Friday, February 7th, 1862, we received marching orders, struck
tents, and marched as far as Syracuse. On the 8th we marched through
Tipton and on the evening of the 10th we went into camp near
Jefferson City. We stayed in this camp until the 13th, when we went
to town. Here a part of the regiment had quarters in the State House
and the rest were in a large church house.
The weather at this date was below zero and there was plenty of snow
on the ground. We had marched about eighty miles, over a very rough
road and were worn out. Some of the boys almost played out on the
morning of the 15th.
Stowed away in box cars, with fifty men to a car, we started for St.
Louis. Early in the morning our train stopped at a small station for
fuel and water. We were just in front of a little saloon, and as
the boys were almost frozen, some were allowed to get out and get
them a dram. Frank Smith, of our company, brought back a five-gallon
keg of peach brandy and rolled it in through the car door. The door
was closed as soon as all could get in. Some kind of a hammer was
procured and the head of the keg was knocked in. The boys soon had
their cups filled with brandy instead of coffee. The train started
and the boys soon had the brandy keg emptied.
There was no more complaining of the cold, but it was certainly a
mixed up drunken mess. Some of the boys wanted to fight but it did
not amount to much because we were too thick and crowded to fight.
We got to the Union depot at St. Louis at 7 p. m. and at 8 o’clock we
marched on board the steamer Iatan. On the morning of the 16th we ran
into blocked ice at Cairo, Ill., the place where the Ohio runs into
the Mississippi. We had to hammer away about four hours in order that
we might get through the ice.
We passed Cairo, turned up the Ohio river, and landed at Paducah,
Kentucky.
Here, on February 17th, we heard of the surrender of Fort Donellson.
Several boats were lying at this place filled with the wounded. We
went on up the river to Smithland, and here we turned our boat up the
Cumberland river.
On the morning of the 18th of February, 1862, we landed at the
Bluffs, under the big guns of Fort Donellson, Tennessee. We marched
out through the dead bodies of both armies which had not yet been
buried, for our troops were almost played out after three days of
hard fighting.
During the battle, General Pillow and Johnson cut their way through
our lines and made their escape to Nashville with a brigade. Our
final charge was made on the 17th, at which time the garrison
surrendered with 5,000 prisoners and a number of heavy guns which
were mounted on the fort. Our loss at this place was heavy, about
1,500 in killed, wounded and prisoners. The rebel loss was about
1,800.
We went into camp on a small island opposite Donellson. At 10 o’clock
that night the river rose and overflowed our camp. There was some
hustling around to get our tents and camp equipage moved. We then
pitched tents on the other side of the river.
On the 23d a squad of twenty men was detailed to go up the river on a
scouting expedition. We went as far as Bellwood Furnace, which was
nine miles from Donellson. We saw a few rebels at a distance, fired
a few shots at them and fell back. On our return to camp we killed
several squirrels for our sick in the hospital. The squirrels were
plentiful and gentle at this place.
We remained at this camp until March 6th, when we received marching
orders. We struck tents, got on a boat, and crossed the river. While
landing at this place Adjutant Barter lost his horse. It fell through
the staging and broke its leg.
We marched in the direction of Fort Henry until 5 o’clock in the
evening, when we went into camp for the night. The land was rolling
and timbered with pine at this place.
On the 7th we marched to Fort Henry on the Tennessee river. We went
into camp near the fort. This place had been taken by our forces
about three weeks before. It was well fortified and was mounted with
sixty heavy guns. It showed the marks of a hard-fought battle.
We lay here until the 9th. We then marched down to the landing, and
got on board the steamboat, “Telegraph No. 3,” and ran up the river
as far as High Piney Bluffs. Here we lashed on to another boat, which
had on board the Eleventh Indiana and Eighth Missouri regiments.
The two boats pulled on up the river one hundred miles and on the
evening of the 12th of March, 1862, we landed at a little town called
Savannah.
We marched off of the boats and formed our brigade in hollow square.
Washington’s Farewell Address was read to us by A. J. Smith, who was
to be the commander of our brigade. It was composed of the Eleventh,
Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Indiana and the Eighth Missouri.
General Lew Wallace commanded the Twelfth Division.
We moved back on to the boats and at 10 o’clock that night we ran on
up the river seven miles to Crump’s Landing. Here a shot was fired
by one of our gunboats as a signal for us to land. Our boat ran into
the shore with such force that it knocked almost everyone down. But
we were soon on our feet again. As soon as the staging reached the
shore we got to land as fast as we could run off of the boat.
This was a night long to be remembered. The rain was pouring down,
and it was so dark that we could not see where we were going, only by
the frequent flashes of lightning.
The thunder rolled from pole to pole,
Onward we marched this gloomy night
Which tried the nerve of the brave and bold,
For we were looking for a fight.
We moved out five miles, found no enemy. We then halted for a short
rest, as the mud was very bad and the water was sometimes knee deep.
When daylight appeared, some were leaning against trees, some were on
brush-piles and others were even laying down in the mud and water,
and all were sound asleep.
Our cavalry passed us here. They went on as far as Perdy, found no
enemy, and returned in the evening. We all marched back to the boats
on the night of the 14th.
Our regiment was called out on picket duty. A battery was planted on
the road, making a strong guard. We knew that there was a large force
of rebels somewhere near us. At daylight we were relieved by the
Eighth Missouri, and went back to the boat. The rain had poured down
all night and we were in somewhat of a soaked condition.
Tuesday, the 18th, our division of 9,000 men moved off of the
boats and marched out into the timber half a mile. Here all of
the divisions went into camp. Grant, whose headquarters were at
Savannah, had 35,000 more troops at Pittsburgh Landing nine miles
above here.
We still continued our brigade drill. April 1st, 1862, our brigade
was on review. We could hear the boom of the cannon in the direction
of Corinth. On that day Colonel Hovey made us a little talk.
He said, “I think that the battle has commenced on our left wing.
But I wish that we could see the whites of the rebels’ eyes. Now,
Twenty-fourth, all of you have mothers, sisters and sweethearts
back in Indiana homes and I hope and trust that you will never let
the disgraceful name of a coward go back to those dear ones who are
praying each day for your honor and life to be spared.” When his
speech was ended three cheers went up for Colonel A. P. Hovey.
At eleven o’clock in the evening of the 5th our bugle sounded the
assembly for us to fall in line. The rain was falling as fast as I
ever saw rain fall, but it was all the same, we had to march to--no
one knew where. The water was from shoe-top deep to knee deep, all
over the road. Still we plunged on. It was so dark that we could not
see where to go and we had to keep touch with the file men.
Lieutenant Colonel Gurber’s horse fell into a hole but got out again.
Captain Erwin measured his length in a ditch that was five feet deep.
There was plenty of swearing and grumbling going on that night. We
marched as far as Adamsville, found no enemy, and returned to camp at
7 o’clock April 6th, 1862.
The roar of cannon and rattle of musketry could plainly be heard.
The battle of Shiloh had now commenced in earnest. At nine o’clock
General Grant, on his way from Savannah to Shiloh, landed and gave
us orders to get to the battlefield as quickly as possible. We were
called into line in light marching orders.
Colonel Hovey spoke a few encouraging words to the boys, impressing
upon their minds friends and honor. He told us what we were about to
go into. He also said that he wanted us to go in like soldiers and
men.
We started off on quick time, our regiment in the advance. The roar
of the battle became plainer every minute. About 11 a. m. our advance
guard came dashing back and reported us to be exactly in the rear of
Bragg’s army and only a few miles distant. We got orders to about
face. We double quicked three miles back and went the river road.
This road curves with the river and this made the march much longer.
We could hear the noise from that desperate struggle and carnage all
evening.
Late in the day we passed squad after squad of our soldiers coming
from the battlefield, whipped. We came up within a mile of the battle
ground. Here we passed one soldier laying on his face and scared to
death. Some of the officers said, “Turn him over and see if he is
dead.” He then spoke and said, “Boys, you had better go back. We are
all killed or captured. There ain’t enough of us left for a string
guard.” When we slipped in between the lines a short time later we
found that he had come near telling the truth. But we found a few
brave fellows huddled down at the landing, who were not yet whipped,
but Sherman’s battery and the gunboats were all that saved the little
band of heroes. They also saved the day.
General Prentice was surprised on the morning of the 6th. Most of his
brigade were taken as prisoners, and the General himself captured as
a prisoner, and it was seven months before he was exchanged.
Sidney Johnson had been killed in the evening and this had put a
damper over the rebel army.
Beauregard had been too sure of a victory. He made his brags that he
could let his troops rest during the night, and in the morning ride
down to the river to water his horse and find the yanks all sticking
up white rags. But he missed his mark.
Beauregard and Johnson had 60,000 men and they had pounced upon a
force of 35,000, many of whom had never been in such a fight. There
were not more than 7,000 in the ranks of the Union forces at the
closing charge on the evening of the first day’s fight at Shiloh.