find him busy with the jack knife, whittling out
a powder horn, a brier root pipe, with Ghiloh or Stone River cut
on the boll, or else filing out a shell ring. Each of these designs
have had their run in the 27th; next came the corner stone of the
University of the South, and now that is worked up, I am puzzled to
know what next is to be whittled, but am sure the boys are not going
to be long idle. The locality of the Uni verity was a very quiet as
well as sightly place.- The hight of the mountain always insured a
cool breeze, while the shady grove kept out the burning rays of the
sun. The numerous springs of as good water as can be procured any-
where is not the least of the attractions of the place. The top of
the mountain, where we crossed, is eight or ten miles broad, and
quite level, even swampy in places; indeed it was on the top of the
mountain that we found the worst roads, and had the greatest "diffi-
culty in getting our artillery through.
After about three weeks rest at the University of the South we
made a further advance into Dixie, and we are "back to Alabama again,"
after an absence of nearly eleven months, with no strong desire of
retreating to Nashville again this fall, at the rate of twenty-five
miles a day, and there remaining blockaded from the rest of the
civilized world for three months, as we did last year. To us prospects
are a little more encouraging than they were a year ago. Vje occupied
the formidable works at this place on the last day of July, the
accommodating rebs having left them for our use some time before,
while they "fell back for water" across the Tennessee, or left in
search of the last ditch, still further South. Our journey, the
distance of twenty -f-i ve miles, was accomplished in a day and a half,
.
.
with but few incidents worthy of mention, except another of those fine
showers, of which each of the first twenty days of this campaign
furnished a speecimen not soon to be forgotten by the array of the
Cumberland. It took us a few days to recover from the effects of fast
traveling in coming down hill, as we had but little chance to pick
our way, and the road was in many places very steep. After leaving
the mountains we came into a valley which had some speciments of tall
corn, but not mere than one-half the lands were cultivated, and the
greater part of the planters seem to have left with the rebel army,
talcing with them all the citizens of African descent. This is one of
the richest valleys in the Southern Confedacy, and will be no si.ia.ll
loss to the rebs. Last year, when we were in this valley, the fields
were white with cotton, but this year not a field can bo seen. We did
not meet with a single cotton field after passing ten miles beyond our
lines at Murfreeboro.
The rebel works at this place are quite strong, but not so exten-
sive as the workd at Tullahoma. The bridge, which once reached from
this bank of the river to the island in the middle of the stream, and
which was about twelve hundred feet long, we found partially destroyed;
also the log cabins in which the rebs once dwelt, and the town, too,
if there ever was one here, were burned down. We here found, for the
first time in our tr avals, friendly rebel pickets. The rebs are post-
ed on the island, wwithin four hundred yards of our men; they do not
fire at us as they formerly did, but come out in the open ground and
have long chats with our boys. This is something new to us and some
one is hallooing across at them all the time. Some of them say they
are tired of the war, and none talk very encouragingly of their
prospects.
The 27th is now using up the last year of its enlistment, and
we feel confident now, if all things work well, we shall see the end
of the rebellion by the expiration of our time.- Nothing appears more
encouraging than the change of sentiment which is taking place among
the poor soldiers of the South, who are beginning to open their eyes
to the fact that they are going to gain nothing by this slaveholders'
rebellion. They are tied of their hardships, and are deserting every
day. I can give no correct estimate of the number of deserters who
have escaped to our lines during this campaign, but think it must be
immense, as our brigade alone picked up as high as sixty in a day,
and they still continue to come in, but not in such great number.
Gold at Atlanta is selling at vll.OO, which is a privates pay
per month in the rebel army. The rebel pickets say it is hard to have
to work for only one gold dollar a month. The people we found in the
mountain country are generally loyal, but very ignorant. I think it
would be no exaggeration to say that not over one in ten of the men,
women and children who thronged our camp, in the capacity of peddlers,
while we were at the University of the South, could read the money
we gave them for their truck. And this ignorance is due to the pre-
cious institution of slavery, which, like a black orb, hangs over the
State, shutting out from the common people the rays of truth and
knowledge. In the country v:e passed through, from Murfreesboro to
this place, the land is generally too poor to support the institution,
and hervje the people are not cursed with the actual presence of
slavery so much as in some sections, yet common schools, that
guardian of a froe government, are never encouraged in a slave State.
We have now traveled four times entirely across the State of Tennessee,
beside riding from Island No. 10 to Fort Pillow, on the river, and we
have scouted so much through the State in different directions, that
I am far better acquainted with this than with my native State, or
any other in the Union, and I have yet to see the first school house,
excepting in the city of Nashville, where I understand, the free
schools have been an ornament to the city. Perhaps we have passed at
different times a dozen old log buildings, with rude plank seats or
benches in them, but on inquiry of the inhabitants I always learned
the building in question was a meeting house, and a long while ago
somebody kept school in it.
We are now one hundred and twenty miles south of Nashville, and
now have more confidence in old "Rosa" than ever, for the unparalleled
success of this campaign is due to nothing so much as to our great
chief knowing how, where and when to strike. With difficulties before
him in the shape of bad roads, deep mud and water, and almost con-
stant rain for twenty days, which would have turned back a general
of less perseverance} but he had made up his mind that something could
be done, and he was determined to do it, while his men, with but little
to eat, felt willing to press on as long as such results could be
accomplished.
Our brigade (the 3d) and the 1st brigade of Sheridan's division
are here. Our camp is named in honor of Col. Roberts of the 42d
Illinois, who fell while commanding our brigade at Stone River.
The camp of the 2d brigade, at Stevenson, is named Camp Harrington,
in honor of our own lamented Colonel, who fell in the same battle.
Since I wrote before our knapsacks have come up, and all hands
have now clean shirts, a luxury in which none indulged for forty-
three days. We have a train of cars here every other day. We forage
all the green corn, apples and peaches we can possibly eat, from the
deserted rebel plantations.
We are again under marching orders, and if we commence a new
campaign, you may expect to hear occasionally from
Yours truly, S. B. ATWATER,
Ord'ly Serg't, Co. G 2?th 111. Vol. Inf 'y.
FROM THE 1ATH
CAiiP NEAR SOMERSET, KY. August 10, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: Thinking a short account of the race after, and
final capture of the notorious scoundrel, Morgan, by one who took an
active part in the affair, might be interesting to you, as patriotic
old Mercer was duly represented, I sit me down beneath the shade of
one of Kentucky's grand old oaks, feeling for the first time within
the last two months that I may, perhaps, be able to finish this
letter without having my ears greeted with the familiar sounds of
boots and saddles, After a fruitless search of three weeks through
lower Kentucky, through mud and mire, mire and mud, over hills and
rocks, over rapid and swollen rivers, through torrents of rain, and
under the bleaching rays of a burning sun, we were at last gratified
with the pleasing intelligence that John, naughty John, was still
alive, and enjoying himself over in Indiana, trading horses, rt.-vuH.ng
gently in green backs, saw mills, grist mills, buggies, and sundry
other articles, too numerous to mention. We also received orders to
follow in pursuit. Although he left no foot-prints in the sand, he
left many bridges in the river, and a few houses in ashes; so we
had no difficulty in finding his whereabouts.
On the 14th of July we reached Louisville, and embarked on a
fleet of twenty streamers for Portsmouth. Our boys were overjoyed
at the prospect of a ride on the beautiful Ohio. We landed at
Portsmouth on the 16th, and in one hour were mounted and on the
march. Now comes the tug of war.- John Morgan, the man who had for
two years been such a terror to Kentucky, and who had so long eluded
the grasp of justice, was just ahead of us. On we pushed to Webster;
he was not here. On we went to Porter; he was not here; but we would
no doubt find him at Gentreville. On we went, and after running our
horses four miles, succeeded in planting our artillery upon as em-
inence over-looking the principal highways to the place and bringing
our cavalry into line of battle. After all we were disappointed. Some
friend of Johns and Vil lain-I-am him (alias Vallandigham) having no
doubt apprised him of our presence. He took another route. Cursing
that cowardly, mean and disloyal portion of the Democratic party in
Ohio, we again mounted our horses and followed on. Darkness came,
and daylight went; still on we rode. We reached Pomeroy. Here we
snatched a morsel from the hands of the noble hearted ladies, who
had everything to eat we could desire. God bless their kind hearts.
May the single ones soon realize a happy Union, and the older ones
live in peace and contentment all the days of their lives. Fast,
fast, faster, we rode until 3 a. m. , when we halted to take a mo-
ment's rest, dismounted, and laid down in the dust and dirt, where
Colonels, Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, and last, but not least of
all, (by any means, ) High Privates, lay snoring soundly in five
minutes.
At daylight we were aroused by the pleasing intelligence that
we were within a short distance of Morgan's camp. We surmount the
highest hill we have yet, and find ourselves on Buffington Island.
Below we see the forces of Morgan, composed of over four thousand of
the very flower of the Southern army, drawn up in line of battle,
ready to meet us. The advance consisted of the advance guard, Gen-
eral Judah, Staff and escort, one section of Henshaw's Ottawa
Battery, and one belonging; to the 5th Indiana. The 5th Indiana ca-
valry, and the 14th Illinois, both under command of Col. Capron, of
our regiment, composed the main body. The llth Kentucky, and 8th
and 9th Michigan, were also partially represented. While the guns
were on their way to the summit of this last steep hill, orders
were sent back to hasten the artillery to the front, which order
was promptly obeyed by Capt. Henshaw, as good an officer as ever
manned a battery. The first piece that came up was rushed to the
front and descended part way into the narrow road through which
lay our route, without waiting for mate or caisson. On our left two
regiments, under Basil Duke, were drawn up in line of battle, ex-
tending half a mile. On a step of the ascent was planted a piece of
rebel artillery, that commanded hill and river.- Here it was that
Major McCook received his death wound. Gallant and noble hearted
old hero, he will long live in the memory of all our regiment. He
came into our ranks, as a citizen, at Portsmouth, with his rifle
swung on his shoulder, ready to sacrifice his life for the benefit,
of his country. One would hardly suppose that where such noble
hearts existed there could be found one in sympathy with those
maurading traitors; but, alasj we found it too true. And I wnat J.
B. Danforth and the editor of the Chicago Times to distinctly under-
stand that the men who intend to vote for C. L. Vallandigham, the
man for whom they have felt and exhibited so much party sympathy,
actually gave aid and comfort to John Morgan on his way through
Ohio; and all the consolation thay will have in after years will be
the thought that they assisted in making desolate the homes of these
noble men. ('Tis pity, but 'tis true)
When the artillery came up within twenty yards of the escort,
orders were sent back to halt. The advance piece was immediately pre-
pared for action. To hasten the preparations Capt. Henshaw had dis-
mounted, and while busily engaged the escort and advance guard
which it is no more than justice to Col. Capron to say were net com-
posed of Illinois boys came rushing back in great disorder, throw-
ing down in thc3ir fight Capt. Henshaw, his cannoneers and horses,
and flying on in violent disorder. Capt. Henshaw, bruised, bleeding,
and, strange to say, still alive, rose from under the trampling
hoofs of a hundred horses, and staggered the fence. This he suc-
ceeded in partly throwing down, thinking the flying horsemen would
form as a support in the rear of his artillery; but he was sadly
mistaken. The rebels steadily advanced, rapidly firing, and captured
the officer and gun. This left the artillery without any support, the
main body being yet some distance in the rear. This check was but
momentary. The gallant cavalry under Col. Capron and Lieut. Col.
Butler, of the 5th Indiana, dashed rapidly forward, under cover of
the fire of a gun of Henshaw 's Battery and two guns of the 5th
Indiana cavalry, and matters at once assumed a different aspect. -
The remarkable precision of the artillery under Morrison and Rhodes,
the well managed fire of Lieut. Kilborn's howitzers, belonging to
the 14th, the rapid dash of Col. Capron 's command were too much for
the great guerrilla chieftain, and in twenty minutes after the capture
of 'Capt. Henshaw and gun the whole rebel force was in full retreat,
and our cavalry in hot pursuit. With our weary and jaded horses we
spurred on until we drove the rebels into the hands of Hobson and
Shackleford. In less than one hour we had Capt. Henshaw back, his
gun, and all the rebel artillery, amounting in all to five pieces.
We captured in all on this day one thousand men. Morgan eluded for
the time our grasp, and made his escape. At the time the retreat be-
gan he was sitting in a carriage. He soon got out of that, mounted,
and, as usual, skedaddled. I wish here to state that the gun-boat
lying in the river first began her firing after the enemy had been
routed by Judah's forces, after the second line of battle had been
formed, two miles in the rear of the attack, after Judah's artillery
had fired from twenty to thirty rounds, after the fighting had been
done and the retreat commenced. The rebels had in this engagement
one hundred and fifty men killed and wounded. We lost three killed
and had from twenty-five to thirty wounded. The fight took place on
Sunday. We remained here, guarding prisoners, until Tuesday, when we
marched to Chesshire, thirty-five miles below, on the river.
Here a command was immediately formed from parts of regiments,
amouting to eight hundred men, under command of Gen. Shackleford.
Morgan was then within six miles of Gallipolis, and supposed to be
trying to get across the river. We headed him off, and by marching
constantly day and night we, on Friday, came up with his rear
guard, with which we had constant skirmishing all day.- We kept
close in his rear until Sunday morning, when we came up with his
main force, three miles south of New Lisbon, 0., and after a short
engagement at Salineville, in which he lost twenty men, we succeed-
ed in surrounding him, at the former place, and effected a capture.
The scene which followed his capture can be more easily imagined
than described. Such a cursing of Yankees on one side, and such a
jollification of Yankees on the other side, was never seen. The
first prisoners we took, at Buffington Island, were fine looking
men, evidently sons of wealthy Southerners; but the last were a
hard looking lot; none of them acted as if they wanted to fight
much. At four o'clock on Sunday afternoon, July 2?th, we put the
last of this gang of noted robbers on board the cars at Salineville,
and sent them by Express to Gov. Tod.
Thus ended a long and tedious march of many sleepless nights;
nights which I spent thinking of everything I could to keep from
falling off my horse and being trampled beneath the feet of a
hundred horses. We never should have endured this inarch through
Ohio if it had not been for the kindness of its noble hearted
ladies. It is a pleasure to fight for such.
We leave this camp at 10 o'clock to-night for Glasgow, our
former headquarters. There we shall remain until we are paid off,
and then we go to Southern Tennessee. Our whole brigade, consisting
of between five and six thousand cavalry, will inarch on or about
the 20th of this month.
I shall make no excuses for my writing, but simply say I am
only tired. I am writing on an old box cover, which the wind keeps
in constant motion. Hoping I may get where I can sit down some day
and write you a more respectable letter, I am, most truly, yours,
C. S.
Mercer county boys fat, healthy and saucy.
FROM THd 2?TH RJXJIMJNT .
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Oct. 16, '63.
DEnR jiDITOR: As there are strange things turning up every
day, down here in Dixie, I make hold to send you one of the latest,
which will prove conclusively that the school-master has not yet
been abroad in these regions.
The following ballad was copied from the original manuscript,
which is now in the possession of one of the fair daughters of the
Southern Confederacy, and can be procured verbatim et literatum, if
required.
The readers of your paper will please observe that it is or-
thographically and ctyraologically original, and also that it dis-
plays great originality of idea. It is supposed to have been
written soon after tho surrender of Fort Donelson.
OLD HlCKMnN BOYS
Old Hicknvun boys 1,11 tell to you
our fate is awful but is true
the north and South wonce wore a yoake
but now the tye's for every broke
It was in the year of sixty one
thos bluddy battles first begun
and you the boys of Tennessee
in to action soon must bee
The cause of this war I say to you
our leaders tha did not prove true
for officers to them came two slow
and now to the battle field you go
But ah my boys to see you start
and leave so meny broken harts
to leave your wives and children deer
pore broken harts tha swim in teers
But ah my boys wee do learn
the scale with you was forced to turn
for on thursday morning a bout day
your orders was to inarch away
To the battle field you then did fly
whear the noble and the brave did die
thar stcined with blood did gain a name
of darring courredge and lofty fam
You f aught them brave till Saturday Knight
and did the yankees put flight
But a las the north did rain a shour
which did your armey over power
The flag of surnder then came up
which was to you a bitter cup
then you did hear your Jenarel say
ground your armes tha have gained the day
Now may the god of heven a bove
look down on all of you with love
and send you back' to them you a dore
to live in pe;.ce for ever more
Rorering canions close thy mouth
and give sweet peace to the suney south
on wings peace wonts more fly
to the one I love before I die
Lut. T. H. Greer to rniss molley Ellis
Yours respectfully,
WILLlHl-I H. McCOI
Company G, 2?th Ills. Infantry,
FROM THE 102D R2GIMENT.
CAMP STEWART'S CREEK, TENN. Oct. 23, 1663.
DEAR EDITOR: Having spent a few days in the North I feel pri-
vileged to say that no one can so well appreciate a visit to Ameri-
ca, as one who had been deprived the pleasure of seeing wife, child-
ren, father, mother, sister and brothers, during a tern of soldier-
ing in "Dixie land." The sensation is almost too great for even
soldier nerves when first one sets foot on the north bank of the
Ohio, and feels that military restraint is for a time withheld and
swift running engines stand ready to convey us to our friends and
over the broad prairies of our beloved Illinois. Such were the
joys we experienced when this glorious privilege was granted us,
for which we must ever feel thankful, and from which we acknowledge
the receipt of much good, solid enjoyment.
There are many sunny spots strewn along the pathway of life,
marking distinctly the course pursued, and offering many cozy
little resting places as memory treads back, over the lengthening
jouirey of life; and this spot must ever shine out brightly from
the da~k clouds that intervene between us and those dear ones far
away in the "North land^ " and for a tine pierced the murky veil
and opened to view the peaceful landscape beyond.
While our country seems, from the magnitude of the work be-
fore it, to be exerting its most giant strength for existence, it
is cheering to us, a soldier, to meet friends and companions sur-
rounded with comfort and security, provided with every necessary
of life, and far removed from the ravages of war. The rigidity of
our nature, strengthened by many hardships and privations, melts
away when surrounded by those dear ones at home, and we seem to
live ever again the happy days gone by, when we were not a soldier,
and our country knew no war.
We see evidence in the North of a growing strength for our
country, and a willingness to assist it in this, its time of need.-
With a few exceptions there seems a willingness on the part of
Northerners to do all in their power to assist those who have gone
to fight the battles of our country. This is as it should be; a
soldier who has left all, and is braving the hardships and dangers
of war, is cheered to know that, though his neighbors may not be
with him in the ranks, they are with him in feeling; and when he
chances to be permitted to visit his home, though burned from ex-
posure, ana his coat of "blue" the worse for wear, is received as
a brother, he is repaid for many hardships through which he has
passed, and returns to duty and danger, feeling better for having
been there,
Ths North is by no means idle in this great work. Ohio has
come c'ii. of the battle all covered with glory, while the van-
qu:''--sl'f;'i foe hide themselves for shame. Her praise is on every
t-r.^'e., soldiers who were ready to fly to her relief and drive
from her boorier the t.-.-eachei-Jus ho.rde who seemed to threaten her
exJ.stei.ice. now feel that oho id tsafe in whose hands she rests,
and confidently trust her there j and turn to a field wherein they
may operate in common with their brothers, in driving treason from
"Dixie land."
We gain confidence at every step taken by the Administration;
not that it cannot err, as all things mortal are liable to doj but
there seems to be nothing done too soon, nothing left undone too
long; but as the people become prepared to receive and perform it
is given to them. Our combined strength is becoming a mighty
fulcrum, and the lever firmly held and surely applied, must soon
overthrow this unnatural rebellion, and compel those whose motives
are too devilish for human heart to conceive, humble bow and obey
the laws impartially administered to them and us.
It is not confined to the North alone that we see evidence of
strength and confidence in our Government growing; but in Southern
States assurance is added to hope, and confidence to long deferred
expectation. Let her sister States do as well as Ohio has done, and
from under a load of guilt (now wholly her own) come out with their
dignity untarnished, their devotion and loyalty unimpaired, and the
battles that slay our brave men by thousands will all have been
fought, and our Government honorably, gloriously, and patriotically
saved. Let each State vie with each other in proving to her sons
in the field their true devotedness to the country and their wil-
lingness to sustain it, and all is safe; there need be no draft to
terrify traitors or take them from homes our arms have so nobly
protected, notwithstanding it would seem just and right that each
State should furnish for the army of the Union, or that of "Jeff.
Davis," the number of men whose votes were given for disloyal men;
yet we will graciously permit them, though undeserving they are,
to enjoy the privilege of remaining at home and of reaping the
fruits of our labor, yet less deserving they be, than those we
have come here to fight, and force to respect the laws they blind-
ly trample upon.
Treason in Tennessee or Alabama is less sinful than the mild-
est form of the so-called "Copperhead" doctrines of the North. We
have a degree of respect for a Southern man, who was assailed from
all sides, and by bribery, persuasion and compulsion, forced to
take up arms against the Government; but for disloyal men of the
North there. .is nothing we can conceive of more loathsome; no man
in whom we would not sooner trust our pecuniary effects, or private
character, none in whom there is not some redeeming quality or
reasonable excuse for the crime committed; but for them there is
a day of judgment coming. Unless they repent and get forgiveness
from an injured and indulgent Government, a speedy punishment must
overtake them. .
We find, on coming to our miniature encampment, that it was
not pillaged, and our company captured or driven off, as was cur-
rently reported in Mercer county. Neither was the bridge burned,
or a timber of it displaced, but trains continue to pass and re-
pass in perfect safety. This little camp has not been without its
share of excitement, and confident expectation of a visit from the
rebel raiders during the time they were endeavoring to cut our
communications, but with Co, A, of our regiment, and a section of
the 20th Indiana battery, were ready and willing to_ punish any one
who would molest them or the property they were placed here to pro-
tect. Co. A has returned to their former encampment. The two guns
are still here, with some thirty men, in command of Lt. Morris, of
said battery,
The troops are all in excellent health., but one man of cur com-
pany excused from duty en account of sickness, The boys havs qvi ! ;,e
a hea^TY job of work before th^m in the way of entrenching roinid the
stockacis, uhi^.h, when done, irvist to its strength.
No news from the front this morning.
V."9 soo by the paper -co-day that Gen. Rosecrans was present at
the Theatre in Nashville last night, and was the center of attrac-
tion there.
We hear with sadness that our esteemed friend and companion,
L. Vclnsy Willets, was wounded on the llth inst., near Chattanco-
ga,s vbile a fight seems to have beed going en between sharpshooters
acx'oss the Tennessee river. His wound is severe, and caused the
amputation of a leg below the knee.- He has the sympathy of his
entire company, and a better soldier never lived. This will put
an end to his duties in this direction, and we wish for him a
speedy recovery and a return to family and friends.
The weather is quite cold, and a portion of the time wet; but
by dint of perseverance and "Yankee" ingenuity our boys are getting
excellent quarters, and prepared to meet all kinds of weather.
We received the Recod today, of the 13th inst., and see that
I was charged with leaving Mercer with a quantity of "plunder" for
the boys. Now with us the term is quite significant, and lest the
boys think I have been "cramping" while visiting my home, it would
have made the matter look in better light to have told them that I
had quite a quantity of clothing, &c., for them, which, by the by,
Mr, Expressman, you would confer a great favor by forwarding at the
earliest moment.
If this lengthy production seems worth a place in your columns,
insert it; if not, the fire can consume it. With wishing many good
things for the friends in Mercer, and a weekly visit from the Record,
we close.
lours for the Union,
J. IS. MERRITT.
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 23, 1863
DEAR EDITOR: Hoping that you might not be adverse to receiving
and laying before your readers a line from the National Capitol in
relation, among other topics, to the duties of the American people,
at the p^essri: period of the rebellion; although not a resident of
your '.;.r>u.ru.y "-ye-;- c.! aiming the right as a citizen of the Congression-
al DistrictI desire to occupy a short space in your columns.
It has bean deemed necessary by the Government to call upon
the people of the country for three hundred thousand more soldiers,
not as a dernier resort in the work of saving the country, the
country is in no immediate or even remote danger, croakers to the
contrary notwithstanding, This drift, or call, is for the purpose
of more speedily ending the rebellion, for lifting some of the weight
from the shoulders of our brave boys who are now in the field, for
the economising of some of the national means by shortening the war.
We are now at that period in cur history when we are to know whether
the seeming alacrity displayed by our people in responding to call of
the country for men and means to suppress rebellion; was, as has been
asserted, only the excitement of the moment which would evanesce with
the moment, or was the outspeaking of the national heart, firm in its
purpose through trial and tempest, as well as in the glare of success,
to defend itself and its institutions. American freedom is on trial,
it has withstood the first fierce shock of the tempest, but will it
continue to stand unshaken in the long continued gale that succeeds.
Citizens of Illinois, much of the affirmative of this answer
remains in your hands. If you now gather around the banner of your
country as when fired by the reverberations from Fort Sumter in 1861,
there will be no danger to our free institutions, if you fail now,
freedom does not fail with you, but you will have been found wanting
in the day of trial. It is not the pation that in the fervid enthu-
siasm of a first campaign sends its sons to the bloody field and
pours its treasure into the military chest of its commanders, that
has proved its worthiness to succeed ; but the other nation who, like
our fathers in the first Revolution, stood hopeful and firm through
years of defeat and disaster, and through an enormous depreciation
of their currency. We have, as yet, scarcely felt the alarum of
war: were it not for our sons, whose graves cover the hillsides of
the South, we would not know, from any discomfort we experience,
that we were engaged in a bloody strife.
Our Treasury is full and our money scarcely depreciated. Our
credit has been such at home, under the able management of the able
Secretary of the Treasury, that we have not been called upon to
borrow one dollar from any foreign capitalist. Yet we have made our
war an expensive one by paying our soldiers more liberally than any
people on earth,, Now it is proposed by the Government to pay, in
the way of bounty, nearly double the sum now expended in the way
of bounties to those who enlist, and the expenditure is a wise one,
for it is paid to our own people who return it to the Treasury
again to be paid out to the soldier. None of it goes as tribute to
the ir.o.ijcr/ kings of the Old World, none of it to employ the hired
soldiery zf neighboring nations, it is our money paid to our people.
0.iT Copperpsad home traitors endeavor to discourage enlistments
on the ground that this war has been diverted from its original
purpose ai>i made a war to emancipate slaves, and that the change of
purpr^e has led to the most disastrous results, until now we are
furoher from peace than when the first gun was fired on the "Star
of the West 1 ,, 1 Who establishes the purpose of a war, the people who
attack, or thn people who are attacked? Slavery commenced this war,
not i>.'.- its protec^j.on in those States and localities where it then
exi^r.eJ ., b\t foi* its spread and perpetuation in territory then free.
Slavrr.7 bad. not boen ciis'r.vrbed at home, it had met with no opposition
so Ic'r^g G;J it had confined itself to its hereditary domain, only when
it wa,-. a^vessivs ai.d seeking to subvert the soil of freedom to its
bas^ ; ur.-rrooe did it .find the strong hand of liberty raised not to
desti-ry. -'")ot to stay it.
cilery has r,hu.s commenced a war that in its progress gives her
wourvj.s of wh.xch she dies. Thus the whole onus of the war and its
purpose rests upon that institution, not on us. But we have made no
progress says the Copperhead. No progress, indeed, when we have
made Missouri as loyal as New York, and when Kentucky has been re-
deemed^ Toxir.sssee wrested from the confederacy. West Virginia and
considerable portions of East Virginia redeemed^ and mere than a
fooohold. oo'.-alr.ed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Mississippi, Louisianna, Florida and Arkansas. When ovr foe has
to pay his troops >/ith a currency already depreciated almost to
the standard of the Revolution, and the depreciation going on at
a rate that must ere another twelve month render it entirely worth-
less.
We have made progress; such progress as no war of the same
magnitude ever made , and it now only remains for the people of the
coy.atry to rally once more around the Flag of the Union, and the
vic.tory, now half won, will be secured. Nov; we can wind up the
struggle in a few months, and with a comparatively small sacrifice
of life, while any delay on our part will prolong the war and make
it far more costly in human life as well as in all the material of
war.
Will the people of Mercer county now respond to their country's
call as in the first days of their enthusiasm? Will they once more
cone to tl?e rescue? Let Illinois be the first State to offer her
qu'ta to the Government, thus maintaining her now proud reputation.
Civ-i&ens of Mercer county, do your duty now.
A. M. S.
FROM THE 9TH REGIMENT.
POCAHONTA3, TENN., Oct. 20, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: I was depending on your correspondent, "J. G.
C. ," to write you of our haps and mishaps for a few days past, but
as he left camp in company with a part of the regiment to-day, and
asked me to write you a little, I will try.
On the evening of the 6th inst., our Lieut. Col. Phillips left
camp with our regiment, supplied with four days rations and sixty
rounds of ammunition for each man. Two pieces of artillery went with
him, A long contemplated raid was about to be made, on the Memphis
and Charleston Railroad, by the rebel Gen. Chalmers, who has his
headquarters almost everywhere south of the Tallahatchie surround-
ing circumstances (viz: Yankees) determining this.
Col. Phillips passed to Ripley, twenty-five miles south of here,
by nightc He learned there that a large force of rebels was west of
there, despite the falsehoods of the Ripley people. (Col. Phillips
threatens to burn the remainder of their once pretty village for
their lying propensities.) He marched from there toward Salem, a
siK.il town about thirty-five miles southwest of Pocahontas, and
sixteen miles south of Grand Junction. When very near the place
the rc?inwr>t pudd3tily found itself very close to five times its
nu.'v;ev cvf rebels : It was night, and Col. Phillips ordered a retreat
ff-.ii the pj.ace seraral miles, quietly and quickly. Being dark, the
rebels d.icl not see and improve their opportunity for crushing the
le fof.-o.
Col. Phillips was reinforced on the following day by the 3d and
9th Illinois cavalry, and the 6th Tennessee. He took command of the
whole and led them to Salem, and into action, finding the enemy in
battle line. He attacked them vigorously, and for a time drove
them, but it was only to develop our forces, perhaps, that he gave
way, for he suddenly found himself much the strongest in numbers,
and making a stand still, turned upon our force and drove it from
the field, but are prisoners. Our men fought, as we always with a
loss to himself of about one hundred, as we afterward learned, while
ours was thirty-five or forty; fifteen of these were of our regiment;
several of our severely wounded have done since being mounted, in
the skirmish line. It is the least dangerous to us, and bothers the
enemy most. The fight lasted about three hours, and was animated.
Lieut. Col. Phillips found the enemy too strong for his force,
and only by careful maneuvering was able to bring his command off
the field and retreat safely to our line.s along the railroad. The
enemy failed to pursue his advantages that time also. This happened
on the 8th inst
A concentration of the mounted force of this corps was imme-
diately made at Lagrange and early on the llth we marched to Salem
a second time, but the rascals had gone from there two days before,
and we were destined to hunt them up. We marched to Holly Springs,
and during the day the booming of artillery told of a battle going
on in the direction of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. It proved
to be at Callierville, one of our military posts, not far from Memphis.
The enemy was trying to retake it. Our whole cavalry force was form-
ed into two brigades, and Col. Hatch, of the 2d Iowa cavalry, assumed
command of the whole. He appointed Lieut. Col. Phillips to command
one of the brigades and Lieut. Col. Moyers the other. We then march-
ed in the direction of C oilier sville, and on the 12th, when within
a few miles of there, found the rebels, 3>000 in number, and mount-
ed, beating a retreat, having been badly flaxed the day previous by
450 valiant fellows, who fought not only for their own safely, but
for that of Maj. Gen. Sherman, who happened to be on a train coming
eastward that day. The train was in possession of the rebels for a
time, and his capture was very nearly complete. His loss to us at
the present time would have been immense. Our men made a brilliant
charge upon the rebels, who retreated precipitately, leaving one
hundred and fifty in killed, wounded and prisoners. Our loss was one
hundred and twenty, mostly prisoners.
We, under Col. Hatch, followed and found the rebels in a chosen
position near the town of Bybalia, and Col. Phillips' brigade imme-
diately attacked them. The rebels had a strong position, well adap-
ted for planting his artillery, and natural as well as artificial
works to protect his dismounted men. Our force fought them, being
dismounted. Cavalry charges could not be made advantageously to us.
After a spirited contest of two hours, with artillery and small arms
by both parties, our men pressing the rebels closely, they fled;
but not until they had made one of their accustomed demonstrations
as if about to charge upon us. This is a terribly strange way they
have of howling, we term it. I must say it has a tendency to make
us think of hunting our holes, for in this terrible war, the rebels
have made some terrible charges, always accompanied by this terrible
howling. Gun-powdered whisky incites them to this.
This time it served their purpose, for we planted ourselves for
the defensive, and they prepared to mount, and did mount, their
fast horses and fled, having been severely punished. Two men of Co.
E , of our regimsr.t, were wounded there. One Lieutenant and six
men, of the ?th ILlinois, were wounded, and Lieutanant Nicholson,
of the same, was killed, besides two men of the ?th Kansas, wounded.
Our cavalry pursued them closely, Col. Phillips having ordered
them to use the sabre alone. Darkness closed in on the rebels in
full retreat, and we camped. Early on the 13th both brigades pursued
them vigorously, Our advance skirmished with their rear for a dis-
tance of thirty miles, when the rebels made a stand, which was at
a little town called Wyatt, on the Tallahatchie river. Chalmers had
been camping there lately, On the way we passed through Chullahomo,
about fourteen miles southwest of Holly Springs; near there the ad-
vs.no e of Col., Moyers 1 brigade captured Capt. Caruthers of the 12th
Tennessee, (Confed.,) two Lieutanants and eleven men, with their
horses, arms and other equipments. They mistook our men for Chalmers',
we parsed so rapjdly n At Wyatt we found the rebels reinf oraed > and
with log houses and a trench for protection. We dismounted and moved
on Ms workc at about 3 o ' clock, p,m, and fought him till after
dark in a heavy rain storm., We were obliged to expose ourselves so
much that we could not take his position before darkness set in.
With his artillery well planted on an eminence, on the south bank
of the river, and with every man free to engage in the battle, having
no rear to guard nor any horses to held, all of his men were avail-
able, and he should have whipped us badly. Before dark we drove; him
seme, repu'Lsing him in several charges, using our artillery, four
two-povnd steel pieces and two mountain howitzers, on the log houses. -
After oark Col. Hatch ordered an advance of our lines, and a part of
our .*' -v^es marched in line of battle through Wyatt, driving all he-
fcre ';.hem r.o the river , This movement was made so quickly and un-
expfc cecily tc the rebels that they left three hundred rifles behind,
and sever: Ivy ~.l':i.ve of their men, failing to cross the river, were
made an easy :;apture, They had carried all of their wounded, and
a paxi, C.C" their dead, from; the field, although fifteen of the latter
were left to be buried by our men, which was done on the following
meaning. In the ratio of killed, as compared with the wounded, their
wounded must have been at least sixty-five or seventy. Our loss was.
six killed, twenty wounded and Capt. Hodgeman, of the ?th Kansas,
wounded and a prisoner. A Lieutenant of our regiment was severely
wounded in the head. Wm. Mock, of our Company (E) was slightly
wounded in the neck by a glancing ball. The dead rebels had been
mostly shot through the head, owing to the protection for their
limbs. Remarkable as it may seem, true as it is, it is the fact that
Maj, Malone, of the ?th Kansas, fell with his horse into a well
thirty feet deep, and escaped unhurt. It was while leading his re-
iment into the battle in the pitchy darkness. On the occasion Col.
Phillips laughingly remarked that he had known men to get into
ditches and behind trees to avoid the enemy, but had never before
known a man to ride into a well thirty feet deep to do it,
Tims Chalmer's great demonstration and raid ended in darkness
arxl blood. His loss-, in the four battles of Salem, Colliersville,
Bybalia and Wyatt was severe. Certainly not less than six hundred
men. We brought three: commissioned officers and forty men from:
Wyatt. Col. Hatch paroled many on the way. Much praise is due Cols.
Hatch and Phillips for the earnestness they manifested in the pursuit
of these rascals. They a.ve 'vwo officers who work together when rebels
are at stake with a unif ormnivy xr.at is not common among officers in
our army. They have fought together several different times during
the past summer. What the one plans the other agrees to, and both
execute with a vim. They are brave to a fault. Col. Phillips had a
fine steed shrt under him at Wyatt. He has been in thirteen differ-
ent engagements in this war. His faculty for smelling out rebels is
remarkable. He found out Chalmers' whereabouts and developed his
strength so quickly at Salem, that our whole line from Corinth to
Memphis was put on the alert, and thus the enemy was out-generaled.
Much of the infantry of this corps, partly from Corinth and
Memphis, was sent to aid. in the capture, under Gen. Sweeney, but
im'an'ii-y can't catoh mounted rebels. On our return, as ordered by
the co.TBnarjdv.ig General, we laid waste much of the country beyond
Holly Spring:;, arid, brought over five hundred head of cattle and
sheep to oar lines, It is severe on some innocent ones, but seems
to be the only way.
Our regiment reached camp on the l&th, ,, having been gone 12
days. Our long -eared animals came back with drooping spirits as.
well as ears. On.i3 more -e number over five hundred men fit for
duty. Members o the 123ch Illinois, who have awarded to us, a
part c.t' whom have been 'Called deserters, because their officers,
were nob of the right stripe, and sent them home from Cairo, have.
proved themselves to be men and brave soldiers. Our greatest loss
was of them.
I need not tell you of the activity in these parts, from other
causes than the recent rebel raid, and of the thousands of soldiers
that are being sent over the railroad toward Tuscumbia and Chattanooga.
New Y-TX papers have told you long ago. The railroad is nearly re-
paired to Tusoumbia, Ala.
As I write I am told that Cha3.rn.ers has been reinforced and is
retvirring with eight or ten thousand men. The rebels seem determined
to disturb: communication with Rosecrans by means of this railroad.
Very respectfully, G. M. G.
FROM THE 45 TH REGIMENT
Vicksburg, Miss., Oct. 25, 1863
Eds, Record: ~- With pleasure I this morning presume to address you, and
let our friends in Mercer County know that we are yet enjoying the privileges
of soldiers, and can as yet enjoy our ration of hard tack and pork The
boys are most of them enjoying good health. There is nothing of importance
going on in this Department at present, art 1 , we are anxiously looking for stir-
ring news from Rosecrans in a few days. There is not a very heavy force at
this point now, as the most of this army has, as I suppose you are aware,
gone to East Tennessee*
We were on a scout in the interior of this country last week. Nothing
of a very interesting character transpired on the trip, excepting a few hours
skirmishing., in wnich we succeeded in driving the enemy from his position^
every time t , in a style that I am proud to believe did credit to both this reg-
iment, and our holy cause., Oh, how can any man, reared in these United States.,
beneath the capacious folds of our own starry banner, be a traitor* Wo to the
man, North or South, who so far forgets himself, his fathers, and the happin-
ess of generations to come, to deny his country his service in this, her hour
of peril and danger, and let no man who has dared to polute the ears of the
people of our noble State with disloyal talk, or has in any way acted against
the soldier, who has been standing the brunt of this trying crisis of this
glorious country. Let them not reckon on the friendship of such soldiers, for
they are not the men to meanly crawl to or kneel to traitors, or men in sym-
pathy with traitors,, That there are traitors at home we are well aware. But
let them beware, when the soldier returns to his home, for fear they may receiv
what they so richly merit, and sink into obscurity, as the Poet says, "Unwept,
unhonorable and unsung."
With these few remarks, I remain yours, respectfully,
G Via H
Co. I, 45th Reg't, 111, Inf ry
JoHHHHHHHHHHBHS-
FROM THE 102D REGIMENT
Lavergne, Tenne, Nov. 6, 1863
Eds., Record: - 'Enclosed please find muster roll of Co, E, 102d Regiment
Illir.o.i s Volunteers, as it avjancici ab this date 5 with remarks of changes since
its organiaaticrie
The Company was organized on the 14th day of August, 1862, in Suez.
Thomas Likely was elected Capgain; Dan W. Sedwickj 1st Lieutenant; and Thomas
G. Brown, 2d Lieutenant:
Officers
Dan, W. Sedwick., Captain; Commissioned as Captain fey 6, 1863 o
Thomas G, Brown, 1st Lieutenant; commissioned as 1st Lieutenant May 7,
1863 o
John Allison, 2d Lieutenant; commissioned as 2d Lieutenant May 29, 1863.
William J. Abdill, 1st Sergeant; appointed May 6, 1863.
Jonathan Cr Lafferty, Sergeant; appointed August 20, 1862,
Thomas Simpson, Sergeant; appointed May 6, 1863.
John T. Morford, Sergeant; appointed May 6, 1863,
John Tidball, Sergeant; appointed May 6. 1863.
Allen Dunn, Corporal; appointed August 20, 1862,
Henry W, Mauck, Corporal; appointed August 20, 1862.
Robert Godfrey, Corporal; appointed August 20, 1862,
David S. Porter, Corporal; appointed August 20, 1862,
Cornelius Brown, Corporal; appointed February 2 y 1863,
William B. Cullison, Corporal; appointed February 2, 1863o
Simeon Rothrock, Corporal; appointed May 6, 1862 e
William H. Dickie, Musician; appointed August 20, 1862,,
Privates
William Artman* Philip T, Bridger, Henry B a nks^ John H., Bents, Louis
Bastrum, Thomas Barhan. Abram J., Carmichael,, John B, Carnri.chael, Isaac Carson,
Edward Chllaon., James 3, Denniston, George W, Edwards, Elijah Gu.lberb, Charles
Hartse.Tl, John Longhead^ James M., Leej, James K Lafferty. St-f;phaa D. Letheo,
Nelson Marey,, Francis M., Morford,. Abner T P Morford <n Johathan ? Morrison,.
Henry S Middaughu James C,. Middaugh, Hiram T,, Morford., William E a Morford,
James H,, McKnight,, Richard McGee. John A McCutcheon ; Henry McNeal, Michael
OswaltSj Per.er Peterson, Lester Patterson, Joseph Patterson,. Robert Ross,
Edward M, Sharer, David R. Simpson,, William L. Stewai't-, William R. Simpson,
James C, Simpson, William Sevits. Godfrey Unangst, Amos Uright, Richard Wright
John H. Wiley, Reuben Wiley, Robert Wilson, Gilbert Zend.
Resigned
Thomas Likely, Captain; April 25, 1863.
Discharged
Andrew Boger, private; at Louisville, Ky,, November 22, 1862,
Samuel Lyon, private; at Jeffersonville. Ind , January 13., 1863.
William B. Torbett, private; at Gallatin, Tenn, January 16, 1863.
Orange Lucas, private; at Bowling Green, Ky,-, -( , January 16, 1863
Sample R Moore, Sergeant; at Gallatin.- Term*. January 28. 1863.
Robert Nee ley, private; at Gallat-in, Tenn., , January 28, 1863 c
Alexander Patterson,, private; at Gallatin, Tenn, ; February 27, 1863.
George F* NeYJ.us^ private; at Gallatin, Tenr.-. ,, February 27. 1863.
Henry Cai*mi?.hael, Corporal; at Gallatin ; Ternr. April 14, 1863.
Thoms/s Godfrey- pr:.7ffce: at Gal'laVin, Tenn-^ February 28, 1863.
Frc-.nk lir;. T-. Povv3T ; pr:V'a-oej at Gd.llatin, Tern a , February 27, 1863.
WvJ.jaui P, Mrrgan., Ccrpor.-a.l; at L'-.verg/ie. Tei^i.^ October 10, 1863.
George Wo Herbe/t,, private; at Gaiilatin.; Tenn t , January 31> 1863.
Deaths
Albert C, Bridger, Sergeant; at Gallatin, Term., December 8, 1863; body
sent to Ma_*ceT % County,
Chauivey Boyce^ private; at Gallatin. Term, , January 2, 1863; buried
at Gallatin,
Richard Brenn, private; at Gallatin, Tenn, January J s 1863; buried at
Gallatin.
Se~h Gravat,, private; at Gallatin, Term., February 5, 1863; buried at
Gallatin*
William J,, Abdill
1st Sergeant
Co. E 102d 111 Vol.
The following ad appeared in the Tuesday, Nov. 24, 1863 edition of
the Weekly Record, John Porter and H. Bigelow, editors (published in Aledo):
THE LAST CALL:
Fill Up The
OLD REGIMENTS I
Enlist Now, Secure The
Bounr,y And Avoid The
Draft I
The undersigned has received
authority to enlist men in the U.S.
service;, under the late call of
"Father Abraham.." ^11 persons de-
siring to serve their Country, and
at the sane time receive a liberal
county should do so immediately, and
avoid the draft,
Call at my of fi ce, Main Street,
New Boston- Ills.
M. R. GOO)
30TK REGIMENT
Camp On Walnut Hills, near Vicksburg,
Miss,,, Oct., 21, 1863
Eds, Rerord; -- The handsome compliment, paid to my maiden effort at news-
paper scrribhlif.g., and the request to hear again from your "lengthy friend"
have indvr,3d uie io -e:^. o.r,otier c^rmmi Cation* which is at your disposal. We
have just "r-evjrned home f:x>.m a. sr-oot to Livingston, a small village near Can
ton n A sho:."i. de^-ripr-lon may be iii^ers^t.L:^- Logan ! s division started from
Vicksburg on Wed'B sciay^ Get, LV, and imro'aed. in a northeast direction, and
encamped near Big Black* Crossed the rJ.ve-'- on the morning of the 15th at
Messenger's Ford, on a temporary bridge,- constructed by our engineer corps,
Here we were joined by Gen, Tattle's divi3ion c Gen McPherson commanded all
the troops composing the expedition. Marched that day to Brownsville distance
eighteen miles. Here our advance had a lively skirmish with a squad of the
enemy,, which resulted in the killing of one of their number and the wounding
of another, Both fell into our hands,
I should have mentioned before that a brigade of cavalry accompanied
us. They were the advance and rear guards of the column. We resumed the
march before sunrise on the morning of the 15th Had gone but a short dis-
tance when heavy skirmishing commenced between our advance and the enemy,
which continued with but few and short intervals during the day. About two
miles east of Brownsville the road forks, but forms a junction again seven
or eight miles beyond. The enemy in strong force had taken position on the
right hand of Jackson road. The third brigade skirmished with them here,
while the first and. second took the left hand or Canton road., The 4th, 5th
and llth Illinois cavalry were in advance of us. On their arrival a-;
Bogachittee creek they were fired upon by a party of concealed butternuts
while crossing the bridge. Here Lieut. Greenwood, of the llth cavalry P
formerly of Suez, had his horse wounded. The cavalry dismounted, and de-
ploying as skirmishers, drove the party back The second brigade coming
up crossed the creek and f ornEd in line of battle. The enemy occupied a
long range of bluffs about a mile and a half east of the creek, A broad
plantation of level bottom land lay between us and them,, A long line of
mounted men were observing our movements from the bluffs. We advanced in
line of battle across the open field t . Soon the enemy opened two pieces of
artillery on us Fragments of shells, that bursted above and in front of
us, went fluttering over us like frightened quail providentially no one
was hurt. Our artillery responded from a position to the right and in rear
of our regiment A piece of the wooden block of a spherical case shot from
one of these struck Wm c Adams, of Richland Grave, on the head, just back
of the right ear. He fell quivering to the ground and lay insensible for
a few moments c He soon recovered from the shock and rejoined us c We ad-
vanced within a quarter of a mile of the bluff, but darkness coming we were
ordered to withdraw. We fell back about half a mile and bivouacked. Our
company rested at the end of a large cotton gin, We appropriated a con-
siderable quantity of the textile fabric which it contained for bedding*
Soon as it was clear daylight the next morning the eneny re-opened on
us with artillery from their old position on the bluff, They were particular
in paying their compliments to Co, A A twelve pound solid shot struck the
ground a short distance in front of us, and richocheted most beautifully
over our heads and struck the roof of the cotton gin just in our rear* The
ne.id. one struck a few feet to our right, and threw a shower of dirt around
us>, Several passed over us with a fiendish hiss or shriek peculiar to such
missiles, These elicited droll rem/irks or dry jokes from the boys, which
correctly interpreted meant whistling to keep their courage up After the
fir si; shot struck so neav us, it required no imperative order from the
officers to make the boys lie down., The moment their cannon flashed we would
almost inftin'.-tlvely thro; ourselves flat on the ground = An enraged adder
could not be possessed of. greater flatfening or spreading powers than we
displayed during the exhibition of rebel gunnery
About nine o'clock everything was in readiness for an advance. The
first brigade formed in the left and the second the right wing of the line.
Tut tie : o d '.via ion, vihir.h ^ame up during the night y were held in reserve^
Our skirmish line was th:eown forward about two hundred paces in advance of
us, A battery of James-' rifled cannon opened on the rebf^ but they did not
respondj We now received orders to advance across the field toward the
enemy's position, Their skirmishers began to fall back, slowly at first,
but a few weLl- directed shells and minies accelerated their speed to a
doub.le q'iick,; We ascended the bluffs in magnificient style, and in almost
breathless silence. We momentarily expected to see long lines of the enemy
rise up from behind the crest of the bluff and pour a deadly volley into
our ranks. We were soon relieved from our terrible suspense, when our skir-
mishers gained the top of the bluff and saw the rebs skedaddling in the
distance, A battery went rubbling past us, and took a position on a high
ridge and shelled their rear u The cavalry and first brigade followed them
about five miles, skirmishing all the way to Livingston. Near this -village,
they burned an extensive flour mill, running six pair of burrs.* .Also a
wagon shop where gun carriages have been manufactured for the Confederacy.,
The destruction of these shops and mills is said to be one of the objects
of the expedition,. From prisoners we captured it was ascertained their
force consisted of two brigades of infantry and three brigades of calvary
and mounted infantry, all under command of Stephen A. Lee, one of the
prisoners paroled at this place last July,
On the morning of the 18th we commenced a retrograde movement. Took
the road leading through Clinton, We arrived at our camp near Vicksburg on
the 20th. The enemy hung on our rear with full-dog pertinacity until we
passed Champion Hills* They made several dashes on our rear guard, bub
were always repulsed* I have not ascertained our losses in the various
skirmishes on the trip. They were snail, however* I have not heard of more
than six or eight being killed, and ten or fifteen woundedo We captured a
few prisoners- perhaps twenty-five* The objest of the expedition is un-
known to thousands- It will prohahly be made known to us before long in
a "congratulatory order" from our commander,
The country through which we passed bears the sad impress of war.
Vast plantations are uncultivated, save perhaps a small patch^ just enough
for a hare subsistence. " Fences broken down anJ burned. Blackened chim-
neys mark the spots where once stood magnificient residences. Destruction
is depicted on every object* Many of the citizens are dependent on Uncle
Sam for their daily bread,,
The health of the troops has greatly improved since the hot season
has passed. But two our our company -Win, Haver field and Thomas Phillips-**
are absent,, sick in hospital* Our former correspondent and companion in
arms Brigham-has been seriously ill but is improving slowly,-. Sergeant
Joseph Humbert- of Co,. G, formerly of Keithsburg, died in the 6th inst. in
the regiment, hospital,, of chronic diarrhea 8
For L T VJ months pao*: v;g ha^'c had a great deal of duty to perform, both
of fatigue arid gua.-cU 1C the old aa^ge, ''To labor is to pray/ 1 be sound
theology, we are c orb ai .->'./ exe^.la^y models of piety We have fulfilled
that part, of the Chr i'.-'o i c-- >. ' :; du':.y to the letter, Heavy details are sent
from all the regiments, daily, to rfcrk on the forts. The boys are on either
guard or fatigue dury i : rom four to six days every week.
Fortifications are in process of construction on all the prominent
knolls and ri.dges thai' eiicir'jle the city, which will, when completed and
property garrisoned, b:'-.d aefx-jn/e to all the force the enemy can bring
agai:ut t-hsm.. Though riot so extensive as the works the enemy built, they
will be far more fcrmirlaoleo
Splendid mansions that once occupied these knolls have been torn down
to make room for the f orts c One princely edifice, situated on a high
terraced knoll^ built on the old turreted castle style of architecture, at
a cost of $35*000, was totally demolished, aid in its stead an impregnable
fort is rapidly approaching completion.
Our brigade commander, formerly Col. Force, of the 20th Ohio Regiment,
has recently been promoted to a Brigadier General. He is an excellent of-
ficer on the field cool and brave to a fault. In camp he imposes some
"extras" that could as well be dispensed with as not, without materially
interfering with the comfort of the boys. There is one defect which ob-
scures his many virtues. He is a bachelor.
The attention of the troops here is almost wholly directed to the "Army
of the Cumberland." The movements of the two armies are watched with great
solicutude. The late chilling repulse of Rosecrans at Chicamauga, though
exceedingly unwelcome, has not discouraged the troops by any means; on the
contrary they are of the unanimous feeling that "it will never do to give
it up 3o, Mr, Bornw."
For fear I amy weary the readers of your paper I shall close. Should
anything worthy of notice occur, you may expect "to hear again" from the
Long Sergeant
FROM THE 2?TH REGIMENT
Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 15, 1863
Eds. Record: It is as natural for soldiers as for other people to
desire to be well spoken of; if we do a good thing we all like to have
proper credit for it. It is this desire, perhaps, more than any other
that induces me to write anything for the public eye. Since we have been
in this place our mail arrangements have been so uncertain that it would
have been useless to try to convey any news to you by that means. It is
some better now s but all important movements are anticipated by the tele-
graphs The 2?th has not been called upon to show any deeds of chivalry
since the bloody battle of Chickamauga was fought, but as some of the de-
scriptions which have been published of the work done there may not have
been read by some of your readers, I will copy a short extract from the de-
scription given by the correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, relative
to the part we took in the battle of Saturday, September 19th: "I glance
at the sun, and my very heart sinks to see it still an hour and a half high,
The left had already absorbed the centre, and the centre and right had
already absorbed every brigade in the army, except one holding a vital point,
I followed Sheridan's swii't brigade c I soon saw the right of our line, in
confusion, falling back rapidly under an appalling fire Sheridan's 3d
brigade the 22d^> 27th., 42d and 51st Illinois regiments commanded by that
true gentleman and soldier. Colonel Bradley, deployed into line, and the
very best inst-ant its flanks turned to the front, it pushed into an open
field at a dci^bie-quick, while behind it Wood's two brigades rallied and
gathered up their scattered groups. I heard a cheer, loud and ringing, and
riding up behind the line of Colonel Bradley : s charge, I saw four noble
regiments far across the field, pouring swift volleys into the flying foe,
and flapping their colors in triumph <. Their cheers subsided > and a sharp
shcwer of balls warned me away from the inspiriting sight In a moment
Sheridan dashed back to the rear,, halts, but his eyes aglow with pride for
the brilliant charge of his brigade. His practical ear had caught the warn-
ing musketry rattle of a counter charge, and he threw his second brigade
into line fcr another charge, if the other one is compelled to give way.
But it did not give way Inspired by Sheridan and Bradley it withstands
the shock and its assailants hastily retire,"
In my last communication I mentioned the recapture of the &th Indiana
battery in this charge, and that our company the representative of the
banner county of Illinois hauled off three of the guns alone* An order
has since been read to us containing an extract from the official report
of General Wood in which he returns his hearty thanks to the brigade for
their gallantry, and soldierly conduct in returning him his battery Of the
part we took in the action of Sunday, the 20th of September, I have seen
no good description, save one that was published in a rebel paper, and is
from the pen of a correspondent in the rebel Gen. Hindman's division^ After
describing the manner in which they drove our brigade back, he remarks that
Gen. Hindman paid dear for the ground he gained. He lost 2130 men^ nearly
one-half his division. For a month after the battle our regiment was
stationed on the extreme right of the army, next to the Tennesse river, but
on the consolidation of the 20th and 21st Army Corps we were assigned to
the 3d Brigade 2d Division 4th Army Corps, commanded by Major General
Gordon Granger, Major General Sheridan is still our division commander,
and Colonel Harker is our new brigade commander. The brigade is now compose
of the 22d, 2 7th, 42d, 51st and 79th Illinois regiments, the 3d Kentucky,
and 64th, 65th and 125th Ohio regiments. We are stationed on the left of
the city.
During this month the weather has been very pleasant. I believe it has
been cold enough to freeze ice, but two nights this season. Last month it
rained nearly every day; aid as we were depending then on wagon trains haul-
ing our provisions from Stovenson, our supply vras very low, as the distance
by the only road that was then in our possession was about sixty miles, and
iv.s condition was such that it required 15 days for a train to reach us froi
Stevenoon n Some days we had one cracker issued to us for two d"iys' rations
and when crackers could not be had an ea r of corn was issued to each man
Nothing coald.be bought in the city, and 'there was no chance to forage from
the country -"-o The days looked dark, but brighter prospects are now in
vlewo Oar boats are running up to within two miles of the city, and we
soon expect to b e indulging our appe~Mt.es with a plenty that will make us
forget the corn we stole from the officer a' horses,.
We have plenty of picket and fatigue duty to perform. Our boys are
on picket, one day ard vrork on fortifications the next. The armies of
the vrdcr? ard Rebeldon are very cur: ; ougjy disposed c I can sit in my tent
and oourJ. -"..hovsAnds of rebel terra eticir.VLJ.ng us in the shape of a horse-
shoe along the sid'3 or' iho Looloui Mountain and Missionary Ridge, from the
Tenne?s?e ^Love 'i& r.rcvr.d to -.hat .rJ.Te:-.' beJovfc, Ab nighb tbe.lv sparkling
camp fires ee^m rC.ni.jst as nrmercus as the stars v;h.i.rh :.l Lrrcinate the
heavens. Our pickets are Vut a few yards apart, and sometimes in dulge of
a friendly little chat, although it is against orders on both sidles,. It
is getting to be a daily occurrence to see a squad of a dozen rebel pickets
deaerting and coning over to our linos. The rebs occasionally throw a shell
into the cr'-y, and they daily send a few in the direction of our boat
landing from the top of Lookout Mountain, which juts up against the river
about, two miles below town-. They are shelling quite lively today, not-
withstanding the northern papers had the mountain taken by Hooker several
days ago.
Day before yesterday I witnessed a horrible sight. Two men belonging
to our first brigade, one from the 44th, the other from the 88th Illinois
regiment, were shot to death by musketry for the crime of desertion. They
met death with a coolness deserving of a better fate. This looks hard
even to us vfao are accustomed to hard sights, Yet the man who through
fear abandons his comrade on the battle-field adds a reinforcement of one
to the enemy. We shoot at the one ani the other should be made to do his
duty by some punishment when patriotism fails to induce him to stand.
The once beautiful city of Chattanooga shows some of the effects of
war. Not only all of her splendid groves have been condemned by military
necessity and cut away, but also many of the finest residences have been
torn down in order to give our cannot full play. The brick and lumber
have been appropriated by the soldiers in making houses for our comfort
as we have no tents except the little shelter tent for summer use.
The health of our company was never better than it has been during the
last two months. Our -wounded boys have all gone to Northern Hospitals, and
we hope will get furloughs to go home, Wilson W, Wile ox, reported missing
from our company, is a prisoner at Richmond, Va, It has been reported to
us that Calvin F, Gibson, formerly a member of our company, but who joined
the 4th Regular Cavalry, was killed in a skirmish preceding the battle of
Chick amauga, on the 18th of September, This adds another to the list
of heroes Mercer county has had sacrificed in the suppression of this
unholy rebellion.
Yours truly,
S. B. Atwater
Crl'ly Ser^'-t Ou C, 2Yth Til. Vol.
Inf'ry
FROM TH 83D REGIMENT.
FORT DONSLSON, July 18,1863.
D&.R EDITOR: The Ohio 71st Infantry left this place, under ,
orders, July 7th, for Gallatin, Term. This is the regiment that was
said to have shown the "white feather," and acted very cowardly at
Shiloh and other places. It was then commanded by Rodney A. Mason.
He surrendered six companies at the taking of Clarksville last
August. The rebels were commanded by Woodward e Major Hart, with the
rejra.irri.ng four companies, repelled and severely punished Woodward
and his forces at this place during the sains month. So I conclude
that those boys, as well as others of our noble volunteers, will
fight., maintain their integrity, and magnify the stars and stripes,
if they have officers worthy of position. The greatest curse rest-
ing upon our army,, in my opinion, is consequent upon so many worth-
less, drunken, gambling, licentious officers being in command, in
different positions. It is truly wonderful the influence that a
comrad.ssior.ed officer has for good or bad over the men of whom he
has charge. Mason, last fall, was dismissed in disgrace from the
service, "for repeated acts of cowardice in the face of the enemy."
Lieut. Col. Andrews,, of the. same reiment, has resigned and gone home.
This is a great blessing to the regiment, for he was of no earthly
account as a man, an officer, or a soldier,, Last winter the six
companies surrendered, at Clarksville wore exchanged and returned to
duty. There was no little .<is satisfaction among officers and. soldiers
until Gapt. McConnell, of Company B, was corrjrdssioned and assumed
command as Colonel of the regiment, The promotion of Capt. McConnell,
I think., renders universal and. entire satisfaction* Col. McConnell is
one of the best drilled officers in the service. His morals are good,
his Christian character unblemished, and he is- a minister of very
fine abilities. I was present when he assumed command of the regiment,
and listened with interest to his remarks upon that occasion. His
address was characterized by good sense, patriotism and high-toned
moral and religious principle. He appealed eloquently to the other
commissioned officers to be co-workers with him in looking after the
military, sanitary, moral and religious interests of the reiment.
My associations with Chaplain McKinney, of the Ohio 71st, for
nearly a year past, have been of the most pleasant character. He is
a fine scholar, an able and eloquent divine, a fine, social, Christian
gentleman, with whom I could counsel in confidence. I was very sorry
to be separated from Col. McConnell, Chaplain McKinney, and other
worthy members of the regiment with whom I had f oraed pleasant ac-
quaintances. May the great God go with them, cause his face to shine
upon them., and lead them with their regiment to honor, glory and ever-
lasting life.
The removal of the Ohio 71st leaves at this fort only the 83d
Illinois and Wisconsin 13th infantry, and Stenback's and Flood's
batteries. As I remarked in a former letter, about two hundred of
the infanhry have been detailed to serve or horocback and take the
n.larre cf tHc 'icvn.'lry r<cpr.i ''<? -'.--.!.,,.*. l .givo y-* t,h namsf <->!' those
belonging tc th" .!,-..y.-<- from Mercer county that have been detail.-***
for said nor vice: Orderly Sergeant, your eloquent and interesting
correspondent, B. W. Perkins; privates, Luther T. Whitecomb, Amos
Kenney, Wm. W. Pinkerton, Marion Raskins, James Wetherbee, James
Brott, Jodiah Smith, Saul McFate, John Forsyth. The men thus de-
tailed are all well equipped and mounted on good horses, with ex-
cellent rig. I have no doubt but this will be a very efficient
branch of the service at this post, where the greatest, annoyances
are from dastardly, cowardly guerrillas that prowl through the
country. The boys appear well pleased with their new sphere of
action, and are always ready for picket duty, and ever anxious for
a chase after the "barefeet" guerrillas.- Success to the mounted
infantryj may their shadows not become less, nor their members
diminished, until guerrillaism is numbered with the things past,
treason in all its forms is sent hissing back to its native hell,
and the principles for which we contend are signally and gloriously
triumphant .
I have been agreeably disappointed at the good health prevail-
ing among the troops at this post, during the hot and sickl^r season
of the year. In our own regiment there are but two or three that
are unable to sit up a portion of each day, and but very few unable
to come to the table to take their meals. I conclude that the fine
sanitary condition of the troops is owing in a great measure to the
large amount of "blackberries" used in camps. The berries grow in
abundance on the briars scattered in profusion over the hills. I am
glad there is some redeeming qualities connected with the product-
ions of this rough and desolate looking region.
Dr. Cooper has been quite unwell for several days, but is now
improving. Dr. McClanahan was for some time unfit for active duty,
but has regained his wonted health. W. W. Carothers, at this writing,
is somewhat debilitated, but nothing serious I trust. My own health
continues quite good, better than ever before at this season of the
year But few mornings does 5 o'clock find me in bed, and but few
moments from that time until 9 o'clock at night are unemployed. I
have been appointed post chaplain here. My labors are various and
multatudinous, I am thankful to the Giver of all good for his un-
numbered mercies, his unbounded love, and protecting care. May I
never prove recreant to the great trust committed to my charge. -
Col. Lyons, (commandant of the post,) Col. Smith, and the officers
and soldiers generally, give me great encouragement in their gentle-
manly bearing, words of sympathy, and acts of kindness. May the
Divine spirit rest upon us richly, cementing us together as a band
of patriotic brothers, and enabling us to go forth, laboring manfully,
energetically and successfully for the redemption of our country and
the glory of God.
Since writing before three members of our regiment at this post
have passed to the world of spirits. Wednesday, June l?th, Warren L.
Chase, of Company E, died of disease of the kidneys. He was an ex-
cellent young man, a consistent Christian. He sleeps well, for he
sle?ps in Jesus. Friday, June 19th, Richard M. Johnson, of Company
H, pp.3f;ed from earth away. He was afflicted with pneumonia. He
suffered much, but bore all without a murmur. He leaves a wife and
three children in W?rren county. 111., a brother and a brother-in-
law in the same comp.-iry of which he was a member. May God bless
them, lead then to the oruo.ii'l^d one, and save them all, where war
never deluges with tears am blood. Monday, June 29th, James P.
Haynes, of Company H, breathed his last. Mr. Haynes is the third
brother that has died of pulmonary affection within the last few
months. He was an excellent young man, raised up in the church, and
early innt.ruoted in the principles of our holy religion. He died in
full prospect of a home in heaven. I knew the family of which he was
a member years ago. Many arid severe have been their afflictions.
May God sustain the bereaved parents and friends, and may the angel
of the covenant wing hia presence along their pathway, and guide
them to that heaven of rest, where separations never come, and where
distracting cares never disturb that rest which is eternal.
Kind reader, Christian soldier, is not that a source of great
consolation that the service of God is not incompatible with the ser-
vice of our country. Though we have in the Christian conflict to
meet with foes, numerous and of various kinds, we have sources of
great encouragement, and while here battling for the sacred altars
of our common country, let us with renewed energies fight the battles
of the Lord, unfurl and maintain the banner of salvation, bring souls
to Christ and heaven, encourage believers, and thus accomplish the
work we are called to do, The conquering Son of God, the Captain of
our salvation, in whom we trust, has provided us with ample munitions
to carry on the conflict. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God. Let us take to ourselves the whole armor of
God, that we may by his strength vanquish foes whom we could not
vanquish by our own. Our leader has trodden the path and passed
through the conflict before us. Having vanquished his and our enemies,
and triumphed over them, even in death and hell, encourages us to
follow his example, promising a crown of righteousness to all that
endure unto the end. In this conflict we are following the path
trodden by the patriarchs, prophets and apostles. They conquered
and so may we. The victories they won are within reach, and the prize
they obtained is offered to us. What if we have some difficulties,
some sorrows, and some afflictions, in this vale of tears. They will
yield us the fruits of righteousness; they will work out for us an
"exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
Our religious services are well attended and are quite interest-
ing. There are six other ministers and licentiates in the regiment. -
These brethren render very efficient assistance in conducting re-
ligious exercises, with our own regiment and the 13th Wisconsin,
which has no chaplain. The moral state of the regiments here and
the religious interest manifested are vory encouraging. The Sabbath
school among the blacks is doing well. Everything is moving along
pleasantly and in order, not a jar or note of discord among the
officers or soldiers.
Let friends at home remember us as they bow before the throne
of Divine favor. May God bless you and ua, give our nation peace,
on the principles of eternal truth, and save us in his kingdom.
In a former letter I spoke of Mr. Sexton as Clerk. He is
Quarter Master Sergeant. He makes a number one officer.
Thine, fraternally,
A. C. HIGGINS,
Chaplain 83d Regiment Illinois Inf 'y.
FROM THE 9TH REGIMENT.
POGAHONTAS, TENN., July 17, 1863.
EDITOR: We have to record the defeating and routing of
2,090 or 2 ; ,500 of the enemy, under four different commanders, with
Col. Jesse Forrest as chief , on the 13 st inst., at Jackson, Tenn.
Since the line of railroad via Bolivar and Jackson to Corinth
has been abandoned by our forces for the nearer rout over the "Hem-
phis and Charleston," the guerrillas have commenced mustering at
Jackson, conscripting all that they can force into their ranks,
threatening with death, and actually killing men at their homes
who were unwilling to fight for the wicked rebellion. They had ac-
cumulated such a force that they were having it pretty much their
own way, and being well mounted, threatened our lines of communication
with "America/' 1 both by land and water.
G&n. Hurlbut saw fit to stop them in their mad career, and sent
Col, Hatch of the 2d Iowa cavalry, from Lagrange, with his own regi-
ment, besides the 3d Michigan and 1st Tennessee cavs.lry. Our regiment
Joined them north of Bolivar, on the night of the 12th. Early on the
13th we were again on our way to Jackson, which we neared at 2 o'clock,
p. m. One mile from the city we came upon a strong picket force near
a large stream of water, that could only be crossed by a large bridge
on the main road. This bridge fifty men could hold against ten times
their numbers. Stern resistance was shown us there by seventy-five or
one hundred men, but we were on our way to Jackson, and go we would.
The enemy fought bravely, but yielded to Union bullets after losing
two men severely wounded, and one prisoner. They wounded one of our
men.
Our whole force immediately crossed over and formed in line of
battle, ready to either assume the offensive or defensive. The ene-
my did not come from Jackson to our line, so we went in search of his;
that we thought would be behind the Union fortifications of Jackson.
Soon these loomed up before us: advancing with our regiment in line
as skirmishers, and the cavalry in solid column, on the main road, we
charged up to and over them, but not a rebel was to be seen. Vie were
fearing that the enemy had fled without enough punishment, and march-
ing through the suburbs of the city, on the Northwest, when he was
seen, with a part of his force, ready either to receive us, or charge
upon us. We assumed the offensive and marched in line of battle toward
him, five hundred yards distant. When within close range they-having
dismounted and concealed themselves opened on us with vigor. We re-
plied by a volley, and both lines sternly withstood the bullets of the
other, when, after it had been carried on vigorously for a time by
both parties, the rebels were suddenly found to be mounting for a
retreat; then we; pressed them, but poorly, being dismounted. Our
cavalry in the meantime had been fighting another portion of their
forces further to the right, and ended the contest by charging upon
them with the saber, taking two companies entire. Two officers re-
ceived saber strokes, one in the side and the other in the shoulder.
Our cavalry followed the flying rebels toward Humboldt, but
could not overtake them, on their fast horses. They lost during the
day, and left in our hands about one hundred', and twenty-five soldiers,
besides four hundred conscripts. We had killed during the afternoon,
at the bridge and in the city, fifteen. We, had captured over one nun-
dred prisoners, seventy-three of whom were wounded, paroled and left
in Jackson, besides seven able ones to attend to the wants of the wound-
ed, We brought thirty-five as prisoners to Corinth; they represented
four different commands; some of them belonged to Roddy.
Our loss was fifteen or twenty in the whole command; eight be-
longed to our regiment. Two of them are mortally wounded. They,
with four others, were left at Jackson, in the care of citizens. They
were not able to be brought along.
On the 14th we retraced our steps to Bolivar, and reached camp
on the 15th, to be cheered with the news of the capture of Port Hud-
son. We brought along and. turned over to the Post Quarter Master over
one hundred horses and mules.
Mercer county boys are all well.
'Sours, &c., G. M. dr.
FROM THE 102D REGIMENT.
STEWART'S CREEK, 1ENN., July 14, 1863
DEAR EDITOR: Trusting that you owe Colonel Smith no personal
ill will, I enclose to you, for publication, the statement of all the
officers of the regiment now present, in answer to the letter of John
Miles, as well as. to that of Ira E, Harsh, and the editorials called
out by the letter of "An Officer of the 102d regiment,"
It will be observed, that all the officers, have not signed the;
same statement. One reason of this is that Col. Kannon, with three
companies, are detached from the main body of the regiment, and are
not as familiar \vith all the circumstances a& some of the others.
An attempt has been made to give a full statement of the circum-
stances attending each separate charge, but it is found imprac-
ticable from the fact that what one officer knows, another ia
ignorant of. Those in the first list of names intend to deny not
every particular of the Miles letter, but (as stated) as far as
they know; those, in the 2d list speak distinctly what they know,
and no farther.
The charge of drunkenness is emphatically denied by all who
know Colo Smith and are unprejudiced. It is hoped and expected that
this will be satisfactory to the friends of the regiment, and that
its enemies will in future search perseveringly for truth, and that
their productions will show the fruits of their labor.
I am, very respectfully, yours,
WM. HAMILTON.
FROM THE 2?TH REGIMENT.
CAMP AT UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH.
CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS, TENN., July 20, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: Some months ago the Chattanooga Rebel, in speak-
ing of the efficiency of the rebel forces in Tennessee, announced
that Bragg 's army had become a perfect machine. Prentice responded
that Rosecrans was going to run that machine. Six months from the
last forward movements of the Army of the Cumberland passed quietly
away, with the exception of now and then an efficient cavalry raid,
which materially interfered with the enemy's designs of disturbing
our line of communication in the rear; and we had about come to the
conclusion that Murfreesboro was to be our summer quarters. We were
engaged in fixing up shades over our company grounds, to keep out
the rays of a Southern sun, when very unexpectedly to us came the
order to get ready to march at a moment's notice. Each man was to
*va-r;7 uh-ar-a r) a .ys' rations in his haversack; forty rounds of am-
munition, a rubber blanket and one Government blanket. Our knap-
sacks were packed and sent inside the breastworks. We carried no
clothing with us except what was worn.- The harvest had ripened and
Rosa was ready to try the machine. I regret that I could not have
sent you an earliest report cf its working, but a few items, even at
this late elate, may not prove wiioDly uninteresting to friends at
home I saw but very little of the working of the machine, except
the track and finished works it left behind, but, judging from the
extent of ground it passed over, I have no hesitation in saying it
cut well, and so far has been easily run, giving us at least good
satisfaction.
We le'ff. Murfreesboro at an early hour on the morning of the
21j}t-v June. Our (Sheridan's) Division marched out on the Shelbyville
pike. Shortly after starting the rain began falling in torrents, which
effectually laid the dust which we so much dreaded, j-tfter marching
about eight miles we found ourselves in front of a rebel force at
Spring Gap. Four companies of the 27th were deployed as skirmishers,
and in company with a regiment of mounted infantry kept up a con-
tinual popping in reply to the rebel sharpshooters. The rebs threw
a few shells over us, but did no damage. We did not crowd them; our
object seemed to be to attract their attention while a flank move-
ment was going on farther to the left. About noon firing commenced
at Hoover's Gap, and in the afternoon we were relieved by Brannen's
Division, from Triune ,, We then moved across a dirt road (or, as the
rain still continued, it might more properly be called a mud road,)
towards the Manchester pike. We crossed the railroad at Christiana
and camped at dark at Middleburg, where we remained all the next
day, xvatching our train roll slowly along through the mud. On the
morning of the 26th we started out as train guard, marched a half
mile, halted, waited in the mud and rain till dark for the train to
move forward, but it did not move; it remained mud-bound and we re-
turned to occupy our old camp. We had reveille at 3 o'clock and
started again at 4.- This time the wagons moved a little, not that
the roads had grown any better, but we had transferred a part of the
loads to our haversacks, which, taken in connection with the amount
eaten by the mules and thrown away, rendered the wagons some lighter.
A little before noon we reached the Manchester pike, a distance of
three miles from the starting place. In the afternoon our division
passed through Hoover's Gap, which been taken the day before. Also
through Beach Grove, which gave unmistakeable signs of a rebel rout.
Blankets, knapsacks, butternut clothing and arms were scattered in
profusion along the road. We went on to Fairfield, and the 2d brigade
of our division, being in advance, had a running fight with the rebs
here, taking a number of prisoners and destroying a camp. At Fairfield
we crossed a fork of Duck river and turned our course eastward, towards
Manchester. We camped that night about 10 o'clock, having finished
a march of twenty miles through mud, deep water, heavy thunder show-
ers, scorching hot sun, and an occasional long, steep hill to climb.
I think there were more men who gave out and fell by the roadside
during the last three or four miles we marched than I ever saw before.
They were coming into camp at all hours of the night, and did not all
get in till long after the sun had made his appearance in the morn-
ing.
On Sunday, the 28th, we marched nine miles, and joined the main
army near Manchester. V, T e camped about noon near the falls of Duck
river, a great water privilege,- There is a mill here, but it does not
use one-tenth the power that would be employed were it situated in
a Yankee land. The last ten or twelve miles we passed over before
reaching this place is a howling wilderness.- Our road previous to that
was through some rich valleys, where crops of good corn, cotton and
wheat were being cultivated. The wheat was ripe and promised a good
yield. Many pieces had been cut and shocked. Bragg had made details
of soldiers to do the harvesting, but Old Rosa's movements prevented
them from enjoying the fruits of their labor, and long before this
time military necessity has made a clean sweep of all the grain in
that country. It made very good mule fodder and assisted the slumbers
of the weary soldiers wonderfully; particularly was this the case
when he would wake up to find six inches of water on the ground he
was occupying as a camp.
On the 29th we pushed on through Manchester, wading creeks, and
through the woods. We halted at a creek about seven miles from
Tullahoma. The enemy occupied the opposite bank and disputed our
crossing. I saw cannon wagons sink in the clay to the hub on the
highest hills. I think that would be called mud-bound in the East;
but even under such difficulties we sometimes move in Tennessee.
The next day we advanced without opposition two miles. On the morn-
ing of the 1st of July as order was read cutting us down to half
rations of hard bread, or one half pound per days this was necessary
on account of the difficulties of transportation. On such marches as
these we never carry anything but hard bread, meat, coffee and sugar;
cutting off the rations of rice, potatoes, vegetables, hominy, beans,
peas, and other little extras; so that half rations of hard bread
here is no better than quarter rations in camp. Add to this the keen-
ness of appetite occasioned by marching, and you can easily imagine
that we have not been in a very thriving condition. The order contin-
ued in force up to the 15th of July. We picked up something from the
country, but it was very little, as this part of Tennessee is, I
think, the poorest country, with the exception of now and then a
rich valley, that I ever saw,
We entered Tullahoma on the 1st. Our Division was the first to
enter.. We had but little time to examine the works here, but from
what I saw call them the strongest rebel works I ever saw; even better
than the far-famed works of Columbus, Kentucky.- General Rosecrans
could easily have made as long a siege here as Halleck did at Corinth,
but he pleased us better and hurt the rebs worse. I saw some of the
heavy siege guns that Bragg was unable to take away. On the 2d our
brigade was train guard, and had a slow, tedious march, having to
cut a new road to a ford on Elk river, as the rebs had burned the
bridge. On the morning of the 3d we waded through Elk river, and
during the day several of its forks. The water in these mountain
streams runs so swift that it vashed the feet of some of the men from
under them. Some of the horses and mules were washed down the stream
and drowned. I did not hear of any men being lost. We had to fasten
our ammunition and rations to our muskots and hold them out of the
water .
We reached the foot of the mountains, at Cowen Station, on the
night of the 3d, rested on the 4th, and had orders to wash our shirts,
with the privilege of going to bed while they were drying. Salutes
were fired from all the batteries in hearing. A heavy skirmish took
place on the top of the mountains, between our cavalry and the rebs.
Our cavalry is of much more service than it once was. The most of the
fighting that has been done in this department since the battle of
Stone river has been done by cavalry and mounted infantry. During
this march they have skirmished some every day.
We find a great many Union people in this country, and there
is deserters coming in, and prisoners brought in, every day. We
occupied Cowen Station till the 9th, when we climbed the mountain.
At this camp five handred muskets were found that had been stacked
by a rebel picket, who had evidently deserted.
Finding my communication growing too long, I shall have to
defer the description of many places, people, &c. We are near the
Alabama and Georgia line. Some of our regiment have been back into
Alabama again on a foraging expedition. I have had to omit the de-
scription of many interesting showers, which we will never forget.
For the first twenty days out, there was not a day nor night, that
I can recall, without with it recalling its accompanying shower. This
is not considered pleasant weather, but still I think it is perfer-
able to the scorching sun of this climate.
The cars are now running to the mountains, and we are growing
fat again on full rations of hard bread, the wild berries we pick here,
and the news of the glorious victories being achieved by our arms.
lours truly,
S. S. AfU^tTER, Ord'ly Serg't,
Co. G 2?th 111. Vol. Inf 'y.
FROM THE 9TH REGIIffiMT.
POCAH01ITAS, TENN., Sept. 1, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: Apology is sometimes necessary. In the present in-
stance I shall have to beg your indulgence for my seeming neglect in
not giving you an account sooner of the recent cavalry raid into
Mississippi, in which we took a part. Duties of various kinds have
been the cause of my delay in writing. But following the maxim of
"better late than never," I will give you a short account even at this
late hour.
On the 12th of last month we received marching orders, with six
days rations-.- I/here we were going was a question about which all had
thcsir surmises, but none knew exactly except some of the leading
officers. Such matters are generally kept concealed from the private
soldier, and he must await the coining events to reveal the movements
to him. From some motive unknown to me Col. Phillips availed himself-
of the darkness to Leave camp. Traveled all night. Made directly for
Salem, Miss., a small village northwest of Ripley. From thence we
followed the trail of the cavalry forces from Lagrange until we
reached Oxford, the county seat of Lafayette county, where we over-
took them,, Col, Phillips then took command, Followed the Railroad
from thence to Grenada passing through Water Valley and Coff eeville
on the way. At Water Valley we captured seven rebel teams, mostly
loaded with corn. They had been at Oxford, but, hearing of our com-
ing, they were making for Grenada. We took them in hands and applied
the corn to our own use. Water Valley is a railroad station so call-
ed from the fact that it is located in a beautiful valley, with a
stream of the purest crystal water flowing through it. Left Water
Valley on Sabbath evening, the 16th, about sunset.- Soon after dusk,
thick clouds began to gather in the West. Hy 9 o'clock a very heavy
rain storm had over taken us. The rain came down in torrents. The
darkness was such that it could almost be felt. Col. Phillips,
whether to try our patience or to hasten in his time to reach Grenada,
I know not, but many a silent, inward curse was given him that night.
Some could not refrain from being outspoken in their denunciations.
The difficulties of a night spent in riding, such a night as the above,
no one can appreciate until he has tried it himself. The following
morning we reached Coffeeville, fourteen miles from Grenada. There
we released from the Coffeeville jail, a white man and two negroes.
The former charged with running off negroes to Memphis, the latter
for some misdemeanor to their master. "Uncle Samuel" had use for the
latter and they were turned over to the negro recruiting officers, of
which there were quite a number. Between Coffeeville and Grenada the
cavalry had a chase after a locomotive, which had been connected with
a construction train, repairing the road. So soon as the engineer
discovered the cavalry, he unhooked from the train and steamed for
Grenada. The cavalry gave chase, but did not succeed in capturing it.
When within five or six miles of Grenada we saw a dense smoke arise
near tho site of the city.- Our supposition was that the rebs were
burning their commissary stores preparatory to leaving, and that we
would enter unmolested. The burning afterward proved to be two large
railroad bridges over the Yallabusha.- Reaching the river bottom,
we found the rebels in town, and going to make some show of resist-
ance. Our brigade was mostly dismounted and sent into the skirmish
line while the brigade of cavalry from Germantown was divided between
the two flanks. We then made our advance in grand style, not-withstand-
ing we had swamps, logs and brush to encounter. In about half an hour
from the time we began to advance, the coast was cleared, and we had
made our advance as far as the river would let us. Several cavalry-
men then plunged into the river to the opposite side, where lay an
old ferry-boat, and brought it to the aid of the remainder, who
crossed as speedily as possible, but to find the city evacuated of
armed foes. Col. Phillips had the honor of being the first Yankee
officer to enter the city of Grenada. The cavalry were reported to
have entered the place last fall, when Grant made his advance from
Holly Springs, but it was a mistake.- Our regiment did not cross the
river. Col* Phillips immediately had all the rolling stock on the
road either burned or rendered useless. Many fine public buildings
and places of business were destroyed. The loss in property has been
l at from two to t,n iiri.,1 lions of dollars. The form
er I think whuld be a low estimate, the latter very high.
Our skirmish took place on the 17th, the 18th we lay quiet, and
on the 19th we started on our return, accompanied by a brigade of
cavalry from Vicksburg, which joined us at Grenada the evening of
the skirmish. Col. Winslow, of the 4th Iowa, who was in command of
the force after joining us, v/as much chagrined at the thought of Col.
Phillips having succeeded in driving the rebels out before he arrived.
From Grenada we moved up the South Memphis. Railroad by way of Fanola
and Oakland, gathering up all the male negroes fit for military ser-
vice. These were not the only ones that availed themselves of the
privilege to secure their freedom, but men, women and children, of
all grades, and shades of color, flocked into us, until I think
they numbered over one thousand. Some of them were clothed in rags
and filth, and were almost as ignorant as the dumb brute, while
others were well dressed, intelligent and live with the desire for
freedom. Mothers walked the distance of sixty and seventy miles and
carried a babe. In one or two instances, the mothers became so weary
they could carry their innocents no longer, and just lay them down
on the road side and left them* Think of this, ye that love to see
slavery perpetuated,. Think of a mother so eager to gain her freedom
that she vd.ll abandon her sucking child, God will not always turn a
deaf ear to the cries of the oppressed. The babes that were abandon-
ed were cared for by our noble and kind Surgeon, Dr. Culich, Dear,
good old man, may the Lord plentifully reward him for his kindness.
We parted from the Vicksburg brigade between Panola and Oakland,
they going to Memphis, while we came through Holly Springs. Parted
with the Germantown brigade west of Holly Springs brought all the
prisoners, forty in number, to Pocahontas. Some of them were paroled
prisoners from Vicksburg, found fighting us and their paroles in their
pockets. Gen. Grant has given strict orders concerning such, that they
shall all be kept in close confinement until duly tried by court
martial.
We reached Pocahontas on the twelfth day from the time we left
camp. Our rations grew short about the seventh day out, but we put
the confiscation act in force pretty extensively, and did not suffer
any for grub. Saw seme of the finest country while gone that I have
seen in the South. Very large plantations-good improvements-some of
the finest fields of corn I have seen in years. Cotton has been the
main staple, but is not cultivated extensively now.
I have more camp news I could give you, but I must defer at
present. The Mercer boys are all well, with the exception of John
Mocreheadp who has been quite poorly for some time. He is still
going about camp, yet is not able for duty. Will send more camp
news in my next.
lours truly, J. G. C.
FROM CAMP McCLSLLAN.
CAMP McCLELLAN, NEAR DaVENPORT, IOWA, Sept. 5, 1863.
DEAR EDITOR: I drop you a few lines from this post, which, if
you think proper, you can give a place in your columns.
Having a few leisure hours, I c.oncluded I would come up and see
"the Injuns" and "things." There are now only about 160 or 200 red
skins here. But it is really diverting to see the motley crew en-
gaged in their different games of amusement. Some are running foot
races, playing marbles, &c., while others, who are more industrious-
ly inclined, are making finger rings, which they manufacture from
mussel shells, and sell to the white men, or trade for tobacco,
snuff, &c. Their camp is about 350 yards wide by 400 yards long, sur-
rounded by a high fence. About forty deserters are also in the same
camp, but there is a division fence which cuts them off from any
communication with the Indians, Ten Indians are allowed each day to
go to the river, which is about 300 yards distant, for the purpose
of bathing 8 This is a good idea, for if they were not allowed that
privilege, they would probably remain dirty as long as they remain
prisoners. They are a dirty, filthy set of human beings, far inferior
to the African race. They seem to have no higher ambition than
handling their bows and arrows. They are all expert swimmers, and
even some of the smallest, among whom are some just beginning to run
about, can swim well.
I am not much "military," but it seems to me an outrageous in-
sult to the whole white race, for the Government to board and take
care of these murderers, thieves and vagabonds. Why in the name of
common sense don 1 they dispose of them in some way. If a dosen white
men would start through the country, burning houses, murdering men,
women and children, and committing other depredations on helpless
females, which we well know, and they assert, that they have done,
would they be treated as prisoners of war? No. Nor they should not.
I believe in giving equal rights to all men,- giving all men their
just deserts- and if they don't deserve hanging, murder, rape and arson
are not crime, and every man has a right to sow tares in his neigh-
bor 's garden, and appropriate his property for his own use. But I am
not a military man, and probably that accounts for my dullness of
comprehension on this point.
Capbo Littler, formerly commander of this post, has left for St.
Louis, there to take charge of the Provost duty, probably. He is a
good man, a brave officer and a noble patriot. Lieut. Peckenpaugh
succeeds him here, and seems to be a man in every respect capable of
performing the duty assigned him.
A considerable excitement prevailed in camp a day or two since,
caused by an Indian, the name of whom I have forgotten, stabbing his
squaw. It is said the cause of this was jealousy,, He afterwards stabbed
himself ., but the wounds were not considered dangerous. A doctor was
immediately called in, who dressed the wounds and expressed the opin-
ion that they were not serious.
Several companies have been removed from here to Camp Roberts,
within a few days,,
The soldiers in camp, who have a spare quarter, are amused by the
performance of the "Yankee Boy and Scotch Girl," who have been play-
ing in camp each evening for about two weeks.
Yours, c., 0. G. JACK.
THE PRESIDENT ON THE WAR.
Mr. Lincoln's Letter to the Springfield Convention.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.
Hon. Jas, C. Conklin:
MY DEAR SIR: Sour letter inviting me to attend a mass meeting
of unconditional Union men, tobe held at the capital of Illinois, on
the 3d day of September, he.s beer, received,
It would be very agreeable to me, to thus meet my old friends,
at my own home 5 but I cannot just now be absent from here so long
as a visit there would require.
The meeting is to be of all those who maintain unconditional
devotion to the Union? and I am sure my old political friends v.till
thank me for tendering, as I do, the Nation's gratitude to those
other noble men^ whom no partizan malice, or partisan hope, can
make false to the nation 's life.
There are those who are dissatisfied with me. To such I would
say; You desire peace, and you blame me that we do not have it t
But how can we attain it a There are but three conceivable ways. First,
to suppress the rebellion by force of arms. This I am trying to do.
Are you for it? If you are, so far we are agreed. If you are not for
it, a second way is to give up the Union. I am against this. Are you
for it? If you are, you should say so plainly. If you are not for
peace, nor yet for dissolution, there only remains some immaginable
compromise. I do not believe any compromise embracing the maintenance
of the Union is now possible,, All I learn leads to a directly opposite
belief. The strength of the rebellion is its military, its army. That
army dominate all the country, and all the people, within its range.
Any offer of terms made by any man, or men, within that range, in
opposition to that army, is simply nothing for the present, because
such man, or men, have no power whatever to enforce their side of a
compromise if one were made with them. To illustrate: Suppose refugees
from the South, and peace, men of the North, get together in convention,
and frame and proclaim a compromise embracing a restoration of the
Union, in what way can that compromise be used to keep Lee's, army
ovb of Pennsylvania, and I think can ultimately drive it out of
existence. But no compromise to which the controlers of Lee's army
a;-e not agreed can, at all effect that, army. In an effort at such
compromise we should waste time, which the enemy would improve to
our disadvantage; and that would be all. A compromise, to be effective,
mu?t be made either with these vrho control the rebel army, or with
the people first liberated from the domination of that army by the
success of our own army, Now allow me to assure you that no word or
intimation from that rebel army, or from any of the men controlling
it, in relation to any peace compromise,, has ever come to my know-
ledge or belief c. All charges or insinuations to the contrary are
deceptive aud groundless and V yjrrvrr.se you that if any such proposition
shall hereat'i/er comn. it. shall 'act, be rejected and kept a secret from
you, I fveejy a-knu^-.edge nys-sl? the servant of Lhe people, according
to the bond of service- llie United States Constitution; and that, as
such, I am responsible to them.
But to be plain: You are dissatisfied with me about the negro.
Quite likely there is a difference of opinion between you and myself
upon that subject. I certainly wish that all men could be free, while
I suppose you do not. Yet I have neither adopted nor proposed any
measure which is not consistent with even your view, provided you are
for the Union 3 I suggested compensated emancipation; to which you
replied you wished not to be taxed to buy negroes. But I had not asked
you to be taxed to buy negroes, except in such a way as to save you
from greater taxation to save the Union exclusively by other means.
You dislike the emancipation Proclamation and perhaps would have
it retracted. You say it is unconstitutional, I think differently:
I think the Constitution invests its Command sr-in- Chief with the law
of war, The most that can be said, if so much, is, that slaves are
property. Is there -has there ever been -any question that by the law
of war, property, both of enemies and friends, may bo taken when needed?
And is it not needed whenever taking it helps, us or hurts the enemy?
Armies, the world over, destroy enemies property, when they cannot
use it and even deatroy their own to keep it from the enemy. Civilized
belligerents do all in their power to help themselves or hurt the
enemy, except a few things regarded as barbarous or cruel* Among the
exceptions are the massacre of vanquished foes, and non-combatants,
male and female,
But the Proclamation, as law, either is valid or not valid. If it
is not valid it needs no retraction. If it is valid it can not be re-
tracted any more than the dead can be brought to life. Some of you
profess to think its retraction would operate favorably for the Union t
Why better after the retraction than before the issue? There was more
than a year and a half of trial to supprese the rebellion before the
Proclamation was issued, the last one hundred days of which passed
under an txp.Li.cit notice that i'L was co:ning, unl-;jS averted by these
in revolt returned to their allegiance. The war has certainly progressed
as favorably for us since the issue of the Proclamation as before,
I know, as fully as any one can know the opinion of others, that
some of the commanders of our armies in the field, who have given us
some of our most important successes, believe the emancipation policy,
and the use of the colored troops, constituted the heaviest blow yet
dealt to the rebellion, and that, at least, one of these important
successes could, net have been achieved at the time it was but for the
aid o.f black soldiers. Among the commanders holding these views are
some Vkiio hrve never had any affinity with what, is called abolitionism,
oi' with Republican party policies, but who hold them purely as military
opinions, I submit these opinions as being entitled to some weight
against the objections often urged that emancipation and. arming the
bla*iks are unwise as military measures and were not adopted as such in
good faith.
You say you will not fight to free negroes. Some of them seem will-
ing to fight for you; but no matter, Fight you, then, exclusively to
save the Unionj I issued the Proclamation on purpose to aid you in
saving the Union> Whenever you sh<':ll have conquered all resistance to
the Union, if I shall urge you to continue fighting, it will be an
apt time, then., for you to der.-l.ire you will net fight to free negroes.
I thought in your struggle for the Union to whatever extent the
negroes should cease helping the enexay, to that extent it weakened
t ..: .
si
;. . :..' -
.' ,'
- '
the enemy in his resistance to you. Do you think differently? I thought that
whatever negroes can be got to do as soldiers, leaves just so much less for
white soldiers to do in saving the Union, Does it appear otherwise to you?
But negroes, like other people, act upon emotions* Why should they do any-
thing for us, if we will do nothing for then? If they stoke their lives for
us, they must be prompted by the strongest motive even the promise of freed-
om; and the promise, being made, must be kept.
The signs look better. The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the
sea. Thanks to the Great Northwest for it nor yet wholly to them. Three
hundred miles up, they met Mew England, Empire, Keystone and Jersey, hewing
their way right and left. The Sunny South, too, in more colors than one,
also lent a hand. One the spot, their part of the history was jotted down
in black and white The job was a great national one; and let none be banned
who bore an honorable part in it. ^nd while those who have cleared the great
river nay well be proud, even that is not all. It is hard to say that
anything has been more bravely or ably done than Antietam, Murfreesboro,
Gettysburg, and on many fields of lesser note,
Nor must Uncle Sam's web feet be forgotten. At all the watery margins
they have been present. Not only on the deep sea, the broad bay, and the
rapid river, but also up the narrow muddy bayou, and wherever the ground was
a little damp, they have been, and made their tracks. Thanks to all. For
the great Republic for the principle it lives by, and keeps alive for man's
vast future thanks to all.
Peace does not appear so distant as it did, I hope it will come soon,
and come to stay; and so come as to be worth the keeping in all future time.
It will then have been proved that, among free men, there can be no succes
ful appeal from the ballot to the bullet, and that they hho take such appeal
are sure to lose their case, and pay the cost; and then there would be some
black men who can remember that, with silent tongue, and clenched teeth,
and steady eye, and well poised bayonet, they have helped and maintained on
to this great consummation; while I fear there will be some white ones, unable
to forget that, with malignant hearts, and deceitful speech, they have
striven to hinder it.
Still let us not be over sanguine of a speedy final triumph. Let us
be quite sober Let us diligently apply the means, never doubting that a
just God, in his own good time, will give us the rightful result.,
Yours, very truly,
A. Lincoln
LnST rXUKS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
By C. o. Taft, Acting Assistant Surg., U. 3. A.
The following brief report of the circumstances attending the
assassination, last hours, and -jutopsy of the late President, will
doubtless prove of much interest to the profession, and may be relied
upon as correct in all particulars, the notes from which it is written
having been submitted to comparison with others taken, and corrected
by the highest authority.
While sitting in an orchestra chair at Ford's Theatre, on Friday
evening, the 14th inst., about 10.30 P. M. , I heard the sharp report
of a pistol in the direction of the State box, and turning my head in
that dire-r-tion, saw a wild looking man jump from the box to the stage,
heard hiia shout i! 3ic semper tyranis," as he brandished a glittering
knife in his right hand for an instant, and dart across the stage
from sigh c,,
^ fox moments of utterly indescribable confusion followed, amid
which I heard a call for a surgeon. I leaped upon the stage, and was
instantly lifted by a dozen pair of hands up to the President's box,
a distance of twelve feet from the stage,
When I entered the box, the President was lying upon the floor,
surrounded by his wailing wife and several gentlemen who had entered
from the dress-circle. The respiration was inaudible and scarcely
perceptible, and he was totally insensible. Ass't Surgeon Charles A.
Leale, U. o. V. ,was in the box, and had caused the coat and vest to
be cut off, in searching for the wound. The wound in the head was
soon found, but at that time there was no oozing from it.
Several gentlemen in the box were insisting upon having the
President removed to his home, but Dr. Leale and myself protested
against such a proceeding, and insisted upon his being carried to
the nearest house opposite, and laid upon a bed in fifteen minutes
from the time the shot was fired. The wound was there examined, the
finger being used as a probe, and the ball found to have passed
beyond the reach of the finger into the brain. I put a teaspoonful
of diluted brandy between the lips, which was swallowed with much
difficulty; a half -tea spoonful administered ten minutes afterward,
was retained in the throat, without any effort being made to swallow
it. The respiration now became labored; pulse 44, feeble, eyes
entirely closed, the left pupil much contracted, the right widely
dilated; total insensibility to light in both.
Surgeon-General Barnes and Robert K. Stone, M. D., the family
physician, arrived and took charge of the case. At their suggest-
ion, I administered a few drops of brandy, to determine whether it
could be swallowed, but as it was not, no further attempt was made.
The left upper eyelid was swollen and dark from effused blood; this
was observed a few minutes .after his removal from the theatre.
About thirty minutes after he was placed upon the bed discoloration
from effusion began in the internal canthus of the right eye, which
became rapidly discolored and swollen with great protrusion of the
eye.
About 11.30 P. M., twitching of the facial muscles of the left
side set in and continued some fifteen or twenty minutes, and the
mouth was dravni sightly to the same side. Sirvipi,rr,s ever the entire
antcrier surface of the body were ordered, together with artificial
heat to the esrbremities.
The wound began to ooze very soon after the patient was placed
upon the bed, and continued to discharge blood and brain tissue
until 5.30 A. M. , when it ceased entirely; the head, in the mean-
time, being supported in such a position as to facilitate the dis-
charge. The only surgical aid that could be rendered, consisted in
maintaining the head in such a position as to facilitate the dis-
charge of the wound, and in keeping the orifice free from coagulum.
Col, Crane, Surgeon, U. S. A., had charge of the head during a
great part of the time, being relieved at intervals in this duty by
myself c While the wound was discharging freely, the respiration
was easy; but the moment the discharge was arrested from any cause,
it became, it became at once labored.
It was also remarkable to observe the great difference in the
character of the pulse whenever the orifice of the wound was freed
from ccagulum, and discharge freely; thus relieving, in a measure,
the compression. This fact will account for the fluctuations in the
pulse, as given in the subjoined notes.
About 2 A. M. , an ordinary silver probe was introduced into
the wound by the Surgeon General. It met an obstruction about three
inches from the external orifice, which was decided to be the plug
of bone driven in from the skull and lodged in the track of the ball.
The probe passed by this obstruction, but was too short to follow
the track the whole length, .a long Nelaton probe was than procured
and passed into the track of the wound for the distance of two
inches beyond the plug of bone, when the ball was distinctly felt;
passing beyond this, the fragments of the orbital plate of the left
orbit were felt c The ball made no mark upon the porcelain tip, was
afterwards found to be of exceedingly hard lead.
Some difference of opinion existed as to the exact position of
the ball, but the autopsy confirmed the correctness of the diagnosis
upon first exploration. No further attempt was made to explore the
wound.
After the cessation of the bleeding from the wound, the respira-
tion was stertorous up to the last breath, which was drawn at twenty-
one minutes and fifty-five seconds past seven; the heart did not
cease to beat until twenty-two minutes and ten seconds past seven.
My hand was upon the heart, and my eye on the watch of the Surgeon-
General, who was standing by my side, with his finger on the carotid.
The decubitus during the whole time was dorsal, and the position
on the bed diagonal; the length of the bedstead not admitting of any
other position,
The respiration during the last thirty minutes was character-
ized by occasional intermissions; no respiration being made for
nearly a minute, but by a convulsive effort air would gain admission
to the lungs_, when regular, though stertorous, respiration would go
on for some seconds, to be followed by another period repose.
at these times the death-like stillness and suspense were
thrilling. The cabinet ministers, and others surrounding the death-
bed, watching, with suspended breath, the last feeble inspiration,
and as the unbroken quiet would seem to prove that life had fled,
turn their eyes to their watches; then as the struggling life with-
in would force another fluttering respiration, heave deep sighs of
relief, and fix their eyes once more upon the face of their dying
chief.
The wonderful vitality exhibited by the late President, was one
of the most interesting and remarkable circumstances connected with
the case. It was the opinions of the surgeons in charge, that most
patients would have died in two hours from the reception of such an
injury, yet Mr. Lincoln lived from 10.30 P. M. , until 7^22 A. M.
The following observations of the pulse and respiration were
noted down by Dr. A. F. A. King, at the bed-side, and are correct.
The pulse was counted by Acting Assistant Surgeon Ford,
10.5548
11,0645
11.18 42, and weaker.
11 .,24 42, respiration, 27 per minute, breathing quiet.
1126 irregular, intermits occasionally.
11.30 45, respiration more frequent and vigorous.
11,32 45, stronger, respiration much more strong and stertorous.
11 ( ,37 48, respiration again silent and more feeble.
11.4045.
11*43 45, resp. stertorous.
11,47 45, respiration, 24, sterterous.
11.56 48, weaker.
12,10 48, same character.
12,2754,
12,2860.
12,29 66, intermittent.
12,3866.
12.45 69, intermittent.
12o49 84, respiration 28.
12.5666.
1,00100.
1.1592.
1.3095.
2 C 10 60, respiration 34.
2,1958.
2 c 32 54.
2.3748.
2.54 48, much weaker, more thready; respirations feeble.
4*18 60, respiration 27, strong and stertorous.
540 64, thready, respiration 27.
6.10 60, hardly perceptible (Barnes), respiration 26, ster-
torous.
6.25 thready, not counted; respiration 22; inspirations
jerking.
6.40 inspirations short and feeble j expirations prolonged,
and groaning; a deep, softly sonorous,
cooing sound at the end of each ex-
. piration, audible to bystanders.
6.45 respiration uneasy, choking and' grunting; lower jaw
relaxed; mouth open; a minute without
a breath; face getting dark.
6.59 breathes again a little more at intervals; another long
pause.
7.00 still breathing at long pauses.
7.20 died.
About 1 P. M. , spasmedic contractions of the muscles came on,
causing pronation of the fore-arms; the pectoral muscles seemed to
be fixed, the breath was held during the spasm, and a sudden and
forcible expiration immediately succeeded it.
At about the same time both pupils became widely dilated, and
remained so until death.
During the night Drs. Hall, May, Liebermann, and nearly all
the loading men of the profession in the city, tendered their ser-
vices.
AUTOPSY; FIVE HOURS AFTER DEATH.
Present: Surgeon-General Barnes, Colonel Crane, Dr. Stone,
Assistant Surgeon Woodward, U. S. A., Assistant Surgeon Curtis,
U. S. A., Assistant Surg. Notson, U. S. A., and Acting Assistant
Surgeon Taft, U. S. A..
The calvaria was removed, the brain exposed, and sliced down
to the track of the ball, which was plainly indicated by a line of
coagulated blood, extending from the external wound in the occipital
bone, obliquely across from the left to right through the brain to
the anterior lobe of the cerebrum, immediately behind the right
orbit. The surface of the right hemisphere was covered with coag-
ulated blood. After removing the brain from the cranium, the ball
dropped from its lodgment in the anterior lobo. A small piece of the
ball evidently cut off in its passage through the occipital bone,
was previously taken out of the track of the ball, about four inches
from the external wound. The hole made through the occipital bone
was as cleanly cut as if done with a punch.
The point of entrance was one inch to the left of the longitu-
dinal sinus, and opening into the lateral sinus. The ball was
flattened, convex on both sides, and evidently moulded by hand in
a Derringer pistol mould, as indicated by the ridged surface left
by the nippers in clipping off the neck.
The orbital plates of both orbits were the seats of comminuted
fracture, the fragments being forced inward, and the dura-mater
covering them, remaining uninjured. The double fracture was decided
to have been caused by centre coup. The plug of bone driven in from
the occipital bone was found in the track of the ball, about three
inches from the external wound, proving the correctness of the
opinion advanced by the Surgeon-General and Dr. Stone as to its
nature, at the exploration of the wound before death.
The ball and fragments, together with the fragments of the
occipital bone, were placed in the possession of Dr. Stone, the
family physician, who marked and delivered them, pursuant to instruc-
tions, to the Secretary of State, who sealed them up with his
private seal. The Nelaton probe used was also marked by me, and
seaied up in like manner.
"vERSITYOFILLINOIS-URBANft
^^2025371987
