History of the 77th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Sept. 2, 1862-July 10, 1865 / c by Lieut. W. H. Bentley, with an introduction by General D. P. Grier

T-I B R.ARY

OF THE.

U N I VLR.5ITY
OF ILLINOIS

973.74
1*61

77

1UULNO1S HI8TOXLICAI, SURVEY

HISTORY

OF THE

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,

SEPT. 2, 1862,— JULY 10, 1865,

BY

LIEUT. W. H. BENTLEY,

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY

GENERAL D. P. GBIEB.

PEORIA, ILLINOIS:

EDWARD HINK, PRINTER, ADAMS ST., COR. HARRISON.

1883.

1+

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TO
MY COMRADES

OF THE

SEVENTY -SEVENTH,

FROM THE

COLONEL
WHO SO ABLY COMMANDED US,

TO THK

DRUMMER BOY

WHO CARRIED THE STRETCHER ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE,
AS A TRIBUTE OF SINCERE AFFECTION

FOR THE LIVING,
AND OF PROFOUND SORROW

FOR THE DEAD,

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,
BY THE AUTHOR.

96 1 869

PREFACE.

KING SOLOMON made a centre shot when he said
"of making many books there is no end," and
yet there is always " a long felt want" for another.
If it were not so the book trade would be un-
profitable. Acting on the belief that there is a
a gap somewhere to be filled, this book is writ-
ten. It was first projected about twenty years
ago — soon after the fall of Vicksburg. The
writer had been keeping a record of the events
in which the Seventy-Seventh participated,
while those events were transpiring, and while
all the circumstances were fresh in the mind.
But he did not rely alone upon his own sight-
seeing or his own judgment. Other members
of the regiment, from that day to this, have ren-
. dered valuable assistance. Among these may
be mentioned General D. P. Grier, Major J. M.
McCulloch, Lieutenant Henry P. Ayres and
J. H. Snyder, Musician of Co. " I." The latter
kept a daily record from first to last, noting all
the occurrences worth noting, with great care
and accuracy. To him I am indebted for the
use of his voluminous and interesting journals.
Much of the matter contained in these pages was

6 PREFACE.

derived from that source. To all who have as-
sisted in any way, I can only say, THANK YOU,
while indulging the hope that this work may
prove acceptable to the members of the regiment
and their friends, and be treasured as a memo-
rial of the trying scenes through which we were
called to pass.

It is not the intention to exalt the Seventy-
Seventh at the expense of any other regiment.
For pure, unselfish patriotism — for devotion to
principle — for endurance on the march and for
gallantry in the field, the Volunteer Army of the
United States during the war of the rebellion,
has no parallel in the history of nations. But
while this is true, each regiment has a history
peculiar to itself. And it is only right and
proper that it should receive full credit for all it
accomplished while in the service.

As the years roll on, and as one after another
takes up the line of march to that undiscovered
country from whose bourne no traveler returns,
may the ties of affection cemented by close com-
panionship during those years of bloody strife,
grow stronger as the sun lengthens the shadows
on our pathway of life. And at last may we
clasp glad hands and renew the friendships of
this life in that " house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens."

W. H. B.

PEORIA, ILL., Sept. 2, 1883.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

PAGE.

BY GENERAL D. P. GRIER, 9

CHAPTER THE FIRST.
"THE LONG ROLL,"

CHAPTER THE SECOND.

"REVIELLE," . .

CHAPTER THE THIRD.
To THE FRONT,

CHAPTER THE FOURTH.
ARKANSAS POST,

CHAPTER THE FIFTH.

ON TO VlCKSBURG,

CHAPTER THE SIXTH.

VlCKSBURG, 145

CHAPTER THE SEVENTH.
SUCCESS, 163

CHAPTER THE EIGHTH.
JACKSON, • 184

CHAPTER THE NINTH.
CARROLLTON, lltf>

CHAPTER THE TENTH.
BAYOU TKCHE, 205

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH. i-A(1E.

RECRUITS, 218

CHAPTER THE TWELFTH.
TEXAS, 234

CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH.
RED RIVER, 244

CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH.
A. J. SMITH, ^ 260

CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH.
PRISON LIFE, .281

CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH.
THE RETREAT, . 307

CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH.
GAINES AND MORGAN, 319

CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH.
"A SOFT THING," 327

CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH.
MOBILE, 336

CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH.
" ALL PRESENT OR ACCOUNTED FOR," . . 356

CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST.
"TATTOO," 378

CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND.

"TAPS," . . 385

INTRODUCTION.

ST. Louis, July 28, 1883.

W. H. BENTLEY, Peoria, III.

DEAR SIR: — I have read your History
of the Seventy-Seventh Regiment Illinois Vol-
unteer Infantry, with a good deal of pleasure,
and find it to be a very accurate and truthful
history of the services rendered to the Govern-
ment by that organization.

I feel that the Regiment is entitled to have its
history written. Its achievements during the
War of the Rebellion were of so high a charac-
ter, and it earned in so many hard fought bat-
tles such distinction, that a truthful history pub-
lished at this time, will be highly appreciated by
all the members and their friends. The book
will be highly prized by them, not only now,
but by their decendants in the future.

As the Commander of the Seventy-Seventh
during the entire term of its service, I take great
pride in its brilliant record. Our experience

10 INTRODUCTION.

during the whole war was a severe one. We
were constantly at* the front. Our long and te-
dious marches were trying. Our battles were
among the hardest fought during the war. But
our brave men went through all without mur-
muring, and in the most trying positions in
which they were placed, they never failed to
acquit themselves honorably. In the estimation
of their commanding generals, they stood second
to hone.

More than twenty years have passed since we
became soldiers; and in looking back over what
we passed through in those days, we naturally
feel that it was a hard life, and perhaps we
should not feel disposed, or should hesitate to
give another three years of our lives in the same
way. But I venture to say right here, that I do
not believe there is a man living who served with
us during those trying times, but is proud that
he was there, and that he will, during his whole
life, remember with a thrill of pleasure, that he
was once a soldier of the Seventy-Seventh Illi-
nois Regiment.

I believe that one great cause of the success
of the Regiment is due to the kind and charac-
ter of the men who composed it. The great
majority of them were young men who had been
carefully trained at their own homes by good
fathers and mothers, who had implanted in them
true and manly principles. They were young

INTRODUCTION. 11

men of intelligence, honest and upright. They
were men who scorned to commit a mean act.
On all occasions they could be depended upon to
go where you directed them, and to stay there as
long as there was any ground under thei? feet
to stand on. Such men as these were invincible,
and could only be successful, and I believe that
no force could resist an army like them, and
that they could march triumphantly around the
world.

We were also favored with good officers.
They all came from civil life — knew nothing
whatever of the life and duties of a soldier —
had never seen a battle in their lives, and in
fact had everything to learn. They learned it
in a very short time, and learned it well. They
behaved as well in battle as the veteran officers
of the regular army who had been in the service
all their lives. When, at the close of the war,
they were mustered out of service, most of them
were competent to take any command.

in conclusion, I wish here to congratulate you,
my old comrades in arms, on your past achieve-
ments. You served your country at a time
when you were badly needed, and you served it
well.

Twenty years have passed away since those
stirring events occurred, and the probabilities
are that you will never be called upon to take
part in another war. But you have the satis-

12 INTRODUCTION.

faction of leaving as a legacy to your descend-
ants, the record of the brave deeds done by you,
in the Great Rebellion of 1861-65. In the future
this will be more highly prized by them than
any other legacy you could leave them.

Yours truly,

D. P. GRIER..

CHAPTER THE FIRST.

" THE LONG ROLL."

)HE summer of 1862 was one of doubt and
darkness to the people of the northern
states. For long weary months we had
been waging an unsuccessful war against the foes
of constitutional liberty and popular rights.
Thousands of our bravest and best had gone to
the front to stem, if possible, the rushing tide of
battle. Many had perished on the field, and more
had fallen before a worse enemy — disease. De-
feat and victory were about equally balanced on
the line dividing loyalty and treason. There
was no silver lining to the dark cloud of war.
Hope and fear alternately took possession of
loyal hearts. The strongholds of the rebellion
seemed to be impregnable to our attacks. In
the east, Richmond, with bristling bayonets and
frowning batteries, had hurled back the solid
columns of the Army of the Potomac, with fear-
ful loss of life. In the west, Vicksburg and Port
Hudson closed the Mississippi against the com-
merce of the great states depending on it and
its tributaries for an outlet to the sea. The com-

14 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

bined efforts of the army and navy could not si-
lence the batteries or lower the flag of secession
at Mobile, Charleston or Savannah. Doubt and
uncertainty, almost amounting to despair, took
possession of the people. Prayers to the God
of battles had ascended from thousands of pul-
pits and firesides, for the success of our arms,
but no substantial success came in answer to
those prayers. "The brave began to fear the
power of man, and the pious to doubt the favor
of God."

Under these disheartening circumstances, on
the 28th of June, the governors of the northern
states addressed a memorial to the President,
urging upon him the necessity of a more vigor-
our prosecution of the war. They suggested
the propriety of calling upon the different states
for additional troops to fill up the vacancies al-
ready existing in the field, and to organize such
new forces as might be deemed necessary for the
prompt suppression of the rebellion. They told
him that the people were with the government
— that they were willing to sacrifice life, prop-
erty, everything, for the restoration of the Un-
ion and the perpetuity of our free institutions —
that they would respond to any demand made
upon them, and that every available means
should be brought to bear upon the one great
object-in view — the termination of the war.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 15

To this urgent appeal the President replied as
follows :

EXECUTIVE MANSION, \
Washington, D. C., July 1. j.

GENTLEMEN : — Fully concurring in the wisdom
of the views expressed to me in so patriotic a
manner by you in the communication of the 28th
day of June, I have decided to call into the ser-
vice an additional force of 300,000 men. I sug-
gest and recommend that the troops should be
chiefly of infantry.

The quota of your state would be . I

trust they may be enrolled without delay, so as
to bring this unnecessary and injurious civil war
to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion. A# or-
der fixing the quotas of the respective states will
be issued by the War Department.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

The key-note was struck. Henceforth there
was to be no temporizing. All the energies and
resources of the government and the people
were to be concentrated on a single object — the
successful termination of the war. The response
to this proclamation was emphatic and prompt.
From every pursuit and condition in life the peo-
ple rushed with one accord to the defense of the
glorious old flag of their fathers. Never before
in the history of the world had such a grand
uprising of the masses been witnessed.

16 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

The State of Illinois, true to her trust, was not
behind the others in contributing men and
means for the national defense. Recruiting
weat forward vigorously in every city and town
and hamlet in the state. The war was the all-
absorbing topic of the times. Enthusiastic war
meetings were held, and the people were alive to
the importance of the issues presented. And
when the work of enlistment was complete,
when the regiments were all full, that grand
army of stalwart men took up the line of march
southward — a living wall extending from the
Atlantic to the Mississippi — and as they
marched they sang,

" We are coining father Abraham,
Three hundred thousand more."

Among the regiments organized under the
President's call of July 1, was the Seventy-Sev-
enth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Peoria.
While the organization of the Regiment was in
progress, rival claims appeared for the colonelcy,
which for a time seemed difficult of adjustment.
Charles Ballance, Esq., a prominent citizen of
.Peoria, had been authorized by the governor to
raise a regiment of infantry. He had devoted
his time and energies to this object, and he very
naturally felt that he was the proper person to
command the regiment after it was fully organ-
ized. On the other hand, there was a strong
feeling in the Regiment, both among the officers

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 17

and men, in favor of David P. Grier, who was
also well known in Peoria and surrounding
country, and who was at that time the captain
of Co. "G," 8th Missouri Volunteers.

Mr. Ballance's friends urged his claims on
the ground that as he had been chiefly instru-
mental in organizing the Regiment, he had the
best right to command it. Captain Grier's
friends urged his military experience as a reason
why the command should be given to him. And
again, inasmuch as Mr. Ballance was an old
man, and an influential citizen, it was thought
that he could do more good for the country by
remaining at home than by going into the field.
But Captain Grier was a young man, and able
to endure the hardships and privations of a soK
dier's life, as he had already shown on the fields
of Donelson and Shiloh.

While arguments and negotiations upon the
subject in dispute were pending between the
parties interested, Gov. Yates commissioned Mr.
Ballance as colonel of the Regiment on the 18th
of August. By an arrangement subsequently
entered into, the command was transferred to
Captain Grier, and he was commissioned acord-
ingly, as will be seen by the following dispatch :

SPRINGFIELD, Sept. 4, 1862.
To Col.D. P. GRIER:

You will take command of the Seventy-
Seventh Regiment as Colonel, Lysander R.

18 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Webb as Lieutenant-Colonel, and M. V. Hotch-

kiss as Major.

By order of D. L. GOLD, A. A. G.

Gov. YATES.

On tbe third of September the Regiment was
formed on the parade ground, and Colonel Bal-
lance, in a neat and appropriate speech, took for-
mal leave of his command, at the same time
giving a detailed account of the difficulties
which had been encountered and overcome in
the formation of the Regiment. He then intro-
duced Captain Grier as our future Colonel, who
appeared upon the stand and remarked that
speech-making was out of his line of business,
and intimated that we might expect actions
rather than words from him. How far this in-
timation was realized, will be seen from the fol-
lowing pages. Col. Grier was followed by
Lieut. Col. Webb, who made a brief but elo-
quent speech. He expressed his satisfaction
that we had, at length, secured the organization
of a regiment, which he trusted would never
return dishonored from the field of battle. He
was glad that, as Col. Ballance had resigned his
commission, we would be led by an experienced
officer — one who had already seen active ser-
vice, and who was fully competent to command
us on the marchr in the camp, or on the battle
field. The proceedings were harmonious
throughout, and at the close three cheers were

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 19

given for Col. Ballance, three for Col. Grier, and
three for an undivided Union.

On the fourth of this month an election was
held for chaplain. Several candidates were
brought forward and warmly supported by their
respective friends. The choice fell on the Rev.
William G. Pierce, of Elmwood.

Having been mustered into the service of the
United States on the second day of September,
we now considered ourselves full-fledged soldiers
in every sense of the word. But we had much
to learn, and more to endure. We were well
uniformed in the regulation suit of blue, but the
arms first put into our hands were nothing but
the flint-lock muskets of ancient times — some
with locks and some without. With these we
paced our "beat" with as much security as
though we had been armed with the best rifles
in the government arsenals. But we could not
rely upon such weapons in conflict with an ene-
my, and acordingly we were soon armed with
Entield rifles. When we appeared on battallion
drill or dress parade we fancied that we made an
imposing display — that we were soldiers, terri-
ble as an army with banners. But we were sadly
mistaken, as subsequent experience proved.

Yet we were in the service of the United
States — OUR COUNTRY — and we resolved to do
the best we could. We looked forward with a
good deal of interest to the day when we should

20 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

be permitted to strike a blow in defense of the
government of our fathers. It is true we had
never witnessed " the pride and pomp and cir-
cumstance of glorious war." We had never
seen the death-dealing engines of destruction
decimating the ranks of an army. Many of
those who were now in the full vigor of life, and
joyously looking forward to active service, would
ere long, sleep their last long sleep beneath the
shades of a southern clime. The rattle of
musketry, the boom of artillery, and the din
of battle, would be their funeral dirge, while
their comrades in arms would drop the tear of
sorrow and regret over their remains, and then
pass on. The friends they left behind would
never welcome their return to the joys of home.
We thought of these things, yet felt none the
less inclined to go. We had something dearer
than life at stake, the perpetuation of our civil
and religious liberties, and if the shedding of our
blood would contribute to this end, we felt wil-
ling to make the sacrifice. At all events it was
our duty to go, and we went.

Camp life was something new. Our first intro-
duction to army rations was rather embarrass-
ing. We had not been educated for cooks, and
now we were brought face to face with the fact,
that we must either cook or starve. Our female
friends at home would have smiled if they could
have seen the perplexity -of countenance which

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 21

characterized us as we attempted to cook.
Often had we to enjoy an indifferent dinner or no
dinner at all, because we knew not how to pre-
pare it. But time heals many wounds and cures
many defects. It is not to be supposed, there-
fore, that we remained in ignorance on a subject
involving such vital interests. On the contrary
we soon learned, not only to endure privation
and hardships, but also to prepare an acceptable
meal — a meal which a king, in our circumstan-
ces, might envy.

There was an establishment in camp purport-
ing to be a sutler's shop, but which was, in re-
ality, a whisky shop. This was an eye-sore to the
members of the regiment, and they resolved that
the nuisance should be abated. Many of them
were religious, and many of those who made no
pretentious to a religious character, were tem-
perate in their habits, and they were not willing
that the Seventy-Seventh should become ad-
dicted to the vice of intemperance at the outset.
They notified the " sutler " that he must remove
his stock in trade within a specified time, or suf-
fer the consequences. With this order he prom-
ised compliance, but failed to make his promise
good. As mild measures had failed, other means
were resorted to. On the night of September
1st, the forces were formed in line of battle, com-
pletely investing the enemy's works. After
brief skirmishing an assault was ordered. The

22 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

assailants moved forward in handsome style with
unbroken lines, and after a faint resistance, the
works were carried by storm. This was our first
engagement and our first victory. It was com-
plete, bloodless and decisive. It was a harbinger
of good things to come, of greater victories to
follow.

The lady friends of the different companies
made frequent visits to our camp at Peoria,
bringing with them dainties which contrasted
strangely with the rough fare to which we were
becoming accustomed. Pies and cakes of all
kinds, and in almost endless profusion — fowls,
the barn-yard treasures of home, boiled, baked
and fricasseed, also contributed to satisfy our ap-
petites, together with other dishes of taste and
delicacy too numerous to mention. These were
happy days, and transient in their happiness.
But memory lingered long and pleasantly around
those happy scenes, and we thought of the act-
ors in them with feelings akin to veneration.
When separated far from them by time and dis-
tance, the beautiful language of the poet came
to our minds :

" Oh, still be my heart with such memories filled,
Like the vase in which roses have once been distilled;
You may break, you may ruin the vase if you will,
But the scent, of the roses will hang round it still."

As milk is an article not put down on the
government bill of fare, the "boys" were

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 23

obliged to run a dairy on their own account, .or
do without the milk. Of the two evils they
chose the least. This is the way it was done.
Forty or fifty cows, belonging to people in the
city, were in the habit of grazing in the vicinity
of the camp, and beyond. As they returned to
their homes in the evening the boys would head
them oft' and drive them into a corral. Here
they were at the mercy of their captors. While
two of the boys held a cow, four others seated
on their heels, would "draw" the daily rations
for six. On one occasion as they were thus en-
gaged, a funeral procession passed, wending its
slow and solemn way to the city of the dead.
The occupants of the first two carriages passed
by without noticing the proceedings. In the next
carnage a pleasant smile of recognition was no-
ticed, while the ludicrous scene was too much
for the afflicted friends who brought up the rear.
With one accord they burst into a hearty peal of
laughter, and acknowledged mentally, that what
soldiers don't know about drawing rations, isn't
worth knowing.

On the 20th of September the regiment
marched to the city for the purpose of receiving
a beautiful national fiag — a present from the
ladies of Peoria. The presentation speech was
made by Washington Cockle, Esq., and responded
to by Col. Grier, on behalf of the regiment,

24 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

after which we listened to an eloquent and thrill-
ing war speech by E. C. Ingersoll, Esq.

Soon after this the ladies presented us with
ten libraries of religious books — one for each
company. By this act of kindness they mani-
fested a desire that our intellectual and religious
wants should be supplied. They knew the temp-
tations incident to a life in the army, arid in
throwing these safeguards around us, they acted
a noble part. In addition to this, religious exer-
cises were held in camp almost every evening,
conducted by Mr. William Reynolds and other
Christian workers from the city. While these
exercises varied the monotony of camp life, they
were duly appreciated and long remembered
with gratitude by those for whom they were
intended.

Our time while in camp at Peoria, was chiefly
occupied with company and battallion drill,
thereby fitting us for active service in the Held.
It should be stated in this connection that we
were not alone in our encampment. The 85th,
86th, 102d, 103d, 108th and 112th Illinois Volun-
teers were with us. On the 27th of September,
in company with these regiments, we appeared
on review before Col. John Bryner, command-
ing the post. There were about 4,500 men, and
as this was our first appearance on review, and
the largest and most imposing military display
ever witnessed at this place, a very large assem-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 25

blage of men, women and children were present
to view the proceedings. Their presence inspired
us with confidence as our dense columns marched
past the officer reviewing the troops. We were
not, as yet, thoroughly drilled, and it is hoped
that those who witnessed our maneuvers on that
occasion, were charitable enough to pardon the
blunders of raw recruits.

We were now enacting the closing scenes of
our encampment at Peoria, as will be seen by the
following order which was issued about this
time :

HEADQUARTERS, |

77TH REGIMENT ILL. INFANTRY. /

Regimental Orders, No. 5.

Marching orders arrived for the regiment
last evening. Therefore every absent man must
report at headquarters immediately. If there
are any confined to their beds by sickness, they
must furnish a certificate from the physician in
attendance, and join the regiment as soon as
they are able to travel.

D. P. GRIER,

Col. Commanding 11th III. Infantry.

This looked like business. Something more
than playing soldier was in store for us. At last
the long-looked-for-day arrived. The 4th of
October came, and with it orders to pack knap-
sacks, prepare two days' rations and take up the
line of march. With these orders we yielded a
2

26 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

cheerful compliance, as we were becoming weary
of the monotonous routine of our duties in camp.

The place of our destination was Cincinnati.
It may be that we were too anxious to go, but
perhaps it was natural. There is something in
the excitement of a soldier's life that prompts
him to seek new scenes and new adventures, and
he never enjoys himself better than when mak-
ing these changes. At 2 o'clock P. M., the regi-
ment was formed, and soon after we were
marching to the depot. The citizens gave us
kindly greetings as we passed through the streets
of the city, aud when we reached the depot we
found a large assemblage of people who had
come from the city and country to witness our
departure. This was a trying time for the mem-
bers of the Seventy-Seventh. Fathers and
mothers, brothers and sisters were there, to bid,
perhaps, a last farewell to their departing friends.
But no doubt they cheerfully made the sacrifice
in view of the necessities of their country.

At 5 o'clock the signal was given — the thrill-
ing— oh, how thrilling — pressure of the hand
was exchanged — the farewell wrords were spoken
— the farewell kiss enjoyed — the engine whis-
tled— the wheels began to revolve, and that long
line of cars, filled with soldiers, bound for
"Dixie," moved off, leaving home and friends,
with all their endearing joys, behind.

CHAPTER THE SECOND.

"REVIELLE."

>HE Roll of the Seventy-Seventh Regi-
ment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as mus-
tered into the service of the United States
on the second of September, 1862, is herewith
presented. While it is not claimed that this
roll is absolutely correct, it is believed to be
nearly so. In the hurry and confusion and ex-
citement incident to the muster out of the Regi-
ment, it would be very strange if no mistakes
had occurred. But these mistakes are of minor
importance. The main facts and incidents re-
corded as pertaining to each individual member
are substantially correct. And as such, they are
respectfully submitted, with the hope that our
surviving comrades, in looking over these famil-
iar names, may call to mind the forms and fea-
tures of those brave men who gave their lives
for their country — that they may recall many
of the scenes and incidents, both serious and
comic, which occurred- on the march, in the
camp, and on the fatal field — and that the ties
of friendship and sincere affection, cemented by

28 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

those long, weary months of common sufferings
and common dangers, may grow stronger and
stronger with the advancing years, until the Su-
preme Grand Commander of armies and nations
shall sound the last " Tattoo" for the last surviv-
ing member of the Regiment.

FIELD AND STAFF.

COLONELS.

Charles Ballance, Peona.

Commissioned August 18, 1862, but not mustered.

David P. Grier, Peoria.

At the outbreak of the war, General Grier was engaged
in business at Elmwood, Illinois. As soon as he heard of
the fall of Fort Sumpter he expressed his determination to
enter the service. He at once began recruiting a company,
and the ranks were soon full, when he was elected captain.
He tendered the services of himself and company to Gov.
Yates, of Illinois, but as the state quota was already full,
he was not accepted. He then took his company to St.
Louis, where they were mustered into the service in June,
1861, as Co. " G," 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. As Cap-
tain of that company he was actively engaged for several
months, participating in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort
Donelson, Shiloh, and the siege and capture of Corinth,
Miss., besides many skirmishes of minor importance.

On the 25th day of August, 1862, Captain Grier was or-
dered to report at Springfield, Illinois, for orders. On ar-
riving there he was commissioned by Gov. Yates as colonel
of the 77th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Sept. 2d, and was
mustered on the 12th of the same month. He was in com-
mand of his regiment continuously from that time until
the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. During the siege
of Jackson, Miss., and until the return to Vicksburg, he was
in command of the Brigade to which the 77th belonged.
At Franklin and New Iberia, La., Nov. 1863, he commanded

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 29

the 2d Brigade, 4th Division, 13th Army Corps. In August,
1864, he was placed in command of all the land forces on'
Dauphine Island, Ala., under the orders of Major General
Granger, who was in command of the expedition. After
the capture of Fort Gaines, all the troops on the island,
excepting the 77th and one other regiment, crossed over to
the peninsula and laid siege to Fort Morgan. Colonel Grier
was ordered over with them, and retained command of all
the land forces there during the siege, and until the capture
of the Fort.

On the 26th of March, 1865, Colonel Grier was commis-
sioned BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL, a promotion well
earned by four years of faithful service, and too long with-
held. When General Canhy organized the expedition
against Mobile, in the spring of 1865, General Grier was
assigned to duty on his Brevet rank, and ordered to the
command of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 13th Army Corps.
He retained command of the Brigade during the entire
campaign against Mobile, and the assaults on Spanish Fort
and Blakely, and also after the capture of Mobile, on the
march up the Tombigbee River. On the return from that
march he was assigned to the command of the 3d Division,
13th Army Corps, and remained in command of the Divi-
sion until he and his regiment were mustered out, July 10,
1865.

During all this time, and in every position to which he
was assigned, General Grier had the entire confidence of
his own regiment, and of all the other troops under his com-
mand. As he led the 77th to the front in 1862, so he had
the satisfaction of bringing home what remained of that
regiment at the close of the war.

LIEUTENANT COLONELS.

Lysander R. Webb, Peoria.

Mustered Sept. 18, 1862; killed in battle at Mansfield,
La., April 8, 1864.

The following tribute to the memory of this gallant
officer is furnished by Mrs. Virginia B. Bash, of San Anto-
nia, Texas, formerly the wife of Col. Webb:

« * * * * AH mv papers anci letters connected with
the war, were burned in the Chicago fire of 1871, and so
far as I know, Col. Webb has no living relative.

" Left an orphan early in life, he was adopted by Colonel

30 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Shepherd, a man of large business connections, and, as was
supposed, of immense wealth. With the expectation of
inheriting this, he was reared in affluence, every imaginary
wish gratified before it was expressed, and petted extrava-
gantly by his doting foster-mother and her maiden sister.

" Notwithstanding this, he exhibited a strong literary
bias, and was, with many misgivings, sent to Yale. For
three years he continued his studies most creditably, but
near the close of that time was suddenly recalled home by
the accidental death of his guardian, speedily followed by
the death of his wife.

" An examination of the property to which he believed
himself heir, showed a lamentable state of affairs. Every-
thing was confusion, and the result of the disentanglement
swept away, not only his original patrimony, but every
penny belonging to Col. Shepherd, as well. But Col. Webb
was not one to sit down and cry over ill-fortune.

" Although little more than a boy, as soon as he compre-
hended the state of arTaiis, he started to Springfield, Mass.,
and made application for employment to the " Republican"
which was even at that early day, the leading paper of
Western New England. Something in the eager, boyish
face, attracted ths attention of Mr. Bowles, and he give him
a desk in the editorial room, as it chanced, bv the side of
J. G. Holland, the afterwards famous "Timothy Titcomb."

"For a year he worked night and day to learn his work,
asking no greater praise than the smiles of his associates.

" The next year, N. C. Geer, desiring to start a Republi-
can paper in Waukegan, Illinois, wrote to Mr. Bowles for a
" live editor" to take charge of it, and the result was that
Mr. Webb was sent to fill the place. From the first, the
success of the new enterprise was assured, and when, a
couple of years later, it was found necessary to establish a
new Republican daily paper in the stronghold of Democ-
racy, as Peoria was then considered, Mr. N. C. Geer was
induced to take it in hand, and Mr. Webb accompanied
him as editor. The magnetism of the new editor was felt
at once, and for the first time, Peorians had a paper of which
they were proud.

" In the course of the year Col. Webb was married to
Virginia, eldest daughter of Charles Ballance, a leading
lawyer of Central Illinois, and soon after, at the instigation
of his father-in-law, gave up his connection with the Tran-
srrifit, and began the study of law. Here his indomitable

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 31

energy and industry came to his aid, and in less than a year
he had accomplished what is considered a two year's course,
and was admitted to the bar. His partner was Peter Da-
vidson, afterwards Major of Artillery, and a brilliant future
opened before him. But the war broke out and the first
shot at the old flag sent the hot blood coursing through his
veins with indignation.

"The tears of his young wife kept him out of the first
levies, but when the call came for more men to put down a
rebellion whose strength no one guessed at, he could stand
it no longer, and scarcely counting the cost to those he
loved, enlisted as a private in the 77th. His subsequent
career is a matter of history and I need not touch upon it.
Repeated efforts were made to recover his remains that they
might be interred in the family lot at Peoria, but all proved
ineffectual. Like many another brave man, he sleeps in an
unknown grave to wait the final summons.

" Col. Webb was a singularly handsome man, with brown
hair and eye.-', and an engaging manner that few could re-
sist. As a soldier, he was brave and daring to a fault. It
was his fortune to lead his regiment on many trying occa-
sions, and in all he added fresh laurels to his reputation.
The affection between the various officers of the 77th was
unusually fraternal, and neither officers nor men would
have shrunk from any danger when Col. Webb led the way.

" Col. Webb was born in Berkshire County, Mass., sin-
gularly alone in the world. His brothers died in childhood,
his guardian was childless, and I never knew of but one
cousin, the Hon. J. A. Harris, of Cleveland, Ohio, and he,
too, has been dead for ten years."

John A. Burdett, Knoxville.

Mustered May 22, 1864; resigned January 3, 1865.

MAJORS.

Memoir V. Hotehkiss, Peoria.

Mustered September 12, 1862; resigned February 2,
1864.

John A. Burdett, Knoxville.

Mustered April 4, 1864; promoted Lieutenant-Colonel.

Joseph M. McCulloch, Cazenovia.

Commissioned April 8, 1864, but not mustered. In
command of Union prisoners at Camp Ford, Texas,
from October, 1864, to May, 1865; mustered out as
Captain of Company " C," July 7, 1865.

32 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

ADJUTANTS.

John Hough, Peoria.

Mustered as First Lieutenant of Co. " B," 17th Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, August 26, 1861; resigned April
16, 1862; mustered as First Lieutenant and Adjutant
of the 77th, September 12, 1862; promoted by the
President Assistant Adjutant-General on the staff of
Gen. A. J. Smith, May 15, 1863.

Henry P. Ayres, Galesburg.

Enlisted as Private August 5, 1862; mustered as Cor-
poral Co. "A," September 2, 1862; promoted Ser-
geant-Major January 14, 1863; mustered as First-
Lieutenant and Adjutant May 15, 1863; on detached
service as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General 2d
Brigade, 4th Division, 13th Army Corps. November
21, 1863; also in 1st Brigade of same Division, Janu-
ary 28, 1864. He was also detached as A. A. A. G.,
on the staff of Col. W. J. Landram, commanding 4th
Division, 13th Army Corps', March 15, 1864, and in that
capacity participated in the battle of Mansfield, La.,
April 8, 1864, and was highly complimented for
"gallantry and efficiency" on that occasion. Was
again detached as A. A. A. G., 3d Brigade, 3d Division,
19th Army Corps, July 13, 1864; mustered out July
10, 1865.

QUARTERMASTER.

David McKinney, Peoria.

Mustered September 12, 1862; on detached service as
Acting Assistant -Quartermaster, 2d Brigade, 4th
Division, 13th Army Corps; promoted Captain and
Assistant-Quartermaster May 15, 1865; on duty as
Post-Quartermaster at mouth of White River and at
Duvall's Bluff, Ark.; mustered out at Duvall's Bluff
January 15, 1866.

SURdEON.

Charles Winnie, Somonauk.

Mustered Assistant Surgeon 55th Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, November 25, 1861; promoted Surgeon of
the 77th, and mustered December 20, 1862; mustered
out July, 10, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 33

ASSISTANT SURGEONS.

Jesse M. Cowan, Magnolia.

Mustered September 30, 1862; mustered out at consoli-
dation.

John Stoner, Minonk.

Mustered September 30, 1862; mustered out July 10,
1865.

CHAPLAINS.

William G. Pierce, Elmwood.

Mustered September 12, 1862; resigned January 7, 1864.
John S. McCulloch.

Mustered April 5, 1864; mustered out July 10, 1865.

NON - COMMISSIONED STAFF.

SERGEANT MAJORS.

Jehu Buckingham, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; transferred to Co. " C," June 21, 1863.
Henry P. Ayres, Galesburg.

August 5, 1862; promoted Adjutant May 15, 1863.
Walter JB. Hotchkiss, Peoria.

August 12, 1862; discharged for disability September

22, 1864.
Charles H. Arms, Knoxville.

August 1, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS.

Joe H. Stevison, Magnolia.

August 5, 1862; promoted Second Lieutenant Co. "B."
George W. Cone, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; promoted Second Lieutenant Co. "I."
William Stiteler, Knoxville.

August 7, 1862; transferred to Co. "A," January 26,

1865.
Leonidas H. Bradley.

Transferred from 130th ID. Infantry; retransferred to

130th 111. Infantry as revived.

34 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

COMMISSARY SERGEANTS.

Nathaniel H. Wakefield, Peoria.

August 9, 1862; transferred to Co. "C," December 21,

1862.
William H. Bennett, Peoria.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

HOSPITAL STEWARDS.

Ambrose B. Niles, Eugene.

August 5, 1862; discharged for disability June 20, 1864.
Joel Allen, Minonk.

August 8, 1862; commissioned Assistant Surgeon July

24, 1865, but not mustered; mustered out July 10,

1865.

PRINCIPAL MUSICIANS.

Daniel B. Allen, Elmwood.

August 12, 1862; discharged for disability March 15,

1863.
John W. Carroll, Peoria.

August 7, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Lemon H. Wiley, Elmwood.

August 5, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

ROLL OF COMPANY "A."

CAPTAINS.

John A. Burclett, Knoxville.

Mustered September 2, 1862; promoted Major.
Gardner G Stearns, Knoxville.

Mustered April, 4, 1864; mustered out July 10, 1865.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

Gardner G. Stearns, Knoxville.

Mustered September 2, 1862; promoted Captain.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 35

Merritt M. Clark, Galesburg.

Date of rank February 2, 1864; mustered out July 10,
1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Merritt M. Clark, Galesburg.

Mustered September 2, 1862; promoted First Lieu-
tenant.

Charles H. Arms, Knoxville.

Date of rank February 2, 1864; declined commission.

William H. Wilcox, Galesburg.

Commissioned February 2, 1864; not /mistered; mus-
tered out as Sergeant July 10, 1865.

SERGEANTS.

W. H. Ilolcomb, Jr., Knoxville.

August 1, 1862; discharged March 12, 1864, for promo-
tion in U. S. Colored Troops.

Walter B. Hotchkiss, Peoria.

August 12, 1862; promoted Sergeant Major.

William H. Wilcox, Galesburg.

August 5, 1862; commissioned Second Lieutenant, but
not mustered; mustered out July 10, 1865.

John F. Campbell, Peoria.

August 7, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.

Thomas Harrison, Galesburg.

July 18, 1862; discharged May 7, 1864, for promotion
in U. S. Colored Troops.

CORPORALS.

Arthur H. Rugg, Peoria.

August 12, 1862; discharged as Sergeant, December 18,
1863.

John II. Sanburn, Knoxville.

August 1, 1862; discharged March 12, 1864, for promo-
tion in U. S. Colored Troops.

Lyman West, Galesburg.

July 17, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

W. D. Putnam, Peoria.

August 14, 1862, discharged December 17, 1863, for pro-
motion in U. S. Colored Troops.

36 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Charles H. Arms, Knoxville.

August 1, 1862; promoted Sergeant, then Sergeant

Major.
John A. Griffith, Galesburg.

July 31, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant June 7, 1865.
Henry P. Ayres, Galesburg.

August 5, 1862; promoted Sergeant-Major.
Charles G. Field, Galesburg.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

WAGONER.

William Stiteler, Knoxville.

August 7, 1862; promoted Q. M. Sergeant; returned to
company; mustered out July 10, 1865.

PRIVATES.

Andrew J. Abraham, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; died a prisoner of war at Tyler, Texas,

December 14, 1864.
John Anderson, Knoxville.

August 11, 1862; discharged for wounds received at

Arkansas Post.
Frank W. Ash, Peoria.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Robert H. Avery, Galesburg.

August 15, 1862; discharged at Springfield, 111., July

22, 1865.
Horatio F. Bacon, Galesburg.

August 5, 1862 ; killed at New Orleans December 25,

1863.
Henry A. Barber, Elba.

August 12, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant June 17,

1865.
Samuel Bolt, Knoxville.

August 15, 1862; died of wounds June 21, 1863.
James H. Bull, Galesburg.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability April 6, 1863.
William H. H. Burdett, Knoxville.

August 1, 1862; discharged for disability April 7, 1863.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 37

John C. Burlingame, Galesburg.

July 17, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
George D. Butler, Galesburg.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant, July 10, '65.
Wilberforce Churchill, Galesburg.

August 1, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., February

7, 1863.
William 8. Coe, Knoxville.

August 9, 1862; discharged as Sergeant for disability,

June 2, 1865.
James S. Coe, Knoxville.

August 22, 1862; mustered out as Corporal June 17,

1865.
George Connell, Truro.

August 12, 1862; transferred to V. E. C., July 7, 1864.
Isaac Conner, Knoxville.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Milton Dippery, Knoxville.

August 7, 1862; discharged for wounds November 17,

1863.
James Divert, Knoxville.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
James H. Divilbiss, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Samuel S. Divilbiss, Peoria.

August 7, 1862; killed at Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864.
Ulysses Edwards, Kickapoo.

August 12, 1862; died at Memphis, September 3, 1863.
Benjamin Fry, Peoria.

August 11, 1862; mustered out May 18, 1865.
Horace F. Ferris, Galesburg.

August 15, 1862; discharged February 6, 1864, for

promotion in U. S. Colored Troops.
Alexander R. Fisher, Knoxville.

August 11, 1862; died in Knox County, Illinois, Octo-
ber 10, 1863.
Charles P. Foster, Truro.

August 12, 1862; discharged for disability April 7,

1863.
Francis G. Fuller, Galesburg.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

38 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Edward F. Green, Galesburg.

August 5, 1862; mustered out as Corporal, June 17,

1865.
Ira R. Hall, Galesburg.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Henry D. Hester, Galesburg,

August 7, 1862; discharged for disability April 7, 1863.
Cornelius Hensey, Galesburg.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability April 7, 1863.
Peter Holcomb, Knoxville.

August 15, 1862; died at New Orleans, Nov. 10, 1863.
Conrad J. Haller, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Asahel E. Hnrd, Galesburg.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 8, 1865.
Charles T. Kurd, Peoria.

August 15, 1862; transferred to Signal Corps, October 1,

1863.

E. Winthrop Jenny, Galesburg.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

Cyrus A. Kroeson, Kickapoo.

August 12, 1862; transferred to V. E. C., July 7, 1864.

Washington Kroeson, Radnor,

August 12, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

Henry E. Losey, Galesburg.

August 1, 1862; discharged January 23, 1864, for pro-
motion as Major in the U. S. Colored Troops.

W. W. Luddington, Knoxville.

August 9, 1862; died at Cairo, 111., March 10, 1863.

Daniel Lockbaum, Knoxville.

August 8, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

Lewis Mather, Knoxville.

August 9, 1862; died at St. Louis, Missouri, March 16,
1863.

S. Mather, Knoxville.

August 1, 1862; died at St. Louis, Mo., February 14,
1863.

Henry H. Miller, Galesburg.

August 1, 1862; discharged April 9, 1864, for promo-
tion in U. S. Colored Troops.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 39

James M. McGraw, Galesburg.

August 18, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
John L). Moore, Knoxville.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability June 11,

1863.
J. R. Moss, Peoria.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability May 15,

1863.
John W. Ostrander, Knoxville.

July 31, 1862; died at Milliken's Bend, La., April 6,

1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg,

Section F; number of grave, 119.
William Ott, Knoxville.

August 6, 1862; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.
Julius Rambo, Knoxville.

August 9, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
John P. Randall, Knoxville.

August 12, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
John Reynolds, Knoxville.

August 15, 1862; discharged for disability June 3,

1863.
Alfred Russell, Knoxville.

August 6, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Luther G. Russell, Elmwood.

August 12, 1862; mustered out as Corporal June 17,

1865.
Charles W. Sanburn, Knoxville.

August 1, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Fred. Summers, Peoria.

August 11, 1862; discharged for disability, August 7,

1864.
Lester T. Stone, Peoria.

August 15, 1862; transferred to Signal Corps, October

1, 1863.
William Sturgeon, Peoria.

August 15, 1862; discharged for disability June 15,

1863.
Lewis J. Swan, Knoxville.

August 7, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

40 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

>

James H. Tarleton, Knoxville.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
John Tompkins, Knoxville.

August 7, 1862; died of wounds January 16, 1863.
Daniel B. Trench, Peoria.

August 11, 1862; died of wounds January 12, 1863.
Henry Varley, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; mustered out as Corporal July 10,

1865.
Charles H. Ward, Galesburg.

August 11, 1862; discharged "March 22, 1864, to enlist

as Hospital Steward, U. S. A.
Mason M. White, Peoria.

August 13, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
John Wilber, Knoxville.

August 2, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
Henry Wilson, Peoria.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant June 17,

1865.
John P. Wilson, Peoria.

August 15, 1862; discharged for wounds Sept. 10, 1863.
Samuel R. Wilson, Peoria.

August 15, 1862; discharged May 12, 1864, for promo-
tion in U. S. Colored Troops.
A. D. Witherell, Knoxville.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865,
George Woodmansee, Jr., Knoxville.

August 5, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Joseph D. Woodruft', Galesburg.

Ausrsst 11, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., June 9,

1863.
John L. Woolsey, Knoxville.

August 1, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 41

BOLL OF COMPANY " B."

CAPTAINS.

Robert Irwin, Magnolia.

September 2. 1862; killed at Arkansas Post, January

11, 1863.
Joe H. Stevison, Peoria.

March 1, 1863; mustered out June 13, 1865.
Addison E. McCaleb, Robertson.

January 16, 1863; not mustered; resigned as First

Lieutenant, March 2, 1863.

FIRST-LIEUTENANTS.

Henry B. Kays, Putnam County.

September 2, 1862; resigned December 6, 1862.
Charles C. Tracy, Peoria.

January 16, 1863; mustered out at consolidation.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Addison E. McCaleb, Robertson.
September 2, 1862; promoted.

Joe H. Stevison, Peoria.
January 16, 1863; promoted.

Samuel W. Cook, Magnolia.

May 29, 1863; resigned September 13, 1864.

Orange Parrott, Magnolia.

March 17, 1865; transferred as consolidated; commis-
sioned Captain July 24, 1865, but not mustered; mus-
tered out as 2d Lieutenant July 10, 1865.

SERGEANTS.

Isaac Sprague, Palatine.

August 8, 1862; discharged Juue 15, 1863.
Samuel W. Cook, Magnolia.

August 4. 1862; promoted 2d Lieutenant.
Henry Foster, Magnolia.

August 6 1862; discharged December 20, 1862.
3

42 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

John Walcott, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; mustered out as Private July 10,

1865.
James Wier, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Private July 10, 1865.

CORPORALS.

Lyman S. Calkins, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; mustered out June 7, 1865.

Hiram Compton, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; died at Magnolia, Illinois, September
28, 1863.

David Simpson, Magnolia.

August 6, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

Marion Kays, Magnolia.

August 12, 1862; died at Memphis June 8, 1863.

William Dugan, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; 'died at New Orleans, February 18,
1865.

Ervin O. Smith, Magnolia.

August 12, 1862; discharged December 8, 1863.

John W. Massie, Magnolia.

August 12, 1862; discharged July 25, 1864.

Thomas G. Harris, Magnolia.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865; commis-
sioned 1st Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but not mus-
tered.

MUSICIANS.

Silas Norris, Hennepin.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Rice Dunbar, Hennepin.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

PRIVATES.

Anderson Alexander, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., February

3, 1863.
John Alexander, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 43

John Brown, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Frank Bobbett, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; discharged December 21, 1862.
William G. Boman, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William W. Blakeslee, Peoria.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
George Chambers, Magnolia.

August 11, 1862; died of wounds April 12, 1864.
Stephen Compton, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; died at Milliken's Bend, La., March

19, 1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg,

Section F; number of grave, 121.
Francis M. Cook, Magnolia.

August 13, 1862; discharged April 16, 1863.
Jonas Ellenburgh, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 7, 1865.
Marion Ellenburgh, Magnolia.

August 13, 1862; discharged May 13, 1865.
Jacob Ely, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; killed at Mansfield, La., April 8,

1864.
Elias Fisher, Peoria.

August 13, 1862; discharged February 18, 1863.
William F. Fulsom, Hennepin.

August 22, 1862; discharged April 16, 1863.
Samuel Grable, Magnolia.

August 10, 1862; killed at Arkansas Post January 11,

1863.
Aaron Grimes, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; discharged April 16, 1863.
Hamilton Gurnea, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; died at Milliken's Bend, La., March

28, ^63.
William German, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; discharged at Memphis.
Robert Hines, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; transferred to V. R. C., May 15, 1864,

44 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Charles Henthorne, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William W. Head, Magnolia.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John A. Hoessel, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; discharged at Mound City, Illinois.
Isaac B. Head, Magnolia.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 1, 1865.
George M. Holmes, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; discharged June 20, 1864.
William P. Johnson, Magnolia.

August 6, 1862; died near Vicksburg July 25, 1863.
George W. Kays, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; discharged December 20, 1862.
William King, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; discharged January 16, 1864.
Hiram Kraft, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; discharged July 11, 1864.
James King, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John E. McComber, Magnolia.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Henry S. McFarland, Peoria.

- Died at Young's Point. La., March 4, 1863.
James Malone, Magnolia.

_ August 13, 1862: discharged March 12, 1863.
Philip Nelling, Magnolia.

August 10, 1862; killed at Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864.
Roger Ong, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William Oldham, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; discharged February 13, 1863.
Orange Parrott, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; promoted First Sergeant; then Second

Lieutenant.
Abram L. Poyer, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; died near Cairo, 111., February 19, 1863.
Jonathan Poyer, Magnolia.

- Mustered out July 10, 1865.
David Parkin, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; discharged August 25, 1864.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 45

John Ruley, Magnolia.

August, 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John A. Roberts, Lacon.

August 6, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
James M. Roberts, Lacon.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Jesse Ray, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; discharged at Memphis.
Lewis E. Simpson, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; discharged August 12, 1863.
Augustus Schermeman, Magnolia.

August 10, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Franklin Smith, Magnolia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 22, 1865.
Edward Sergeant, Magnolia.

August 15, 1862; died at Memphis, Dec. 19, 1862.
Jesse Studivan, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; discharged June 21, 1863.
Joe H. Stevison, Peoria.

August 5, 1862; promoted Quartermaster Sergeant.
Edward Swargy, Magnolia.

August 12, 1862; died of wounds January 16, 1863.
Charles C. Tracy, Peoria.

August 6, 1862; promoted 1st Lieutenant.
Jacob Van Winkle, Magnolia.

i August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Samuel Vanhorn, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; mustered out as Corporal July 10,

1865; commissioned 2d Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but

not mustered.
William A. West, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
George W. Welser, Magnolia.

August 9, 1862; mustered out May 25, 1865.
George N. Woodring, Magnolia.

August 13, 1862; discharged May 13, 1865.
Allen Woodring, Magnolia.

August 10, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Daniel E. Winters, Magnolia.

August 12, 1862; transferred to V. R. C., June 27, 1865.
Eli T. Way, Magnolia.

August 22, 1862; discharged April 8, 1863.

46 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

ROLL OF COMPANY " C."
CAPTAIN.

Joseph M. McCulloch, Cazenovia.

September 1, 1862; mustered out July 7, 1865.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

William A. Woodruff, Peoria.

September 2, 1862; resigned March 17, 1863.
Philip Jenkins, Cazenovia.

March 17, 1863; resigned February 12, 1864.
Anderson Wright, Cazenovia.

May 24, 1864; mustered out at consolidation.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Philip Jenkins, Cazenovia.

September 2, 1862; promoted First Lieutenant.
Charles F. McCulloch, Cazenovia.

March 17, 1863; commissioned First Lieutenant May
11, 1865; transferred as consolidated; commissioned
Captain April 8, 1864, but not mustered; mustered out
as Second Lieutenant June 17, 1865.

SERGEANTS.

Charles F. McCulloch, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; promoted Second Lietenant.
George A. Hart, Woodford County.

August 14, 1862; died at Peoria, 111., October 2, 1862.
Jehu Buckingham, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; promoted Sergeant Major; reduced at

his own request; mustered out July 10, 1865.

John S. Hornbaker, Peoria.

August 9. 1862; discharged for wounds August 28, 1863.
Anderson Wright, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; promoted First Sergeant; then First

Lieutenant.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 47

CORPORALS.

Joseph A. Hutchinson, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865, as Sergeant;
commissioned First Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but not
mustered.

Alfred G. Thorn, Linn.

August 13, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

John Sewell, Peoria.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865; commis-
sioned Second Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but not mus-
tered.

Albert Shepherd, Logan.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

John C. Heron, Metamora.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability June 16, 1864.

James P. Black, Richland.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

Thomas S. Patton, Logan.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

James H. Drennan, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; promoted Sergeant; died of wounds
May 26, 1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicks-
burg; Section G; number of grave, 1011.

MUSICIAN.

Enoch Buckingham, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

WAGONER.

Moses Carles, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

PRIVATES.

Samuel T. Acres, Linn.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
J. "William Avery, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out as Corporal July 10, 1865.
William H. Bennett, Peoria.

August 12, 1862; promoted Commissary Sergeant.

48 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Alfred M. Blackman, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph C. Burson, Shelby.

August 13, 1862; died at Blackburn, 111., February 12,

1864.
Robert Bennett, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; killed at Vicksburg, May 22, 1863.
James Crow, Limestone.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Minor Calvert, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
O. A. Cotton, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; transferred to V. R. C. September 30,

1864.

W. F. Carson, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John B. Carson, Metamora.

August 13, 1862; died at Memphis, April 12, 1863.
James Drake, Panola.

August 22, 1862; died of wounds June 6, 1863; buried

in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Section G; number

of grave, 1034.
John T. Davis, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Andrew Dorson, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; died at Memphis, December 25, 1862.
John C. Dunbar, Logan.

August 11, 1862; discharged for wounds Jan. 16, 1864.
Dennis Duff, Logan.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Lewis Duchesne, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability Feb. 7, 1863.
Henry C. Duchesne, Woodford County.

August 21, 1862; discharged for disability Feb. 7, 1863.
Alexander Debolt, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability Feb. 7, 1863.
Charles C. Enslow, Linn.

August_13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph Fisher, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 49

Isaiah Fisher, Woodford County.

August 15, 18(32; mustered out July 10, 1865.
August Farrer, Metamora.

August 13, 1862; supposed killed at Vicksburg.
Philo W. Gallop, Roanoake.

August 13, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
William C. Gordon, Henry.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability April, 1863.
Clinton L. Gennoway, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.
Edward Hall, Logan.

August 11, 1862; died at Memphis December 23, 1862.
Samuel M. Hart, Woodford County.

August 5, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
A. Warren Howard, Selby.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
David W. Hilsabeck, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability March 20,

1863.
Frank N. Ireland, Richland.

August 21, 1862; discharged for disability Jan. 20, 1863.
Cephas H. John, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; transferred to V. R. C. April 28, 1864.
Henry R. Kirby, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; discharged July 12, 1863.
John Kennedy, Washburn.

August 13,1862; mustered out a prisoner of war June

17, 1865.
William M. Kerrick, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
James A. Lindsay, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Samuel A. Lessly, Woodford County.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability October 20,

1863.
George M. Lay, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; died near Arkansas Post, January 10,

1863.
John M. McCormick, Woodford County.

August 9; 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

50 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Edwin R. Mann, Woodford County.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
James R. McCracken, Logan.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865
Thomas H. McCulloch, Woodford County.

August 14 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William D. McCoy, Woodford County.

August 14, 1862; detailed in Chicago Mercantile Bat-
tery May 2, 1863; taken prisoner at Mansfield, La.,

April 8, 1864, exchanged May 27, 1865; mustered out

June 17, 1865.
Joshua W. McCoy, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Philip H. McCartney, Logan.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability April 3, 1863.
William R. Moore, Low Point.

August 13, 1862; discharged January 20, 1865.
Daniel H. Norris, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Benjamin Pitcher, Peoria.

August 19, 1862; discharged for disability April 3,

1863.
John A. Pinkerton, Logan.

August 7, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William M. Pinkerton, Logan.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Bonaparte Palmer, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Reuben Parnham, Woodford County.

August 11, 1862; died at Memphis April 21, 1863.
John G. Philips, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability March 25,

1863.
William Richards, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; died at St. Louis, Mo., April 9, 1863.
Andrew Ruling, Metamora.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Martin V. Robbins, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Alma Rogers, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability Oct., 30, 1863.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 51

Joseph T. Sims, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Joseph R. Sims, Woodford County.

_ August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William Sims, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William Stevenson, Linn.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Alfred B. Bcrogin, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability November

17, 1863.
Anton Scher, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; mustered out June 20, 1865.
William Stephenson, Cazenovia.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10: 1865.
Isaac M. Thorn, Cazenovia.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability Feb. 27, 1863.
Silas P. Thompson, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability March 9,

1863.
James W. Vanarsdale, Linn.

August 11, 1862; died at Memphis Feb. 23, 1863.
Merrick J. Wald, Woodford County.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Edward Wallace, Logan.

August 11, 1862; died January 26, 1863.
John P. Wiley, Limestone.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865, as 1st Ser-
geant; commissioned Captain July 24, 1865, but not

mustered.
Nathaniel R. Waketield, Peoria.

August 9, 1862; Reduced from Commissary Sergeant;

deserted.
William W. White, Woodford County.

August 13, 1862; died at Jefferson Barracks June 22,

1864.
George M. Woodburn, Logan.

August 21, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William M. Wright, Peoria.

August 9. 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

52 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

James H. Wedley, Woodford County.

— Mustered out July 10, 1865.
William Wiley, Peoria.

August 5, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
James Yeldon, Cazenovia.

August 18, 1862; died at Memphis Feb. 26, 1863.

BOLL OF COMPANY "D."

CAPTAIN.

Robert H. Brock, Lacon.

September 2, 1862; transferred as consolidated; mus-
tered out July 10, 1865; commissioned Lieut. Colonel
July 24, 1865, but not mustered.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

William J. Goodrich, Lacon.

September 2, 1862; resigned June 9, 1864.

John M. Shields, Lacon.

November 27, 1864; transferred as consolidated; mus-
tered out July 10, 1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

John M. Shields, Lacon.

September 2, 1862; promoted First Lieutenant.

SERGEANTS.

Benjamin F. Thomas, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865; commis-
sioned Second Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but not mus-
tered.

James T. Bender, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered July 10, 1865.

Jacob C. Batrum, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

Reuben Taylor, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; discharged as private, for disability,
February 20, 1863.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 53

William Wilson, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as private June 17, 1865.

CORPORALS.

Moroni Owens, Rich land.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Frederick B. Jones, Richland.

Aujjust 9, 1862; died of wounds May 20, 1863.
James Scoon, Richland.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
James Laughlin, Richland.

August 9, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., February 4,

1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Sec-
tion C; number of grave, 161.
Nicholas S. Sharon, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; discharged for disability June 26, 1863.
Thomas Frail, Lacon.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
James M. Powers, Lacon.

August 9, 1862, died January 18, 1863.
William A. Fisher, Hopewell.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

MUSICIANS.

John C. Barney, Belle Plain.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Charles Chambers, Richland.

August 11, 1862, discharged for disability March 5, 1865.

WAGONER.

John McWhinney, Lacon.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

PRIVATES.

Umphred Bickel, Belle Plain.

August 9, 1862; died June 15, 1863.
John Blackmore, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

54 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Jacob Buck, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., February

18, 1863.
Ithamar Baker, Bennington.

August 15, 1862; mustered ou' July 10, 1865.
Thomas Burlingame, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability July 21, 1863.
Horace Burlingame, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Lewis H. Burlingame, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; deserted October 4, 1862
George W. Brewer, Oxford.

August 9, 1862; mustered out June 11, 1865.

Andrew J. Brewer, Lacon.

August 22, 1862; died of wounds at Vicksburg, May 23,

1863.
Alonzo J. Brewer, Belle Plain.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John H. Benson, Putnam.

August 9, 1862, mustered out as Corporal July 10, 1865.
Frank A. Bennett, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability January 31,

1863.
Samuel H. Bender, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; di-charged for disability December 26,

1862.
Rufus A. Chambers, Lacon.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Barnard Connolly, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
Daniel Chambers, Roberts.

August 9, 1862; drowned at Young's Point. La., Jan-
uary 31, 1863.
Thompson Criseston, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; dropped September 3, 1863; supposed

to be dead.
William H. Cassel, Whitefield.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
George W. DeLong, Roberts.

August 12, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 55

Albert DeLong, Roberts.

August 11, 1862; died of wounds, May — , 1864.
Peter Degner, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; died of wounds, May 22, 1863.
John T. Durham, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Corporal July 10, 1865.
Andrew Dufty, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered July 10, 1865.
George Echols, Steuben.

August 6, 1862; died at Memphis, December 30, 1862.
Martin V. Etheridge, Hopewell.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Henry Ebersold, Lacon.

August 18, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William P. Evans, Marshall County.

August 12, 1862; deserted November 22, 1862.
George Fairchilds, Richland.

August 15, 1862; died at St. Louis, Mo., February 7,

1863.
Daniel Fowler, Lacon.

August 12, 1862; transferred to V. R. C., September 30,

1863.
Alpheus Ford, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; deserted November 1, 1863.
Isaac Ford, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability, August 14,

1864.
William P. Fenn, Lacon.

August 22, 1862; died at Mobile, Ala., March 13, 1865.
Charles O. Henthorn, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered out June 30, 1865.
Samuel Hadlock, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Frederick W. Hake, Brimfield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Martin Hoagland, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; died of wounds at Vicksburg, June

18, 1863.
Jason M Hunter.

August 13, 1862; accidentally killed August 19, 1863.

56 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

John Harigan, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
James P. Isom, Richland.

August 9, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
Benjamin K. Jackson, Richland.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Frederick Kraft, Lacon.

August 14, 1862; died at St. Louis, Mo., July 1, 1863.
Daniel Kennedy, Richland.

August 11, 1862; deserted January 21, 1863.
Apollos Laughlin, Lacon.

August 19, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
William Laidlon, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John McGowan, Lacon.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Griffith Moyer, Lacon.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Ernestes J. Meyers, Hopewell.

August 11, 1862; died of wounds at Vicksburg, May

30, 1863 ; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg,

Section G; number of grave, 1006.
Martin V. Meyers, Hopewell.

August 11, 1862; discharged for disability May 20,

1864.
Warren D. Meyers, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
George C. Moore, Hopenell.

August 9, 1862; died of wounds at St. Louis, Jan. 22,

1863.
John Martin, Lacon.

August 15, 1862; died at Memphis, April 6, 1863.
Peter Overmier, Hopewell.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William R. Owens, Lacon.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William Post, Lacon.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John N. Pratt, Belle Plain.

August 12, 1862; mustered out June 29, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 57

John W. Riggs, Lacon.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability March 20,

1863.
Samuel Sawyer, Hopewell.

August 9, 1862; died at Springfield, 111., June 21, 1864.
Richard Shaw, Lacon.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Jesse Sawyer, Hopewell.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John A. Stockton, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
David B. Stockton, Chillicothe.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John Scoon, Rutland.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Cornelius Twinam, Lacon.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph Tronier, Lacon.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John Torrence, Lacon.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Jacob Vanderson, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; transferred to V. R. C. Dec. 21, 1863.
John D. Winters, Lacon.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Henry Wagoner, Lacon.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability Dec. 26,

1862.
Joseph Willis, Lacon.

Amgust 11, 1862; died a prisoner of war at Tyler,

Texas, June 17, 1864.

ROLL OP COMPANY " E."

CAPTAIN.

Edwin Stevens, Princeville.

September 2, 1862; transferred as consolidated; mus-
tered out July 10, 1865; commissioned Major July 24,
1865, but not mustered.

4

58 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Samuel J. Smith, Hollis.

September 2, 1862; transferred as consolidated; mus-
tered out July 10, 1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

James H. Schnebly, Medina.

Saptember 2, 1862; discharged March 28, 1863.
Henry L. Bushuell, Peoria.

July 15, 1863; transferred as consolidated; honorably

discharged June 2, 1865.

SERGEANTS.

William Dawson, Rosefield.

August 5, 1862; died at Memphis, December 21, 1862.

George B. Stiles, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability, April 10,
1863.

William I. Brooks, Elmwood.

August 9, 1862; died at Quincy, 111., Januarys, 1864.

Henry E. Slough, Kickapoo.

August 14, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

James Parr, Logan.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865; commis-
sioned Second Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but not mus-
tered.

CORPORALS.

Henry L. Bushnell, Peoria.

August 9, 1862; promoted First Sergeant; then Second

Lieutenant.
Erasmus 1). Richardson, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; discharged as private for disability,

September 4, 1863.
Wilson G. Morris, Radnor.

August 5, 1862; deserted September 19,' 1862.
Benjamin F. Robbins, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; died a prisoner of war at Savannah,

Georgia.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 59

Ellis Hakes, Millbrook.

August 7, 1862; discharged for disability, January 8,
1863.

Andrew J. Dunlap, Radnor.

Angust 4, 1862; died at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Feb-
ruary 28, 1863.

R. McKee Davis, Peoria.

July 22, 1862; died of wounds, May 27, 1863; buried
in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Section G; num-
ber of grave, 1012.

Henry Patf, Kickapoo.

August 14, 1862; committed suicide July 11, 1863.

MUSICIANS.

Daniel B. Allen, Elmwood.

August 12, 1862; promoted Principal Musician.
John W. Carroll, Peoria.

August 7, 1862; promoted Principal Musician June 29,

1864.

WAGONER.

Louis Z. Rench, Medina.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

PRIVATES.

Henry Adams, Peoria.

August 21, 1862; discharged for disability, April 5,

1863.
Joseph Adams, Peoria.

August 21, 1862; discharged for disability, January 23,

1863.
Henry M. Brooks, Logan.

August 8, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Samuel G. Bunting, Logan.

August 12, 1862; died January 7, 1863.
John Buttrick, Richwoods.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
James Barrigan, Radnor.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Simeon P. Bower, Rosefield.

August 4, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

60 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

John C. Bush, Jubilee.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Franklin R. Clark, Rosefield.

August 16, 1862; discharged for disability, March 3,

1863.
John Collins, Radnor.

August 15, 1862; died at Milliken's Bend, La., May 15,

1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Sec-
tion E; number of grave, 197.
Daniel Cook, Radnor.

August 14, 1862; died at Memphis, January — , 1863.
John Cook, Peoria.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
George F. Cord, Medina.

— Mustered out as Sergeant July 10, 1865.
Lorenzo W. Cord, Peoria.

August — , 1862; died of wounds May 25, 1863; buried

in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Section G; num-
ber of grave, 1036.
Isaac S. Dawson, Rosefield.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph JN". Dawson, Rosefield.

August 4, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John Daily, Logan.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John Evans, Elruwood.

August 15, 1862; died at Memphis, March 15, 1863.
Franklin W, Eslow, Limestone.

August 9, 1862; died January 8, 1863.
Thomas Forbes, Logan.

August 9, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
John S. French, Logan.

August 8, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Silas W. Fisher, Radnor.

August 14, 1862; mustered out as Corporal, July 10,

1865.
Joseph Fulton, Richwoods.

August 12, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Frederick Gutting, Elmwood. ,

August 15, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 61

Philip Goodman, Radnor.

August 11, 1862; discharged for disability, February —

1863.
Gustavus Huffman, Rich woods.

August 14, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
John 8. Hamerbacher, Rosefield.

August 5, 1862; mustered June 17, 1865.
James Hutchiusou, Rosetield.

August 6, 1862; discharged for disability, June — , 1863.
Grauville James, Peoria.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability, May 30,

1865.
Alexander Kinder, Logan.

August 9, 1862; died at Mobile, Ala., March 11, 1865;

buried in National Cainetery at Vicksburg; Section F;

number of grave, 25.
Joseph Letterman, Jubilee.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John B. Loughman, Richwoods.

August 12, 1862; died of wounds February 19, 1863.
Edward W. Laugh lin, Richwoods.

August 12, 1862; died of wounds February 19, 1863. '
James McStravick, Logan.

August 13, 1862; died December 19, 1863.
William H. Magee, Logan.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Albert H. Magee, Logan.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant, July 10,

1865.
Jacob Mankle, Peoria.

August 13, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Joseph T. Mills, Timber.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Francis M. McDermott, Mill brook.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865. *
John H. Mclntyre, Logan.

August 11, 1862; killed at Arkansas Post, January 11,

1863.
Thomas J. Nixon, Rosefield.

August 7, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

62 • THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Le Roy Nash, Elmwood.

August 5, 1862; discharged for disability, January 29,

1863.
Harris Parr, Hollis.

August 14, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 19, 1863.
Samuel Perry, Richwoods.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Samuel A. Rathbun, Rosetield.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Asa J3. Reeves, Smithville.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Richard W. Rateliff, Peoria County.

August 13. 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Solomon Ruse, Peoria.

August 11, 1862; deserted July 12, 1864.
Thomas J. Randall, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability, January 16,

1863.
David Rogers, Peoria County.

August 13, 1862; discharged for disability.
Otis B. Smith, Elmwood.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John W. Smith, Rosefield.

August 6, 1862; died of wounds June 19, 1863.
Charles Stevens.

- Killed at Vicksburg, May 22, 1863.
Joseph A. Smith, Hollis.

August 15, 1862; mustered out May 30, 1865.
Cosmer A. Stevenson, Peoria.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Robert W. Summers, Peoria.

August 9, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
James M. Sweet Rosetield.

August 7, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Albert Sutton, Trivoli.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Smith E. Shepler, Richwoods.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Peter M. Shepler,

Died at Paducah, Ky., Nov. — , 1862.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 63

Cheney W. Thurston, Richwoods.

August 14, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Daniel R. Vinson, Rosefield.

August 7, 1862; transferred to V. R. C.
John W. Wood, Peoria.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability, October 1,

1863.
Thomas White, Logan.

August 14, 1862; deserted January 1, 1864.
Leonard T. White, Logan.

August 13, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant, June 17,

1865.
David T. Wiggins, Medina.

August 15, 1862; died at Louisville, Ky., November 1,

1862.
James Watson, Smithville.

August 21, 1862; discharged for disability, January 28,

1863.

BOLL OP COMPANY "P."

CAPTAINS.

William W. Crandall, Elmwood.

September 18, 1862; honorably discharged May 17,

1864.
James K. Secord, Yates City.

July 9, 1864; transferred as consolidated ; mustered out

July 10, 1865.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

Wiliam O. Hammers, Metamora.

September 18, 1862; discharged March 28, 1863.
James K. Secord, Yates City.

July 2, 1863; promoted.
George C. Keuyon, Knoxville.

July 9, 1864; transferred as consolidated; mustered

out August 15, 1865.

64 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

James K. Secord, Yates City.

September 18; 1862; promoted.
George C. Kenyon, Knoxville.

July 3, 1863; promoted.

SERGEANTS.

George C. Kenyon, Knoxville.

August 1, 1862; promoted 2d Lieutenant.

James A. Hammers, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865; commis-
sioned 1st Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but not mustered.

Oliver F. Woodcock, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; discharged March 12, 1864, for pro-
motion in U. S. Colored Troops.

Endress M. Conklin, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability July 29,
1864.

Ephraim S. Stoddard, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out as Corporal, June 17,
1865.

CORPORALS.

Joseph Irwin, Belle Plain.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability March 6,

1864.
James T. Martin, Low Point.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865, as Ser-
geant; commissioned 2d Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but

not mustered.
Harmon McChesney, Minonk.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability Feb. 2, 1863.
Lewis Hamrick, Peoria.

August 22, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant, June 17,

1865.
Francis W. Fisher, Metamora.

August 11, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
James Sleeth, Roseiield.

August 22, 1862; deserted January 18, 1863.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 65

Henry Ferguson, Whitefield.

August 22, 1862; discharged Sept. 9, 1862, being a de-
serter from 3d Missouri Cavalry.

George A. Farnsworth, Washburn.

August 22, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant, July 22,
1865.

MUSICIANS.

Mitchell T. Graham, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; discharged July 1, 1864.
Charles Nixon, Gilson.

August 22, 1862; killed at Vicksburg June 22, 1863.

PRIVATES.

Thomas Ashworth, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability February 4,

1863.
William T. Arrowsmith, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; discharged January 4, 1863.
John Arrowsmith, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
William Aid, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Charles Aid, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
George Attick, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Thomas Beagle, Fairview.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disabitity April 6,

1863.
Charles M. Baldwin, Lacon.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability April 6,

1863.
Frederick Bolander, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; died at Arkansas Post January 13,

1863.
Joseph Buckman, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Chester Brown, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; discharged September 30, 1862; mi-
nor.

66 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

Hugh P. Beach, Peoria.

August 15, 1861 ; discharged March 12, 1864, for pro-
motion in U. S. Colored Troops; mustered out February

22, 1867.
Noah J. Crew, Minonk.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability December

30, 1862.
Jesse Croson, Timber.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Michael Carrigan, Kickapoo.

August 15, 1862; deserted October 10, 1862.
Charles W. Carter, Rosefield,

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
French Chamberlain, Peoria.

August 15, 1862; deserted January 20, 1863.
John Doran, Radnor.

August 10, 1862; deserted October 10, 1862.
Thomas J. Ewing, Princeville.

August 22, 1862, discharged for disability April 6,
< 1863.
William Fowler, Gilson.

August 22, 1862; mustered out as Corporal, June 17,

1865.
Francis Hatton, Belle Plain.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Casper Hummel, Yates City.

July 28, 1862; deserted January 29, 1863.
Thomas A. Irwin, Knoxville.

August 7, 1862; discharged for disability, August 18,

1864.
Hosea Johnson, Whitefield.

August 22, 1862; promoted Corporal; killed at Mans-

field/La., April 8, 1864.
John M. Johnson.

-Deserted September 18, 1862.

Nelson E. Johnson, Knoxville.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability May 30,
, 1863.
Peter Jury, Minonk.

August 22, 1862; transferred to 130th Ill's Inf.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 67

James F. Kent, Yates City.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

George E. Knox.

Discharged lor disability April 6, 1863.

Sylvester Kenyon, Low Point.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
George Lawrence, Knoxville.

August 22, 1862; mustered out as Sergeaut, June 17,

1865.
Hamilton Lamson.

August 22, 1862; no further record.
John B. Murray, Lacon.

August 22, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., March 3,

1863.
James Miner, Knoxville.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Moses A. Messenger, Belle Plain.

August 22, 1862; transferred to V. E. C., May 81, 1864.
David B. Macy, Yates City.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
A. McMullen, Peoria.

August 22, 1862; deserted September 20, 1862.
Allen F. Mitchell, Peoria.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Martin Mason, Miuonk.

August 22, 1862 ; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
John W. Miner, Knoxville.

August 11, 1862; discharged for disability January 10,

1863.
George Norman, Peoria.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Peter 8. L. Newman, Knoxville.

August 22, 1862; mustered out May 13, 1865.
Charles W. Pierce, Peoria.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability March 10, 1863.
Jacob Rediger, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out as Corporal, July 10, 1865.
Jonah Stone, Peoria.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

68 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Marshall Smiley, Minonk.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Harmon Seifert, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Monterville Stone, Peoria.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Andrew Sparks, Low Point.

August 22, 1M62; deserted January 18, 1863.
Alonzo D. Stoddard, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
DeWitt C. Standiford, Knoxville.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 2, 1865.
Samuel E. Thomas, Belle Plain.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability April 16, 1863.
Thomas Thurman, Elba.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

George W. Thomas, Elba.

August 22, 1862; transferred to 130th Ill's Inf.; mus-
tered out a prisoner of war, August 15, 1865.
John Trump, Metamora.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
James M. West, Lacon.

August 22, 1862; died at Vicksburg, August 10, 1863;

buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Section L;

number of grave 549.
William H. West, Lacon.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865,
John Weaver, Low Point.

August 22, 1862; deserted October 10, 1862.
Henry Walters, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; died at Memphis, Jan. 6, 1863.
Richard R. Wilkinson, Minonk.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865
Henry White, Peoria.

August 22, 1862; discharged February 1, 1863.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 69

ROLL OP COMPANY " G."

CAPTAIN.

John D. Rouse, Peoria.

September 2, 1862; transferred as consolidated; trans-
ferred to Company " F," 130th 111. Vol. Infantry; mus-
tered out August 15, 1865.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

Charles Ireland, Millbrook.

September 2, 1862; resigned March 19, 1863.
Henry J. Wyman, Brirafield.

May 17, 1863; transferred as consolidated; mustered out

June 17, 1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Frederick H. Osgood, Henry.

September 2, 1862; honorably discharged March 28, 1863.
Hiram M. Barney, Brimfield.

July 15, 1863; resigned September 23, 1863.

SERGEANTS.

Hiram M. Barney, Brimlield.

July 22, 1862; promoted Second Lieutenant.
John Toynbee, Brimlield.

August 5, 1862; discharged at Quincy, 111., in 1864.
Henry J. Wyman, Brimlield.

August 5, 1862; promoted First Lieutenant.
Edward E. Burt, Brimlield.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability, February 21,

1863.
William W. Miller, Millbrook.

August 14, 1862; promoted First Sergeant; killed at

Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864.

CORPORALS.

William G. Huey, Brimlield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant July 10, 1865.

70 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Hugh Smart, Brimfield.

August 7, 1862; died of wounds at St. Louis, February

20, 1863.
Joseph 8. Nightingale, Millbrook.

August 15, 1862; mustered out March 31, 1865.

Timothy Martindale, Brimfield.

August 5, 1862; died at East Pembroke, N. Y., August

31, 1863.
Stephen J. Cook, Brimfield.

August 5, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
John B. Curran, Brimfield.

August 8, 1862; discharged February—, 1863.
Thomas W. Beckett, Brimfield.

August 7, 1862; promoted Sergeant; died February 28,

1865.
Hitz Boney Petrcs. Brimfield.

August 13, 1862; killed at Vicksburg, May 22, 1863.

MUSICIANS.

Wesley R. Andrews, Brimfield.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Robert Cooper, Brimfield.

August 27, 1862; died at St. Louis, February 26, 1863.

WAGONER.

Jacob Alderdice, Eugene.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

PRIVATES.

Adrian R. Aten, Millbrook.

August 13, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant July 10, 1865.
Delos Aldrich, Brimfield.

August 12, 1862; died of accidental wounds, August 22,

1863.
Joab Baily, Brimfield.

August 6, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
Franklin Beltbrd, Brimfield.

August 7, 1862; mustered out as Corporal July 10, 1865;
commissioned Second Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but not
mustered.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 71

Daniel Beck, Elmwood.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865
Moses E. Burt, Rrimfield.

August 13, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant July 10, 1865;

commissioned Captain July 24, 1865, but not mustered
Henry Barnes, Brimtield.

. August 13, 1862; died at home. •
Eleazer Barnell, Millbrook.

August 14, 1862; killed at Arkarsas Post, January 11,

1863.
Henry C. Brassfield, Kickapoo.

August 15, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
David Baronett, Brimfield.

August 18, 1862; mustered out July 10,1865.
William Baronett, Brimn'eld.

August 20, 1862; discharged for disability, February 23,

1863.
William Curran, Brimfield.

August 5, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
David G. Campbell, Millbrook.

August 15 1862; died at home October 3, Ib62.
Charles L. Campbell, Millbrook.

August 8, 1862; discharged September — , 1862, for disa-
bility.
Samuel W. Campbell, Millbrook.

August 8, 1862; died at home October 2, 1862'.
Joseph J. Camp, Millbrook.

August 8, 1862; discharged for disability, March 7, 1863.
Henry F. Cady, Brimfield.

August 11, 1862; deserted January 12, 1863.
Charles W. Cone, Brimfield.

August 15, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., March 8,

1863.
William Collister, Eugene.

August 14, 1862, mustered out June 17, 1863.

Russell Darby, Brimfield.

August 8, 1862; mustered out July 10, IcSii,").

Hiram B. Doty, Millbrook.

August 13, 1862; discharged January 31, 1863.
John Davidson, Kickapoo.

August 15, 1862; died at St. Louis December 26, 1862.

72 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Austin M. Dustin, Millbrook.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

Francis 0. Dimmick, Millbrook.

August 22, 1862; killed at Mansfield, La, April 8, 1864.
William Eaton, Brimtield.

August 14, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., February

4, 1863.

Joseph D. Ensley, Truro.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Isaac Ensley, Truro.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Moses Fisher, Brimtield.

August 7, 1862; discharged for disability, April 5. 1865.
Joseph H. Fetters, Yates City.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
James Fleming, Millbrook.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Lafayette Flower, Peoria.

August 14, 1862; deserted November 3, 1862.
Littleton A. German, Truro.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Erastus L Gilbert, Brimfield.

August 11, 1862; discharged September 26, 1863. se-
verely wounded.
James Gillins, Brimtield.

August 14, 1862; died at Keokuk, Iowa.
Francis W. Griswold, Brimtield.

— Mustered out as Corporal, July 10, 1865.
William H. Hanna, Millbrook.

August 13, 1862; discharged June 29, 1863.
David Hart, Millbrook.

August 12, 1862; died of wounds May 27, 1863.
Jacob Hockenberg, Brimtield.

August 12, 1862; mustered out June 5, 1865.
Thomas Hatsel, Brimtield.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Henry Jacques, Truro.

August 5, 1862; dropped as a deserter, Oct. 27, 1863.
Romeo W. Jones, Brimtield.

Augusts, 1862; deserted January 29, 1863.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 73

Frederick R. Johnson, Brimfield.

August 5, 18(52; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William Lawson, Brimtield.

August 5. 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William M. Lambertson, Millbrook.

August 12, 1862; died at Louisville, Ky., Dec. 2, 18(52.
Heslip W. Laughlin, Brimtield.

August 14, 1862; deserted in face of the enemy.
John A. Mendall, Brimtield.

August 8, 1862; died at Keokuk, Iowa, Jan. 31, 1864.
Henry P. Moore, Brimfield.

August 11, 1862; transferred to 2d Ill's Cav. Feb., 1865.
Elias Martin, Eugene.

August 12, 1862; reported died of wounds received at

Mansfield, La., April 8. 1864.
William McComb, Brimtield.

August 10, 1862; mustered out July 10, 18(55.
Calvin R. Ogden, Monmouth.

August 2"), 1862; deserted February 21, 1863.
David F. Ogden, Monmouth.

August 25, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William Onstott, Kickapoo.

August 19, 1862; discharged for wounds December 21,

1863.
Jesse J. Purcell, Brimfield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Gaylord Robinson, Trivoli.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

Joseph Rogers, Millbrook.

August 15, 1862; discharged for disability December 12,

1862. •
John Swan, Brimtield.

August 5, 1862; died at St. Louis.
Daniel W. Shinmell, Millbrook.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph Shull, Millbrook.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John Shull, Millbrook.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph W. Slocum, Millbrook.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
5

74 . THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Daniel Shade, Millbrook.

August 12, 1862; died at Milliken's Bend, La., May 12,

1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg, Sec-
tion E; number of grave, 201.
Franklin Stanton, Millbrook.

August 13, 1862: mustered out June 17, 1865.
Francis Smith, Kickapoo.

August 22, 1862; dropped as a deserter Dec. 12, 1863.
Cyrus H. Stockwell, Peoria.

August 15, 1862; died of wounds, at New Orleans,

June 1864.
Samuel Tucker, Eugene.

August 10, 1862; discharged February 18, 1863.
Joseph Tanner, Millbrook.

August 13, 1862; mustered out as Corporal, July 10,

1865.
John M. Ward, Brimfield.

August 5, 1862; deserted October 27, 1863.
Washington Wilson, Millbrook.

August 12, 1862; discharged for disability, April 7,

1863.

ROLL OF COMPANY "H."
CAPTAINS.

Lewis G. Keedy, Minonk.

September 2, 1862; died January 23, 1863.
Milgrove B. Parmeter, Minonk.

January 23, 1863; transferred as consolidated; mustered

out July, 10, 1865.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Milgrove B. Parmeter, Minonk.

September 2, 1862; promoted.
George H. Jenkins, Minonk.

January 23, 1863; resigned December 14, 1863.
Sylvester S. Heath, Clayton.

April 19, 1864; mustered out at consolidation.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. . t O

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

John Filger, Minonk.

September 2, 1862; dismissed March 1, 1863.
Sylvester S. Heath, Clayton.

— Promoted.
William C. McGowan, Minonk.

March 16, 1865; transferred as consolidated; transferred

to 130th 111. Vol. Inf.; promoted 1st Lieutenant Co.

"D" 130th Illinois, August 12, 1865; mustered out

August 15, 1865.

SERGEANTS.

George H. Jenkins, Minonk.

August 11, 1862; promoted 1st Lieutenant.
Stephen O. Pillsbury, Nebraska.

August 12, 1862; discharged for disability June 18, 1863.
Valentine P. Peabody, Linn.

August 9, 1862; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.
Henry K. Ferrin, Minonk.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability August 9,

1863.
John M. Brown, Minonk.

August 11, 1862; discharged for disability June 3, 1863.

CORPORALS.

William C. McGowan, Minonk.

August 11, 1862; promoted Sergeant; then 2d Lieu-
tenant.
David Filger, Minonk.

August 11, 1862 ; discharged for disability June 18, 1863.
Cyrus K. Snyder, Green.

August 11, 1862; discharged for disability June 6, 1864.
Thomas II. Clark, Minonk.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Private July 10, 1865.
David L. Murdock, Nebraska.

August 12, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant July 10, 1865.
Joel Allen, Nebraska.

August 8, 1862; promoted Hospital Steward,

76 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Ezra D. Davidson, Clayton.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Aaron Dean Addis, Minonk.

August 11, 1862; discharged January 5, 1863.

MUSICIANS.

Reuben W. Davison, Linn.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Benjamin Wilson, Jr., Linn.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability June 10, 1865.

PRIVATES.

John Arnett, Nebraska.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William H. Addis, Minonk.

August 12, 1862; mustered out|July 10, 1865.
William H. Bocock, Linn.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant, July 10,

1865; commissioned 2d Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but

not mustered.
James P. Brooks, Secor.

August 9, 1862; died at New Orleans February 16, 1863.
William D. Blake, Long Point.

August 5, 1862; discharged for disability February 21,

1863.
John Bennett, Waldo.

August 10, 1862; discharged for disability March 17,

1863.
Alfred C. Bell, Belle Plain.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
James Clark, Minonk.

August 5, 1862; discharged for disability March 24,

1863.
Joseph C. Clegg, Groveland.

August 13, 1862; killed at Vicksburg, May 19, 1863;

buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Section G;

number of grave, 1013.
Charles E. Dunham, Miuonk.

August 5, 1862; transferred to V. R. C., January 1,

1864.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 77

Charles L. Davis, Linn.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Asa L. Davison, Clayton.

August 6, 1862; discharged April 22, 1865.
Daniel W. Davison, Clayton.

August 9, 1862; discharged January 17, 1863.
Robert Deuby, Minonk.

August 8, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Charles 8. Fuller, Groveland.

August 8, 1862; discharged February 16, 1863.
Benjamin F. Fisher, Green.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John Farrell, Nebraska.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Isaac Grove, Clayton.

August 11, 1862; killed at Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864.
Sylvester 8. Heath, Clayton.

August 6, 1862; promoted 2d Lieutenant.
Fred. W. Holmes, Minonk.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability, December 23,

1863.
Ira Hofnagle, Nebraska.

August 11, 1862; died of wounds June 16, 1863.
Gideon P. Holman, Belle Plain.

August 9, 18(52; discharged March 12, 1863, to enlist in

Mississippi Marine Brigade.
John W. Holman, Belle Plain.

August 9, 1862; mustered out May 23, 1865.
Daniel Hollenback, Linn.

August 13, 1862; discharged April 22, 1865.
John W. Howell, Nebraska.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Richard Hnxtable, Green.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Flavius G. Her rick, Minonk.

August 11, 1862; discharged January 10, 1863.
William D. Irwiu, Linn.

August 9, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., January

27, 1863.

78 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

William W. Jermau, Liim.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability, March 12,

1863.
William 1). Jones, Long Point.

August 9, 1862; died at Nicholasville, Ky., Nov. 3,

1862.
George W. James, Belle Plain.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Casey B. James, Clayton.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Corporal, July 10,

1865.
Leo Julg, Minonk.

August 9, 1862; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

7, 1865.
Joshua Ketchum, Minonk.

August 10, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Conrad Kohl, Groveland.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph L. Kuowles, Clayton.

August 7, 1862; discharged for disability Feb. 7, 1863.
Milton B. Linn, Clayton.

August 2, 1862; died in Woodford County, 111., Dec.

5, 1863.
James H. Longfellow, Minonk.,

August 5, 1862; died at St. Louis, March 29, 1863.
Hiram Livingston, Minonk.

August 8, 1862; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.
Nathaniel Livingston, Clayton.

August 9, 1862; mustered out May 23, 1865.
Milton G. Marshall, Minonk.

August, 5, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
Stephen W. Maring, Linn.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph Miller, Nebraska.

August 10, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Frederick Mehlhorn, Minonk.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John P. McCoy, Minonk.

Augusts, 1862; discharged March 10, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 79

Joseph McSparren, Minonk.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as 1st Sergeant, July 10,

1865; commissioned 1st Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but

not mustered.
Enoch R. Nye, Clayton.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Lorenzo D. Philips, Clayton.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Alfred B. Poage, Groveland.

August 9, 1862; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.
Fred. Presinger, Minonk.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Thomas P. Peabody, Linn.

August 9, 1862; died January 11, 1863.
James P. Ross, Grovelaud.

August 7, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., March 3,

1863.
Thomas Ruff, Miuonk.

August 7, 1862; mustered out May 29, 1865.
Norman D. Richards, Metamora.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Edwin E. Sampson, Clayton.

August 9, 1862; died at Milliken's Bend, La., March

25, 1863.
John M. Spandau, Peoria.

August 6, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
William B. Self, Nebraska.

August 9, 1862; died at St. Louis, May 16, 1863.
David Smith, Nebraska.

August 8, 1862; died at St. Louis, Feb. 18, 1863.
Henry Smith, Nebraska.

August 8, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
R. Milton Smilie, Belle Plain.

August 9, 1862; committed suicide June 6, 1865.
Welden R. Smilie, Clayton.

— Mustered out July 10, 1865.
Robert S. Swift, Long Point.

Augusts, 1862; discharged for disability July 1, 1863.

80 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

John M. Smith, Long Point.

Angust 9, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
William H. Stewart, Groveland.

August 12, 1862; discharged for disability May 27,

1863.
Michael Stewart, Minonk.

August 12, 1862; died of wounds July 3, 1863.
William Swendeman, Clayton.

August 9, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Edward L. Sutton, Minonk.

August 6, 1862; died of wounds February 3, 1863.
Joseph Standaker, Minonk.

August 8, 1862; died of wounds January 16, 1863.
Norman Smilie, Clayton.

August 13, 1862; discharged November 6, 1863.
Andrew Sampson, Minonk.

August 13, 1862; died at Vicksburg, August 6, 1863;

buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg, Section L;

number of grave, 550.
James Talbot, Minonk.

August 7, 1862; died at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Feb-
ruary 9, 1863.
John Talbot, Minonk.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability, Jan. 9, 1863.
Israeli). Trowbridge, Minonk.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John I). Vance, Minonk.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John W. Vanarsdale,

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
•William S. Worthington, Clayton.

August 2, 1862; killed at Vicksburg, May 22, 1863.
Freeman P. Wilson, Clayton.

August 16, 1862; killed at Vicksburg, May 22, 1863.
Leonidas M. Wilkes, Linn.

August 9, 1862; died at Keokuk, Iowa, Feb. 2, 1863.
John H. Williams Minonk.

August 6, 1862; absent, sick at muster out of Regi-
ment.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 81

Collins P. Waterman, Minonk.

August 6, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William H. Young, Minonk.

August 9, 1862; discharged for disability June 10,1863.

ROLL OF COMPANY "I."

CAPTAIN,

Wayne O'Donald, Elmwood.

Enlisted as Private, Co. G, 8th Missouri Vol. Inf.,
June 25, 1861; promoted Corporal, Sergeant and First
Sergeant; participated in the battles of Fort Henry
and Fort Donelson, and the siege and capture of Cor-
inth; had the index finger of the right hand shot off
at Donelson February 15, 1862; discharged at Mem-
phis, Tenn., July 28, 1862; mustered Capain Co. "I,"
77th 111. Vol., September 2, 1862; in command of 2d Bat-
tallion, Camp of Distribution at New Orleans, La.,
December 28, 1863, to January 26, 1865, at which time
he was mustered out in consequence of the consolida-
tion of the 77th and 130th Regiments.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

Silas J. Wagoner, Elmwood.

September^, 1862; resigned March 17, 1863.

John H. Eno, Elmwood.

May 17, 1863; resigned June 22, 1863.

Thomas C. Mathews, Salem.

January 22, 1864; transferred as consolidated; trans-
ferred to 130th 111. Vol. Inf.; promoted Captain Co.
"D," 130th 111., August 12, 1865; mustered out Au-
gust 15, 1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

John H. Eno, Elmwood.

September 22, 1862; promoted.
George W. Cone, Elmwood.

March 17, 1863; commissioned 1st Lieutenant, but not

mustered; honorably discharged November 20, 1863.
Thomas G. Mathews, Salem.

June 22, 1863; promoted.

82 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

SERGEANTS.

Imle L. Eno, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability March 12,
1863.

George W. Cone, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; promoted Quartermaster Sergeant.

Thomas C. Mathews, Salem.

August 14, 1862; promoted 2d Lieutenant.

George L. Lucas, Elmwood.

August 11, 1862; died at Cape Girardeau, Mo., June 25,
1863.

Robert J. Biggs, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865; commis-
sioned Captain July 24, 1865, but not mustered.

CORPORALS.

Edward F. Bartholomew, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability February 1,

1863.
Rufus Atherton, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Eli H. Plowman, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Joseph M. Lee, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out as Private July 10, 1865.
John J. Rose, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability December

24, 1862.
John Wills, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; absent, sick at muster out of Regi-
ment.
John McMullen, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Alfred B. Reed, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862, mustered out July 10, 1865.

MUSICIANS.

Jasper S. Baker, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability January 11,
1863.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 83

Jacob H. Snyder, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

WAGONER.

Alonzo G. Ellsworth, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability February 21,
1863.

PRIVATES.

Austin C. Aten, Millbrook.

August 18, 1862; mustered outasCorporalJuly 10, 1865;

commissioned 2d Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but not

mustered.
Lewis B. Anderson, Salem.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Lewis J. Bevans, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Frederick Beeny, Elmwood!

August 24, 1862; discharged for disability May 15, 1863.
William H. Bentley, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; promoted Corporal October 13, 1863;

discharged March 17, 1864, for promotion in U. S. Col-
ored Troops; mustered as 1st Lieutenant Co. " D," 77th

U. S. Colored Infantry, May 24. 1864; transferred to Co.

"H," 10th U. S. Colored Artillery (heavy), October 1,

1865; resigned September 18, 1866.
Isaac Brown, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
John T. Biggs, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Robert Benton, Salem.

August 22, 1862; deserted November 20, 1862.
William M. Cox, Salem.

August 15, 1862; died at Benton Barracks, Mo., Feb-
ruary 2, 1863.
John H. Clark, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability March 27, 1863.
Asa A. Cook, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
James D. Caldwell, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

*84 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Richard Cowley, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
George Darnell, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; died at Peoria, 111., September 28, 1862.

George M. Dixon, Salem.

August 22, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

Enos Frisbie, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862, died at Milliken's Bend, La., May 2,
1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Sec-
tion A ; number of grave, 90.

Jacob Fisher, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; died at Memphis, December 20, 1863.

Joel J. Fox, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability February 4,
1863.

Hiram B. Fox, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability Jan. 1, 1864.

Willis H. Ferguson, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; absent, sick at muster out of Regiment.

George T. Finch, Salem.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Ichabod O. Gibbs, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability October 2!),
1862.

Lemuel Hand, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John C. Hill, Salem.

August 18, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John Hyne, Elmwood.

^ August 14, 1862; killed at Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
Eli Humphrey, Elmwood.

August 14, 1*62; died at Milliken's Bend, La., April 27,

1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Section

E; number of grave, 150.
Pleasant A. Hildebrandt, Elba.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability August 19,

1863.
Joseph Huffman, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability July 25, 1863.
Homer H. Higbie, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 85

Barney Hand, Elm wood.

August 14, 1862; died June 18, 1863.
Benedict M. S. Horner, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Anthony Hauler, Salem.

August 20, 1862; died at Louisville, Ky., January 3, 1863.
Abraham Hull, Salem.

August 22, 1862; mustered out as Sergeant July 10, 1865;

commissioned 1st Lieutenant July 24, 1865, but not mus-
tered.
Thomas F. Jacobs, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; dropped as a deserter, September 3,

1864.
William W. Jacobs, Elmwood.

— Mustered out July 10, 1865.

Butler K. Jones, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; died at Memphis March 14, 1863.
Theodore P. Jarman, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability January 18,
1863.

John M. Jordan, Salem.

August 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Henry Keller, Salem.

August 15, 1862; died at Covington, Kv., November 15,

1862.

James C. Moore, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., February

15, 1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg";

Section C; number of grave, 162.
George W. McCann, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John H. Mathews, Salem.

August 14, 1862; tranferred to V. R. C., April 28, 1864;

discharged at Concord, N. H., June 30, 1865.
Micajah C. Macy, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability Jan. 7, 1863.
Daniel D. Moore, Salem.

August 14, 1862; died at Young's Point, La., February

1, 1863.
Richard Murphy, Elmwood.

August 21, 1862; deserted September 14, 1862.

86 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

Milton Nunn, Elmwood.

August 21, 1862; discharged for disability March 1 1863.
John W. Poe, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; discharged for disability January 20,

1863.

Garret D. Pence, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

William H. Richardson, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Scott H. Rockeniield, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Cleves S. Rockenfield, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Frank A. Redtield, Brimneld.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John A. Randall, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; died at Milliken's Bend, La., May 28,

1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Sec-
tion H; number of grave, 92.
Lyman H. Smith, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
George S. Smith, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; discharged for disability Feb. 21, 1863.
Myron C. Smith, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Robert Scanlan, Elmwood.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability February 6,

1863.
William B. Toler, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; died at Memphis January 15, 1863.
Alexander Thurman, Salem.

August 18, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
John C. Widner, Elmwood.

_ August 14, 1862; deserted October 29, 1862.
William H. Warne, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; discharged for wounds, October 30,

1863.
Jacob D. Wasson, Elmwood.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 87

Lemon H. Wiley, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; promoted Principal Musician, June

2!>, 1864.

Thomas Yerby, Salem.

August 15, 1862; deserted December 20, 1862.

ROLL OF COMPANY " K."

CAPTAINS.

Ephraim C. Ryuearson, Rosefield.

September 2, 1862; resigned October 21, 1862.

William H. White, Rosefield.

October 21, 1862; mustered out at consolidation.
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

William H. White, Rosefield.

September 2, 1862; promoted.
Sylvester S. Edwards. Rosefield.

October 22, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Sylvester S. Edwards, Rosetield.

September 2, 1862; promoted.
Marcus O. Harkness, Elmwood.

October 21, 1862; transferred as consolidated; honora-
bly discharged June 15, 1865.

SERGEANTS.

Marcus O. Harkness, Elmwood.

August 13, 1862; promoted 2d Lieutenant.

Servetus Holt, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.

John Yinger, Rosefield.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865; commis-
sioned Captain July 24, 1865. but not mustered.

George Edwards, Rosefield.

August 7, 1862; mustered out as Private, July 10, 1865.
Harvey R. Brockett, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; Private; died at Morganza, La., Octo-
ber 4, 1864.

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

CORPORALS.

John White, Rosefield.

August 8, 1882; mustered out March 19, ISlM.

Francis Shorder, Kickapoo.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

John M. Harper, Roseiield.

August 11, 1862; discharged for disability March 28,

1863.
George W. Awl, Roseiield.

August 12, 1862; mustered out as Private July 10, 1865.
Enlee E. Coulson, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out as Private July 10, isr,:,
Andrew J. Vleet, Roseiield.

August 8, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Oswall B. Green, Rosefield.

August 14, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Richard M. Holt, Roseiield.

August 9, 1862; promoted Sergeant; died at Peoria, 111.,

October 5, 1864.

MUSICIANS.

Daniel Slane, Rosefield.

August 15, 1862; discharged for disability.
Charles E. Lines, Rosefield.

August 11, 1862; deserted October 28, 1863.

WAGONER.

Clement S. Padget, Rosefield.

August 22, 1862; discharged for disability June 11, 1863.

PRIVATES.

William Beck, Rosefield.

August 8, 1862; died of wounds, May 26, 1863.
Eli Brown, Rosefield.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
J. Henry Brown, Rosefield.

August 13, 1862; killed at Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864.
Patrick Brown

August 7, 1862; supposed to have deserted.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 89

Henry Behrns, Rosefield.

August 15, 1862; died at Milliken's Bend, La., July 12,
1863; buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg, Sec-
tion B; number of grave, 89.

John Camp, Rosefield.

August 8, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

John Cronan, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; died of wounds July 8, 1863.

Henry Coulson, Rosefield.

—Mustered out July 10, 1865.

William Clayton, Rosefield.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Uriah Dunhaugh, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; discharged June 30, 1863.
William Donelly, Rosefield.

August 22, 1862; mustered but July 10, 1865.
John A. Enders, Rosefield.

August 8, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Jacob Frank, Peoria.

August 16, 1862; died.
John Greenhalch, Rosefield.

August 12, 1862 ; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.

Frederick Gilson, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Roger Greenough, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; transferred to V. R. C., June 15, 1864.
Auxilius Gurtern, Kickapoo.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John Haynes, Rosefield.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Edward Halstead, Rosefield.

Mustered out a prisoner of war, June 17,

1865.
William S. Harper, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out May 27, 1865.
Richard M. Holt, Rosefield.

August 8, 1862; discharged for disability, February 16,

1864.
Adam Harding, Rosefield.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
6

90 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Thomas J Holt, Rosefield.

August 8, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Warner Hollinsworth, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Peter Hoffman, Kickapoo.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
John Ibeck, Rosen' eld.

August 17, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Lawrence Ibeck, Rosefield.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
Charles Kingsley, Kickapoo.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph M. King, Rosefield.

August 16, 1862; killed at Arkansas Post, June 11, 1863.
John Kingsley, Rosefield.

August 7, 1862; discharged for disability April 12, 1864.
Samuel Kirkman, Kickapoo.

August 13, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Levi H. King, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out May 22, 1865.
William W. King, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out May 31, 1865.
Alonzo Kingsley, Rosefield.

August 7, 1862; discharged for disability April 3, 1863.
John Lafollet, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Jacob Lafollet, Rosefield.

August 11, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
George Lander, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; dropped as a deserter October 21, 1863.
Henry Largent, Limestone.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Madison Largent, Limestone.

August 15, 1862; mustered out June 17, 1865.
James Miller, Rosefield.

August 11, 1862; absent, in confinement at muster out

of Regiment.
Henry S. Morris, Rosefield.

Mustered out as Corporal, July 10, 1865;

commissioned 2d Lieutenant, but not mustered.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 91

Richard Morris, Rosefield.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
James M. Moody, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862 ; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.
John Merritt, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; died July 15, 1863.
Andrew J. Meek, Rosefield.

August 12, 1862; discharged for disability March 26,

1863.
William Mulvaney, Kickapoo.

August 8, 1862; killed at Marksville, La., May 16, 1864.
Peter Nelson, Elmwood.

August 15, 1862; killed at Arkansas Post, January 11,

1863.
Charles Parnham, Rosefield.

August 13, 1862; transferred to V. K. C., February 15,

1864.
Henry Perry, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Samuel B. Powell Rosefield.

August 13, 1862; died at Oak Hill, 111., April 7, 1864.
Joseph Potts, Rosefield.

August 11, 1862; discharged for disability March 14,

1863.
John Pritchard, Kickapoo.

August 16, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Francis Rynearson, Rosefield.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 6, 1865.
Lyman T. Rench, Rosefield.

August 11, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
William Race, Kickapoo.

August 8, 1862; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.
John Roberts, Kickapoo.

August 12, 1862; deserted December 15, 1862.
William Stevenson, Rosefield.

— Discharged for disability November 1, 1862.
Thomas Sleeth, Rosefield.

August 12, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.

92 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

George W. Smith, Rosetield.

August 15, 1862; discharged for disability.
Samuel J. Sherwood, Rosefield.

August 8, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Ephraim R. Shepard, Rosefield.

August 9, 1862; died of wounds at St. Louis, July 28,

1864.
Samuel Sharkey, Rosefield.

August 22, 1862; killed at Vicksburg June 22, 1863;
"buried in National Cemetery at Vicksburg; Section G;

number of grave, 478.
John Shordon, Rosefield.

August 8, 1862; died at New Orleans, October 29, 1864.
August Sheibling, Rosefield.

August 15, 1862; discharged for disability March 26,

1863.
William Thorp, Limestone.

August — , 1862; discharged for disability March 29,

1863.
Robert Thompson, Rosefield.

August 15, 1862; discharged for disability September

14, 1863.
Ed. E. White, Rosefield.

August 15, 1862; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.
Austin E. Walker, Jubilee.

August 15, 1862; mustered out as Corporal, July 10,

1865; commissioned 1st Lieutenant, but not mustered.
Perry S. Walker, Elm wood.

August 13, 1862; died at Peoria, 111., October 5, 1864.
John Wholstenholm, Rosefield.

August 15, 1862; mustered out July 10, 1865.
Joseph Yerby, Kickapoo.

August 12, 1862; mustered out a prisoner of war, June

17, 1865.

CHAPTER THE THIRD.

TO THE FRONT.

;S the spires of the Central City were lost
in the distance, and every revolution of
the wheels carried us farther and farther
from the sacred associations of the home circle,
and the Sabbath and sanctuary privileges of other
days, the breast was tilled with strange and con-
flicting emotions. We had often sung, "I wish
I were in Dixie," and now the full realization of
that wish was coming upon us. But why had
we thus cut loose, as it were, from the ties and
tender associations of home and friendship ?
"Were we actuated by an ambitious desire for
conquest? Were we in search of laurels to
grace the victor's brow? Far otherwise. God
forbid that the welfare and happiness — the
blood and treasure of thirty millions of people
should be made to subserve the ambitious designs
of political tricksters or military despots, either
north or south. We went in obedience to the
promptings of patriotism. In defense of that
glorious old flag under whose protecting folds
we had so long lived and prospered.

94 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

The day succeeding our departure was the
Sabbath, but it did not look like it. It is a no-
torious and painful truth that there is no Sab-
bath in the army — no seventh day of rest for
the weary soldier. We traveled as rapidly as
possible, and at ten o'clock A.M. arrived at Lo-
gansport, Ind., and then, turning southward,
reached Indianpolis at 5 P.M. We remained
here two or three hours before proceeding on
our way. At two o'clock in the morning the
train stopped at a station by the way and re-
mained until after daylight, not knowing but
the rebel sympathizers in southern Indiana might
destroy the railroad bridges, and thus insure our
destruction, as they knew that troops were at
that time passing over the road. In the morn-
ing, however, we went on and found to our great
relief that the fears of the previous night were
unfounded.

All along the line of travel the citizens made
the most emphatic demonstrations of loyalty.
Men, women and children, all united in giving
us a hearty God-speed, as we passed along. At
Lawrenceburg, on the Ohio River, the reception
was particularly gratifying. In fact, our pro-
gress through the State of Indiana represented a
triumphal procession. And when we add that
these patriotic expressions were not given in
compliment to the Seventy-Seventh, but to the
great enterprise in which we expected soon to

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 95

be engaged — the restoration and preservation of
the UNION — it will not seem strange that we felt
some pride in our position as soldiers in the
Grand Army of the Republic. At twelve
o'clock M., on the 6th of October, we arrived at
Cincinnati, and soon afterward crossed the Ohio
River on a pontoon bridge, and went into camp
in the suburbs of Covington, Kentucky.

Our first night at this place we regarded as the
most disagreeable we had yet experienced. We
had no tents, and, as matter of course, had to
sleep in the open air. This was not very pleas-
ant; but we made a virtue of necessity, and en-
joyed ourselves as well as we could under the
circumstances. With one blanket for a bed and
one blanket and the blue canopy of heaven for
a covering, we managed to sleep with a little —
and it was a little — comfort. The next day we
received our tents, and that night slept more
soundly and more sweetly than at any time since
leaving Peoria. Having become settled again,
the first thing in order was to, communicate with
friends at home. Our camp looked like an army
of war correspondents. Every one seemed to be
writing. Of course we gave the full particulars
of our journey to this place, together with a de-
scription of the beautiful city of Covington, and
other matters of interest.

When we first came to Kentucky we felt that
we were marching on the soil of rebellion; but

96 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

subsequent experience proved this to be an erro-
neous thought. Kentucky — the home and the
grave of Henry Clay — would have been as thor-
oughly loyal as any other state if she could have
had a fair expression of the popular voice. But
cursed as she was with a disloyal governor, and
occupying a position midway between the con-
tending forces, it was hardly to have been ex-
pected that her sympathies and support would
be wholly on the one side or the other. She suf-
fered much, having been overrun time and again
with the contending armies of the North and
the South. She became emphatically, true to
her traditions, the dark and bloody ground. She
sent thousands of her sons into the Union army,
and braver men never fought for the right.

On the 15th of October, the 77th, 97th, 108th
and 112th regiments of Illinois Volunteers were
formed into a temporary brigade, with Colonel
John Coburn, of the 33d Indiana Volunteers,
acting Brigadier General, in command. Colonel
Coburn received orders to be in readiness to
march to the front on the 16th. Forty rounds
of ammunition for each man was to be carried in
the cartridge boxes, thirty more per man to be
drawn by the regiments, and thirty rounds extra
to be drawn and transported in the company
wagons. Five days' rations were also drawn;
three to be carried in the company wagons, and
two in the haversacks of the men.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 97

Our time was iiow fully occupied in making
preparations for an advance into the interior
of Kentucky. We were supplied with teams
and wagons for transportation, consisting of one
for each company, three for the headquarters of
the regiment, and one for the hospital. We were
furnished with great-coats and all the clothing
necessary to make us comfortable during the
cold days and nights which were then fast ap-
proaching. In short, we were now prepared to
take up the line of march and enter upon the
duties of active service.

At noon on the 17th we commenced the for-
ward movement. We had to carry our blan-
kets, clothing, etc., our haversack with two days.'
rations, canteen, gun and cartridge-box, the lat-
ter containing forty rounds of ammunition, and
the whole weighing about sixty pounds. Thus
armed and equipped we began our campaigns.
Our march for a few miles was on the public
highway leading to Lexington, but we soon
turned to the left and marched through one of
the roughest countries we had ever seen. Hills
were piled upon hills, and the rocky surface of
the ground indicated that all the stones in Ken-
tucky had been gathered together and deposited
along our line of march. So great were the dif-
ficulties we had to contend with that it was fre-
quently impossble for the teams to descend the
hills without assistance from the men. We con-

98 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

trasted the country through which we passed
with the broad and fertile prairies of our own
loved Illinois. And what a contrast ! It seemed
like an exchange of Paradise for the drear do-
minions of Pluto. But this was not a fair spec-
imen of Kentucky. We found after emerging
from the hills and hollows that the State was
rich in all the elements of agricultural wealth,
and required only the hand of industry and the
spirit of enterprise to develop in her soil the
most abundant resources.

As we marched along, a decided Union senti-
ment was manifested at several points, while at
others the grim visage of the secession Moloch
could be seen, showing that some of the people
were not loyal to the government. Frequently,
as we passed through the towns, the citizens
would fling the starry banner to the breeze, as a
token of their loyalty. Bat we were informed
that most of the people had rebel flags, also, in
their houses, to use as occasion required. Be
this as it may, whenever the Flag of our Union
made its appearance it was greeted with the
most enthusiastic cheers by the men.

Who ever heard or dreamed of a Kentucky
snow storm in the month of October ? Yet, on
the night of the 25th of this month, we experi-
enced one which we can never forget. On the fol-
lowing morning we had the pleasure of rolling
up our tents in the snow. That night, after a

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, 99

march of twenty-five miles, we arrived at Paris.
Footsore and weary, our first impulse was to
throw ourselves on the ground and seek rest and
refreshment in sleep; but knowing the danger
of such an expedient, we kept in motion, pitched
our tents, prepared supper, and after eating it,
turned in with a hearty good will. It was amus-
ing to see our predicament the next morning.
Boots and shoes were frozen stiff, and many of
us could not get them on. Groups of the boys
would cluster around the camp-fires thawing
their leather, to the no small annoyance of the
cooks. If these worthy dignitaries did not ut-
ter " curses, loud and deep," it was because they
were endowed with more than ordinary patience
and good nature. There was more truth than
poetry in our situation; but it was all for the
love of country, and, of course, necessary for
the suppression of the rebellion. On the 29th
we reached Lexington, a beautiful city, and for-
merly the home of the notorious rebel cavalry
chief, John Morgan. Here we remained one day
only, and then continued the march, arriving at
Richmond at 4 o'clock on the second of Novem-
ber.

A severe battle was fought at this place, Au-
gust 30, 1862, between the rebel General Kirby
Smith and General Nelson, in which the latter
was defeated with great loss. In the cemetery
adjoining the town were many graves of union

100 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

and rebel soldiers. There they lie, from all parts
of the country — north and south, east and west
— and there they shall lie until the archangel's
trump shall bid them come forth to judgment.
Many beautiful and costly monuments in the
cemetery were shattered and defaced by the
missiles of the contending forces, thus bearing
mournful witness of the fight.

Our stay at this place was one of the bright
spots in our soldier-life — an oasis in the desert
through which we were passing. We had a
beautiful camping-ground, our duties were light,
and the weather delightful. The Seventy-Sev-
enth was the only regiment at the place. Cap-
tain J. M. McCulloch, of Co. " C," was appointed
Provost Marshal, and he filled the duties of his
office with credit to himself, and to the entire' sat-
isfaction of the citizens. While here we found
large quantities of arms which had been lost in
the battle of August 30th, and afterward col-
lected together and secreted by the negroes.
These arms were properly taken care of, and in
due time turned over to the military authorities
at Lexington. But our stay here was rendered
pleasant from the fact that the people were so
kind and considerate. Many of the boys were
sick in the hospital, and the ladies — God bless
them — like ministering angels, came arid sup-
plied their wants with an abundance of provi-
sions acceptable to the sick palate. But we need

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 101

not pronounce encomiums upon them for their
kindness. The consciousness of having nobly
done their duty to the sick and suffering is their
abundant reward. It becomes us, however, as
members of the Seventy-Seventh, to remember
Richmond, Kentucky, with gratitude.

An amusing incident, as well as a good joke
on some of the boys, occurred while in camp at
this place. The ladies vied with each other in
their attentions to the officers, and in order to
return the compliment, some of our musical
Peorians proposed a serenade. The suggestion
was duly acted upon, and on a pleasant evening
they sallied forth to carry out the programme.
Selecting one of the finest mansions in the town
as the object of their attentions, they soon
poured forth such a gushing stream of melody
that the hardest heart would have melted under
its influence. The fair objects of their devotion
within the mansion acknowledged the compli-
ment by the waving of scarfs and handkerchiefs
from the windows. These tokens inspired the mu-
sicians with greater zeal, and they answered the
encore a second and a third time, and in all prob-
ability would have remained there all night, had
uot the door opened followed by this pleasing
salutation : " Much 'bliged gemman, for de mu-
sic, and werry sorry de white ladies warn't at
home to hear it."

Let us, before leaving this beautiful town of

102 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Richmond, snatch from cold oblivion an elegant
specimen of southern literature. The scholmaster
was evidently abroad in those regions, The fol-
lowing lines were written in pencil on one of the
monuments in the cemetery. The extract is
given verbatim et literatim:

" J. C. Dunn Esq, I live in South Western Ga
on Flint River I were mustered into service 10
Day of Ap 1861 and this Sep 15 1862 Come all
soldiers a Warnin Take & shun the Bite of a
Big Snake."

When " J. C. Dunn Esq," placed his autograph
on that monument it became public property —

" One of the few, the immortal names,
That were not born to die."

Hence it is transferred to these pages.

Richmond was the southern terminus of our
campaign in Kentucky; and having remained
here a few days we took up the line of march
again, turning our faces to the northwest — des-
tination, Louisville immediately, and Memphis
ultimately. We struck tents on the eleventh of
November, and on the fourteenth reached Frank-
fort, the capital of the State. We remained here
one day, and then continued the march, arriving
at Louisville on the seventeenth — a wet, gloomy
day. We had now marched about two hundred
and fifty miles in this State, and had learned
something of the vicissitudes of a soldier's life;
but what we had accomplished more than this,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 103

is one of those things that no fellow could ever
find out.

It is needless to give a detailed account of the
return march through Kentucky, as it was but a
repetition of our former experience. The same
weary marches — the same false alarms — the
same real or pretended loyalty of the people —
the same boisterous enthusiasm in the Regiment
— the same exodus of slaves from bondage. The
latter part of the programme was one of the
notable features of the march, and was some-
times attended with serio-comical consequences.
Whenever an " American citizen of African de-
scent" made his appearance, he was ordered to
" fall in," which was done in most instances with-
out reluctance. In this manner he was enticed
away from his legal owner — legal according to
the laws of the State, but not legal according to
our notions. And, no doubt, visions of happiness
in a land flowing with milk and honey, danced
through his woolly head as he turned his back on
his former home, and followed the fortunes of
the Regiment.

To such an extent was this slave enticing pro-
pensity indulged, that Gen. Burbridge, a Ken-
tuckian, was reported to have said that the
Seventy-Seventh was an abolition regiment, and
would steal all the niggers in Kentucky if they
had a chance to do so. But of course we repel
with scorn and indignation the idea that our

104 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

mildly mannered Brigadier-General, would be
guilty of casting any such reflections upon us.
At all events we had quite a regiment of darkies
following in our wake, like a troop of boys fol-
lowing an organ grinder, with a monkey on his
"tnasheen"

As above remarked, we reached Louisville on
the 17th, but did not remain long at that place.
On the evening of the 20th we marched to Port-
land, and embarked on the steamer "Starlight,"
bound for Memphis, Tenn. Early the next
morning we started down the river. The boat
was crowded to its utmost capacity. There was
not a nook or corner, above or below, fore or aft,
that was not occupied, either by soldiers or their
baggage. The consequence was that we were
almost suffocated. The boys would endeavor to
while away the tedious hours of their imprison-
ment by singing snatches of homely songs, of
which the following is a specimen :

" Oh give me the girl with the blue dress on,

The white folks call Susanna;
She stole my heart and away she's gone,
'Way down to Louisiana."

Little did the songsters imagine that they,
themselves, would so soon be in Louisiana.

In those days, the country bordering on the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers, was infested with
marauding bands of guerrillas and bushwhack-
ers, rendering navigation somewhat uncertain, if

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 105

not hazardous. In consequence of this we did
not travel at night. At 3 o'clock P.M. of the 2d,
we reached Evansville, Ind., and remained there
until the next day at noon. On the 25th we
landed for a few minutes at Cairo, 111., and soon
after were floating on the bosom of the mighty
Father of Waters.

On our journey down this river we passed
t Island No. 10, Belmont, Columbus and other
spots of historic interest, where, a few months
before, the thunders of artillery had waked the
slumbering echoes of the valley. It was at these
points that Grant and Foote had demonstrated
the invincibility of the American Army and
Navy. Here they had written a bloody page in
the history of our country, which can never be
obliterated. Here they began that series of bril-
liant achievements which resulted in the final
reopening of the Mississippi, and the restoration
of our national authority on that stream from its
source to its mouth.

We landed at Memphis on the 27th, and went
into camp near the city. Before our arrival,
there had been large bodies of troops encamped
in this vicinity, but they had moved off in the
direction of Holly Springs, for the purpose of
operating in Mississippi. The first thing in order
with us, was to ransack the camps which they
had deserted, to obtain building materials where-
with to render our abodes comfortable. In this
7

106 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

we succeeded to our entire satisfaction. But in
the present instance, as in many others, we had
no sooner arranged our encampment to suit us
than we received marching orders.

Red tape regulations require the troops to ap-
pear on review before the commanding general,
previous to entering upon an active campaign,
and as " coming events cast their shadows
before," this was always regarded as a "shadow"
indicating field operations in the near fu-
ture. Perhaps this practice of reviewing
the troops may be attributed to a pardonable
curiosity on the part of the general in command.
In accordance with this laudable custom we ap-
peared on review before Major General W. T.
Sherman, at Memphis. The review took place
on a level plain near Fort Pickering. The pro-
ceedings appeared to be satisfactory to the gen-
eral and all concerned, and when they were
ended, we returned to camp to seek rest and
supper after the toils of the day. As we marched
through the streets of the city, on our return,
the boys made a noise and clatter as unearthly
and unintelligible as was ever heard at the Tower
of Babel. Some would sing and some would
crow, some would cackle and some would squeal.
Altogether the concert was neither musical nor
entertaining. No doubt the citizens of Memphis
thought the regiment was either drunk or crazy.

On the 20th of December marching orders

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 107

were received, and we proceeded to embark on
the steamer "Duke of Argyle," lying a short
distance below the city. The next day at 2
o'clock P. M., we started down the Mississippi,
hoping that, before long, we would be hailed as
the victors of Vicksburg. Our fleet consisted of
many transports and gunboats, carrying a large
and well appointed army. .

Gentle reader, if you have never carried arms
in an active campaign — if you have never fol-
lowed in the wake of an advancing host — if you
have never crossed the track of an invading
army, you know but little of the desolations of
war. It matters not whether the army is friend
or foe — the result is the same. They leave the
silence of the grave and the dreariness of the
desert behind them. We saw this fact abun-
dantly illustrated on our passage down the Mis-
sissippi. All along the river from Memphis to
Vicksburg, we could trace the footsteps of an
advancing army, by the mouldering ruins of
buildings, the former magnificent residences of
the rich planters of the south. And we won-
dered how long it would require the slow, con-
servative enterprise of these people to regain
their lost opulence. Perhaps a lifetime.

At this time we formed a part of the 2d Bri-
gade, 1st Division of the 13th Army Corps.
The brigade was commanded by Col. W. J. Lan-
drani of the 19th Kentucky, and consisted of the

108 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

19th Kentucky, the 48th Ohio, and the 77th,
97th, 108th and 131st Illinois, and the 17th Ohio
battery. The division was commanded by Brig-
adier General A. J. Smith.

We moved leisurely down the river as though
we were on a pleasure excursion, rather than en-
gaged in a great arid important military expedi-
tion. It is not our province to criticise or con-
demn, but it seems very strange that it should
require a whole week for the fleet to sail a dis-
tance of four hundred miles. One thing is cer-
tain— our slow progress gave the rebels ample
time to prepare for our reception. And the time
was well improved, as we afterward found to our
cost. However, on the 27th of December, we
landed in the Yazoo River about ten miles
from its mouth. Skirmishers were immediately
thrown out, the lines formed, and an advance
ordered. The enemy was met in force, and a
terrible conflict ensued, lasting several hours.
The rebels were driven beyond two bayous that
girt the rear of Vicksburg, and from their en-
trenchments on the Hill. At night the two ar-
mies slept on their arms, with the two bayous
intervening. At daylight on Sunday, the 28th,
a concerted advance was made, and by sunrise
the whole army was engaged, and up to ten
o'clock the artillery and musketry firing was
very heavy and destructive.

The enemy in front of Gen. Morgan L. Smith's

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 109

Division, were entrenched on high, rising ground.
This position was, after a desperate and bloody
conflict, taken by storm. On Monday the battle
was renewed; our forces carried the rifle pits and
principal battery, but were finally repulsed and
lost their ground. Both armies rested during
the night. Skirmishing continued for three or
four days, but all to no purpose, so far as we
were concerned. During those days and nights
we could distinctly hear the rattle of the trains
on the Vicksburg and Brandon railroad, carry-
ing reinforcements and supplies to the besieged.
In the mean time the rebels were busy strength-
ening their .works by every available means.
What could we do ? It was madness to attempt
to carry the works by storm. And to remain in
our present position would insure our defeat, if
not destruction, as soon as the enemy should ob-
tain additional troops to enable him to act on
the offensive. In this emergency Gen. Sherman
reluctantly decided to withdraw and reembark
the troops. This was successfully accomplished
on the morning of January 2d, 1863r and our
first attack on Vicksburg was a costly failure.
The entire loss in our army during the six days'
fighting, including killed, wounded and missing,
was about twenty-five hundred.

This was the first engagement in which the
Seventy-Seventh was engaged. Until now we
had never seen a gun tired in battle. We had

110 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

read glowing accounts of battles bravely fought
and won; we had seen pictures representing bril-
liant bayonet charges, and all that. But we had
not been called upon to perform any deeds of
daring, such as storming the enemy's works bris-
tling with bayonets, or planted with batteries.
Nothing of this kind. But we endeavored to
the best of our ability to discharge the duties
assigned to us, and if we did not earn a reputa-
tion worthy of record on this occasion it is
hoped that the subsequent achievements of the
Regiment compensated to some extent for the
deficiency. After " our masterly retreat from
the Youza" as some of the boys called it, the
army proceeded to Milliken's Bend, on the Lou-
isiana shore about ten miles up the river, there
to rest, or to make preparations for conquest in
some other direction.

CHAPTER THE FOURTH.

ARKANSAS POST.

I BOUT the time of our withdrawal from
the attempt on Vicksburg, Major Gen-
eral John A. McClernand appeared on
the scene, having been appointed by the Presi-
dent, to supercede General Sherman in command
of the forces operating against Vicksburg. This
transfer of authority was announed in the fol-
lowing terms :

HEADQUARTERS RIGHT WING ARMY OF TENNESSEE, ]
STEAMER FOREST QUEEN,

MILLIKEN'S BEND, January 4, 1863. )

General Orders No. 5.

Pursuant to the terms of General or-
ders, No. 1, made this day by General McCler-
nand, the title of our army ceases to exist, and
constitutes in the future the Army of the Mis-
sissippi, composed of two army corps, one to be
commanded by General G. W. Morgan, and the
other by myself. In relinquishing the command
of the Army of the Tennessee, and restricting
my authority to my own corps, I desire to ex-
press to all commanders, to soldiers and officers

112 THE SEVENTY- SEVENTH

recently operating before Vicksburg, my hearty
thanks for their zeal, alacrity and courage mani-
fested by them on all occasions. We failed in
accomplishing one purpose of our movement,
the capture of Vicksburg; but we were part of
a whole. Ours was but part of a combined move-
ment in which others were to assist. We were on
time; unforeseen contingencies must have delayed
the others. We have destroyed the Shreveport
road, we have attacked the defenses of Vicks-
burg, and pushed the attack as far as prudence
would justify, and having found it too strong
for our single column, we have drawn oft' in
good order, ready for any new move. A new
commander is -here to lead you. He is chosen by
the President of the United States, who is
charged by the Constitution to maintain and
defend it, and he has the undoubted right to se-
lect his own agents. I know that all good officers
and soldiers will give him the same hearty support
and cheerful obedience they have hitherto given me.
There are honors enough for all, and work
enough too. Let each do his appropriate part,
and our nation must in the end emerge from this
dire conflict purified and ennobled by the fires
which now test its strength and purity. All offi-
cers of the general staff now attached to my
person, will hereafter report in person or by let-
ter to Major General McClernand, commanding
the Army of the Mississippi, on board the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 113

steamer Tigress at our rendezvous at Gains'
Landing and at Montgomery Point.
By order of

Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN.
J. H. HAMMOND, A. A. Gr.

The army as now organized, consisted of the
13th and 15th Army corps, the former com-
manded by Gen. Morgan, and the latter by Gen.
Sherman. With this force, consisting of about
twenty-five thousand men, at his command, Gen.
McClernand cut loose from Milliken's Bend on
the 5th of January and started up the river.
We knew not our destination. But, as is usual
on such occasions, each man had a destination to
suit himself. Many conjectures were afloat
with regard to the future objects of the expedi-
tion, and the camp was full of rumors. Some
said we were going into Arkansas to clean out a
nest of rebels said to be in that state. Others,
who had no stomach for fighting, contended
with equal earnestness that we were going into
camp at Memphis, to revel in ease and feast on
army luxuries. While a good many of the
more sanguine thought we were going home to
be mustered out of the service; never doubting
that our assaults on the ramparts of Vicksburg
had totally annihilated the Southern Confeder-
acy and all its hosts. It is needless to say that
those who dreamed of ease, either at home or at
Memphis, were sadly disappointed.

114 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

We sailed up the Mississippi, and then up the
White River until we reached a " cut off," lead-
ing into the Arkansas. We proceeded up the
latter stream until, on the 10th of January, we
landed about three miles below the old French
town of Arkansas Post, where the rebels had
erected a strong earthwork, called Fort Hind-
man. Our destination was now manifest to the
most casual observer. We were in for a tight;
that was very plain. We disembarked in the
afternoon, formed our lines and proceeded to
invest the rebel works. This was accomplished
about 10 o'clock at night. We slept on our
arms and waited for the dawn, expecting to
wake the echoes of the morning with the roar
of battle.

Our military leaders were very economical of
time, acting probably upon the supposition that
time is money, or that lost time is never found
again, and hence in reading the history of the
war, and observing days and dates, we find that
many of our most important military operations
took place on iSunday. Bull Run, Shiloh, and
many other bloody fields attest the truth of this
remark. Those who have conscientious scruples
about this method of remembering the Sabbath
day to keep it holy, contend that the attacking
party is always defeated; while Napoleon, and
others of the same habit of thinking, have main-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 115

tained that providence favors the heaviest bat-
tallions, without regard to the day of the week.
The day succeeding the investment of Fort
Hiudman was the Sabbath — clear, calm and
beautiful. It was a day made for rest and the
worship of God, and not for human slaughter.
Yet there were hostile hosts of armed men con-
fronting each other, and only waiting for the
command to begin the work of death. It was a
fearful thought. How many widows and or-
phans would weep over that field of conflict !
The morning wore away — the sun rose high
and passed the meridian — at length the sacred
stillness of the day was broken by the roar of
artillery, the rattle of musketry and the din of
battle. The artillery and the gunboats began
the action at about half-past one o'clock p. M.,
and soon after the infantry was engaged around
the whole line. At this time the Seventy-Sev-
enth was in reserve about two hundred yards in
rear of the Nineteenth Kentucky, with or-
ders to maintain that distance between the two
lines, governing our movements by the move-
ments of those in front of us. But we had not
long been in this position until we were ordered
to move to the right, and take position one hun-
dred yards behind the Eighty-Third Ohio. We
marched by the right flank about three hundred
rods, and then in line of battle in the direction
of the fort.

116 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

We now began to feel the effects of the rebel
tire. But the Regiment moved steadily forward
through the timber, and into the open field be-
yond, until we reached the position assigned to
us. We had been here but a short time when
an order came from our brigade commander to
" go in." And then we heard the well-known,
clear, ringing voice of Col. Grier commanding,
" SEVENTY-SEVENTH, forward, guide centre, march"
Every man sprang to his feet, and with loud
cheers and yells of defiance, rushed forward.
The 83d refused to advance, and we were com-
pelled to charge over them in the face of a ter-
rible fire from the fort. As we passed over them
we made it a matter of necessity to tramp on as
many as possible, at which they threw a few old
fashioned anathemas after us. This we consid-
ered very uugentlemanly, and especially so as it
was Sunday. We took position about eighty
yards in advance of them. Here we fired about
twenty rounds, when Col. Grier ordered another
advance. We moved forward about fifty yards
further, when we were considerably in advance
of any other regiment in the division, and within
easy pistol range of the works. It was here that
we sustained our heaviest loss. It was here that
our color bearer, John S. Hornbaker, of Co.
" C," was wounded and left the field. As he fell,
Lieut. Philip Jenkins, of the same company,
seized the colors, arid carried them during the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 117

remainder of the action, and until the Regiment
entered the fort, when MajorHotchkiss took the
flag and proudly planted it on the parapet. These
are the plain facts of history, and are suscepti-
ble of proof. Without wishing to detract from
the merits of any other troops who fought on.
that sanguinary field, it is due to those who are
entitled to this great honor that it should be ac-
corded to them. And our Division commander,
General A. J. Smith, could have conferred no
greater compliment on the Seventy-Seventh than
he did when 'he placed Colonel Grier and his
Regiment in charge of the captured works.

The following extract from Lieutenant Col-
onel Webb's account of the battle is interesting:

" My fellow officers and the men behaved
splendidly, and I feel an immense amount of
pride in both. Quite a number of bur officers
were sick; among them Captains Rouse, White
and Keedy, and regret the fact that they could
not participate in the fight. Colonel Grier, by
his coolness and courage, sustained and added to
his previously well-earned reputation. Major
Hotchkiss knew no fear of any kind, and Adju-
tant Woodruff was at his post from the com-
mencement to the close, as brave as the bravest.
Our Captains and Lieutenants all behaved admir-
ably.

" When the white flag went up, the Seventy-
Seventh went down the ditch and over into the

118 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

fortifications with a rush. We claim to have
been the first Regiment that entered the fort,
and the first to raise our flag over the captured
works. Gen. Smith, by order of Gen. Morgan,
at once acknowledged our services by placing
Colonel. Grier in command of the rebel works,
and in charge of the prisoners.

" The capture of Fort Hindman reflects much
credit upon General McClernand. The plan of
attack was made with skill and sense. In fact,
from the the time Gen. McClernand took com-
mand of the expedition, it has been managed
with secresy and judgment. The rebels were
wholly deceived in our strength, and I know
from the dispatches of couriers, which I myself
picked up in Gen. Churchill's headquarters, that
they were bewildered by our movements and did
not know our destination until we arrived below
their works and commenced investing them.
The investment was complete. There could
have been no escape. Our loss will not exceed
five hundred in killed and wounded, and the vic-
tory is one of the greatest and most gratifying
of the war."

The fort surrendered at 5 o'clock p. M. The
victory was complete. The entire loss in our
Brigade — consisting of six regiments — was
nine killed and seventy-six wounded. Of these,
the Seventy-Seventh lost six killed and thirty-
nine wounded, or more than one-half. The fol-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 119

lowing is a complete list of the killed and
wounded in the Seventy-Seventh at the battle of
Arkansas Post, January 11, 1863, as officially
reported by companies :

"A." Wounded — Privates John Anderson, Henry D. Hes-
ter, Cyrus A. Kroessen, Lester T. Stone, John Tomp-
kins (mortally), Daniel B. Trench (mortally), A. D.
Witherell.

" B." Killed — Captain Robert Irvvin.

Wounded — Privates James Malone, Lewis E. Simp-
son, Edward Swargy (mortally).

" C." Wounded — Sergeant John S. Hornbaker, color bearer.
Privates Samuel T. Acres, Joseph T. Sims.

" D." Wounded — Privates Thomas Davis, Daniel Fowler,
Frederick Kraft.

"E." Killed— Private John H. Mclntyre.

Wounded — Corporal R. McKee Davis, Private Ed-
ward H. Laughlin (mortally).

"P." Wounded — First Lieutenant William O. Hammers.
Privates Thomas J. Ewing, Nelson E. Johnson,
Hosea Johnson, James M. West.

" G." Killed — Private Eleazer Darnell.

Wounded — Corporal Hugh Smart (mortally). Pri-
vates Francis O. Dimmick, Joseph D. Ensley.

"H." Wounded — Corporal David Filger. Privates Edward
L. Sutton (mortally), Joseph Standaker (mortally).

" I." Wounded — Private William H. Bentley.

"K." Killed — Privates Joseph M. King, Peter Nelson.

Wounded — Privates Jacob Lafollett, William Thorp,
John Ibeck, Samuel Kirkmau, Robert Thompson.

On the day succeeding the battle Gen. McCler-
nand issued the following congratulatory order
to the troops. It sounds a good deal like Na-
poleon :

120 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, )
POST or ARKANSAS, January 12. j

<i<-neral Field Orders, No. 7-

SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI: — I
congratulate you. Within seven days you have
sailed two hundred and sixty miles from Vicks-
burg to this Post, borne upon numerous trans-
ports, from time to time furnished with fuel cut
by' you from the forest. With ranks thinned by
former battles and disease, you have waded and
cut your way through miles of swamps and
timber in advancing to the attack. You have
stormed the defences of the enemy's position,
which both nature and art had combined to
render extraordinarily strong, capturing after
three and a half hours hard fighting, the whole
of the hostile force opposed to you, numbering
seven thousand men, together with eight
thousand stand of arms, twenty cannon, and a
large amount of commissary, quartermaster and
ordnance stores.

A success so complete in itself has not hitherto
been achieved during the war. It is an impor-
tant step towards the restoration of our national
jurisdiction and unity ever the territory on the
right bank of the Mississippi. It reflects honor
on your courage and patriotism. It will chal-
lenge the grateful acclaims of your country.
Your and my only regret is the loss of the brave

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 121

men who have fallen or been wounded in defence
of a sacred cause. All honor to them. Their
names and memories will be cherished in the
hearts of their countrymen.

Soldiers ! Let this triumph be the precurser
of still more important achievements. Win for
the Army of the Mississippi imperishable re-
nown. Surmount all obstacles, and relying on
the God of battles, wrest from destiny and dan-
ger, the still more expressive acknowledgements
of your unconquerable constancy and valor.

MAJ. GEN. JOHN A. MCCLERNAND,

Commandiny Army of the Misxissijtjn.
Official: J. H. HAMMOND.

W. J. Landram, Colonel of the Nineteenth
Kentucky, who commanded our brigade at this
time, sent the following communication to Adju-
tant General Fuller of the State of Illinois :

HEADQUARTERS, 2o BRIGADE, IST DIVISION,
IST ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF THE Miss.,

POST ARKANSAS, Jan. 14, 1863.
COL. FULLER,

Adjutant General of the State of Illinois,

SIR : — Having had the honor to com-
mand, among others, four regiments of infantry
from the State of Illinois during the recent en-
gagements before Vicksburg and at Post Arkan-
sas, I have deemed it proper, in addition to my
official report, to forward directly to you a brief

122 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

notice of the conduct of the troops representing
your State in those actions.

At Yicksburg, as well as during the engage-
ment at this Post, the men behaved with the
most commendable coolness and courage.

Both officers and men deserve the highest
praise for their conduct, and the States of Illinois,
Ohio and Kentucky, have reason to be proud of
their gallant sons who fought in those sanguinary
conflicts. The capture of this Post, together
with seven thousand prisoners, including General
Churchill and staff, eight thousand stand of arms,
twenty cannon, and a large amount of subsist-
ance and ordnance stores, is a just cause of pride
to the States furnishing the troops who won the
victory, as well as to the nation at large.

It is with pride that I mention the names of
Col. John Warner of the 108th, Col. D. P. Grier
of the 77th, Col. F. S. Rutherford of the 97th,
and Col. R. A. Peters of the 131st Illinois Regi-
ments, the three first named of which regiments
participated in the action; the latter being de-
tailed to repair the roads to the rear.

When ordered to advance upon the enemy's
works, it was done with a cheer, and none re-
turned from the field, save the wounded, until
victory perched upon their banners.

I can especially commend for gallantry Colo-
nels Grier, Warner and Rutherford, and Lieu-
tenant Colonels Webb, Turner and Marty n,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 123

Majors Hotchkiss and Sidwell, and C. C. Tracy,
temporary Assistant Adjutant General.

The loss sustained by the 108th and 97th was
not very great considering the destructive tire of
the enemy's artillery and infantry. The chief
loss was in that of the 77th (Col. Grier), the
killed and wounded in that Regiment number-
ing forty-five men, Captain Robert Irwin being
dangerously wounded in the leg.

The State of Illinois can boast of no braver or
better men than these, and while their praises
are going forth on the wings of the morning, let
the remembrance of those who fell, nobly up-
holding the banner of their country, cause bless-
ings to descend, like the dews of heaven, upon
the widows and orphans whose tears are soon to
moisten the graves of the loved and lost.

A list of the casualities accompanies my offi-
cial report. Very re8pectfully, etc.,

W. J. LANDRAM,

Col. 19th Ken., commanding Brigade.

Having fought and won the battle, the next
thing in order was to secure the fruits of the
victory. This was done by securing the arms
and munitions of war which fell into our hands,
by sending the prisoners north for safe-keeping,
and destroying the works, so that they could be
of no further use to the rebels. After this was
done the army went back to their old quarters

124 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

on the fleet, and turned their faces down the
river. On the 22d of January we landed at
Young's Point, in the State of Louisiana, a
short distance above, and in full view of, the
rebel stronghold — Vicksburg. Our encamp-
ment was in a beautiful mudhole just inside the
levee, protected from the rising waters of the
Mississippi by that expensive but necessary work
of art. Companies " A " and " I " were detailed
as provost guards, and in that capacity it was
their duty to search all departing steamers to
prevent their carrying away contraband articles,
such as clothing, arms, cotton, etc. They per-
formed their duties to their own satisfaction, if
not to the satisfaction of all concerned. And it
is said that many a suit of blue was worn by our
boys without money and without price.

Soon after we landed at Young's Point, Gen.
Grant made his appearance among us and as-
sumed command, bringing with him all the
forces with which he had been operating in
Northern Mississippi. With these forces at his
command, Gen. Grant began his work for the
reduction of Vicksburg. It will be remembered
that Gen. Williams had, the previous year, com-
menced the work of digging a canal across the
peninsula opposite the city, for the purpose of
turning the course of the river. The project,
however, had been abandoned as impracticable.
Gen. Grant now proposed to complete this canal,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 125

divert the channel of the river, and run the
transports and gunboats below the rebel works,
in order to turn their position. Day after day
heavy details were made from the army to pros-
ecute the work on the canal, and day after day
the hope of final and complete success cheered
the men in their labors. But these hopes were
doomed to bitter disappointment. Notwith-
standing all the efforts that were made, and all
the labor expended, the heavy rains and the
rapid rise of the river interfered to such an ex-
tent, that the whole project was finally aban-
doned.

While encamped at Young's Point we endured
a great deal of sickness, but perhaps by some, the
mortality would not be considered very great for
so large an army, considering the climate we
were in and the wet weather we had to endure.
But to those of us who had so recently left
home, it was truly appalling. Almost every day
one or more of our regimental companions was
carried to his long home in the levee. And as
we laid our comrade away, and rendered the last
sad honors at his grave, we knew not whose turn
would come next. Those were days of darkness
and sorrow — of gloom and despondency, and all
who survived the horrors of that dismal camp
can look back upon scenes of suffering such as
they never witnessed before.

This alarming sickness may be attributed to

126 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

change of climate, exposure, impure water, etc.
But whatever the cause, our effective strength
was very much reduced. In illustration of this,
a few facts and figures are here given. The
morning reports of January 23d, 1863, showed a
total in the Regiment of eight hundred and forty-
two men. Of these, 352 were present for duty,
23 on special duty, 18 on detached service, 2
under arrest, 12 absent without leave, 195 present
sick, and 240 absent sick. It will thus be seen
that we had four hundred and thirty-fine on the
sick list, or more than one-half the entire Regi-
ment. There were only ten commissioned offi-
cers fit for duty. Company " G," with a total
strength of eighty-two men, had two corporals,
one musician and sixteen privates for duty.
Company " E," with seventy-eight men, had one
lieutenant, two sergeants, four corporals, one
wagoner and fifteen privates. This will serve
to show something of the wear and tear of war.
On the 24th of January the Regiment said " fare-
well " to the " Duke of Argyle," which had been
their home for more than a month, and then the
general health began to improve.

Let us now pay a visit to the hospital and see
what is transpiring there. A regimental hos-
pital is one of the institutions of the army, and
the surgeon is an important character and enjoys
a large practice. Every morning, say at 7
o'clock, the surgeon's call is sounded, and pres-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 127

ently we see groups of men in charge of their
respective sergeants, issuing from the different
company quarters, and wending their way to the
hospital to "draw" their daily rations of qui-
nine. This is the great remedy — the universal
panacea for all the ills that flesh is heir to in the
army, and consequently a good supply is kept
constantly on hand. A scene something like
this takes place every morning. Each man that
comes, either for relief or to be excused from
duty, puts on a face as long as a fence rail, and
answers all questions put to him with an appro-
priate whine, whether he is sick or not — but
hold, we must take that back, for it is not to be
supposed that any one goes to the hospital unless
he is sick, or, in other words, that he is guilty of
what the docters call "playing off"

Company "A" is called. Number one steps
up with as much alacrity as his complicated dis-
eases will admit of, and the following conversa-
tion takes place :

Doctor — "Well, John, what's the matter with
you, this morning?"

John — "Why, doctor, I've got the di-ar-w."

Doc-tor — "Steward, give John two pills — take

one now and the other before you go to bed.

Who's next? Jake, what ails you1?"

Jake — " Well, doctor, you'll have to tell that."

Doctor — " Steward, give Jake two pills — take

128 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

one now and the other before you go to bed.
Next? Well, Dick, what's your disease?"

Dick — " Why, doctor, I was in the tight at the
Post, and one of the Johnnies shot a hole through
my sleeve, and my arm happened to be in it."

Doctor — Have you the diarrhoea?"

Dick— "No, sir."

Doctor — " Have you any headache or pains in
the stomach ? "

Dick — "No, sir."

Doctor — "Steward, give Dick two pills — take
one now and the other before you go to bed, and
you'll be all right in the morning."

And so it goes. You might almost say that a
sick man in the hospital has quinine for break-
fast, dinner and supper, and the result is not
always beneficial.

On the 7th of March, the paymaster put in an
appearance, and made our hearts glad and our
pockets flush by the distribution of " greenbax/'
This was the first payment we had received since
leaving Peoria. We were paid up to October 81,
1862. Each private soldier received about
twenty dollars — not much, to be sure, but very
welcome. As Uncle Sam's liabilities were
greater than his resources at that time, we put
up with what we could get without grumbling.

On the 9th, the regiment, or most of it,
embarked on the steamer " Hiawatha " for Milli-
ken's Bend, about twenty miles up the river,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 129

leaving Company " I " doing provost duty on
the " Sunny South " at Young's Point, while
Company "A" did duty in the Chief Quarter-
master's Department, 13th Army Corps, at Milli-
ken's Bend. Our encampment here was much
better than the one we had just left. While at
this place the army was variously occupied —
partly by digging canals, partly by seeking an
outlet for the fleet by the way of Lake Provi-
dence into Red River, and again by trying to find
a passage through the Coldwater into the Yazoo
above Haines' Bluft'. All of these attempts hav-
ing proved abortive, Gen. Grant determined on
the daring and dangerous expedient of running
a part of the fleet past the batteries §,t Vicks-
burg, and marching his army through Louisiana,
to some point below, and there crossing, thus
getting a foothold on the east side of the river,
and operating from that direction. The great
object in view, in all these movements, was the
capture of Vicksburg.

On the 5th of April — Easter Sunday — the
paymaster made another visit to our camp, and
made us glad with four months' pay — fifty -two
dollars. As Messrs. Hansel and Doup of Peoria,
had just come down with a large supply of sani-
tary stores for our sick comrades, we embraced
the opportunity of sending the funds north for
the benefit of our families. Those gentlemen

130 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

took with them about forty thousand dollars
from the Seventy-Seventh.

On the 7th we began to see indications of a
forward movement, for on that day our division
was inspected by Gen. A. J. Smith, and on the
next day the 13th Army Corps, by Gen. McCler-
nand. On the 9th we had a grand review,
Major General U. S. Grant, presiding. By this
time we knew that these reviews meant active
service, and we hailed the prospect of an advance
as a harbinger of deliverance from our monot-
onous camp inside the levee. We began to
think that before long we would conquer, or be
conquered, on the other side of Vicksburg.

Before leaving Milliken's Bend, let us insert
this flattering communication addressed to Com-
pany " A," doing guard duty at the headquarters
of the 13th Army Corps :

HEADQUARTERS CHIEF Q. M. OFFICE, |

13TH A. C., MILLIKEN'S BEND, LA., }•

March 21, 1863. j

Officers and members of Co. " A," 77th 111. Vol. Inf.

GENTLEMEN : It is with regret I am
informed by your Commanding General that
general orders prohibit your longer remaining
on duty as our guard. It is our duty, therefore,
to respectfully acquiesce, and we must part. In
doing so, however, it affords me much pleasure
to express to you my appreciation of the highly
satisfactory manner in which you have dis-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 131

charged your duties, at times arduous. Not a
single complaint has reached me during your ser-
vice here, of excess or overt act committed, or re-
laxation of vigilance and integrity in the care
of public property committed to your charge; and
in parting, gentlemen, I have only to say, con-
tinue thus to discharge any and every duty
devolving upon you and you will have won for
yourselves a name that, having belonged to
Company "A," Seventy-Seventh Illinois Volun-
teer Infantry, will be a sufficient recommenda-
tion to secure to you any position you may de-
sire. I am also pleased to inform you that your
Commanding General has been duly informed of
your meritorious conduct, and fully appreciates,
and will, in due time, I have no doubt, fully
reward it. I have the honor to remain
Very respectfully yours,

JAMES DUNLAP,

Lieut. Col. and A. Q. M., 13th Army Corps.

CHAPTER THE FIFTH.

ON TO VICKSBURG.

length, after months of fruitless ditch-
digging and dredging, the army was put
in motion, the 13th Army Corps taking
the advance, about the middle of April. The
army, anxious for active operations to commence,
hailed the order to advance with gladness. Some
idea of the magnitude of that advance, may be
gathered when it is stated that roads had to be
constructed, bridges had to be built across the
numerous bayous that crossed the line of march;
commissary and ordnance stores for a large army
had to be transported on wagons, and the army
itself had to endure long and weary marches
through mud and rain. It was a gigantic under-
taking, but with sublime faith in the final result,
the army pressed on without a murmur.

As the troops marched across the peninsula,
from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage, they
could distinctly hear the thunder of the guns at
Vicksburg, as Commodore Porter with his gun-
boats and a number of transports, ran past the
batteries. This daring enterprise was success-
fully accomplished with comparatively small loss.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 133

During this march the 13th Array Corps built
about two thousand feet of bridges, besides con-
structing a passable wagon road nearly the whole
distance, thus making the transportation of sup-
plies a possibility. Along the beautiful lake,
St. Joseph, we passed many fine residences, one
of the most prominent being that of Dr. JBowie.
The grounds were beautiful, and the house was
richly furnished. The walls were adorned with
fine mirrors and engravings handsomely framed,
while a costly piano and a large library of choice
books, were seen in one of the rooms. But this
magnificent home endured but a short time. The
house was burned to the ground soon after we
passed. It was amusing to see the darkies along
the route. They seemed to think the "year of
jubilee" had come, and one of them said, "Why
Lor' bress you, massa, whar you all come from ?
I didn't tink dar was so many folks in de norf.
Why, here you been comin' dis two, tree weeks,
and you haiut all got here yet. Massa said you
had horns and tails, but I know'd better."

After the glorious achievements of the navy
in passing the batteries at Vicksburg, Geji. Grant
extended his lines to a small place on the
Louisiana shore, called Hard Times, making the
distance from the base of supplies at Milliken's
Bend, about seventy miles. It was the intention
for the gunboats to engage the batteries at Grand
Gulf, and silence them if possible, after which

134 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

the infantry could carry the works by assault.
It was found, however, that the works were
more formidable than was anticipated, and after
a heavy bombardment of several hours, the gun-
boats withdrew, having failed to accomplish the
object intended. It now became necessary to
change the plan of operations. Accordingly at
dark, on April 29th, Admiral Porter again en-
gaged the enemy's works, and under cover of
the tire and the darkness, the fleet of transports
passed the batteries without material damage.
On the next day the 13th Army Corps was trans-
ported to the other side of the river*, at Bruins-
burg, and immediately moved in the direction of
Port Gibson.

The troops began the march at three o'cock
in the afternoon, and continued until two o'clock
the next morning, when they met a body of the
enemy, who disputed their further advance. In
the morning Gen. McClernand reconnoitered the
position. The rebel commander at Grand Gulf,
watching our movements, had hurried forward
with a large body of troops, and formed them in
the ravins with heavy timber and canebrakes
on the flanks. Gen. McClernand deployed his
men and attacked the enemy. A battery placed
upon a hill was annoying us, and two regiments
were ordered to take it. They advanced across
the hill without flinching, drove the enemy
from their position and captured the guns.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 135

The rebels had stationed a battery near Mag-
nolia Church, and here a furious fight was main-
tained for some time, and at this point many
federal soldiers were killed or wounded. The
rebels were driven from their position, and estab-
lished a new line of battle on a circle of hills not
far distant. The attack on this line was made
by the artillery on the rebel centre, resting on
the road leading to Port Gibson. Shortly after-
wards, the skirmishers advanced and very soon
the engagement became general. After heavy
tiring the enemy was driven back, and he then
massed his forces on our right, with the inten-
tion of turning our flank. But our reserves
were brought up in time to prevent this move-
ment. His next move was to our left, where he
made a determined stand, gaining several im-
portant positions, from which it was some hours
before we could dislodge him. On our left they
held a position protected by an almost impene-
trable canebrake, and protected on the flanks by
deep ravines.

For several hours we attempted to drive them
from this position, but in vain. It was impossi-
ble to penetrate that dense thicket of canes. The
enemy's deadly missiles came into our ranks
with fatal effect. At length reinforcements were
called for, and a brigade of the 17th Army Corps
advanced rapidly along the road leading to
Grand Gulf. They were soon formed in line of

136 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

battle, and with fixed bayonets they charged the
enemy's position, working their way through
the young cane on their hands and knees. In
this brilliant charge many of the rebels were
killed and wounded, and about one hundred and
fifty taken prisoners. Our batteries finished the
work, and the position and the guns were cap-
tured.

Beaten at every point, with a loss of over a
thousand men, the enemy left the field and re-
treated rapidly to Port Gibson, harrassed in his
fiight by our victorious troops. When near the
town they blew up a caisson filled with shot,
shell and powder. As night came on, the order
was given to cease pursuit, and we rested on the
battle field.

The day succeeding the battle, the 13th Army
Corps entered Port Gibson in triumph, the en-
emy having hastily fled, burning the bridge
across the Bayou Pierre, in order if possible, to
arrest our pursuit of the flying fugitives. It was
therefore necessary for us to remain sometime in
the village, until a pontoon bridge could be con-
structed. This object having been accomplished,
the army moved forward a few miles to a place
called Willow Springs. ' Here a small body of
rebels attempted to dispute our passage, but they
were soon dispersed.

Governor Yates, who was at that time with
the army, and who participated in these victori-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 137

ous scenes, telegraphed to Springfield, Illinois,
as follows :

GRAND GULF, Miss., May 3, 1863.

We gained a glorious victory at Port Gibson
on the first instant.

The enemy are in full retreat. Our forces are
in close pursuit. The Illinois troops, as usual,
behaved with the greatest gallantry. The loss
on our side is one hundred and fifty killed and
five hundred wounded.

We have taken one thousand prisoners. The
loss of the enemy in killed and wounded is much

greater than ours. ^

RICHARD YATES.

Owing to the fact that General Grant had
completely flanked Grand Gulf by his operations
in the neighborhood of Port Gibson, that posi-
tion became untenable to the rebels, and was
evacuated by them. As soon as this was ascer-
tained, General Grant made arrangements for
changing his base of supplies from Bruinsburg
to Grand Gulf.

Soldiers will have their fun under the most
adverse circumstances. Even in the heat of
battle, while their comrades are falling around
them, they will sometimes enjoy their seasons of
merriment. The battle of Port Gibson was no
exception to this rule, and when the sound of
the distant guns fell upon their ears you could
hear such exclamations as these : " Lay down,"

138 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

"Here's your mule," "Grab a root," "All quiet
on the Youza," etc. Well, let them enjoy them-
selves. Their life is a hard one at the best.

We had thus, after a brief campaign, eflected
important results in the State of Mississippi, but
in order to secure the fruit of these results, it
was necessary that we should follow up rapidly,
the advantages already gained. Accordingly we
were not permitted to remain in camp, idling
away our time in useless rejoicings. We were
soon in motion again.

We were now operating in a rough and rug-
ged country. We had left the low, flat and
swampy lands of Louisiana far behind us. New
objects of interest presented themselves as we
passed along. We saw the splendid mansions
which, in other years, had sheltered the rich,
aristocratic proprietors of the soil. Many of
these residences were destined soon to be com-
mitted to the flames. An advancing and victo-
rious army is not very conscientious, and it is
but reasonable to suppose that some depredations
were committed, especially as we were on short
rations. Sometimes when we were reduced to
one cracker to the man, and nothing else in
view, we were under the necessity of taking up
the mournful refrain :

" Lord, what a wretched land is this,
That^yields us no supply,"

and would have gladly sold our precarious birth-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 139

right for a mess of pottage or a pot of mush, but
as a general thing, we succeeded in securing the
necessaries of life.

Pursuing the march we passed Rocky Springs,
Cuyahoga and Auburn, and on the night of May
15th, at 10 o'clock, we found our camping ground
near the ancient looking town of Raymond. As
we passed along, the dark green foilage of the
Magnolia waved in the breeze, as if to welcome
our advent, and bid us God-speed in our labo-
rious campaign. Although fatigue and hunger
and thirst sometimes pressed heavily upon us,
there were no complaints among the men com-
posing that army. They could not find it in
their hearts to complain when victory perched
upon their banners at every step of their progress.

The early dawn of May 16, 1863, aroused us
from our slumbers. We started on the march at
sunrise, and at 8 o'clock encountered the enemy
at Champion Hills. The action began almost
immediately, and before long the battle raged
with destructive and relentless fury. Gen. A. J.
Smith's division — the one to which the 77th be-
longed— was on the left, and on the right of
that was the division of Gen. Osterhaus. Gen.
Hovey formed the centre, while Gen. McPher-
son's corps — the 17th — occupied the right. In
rear of these troops, those commanded by Gen-
erals Blair, Carr and Crocker formed the reserve.
The skirmishers became engaged early in the

140 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

morning, and soon the contending forces met,
and a desperate struggle ensued. For two hours
the heavy tire of our batteries welcomed the
rebel ranks in the depths of the forest. Having
failed to turn our right, which was at first at-
tempted, the enemy turned his attention to the
centre, massing his forces against Hovey's divi-
sion. But that invincible wall of brave men
quailed not before the murderous fire. True as
steel, it resisted successfully all the assaults
hurled against it. After a desperate conflict of
four hours' duration the enemy was compelled
to retire.

Our troops, without waiting to reform or to
count the cost, fixed their bayonets and charged
into the dense forest after the retreating foe.
The rebels were seized with a panic, and sought
safety in flight. In this charge men were slaugh-
tered without mercy. The ground was covered
with the dead and dying. The rebels scattered
in every direction and hurried forward to join
the main body retreating in the direction of
Vicksburg. At three o'clock in the afternoon
the battle was over and the victory won. In
this battle Lieutenant Harkness, of Co. "K,"
was wounded by a fragment of a shell.

Such was the sixteenth of May, and such was
the battle of Champion Hills. Night closed
over another field of blood. Many of our com-
rades had fallen in death, or were enduring the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 141

most excruciating torture from the effects of
their wounds. We had gained another step in
the right direction — the ultimate consummation
of our hopes — the capture of Vicksburg. Our
entire loss on that day was 429 killed, 1842
wounded and 189 missing. But we had no time
to grieve over our losses, or to calculate the
profits.

That night we slept on our arms at Champion
Hills, and the next morning the march was re-
sumed in the direction of Vicksburg, in pursuit
of the demoralized and flying foe. The retreat
of the rebels was by the ford and bridge of
Baker's Creek. It was here that General Tilgh-
man, one of their ablest officers, was killed by a
piece of a shell.

Continuing the advance with great rapidity,
we soon came in front of their works on the Big
Black. The river at the railroad crossing forms
a horse-shoe bend. Across the peninsula thus
formed, at the narrowest part, the rebels had
constructed a line of rifle pits, making a good
cover for their infantry, while they had artillery
planted at different points along the line. These
rifle pits extended about a mile north and south,
and were encircled by a bayou. In addition to
this, they had batteries planted on the hill be-
yond the river.

Soon after the battle opened General Oster-
haus was wounded. Who that heard his com-
mand on that day can ever forget it? " Git em

142 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

out mit de bayonet — I'm mit you." While the
battle was raging furiously in front, General
Lawler, with his brigade, passed around to the
right, and finding a narrow opening through the
brush, his men threw away their blankets and
haversacks, and thus unimpeded, rushed through
the bayou in face of a murderous fire, and sud-
denly appeared in rear of the enemy. At this
unexpected movement the rebels were seized
with a panic and started for the bridge across
the river. The panic was infectious, the enemy
on the bluffs sharing it and fleeing from their
works. They burned the bridge behind them,
thus preventing the escape of many of their own
men, who were taken prisoners. From the man-
ner in which they left their tents standing, and
destroyed their provisions, they must have
thought that Father Abraham was coming with
three hundred thousand more.

One of the incidents of this battle was the
capture of a Tennessee regiment, many of whom
were old friends and neighbors of one of our
own men, Dudley Linville, who enlisted in Co.
"C" at Richmond, Ky. Their greetings were
not as cordial as they might have been under
different circumstances. The trophies of the vic-
tory were eighteen guns and seventeen hundred
prisoners, besides small arms, etc. The rebels
retreated rapidly to Vicksburg. It now became
necessary to construct a bridge before we could

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 143

cross. This was accomplished early on the morn-
ing of the 18th, and the forward movement was
resumed. Up to this time we had advanced rap-
idly and victoriously through the heart of the
enemy's country, penetrating the very vitals of
the so-called " Southern Confederacy " in the
southwest, meeting and routing the enemy on
many battle fields, and compelling him to pursue
an inglorious retreat. We were now approaching
the prize for which we had so long contended.
We were isolated, as it were, from the rest of the
world. With our communications closed in the
rear, and a formidable foe in front, to all human
appearance victory or annihilation awaited the
Army of the Tennessee.

We marched steadily forward, exulting over
the successes of the preceding days and looking
forward to fresh victories. Such a thought as
failure never crossed our minds. At every step
we saw the relics of a panic-stricken army, in
the shape of arms and accoutrements, camp and
garrison equipage, which they had thrown away.
They halted not in their disorganized flight un-
til they found refuge behind their frowning
works on the hills at Vicksburg. We now felt
confident that the capture of their stronghold
was only a question of time and cost. If they
should evacuate their works, the prize was ours
without a struggle. If they preferred to defend
their position, we could probably carry the

144 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

works by storm. Failing in that, we could re-
duce the place by the slow and gradual opera-
tions of a siege. We encamped at night about
four miles in rear of the rebel works, and waited
with anxious impatience for the contest of the
morrow.

6)

•*%-

CHAPTER THE SIXTH.

V1CKSBURG.

)HE dawn of the succeeding day brought
with it the usual activity of the campaign,
and early in the morning we were moving
in line of battle against the huge fortifications
in our front. Companies "A" and "I" were
thrown forward as skirmishers, and soon encoun-
tered those of the enemy, who fell back slowly,
surely, and evidently with reluctance, before
our victorious lines. At length we succeeded in
driving them within their works, and then en-
sued a scene of fearful grandeur and sublimity —
a scene which must be witnessed to be realized.
As we reached the brow of a hill some six or
eight hundred yards from the rebel works, a
shower of shot and shell, of grape and cannister,
greeted us, decimating our ranks and throwing
our lines into momentary confusion. The men
rushed with eager haste to the bottom of the
ravine beyond, and after reforming the lines,
advanced to the top of the succeeding hill. This
position was maintained during the afternoon,

146 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

and at night we fell back to the ravine and went
into camp, sleeping on our arms.

During the next two days nothing of import-
ance occurred. The sharp rattle of musketry on
the picket line, and the occasional boom of artil-
lery, alone varied the monotony of camp-life.
But this lull in the storm was only a prelude to
a fiercer and deadlier strife. We could not, if
we would, give up the contest at this stage of our
operations. Vicksburg was before us — Vicks-
burg, with its ample fortifications and frowning
guns — with its thousands of glittering bayonets
and its garrison, the fiower of the rebel army in
the southwest. The prize was worth contending
for. But more than this, the eyes of the world
were upon us, the Government was looking on
with intense interest and hopes of ultimate suc-
cess. Each man felt himself a hero, upon whom
depended more or less responsibility for the
success or failure of the campaign.

On the 21st of May, Gen. Grant sent the fol-
lowing order to his corps commanders, and in
order to insure its prompt execution, it was also
communicated to the commanders of divisions
and brigades :

HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, 1
May 21, 1863. /

GENERAL : — A simultaneous attack will be
made to-morrow, at 10 o'clock A.M., by all the
army corps of this army.

During this day army corps commanders will

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 147

have examined all practical routes over which
troops can possibly pass. They will get in posi-
tion all the artillery possible, and gain all the
ground they can with their infantry and skir-
mishers.

At an early hour in the morning a vigorous
attack will be commenced by artillery and skir-
mishers. The infantry, with the exception of
reserves and skirmishers, will be placed in
column of platoons, or by flank if the ground
over which they may have to pass, will not admit
of a greater front, ready to move forward at the
hour designated. Promptly at the hour designated,
all will start at quick time, with bayonets fixed, and
march immediately upon the enemy, without firing a
gun, until the outer works are carried. Skirmishers
will advance as soon as possible after heads of
column pass them, and scale the walls of such
works as may confront them.

By order of U-. S. GRANT,

Major General Commanding.

The stirring events of those days were so
graphically described by our lamented Lieut.
Col. Webb, in his correspondence to the Peoria
Daily Transcript, that no apology is needed for
its insertion here :

BEFORE VICKSBURG,

May 24, 1863.

EDITOR OF THE TRANSCRIPT: — It is with a sad
and heavy heart that I sit down to write you,

148 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

and through you to the friends of the 77th Regi-
ment, once more. The enclosed list will tell,
more eloquently than I can write it, the gloomy
tale of terrible scenes through which we have
been called upon to pass. Since our regiment
crossed the Mississippi river twenty-five days ago,
we have been in action five times; first at Mag-
nolia Hills, near Port Gibson ; then at Champion
Hills, between Raymond and Edwards Depot;
then at Black River Bridge; then in advance
upon Vicksburg six days ago, and lastly, in the
grand assault of the 22d. Only in the last two
affairs did we suffer any loss of consequence, and
about these only do I propose to write you,
although the other battles, in their importance
to the country, are not less interesting, but I
have not time to describe the part we took in
them.

After the battle of Black River Bridge, our
divison took the advance, the 77th at the head
of the 2d brigade. The enemy had been com-
pletely routed, and had made a hasty retreat
towards Vicksburg, either abandoning or de-
stroying everything except their small arms.
The prevailing opinion was, that they were so
demoralized by successive defeats, that they
would make no stand in Vicksburg, but would
evacuate via Haines' Bluff' and the Yazoo River.
At about one o'clock, on Monday afternoon last,
our skirmishers came up with those of the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 149

enemy, about one mile and a half from their for-
tifications in the rear of Vicksburg. None of us
knew anything about these fortifications, except
through the commonly accepted opinion that
they were not formidable, and could be easily
carried by assault. At two o'clock our lines had
been formed. The order was to advance slowly
until our artillery opened, and then move on the
double quick into the enemy's works with fixed
bayonets. These orders, and this movement,
made before we had a single piece of artillery in
position to do any execution, unless it were
among our own ranks, demonstrate not only the
confidence which our Generals had in their
ability to walk almost unmolested into Vicks-
burg, but their entire ignorance of the character
of the enemy's fortifications and the nature of
the approaches to them.

At two o'clock then, the 77th Regiment
already formed in a ravine, commenced moving
over the hill in their front in line of battle. We
had reached the brow of the hill when the rebels
from their forts, opened upon our whole line with
shell, shrapnell, grape and caunister. Hurrying
down into the next ravine we escaped injury.
Another high hill was now to be gone over. We
went steadily forward up its steep side, in
comparative security. When we had reached its
brow in full view of the rebel line of works,
there poured upon us a shower of shells which

150 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

made the earth tremble with their terrific explo-
sion. It was on this hill that the loss of our
regiment on this day was sustained. On account
of the deep gorges on the Vicksburg side of the
hill, we were unable to keep our lines dressed,
and the men anxious for the security afforded by
the ravine at the bottom, broke down into it in
lively confusion. An enormous shell, which
exploded in uncomfortable proximity to my own
person, sent me hurriedly down through a gorge
of the hill, and has left its mark upon my knee,
occasioning some stiffness, but not disabling me.
Our loss upon the hill just alluded to, was four
killed and twelve wounded. Their names will
be found in the list enclosed.

Having reached the ravine above referred to,
there was only one more ridge or hill between us
and the hill from which the rebel guns thun-
dered, probably six hundred yards off. Finding
the enemy strongly entrenched, a halt was
ordered for the purpose of bringing forward our
artillery to better positions. The idea of an
immediate assault was abandoned. From Mon-
day afternoon until Friday morning the army
rested, at night sleeping upon their arms, our
artillery in the meantime having been put in
excellent positions.

Friday morning the day broke clear and calm.
At eight o'clock the artillery opened all around
our lines, the gunboats and mortars in front, our

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 151

numerous batteries in rear of Vicksburg. Not
less, probably, than eight hundred of our cannon
were, between the hours of eight and twelve,
belching forth their iron missiles. At ten o'clock
our whole line was ordered to charge the rebel
works with bayonets fixed. Our Regiment was
drawn up in line of battle just behind the brow
of the hill over which our charge was to be
made. On the next hill frowned the rebel fort,
up into the face of which it was our duty to go.
Between us was a deep ravine filled with fallen
timber and thick undergrowth of brush, bram-
bles and cane. Ten o'clock, the hour we had so
anxiously waited for, finally came. "Forward
the Seventy-Seventh," was the word, the men
sprang to their arms, and moved up and over
the brow of the hill. Ten or fifteen feet over
the brow the storm opened upon us terribly from
the right, left and front, making sad havoc in
our ranks. Down into the abattis of fallen tim-
ber and brush we went, and commenced the
struggle of the ascent, our comrades falling
thickly on all sides of us. Still up the hill we
pressed, through the brambles and brush, over
the dead and dying — up, up we struggled, over
logs, into ditches, clinging here to a bush to
keep from falling backwards, and there to a
thorny bramble — oh! that was an half hour
which may God grant we shall not bo called
upon to experience its like again. Finally the

152 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

fort is reached. Panting for breath, and with
only a fragment of the regiment for their sup-
port, a dauntless dash was made for the fort. A
part of our men went over into the ditch sur-
rounding the fort, a few got through a port-hole
upon the inside.

The fort was a double work. The rebels broke
from the front portion to the rear and rallied.
" Plant our colors upon the ramparts," Colonel
Grier shouted; and they were planted amid the
shouts of our men — the first and only Union
colors planted upon the enemy's ramparts along
the whole line. Fifteen or twenty minutes after
reaching the fort, the 48th Ohio and 130th Illi-
nois of our brigade came to our support, but in
the mean time the enemy had been reenforced
at that point, and we were too weak to attempt
to carry their inner work. Unsupported for ten
hours we kept up the fight amid the enfilading
fire of rebel cannon and musketry. I wish it
were in my power to do justice to the immortal
heroism of the noble men and officers of the 77th
Regiment, upon whom fell the principal brunt of
the fight, who, during those ten thrilling hours,
defended the position which they had, after such
a fearful struggle obtained. Comrade after com-
rade fell around us; hotter and hotter grew the
rebel fire as regiment after regiment came to
their support, but we would not give back.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 153

Reinforcements were promised us, and most
anxiously, but in vain, we watched for them.

Nearly half our men were either killed or
wounded, and all of us nearly exhausted by the
day's fight, when, at about six o'clock, the enemy
rallied in force, made a rush with fixed bayonets,
and for a few seconds we thought all was lost.
Our men fell back in confusion, but only some
twelve feet. I think the prompt action of the
officers of the regiment saved it from rout and
slaughter. We rallied the men, checked the ad-
vance of the rebels and held our own. They cap-
tured our regimental banner in the sortie, which
had floated all day over their fort and had been
shot to shreds. The staff of the regimental flag
presented us by Mrs. Cockle, was shot off, the flag
falling into the ditch, where it was buried in the
earth by some of our wounded men, when they
saw the rebel rush. We are in hopes to get it
yet. This sortie also cost us a few prisoners —
men who were in the ditch and could not get out.

We lay upon our arms about two hours after
dark, holding the enemy in check in order to
afford an opportunity to retire quietly and in or-
der, and for the purpose of getting our wounded
to the rear. Several of our dead we were un-
able to bring away.

The 77th Regiment crossed the Mississippi
River with about 420 men. Company u B,"

Captain Stevison, was not in Friday's fight, it
10

154 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

having been detailed for guard duty. We made
the assault with 275 men. Of this number we
lost 114 in killed, wounded and prisoners.

I would like to add more, but have not time
to do so. Yours truly, L. R. W.

In confirmation of what has been said about
the operations on May 19th and 22d, we extract
a few passages from the official report of Col.
W. J. Landram, commanding the brigade of
which the Seventy-Seventh formed a part.

"The advance was conducted in fine style and
the men fought bravely. The loss in killed and
wounded on this day (May 19th) was sixty-three.
On the 20th the 19th Kentucky relieved the 77th
Illinois, and together with the 97th and 130th
Illinois, skirmished with the enemy during that
day. On the 21st the brigade was relieved, and
on the 22d was ordered to act as a reserve for the
Brigade of General Lawler, of General Carr's
Division, which was ordered to storm the enemy's
works at ten o'clock A.M. The 77th Illinois and
48th Ohio were ordered to follow the two regi-
ments of General Lawler's Brigade that ad-
vanced on his right, and the 19th Kentucky to
follow the 97th Illinois which was ordered to
report to General Lawler on the left. This move-
ment of the Reserve in columns closed upon the
advance, was not in accordance with the plan I
had proposed, but being ordered by General
Lawler, who had the front, was obeyed.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 155

" The Reserve in moving over rough and rug-
ged ground closed upon the advance, was ex-
posed to a constant tire which it could not
return, whereas if it had been kept in reserve
distance, in rifle range of the enemy's works, it
could have covered the advance of General Law-
ler by a well-directed fire which would have
annoyed the enemy and saved the lives of many
men, besides being in a position to go to the
support of the Brigade in front in proper time.

"As it was, all the men were rushed forward in
haste, were much wearied, and compelled to
stand for nine hours under the hottest fire I ever
witnessed. All the troops of the Brigade, with
the exception of a few skulkers, behaved with
the greatest gallantry. The flag of the 77th
Illinois (Col. D. P. Grier) was the first raised
upon the large fort in our front, and the two
flags of that Regiment, together with that of
the 48th Ohio, were the only ones raised upon
the fort. The flag of the 130th Illinois was
planted in the ground within about ten feet of
the fort. I am confident that no troops ever
fought better or behaved more nobly than those
of this Brigade.

" Late in"' the afternoon the enemy massed
their forces in our front and made a desperate
effort to dislodge us from our position, which
was close to the works, part of the men being
inside of the fort. For a moment the men were

156 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

surprised and wavered, but Col. Grier, Lieut.
Col. Webb and Major Hotchkiss of the 77th,
and Col. Niles, of the 130th Illinois, waved their
swords and rallied their men who opened upon
the enemy and by a brilliant charge drove them
again from the fort,

"The artillery in the rear at that moment ren-
dered the most valuable assistance, in throwing
a well-directed and vigorous tire into the enemy's
works. I cannot speak too highly in praise of
Colonel Grier and his noble Regiment. Their
loss was 114 in killed and wounded in a single
day. By this determined resistance we were
enabled to hold the ground we occupied at the
fort until ten o'clock at night, when we were
ordered to withdraw."

In order to give an impartial account of this
day's work, and that both sides may be allowed
to testifiy, we quote a passage from a southern
source. E. A. Pollard, in his " Third Year of
the War," gives a glowing account of the as-
sault and repulse. But we must say that he
draws largely on the imagination when he says
that we " precipitately retreated." Here is what
he says :

"On the 22d, the tire from the enemy's artil-
lery and sharpshooters in the rear was heavy and
incessant until noon, when his gunboats opened
upon the city, while a determined assault was
made along Moore's, Hebert's and Lee's lines.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 157

At about one o'clock P.M., a heavy force moved
out to the assault on the lines of General Lee,
making a gallant charge. They were allowed
to approach unmolested to within good musket
range, when every available gun was opened
upon them with grape and cannister, and the
men, rising in the trenches, poured into their
ranks volley after volley, with so deadly an effect
that, leaving the ground literally covered in
some places with their dead and wounded, they
precipitately retreated. The angle of one of our
redoubts having been breached by their artillery
previous to the assault, when the repulse oc-
curred a party of about sixty of the enemy, under
the command of a Lieutenant Colonel, made a
rush, succeeded in effecting a lodgment in the
ditch at the foot of the redoubt, and planted
two colors on the parapet.

" It was of vital importance to drive them out,
and upon a call for volunteers for that purpose,
two companies of Waul's Texas Legion, com-
manded respectively by Captain Bradley and
Lieutenant Hogue, accompanied by the gallant
and chivalrous Colonel E. W. Pettus, of the
Twentieth Alabama regiment, musket in hand
promptly presented themselves for the hazard-
ous service. The preparations were quietly and
quickly made, but the enemy seemed at once to
divine our purpose, and opened upon the angle
a terrific fire of shot, shell and musketry. Un-

158 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

daunted, this little band, its chivalrous com-
mander at its head, rushed upon the work, and
in less time than it requires to describe it, it and
the flags were in our possession. Preparations
were then quickly made for the use of our hand-
grenades, when the enemy in the ditch, being
informed of the purpose, immediately surren-
dered."

We failed to cary the formidable works of the
enemy, not for any lack of courage, or want of
discipline in the army. On the contrary this
check — for it was not a defeat — only inspired
the men to endure any hardships and suffer any
losses for the accomplishment of their darling
object — the reduction of Vicksburg. Our losses
were great, but not irreparable. Our failure was
not so disheartening as might have been sup-
posed. In fact, the prospect of final success was
brighter than it was when we crossed the Mis-
sissippi. At all events, there seemed to be a
stronger determination than ever to succeed, and
when night — never more welcome to the weary
soldier — closed over the scene of the day's con-
flict, we retired to our camps to sleep and dream
of absent friends.

The following is the list of killed, wounded
and missing in the Seventy-Seventh Illinois Vol-
unteers, in the engagements near Yicksburg,
May 19th and 22d, 1863, as officially reported by
Col. D. P. Grier:

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 169

"A." Killed — Sergeant John F. Campbell; Private John
Wilber.

Wounded — Privates Samuel Bolt (mortally), George
D. Butler, Milton Dippery, James H. Tarlton, John
F. Wilson, John L. Woolsey.

Missing — Sergeants William H. Holcomb, Thomas
Harrison ; Corporal John X. Griffith ; Privates John
C. Burlingame, Luther G. Russell, Henry Wilson.

"B." Wounded — Corporal George M. Holmes; Privates
James King, John Ruley, William A. West.

" C." Killed — Privates Robert Bennett, William M. Ker-
rick.

Wounded — Captain J. M. McCulloch; Sergeants
James H. Drennen (mortally), Joseph A. Hutchinson;
Corporals John Sewell, Samuel M. Hart; Privates
Alma Rogers, James Drake (mortally), Martin V.
Robbins, James R. McCracken, William M. Pinker-
ton, Andrew Rufing, Joseph Sims, John C. Dunbar,
William Stevenson, Dudley Linville.
Missing — Corporal James P. Black; Privates W. F.
Carson, August Farrer, Cephas H. John.

" D." Killed — Privates Barnard Connolly, James P. Isom,
John A. Stockton.

Wounded — Lieutenant William I. Goodrich; Ser-
geant Jacob C. Batrum; Corporal Frederick B. Jones
(mortally); Privates Andrew J. Brewer (mortally),
John Blackmore, Peter Degner (mortally), Martin
Hoagland (mortally), Ernestes J. Meyers (mortally),
Warren D. Meyers, Richard Shaw, Joseph Tronier,
Joseph Wills.

Missing — Privates Apollos Laughlin, Peter Over-
mier, Jesse Sawyer, Cornelius Twinam.

"E." Killed — Corporal Harris Parr; Privates Gustavus
Huffman, Charles Stevens.

Wounded — Sergeant Henry L. Bushnell; Corporals
R. McKee Davis (mortally), Benjamin F. Robbins;
Privates William H. Magee, Robert W. Summers,
Lorenzo W. Cord (mortally), Jacob Mankle, John S.
Hammerbacher, John W. Smith (mortally).
Missing — Private James M. Sweet.

160 [THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

" P." Killed— Corporal Francis W. Fisher; Private Martin
Mason.

Wounded — Corporal William Fowler; Privates
Thomas Thurman, George Attick.
Missing — Corporal Lewis Hamrick; Privates Joseph
Buckman, George Lawrence, Harmon Seifert.

" G." Killed — Corporals Hitz Boney Petres, Henry C.
Brassfield; Private Joab Baily.

Wounded — Sergeant William G. Huey; Corporal
Erastus Gilbert; Privates Littleton A. German,
David Hart (mortally), Joseph Shull, Isaac Ensley.

"H." Killed — Corporal Joseph C. Clegg; Privates Milton
G. Marshall, Freeman P. Wilson, William S. Worth-
ington.

Wounded — Corporals John P. McCoy, Cyrus K. Sny-
der; Privates Stephen W. Maring, William Swende-
man; Ira Hofnagle (mortally), Michael Stewart (mor-
tally), Nathaniel Livingston, William H. Bocock.
Missing — Sergeants Sylvester S. Heath, Valentine P.
Peabody; Privates John Farrell, George W. James.

"I." Killed— Private John Hyne.

Wounded — Captain Wayne O'Donald; Lieutenant
George W. Cone ; Corporal Rufus Atherton ; Privates
John H. Mathews, William H. Richardson, Scott H.
Rockenfield, William H. Warne, Willis H. Ferguson,
Lewis J. Be vans, Isaac Brown.
Missing — Private John T. Biggs.

" K." Wounded — Lieutenant Marcus O. Harkness, at
Champion Hills, May 16th; Sergeant Servetus Holt;
Privates William Beck (mortally), Charles Parnham,
Levi H. King, John Cronan (mortally), Roger
Grenough, Samuel J. Sherwood, John A. Enders,
Edward Halstead, Richard Morris, John Wholsten-
holm, Auxilius Gurtern.

N. B. — We have reason to fear that many of those re-
reported missing are dead, though we have been unable to
secure their bodies.

(Official.) D. P. GRIER,

Col. Commanding 77th Reg't III. Volunteers.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

161

RECAPITULATION.

Company A,

2 Killed. 6 Wounded. 6 Missing.

B,

0

4

0

c,

2

15

4

D

3

12

4

E,

3

9

1

F,

2

3

4

3

6

0

H;

4

8

4

I,

1

10

1

K,

0

13

0

Total, 20 86 24

Before proceeding further with this narrative,
let us look at our losses in these engagements.
On the morning of May 16th, when the Regi-
ment was drawn up in line of battle at Cham-
pion Hills, Adjutant Henry P. Ayres walked
along the line and counted the men in the Regi-
ment at that time, and they numbered three hun-
dred and forty -nine. If we deduct our losses up
to the night of May 22d we have an aggregate
strength of two hundred and nineteen at the close
of that fatal day. It is true that many of the
men reported lost were but slightly wounded,
and soon returned to duty. But when we re-
member that we left Feoria less than eight
months before with nearly nine hundred men,
the contrast is alarming, and shows something
of the fearful ravages of war.

It now became very evident that the works at
Vicksburg could not be carried by storm. We
had made two attempts and had failed in both.

162 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

It would be a criminal sacrifice of human life to
try again. There was but one resource left, and
that was to dig them out. Unpleasant as this
conviction was, it was the only alternative, and
we must cheerfully submit. Henceforth spades
would be trumps. But many of our comrades had
fallen between the lines and were now festering
in the sun, threatening pestilence to the city and
the camps. To prevent this it became our
mournful duty to bury the dead. For this pur-
pose a suspension of hostilities was agreed upon,
and the men of the two armies met and mingled
and conversed on friendly terms. But this
social gathering, this friendly picnic, was of
short duration. As soon as the work in hand
was completed the besiegers and besieged re-
tired within their respective lines, and the work
of death was renewed.

Our lines extended several miles. General
Sherman, with his Corps, occupied the right,
Gen. McPherson the centre, and Gen. McOler-
nand the left, and each corps went to work vig-
orously digging trenches and pushing their
saps and covered ways in the direction of the
works in front. In addition to this labor we
had to build fortifications in the rear, as Gen.
Joe Johnston was expected from that direction
with a large army for the purpose of raising the
siege. Gen. Grant, having taken these precau-
tions, and having sent north for reinforcements,
the work of digging went rapidly forward.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTH.

SUCCESS.

-r General John A. McClernand

was in command of the Thirteenth

Army Corps from the time that Gen-
eral Grant made his appearance at Young's
Point, and assumed control of all the land forces
operating in that vicinity. As the commander
of that Corps he was uniformly successful until
he effected a lodgment, along with the Fifteenth
and Seventeenth Corps, on the hills and in the
valleys of Vicksburg. His march from Milliken's
Bend, through Louisiana and Mississippi, was
marked by a constant succession of victories.
How much of his success was due to the fight-
ing qualities of his soldiers, is not for us to
determine. How much of it was due to the
ability of his Lieutenants, among whom we may
mention our own Division Commander, General
A. J. Smith, "the gallant hero of forty bat-
tles," let the reader be the judge. Perhaps he
felt a pardonable pride in the brilliant record
made by his Corps in that remarkable campaign.
It is thought best in this connection to allow

164 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

him to tell the story of his marches and battles,
and for this purpose we give his famous " General
Orders, No. 72," congratulating the troops of his

command.

HEADQUARTERS 13TH ARMY CORPS, |
BATTLE-FIELD IN REAR OF VICKSBURG, >
May 30, 1863. j

General Orders, No. 72.

COMRADES : As your commander, I am
proud to congratulate you upon your constancy,
valor and success. History affords no more
brilliant example of soldierly qualities. Your
victories have followed in such rapid succession
that their echoes have not yet reached the coun-
try. They will challenge its grateful and enthu-
siastic applause. Yourselves striking out a new
path, your comrades of the Tennessee followed,
and the way was thus opened for them to redeem
previous disappointments. Your march through
Louisiana from Milliken's Bend to New Car-
thage and Perkins' Plantation, on the Missis-
sippi River, is one of the most remarkable on
record. Bayous and miry roads threatened with
momentary inundations, obstructed your progress.
All these were overcome by unceasing labor and
unflagging energy. The two thousand feet of
bridging which was .hastily improvised out of
materials created on the spot, and over which
you passed, must long be remembered as a mar-
vel. Descending the Mississippi still lower, you
were the first to cross the river at Bruin's Land-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 165

ing, and to plant our colors in the State of Mis-
sissippi below Warrenton. Resuming the ad-
vance the same day, you pushed on until you
came up to the enemy near Port Gibson. Only
restrained by the darkness of the night, you
hastened to attack him on the morning of the
first of May, and by vigorously pressing him at
all points, drove him from his position, taking a
large -number of prisoners and small arms, and
five cannon. General Logan's Division came up
in time to gallantly share in consummating the
most valuable victory since the capture of Fort
Donelson.

Taking the lead on the morning of the second,
you were the first to enter Port Gibson, and to
hasten the retreat of the enemy from the vicin-
ity of that place. During the ensuing night, as
a consequence of the victory at Port Gibson, the
enemy spiked his guns at Grand Gulf, and evac-
uated that place, retiring upon Vicksburg and
Edward's Station. The fall of Grand Gulf was
solely the result of the victory by the land forces
at Port Gibson. The armament and public
stores captured there are the just trophies of
that victory.

Hastening to bridge the south branch of the
Bayou Pierre at Port Gibson, you crossed on the
morning of the third, and pushed on to Willow
Springs, Big Sandy, and the main crossing of
Fourteen-mile Creek, four miles from Edward's

166 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Station. A detachment of the enemy was im-
mediately driven away from the crossing, and you
advanced, passed over, and rested during the
night of the 12th, within three miles of the
enemy in large force, at the Station.

On the morning of the 13th, the objective
points of the army's movements having been
changed from Edward's Station to Jackson, in
pursuance of an order from the Commander of
the Department, you moved on the north of
Fourteen-mile Creek toward Raymond.

This delicate and hazardous movement was
executed by a portion of your numbers under
cover of Hovey's Division, which made a feint
of attack in line of battle upon Edward's Station.
Too late to harm you, the enemy attacked the
rear of that Division, but was promptly and
decisively repulsed.

Resting near Raymond that night, on the
morning of the 14th, you entered that place, one
Division moving on to Mississippi Springs, near
Jackson, in support of General Sherman, another
to Clinton, in support of General McPherson, a
third remaining at Raymond, and a fourth at Old
Auburn, to bring up the army trains.

On the 15th you again led the advance towards
Edward's Station, which once more became the
objective point. Expelling the enemy from Bol-
ton, the same day, you seized and held that im-
portant position.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 167

• • •

On the 16th you led the advance in three
columns upon three roads, against Edward's Sta-
tion. Meeting the enemy on the way, in strong
force, you heavily engaged him near Champion
Hills, and after a sanguinary and obstinate battle,
with the assistance of General McPherson's
Corps, beat and routed him, taking many pris-
oners and small arms, and several pieces of
cannon.

Continuing to lead the advance, you rapidly
pursued the enemy to Edward's Station, captur-
ing that place, a large quantity of public stores,
and many prisoners and small arms. Night only
stopped you.

At day-dawn on the 17th, you resumed the
advance, and early coming upon the enemy
strongly entrenched in elaborate works, both
before and behind Big Black River, immediately
opened with artillery upon him, followed by a
daring and heroic charge at the point of the
bayonet, which put him to rout, leaving eighteen
pieces of cannon, and more than a thousand
prisoners in your hands.

By an early hour on the morning of the 18th,
you had constructed a bridge across the Big
Black, and had commenced the advance upon
Vicksburg.

On the 19th, 20th and 21st, you continued the
reconnoitre and skirmish, until you had gained
a near approach to the enemy's works.

168 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

«

On the 22d, in pursuance of the order of the
Commander of the Department, you assaulted
the enemy's defences in front at 10 o'clock A. M.,
and within thirty minutes had made a lodgment
and planted your colors upon two of his bastions.
This partial success called into exercise the
highest heroism, and was only gained by a bloody
and protracted struggle. Yet it was gained, and
was the first and largest success gained anywhere
along the whole line of the army.

For nearly eight hours, under a scorching sun
and destructive fire, you firmly held your foot-
ing, and only withdrew when the enemy had
largely massed their forces, and concentrated
their attack upon you.

How and why the general assault failed, it
would be needless now to explain. The 13th
Army Corps, acknowledging the good intentions
of all, would scorn indulgence in weak regrets
and idle recriminations. According justice to
all, it would only defend itself. If, while the
enemy was massing to crush it, assistance was
asked for by a Division at other points, or by
reinforcements, it only asked what, in one case
Major General Grant had specifically and per-
emptorily ordered, namely, simultaneous and
persistent attack all along our lines, until the
enemy's outer-works should be carried; and what
in the other by massing a strong force in time

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 169

upon a weakened point, would have probably
insured success.

Comrades : You have done much ; yet some-
thing more remains to be done. The enemy's
odious defences still block your access to Vicks-
burg. Treason still rules that rebellious city,
and closes the Mississippi River against rightful
use by the millions who inhabit its sources and
the great Northwest. Shall not the flag float
over Vicksburg ? Shall not the great " Father
of Waters" be opened to lawful commerce?
Methinks the emphatic response of one and all
of you is, " It shall be so." Then let us rise to
the level of a crowning trial ! Let our common
sufferings and glories, while uniting us as a band
of brothers, rouse us to new and surpassing
efforts ! Let us resolve upon success, God help-
ing us.

I join with you, comrades, in your sympathy
for the wounded, and sorrow for the dead. May
we not trust — nay, is it not so, that history will
associate the martyrs of this sacred struggle for
law and order, liberty and- justice, with the hon-
ored martyrs of Monmouth and Bunker Hill ?

JOHN A. McCLERNAND,

Major General Commanding.

So much for the Order. Now for the result.
This order gave great offense to the other Corps

commanders, because, according to their con-
11

170 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

struction, it cast reflections upon them. Be this
as it may, a sharp correspondence between Gen.
Grant and Gen. McClernand resulted from it.
The war of words went on for several days, until
finally, General Grant issued a special order,
from which the following is an extract.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, )
NEAR VICKSBURG, June 15, 1863. }

Special Orders, No. 16%.

Extract.

Major General John A. McClernand is hereby
relieved from the command of the Thirteenth
Army Corps. He will proceed to any point he
may select in the State of Illinois, and report by
letter to headquarters of the army for orders.

Major General E. O. C. Ord is hereby ap-
pointed to the command of the Thirteenth
Army Corps, subject to the approval of the
President, and will immediately assume charge
of the same.

By order of Major General U..S. GRANT.
JOHN A. RAWLINS, A. A. G.

And who was Major General Ord ? He was a
total stranger to us, both personally and by rep-
utation. If he had ever distinguished himself
as a commander, we were ignorant of the fact.
But, presuming that Gen. Grant considered him
an extra-Ord-inary man and worthy of all confi-
dence, we went on with our digging as though
nothing unusual had occurred.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 171

While we were working in the trenches, firing
on the picket line, or giving them an occasional
salute from our batteries, the navy was not idle.
That department of the service did a great deal
of damage in the city, and the inhabitants must
have lived in constant dread of the exploding
shells. At night when the mortars were firing
occasional shots we would mount the breast-
works, and watch the shells in their flight. We
could see the flash as the mortar was discharged,
and. then by the aid of the faint, flickering fuse,
could watch the ascent until the shell reached
the highest point, and then turning in its down-
ward course, it would descend, slowly at first,
but with increasing velocity, until finally it
burst with terrible fury over the devoted city.

In order to prevent the possibility of General
Johnston's coming in from the rear with troops
to raise the siege, the Divisions of Generals
Osterhaus and Blair were sent in that direction
on the 27th of May, to reconnoitre the country ?
ascertain the rebel strength, and repel any hos-
tile demonstration. They encountered a small
force of the enemy at Mechanicsburg, which
they routed and then pushed rapidly forward.
General Blair ascertained the fact that Johnston
had, at his command, about forty thousand
troops, composed for the most part of old men
and boys — the relics of the "cradle and the
grave" — conscripted for the occasion. About

172 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

two-thirds of these troops were without arms.
These facts having been made known, we felt
no apprehension for the safety of our own army.

While these events were transpiring in the
rear, the sappers and miners were busily
working at the front. The hills were under-
mined, and large quantities of powder imbed-
ded to blow up the rebel works at the proper
time. The bombardment was also continued
with but slight interruptions, while our sharp-
shooters were constantly on the alert, and woe
to the rebel head that appeared above the para-
pet.

During all this time, and notwithstanding the
fact that we had established an impenetrable
line of works around the city, the people of the
south fondly cherished the delusion that Vicks-
burg was safe beyond a perad venture — that re-
lief would be sent to the garrison — that the siege
would be raised, and that final disaster, if not
annihilation, awaited the armies of Gen. Grant.
The press and the telegraph daily informed them
that Vicksburg was an impregnable fortress, and
that no fears need be entertained for its safety.
But the prospect of relief from Johnston or from
any other source, became daily more and more
remote, for, as the situation of the besieged
became more desperate, our foothold in those
hills and valleys became more secure. Yet the
people of the south were taught to believe that

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 173

the salvation of Vicksburg was a fixed fact at
some indefinite period in the future.

But our assurance was rendered doubly sure
by the arrival of reinforcements from the north.
About the middle of June Gen. Parke came to
our assistance, with the Ninth Army Corps, and
Gen. Washburn with a part of the Sixteenth.
With these additional troops at his disposal, Gen.
Grant was enabled to prosecute the enterprise
with renewed energy. A sufficient force was
sent to Black River to bid defiance to all *ap-
pr"oaching forces. All hope of succor was thus
cut off, and Gen. Pemberton found himself under
the necessity of saving his strength, as well as
his rations and ammunition, in order to prolong
the desperate struggle which must eventually
terminate in his surrender.

The mining operations were carried on with
steady perseverance and success, and so important
was this part of the programme considered, that
the utmost secrecy was observed concerning it.
Guards were placed at the entrance leading to
the mine, with instructions to allow no one to
pass under the rank of a general, excepting the
engineers and workmen carrying on the opera-
tions. These workmen were miners of expe-
rience, detailed from the different regiments for
the express purpose of working in the mines. It
is unnecessary to give a description of these
mines. Suffice it to say, that they were com-

174 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

pleted, the powder planted, and everything ready
for the explosion on the 25th of June.

On the afternoon of that day an unusual scene
of commotion was witnessed in camp. Troops
were concentrating in the most available posi-
tions to be ready for an assault, after the mine
under Fort Hill should be sprung. Sharp-
shooters were stationed to annoy the enemy until
the match should be applied. The Seventy-
Seventh marched some distance to the right, not
far from the mine. The forlorn hope was com-
posed of one hundred men from the Forty-Fifth
Illinois Infantry, and one hundred from the
Twenty-Third Indiana. At last everything was
ready, the troops were distributed along the line
to do their appropriate share of the work to the
best advantage. The forlorn hope stood in their
places, boldly awaiting the uncertainties of their
fate. They would soon hurl themselves into the
breach, perhaps never to return. Thousands of
glittering arms Hashed on the surrounding hills.
A painful feeling of suspense oppressed every
heart as the moments wore slowly away. At
last the fearful grandeur of the explosion burst
upon us, and an enormous column of earth, tim-
bers and projectiles, was lifted high into the air.

It was now a matter of life and death to the
contending forces. The forlorn hope ran into
the fort, when a lively musketry fight took place,
without much advantage to either side. As

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 175

soon as these detachments had become well en-
gaged, the rest of their brigade went to their
assistance. The fighting continued with varied
success all the afternoon. The flag of the Forty-
Fifth was planted on the works, while cheer
after cheer was heard above the roar and confu-
sion of battle. At six o'clock the Forty-Fifth
was withdrawn, and another Illinois regiment
took their place. With regard to the work of
that day a correspondent wrote :

" The explosion of the mine was the signal for
the opening of the artillery of the entire line.
The left Division of Gen. McPherson's Seven-
teenth, or centre Corps, opened first, and dis-
charges were repeated along the left through
Gen. Ord's Thirteenth Corps and Herron's
extreme 'left Division,' until the sound struck
the ear like the mutterings of distant thunder.
Gen. Sherman on the right, also opened his artil-
lery about the same time, and occupied the
enemy's attention along his front. Every shell
struck the parapet, and bounding over, exploded
in the midst of the enemy's forces beyond. The
scene at this time was one of the utmost sub-
limity. The roar of artillery, rattle of small
arms, the cheers of the men, flashes of light,
wreaths of pale blue smoke over different parts
of the field, the bursting of shell, the fierce
whistle of solid shot, the deep boom of the mor-
tars, the broadsides of the ships of war, and

176 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

added to all this, the vigorous replies of the
enemy, set up a din which beggars all descrip-
tion."

Probably the heaviest artillery firing that was
heard during the entire siege, succeeded the
explosion of the mine, and the greatest activity
prevailed from one end of our lines to the other.
During the afternoon Gen. Grant sent the fol-
lowing order :

June 25, 1863.

GENERAL ORD : — McPherson occupies the
crater made by the explosion. He will have
guns in battery there by morning. He has been
hard at work running rifle pits right, and thinks
he will hold all gained.

Keep Smith's Division sleeping under arms to-
night, ready for an emergency. Their services may
be required, particularly about daylight. There
should be the greatest vigilance along the whole line.
U. S. GRANT, Major General.

As the Seventy-Seventh Illinois formed a part
of Smith's Division, the foregoing order had
reference, in part, to us, and that night our line
of battle was formed. We slept on our arms,
and, like Micawber, "waited for something
to turn up." No demonstration, however, was
made on the part of the enemy. The night
passed away, the morning dawned, and the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 177

stereotyped phrase, " All quiet on the Potomac,"
applied to us.

The rebels had one gun which made a peculiar
whistling noise every time it was fired, and from
this circumstance our boys called it " Whistling
Dick." Whenever a shot from this gun passed
over our heads with that familiar sound, the
boys would exclaim, " Lay down," " Here goes
your goose," etc. On the morning of June 28th,
the rebels having, by some means, ascertained
our position, commenced throwing solid shot in
such a manner that they would strike the top of
the hill above us, and bound over into our camp.
For a time there was a lively scamper to get
behind the trees or any other protection that
offered. Samuel Sharkey, of Co. " K," was just
getting out of bed when the tiring commenced.
He was struck on the head by a conical shot and
instantly killed. His funeral took place on the
evening of the same day, our Chaplain, Rev.
Wm. G. Pierce, preaching the funeral sermon.

About this time there were rumors in camp
that on the approaching Fourth of July — the
eighty-seventh anniversary of American Inde-
pendence— a grand, final and successful assault
would be made on the rebel works. That these
rumors were not altogether without foundation,
is shown from the fact, that Gen. Grant in his
official report, says he had made preparations for
an assault on the 6th of July, and had already

178 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

ordered Gen. Sherman to hold himself in readi-
ness to move immediately, if the assault proved
successful.

General Pemberton, actuated perhaps as much
by a desire to avoid a warm celebration of the
Fourth of July, as to save the " effusion of
blood," concluded to surrender the place at this
time, in order, as he said, to gratify the vanity of
the " Yankees" by giving them possession of the
"heroic city" upon this, their National holiday,
and also to secure better terms for himself and
garrison. On the morning of July 3d, a flag of
truce was seen approaching our lines in front of
the Thirteenth Army Corps. The flag was borne
by Gen. Bowen and Col. Montgomery, and was
immediately conducted to the headquarters of
Brigadier General A. J. Smith. Gen. Bowen
carried an official document addressed to General
Grant. A courier was hastily sent to depart-
ment headquarters with the message. On break-
ing the seal Gen. Grant found a proposition for
the surrender of Vicksburg.

Gen. Grant's terms in reply to this proposition
were short and to the point, "an unconditional
surrender of the city and garrison." And in con-
cluding his letter he said, " I have no other terms
than those indicated above." It was a bitter pill
and swallowed with a wry face, but the heroic
defenders of that city had reason to feel proud,
even in their humiliation, for the manner in

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 179

which they had defended their works in the
fierce assaults which had been hurled against
them. .

General Bowen having sought and failed to
obtain au interview with General Grant, an ar-
rangement was made by which the commanding
officers of the respective forces were to meet at
some point on the neutral ground that afternoon
at 3 o'clock. At the appointed hour a single gun
from our batteries, and a reply from the rebel
works, announced the conference about to-begin.
Immediately afterwards General Pemberton
emerged slowly from his lines, and General
Grant rode through an opening in our trenches.
The officers present at this interview were Gen-
erals Grant, McPherson and A. J. Smith on the
part of the United States; and Generals Pem-
berton and Bowen and Col. Montgomery on the
part of the rebels. The conference was not pro-
ductive of definite results.

After this the correspondence was renewed,
and terms of capitulation finally agreed on, sub-
stantially the same as those suggested by Gen.
Grant at first, and the city, with its garrison and
public stores, was ours. In compliance with the
terms agreed upon, our troops took formal pos-
session of the city at 10 o'clock A.M., July 4, 1863,
and at twelve o'clock M., the Flag of our Union
floated proudly and triumphantly from the
dome of the court house, from which it had

180 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

been torn by rebellious hands more than two
years before. That Fourth of July was a gay
and glorious Fourth for the Army of the Ten-
nessee. At night, rockets, bonfires, illumina-
tions and music enlivened the closing scenes of
the great struggle, making us forget for the time
being, the toils and perils and privations from
which we .had just emerged.

In the " Vicksburg Daily Citizen " of July 2d,
printed on the plain side of a piece of wall-paper,
appeared the following :

"ON BIT — that the great Ulysses — the Yan-
kee generalissimo surnamed Grant, has expressed
his intention of dining in Vicksburg on Satur-
day next, and celebrating the Fourth of July by
a grand dinner, etc. When asked if he would
invite General Jo Johnston to join him, he said,
' No, for fear there will be a row at the table.'
Ulysses must get into the city before he dines in
it. The way to cook a rabbit is first to catch
the rabbit, etc."

On the same sheet appeared the following note
under date of July 4th, evidently inserted by
one of "Lincoln's hirelings:"

"Two days bring great changes. The banner
of the Union floats over Vicksburg. General
Grant has " caught the rabbit," he has dined in
Vicksburg, and he did bring his dinner with
him. The " Citizen " lives to see it. For the
last time it appears on wall-paper. No more

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 181

will it eulogize the luxury of mule meat and
fricasseed kitten — urge southern warriors to
such diet nevermore. This is the last wall-paper
edition, and is, excepting this note, from the
types as we found them. It will be valuable
hereafter as a curiosity."

It has been said that the garrison at Vicksburg
were reduced to great straits for want of rations.
In order to show that this impression was wrong,
we insert the following bill of fare, which is sup-
posed to have been picked up inside the rebel
lines. It shows that they had an abundance of
the necessaries of life, and some of the luxuries.
And the charges were so moderate that any
soldier could enjoy the dainties of the house at
pleasure :

HOTEL DE VICKSBURG.

Bill of Fare for July, 1868.

SOUP.
Mule Tail.

BOILED.

Mule Bacon, with poke greens.
Mule Ham, canvassed.

BOAST.

Mule Sirloin.
Mule Bump, stuffed with rice.

VEGETABLES.

Peas and Rice.

182 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

ENTREES.

Mule Head, stuffed a la mode.

Mule Ears, fricasseed a la got'ch.

Mule Side, stewed, new style, hair on.

Mule Beef, jerked, a la Mexicana.

Mule Spare Ribs, plain.

Mule Salad.
Mule Tongue, cold, a la Bray.

Mule Liver, hashed.
Mule Brains, a la omelette.
Mule Hoof, soused.

Mule Kidneys, stuffed with peas.
Mule Tripe, fried in pea-meal batter.

JELLIES.
Mule Foot.

PASTRY.

Cottonwood Berry Pies.
Chinaberry Tarts.

DESSERT.

White Oak Acorns.

Blackberry Leaf Tea.

Beech Nuts.

Genuine Confederate Coffee.

LIQUORS.

Mississipps Water, vintage of 1492. Superior, $3

Limestone Water, late importation. Very fine, $2.75.

Spring Water, Vicksburg brand, $1.50.

at all hours.

Gentlemen to wait on themselves. Any inattention on
the part of servants to be promptly reported at the office.
JEFF. DAVIS & Co., Proprietors.

CARD. — The proprietors of the justly celebrated Hotel de
Vicksburg, having enlarged and refitted the same, are now
prepared to accommodate all who favor them with a call.
Parties arriving by the Eiver or Grant's inland route, will
find Grape, Cannister & Co.'s carriages at the landing, or at
any depot on the line of entrenchments. Buck, Ball & Co.,
take charge of all baggage. No effort will be spared to
make the visit of all as interesting as possible.

J. D. & Co.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 183

As we are now about to retire from active
business at Vicksburg, let us take account of
stock, as follows :

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

In Acc't with Major General U. S. Grant, DR.

To 40,000 Rebel loss, from May 1 to May 18, 1863.
31,220 Prisoners captured in Vicksburg.
5,000 Citizen Prisoners.
1,500 Women and Children.
18,000 Prisoners fit for duty.
13,220 Sick and wounded Prisoners.
188 Siege Guns.
150 Field Pieces.

300 Rounds of ammunition per gun.
35,000 Stands of small arms (good).
30,000 Shot Guns, Squirrel Rifles, &c.
4,000 Tents.
1,500 Mules.
1,000 Horses.
200 Freight Cars.
30 Locomotives.

Total value of property captured, $12,000,0000.

CHAPTER THE EIGHTH.

JACKSON.

)HUS terminated this memorable conflict
for the possession of the rebel stronghold
in the southwest, and thus the SIEGE or
VICKSBURG passed into, and became a part of, the
permanent history of the country. The glo-
rious consummation was hailed with acclama-
tions of joy throughout the north, while it fell
like an unexpected thunder-clap upon the people
of the south. But our joy at the success of our
work was mingled with disappointment and
vexation. For forty-seven long, weary days and
nights we had either charged upon the works or
stood upon the picket line or worked in the
trenches. A bloody record had been written on
those hills. And yet we, of the Thirteenth
Army Corps, were not permitted to go inside
and see the prize we had assisted in capturing.

Scarcely had the sound of our artillery died
away in the distance, before we were again un-
der marching orders. At first we expected to
move at six o'clock on the morning of the 4th,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 185

but from some cause unknown to us, the forward
movement did not commence until Sunday
morning, July 5th, at sunrise. The whole col-
umn was in motion by eight o'clock A.M. The
expedition was commanded by General Sher-
man, and consisted of three Army Corps, the
Ninth, Thirteenth and Fifteenth, commanded
respectively by Generals Parke, Ord and McPher-
son. We were now playing the last act in the
bloody drama in which we had been engaged for
the last six months.

The weather was excessively hot, and not-
withstanding the fact that we were in light
marching order, many of the men fainted and
fell by the way. And no wonder. We had
done no marching for several weeks, and this
laborious march was too much for us. Water
was also very scarce, and a great deal of suffer-
ing was experienced from thirst. But a soldier's
life is a life of endurance, and the troops com-
posing that army forgot, to some extent at least,
their toils and their grievances, and trudged
along as merrily as they could under the circum-
stances. A part of the Seventy-Seventh reached
the spot selected for the camp about the middle
of the afternoon, and from that time until after
midnight the stragglers kept coming in. The
next day we rested. It was on this march that
we received the nattering appellation of " Smith's

greyhounds."

12

186 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

On the morning of July 7th, the march was
resumed, and soon after we passed over the
battle ground of Champion Hills. Here we saw
evidences of the fight of May 16th, as we could
not see them on the day of the conflict. " There
was much here to interest the members of
Hovey's Division. There nearly fourteen hun-
dred of their comrades had fallen. Each one
had friends and companions in arms, whose
graves they sought out and paid their last tribute
of respect. All was quiet. Each spoke and
walked about, as if he moved on hallowed
ground, and hallowed it was, if the noblest blood
of the land can hallow any spot of creation,
when ebbing from wounds received in defending
liberty's banner and liberty's cause. It was an
impressive sight to behold the bluff and har-
dened soldier, wipe from his bronzed cheek the
silent tear. They visited the spot where their
comrades fell. All around were evidences of the
fierce conflict. Each tree, log and bush was
scarred and torn by the balls. The graves were
arranged along the summit of the hill. In many
instances officers were buried in the same grave
with the common soldier. They died together,
struggling for victory; it is meet that they should
sleep in the same heroic graves. In future days,
when the starry folds shall float over this united
land, honored and respected by all, some memo-
rial may be raised by their grateful countrymen

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 187

to commemorate their deeds of valor in the
greatest of the battles fought for the possession
of Vicksburg."

But we had no time to indulge in reminis-
censes of the past, or to stand regretfully on the
graves of our dead comrades at Champion Hills.
Onward, was the word, and Jackson was the
goal. At night the Thirteenth and Fifteenth
Army Corps formed their lines of battle, expect-
ing a general engagement in the morning, as the
enemy was only a short distance in front of us.
That part of the line occupied by the Seventy-
Seventh, was in a cornfield, and the corn was in
good roasting ear condition. We were not long
in gathering the crop and appropriating it to our
own use. We then cut up the corn by the roots,
and laying the stalks lengthwise in the furrows
behind our stacks of guns, made a bed which
answered our purpose as well as the best woven
wire mattrass could have done. That night we
had a regular old-fashioned Mississippi rain-
storm. And such a rain ! It beggars descrip-
tion. It was a perfect deluge in miniature.
During the night we awoke from our slumbers
in the furrows, to find high water-mark about
half-way up our sides. There were nights on
this march when we found a scarcity of water,
but this was not one of them. We pulled our
bed and bedding out of the ditch and laid them
on higher ground, and for the rest of the night

188 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

we slept on the ridges. The next morning that
army presented an appearance which would defy
all the descriptive powers of the poet or painter.
Mud and water were our boon companions. But
we were disappointed in our expectations of a
battle, and continued the advance, skirmishing
with the enemy in front, until they were finally
driven within their defences at Jackson.

We were now ready for business again. The
siege of Jackson began, properly on the 13th of
July, our lines having been established the two
preceding days. The Seventy-Seventh occupied
a position supporting Gen. Lawler's Brigade.
We were within easy range of the rebel guns,
and the shells would crash through the trees and
burst over our heads, and we would then hear
the old familiar sounds, "lay down," "grab a
root," etc. One day when a severe cannonading
opened upon us, we saw Gen. A. J. Smith gallop-
ing to the front as fast as his horse could carry
him. He was always on hand when there was
any work to do. His aids and orderlies found it
impossible to keep pace with him. At another
time when everything was comparatively quiet
on both sides of the line, Gen. Osterhaus went to
the front to see how the boys were getting along.
Sitting down in the trenches facing the rebel
works, he remarked, " I takes a front seat."
Just then a shell came howling overhead and
exploded behind the general. Quick as thought

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 189

he whirled around and taking a seat on the other
side of the trench, he said, " I takes a pack seat."
The men hailed the movement and the remark
with cheers and roars of laughter.

The siege progressed satisfactorily, with now
and then a sortie by the rebels, or a charge by
some part of our lines. In one of these affairs
Co. "K" had a sergeant wounded by a cannister
shot, and a private in Co. "G" was severely
wounded by a fragment of a shell. Our lines
were drawing closer and closer around the rebel
works, and we expected soon to have them sur-
rounded on all sides. Gen. Johnston, fearing
such a resultj took the precaution to evacuate
during the night of the 16th, and crossing Pearl
River on the east, made good his escape. As
soon as this fact was ascertained, on the morning
of the 17th, troops were marched in, and formal
possession was taken of the city. Jackson was
ours a second time.

On Sunday, the 19th of July, the Seventy-
Seventh Illinois and the Ninty-Sixth Ohio Regi-
ments, were ordered to march a few miles south
of Jackson for the purpose of tearing up and
destroying a section of the New Orleans, Jack-
son and Great Northern Railroad. When we
reached the point designated, it was found that
other troops had been there and accomplished
the work we had been sent to do. We remained
there that night, and in the morning proceeded

190 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

to a place called By ram, about seven miles fur-
ther south, where we arrived at 9 o'clock A. M.
Going to work with a will, we succeeded during
the day in destroying about two miles of track,
burning the ties and bending the rails. Having
accomplished our mission we retired, as we sup-
posed, for a good night's rest after the toils of
the day. But scarcely had we turned in, when
an orderly came from Gen. Smith with orders to
return to Jackson immediately, and be ready to
march for Vicksburg at three o'clock the next
morning.

The first duty of a good soldier is obedience to
orders, and accordingly all we had to do was to
obey. We took up our line of march and re-
traced our steps, arriving in camp about two
o'clock in the morning. We pursued the march
and made our advent into camp with the most
unearthly howls and yells that ever waked the
midnight slumbers of the Mississippi forests. So
great was the noise and confusion that some of
the troops, thinking a rebel host was about to
pounce upon them, sprang half asleep from their
beds and seized their arms, ready to repel the
impending attack. Finding it to be a false alarm,
they returned to their downy pillows, muttering
something about " needless alarms," " fools in
disguise," " rather a thin joke,"etc. Those of
us who had created all this uproar sought con.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 191

venieut places to lie down, and were soon in
blissful ignorance of war's alarms.

After sleeping two or three hours, we scratched
out again and prepared for another march of
fifty miles. On the return we again came to
Champion Hills, and the Seventy-Seventh
camped on the ground over which they marched
on the 16th of May. At night we had orders to
have our breakfast over by daylight in the morn-
ing, in order to get an early start. This order
was complied with by most of us, but there was
one who did not comply with it. One of the
boys in Co. "I" slept until all the others had
their breakfast. As it would never do to start
on a long march under a burning sun with an
empty stomach, he proceeded to cook his break-
fast, and having done so, very coolly sat down
on a log, and laying his hat on one side of him,
his tin cup of coffee on the other and his tin
plate on his knees, went to work on his morning
repast. By this time the Regiment was in line
ready to march. Colonel Grier was sitting on his
horse and was just on the point of giving the
command "forward" when he saw our hero sit-
ting on the log, and asked, "H , what are you

doing?" He replied, " I'm eating my breakfast."
u All right," said the colonel, " eat your break-
fast ; we '11 wait for you." And we did wait, and

it was many a day before H heard the last

of it.

192 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

On this march the boys made a business of
confiscating " abandoned property," that is, they
would pick up all the old plugs of mules and
horses they could find in the country, and mount-
ing them, they followed in the wake of the Regi-
ment. It is probably safe to say that by the
time we arrived at Black River one-half of our
men were mounted. It looked as though we
had a cavalry escort or guard of honor, conduct-
ing us back to Vicksburg.

At last, at about ten oclock on the night of
July 23d we reached our old quarters in the
ravine, footsore and weary. We now felt that
our work, for the present, was done ; and we felt
an honest pride^n believing it well done. Soon
after our return we were removed to the river
bank, about two miles below the city. We were
now permitted to rest and recuperate for a time,
after more than six months of almost incessant
toil. The weather was very hot, and we built
small sheds and other contrivances to protect us
from the scorching sun. Our duties were light,
compared with our past experience. We had
company drill at seven o'clock in the morning,
and dress parade at six o'clock P.M. The rest
of the time we enjoyed life as best we could.

On Sunday the second day of August, Chap-
lain Pierce preached a good sermon to us, and
we all enjoyed it very much. At the close of
the services he administered the sacrament of
the Lord's Supper, and many of those bronzed

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 193

men partook of the elements representing the
broken body and shed blood of Christ, for the
first time since leaving home. It was good to
be there. Many a fervent heart was raised in
thankfulness to the God of battles for the vic-
tories which had crowned our arms. We also
attended church in the city as we had oportu-
nity. Rev. Dr. Russell, of the U. S. Christian
Commission, preached a thanksgiving sermon in
the Walnut Street Presbyterian church, on the
6th of August, from these appropriate words :
" Thy right hand, 0 Lord, is become glorious in
power; thy right hand, 0 Lord, hath dashed in
pieces the enemy." Ex. 15 : 6.

Soon after our return from Jackson, the army
was partially reorganized, preparatory to new
campaigns. The Thirteenth Arm}* Corps was still
under the command of Major General E. O. C.
Ord, and consisted of four Divisions — the First,
Second, Third and Fourth, commanded respect-
ively by Generals Washburn, Herron, Hovey
and Burbridge. The First Brigade of the Fourth
Division consisted of the 23d Wisconsin, the
16th, 60th and 67th Indiana, the 83d and 96th
Ohio regiments and the 17th Ohio battery. The
Second Brigade consisted of the 77th, 97th and
130 Illinois, the 48th Ohio and the 19th Ken-
tucky regiments and the Mercantile battery of
Chicago. Our old Division Commander, Gen.
A. J. Smith, went north to enter some other
field of service. We had been with him ever

194 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

since we entered the State of Kentucky, and
had learned to love him; notwithstanding the
fact that under his leadership we had been called
"nigger thieves" and " greyhounds." But that
was not the last we heard of A. J. Smith. On
other hard-fought fields he made his presence
known; and the campaign on Red River,
and the siege and capture of Mobile bear wit-
ness to hjs abilities as an officer.

While we were enjoying ourselves in camp on
the banks of the great river, Col. Grier sent the
following letter to the Soldier's Aid Society, at
Peoria, which shows that the Seventy-Seventh
was not idle at Jackson.

VICKSBURG, July 25, 1863.

PRESIDENT OF THE SOLDIERS' AID )
SOCIETY, PEORIA, ILLINOIS, j

At the capture of the city of Jackson,
Miss., by the United States forces on the 16th
of July, 1863, the 77th Regiment was among
the first regiments that entered the city, and
succeeded in capturing from the enemy a stand
of their national colors. Allow me, on behalf
of the Regiment, to present your society with
those colors as a slight token of our appreciation
of the many great benefits you have conferred
on the Regiment since our entering the service
of our country.

Very respectfully, your obedient serv't,
D. P. GRIER,

Col. 77th Ittinois.

CHAPTER THE NINTH.

CARROLLTON.

?ICKSBURG! What thrilling recollec-
tions cluster about the name ! The
weary march — the hunger, thirst and
fatigue — the rapid and resistless advance — the
successful investment of the rebel works by an
impenetrable line of troops — the bloody, hard-
fought battles — the daring but unsuccessful
assault — the high-noon and midnight labor in
the trenches — the watchfulness and weariness
— the laborious and long-continued siege — the
final capture of the place on the ever-memorable
Fourth of July — these, and similar events, will
ever be remembered with patriotic pride by all
who participated in them.

But we were now about to bid adieu to those
historic scenes. A new field was opening before
us, and on the 25th of August, we struck tents
and went aboard the steamer " Atlantic," bound
for the Department of the Gulf. At 11 o'clock
p. M., we cast loose from our moorings and started
down the river. On the way we touched at PORT
HUDSON, a name which has become historical.

196 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

As we looked upon the forbidding battlements
and frowning guns at this place, we were com-
pelled" to admire the daring courage and endur-
ance which had invested, stormed, besieged and
finally captured this rebel stronghold. All honor
to the sons of New England for their heroic
achievements ! At Port Hudson and Vicksburg
the armies of the East and the West, met and
congratulated each other upon their successful
operations. After long sieges and laborious
campaigns, they had succeeded in opening the
Mississippi to the wants of commerce. And
they rejoiced at the thought that now, hence-
forth and forever, the richly freighted argosies
of the South and West, should be borne undis-
turbed on its tranquil bosom. Let not the critic,
then, charge with egotism those men, who, after
having endured so much, felt an honest pride
that they had contributed something to accom-
plish these great results.

After a pleasant trip of thirty-two hours, we
landed at Carrol Iton, La., a suburb of New Or-
leans. Our encampment at this place was on the
Champ de Mars, near the New Orleans and Car-
rollton Railroad, and seven miles from the city.
This was a beautiful open plat of ground, and
was known as " Camp Lewis " in confederate
times. Here we expected to rest, recuperate and
have a grand review, preparatory to future move-
ments. Most of the troops previously in this

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 197

vicinity, had been sent forward, so that the Thir-
teenth Army Corps, might be said to have full
possession. Soon after our arrival, we received
orders to hold ourselves in readiness to march at
twelve hours' notice. On the 29th we had a re-
view on a small scale before Gen. Banks, and we
confidently expected soon to take up the line of
march, without the pleasure of becoming ac-
quainted with the people in the city. In this,
however, we were agreeably disappointed.

As might be expected, we made frequent appli-
cations for " passes " to visit the city and sur-
rounding country. And it must be said that our
officers were more indulgent than usual in grant-
ing these privileges. We took in all the points
of interest. The battle-ground, famous in
American history, where the English forces met
with such a crushing defeat in 1815 — the beau-
tiful cemeteries in and around the city — Lake
Pontchartrain, etc., all received a due share of
attention. In short, we had a good time gener-
ally, and enjoyed ourselves fully as well as we
did on the march from Milliken's Bend.

On the fourth of September, General Grant
having arrived at New Orleans, reviewed the
Thirteenth Army Corps, in company with Gen-
eral Banks and Adjutant General Thomas. It
was an imposing display, probably not less than
fifteen thousand troops being on review, includ-
ing infantry, cavalry and artillery. In speaking

198 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

on this subject, we can do no better than copy
the following account from the New Orleans Era :

"According to the announcement in the city
papers, the troops under the command of Major
General Washburn, now stationed at Champ de
Mars, near Carrollton, were reviewed by Generals
Banks and Grant, at an early hour yesterday
morning. The men under review were the war-
scarred veterans, who left the pleasant scenes of
their homes in every part of the Union, to hew
their way to the Gulf with their swords. Every
Division, Brigade and Regiment, as it filed past
the generals surrounded by their staff's, showed
the results of skillful training, while the ani-
mation that gleamed from the bronzed faces of
these veterans, gave evidence that they were
conscious of the distinguished presence in which
they were marching.

"In the array of officers and men who met
together on the Champ de Mars, the city of New
Orleans could behold a portion of the deliverers
of the Mississippi. The opening of the great
inland sea required great men and stout soldiers;
and to the credit of our country let it be said,
the right men were found for the work. Upon
the appearance of Generals Banks and Grant,
accompanied by their respective staffs, they were
greeted with three hearty cheers by the whole
line of men under arms. The two generals were

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 199

surrounded by their respective staffs, and pre-
sented altogether a very brilliant appearance.

" The review was what might be reasonably
expected from the tried troops in the presence of
two distinguished generals. The Division,
Brigade and Regimental officers handled their
men with more military precision than might
have been witnessed on the same field two years
ago, when an attempt was made by one or two
Louisiana militia generals to review raw recruits,
who had never seen even a skirmish, and many
of whom are still innocent of the blood of the
soldiers of the United States.

" The heat of the day was so intense that
many of the old citizens of New Orleans were
glad to retire to some friendly shade; and yet
the troops showed no signs of distress, nor even
inconvenience. Such is the result of being
inured to exposure. These men, coming from a
northern climate, endured a heat whch even an
acclimated person gladly avoids. A heartier or
more robust set of men probably never passed
in review under the critical eyes of generals who
have performed great deeds, and who have more
yet to do. It was apparent to the most superfi-
cial observer that the parade was no training-
day display. The two generals, their respective
staffs, the general, field and regimental officers,
the men themselves had the bearing of the true
soldier, and the to at ensemble was suggestive of

200 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

genius, discipline and backbone. Whatever du-
ties may be required of Generals Banks and
Grant to perform, the country can rest assured
will be well performed. Whatever work it may
have for that army to do, under either or both
these, will be well done. It has been the fortune
of the two generals to lead men through diffi-
culties and dangers which might appal the man
who obtains his ideas of human endurance
from theory alone. They have demonstrated
that there is no such word as fail, for those who
are determined to succeed. It was a proud priv-
ilege to stand on that animated field yesterday
and say : ' These are American generals and
American troops, whose deeds are about to be
enrolled on the scroll of immortal fame, and
America is my country.' The traitors to our
flag, even, must have rejoiced that their pseudo
friends had been overcome by men who have
shown such bravery in arms and such mercy and
moderation in victory."

" Terrible as an army with banners — if those
banners are torn by the shot and shell of a score
of battles. Belmont, Donelson, Shiloh, Arkan-
sas Post, Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Cham-
pion Hills, Big Black, Vicksburg — these names
were written in bullet holes on those dear, seedy
old rags. No bunting gay with new beauty
could be so gorgeous as these to the thoughtful
eye. It is not surprising that General Banks

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 201

lifted his hat with real reverence when these
historic colors dipped to him as he passed. A
brave man himself, he knows the honor which
is due to the emblems of courage."

Soon after the review closed, our camp was
thrown into a deep gloom, by a report that Gen.
Grant had been thrown from his horse and
killed. We soon learned, however, that although
he had been injured by the accident, his injuries
were not serious. We felt much relieved at this
intelligence, and hoped that we might soon be
led to victory again under his command. It
must be confessed that we had but little faith in
political generals, and the subsequent experience
of the regiment proved this lack of faith well
founded.

In this connection let us introduce a character
which has not hitherto figured in these pages to
any great extent, but which, at the same time,
deserves an immortality of fame.

Brigadier General M. K. Lawler was an im-
portant individual — a man of some consequence
in his own estimation, if not in ours. He was
famous for his rotundity of stomach and his
keen appreciation of good living. He*wore a
blue checkered shirt, a pair of loosely-fitting,
grey pantaloons, a blouse that hung about his
shoulders without any definite object in view,
and the who^e costume was surmounted by an

old battered hat which had seen hard service
13

202 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

and rough usage. The glowing appearance of
his countenance indicated an acquaintance with
bacchanalian festivities, but of course we at-
tributed the rosy tint of his frontispiece to natu-
ral causes, not supposing for a moment that he
would drink anything stronger than cold water.
At the same time it was strongly intimated that
he was as good a judge of "commissary" as any
member of his personal staff. Such was the
man, who, for a brief period commanded the
Fourth Division of the Thirteenth Army Corps.
And such was the man who will never be for-
gotten by certain members of the Seventy-
Seventh Regiment, who had the pleasure of his
acquaintance.

One day, as this famous general was riding
through the camp in company with a captain —
a member of his military family — he ap-
proached a juvenile specimen of the African
race, who was amusing himself in the following
manner: He had procured a lot of damaged
cartridges, and being naturally of a martial turn
of mind, was studying the art of building
and destroying fortifications. He would build
these wSrks on a small scale, and having done
so, would dig a mine and deposit a charge of
powder. In the present instance the charge was
planted, the train laid, the match applied, and
just as the general was passing .the fire had
reached its destination and up went the Afri-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 203

can's miniature Fort Hill. The general's horse,
a restless animal, not being particularly fond
of such exhibitions, sprang aside, almost un-
horsing his rider. The commander's wrath rose
to the boiling point, and he ordered the captain
to dismount and give the hopeful youth a casti-
gation, which was done with a hearty good will.
The two officers then rode off, the general giving
a parting broadside in this happy style : "There,
you little black d — I, take that."

On the .morning of September 12th, some of
our boys made a " charge " on the Provost Mar-
shal's office, not knowing who occupied the
building, and perhaps not caring very much.
The "provo" was up stairs asleep at the time,
but the boys were in blissful ignorance of this
fact. As they were marching off with their
plunder, consisting of office stationery, including
official envelopes, legal cap, foolscap, letter
paper, etc., spring-bottom chairs and other fur-
niture of costly pattern, some of them were ar-
rested by the provost guards, the others making
their escape. The recaptured property was
restored to the office, and the captured guilty
ones were marched off to the headquarters of
Brigadier General Lawler, to be disposed of as
that officer might direct. The general ordered
them to be armed with sticks of cordwood and
marched through the Division at shouldered
arms. This performance was more amusing to

204 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

the spectators than to the performers, although
Lew and Jake, of Company " I," and one or
two others, seemed to enjoy it very much.

After having marched the boys all through
the Division, the guards returned with their
charge to headquarters. Here the general drilled
them in the manual of arms, and the different
commands "shoulder arms," "order arms,"
"ground arms," "raise arms," "shoulder arms,"
" right shoulder shift arms," " shoulder arms,"
" present arms," " shoulder arms," " order arms,"
" stack arms," " take arms," etc., were executed
with a neatness and dispatch unequaled, consid-
ering the kind of arms used on the occasion.
The general expressed himself perfectly satisfied
with their progress in the " school of the sol-
dier," and having worked himself into a per-
spiration, he gave the welcome command "break
ranks, MARCH." As they were marching away, a
lady — secesh, perhaps — called out from an ad-
joining residence, " Steal again, will you ?" and
" steal again, will you ? " was a by-word in the
Regiment for a long time afterwards.

CHAPTER THE TENTH.

BAYOU TECHE.

S WE had now been more than a month
at Carrollton, had undergone two reviews
and several inspections, had taken in the
city and seen the sights, it became necessary
to think about changing our base. Accordingly
on the evening of October 3d, we went aboard
the steamer "North America," and, after a
pleasant sail, landed at the railroad station in
Algiers on the opposite side of the river, and
about ten miles below our encampment. At
eleven o'clock p. M., we went aboard the cars, or
rather, were piled in, as Col. Webb said, "like a
lot of hogs." We had nothing but flat-cars, and
a night ride of eighty miles in that shape, was
neither pleasant nor entertaining. However,
with our usual good luck, we reached Brashear
City the next morning at sunrise. We crossed
to the opposite side of Berwick Bay, on the
steamer " St. Charles," and went into camp.
And here we had the pleasure of serving up our

206 TfiE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

oysters on the half-shell. There were many ru-
mors in camp as usual, but we concluded to keep
still and wait for developments.

The developments came on the morning of the
7th, in the shape of an order, which said, "for-
ward" or words to that effect. That day we
marched about eighteen miles, and camped at
night on the battle-ground of Bisland, where
the Army of the Gulf had defeated the rebel
forces under Dick Taylor, on the 13th of April.
We continued the march the next day, and until
noon of the 9th, when we found ourselves within
a mile of New Iberia, having marched fifty miles
in two days and a half. Here we rested a short
time, when an order came for the 77th Illinois,
48th Ohio and 19th Kentucky, to take the back
track — a track we did not like to take — and go
into camp at Franklin, twenty-seven miles to the
rear, where we arrived on the morning of the
eleventh, somewhat jaded and a good deal out
of humor.

We found the country along the Bayou Teche,
one of the richest and most beautiful portions of
Louisiana we had yet seen. Large and fertile
plantations reached back as far as the vision
extended, while handsome residences, almost
hidden behind the dark green foilage of trees
peculiar to the south, fronted on the bayou, and
long rows of orange trees, at that season of the
year, almost bending under their loads of lus-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 207

cious fruit, lined the road along which we passed.
Cattle and sheep, as well as the agricultural pro-
ducts of the country abounded, and it must not
be supposed that we had been so long in the
service, without learning how to supply our
temporal wants while passing through a rich
country, with a failing commissary on our hands.
General Grant had taught us a few lessons on
that important subject, and we were very apt
scholars. An extract from a letter written by
one of the boys while in camp at Franklin, will
show how we enjoyed ourselves :

"• I presume there is not a noisier regiment in
the Thirteenth Army Corps than the Seventy-
Seventh, especially on the march. When we
first carne to this place, very strict orders were
issued against pillaging, destroying buildings, etc.
This did well enough so long as we had good
weather. But last Friday we had a heavy rain,
and as we had nothing but rail pens to live in,
we got very wet. We thought this way of liv-
ing would hardly pay, and the next day we went
to a large barn about a mile from camp, and the
way we made the lumber fly was a caution. We
tore off all the siding, floors, etc., hauled the
lumber to camp, and built tolerably comfort-
able quarters. Just as we were leaving
with the last load, the guards came to protect
the property, but they were too late. They suc-
ceeded, however, in arresting some of the

208 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

offenders from the regiment. We have some
gay times in the army, and I venture to say that
whoever lives to see the Seventy-Seventh re-
turn to Peoria, will see a high day." It may be
said here in passing, that when guards were sent
to protect property and arrest the offenders, they
were almost always too late to accomplish those
objects. And why not? They did not know
how soon it would be their turn to be arrested.
And one good turn deserves another.

It will be remembered that the flags presented
to the Regiment before leaving home, were lost
in the unsuccessful charge at Vicksburg, May
22d, 1863. The ladies of Peoria, not satisfied
with their previous munificence, very generously
replaced these flags by others more beautiful,
more costly, and, under the circumstances, far
more acceptable than the first. The flags were
presented through Colonel Grier, who had just
returned from leave of absence. The following
letter which accompanied the gift, was read on
dress parade on the evening of October 31st.

COL. D. P. GRIER, 77th Ills. Vols.

SIR : To you and your noble Regi-
ment the women of the " National League "
present for acceptance our beloved country's
ensign.

"When again you stand at the head of your
brave column and unfurl it to their view, tell

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 209

them it was sent by the "Woman's National
League " of Peoria, an association of women
upon whose record stand the names of many
near and dear to them, and of others, who,
though it may be, are personally unknown to
them, have marked with gratitude and pride,
their unremitting efforts in their country's ser-
vice; an association calumniated and sneered at
by the traitors of the North, among whom even
women stand enrolled. Say to them that this
association has adopted as its motto, " uncondi-
tional loyalty to the powers that be," has pledged
its members to bring their God-given influence
to bear against treason in word or action, at
home and abroad, and to give aid and encour-
agement to our honored soldiers whenever and
however it may be in their power.

In replacing the Flag lost under circumstances
of so much daring and peril, the members of the
" Woman's National League " feel that they are
in part fulfilling their pledge, and are making
to you and your Regiment, the most acceptable
expression of their sympathy with, and appreci-
ation of your valor.

Accept it, then, accompanied with the earnest
prayer of the league to the God of battles, even
He who ruleth supreme over all, that He will
ever be with you, giving you in conflict the vic-
tory over our country's enemies, protecting you
in the hour of danger, assuaging suffering, if

210 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

suffering there must be, and fitting each by His
Spirit, through the merits of His crucified Son,
for mansions in Heaven.

MRS. A. G. CURTENIUS,

President W. N. L.

PEORIA, ILL., Sept. 7, 1863.

The flags were received by the Regiment with
long, loud and enthusiastic cheers, and,

Pursuant to a call from the Colonel of the
Regiment, a meeting of the officers of the 77th
Reg't 111. Vols., was held at the Regimental Head-
quarters at Franklin, La., on the 31st of October,
1863. Col. D. P. Grier was called to the chair,
and Lieut. H. P. Ay res, elected secretary. The
chairman stated the object of the meeting to be
the expression of the sentiments of the regiment
on the occasion of receiving two beautiful flags
from the " Woman's National League " and
"Misses Aid Society" of Peoria, which had been
presented on dress parade the same day, and re-
ceived by the Regiment with three hearty cheers.

On motion, a committee consisting of Messrs.
Major Charles Winnie, Captain John A. Burdett
and Lieut. Henry P. Ayres, were appointed to
draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the
meeting.

The committee, after deliberation, submitted
the following preamble and resolutions:

WHEREAS, on the twenty-second of May, 1863,
while engaged in that unfortunate charge on the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 211

rebel works at Vicksburg, our flag and colors,
planted on the parapet, and defended for eight
long hours against a murderous fire from the
enemy, were in the darkness, and during a
furious onslaught of massed numbers, borne oft'
and insulted by a traitorous foe; and

WHEREAS, our countrywomen, the loyal ladies
of Peoria, have presented to our Regiment,
through its brave and talented Colonel, D. P.
Grier, new colors and a new flag, whose broad
stripes and bright stars will ever cheer us, and
to which we shall look in times of danger as the
emblems of hope, the insignia of liberty, thus
showing their devotion to our common cause,
and that they are mindful of the brave boys who
have gone at their country's call; therefore,

Resolved, That to the women of the " National
League " and the misses of the " Aid Society "
the munificent donors, we tender our grateful
thanks — that we appreciate the gift and the
spirit of patriotism and kindness that prompted
it, and we promise as we hope for Heaven and as
God is just, that never, by one cowardly act on
our part, shall these banners be dishonored, but
that we will ever be true to our country and our
colors, and will do and suffer in their defence
until "Old Glory" waves in triumph over every
stronghold of treason and rebellion, and as we
can only feel that the colors are entrusted as a
memento of confidence and respect — not given,

212 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

so we promise that when our country shall be
reunited and peace shall reign from ocean to
ocean, from the Lakes to the Gulf, to bring back
these banners, and then only will we accept them
in full, when each star represents a loyal State.
Then we can feel that these flags are fit to take
the place of the old ones, which, though faded
and worn by service on the well-fought fields of
Post Arkansas, Port Gibson, Champion Hills,
Black River Bridge and Vicksburg, nevertheless
were dear to every one of us.

Resolved, That we recognize the "National
League" and "Aid Society" as auxiliaries to
our cause, and powerful agencies for restoring
peace and unity to the nation by sustaining and
encouraging its defenders in the field — that we
endorse their motto and heartily approve their
objects — that we are proud of their patriotism
and fidelity to our Institutions and the banner
that represents them, and that we believe that
they, and similar associations, in bringing the
powerful influence of woman to bear for the
cause of Liberty and Union, are golden links in
the chain which binds the hearts of all loyal men
to the government of our Fathers. They have
placed us forever under obligations to defend,
not only our Country against traitors from
within and foes without, but to defend them
from all harm, come from whatever source it
may, and as our duty to our country is our duty

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 213

to our God, so is the defence of our Constitution
and Flag, the defence of our mothers and sisters
at home.

Resolved, That the memory of the noble
women of the "League" and no less patriotic
Misses of the "Aid Society" shall ever be hal-
lowed in the Regiment as the memory of our
mothers and sisters is sacred, that we ask their
encouragement and prayers and those of loyal
women everywhere to sustain us against our
open enemies in front and concealed foes in the
rear, that our best wishes shall ever be for their
happiness and prosperity in this world, and that
in another, angel hands may place upon the
brow of each and every one of them a diadem
of 'stars far more brilliant and more sacred than
those which glitter in the azure of our National
banner.

Resolved, That copies of these Resolutions be
sent to the Presidents of the " Woman's National
League " and " Misses Aid Society " of Peoria,
to the Peoria Transcript and the Chicago Tribune.

On motion, the resolutions were adopted by a
unanimous vote. On motion, adjourned sine die.
COL. D. P. GRIER, Chairman.

LIEUT. H. P. AYRES, Secretary.

On the eleventh of November, at ten o'clock
A.M., we received orders to march at two o'clock
P.M. for New Iberia, to reenforce the troops at

214 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

that place, as General Burbridge was appre-
hending an attack. Accordingly the 77th Illi-
nois and 48th Ohio packed their traps, and at
the hour designated, away we went on a dog
trot, reaching our destination, after a forced
march, to find that there was no immediate
danger. But then, we had been long enough at
Franklin, and we had to move to wear off the
rust.

We were now in a land of plenty — a land of
corn and wine, so to speak, and we were not
slow to improve our opportunities. On the nine-
teenth of November the Seventy-Seventh was
ordered on a foraging expedition — that is, to get
something to feed the mules. But Gen. Frank-
lin had issued strict orders against supplying oar
own wants. As we passed through the town,
Major Hotchkiss, who was in command of the
Regiment, reported to General Burbridge for
instructions. He told the Major about the
orders of Gen. Franklin, and in conclusion he
said, " Now Major, I hope you will observe these
orders very strictly, and tell your men from me,
that if they should unfortunately catch any
chickens or geese, or anything else, they must
be careful and not get bitten." The Major brought
the report to the Regiment — we knew what it
meant — three very emphatic cheers went up for
General Burbridge, and we started. We crossed
the bayou and marched about ten miles when

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 215

we came to a plantation where we found an
abundance of forage for the teams, and it is safe
to say that when we came into camp that night
we had at least forty bushels of sweet potatoes,
ten dozen chickens and other things in propor-
tion.

On the evening of the 23d one of the boys
received a package of papers from home, and
among them was the Peoria Transcript, contain-
ing a speech made by Col. R. G. Ingersoll, at
Pekin, and one by his brother, E. C. Ingersoll,
at Elmwood. The boys crowded into the tent
and insisted on having those speeches read aloud
for the benefit of all present. As the reader
proceeded he was frequently interrupted by
cheers for " Bob " and such exclamations as
these: '"read that again," "hurrah for Elrn-
wood," "bully for Bob Ingersoll," "his head is
level," etc., and notwithstanding the drum
tapped the hour for retirement, they would not
be satisfied until both speeches were read. It
was a rough and boisterous expression of patri-
otism, but it came from warm and loyal hearts.

Our National Thanksgiving was observed on
the 26th of November, and on that day a large
gathering of officers and soldiers took place at
the headquarters of Gen. McGinnis, commander
of the 3d Division, 13th Army Corps. It was
one of the most cheering scenes we had seen for
many a day. Speeches were made by General

216 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Cameron, and by a great many Colonels. Majors,
Captains, etc. The occasion was enlivened by
music from the brass bands belonging to the llth
and 34th Indiana Regiments. At the close, when
the Doxology,

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,"

was sung by the choir and played by the band,
every head in that vast assemblage was rever-
ently uncovered, as in the presence of Him who
rules among the nations.

About this time another change was made in
our Division. As now arranged the 1st Brigade
was commanded by Col. "W. J. Landram, and
consisted of • the 19th Kentucky, the 83d and
96th Ohio, and the 60th and 67th Indiana
Regiments, and the 17th Ohio Battery. The
2d Brigade, commanded by Colonel D. P. Grier,
consisted of the 77th, 97th and 130th Illinois
and the 48th Ohio Regiments, and the Mercantile
Battery of Chicago.

We remained at New Iberia until the 7th of
December, when we turned our faces homeward
— that is in the direction of New Orleans. And
here it may be well to state that General Banks
pursued a very peculiar, but at the same time,
salutary and welcome policy with the troops in
his department — a policy which was well calcu-
lated to "make treason odious," and crush the
rebellion.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 217

He would collect a large army in the vicinity
of New Orleans, and after having spent a month
or more in the pleasant exercise of reviewing the
troops, a la McClellau — an exercise which was
indispensable to the salvation of the country —
he would march his army to some point on the
frontier, or " to the front," as it was called, when,
having made the necessary observations and
studied the geography of the country, he would
retrace his steps, return to the city and repeat
the programme, placing his " objective point " in
a different direction. This policy was pursued
probably from the fact that if the troops re-
mained long in the field, they would become de-
moralized and forget all about city life and polite
etiquette. Moreover, they would become total
strangers to the influences exerted by the high
standard of morality, for which the Southern
Metropolis has always been noted. These con-
siderations indicate the necessity of our return-
ing frequently to the base of operations at New
Orleans.

In accordance with the foregoing order of
exercises, we made a retrogade movement in due
time, leaving New Iberia on the 7th day of
December, and arriving at Algiers on the 13th of
the month, having marched fifty-six miles, and
traveled eighty miles by railroad, in the brief
period of »ix days and a half. Verily, the world
did move in those days.
14

CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH.

RECRUITS.

VIEW of the fact that the Regiment was
now becoming very much reduced in num-
bers, Colonel Grier asked for, and received
permission to go home with a detachment of
men for the purpose of recruiting. The follow-
ing is the order granting that permission :

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, )
NEW ORLEANS, November 24, 1863. j

Special Orders, No.

Extract *

The following-named officers and enlisted men
will proceed without delay to their respective
States, and there report to the Governors of the
several States, for the purpose of recruiting for
their respective regiments.

These detachments will proceed without delay,
under the charge of the senior officer of each
Regiment.

The Quartermaster's Department will furnish
the necessary transportation :

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 219

Colonel D. P. Grier, .... 77th III.

Captain Edwin Stevens, Co. " E," "

Corporal Charles H. Arms, " " A," "

Sergeant James Wier, " " B,"

Joseph Hutchinson, " " C,"

James T. Bender, " "D,"

Benj. F. Kobbins, " " E,"

" James Hammers, " " F," "

Corporal Moses E. Burt, " " G," "

David L. Murdock, " "H,"

Austin C. Aten, " "I,"

Sergeant John Yinger, " " K," "

By command of

MAJ. GEN. BANKS.
G. NORMAN LIBBER, A. A. A. G.

The foregoing detail left New Iberia for the
north soon after the order was issued, arriving in
Feoria on the 18th of December, 1863. As the
detail departed. General Burbridge sent the fol-
lowing communication to Gov. Yates of Illinois:

HEADQUARTERS, 4rn DIVISION 13TH A. C., )
NEW IBERIA, December 5, 1863. )

HON. RICHARD YATES.

Dear Sir: — I avail myself of the return
home of recruiting details from the 77th, 97th
and 180th Regiments Illinois Volunteers, and
Chicago Mercantile Battery, as a fitting oppor-
tunity to express my entire satisfaction and

220 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

hearty approval of their conduct, discipline and
soldierly bearing under their accomplished and
efficient officers.

Having been intimately associated with them
long before I was called to assume command of
them, I found them to the full what their past
noble record had prepared me to expect, and I
desire to join my pride and gratification at hav-
ing such men in my command, to the just pride
of the people at having sent such gallant soldiers
to fight for our glorious cause.

I heartily commend these Regiments to you
and to the citizens of your State as very desir-
able ones to enlist in, as they will be certain of a
favorable position for a vigorous prosecution of
the war.

With assurances of high personal regard, I
beg leave to subscribe myself,

Your obedient servant,

S. G. BURBRIDGE,

Brigadier General.

As soon as the recruiting detail reached home
they commenced operations in Peoria and the
surrounding towns, and were very successful, as
the following muster-roll will show. It will be
observed from the dates that some of these men
enlisted before this recruiting party began their
work, but as they are all recruits, that is, they
enlisted after the original muster-in of the Regi-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 221

ment, it is thought proper to give them all in
this place. Those who were transferred to the
130th Illinois are followed to that Regiment until
they finally left the service :

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY "A."

William C. C. Allison, Galesburg.

February 11, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Henry G. Arms, Knoxville.

December 16, 1863; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Levi S. Bartlett, Galesburg.

February 3, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 24, 1865.
Charles E. Bancroft, Galesburg.

February 8, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Daniel Boher, Galesburg.

January 20, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Francis Bates, Galesburg.

January 26, 1864; died at Galesburg, 111., Oct. 12, 1864.
William H. Babcock, Peoria.

December 30, 1863; discharged for disability, May 23,

1864.
Elisha A. Chadrich, Galesburg.

February 11, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
George W. Conero, Galesburg.

February 12, 1864; transferred to Co. "A," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Henry Crow, Peoria.

January 7, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Daniel B. Cutler, Peoria.

December 26, 1863; transferred to Co. "B," 130th III.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.

222

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

James H. Cutler, Peoria.

December 26, 1863; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
James Crawford, Jreoria.

December 30, 1863; discharged for disability, July 26,

1864.
Darius J. Cook, Peoria.

February 13, 1865; transferred to Co. "D," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Charles H. Day, Wataga.

February 29, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Benjamin F. Dounard, Peoria.

January 4, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out July 10, 1865.
Thomas W. Edson, La Salle.

November 9, 1863; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Frank M. Evans, Galesburg.

February 9, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

promoted Sergeant; mustered out August 15, 1865.
James F. Heagy, Galesburg.

February 9, 1864; died at Baton Rouge, La., July 18,

1864.
Oliver Howard, Galva.

January 29, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Charles C. Hope, Galesburg.

January 4, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Alfred M. Judson, Galesburg.

January 4, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Robert Kay, Galesburg.

February 11, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Joseph Kunert, Peoria.

January 4, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Andrew J. Lockbaum, Peoria.

November 23, 1863; transferred to Co, " B," 130th 111.;

absent, sick at muster-out of Regiment.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 223

Thomas Lynch, Peoria.

January 5, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th III.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Charles H. Meadows, Galesburg.

February 15, 1864; transferred to V. R. C., December

23, 1864.
Charles May, Galesburg.

February 12, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

musterred out August 15, 1865.
John Martin, Peoria.

December 29, 1863; mustered out a prisoner of war

June 17, 1865.
Frank M. Martin, Galesburg.

February 18, 1864; transferred to 130th 111.
James Mather, Knoxville.

November 9, 1863; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Theodore H. Neander, Washburn.

November 9, 1863; transferred to Co. "D," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Samuel Ott, Orange.

November 18, 1863; transferred to Co "D," 130th 111.
Theodore Perkins, Persifer.

November 30, 1863; transferred to Co. "D," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Charles W. Price, Galesburg

February 9, 1864; transferred to Co. " D," 130th 111.;

discharged Sept. 9, 1864, to accept promotion in 107th

U. S. C. T.
John S. Rambo, Haw Creek.

December 30, 1863; transferred to Co. "E," 130th 111.;

mustered out a prisoner of war, June 17, 1865.
Joseph Rambo, Haw Creek.

December 30, 1863; discharged for wounds, July 1,

1864.
Charles W. Read, Galesburg.

February 9, 1864; transferred to Co. "D." 130th Illi-
nois; mustered out August 15, 1865.
William Smith, Gilson.

December 30, 1863; transferred to Co. " E," 130th Illi-
nois; mustered out a prisoner of war, June 17, 1865.

224 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Charles B. Smith, Galesburg.

February 11, 1864; transferred to Co. " D," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
James Smith, Peoria.

January 5, 1864; transferred to Co. " D," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
George W. Sutton, Peoria.

January 11, 1864; transferred to Co. "D," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Alfred Spidle, Persifer.

February 10, 1865; transferred to Co. " D," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
William S. Tree, Persifer.

December 30, 1863 ; died at Tyler, Texas, while a pris-
oner of war, July 22, 1864.
Ethan A. Wallace, Galesburg.

February 22, 1864; transferred to Co. " D," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Milton H. Wentworth, Galesburg.

February 6, 1864; transferred to Co. " D," 130th 111.;

promoted Corporal; mustered out August 15, 1865.
George W. Witherell, Galesburg.

February 11, 1864; transferred to Co. "D," 130th III.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Benjamin Wills, Persifer.

December 30, 1863; transferred to Co. " E," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 9, 1865.
Jacob Wallack, Persifer.

February 10, 1865; transferred to Co. "E," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY " B."

Alfred F. Selling.

Transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111. ; mustered out Aug.

15, 1865.
Alonzo F. Murden, Peoria.

March 14, 1865; transferred to Co. "B," 130th Illinois;

mustered out August 15, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 225

Ellsworth Utterbach, Vermilliori.

March 15, 1865; transferred to Co. "A," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Benjamin L. Weireman, Magnolia.

September 13, 1864; mustered out July 10, 1865.

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY " C."

George J. Gordon, Smithfield.

February 29, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

promoted Corporal ; mustered out August 15, 1865.
David W. Hanna, Cazenovia.

January 19, 1865; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

Absent, sick at muster out of regiment.
Fred. J. Han day sides,

January 4, 1864; died at Baton Rouge, La., August 9,

1864.
Dudley Linville, Versailles, Ky.

November, 1862; transferred to Co. "B," 130th Illinois;

promoted Corporal; mustered out August 15, 1865.
Samuel W. McCulloch, Washburn.

February 29, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

promoted Corporal ; mustered out August 15, 1865.
Alfred Romine, Kingston.

January 25, 1864; discharged for disability, December

17, 1864.
John E. Stephenson, Washburn.

February 29, 1864; transferred to Co. "D," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
David B. Sattbrd, Metamora.

February 28, 1864; deserted April 21, 1865.
James M. Toy, Washburn.

February 29, 1864; transferred to 130th Illinois.

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY " D."

Morgan Antrim, Henry.

December 29, 1863; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;
mustered out August 15, 1865.

226 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Thompkin C. Barney, Peoria.

November 16, 1863; transferred to 130th 111.
Sherebiah Bass.

Transferred to 130th 111.

James Bonde.

Lawrence Creyton, Lacon.

February 10, 1864; dropped Sept. 3, 1864; supposed to

to be dead.
Thomas Davis.

October 1, 1862; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
George W. Furrow, Lacon.

December 23, 1863; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
James Fowler.

July 28, 1864; deserted October 10, 1864.
Frank Maxwell.

July 28, 1864; deserted October 12, 1864.
James W. Twinam.

October 1, 1864; transferred to Co. "D," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY " E."

George Albright, Westtield.

March 14, 1865; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
James W. Babcock, Peoria.

February 24, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
James T. Dawson, Haw Creek.

January— ,1865; transfered to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
William Donaldson, Logan.

February 25, 1865; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
George W. Hunt.

December 14, 1863; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

227

James W. Houghtalling, Logan.

February 23, 1865; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Charles G. Holt, Marshall.

March 31, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th Illinois;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
William H. Hays, Hallock,

January 30, 1865: transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Charles V. Johnson, Marshall.

March 31, 1864; died at Henry, 111., Sept.— ,1864.
Newton Jenkins, Logan.

February 23, 1865; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Charles McTaggart, Metamora.

March 31, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Samuel H. Smith, Elmont.

February 29, 1864; transferred to Co. "A," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.

William P. Souders.

Transferred to Co. "A," 130th 111.; mus-

tered out August 15, 1865.
Henry Sargent, Peoria.

February 24, 1865; transferred to Co. " A," 130th 111.;
mustered out August 15, 1865.

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY " P."

John W. Adams, Yates City.

December 29, 1863; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
William H. Barnes, Sparland.

January 5, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
John D. Hamrick, Yates City.

December 25, 1863; transferred to Co. " C," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Solomon Johnson, Sparland.

January 5, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111. ;

mustered out June 17, 1865.

228 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Joseph Lutkieweiz, Persifer.

February 10, 1865; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
David Nighswonger, Spar-land.

January5, 1864; transferred to Co. " C," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
William J. Phillips, Bruce.

April 5, 1865; transferred to Co. "C," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 14, 1865.
Alfred Snell.

August 22, 1863; transferred to Co. "E," 130th 111.;

mustered out a prisoner of war, June 17, 1865.

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY " G."

Michael Bolen, Elmwood.

February 20, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Cassius M. Clough Elmwood.

January 27, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Caleb G. Clough, Elmwood.

January 27, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Morris Grissom, Summit.

November 11, 1863; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.
James A. Grissom, Summit.

November 11, 1863; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Benjamin G. Hunter, Peoria.

November 5, 1863; died at Baton Rouge, La., June,

1864.
Joseph Hunter, Peoria.

November 11, 1864; died at home, Dec. 26, 1864.
George W. Huffman, Elmwood.

January 27, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
John S. Hirst, Summit.

January 27, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 229

Charles B. Johnson.

Transferred to 130th 111.

Peter Morris, Troy.

February 13, 1865; deserted April 5, 1865.
Charles Patch, Minonk.

January 5, 1865; transferred to Co. " C,', 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Robert H. Stewart, Elmwood.

February 19, 1864; transferred to Co. " A," 130th 111.;

discharged at New Orleans, La., August 81, 1865.
Charles H. Smith. —

Transferred to Co. " A," 130th 111. ; dis-
charged August 15, 1865.
Benjamin F. Williams, Elmwood.

January 18, 1864; transferred to Co. "A," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Christopher C. Williams, Springfield.

March 28, 1864; transferred to Co. "A," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY " H."

William Allen, Minonk.

March 24, 1864; transferred to Co. " B," 130th III.;

discharged for disability, August 11, 1865.
John Baker

October 1, 1864; transferred to Co. "C," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Thomas Bassett, Chestnut.

January 27, 1865; transferred to Co. " C," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 19, 1865.
Charles E. Hall, Minonk.

December 26, 1863; transferred to Co. ",B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Joseph H. Knickerbocker, Peoria.

January 25, 1864; mustered out May 23, 1865.
David Moore

Transferred from 2d Illinois Cavalry;

transferred to Co. " B," 130th 111.; mustered out Aug.

15, 1865.
Frank W. Pillsbury, Lebreeshy.

January 5, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

promoted 1st Sergeant; mustered out August 15, 1865.

230 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY "I."

Edward E. Bigelow, Elm wood.

December 30, 1863; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

promoted Corporal; mustered out August 15, 1865.
William D. Cone, Elmwood.

January 4, 1864; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
John W. Dixon, rates City.

December 23, 1863; discharged fo* disability, May 11,

1864.
Daniel L. Murphy, Elmwood.

December 23, 1863; transferred to Co. "E," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.

Samuel McRill, Eugene.

December 24, 1863; transferred to Co. "E," 130th 111.;
mustered out August 15, 1865.

Samuel C. Null, Salem.

February 3, 1865; transferred to Co. " E," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
William W. Pratz, Elmwood.

February 29, 1864; transferred to Co. "E," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Wesley J. Whitehead, Elmwood.

January 25, 1864; transferred to Co. " E," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.

RECRUITS FOR COMPANY " K."

George Archdale, Trivoli.

December 24, 1863; transferred to Co. "B," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
John Haine$, Peoria.

January 5, 1864; transferred to 130th III.
John H. Hamilton, Peoria.

December 3, 1863; mustered out January 3, 1865.
Taylor McMohan, Somerville.

January 12, 1864; transferred to Co. "C," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
William Nolan, Haw Creek.

January— , 1865; transferred to Co. "C," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 231

Isaac Orr, Kickapoo.

January 25, 1864; transferred to Co. " C," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 14, 1865.
Thomas Parker, Rosefield.

April 7, 1864; died at Fort Gaines, Ala., September 4,

1864.
Lyman J. Powell, Edwards Station.

January 20, 1864; transferred to Co. "C," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 14, 1865.
Samuel H. Race, Pekin.

February 1, 1864; transferred to Co. "C," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
Robert J. Rynearson, Peoria.

December 3, 1863; transferred to Co. " C," 130th 111.;

mustered out June 17, 1865.
Edwin R. Somers, Peoria.

January 2, 1864; transferred to Co. "C," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
George Thurston, Peoria.

February 29, 1864; transferred to Co. "C," 130th 111.;

mustered out August 15, 1865.
John D. Wholstenholm, Kickapoo.

April 5, 1864; transferred to Co. " C," 130th 111.; mus-
tered out August 15, 1865.

UNASSIGNED RECRUITS.

John Abel, Chicago.
Richard Atkins, Peoria, March 1, 1865.
Charles W. Brown, Troy, Feb. 13, 1865.
Thomas Bun, Peoria, March 2, 1865.
James Burnett, Peoria, March 1, 1865.
James Boner, Lacou, l3ec. 22, 1863.
William H. Brown, Peoria, Feb. 26, 1864.
William Brown, Chicago, April 1, 1865.

John M. Bremble.

Alfred Burlingame, Lacon.

James Conners, Peoria, March 2, 1865.

Jacob M. Conner, Auburn, Feb. 14, 1865.

232 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Franklin F. Denton, Galesburg.

Patrick Flannagan, Peoria, Sept. 9, 1864.

William Folz, Peoria.

Chauncey W. Greenman, Peoria.

James Haley, Peoria, Feb. 28, 1865.

John Hubert, Peoria, Feb. 28, 1865.

John Hays, Peoria, March 2, 1865.

John Herbert.

William Hays, Hallock, Jan. 30, 1865.

Samuel J. Hutchinsou, Lacon.

John Houck, Washington.

Silas Kerr, Peoria, Feb. 24, 1865.

Daniel Kelly, Peoria, March 2, 1865.

Alfred Kahling, Peoria, Feb. 27, 1865.

Charles King, Eugene.

Henry M. Karmany, Peoria.

James Linch, La Salle.

Abraham Linscott, Lacou.

Alonzo T. Marden, Westtield.

John Miller, Peoria, Feb. 28, 1865.

Hugh F. McElheny, Peoria, March 14, 1865.

John McGree, Peoria, Jan. 13, 1864.

James McElhany, Ohio, March 9, 1865.

John Miller.

Henry P. McManus, Peoria, Feb. 29, 1864.

Wm. H. B. McCoy, Washburn, Nov. 18, 1863.

Michael Morrisy, Galesburg.

Walter Murray, Galesburg.

Frank N. Martin, Wataga.

Henry S. McAllister, Galesburg.

George H. Percival, Peoria.

David B. Pemble, Elmwood.

Nathan W. Pourch, Lacon.

Andrew Sorner, Peoria, Feb. 28, 1865.

Andrew Simson.

William Sowders Hallock, Jan. 30, 1865.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 233

John Shurray, Peoria.
John (jr. Stewart, Elmwood.
Louis Sanford, Peoria.
Samuel Stevens, Galesburg.
John Wilson, Peoria.
Samuel M. Wadsworth, Peoria.

15

TEXAS.

THE evening of Dec. 17th, we went
aboard the transport " De Molay," and that
night cut loose and steamed down the
river. The next morning, early, we crossed the
dividing line between the turbid waters of the
Mississippi and the clear blue waters of the Gulf.
And now ensued a scene comical in the extreme^
comical to the spectators, but not to the perfor-
mers. The vessel heaved and rolled from side to
side as she bounded over the waves — now lifting
her prow high in the air, and then plunging for-
ward as if the noble ship would be engulfed in the
trough of the sea. Many of the boys were seized
with that peculiar nauseous feeling known as
sea-sickness, and they employed their leisure
time in what they called " heaving up Jonah,"
that is they vomited most majestically. Some
would lean over the railing and deposit their
morning meal in the Gulf; others, more timid,
would cling with the tenacity of life to a post,
and perform their part of the comedy with due

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 235

solemnity. As some unlucky officer appeared on
deck to contribute something to the entertain-
ment, the boys, without the fear of shoulder-
straps before their eyes, would call out, " There
goes your fifty cents."

We reached our destination — Pass Cavello,
Texas — and went into camp on a dreary, deso-
late sand bank, known as DeCrow's Point. This
is a peninsula lying between the waters of the
Gulf and Matagorda Bay. While here we felt
much inconvenience for want of rations. While
vast stores of " hard-tack," and kindred luxuries
were piled up at New Orleans, Gen. Banks,
with a foresight for which his military adminis-
tration was famous, failed to furnish his troops
in Texas with the much-needed supplies. To
add to the discomforts of the situation, the
weather was exceedingly cold for a southern
climate. At night the cold northwesters would
howl across the sandy waste, and it was no un-
common thing to see the whole encampment ly-
ing prostrate on the sand. On one of. these
occasions, after the wind had been performing
wild antics through the night, the lamented Col.
Webb awoke in the morning to find his tent
covering him as a blanket. He crawled from
the ruins and looked with mute surprise upon
the wrecks around him. At length, unable
longer to control his feelings, he exclaimed in

236 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

accents of solemnity, " Behold the ruins of Pom-
peii"

For the most part, we had to depend for fuel
on drift-wood gathered along the coast. This
would not burn very well, especially when the
wind was blowing, and that was nearly all the
time. To obviate this difficulty, we dug holes in
the ground, and in them built, fires to do our
cooking. Of course the wind would very gen-
erously sprinkle our rations with sand, which
was gritty to the teeth and the taste. In fact
we had " grit " enough and " sand in the craw "
enough for any emergency.

But these diversions were suddenly inter-
rupted by the appearance of an enemy in the
distance. We were now becoming too much
attached to our new home to be driven from it
without a struggle. We would " die in the last
ditch " rather than surrender our firesides and
our sand hills. No ruthless foe should ever in-
vade the sacred precincts of our camp. With
these thoughts animating our patriotic breasts,
we marched out to meet the enemy. With
colors flying, and burnished arms glistening in
the sunlight, our lines advanced in splendid
style. We met the enemy and they were ours.
To parody the lines of the nursery rhyme,

" We charged upon a flock of sheep,
And put them all to flight,"

excepting what we killed and brought into

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 237

camp. But in spite of these alarms, and in spite
of all our surroundings on this inhospitable coast,
we had one consolation left, and that was, our
stay would be short. Gen. Banks, in the regu-
lar order of things, would soon order us back to
our " base " to take a fresh start.

At this time a good deal of interest was felt
about a new organization of troops which had
been christened the "Corps d'Afrique," or as
some of the baser sort among us called it, the
" Corps de Nigger." Many were the aspirants
for military honors in this new enterprise.
Dreams of promotion, shoulder straps and in-
creased pay floated through the imaginations of
thousands. Many of the non-commissioned
officers and privates in the different regiments,
who had hitherto performed their duties credita-
bly, became dissatisfied with their present con-
dition, and applied for commissions. The
epidemic swept through the Seventy-Seventh.
About a dozen of our boys were successful in
their aspirations for fame; but, as is always the
case in a grand rush for office, there were a
few appointments, and many ^appointments.
Some of those however, who did succeed, put on
more style than a Major General. It was a
common thing in those days to see a brand new
Second-Lieutenant strut the streets of New
Orleans, with head erect, shoulders thrown back

238 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

and stately tread, as much as to say, '• Clear the
track, look out there, /' m coming."

Before receiving a commission in the Corps
d' Afrique, it was necessary for the applicant to
pass an examination before a Board of Examin-
ers, appointed to try the merits of the case. A
gentleman who passed — or rather failed to pass
— the examination, thus reports the results:

Colonel. — What is the position of a soldier ?

Candidate. — About the same as that of a deck
hand on a steamboat.

Col. — How do you form company ? •

Can. — Get out big handbills offering $13 a
month, $100 bounty, $25 down, a month's pay in
advance and $2 premium. Say something about
our glorious country, free institutions and Fourth
of July, and you will soon have your company
formed.

Col. — "When you have formed your company,
what do you do then ?

Can. — Wear shoulder straps and draw $129 a
month.

Col. — How do you instruct your men to mark
time ?

Can. — By cutting a notch in a stick for each
day — two notches for Sunday.

Col. — After marking time, what conies next?

Can. — March.

Col. — What next after march ?

Can. — April.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 239

Col. — How do you open ranks?

Can. — Fire a cannon ball into them.

Col. — Who are the highest military officers ?

Can. — Generals.

Col. — Why are they called generals?

Can. — Because they are nobody in particular.

Col. — Very well. What education have you
had ? What branches are you familiar with ?

Can. — Beech branches mostly, as I lived in
Indiana during my school days.

Col. — Do you consider yourself capable of in-
structing a company of American citizens of
African descent?

Can. — I think, sir, I can teach the young idea
how to shoot.

Col. — What would be your principal aim and
end be in such instructions?

Can. — My principal aim would be at the
rebels — my end, the end of the war.

Here the examination closed, but as there was
no vacancy just then, the applicant did not re-
ceive a commission.

As our highly esteemed Chaplain, the Rev. W.
G. Pierce, had resigned and gone home, we now
had to depend upon ourselves and the generosity
of other regiments for religious instruction and
entertainment. On the latter we depended not
in vain. The Rev. Mr. Chittenden, of the 67th
Indiana was, emphatically, the right man in the
right place, and the boys of the 77th can never

240 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

forget his kind services. He was faithful in
season and out of season — faithful all the time.
But still we had no Chaplain that we could call
our own, and we felt lost without one. We
missed the Christian ministrations of Mr. Pierce,
which we had so much enjoyed in other days.
It is true that the Sunday and Wednesday even-
ing prayer meetings were kept up and well
attended. At one of these meetings, Captain
McCulloeh proposed that it be made a matter of
public and private prayer, that God, in his own
good time, would send us a Chaplain to go in
and out before us. And that prayer was an-
swered in due time, by the arrival in the Regi-
ment of the Rev. John S. McCulloeh, who was
mustered as Chaplain on the 5th of April, 1864.
It is a great mistake to suppose that soldiers, as
a rule, have no respect for religion or religious
teachers. On the contrary, a conscientious, God-
fearing, faithful Chaplain, is regarded by saint
and sinner alike, as a great acquisition to any
Regiment.

And such was Rev. L. S. Chittenden of the
67th Indiana. His work was not confined to his
own Regiment, but throughout the camp —
wherever a soldier, whether sick or well, or
dying, needed his service, he was there at the
post of duty. With a smile and cheerful greet-
ing, "Well, boys, how do you do?" and a warm,
fraternal grasp of the hand, he scattered sun-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 241

shine wherever he went. And his name will be
held in grateful remembrance, while an inhab-
itant of that desolate camp remains on the earth.

Among other things, he procured a large tent,
in which he held religious services, and here
hundreds assembled for worship. The Chaplain
conducted a series of revival meetings, which
resulted in the conversion of about five hundred.
And many of these converts were taken to' the
quiet waters of the Matagorda Bay, and conse-
crated in the ordinance of baptism. One scene
was impressive and beautiful. Twenty-five of
the new recruits had chosen immersion, as the
mode of baptism which they preferred. Accord-
ingly, one beautiful day, with the Chaplain at
their head, the candidates joined hands and
marched into the gently deepening water, per-
haps a hundred yards from the shore, and there,
while the thousands of spectators sang an old
familiar hymn, the rite of baptism was per-
formed, after which the company rejoined hands
and came singing to the shore.

The Chaplain also organized what he called an
"Army Church," in which were associated the
religous elements of the different Regiments,
without doing violence to past affiliations or
beliefs. He was also an earnest worker in the
temperance cause. In these labors he was ably
seconded by Prof. Mathews of the 19th Ken-
tucky, and by other devoted Chaplains. As a

242 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

result of their joint labors, hundreds were led to
adopt lives of uprightness and sobriety. It is
perhaps not saying too much to assert, that many
a soldier can date the beginning of a new life,
from his sojourn among the sand hills of Texas.

"Because of his eminent services, Adj't Gen.
Swain, of Chicago, then serving on the corps
staff, made diligent effort to have created the
office of Chaplain General — an office having
supervision of all the Chaplains of the army,
and of having Chaplain Chittenden raised to that
rank. It would have been a worthy act be-
stowed upon a worthy man."

While here Major General N. J. T. Dana
issued his famous manifesto, saying, "This army
shall tight on foot and not on wheels," and we
did fight on foot to some purpose, as witness our
successful assault on the sheep. The Fourth
Division was now in command of Brig. Gen. T.
E. G. Ransom, formerly Colonel of the Eleventh
Illinois Infantry, a brave officer and one beloved
by all the troops under him. The Brigade which
had formerly been led to victory by that gallant
Kentuckian, Bnrbridge, was now presided over
by one who was no less qualified, no less daring,
Col. Lamiram of the 19th Kentucky.

Up to this time our experience in the Depart-
ment of the Gulf, had not been very pleasant or
agreeable. We had spent a month or more in
camp at Carrollton. We had marched up the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 243

Bayou Teche, and then — marched down again.
And now, to cap the climax of our disquietude,
we were banished to the dreary coast of Mata-
gorda Bay. But it was not to be expected that
we would be allowed to remain long in idleness,
even on this desert shore.

On the 22d of February, the Regiment em-
barked on the steamer " St. Mary," and turned
their faces in the direction of the Mississippi
River. The 19th Kentucky and a part of the
67th Indiana, were on the same vessel. This
trip was but a repetition of the other. The same
"heaving up of Jonah" on the part of the men ;
the same " throwing up of commissions " on the
part of the officers. At night, on the 24th, the
Regiment reached the landing at Algiers, and
the next day proceeded to Brashear City, and
thence began the forward movement along the
Bayou Teche.

CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH.

RED RIVER.

NOW becomes our painful duty to write
a chapter full of disaster to the Seventy-
Seventh and to the Thirteenth Army Corps
— a chapter which we would gladly blot from
the pages of this history. But the events trans-
pired, and the record must be made.

Great activity prevailed in the department of
the Gulf during the early spring of 1864.
A large army, fully organized, thoroughly
equipped, and well supplied with all the ma-
terials for an active, energetic and successful
campaign, was collected and sent to the front.
Great results were anticipated, and, as the
sequel will show, great results were accom-
plished.

The campaign opened about the first of
March. General Franklin with the forces from
New Orleans, took up the line of march along
the Bayou Teche. General A. J. Smith em-
barked at Vicksburg with the troops under his
command and proceeded down the river, while

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 245

General Steele was to cross the country from
Little Rock, Ark., and join the expedition on
Red River. Major General N. P. Banks,
" The Bobbin boy of Waltham," was to com-
mand the combined forces. Shreveport, in
northwestern Louisiana, was the grand objective
point, the occupation of which would give us
control of that part of the State, and afford a
base of operations against Texas. In addition
to the forces named above, Admiral Porter com-
manded a fleet of gunboats, the most formidable,
perhaps, ever seen on the western waters. On
the 14th of March, while General Franklin was
moving across the country via Franklin, New
Iberia, and Opelousas, General Smith, assisted
by the gunboats, attacked and captured Fort De
Russy on Red River. Immediately after this,
the transports, with General Smith's troops on
board and Admiral Porter's fleet of iron clads
moved up the river and anchored in front of
Alexandria on the 16th. It was the intention
of Gen. Franklin t<5 effect a junction with Gen.
Smith at this place, but failing to do so, he was
obliged to move in the direction of Shreveport
by land. It is needless to detail all the particu-
lars of the march and the camp between
Brashear City, and Alexandria. One or two
incidents will suffice.

On the 14th of March an event occurred which
afforded some amusement. The boys were sup-

246 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

plied with what they jocularly called" dog tents"
Our first tents were the " Sibley," large enough
to accommodate from twelve to sixteen persons.
The next was the " wedge " tent, large enough
for from four to six. The '' dog," or ;' shelter "
tent consisted of two parts, each about the size
of an ordinary blanket, and they could be
fastened together with buttons and eyelets. In
this way the boys carried their tents with them,
each one carrying one part, and by " bunking "
together in couples, they were prepared to pitch
tents in short order. Either with or without a
ridge-pole, and with end stakes and pins to fasten
down the sides, and by spreading a rubber
blanket over the top and a rubber or other
blanket over one end, they could be made quite
comfortable. But they were so small the boys
could only occupy a sitting posture. If they
wanted to stand up or turn around, they had to
go outside for that purpose. Two objects were
accomplished by using this kind of tent. Every
soldier carried his shelter with him, and it re-
lieved the command of extra teams to carry
camp equipage. In the course of time the boys
managed to get at least two each of these tents,
and then a heavy rain would not disturb them;
and when they remained in camp for a few days
at a time, by getting a few boards and elevating
the tents, they did finely.

The first night after the dog tents were issued,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 247

the boys — hundreds of them — it was midnight
— came to the entrance of their tents and barked,
representing all the variations of dog music,
from the gentle whine of the insignificant cur,
to the hoarse voice of the majestic mastiff. This
novel and amusing concert was kept up for an
hour or more. Of course there could be no
sleeping while it lasted. With such pastimes as
these the boys varied the tedious monotony of
the march, and prepared for the sterner duties
of the battle field.

': DOG TENT "

On the 2d of April, two of the boys from the
48th Ohio, and one from the 24th Iowa, were out
foraging. They were caught by the rebel bush-
whackers, and one of them shot. Our boys felt
very indignant, and especially so, as Gen. Frank-
lin had thrown constant protection around those
fellows all along the line of march. And yet
the flanks and rear of our army were constantly
annoyed by these' cowardly sneaks — men who
had not the courage to enlist and tight like sol-
diers, but stood at their gates and bowed as the
army passed, and then, seeking the cover of the
brush, acted their mean, contemptible part in the

248 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

capture or killing of our men. On some of the
residences were placards bearing the inscription :
"NEUTRALITY — FRENCH PROTECTION
HERE," and the French flag fluttered in the
breeze. But the western boys had been too long
in the service to show much respect for " French
protection " or " neutrality," and even Franklin's
" protection " availed them nothing, for the boys
showed their contempt for all such claims, by
acts of wholesale destruction as they passed
along.

On Sunday, April 3d, Captain Coulter of the
48th Ohio, and others, preached to the boys. It
was a quiet day for all those who appreciated a
day of rest and worship. The text chosen by
Capt. Coulter was from Heb. 12 : 23-24. The ser-
mon was full of pathos and burning hope. Five
days after this, the brave young captain fell mor-
tally wounded and died in the hands of his
captors. He had " come to Mount Zion, to the
City of the living God," as he preached.

At last, on the 7th of April, foot-sore and
weary, the troops arrived at Pleasant Hill, having
marched three hundred miles since leaving
Brashear City. The boys of the 13th Corps felt a
good deal exasperated at the treatment they had
received from their Commanding General. From
the time they left Berwick Bay until the after-
noon of the 7th, the 19th Army Corps — Banks'
pets — or as some of our boys called them,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 249

"Headquarters' Pimps" — kept the front, hav-
ing every advantage of forage, and of freedom
from lagging men or teams. But as soon as the
sound of battle was heard, the pets were halted,
and the 13th Corps was sent to the front.

However, as the first duty of a soldier is to
obey orders without question, they had nothing
to do but to face the music. At three o'clock
A.M., on the 8th of April, the First Brigade of
the Fourth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, to
which the 77th now belonged, after eating a
hasty breakfast, was on the march to the front
to relieve the cavalry of Gen. Lee. The march
was slow and tedious, as the night was dark.
At daylight the brigade came up with Gen. Lee,
who had advanced about ten miles from Pleasant
Hill, and was still advancing. The 23d Wis-
consin and 67th Indiana were deployed and
thrown forward, while the 19th Kentucky and
77th Illinois, were held in reserve. After an
advance of about two miles, the 77th relieved
the 23d and 67th, which in turn was relieved by
the 19th Kentucky. This advance was through
a heavy pine country, quite undulating, and as
the enemy — which seemed to be only a force of
cavalry — were driven from one hill, they would
take a position on the next. Our casualties in
this running tight were small. The greatest loss
sustained by the 77th, was in the death of Lieut.

Col. Webb. He was in the act of asking Gen.
16

250 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Lee to have his Regiment relieved, as the boys
were very much fatigued, when the fatal shot of
a rebel sharpshooter struck 'him just below
the right eye, and passing through the head,
came out behind the left ear. A brave man, a
good soldier, and a gentleman in every sense of
the word, Col. Webb fell with his face to the foe,
universally respected and regretted.

About three o'clock in the afternoon, our ad-
vance came to an open field to the left of the
road, and at a distance of nearly a mile the bat-
tle flags of the enemy could be seen. A battery
was brought forward and fired a few shots, but
elicited no reply. The Regiment then advanced
into a field at the right of the road, crossed a
little ravine and came to a house and a fence
running at right angles with the line of inarch.
Here the batteries were planted, but afterwards,
when the hardest battle was fought, they were
of no avail. Had the line of troops been formed
at this point and consolidated, instead of being
scattered as they were, the final result might
have been different. The following is J. H.
Snyder's account of the battle :

" We advanced across another field; then en-
tered a piece of timber. Here the line was
formed for battle. But we waited nearly an
hour before the engagement began. The Sev-
enty-Seventh halted in a small field to the right
of the road that had timber on three sides, and

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 251

and while here tarrying, a cavalryman of the
7th Illinois came riding up to us, knowing many
of our boys, and informed us that the rebels were
advancing in three columns, and would soon
engage us. Just then Gen. Banks ordered the
Division forward, the 77th moving to the right
oblique. Gen. Ransom had protested against
engaging the enemy with the troops scattered,
and when ordered to move forward, he was re-
ported as saying, ' That will finish me.'

" When the engagement began the Third Divi-
sion was in the rear some three miles, and the
19th Corps seven miles. Gen. Smith was twenty
miles away. The Fourth Division numbered
2,400 effective men on that morning, and this
little handful of men, with the cavalry, was
brought face to face with the combined armies
of Dick Taylor and Kirby Smith.

" The line had advanced scarcely three hun-
dred yards when the action began. The rebels
threw their line upon our flanks, telescoping our
line, and as the timber was densely studded with
underbrush, our boys, in many instances, were
entirely surrounded before they knew it. The
line being flanked — the movement striking our
extreme right — the Regiments fought by detail,
and by detail were defeated. As the timber was
dense with underbrush, and the line of the enemy
constantly advancing, surging around farther
and farther on our flank, our troops were placed

252 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

in the dilemma of having the enemy in front and
rear. The 77th had tired several rounds before
the regiments on the left had tired a shot.

"The column thrown into confusion, hundreds
of the hoys captured, the enemy pressing us
from all quarters, what men were able to get out
of the tangle, fell back, forming a line on the
batteries which had not, as yet, fired a shot.

" When the second line was formed — the boys
acting without organization, for in falling back,
each man was left to his chances — the batteries
did good execution. But it was only for a short
time, as the enemy were flanking the guns and
cutting off all retreat.

" A third and last stand was made at the timber
to the rear of the open field. But this was merely
a feint, for the road being narrow and the timber
dense, and impassable for horses and teams, the
rush was to occupy the road, and consequently
the road was blocked, cutting off all retreat, ex-
cept in the most confused form. Gen. Banks
moved his train forward, and on the preparation
for engagement, had corralled several hundred
wagons in the open field to the left of the road.
In the confusion of retreat, the wagons blocked
the road, cutting off our cavalry and artillery.
The result was the loss of nearly three hundred
wagons and the Chicago Mercantile and Nims'
Batteries. This was a sad loss to the brave men
who had so long handled these guns. The Ninas

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 253

Battery had participated in thirty battles without
losing a gun, and now to lose them all, filled the
boys with the deepest regret.

" We fell back some distance, perhaps a half-
mile from the place of the last stand, before any
relief came, when the Third Division met us and
formed their line, advancing to the open field,
only to be served as we had been. The Third
Division was flanked and routed, and fell back
to about the same place where they had relieved
us, before the advance of the 19th Corps came
up. The advance was a Regiment of Zouaves,
who had double-quicked until they appeared
exhausted and flushed. But forming their line,
they checked for the time, the advancing enemy,
and the shadows of night brought an end to the
further disasters of the day.

"No one will ever know the depth of shame
our hearts experienced over this defeat. For it
was a manifest display of the profoundest igno-
rance of the proper management of a battle. It
was and is our understanding, that at the time
of the opening of the engagement, the Third
Division was in our rear some three miles, and
the 19th Corps some seven miles, encamped and
drawing rations or receiving pay. A good cor-
poral could have exhibited better military
wisdom and skill. Gen. Ransom saw the fatal
condition of the attack, when he remarked, as

254 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

he pushed forward to meet the advancing rebel
columns, l That will finish me.'

" Man}7 brave boys were killed and many were
captured. The 77th lost one hundred and sev-
enty-one men, the 19th Kentucky two hundred
and fifty, and other regiments accordingly. One
hundred and forty-three of the 77th boys, with
all others captured, were taken to Mansfield and
Shreveport and finally to Tyler, Texas, where
they lingered in a rebel prison for nearly four-
teen months, returning to the Regiment just at
the hour of • its discharge from the service, the
cruel war being over.

" The 77th lost Lieut. Col. Webb, a generous,
impulsive, respected soldier. He seemed to feel
a portent of the fate that awaited him, for his
spirits wereTieavy; and yet he bravely led on in
the line of duty. Col. Stone, of the 96th Ohio,
commanding the Brigade, also fell. Also Adju-
tant General Dickey, of Gen. Ransom's staif.
Lieut. Col. Cowan, an intrepid officer, command-
ing the 19th Kentucky, also fell, and many
others.

" It is said that when the zouaves came to the
front and then fell back, a rebel was in pursuit,
of a retreating zouave, and another rebel drew
his gun to shoot when the first rebel said, '•Do n't
shoot, I want to catch the thing alive.' ':

Captain John D. Rouse, of Company " G,"
who was at that time on staff duty, and who

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 255

was well qualified to judge, wrote as follows of
this disastrous battle :

" Detachments of the 13th and 19th Army
Corps arrived at Pleasant Hill on the 7th instant,
numbering about 13,000 men. General Lee
with a Brigade of Cavalry advanced three or
four miles beyond, and after severe skirmishing,
drove the enemy in the front five or six miles
toward Mansfield. The 1st Brigade, 4th Divi-
sion, 13th Army Corps, to which the 77th be-
longs, moved forward at 3 o'clock A.M., on the
6th, to the support of General Lee. We arrived
at his camp about 6 o'clock, and immediately
took the front. We found the enemy posted
on a small creek, and commenced skirmishing
with him. The rebels soon abandoned their
position, and falling back, we skirmished with
them as they retreated, about ten miles, until
two o'clock P.M. We had now reached a road
branching oft' to the right, leading directly to
Mansfield. Here our Brigade halted and formed
line of battle and awaited the arrival of the sup-
porting column. The 2d Brigade soon arrived
and extended the line to the right. Skirmishing
went on briskly until about four o'clock, when
the enemy attacked us in force. Our Division
numbered about 2,400 men, and our line was
formed in the edge of the timber with an
open field in our rear. In the rear of the field
there is heavy pine timber, which extends from

256 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Pleasant Hill to this point, almost without inter-
ruption. We had been skirmishing for ten
miles, and having but forty rounds per man, our
ammunition was getting scarce. The 3d Divi-
sion and the 19th Corps encamped nine miles
back.

" Under these circumstances the rebels ad-
vanced in force, and attacked our 2,400 infantry
and a few cavalry with 20,000 men. This may
seem exaggerated, but the prisoners we have, all
affirm it, and so do the facts. The 77th advanced
about thirty paces into the timber to meet the
rebel advance, and found five to one within a
few feet of them. A battle began along the
whole line simultaneously; the combatants face
to face, within a few feet of each other. Our
men were soon out of ammunition, and without
support opposed to overwhelming numbers.
The rebels flanked us on the right and left, and
we could not do otherwise than retreat across the
field to prevent their capturing what few there
were of us. In less than ten minutes the 77th
Regiment came out of the woods, leaving at
least a hundred whom we know not any more.
The Division again formed a second line in the
edge of the woods back of the field, and here
began one of the most terrific fights yet re-
corded.

" Bravely and well did the old 4th Division
stand up to the work here for more than one

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 257

hour, baffling all the desperate efforts of the
enemy until the 3d Division came to our relief.
Our little force was fast dwindling. The soldiers
of the east and of the west never before heard
such musketry, and all admit that such fierce
fighting ensued as has never before taken place
during the war. Another hour we held them,
but slowly retiring before the overwhelming
force. To cap the climax of mismanagement,
the train of the whole army, sixteen miles in
length, was brought up to the front, and the
road blocked up so that our artillery could not
be gotten out. We could not always resist
against such great odds. For two hours had we
opposed five times our numbers. The slaughter
of officers was immense, and the men having
lost their officers, and being without support and
utterly exhausted, gave way. The cavalry dash-
ing through the woods to the rear, created a
panic, and soon such a rout as would put Bull
Run to shame, began. Opportunely at this time,
General Emery's Division of the 19th Corps
came up, 9,000 strong, and forming his line, the
pursuing foe suddenly found himself opposed by
fresh troops who hurled him back with a mur-
derous fire, and night coming on closed the
contest.

" The slaughter on both sides was fearful.
General Ransom was dangerously wounded.
Colonels Emerson and Vance, commanding re-

258 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

spectively the 1st and 2d Brigades of our Divi-
sion, were wounded and captured.

" The 77th Illinois lost ten officers out of
sixteen engaged. Our Brigade lost thirty-two
commissioned officers out of sixty-eight line and
field. Under the head of missing are included
nearly all our wounded and doubtless many
dead.

" If the whole force had been at the front and
the train at the rear, we might report a glorious
victory instead of this. Somebody (and the
army knows who), is very much to blame for
pushing one small Brigade nine miles ahead of
the supporting column in the very face of ten
times their number. This same Brigade was sent
so once before in this Department at Carrion
Crow. During the night we fell back to Pleas-
ant Hill where General A. J. Smith had arrived
with 7,000 fresh troops from Sherman's army.
Here we chose our own ground, and our forces
were attacked on the 9th; but the enemy were
driven from the field with a loss of 10,000 killed
and wounded. We did not participate in the
battle. The 47th Illinois was engaged, but their
loss was light.

" Being temporarily on staff duty, I was on all
parts of the field at Mansfield, and I never saw
troops stand up so well under such a tremendous
fire. Nothing at Vicksburg ever equaled it.
How I ever escaped to tell the tale is wonderful.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 259

Four balls passed through my clothing, and my
sword was shot away, but my flesh is whole.

" I cannot close without paying a tribute to
the memory of our lamented Lieutenant Colonel
L. R. Webb. He was shot through the head
and killed instantly, during our skirmishing in
the forenoon. An excellent officer, eminently
courteous and social, he commanded the respect
and esteem of all who came in contact with
him, and his loss is deeply felt by his comrades
in arms.

" The fate of the other officers is uncertain,
though I fear many of them are either wounded
or have met a worse fate. Our little squad,
which we gathered together the next morning,
was a sad representation of our gallant Regi-
ment, which went forth the day before, but we
are thankful that even so many are left."

CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH.

A. J. SMITH.

>E MIGHT multiply these comments
almost indefinitely. We might fill a
volume with statements like the fore-
going, all tending to the same result — all going
to show the criminal mismanagement of those
having in charge the cotton -foraging expedi-
tion on Red River. But it is unnecessary. It
only remains to show upon whom depended the
final salvation of the shattered remnants of that
magnificent army. A correspondent who was on
the field wrote as follows :

uOn the afternoon of the 9th, Gen. Smith had
one of the severest engagements of the war, but
he, being something of a General, succeeded in
giving the enemy what they had given us —
that is a whipping. He recaptured sixteen pieces
of artillery, but was not able to take them off
the field, but destroyed them. He also captured
some five hundred prisoners, and some of our
wagons back, and as I write, fell back to this
point, where he will prepare again to meet the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 261

enemy, if he should think of following, which I
don't think he will; but while writing this, I hear
cannonading, and who knows what may come?
I will not predict, however. Now let me say, 1
think, and we all think, we might just as well
have had a victory as a defeat, and if I mistake
not, some high official will get beheaded. I most
sincerely hope so. I am opposed to inconipe-
tency in any place, more particularly in the
army. Gen. Smith fought his own men and won
a victory, and had Gen. Ransom had the same
privilege, we would not have been whipped. Of
one thing I am certain, our few remaining boys
will tight no more under such commanders. I
for one do not blame them. I may be severe,
but can you blame me when I see it is sacrifice
after sacrifice? We were always victorious until
we came here, and we would be so here if we
had a Grant to lead us, yes, or a McClernand,
who is buried at Pass Cavallo because he ranks
Franklin, and the noble, brave and generous
Ransom is sacrificed. May he ventilate this as
he well knows how. * * * I could till sheets
with incidents of the battle. Some would cause
mirth, some tears; all would move the hearts of
the brave to do battle for their brothers and their
country. * *

The following extract is from an eastern paper,
published a few days after the battle :

" A bearer of dispatches from Admiral Porter,

262 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

who arrived in Washington on the 27th, makes
statements calculated to greatly damage General
Banks' military reputation. He says that on the
second day, Gen. A. J. Smith whipped the rebels
alone, driving them six miles. He was in hot
pursuit, eager to reap all the fruits of victory,
when an order came from Gen. Banks directing
him to retreat with the rest of his army. Gen.
Smith refused to obey. A second order to fall
back, he also refused to obey. Finally Gen. Banks
in person, brought a third order and insisted that
Gen. Smith should fall back before daylight.
He begged permission to stay long enough to
bury his dead and care for his wounded and sick,
if only till an hour after sunrise. But General
Banks was inexorable, and General Smith was
obliged, with tears in his eyes, to leave his men
who had fallen on the battle-field, to the tender
mercies of the rebels. He carried off two of the
twenty-three cannon which the rebels abandoned,
but was not allowed time to spike the remainder.
While our forces were retreating in one direc-
tion, the rebels were retreating in the opposite
direction.

" Some hours after Gen. Smith's departure the
rebels sent a flag of truce to the battle-field, to
ask permission to bury their dead, and sought
vainly for a long time for somebody to receive
it. A few miles out from Alexandria, General
Banks found General McClernand with six

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 263

thousand men on their way to reenforce him.
He ordered him to fall back to Alexandria at
once, after destroying his grain and supplies.
McClernand refused twice to obey, but on receipt
of the third order, set tire to a part of his oats.

" Gen. Smith, with two thousand men, took the
responsibility of marching to the spot, extin-
guishing the flames, and after remaining there all
night, marched back again with the residue, and
all the other supplies.'.'

GENERAL A. J. SMITH, AND HE ALONE, WITH HIS

" GUERRILLAS," SAVED THE ARMY OF GENERAL BANKS
FROM FURTHER DISASTER, IF NOT FROM TOTAL DE-
STRUCTION.

In order to give a full and official statement
of some of the movements on that fatal day, the
Report of Colonel W. J. Landram, commanding
the^4th Division, is herewith appended. It will
be observed that this gallant officer, while he
obeys his instructions to the letter, indulges in
no fault-finding, but where meritorious conduct
calls for official commendation, it is cheerfully
given.

HEADQUARTERS 4xn DIVISION, 13TH ARMY CORPS. )
GRAND ECORE, LA., April 12, 1864. }

CAPT. OSCAR MOHR.

A. A. A. O. Detachment 13th Army Corps.

Captain : On the 6th iust., this Divi-
sion marched from Nachitoches, La., in the rear

264 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

of the Cavalry of Brigadier General Lee, a
distance of sixteen miles in the direction of
Pleasant Hill and encamped in a dense wood
near a bayou.

On the 7th inst., the command marched nine-
teen miles and encamped at Pleasant Hill.

At eleven o'clock P.M. of the 7th, I received
orders, of which the following are copies:

HEADQUARTERS, U. S. FORCES, WEST LA., )
April 7, 1864. j

General: The Commanding General directs
that a Brigade of Infantry be sent to General
Lee, to be with him by daylight to-morrow
morning. You may use your discretion as to
sending a Brigade or Division. The spirit of
the order will doubtless be better carried out by
sending a Division.

Send therefore a Brigade or Division to- re-
port to General Lee, at or before 5 A.M., on
to-morrow, Friday, 8th inst.

Respectfully,
(Signed.) W. B. FRANKLIN,

Major Qeneral.

T. E. G. RANSOM,

Brief. Gen. Com'd'y Detachment 13th Army Corps.

[Official.'] (Signed.) C. E. DICKEY,

Capt. and A. A. General.

HEADQUARTERS, DETACHMENT 13TH ARMY CORPS, )
PLEASANT HILL, LA., April 7, 10:20 P.M. }

Colonel: In obedience to the enclosed order,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 265

you will move at 3 A.M. to-morrow, with the
First Brigade of your Division, and report to
General Lee, 8 miles in front at daylight, or as
soon thereafter as possible.

By order of

(Signed.) Brig. General T. E. G. RANSOM.
C. E. Dickey, Capt. and A. A. General.
COL. W. J. LANDRAM,

Commanding 4th Division.

In obedience to these orders, I moved with
the First Brigade of my Division at the time
specified and reported to Brig. General Lee very
soon after daylight.

By order of General Lee, I followed his ad-
vance beyond the creek a short distance and
was ordered to take the front and drive the
enemy with which the Cavalry was then skir-
mishing. The 16th Indiana dismounted, and
probably some other Regiment of General Lee's
command, assisted in skirmishing for several
miles.

General Lee then directed that I relieve all of
his command with my Infantry and drive the
enemy as rapidly as possible, at the same time
ordering his Cavalry to the right and left of the
road to protect my flanks, which was done. The
timber on each side of the road was heavy and
dense, which rendered it very difficult to move
in line, and the marching was tedious and tire-
17

266 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

some to the men; the enemy contesting every
foot of the ground as we advanced. All the
houses near the road were abandoned, and we
saw frequent evidence of large camps which had
been recently deserted.

The enemy were thus driven nine miles or
more beyond the camp of General Lee, making
an obstinate resistance the whole time. The
credit of this advance is due the 23d Wisconsin,
19th Kentucky, 77th Illinois and 67th Indiana
Regiments, Vol. Infantry. Lieut. Col. L. R.
Webb, of the 77th Illinois, an accomplished
gentleman and gallant officer, was killed while
commanding his Regiment in the advance. The
number of casualities was not large, only a few
being wounded.

At a point said to be four miles from Mans-
field, our advance came in sight of a wide open-
ing in the timber, in front of a hill of consider-
able height; on the right, left and top of which
there was considerable timber, but not as thickly
set as on the road over which we had advanced.

I had made frequent requests before coming to
this point, to have the Brigade relieved or
allowed to rest, inasmuch as the men were ex-
cessively fatigued by the loss of sleep and the
difficulty experienced in advancing through the
underbrush, which seemed to extend for miles
to the right and left of the road, and was in-
formed by Gen. Lee that he had sent for the 2d

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 267

Brigade of my Division to relieve the first. Be-
lieving that the position in my immediate front,
was too strong to be abandoned by the enemy
without stubborn resistance, I expressed the
opinion to Gen. Lee that it would be dangerous
to send the 19th Kentucky, which was then de-
ployed as skirmishers, through the opening to
the top of the hill, without a heavy support. By
his direction, however, I ordered the Regiment,
with the remainder of the Brigade in support,
to advance, and covered their movements by a
fire from two guns of a Battery, which had been
ordered to report to me during the day. The
enemy soon disappeared, and I formed line with
the Brigade on the side and top of the hill.

In the meantime Major General Banks and
Brigadier General Ransom arrived, and upon
consultation, I believe it was decided to halt at
that point. About one and a half or two hours
must have elapsed before my other Brigade
arrived, during which time the enemy made
scarcely any show in front. On our right, how-
ever, there were frequent indications of a large
force of the enemy moving by the left flank,
endeavoring to get a position upon onr right,
parallel with the road. This induced me to
commence changing front, so as to face them if
they came down the road from Mansfield, or ad-
vanced in line from a road on our right parallel
with the road upon which we had moved, and as

268 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

fast as they extended their line, I extended mine,
so as to effectually cover my front and right
flank. At half-past three o'clock P. M., the enemy
placed his line, said by prisoners to be eight
thousand infantry, with a reserve of twelve
thousand cavalry and infantry, in motion.

My force consisted of the following troops:

First Brigade. — Colonel Frank Emerson, 67th
Indiana, commanding.

19th Regiment Kentucky Vol. Inf., Lieut. Col.
John Cowan, commanding.

23d Regiment Wisconsin Vol. Inf., Maj. J. E.
Greene, commanding.

77th Regiment Illinois Vol. Inf., Major John

A. Burdett, commanding.

67th Regiment Indiana Vol. Inf., Major F. A.
Sears, commanding.

Second Brigade. — Colonel J. W. Vance, 96th
Ohio, commanding.

96th Regiment Ohio Vol. Inf., Lieut. Col. A.
H. Brown, commanding.

83d Regiment Ohio Vol. Inf., Lieut. Col. W.
H. Baldwin, commanding.

48th Regiment Ohio Vol. Inf., Lieut Col. J. W.
Liudsey, commanding.

130th Regiment Illinois Vol. Inf., Maj. John

B. Reid, commanding.

The entire force numbered 2,413 men.

It would have been impossible at that time to

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 269

have retired from the position we occupied, and
by direction of Brigadier General Ransom, who
had arrived upon the field and assisted in person
in arranging the line, I assumed the offensive as
soon as I saw their whole line advancing, so as
to meet them upon better ground, and with a
better effect. A general engagement ensued,
lasting one hour and a half, which was by far
the most desperate I ever witnessed. Some
parts of the line were broken, after a short but
terrific engagement, but in other parts it re-
mained firm and unbroken until the enemy had
flanked my whole force and began to attack in
the rear. Seeing that the capture of the entire
force was inevitable unless I withdrew, I ordered
the remainder of the shattered Regiments to
fall back, which they attempted, but were una-
ble to do with entire success.

The list of 'the killed and wounded of my
command cannot be ascertained, inasmuch as
the enemy retained possession of the field;
but that we suffered severly there can be no
doubt. Many brave men fell, but they fell with
their faces to the foe. Honored be their memory !

That the enemy suffered immensely, is known
by actual observation, and by statements of pris-
oners captured the day following, who acknowl-
edged that they had purchased a victory at a
bloody price.

Colonel J. W. Vance, commanding. Second

270 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH *

Brigade, fell mortally wounded while gallantly
cheering his men. Colonel Frank Emerson,
commanding First Brigade, also fell wounded
while nobly performing his duty, and is a pris-
oner in the hands of the enemy. Major Reid,
of the 130th Illinois was badly wounded while
rallying his men. Lieut. Col. Lindsey, of the
48th Ohio, was captured, and Major Bering, of
the same Regiment, wounded.

Lieut. Col. Cowan, 19th Kentucky, was con-
spicuous for the manner in which he managed
his Regiment, directing the fire of his men and
preserving up to the order of retreat an un-
broken line, driving the rebels from his front in
three distinct charges, and ordering the fire in
which it is believed the rebel general Mouton
was killed, while leading a charge carrying a
regimental fiag. When ordered to withdraw,
he remarked that he had driven the rebels from
his front, and if the remainder of the line stood
firm he could not be taken. In endeavoring to
obey the order, he was wounded and captured.
Major Mann, of the same Regiment, was cap-
tured.

To Major Greene, and the officers and men of
the 23d Wisconsin, for the manly and noble
manner in which they supported the battery and
held the left of the line until further resistance
was impossible, I desire to express my admira-
tion and gratitude. Major Sears and the gallant

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 271

67th Indiana, Major Burdett and the brave men
of the 77th Illinois, deserve the highest praise
for their conduct. The officers and men of the
130th Illinois and 48th Ohio, deserve equal
praise. Though the survivors mourn the loss of
their gallant field officers, they have the conso-
lation of knowing that they all did their duty.
Lieut. Colonel Brown, of the 96th Ohio, and the
men of his Regiment, as well as Lieut. Col.
Baldwin, and the officers and men of the 83d
Ohio, are entitled to my warmest thanks for
their gallantry in holding the right of the line
until overpowered by vastly superior numbers.
The conduct of the 19th Kentucky was worthy
of all praise, and I thank them for their gal-
lantry upon this, as upon all other occasions.

The Chicago Mercantile Battery, Lieut. Cone,
commanding, and the First Indiana Battery,
Capt. Klauss, commanding, came upon the field
about 4 P.M., and delivered a very destructive
fire upon the advancing line of the enemy.

The officers and men of these two Batteries
deserve great praise for their coolness and cour-
age. Many of their horses were killed, but they
succeeded in getting their pieces into the road,
when ordered to fall back, and would have saved
their guns but for the immense wagon-train of
the Cavalry which blocked up the road in their
front and rear.

Capt. White and Lieut. Cone, Mercantile Bat-

272 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

tery, were captured. Lieut. Throop and Lieut.
Barr, of the same Battery, were wounded and
captured.

Lieut. Rogue, 2d New York Veteran Cavalry,
with his company, was with me during the day,
and behaved well. Two men of his company
were wounded.

Brig. General Ransom, commanding Detach-
ment of the 13th Army Corps, rode the entire
length of our line, cheering the troops, and
assisting in rallying the men after the line had
been broken. This gallant and able officer was
severely wounded while assisting me in trying
to reform the line, and after he fell from his
horse, continued to give directions as to the dis-
positions he desired to make.

It is proper to say that Captain Ninas' Battery
displayed during the whole fight, a noble exam-
ple of coolness and true courage. They are
entitled to the highest commendation, and
although they lost their guns, it is due to them
to say, that they could not have prevented it,
and that the damage they inflicted upon the
enemy was such as to entitle them to the thanks
of the whole army.

Major Generals Banks and Franklin, and
Brigadier General Stone were active in assisting
to rally the men amidst the hottest of the fire.

Part of the men were rallied, and a second line
formed near the line of Brig. Gen. Cameron, who

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 273

had arrived with the 3d Division 13th Army
Corps, but it was unable to resist the continued
assaults of the enemy, who pressed upon us with
overwhelming numbers.

Brig. General Emery, with the First Division
of the 19th Army Corps, having arrived about
sunset, checked the further advance of the enemy,
and after dark I caused h' res to be built a short dis-
tance in rear of the line on both sides of the road,
and gathered together the shattered remains of
my Division, which, together with what came in
at Pleasant Hill next day, amounted to one
thousand six hundred and eighty-three men, who
were immediately reorganized and placed on
duty.

I thank Lieut. Henry P. Ayres, 77th Illinois,
A. A. A. G.; Lieut. John Landram, 19th Ken-
tucky, Aid de Camp; Capt. J. W. Wilkin, 130th
Illinois; Capt. D. C. Holdridge, 23d Wisconsin,
Inspector General, and Capt. R. H. Brock, 77th
Illinois, for their gallantry and efficiency. They
were all prompt and faithful in the discharge of
duty.

It is impossible to tell who were killed, who
were wounded and who were taken prisoners,
but my total loss in killed, wounded and prison-
ers, is seventy-three officers, and one thousand
and sixty-three enlisted men, making an aggre-
gate of one thousand one hundred and thirty-six.

My thanks are due to Rev. James Mathews,

274 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Chaplain of the 19th Kentucky, who gave me
valuable information at a critical moment.

Lieut. G. 11. McKinney, A. A. Q. M., is entitled
to praise for care and attention to the Division
Train, none of which was captured.

Capt. Rouse, 77th Illinois, A. A. A. G.; Capt.
Vilas, 23d Wisconsin, Aid de Camp; Capt. Hogg,
19th Kentucky, Inspector First Brigade; Capt.
Lynch, 48th Ohio, Inspector Second Brigade,
were faithful in the discharge of their duties, and
deserve praise for their conduct. In this report
of the part taken by my Division in the battle
of Mansfield, or Sabine Cross Roads, I have
thought proper to be thus particular in specify-
ing the conduct of Regiments and officers, inas-
much as Commanders of Brigades, and most of
the field officers of Regiments, were among the
killed and wounded, and none left to make
reports. Respectfully,

"W". J. LANDRAM,

Colonel 19th Kentucky, Commanding Division.

Before proceeding further with the harrowing
details, it becomes necessary to insert the list of
the losses in the Seventy-Seventh Regiment, as
given officially by Col. Grier, after the fate of the
officers and men became known. In this list,
the names of the prisoners — numbering one
hundred and forty-three — are omitted, but will
be inserted hereafter, when we come to write of

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 275

"Prison Life.5' It will be noticed that the list
of killed was light compared with the wounded
and prisoners. But it was heavy enough to
cause heart-strings to snap, and hearthstones to
remain forever desolate.

Official list of officers arid men of the 77th
Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, killed,
wounded and missing in the action of the 8th
of April, 1864, at Mansfield, La. :

FIELD AND STAFF.

Killed — LYSANDER R. WEBB, Lieutenant Colonel.

" A." filled— Private Samuel S. Divilbiss.

"B." Killed— Privates Jacob Ely, Philip Nelling.

Wounded — Sergeant William Dugan; Privates Sam-
uel Vanhorn, George Chambers (mortally), Roger
Ong, Franklin Smith.

" C." Wounded — Corporal Samuel M. Hart.

" D." Wounded — Private Albert De Long (mortally).
Missing — Private William H. Cassel.

" E." Wounded— Private Otis B. Smith.
" F." Killed — Corporal Hosea Johnson.

"G." Killed — First Sergeant William W. Miller; Private
Francis O. Dimmick.

Wounded — Sergeant Cyrus H. Stock well (mortally);
Corporal Francis W. Griswold; Privates Daniel F.
Ogden, Moses Fisher, James A. Grissom.
Missing — Private Franklin Stanton.

" H." Killed— Private Isaac Grove.

Wounded — Corporal William H. Addis; Private
Stephen W. Maring.

"K." Killed — Private J. Henry Brown.

Wounded — Sergeant Richard M. Holt; Private
Henry Largent.

276

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

RECAPITULATION.

Killed.

Wounded.

Missing.

Prisoners.

Field and Staff, 1

0

0

2

Company

'A,'

4

0

0

35

'B,'

2

5

0

10

"C/

0

1

0

8

'IV

0

1

"1

10

'E,'

0

1

0

13

<F,'

1

0

0

25

'G,'

2

5

1

9

'H,'

-i

2

0

9

"V

UTf 1

0

1

0

9

0
n

7

IK

Totals,

17

143

Here is a grand total loss — including prisoners
— of nearly one-half of the entire Regiment.
If the loss of brave soldiers is the standard of
military glory, the Seventy-Seventh Illinois Vol-
unteers achieved glory enough for one day in the
battle of Mansfield, La.

Such was the disastrous conclusion of this dis-
astrous affair. Our losses were counted by hun-
dreds of killed and wounded, thousands of
prisoners, many pieces of artillery, and whole
wagon-trains loaded heavily with ordnance and
commissary stores. It is said that among the
trophies captured by the rebels, was a wagon
load of paper colars, which they, not needing at
the time, very generously proposed to exchange
with General Banks for "hard tack." Kirby
Smith is also reported to have said that General
Banks was the best Commissary Sergeant he had

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 277

in his army. But our own boys were unwilling
that he should wear such an exalted title, and
they called him "Corporal Banks." On one
occasion, the General hearing this epithet applied
to him, remarked, "Never mind, boys, Corporal
Banks will come out all right in the end." And
he did come out all right — when he came out
of the Department of the Gulf, relieved of his
command. Some of the boys, with an ear for
music and with little reverence for the " Cor-
poral," immortalized the grand fizzle by asso-
ciating it with a popular song, in the following
style :

" In eighteen hundred and sixty-four,
When Banks skedaddled from Grand Ecore,

We'll all drink stone blind,

Johnny fill up the bowl."

The following is an extract from a letter writ-
ten by Dr. Geo. L. Lucas, Surgeon in Chief of
the First and Third Divisions, Sixteenth Army
Corps, dated Grand Ecore, April 16, 1864 :

"The 77th Illinois was terribly used on the
8th. They were in front all day; fought with
desperation, but were overwhelmed. Those of
the Regiment who escaped (130) were in no con-
dition to take part on the 9th. The gallant
Lieut. Col. Webb was killed, being struck by two
balls at the same time, one of which entered the
brain. * * * It is impossible to measure the
indignation of this army against Gen. Banks.

278 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Everybody sits up to the "wee sma' hours" over
the matter — the profane to weave new curses
about his head, and the moral few to chime in
with hearty amens I "

While the enemy was retreating from the field
of blood and disaster, one of Gen. Banks' staff
officers, in riding past the Seventy-Seventh,
inquired, " What Regiment is that ? " Finch, of
Company " I," replied in his peculiar drawling
manner, " It's-the-second-relief - of- Gen.- Banks'
slaughter-pen."

And now to show the audacity and cringing
subserving of the New Orleans press, one or two
incidents may be mentioned. At the time of
this campaign, the writer of these pages was in
garrison at Fort St. Philip, near the mouth of the
Mississippi. One day a steam transport came
down the river bringing copies of the New Or-
leans Era, and in looking over the paper, we saw
at the head of one column the representation of
a huge cannon, belching forth flame, smoke and
the missiles of death, and just beneath the pic-
ture, the gratifying announcement — gratifying
if it had been true — in large capitals with
exclamation points :

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 279

GLORIOUS VICTORY!!

And yet the vessel which brought this news was
going to Pass Cavallo, with the wings of steam,
for reinforcements to assist in extricating Gen.
Banks from his perilous position.

On another occasion, as the writer was going
to New Orleans on the steamer " Suffolk," he
formed a casual acquaintance with a gentleman
who represented himself as one of the proprie-
tors of the New Orleans Times. This gentleman
was on Red River during the campaign, appar-
ently as a newspaper correspondent — in reality as
a cotton speculator. Rewrote a glowing account

280

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

of the "glorious victory," and sent it to the
Times. After having concluded his article, he
wrote the following private postscript to the
editor of the paper :

" You can publish the foregoing account of the
recent campaign if you see proper, but you un-
derstand, confidentially, that it is all a d—d lie"

CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH.

PRISON LIFE.

TIRING those terrible four years of civil
hi] war there was much of suffering and pri-
vation on the march — disease and death
were frequent visitors in the camp and the hos-
pital — there was danger on the battle field. But
all these evils were fearfully intensified in the ex-
perience of those of our comrades who were so
unfortunate as to fall into rebel hands as pris-
oners of war. We will now turn aside for a
short time in order to follow the fortunes of our
Seventy-Seventh boys who were captured at
Mansfield, and who spent more than thirteen
long weary months in a rebel stockade at Camp
Ford, Tyler, Texas. Before doing so, however,
we will give the list of prisoners, as officially
reported by Colonel Grier.

FIELD AND STAFF.

Charles Winnie, Major and Surgeon.
John S. McCulloch, Captain and Chaplain.
18

282 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

COMPANY " A."

Captain. — Gardner G. Stearns.

Sergeants. — 'William H. Wilcox, John X. Grif-
fith, Henry Wilson.

Corporal. — Henry A. Barber.

Privates. — A. J. Abraham, Henry G. Arrns^
James S. Coe, Daniel B. Cutler, Isaac Conner,
Henry Crow, Benjamin F. Downard, Thomas
Edson, Edward F. Green, Conrad J. Haller,
Charles C. Hope, W. H. Kroessen, Thomas
Lynch, James M. McGraw, James Mather, T.
W. Neander, William Ott, Theodore Perkins,
Joseph Rarnbo (wounded), John S. Rambo, Julius
Rambo, John P. Randall, Luther G. Russell,
Alfred Russell, William Smith, James H. Tarlton.
William S. Tree, Mason M. White, George
Woodmansee, Benjamin T. Wills.

COMPANY " B."

Captain. — Joe H. Stevison.

Sergeant. — Lyman S. Calkins.

Corporal. — Augustus Schermeman.

Privates. — John Alexander, Hiram Kroft, John
A. Roberts (wounded), David Simpson, George
N. Woodring (wounded), Allen Woodring, Wil-
liam A. West.

COMPANY " C."

Captain. — Joseph M. McCulloch.

Second Lieutenant. — Charles F. McCulloch.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 283

Sergeant.' — Alfred G. Thorn.

Privates. — Philo W. Gallup, C. L. Gen no way,
John Kennedy, T. H. McCulloch, Joseph T.
Sims.

COMPANY " D."

Corporals. — James Scoon, Samuel Hadlock,
Joseph Wills.

Privates. — George W. Brewer, George W. De
Long, Thomas Davis, Frederick W. Hake, Ben-
jamin J. Jackson, Apollos Laughlin, William

Wilson.

COMPANY "E."

Second Lieutenant. — Henry L. Bushnell.

Sergeant — Henry E. Slough.

Corporals — Leonard T. White, Robert W.
Summers.

Privates — John Buttrick, John Cook, Joseph
Fulton, Thomas Forbes, Frederick Gutting, John
S. Hammerbacher, Joseph T. Mills, Jacob Mau-
kle, Cheney W. Thurston.

COMPANY " F."

Sergeants. — Lewis Hamrick, George Lawrence,
Ephraim S. Stoddard.

Corporals. — William Fowler, Francis Hatton,
William Aid.

Privates. — Charles Aid, John Arrowsmith,
Joseph Buckman, Jesse Crossen, John D. Ham-
rick, Solomon Johnson, David B. Macey, James
Miner, Allen T. Mitchell, George W. Norman,

284 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

David Nighswonger, Harmon Seifert, Alfred
Snell, Alonzo D. Stoddard, Marshall Smiley
(wounded), Thomas Thurman, John Trump, Wil-
liam H. West, Richard R. Wilkinson.

COMPANY " G."

First Lieutenant. — Henry J. Wyman.

Corporal. — Gaylord Robinson.

Privates. — Daniel Beck, William Collister,
Stephen J. Cook, John S. Hirst, Elias Martin
(wounded), Daniel W. Shinmell, Jesse J. Purcell

(wounded).

COMPANY " H."

Sergeants. — Valentine P. Peabody, Hiram Liv-
ingston.

Corporal. — Henry Smith.

Privates. — Leo Julg, Alfred B. Poage, Nor-
man D. Richards, John M. Spandeau, John M.
Smith, William Swendeman.

COMPANY " I."

Sergeant. — Rufus Atherton.

Corporals. — George M. Dixon, Eli H. Plow-
man.

Privates. — Isaac Brown, Asa A. Cook, Rich-
ard Cowley, Alexander A. Thurman.

COMPANY " K."

First Lieutenant. — Sylvester S. Edwards.
Second Lieutenant. — Marcus 0. Harkuess.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 285

Sergeants. — Servetus Holt, Andrew J. Vleit
{wounded.}

Corporals. — Ephraim R. Shepard (wounded),
Lawrence Ibeck, William Race, James M.
Moody.

Privates. — John Greenhalgh, John Haynes,
John Ibeck, Madison Largent, Jacob Lafollett,
Edward R. White, Joseph Yerbey.

These men — one hundred and forty-three in
number — were captured at different times during
the progress of the battle. Those who were first
taken were marched to the rebel rear, and placed
under guard in an open field about a mile from
Mansfield, where they remained during the
night, while those who were taken later in the
day were marched into the town and placed in
the court-house and the yard surrounding it.
While here, they had an opportunity of learning
something about the rebel losses in that sanguin-
ary battle. During the whole night, wagon
loads of dead and wounded arrived in town, and
great lamentation was heard among the friends
of the fallen. A regiment of Louisiana troops,
numbering twelve hundred men, and many of
them citizens of the town and vicinity, was
almost annihilated. It was evidently a dearly-
bought victory.

On the morning after the battle, the prisoners
were ordered to fall in, and were started off in

286 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

the direction of Shreveport. In all, they num-
bered ahout eleven hundred men. After march-
ing sixteen miles, they were halted and went into
camp for the night, and for the first time since
their capture, they had rations issued to them.
These consisted of corn meal and salt beef, with
no vessels of any kind to cook them in. The
rations were bad enough, but the cooking ar-
rangements were worse.

After the second night, an arrangement was
made by which a better state of things prevailed.
The guards left a detail of their own number in
camp every morning to do the cooking for them-
selves, and then, overtaking the guards and
prisoners before camping time in the evening,
would give their cooking utensils to the pris-
oners, who would cook by turns during the
whole nightt and thus they managed to prepare
their scanty rations.

A day or two after leaving Mansfield, a courier
arrived with orders to change the line of march
in the direction of Marshall, Texas, and they
arrived at that place on the 13th. There was
great curiosity among the people to see the cap-
tured " Yankees," and the whole population of
the city and surrounding country, seemed to be
present to see the circus. As our boys marched
through the streets of the city, they treated the
citizens to the music of that stirring battle-song :

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 287

" The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah,
Down with the traitors, up with the stars,
While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom."

Some of the ladies protested loudly against
what they considered a profanation of the atmos-
phere surrounding their sacred persons, and
called upon the officer of the guard to stop the
music. But that worthy paid no attention to
their demands, and the show continued, much to
the satisfaction of the guard and the prisoners,
and the vexation and annoyance of the spec-
tators.

While on this march the boys saw many of the
planters of Louisiana with groups of slaves, hur-
rying to the interior of Texas, in order to be at
a safe distance from the Union army. As the
Seventy-Seventh had no love for slavery or slave-
holders, they would generally salute these task-
masters as they passed on the road with this
appropriate chorus :

" De massa run, ha! ha!

De darkey stay, ho ! ho !
It must be now de kingdom's comin',
And de year ob jubilo."

No matter in what situation the boys might be
placed, they were always equal to the emergency.

At length, after a laborious march of seven
days, the prisoners reached Camp Ford, near
Tyler, Smith County, Texas. This was a stock-

288 '^~\ THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

ade, that is, an enclosure formed by heavy
timbers split in halves and set firmly in the
ground on end. Originally, it contained only
three acres, but had recently been enlarged to
six or seven, in order to accommodate fresh arri-
vals. At this time it contained about six hun-
dred prisoners. The new-comers were detained
the first night and a part of the succeeding day,
outside the stockade. Here they were turned
over to the guard on duty at this place, and their
escort returned to the front.

"When the prisoners arrived in sight of the
stockade, they were anxious to get a view of
their new residence, and were not very favor-
ably impressed by the surroundings. Inside
the pen there were a few log cabins and "dug-
outs," crowded closely together in one corner,
while the balance of the enclosed space was but
recently cleared of timber, full of stumps and
brush heaps. This was to be the home of these
brave men until some indefinite time in the
future.

The prisoners already in the stockade were
anxious to see the army of General Banks, which
the rebels had reported to them as having been
captured. Dressed in all kinds of clothing, a
motley crew, they mounted the roofs of the
cabins and occupied the highest points of ground
in order to get a good view. Perhaps they had
formerly met with a similar reception. As soon

tLLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 289

as they had marched into the prison-pen, the
prisoners were formed into parallel lines, to listen
to an address by Colonel Allen, the commandant
of the prison. That dignitary gave them a
formal introduction to their new quarters. He
stated that each Regiment would be allowed the
length of ground it occupied, and fifteen or
twenty feet in width, and in conclusion, he ex-
tended a cordial invitation to them to feel
perfectly at home, and make themselves as com-
fortable as possible. Whether this invitation
was given in sincerity or intended as a joke, was
never ascertained. But in either case, the boys
could see very little prospect of comfort with no
shelter, with no bed but the bare ground, and no
covering but the starry heavens.

For some time after their arrival, a few guards
were detailed each day to take out small parties
to the timber to carry in poles and brush to make
a shelter from the sun by day and the dew by
night. But this was slow and tedious work, and
only the most determined succeeded in the enter-
prise, and for many months most of the men
were without shelter of any kind, and during the
cool nights they were compelled to keep in
motion, or huddle closely together around their
scanty fire to keep warm.

The oflicers were allowed special privileges to
go out in parties under guard, and they were
not long in securing timber enough to build log

290 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

cabins. It was a refreshing sight to see a line of
shoulder straps — the emblems of authority —
marching into the stockade with timbers on their
shoulders, and surrounded by a guard of butter-
nuts. And then they would gather around their
mush-pots, and with pine paddies, stir the mush
for their evening meal.

Fresh arrivals of prisoners came in frequently
during the summer. On the 9th of July, six
hundred of those who had been longest in prison,
were sent forward for exchange, and again on the
first of October, about the same number. Major
Mann, of the 19th Kentucky, was one of these.
He had been in command of the prisoners and
of the internal arrangements of the camp up to
this time. After his departure, Captain J. M.
McCulloch, of the 77th, was appointed to suc-
ceed him. As chief executive of the inside of
the stockade, he had limited power to regulate
the domestic institutions of the camp, and to be
a medium of communication between the pris-
oners and the Commandant. For this purpose
he was allowed, on parole of honor, to go outside
the stockade to the headquarters of the com-
mander, and to range at will within a circle of
half a mile.

Captain McCulloch went to work with charac-
teristic energy and foresight. He made sugges-
tions to the commanding officer in regard to the
defective sanitary condition of the camp. Hav-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 291

ing obtained permission, he procured some
implements, and under his direction the men
cleaned up the prison, made a ball-alley, and
more system was introduced into the internal
arrangements of the camp. As the winter was
then approaching, he appealed to the com-
mander for better shelter for the men, stating
that to pass the winter in that condition would
insure the death of one-half of the prisoners.

The commanding officer wrote to Kirby Smith,
the Department Commander, setting forth the
facts in the case, and asking for facilities for
building additional quarters. Receiving no reply,
he wrote again, but still no answer came. It
seemed to be the deliberate purpose of the rebel
authorities to murder the prisoners in their hands
by the slow but sure process of starvation and
exposure, and this is one of the dark spots on the
bloody history of the " Lost Cause."

Captain McCulloch then suggested that the
men would do the work themselves if the com-
mander would furnish guards for a sufficient
number of working parties. This he consented
to do, and allowed four parties of eight or ten
men each to go out in the forenoon and after-
noon, and these men cut and carried timbers on
their shoulders more than half a mile to build
their cabins. This laborious work continued for
about two months, when all the men had tolera-
bly good winter quarters, and the appearance of

292 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

the inside of the stockade was very much im-
proved.

The mail facilities at Camp Ford were not
first-class. The prisoners were not often per-
mitted to communicate hy letter with the outside
world. Only when a flag of truce passed between
the lines could letters be sent or received. It
was six mouths after their capture before they
received any tidings from the loved ones at
home. The letters were all examined by the
officials to see that they contained nothing ob-
jectionable. During the last six months of their
imprisonment, however, the mail arrived and
departed more frequently, on an average about
once a month. The arrival of the mail was a
notable event at the stockade. A man from an
eminence would call out the names, and the let-
ters would be passed over the heads of the crowd
until they reached the parties to whom they
were addressed. As Camp Ford was not a
healthy place for the paymaster, that gentleman
failed to make his half-yearly visits as formerly.

The rations consisted for the most part of corn-
meal, beef and salt. The ration for one man
was a pint of corn-meal and from half a pound
to a pound of beef, with nearly enough salt to
season it. This was rather slim living, but slim
as it was, they were sometimes put on " short
rations."" Is it any wonder that men starved to
death in the prison-pens of the South? When

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 293

the supply of corn-meal failed, shelled corn was
substituted. The rations were issued in bulk.
The beef" was brought into the camp in quarters
and thrown on the ground until Yankee ingenu-
ity invented a platform made of puncheons. An
officer was detailed from the prisoners to super-
intend the distribution of the rations. This
difficult position was tilled by Captain Joe H.
Stevison, of Company " B," for the last six
months of their imprisonment. But the rations
were wholly insufficient, and day after day the
pinchings of hunger were keenly felt.

Human nature presented many different
phases among the prisoners. Those who had a
fancy for such things would indulge in gambling
and cheating and stealing and fighting. These
were almost daily occurrences. Others, who
had a taste for business, would endeavor to turn
an honest penny in the way of trade. Some
would manufacture fancy combs and trinkets
from the horns of the cattle which were slaugh-
tered. One firm of four persons made and sold
nearly six hundred dollars' worth of these arti-
cles. The barber, the tailor and the shoemaker
plied their avocations. The baker sold his bis-
cuits at twenty-five cents each and his sweet-
potato pies for a dollar apiece! War prices!
The banker did a loan and exchange business.
The editor published the " Camp Ford News "
occasionally, which afforded a good deal of

294 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

amusement. Then there was a band of minstrels
with violins and banjos of their own construc-
tion, and music and dancing was the order of
the night.

The men were not without religious instruc-
tion. The social prayer meeting was held almost
every evening when the weather was favorable.
Captured Chaplains would preach on the Sab-
bath, and these meetings were well attended.
But as these officers were considered non-com-
batants, they were sent forward to our lines at
the tirst opportunity. There was one exception to
this rule, the Rev. H. B. Lamb. He was Chap-
lain of a colored regiment, and for that reason
was held . a prisoner and treated with great
indignity.

Through the influence of Captain McCulloch,
the Chaplain of the guard was permitted to
preach to the prisoners on two different occa-
sions. He was reverently listened to by an
audience of a thousand men. He was much
surprised at this, believing that the prisoners
were no better than a horde of barbarians. But
the Captain remarked to him that the men were
at least partially civilized.

With but few exceptions, the farmers in the
vicinity were very bitter against the prisoners.
And yet, if they could make money out of them,
well and good. They would overcome their
conscientious scruples for the time being. One

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 295

of those fellows came to the gate on one occasion
with a load of " truck " and demanded permis-
sion to go inside and sell to the prisoners. After
some discussion with the officers, he was allowed
to enter. He was offered a guard for protection,
but this he declined, as he " was not afraid of (he
Yankees." He took his position on Main street
and was soon surrounded by a large crowd. But
his prices did not suit his customers, and but few
sales were made. He asked forty dollars for a
brace of chickens, from ten to twenty dollars for
a melon, and other things in proportion. Con-
federate money was worth twenty cents on the
dollar as compared with greenbacks. The boys
had not money enough to spare to pay these
prices. It was not long, however, until they
became quite familiar with the products of his
farm. This conduct he resented by flourishing
a large hickory cane.

While this was transpiring, some of the boys
took the harness off the horses, while others
took the hind wheels off the axle, and the
farmer tumbled into a crowd of hungry, demor-
alized and unscrupulous prisoners. He showed
tight, but it was no use. He was soon relieved
of his merchandise, revolver, pocket-book and
all his loose valuables. He finally emerged from
the crowd with his coat tail partly torn off, and
the rest of his garments in a sadly demoralized
condition.

296 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

A great many plans were devised, and some
of them successfully carried out, for making
their escape from the stockade. The hospital
was outside and when the sick were taken out
they had to procure passes from the commander.
A great many passed out on forged passes, and
thus gained their freedom. Sometimes bribery
was resorted to, and the guard, for a considera-
tion, would allow them to pass out. Digging
out was another method employed, but this plan
met with indifferent success. A far more suc-
cessful plan than any of these was adopted.
There was a dump-cart drawn by an old
horse in charge of a young soldier. This
was employed in carting out the dirt and
rubbish from the camp. The driver of this rig
was easily prevailed upon to remain in the
vicinity of the gate and trade jack-knives, or
anything else, with the " Yanks," while some of
the prisoners would take the cart inside and load
it. One or two of the boys would then climb in
and lie down in the bottom of the cart, and the
others would cover them over with rubbish.
Thus loaded, the cart was returned to the driver,
who, pretending to be ignorant of the whole
transaction, went out and dumped the load over
the brow of a hill not far distant. The boys
would then conceal themselves until dark, when
they would spread their sails for more congenial
climes.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 297

•

But it was one thing to get outside the stock-
ade, and quite another to reach the Union lines,
three hundred miles distant. Very few suc-
ceeded in the undertaking. Every white man in
that country, between the ages of eighteen and
sixty, was a soldier. And besides this, blood-
hounds were put on the trail of the fugitives.
They were soon captured and brought back, and
then severe punishments were inflicted. Some
were tied up by the thumbs, standing on a barrel,
bare-headed, in the hot, broiling sun, for eight
hours a day. Others were compelled to stand on
a stump, cut with a right and left slope, for two
hours at a time, while a guard stood near by
with instructions to shoot the prisoner if he
moved a foot. And the guard was only too
willing to comply with these prders, as he would
be rewarded by a furlough for so doing.

Sometimes the recaptured prisoners were
treated to a roping-in process. One party in
crossing the Sabine River, had ropes tied around
their necks, while the other end was tied to the
saddle of their escort. In this way they were
compelled to cross the river as best they could,
behind the swimming horses. This roping was
a favorite resort of one Captain Montgomery,
who deserves an immortality of infamy. He
commanded an escort between Shreveport and
the stockade. When his prisoners would show

signs of giving out on the march, he would rope
19

298 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

them to the saddles of their escort, and in this
way they were dragged along, until nature was
completely exhausted, and the prisoners fell by
the ' way. From such treatment as this large
numbers were consigned to a premature grave.

During the winter a Regiment of Texas
Cavalry had been on guard at Camp Ford, but
on the 14th. of March, they were relieved by a
detachment of the Reserve Corps, who, either by
way of derision or of compliment, were termed
'•'•lop -ears." They were commanded by Lieut.
Col. Jamison, and while they were on duty the
prisoners received better treatment than at any
other time during their imprisonment.

Scurvy had been making fearful ravages among
the men, and it became worse as the spring
advanced. The hospital was full to overflowing,
and had to be enlarged. There were no sanitary
supplies, and very little medicine. Under this
state of things, Col. Jamison allowed large
parties to go out each day, on parole of honor,
to gather greens and secure vegetables. Permis-
sion was also given to a party from the 77th, one
from the 130th Illinois, and one from the 120th
Ohio, to fence and cultivate a garden in a field
near the stockade. These parties carried . rails
and fenced about six acres of ground. The Com-
mandant furnished the seed. But they had no
team to plow the ground. As a substitute, about
a dozen Yankees were hitched to the plow, and

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 299

thus prepared the ground, independent of horses
or mules. Gardening was good exercise and
beneficial to the men. And besides that, they
had the pleasure of eating "garden sass " of their
own raising before they left the camp, and their
health was very much improved.

After waiting and watching anxiously for
weeks in hopes of exchange, the men became
restless, and thought it would be a good idea to
exchange themselves. The guards on duty at
that time were not very zealous in the perform-
ance of their duties, and it was no trouble to
make arrangements with them for the necessary
" passes." And within a week one hundred or
more had left very abruptly between two days.
This gave great annoyance to the Commandant,
as he knew that his own guards were active
agents in the new system of exchange. After
consultation with Col. Bradfute, the Post Com-
mandant, the following order was issued and
posted in a conspicuous place in the stockade :

OFFICE POST COMMANDANT, )
TYLER TEXAS, April 30, 1865. j

Special Orders. No.

I. Hereafter no Federal prisoners at Camp
Ford, neither officer nor soldier, will be paroled
or allowed to leave the stockade for any purpose
whatever, except by authority from this office.
Wood parties will be sent out under strong
guard.

300 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

II. In the future, the Federal prisoners at
Camp Ford, will be required to go into their
houses or shanties, at sunset of each day, and
remain within them until daylight the next
morning.

III. No lights will be allowed in the houses
or shanties of the prisoners at Camp Ford, after
eight o'clock of each night, and the patrol will
tire at any prisoner violating the foregoing orders.

(Signed.) W. P. BRADFUTE,

Colonel Commanding Post.

COL. J. C. JAMISON, Com'd'g Camp Ford.
[Official.]

JOHN C. MORRIS, Lieut, and Adft General.

Shortly after this order was issued, one of the
prisoners was shot for an alleged violation of it.
The circumstances surrounding the case may be
gathered from the following letter :

CAMP FORD PRISON, {
May 6, 1865. j

COL. JAMISON.

Sir: — I deem it my duty to inform you of the
circumstances of the tragedy perpetrated in the
stockade last night, by the patrol guard, as re-
lated by the victim and his mess-mates. Two
guards .passed by the door of his shanty, from
whom he asked permission to step outside to
urinate. Their answer he understood to be per-
mission to do so, and stepped out a few steps

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 301

from the door, when a third came along and
ordered him inside. This order he complied
with, and while in the act of stepping over
the door-sill, was shot in the back. Now, that a
man be killed under such circumstances, is, in
my opinion, downright murder. Fortunately,
the man was not killed, but this does not detract
anything from the act. Being prisoners, we
must of course, endure such things if they are
inflicted, but being in the position I am, I must
clear my skirts by entering my solemn protest
against such violence.

Respectfully,

J. M. McCULLOCH,
Capt. 77th III. Vol. -Inf. U. S. A.

But the end was now drawing near. About
this time rumors reached the prisoners of the
assassination of President Lincoln — of the sur-
render of Lee's army and the general collapse
of the " Confederacy." The assurance was given
that within a week they would all be liberated.
Then ensued several days of intense anxiety and
suspense. The papers containing the news of
these important events were kept from them, so
that they could obtain no reliable information
from the outside, and the most extravagant
rumors were afloat. In the mean time, about
fifty of the prisoners who had recently escaped
were captured and returned to the stockade,

302 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

having been tracked and " treed " by the blood-
hounds.

On the 13th of May, Captain Birchett, the
paroling officer, came to the camp with a large
mail and late Northern papers, confirming all
the wild rumors they had heard. He informed
them that they were to proceed at once to the
mouth of Red River. Then a scene of joyous
excitement was witnessed at Camp Ford. The
war was at an end, their sufferings and privations
were about to terminate. On the night of the
14th most of the men in the Reserve Corps dis-
charged .themselves and started for home, and
the next day the rest of them left leaving only
a few men of the 15th Texas Cavalry to guard
the prisoners. In fact they were not guarded at
all. Liquor was sold freely to the men and they
went where they pleased. It was feared by the
officers that acts of violence would be commit-
ted, but to the credit of the men it must be said,
nothing of the kind occurred.

In this unsettled state of affairs, it looked as
if the prisoners would have to find their way
out of " Dixie's Land " as best they could. But
at length a train of nine wagons put in an ap-
pearance, and the remnant of the 15th Texas
was ordered to escort them to Marshall, and
there report to General Churchill. On the 17th
of May they started. Seven of the wagons
were used for carrying the sick; the other two

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 303

were sent to Tyler for rations, to be issued on
the way.

Although out of prison and in a measure free
men, their troubles were not ended. They
trudged along wearily for two or three days but
the promised rations did not come. The men
threatened to break ranks and make the best of
their way to Shreveport on their own account;
but this would have been dangerous in the un-
settled state of the country at that time. The
officers prevailed upon the men to remain
together awhile longer, and that night Lieut.
Naylor, who was in command of the Texans,
sent a courier to Marshall to inform the authori-
ties there of the situation. The next morning
they started at three o'clock, and marched twen-
ty-five miles in a very orderly manner. In the
evening they camped by a pleasant stream
within six miles of Marshall. At this point the
courier, true to his trust, returned with the
much-needed rations. Here they killed the last
of the beeves, and the men had a very good
supper, considering the situation.

The next morning they reached Marshall, and
the Texaus were relieved by a detachment of an
Arkansas regiment of infantry in command
of Major Stuart. This officer did all he could
for the comfort of the men. He procured ra-
tions for them and sent the sick by railroad to
Greenwood, within fourteen miles of Shreveport.

304 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

He held the wagon-train to carry the sick from
the terminus of the railroad. On the second
night out from Marshall, however, the wagon-
train left them, fearing confiscation by the rebel
soldiers, who were appropriating such property
to their own use. Under these circumstances the
sick were left behind for the time being. Soon
after reaching Shreveport wagons were sent back
for the sick, and they were brought forward in
time to embark on the boat with the rest of the
men.

It was a difficult matter to find boats for trans-
portation, unless they could be assured of their
pay. This assurance was given in the shape of
cotton belonging to the defunct Confederacy.
About 950 men, including those belonging to
the 77th, took passage on the " General Quit-
man," a very large steamer, too large, in fact,
for the crooks and turns of Red River. They
broke their wheels and met with other mishaps
on the way, until finally, on the 27th they
caught sight of the Union gunboats at the
mouth of the river. They greeted the Father
of Waters with as much enthusiasm as De Soto
had done centuries before.

The greatest number of prisoners at Camp
Ford at one time was about 4,700. This num-
ber was reduced by exchanges from time to time,
until only 1,700 remained, and these constituted

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. £05

the " rear guard " of Federal prisoners held by
the Confederate authorities. «

Before leaving their prison-pen, a volunteer
detail of twenty men in charge of Lieutenants
II. J. Wyman and C. F. McCulloch, built a sub-
stantial post and rail fence around the grave-
yard containing the remains of their comrades.
There was about an acre of ground in the
enclosure and it contained two hundred and
eighty-two graves.

From the mouth of Red River the prisoners
proceeded to New Orleans, where they were
quartered in cotton presses, awaiting orders
from the authorities. Clothing was issued to
them, but they received no pay. There was not
much sympathy in this, for the men who had
fought so gallantly at Mansfield and suffered so
much at Camp Ford.

On the 5th of June an order came from Gen-
eral Canby for the officers and men of certain
Regiments — paroled prisoners — to proceed to
Benton Barracks, at St. Louis, Mo., in charge of
the senior officer of the detachments. There
were eight hundred and twenty-two men and
twenty-two officers, and they belonged to the
following Regiments: 77th and 130th Illinois,
120th Ohio, 162d, 165th and 173d New York,
23d Wisconsin, 18th, 28th, 32d, 33d, and 36th
Iowa. They arrived at St. Louis on the 12th of
June, where they received pay as commutation

306 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

for rations while prisoners. The members of
the 77th were ordered to Springfield; and on the
17th of June were mustered out of the service,
and received pay in full from the date of the
last payment up to the time of their discharge.
Thus after an imprisonment of thirteen
months and nineteen days they were again free
men, living under the protecting folds of the
starry flag. From Springfield they went to their
homes, where they arrived on the 8th of July,
about two weeks in advance of the balance pf
the Regiment.

CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH.

THE RETREAT.

MIDNIGHT, after the close of the bat-
tle, the retreat began. How different
from the advance ! The 13th Army
Corps was literally cut to pieces. The 4th Divi-
sion was a mere shadow of its former self. The
77th, and some other Regiments, were almost
annihilated. With feeliuga of sadness, mingled
with indignation, the shattered remains of that
army, turned their faces from the scene of dis-
aster, and began their toilsome march in the
direction of the Mississippi. All available means
were brought into requisition for the transporta-
tion of the wounded. They were mounted on
horses and mules, on artillery caissons, on carts
and wagons — in fact on any conveyance which
could be pressed into the service. Major Bur-
dett was in command of the Regiment, as he had
taken that position on the death of Col. Webb.
The boys lost their knapsacks and contents, for
they had been unslung and left behind when
they moved to the front.

308 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

At 8 o'clock, on the morning of the 9th, the
troops were at Pleasant Hill, about twenty miles
from the battle field. Here the boys met their
old Division Commander, Gen. A. J. Smith. As
a handfull of the 77th passed him, he asked,
"What Regiment is this?" Some one replied,
"The 77th~ Illinois?" "The 77th Illinois?"
exclaimed the old veteran. " I know the 77th.
Brave boys, too bad, too bad. You would have
gone anywhere if I had said so."

It was evident at this point that another battle
was impending. Gen. Banks, well knowing his
own incompetency, or wishing to shift the re-
sponsibility of further operations, allowed Gen.
Smith to take full command of the troops. The
Cavalry had been terribly cut up on the preced-
ing day while protecting the flanks of the army.
The horses were maimed and bleeding, but they
were now sent to the front to hold in check the
advancing columns of an enemy flushed with
victory and Louisiana rum. Gen. Smith arranged
his forces in three lines, intending to give the
rebels a warm reception. The 19th Army Corps
formed the first line in the edge of the timber,
with an open field to the rear. Across the
middle of this field was a second line of troops
supporting two guns. The 77th occupied a posi-
tion just in rear of these guns and near the bank
of a small stream, which meandered diagonally
across the field. The third line was in the timber

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 309

south of the Held, supporting all the guns which
were masked at this point and double shotted.

With the forces thus disposed and feeling the
utmost confidence in their new commander, the
men calmly awaited the result. In the mean-
time, the 13th Army Corps, on account of its
enfeebled condition, was sent to guard the wagon-
train, having Grand Ecore on Red River, as the
objective point.

About noon the sound of musketry was heard
in front. Our Cavalry contested the ground man-
fully, but fell back as the enemy advanced. It
was not long until the battle raged furiously.
The earth trembled with the constant discharges
of artillery and musketry. The Cavalry was
driven back on the 19th Corps, which, in accord-
ance with preconcerted arrangements, fell back
on the second line. Full of excitement and
confident of success, the enemy emerged from
the timber, and entered the open field, shout-
ing and waving the captured flags of the day
before. They came on in solid masses, as if
determined to crush our columns by mere force
of numbers. The second line then gave way in
the centre, according to previous instructions,
and fell upon their flanks, while the masked
batteries in the front, sent such discharges
of grape and cannister into their ranks, that they
quailed before them. Utterly routed and demor-
alized they fled from the field, leaving their

310 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

wounded and artillery in our hands. It was a
"Pleasant Hill" for General Smith and his
troops, but a very unpleasant one for the victors
of the previous day.

That night the army slept on the field of bat-
tle, and followed the line of retreat the next
morning. The 13th Corps guarding the fugitive
wagon-train, marched nearly all night, in the
direction of Grand Ecore, thirty-five miles from
Pleasant Hill, where they arrived on the 10th.
Here they came under the friendly protection of
the gunboats. Other troops arrived the next
day. Fortifications were hastily constructed to
prepare against another attack, for the enemy,
although defeated, was still able to pursue. On
the 12th of April there was heavy cannonading
up the river. General Gordon, with 4,500 men,
had gone in that direction, and the firing was
occasioned by an attempt on the part of the
rebels, to capture his transports.

The troops remained at this point until the
22d. At 2 o'clock A. M. of that day, the forward,
or rather the backward, movement, was resumed.
The 19th Corps was in front, the 13th in the
centre, while the 16th and 17th brought up the
rear. When they arrived at Kane River, they
found the enemy entrenched on a bluff on the
south bank of the river, prepared to dispute the
passage of the retreating column. Preparations
were at once made for dislodging him from his

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 311

position, and for an hour or more, there was a
lively shelling on the part of our batteries.
There had formerly been a bridge at this place,
but the rebels had destroyed it, and now it was
necessary to build a pontoon for the troops to
cross. This was an important point, as it was
the nearest and best place at which the train
could cross.

While the shelling was in progress, the 13th
Corps and a part of the 19th were ordered
up the river about two miles, where they crossed
by wading waist deep. After crossing, General
Weitzel's Division of the 19th Corps, took the
advance. After marching through the timber a
mile or two they encountered the enemy's picket.
A sharp engagement immediately ensued, during
which WeitzePs column charged across an open
field in the face of a galling fire. Several of our
men fell, but the charge was successful. While
this was going on, the rebels came down like an
avalanche on General Smith; but he was not
caught napping. With his usual intrepidity he
hurled his column against the enemy, and the
result was not long in doubt. Weitzel in front
and Smith in the rear, both hard fighters and
each doing his appropriate work, the rebels
were defeated and the victory of Kane River
was decisive and complete. The army then pur-
sued the toilsome march, harrassed more or less

312 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

every day until the 25th, when they reached
their old camp at Alexandria.

While here, General John A. McClernand
came up the river. The 13th Army Corps,
which he had so often led to victory, but which
was now a mere wreck, was formed in line to
welcome and salute him. The hoys were glad
to see him again, and only wished that they
could once more be transferred to his command.

On the morning of the 28th the Division was
inspected, after which they stacked arms and
received forty rounds of ammunition. This
looked like business again. In the afternoon
the troops left their entrenchments and moved
to the front. Fighting was heard in the dis-
tance, the enemy having assailed our pickets.
The line advanced about a mile, when, without
bringing on a general engagement, it gradually
retired and fell back into the trenches. General
McClernand was in command at that time, and
as he and General A. J. Smith passed along the
line of the 13th Corps, they were loudly cheered.

The army remained at Alexandria until near
the middle of May. The detention was caused
by the fact that the river had fallen so much
since the boats passed above the rapids that they
could not return. It was feared at one time
they would have to be blown up and abandoned;
but Colonel Baily, of Wisconsin, came to the
rescue. By constructing a dam across the river,

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 313

and confining the water within a narrow chan-
nel, he succeeded in extricating the gunboats
and transports, and bringing them safely over
the rapids.

Two or three days after leaving Alexandria
they reached the village of Marksville. At this
place an artillery duel was engaged in by the
batteries of the contending forces. It was an
almost constant boom of artillery until noon,
when the firing ceased. After passing through
the town our column turned to the south, pass-
ing over a beautiful prairie. Skirting this
prairie there was a piece of timber in which
the rebels had planted their guns. As soon as
the column came upon the prairie the rebel guns
opened fire, killing two of our horses. Our bat-
teries soon wheeled into line, firing and then
limbering and circling over the prairie, the
rebels making the same rapid movement. It
was a beautiful sight, but the damage was not
great on either side.

As the army approached the Atchafalaya
River, the enemy seemed disposed to dispute
the passage of that stream. On the 18th of
May they began to close in on our retreating
forces. This brought on an engagement, in
which the batteries and General Smith's infantry
did most of the fighting. Our loss was consid-
erable. About two hundred prisoners fell into
our hands. On the 19th the 4th Division moved
20

314 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

down to the boats on the Atchafalaya, then
down the river two miles, and returned to the
boats in the evening. 'During the day a bridge
was constructed across the bows of the boats,
and the 19th Corps crossed the river. The next
morning the wagon-train went over, and pushed
ahead in charge of the 19th Corps. In the
afternoon the other troops crossed, the bridge
was taken up and the boats started for the Mis-
sissippi.

On the morning of the 21st the troops were
gladdened by seeing the great river once more
— the river near which most of their army life
had been spent. From the mouth of Red River
they marched down the Mississippi, in the di-
rection of Morgauza. After marching about
four miles, the First Brigade, consisting of the
77th Illinois, 19th Kentucky, 23d Wisconsin and
83d Ohio, together with the 96th Ohio of the
Second Brigade, and five hundred Cavalry, were
ordered back to the mouth of Red River. In
a day or two they started down the river again,
and after marching eighteen miles went into
camp at Morganza.

Thus, after these long and weary marches, our
troops were again in a place of comparative
safety. And what an experience they had
passed through ! From the opening of the
battle of Mansfield on the 8th of April, until
now, the rattle of musketry and the boom of

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 315

artillery had been ringing in their ears almost
constantly. They had been harrassed in front,
rear and flank by a tireless foe. This was a new
and strange experience for our boys. Hereto-
fore, under better management, they had always
been the aggressors and always victorious; but
now, they were compelled to act on the defen-
sive, and protect themselves in their retreat as
best they could. Incompetency, thy name is
General Banks !

On the evening of May 24th the 77th went on
board the steamer " Col. Cowles," belonging to
the Quartermaster's Department, and the next
day they left Morganza and started for Baton
Rouge, once the capital of Louisiana, at which
place they landed on the morning of the 26th.
Their camp was pitched on a grassy plat of
ground in the eastern limits of the city. At this
place the days came and went with more monot-
ony and less excitement than the Red-River
campaign had aiforded. As the boys were hun-
gry for news, much of the time was spent in
reading. The paymaster came and cheered
them with two months' pay. Frequent mails
came to gladden their hearts. They went fish-
ing and bathing in the Father of Waters. Heavy
rains visited them and the loud clap of thunder
was substituted for the roar of artillery. Tem-
perance and religious meetings were frequently
held by the Chaplains of the different regiments,

316 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Some of the boys received furloughs to visit
their homes in Illinois.

One of the sad results of the late campaign is
embraced in the following " Order " from the
War Department :

WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, June 11, 1864.

General Orders, No. 210.

By direction of the President, the 13th Army
Corps is temporarily discontinued. The General
Commanding Division of West Mississippi will
assign the troops of this Corps.

By order of the Secretary of War.

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant General.

And so the "Old Thirteenth" ceased to exist,
for the time being, at least. It was a sad day for
the members of that organization when this
intelligence was received. But their past his-
tory could not be obliterated by a " General
Order." When they remembered the palmy
days of the 13th Army Corps — when McCler-
nand was chief, and Smith, Carr, Osterhaus and
Hovey were his able Lieutenants — when Lan-
dram and Burbridge and others well known
were his Brigade Commanders, they felt like
exclaiming : " How are the mighty fallen and
the weapons of war perished."

On the 17th of June, before the foregoing

ILLINOIS VoLUNTEEfcs. 317

order of discontinuance was received, the 77th
was transferred to the Second Brigade, Colonel
Grier Commanding. But this arrangement did
not continue long, for in a few days the Regi-
ment was again transferred, this time to the
Third Brigade, Third Division, 19th Army
Corps, and the boys inquired 'k What next?"

The 77th remained at Baton Rouge until the
20th of July, when they embarked on the ocean
steamer " Tamaulipas " and were soon on the
way to their old base of operations at New
Orleans. Other troops were concentrating at
this point, having been relieved along the river
by the " hundred-dazers." It was very evident
that another "objective point" had been se-
lected, and the boys expected soon to get an in-
vitation to the picnic.

On the 24th, Chaplain McCulloch, who had
been captured at Mansfield, returned to the
Regiment from Camp Ford. He looked as
though he had been on short rations for some
time. He reported that the boys in prison were
doing as well as could be expected under the
circumstances.

At two o'clock on the morning of the 26th
the Regiment received orders to embark on the
steamer "• Alice Vivian " at daylight, which they
did. The Second Brigade had already em-
barked and gone up the river, it was under-
stood that the 77th Illinois, 83d and 96th Ohio,

318 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

of the Third Brigade, were to follow; but soon
after going on board orders came for them to
wait for further orders. The 77th and 96th re-
turned to camp, the 83d remaining at the river.
Colonel Moore, Commanding the Brigade, had
probably misunderstood the order. When the
boys returned to camp they found that the camp
wreckers had been there. They had carried off
boards, bedding and everything else, so that the
place presented a sorry appearance.

On the 28th the Regiment turned over their
Enfield rifles which they had carried so long,
and were armed with Springtields. The next
day they were ordered to turn over all surplus
baggage and prepare for the coming campaign.
About this time a scene was enacted which was
not on the regular programme. The 3d Mary-
land Cavalry, which was composed partly of
deserters from the rebel army, was dismounted
and ordered to take guns as infantry. Four of
the companies refused to comply with the order.
The 67th Indiana was ordered out to quell the
mutiny. The companies refusing to comply
were put under arrest. A strong guard was
also sent from the 77th with very stringent
orders. There is a convincing logic in the argu-
ment of bayonets. The mutinous Marylanders
soon found this out and were glad to return to
their duty.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH.

GAINES AND MORGAN.

§F IT be true — and who can doubt it — that
there is no rest for the wicked, and it' we
give this expression a literal meaning, we
naturally come to the conclusion that the Seven-
ty-Seventh was a very wicked Regiment, for
most assuredly they enjoyed but few seasons of
repose.

On the evening of July 30th, the Regiment
left their camp and went aboard the steamship
"St. Charles," and the next morning found them
once more in the vicinity of the Gulf. Owing to
a storm the vessel could not cross to Ship Island,
the point of immediate destination, until Mon-
day, August 1. On that day, at 3 o'clock P.M.?
they cast anchor off the dreary coast of the
island, and waited for further orders. During
the night of the second, the vessel left Ship
Island, and the next day reached the blockading
fleet off Mobile Bay. In the distance loomed up
the frowning battlements of Fort Powell, at the
junction of Mississippi Sound with the Bay,

320 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

while in the immediate vicinity the rebel gun-
boats watched vigilantly the movements of our
land and naval forces. A crisis was evidently
approaching, and all were anxiously awaiting the
result of the impending trial of strength and
skill. On the third of August the troops disem-
barked, landing on Dauphine Island, Alabama.
The army was commanded by Major General
Gordon Granger, and the navy by the brave and
successful hero of many battles, Rear Admiral
D. G. Farragut, Commanding West Gulf Squad-
ron.

The troops landed on the west end of Dauphine
Island. The water was so shallow near the shore
that the vessels had to cast anchor some distance
out, and skiffs were employed to land the troops.
Before night they were safely on shore, and
ready for future operations. On the east end of
the island was Fort Gaines, probably the strongest
work on the Gulf coast. The capture of that
stronghold was the object of this expedition, as
a preliminary to the reduction of Fort Morgan,
across the channel, and the ultimate capture of
Mobile. At that time General McGinnis was in
command of the troops on Dauphine Island,
while Colonel Grier, of the 77th, was second in
command. Very soon, however, the General was
relieved, and the. Colonel was ordered to take
command, as will be seen by the following ex-
tract from a letter written at the time :

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. i 1

" Fort Gaines, Aug. 8, 1864. * * * After
a day or two, however, Gen. McGinnis was re-
lieved and Col. Grier of the 77th, was ordered to
take command of all the land forces, which he
did with characteristic energy, so far as I know,
to the entire satisfaction of Gen. Granger and all
the troops. So when you see Canby or Granger
mentioned, just remember that our Colonel is
often'the one who did the work. * * * " It
may be well to mention, in this connection, that
Col. Grier retained the immediate command of
the troops until the capture of Fort Gaines, and
was then ordered to the peninsula on which Fort
Morgan stood, and was in command during the
siege and capture of that Fort.

After the troops had Janded on the island, they
were pushed forward in the direction of Fort
Gaines, so that by the evening of the 4th of
August, they were within a mile and a half of
the enemy's works. Skirmishing began imme-
diately. Five companies of the 77th — "C,"
"D," "F," "H" and "I" — were sent to the front
to strengthen the pickets, and to push the ad-
vance sufficiently near to allow the planting of
our batteries.

In the meantime the navy was busy. The
channel, between Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan,
was about three miles wide, but the rebels had
driven piles across, leaving only a narrow channel
next to Fort Morgan, through which vessels

322 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

could pass. About 8 o'clock on the morning of
the 5th, the gunboats moved slowly forward in
the direction of this narrow channel. The mon-
itors led the way, followed by the flag-ship
" Hartford," with Admiral Farragut on board.
One of the monitors, in entering the bay, struck
a torpedo, which exploded, and the brave Capt.
Craven, and his crew of a hundred men, found a
watery grave. When within range, the hteavy
ordnance of the Fort opened tire on the daring
fleet, while the latter replied with such vigor
that the earth and the ocean trembled with the
concussion. The conflict was short, for soon the
fleet had passed the Fort and was safe inside
the bay.

But their work was not yet done. They soon
encountered the rebel fleet in the bay, under the
command of Admiral Buchanan. One of the
vessels belonging to their fleet, was the celebrated
ram " Tennessee." The engagement was short
and severe. The Union fleet, as usual, was tri-
umphant. Admiral Buchanan lost a leg during
the action, while our loss was severe. The
" Tennessee " was captured, the rebel ram Mor-
gan, was run ashore and burned, while several
of their vessels made their escape up the bay.

After our fleet had entered Mobile Bay, Fort
Powell, in the Mediterranean Pass, was evacu-
ated, and the guns of Fort Gaines were turned
upon our land forces. For a time there was

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 323

some lively shelling. But our troo'ps were not
idle. A lauding had been constructed on the
coast about a mile and a half distant. Large siege
guns were landed and brought forward for the
reduction of the Fort. Earthworks were thrown
up, and our skirmishers not only held their
ground, but steadily advanced. There was no
escape for the garrison, and our boys felt sure
that the surrender of the Fort, with all that it
contained, was only a question of a few days at
most.

On the morning of the 7th, a flag of truce was
seen approaching the lines from Fort Gaines, and
the tiring ceased. The next morning the Fort
surrendered unconditionally to Admiral Far-
ragut. The troops composing the garrison
marched out in front of our lines and stacked
their arms. They numbered 725, and were
mostly boys about seventeen years of age, be-
longing to the 21st Alabama Regiment. As soon
as the surrender was made, the " Stars and Bars"
— the emblem of secession — was hauled down,
and the Flag of the United States floated proudly
over the captured works.

The next day the Regiment packed knapsacks
and went on board a vessel intending to cross the
bay, to operate against Fort Morgan, the next
point of attack. In crossing, the vessel ran on a
sand-bar, and stuck fast. Another came to their
relief and shared the same fate. They were then

324 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

transferred to the tin-clad " 42," and the next
morning returned to Fort Gaines.

Iii the meantime, Col. Grier, with all the land
forces, excepting the 77th and one other Kegi-
ment, crossed over to the peninsula, and laid siege
to Fort Morgan. The bombardment went on
day after day by the monitors and the land bat-
teries, with heavy replies from the Fort. The
22d, however, was the " big day" in the siege of
Fort Morgan. At daybreak a heavy cannon-
ading began by the batteries on land and sea, and
was maintained, without interruption, all day
and far into the night. The Fort was enveloped
in a dense cloud of smoke, and twice, during
this terrific firing, the buildings inside were set
on fire by our shells.

Such a conflict could not long continue. At 7
o'clock on the morning of the 23d, a white flag
was hoisted on the works, and one was seen ap-
proaching our lines. The firing ceased and terms
of capitulation were agreed upon. At 3 o'clock
P.M., Fort Morgan was again the property of the
United States. The Stars and Stripes,

" Flag of the free heart's hope and home,
By angel hands to valor given,"

floated proudly over the fortress, and the ram-
parts were patroled by the " Boys in Blue"

The Regiment remained on the island until
the 25th, when they struck tents and went on the
steamer " J. M. Burr," and crossed over to Fort

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 325

Morgan. Here they took on board the 96th Ohio,
and also a lot of spades, shovels, axes, wheel-
barrows, etc., and then ran up to Cedar Point,
above Fort Powell, and landed. They marched
about a mile and then returned, as the point was
so swampy they could find no place to encamp.

The Brigade now consisted of five Regiments,
the 23d Wisconsin, 67th Indiana, 77th Illinois,
96th Ohio and 161st New York. But in less
than a week another change was made, when the
Brigade was reduced to three Regiments — the
34th Iowa, 67th Indiana and 77th Illinois — and
commanded by Col. Clark, of the 34th Iowa.

Details went to work on the point, throwing
up breastworks and bringing forward artillery
from the boats. The boys enjoyed themselves
feeding on fish and oysters, which were abun-
dant, while the mosquitoes enjoyed themselves
feeding on the boys. But as there was not room
enough for so many troops, the Seventy-Seventh
and two other Regiments crossed the Bay and
landed at Pilot Town, four miles in rear of Fort
Morgan. But they did not remain here long.
On the 9th of September they went on the
steamer "Thomas Sparks," and turned their
prow in the direction of the Mississippi. Early
on the morning of the llth they landed in front
of the old familiar levee at New Orleans, but
were immediately sent up the river to their
former camping-ground at Morganza.

326 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

As this was the year of the presidential elec-
tion, a vote was taken in the Regiment at this
place, in order to feel the political pulse. The
vote resulted as follows :

For Abraham Lincoln, . - . . . 303

" George B. McClellan, ... 25

Neutral, 17

Total, ... 345

The result showed very conclusively that the
boys did not consider " the war a failure" as
some of the politicians of the North had de-
clared it to be.

CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH.

" A SOFT THING."

BOUT the only "soft thing" the boys
enjoyed while in the service, was now
before them. Captain Stevens had gone
to New Orleans for the purpose of securing a
place in the city for the Regiment during the
winter He succeeded in his mission, and on the
6th of October they received orders to pack
their traps and proceed once more to the Crescent
City. They obeyed the order with alacrity, and,
taking passage on the steamer " Laurel Hill,"
bade farewell to their camp at Morganza with-
out regret.

While the boat was lying at Port Hudson,
taking on wood, there was a detail of colored
soldiers stationed on board and on the gang-
plank, as was usually the case when a vessel
landed, to prevent desertion, smuggling, or any
contraband traffic. Captain Stevens, having just
returned from New Orleans, met the Regiment
at this place. As he was walking up the gang-
plank to go on the boat he was baited by a

328 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

colored soldier, who refused to let him pass until
the officer of the guard was called. The joke
was enjoyed by the boys a great deal more than
it was by the Captain.

At Baton Rouge they met their old friends of
the 19th Kentucky, and were received by them
with fraternal greetings. The Seventy-Seventh
first met the 19th at Covington, Ky., when they
came in from Cumberland Gap, and the acquaint-
ance thus formed ripened into a friendship
which lasted during the war, and has been
remembered with pleasure ever since. They
were a sorry-looking lot of soldiers — "dirty,
ragged and forlorn." But they were cheerful,
even jolly in their misfortunes. They would
sing " Happy Land of Canaan " or " We '11 hang
Jeff Davis on a sour apple tree," with a great
deal of enthusiasm. For nearly two years the
two Regiments had marched and fought side by
side in the same campaigns, and a truer body of
soldiers than the 19th Kentucky was never or-
ganized and led into the field. "Always cheer-
ful, always ready, generous to a fault, loyal to
the core; the kind of material that any army
might well be proud of."

As soon as the Regiment arrived at New Or-
leans they took up their abode in Picayune Press
No. 4. The 77th relieved the 48th Ohio, which
was sent to Natchez, Miss. Our boys now had
the pleasure — if it could be called a pleasure —

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 329

of guarding the prisoners they had assisted in
capturing at Fort Gaines. On the 10th of Oc-
tober— only two days after their arrival — a
detail was sent to Dry Tortugas in charge of a
lot of prisoners. And such expeditious were
frequent during the fall and winter months. On
one occasion about two hundred prisoners were
sent away to be placed in " durance vile " until
the close of the war. And the scene was a sad
one, although they were our foes. Fathers and
mothers — brothers and sisters — sons and daugh-
ters were there to give a parting grasp of the
hand, and bid a tearful farewell to their friends,
as they marched away under a strong guard of
bristling bayonets.

On the 24th, Captain Stearns, who was taken
prisoner at Mansfield, returned to the Regiment
from Tyler, Texas, after an an absence of more
than six months. The boys were glad to see
him at home again, and also to receive intelli-
gence from their comrades, who were still lan-
guishing in the prison-pen.

The religious opportunities of the Regiment
while in the city, were excellent. Besides their
own services, they were allowed to attend any
of the churches they preferred. The Rev. Dr. J.
P. Newman, an eloquent speaker and an earnest
worker, preached at the M. E. Church, on Caron-
delet street. This church drew most of its

attendance from the army. In fact, judging
21

330 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

by the blue coats present at all the services, it
seemed to be almost exclusively, a soldier's
church.

Some of the boys received details and were
detached from the Regiment for a time. On the
10th of November, a General Court Martial for
the Department of the Gulf, was ordered to con-
vene at No. 38 Union Street. Of this Court,
Captain J. D. Rouse, of Co. "G," was Judge
Advocate; Musician J. H. Snyder, of Co. "I,"
was Clerk, and Private Joseph Tronier, of Co.
" D," was Orderly. Other details were also made
from different companies.

In December, some important changes were
made in the Department of West Mississippi.
The troops composing the old 13th Army Corps,
and such as remained of the 19th, were formed
into a " Reserve Corps " of four Brigades, each
to be commanded by a Brigadier General. The
77th was assigned to this corps, and ordered to
proceed at once to Brazos Santiago, at -the mouth
of the Rio Grande. This order was issued by a
new Adjutant General, at Gen. Hurlbut's Head-
quarters, without the General's knowledge.
Colonel Grier went to see about it, and General
Hurlbut at once revoked the order. And so the
Regiment secured a new lease of life on garrison
duty.

With light duties to perform, with plenty to
eat and good clothes to wear, with the freedom

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 331

of the city and access to places of instruction
and amusement, the winter passed pleasantly
away. The companies were stationed at different
places. Some in Alabama Press, some in Pic-
ayune Press, some on Levee Street, and else-
where, so that any one wishing to visit the
Regiment, had a long tramp before he could see
them all.

But it was not long until the first note of
preparation for an approaching campaign was
heard. Several of the Regiments had become
reduced below the standard allowed by the War
Department. Among these were the 77th and
130th Illinois, and they were consolidated, the
latter, for the time being, losing its identity, and
the former retaining its original name and num-
ber. This proceeding was distasteful to the men
of both Regiments, as they preferred to retain
their own separate existence until finally mus-
tered out of the service. The following orders
will explain how the consolidation was effected:

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, )
NEW ORLEANS, January 14, 1865. j

Special Orders, No. 14-

Extract.

**#*##*;(;#

IX. The Seventy-Seventh and One Hundred
and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers will be consol-
idated, and known as the Seventy - Seventh

332 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Illinois Volunteers. Brigadier General T. W.
Sherman, commanding Defences of New Orleans
(who is charged with the execution of this order),
will designate such commissioned officers as will
be retained in the service, to command the new
organization. All other officers will be at once
mustered out of service.

All supernumerary non-commissioned officers,
who were appointed as such at the date of the
original organization of their respective com-
panies, will be mustered out of service.

All other surplus non-commissioned officers,
who have been appointed since the original
organization, will be reduced.

By command of

MAJOR GENERAL HURLBUT.
C. 8. SARGENT,

Official: 1st Lieut. 2d La. Vols. and A. A. A. G.

J. C. STONE,

Captain and A. A. O.

HEADQUARTERS, DEFENCES OF NEW ORLEANS, }
NEW ORLEANS, January 21, 1865. j

Special Orders, No. 18.

Extract.

I. In accordance with Special Orders, No. 14, current
series, Department of the Gulf, the following-named officers
of the Seventy-Seventh and One Hundred and Thirtieth
Illinois Volunteers, are retained in the service; and all the
rest will be mustered out by the Chief Mustering Officer,
Defences of New Orleans:

tLLItfOIS VOLUNTEERS. 333

Colonel David P. Grier 77th 111. Vol.

Lieutenant Colonel John B. Reid 130th 111. Vol.

Surgeon Charles Winnie .. 77th 111. Vol.

Assistant Surgeon John Stoner 77th 111. Vol.

First Lieut, and Adj't, Henry P. Ayres 77th Ill.Vol-

First Lieut, and Q.M., David McKinney 77th 111. Vol.

Chaplain John S. McCulloch 77th Ill.Vol.

Captain Joseph M. McCulloch.. 77th Ill.Vol.

Captain Robert H. Brock 77th Ill.Vol.

Captain Edwin Stevens 77th Ill.Vol.

Captain John D. Rouse 77th Ill.Vol.

Captain Jesse R. Johnson 130th Ill.Vol.

Captain John W. Watts 130th Ill.Vol.

Captain Jacob Wilken 130th Ill.Vol.

Captain Milgrove B. Parmeter.. 77th Ill.Vol.

Captain Gardner G. Stearns 77th Ill.Vol.

Captain J. Kirby Secord 77th Ill.Vol.

First Lieutenant Samuel J. Smith 77th Ill.Vol.

First Lieutenant William Harned 130th Ill.Vol.

First Lieutenant Henry J.Wyman 77th Ill.Vol.

First Lieutenant Clark S. Crary 130th Ill.Vol.

First Lieutenant Thomas C. Mathews... 77th Ill.Vol.

First Lieutenant Edward S. Dewey 130th Ill.Vol.

First Lieutenant John W. Paulson 130th Ill.Vol.

First Lieutenant Joseph F. Parker 130th Ill.Vol.

First Lieutenant John M. Shields 77th Ill.Vol-

First Lieutenant George C. Kenyon 77th Ill.Vol.

Second Lieutenant Marcus O. Harkness... 77th Ill.Vol.

Second Lieutenant Wilson J. Neil 130th Ill.Vol.

Second Lieutenant Andrew S. Martin 130th Ill.Vol.

Second Lieutenant Charles W. Johnson. ..130th Ill.Vol.

Second Lieutenant Charles F. McCulloch.. 77th Ill.Vol.

Second Lieutenant Henry L. Bushnell 77th Ill.Vol.

By command of

BRIGADIER GENERAL SHERMAN.
Official : FREDERICK SPEED, A. A. 6.

J. E. MALLORY, 1st Lieut, and A. A. A. O.

334

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

On the 25th of January, the consolidation was
completed by the union of the two Regiments in
one. While the 130th ceased to exist as a
separate organization, the strength of the 77th
was materially increased, as will be seen by the
following figures :

Company ' E," 48

Company ' F," 58

Company
Company

Field and Staff. 1

Non-commissioned Staff.. 1

Line Officers 11

Company "A," 17

Company " B," 68

Company " C," 41

Company " D," 46

Company
Company

G,".
H,".

I," •
K,"

88
54

41

Making a total increase in the strength of the
Regiment of 473 men.

On the 10th of February the Regiment was
inspected, and in the afternoon they left their
quarters in Wood's Press and marched down
Canal Street to Carondelet, thence down to
Tivoli Circle, thence up St. Charles to Canal
Street and back to their camp. On the line of
march they passed the Headquarters of Brigadier
General T. W. Sherman, Commanding Defences
of New Orleans; of Major General S. A. Hurl-
but, Commanding Department of the Gulf, and
of Major General E. R. S. Canby, Commanding
Department of West Mississippi.

The annual Spring activity now began to
prevail in military circles. Street parades,
regimental inspections etc., were frequent oe-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 335

currences. The Seventy-Seventh received orders
to be in readiness to march at a moment's notice.
Everything seemed to indicate a forward move-
ment in the near future. As a further evidence
of this, the enlisted men of the Regiment on
detached service were ordered to rejoin their
companies, as the subjoined Special Order will
show.

HEADQUARTERS SOUTHERN DIST. OF LOUISIANA, )
NEW ORLEANS, February 18, 1865. j

Special Orders, No. 55.

Extract.

IV. In obedience to General Orders, No. 37,
series of 1864, from Headquarters, Military Divi-
sion of West Mississippi, the following-named
men of the 77th Illinois Volunteers are hereby
relieved from their present duties and will at
once rejoin their companies :

Sergeant B. F. Rice, . . . Company "D."
Sergeant William C. McGowan, Company "H."
Corporal C. A. Stevenson, . Company " E."
Wagoner L. Z. Rench, . . . Company " E."
Private Joseph Tronier, . Company "D."
Musician Jacob H. Snyder, . . Company " I."

*^:^******

By command of

BRIGADIER GENERAL SHERMAN.

FREDERICK SPEED, A.A.G.

CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH.

MOBILE.

>EVENTY-SEVENTH, forward ! Take
off your paper collars. Leave your
blacking-brushes and brass mountings
behind. Git up and git" or words to that effect,
was the order of February 20, 1865.

In compliance with this order they left their
camp at a little before noon, and marched to
Bull's Head Landing, where they remained in
the dock-yard all the afternoon, and at dark
went aboard the steamer " St. Mary " — the same
"St. Mary" which had brought them from
Texas a year before. Some of the boys still
clung to their paper collars — the last relic of
garrison life. Homer H. Higbie and some of the
others who thought these were unnecessary or-
naments in an active campaign, went through
the Regiment and despoiled the boys of their
treasures. In doing so they acted on the princi-
ple, " peacably if we can, forcibly if we must,"
and as a general thing the "must" had it by a

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 337

large majority, to the amusement of all con-
cerned.

The next morning found them once more. on
the blue waters of the Gulf. But the sea was
rough and boisterous. Heavy winds, increasing
to a gale, blew from the west. The storm in-
creased in violence. The vessel rolled from side
to side, or plunged madly forward over the bil-
lows. The boys began to think they were on
their last excursion. There were pale faces and
anxious hearts on board that day. The old sea-
sickness returned, and the old process of " heav-
ing up Jonah " was resorted to by way of relief.
Home, and Mother occupied many thoughts,
while by many others the Patron Saints were
invoked for deliverance. The horses and mules,
as well as the men, were terribly bruised and
battered by the storm. In order to escape the
storm the vessel was finally run in under the
shelter 'of Chandler's Island, about fifty miles
from Fort Morgan. They remained here until
the morning of the 23d, when they weighed
anchor, proceeded on their way, although the
sea was still rough, and landed at Fort Morgan
in the afternoon. As one of them said, " they
were glad to serve as dry-land sailors, rather
than as soldiers on the sea." It was raining,
and as soon as they stacked arms, they sought
shelter under a pontoon train, and there they
spent the night.

338 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Soon after their arrival, the following order
was issued by the War Department:

WAR DEPARTMENT, }

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, i-

WASHINGTON, February 28, 1865. )

General Orders, No. J*.

The Thirteenth and Sixteenth Army Corps hav-
ing been reorganized by Major General Canby, by
direction of the President, Major General Gor-
don Granger is assigned to the command of the
former, and Major General A. J. Smith to the
latter; their assignment to date from February
18th. By order of

The Secretary of War.
E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant General.

As now constituted, the Third Division was
organized as follows :

3d Division, 13th Army Corps.

Brigadier General W. P. Benton, Com-
manding.

1st Brigade. — Colonel D. P. Grier, Commanding.
28th and 77th Illinois, 96th Ohio and 35th
Wisconsin.

2d Brigade. — Colonel Day, Commanding.

7th Vermont, 91st Illinois, 29th Iowa and
50th Indiana.

3d Brigade. — Colonel Krez, Commanding.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 339

27th and 28th Wisconsin, 33d Iowa" and
77th Ohio.
Artillery. — 21st and 26th New York Batteries.

And now the "Old Thirteenth" is resurrected.
Again it figures in history. But how changed !
Some of the old forces remain, but most of the
material is new. We miss the old familiar faces
of the 19th Kentucky — the 67th Indiana — the
48th Ohio, and others. The Mercantile Battery,
of our own State is not with us now. But no
matter. They are doing their appropriate work,
and will render a good account of themselves
wherever they go.

Good news reached the boys from other parts
of the great field embraced in the rebellion.
General Sherman had forced his way from " At-
lanta to the Sea." Our Flag floated over the
battered works of Fort Sumter. General Grant
was hammering away at Richmond, with pros-
pects of ultimate success. The coils were tight-
ening around the " Confederacy." The end was
drawing near, and visions of " Home, sweet
Home," animated the men at Mobile, and in-
spired them with new life.

On the 17th of March the troops moved for-
ward. All unnecessary baggage was left behind.
The officers were ordered to take " dog-tents,"
instead of the commodious tents they had been
using. The march began at daylight. The

340 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTfi

roads were sandy and swampy. The country
was covered with a dense growth of pines and
underbrush. Corduroy roads were built in order
to render the passage of wagons and artillery
possible. Slow progress was made, as they
marched only twelve miles the first day, and
ten the second. But the worst was yet to come.
On the night of the 20th one of those southern
rain storms, with which they had become so
familiar, descended upon them. The next day
they marched, or rather waded, only two miles,
and this through water from two inches to two
feet deep. The teams could not draw the
wagons, and the men were detailed as brevet
males. Covered with mud and full of fun, the
boys pulled the wagons through the swamps,
twenty men doing the work of a span of mules.
What a scene for the poet or the painter !

Through all these discouragements the troops
pressed on, and on the night of the 22d encamped
on the East Branch of Fish River. All day they
could hear heavy cannonading in advance, far
up the bay. The next morning early, the march
was resumed, and about the middle of the after-
noon they went into camp. General A. J.
Smith occupied the advance with the 16th Army
Corps. He had been skirmishing with the
enemy during the day, and now held a forti-
fied position to be prepared for any attack
that might be made. They remained in camp

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 341

a couple of days and then moved forward. The
timber was dense and dark, and the marching
tedious and slow. On the morning of the 26th
the troops took an early start. General Smith
marched off on a road leading to the right, and
General Bertram to the left. The 1st and 3d
Divisions of the 13th Corps occupied the centre.
As they were now in the vicinity of Spanish
Fort, every precaution was taken to guurd
against surprise. Works were thrown up in
front every night, and the utmost vigilance
maintained all along the line.

At last, on the night of the 27th, the fort was
invested. The line extended around the works
in the form of a half circle, touching the bay on
the right and left. The monitors in the bay
occupied the enemy's attention in that direction.
During the next three or four days heavy siege-
guns were brought forward and placed in posi-
tion, and all the necessary preparations com-
pleted for an energetic prosecution of the siege.

On the 4th of April, Garrett D. Pence, of
Company "I," was shot in the right shoulder
and very severely wounded. It was the custom
of the boys to lay a piece of wood on the top of
their breastworks and then to dig a hole under
the wood through which to fire at the enemy.
Garrett had been exchanging shots all night
with a rebel picket, without inflicting any dam-
age on either side. In the morning he saw a

342 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

piece of wood lying just in front of the works,
which he thought would be a good thing to
afford protection for him. Just as he reached
over to secure the prize, the rebel fired and Gar-
rett received the .shot in his shoulder. The only
complaint the brave boy made, as he came back
to the Regiment, was that the rebel might have
allowed him to get the piece of wood to fix up
his port hole.

On the 6th an official dispatch was received
from General Canby, ordering a salute of one
hundred shotted guns to be fired at twelve o'clock
in honor of a great victory won by the Army of
the Potomac at Petersburg, by the Army of the
Mississippi in North Carolina, and by the Army
of the Cumberland at Selma, Alabama.

On the evening of the 8th our batteries and
siege-guns opened with terrible effect on the
rebel works, followed by incessant volleys of
musketry. Then loud and prolonged cheers
were heard, and all was quiet again. A dispatch
from General Cauby announced that General
Smith had charged the rebel line, had carried
three hundred yards of rifle-pits, and captured
two hundred prisoners. At midnight a rumor
came that the rebels had evacuated and that our
skirmishers had entered the works. And thus
another victory was added to the long list already
recorded.

The next day the 13th Army Corps left Span-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 343

ish Fort and marched to Blakely, already in-
vested by General Steele. Fearing 'the works
would be evacuated that night, General Steele
prepared for an immediate assault. At, five
o'clock the batteries began the work. Then
the infantry poured in destructive volleys of
musketry. Soon after a loud cheer arose from
the centre — another from the left and then on
the right, indicating the successive points at
which the works had been successfully stormed.
The conflict was short and the victory complete.

The assault was made by the First arid Second
Divisions of the 13th Army Corps, and by Gen.
Hawkins' Division of colored troops. Some of
the officers in this Division had formerly be-
longed to the 77th, and they said that their men,
when they made the charge, raised the battle-
cry, " Remember Fort Pillow !" and rushing upon
their foes, plunged their bayonets into some of
them before they could be checked by the offi-
cers. If General Forest and his cut-throats had
been there, a terrible retribution would have
been visited upon them.

As all the works guarding the approaches to
the city of Mobile were now in our possession,
the further defence of that place was a needless
waste of time, powder and life. Accordingly,
soon after the fall of Fort Blakely the rebels
began to evacuate the city. At dark on the llth
our troops were again in motion, marching to

344 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Stark's Landing, about three miles below the
fort. Transports were in waiting. The troops
began to embark immediately, and as soon as a
vessel was loaded it pushed from the pier and
anchored in the bay. The next morning all the
vessels moved across to Cat Fish Point, five
miles below Mobile, and landed. It was feared
that in crossing the bay some torpedoes might
be encountered, but no accident occurred. Soon
after the landing was effected the following cor-
respondence took place between our laud and
naval commanders and the Mayor of the city :

HEADQUARTERS, LAND AND NAVAL U. S. FORCES, )
MOBILE, ALABAMA, April 12, 1865. j

MAYOR SLOUGH, Mobile, Ala.

Sir : Your city is menaced by a large
land and naval force. We deem it proper to de-
mand its immediate and unconditional surrender.
Very respectfully, your obedient servants,

Major General GORDON GRANGER.
Acting Rear Admiral H. K. THATCHER.

MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY OF MOBILE, 1
April 12, 1865. J

Gentlemen : I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication at the hands
of Lieut. Col. R. G. Laughlin, staff of Major
General Granger, Commanding 13th Army
Corps, and Lieut. Commander S. R. Franklin,
U. S. Navy, staff of Admiral Thatcher, demand-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 345

ing the immediate and unconditional surrender
of this city.

The city has been evacuated by the military
authorities, and its municipal authority is now
under my control. Your demand has been
granted, and I trust, gentlemen, for the sake of
humanity, all the safeguards which you can
throw around our people will be secured to
them. Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

R. H. SLOUGH,

Mayor of the city of Mobile.

To Major General Gordon Granger, Command-
ing 13th Army Corps; Acting Rear Admiral
H. K. Thatcher, Commanding West Gulf
Sqadron.

General Veatch, with a part of the 1st Divi-
sion, 13th Army Corps, was at once placed in
command of the city. The results of the cam-
paign up to this time may be briefly stated in
the language of General Canby : " The capture
of the enemy's works at Spanish Fort and
Blake ly; the surrender of Mobile; the capture
of more than live thousand prisoners; twelve
flags; nearly three hundred pieces of artillery;
several thousand stands of small arms, and large
stores of ammunition and other materials of
war."

On the day after the surrender the 3d Division
22

346 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

was ordered to march to Whistler Station, on
the Mobile and Ohio railroad, about six miles
from the city.' The 1st Brigade was in front,
with the Seventy-Seventh band at the head of
the column to furnish the music as they marched
through the city. Crowds of people of all ages,
colors and conditions appeared on the streets.
Several National airs were played and many of
the older people gave expression to their feel-
ings by exclaiming " God bless you," " God be
praised," etc. Two or three old ladies standing
in a group, said, when the boys played Yankee
Doodle — " That's the good old tune, that's the
good old tune!"

After leaving the city and reaching the up-
lands, General Benton allowed foraging parties
to bring. in cattle for the troops. The boys were
also allowed to pick up poultry along the way,
provided they did not "straggle." By this ar-
rangement geese, turkeys, chickens etc., were
" taken in and done for."

As General Benton was riding at the head of
the column, a soldier caught a chicken just in
front of him. He had an axe in his hand, and
dropping on one knee whacked oft' the chicken's
head exclaiming vehemently, " I'll show you how
to bite me." The General laughed heartily and
rode on.

At about one o'clock in the afternoon they
reached Whistler Station. Upon the arrival of

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 347

our advance, they found some rebels here who
had set tire to the buildings. They were driven
beyond Eight-Mile Creek, where they joined a
force of about five hundred cavalry. As the
Brigades came up, they unslung knapsacks and
started on the double-quick for the front. Quite
a brisk tight ensued. Our troops tried to flank
them, but the cavalry was too quick and made
their escape. Three of our boys, belonging to
the 91st Illinois, were wounded and four of the
rebels killed. This was the last engagement in
which the Seventy- Seventh participated.

When General Benton ordered the boys for-
ward that afternoon, some of them asked him :
" What shall we do with our chickens, Gen-
eral ?" " Leave them with your knapsacks until
you come back," he replied. A detail of two or
three men was made from each company to re-
main and see that the chickens did not get away.

On the 17th of April, the 21st and 26th New
York Batteries each fired one hundred guns in
honor of the great victories achieved by Grant
and Sherman in the east. Rumors were also
current that the Trans-Mississippi Army had
surrendered. So much good news coming so
soon after their own victories made the boys
feel jubilant.

They left their camp at Whistler Station on the
morning of the 19th, leaving the 28th Illinois to
garrison the place. Nothing occurred to break

348 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

the monotony of th'e march or the camp, until
Sunday, the 23d. On that day they received in-
telligence of the assassination of their President,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ! Upon him, more than upon
any other man, had they depended for the sal-
vation of the country during the last four years.
He had stood bravely at the helm through all
the storms; and now to be stricken down by the
cowardly assassin, instigated by southern trai-
tors, just as he was bringing the old Ship of
State safely into the harbor, seemed to be too
much to endure. The rebels had been guilty of
many atrocities, but this was the crowning act
of their infamy. They could descend no lower
than this. No wonder that our brave boys
in Alabama felt indignant when the news
reached them on that Sabbath day. If they
had been free from official restraint they would
gladly have marched all through rebeldom, car-
rying tire and the sword of vengeance in their
hands. They would have hung " Jeff Davis on
a sour apple tree," without compunction and
without remorse.

On the 25th, the 2d and 3d Brigades left
Nannahubba Bluff, and the 1st Brigade followed
the next morning, marching to Mclntosh Bluff,
ten miles further up the Tombigbee River. At
this place the boys erected a flag-staff eighty feet
high, and the starry banner was run up and
floated in triumph over the headquarters of

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 349

General Benton. Many of the citizens from the
surrounding country came in and took the oath
of allegiance. On the 2d of May the 2d Brigade
was sent out on a foraging expedition. When
about four miles from camp they met a flag of
truce. A letter was handed to Colonel Day,
which proved to be an official document from
General Dick Taylor to his forces at Citronville,
stating that an armistice had been agreed upon
between himself and General Canby. The Bri-
gade immediately returned to camp, and an
officer was sent to Mobile on the gunboat " Oc-
torora," with the news.

As a result of this armistice, the armies of the
Rebellion in the south-west surrendered to Gen-
eral Canby. All the personal effects of the late
" Confederacy," including gunboats, transports,
etc., became the property of the United States.
The rebel fleet at that time was at Demopolis,
some distance up the river. It was not long,
however, until they put in an appearance at
Mclntosh Bluff, and then the work of loading
the troops and stores was begun. On the 9th of
May — "all aboard" — the transports started
down the river in the following order :

Flagship, ..... •{ Cherokee.

First Brigade, . . .

( Reindeer,

Second Brigade, . . . < Admiral,

Dorrance.

350 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

26th New York Battery, •{ Jefi' Davis.

f Marengo,

mu- j T> • j Sumter,

Third Brigade, • • • Waverly,

(_ Watson.
21st New York Battery, •{ Magnolia.

Pioneers, <( Duke.

Transports without troops.

They reached Mobile in the evening, and at
ten o'clock at night went into camp about three
miles out in the direction of Whistler. Here
they remained, reposing on their laurels, until
the 15th, when they received orders to be ready
to move at an hour's notice — all surplus bag-
gage to be stored at Mobile — rations for five
days — fifty rounds of ammunition — caissons to
be well filled. " What next?" No one could
answer the question.

The next day the calm was broken by long,
loud and boisterous cheering. The word came
that Jeff Davis — the head and front of the re-
bellion— was a prisoner, and there was good
reason for cheering.

On the 3d of June all the troops in the city of
Mobile and vicinity were reviewed by General
Granger; partly as a preparation for future oper-
ations, and partly in honor of Salmon P. Chase,
Chief Justice of the United States, who was
then on a visit to Mobile. The following ex-
tracts are from the New Orleans Times :

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 351

"* * * The soldiers formed on Government
Street, and marched up Royal Street, past the
Battle House, when General Granger and staff,
and Chief Justice Chase, mounted on horseback,
reviewed the gallant men as they marched on
with the steady tramp of veterans. * * *
On Saturday, as we marched through the place
to the position assigned us on Government Street,
the streets were alive with people. Men, women
and children, clad in the gayest attire, were out
to behold one of the grandest military pageants
ever witnessed by the people of Alabama.
Royal Street, in the region of the Battle House
and the Custom House, was a perfect jam. I
saw quite a number of Confederate officers be-
holding the march of our boys, and all seemed
in the best of humor.

" * * * The troops remaining were of the
Third Divison, and were marched into the city
under the command of Brevet Brig. Gen. Grier,
Colonel of the 77th Illinois Volunteers. The
General is a tine officer; has done his duty in this
war. His Regiment under his command have
made for themselves a glorious record. On
many a well fought tield have they carried their
colors through 'shot and shell,' 'until a tri-
umphant victory has crowned their efforts.
Peoria may well feel proud of Brevet Brig. Gen.
Grier and his gallant 77th. They have done
honor to the City and State. Their time of

352 THB SEVENTY-SEVENTH

enlistment will soon expire, and it will not be
long before they are on their way to their homes.
May they receive the hero's welcome they have
so nobly earned."

And this from the Mobile Daily News :

" The 77th Illinois also had their band out, and
it is to them that our citizens are under obliga-
tions for the musical treat given on different
occasions during the past ten days in Bienville
Square. The members of this band are musi-
cians in every sense of the word, and evince a
correct knowledge of the science in the pieces
performed by them."

The boys were now looking forward to the*
time when they would be permitted to leave the
service and return to their homes. An extract
from a letter written by one of the boys about
this time, will show the spirit which animated
them:

" Well, , I could tell you a volume of

things were we together, but paper would con-
sume too much time. Since leaving New Orleans,
we have gone through l thick and thin,'
through mud and storm, and heat and battle —
have won laurels and given antidotes — have
marched and have sailed — have walked dry
shod, and have gone into the tender 'element'
just 'knee deep' — have 'seen sights' and 'phelt
phunny,' and now here we are, 'fat, ragged and
saucy,' waiting, like Micawber, 'for something

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 353

to turn up.' There is a big breeze — a stiff' gale
just now coming this way, full of little elfs, tell-
ing us that we are just on the eve of being mus-
tered out, and we begin to consider ourselves the
'bully boys with glass eyes.' The Mustering
Officer has ordered the Regiment to proceed to
work to complete its rolls, etc. Our Colonel,
now Brevet Brigadier General, D. P. Grier, went
to New Orleans the other day, saw Gen. P. H.
Sheridan, and succeeded in having a Special
Order issued to muster out the 77th. There was
an order to muster out all troops whose term of
service expires prior to the first of September,
and through this Special Order the 77th will go
out. There are only two Regiments in this Divi-
sion that go out now, the 96th Ohio and the 77th
Illinois. The 96th will be mustered out by Mon-
day evening, and the 77th immediately after.
Is n't this glorious ? The old 77th is all that goes
out. The 130th Illinois, per Special Order, will
be reorganized, and the recruits will all be trans-
ferred, probably to the 130th Battallion. The
130th feel vexed under this order. They had
hoped to go out, but are now destined, perhaps,
for the sandy, barren, homeless, houseless, de-
serted, uncongenial, uncompromising, arid coast
of Texas. Been there, haven't we? Well, I
don't want any Texas in mine."

It may not be out of place, in this connection,
to show what the Government at Washington

354 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

thought of the operations at Mobile, and how
the services of the army in the southwest were
appreciated. For this purpose, the following
from the War Department, is inserted :

WAR DEPARTMENT, )

WASHINGTON CITY, May 16, 1865. j

ORDERED : That the thanks of the President
and the War Department be, and they are here-
with, presented to Major General Canby, and the
officers and soldiers of his command, for their
gallantry, energy and successful military skill,
in the siege and reduction of the strongly for-
tified City of Mobile, and for the achievements
that have rendered their campaign one of the
most brilliant and important of the war.

By order of the President:

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

Before the Regiment is mustered out of the
service, it may be well to bring together, in one
group, all the principal battles and sieges in
which they were engaged. Many skirmishes of
minor importance are not included :

Chickasaw Bluffs, Miss., Dec. 27, 1862, to Jan.
1, 1863.

Arkansas Post, Ark., Jan. 11, 1863.
Magnolia Hills, Miss., May 1, 1863.
Champion, Hills, Miss, May 16, 1863.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 355

Black River Bridge, Miss., May 17, 1863.

Vicksburg, Miss., May 19 and 22, 1863.

Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 19 to July 4, '63.

Siege of Jackson, Miss., July 13-17, 1863.

Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864.

Kane River La., April 23, 1864.

Marksville, La., May 16, 1864.

Yellow Bayou, La., May 18, 1864.

Fort Gaines, Ala., Aug. 4-8, 1864.

Fort Morgan, Ala., Aug. 8-23, 1864.

Spanish Fort, Ala., March 27 to April 9, 1865.

Blakely, Ala., April 9, 1865.

Whistler Station, Ala., April 13, 1865.

CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH.

" ALL PRESENT OR ACCOUNTED FOR.'

)S A preliminary step to the muster-out of
the Seventy-Seventh Regiment, the fol-
lowing orders were issued from Corps and
Division Headquarters :

HEADQUABTERS, THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS, )
GALVESTON TEXAS, June 23, 1865. j

Special Orders, No. 77.

Extract.

I. The organization formerly known as the
One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, discontinued January 23, 1865, by
Special Orders, No. 18, Headquarters, Defences
of New Orleans, is hereby, subject to the ap-
proval of the War Department, revived.

All men of the Seventy-Seventh Illinois Vol-
unteer Infantry whose term of service will not
expire on or before September 1, 1865, and all
officers and men now with said Regiment who
were transferred from the One Hundred and
Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, will be

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 357

formed into a battallion composed of companies
of maximum strength. The officers and men
will be transferred on the rolls required by Cir-
cular No. 64, War Department, A. G. O., August
18, 1864.

Brigadier General Benton, Commanding Third
Division, is charged with the execution of this
order.

$$$$#$$$$
By order of

MAJOR GENERAL GRANGER.
F. W. EMERY,

Major and A. A. G.

HEADQUARTERS, 3D DIVISION, 13TH ARMY CORPS, 1
NEAR MOBILE, ALABAMA, July 7, 1865. J

Special Orders, No. 79.

Extract.

III. By authority from superior headquarters,
all enlisted men now belonging to the Seventy-
Seventh Illinois Volunteers, whose term of ser-
vice does not expire on or before the 30th day of
September next, and all officers of that Regiment,
who formerly belonged to the One Hundred and
Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers, are transferred to
the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volun-
teers, revived, Special Orders, No. 77, dated
Headquarters, Thirteenth Army Corps, June 23,
1865.

The organization of the One Hundred and

358 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers will be composed of
the officers and men mentioned in the preceding
paragraph, and such officers of the Seventy-
Seventh Illinois Volunteers, as are transferred by
Major General Sheridan, by Special Orders, No.
25, Extract V, dated Headquarters Military
Division of the Southwest, July 3, 1865, and will
be organized as set forth in the schedule hereto
annexed, and made a part of this order.

By order of

BRIG. GEN. W. P. BENTON.
J. D. ROUSE,

Captain and A. A. A. G.

Schedule of assignment of officers transferred
from the Seventy-Seventh Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry, to the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry :

FIELD AND STAFF.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
John B. Eeid. Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.

FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ADJUTANT.
Edmund S. Dewey. Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.

ASSISTANT SURGEON.
William F. Sigler. Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.

COMPANY OFFICERS.

Jesse R. Johnson, Captain Co. " A." OriginaJ 130th Illi-
nois Volunteers.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 359

Wilson J. Neil, Second Lieut. Co. " A." Original 130th
Illinois Volunteers.

George C. Kenyon, First Lieut. Co. " B." Transferred by
General Sheridan from 77th Illinois Volunteers.

Jacob W. Wilkin, Captain Co. " C." Original 130th Illi-
nois Volunteers.

Joseph F. Parker, First Lieut. Co. "C." Original 130th
Illinois Volunteers.

Andrew S. Martin, Second Lieut. Co. "C." Original 130th
Illinois Volunteers.

Thomas C. Mathews, First Lieut. Co. "D." Transferred
by General Sheridan from 77th 111. Vol.

William C. McGowan, Second Lieut. Co. " D." Transferred
by General Sheridan from 77th 111. Vol.

John W. Watts, Captain Co. " E." Original 130th Illi-
nois Volunteers.

John W. Paulson, First Lieut. Co. " E." Original 130th
Illinois Volunteers.

John D. House, Captain Co. " F." Transferred by Gen-
eral Sheridan from 77th 111, Vol.

William C. Harned, First Lieut. Co. " F." Original 130th
Illinois Volunteers.

Charles W. Johnson, Second Lieut. *Co. " F." Original
130th Illinois Volunteers.

immediately after the foregoing orders were
issued, the necessary steps were taken to effect
the transfers indicated. The 130th Illinois, .as
reorganized, was composed of six companies of
maximum strength. All of the men remaining
of the original 130th, and the recruits belonging
to the 77th, constituted the material of which
these companies were composed. They remained
in the service until the 15th of August, 1865,
when they were mustered out.

The following statement will show the aggre-

360 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

gate strength of the 77th from first to last. As
originally mustered into the service it stood thus :

Field and Staff. 9

Company "A," 89

Company " B," 77

Company " C," 95

Company " D," 88

Company " E," 86

Company " F," 79

Company " G," 87

Company "H," 99

Company "I," 83

Company "K," 90

Total... ...882

Charles Bal lance was commissioned Colonel, but not

mustered 1

John S. McCulloch was mustered as Chaplain while

the Eegiment was in the service 1

There were recruits to the number of. 138

Also unassigned recruits 54

Field and Staff from the 130th 1

Non-commissioned Staff from the 130th 1

Line officers from the 130th 11

Enlisted men from the 130th.... . 460

Making a grand total of. 1549

Perhaps a word of explanation may be neces-
sary in regard to the original companies. It will
be remembered by the members of the Regiment,
and the officers especially, that on the first of
October, 1862, several of the enlisted men were
transferred from one company to another, and
the muster-rolls given in this book, as well as the
foregoing figures, show the condition of the com-
panies after those transfers were made. This
statement is deemed necessary to account for any
discrepancies that may appear between the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

361

figures here given, and the original muster-rolls
of the companies.

For the sake of comparison the following table
is given, showing the condition of the Regiment
wjien it was mustered out at Mobile, Ala., July
10, 1865 :

*te.
f

SQ

<fc

1

Non-com. Staff

TOTALS.

^

sq

0

q

N

%

Cb

fel

S

<

a

a

a

JS

0

JS

o

a

a

a

<s
O

a

M.O. Julv 10, 1865
" June 17, 1865

4

5

20
16
3
3

"4
8

19
6

7
4
3
2

43
7
3
3
2
2

36
8
3
3
1
2

29
11
1
4

"i

11

22
3
3

"4
8

27
6
2
6
2
2

33
8
4
5
1
2

26
7
2
1
2
2
1

32
13
6
5
1
2

285
104
35
38
15
25
11
189
110
30
6
34

" at different dates
Killed in battle
Officers resigned
Transf d to other Reg'ts
Promoted in U. S. C. T.
Discharged

1
1

3

2

3

17
10
3
1

24
10
2

19
12
2

"i

10
12
7
2
4

16
13
5
1
3

21
4

"9

15
13
4
1
8

26
14
4
1

22
14

5

16
8
3

4

Died of Disease

" " Wounds

" " Casualties
Deserted

...

...

TOTALS

11

8

85

77

94

88

84

79

86

98

82

90

882

Perhaps it will be interesting to the members
of the Seventy-Seventh to know how many men
were furnished by the different towns represented
in the Regiment. For this purpose the following
table is prepared, showing at a glance the credit
due to each locality. From this list it appears
that Elmwood is the " Banner Town," while Rose-
field, Peoria, Magnolia, Lacon, Knoxville, Brim-
field and Cazenovia, furnish large delegations :
23

362

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Belle Plain 13

Bennington 1

Brimfield 42

Cazenovia 31

Chillicothe 1

Clayton 18

Elba 4

Elmwood 88

Eugene... 4

Fairview 1

Galesburg 26

Gilson 2

Green 3

Groveland 6

Hennepin 3

Henry 2

Hollis 3

Hopewell 8

Jubilee 3

Kickapoo 19

Knoxville 43

Lacon 60

Limestone 6

Linn 15

Logan 25

Long Point 4

Low Point 5

Magnolia*. 65

Marshall County 1

Medina 3

Metamora 19

Millbrook 28

Minonk .. ,44

Monmouth 2

Nebraska 12

Oxford 1

Palatine 1

Panola 1

Peoria 70

Peoria County 2

Princeville 2

Putnam 1

Putnam County 1

Radnor 9

Richland 11

Richwoods 8

Roanoke 1

Roberts 3

Robertson 1

Rosefield 85

Rutland 1

Salem .*. 15

Secor 1

Selby 2

Sinithville 2

Somonauk 1

Steuben 1

Timber , 2

Trivoli 2

Truro 6

Unknown 8

Washburn 2

Waldo 1

Whitefield 3

Woodford County 24

Yates City 4

Total... .. 882

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

363

2n

304

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Sacrtb
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Jifoutmant Colonel
of tht

in ^trks^i« dLowiig, Pl
ilkb at ansfielb, fa.,
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&

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

365

DEATH ROLL OF THE SEVENTY -SEVENTH.

KILLED IN BATTLE.

FIELD AND STAFF.
LYSANDEE E. WEBB, . . LIEUTENANT COLONEL.

COMPANY "A."

JOHN F. CAMPBELL.
SAMUEL S. DIVILBISS.
JOHN WILBEE.

COMPANY "B."

EOBEET IEWIN.
JACOB ELY.
SAMUEL GEABLE.
PHILIP NELLING.

COMPANY " C."

EOBEET BENNETT.
AUGUST FAEVEE.
WILLIAM M. KEEEICK.

COMPANY "D."

BAENAED CONNOLLY.
JAMES P. ISOM.
JOHN A. STOCKTON.

COMPANY "E."

GUSTAVUS HUFFMAN.
JOHN H. McINTYEE.
HAEEIS PAEE.
CHAELES STEVENS.

COMPANY "F."
FEANCIS W. FISHEE.
CHAELES NIXON.
MAETIN MASON.

COMPANY " G."

WILLIAM W. MILLEE.
HITZ BONEY PETEES.
JOAB BAILY.
ELEAZEE BAENELL.
HENEY C. BEASSFIELD.
FEANCIS O. DIMMICK.

COMPANY "H."
JOSEPH C. CLEGG.
ISAAC GEOVE.
MILTON G. MAESHALL.
WM. S. WOETHINGTON.
FEEEMAN P. WILSON.

COMPANY "I."
JOHN HYNE.

COMPANY "K."
J. HENEY BEOWN.
JOSEPH M. KING.
WILLIAM MULVANY.
PETEE NELSON.
SAMUEL SHAEKEY.

366

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

DIED OF WOUNDS.

COMPANY "A."

SAMUEL BOLT.
JOHN TOMPKINS.
DANIEL B. TRENCH.

COMPANY "B."

GEORGE CHAMBERS.
EDWARD SWARGY.

COMPANY "C."

JAMES H. DRENNEN.
JAMES DRAKE.

COMPANY "D."

FREDERICK B. JONES.
ANDREW J. BREWER.
ALBERT DE LONG.
PETER DEGNER.
MARTIN HOAGLAND.
ENESTES J. MEYERS.
GEORGE C. MOORE.

COMPANY "E."
R. McKEE DAVIS.
LORENZO W. CORD.
JOHN B. LOUGHMAN.
EDW'D. W. LAUGHLIN.
JOHN W. SMITH.

COMPANY "G."
HUGH SMART.
DAVID HART.
ELIAS MARTIN.
CYRUS H. STOCKWELL.

COMPANY " H."

IRA HOFNAGLE.
MICHAEL STEWART.
EDWARD L. SUTTON.
JOSEPH STANDAKER.

COMPANY "K."
WILLIAM BECK.
JOHN CRONAN.
EPHRAIM R. SHEPARD.

DIED OF DISEASE.

COMPANY "A."

ANDREW J. ABRAHAM.
WILBER F. CHURCHILL
ULYSSES EDWARDS.
ALEX. R. FISHER.

PETER HOLCOMB.

W. W. LUDDINGTON.

LEWIS MATHER.

S. MATHER.

JOHN W. OSTRANDER.

JOSEPH D. WOODRUFF.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

367

COMPANY "B."

HIRAM COMPTON.
MARION KAYES.
WILLIAM DUGAN.
A. ALEXANDER.
STEPHEN COMPTON.
HAMILTON GURNEA.
WILLIAM P. JOHNSON.
HENRY S. McFARLAND.
ABRAM L. POYER.
EDWARD SERGEANT.

COMPANY "C."

GEORGE A. HART.
JOSEPH C. BURSON.
JOHN B. CARSON.
ANDREW DORSON.
EDWARD HALL.
GEORGE M. LAY.
REUBEN PARNHAM.
WILLIAM RICHARDS.
JAS. W. VANARSDALE.
EDWARD WALLACE.
WILLIAM W. WHITE. •
JAMES YELDON.

COMPANY "D."

JAMES LAUGHLIN.
JAMES M. POWERS.
UMPHRED BICKEL.
JACOB BUCK.
THOMP'N CHRISESTON.
GEORGE ECHOLS.
GEORGE FAIRCHILDS.
WILLIAM P. FEXN.

FREDERICK KRAFT.
JOHN MARTIN.
SAMUEL SAWYER.
JOSEPH WILLS.

COMPANY "E."

WILLIAM DAWSON.
WILLIAM I. BROOKS.
BENJAMIN F. ROBBINS.
ANDREW J. DUNLAP.
SAMUEL G. BUNTING.
JOHN COLLINS.
DANIEL COOK.
JOHN EVANS.
FRANKLIN W. ESLOW.
ALEXANDER KINDER.
JAMES McSTRAVICK.
PETER M. SHEPLER.
DAVID T. WIGGINS.

COMPANY "P."

FREDER'K BOLANDER.
JOHN B. MURRAY.
JAMES M. WEST.
HENRY WALTON.

COMPANY "G."

T. MARTINDALE.
ROBERT COOPER.
HENRY BARNES.
DAVID G. CAMPBELL.
SAMUEL W. CAMPBELL.
CHARLES W. CONE.
JOHN DAVISON.
WILLIAM EATON.

368

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

JAMES GILLENS.
WM. M. LAMBERTSON.
JOHN A. MENDALL.
JOHN SWAN.
DANIEL SHADE.

COMPANY " H."

LEWIS G. KEEDY.
JAMES P. BROOKS.
WILLIAM D. IRWIN.
WILLIAM D. JONES.
MILTON B. LINN.
JAS. H. LONGFELLOW.
THOMAS P. PEABODY.
JAMES P. ROSS.
EDWIN E. SAMPSON.
WILLIAM B. SELF.
DAVID SMITH.
ANDREW SAMPSON.
JAMES TALBOT.
LEONIDAS M. WILKES.

COMPANY " I."
GEORGE L. LUCAS.

WILLIAM M. COX.
GEORGE DARNELL.
ENOS FRISBIE.
JACOB FISHER.
ELI HUMPHREY.
BARNEY HAND.
ANTHONY HAULER.
BUTLER K. JONES.
HENRY KELLER.
JAMES C. MOORE.
DANIEL D. MOORE.
JOHN A. RANDALL.
WILLIAM B. TOLER.

COMPANY " K."

HARVEY R. BROCKET.
RICHARD M. HOLT.
HENRY BEHRNS.
JACOB FRANK.
JOHN MERRITT.
SAMUEL B. POWELL.
JOHN SHORDON.
PERRY S. WALKER.

DIED OF CASUALTIES.

COMPANY "A."
HORATIO F. BACON.

COMPANY "D."

DANIEL CHAMBERS.
JASON M. HUNTER.

COMPANY "E."
HENRY PAFF.

COMPANY "G."
DELOS ALDRICH.

COMPANY " H."
R. MILTON SMILEY.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

369

If the doctrine of "the survival of the fittest"
be true, those members of the Regiment who
survived all the hardships and perils of the
camp and the field, and the tortures of the
prison-pen, will certainly rank among the "fit-
test," and they are entitled to a special record
in these pages. The following is a list of the
prisoners from Camp Ford, who were mustered
out June 17, 1865 :

COMPANY "A."

SERGEANTS.

Henry A. Barber.
Henry Wilson.

CORPORALS.

Edward F. Green.
Luther G. Russell.
James S. Coe.

PRIVATES.

Isaac Connor.
Conrad J. Haller.
Washington Kroesen.
James M. McGraw.
William Ott.
Julius Rambo.
John P. Randall.
Alfred Russell.
James H. Tarlton.
Mason M. White.
George Woodmansee, Jr.

COMPANY " B."

CORPORAL.
David Simpson.

PRIVATES.
John Alexander.
John A. Roberts.
Augustus Schermeman.
William A. West.
Allen Woodring.

COMPANY " C."

SECOND LIEUTENANT.
Charles F. McCulloch.

CORPORAL.
Alfred G. Thorn.

PRIVATES.
Philo W. Gallop.
Clinton L. Gennoway.
William D. McCoy.
John Kennedy.
Joseph T. Sims.

370

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

COMPANY"D."

CORPORAL.
James Scoon.

PRIVATES.

William H. Cassell.
George W. De Long.
Samuel Hadlock.
Frederick W. Hake.
Benjamin K. Jackson.
Apollos Laughlin.
William Wilson.

COMPANY " E."

SERGEANTS.

Henry E. Slough.
Leonard T. White.

PRIVATES.
John Cook.
Thomas Forbes.
Joseph Fulton.
Frederick Gutting.
John S. Hammerbacher.
Jacob Mankle.
Joseph T. Mills.
Robert W. Summers.
Cheny W. Thurston.

COMPANY"F."

SERGEANTS.
Lewis Hamrick.
George Lawrence.

CORPORALS.

Ephraim S. Stoddard.
William Fowler.

PRIVATES.

John Arrowsmith.
William Aid.
Charles Aid.
Joseph Buckman.
Jesse Crossen.
Francis Hatton.
George Lawrence.
James Miner.
David B. Macey.
Allen F. Mitchell.
George Norman.
Marshall Smiley.
Herman Seifert.
Alonzo D. Stoddard.
Thomas Thurinan.
John Trump.
William H. West.
Richard R. Wilkinson.

COMPANY " G."

FIRST LIEUTENANT.
Henry J. Wyman.

CORPORAL.
Stephen J. Cook.

PRIVATES.

Daniel Beck.
William Collister.
Gaylord Robinson.

COMPANY"H."

SERGEANT.
Valentine P. Peabody.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

371

PRIVATES.

Leo Julg.
Hiram Livingston.
Alfred B. Poage.
John M. Spandeau.
Henry Smith.
John M. Smith.
William Swendeman.

COMPANY"!.'
CORPORALS.

Rufus Atherton.
Eli H. Plowman.

PRIVATES.

Isaac Brown.
Asa A. Cook.
Richard Cowley.

George M. Dixon.
Alexander A. Thurman.

COMPANY"K."

SERGEANT.
Servetus Holt.

PRIVATES.

John Greenhalch.
John Haynes.
John Ibeck.
Lawrence Ibeck.
Jacob Lafollet.
Madison Largent.
James M. Moody.
William Race.
Edward E. White.
Joseph Yerby.

The following is the Roll of the Regiment as
mustered out July 10, 1865. The officers and
non-commissioned officers marked with a star (*)
held the original appointment. The others were
promoted at different times while in the service.
The Rev. J. S. McCulloch is included in this roll,
as Chaplain, although not a member of the Regi-
ment at first :

*Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General, DAVID P. GBIER.

ADJUTANT.
Henry P. Ay res.

SURGEON.

*Charles Winnie.

ASSISTANT SURGEON.
*John Stoner.

CHAPLAIN.
John S. McCulloch.

372

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

NON-COM'D STAFF.

SERGEANT MAJOR.
Charles H. Arms.
COMMISSARY SERGEANT.
William H. Bennett.

HOSPITAL STEWART.

Joel Allen.

PRINCIPAL MUSICIANS.
John W. Carroll.
Lemon H. Wiley.

COMPANY "A."

CAPTAIN.
Gardner G. Stearns.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.
Merritt M. Clark.

SERGEANTS.

*William H. Wilcox.
George D. Butler.

CORPORALS.

*Lyman West.
*Charles G. Field.
Henry Varley.

WAGONER.
*William Stiteler.

PRIVATES.

Frank W. Ash.
John C. Burlingame.
James Divert.

James H. Divilbiss.
Francis G. Fuller.
Ira K. Hall.
E. Winthrop Jenny.
Daniel Lockbaum.
Charles W. Sanburn.
Lewis J. Swan.
A. D. Witherell.
John L. Woolsey.

COMPANY "B."

SECOND LIEUTENANT.
Orange Parrott.

CORPORALS.

*Thomas G. Harris.
Samuel Vanhorn.

MUSICIANS.
*Silas Norris.
*Rice Dunbar.

PRIVATES.

John Brown.
William G. Bowman.
William W. Blakeslee.
Charles Henthorne.
William W. Head.
James King.
John E. McComber.
Roger Ong.
Jonathan Poyer.
John Ruley.
James M. Roberts.
Jacob Van Winkle.
John Walcott.
James Weir.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

373

COMPANY " C."

SERGEANTS.

John P. Wiley.
*Jehu Buckingham.
Joseph A. Hutchinson.

CORPORALS.

*John Sewell.
* Albert Shepherd.
*James P. Black.
*Thomas S. Patton.
J. William Avery. •

MUSICIAN.
*Enoch Buckingham.

WAGONER.
*Moses Carles.

PRIVATES.
Samuel T. Acres.
Alfred M. Blackman.
James Crow.
Minor Calvert.
W. F. Carson.
John T. Davis.
Dennis Duff.
Charles C. Enslow.
Joseph Fisher.
Isaiah Fisher.
Samuel M. Hart.
A. Warren Howard.
James A. Lindsay.
John M. McCormick.
Edwin R. Mann.
James R. McCracken.
Thomas H. McCulloch.

Joshua W. McCoy.
Daniel H. Norris.
John A. Pinkerton.
William M. Pinkerton.
Bonaparte Palmer.
Andrew Rufing.
Martin V. Robbins.
Joseph R. Sims.
William Sims.
William Stevenson.
William Stephenson.
Merrick J. Wald.
George M. Woodburn.
William M. Wright.
William Wiley.
James H. Wedley.

COMPANY "D."

CAPTAIN.
*Robert H. Brock.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.
John M. Shields.

SERGEANTS.
*Benjamin F. Thomas.
* James T. Bender.
* Jacob C. Batrum.

CORPORALS.
*Moroni Owens.
*Thomas Frail.
*William A. Fisher.
John H. Benson.
John T. Durham.

MUSICIAN.
*John H. Barney.

874

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

WAGONER.

*John McWhinney.

PRIVATES.

John Blackmore.
Ithamar Baker.
Horace Burlingame.
Alonzo J. Brewer.
Rufus A. Chambers.
Andrew Duffey.
Martin V. Etheridge.
Henry Ebersold.
John Harigan.
William Laidlon.
John McGowan.
Griffith Moyer.
Warren D. Meyers.
Peter Overmier.
Wm. R. Owens.
William Post.
Richard Shaw.
Jesse Sawyer.
David B. Stockton.
John Scoon.
Cornelius Twinam.
Joseph Tronier.
John Torrence.
John D. Winters.

COMPANY " E."

CAPTAIN.
*Edwin Stevens.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.
*Samuel J. Smith.

SERGEANTS.

* James Parr.
George F. Cord.
Ashford H. Magee.

CORPORAL.
Silas W. Fisher.

WAGONER.
*Lewis Z. Rench.

PRIVATES.

Henry M. Brooks.
John Buttrick.
James Barrigan.
Simeon P. Bower.
John C. Bush.
Isaac S. Dawson.
Joseph N. Dawson.
John Daily.
John S. French.
Joseph Letterman.
William H. Magee.
Francis M. McDermott.
Thomas J. Nixon.
Samuel Perry.
Samuel A. Rathbun.
Asa B. Reeves.
Richard W. Ratcliff.
Otis B. Smith.
Cosmer A. Stevenson.
James M. Sweet.
Albert Sutton.
Smith E. Shepler.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

375

COMPANY " P."

CAPTAIN.
Jatnes K. Secord.

SERGEANTS.

*James A. Hammers.
James T. Martin.

CORPORAL.
Jacob Rediger.

PRIVATES.

George Attick.
Charles W. Carter.
James F. Kent.
Sylvester Kenyon.
Hamilton Lamson.
Jonah Stone.
Monterville Stone.

COMPANY"G."

SERGEANTS.

William G. Huey.
Adrian R. Aten.
Moses E. Burt.

CORPORALS.

Franklin Belford.
Joseph Tanner.
Francis W. Griswold.

MUSICIAN.
*Wesley R. Andrews.

WAGONER.
*Jacob Alderdice.

PRIVATES.

David Baronett.
William Curran.
Russell Darby.
Austin M. Dustin.
Joseph D. Ensley.
Isaac Ensley.
Joseph H. Fetters.
James Fleming.
Littleton A. German.
Thomas Hatsell.
Frederick R. Johnson.
William Lawson.
William McComb.
David F. Ogden.
Jesse J. Purcell.
David W. Shinmell.
Joseph Shull.
John Shull.
Joseph W. Slocum.

COMPANY " H."

CAPTAIN.
Milgrove B. Parmeter.

SERGEANTS.

Joseph McSparren.
David L. Murdock.
William H. Bocock.

CORPORALS.

*Ezra D. Davidson.
Casey B. James.

MUSICIAN.
*Reuben W. Davison.

376

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

PRIVATES.

MUSICIAN.

John Arnett.

* Jacob H. Snyder.

William H. Addis.

Alfred C. Bell.

PRIVATES.

Thomas R. Clark.

Lewis D. Anderson.

Charles L. Davis.

Lewis J. Bevans.

Robert Denby.

James D. Caldwell.

Benjamin F. Fisher.

George T. Finch.

John Farrell.

Lemuel Hand.

John W. Howell.

John C. Hill.

Richard Huxtable.

Homer H. Higbie.

George W. James.

Benedict M. S. Homer.

Joshua Ketchum.

William W. Jacobs.

Conrad Kohl.

John M. Jordan.

Stephen W. Maring.

Joseph M. Lee.

Joseph Miller.

George W. McCann.

Frederick Mehlhorn.

Garrett D. Pence.

John P. McCoy.

William H. Richardson.

Enoch R. Nye.

Scott H. Rockenfield.

Lorenzo D. Philips.

Cleves S. Rockenfield.

Fred Presinger.

Frank A. Redfield.

Norman D. Richards.

Lyman H. Smith.

Weldon R. Smiley.

Myron C. Smith.

Israel D. Trowbridge.

Jacob D. Wasson.

John D. Vance.

COMPANY " K."

John W. Vanarsdale.

Collins P. Waterman.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Sylvester S. Edwards.

COMPANY " I."

SERGEANT.

SERGEANTS.

*John Yinger.

*Robert J. Biggs.

CORPORALS.

Abraham Hull.

*Francis Shorder.

CORPORALS.

*Andrew J. Vleet.

*John McMullen.

*Oswall B. Green.

*Alfred B. Reed.

Henry S. Morris.

Austin C. Aten. Austin E. Walker.

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.

377

PRIVATES.
George W. Awl.
Eli Brown.
John Camp. •
William Clayton.
Henry Coulson.
Enlee E. Coulson.
William Donnelly.
John A. Enders.
George Edwards.
Frederick Gilson.
Auxilius Gurtern.
Adam Harding.

Warner Hollinsworth.
Peter Hoffman.
Charles Kingsley.
Samuel Kirkman.
John Lafollett.
Henry Largent.
Richard Morris.
Henry Perry.
John Pritchard.
Lyman T. Rench.
Thomas Sleeth.
Samuel J. Sherwood.
John Wholstenholm.

^ x ii J

24

CHAPTER THE TWENTY- FIRST.

" TATTOO.'

THREE o'clock P.M., July 10, 1865, the
Seventy-Seventh was mustered out, and
the boys were promoted to the rank of
" Brevet citizens," as they termed it. The dis-
charge papers were all made out and signed, and
placed in charge of Captain J. K. Secord until
the final muster out and payment at Springfield,
Illinois. At sunrise on the morning of the 12th,
the Regiment left camp and marched to the
city. They went on board the " White Cloud,"
a steamer plying between Mobile and New Or-
leans, via Lake Pontchartrain. There wTere
about 1,300 soldiers on the vessel, belonging to
the 77th Illinois, 91st Illinois and 19th Iowa.
An effort was made to ship 500 horses and mules
along with the troops. The 19th Iowa boys —
some of whom were partially intoxicated — at
once objected to this proceeding, and the mules
were forced oft' the boat. There were some in
the 77th and 91st who stood by the Iowa boys.
The officers endeavored to maintain order, but

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 379

in vain. They went to see Gen. Kilby Smith,
the Commandant of the Post, but he could effect
nothing. They were ordered to allow the mules
on board. Still the boys opposed, and a com-
pany of provost guards was sent with arms to
quell the mutiny. The regiments then made
common cause, flew to arms and compelled the
guards to withdraw. The officer who undertook
to put the mules on board was driven off the
boat, and twice the mules were thrown oft'. As
a last resort, Colonel Bruce marched his Regi-
ment— the 19th Iowa — ashore and returned to
camp to await another vessel. The mules and
horses were then loaded, the bell rang, the band
played " Get out of the Wilderness," and soon
the city of Mobile was left behind as they
pushed for the open sea. Their next " objective
point" was Springfield, Illinois, and then PEORIA.
That night the storm came down upon them
with relentless fury. The vessel rolled and tossed
on the foaming billows. The " hog chains " con-
necting the vessel fore and aft to prevent the
ends from dipping, broke, and the vessel opened
just in front of the cabin " wide enough for a
man to crawl through." In the light of present
events, the mutiny of the day before seemed
like a providential occurrence. Had the five
hundred men of the 19th Iowa been on board,
the probability is that the additional weight
would have insured the destruction of all. As

380 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

it was, the danger was great. Like Paul, they
" cast anchor and prayed for the day." About
two o'clock in the morning the storm abated,
the sea became calm, they weighed anchor and
proceeded on their way. They crossed Lake
Pontchartrain and at four o'clock P.M. were on
the levee at New Orleans, and immediately went
on board the steamer " Lady Franklin," bound
for up the river.

Before leaving the Crescent City for the last
time the boys supplied themselves with reading
matter to while away the tedious days that must
elapse before their arrival at Cairo, 111. They
also purchased a liberal supply of Southern
keepsakes to carry home with them, such as
guinea-pigs, mocking-birds, etc. At twelve
o'clock M., July 14th, they left the landing, and
soon after, the city of New Orleans disappeared
in the distance. The " Nick Longworth " passed
them, having the 91st Illinois on board. Col.
Day invited the Seventy-Seventh to accompany
his Regiment on their boat. Captain Brock,
who was in command of the Seventy-Seventh,
politely declined the invitation, believing the
boys could enjoy their homeward picnic better
by themselves.

The days came and went with monotonous
regularity. Baton Rouge, Port Hudson, Grand
Gulf and other points of historic interest were
passed in succession. On the morning of July

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 381

17th they reached Vicksburg. Here they landed
and took on a thousand bushels of coal. The
boys of the Regiment vountarily assisted in this
work in order to hasten their departure. In the
afternoon they passed Young's Point, the burial
ground of so many of their comrades.

On either bank of the river as they passed
along, they saw the ruin and desolation caused
by the war. The thunders of artillery had
ceased, but the ruins remained. Homes, which,
in the ante-bellum days had sheltered prosperous
and happy families, were now deserted and des-
olate. Here and there they could see a solitary
wanderer among the ruins — some one who had
just returned from the army of the "Lost
Cause."

On the 22d of July they landed at Cairo, 111.,
and once more after an absence of nearly three
years they set foot on the soil of their own State
— the State which had sent them forth to battle,
and now waited to welcome their return. They
felt that they were again in "God's country" —
that they had left the dark lagoons and malarial
swamps of the South far behind, and that now
the healthy breezes of the Prairie State would
infuse new life and vigor into their wasted con-
stitutions. They had gone to the front with
nearly .nine hundred men. They returned with
less than three hundred. They had buried their
comrades all along the line of march, from Cov-

382 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

ington, Ky., to Mobile, Ala., and from New Or-
leans to Camp Ford. The remnant of the Regi-
ment marched ashore at Cairo with feelings of
thankfulness and of sorrow — thankfulness that
they were permitted to return, and sorrow for
the loss of so many brave men.

While at Memphis, Captain Brock had tele-
graphed to Cairo for transportation from that
point to Springfield, so that no delay was occa-
sioned. Soon after landing they boarded the
cars and were rapidly carried northward to their
destination. They arrived in Springfield on the
23d. Captain Brock at once reported to head-
quarters and was ordered to Camp Butler, five
miles from the city. Here the Regiment went
into camp to await final muster out and pay-
ment.

" They were sent to Camp Butler, and in an open
field, without food or camp, they passed, in the
capital city of their native State, as uncomfortable a
night as they had known during the service."

But, thanks to the foresight of General Grier,
who had gone home in advance of the Regiment
to prepare the way for their prompt payment
and discharge, their stay at Camp Butler was
brief. On the morning of the 24th the General
made his appearance at the camp and made a
speech to the boys, in which he asked them if
they were willing to go to Peoria, as the ladies
of that city were anxious to give them an appro-

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 383

priate reception. It was almost unanimously
agreed to go. Most of companies " B " and
" H," however, declined the invitation, as it was
too much out of their line of travel to their
homes.

On the evening of July 27th the boys had a
sort of farewell jollification. They procured an
abundance of candles and put them on poles, in
the trees, etc., and thus illuminated the camp.
Then speeches were in demand. Sergeant
David L. Murdock, of Company "H," and
Jacob H. Snyder, Musician of Company " I," were
loudly called for, and responded in " thoughts
that breathe and words that burn."

This was their last night in camp — the last
time they would all be together, and they made
good use of it. On the morrow separations
would take place — some final, some only tem-
porary. They had stood shoulder to shoulder
for many months, and now they were about to
separate, each to pursue some useful avocation
in civil life.

The next morning they boarded the cars and
went to the city. They marched at once to the
Paymaster's office, and that gentleman counted
out the cash as rapidly as possible. The dis-
charge papers were distributed, and the boys
passed from "Brevet citizens" to citizens of full
rank. Their next movement was to the clothing

384 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

stores, and here they doffed the regimental blue
and donned the citizen's suit.

As they were now ready for the last act in
their military history, the following dispatch was
sent to Peoria :

MRS. A. G. CURTENIUS,

President Woman's National League :

The Seventy-Seventh Illinois Volun-
teers, two hundred strong, will arrive in Peoria
on Saturday morning. D. P. GRIER,

Brig. Gen. Commanding.

CHAPTER THE TWENTY- SECOND.

"TAPS.'

EORIA ! October 4, 1862. July 29, 1865.

Uml

Departure and return. At 7 o'clock in
the morning they reached the Central
City, and at once marched to Rouse's Hall, where
the " Woman's National League " had prepared
a good breakfast, a right royal greeting to
stomachs so long inured to " hard tack and salt
pork." An appropriate reception speech was
made, and the boys partook of that bountiful
repast. In doing so, they remembered the many
kindnesses they had received from the devoted
women who waited upon them that morning.
"The glory of their deeds, while not written,
like ours, upon the bunting that floats above us,
are more surely written in the hearts and memo-
ries of the boys, who, far away from kith and
kin, strangers in a strange land, enjoyed their
ministrations."

Let the public prints of July 31, 1865, tell the
story of their welcome home :

" The reception of this Regiment (the 77th) on

386 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

Saturday last, given by the Ladies' League to the
returning heroes, was one of the best conducted
affairs our people ever saw. The history of the
Regiment will be found in another column. It
was understood that the boys would arrive on
the morning train at 4 o'clock. The ladies re-
paired to the Hall and were ready to receive
them at that hour. But owing to the road being
out of repair, caused by the heavy rains, they
did not arrive until 8 o'clock. Notwithstanding
this delay, to . their honor be it said, not one of
the ladies left her post. The ringing of the
bell of the Congregational Church, announced
their, arrival to the citizens, who flocked to
Rouse's Hall to receive them.

" From the cars, the boys, two hundred and
sixty strong, marched to the Hall preceded by
the regimental band, and were welcomed in
behalf of the League, by the Hon. W. Cockle in
a brief address. Three cheers for the soldiers
were given by the audience, which was responded
to by the soldiers at the instance of Gen. Grier.
After invoking the Divine blessing by the Chap-
lain, the boys sat down to breakfast. The tables
were appropriately and beautifully decked with
flowers, and loaded with the choicest viands.
The cellars and markets of the city had been
ransacked for dainties, and the table waited on
by beauty, and served up as only the Ladies'
Union League can serve a meal, was one that

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 387

only a volunteer was worthy to sit down at.
The boys showed their appreciation of its deli-
cacies by a prolonged assault worthy of veterans.

" At the close of the repast the crowd ad-
journed to the Court House yard to witness the
closing exercises. The old Hag that the ladies
had given to the Regiment three years ago, that,
shot riddled and blood-stained, had been carried
through all the battles in which they had been
engaged, was now to be given back to its donors
as the only ones fit to keep it in custody. Gen.
Grier introduced Major Stevens, who made the
presentation speech. He alluded to the different
condition of the country now, and when the flag
was given to them. He paid an eloquent tribute
to the fallen Col. Webb and the brave men who
perished with him. Now that the boys had
accomplished that which they were sent to do,
he in behalf of the Regiment, would return them
the flag, stained and torn, it was true, but not a
thread tarnished or sullied by dishonor.

" He was followed by Hon. Alex. McCoy, who
paid a well received compliment to the Ladies'
League, saying that not to the old men or to the
young men of Peoria was the honor due, but to
the members of this noble organization, who had
worked early and late for four long, weary years
to sustain our soldiers in the field. At the close of
the honorable gentleman's remarks, the band of
the 77th played several patriotic airs and were

388 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

applauded by the audience. Chaplain McCulloch
then followed in a speech in which he advised
the boys to have an eye on the men at home who
had declared the war to be a failure, and who
had kept up 'a tire in the rear' at home. No
man who had advocated such sentiments as these
ought to be tolerated in office, and he hoped that
the boys present would never vote for such a man.

" He was followed by Mr. Thos. McCulloch in
an eloquent speech, and the exercises closed.

" The reception reflects the greatest credit upon
the getters-up of the affair. The appearance of
the soldiers was exceedingly fine. One could
not help contrasting their open, manly, intellect-
ual countenances and modest bearing, with the
vacant, listless faces which Confederate soldiers
present, and thinking how great the difference
between such a reception as this, and the one that
the Southern rebel meets on his return.

"Too much praise cannot be given to the band
of the regiment. It was the universally ex-
pressed opinion of all present that it is the best
band in the State. It seems a pity that it should
disband after attaining such proficiency. An
effort, we understand, is making to retain them
in the city. We hope it will be successful. To
show that we are not alone in our opinien, we
subjoin the following remarks from the Spring-
field Journal of Saturday :

"' It is but just to say, in this connection, that

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 389

the band of the Seventy-Seventh Regiment has
the reputation of being one of the best in the
service; and from their fine performances yester-
day, we have no doubt they are entitled to the
honorable distinction. The band consists of
fourteen performers, under the leadership of Mr.
Wiley, and what is remarkable, none of them,
except the leader, having any musical experi-
ence until they entered the service. Their in-
struments are of the finest description, and cost
over one thousand dollars. We congratulate
the leader on his successful efforts in forming so
fine a military band.'

" The boys were furnished with dinner at the
Central House. Most of them went out on the
afternoon train. Generally the utmost good
order prevailed. A few, rejoicing in the pros-
pect of getting home, indulged in too deep pota-
tions; but these were exceptions, and not by any
means the rule."

Many of the prisoners of war who had re-
turned home only a few days before the main
body of the Regiment, were present to enjoy the
hospitality of Peoria, and formed a part of the
happy throng on that occasion.

Another allusion to the Regimental Band,
in the Transcript, will not be out of place.

" The serenades last evening were worthy of
the Seventy-Seventh Band. It was fitting that
their last act should be a tribute of respect to

390 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

the widow of their fallen Colonel, an acknowl-
edgement of grateful thanks to the Woman's
National League, through its President, and a
good-bye to their General. At Mrs. Webb's the
party were received with welcome. Refresh-
ments were handed them. They played exceed-
ingly well. A large crowd gathered and saluted
them with cheers. At Mrs. Curtenius's, the
house, yard and sidewalk were filled by expect-
ants long before the band made its appearance.

" They were enthusiastically received. After
playing an hour they were treated to a splendid
collation. It was one of the pleasantest re-
unions we ever attended; the shower* in the
distance cooled the air; the crowd, animated by
the music, were sociable and quiet. Some five
hundred people were present. Everything passed
off very pleasantly. The band then marched to
General Grier's, where they again played. They
were received in a very pleasant and happy
manner. The whole thing was a success. To-
day the boys go to Elmwood to attend a recep-
tion. They there finally disband. Success to
them in every walk of life."

As the boys separated at Peoria, one of them
wrote as follows :

"After the morning speeches the boys dis-
banded; and the old Seventy-Seventh, except as
a factor of the past in the history of our coun-
try's struggle, ceased to exist. For the deeds of

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 391

her history, the war records must tell the story.
We have written the last page, for our battles
are all fought and our marches are all ended. As
the years come apace, and in our declining
years, if we should meet again in some bright day
of reunion, though the furrows may mark our
brows, and the hair be grey, and the eyes lose
some of their lustre, yet the recalling of these
eventful -years will quicken the blood in its con-
duits and make us feel the spirit of youth's
ambition again. We now go to our homes and to
our industries, once more settling down as good
citizens of a country we feel proud to call our
own; a country purchased with sacrifices that
are colored with the purple of noble lives. And
may God grant that from henceforth, from the
Lakes to the Gulf, and from Ocean to Ocean, it
may be OUR COUNTRY, one and indivisible, now and
forerer."

There is an unwritten record in the life of
every soldier — a record all the more interesting
because unwritten — a record of heroic deeds, of
patient suffering, of toil and privation, of watch-
fulness and weariness, of exposure and danger,
which, if fully known and realized, would com-
mand the enthusiastic plaudits of the world. It
is not alone the gilded trappings of official place,
nor the honored blade which flashes in the sun-
light, that gains our battles and adorns with glo-
rious achievements, our historic page. Military

392 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

discipline and authority, it is true, repose in the
bullion of shoulder-straps, but VICTORY perches
on the bayonet and glitters along the barrel of
the trusty rifle in the ranks. The private soldier
who plods wearily along the dusty road, and
cheerfully bears the burdens of the most arduous
and exacting campaigns, is the true personifica-
tion of heroism. Without a murmur and with-
out complaint; leading a life of constant inse-
security; with no personal consideration; actuated
only by a patriotic love of country, he flings his
apparently worthless life away, those hallowed
words, GOD and MOTHER, lingering on his dying
lips.

And the sacrifice is not in vain. It has cost
much of treasure and of blood, to maintain the
integrity of our civil and religious institutions,
but the Government is worth all, and more than
all this lavish expenditure. Better, far better,
that the whole population of the United States,
both North and South, should be swept from the
face of the earth, that the Mayflower might land
another cargo of refugees on Plymouth Rock,
and that the trackless forests of Massachusetts

•

should be opened to the spread of civilization by
another band of devoted Christian men, than that
the sun should he turned back on the dial of the
world's progress hy the success of Secession or
Rebellion. A voice comes from the silent graves
of Manassas, of Donelson, of Shiloh, of the

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 393

Malvern Hills, and of other hard contested
fields, admonishing us to secure at all hazards,
and to maintain inviolate the perpetuity of the
Union of all the States.

Oh, the ravages of war ! The blighted hopes,
the bleeding hearts, the desolated hearth-stones
at home ! The tented field, the bloody strife, the
nameless graves abroad ! How many of our
comrades, buoyant with hope and glowing an-
ticipations of the future, have left their bones
bleaching on a Southern soil, while the Father
of Waters sings their sad requiem as he flows
to the Gulf. They being dead, yet speak; and
their memories are as fresh in our hearts to-day
as when we buried them on the battle-field, or
in the levee at Young's Point and Milliken's
Bend. And it is gratifying to know that a gen-
erous government has gathered up their mortal
remains wherever they could be found, and has
laid them away tenderly in our National Ceme-
teries. Twenty of our comrades of the Seventy-
Seventh, whose remains could be identified, now
repose quietly in the National Cemetery at
Vicksburg. They were gathered up here and
there; some on the battle-field, and some in the
levee across the river.

Mother, yours was a noble sacrifice. That son,

your pride and the hope of your declining years,

was placed upon the altar of his country, with

your parting benediction upon his head. While

25

394 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH

your heartstrings were snapping and your tem-
ples throbbing at the separation, you conjured
him with more than Spartan fortitude, by all his
hopes of immortality, by all the sacred associa-
tions of the home circle, by all the treasured
objects of affection he was leaving behind him,
to fall manfully on the field of strife, with his
face to the foe, rather than return to your em-
brace with the brand of dishonor resting upon
him. Your self-sacrificing injunctions were re-
ligiously observed.

Wife, the partner of your joys and sorrows,
to whom in youth you plighted your affec-
tions, and on whom you leaned for support and
protection, died in a sacred cause, at the cannon's
mouth, and in a blaze of imperishable glory.
Although your loss was irreparable, well may
you rejoice at the record of his daring. Tie left
a name untarnished by any imputation of cow-
ardice or disloyalty — an honored name which
you are proud to bear.

Sister, your idolized brother was another
martyr in behalf of man's inalienable birthright
— "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Your heart, perhaps, was desolate, yon missed
him in the social gathering, there was a vacant
chair at the fireside, the sacred shrine of home
lost one of its ornaments, and that ornament
reposes in an unknown grave in a distant State.

Daughter, your father left you a legacy of

ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 395

honor more enduring than the victor's laurel
crown, or the diadem of princes. He wrote his
name in living characters, high on the scroll of
immortal fame, and there it shall remain in-
scribed forever, the admiration of posterity, and
an example worthy of imitation.

Mother, wife, sister, daughter, go and garland
the graves of the slain patriots. Embalm their
memories in your hearts, and rehearse the story
of their noble deeds to the generations follow-
ing. Let the prattling lips of infancy learn to
lisp their praises, and the aspiring youth to em-
ulate their virtues and rival their patriotic devo-
tion.

Comrades, it was not on the field of battle
that your greatest losses were sustained. Disease
was a greater scourge than shot and shell. And
how many — oh, how many — fell by the way-
side, and were buried in Kentucky, in Tennes-
see, in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama,
Texas, and by the dark lagoons of Louisiana.
At Arkansas Post, at Vicksburg, at Mansfield, at
Mobile, and all along the line of march, you
dug your graves, interred your noble dead and
planted your tombstones, the sad memorials of
your march. The chaplets of fame and the
homage of a nation's gratitude cluster thickly
in those consecrated burial grounds.

As the years come and go, we are falling by
the way. One by one onr places are becoming

396 THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

vacant. Here and there along the line of march,
the little mounds of earth, covering the soldiers'
clay, are multiplying in our burial grounds. But
while we live, let us not forget the past. Let us
cling to the sacred memories of the war, and
preserve inviolate the friendships " welded in the
fire of battle." And let us cherish — ever fondly
cherish — the memory of our patriotic dead. On
the annual return of each memorial day, let us
gather our garlands of flowers, and strew them,
an offering of sweet incense, on their graves.
And there, kneeling at those hallowed shrines,
renew our allegiance to the principles for which
they died. And above all, let us be true to our
Country and our Flag. " With malice toward
none, and with charity for all," let us never,
NEVER, NEVER, clasp fraternal hands across the
"bloody chasm," on any other terms than uncon-
ditional loyalty to the powers that be. So shall we
best exemplify our devotion to the principles
inculcated by the three cardinal virtues of the
soldier's creed :

— IJOYALTY.

THE END.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA

HISTORY OF THE 77TH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER I