History of the 124th Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers : otherwise known as the "Hundred and two dozen," : from August 1862, to August 1865

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Preface

At the request of a portion of the survivors of our dear old regiment, I have compiled an^ written its history. Not because I recognized in myself any peculiar qualifications for the task, but because I loved its membersi was proud of its record, and wished its history to be written. The labor has been sandwiched in among the severe duties of an arduous pastorate, and the result is not what it might have been, if some leisure could have been given to it. But it has been a labor of love, and as in my study I have lived the old days, and fought the old battles over, one after another, our dear comrades, both living and dead, have seemed to stand by my side and fill my room, as I could not have believed it possible after the lapse of so many years. And in their . coming, considering their numbers, they have brought but little to pain, with much, very much, to gladden. And if you, my dear readers, enjoy the perusal of this book half as well as I have the work of preparing it, I shall deem my labor an eminent success.

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IV Preface.

That much that is worthy has been rescued from what would otherwise have be6n oblivion, I know. That there is other material equally valuable that ought to be here, I also know. But it was not at my command. All that Gen. Howe, Maj. Field, Quartermaster Reece, Hospital Steward Allaire, and Private Snedeker had, with my own diary and papers, I have given you. Others, too, have rendered valuable assistance, especially Capt. N. H. Pratt, and Lieutenants Dorian and Richards. That the details are correct in dates and figures, I am confident, and as far as they gb, the statements and facts of the work may be relied upon.

If, when you have read the book, you pronounce favorably upon it, as a history in some degree worthy of the old "Hundred and two dozen," instead of thanking me for what I have so imperfectly done, thank one more laborious and deserving than I — the inspirer and back-bone of the enterprise, without whom the noble One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Illinois Infantry Volunteers would never have had a written history — our old comrade and Quartermaster, Capt. A. N. Reece, of Chicago.

R. L. HOWARD.

Bangor, Me., Oct. i6, 1879.

Chapter I

Introduction— Companies, where raised, by whom, and their organization- Jonas SWnith— A Representative Regiment— Camp Butler— First Ex- Seriences— A Private for Quartermaster— Tlie Extra Drawers— Field 'fflcers Chosen— Drill Sergeant and Awkward Squad— Our Visitors- First Divine Service and Dress Parade— Muster Rolls— Richmond Taken 1

Chapter II

Muster-in— Maitiu Etter— Field and Staff— Other Troops with Us-Drawlng Arms— Our First Deaths— Lieut. Wlllian— Off for the Front— Route Changed— Columbus, Ky.— Mutiny— Embark for Jackson, Tenn 14

Chapter III

Jackson— "A Young Brigade "—Camo Under the Poplars— Our Assignment and CommandHrs— Picket— Confiscation— The 20th Illinois and Sutler's Goods— Mules, and the Quartennaster's Experience— Company H on Provost Guard— Stoves— Three Companies get New Rifles —Conflicting Orders— To Move at Last— Up all Night to be Ready to Start— To Bollver by Cars— Up at 2 to Start at 10— Our First March- Overcoats all Right— Company F's Calves— Getting into Camp— Rails —Camp Fires— McAllister's Battery— Astonished at the Column- Dust and Smoke— Suffering— Lagrange— '* So, Bossy "—On Picket— A Dead Rebel— Positive Ordere 23

Chapter IV

" Inflation "—Camp Equipage Arrives — More Comfortable— Guarding Rebel Propertv— Drill— A 30lh Illinois Boy Disgusted— Grand Review —A Day on Picket— Relieving Guard at the Depot— Off Again— The Quartermaster's Troubles— Into Mississippi- Holly Springs- Heard Firing— Teuts Come Up, and How- -Lumpkin's Mill— Abbieville— ^'Rebs Skedaddled "—Raining Hard— Across the Tallahatchie and Through the Mud single-ftle to Oxford— In the Advance^ and What Came of It— To the Yacona— Van Dorn In Our Itear— *' About. Face ! " —Improvement in Transportation— In Camp on the Tallahatchie— Short Rations— Drawing Com, &c 36

Chapter V

Again Moving— Cari7lng a Dressed Hog on Horseback— Lagrange Once More— On to Moscow In a Storm— Coll lersvllle and Guarding Railroad —Six Inches of Snow and Boys Barefooted— Reach Memphis and Proceed to Clear Land— Clothed up Once More— Dissatisfaction Created by Nort.hern Copperheads— A few Desertions— Five Roll-calls a Day— Dainties from Home, and the Sanitary Coinmlnslon— A Great Deal of Sickness— Pay to October 31st— Hopefleld Burnt— On the '* Platte Valley," and Down the Mlsslssipni— Lake Providence— Peach Trees In Bloom February 23d— A Beautiful Camp 50

Chapter VI

ttMlcnatloiis and Fromatlons— Routine Llte^-HeaT]' Rains— Tbe Ste&mer ■"Henry Von Fhnl "—Levee Cut— Berry's Laodlri— A Wason Lnnd o(

Fish— Relli^ous Interest— Tremendous Storm In tue Nlaht— Company G'a Hog— fn LP resting Poetry-Col. Sloan In Trouble— Adiulanl General Thomas In Camp— Logan's Upeeeh— Four Months' Fay— Off for Somewhere-Mllllken's Bend— Mortalllv Mtatlsllcs— Orayes on the lie vee— Volunteering toBnn the Blockade— Gov. Yutes— Demondlilni i>rlll, and Dress Parade In our Shlrl-sleeyes— Views of Vlckshurg— Roaesby the Mile, and Frtdeol China Trees, 80

Chapter VII

hp Vlckshurg CanipalRn Begim — Oti to Richmond— Col. Howe's Horse— The Quaiiemi aster's Experience— Still on— Ashwood landing- I.Bke Ht. Joseph, and Dr. Bowie's Mansion— Cum p In 3,000 Acres of Corn— I i rand Oulf— Running the Batteries— The Tuscumbla—Croaalng the Mississippi OQ the Mound City— Brulnsliurg- The Quartermaster Again— ''Just Before the Battle'*- To the Front— SJgns of a Fnty— Support the Jlst— Capt. Potter Wounded— Up and at Tbem— Thomp< utn^ HIM— Chase Them nil Dark— Slepn on Tliir Arm*— Port lillunii

0 the Big Black— I

Chapter VIII

Feeling Our Way- May llth, Pickets Bun a Race to Caleb ITp— Kaymond— Our Flrat VUn Killed— The Qimrcermastpr's Story -('>orporal Brown— Into the Vllliute In Stvle— Our Loss— Reliel Ni>ws— <>n to Cllnlon-Col. Sloan In ' — — '^ ■■ ■■■-■•-— "■■'■■ .— "....

Evacuated— Camp -. , ., .

ViEkabu

Ride, anfa Scare^n tothe Big " Black -k-nHsIng". and oi

Dgan Commanding Post, and the Utli Provost <inard— Our Friends at Home-On Picket at Night-The Cause of the War— General Orders So. 20-lnslde the Lines, and In Camp Once More— What We Saw In

'"-'--■--- " — Starvation- Testimony of the DaUv CiOitn—

""-• '"ikiljurahud not Suffered, O, No !"—

— Peiuberton Oak— Sickness— Ma] .

CoNtK^TS. VII.

Home— A Speech from Ool. Howe— *H)icy of Madison"— Monroe Expedition—Jimson Weeds— Camp near Bayou Boeuf— Monroe — Le«- grtt's Order— Back Agata— Twenty- lour Miles the First Day— Only Igbt on Sunday— Then Twenty-live Miles In the Heat— The Woni and Weary Given Six Miles Enra— Home Once More— Col. Howe on Milllary Commission to Condemn Rebel Property— A Scare— Moved

Camp— Marching Orders— The Brownsville and Bogue Chitto Expedi tlon— Over the Cfnamplon Hills Battle Ground— In Camp Again 188

CHAPTER XII.

Keece's Blver Experience— A New Wagon Master— Details to Colored Regiments— Conley's Mule— Roses— Moved lo Big Black— Col. Howe in Command — Logan's Farewell — Battalion Drill — Trial Drill of Brigade— Won Prize for Best Picket Duty— OfRcers' Mess— Regimental Chapel— Xeggett Dlvisiou Commander— Force in Command oiBiigade — Maj.Mann 162

CHiliPTYERiXIII.

Col. Sloan— Our Prize Drill— The Proud **£xcelsior Regiment"-" Veteranizing"—Recruiting Detail 164

CHAPTER XIV.

Marching Orders— Eastward, ho !— Gen. Sherman In Command— *'Uiticle Johnny Lyle"— Line of Battle-Jackson Again— The Minister's Mule- Brandon-*' Uncle John" Trades Mules— Officers' Mess in Clover— . Morton and Hillsboi-ough— Houses Catch Fire— A Night on a Corduroy Road— Decatur— (yhunkey— Mule Teams Guard a Bridge— Meridian- Some Destinictlon— Incidents— The Back Track— Dlveiice at Hillsborough—About the ^'Banner" — Better Rations— Mules in Flentyi- Canton— Turn Over the Aulmahs— Bill of Fare— A Mall— Adjutant Smith and Party Routed— Home witb a Shout— The Quartermaster's Department Slightly Ahead— Negro Accompaniment— Name of the Expedition 180

CHAPTER XV.

Aurora's Respects— Conley Again— Col. Howe on Leave— Reece Detached —New Gun»— Wedding— Brigade Broken Up— Left Out In the Cold— Every-Day Life— Circus— Horse Off for Dixie— Flag Surrendered- Its Subsequent History— To Vicksbui^g Once More— Col. Howe Returned— A Fish Story— Col. Sloan— Weather— Reece Up the River- Recruits- Defenses of Vieksbui^g- Big Black Evacuated— Respects of the Regiment 207

CHAPTER XVI.

Off on a Scout— Benton— Skirmishing— Vaughan'« Station— Yazoo City- Sergt. Hanes Died- Reece Back— In a Well— Bigelow Quartermaster- Military Execution— Howe's Address— Off to Jackson July Ist-^ack the 9th— Sanford Mortally Wounded— Inspected by Gen. Dana— Ool. Howe Home on Leave— Political Speaking— Respects to Gen. Dana- Grand Review— On the **Shenango"— Mess-Running on the Boat- White Rivei^Ofl for Memphis 224

CHAPTER XVII.

Memphis— Fort Pickering, and Box Cars— Guarding Wood Choppers— An Alarm— Lieut. Spear Sick— Off on the **Magenta"— Capt. Kendall Left Behind— Report at White River— On to v icksburg— Ruu into the Bank— Home Again— Relieve the 72d— Guard Mounting— 68th Ohio With Ur— 72d Leave— Move Into Their Camp— Provost Duty— Lincoln Re-elected— ^«« de Joi^- Whiskey and Pistols— A Jubilee— Capt. Callahan—A Noble Record— Women in Trade— Sword Preseutiitlon— Closed the Year with a Funeral— Changes 247

VIII. Contents.

CHAPTEK XVIII.

Ladies in Gamp— Style— Detached Service— Maj. Mann on the Works- Cavalry Movements -Troops PassiUK— Colored ReKiments Go Down the River— More Recruits— Gen. Canby in Command Below— Move at Last— Ou the "Grey Eagle"— New Orleans— Camp Chalmette— Ladies With Us— "No BottoiiT'- 72d Again- Reece Bade— Enjoy the City— On the "Guiding Star"— A Jam— Over the Bar— Sea Sick— Dauphin Island 264

CHAPTER XIX.

The "Festive Oyster"— Organization— Across the Bay— Reece and the Teams— The ^'Father of Crooks"— Among the Pines— Brigade Drill- Franking Letters— Fortifying— Further On— Skirmishiiig— "Wake Nicodenius"— Adjutant and Hodges Wounded— Spanish Foit— Geo. C. Black Killed— Siege— Our Position— Wounded— A Fearful Dav— Killed— Omcers Digging Rine-Pits— Killed und Wounded— Siege Progressing— General Bombardment— April 8th— Our Share m the Capture— (^pt. N. H. Pratt's Story 282

CHATTER XX.

On the Move Again— Hall— Blakely Fallen— Brigade Meeting— Off for Montgomery— Baldwin County Pines— Laurels— Florida— Accidentr- News— Cheer Lpon Cheer— Flacs by the Way— A Union Woman— Greenevllle— 200 Guns— "Secesli"— Montgomery— Camp and Strawberries—Provost Duty— Officers Quartered Out— Daily Advertiser— Lincoln Assassinated— May Lst— Chaplains' Meeting S09

CHAPTER XXI.

Col. Howe Commanding Brigade— Colored Children— Mail Once More- Ears Cut Off— Dress Parade in State- -Women after Mules- -One Woman's Opinion of God— Tuni Over Flag— It's History— Col. Howe and His Hostess— Dr. Gilmer— July 4th Approaching— Citizens wish to Celebrate— Arrangements— Programme— Tlie Dav Itself, and the Celebration—Disgusted— A Secona Edition— A Little Marrying— Hoi-ses Sold— New Officers— Hot but Healthy— Rumors— Off on the "Virginia"—Going Home— Selma— Pokerlsh Bridges— DemopoUs— On Top of the Cars—Meridian Again— Recruits Transferred— Watermelons- Jackson— March and Pay for Rides to Big Black— Vicksburg— Cherry Street Barracks— Sun-stroke 342

CHAPTER XXII.

Muster- out Rolls— Headuuarters at the Wa.shington House- -Equipments Turned Over--The Work Supposed to be Finished— Lind Married— On the " Ida Handy " and Good-bye to Vicksburg— Aground— Mouth of White River— The Last Sermon— At Cairo— On a " Wild Train " of Thirty-flve Cars with the 76th Illinois— Through the State— At Chicago—Soldiers' Rest— Grand Reception at the Court House— Papers Defective— Camp Douglas— Two Weeks of Waiting— TVn^ttn* Article- Ed. McGlvnn— Paid off and Free at Last -Testimonials to Reece and Durley— Off for Home — Reception at Kewanee — The War-Palh Ended 880

CHAPTER XXIII.

I RELIGIOUS.

Ministers in the Regiment— Services in the Barracks— Chaplain Foskett— All New to Us— Somewhat Discouraged— Ranks Thinned— Change of Chaplains— Better Opportunties— Form a Churcli— Its OlBcei^— Subscription for Reading— Bible Dictionaries- Protracted Meetings— Tin- Christian Commission— Singi UK School— Bible Class— Weekly Praver Meetings— Chaplain In the Stale House at Montgomery— Afrlcnii Emotion— Church Losses by Death— Letters Given and Church Disbanded, 895

Contents. ix.

GHAPTBB XXIV.

MEDICAL.

rntrodaetion— Camp Butler— Dr. Reece— Dr. Bucher— Surgeon Angell— Allaire and Murray— Assistant Surseon Kay— Running Narrative— Dr. Jassoy— Raymond— Champion Hills— Inside Vicksburg— A Word of Praise— Extracts from Allaire— Resignation of Dr. Angeli— Dr. Kay Promoted— Dr. Jassoy Dismissed— Died, Killed and Discharged— No Reason to Complain of our Medical Department— Kay and Allaire. ... 417

CHAPTER XXV.

MISCBIiUkirSOUS.

Officers at Muster Out— The Few Unchanged— Our Music— Nye and Mathews— "Judge" Austin— Postmastei-s— Hospital Stewards to Spare —Mexican War Veterans— Logan's Letter at Memphis— Fort Hill Detail— Spangler-Legeett's Letter to Adjt. Qen. Fuller— Mcpherson's Dltto—Desernons— Reflections— One Story More 489

CHAPTER XXVI.

OUB CAPTURED.

At Raymond— Schoonover— Peter Victor— New Canton, Miss.— Sayles' Narrative— Horrors of Andersonville- Final Release— Randall and Wilder— Mallen and Phillips— Murphy Escaped— Dunning 462

CHAPTER XXVII.

Our Departed 472

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Reunions— Conclusion 485

SUPPUBMRKTABT NoTB 498

W tf

History of 124TH Illinois Infantry.

Chapter I

Introductiozi. — Companies, where raised, by whom, and their organizations. — Jonas Smith. — ^A representative regiment. — Camp Butler.— ^First experiences. — A private for Qaartermaster. — The extra drawers. — Field officers chosen. — ^Drill sergeant and awkward squad. — Our visitors. — First divine service and dress parade. — Master rolls. — Richmond taken.

IN THE Summer of 1862, **We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more," was the refrain the thoroughly aroused North was singing, in city and hamlet and town, from sea to sea ; but nowhere was it nearer a verity than in the Sucker State, whose prairies were all aflame with patriotism, and whose sons kept step to the ringing chorus, till more than sixty thousand of her noblest and truest were freshly enrolled under liberty's banner, and following their sixty thousand brothers to the field. A nation in arms from Illinois alone.

This was the tidal wave of the war, and on its crest were borne, impetuously thundering against the citadel of treason, the deep convictions, the unflinching patriotism, the unwavering faith, and the conquering energies of the land. The man of God sprang from his pulpit, the judge laid aside his ermine, the advocate dropped

• • ••••••• his brief, the physician left his patient, grave college professors buckled on their swords as their classes shouldered arms for the front, and merchants, manufacturers, mechanics, business men, and farmers, worth their tens of thousands, wrote themselves '^privates'* for their country and liberty's sake, and went out from the beautiful homes of the prairie State to suffer and die, if need be, in camp and field, that the nation might live.

It was at such a time, composed largely of such men, and for such a purpose, that the 124th Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers appeared upon the page of our war history. Unlike other regiments, raised by and for individual men, it substantially raised itself, and knew nothing of its commanding officers, as such, until it met or made them in camp.

Companies A and F were from the village of Kewanee, in Henry county. The story of their history, with changes in names and dates, would, doubtless, be that of others, therefore we give it. The exigencies of the struggle and the call had wrought the enthusiasm of the village to its highest pitch, when, on the morning of August 7th, a muster roll was opened in the office of Judge John H. Howe, and a meeting called for the night. During the day 29 names were enrolled. At night the rally was immense. Speeches were made by Judge Howe, James Elliott, and other leading citizens, and among them, one by R. A. Tenney, of Chicago, formerly of Kewanee, who proposed to enlist. The knowledge that ''Ralph." as they loved to call him.

Illinois Infantry.

would go, was electrifying, and the enlistment was kept up till midnight, to be continued the next day, and furthered by liberal offers from those who could not go, to aid those who could, till the morning of the 9th, just forty-eight hours from the time the first name was signed, when 10 1 were enrolled. This number was subsequently increased to 11 1, and the second company was raised immediately. Two as noble companies as ever kept step to the music of the Union, in one village, raised by themselves, and well officered, within a week. Their organizations were completed as follows :

Company A — R. A. Tenney, Captain.

Judge John H. Howe, ist Lieutenant.

Julius A. Pratt, 2d Lieutenant.

Company F — Matthew B. Potter, Captain.

Norman H. Pratt, ist Lieutenant.

Enoch W. Taylor, 2d Lieutenant.

Subsequently these officers were all presented by their fellow-townsmen of Kewanee and Wethersfield with beautiful swords, which expressed not only the confidence of the givers in those who received them, but their own heart in the cause.

Rev. H. B. Foskett, the Baptist minister of Kewanee, afterwards Chaplain of the regiment, enlisted as a private in Company A, and A. N. Reece, of Chicago, afterwards Quartermaster, did the same. In his case there was not the remotest idea of promotion, as he was the iioth man, and the officers all elected, while the regimental organization was not even mooted. But on that enlistment, very largely, the future of those companies and of the regiment hinged, for it was Reece who opened the negotiations with him who afterwards became its Colonel.

Company B was recruited in Batavia and Lodi, in Kane county, between the 3d and 15th of August, by those who became its officers, and went into camp with a rank and file of 93 men, under —

Adin Mann, Captain.

Edwin F. Stafford, ist Lieutenant.

F. C. Van Vlack, 2d Lieutenant.

C, D and I were recruited with the view of raising a Temperance regiment in the State, under B. H. Mills, an ardent and efficient temperance worker. His effort proved a failure for the want of concert in action, companies raised for it being spirited away by the bids of rival organizations, till these three companies were its only visible result. They were sufficient, however, to cause the regiment to be frequently called the Temperance regiment, and to give it some inspiration and character as such.

Company C was known as the Springfield company, though it was partly raised in Jersey county. It contained 103 noble men, nearly all of whom ^yere Good Templars, and was organized in Carpenter's Hall, Springfield, August 25th, with —

Henry L. Field, Captain.

John W. Terry, ist Lieutenant.

James Rickey, 2d Lieutenant.

Illinois Infantry.

Saturday, September 6th, this company was presented with a very fine silk flag, of which it was justly proud, and carried it as the flag of the regiment for many a weary mile. The money, over sixty dollars, for the purchase of this beautiful banner, was solicited by two friends of the company and cause, Misses Amelia Lloyd and Mary Devore. A sumptuous dinner was also provided and served by many kind friends. The exercises occurred in Wright's Grove, just west of the city, and consisted of an inspiring presentation speech by Hon. James C. Conkling, a brief response by Capt. Field, followed by the abundant dinner, and a pleasant social interview. Then came the joyous return to Camp Butler. The day was one of the most interesting and memorable in the history of this company

D was raised by Rev. Stephen Brink, a fighting Methodist minister and sterling patriot, of McDonough county, principally from Colchester and Tennessee, with which was consolidated a band of Good Templars from Chicago and Dundee, under Asa A. Cowdery. Its officers were —

Stephen Brink, Captain.

A. A. Cowderv, ist Lieutenant.

Travis Mellor, 2d Lieutenant.

I was from Bruce and McComb, in McDonough county^ under Thomas K. Roach, and from Adams and Pike counties, under Rev. R. L. Howard, of Barry, and was organized with —

Thomas K. Roach, Captain.

R. L. Howard, ist Lieutenant.

Benjamin A. Griffith, 2d Lieutenant.

E and H were mostly from Aurora, in Kane county, though a fraction of the former was from Chicago and Hennepin. This fraction, numbering nearly 40 men, came into camp fully officered, with one Jonas Smith, of Chicago, Captain, his son 1st Lieutenant, and Preston B. Durley, of Hennepin, who had enlisted most of the men, as 2d Lieutenant. Capt. Smith seemed to be about the only officer in camp, for a time, and the inexperienced stood in wonderful awe of his straps and consequence, as he ordered them about with the airs of a more than West Pointer. But it was soon found his company could not be filled, and consequently its officers could not be mustered. Adjutant Gen. Fuller said the men would be consolidated with those from Aurora, under William B. Sigley, also having a full complement of officers, and the officers of both could be mustered in as soldiers, and take their chances, or take themselves where they liked. Capt. Smith and son promptly took themselves away, and so faded these military lights from our sky, while Durley alone, unselfish patriot that he was, took off his sword and stepped into the ranks. The Aurora men thus secured the organization, which was effected with —

Wm. B. Sigley, Captain.

James H. Blackmore, ist Lieutenant.

Osborn Wilson, 2d Lieutenant.

Illinois Infantry.

H, which was a noble, full company, from Aurora, was commanded by —

Rufus P. Pattison, Captain.

John W. Kendall, ist Lieutenant.

Justus D. Andrews, 2d Lieutenant.

Company G was mostly from New Boston and Millersburg, in Mercer county, and was officered by — Lyman H. Scudder, Captain, Ezra C. Benedict, ist Lieutenant.

Benton Pratt, 2d Lieutenant.

K was from Sangamon, Wayne and other counties south of Springfield, and was assigned to the regiment by Adjutant General Fuller. Its officers were —

Rev. James H. Morgan, Captain.

Thomas I. Willian, 1st Lieutenant.

Stephen N. Sanders, 2d Lieutenant.

It will thus be seen that the regiment was a representative one, from its spontaneity and patriotism, as also from the territorv from which it was recruited, ineluding, among others. Cook, Kane, Putnam, Henry, Mercer, Sangamon, Christian, McDonough, Adams, Pike, Jersey and Wayne counties. It was also peculiarly a representative regiment, from the intelligence, moral character and christian standing of its men. It contained eleven ordained and five licensed ministers of the Gospel, including five commissioned officers besides the Chaplain, and these ministers only appropriately represented the noble band of temperance and christian workers with whom they were associated.

On the 27th day of August, the Springfield company. Captain Field, reported at Camp Butler, about six miles fi-om Springfield, the rendezvous of the regiment . It was an undesirable place, for the reason that all the barracks were full of rebel prisoners, with whom the new recruits must come into quite too near proximity for health and comfort. But there the thousands were gathering for other organizations, and Company C led the way for us, * * drew provisions, " as the Captain called it, and ** soldiered their first night without blankets or straw, under a few loose boards leaned against the stockade inclosing the rebel camp.

On the 28th, Lieutenant Cowdery arrived with his Chicago boys, and on the 29th the rest of Company D and Company I, having passed six companies of the regiment at Camp Point, Adams county, without knowing who they were, little dreaming that the strange faces into which they peered so eagerly, as the train stopped for a moment, were those of their noble comrades for the next three years of war. The next day they arrived, having spent over thirty hours at Camp Point for want of transportation, without rations or shelter. A rough introduction for nearly 600 such men, on their first night from their comfortable homes, to find themselves dumped in a little hamlet, at the junction of two railroads, with scarcely houses enough to cover them all. much less provision to feed them. But this was only a beginning. Camp Butler was no better, except that rations were to

Illinois Infantry.

be had as soon as the mysteries of red-tape could be sufficiently mastered to draw them.

The exposure of the first few nights soon began to tell upon the constitutions of the boys. The location was malarious, upon the banks of the Sangamon, while the affluvia from a prisoner's camp, and the ignorance of our own thousands of the necessary sanitary precautions, combined to make the attendance upon Surgeon's call increasingly large. The seeds of disease were rapidly sown, and many a noble spirit was subsequently lost to his country through the improvidence of Camp Butler.

All were on the ground now but Company K. Inspection speedily followed, while * 'falling in" and forming companies, with roll call and breaking ranks, were among our first lessons. One officer raised a good laugh at his own expense by saying, **the company is disnriissed, " though he did not say. ' * with the benediction. **

Having no regimental organization, we as yet had no Quartermaster. But nature, if not the government, had provided one for us in Private Reece, of Company A, who gave abundant evidence of being a born Quartermaster, and endeared himself to all by his efficiency and promptness in that time of our need, securing to us more than other regiments were able to get, some of which had been much longer on the ground. We had already drawn a few cooking utensils and some clothing from the State supply, through the Post Quartermaster. But now Reece came to our aid with all the cooking ** apparatus " required, and a full outfit of clothing and blankets.

lb History of the 124TH obtained on his own personal responsibility. And what was better still, if possible, he succeeded in getting teams to haul us lumber, and supplied us with all the saws, hammers, hatchets and nails, our willing carpenters needed, and almost as by magic, commodious barracks sprang into existence, clean and sweet, while the ground, dew and rain of Camp Butler, as sleeping luxuries, were numbered with the past. We were under shelter of our own erection, well clad in " army blue," and our citizen's clothes sent home. Our messes were organized, our cooks at their posts, and our companies well to drilling in about one week.

One incident in the Quartermaster's department deserves mention as showing how highly we were favored. The Post Quartermaster had drawn a quantity of drawers that were all wool, and far above the average. Reece saw this at a glance, and put in his requisition for 3,000 pairs, the last of which were issued to the boys in Mississippi. The like we never saw again in the service.

September 2d, field officers were chosen, as follows :

Thomas J. Sloan, of Chicago, Colonel.

1st Lieut. John H. Howe, of Co. A., Lieut Col.

Capt. Rufus P. Pattison, of Co. H. Major.

This caused 2d Lieut. Julius A. Pratt to become ist Lieutenant, and Edmond C. Raymond, 2d Lieutenant in Company A, and John W. Kendall to be Captain, Justus D. Andrews ist Lieutenant, and Theodore Potter 2d Lieutenant in Company H.

From this time to the day of leaving for the front the drill was incessant. Sergeant Hiram H. Hall, of Company E, formerly of the Ellsworth Zouaves, became Drill Sergeant of the regiment, and gave the ** awkward squad" of officers their first lessons in ** Casey/' and the facings, dressings, wheelings and evolutions learned of him in the morning were carefully, though often laughably, interpreted to the companies in the afternoon. From one company was heard the order, • • Company, right wheel, like a gate." From another, **Form a straight line, like a picket fence."

Guard mounting, with sticks for guns, and all the minutiae of challenges, countersigns, relieving guard and •'grand rounds/' which meant so little to us then, civilians as we were, were not forgotten, but came in to very the tedium of the drill, and break the monotony of the nights. New fledged Captains sported their sashes . over their shoulders as Officers of the Day, feeling that the destinies of their country were in their hands as never before, and daring hardly to lie down for a moment without their entire accoutrements on, even to caps and revolvers, lest all should be lost.

Our wives came to visit us, and shared with trembling the strange accommodations of our barracks, and looked with anxious eyes into the faces of those who were to be their husbands' comrades in the coming danger, in battle, and it might be in death. Numberless patriotic and personal friends came to cheer us, and cakes from home, Bibles, and pictures, were almost omnipresent.

On Sunday, September 7th, Chaplain Foskett, that was to be, held divine service, to which we were marched by companies. His text was from Psalms 20 : 5 : ** In the name of our God we will set up our banners." The sermon was forcible and patriotic, and encouraged us greatly in the Lord. At 3 o'clock Lieutenant Howard preached in the barracks from Phil. 3:19, 20, and then, strange proceedings to us, we had our first dress parade. But we soon learned that Sunday, of all days, was the day for military pageants. The awkwardness of that occasion will never be forgotten. Adj't. W. E. Smith was at his post, and Lieut. Col. Howe in command; doing well. But the music was poor and everybody green, and that which so soon became a mechanical nicety, was the most trying thing of all, so far. Yet it was a noble line, there first formed, and the vision of its length and promise lingers with many of us still.