On the 15th of June the regiment went out on picket to remain ten days.
Their picket post was on the Shelbyville Pike, about two miles south of
Stone River.
On the 23d of June orders were received at camp to strike tents, and
move out with the train on the 24th. Consequently, on the morning of
the 24th, the train moved down the pike to where the regiment had been
standing picket. The regiment was already gone, and the train followed
after, taking the direction of Liberty Gap. The day was very
disagreeable; a drizzling rain had set in early in the morning and
continued all day, wetting everything and everybody completely. In this
plight the men lay on their arms all night. They were now in the
neighborhood of the Gap, and it was reported that the enemy had a
strong force there.
The morning of the 25th was dark and cloudy, but the troops were early
astir, and soon on the advance towards the Gap. About noon the enemy
were observed in force immediately in front. A disposition was speedily
made of our forces, and the Fifty-Ninth was sent out as flankers, or
rather as advanced skirmishers, on the right flank of the Division.
Fortunately for the Fifty-Ninth, this move kept them from entering the
engagement, only as skirmishers, as the fighting was all done in
another part of the field. The regiment, however, skirmished pretty
lively with the enemy all the afternoon. Some of the rebels were hit by
our balls, as the boys could see them fall, or crawl from their hiding
places badly wounded. The trees behind which the boys concealed
themselves were frequently hit by the balls from the rebel guns, but
none of the regiment was injured. On other parts of the Pass there was
heavy fighting until evening, when the enemy fell back and gave our men
possession.
[Illustration:
CAPT. HENRY WILEY. CAPT. J. JOHNSON.
LIEUT. H. C. BAUGHMAN. LIEUT. D. L. KORHAMMER.
LIEUT. FRED. N. BOYER. LIEUT. J. VANOSDELL.
LIEUT. HIRAM WENT. LIEUT. JOS ELERIC.
Lith. by W^m. BRADEN & C^o. Indianapolis.]
The command held the ground until about three in the morning, when it
was silently withdrawn and marched on towards Tullahoma. It was said
that the enemy withdrew about the same time, neither army having any
desire to renew the contest.
The march now continued daily until the 3d day of July, when the
Division again went into camp at Winchester, Tennessee.
The march from Murfreesboro' to Winchester was very fatiguing. It
rained almost incessantly, keeping the men continually wet, and making
the roads very muddy and the streams high. The rebels, on their
retreat, destroyed the bridge across Elk River, and in consequence our
army was compelled to wade it. At the point where the Fifty-Ninth
crossed, the water was waist deep to the men and the current very
swift. Two or three of the boys would lock arms, and by assisting each
other would succeed in forcing their way over. Several who braved the
flood single-handed were swept away and carried a considerable distance
down stream before they could effect a landing. The enemy continued to
retreat from Liberty Gap, through Tullahoma, Manchester, Winchester,
and Stevenson, Alabama, towards Chattanooga; so that our infantry did
not overtake them before going into camp at Winchester.
The brigade of Colonel Post went into camp one mile east of the town,
and in advance of any troops belonging to the corps. The Fifty-Ninth,
as usual, being the picket regiment. This was pleasing to the boys, as
it gave them the privilege of the country, and an easy access to
blackberries, peaches, potatoes, etc. The camp is pleasantly situated,
and if the weather becomes fair the boys can enjoy themselves.
Soon after arriving here, Lieutenant Brasher, Quartermaster, and
Captain Clayton Hale, (now Major Hale,) returned to the regiment. After
the resignation of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick, Major Winters was
promoted to the position of Lieutenant Colonel, and Clayton Hale to
that of Major. Frank Clark, of Company A, now received the appointment
of Adjutant.
The routine of camp life now commenced in earnest; policing, guard and
picket duty, foraging and amusements of various kinds occupies the time
of the regiment. The history of one day is the repetition of the
preceding one, and so on.
Winchester is ninety-five miles south of Nashville, and is an old
dilapidated place of perhaps eight hundred inhabitants, mostly secesh.
The country around is very well improved and quite productive, but
thinly populated at this time, as the citizens have, many of them, gone
with the rebel army. There are several families remaining in town, but
the men folks have disappeared, leaving only the women and children. Of
the former there are quite a number, and many of them are young and
good looking. These are an attraction for the young bloods of the army,
and those of the Fifty-Ninth are very attentive. The tediousness of
camp life is very much relieved by a few hours spent in the society of
interesting young ladies now and then.
After a few days of idleness in camp, the boys get very mischievous,
and if there is any whisky to be had the monotony is broken by some
serious termination to the pranks being played.
One evening, after imbibing pretty freely, the boys were about getting
into a general engagement, when Sergeant ----, of Company E, supposing
it to be his duty to keep the peace, interfered. This proceeding was
resented, and in the melee the Sergeant was severely cut with a knife,
in the hands of one Davis, of another company. Davis immediately fled,
and was never heard of afterwards. The Sergeant was taken to the
hospital, to have his wound attended to. The wound was inflicted by a
sharp instrument, and penetrated through the muscles of the back, into
the lower lobe of the right lung. The cut on the surface was about four
inches in length, and on the surface of the lung half an inch in
length, deep enough to afford a full breathing surface. At every motion
of the lungs the air rushed in and out of this opening as through the
mouth of a bellows. When brought to the tent, the man was in a dying
condition. His life was rapidly going out at the opening in the lung.
The old Hospital Steward was in favor of immediately closing the wound
by sewing the lips together, but the two young Assistant Surgeons,
Doctors Bunce and Gaston, (Gaston had a few days before been
commissioned from the ranks of the One Hundred-and-Second Illinois
Regiment, to the position of Second Assistant Surgeon of the
Fifty-Ninth,) overruled the idea, under the impression that by closing
the wound the blood would have no egress, and by its accumulation
inwardly, cause injury to the patient. The man was dying, as every one
could see. His pulse was failing rapidly, and a few hours would
undoubtedly finish his career. Doctor Kelly, who was in town, was sent
for--came, and for appearance sake, as he said, put a couple of
stitches in the wound. By this time the pulse had entirely disappeared
from the wrist, and the Doctors left the tent, not doubting but that
the man would soon be dead. As soon as the Surgeons left, the Steward
carefully closed the wound with a compress, and caused the man to lay
on that side so as to keep the compress to its place. As soon as this
was done the breathing passed through the natural channel--the
mouth--and in an hour the pulse could be distinctly felt at the wrist,
and in the morning the Doctors were surprised to find the Sergeant, not
only still living, but bright and cheerful. In ten days the man was
well. Ignorance is bliss, but not always safe for the patient.
Doctor Kelly here resigned his commission as Surgeon, and Doctor Bunce
immediately applied for and received a commission in his stead.
Indications now point strongly towards another move. A general
inspection of the troops and trains almost always precedes a forward
movement of the army, and this is now going on in this department. The
next move will be across the Cumberland Mountains, and the trains must
all be in good condition, or they will never stand the trip. It is only
about three miles to the foot of these mountains in a direct course
from here, but it is said that we must pass through Cowen before we can
climb them, which is ten or twelve miles away. Cowen is a station on
the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, and is near the entrance of the
tunnel which here runs through the mountain.
On the 17th of August, the army evacuated Winchester, and camped at the
foot of the mountain, to be in readiness for crossing on the following
morning. The 18th was spent in getting the artillery and trains to the
top of the mountain--the regiments having to assist in dragging the
heavy cannon and heavy loaded wagons over the most difficult places.
The 19th completed the crossing, and the troops bivouacked at the
eastern foot of the mountain until morning. The march was continued on
the 20th, until a convenient camp was reached near Stevenson, Alabama.
Stevenson is a small town at the junction of the Nashville and
Chattanooga Railroad with the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. It is
twenty-five miles from Chattanooga, and three miles from the Tennessee
River. It is one hundred and twenty miles by rail from Nashville. The
camp of the Fifty-Ninth is one mile from town, near the right bank of
the famous Battle Creek, and within about the same distance of a high
conical-shaped mountain, at the foot of which nestles the little town
of Stevenson.
On the 28th the First and Second Brigades of Davis' Division moved out,
and the probability was that the Third would soon follow. This the men
were willing for, as they usually enjoy the march, in pleasant weather,
better than much laying in camp. After a few days in camp the routine
of camp life becomes tiresome, and the men wish for a change. Sickness
usually increases in proportion to the length of time spent in lying
idle in camp, showing that it is more agreeable to be moving
occasionally. In camp there are many more indulgences in the way of
gormandizing, to be sure, than on the march; but the mind, also, has
its influence in preserving the health of the soldier. On the march the
mind is withdrawn from brooding over the sacrifices made, and a longing
for the return of those home comforts and associations which have been
so long left behind. The anticipations of coming events, the changes of
scenery, both of a natural and artificial character, such as hills and
dales, valleys and mountains, rivers and creeks, springs and rivulets,
large plantations, with their fine mansions and negro cabins, beautiful
groves and lawns, or the isolated log hut of the native forester--all
tending to relieve the mind of "brooding melancholy," preserve the
health, and restore the convalescent, by their ever-changing
attractions to the soldier, as he passes them on the march.
The sick were now sent to the general field hospital, at Stevenson,
and, on the morning of the 30th, the regiment struck tents, and moved
out. Passing through Stevenson, it proceeded, by a short and direct
road, to the Tennessee River. Here it bivouacked till a pontoon bridge
was in readiness for crossing upon. About four o'clock in the evening
the brigade crossed over, and went into camp one mile distant from the
river.
The 30th of August was a beautiful day, and, while awaiting the
opportunity to cross, the boys amused themselves bathing in the river.
The river here was three-quarters of a mile wide, and many of the men
swam from one shore to the other, apparently without much difficulty.
It was very amusing to stand on the bank and witness the feats of
agility performed by these aquatic actors. After witnessing this lively
scene, the writer and Lieutenant Sanderson, of Company A, seated
themselves in the shade, near the pontoons, to witness the activity of
the scene in that vicinity. Just below the bridge was the only place
where the mules could be taken to water, and here the hundreds of mules
and horses belonging to the trains were now being brought. Each driver
brought six mules, fastened together, so that, by riding one, the
others could be led without difficulty. On coming to the water there
was such a crowd of them that a great deal of trouble was sometimes
required to get them out without becoming considerably entangled.
Swearing is a universal practice amongst M.D.'s, and now it was
remarkable. It seemed as though each one tried to do more of it than
any one else could. The writer had noticed that not one had left the
water without leaving many curses resting on the "souls" of his poor
mules. He finally remarked to the Lieutenant that he believed all
mule-drivers, without an exception, would swear.
"It seems so," said the Lieutenant, "but yonder is a fellow who has
been trying to disentangle his mules for some time, and he has not yet
used an oath."
Patiently the fellow worked for sometime longer, but to no purpose. The
mules were very stubborn, and resisted all entreaty to come to shore in
order. Patience now ceases to be a virtue, and he let out--and, of all
the swearing that had been heard that day, his was most satanic--'twas
awful. The Lieutenant gave it up, and acknowledged that all M.D.'s
would swear.
Colonel Post's brigade was now constituted rear guard to the corps
train, and was, of course, the last to cross the river, and will be the
last to cross the Sand Mountain, which now looms up before us. The
crossing will be most difficult. The road is said to be very rugged,
and in many places so steep that it will be impossible for the teams to
pull the wagons up. The passage of the Alps, in miniature, is before
us, and Colonel Post, in size and stature, as he directs the men in
their labors, brings to mind the "Little Corporal," as he is
represented in the "passage of those alpine heights."
Early in the morning the ascent of the train commences. The four
regiments of the brigade have gone on, and been distributed along the
ascent by detachments, so as to be in readiness to assist any of the
teams that should be unable to make the "riffle." The road, in its
tortuous course, was frequently obstructed by huge flat rock, broken
square, so that the wagon-wheels would have to be lifted twelve or
fifteen inches perpendicularly to get over them. At such places, as
many men as could get near the wagon would lay hold and hoist it, and
then the mules could again proceed. About two o'clock the trains
succeeded in reaching the top of the mountain, and the brigade then
moved on for two or three miles, and took up quarters for the night.
The descent was almost as difficult as the ascent, and the brigade was
again stationed at the difficult places, as before. Where the declivity
was steep large ropes were fastened to the rear of the wagons, and
grasped by as many soldiers as was necessary to keep the wagon from
rushing upon and crushing the mules in front. The crossing of Sand
Mountain was accomplished, and the brigade again went into quarters.
From the 2d day of September until the 6th, the trains were moved by
easy stages towards the foot of Lookout Mountain, at a point called
Valley Head. Here they went into corral to await the movements of the
army in the front. The brigade, of course, also went into quarters.
Valley Head is about forty miles from Chattanooga, and about the same
distance from Rome, Ga. It is enclosed by Sand Mountain on the west,
and Lookout Mountain on the east. It extends between these mountains
from this point up to the Tennessee River. It is a very narrow valley,
and is poorly improved. An occasional plantation only being met with.
Here, at Valley Head, are two or three good plantations, but very much
impaired by the depredations of the soldier, both rebel and Union. Here
the fences had been burned from many of the fields, and some buildings
destroyed by the rebels before the Union soldiers came to the
neighborhood. The plantation on which the brigade was now camped, was
in a measure destroyed by the rebel soldiers. Major Winston, the owner
of the plantation, had been opposed to the war, and had suffered these
depredations in consequence.
On the 10th, the trains were again in motion. They moved to the foot of
the mountain, and again went into corral. The Fifty-Ninth Regiment
moved to the top of the mountain, and bivouacked about two miles in
advance of the wagons. Here it lay until the 13th, when it was again
moved down to the foot of the mountain.
The road up the Lookout Mountain is here very good, and offers no great
obstructions to the passage of the trains. It winds around all the
steep acclivities, and misses all the large rock that project from the
sides of this mountain. Huge masses of rock are everywhere hanging from
the top and sides of this mountain; in some places affording "look out"
points, from which may be seen the valley beneath, and the mountains
around as far as vision can extend. It is from these points that the
mountain derives its name of "Lookout." A few rods from the road is one
of these projections, allowing a full view of Valley Head with all its
surroundings.
On the 18th, the brigade again ascended the mountain, and made a forced
march of about twenty-five miles towards Chattanooga, going into camp
sometime after night, not far below Dug Gap, and near the eastern
summit of the mountain.
The 19th was spent in camp, with orders to be ready to move at a
moment's warning. A battle was now momentarily expected to take place
in the valley below, and the boys were very restless. Not far from camp
was a famous "look out," and hundreds of the soldiers visited it
through the day for the purpose of viewing the "landscape o'er." From
this point, the whole of Lookout, or Chattanooga Valley could be seen.
For miles the valley is spread out to the view in all its variegated
loveliness. Plantations, with their white mansions visible, here and
there are seen, nestled as it were, in dark, deep forests; wreaths of
smoke ascending from the depths of other clumps of dark, dense foliage,
indicates the habitations of other dwellers in the valley, yet no house
is seen. Nearer by, the open fields, with their herds of cattle and
their flocks in pasture, as yet undisturbed by the ruthless soldier,
and close by the planter's house and negro cabins. These may be seen
with the naked eye. With a field glass or telescope, another feature is
added to the scene. Soldiers, both cavalry and infantry could be seen
marching in the distance, far over towards the Chickamauga. From this
deep valley, now comes up the booming of distant cannon, adding deep
interest to the scene. The armies are as yet only feeling for each
others weakness--to-morrow they will try each others strength.
All day the point was crowded with eager eyes, looking over that vast
field of vision. And in the morning, as early as the light permitted,
some returned to see what change the night might have produced, and
they were well satisfied with their early visit. Before the sun began
to shed his rays above the horizon, the scene presented in the valley
below reminded one of an ocean of water. The smoke and fog had settled
through the night on all the lower lands of the valley, and resembled
in appearance the blue of the deep waters of the ocean. The ridges in
the valley elevated the tops of the trees growing upon them, above this
canopy of smoke, and gave them the appearance of islands in the ocean.
As soon as the god of day began to pencil the horizon with his rays,
the oceanic illusion vanished. At first a faint tinge of red appeared,
and from this the redness gradually increased and grew broader and
deeper until his whole broad face was visible. Redder and more fiery
than any living coal was his appearance. It was not the white heat of
noon-day, but the most brilliant red imaginable. The sight was most
magnificent--most sublime. The setting sun, as witnessed from the
"point" on the opposite side of the mountain was most beautiful--but
this was most sublime.
At seven o'clock the order came to march. At eight the brigade was in
motion, and in an hour it was wending its way across the valley towards
the battlefield of Chickamauga. About twelve o'clock it had reached the
"Crawfish Springs," and formed in position to resist an expected attack
from the enemy. Before getting to the Springs rebels had been seen
hovering on the flank of our command, and one or two shots had been
fired at our advanced skirmishers.
On arriving at the Springs it was ascertained that the enemy had
intercepted our march with too heavy a force for our brigade to advance
against, and that he was also throwing a large force upon our right and
rear. This was more than had been anticipated, and it became evident
that there was now only one course to pursue, and that was to get away
from the Springs in the best way possible. The only way to do this was
to take the road towards Chattanooga immediately--this was done. The
train moved on in advance, and the regiments followed. The command
bivouacked about five miles from Chattanooga, and lay on their arms
that night. The next day it moved two miles farther towards town, and
on the morning of the 22d continued the retreat until it reached the
lines at Chattanooga. When within about one mile of the lines the enemy
began to throw shells into the ranks. The battery nearest the command
from the lines in town, being apprised of the approach of the rebels,
now came out and replied so vigorously to the rebel battery that it
soon withdrew and the brigade marched in unhurt. In coming from the
mountain to the Springs several stragglers were taken prisoners by the
rebels. The Fifty-Ninth lost three or four men in this way. Had the
brigade been one hour later in coming up to Chattanooga it would have
been cut off and captured. The army had all fallen back the day before,
and Post's command was the only one outside of the strong position in
front of town. The position was now so well chosen, and our lines so
compact, that the enemy dare not attack it.
The campaign for the summer was now over, and the army intrenched
itself at Chattanooga. Works were immediately constructed sufficient in
strength and magnitude, to resist any attempt on the part of the enemy
to take the town, and the army quietly awaited further developments.
The campaign had been a severe and tedious one. The men were worn out
and needed rest. Their clothing was becoming thin and the weather
disagreeable, so that they began to suffer for the want of comfortable
covering to protect them from the storm and against the cold and chilly
nights. It was fully time they were also better supplied with food as
well as clothing. Rations were becoming very short. One half rations of
bread and one quarter rations of bacon was all the most of the men
could get, and some of them, for a time, did not get even so much as
that. For about ten days after the occupation of Chattanooga the men of
the Fifty-Ninth Illinois Regiment received five crackers each for three
days' rations, with about the same proportion of bacon. This was a near
approach to starvation.
The enemy now invested Chattanooga closely; artillery firing was
practiced daily, and many a laugh was had at the expense of the rebel
shells. Thousands of shells were thrown at Chattanooga during the
siege, without doing any damage of any kind, except, perhaps, in one
case. It was said that a negro man, while bringing water from the
spring, was shot through by a solid six-pound ball. This, however, is
doubted.
One of the boys of Company K, of the Fifty-Ninth, was frying his ration
of bacon one morning when a twelve pounder struck his pan and knocked
it into the "middle of next week," and the boy lost his bacon.
The Fifty-Ninth lay behind breast-works on the left bank of Chattanooga
Creek, and the rebel pickets were stationed on the opposite bank, not
over two hundred yards distant. The water from the creek supplied both
parties, and meetings would frequently take place between the boys and
the rebels, when they would have a friendly chat and a tobacco or
newspaper trade. An understanding was had between the parties that
there should be no shooting at each other. These friendly relations
continued until the regiment was removed to another part of the field.
The month of October was a very wet, rainy month, and caused some
sickness in the regiment. Several of the men were compelled to give up
doing duty and go to hospital, amongst whom was Sergeant William
Curtis, of Company K, David M. Minard, of Company A, Sergeant Marcus D.
Leigh, of Company F, and John B. Forester, of Company F. These were all
young men of exemplary reputations for good moral conduct and soldierly
behavior in all their intercourse with the regiment. They had undergone
all the hardships, and endured all the exposure and fatigue of all the
marches and campaigns, and been in all the battles the regiment had
experienced since being in the service. The friends and relations of
these young men have now to mourn them as numbered among the honored
dead. Sergeant Curtis died at Chattanooga on the 26th of October, 1863,
William M. Minard on the 2d of December, 1863, Sergeant Leigh died at
Nashville on the 26th of December, 1863, soon after being removed from
Chattanooga, and John B. Forester on the 7th day of January, 1864, at
Louisville, Kentucky.
About the middle of October the regiment crossed the Tennessee River,
and went up into the Sequatchie Valley, with a train, after forage. It
was gone three days, and had a good time of it. In the Valley the boys
found plenty of hogs, chickens, honey, and other luxuries, which were
unsparingly appropriated. An order to go foraging was always hailed
with delight, as it promised better living than was usually to be had
in camp.
The question is frequently discussed in camp, "Why are we not better
provided for--why are we compelled to live on hard bread and old
bacon?" We are fighting our own battles, at our own expense, and we are
able and willing to pay for good living. Why do we not get it? Is the
question an unreasonable one? Can any one satisfactorily explain the
reason why our soldiers are restricted to a certain kind of food? and
such food, too, as no man thinks of living on at home. The expense of
providing good palatable diet--such as bread, with salt and shortening
in it, instead of that which is so hard and tasteless--with potatoes,
beans, fruit, etc., etc.,--would be more than saved by preserving the
health of the men, and thereby keeping them on duty, instead of having
them become scorbutic and worthless to the Government, and not only
worthless, but a useless expense. After the scurvy is established in
the system of the soldier, a more generous diet is resorted to for the
removal of the disease. Why not provide the diet as a preventive to the
disease?