History of the Ninth regiment Illinois cavalry volunteers

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Preface

TO me has been assigned, by the Historical Committee, the pleasant task of compiling and writing the history of the gallant Regiment with which it was my good fortune to be associated during the whole period of its existence, a term of over four years' duration — a period in which not only the fate of this Nation was at stake, but the great problem of self-government, as well, hung in the balance.

This trust was accepted with reluctance and a degree of diffidence, as it was to me a new and untried field, and I also knew that it would be a very difficult and delicate work for any one, more especially after so many years had elapsed, and so many of our old companions had passed away; those still living scattered far and wide, many of them beyond my reach to consult or in any way to have the benefit of their memoranda or recollections.

As the work has progressed I have found it very difficult to harmonize the facts as given in letters and diaries, with the recollections of Comrades or my own ideas of the same.

I have endeavored, so far as possible, to be guided by the written accounts made at the time in which the events treated of occurred.

I have been fortunate in having, as far as it was in their power to render it, the cordial support and aid of the Historical Committee; they have been uniformly considerate and helpful to me as the Historian of the. gallant Ninth Illinois Cav airy. Many of the Comrades, also, to whom I have applied for information, have very cheerfully given the use of diaries and letters to aid in the correctness of the work, and while I can not mention all who have aided me, it is but justice and a pleasure to mention some of those who have frequently and ably assisted me. I am indebted to Lieutenant-Colonels Harry B. Burgh and Anthony R. Mock; Captains John H. Carpenter, Thomas J. McNair and Henry M. Buel; Lieutenants Charles L. Pullman, John T. Showa>ter, Joseph W. Brackett, John R. Eberhart, James H. Haslett and James H. Murray; Assistant-Surgeon Stacy Hemenway; and Comrades Hiram A. Hawkins, Patrick V. Fitzpatrick, Samuel R. VanSant, Samuel D. Cleland, Edward D. Ayers, Edward P. Ott, Charles C. White, Samuel B. Davis, Perry B. Bowser, George W. Hall, Thomas W. Eaton, Christopher Seibert, Malachi Salter, Stewart J. Bailey, William H. Hecker, William Rinker, Jesse Hawes, Dwight L. Talcott and Edwin K. Abbott.

These and a number of other Comrades have given me valuable information ; and while to those who have so kindly taken an interest in this work, and have done so much to make it a success, I desire to express my hearty thanks, I regret to say

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Vlll PREFACE.

that a very large number have not shown any interest whatever in the matter, and have withheld or neglected to furnish information of many things that I ought to have known, and the knowledge of which would have enabled me to have done better work in the preparation of this History, and to have made the book much more complete.

Much of this has been written hastily, as it seemed desirable to have the book out at as earlj r a day as possible.

In the preparation of this work I have lived over again the days when the events I have endeavored faithfully to portray occurred, and forms and incidents, long since forgotten, again rise before me, and I can not realize that a quarter of a century has passed since we were actors in those stirring scenes.

The History I have written is more general in character than I could have wished, for I have found it impossible to gather the facts of many a gallant action of the soldiers of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, of which, had I been able to gain a knowledge, I should have been glad to place upon the enduring page of history; but even then words are too poor to fittingly portray the heroism and sacrifices of our brave and dauntless patriots.

With a fidelity to the truth that I trust all will concede, I have endeavored to cover, briefly, the more than four years' honorable service of the Regiment. How well I have succeeded, I leave it for my Comrades to judge, only asking from them the same consideration and forbearance they themselves would wish if called upon to tread a like path and perform a similar duty.

E. A. Davenport.

Chicago, July 1, 1888.

Chapter I

Organization of Regiment — Order of the Secretary of War — Letter to Governor Yates — Where Recruited — Camp Life — Outfit of Horses— Camp Scenes — Discontent — Asking for Orders.

Chapter II

Marching Orders — Departure for Benton Barracks, Mo. — Flag Presentation — Arrival at Camp Douglas of 5,000 prisoners — Outfit of Arms and Train — Departure for Pilot Knob, Mo. — Arrival at Reeves Station, Mo. — Assigned to the command of General Steele.

CHAPTER HI.

Arrival at Jacksonport, Ark. — Colonel Matlock — Captain Sleepers' Guerillas — A Note of Warning — Joining the Army of General Curtis — Murder of Privates Jenkins and Pringle — Fight at Waddell Farm.

Chapter IV

Abandoning Camp at Jacksonport — Arrival of Rebel Gunboat, — Shelling our

Camp — Return to "Galloways" — Gunboat Episode — "Price's Army."

Chapter V

The Great March through Arkansas — Fight, at Stewart's Plantation —The Killed and Wounded — Rebel General Hindman's Proclamation — Hospital Train — Celebration of the Fourth of July — Fight at Cache River — Murder of Couiers — Arrival at Helena.

Chapter VI

Sickness at Helena — Many Sent North — Brass Guns Assigned to the Ninth — Fight at La Grange, Ark. — Major Burgh's Expedition with General Washburn in Mississippi — Capture of the Gun — The Friendship of General Washburn.

Chapter VII

The Gorman Expedition— Capture of Arkansas Post — St. Charles and the "Little Pests"— Return to Helena — Election of two Majors.

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X TABLTi OF CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII

The Regiment Moves to Memphis — To Germantown — New Equipments— Fighting Forrest's Cavalry — Ladies in Camp — Suicide of a Soldier — Major Burgh's Gallant Fight with Chalmers — Skirmishing and Fighting in Tennessee and Mississippi— Seuatobia — Cold Water — Panola — Fall of Vicksburg — After Colonel Richardson — Fight of Colonel Hatch at Jackson — Fight at Grenada — Capture and Destruction of a Large Amount of Confederate Property — Lieutenant Shattuck Cut Off.

Chapter IX

March to. La Grange, Tenn. — Organization of Colored Regiments — March to the Cold Water and Bolivar — To Pocahontas — Dinner at Colonel Hurst's — Three Guerillas Shot— 3x2— Fight at Lockhart's Mill— Salem and Wyatt.

Chapter X

Corinth — Sad Fate of Colonel Rogers — Back to Collierville — Raid for Horses — Saulsbury — Battle of Moscow — Colonel Hatch Wounded — Letter of Major Pierce— Horses Stolen from Camp.

CHAPTER XL Recruiting for the Veteran Service — Forrest's Raid into Tennessee — Lieutenant Hillier's Brave Fight at LaFayette — Escape of Forrest — Return of Colonel Brackett — Captain Mock at Mount Pleasant — Preparing for the Great Raid.

Chapter XII

Raid to West Point — Okalona — Aberdeen — West Point — Fight at the Saukatauchie — Hand-to-Hand Fight of Sergeant Castor — The Retreat Commenced — Fight of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry — Fierce Assault of the Rebels — Successful Ambush by the Ninth — Stampede of the Third Brigade and Loss of Guns — Attempt to Capture Forrest — Destruction of Corn — Return to Germantown.

Chapter XIII

The West Point Expedition, by Stuart J. Bailey, late Sergeant of Company G, Ninth Illinois Cavalry.

Chapter XIV

Muster In of the Veterans — Homeward Bound — Speech of General Benton — Arrival at Chicago — Reception at the Soldiers' Home — Camp Frve — Back to Memphis — The New Supply of Horses and Arms — Guntown — General Grierson's Order.

Chapter XV

The A. J. Smith Expedition in Mississippi — Fights at Ripley, Pontotoc, Tupelo — Charge by Forrest and Lee — Wild Charge of Lieutenant McMahon with Two Companies — Death of McMahon — Support Sent to the Charging Companies—Captain McArthur Wounded — Precarious Position of Captain Buel — Attacking the Rebel Breastworks, Many Wounded — Jesse Hawes' Cool Assurance when a Prisoner.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. X1

Chapter XVI

Second Expedition of A. J. Smith - Hurricane Creek Fight- Flank Movements-Rebels Driven Away from Their Dinner- Brilliant Maneuver of the Ninth under Colonel Burgh-Oldtown Creek- Forrest's Raul on Memphis- Attempt to Capture Generals Washburn and Hurlbut - Brave Defense of Captain Cook-Colonel Starr Killed - Forrest Driven Out -Regiment to White's Station — Muster Out of Non-Veterans.

Chapter XVII

The Ninth Marches from White's Station - Clifton and Shoal Creek - Savannah - Hood's Army Threatening - Skirmish at Shoal Creek - Severe Fighting on the 11th and 19th of November - Captain Harper in Command - Capture of Chalmers' Headquarters-Trains and Flags by Captain Mock -Movement to Butler Creek -Captain Carpenters Brave Fight on Picket -Capture of Couriers with Valuable Dispatches- Hard Fight of Lieutenants Hill.er and Niemeyer- Captain Mock's Battalion Cut Off-The Darkey Guide- Adjutant Power a Prisoner -Crossing the Ford and Arrival in Camp.

CHAPTER XVIII. Lawrenceburg-CaptainMcMannis' Brave Fight-Campbellville-Captain Harper

Again in Command-Five Sergeants Killed and Many Others Kdled and Wounded-Columbia-The Fight at Franklin-Forrest Driven Back Over the River-Extract from Hood's Book-The Cavalry at Nashville-In Camp at Edgefield.

Chapter XIX

The Battle of Nashville-Brentwood-Franklin Pike-Rutherford Creek-Sugar Creek— Big Creek— Ross' Farm.

Chapter XX

The Ninth Marched to Eastport-To Graveley Springs-Short Rations-Back to Eastport-Camp Equipage Received-Promotions in Company A.- luming Over Horses and Carbines-Order of General Wilson-Surrender of Lee and Assassination of Lincoln-Return of Captain Blackburn-Rebel Soldiers Coming in-March to Decatur-Orders of Generals Hatch and Coon-New Supply of Horses and Arms-March to Montgomery-Amnesty Officers Appointed.

Prison Life, by C. C. White— Prison Life, by W. H. Hecker.

Chapter XXVI

Sketch byH. M. Buel— Sketch by W. H. Hecker— Sketch by T. W. Eaton- Sketch by G. M. Keller— Sketch by S. D. Cleland— Sketch by H. A. Hawkins—Sketch by George W. Olmsted— Sketch by E. P. Ott— Sketch by P. B. Bowser.

The Wounded and Prisoners.

INDICES.

Index Personal Sketches — Index of Illustrations.

9TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS CAVALRY

VOLUNTEERS.

Chapter I

Organization of Regiment — Order of the Secretary of War — Letter of Governor Yates — Where Recruited — Camp Life — Outfit of Horses — Camp Scenes — Discontent — Asking for Orders.

THE Ninth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers was organized in the fall of 1861, by Colonel Albert G. Brackett. At this time it had become apparent to the most casual observer of events that the leaders of the Rebellion were inaugurating and carrying on that which to them had been a long cherished and well matured scheme to sever their connection with the Free North, and to establish a separate government ; and to attain this result the prominent men of the South, many of whom were holding positions of honor and trust under the General Government, had been working and plotting for years, using all their opportunities to the utmost to further their cause. These same leaders, b} 7 all the arts of which they were masters, and a fierce determination to succeed, aroused the Southern people, and the active support of impulsive and ambitious men, who little knowing and caring less for the fearful cost of war, rushed forward to aid in achieving, as they said, independence and a place among nations as a separate State, styled the Confederate States of America,

In those early days, with the preparations that had been going on for years, the seceding States were in much better shape to place large armies in the field than was the North.

For four years during the weak administration of President Buchanan, the management of affairs at Washington had been largely under the control of traitors to their country. Jefferson Davis, in the Senate, Floyd, Secretary of War, had been scattering our navy and sending arms and munitions of war to various points in the South where, when the time came, they could be turned over to the seceding States or easily captured by them So when the election of Abraham Lincoln took place in 1860, and it appeared that they could no longer count on the aid of Northern dough-faces to bulldoze the Nation in their interest, they seized upon the pretext that their favorite doctrine of " States Rights " was to be infringed upon, to withdraw from the federation of States, and one after another passed ordinances of secession from the Union.

'Now it became known that a great struggle Avas upon us, and the Government set itself vigorously to work to organize an army to put down armed treason in the land.

The original call of the President was for 75,000 volunteers. Then another call was made for 300,000, soon followed by the third call for 300,000 more.

To each and all of these calls, the patriotic men of the North responded promptly, and more men offered their services than would be needed, or could be speedily equipped and put into the field.

They came from the East, the West, the North, not many from the South, and offered their services to maintain the supremacy of the Government and the honor of the Old Flag.

At this time Col. A. G. Brackett of the regular army, was authorized by the Secretary of War to raise a regiment of Cavalry at the West. Authority for the same was contained in the following order:

Wau Department, 6th August, 1861.

Captain Albert G. Brackett, of the Second Regiment United States Cavalry, is permitted to go to Illinois, or any other of the Western States, for the purpose of raising a regiment of volunteers to serve during the war. Whenever ready, they

will be mustered into the service by companies, and subsisted, clothed, and

equipped by the United States. For this purpose a furlough for one month from

the 10th inst. is allowed him.

[Signed] Simon Cameron,

Secretary of War.

At this early clay it was not supposed that much cavalry would be required, and it was understood that this regiment would be the " First Western Cavalry." This, however, proved not to be the case, and it was only for a very short time that the regiment was so designated, as will be apparent from the following letters. The question of the first name and designation of our regiment having frequently been discussed by comrades, I have taken pains to investigate the official record in regard to the same, and I find on file in the Adjutant General's office in Springfield, 111., but two letters or papers in which the regiment is designated otherwise than as the " Ninth Illinois Cavalry. " These two are subjoined:

Chicago, Ills., Sept. 30, 1861.

To His Excellency Richard Yates, Governor of Illinois:

Sir: — On the 6th day of August, 1861, Honorable Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, authorized me to raise a regiment of mounted volunteers in the Western States. Acting on this authority, I have been at work, and have nearly organized a regiment which I have named the " First Western Cavalry." Will your Excellency be kind enough to recognize the regiment, and, if deemed advisable, incorporate it among the Illinois troops.

I would respectfully ask Tour Excellency to make the following appointments, viz. :

Albert G. Brackett to be Colonel, September 1, 1861; Wesley Owens to be Lieutenant-Colonel, September 1, 1861; Ilosell M. Hough to be Major, September 27, 1851; Hiram F. Sickles to be Major, September 24, 1861; Hector J. Humphrey to be Major, September 25, 1861; Joseph H. Knox to be Adjutant, September 14, 1861; Samuel H. Price to be Quartermaster, September 14, 1861; James W. Brackett to be Surgeon, September 10, 1861; William A. Knox to be Assistant- Surgeon, September 19, 1861; O. Winsor Briggs, to be Chaplain, September 25, 1861.

Company A. — Captain, Harry B. Burgh, from September 18, 1861; First Lieutenant, William C. Blackburn, from September 18, 1861; Second Lieutenant, William M. Benton, from September 18, 1861.

Company B. — Captain, Hector J. Humphrey, from September 19, 1861 — promoted Major, September 25, 1861; First Lieutenant, Thaddeus W. O. Braffett, September 19, 1861 — prumoted Captain, September 25, 1861.

Company C. — Captain, John S. Buckles, from September 19, 1861; First Lieutenant, Charles W. Blakemore, from September 19, 1861; Second Lieutenant, Francis H. McArthur, from September 19, 1861.

Company D. — Captain, William J. Wallis, from September 26, 1861; First Lieutenant, Llewllyn Cowen, from September 26, 1861; Second Lieutenant, John H. McMabon, from September 26, 1861.

These companies are all full, and have been mustered into the service. The regiment will be twelve companies strong, and is therefore entitled to three majors. I think I shall be able to muster in four more companies this week, and will forward the names of the commissioned officers to Your Excellency.

Hoping that what I have done in this matter will meet with your approval, I have the honor to be

Your Excellency's obedient servant,

[Signed] Albert G. Brackett,

Colonel First Western Cavalry.

Camp Douglas, Chicago, October 9, 1861.

To His Excellency Richard Yates, Governor of Illinois:

Sir: — Herewith I have the honor to transmit to you a consolidated monthly report of the First Regiment Western Cavalry, which is sent in accordance to your request of the 9th inst. Some of my companies have already been mustered into the United States service by me.

I am Your Excellency's obedient servant, [Signed] Ai,r,ERT G. Brackett,

Colonel First Western Cavalry.

Other cavalry regiments were formed, and after this period the regiment was known and designated as the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, having in its ranks ten companies from Illinois and two from Indiana. The first company to arrive at the rendezvous was Company A from Rock Island, September 15, 1861. Then followed B and C from Geneseo and Cambridge, 111., D from Chicago, E from Logansport, Ind., F from Chicago, G from Valparaiso, Ind., H from Kewanee, 111., I from Belvidere, 111., K from Princeton, 111., L from Chicago, and M from Onarga, 111., and thus was gathered at Camp Douglas, three miles south of the Court House, and mustered into the volunteer cavalry service for three years or during the war, as fine a body of men as any in the army that helped to save our beloved country from disruption.

There were some of us who had known Colonel Brackett personally, and many more who knew his military reputation to be that of an experienced, brave and dashing en valry officer, under whose leadership we were proud to be, and of whom great things woe to be expected. He was a severe disciplinarian, and immediately set to work in the drill, and the various duties that fall to the lot of the recruit, and are necessities in the making of good soldiers.

For this work he was well qualified by his long service in the army and the experience gained thereby.

CAMP LIFE.

Well do I remember that dreary September morning when Companies B and C left the cars a full mile from oitr future camp, and the walk across the prairie; then we came in sight of the old barracks, at that time two or three lone-, low build in o-s with a few boards in the attic, and rough bunks, or only a little hay to sleep on.

Captain Burgh's Company A. already there, greeted us with cheers, and we wandered around viewing with curious eves everything that seemed so strange, but to which we soon became accustomed in our four months 1 stay in the camps. It was not long before we were called to our first breakfast in camp, and we did full justice to strong coffee, baker's bread, and meat, which were the principal articles of our bill of fare. It was not lonoere it began to rain, and we huddled together under cover as much as possible. Dreary enough, and many, no doubt, felt rather blue when they compared their surroundings and future prospects with the comfortable homes and plenty they had left behind them. Still we were all patriotic, and the novelty of the situation did much to repress any feeling of homesickness that would otherwise have been experienced.

Quartermaster Samuel Ii. Price was very active, and did everything in his power to make us as comfortable as possible; as he seemed to be the main man in camp, nearly all were besieoing him for something. The two most important things being enough to eat and blankets sufficient to keep us warm. Of the latter there was for a time quite a scarcity, but as many of the boys had brought shawls, comforts, etc., from home we did not feel entirely desolate.

Here I desire to mention one, who no doubt many will remember, Quartermaster-Sergeant John P. Harvey, the indefatigable assistant to Quartermaster Price, who in those first days, and indeed until he left us, did so much for our comfort and welfare. He joined a regiment at Springfield in December, 1861, where he was appointed to be a Captain, and soon thereafter died.

IS HISTORY OF THE

It was not long before we were supplied with tents, and, to accommodate all, it required two hunmed and eighty, apportioned as follows : ten for Headquarters, Hospitals, etc., two for each Company of wall tents, and one "A "or wedge tent for each four non-commissioned officers, and one for each five enlisted men. A few days were spent in putting up and arranging, laying floors in some of the tents, etc.

Now began our regular cam]) life. Reveille at 6 a. m., a hasty dressing, and a rather sleepy set of men appeared in front of each company's quarters. They are aligned in double rank. The First Sergeant calls the roll, when every man, unless on duty or detached from his regiment, is expected to be present and answer to his name. A careful inspection by the officers, then break ranks. " Stable call " comes next, when every man goes and feeds his horse. The next, in order, is breakfast, after which the detail for guard and fatigue duty is made. Later the Surgeon has the bugle sound " sick call or quinine," " officers' call," and soon thereafter conies officers'', company, and squad drill. As 1 write, how vividly those first days of camp-life come up. Officers' drill took place at 8 o'clock. Sometimes under the instruction of the Colonel, but generally by Captain Burgh, who, by his thorough education and drill in the military school, was well qualified to teach the intricacies of sword practice. Many of the commissioned officers had been presented with dress swords, before they came from home, by admiring and lovingfriends, and Avere ready and anxious to perfect themselves in sword exercise. While they were so engaged, many of the enlisted men would stand off at a respectful distance to see them go through the motions of "cut, thrust, parry, en tierce : en carte, ' moulenetU,'' " etc., but I doubt not that, when these same welldrilled officers came to a charge, if many of them ever thought whether they might not annihilate the enemy just as well by a "plain saber-stroke" as though it was done scientifically and by rule. Then came the company and squad drill, which took place in the large field directly west of camp. One oi more commissioned officers of each would take the whole company out, and put them through their steps, "left, left," etc., usually with a book of " tactics " in hand. Then the squad drill by a Sergeant or Corporal, who was supposed to be better posted than the men, and to have studied up the " Cavalry drill on foot/' And I remember well we used to like to drill well out to the west side of the field, and often come back with two or three pails of fresh milk. There was a cow pasture on that side.

The regiments were assigned to quarters in what was called " Camp Fremont," but, October 6th, moved to Camp Douglas.

The winter was approaching, and our horses began to arrive. The carpenters were busy preparing comfortable quarters for their reception, and erected twelve long stables, each capable of holding a hundred or more. These buildings were put up at the west and south of the camp, and some five hundred feet from company quarters. Soon the complement of horses was completed, and all were well mounted. We were peculiarly fortunate in the selection of the mount, in having men who thoroughly understood their duties as inspectors. The regular inspector was assisted, most of the time, by Captain Ira II. Clifford, of Company E, a most excellent judge of horses. But few, if any, passed their rigid scrutiny, that were not sound and well fitted for the service. Soon we were furnished with our McClellan saddles, the best in the world, and cavalry drill began in earnest. ]STo\v Colonel Brackett was in his element, and our education in the school of the trooper, mounted, began, and was carried on systematically and regularly.

A very large proportion of our men were from the country, and had been used to horses all their lives. These soon made excellent horsemen. As 1 look back now, it appears to me that our regiment, as a whole, made splendid progress. True, we had some rather heavy weights with short, fat, stubby legs, to whom it was a severe strain to mount our tall horses, but though for a time we witnessed many amusing incidents, it was not long before all were at least fairly good horsemen, and the large proportion sat their steeds like " Centaurs."

In the various parades through the city, each company with horses of uniform color (Colonel Brackett with his brilliant staff at the front of the column), the Ninth Illinois Cavalry was as fine a body of men as one would meet in a lifetime, and received many compliments for their soldierly appearance.

Many of the officers and men were Chicago citizens. The people manifested great pride in their splendid regiment, and did much to make our camp life pleasant. In the daily routine of camp life, and the various duties and exactions of a soldier's life, even in camp, there was much that was monotonous, but many were cheered by visits from friends from home and the people of the city, very many of whom came to camp to see the gay soldier boys.

During the fall and winter, the larger part of the men composing the regiment had received short furloughs, and visited home and friends, but in January, 1862, nearly or quite all had been called back, as it was expected that we should receive marching orders at any moment, and be sent to the front, and this was a consummation devoutly wished by all. The Colonel and every man in the regiment were anxiously awaiting the time when the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry should receive their arms, equipments, etc., and be ordered to the field.

During the latter part of the period that the Ninth Illinois Cavalry were in Camp Douglas, there was considerable discontent among both officers and men at what seemed to be an unnecessary delay in moving our regiment to the front ; the members of the regiment not realizing or appreciating the stupendous work devolving upon both the General Government and the State as well, to bring into the field and properly equip the immense body of troops then being organized. The two letters following are taken from a large number on file at Springfield, and go to show that those having the best interests of the regiment at heart were thoroughly in sympathy with a "forward mo vement."'

State of Illinois, Northern District, ) Chicago, February 10, 1862. )' Colonel: — I send Major Sickles to Springfield to visit the Governor and yourself, about starting my regiment, if possible, away from this place. We are all getting tired out here, and -wish to go into active service. I know you will do> anything you can to help me.

A telegram to General Halleck from you or the Governor would, I think, accomplish the object. Please assist Major Sickles, and greatly oblige

Your obedient servant, [Signed] Albert G. Brackett,

To Colonel J. II. Tucker, Colonel Ninth Illinois Cavalry.

AiJjutant'Gcneral of Illinois.

Headquarters Camp Douglas, ) Chicago, January 10, 1862. )

To His Excellency Richard Yates, Governor of Illinois:

Sir: — The Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry, which I have the honor to command, is now full and ready to take the field. I am most anxious to go into active service, and this feeling is shared by every officer and man in the Regiment. I would, therefore, most respectfully ask of you to telegraph to General Halleck, to move my Regiment at once to St. Louis or Cairo, or to such other point as you and the General may think best.

I am, your most obedient servant,

[Signed] Albert G. Brackett,

Colonel Ninth Illinois Cavalry.

Chapter II

Marching Orders — Departure for Benton Barracks, Mo. — Flag Presentation — Arrival at Camp Douglas of Five Thousand Prisoners — Outfit of Arms and Train — Departure for Pilot Knob, Mo. — Arrival at Reeves Station, Mo. — Assigned to the Command of General Steele.

ON the 15th of February, 1S62, the order to move forward arrived. We had not, however, received our arms, but yet all were glad of a change.

The objective point was Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., where it was supposed our final outfit for field service would be made. Everything in camp was lively, with the necessary activity incident to the removal and transportation of so large a regiment.