and took 30 prisoners, with slight loss on our side. The citizens of
the town fled with the retreating rebels, as they were informed that
they would be protected inside the rebel lines. Some of them taking
nothing with them, and our men soon took possession. And then commenced
the work of plunder, as everything was ordered to be destroyed, the
town was soon in ashes; there was nothing but a heap of ruins two hours
after our forces took possession.
The day passed away and night found us three miles from Richmond, where
we halted for the night. The marine brigade returned to their boats
that evening, burning everything as they went. Arrived at Young's Point
at 1 o'clock on the 16th day of June. The sun was sending its hottest
rays upon us, and it was almost impossible to proceed. We had water a
short distance from camp and plenty of it; it was not good, and the
brigade soon felt the effects of using this water. Ague and fever
became frequent, and several men died in the brigade. We remained here
encamped until after the surrender of Vicksburg. You may judge of our
feelings when we learned that the rebels had surrendered to Grant. It
was hardly believed that one of the strongholds of the rebellion was
in our possession, and the father of waters was open to commerce again
from St. Louis to New Orleans.
Col. ANDREW JACKSON WEBER,
_11th Missouri Regiment, Mortally Wounded, June 29th, 1863, in front of
Vicksburg._
Nothing of importance transpired until the 28th of June, and then
the 11th Missouri was ordered in front of Vicksburg as grand guard,
and while there the rebels commenced shelling us. A piece of shell
striking Col. Weber on the head, he fell mortally wounded. This was
on the morning of the 29th; he lived until the morning of the 30th.
In him the 11th Missouri lost a true friend, and it was with sorrow
we followed his body to the boat which was to convey him home. His
corpse was put on board of the boat, and after a short prayer, we
returned to camp. All of the brigade followed his body to the boat, as
he was universally esteemed by every one who knew him. Although young
in years, he had the qualifications rendering him an able commander.
He was captain of company B, 11th Missouri, until we arrived at Point
Pleasant, but for services rendered there, he was raised to the rank
of major, which post he held for some time. At length he was raised to
the rank of lieutenant colonel, vice Penny Baker, resigned on account
of ill health. He filled every place with honor to himself and with the
esteem and friendship of his brother officers. He was a sober officer,
and took pride in seeing his men appear well, and was the first to face
danger, always kind and obliging, never resorting to extreme measures,
he won the good will of his men, who would follow him wherever he saw
fit to lead them. He encountered cold, hunger and fatigue, and endured
many privations along with his men; had passed safely through several
hard fought battles, and was always cool and collected in the midst
of danger; always in front of his company or regiment. He was always
with his regiment, and took an active part in all the battles that the
11th Missouri was engaged in, and escaped unharmed until the 29th day
of June, when he was stricken down in the prime of life. His remains
were sent home on the 2d day of July. George Weber accompanied the last
remains of as brave and gallant an officer as ever drew a sword.
The brigade remained encamped at Young's Point until after the
surrender of Vicksburg which happened on the 4th day of July, 1863.
Gen. Pemberton surrendered with his whole army, which was paroled,
and a great many of the men took the oath of allegiance to the U. S.
Government, went home, declaring they would fight no more for Jeff.
Davis and his minions.
While here the climate began to tell on the men in the brigade, and
several fell sick and some died. At last we got on to steamboats and
were transferred to Vicksburg, and from there to Black Water on the
cars. Here tents were pitched, and the brigade remained for nearly two
weeks. From this place the camp was removed ten miles to a heavy piece
of timber, which answered very well for a shade; a choice spot was
selected for a camp, the ground cleaned off, the tents pitched, and
each regiment and brigade took its respective place. Officers' tents in
line of the rear of the privates. On laying out the ground for a camp,
so much ground is allowed to each company, and every tent must be in
line with the others. The ground has to be swept every morning between
the tents, and the dirt hauled off in wagons. At this camp we remained
for two months; the last month we remained here there was a grand
review every Thursday, and company inspection every Sunday. While here
Gen. Mowers returned from the hospital, where he had been on account
of ill health. He took command of the brigade again, in the place of
Col. Hubbard, who was acting brigadier at this time. George Weber also
returned from taking his brother home about this time, also Captain J.
D. Lloyd, of company B, returned from Memphis, and took command of his
company.
The country is very broken and hilly for miles around Vicksburg. Some
corn near our camp was used for forage. Peaches were in great plenty.
The boys would go out miles from camp foraging, bringing in hogs,
chickens, and most all kinds of produce. Several of the boys were taken
prisoners by guerrillas, and an order was issued to stop going outside
the lines. The boys' mules and horses were taken and turned over to the
quartermasters.
Deaths became frequent, and soldiers died off very fast; some regiments
lost a good many men. Here company B lost two. We remained at this
point two months, and on the 26th day of September the brigade returned
to Black Water again, pitching their tents in the old camping ground.
September 26th. Early in the evening our tents were ordered to be taken
down and loaded on the wagons, and the brigade was ordered to prepare
for leaving this camp and return to Black River bridge. Everything
being in readiness, the advance was sounded, and each regiment took
its place and off they started. The weather was fine, the moon was
shining brightly, and the roads were quite dry and dusty. The brigade
soon reached our old camping ground, and after our tents came they were
pitched, and here the brigade remained, without anything worthy of
notice transpiring until the 14th of October, when Mowers' brigade and
the 2d Iowa battery was ordered to get ready to leave camp, taking six
days' provisions and 40 rounds of ammunition to the man. The first day
we went as far as Gen. Tuttle's headquarters, where we camped for the
night, and next morning Tuttle's and Logan's divisions and a brigade
of cavalry, all under command of Maj. Gen. McPherson, crossed Black
River on a bridge. Mowers' brigade was detailed to guard the train of
the division, and night found us at a small town called Brownsville.
Here Tuttle's division came to a halt, and the 11th Missouri was
detailed to act as grand guard. Our lines were formed near the town,
and one man was shot by some of the rebel bushwhackers; we were not
disturbed again. In the morning we were ready to move forward, when
the order came to advance. In this place there was nothing but a few
empty houses, used as stores. Nothing of value could be seen; if there
was anything it was concealed, so that few contraband goods were
obtained. While marching through this place next morning some goods
were discovered in a house belonging to a Jew. The regiment stopping at
this place for a short time, some of the soldiers helped themselves to
whatever they could find; but a guard being placed over this house,
not much could be obtained.
The roar of cannon broke upon our ears, and we could tell by the sound
that it was some distance ahead of us. It continued for a short time,
and then ceased, and we were ordered forward, but soon came to a halt
again. In this way we proceeded all day. At nightfall we came to a
halt, and camped, the brigade forming a hollow square. Here we remained
till morning, when the order came to fall in and move forward.
The cavalry had found the rebels and were shelling them with their
howitzers. After marching us about a mile we came in full view of them.
Logan's division was in line of battle. Skirmishers were thrown forward
and the advance commenced. The rebels occupied a good position on a
hill, and were supposed to be in strong force. It was a splendid sight
to see the blue coats ascend the hill. Skirmishing was kept up and the
rebels fell back slowly, firing as they went. They made but little
opposition to our men, and soon they left us masters of the field.
Tuttle's division had halted, and was now ordered forward again. After
advancing about a mile we came to a halt, stacked arms, and bivouacked.
Rain fell during the night, and the roads next day were quite muddy,
making it pretty hard marching. We were ordered back to Black River
bridge, where we arrived on the sixth day after leaving camp. Part of
this expedition was sent to destroy a mill which contained a great
quantity of provisions. The cavalry, which was in advance, encountered
a battery which was placed in position to defend the mill. The cavalry
being fired upon, they fell back, and formed a line of battle, and
a battery of light artillery was brought forward and opened on the
rebels, where they were supposed to be, and the place was soon made too
warm for them. A charge was made, and several prisoners taken, with a
small loss on our side. After the rebels left, the mill and a machine
shop was burned; then returned to camp. After this was accomplished,
and as soon as the rebels discovered that the army was on its way back
to camp, they returned to harrass our rear. The cavalry had several
skirmishes with them during the day, as they would come up and engage
our rear guard, but in every instance were driven back. They followed
us up to Edwards' Station. It took us two days to return to camp
again, marching 40 miles in a day and a half. Sometimes we were on
double-quick, and marched in single file on the right of the wagons
the whole length of the train. How glad were we when we could see the
tops of our tents in the distance. Tired and foot sore, we laid down
to rest our weary limbs, and our sleep was enjoyed the first night of
our arrival in camp, and we awoke much refreshed. This was the 21st of
October, and here we remained until November. About the 6th orders came
to strike tents and get ready to move camp.
Everything was put on board the cars but the wagons and artillery, and
landed at Vicksburg. The wagons were hauled there by the teams, the
artillery was put on board steamboats that were in waiting to receive
us. Tuttle's division was soon on its way to Memphis. The 11th Missouri
was on the boat with General Mowers. The weather was pretty cool and
dry, and everything went on favorably until our boat was struck by a
floating snag, which tore a hole in the front of it, and it was also
set on fire several times by some person or persons on board. It was
discovered in time to prevent serious damage.
At length we arrived at Memphis, where the division all landed. One
brigade remained at Memphis and the other two were left at posts along
the railroad as guards. The second brigade under Mowers was carried by
railroad to La Grange, Tennessee. Our train had proceeded but a short
distance from Memphis when it was fired into and a negro killed in the
11th Missouri, and two of the 5th Minnesota wounded; also a negro in
the second Iowa battery was killed. Firing on trains had become quite
common, but an order was issued that put a stop to it. Every citizen
was held responsible for damage done the railroad by roaming bands of
guerrillas who were watching opportunities to obstruct the passage of
trains running from Corinth to Memphis.
When we arrived here there was but a small force of cavalry stationed
at this point, and it was the rebels' intention to attack the place,
but they were so long in making up their minds what to do that I don't
think they will venture very close to us again. We arrived here near
the middle of November, and remained until the 1st of December, when
the order came to prepare for marching.--Taking three days' rations in
our haversacks, with our blankets and canteens, we were soon on the
march again at daylight. Our destination was Pocahontas. We marched
up one hill and down another until we arrived within a mile of a
small town on the railroad called Middletown. Tired and foot sore, we
came to a halt and bivouacked for the night. Our march was along the
railroad, and we passed through Grand Junction and Salsbury. At the
latter place part of the 8th Wisconsin regiment and some Tennessee
cavalry, were stationed. When the brigade passed through the 8th was
ordered to accompany it, and when they arrived at Salsbury the town
was left without a guard. The rebel cavalry came right in the rear of
us and tore up the railroad and burned several houses of the town.
Notice was given the General that the rebels were in our rear, when
the command was ordered back. The cavalry being in advance they fell
in with the rebels a short distance from this town. They were posted
in line of battle and were determined to prevent our return to camp.
The artillery was soon brought into play, and after shelling them some
time, doing but little damage on either side, the rebels gave way and
left our forces in possession of the ground. A large open field formed
the battle ground, with timber on each side. A running fight was kept
up all day, a few prisoners were taken. How glad were we when we could
see La Grange again. We reached camp about four o'clock, having marched
over forty miles in less than two days. That night we slept until
morning, and awoke much refreshed.
There was a great stir in camp next morning, caused by the report that
the rebels were seen hovering around our lines. No one was allowed to
leave camp, and our arms were stacked on the color line, and we were
ordered to be ready to take arms at a moment's warning, as there was
no knowing what moment the enemy would make the attack. We were not
long destined to remain in camp. The regiment was detailed to work on
breastworks, and when the fort was nearly completed the order came
to march again, and we had to lay by the shovel and pick and take up
our guns and try the fortunes of the field again. Two regiments of
the second brigade, 47th Illinois, and 11th Missouri, got on the cars
and went to Corinth, Mississippi, and here they bivouacked one night
in some old empty quarters that had been occupied by soldiers. In the
morning the command was ordered to move, and early on the morning
of the 21st took our line of march, and night found us within four
miles of Purdy, having marched twenty miles. Next morning we moved
about five miles and bivouacked until the morning of the third day at
half-past two o'clock, when we were ordered again to march, and that
night we came to a halt within twenty miles of Jackson, Tennessee,
where the rebel General Forrest, was said to have his headquarters.
We marched this day thirty miles. Here we remained all night and next
day until nearly dark, when we were ordered to march again, and the
command was soon on its way back to Corinth again. After marching to
within six miles of Purdy, the command came to a halt until morning
and next day traveled about ten miles, and were told to make ourselves
as comfortable as possible, as we would remain here all night. But an
order came for us to return if possible, to La Grange. The next evening
at seven o'clock the sky had the appearance of an approaching storm.
At about one o'clock that morning we started for Corinth, and arrived
there, the rain falling heavily and the roads becoming so slippery and
muddy that it was tedious marching. At two o'clock we were on the cars
again, and soon left Corinth for La Grange, where we arrived late in
the evening, wet and cold. We retired to our quarters where we soon
forgot our fatigue in the arms of slumber, having been absent eight
days. We did not discover a rebel on this march, but could hear of
them every day, and there would be slight skirmishing with our advance
cavalry. Not much loss was sustained on either side. The expedition was
commanded by General Mowers but I never learned the object of it as
nothing was accomplished. General Forrest was said to have crossed the
railroad a few miles from La Grange.
Our stay was short, an order came to go to Grand Junction, and there
the 11th remained for several days without tents to cover themselves.
It rained twenty-four hours, and from rain it turned to snow, and
froze quite hard. It was almost impossible to endure the cold. We were
allowed to return to camp, and how cheering were the camp fires to us
that evening, as the snow was falling and the wind blowing a strong
breeze from the north-west. As our tents had fire-places in them we did
not suffer much from the cold of January, 1864.
Here we remained until the 26th of January, when we were ordered to
prepare for leaving this camp for Memphis. As most of this railroad
was to be abandoned, every available article was removed to Memphis,
or inside the Union lines. The 11th and 47th Illinois, were detailed
to guard the wagon train into Memphis. After two days we arrived in
sight of that city, and here came to a halt and remained a short
time. The boys received pay and were ordered on transports which were
awaiting to convey troops down the river. At length, all things ready,
the boats headed down the river, and we soon found ourselves in front
of Vicksburg. Here we landed, formed in line and were soon on the way
to Black River bridge, where we arrived on the 4th day of February. A
brigade had left their tents standing for the 11th Missouri to occupy.
Left Black River bridge, where we were in camp, March 4th, 1864. The
regiment occupied the 20th Illinois quarters as they had left their
tents standing, and they kindly tendered them to us while they were
absent with Sherman on an expedition to Meridian. Tuttle's division
was to have gone but did not arrive in time. The expedition had gone
before we got there and we had to remain behind. We remained until
Sherman's army returned to Canton, Mississippi, when the second brigade
was ordered to guard a wagon train of prisoners through to Sherman,
whose command had come to a halt and was awaiting supplies. The train
went through all right, and how glad were the boys when supplies
arrived, they were suffering for the want of something to eat. Their
supplies had been all consumed, and they had to subsist on parched
corn and fresh pork without salt, and could not get enough of that.
The expedition was gone over a month, and had marched over three
hundred miles without a change of clothing, with twenty days rations.
Everything was destroyed as they went; railroads were torn up, and corn
destroyed, which was a great loss to the rebels. They found scarcely
anything to oppose them; a few slight skirmishes now and then, but no
general engagement. After obtaining supplies the regiment returned to
camp again. Five of the 11th Missouri were gobbled up while foraging on
this march, and have not been heard from since. As soon as we returned
to camp again the regiment, with Tuttle's division, were ordered to
Vicksburg, and soon were on the move again.
An expedition was fitting out to go up Red River, but the 11th had
re-enlisted and were promised a furlough home, while all non-veterans
were transferred to other regiments. There were nearly a hundred
non-veterans of the 11th Missouri regiment. We pitched our tents in the
rear of town and there waited to be transferred; the veterans to go
home. As I was one of the non-veterans I was destined to be separated
for a while from my comrades. We were transferred to the 33d Missouri,
and were soon on the way to Red River. A fleet of transports and
gunboats were in this expedition; Smith and Mower were in command; in
all, twelve thousand five hundred men, infantry and artillery; a picked
body of men who never knew what it was to turn their backs on the foe.
Our transfer took place on the 8th of March, after dark. Rain fell that
day and the ground had become slippery and muddy; it was difficult
to walk without falling. This wading through mud could easily have
been prevented if the order had been received in time to have gone
to the boats by daylight. As it was we had to endure considerable
suffering going from shelter and sleeping on the bank of the river
until morning. It was lucky for us that it did not rain any more that
day; but the skies looked very threatening. In the morning we were
assigned to company B, of the 33d Missouri. There were thirteen of us;
seventy-eight belonging to the 11th. Some were assigned to each company
in the regiment. Lieut. Col. Heathe was in command of the regiment.
As my object is to give an account of the expedition I will not be
particular in giving the names of officers.