Jacinto is a pretty little town, twenty-five miles south of Corinth, in
Nishamingo County, and is situated in a cultivated part of the country.
As a general thing, this is an uncultivated region. From Corinth
through Ripley to within a few miles of Holly Springs, wherever the
regiment has marched, the country is comparatively a wilderness. In the
immediate vicinity of Rienzi, Jacinto and Ripley, there are some small
plantations under ordinary good cultivation. The land is poor and
rather unproductive, yielding but small compensation for the labor
required to till it. The appearances of the few women and children
which are seen along the march, indicates the prevalence of agues and
fevers during the spring and fall seasons of the year, and the many
swamps and marshes seen in all directions, confirm the supposition that
it is a very unhealthy country. The country around Jacinto and the
other little towns is more elevated and broken, and affords some
assurance of health. Jacinto is in a comparatively healthy location,
and should the army remain here during the heat of summer, it may enjoy
good health. The water is obtained from springs, and is much more
healthy than the brackish water of the swamps, which the soldier was
compelled to drink while on the march.
It is now probable that active operations will be suspended till the
hot season is over, and the troops are busy making preparations to
enjoy a recuperative season in camp. They are determined to have camp
as attracting as possible, and as comfortable as green shades and good
bunks can make it. The camp grounds of the Fifty-Ninth has been
judiciously selected on one of the small pine ridges which skirt the
streams of this region, and is convenient to both fence rails and
water. Fence rails make most excellent fires for cooking and the cool
spring water is a luxury much to be prized during the hot days of this
season of the year. The small pine shrubbery affords excellent material
for the construction of shades and arbors to protect against the
scorching rays of the sun. Some of the companies are taking great pains
in the construction of arbors adjoining their tents. Company K has
excelled all the others in artistic skill and ingenuity in the
construction of these shades. All over camp these bowers are so
constructed as to effectually shield from the scorching rays of Old
Sol, and groups of hardy looking soldiers are now to be seen engaged in
every conceivable pastime, unconscious of the oppressive heat outside.
Some are discussing the conservative policy of General Halleck in
pitying the rebels--guarding their property from molestation by our
soldiers while on the march and while laying in camp, and in feeding
the families of those in arms against us from our scant rations.
A squad of men has just left camp to go a mile out, for the purpose of
guarding a rebel family against intrusion by any of the soldiers. This,
the majority of the disputants are opposed to, while some are in favor
of the policy. Some of these boys have been compelled very much against
their will, to stop while on the march, and stand guard at the gate of
some fine mansion, whose owner was in the rebel army, while the
families occupying the log houses along the road were left to the mercy
of every straggler in the army. This is looked upon by those opposed to
the policy as great injustice.
Some are engaged in writing letters to their friends at home, and some
in playing cards, some are reading, and here is a squad attracted by
the exciting game of chuck-a-luck. Some are rubbing up their muskets
and others are stretched upon their beds of pine, taking a nap. This
will continue to be the daily camp scene until orders come to move out
again.
Soon after coming into camp, Dr. H. J. Maynard reported from Cassville,
Mo., and again took charge of the sick. Dr. Hazlett assumed the duties
of Brigade Surgeon, and located himself at Jacinto. As is always the
case, while laying in camp, sickness now increases, so that a large
hospital tent is required to shelter the patients. This field hospital
is still continued at Corinth, and orders are to send all serious cases
up there for treatment. The indications also point towards an early
move, and it is not policy to have many sick men with the regiment.
There had been an order for several days, to be ready to move at a
moment's notice, but no move was made until the 4th of August. On the
4th, the regiment started out on a scout, as was supposed, leaving the
camp standing, as is usual on such occasions. The 4th of August was,
perhaps, the hottest day of the season, and the men suffered
excessively from the heat. Quite a number fell from the ranks with
"sun-stroke," and some expired from its effects. None of the
Fifty-Ninth died, but two or three never fully recovered from its
impression.
On the 6th, the Acting Quartermaster, Lieutenant H. W. Hall, received
orders to break up camp, and move his train to Iuka, Miss., some twenty
miles farther east. The sick were all sent to general field hospital,
and about noon the train moved out. Passing through Jacinto, it
continued to move until nine o'clock, when it overtook the regiment, in
bivouac, some six miles from Iuka. The regiment had thus far returned
from its expedition, and bivouacked for the train to come up, so as to
be safely escorted to Iuka. There were many guerrillas through the
country, and it was unsafe to send the train without a strong guard.
Early in the morning the march was continued to Iuka, where the
regiment again went into regular camp.
The regimental Sutler did not come through with the train, but waited
until the next day. When coming through, on the 8th, with three wagons
loaded with goods, and six splendid mules to each wagon, the guerrillas
came upon him about five miles from Iuka, and captured two wagons and
mules with their drivers, and also one man belonging to the ranks in
the regiment. The Sutler, who was on horseback, made his escape, as did
also one of the wagons. After taking as many of the goods as they could
carry away with them, they set fire to the wagons and burned them. The
mules and prisoners were taken to Tupelo. Besides the mules and wagons,
the Sutler lost about two thousand dollars worth of goods. The
prisoners were taken to General Price. Two of them being citizens, one
the driver and the other the Sutler's clerk, were released on parole of
honor. The soldier, William Workman, of Company F, was released by
taking an oath of pseudo alliance to the Confederate government.
As soon as it was known that these guerrillas had committed this
outrage, a squad of cavalry was started in pursuit, but too late to
overtake them. A short distance from where the wagons were burned, the
rebels had taken breakfast that morning, and perhaps concealed
themselves there the night before. The family at first denied any
knowledge of the affair, but in looking around some of the Sutler's
goods were discovered. This settled the matter to the satisfaction of
our boys, and they immediately ordered the family to pack up such
things as they wished to save from the flames, for their house should
never harbor any more guerrillas. Soon the house was emptied of its
contents, the Sutler's goods were retaken, and the house shared the
fate of the wagons--nothing was left but the ashes.
The regiment on leaving Jacinto, marched in a southern direction about
twenty-five miles, to a place called Sand Springs. A large cotton
factory and dry goods establishment was in operation there, and a camp
of three or four hundred rebels in the vicinity. It was for the purpose
of breaking up this establishment that the expedition was undertaken.
Several regiments were detailed from the different brigades for that
purpose, and General Robert Mitchell was in command. The first night
out, the command bivouacked on an old rebel's plantation, some fifteen
miles south of Jacinto. In the evening, General Mitchell, with his
staff, rode forward in advance of the column to this old planter's
house, and was most cordially received and welcomed by the old
gentlemen, with true southern hospitality. The General soon discovered
which way the wind blew with the old man, and encouraged him in his
delusion. He informed the planter that he was General Price, of the
Confederate army, and that he wished to camp some of his boys near by,
and take up his own quarters at his house for the night. The old
gentleman was highly delighted, and generously proffered his house and
premises for the accommodation of General Price. By this time it had
become the dusk of the evening, and our boys were coming into camp in
good order. General Mitchell detained the old planter in conversation
so closely that he had no opportunity to discover the difference
between our boys and his friends, the rebels. After the General had
pumped this old rebel to his entire satisfaction, he retired--but
before doing so, had a guard placed around the house, with orders to
let no one out or in. Before going to bed the old planter attempted to
pass the guard, but was not allowed to do so. He thought rather strange
of the proceedings, but submitted with a good grace, and retired to
dream of the honor to his house in the entertainment of the great
General Price, of the Confederate States army.
He was up in the morning early, and again attempted to pass the guard,
with no better success, however. It was now becoming light, and the
uniform of the soldiers at the door attracted his attention. His
suspicions were aroused.
"Are you a Confederate soldier?" said he to the guard.
"No, sir ee," replied the soldier.
"What are you, then?" said the planter, "and how came you here?"
"I am a Union soldier, and am here by the order of General Mitchell."
"Who is General Mitchell, and where is he?" asked the planter, eagerly.
"General Mitchell commands these regiments out here in your fields, and
is now in your house."
"And where are the soldiers of General Price?" inquired the old
gentleman.
"To hell, for all I know," replied the soldier, who, not understanding
the matter, turned away and walked his beat.
The old man re-entered his room, wondering how it all happened. Pretty
soon General Mitchell made his appearance, and greeted the planter with
a pleasant "good morning."
"How is it, General, that I see so many Union soldiers out here?"
"Those are my boys out there," says the General, "and I am General
Mitchell of the Union army, and not General Price, as you was glad to
believe last night. It is now time I was on the move, and you will
prepare to go with me. I want you to guide me to the Sand Springs, and
if you deceive me in one particular your life shall immediately pay the
forfeit."
The old planter was sold, and there was no help for it. Sullenly, but
faithfully he obeyed orders, and when the expedition returned he was
allowed to remain with his family. The rebels fled at our approach; the
factory was destroyed; the store gutted, &c.