In Camp And Field

Copyrighted, 18S7, by The A. N. Kellogg Newtpaper Company. (Section Ill-Continwxl.) The 6th of April, 1862, made memorable to the writer by the death of a relative, is remembered as a typical April day - now a cloud, now a shower, now sunshine, a little wind, a little warm and a little mud, but pleasant withal and full of the promise of spring. Little did we of the North know when the sun went down that quiet Sabbath evening, through what peril one of our great armies had passed. In the same secluded, sparsely-settled section, seven miles from a post-offlee, where the writer spent the winter of 1861-2, he also spent the spring and summer following, contentedly farming and dreaming of the college life, which h3 hoped was near at hand. About this time too he tlrst saw a national bank note. The man who had several five and ten-dollar bilis of this species s;iid they were "legal-tender." Their bright, crisp appoar.inc ; and artistic workmanship were in striking contrast with ihe State bank- wild-cat currency, up to that period the only paper money in circulation. This State bank money was of such uncertain value that many of the old-fashioned, but sturdy, people ref used to receive it in payment of dues, and insisted upon having only gold and silver. Consequently paper money naturally held a lower place in :he public estímate than hard money. The National currency soon banished tha State currency. Gold and silver disappeared from circulation in 1S62, and f ractional currency was issued by the Government of fifty, twenty-five, ten, five and even three cents value. The daily newspaper was almost never soen and even a good weekly but seldom. However, the neighborhood was by no means deprived of news as a party, whom we will cali Brown, amply supplied the place of a local paper. Brown was of middle age and medium size, of rough-strong build, had coarse red hair, never wore whiskers, but seldom shaved oftener than once in a fortnight, henee his face was usually covered with a porcupine-like growth of an uncertain owish red hue, of ten covered witn toDaecojuice as was the front of his brown domestic shirt that fastened at the neck with a large hom button, but left a great gaping space of eight or ten inches below, displaying his hairy breast. He wore a pair of brown-jeans pants held up by one, sometimes two, "gallouris" made of striped bed-ticking, and in any thing like mild weather had on neither coat nor vest. On hU head was the remnant of a ooarse wool hat, his pants invariably short, failed when he was sitting to meet the tops of his blue woolen socks and the interval thus left was unco vered by under wear ; on his f eet, summer and winter, were coars3 brogan shoes, m size about number eleven. In the eyes of Brown any man who wore any thing finer than Kentucky jeans was proud, and every woman ttuck up, who of Sundays, donned any thicg save a "sun" bonnet. Brown believed he was Just as good as anybody, but, fearing others would not think so, took occasion every now and then to assert the f act. He probably never missed a meal of victuals in his life on account of sickness, but when accosted with the usual "Howdy do, Brown, " invariably answered, "only toliblt." His family consisted of a hearty wif and some half-dozen healthy children, but he never would concede their healthy status, and when asked regarding their health always answered with some qualified phrase as: "Purty peart considering, " "all stirrin' when I left;" "so's to be round," "all about now," "only tolible like," "all ai'rige but the old woman, she's powerful weak," "jist middlin'," etc., etc. But once seated in your house and havingsatisfactorily compromised the health of himself and family, Brown lost no further time, but at once began unloading his latest batch of war news. "Hain't heered 'bout the big fight on the 'Teniy,'I recon? That Gin'rl that hope (helped) the gunboats take them air forts down thar, whar they ketched so many sojers- Donels'n and Henery, b' lieve they cali 'em. I fergit his name- O yes : Grant. Well, he's got whipped mighty bad, him and his anny - got his'n all cut up and lots of 'em took prisner. "Some's sayin' they recon he must a ben ia licker to git whirped that away. "They JU two wbole days, and if it hadn't ben for them air gunboats belpin', him and his whole army ben tuck prisner, shore. The v are sayin' : "Pea,rs like Grant's awful lucky gittin' hope f rom gunboate.' "The first time he fit at a place called Bell sumthin' (Belmont), they got him out, then they done most of the flghtin' at Henery, and I reekon lots of it at Dónela' n, and this last time they saved his bacon, shore. Pon my soul, b' lieve the South's goin' to gain, though." Not long after Shiloh Island No. 10, in the Mississippi, with a goodly number of prlsoners surrendered to General Pope. This in the West was at the time taken as a sort of offset to our failure at Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh. Early that spring the writer remembers roading of the now world-renowned engagement between the little National Monitor and the huge Confedérate iron-clad Morrimac This engagement in Hampton Roads revolutionized naval warfare and íorever done away with unarmored wooden vessels. The name Monitor, whieh was aftcrwards used in a generic sense and applied to all vessels buiH fter the same general pattem of the one which so successfully en:ountered the Merrimao, at first snunded strangely, but by and by beoame familar enoHgh. The war, among other things, brought into general usa a whole brood of peculiar and nnfamiliar words. The first word of this kind to attract attention was seasrion, corrupted by many tnto wcesA. Coerción as applied to compelling the return of seoeded Btates was another. Contraband was first used by General Butler when referring to slaves who had come within his lines. This was an unusually hard word at first, but soon became familiar when whola clouds of eonirabandt (slaves) sought freedom under the protection of our amira. "Refugee" applied to such white people a favored the Union cause, fled from the South and 9ought safety and proteotion within our Unes. Copperhtad was a term used to desígnate such as openly opposed the war and yet had their homes In the North. But while one who openly opposed the war was called a copperhead, ono who violently opposed it was called a xecexh. Af ter the battlo oí Pittsburg Landing an immense Union army under General Halleek concentrated in that vicinity for the advance on Corinth. Popu's forces had been ordered thither, and Buell's and Grant's armies wera thore already. Halleek divided his grand army of over one hundred thousand effective men into right and left wings, center and reserve, commanded respectively by Pope, Buell, Thomas and McCleruand. Poor Grant, under a cloud after Shiloh, was nominally second in command, but was really a sort of supernumerary. The attention of the whole country was concentrated upon this fine army as it slowly besieged Corinth and attempted to bag General Beauregard. But one night, May 30, 1862, he quietly evacuated and either destroyed or carried away irery thing oí valué. The wholo story was well told at the time by a cut in Uarper's Weekly, which represented in one picture a huge hand- Halleck's army - closed, all but the index linger, which was reaching out to seize a flea- Beauregard's army- at rest on a plañe surface. Just opposite ws another picture, which represented the huge index in contact with the plane surface, but the flea was in air, having, true to his nature, jumped timely I SECTION IV CALL FOR 600,000 IN 1863 -ENLISTMEST OF THE WBITER. About the first of April, 1862, the Army of the Potomac under McClellan began the Peninsular campaign, slowly approaching from Fortress Monroe toward Richmond. A month was consumed in the siege of Yorktown, nearly six weeks more were occupied in the sickly swamps of the Chickahominy, when McClellan began his change of base to the James river, and then f ollowed the seven days' battles about Richmond, viz. : MechanicsviUe, June 28; Gaines' Mili, June 27 and 28; Savage's Station, June 2y ; Peach Orchard, June 29; White Oak Swamp, June 30, and Malvern HUI, July 1. July 2, the Army of the Potomac retreated to Harrison's Landing on the James river, and thus the "change of base" was eff ected. This repulse of McClellan was a sore disappointment to the North, but knowing the Nation's power, the President issued a cali in the early days of July f or 300,000 volunteers, which a month later was increased to 600,000. Like most individuals, the writer had all along been intcrested in the progress of the war, but fifteen months' continuation oí the conflict had in a degree removed the keen edge of that interest, and he all along believed he would not be identifled with it personally. The previous winter he had been preparing for college, when at leisure f rom teaching, and throughout the spring and snmmer he occupied his odd moments in study. His zoal leading him in hot days, while his panting horse at the plow was resting, to use the f reshly-turned earth as a soit of blackboard, upon which, with a stick, he marked out for demonstration propositions in geometry. His dreams were all of the halls of learning, not of the field of strif e. These personal matters aro mentioned because it is believed that thousands upon thousands of y oung men up to this period had like aspirations and bor a like relation to the war, who soon af ter enlisted, and very man y such lost their Uves in the country's service. One day early in August, 1862, the writer having followed the plow till noon, had jast come in f rom the field for dinner when a relaüve drove up with the information that a war meeting was to be held the second day thercafter at the writer's native village, ten miles distant, and that the day previous a war meeting had been held at the oounty seat at which many old schoolmates and particular chums had enlisted. Joiniug the army, like measles, mumps and some other diseases, is catching. And when the writer learned that "Sam," "Torn," "John" and the rest had enlisted, it suddenly occurred to him that mayhap his country needed Ai services, and he straightway resolved onenlistment. With this puipose uppermost in his thoughts he attended the war meeting at the village. The time was Saturday afternoon, August 9, 1862, aud the place a shady grove of young oak tree in the outskirte of the little hamlet. There was a good attendance, and much earnestness was manifested. The exercises consisted of martial musio, singing and spesking. One of the speakers was a ruddy-faced, good-look:ng younp: En7lishman whose Cnntinuc. on 'Ah age ) {Continúen from eth paye.) earnestncss and eloquence made a lasting impression on the writer. , He began by reading in a most impressive manner a poem, then just published, beginning: " We are comiug Father Abram, stx hundrefl thousand more, FromAlleghany'sruggedheights, írom Mississippi's winding shore." These Unes are quoted from memory and may be inaccurate, yet it is believed are subgtantially correct. Whüe they began the poem they wcre also at the end oí each s tanza. The speaker, when through reading, said: "I am, as you all know, an Englishman, nota drop sare English blood courses in my veins, and near to my heart is the memory oí dear, merry oíd England. Her green, peaceíul fields, her happy homes, her thrifty sons, her broad-shouldered, deepchested, manly men, and her rosy-cheeked, healthy vromen, wives, sisters, mothers, can never, never be forgotten. " But, much as I love old England and proud as I am of the power and fair name of my native land, I am to-day an American eitiien, and as such, should the English Government see fit to take up arms in aid of the South, I will shoulder my musket and fight against her as long as there is breath in my body." The impassioned address of the eloquent Englishman was intently listened to and most heartily cheered by the audlence. Under these patriotic influences and amid these surroundings, the writer gave his name to an enrolling offlcer, and for more than tlireo years thereaiter was in the army. The war had now been in progress for ixteen months and a brief resume of the views and opinions of the rural population with whom the writer came in contact may not be out of place. Regarding the propriety and justness ot the war there were three classes. The flrst class including all Republicana and many others favored a vigorous prosecution of the war; a second class as strongly opposed it, while between these was a third, yacillating In their views, at one time f avoring the war at another opposing. As the war progressed the first class largely increased by the accession of many war-Democrats, and the other two correspondingly diminished. A few, however, seemed to have implicit faith in flnal and complete triumph. July 4, 1861, the writer listened to an able and scholarly address from a promwient clergyman upoa the perilous condition of the country. He closed with a most eloquent peroration, in which the prediction was made that: " Crowned with a halo of glory, the Nation, rmniied, would come out of the flery ordeal grander, nobler, stronger than ever bef ore." These words were, so to speak, burned into the writer' s memory, and now seem like prophesy; yet, in those trying days, it was hard to believe in their lulflllment. But those were stirrlng times, and important events developed rapidly, and men' minds undarwent prompt and radical changes. The patriotic and manly course of many leading Demócrata, notably Senator Douglas, in supporting the new administration in ita efforts to sustain and prosecute the war ior the Union, had mueh to do in malring stanch UnionisU oí many who, up to that time, had openly opposed the course of the Adminisfration, or hesitated in giving it their iupport. TJnder Lincoln's cali for six hundred thousand troops in July and August, 1863, two lartre f uil companies had been enrolled in the writer's native county- a small one - before the middle of August, at about which time they -wrere ordered to the county seat- a quiet old-fashioned town, twenty miles írom a railway- where they were to await orders from the State capital. Here they were quartered at the two or tbree "taverns" of the place. very many oí the two hundred men, composing the two companies, were fine young íellows whose bronzed faces ïhowed the healthy traces of the sun'i raysunder which they had followed the plow during the farming season then just over. Most of them were under twentyfive years of age- a great many under twenty- and a jolly, rollicking set they were, but almost to a man they were stanch and of sterling worth, belonglng to the best families oí the county. Added to thi9, they all seemed to have fine appetites, the demands of which taxed severely the lardera of their rural landlords. Beds for all could not of course be furnished, and lounges, benches, carpets, etc, were utilized as sleeping places. The ofucers had alreaüy leaxned a little of military tactics, and twice daily tha men were drawn up in line and exercised in drill. So passed the remainder of August and the early part of September, when one day an order cama setting a near date for departure to a little city forty miles distant, where was to be effected further organization. Bhortly after the company to which the writer belonged wai organized, one moonless night in August it was drawn up in front of the court-house to receive a ful flag from the ladies whose husbands, brothers and sons were soon to do service at the front. Two or three candles furnished a flickering, uncertain light under whose dim rays a beautiful young girl mounted the court-houso steps, and with a few well-chosen words, spoken in a sweet voice, presented the flag. The Captain of the company responded briefly and appropriately. The elegant flag was made of fine silk and most beaulifui were its rich red stripes, snowy white ones and delicate field of blue. the latter ded over with thirty-one stars, representIng as many States, although eleven of these commonwealths wero making war upon the flag and under the name "Confedérate States of America" had organized a patudo government of their own. After the fair young maiden had said her few words and the Captain had spoken in response, the flag was unrolled, and, as its rich folds floated on the evening air, not a man present but silently resolved to give his life, if needs be, f or its preservation. SECTIOtï T.-FBOM CORN FIELD TO CAMP. In the latter part of August, 1862, while all over the North men in thousands ware cheerfully responding to President Lincoln's latest and largest cali for troops, Pope was seriously defeated in Northern Virginia, and with his army feil back upon Washington. A little later, about the middle of September, these reverses were partially retrieved by the same troops under McClellan at South Mountain and Antietam. AU this transpired while tha two companiea from the writer's county were yet in citizen'i dres and eating the food of civil life. Already, however, had each member taken an oath before a justice of the peace to support the constitution and laws of the UniW States. The little round oí routine at the county seat- of eating, sleeping and imperfect drill- was varied one evenlng by a social gathering in the body of the court-house, at which all the soldiers and many citizens and ladies were present. One young lady sang with much effect the piece then gust published. in which are the words: ' Brave boys ar they, gone at their country's cali, " And yet, and yet we cao not forget that many brave boys must falL" The song made even the more thoughtless of the newly-enüsted think seriously of the new and dangerousduties upon which they were about to enter. As before stated, an order had been received directing the companies upon an early date in September to report at a litr tle city forty miles distant. As the time for departure drew near every man visited home for the last time, and final arrangements were made for long absence. Then the adieus were said and all once more carne together at the county seat. But sad and tearful were those adieus as father, mother, brother, sister or wife took the parting one by the hand, none knowing how soon he would fall in war's frightful harvest oí human life. At the appointed time friends, neighbors and relatives came with wagons, and early one fine September morning the vehicles were loaded with hearty specimens of young manhooJ, and the journey over a dusty road to the railway, twenty miles distan t, was beun. Three or iour miles on the road was a hill, where the procession f or suma cause halted f or a time. From here the writer remembers taking a look at the court-house and church spires behind, thinking may be this was the last time he would eversee them. At about noon the railway station was reached and all boanded the passenger train that sooc arrived. To many of the younger men the experience was new as they were never bef ore inside a railway car- a statement that may sound strange to the rising generation, but a quarter of a century ago railroads were much less common than now. After traveling on the cars for twenty or thirty miles the men got off and marched seven miles across the country to the little city of their destination. The afternoon was hot, the roads were dusty, and the writer remembers suffering much discomíort from a pair of new, tight-fltting shoes he had put on that morning for the flrst time. Indeed tbe discomiort amounted almost to torture, and for this reason this triD of seven miles proved one of the hardest marches in the whola three years' service. Arrived at the little city, the men were directed to the fair grounds, where, under the sheds in the norse and cattle stalls, they found quarters. An abundance of bright, clean straw had been provided upon which, with the blanket and quilts brought from home, sleeping places were made. The grounds were inclosed with a high, tight-board fence, and within were green with thrifty grass while scattered about were groves of shade trees. The September weather was delightf ui, and the novelty of the new way of living with its pleasant surroundings was most enjoyable. However, there was one drawback; meals were taken at tne boarding-houses in the city; these were all run by Germans, and the taste and fumes of garlic seemed to permeate every article of food on the table. It was, of course, in all the meats, in many of the vegetables; but every man would have taken oath that it was in the bread, coffee, and even in the salt and sugar as well. Nearly all took severa colda from sleeping in the open air. Only about ten days were spent at this place when the mea were ordered to the State capital, Springfleld, 111. St. Louis was reached by rail, when a steamboat was taken for Alton, 111. ; here after night the njen boarded a train of coal-cars, boards having been put across for seats. The ride was any thing but pleasant, those sitting near the outer edge of the car seemed in constant danger of f alling overboard, and the smoke, einders and sparks from the engine were tormenting in the extreme. After awhile Springfleld was reached ; meantime a little rain had begun to fall, and the men found shelter as best they could. The writer, witb, a companion, made his bed for the remainder of the night on the ston steps - over which was a projection- of a friendly church building near the railway depot. Next morning breakfast was found at the hotels. During the forenoon the writer with several comrades visited the late residence of President Lincoln, gathered somo flowers from the yard and sent them home as a souvenir. About noon the cars were taken for Camp Butler, seven miles east of Springfield. Here was iound an inclosure of about forty acres, having around it a high tight-board fence. Near the sides of the inclosure were row of long, narrow buildings- barracks. At one ead were the offlcers, commissary and quartermaster departmente; at the other end the House, hospital, sutler's stores, etc.; in the oenter was a large open space, the drill ground. At either end, at about its middle, was a large high gate for teams, and beside it a smaller one for persons to pass through; at each of which stood a soldier with musket, guarding the entranoe. Life within soon erew to be veritable prison experienee. A company was assigned to each of the buildings, which, as said before, was a long, narrow structure, and had at one end a kitchen and Btorerooms and at the other two or three small apartments for the offlcers. Through the oenter of the main room ran a table made of rough boards from which all ate. At the sides of the long room were boxlike structures, open in front, having tiers of boards laid wide enough for two to sleep upon. These were tmnks. The barracks were made of rough boards put on "up and down," with no ceiling overhead save the shingle roof. Windows and doors were few, purpoaely so to economize space. Here began the crude, coarse fare of soldier life. Rations in abundanoe were ot course supplied, but their preparation lacked the delicate, skilied hand of woman. Two men were daily detaüed from the company to serve in the kitchen two days. These, the first day, served as assistants to two other men who, but tb,e day previous, were aniatants, and with the ripe experience thus gained in one day 's apprenticeship, were now full-fledged cooks. With these constant changes in the kitchen, the food was at nearly all times illy prepared, and chance to often an important factor in the results, obtained. For illustration, meat that was put in the oven to bake or rather roast, f rom the presence of too much fat, turned out a fry, and beef put in the kettle to boil, from there being a scarcity of water towards the last, ended in a bake. Potatoes were almost never well cooked, even when apparently done a raw core would be found in the center. Coffee was sometimes a little stronger thaa water at Others like lye. uut nee, white beans and dried apples, gave the new cooks most trouble. In cooking these the novice invariablv filled tha camp kettle, a large sheet-iron vessel holding two gallons or more, with one of these articles and then poured in water and set it upon the stove. In a little while the rice, apples or beans began swelling and the vessel commenced running over; the novitiate meantime dipping out th superfluous quantity and putting it in another vessel, this process goes on UU he finds ha bas been compelled to take out more than there is left and still the camp kettle runs over and seems to have lost none- and in the end there is enough íor a regiment. Good cook stoves and utensils of all kind were furnished by the Government The table-ware was all of tin or iron. - - - vuw ƒ vuui o ii3 uuuipaiiy drill, occupying an hour or two after breakfast and before supper. The rest of the time was spent reading, writing letters and playing checkers and pitching quoits with horse-shoes, Occasionally a pass was procured from the commanderof the post, and a trip made to Springfleld or to the woods or into the country across the flelds. The camp had grown terrible monotonous and any chance to get out, whena the view was less circumscrlbed and the pure air in more abundance, was welcomed. SECTION VI FROM CAMP TO THE ENEMI'S COÜNTBY. In the autumn of 1863 a great many newly-enlisted men were sent to Camp Butler for drill aod organization. These came in squads, companie and regiments, always uuarmed and not uniformed. In these men a few days time often effected a wonderful transformaron. One regiment in particular is called to mind; it came ia oie day from Southern Illinois, and was the most iaotley lot of men erer looked upon. Brown jeans was the pre valling dress, but every imaginable cut of coat and style of hat could be een, and all from Colonel down were slouchy in attire and awkward and ungainly in gait. A few weeks later the same body of men marched eut to take the cars, bound for the seat of war, dressed in new, neat uniforms; their bright, new arms glistening in the sun, every man marching with regular flrm step, nd the whole regiment moving with machine-like precisión. In front of the Post Commandant's headquarters at Camp Butler was a flag-pole, upon which early each morning was run up the stars and stripes, that were taken down again when night approached. Here also was a cannon that was flred every night at sunset and every morning at sunrise. To keep the men from climbing over the fence a chain of guards was posted next to it all around. These were armed with old army muskets that were utterly harmless, 11 being in some way detective. But arraed with one of these, given the countersign and put on his "beat" perhaps between a hickory tree and a white oak stump, the new soldier feit all the dignity of his position by day and the fullweight of his responsibiüties at night. At this period words from the Eastern army were most in favor for eountersign ;such as "Burnside," "Kearney," "Hooker," "Chickahominy," "Potomac," Rapahannock, " etc. After night the guard allowed no one to approaoh without challenge, when, if the party purported to be a friend, he was required te whiaper the eountersign over the musket's length with bayonet attached. Before regimental organization had been perfected, the writer, with two comrades, procured a furlough to visit home for a few days. They arrived by rail within twenty miles of their destination at nine one night. Time was limited, so it was resolved to foot it home that very night After walking aboul flve hours the home of one of the party in the country was reached, and to save time an4 get to sleep as sqou as possible, it was decided to slip in the house quietly and go to bed at once. Accordingly, guided by the comrade whose family occupied the house, all were soon disposed of, and, being exceedingly weary, quickly went to sleep. The writer occupied the front of one bed and on of nis comrades tha back. Allslept late and at the broakf ast tabla the next morning the lady of the house, a matronly woman, said to the writer: ! 'Didn't know I kissed you awhile ago,! dldyou! Well,'' she continued, "I went into the spare room and first thing I saw Wa soldier' s clothes and on the pillow I tsaw a face wMch I thought was iny John's and you better beliave I uave it one good loss. But Idou't care, it was a soldier any way !" Blessed be the inemory of her patriotic heart; before the war enJed, four oí her sonB lost theirlivos iu the country's ssrvce. Not mauy sacrilicea so mu:-h, aye íew gave so much to sustain the Natioa's life, even in these troub'.ous times when sacriüce and paUfiotlo fflit vrere so comraon. Aftor a fowilays spoiit most pleasftntly at lióme, the writer roturned to his .-omiianT. {.Tu be Corntinued)