On the 30th of October, the Brigade went into camp, near Humansville.
Humansville, is a small town in Hickory County, Mo., and is the only
place where any demonstrations were made, in honor of the stars and
stripes, between Boonville and Springfield. Here the soldiers of the
Union were welcomed by the waiving of flags and the smiles of the
women, and the kindly greetings of the citizens generally. A portion of
Price's army had passed through this place, some three weeks before,
and had carried off all the goods belonging to the merchants, and had
mistreated the inhabitants of the town and vicinity to such a degree,
that they were heartily tired of their presence, and were rejoiced at
the approach of the Federal troops.
The weather continues pleasant, and an opportunity is here offered the
boys to wash up their clothing. This was rather an amusing task, as
they had not as yet become accustomed to such work. Fires were started
along the branches, and by the use of their camp kettles, they managed
to hang out quite a respectable lot of clean _army linen_. Those
having money and not being partial to the washing business, had their
washing done by the women of the town, at the rate of ten cents per
piece.
When going into camp it was thought that, perhaps, several days would
be spent here, to allow the men some rest and to ascertain the distance
to, and position of the enemy; but about noon of the 31st, orders came
to be ready to march at a moment's notice.
The sick of the regiment, had been increasing for the last ten days, to
such an extent, that now there was no means of conveying them any
farther. Thus far, they had been transported in wagons, but it was now
necessary to select such as could not, in a measure, provide for
themselves, and leave them behind. The Surgeon, therefore, fitted up
the Meeting-house in town, in the best possible manner, and removed the
sick to it. A cook, some nurses, and several days rations, were left
with them. Poor fellows! they all nearly starved to death before they
could get away, and three did die from the effects of disease and want
of proper nourishment. After the army left, the patriotism of the
ladies and gentlemen of the town, oozed out at their fingers ends, and
our sick boys could get nothing from them. One man, John Clemens, of
Co. H, who was very sick when taken there, died on the 4th of November.
Bromwell Kitchen, of Co. F, soon followed, and Nathaniel B. Westbrook,
of Co. A, died on the 20th. The others eventually found their way to
the regiment.
At 4 o'clock orders were received to strike tents and move out. An hour
was now spent in busy preparation for the march. No one had thought
that there would be a move before morning, and all were taken by
surprise at the order to march just as night was setting in.
Conjectures flew thick and fast through camp, as to what caused the
haste in moving. Some supposed that Price was not far away, and that
they were going to surprise him by a night attack. Some supposed one
thing and some another, but all was wrapped in uncertainty.
At 6 o'clock, the bugle sounded to fall in, and the first night march
of the regiment, now commenced. Camp was one and a half miles west of
Humansville, and to get to the main road to Springfield, the regiment
had to retrace its march back through the town. When therefore it
commenced filing off in the direction it had come, the impression
prevailed that they were on the retreat. Retreat! retreat, passed along
the line, we are on the retreat--what does this mean, was the general
inquiry. As soon, however, as they had passed through town, and struck
the Springfield road, they found that they were not retreating, but
were continuing their old line of march. This pleased them, and with
alacrity they moved forward. The moon had not yet made its appearance,
and the evening was quite dark. Several of the boys in going over the
rough roads, fell and crippled themselves so as to be unable to
proceed. The large stones which composed the road, would sometimes form
steps of six inches in height, and in stepping, they would fall forward
with serious results. The moon now makes her appearance, bright and
fair, and the road becomes distinct so that marching becomes easy, and
much more rapid progress is made. The march continued till near
morning, when the troops bivouacked for a few hours rest.
The bugle again sounds, and the march is continued. At 12 o'clock, a
halt is again called, and an order is brought round to lighten baggage.
All extra, useless and heavy baggage is ordered to be left, under
guard, until brought forward by the wagon train. This is indicative of
a forced march, or a going into battle. The latter is not probable, as
no enemy is reported near. At 2 o'clock, the regiment moved out in
light equipments.
Shortly after starting, a rumor got afloat that Price was really making
a stand at Springfield. This news was received with a shout, and a more
rapid movement of the troops. From this time until its arrival at
Springfield, the regiment had no other than absolutely needful rest.
The nearer the approach to Springfield, the more confirmed became the
report of the rebel army being in that vicinity. The regiment having
made ten or twelve miles this afternoon, went into camp on the banks of
a small creek, which happened to run in the right place for their
convenience.
Here an incident occurred which came very near terminating the life of
one of the boys. He had gone to the creek to wash, and while there,
walked out on a small log which projected from the bank over the water.
His weight was too great for the support of the log; it gave way and he
fell with his back across a log below him, and his head and shoulders
into the water. He was badly hurt, and had there been no assistance
near by, he would have drowned. He was unable to march for several
days, so as to keep up with the regiment. The march from here to
Springfield was uninterrupted, and on the night of the 3d of November,
the regiment went into camp within easy distance of Springfield.
On the morning of the 5th, the Ninth Missouri found itself encamped on
the out skirts of a large army. Fremont had arrived with the greater
portion of his army several days before, and driven Price from
Springfield, and was now awaiting for the balance of his forces to come
up. The Ninth had marched, in the last two days and nights, over fifty
miles, to be in time for the anticipated advance, and they were now
rejoiced that they had arrived in due season. A more happy set of men
than those of the Ninth Missouri, could not have been found in the
army. It had been on the march twenty days, with but little prospect of
overtaking the enemy. Now the enemy were before them, and their march
was perhaps terminated for the present.